Insight Guide Indonesia, Fifth Edition (Paperback)

~ Francis Dorai (Author) "Indonesia is one of the very few nations on earth to span such a broad spectrum of world history and human civilisation - from its..." (more)
Key Phrases: simple losmen, wayang orang, surat jalan, Nusa Tenggara, Irian Jaya, East Java (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With over 17,000 islands and 300 ethnic groups, Indonesia is the perfect candidate for an Insight Guide. Filled with gorgeous color photographs, an emphasis on history and culture, and detailed descriptions of principal sites, this book is a must-have for anyone planning a trip to the world's largest archipelago. The country's motto is "Unity in Diversity," and while that lofty aim is being tested by independence movements, it's true that the diversity and complexity of the people, languages, and customs is astounding. For while parts of the island nation are well-known tourist sites--Bali comes immediately to mind--there are numerous other areas which are equally fascinating, such as Flores, with its strange mix of Catholicism and animism; Irian Jaya (West Papua), where life still resembles the Stone Age; and Sumatra, where one of the world's last matrilineal societies resides. To help you understand this strange blend, Insight Guides pulled together a team of experts to write about its features. The "People" chapter was written by a professor at the National University in Singapore who's an expert on Indonesian communal politics. Dance and theatre were covered by a Javanese dancer, while gamelan music is explained by a musicologist. The chapter on modern history and separatist provinces, written by a journalist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, is particularly important with Indonesian politics changing practically daily. Other feature chapters explain the role of customs and rituals, the nuances of ritual dance and theatre, the range of spice-islands cuisine, and the fantastically varied tropical habitats. The bulk of the book--the "Places" section--is your guide to the sights themselves, divided into regions and cross-referenced to excellent maps. Valuable tips line the sidebars with hints about such things as the most likely time to see court dancers, the best batik course, and warnings about health hazards (like poisonous volcanic fumes). Up to this point, the book truly excels, and will whet your appetite no end. Unfortunately, it falls short when it comes to providing ample listings of where to stay and eat. The listings are adequate for those traveling with means, but budget travelers will want to look to guides like the Lonely Planet to meet their needs. --Lesley Reed --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Langenscheidt Publishers; 5th edition (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585733725
• ISBN-13: 978-1585733729
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,676,555 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Photos and Very Little Else, March 27, 2004

By	Laszlo Wagner (Hungary) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has beautiful photos - but even some of those are mislabelled, claiming to show the wrong place!
Other than that, it covers the major tourist attractions of the country in broad, general terms.
Even this poor coverage is full of errors and spelling mistakes.
Practical information is ranging from the completely absent to the very limited.
It may be OK to have this book as a souvenir - certainly not as a guidebook!

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't use alone for travelling, March 4, 2006

By	Harry (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This book is really good, the photos are beautiful and compared to other guidebooks it is extremelly visually appealing. There is lots of information on culture, history and individual areas, but limited information for travellers. However, I would not tell someone planning to travel to Indonesia not to get this book, but rather in addition to another book such a Lonely Planet Indonesia (a new edition of that is supposed to come out December 2006).

A great general book on Indonesia and good value, but not the perfect guide book to take alone on a trip.