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NUSA TENGGARA

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EAST NUSA TENGGARA



Kalimutu Three Colored Craters
Source: www.eastindonesia.com

Kupang is the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara, the province which covers  111 islands.  The main islands include Timor,  Roti, Sawu, Solor, Alor, Sumba, Ende,  Flores, and Komodo.
The province is well known for its  tenun ikat (handmade cloth or hand woven textiles).  This province has many distinguish cultures. It also has many beautiful beaches. Prehistoric reptiles, the Komodo dragons, inhabit the Komodo Island. These   are the biggest lizards, weighing about 100 lbs.
Komodo dragons are carnivores (meat eaters) and will devour any animal they are capable of dismembering and gulping down. Although they are for the most part scavengers, they do capture live prey, including deer, pigs, birds, even young dragons. The young can escape by climbing trees, because the much-heavier adults cannot climb. Komodo dragons are good swimmers and have been reported hunting in the surf for fish and birds.
Kelimutu Volcano (also known as Geli Mutu) is a 1640 meter high stratovolcano located at Ende Regency, Central Flores. On the summit area, three craters are found. These craters have three different water colors, which are blue, greenish, and red. The water color is changed from year to year due to the activity of the magma.


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WEST NUSA TENGGARA

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Kuta Beach, Lombok
Storey, Robert. 1992. Indonesia: A Travel Survival Kit. Singapore: Lonely Planet Publications

The province of West Nusa Tenggara's administrative capital is Mataram, located in Lombok Island.  This province consists of two large islands, Lombok and Sumbawa, and in addition, there are tens small islands. Before the Ducth Colonial era, Lombok Island was part of the Karangasem Kingdom of Estern Bali. 
The population is made up over two million people.  They are 80 percent of ethnic Sasak,  while about 15 percent are of Balinese origin and the rest are of minority groups including Javanese, Arabs,  Chinese, and Sumbawanese.  Islam Wektu Telu, which blend Islam teaching and local belief system is practiced by the Sasak people.


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BALI


A priest and offerings at a temple ceremony, Bali
Source: Sarad-Bali Magazine


         About 2.7 million people reside on the tiny island of Bali. The Balinese society is a hierarchical one; there are four varnas, the first three ones are the tri wangsa and the last one consists of the commoners, which are the majority (90%) of the Balinese.  
The Balinese practice Hinduism, however, this is not exactly the same as the Hinduism in India. Bali is called the island of the gods and the island of thousands temples. Bali has many beautiful beaches, such as Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Lovina. Bali is also very famous with its dances, gamelan music, crafts, paintings, woodcarvings, and ceremonies, especially the temple and cremation ceremonies. Every Balinese, from birth to death, undergoes various rituals. It is a mandatory custom for the Balinese children, especially girls, to learn how to dance since they are very young. 


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EAST TIMOR

         East Timor became a Republic of Indonesia's 27th province from July 16, 1976 until September, 1999. Before, East Timor was part of Portugis. In 1999 majority of its people voted to separate from Indonesia and became an independent nation. The capital city of East Timor is Dili. 
        Most of the East Timorese are Catholics.  Despite its political and social problems, East Timor is culturally rich. Its land and beaches are also beautiful.

 

For more information on East Timor, go to https://www.oneworld.org/ni/issue253/contents.htm
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