Tim Hannigan

A Geek in Indonesia

Tim Hannigan

For anyone wanting to move beyond tired travel guide cliches, A Geek in Indonesia is a hip, irreverent and streetwise introduction to Southeast Asia's biggest country. Jump from the beaches of Bali to a tour bus circuit of the fascinating island of Java and come face to face with the reality of 21st-century Indonesia—from local fashion bloggers and the world's most avid tweeters to feminist activists, punk pioneers, and scandalous celebrities. Discover the unlikely delights of dangdut —Indonesia's homegrown working-class rockers—and a dizzying universe of pop, jazz, and alternative music. Learn what makes Jakarta the social media capital of the world, dive into the Indonesian blogosphere, and get essential insights into the traditional values that still underpin modern tech-savvy Indonesian society. Then travel back in time to the outer fringes of the archipelago where tribesmen continue to wear ritual battle gear. Packed with lively articles on everything from office and cafe culture to food, dating rituals, and TV soap operas—and illustrated with hundreds of colorful images—this Indonesian travel guide is a delightful read for backpackers, first-time visitors, newly-arrived expats, long-time Indonesiaphiles. A Geek in Indonesia is a guide like no other, to a country that has no equal.

Brief History of Indonesia

Tim Hannigan

Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of the World's Largest Archipelago Indonesia is by far the largest nation in Southeast Asia and has the fourth largest population in the world after the United States. Indonesian history and culture are especially relevant today as the Island nation is an emerging power in the region with a dynamic new leader. It is a land of incredible diversity and unending paradoxes that has a long and rich history stretching back a thousand years and more. Indonesia is the fabled «Spice Islands» of every school child's dreams—one of the most colorful and fascinating countries in history. These are the islands that Europeans set out on countless voyages of discovery to find and later fought bitterly over in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. This was the land that Christopher Columbus sought, and Magellan actually reached and explored. One tiny Indonesian island was even exchanged for the island of Manhattan in 1667! This fascinating history book tells the story of Indonesia as a narrative of kings, traders, missionaries, soldiers and revolutionaries, featuring stormy sea crossings, fiery volcanoes, and the occasional tiger. It recounts the colorful visits of foreign travelers who have passed through these shores for many centuries—from Chinese Buddhist pilgrims and Dutch adventurers to English sea captains and American movie stars. For readers who want an entertaining introduction to Asia's most fascinating country, this is delightful reading.