Use of English

Life in Indonesia

Indonesia is often described as a country of contrasts, and that seems fair once you start learning about it. With thousands of islands, hundreds of local languages and food that changes from one region to another, it can be hard to know where to begin. Many travellers first (0) HEAD for Bali, but there is far more to the country than its most famous island. If you travel around Java, Sumatra or Sulawesi, you quickly (1) .......... across very different customs and landscapes. In busy cities, modern shopping centres stand side by side with traditional markets, where sellers still (2) .......... business in ways that have changed little over time. Visitors are often surprised by how warmly local people (3) .......... them, especially in smaller towns. Another thing people notice is that Indonesians often take great (4) .......... in sharing food, since meals are an important part of social life. Of course, travelling across such a large country can (5) .......... up a lot of time, and delays are quite common. Even so, most visitors say the experience is more than worth it and that the country leaves a strong (6) .......... on them. For many, the best advice is to keep an open mind and make the most (7) .......... every opportunity to talk to local people. That way, you are more likely to come (8) .......... with stories you will remember for years.