My memory of Indonesia was the constant greeting, "Hello, Mister!" wherever I went. If you're a woman, you'll probably hear
that greeting, too. It's sad to hear about all the turmoil and tragedies that have scarred this nation the past couple years. My experience there was completely different, of course. The pace of life was slow, the people were kind, and the fresh food was plentiful. My time in Indonesia was mostly spent on Sumatra, so that's what I'll concentrate on. Although I understand there is a lot to see in Jakarta, I got out of there as soon as I could. To me, Sumatra was an undeveloped paradise. It takes hours to get anywhere, but the journey is worth it. Towns like Bukitingi and Bukit Luwang are very provincial yet friendly, and of course, you need to spend several days at Lake Toba, which is probably my favorite place on Earth.