This trivia about Indonesia might amuse (and surprise) the expats.
Indonesia is a huge country with such a long history. No wonder it has an abundance of aspects, characters, milestones, and landmark moments that might fly under the radar. Here Indonesia Expat unearths some of the fun facts about this rich and complex country that you might not know just yet.
Indonesia Has One of the Longest National Anthems in the World
“Indonesia Raya” is not only a national anthem of Indonesia but also a hymn with its own uniqueness. With a length of almost four minutes, it is one of the longest national anthems in the world. Meanwhile, the longest national anthem in the world, in terms of duration or length of time, is the “Himno Nacional de Uruguay” (English: “National Anthem of Uruguay”) with a duration of six minutes. In terms of lyrics, however, the longest national anthem in the world is The “Hymn to Liberty” (also known as “Hymn to Freedom”) which is the national anthem of Greece, consisting of 158 stanzas in total.
Indonesia Did Not Adopt the Languages of Former Colonisers
Another uniqueness of Indonesia is that it is one of the very few countries in the world that did not adopt the languages of its former colonisers, namely Dutch and/or Japanese — in contrast to other previously colonised countries like Singapore (English) and Congo (French). Usually, colonisation leaves a ‘legacy’ in several aspects, including linguistics (language). However, the Indonesian population is different. Almost all Indonesian people, then and now, are not fluent in either Dutch or Japanese. Several researchers argued that this ‘phenomenon’ is due to how the Indonesian people, during the colonial period, associated Dutch and Japanese languages with oppression and injustice, thus the latter languages were considered inappropriate to be learned and mastered.
Indonesia Has the Biggest Metropolitan Area in Southeast Asia
The Greater Jakarta area (also known as Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi or Jabodetabek) consists of a population of approximately 28 million people, thus making it the largest metropolitan area in Southeast Asia and also, the second largest in the world. As one of the world’s metropolitan cities, Jabodetabek has a supporting infrastructure in the form of roads, electricity, telecommunications, clean water, gas, fibre optics, airports, and ports. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Metropolitan area (Japan) currently ranks as the largest metropolitan area in the world, with a metropolitan area of 8,547 km² and a population density of around 4,375 people per km².
Indonesia Has the Most Ethnic Groups in the World
The concept of ‘diversity’ might still be considered relatively new in many parts of the world. However, in Indonesia, diversity across all aspects of livelihood is nothing new at all. As an archipelagic country with a population from Sabang to Merauke, as well as the motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (which, translated to English, roughly means ‘Different but Still One’), Indonesia has the most ethnic groups in the world. In total, this country has more than 740 ethnic groups in Indonesia, 270 of which are known to exist on the island of Papua alone. In addition, Indonesia is a country with the most regional languages, with 583 of the 67 main languages used by various ethnic groups in Indonesia.
Indonesia Once Produced NATO Military Uniforms
Indonesia is a country rich in natural resources, which has been recognised internationally. For instance, a local company named PT. Sritex Textile Solo, which operates in the textile sector, has become a leading military clothing manufacturer. Not only national military uniforms such as the Indonesian National Army (TNI), but also international military uniforms such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were once manufactured by this company.
Indonesia Had the Biggest Volcanic Eruption in the World
When expats and foreigners think of the words “Indonesia” and “volcanic eruptions” in the same sentence, perhaps the legendary eruption of Mount Krakatoa which occurred back in the year 1883 — which resulted in tsunamis that led to at least 36,417 deaths — was the first thing that came to mind. That being said, that was not the biggest volcanic eruption in the world that has ever been recorded. That title still belongs to the eruption of Mount Tambora in Sumbawa, Indonesia which took place in the year 1815. History recorded that the ash from the eruption column dispersed around the world and lowered global temperatures in an event billed as the “Year Without a Summer” in the following year. The “Year Without a Summer” also led to famine in numerous regions. The direct volcanic effects resulted in at least 10,000 deaths, but post-eruption famine and epidemic diseases resulted in nearly 90,000 deaths.
Indonesia is Home to a ‘Thunderous’ Mountain
Did you know that Mount Bromo can make thunder sounds? Mount Bromo is one of the famous volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia. Not only it is stunning thanks to its natural scenery, but it also has a unique phenomenon, namely its ‘thunderous’ sound. This sound is caused by the pressure of gas and magma moving beneath the surface of the mountain, indicating volcanic activity even without a major eruption. This thunder sound phenomenon is what adds to the uniqueness of Mount Bromo. In addition to the beauty of its sunrise, the sound of thunder from the bowels of the earth adds to the appeal of Mount Bromo as a stunning natural tourist destination.
Indonesia is One of the Very Few Countries That Has Rain Shamans
Still remember Mbak Rara whose profile skyrocketed when she was trusted to be the 2022 MotoGP rain shaman in Mandalika, Lombok? Working while carrying a singing bowl, her action of stopping the rain at the race arena at that time attracted the world’s attention and made her go viral on social media. The expats and foreigners might see this as odd, but the fact of the matter is the presence of rain shamans in Indonesia is considered not unusual. Almost all major events in Indonesia use the services of a rain shaman, while the latter’s methods typically vary in each region. Although these methods are often debated and not supported by scientific evidence, rain shamans exist from generation to generation in Indonesia, as their ‘knowledge’ is rooted in centuries-long local beliefs and traditions.
Indonesia Has One of the Most ‘Flexible’ Languages
Several experts have pointed out that the Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) is considered more ‘flexible’ in comparison to other foreign languages due to how the former language dictates its user, consciously or subconsciously, to also master a diversity of accents and sounds — especially once the user engages in a conversation with a fellow native Bahasa Indonesia speaker hailing from different ethnic backgrounds. (Back to the previous point: Indonesia has the most ethnic groups in the world, all with their respective accents as well.) Because native Bahasa Indonesia speakers have gotten used to different accents and sounds since the earliest age, several experts argued that such is the reason why it is typically easier for a native Bahasa Indonesia speaker to learn and communicate in a foreign language, including mastering how to hide and switch their accent.
Indonesia is the First Country to Have an Outdoor Moss Park
Indonesia is the first country in the world to have an outdoor moss park (bryophyta) with a collection of hundreds of types of moss. The Cibodas Botanical Garden Moss Park was built back in the year 2004 and opened to the public on the 11th of April, 2006, coinciding with the 154th anniversary of the Cibodas Botanical Garden. This park is 1,500 metres square in size and is inhabited by approximately 134 types of moss, from hornwort and liverwort to true moss. Being an outdoor moss park, the mosses in this park grow like in the natural habitat of moss, namely on tree trunks, soil, and rocks. To maintain the temperature, the management continuously plants shady plants so that the conditions below or on the ground are moist – an ideal state for the growth of moss plants.