Availability:
Accepting applications for Summer 2011.

Indonesia is a vast country of over 17,000 islands, boasting pristine rainforest, brilliant coral reefs brimming with marine life, hillsides carpeted in verdant rice paddies, and dramatic volcanic mountains.  It is a stunning natural landscape characterized by extraordinary contrasts - a diversity rivaled only by the people who live here.  Focussing on the islands of Bali and Sulawesi, this program invites students to explore several unique traditional cultures - from hunters and gatherers in the remote forests of the Morowali Reserve to the Bajau (“Sea Gypsies”) of eastern Sulawesi to Balinese living in the modern and urban artistic hub of Ubud.  Sustainability will be a key theme as we look at different communities and their relationships to the natural environment and contemporary conservation issues.

This program begins in Bali where we delve into the rich artistic traditions through apprenticeships with local artists. Our days will be full, as we wake to invigorating yoga classes, explore markets filled with exotic fruits and spices, take part in the daily offering of “chanang sari” to appease both the evil and the protective spirits, plant or harvest rice with farmers, hike a volcano to greet the sunrise, and learn to cook some great local dishes. 

The Balinese are known for their deep commitment to family and community.  Through homestays in a semi-rural village, students will experience the warmth of Balinese hospitality as we learn about the subtle intricacies of kinship and collective responsibility.  Intensive study of Bahasa, one of Asia’s most accessible languages, will help students make deeper connections and gain further insight into daily life. The complex 210-day Balinese lunar calendar will direct our itinerary as we make our way to various temples on auspicious days to witness the colorful processions with elaborate offerings, powerful Barong dances, and extraordinary cremation ceremonies. 

From Bali, we fly to Makassar on the island of Sulawesi, where we begin the second chapter of our adventure in the Tana Toraja region of  the southern highlands.  Experience the magnificence and striking grandeur of the tongkonan (ancestral houses) with their steep towering roofs while learning about the importance of ancestry in the region. Day hikes on  winding foot paths will lead us through the cascading rice terraces and mountain ridges which flank this lush, emerald valley. At the cliffside graves, with their eerie displays of wooden life-like effigies, we will learn more about the tomate, complex funeral rites which can last decades. Through visits with local artists, we explore the rich symbolism embedded in the bold geometric designs of Torajan relief carvings. Indonesia, and the eastern islands especially, are renown for their beautiful textiles.  Here we will learn about the unique methods and techniques used to create these masterpieces, and the significant role they play in Indonesian society.  Through meetings with local elders, we will discuss the impact of tourism on the Toraja and its role in the preservation of their cultural identity. 

From Tana Toraja, we  travel north to Lore Lindu National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Central Sulawesi, to trek through the stunning montane forests and to meet with the indigenous Katu people. Seek out the astonishing monolithic carvings of the Bada Valley for which Lore Lindu has been nominated a World Heritage site.  This park is brimming with wildlife, so we will try our luck at spotting some unique species - the anoa (a rare dwarf buffalo), the babirusa (an animal resembling both pig and hippopotamus), the tarsier (the world's 2nd smallest primate) and some of the 277 bird species which make the park their home.  We will meet with the Nature Conservancy to learn about local controversial land rights issues and how the interests of indigenous peoples and migrants can conflict with the preservation of tropical forest and biodiversity.

Next, we make our way to the Morowali Nature Reserve and hike in to meet the  Wana people, shifting farmers and hunter-gatherers who inhabit this “dry” tropical rainforest in East Sulawesi.  Trekking through dense jungle to stay in remote Wana villages, we will observe and learn from their relationship with the natural environment.  Learn about the sustainable processes of shifting (swidden) agriculture, hunting with blow-darts, and collection of forest products such as such as rattan, honey and medicinal plants.  Through meetings with a local NGOs and the Wana themselves, we will survey issues related to hunting and gathering in a protected area and find out why the very survival of the Wana is at stake.

The last leg of our journey in Sulawesi will take us to the remote Banggai islands. This is home to the Bajau people (commonly known as “sea gypsies”) who live much of their lives on the water.  While camping on desolate white sand beaches or staying in simple stilt houses over the water, we will learn about local environmental issues such as “blast” fishing and the pearl farming industry. Here, we can try agar (seaweed) farming and study the diverse marine life that abounds in the brilliant coral reefs.  Returning to Makassar via Luwuk, we will bid farewell to Sulawesi and spend the final days of the program in Bali presenting Independent Study Projects, feasting on Balinese sweets, and reflecting on our journey before heading home.