Word: archipelagos
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...GOTO Goto means five islands in Japanese, but this archipelago is actually made up of more than 150. For centuries it was home to Japan's "hidden Christians," who practiced their faith despite an imperial ban. Today, Christianity is still practiced, and freely. Local villagers concentrate on farming and fishing, but tourism is growing. Take the four-hour ferry ride from Ohata terminal in Nagasaki to sample sandy beaches, scuba diving, hot springs and golf courses...
...right away. It took me a long time to figure it out myself." So mused Robin Engel, who left New York City for Indonesia nearly a decade ago to head what he calls the Sailing Fleet of Indonesia, a loose association of traditional sailing-craft aficionados who ply the archipelago's waters for both pleasure and business. Engel, staring out at the moonlight reflecting off the calm waters of the Banda Sea, paused and took a pull from his cigarette before continuing to speak. "You could get yourself a boat and go to one of these little islands with your...
Hitting the Wall The shifting of continental plates that created the Indonesian archipelago also gave Selayar Island its unique geography?the western side of the island slopes gently into the sea, but the eastern side's verdant hills plunge directly into the roiling surf, as if they were hacked in half with a machete. Thirty meters from shore, this geographic slicing is repeated underwater. The island mass stops abruptly in a vertical fall to the ocean floor, some 1,000 meters below. Unlike the dynamite-ravaged reefs that surround much of Selayar, the sheer rock face remains untouched and teems...
...OTHER GREAT REEF Inhabited only by lobster fishermen and their families for just 14 weeks of the year, the remarkable Abrolhos Islands encompass some of the finest coral reefs in Australia. The Geraldton-based Abrolhos Island Tours operates half-day chartered floatplane trips to this tropical archipelago of 122 islands, costing about $85 per person. Each excursion starts on the picturesque East Wallabi Island for a walk along the pristine sands of Turtle Bay and includes a snorkeling expedition and light refreshments. The underwater scenery is breathtaking, and it's not unusual to see lobsters walking across the reef...
...military, specifically the army, has long been more than just the defender of the flag. It fought the Japanese during World War II and the Dutch during the battle for independence, and soon established a nation-building role for itself as the only institution capable of holding the fractious archipelago together. Over the years, various leaders have dealt with the army differently?but always using the TNI as a means of staying in power. Sukarno, Megawati's father, played it off against the communists and Muslims. Suharto exploited it to enrich his family and cronies. After he fell, in keeping...