Indonesia

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. There are approximately 260 million people living in Indonesia. The official language is Bahasa, but English, Dutch, and Javanese are also widely spoken. There are more than 700 hundred languages spoken in Indonesia! The majority of the population practices Islam … in fact, this is the world’s largest Muslim country.

Major exports of the country include mineral fuels, animal or vegetable fats, electrical machinery, rubber, and mechanical appliance parts.

Bali, also known as the “Island of the Gods”, is known for its mountainous landscapes, volcanic hillsides, and flawless sandy beaches. In Bali, each village is required by law to construct at least three temples—the pura puseh (temple of origin), the pura desa (village temple), and the pura dalem (temple of the dead). Make sure to visit all three before you leave! Bali is also known for its scuba diving, massage therapy, and museums. Adventurers in Bali will be sure to play, learn, and relax during their stay!

I had a great time in Jakarta! I did a night foodie tour sampling the best Indonesian foods.

Jakarta street foodie tour

Next day checked out the colorful scenes in Fatahillah Square. The Alila was a great choice in Jakarta! I intend to go back to Indonesia’s remote islands—like Sumatra. Susan wants to go to Bali … hopefully soon!

Kenya

Country Information: The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. About 55 million people live in Kenya and the main languages are Swahili and English. Kenya is primarily Islamic, though there are smaller Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i populations as well as believers in...

Chile

Me with the Arancibia family, Hector, Paulita, Erika Valparaiso, Chile in 1981 During the summer of 1981, as a rising junior at Boca Raton High School, I applied to be an exchange student with American Field Service, or AFS. I was accepted into the program and...

Ecuador

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, 1995 Country Information:  In Ecuador, there are roughly 16 million Ecuadorians in a country slightly smaller than Nevada. The capital is Quito which is situated at the base of a volcano, making the city prone to earthquakes! In fact the...