Thousand Island Nation

Thousand Island Nation Matt + Chris explore the Indonesian Archipelago

For a month we traveled through Java, Sumba, Lombok, and Bali, each island with distinct language, culture, landmarks, and cuisine

Traveling light with few plans, we set off for a mix of history, hard-earned adventure, meaningful exchanges, and a little relaxation

We returned with far more than when we left, more hopeful about the human spirit and this moment in time

Heartfelt thanks to our dear friends and family who enriched this trip. You mean the world to us

Yogyakarta is the cultural epicenter of Indonesia's big island Java

Our first hike was during sunrise through the 9th century Hindu temple Prambanan

Next stop was Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang

The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, topped by a central dome

Atop the UNESCO World Heritage Site are 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa

The temple is the embodiment of the buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana

After circling each level, we reached the top a little sweaty but buoyant as ever

Yogyakarta has much to offer

we explored the city via tuktuk, attended a batik school where students were painting, went to cooking classes, ate delicious food...

... and relaxed at our hostel.

from yogyakarta we went headed to sumba, Located in the East Nusa Tenggara province

Here the majority of people live in traditional tribal communities and practice a local animistic religion - Marapu

Sumba is 4,270 square miles with an estimated population of 755,000

To safely explore the island, we hired Yuliana, the sole female guide on Sumba who for three days, took us to scenic areas and facilitated exchanges with local tribes

First stop – the local market!

PRISTINE COASTLINE, HIDDEN LAGOONS, AND ANCIENT TRIBES CALLED US TO WEST SUMBA

Weekuri is a remote lagoon off Sumba's west coast

We swam, jumped off rocks, chased fish, and laughed with these young fellas

At wainyapu, The Chief welcomed us to walk through the village

AMONG KODI PEOPLE, A COMMUNITY COMES BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL. SO DISTINCT FROM WESTERN CULTURE THAT NO TRANSLATION EXISTS FOR 'THANK YOU.' YOU SIMPLY DO FOR OTHERS AS PART OF A WHOLE

pointed roofs emulate hands clasped overhead in prayer to the sky where ancestors preside

sumba's terrain included desert, grasslands, coastline and jungle

Down a steep ravine through jungle we found Mbawana beach

Ratenggaro is an ancient community on the coast

remnants of the original village location date back 800 years washed into the ocean

We entered the village during a burial ceremony. A deceased community member was moved to a tomb. A massive celebration ensued. Hundreds gathered in the village square as six buffalo and two pigs were butchered to honor the deceased

The gathering was calm and joyful. Kids gathered around Chris. We were deeply fortunate to happen upon this ritual

At the end of the ceremony, each family would go home with 20 - 30 kilos of meat

From the coast we ventured into Sumba's cloud forests

Matayangu waterfall in central Sumba

Children walking to school

Children were ever-curious and always cast a smile

Cattle graze rice fields in southern Sumba after the grain harvest

Yuliana's village outside Waikabubak practices the local weaving tradition – Ikat

From Sumba we headed to the island of lombok. Our first stop - a three-day trek into mount Rinjani

Over three days we covered 24 miles, gained 12,046 feet, descended 12,984 feet

HAGGARD AND HAPPY After day one

Base camp along the crater to summit Rinjani

From here hiker's attempt to summit the peak at dawn, also known as the "western shuffle"

Atop Rinjani!

Second day of the trek we descended in and out of the Volcano's crater

segara anak lake in the caldera

For $15 a day, young men balance 30-40 kilos of food, water, and shelter in baskets woven via a wood pole braced along their spine... if not in flip flops... barefoot

Through the clouds we hiked/ climbed out of Rinjani's crater

Not only did our guide and porters carry our equipment, they also prepared our meals!

L-R: CHANTAL, JOSHUA, DEBU, ADE, CHRIS, BAYA, MATT

From the caldera to the coast, we settled comfortably on a beautiful beach in southern Lombok

We read books, ate delicious food, swam in crystal clear waters, and hit repeat - for four days straight

Our final week we spent in Bali, a storied Indonesian island

Our homestay in Ubud was teeming with flora

By day Ubud's Market has every tourist tchotchke imaginable. Early morning, however, the same market transforms into a lively scene where locals commune and buy produce

Babi guling – which translates to “turning pig” – is perhaps Bali's most quintessential dining experience

Chris sniffed out the best local joint. The pork was by every measure delectable. I was so impressed, I asked the chef if I could photograph the preparation process

Men prepare babi guling by slowly cooking the pig over hot coals for 8-10 hours, managing the fire, and basting the animal in spices and coconut water

Outside Ubud were Bali's wondrous landscapes

Jatiluwih village is covered with terraced rice fields against Mount Batukaru and Agung. The community uses traditional Balinese irrigation known as subak, the community-based water management system

Subak reflects the philosophy Tri Hita Karana, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world, and nature

This philosophy was born of the cultural exchange between Bali and India over the past 2,000 years and has shaped Bali's landscape

No vacation to an outlying tropical archipelago is complete without bird watchers tracking spectacular birds!

Our final stop en route back to the States was Tokyo, Japan. We rested, went sightseeing in Tokyo, and visited lifelong friends – the Okajima and Chikamatsu families

It had been eight years since graduate school, when we last saw each other

Appreciate