Click here to print in black and white.

A Sense of Indonesia

Once you have heard

the call for prayer floating on the air,

the haunting cry of gibbons,

laughter of hornbills everywhere...

Once you have smelled

ground spices and dried fish,

rain forest's fragrant flowers,

a warm nasi goreng dish...

Once you have felt

tropical nights wrap you in a hug,

rain pouring on your skin,

and a kite's upward tug...

Once you have seen

palm-oil plantations without end,

the joy of dancing children,

the wise old eyes of an elephant...

Then my Indonesia you will know,

and you will not want to leave,

always dream of coming back

to Java, Sumatra, Borneo.