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INDONESIA: LAKE TOBA & BALI
EXPEDITION
JULY 31 - AUGUST 14, 2009
Beckoning naturalists since the time of Alfred Russell Wallace, Indonesia is geologically
dynamic, rich in wildlife, and possessed of astonishing human cultural diversity. This summer we
are going to three of the most exciting and distinctive place in Indonesia: North Sumatra,
Yogyakarta (Borobudur) on Java, and the island of Bali.
The highlight of our visit to North Sumatra will be Lake Toba, the largest volcanic caldera lake in
the world. Toba is situated at 3000 feet in elevation, and is a deep, elliptical body of water more
than 50 miles long. Dominating the lake is the uplifted dome of Samosir Island, ancestral home to
the Toba Batak people, a traditional culture isolated until the late 19th Century. The grace and
hospitality of the Batak provides a wonderful cultural counterpoint to Lake Toba's awesome
geological history.
The caldera, encircling Lake Toba, with walls more than 2000 feet high, was created
70,000 years ago in a massive volcanic explosion, by far the biggest of its kind in recent
geological history. The date of this explosion corresponds to a time of exceptionally cold
temperatures worldwide, and it is supposed that the hundreds of cubic miles of ash thrown into the
atmosphere by this event may have nearly extinguished the human race early in its history. Recent
genetic evidence indicates a population bottleneck of Toba-age, during which we were as rare then
as giant pandas are today.
North Sumatra is also home to the Sumatran Orangutan, one of the seven species of Great
Ape alive on the planet today. We will visit Bukit Lawang at the entrance to Gunung Leuser
National Park where some of these animals, rescued from captivity, have been released into their
natural environment.
The next leg of our journey will take us to Yogyakarta, Central Java, and the fabulous
Buddhist complex of Borobudur which rivals Angkor Wat as Asia’a finest expression of
ancient architecture.. Yogyakarta exemplifies Java's artistic and intellectual heritage. The city is
administered by a sultan who presides from his walled palace-compound or kraton. In Yogyakarta,
the fine arts of Gamelan, Javanese singing, and classical dance have evolved to a high level of
sophistication.
We will then fly onward to the island of Bali to enjoy a three night stay in the verdant, mountain-slope
town of Ubud, center for Balinese performing arts and the percussive, yet richly textured music of the
Gamelan orchestra. The distinctive animist-tinged Hindu culture of this fabled island sets Bali
apart from all the rest of Indonesia.
FOR A DETAILED BROCHURE, PLEASE PHONE TAUNYA, (800) 252-4910
BETCHART EXPEDITIONS, 17050 MONTEBELLO ROAD, CUPERTINO, CA 95014