1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: You're listening to part Time Genius, the production of Kaleidoscope 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. Guess what Will? 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: What's that Mango? 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: So we all know the holiday season is a busy 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: time for postal workers, and that is the case in 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: just about every country that celebrates the big winter holidays. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: But there is one place where the seasonal uptick in 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: mail volume hits parcel carriers harder than anywhere in the world, 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: and that is in Indonesia. 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,639 Speaker 2: Oh that's super interesting, And I actually didn't know how 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 2: many people would be celebrating Christmas there, Like, isn't it 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 2: a predominantly Muslim nation. 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, Indonesia actually has the largest population of Muslims in 14 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: the entire world, with about ninety percent of its citizens 15 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: practicing the faith. But Christmas is still widely celebrated there 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: as kind of a secular holiday, and gift giving is 17 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: a big part of the festivities. And the difference is 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: that most countries don't have to worry about the logistical 19 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: nightmare of delivering gifts to thousands of far flung islands. 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 2: Indonesian mailmen are basically in the same league as Sanna, 21 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: that's what you're saying. 22 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, they don't make their deliveries in a single night. 23 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: But they definitely have their work cut out for them, 24 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: and that's because Indonesia is composed of roughly eighteen thousand islands. 25 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,199 Speaker 1: I had no idea, but when taken together, they actually 26 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: spanned a distance about thirty two hundred miles, so basically 27 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: New York to Alaska. And with that much area to cover, 28 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: something is seemingly simple, as delivering the mail becomes this 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: huge problem. 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: But wait, no way, all of those islands have mail service, 31 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:31,279 Speaker 2: do they. 32 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: No, Some of the islands are pretty tiny and only 33 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: about a third of them are inhabited, but delivering mail 34 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 1: to two hundred and seventy million people spread across six 35 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: thousand islands is pretty nutty, seriously, And that's especially true 36 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: in recent years since the country's online shopping market has 37 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: grown exponentially since the COVID nineteen pandemic. So, for example, 38 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three, Indonesiaans spent more than fifty three 39 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: billion dollars online, which is almost as much as every 40 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: other Southeast Asian country put together. And just for reference, 41 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: the country's e commerce market in the pre COVID years 42 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: was only about eight billion. 43 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: Dollars per year. God, that's a huge increase. And so 44 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: what does that do to the country's infrastructure. 45 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it's really taking a toll on it. So 46 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: most of Indonesia's roads and bridges, they weren't designed for 47 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: this sort of heavy traffic, and a lot of the 48 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: more rural parts of the country aren't even accessible by truck, 49 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: which has actually forced cargo companies to get creative to 50 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: make deliveries. You've got everything from motorcycles to berry boats 51 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: to even the occasional ox cart. It's pretty amazing, but 52 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: it takes a massive fleet of drivers and warehouse workers 53 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: to coordinate all of this, and a certain number of 54 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: animals as well. Yeah, every island presents its own challenges there, 55 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: from getting stuck in traffic and the narrow side streets 56 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: of Jakarta to getting stuck in the mud and the 57 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: rice paddies of rural Sumatra, and the variety of terrain 58 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: and differing degrees of development across the many islands. That 59 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: all presents the significant challenge. Yeah, of course, so much 60 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: so that in the more isolated parts of the country, 61 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: a worker might deliver as I use, twenty packages over 62 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: the course of a twelve hour shift. 63 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: I mean, it sounds so frustrating, but I guess those 64 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 2: kinds of setbacks are part for the course. When you 65 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 2: live in a sprawling island nation, you know there's really 66 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: not much you can do about that. 67 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: And that is true, But the growing pains of e 68 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: commerce are just one small part of life in the islands, 69 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: and most people agree that the sheer variety of natural 70 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: landscapes and wildlife and cultural sites that Indonesia has to 71 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: offer all of that more than makes up for the 72 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: occasional late delivery. The biggest problem for a tourist perspective 73 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: is deciding which of the country's many islands to visit 74 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: and which experiences to try once you get there. But 75 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: hopefully today's episode will help narrow it down for anyone 76 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: trying to make the trip for themselves. 77 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: That's right, but since we have seventeen thousand plus islands 78 00:03:43,240 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: to cover, I think we better dig in. Hey, their 79 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: podcast listeners, Welcome to Part Time Genius. I'm Will Pearson 80 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: and is always I'm joined by my good friend mangesh 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: hot Ticketter and on the other side of the soundproof 82 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 2: glass reading a well worn copy of Eat, Pray Love. 83 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: That's our friend and producer Dylan Fagan. He's a little 84 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: late to the party on this one. Didn't go as 85 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: all out as he does sometimes. But you know what, 86 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 2: you can't do something huge every single time, even for 87 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: somebody as amazing as Dylan. But since the love part 88 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: of the book takes place in Bali, Indonesia, he's right 89 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: on time for today's show. 90 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know if you noticed, but he 91 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: does have empty containers from a dozen different pasta dishes 92 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: in the corner, and she just blasting Madonna's like a 93 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: prayer a few minutes ago. 94 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: So I think he's gast his. 95 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: Way through the Eaton Pray Apart just to get to 96 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: the love. But okay, once again Dylan is hitting a 97 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: bull's eye. But believe it or not, the book and 98 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: movie Eat Pray Love was actually a lot of people's 99 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: first touch point with Indonesia. Yeah, and before the book 100 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: came out in two thousand and six, the number of 101 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: international tourists who visited Bali each year hovered around one 102 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: point three million, but within a few years the number doubled, 103 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: and then there was an even bigger surge after the 104 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: movie was released in twenty ten. You can even rent 105 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: out the villa where Julia Roberts stayed on Airbnb, which 106 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: is amazing and we should probably do a couple of years. 107 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: The momentum from the movie is still in effect. Over 108 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: a decade later, more than five million foreign visitors now 109 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: take a trip to Bali each year, making it not 110 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: only the most visited island in Indonesia, but one of 111 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: the most popular destinations in the world. 112 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: It is funny that Bali is the only part of 113 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 2: the country that most people experience because from what I've 114 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: read this week, it's kind of an outlier in terms 115 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: of culture. For example, you mentioned that the vast majority 116 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: of Indonesians are Muslim, but in Bali most residents are 117 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: actually Hindu. And what's interesting though, is that the Balinese 118 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: people have developed the distinct take on the religion, blending 119 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: kind of the traditions of Indian and Duism and aspects 120 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: of Buddhism and local animistic beliefs. So, in addition to 121 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: worshiping the three main gods of Hinduism Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, 122 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: Balanese Hindus revere a series of ancestral gods or dewa 123 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 2: who are specific to the island. It's pretty interesting. 124 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 1: That's fascinating. And I know some of these religions, like Hinduism, 125 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,559 Speaker 1: tend to be sort of easy to morph into other things. 126 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: You find people all over southern India with like Jesus 127 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: on their altar along with other gods and stuff. But 128 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: tell me about these Deaywi I think you're calling them. 129 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, rice cultivation is essential to life on Bali, 130 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 2: so to help ensure a bountiful harvest, people make offerings 131 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: in prayers to de Wa three and that's the goddess 132 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 2: of rice and fertility. I like that. 133 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: So they use Hinduism as kind of a framework, but 134 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: then they layered on their own traditions and beliefs. 135 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And one good example of that give 136 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: and take is the teeth filing ritual that many Blanese 137 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,799 Speaker 2: undergo during adolescence. So much like traditional Hinduism, the Balanese 138 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 2: believe that there are six vices that humans need to 139 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: guard themselves against. These are desire, anger, reed, delusion, pride, 140 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 2: and envy. But in a break from Indian Hinduism, the 141 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: Bolanese believe that these evil traits enter the body through 142 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: the top six teeth and manifest themselves as sharp edges. 143 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: So with that in mind, Balanese teenagers undergo a symbolic 144 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: procedure in which the points of six upper teeth, two canines, 145 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: and four incisors they're filed down as a way to 146 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,239 Speaker 2: curb the evil forces within them. 147 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: That's really interesting, But it sounds like not all of 148 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: Bali's religious traditions are tied to Hinduism. 149 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: Right, That's exactly right, And some of them are completely homegrown. 150 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: For example, there's this one ancient practice you'll find in 151 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: Bolanese villages where they don't let a baby's feet touch 152 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: the ground for the first three months after birth. And 153 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 2: the custom is rooted in the belief that newborns are 154 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 2: still close to the spiritual realm and therefore have to 155 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: be treated as sacred visitors from a higher plane. Not 156 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: a bad. 157 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: Practice, I love that. And so that means they just 158 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: can't touch the floor, right. 159 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: Well, the floors are dirty, mango, so it's disrespectful to 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: let a holy visitor all around on one but it 161 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: was especially if they were at my house. You know, 162 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: that'd be a dirty floor. But more than that, the 163 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: Balanies don't consider a baby's sold to be fully tied 164 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,119 Speaker 2: to its body, so to encourage the soul to stick around. 165 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: The parents make sure to treat the baby well and 166 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 2: keep it clean. 167 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: That is so like culturally beautiful. That's a part of 168 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: why we can an anthplasis, right, like, like I love 169 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: that stuff, but it also seems so hard, Like how 170 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: do they keep the baby off the floor for three months? 171 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: Do they just constantly pass it around between the family. 172 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,679 Speaker 2: That's pretty much what happens. The baby can be placed 173 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: on a bed while at home, but otherwise they have 174 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: to be carried by whoever has the hands free. It's 175 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 2: like a continuous game of infant hot Potato, I guess. 176 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: And it lasts for the first one hundred and five 177 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 2: days or two hundred and ten in some communities. 178 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: Wow, So what happens after that? 179 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: There's a special ceremony where a pre sprinkles the baby's 180 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 2: feet with holy water and then places them on the 181 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 2: ground for the first time. It'd be pretty neat to 182 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: watch this. And there's also this moment where the infant 183 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: is finally given a proper name and it's only then 184 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 2: that they're considered a full earthly human. 185 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: That is really wonderful, But you know, I do not 186 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: envy those parents as if dealing with an infant isn't 187 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: hard en huh. 188 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 2: But think about their biceps in mango. I mean, they've 189 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: got to be so strong six months of carrying an 190 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: infant around. That's got to be a good workout. 191 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, a terrible one. But one of the other things 192 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm fascinated with about Indonesia, and this is there are 193 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: only a few things I remember learning about Indonesia from college. 194 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: One was that it's actually where the word third world 195 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 1: comes from. And it's not because it's beneath other countries. 196 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: It's that there are a whole group of countries that 197 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: came together and decided they didn't want to align with 198 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: the US or with the USSR. Yeah, and so they 199 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: formed a third world. And that's actually but it comes. 200 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: From more interesting I did not know that origin. 201 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: The other thing I remember is that there is a 202 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: lot of linguistic diversity in the country. And the official 203 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: tongue is Bahasa Indonesia, which is a modified version of Malay, 204 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: and pretty much everyone in the country can speak it. 205 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: But throughout the islands you'll also encounter a multitude of 206 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: local languages and dialects. In fact, there are more than 207 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: seven hundred languages spoken in Indonesia, which constitutes roughly ten 208 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: percent of all the languages in the world. 209 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 2: Isn't that what I say? 210 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: And that rich linguistic diversity, isn't you a reflection of 211 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: the dozens of different ethnic groups that call various islands home. 212 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 2: That's pretty amazing. It also sounds like it's like a 213 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: total nightmare for tourists who are trying to communicate with people. 214 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: I mean, asking for directions in one foreign language can 215 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: be challenging enough for tourists. 216 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, but ninety percent of the population actually 217 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 1: speaks Bahasa Indonesia. It's also a fairly easy language to learn, 218 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: and of course in the really touristy areas. Plus, these 219 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: people also speak English. So if you teach yourself some 220 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 1: basic phrases before your trip, I think you'll get by 221 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: just fine. 222 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I was going to say, I mean, most 223 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 2: American travelers wherever they're going. I don't know why we're 224 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 2: pretending like it's difficult for them to ask directions because 225 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: they're just if they don't know it, they'll just say 226 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 2: it louder in English. Right, But you know, language and 227 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 2: religion aren't the only areas where Indonesia's diversity really shines. 228 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: So the island nation is also home to thousands of 229 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 2: different species of plants and wildlife, including, and this is 230 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: super cool, the world's largest lizard, the ten foot long 231 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: Komodo dragon, and the world's largest and most pungent flower, 232 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 2: the fifteen pound raft Lesia, or the corpse flower as 233 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: it's known. 234 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, the size of the floora in fauna there really 235 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: struck out to me as well. You might assume that 236 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: everything in an island ecosystem would be pretty shrimpy, but 237 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: they've also got the Sumatran tiger, They've got Javin rhinoceros, like, 238 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: they're kind of grown big in Indonesia. 239 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 2: It's the Texas of that region, I guess, but I 240 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 2: should mention it's not just the islands themselves that sport 241 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: such hefty critters. Situated between the Indian Ocean and the 242 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: Pacific Ocean, the Indonesian seas are home to some big 243 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 2: time marine species like manna rays, dolphins, dogongs, which are 244 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,719 Speaker 2: like sea cows but also boast nearly six hundred species 245 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 2: of coral. 246 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: You know, I've got to be honest with you. I 247 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: had no idea there were six hundred species of coral. 248 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 2: That was the whole point of this episode, Mango, was 249 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: for you to learn that fact, and so now we 250 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: are done. Well, some of them would be pretty tough 251 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 2: to pick out in a line up, but it's a 252 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 2: stunning level of biodiversity. Nonetheless, Indonesia's reef system spans just 253 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: under twenty thousand square miles and represents about eighteen percent 254 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:15,599 Speaker 2: of the world's reefs. 255 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: Wow, so I'm guessing you should definitely book a boat 256 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: tour when you're there. 257 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: And maybe even a diving expedition to get the full effect. 258 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 2: But you know, for any listeners prone to see sickness, 259 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: keep in mind that you don't have to look underwater 260 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: to enjoy Indonesia's abundance of wildlife. You can just as 261 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 2: easily look up. And that's because the nation's islands boast 262 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 2: a full two percent of all the world's bird species, 263 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 2: more than two hundred. 264 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 1: In total, So biodiversity on land, in the sea, in 265 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: the air. Honestly, I do want to go there now, 266 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: but I also feel like we should be including a 267 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: part time genius coupon code for anyone who books their 268 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: travel with the words pega. 269 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. Well, as you pointed out, Indonesia is 270 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 2: definitely a biodiversity triple threat. In fact, Indonesia actually claims 271 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: the second highest level of biodiversity in the world world, 272 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: just after Brazil, which is why the region it occupies 273 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 2: is sometimes called the Amazon of the Seas. But what's 274 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: really incredible is that Indonesia still has the potential to 275 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 2: knock Brazil out of the top spot because many of 276 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: its more remote islands have never been fully explored. 277 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: That is insane. 278 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: I had no idea. Yeah, In fact, there are still 279 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: new species being discovered there, like in twenty twenty, a 280 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: research team from the National University of Singapore reported on 281 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 2: a treasure trove of new bird species they found while 282 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 2: exploring an isolated trio of islands called the Wallashian Island Chain, 283 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: and their discovery was especially notable because while there are 284 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 2: more than ten thousand new animal species found there on 285 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: average each year, very few of them are birds. 286 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: You know, I always love every year when you see 287 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: that like catalog of new animals and it's like a 288 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: new animal just drawt It's so fun. But I'm curious, 289 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: why is it that birds aren't part of this well 290 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: it's largely because. 291 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 2: Birds are one of the most highly studied animal groups 292 00:13:57,840 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 2: on the planet and we have a pretty good idea 293 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: of which one are still out there. And as a result, 294 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 2: less than two hundred new bird species have been identified 295 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: over the past thirty years. And that's why it's such 296 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: a big deal. When the team discovered a whopping ten 297 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 2: new species of songbirds in Indonesia, it was the first 298 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 2: time in more than one hundred years that so many 299 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: new bird species were identified at the same time in 300 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: one small area. And with that discovery comes the hope 301 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 2: that other remote regions could also be hiding untapped pockets 302 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 2: of biological diversity. The trick is defined and protect them 303 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 2: before climate change and other human related activities prevent us 304 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 2: from studying them. 305 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: Well, I definitely want to talk a little bit more 306 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: about birds and about the Harry Potter effect. But before 307 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: we do that, let's take a quick break. 308 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Part Time Genius, where we're making our 309 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 2: way through through Indonesia. Fascinating place and Mango, did you 310 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 2: say something about Harry Potter before the break? It was 311 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 2: quite a tease there. 312 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: I did. And this has to do with birds and 313 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: bad human behavior. So According to a twenty seventeen study, 314 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: the popularity of the Harry Potter series led to a 315 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: significant rise in black market owl trading. Not something I 316 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: was expecting. Apparently, the wild caught birds had always been 317 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: sold there as pets, just in really small numbers. It's 318 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: less than point oh six percent of the birds sold 319 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: in market before two thousand and two. But then the 320 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: Harry Potter books come out and the movies are released 321 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: in Indonesia, and by two thousand and eight the number 322 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: has shot up to zero point four to three percent 323 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: of the market. 324 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: I mean, I will acknowledge that that is a pretty 325 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 2: steep uptick, but do we really know that Harry Potter's 326 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 2: to blame? Like there could be other factors at play here, right, Yeah? 327 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 2: I mean outcast has. 328 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: Owls as well, so maybe that was the reason. 329 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: That's it, But that's it. 330 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: As the researchers noted in their study quote, in the past, 331 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: owls were collectively known as burung han to or ghost birds, 332 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: but in the bird markets now they are commonly referred 333 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: to as brewing Harry Potter or Harry Potter birds. 334 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: I mean that I feel like I take back what 335 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: I said earlier. I feel like, that's pretty good evidence. 336 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and since Indonesia doesn't really keep crack of its 337 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: dative owl population, it is tough to say to what 338 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: extent the owl craze is affecting the wild owl population. 339 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: The studies authors have encouraged the Indonesian government to make 340 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: owls of protected species to help cut down on this 341 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: legal trade. But you know, at the time of this recording, 342 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: it's the line happened yet. 343 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I'll do my part. I will scratch off 344 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: owls from my souvenir shopping list there and thankfully though 345 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: Indonesia has no shortage of unique legal mementos to remember 346 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: your trip by. 347 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: So what do you think about it? Because when I 348 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: looked online, it seemed like most people were either giving 349 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: like decorative mini surfboards or wooden fallacies, neither of which 350 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: I really want to take home in a suitcase. 351 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, both of those are very popular choices and tourist 352 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: spots like Bali, but neither is what you'll call culturally authentic, 353 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 2: I guess. And another famous but TACKI offering is the 354 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 2: so called civet cat poop coffee or kobe luoc. I'm 355 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: probably not pronouncing that correct. In fact, I'm guaranteed I'm 356 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: not pronouncing that correctly, But this is basically overpriced coffee 357 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 2: beans that have passed through the digestive tract of wild 358 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 2: civet cats. Now, supposedly the beans produce a smooth or 359 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: less acidic coffee with notes of caramel and chocolate. I 360 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 2: guess they've been eating caramel and chocolate, and that's because 361 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 2: they've been fermented naturally in the animal's stomach. But unless 362 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 2: you're a die hard coffee lover, you probably won't be 363 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 2: able to taste the difference. Plus, you know, the coffee 364 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 2: cherries have been pooped out by an animal, which some 365 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 2: people would consider disgusting. 366 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 1: You know some people, well, I actually remember talking about 367 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 1: that while ago in our coffee episode. So we're not 368 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: doing coffee, we're not doing many surfboards. What is left 369 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: to buy? 370 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: Well, there are a few strong contenders, depending on which 371 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 2: islands you visit. For example, on some of the smaller islands, 372 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 2: you'll find traditional villages renowned for wooden carvings, handcraft is 373 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,479 Speaker 2: silver jewelry, and fresh made chocolate sourced from local cacao beans. 374 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 2: But no matter which part of Indonesia you visit, you'll 375 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: have the chance to buy one of the nation's most 376 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 2: iconic and culturally meaningful products, which is the hand dyed 377 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: fabric known as batique, found in everyday clothing as well 378 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: as in consumer goods running the gamut from pillowcases do 379 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 2: iPad covers. The traditional fabric is an indelible symbol of 380 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 2: Indonesian identity, and. 381 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: This is something that's exclusively found. 382 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 2: On the islands. Not exactly. You can definitely find in 383 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 2: other countries like China and Egypt. But the dying techniques 384 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: that's used to make it was first developed in Indonesia, 385 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 2: and the process has been passed down within families from 386 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 2: one generation to the next, and different parts of the 387 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 2: country have their own characteristic designs and colors. For example, 388 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 2: in Central Java, most batique garments are shades of brown 389 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 2: and cream, while coastal communities tend to prefer brighter shades. 390 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: So while you were talking, while you're just yapping over 391 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: there at some pictures and these are intricate, I mean, 392 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: they are elaborate, and they're really beautiful, but none of 393 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: this is being stitched on right, like you said, these 394 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 1: patterns are dyed by hand. 395 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the process is every bit is painstaking as 396 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 2: it sounds. So the way it works is that crafts 397 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 2: people draw the designs onto cotton and silk using dots 398 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 2: and lines of hot wax, which they apply with a 399 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 2: special tool basically a small copper container with a pipe 400 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 2: spout at the end of it. Now, once the wax cools, 401 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 2: the cloth is soaked in one color of dye, and 402 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 2: then the wax is removed with boiling water. 403 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: Oh that's cool. So the wax kind of access a 404 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 1: barrier to the diet. That's a really awesome process. 405 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, but as you probably noted, most batigue garments use 406 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 2: multiple overlapping colors, and to achieve that, the artisan has 407 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 2: to repeat the wax and dye process over and over, 408 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 2: using different color dyes and different parts of the garment. 409 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 2: So it takes a lot of time and planning to 410 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 2: pull off this complicated pattern, making each finished product a 411 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 2: distinct work of art. 412 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,360 Speaker 1: That is amazing. But even though all that work goes 413 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: into making but clothing. You said that people wear this 414 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: in everyday lives. It's not just for like special occasions. 415 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 2: It kind of depends. It's not uncommon to wear less 416 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 2: ornate batique fabrics to work or school, but other varieties 417 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 2: are reserved for marriage, celebrations and performance are like puppet theater, 418 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 2: you know, different things like that. But there are also 419 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 2: lots of cultural rituals involving batique. For instance, during the 420 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 2: seventh month of pregnancy, it's customary for the mother to 421 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: try on seven batique garments, each with motifs that represent 422 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 2: different blessings for the child. Then once the child is born, 423 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 2: they usually carry these batique slings that are also decorated 424 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 2: with good luck symbols. But that's really just the tip 425 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: of the iceberg. There's another ritual in which royal batique 426 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 2: garments are cast into a volcano to prevent eruptions. 427 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:46,479 Speaker 1: Huh. 428 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 2: And then Indonesian funerals, the dead are shrouded in batique 429 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 2: cloth for their journey into the afterlife. I really like that. 430 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: So they're using batique and everything from like the cradle 431 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: to the grave. 432 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And Indonesian bautique plays such a crucial 433 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 2: role in religion and culture and day to day lives 434 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 2: of Indonesian It was actually added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural 435 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: Heritage of Humanity list. This was back in two thousand 436 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: and nine. 437 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: That is an amazing list title. 438 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 2: It's an impressive list, but the hope is that by 439 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 2: raising international awareness of the art form, the batique tradition 440 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 2: will reach a wider audience and encourage younger generations to 441 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 2: take up the practice. 442 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: Well, since you brought up this UNESCO list, there's another 443 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: Indonesian contribution that we should talk about. It is a 444 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: medicinal drink. It's called Jamu, and just like batigue, no 445 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: trip to Indonesia would be complete without giving it a try. 446 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 2: I mean, I knew UNESCO was interested in architecture and 447 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 2: nature and art forms, but I didn't know that beverages 448 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 2: would actually be part of the mix. 449 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, they aren't in most cases, but UNESCO does protect 450 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: ancient wellness traditions things like yoga, massage or even acupuncture, 451 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: And because Jamu has this long history as a medical elixir, 452 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: it ends up getting a spot on the list. But basically, 453 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 1: Jamu is thought to date back to at least the 454 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: eighth century CE, and while the herbal ingredients vary depending 455 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: on customers age, lifestyle, and health conditions, they typically include 456 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: things like ginger, lime, turmeric, and tamarind. 457 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 2: Which doesn't sound half bad. 458 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: Actually, yeah, I feel like when you go to these 459 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: juice places, it's the stuff in elixirs that you got there. 460 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: But you don't actually have to ask your doctor about jammu. 461 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: It's readily available at cafes and markets all throughout Indonesia, 462 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: and the recipes vary by region. But for the best results, 463 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: you actually want to find a trained jamu maker who 464 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: can tailor the beverage to fit your needs. 465 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 2: So anyone can make jamu, but only professionals know how 466 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: to make it well. 467 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, the proper techniques have been handed down through generations, 468 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: and while some practitioners learn the craft independently, others actually 469 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: train under veteran jamu makers or they can even study 470 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: at universities. And there's definitely a communal aspect to the drink. 471 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: Some people only blend jamu for their friends and relatives, 472 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: like as a home remedy, and it's a sign of 473 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: a strong social bond and someone prepares it for you, 474 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 1: and even on the commercial side, but there's this level 475 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: of intimacy between the seller and the customer because you 476 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: have to divulge personal details for someone to make it 477 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: for you properly and then trust that they'll respect your privacy. 478 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: That's wild. I love how it's got the same communal 479 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 2: vibes of making chicken soup for a sick neighbor, you know, 480 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: assuming you could fine tune the soup to match their 481 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,479 Speaker 2: age and lifestyle. I don't know if that makes me 482 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 2: more or less inclined to try it, but I guess 483 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 2: i'll decide when I get there. 484 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, you might need it. I mean, nothing cools you 485 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: down like an iced cold cup of Jammu. But before 486 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: you go looking for one of those, why don't we 487 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: do a quick fact off. Some listeners may have noticed 488 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: that we never mentioned the exact number of islands in Indonesia, 489 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: and there's a very good reason for that. Nobody knows it. 490 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: The nation has a multitude of extremely small land masses 491 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 1: in its territory, many of which don't even have names, 492 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: and over the years, the government has submitted varying estimates 493 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: of the total number, ranging anywhere from thirteen thousand to 494 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: twenty five thousand islands. The most recent guests based on 495 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: satellite surveys, is that Indonesia consists of seventeen thousand, five 496 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: hundred eight islands, but according to the UN, which only 497 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: recognizes the named islands, the official number stands at sixteen thousand, 498 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: fifty six. Of course, if all of that wasn't confusing enough, 499 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: recent reports show that a handful of uninhabited islands in 500 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: Indonesia have now been completely submerged due to rising sea 501 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: levels and coastal erosions. So the true number might be 502 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: closer to seventeen thousand, five hundred four, or maybe even lower, 503 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: depending on when. 504 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 2: You hear this. It does feel like at this point, 505 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,680 Speaker 2: even using something like AI, just like taking a survey 506 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 2: of the space, taking a satellite picture of the space, 507 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 2: that we could know this number, but it just tells 508 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 2: you just how many islands. 509 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is incredible, all right. 510 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 2: So we talked a lot about the natural beauty of Indonesia, 511 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: but it's worth keeping in mind that some of that 512 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 2: beauty can be very dangerous or even deadly. And that's 513 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 2: because the Indonesian islands happened to stretch across the Pacific Oceans, 514 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 2: so called Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic rupt 515 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 2: occur almost daily. According to nat GEO, the Ring of 516 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 2: Fire is home to seventy five percent of the world's 517 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: volcanoes and ninety percent of earthquakes, and Indonesia contains more 518 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 2: active volcanoes than any other country on Earth at around 519 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 2: one hundred and thirty. The most threatening of the bunch 520 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 2: is probably Mount Tambora. In eighteen fifteen, the mountain exploded 521 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 2: in the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history, claiming the 522 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 2: lies of at least ten thousand islanders. Now, the good 523 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 2: news is that most eruptions are far less catastrophic, and 524 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: visitors can easily monitor the region's volcanic activity by using 525 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 2: an app called Volcano Discovery. It provides up to the 526 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,719 Speaker 2: moment details and alerts for almost two hundred Indonesia volcanoes. 527 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of dangerous things in Indonesia, another risky thing 528 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: you might want to avoid is their version of the 529 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: Sasquatch of a short man known as rong Pendec. He 530 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 1: apparently runs through the woods cause all sorts of chaos, 531 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: but stories claim that the creature has feet that face backwards, 532 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: so it can't be tracked through the forests. 533 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 2: All right, Well, here's a weird one that you probably 534 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 2: haven't heard before. Indonesia is one of the world's largest 535 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 2: exporters of frogs legs, with the majority being caught in 536 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 2: their natural habitat on the island of Java. But over 537 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 2: time there's been a massive uptick in the number of 538 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 2: frog legs exported to foreign countries, rising from around twenty 539 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: eight tons in nineteen sixty nine to around fifty six 540 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 2: hundred tons in nineteen ninety two. Can you imagine fifty 541 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 2: six hundred tons of just frog legs. That's got to 542 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 2: be a lot of frog legs. Apparently the end of 543 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: frogs left so many frogs without their legs, and apparently 544 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 2: the increased them from a nineteen eighty five ban on 545 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 2: exports from India and Pakistan, which had formerly been the 546 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,719 Speaker 2: chief exporter of edible frogs. Now this wasn't just a 547 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: culinary fat either. In the last decade, Europe alone has 548 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 2: imported forty six hundred tons of frog's legs from Indonesia 549 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 2: each year, with France, Belgium and the Netherlands being their 550 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 2: biggest customers. 551 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: That is just insane. I mean, I've been to India 552 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: so many times and I've never been offered frog's legs. 553 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 2: I didn't know that it was missing out, even. 554 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: Something that they exported. It also reminds me of the 555 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: beginning of the Muppet movie but where Kermit just avoid 556 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 1: is getting caught by Doc Coffer. 557 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 2: That's pretty great. For most of our listeners who don't 558 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 2: know this, probably once a day Mango will say, you know, 559 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 2: that reminds me of the Muffett movie. 560 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 1: Well, we talked earlier about the ongoing discovery of new 561 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: animal species in Indonesia, but back in twenty seventeen, the 562 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: Ancient Isles were also the site of an exciting new 563 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 1: archaeological discovery. And this is on the Indonesian island it's 564 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: called Sula Wasi, and a research team there found a 565 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 1: cave painting that's now thought to be the earliest known 566 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: example of visual storytelling. Wow. Yeah. The image was painted 567 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: with a red pigment on the walls of a limestone cave, 568 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: and it depicts a pig alongside three human like figures. 569 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: Two of the figures seemed to be confronting the pig 570 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: with sticklike objects, while the third person is shown upside 571 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: down with its legs spread apart and is reaching towards 572 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: the pig's head. So it isn't entirely clear what's going on, 573 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: but it's clearly trying to tell some kind of story anyway. 574 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: So researchers at Griffith University in Australia used a new 575 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: dating technique to determine the age of the rock art, 576 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: and they revealed that it was painted approximately fifty one thousand, 577 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:20,360 Speaker 1: two hundred years ago. 578 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 2: Wow, that actually makes it the. 579 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: Oldest example of human storytelling on record, beating the previous 580 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: bit of evidence by more than three thousand years. 581 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 2: That is wise. 582 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: Is that incredible? All right? 583 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 2: Well, here's a nice feel good fact I've found about 584 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: Indonesia's first all women firefighting squad. It's called the Power 585 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 2: of Mama, and for the past three years, the volunteer 586 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 2: members have been tirelessly working to extinguish wildfires and protect 587 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 2: the peat lands and the Indonesian part of Borneo. In 588 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 2: recent years, many of the region's peat swamps have been 589 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: drained to make way for oil palm cultivation. Now, unfortunately, 590 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 2: this makes the peat lands much more susceptible to wildfires, 591 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: which of course pose a serious threat not only the 592 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: local humans, but to wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. 593 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: And that's where the Power of Mama comes in now. 594 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 2: The group was established in twenty twenty two with forty 595 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 2: four women volunteers, but it's since grown to just under 596 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 2: one hundred members. From six local villages ages ranging from 597 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 2: nineteen to sixty. Now, during the dry season, when the 598 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 2: fire risk is at its worst, the mamus patrol the 599 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:27,959 Speaker 2: rainforest of Borneo to scout potential blazes. They generally conduct 600 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 2: their search on motorbikes, or if a fire is bought 601 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 2: it and a tough to reach area, they'll use wooden 602 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 2: canoes and once they reach the fire, they'll assess its 603 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 2: scope with an aerial drone and then jump into action 604 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 2: with water pumps and hoses to douse the flames before 605 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 2: they can spread. And at first, men in the village 606 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 2: mocked the idea of women firefighters, but after the mam 607 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 2: has helped save their farms from an encroaching blaze, they 608 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 2: quickly change their tune and now invite the women to 609 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 2: meetings to coordinate fire defense strategies. As the group's founder 610 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,959 Speaker 2: put it, quote, for a long time women were overlooked, 611 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 2: but now everyone realizes that they play an important role 612 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 2: in society. 613 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: I love this idea of a group of mamas saving 614 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: the environment over there, and as much as I love 615 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 1: my short sasquash fact, I think I'm gonna have to 616 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: give it to you this week. 617 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 2: Well, I couldn't have done it without the power of Mama, 618 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 2: So Mama's this one's for you. 619 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: Well that's it for today's Part Time Genius From Gabe, Mary, Dylan, 620 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: Will and myself. Thank you so much for listening. We 621 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: know that there are so many podcasts out there and 622 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: we appreciate your spending time with us. If you enjoyed 623 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: this episode, then come check us out on Instagram. Our 624 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: handle is at part Time Genius, or rate and review 625 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: the show on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to tune 626 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: in for another brand new episode next week. Part Time 627 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: Genius is a production of Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio. This show 628 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: is hosted by Will Pearson and Me Mongais articular and 629 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: research by our goodpal Mary Philip Sandy. Today's episode was 630 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: engineered and produced by the wonderful Dylan Fagan with support. 631 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 2: From Tyler Klang. 632 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: The show is executive produced for iHeart by Katrina Norvell 633 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: and Ali Perry, with social media support from Sasha Gay, 634 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:22,239 Speaker 1: trustee Dara Potts and Viney Shorey. For more podcasts from 635 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 1: Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 636 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.