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Indonesia is draped like a jeweled necklace spanning some 3,200 miles from Australia to the mainland of Asia. The archipelago with its approximately 17,000 islands is the world's largest island nation. It is a land replete with an ancient and fascinating history that includes the dauntless migrations of early tribal peoples, the rise of great Hindu and Buddhist civilizations, and the evolution of refined Islamic court cultures.

Today, Indonesia is composed of numerous ethnic group which speak roughly 248 distinct languages. Most of these groups still continue to adhere to many of their time honored custom. As a result of this cultural conservatism, the breadth and richness of Indonesia's cultural diversity is simply staggering. Consequently, Indonesia still abounds with numerous colorful artistic traditions that are an outgrowth of its many distinct historical traditions.