Our program begins in the rolling green hills of Dieng. Sitting over 6,000 feet above sea level, Dieng comes from the Javanese term Di Hyang which means “Abode of the Gods.” The location of the plateau is home to ancient Hindu temples dating back from the mid 7th-8th century AD and geothermal colored lakes.

We’ll have the opportunity to embark on some short hikes to see the geothermal activity in the area, learn about the local agriculture, and take in a stunning sunrise over the surrounding volcanic peaks with the call to prayer echoing in the background.

Our group will then settle into home stays in the cultural and artistic heart of the island of Java, the city of Jogja. Rising like a sentinel over the rice fields, the sacred volcano Mount Merapi is said to be the source of a line of power that connects the Northern reaches of Yogyakarta to the gods of the sea off the southern coast.

Between these two points lies the palace of Jogja’s Sultan, a beloved figure who embodies the perspective of a people who practice a form of Islam that absorbed elements of early Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms. A dynamic center of learning, activism, and the arts, modern and ancient culture mingle on Jogja’s streets, where a diverse community from all over Indonesia mix in a social world informed by the Javanese philosophy of living.

In Jogja, we will lay the foundation for the trip with intensive language instruction, meetings and discussions with local community figures and environmental organizations, and a myriad of applicable lessons that will become important scaffolding for understanding the political, historical, and environmental complexity of Indonesia. On the weekends, we will have the opportunity to venture off for excursions in and around the city with our host families.

From the bustle of Java, we travel to Flores and are greeted by a very different pace of life. A forest-covered volcanic island in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Flores is home to incredible ecological, cultural, and linguistic diversity and during our time there we will have a chance to learn about a few of these gems. Unlike in Java and Southeast Sulawesi, the majority of people in Flores are Christian, owing to colonial Portuguese influence. There is also still much forested land so there is still time to preserve the biodiversity and livelihoods that depend on forests for survival.

While in Flores, we will live with host families in a remote village in the island’s central highlands, take day treks through the forest, and study the many environmental issues the people and ecosystems of the island face. We’ll also have a chance to learn about the geological history responsible for the dramatic volcanic topography (and otherworldly iridescent blue lakes) we will bear witness to.

Building upon all that we learn during our time in Java and Flores, students will work with instructors to design and lead their own expedition phase. During X-Phase, students design and implement the group’s daily schedule, building consensus on how to approach learning about local conservation issues, cultural sites, or village life.

Our final destination in Eastern Indonesia will be the Wakatobi National Marine Park in the province of Southeast Sulawesi. Consisting of 5,400 square miles of sea, islands, and coral reefs, the park is one of Indonesia’s best attempts to protect its incredible marine habitats. The park is home to several communities of the Bajau People (sometimes referred to in English as “sea nomads”), who traditionally lived the majority of their lives on boats.

Once we arrive in Wakatobi, we will take boats to Sampela, a Bajau community off the island of Kaledupa. Here students stay with host families in simple stilt houses built over the water and have the opportunity to join members of the community in their daily fishing practices, harvesting of sea cucumbers and visits to the nearby market. We will learn firsthand about the unique worldview and lifestyle of the Bajau and their deep-rooted and inextricable connection to the ocean, and how that lifestyle connects to their centuries old practices of Islam.

We will snorkel each day on the rainbow-colored reefs in the nearby waters, learn about coral reef and mangrove ecology, and have the opportunity to critically examine conservation projects in Wakatobi. Our life at sea is sure to be punctuated by hours of porch sitting with our families in the noon day sun, strolls along the boardwalks, and star gazing nights.

Settling into a retreat on the island of Wanci, we reflect on how far we have come and what we have experienced. Our final few days of the program will be dedicated to looking back at the passage we have taken, as well as forward, towards home. We will spend this time focusing on synthesis, integration, preparation, and celebration.