Really Indonesia is my second home. I have lived in this beautiful country with my family for about four years (1970-73) as a member of the UNESCO/FUNDWI team. My headquarters was Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya (formerly called West Irian). Jayapura is a beautiful town. Imagine Darjeeling on a sea shore, and you can visualise Jayapura. When we arrived there in 1970, Jayapura was pretty primitive in all respects. Very few Chinese shops selling some products of bare necessity. Within a year of our arrival, the market had many more products. The University of Chenderawasih was there with a Teacher Training College. Indonesia is a large Archipelago with people of all religions, although the majority people were Muslims. Indonesia, according to me, was and is more secular in spirits than India. Her State Motto is Bhinneka Tungallika, meaning Unity amidst Diversity. Inter-religious marriages are the order of the day and are not limited to only a few rich class. One can marry from another religion, and the child has the freedom to choose a third religion. For example, when a Hindu marries a Muslim, the ceremony is held twice, in the Temple and in the Mosque. You can’t know the religion of a person from his or her name. My friend Tony Siddharta was neither a Christian nor a Hindu; he was a Muislim. Divorce is there, but is not associated with any ill feeling from either side. Women of Indonesia are more efficient than men. They don their Sarong and Kabaya in formal occasions. On other occasions, they are in Western attire. Corruption is there at every level, and has been formalised. Indonesian Railways try to be very modern. When you go to the Dining Car, a pretty hostess takes care of you. Educational system in the country has been totally revolutionalised since the Dutch days. When the Dutch left Indonesia, they destroyed everything. In Java, even today, one finds Bahasa Indonesia , the national language written in the Devnagari Script. Nothing to be surprised, because our Hindu Kings went there with the Hindu Customs, and Indian language. There is a village in Sumatra called Kampung (village) Kling (Kalinga). As an Oriya I feel proud, because of our past relationship with Indonesia. Buddhist Boroboddur is a wonder of the world, and the Hindu Temple Prambanan looks like the one from Khajurao. Indonesina Boutique is very famous, and those made in Solo (Java) have a very promising export market. Bandung is a nice Hill Station. Garments made here compete with those made in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Indonesian food is very tasty. The Soup, Noodles and Chop Soy are liked by foreigners. In Indonesia, people take rice for breakfast, lunch aznd dinner.The climate is hot, but there is cool breeze in the evening. Ganesha is worshipped everywhere. In a Muslim city named Purbodadi (Java) I saw a huge statue of Ganesha in the City Square. The old people love chewing pan. Rosewood crafts are very beautiful, and expensive too. I can go on, but let me conclude by saying that I miss my second home always and every time.