Indonesia

indonesia
you could look it up

COME IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE CULTURE OF INDONESIA, WHERE THE FRUIT IS STINKY BUT DOGS ARE TASTY, WHERE FOLKS FILE TEETH, INSERT PALANGS AND CRY 'NYAK! NYAK!' ALL DAY LONG

AND IT MAKES IT EASIER TO FLOSS, TOO
Tooth filing is practiced in parts of Bali and Sumatra. Traditionally it is done to avoid being mistaken for a wild beast in the afterlife.

'LOOK, MR. STARR-PRESIDENT CLINTON SENT YOU A FRUIT BASKET!'
Locals and tourists agree that the prickly, soccer-ball-sized durian is a very tasty fruit. English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote in 1869, "The consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich butter-like custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but intermingled with it come wafts that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, brown sherry, and other incongruities. To eat durian is worth a voyage to the East." One drawback: It stinks. No, really stinks. One hearty soul said it was like eating blancmange on the toilet, which is why the government of Singapore has outlawed eating durian in crowded public places such as subways and ferries. Signs with a durian and a red slash through it can be seen throughout that city.

'NYUK! NYUKP OF COURSE, GETS YOU A STOOGE
Much as New Yorkers yell "Taxi!" to hail a cab, Indonesian merchants yell out the services or products they offer—"Sa-puuuuu!" screams a sweeper, "Spat-tuuuuu!" cries a nearby shoe repairman, "Aa-oooo!" calls a fish peddler and "Nyak! Nyak!" screeches the cooking-oil vendor.

ARE YOU SURE WE COULDN'T JUST SAY IT WITH FLOWERS?
A popular "marital aid" among tribesmen in Borneo is the palang—variously made from pig bristles, bamboo shavings, pieces of metal, beads or seeds—which is inserted into the penis.

FIRST DOG BUDDY: PRESIDENTIAL COMPANION OR TASTY BETWEEN-MEALS SNACK?
The Batak people of northern Sumatra and the Minahasa population of northern Sulawesi eat dog; they say black dogs are especially delicious.

NOWADAYS YOU SEE SCARIER HEADHUNTERS ON WALL STREET
The Wild Men of Borneo have, alas, been domesticated.

HAIR BY RICK GRADONE FOR FREDERIC FEKKAI BEAUTE DE PROVENCE; MAKEUP BY SHADE FOR MAREK & ASSOCIATES; STACEY WILLIAMS IN A SWIMSUIT BY JAMAICAN STYLE $48

STACEY WILLIAMS IN A SWIMSUIT BY DELFINA $169