Crowded House
Not far from the shores of Sumbawa is Bungin, a small island with a population density 44 times that of Java Island. Some even say it is the most-dense island in the world. About 3,000 people occupy an area no larger than 9 hectares. From year to year, the number of people keeps rising, while the land remains the same. But the Bungin people love their island home, refusing to live elsewhere. Tempo English Edition looks at a congested yet environmentally friendly way of life.
June 8, 2011
THE sun was right overhead when Tempo reached the old pier of Labuhan Alas, in Alas subdistrict, about 70 kilometers from the city of Sumbawa Besar on Sumbawa Island. Although its rays scorched the skin, a breeze occasionally cooled the air. It didn't take long before the loud sound of an ojek or motorcycle taxi could be heard, "Ojek ke Bu? Melako? (Do you want a ride? Where to?)" the driver asked. The motorcycle ride was a bit shaky as the road was
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