Read what expats have to say about what it's like to live in Indonesia, known as the Emerald of the Equator because of its location. Centuries of historical association with the Arabs, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British have played a role in forming today's Javanese and Balinese mindset and way of life. Just like other countries, Indonesia suffers from political and social problems, but its culture is ever as vital and ever as multi-faceted as its islands and people.