Bali, Java in My Dreams

From ancient temples to the muddy streets of Jakarta, from the volcano to the mini-cab, Christine Jordis leads us on an intoxicating, sensual tour of Indonesia. Relying on atmosphere and sensation over fact and statistic, Christine Jordis has written a deeply personal, vividly impressionistic account of several journeys to the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java. Dazzled, wide-eyed, but always astute, Jordis describes famous monuments, native dances, encounters with locals. She contours up the various literary and artistic figures who sought refuge and inspiration in Indonesia - Arthur Rimbaud, Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad - and brings ancient legends to life. But it is Jordis' physical and emotional response to the islands' richness and colour that makes "Bali, Java in My Dreams" an unforgettable journey in South-East Asia.