JAVA IS HOME to 141 million people, slightly more than Russia, which is over 120 times larger. More than half of all Indonesians live on this 1000km long island, which hosts ancient Buddhist and Hindu monuments, mountains, beaches, royal cities, volcanoes and more.
Just off its northern coast is Madura, where the annual bull racing festival takes place.

Bull racing attracts big crowds and big prizes. Events move around the island at the end of the dry season.

Standing on a pole, holding the tail of two angry bulls, and charging at full speed. What could possibly go wrong?

A jockey holds on for dear life to the tails of his bulls, bouncing along on his chariot without wheels.

The population of the capital, Jakarta, swells by many milions in the day time as people come in for work.

Merdeka Square, Jakarta. The obelisk is Suharto's gift to the country, although he did steal a few billion dollars.