What Country Are These From?

Java was converted to Islam, after the initial conversions, through local evangelising. The foreign invaders were the Portuguese, Dutch and English. Actually, Hinduism wasn't entirely eliminated from Java. There are still a few Javanese Hindu villages high up on Mount Bromo in East Java. I visited Bromo once - watching the sunrise over lip of the volcano is a significant tourist attraction - and was all agog to see these last Hindu remnants. I had visions of a sort of little Bali. Not a bit of it. The villagers are very awake to the possibilities of tourism to Bromo, but signs of the Hindu culture are scarcely to be seen. Another historical remnant well worth seeing if you ever find yourself in Central Java is Candi Sukuh. It's reputed to be the last Hindu era temple built in Java, and quite extraordinary. Nothing like a normal Javanese Hindu temple, and quite resembling a Mayan step pyramid from Central America. The statues of the gods are also quite strange - crude, and nothing like the sophistication of the other Javanese Hindu temples, Candi Prambanan for instance. You can feel for these last old believers, cut off from the wellsprings in India, and building and carving after fading memories and their own inspirations. Very atmospheric. Can't wait to go back.