Beauty Within Our Archipelago

Commended Entry: "Beauty Within Our Archipelago" by Carissa Handrian from Indonesia

This article was submitted in the Kids World Travel Guide Essay Competition 2021 in the Junior Category 8 - 11 years.

Beauty Within Our Archipelago

Who doesn’t know Indonesia? A beautiful country in Asia which is known to many for its breath-taking panorama, sandy virgin beaches, amazing underwater world, lovely islands, friendly people, among other things.

I am proud to call myself an Indonesian due to these reasons. However, Indonesia is currently struggling with the pandemic, like any other countries on the face of the earth. That means no offline school, no travelling, no social life and some of our routines and activities have to be limited. The government is coping with it and we can only hope that the measures they have taken so far work out in our favor.

There are some things that I hope for myself and for Indonesia especially regarding our situations these past years. I am very hopeful that Indonesia will strive to become a better country in the years to come. Yes, we are currently in a state of crisis. However, I believe that there is still hope for my country.

Hope is always there if you keep believing. I trust that my country will rise and I pray every day so the government chooses the best actions at handling the pandemic so that we can minimize Covid-19 cases and return to normal life.

When the pandemic is over, I hope that I can have Sunday brunch with my family again and have playdates with my friends. Going to the mall is also one of the things I miss these past 1,5 years. I also wished that I could travel to Bali again as it is a beautiful island and their culture is also very unique. I miss strolling at the beach and feeling the waves on my bare feet; eating the traditional food and staying at the hotels or villas with ocean views, and watching dynamic and expressive dances.

I hope that I can explore more of Indonesia’s scenic places such as Komodo, Labuan Bajo and Raja Ampat once the pandemic is beaten.

The pandemic has also contributed a huge impact on poverty. People who barely make enough money to afford one meal a day are getting fired and lose their jobs. Their struggle is real. They have no money, can’t even afford to buy their own masks to protect them so they are left without masks; not because of personal decisions, but rather because they don't have a choice.

I do hope that this pandemic will end soon so that our community will have a better standard of living. Despite the dark times that Indonesia is facing, we can always hope that we can survive and come out stronger than ever before.

Let’s start by being self-disciplined in the small things that count. Following health protocols such as wearing masks, washing our hands, keeping physical distance, sanitizing surfaces, and staying home especially when you are not well could really help our government battle the pandemic so that we can get back to our old lives and be happy and safe again.

Thank you for the wonderful essay "Beauty Within Our Archipelago", Carissa. Being self-disciplined and keeping to the rules does count. Let's continue to protect and support our communities, then we all will be happy and safe. And just like you, we can't wait to explore beautiful Indonesia soon again! Congratulations! Well done!

Carissa Handrian attends Bina Bangsa School in Jakarta/ Indonesia.