Ring of Fire: An Indonesia Odyssey Paperback – July 16, 2010

I highly recommend this adventure into a world of mystery, magic and marvel. For twenty years, I've made so many trips to Indonesia that I've lost count. But, if you rarely step beyond the crowed cities of Jawa Barat, like myself, the world described by Lawrence still came as a wonder and surprise. This is the real Indonesia, a land where the material and spiritual intermingle; where one's feet can be planted firmly on the earth while his "head" truly is in the clouds. Even in the crowded streets of Jakarta or Bandung, though, there is a subtle undercurrent that life is not all it appears.Please, if you are considering purchasing this book; do so. It is engrossing, trapping you in a world that you will not want to leave. Lawrence's prose is rich with vivid experience, color and humor. Told better than any fictional tale.I'll leave it to you to reach the last page where the implied image of Hanuman, the monkey warrior and supreme devotee of Lord Rama, as told in the epic Ramayana, and so popular in Indonesia, brings a fitting close to a grand physicial and spiritual adventure. Experience it while you can. As I write this in comfort in Jakarta, sadly I see it is an Indonesia that is too quickly disappearing into the past.

This is defintely my favourite book, and I am a prolific reader. There is not much I can add to the several eloquent reviews here except that this is true adventure: Swaying palms, smouldering volcanoes, intrepid travel, "lost" cultures. The list goes on. Most importantly the writing is non formulaic and from the outset evokes the wonder of Indonesia. Definitely treat yourself to the DVD set which is vintage National Geographic and early David Attenborough! Both the book and the DVD set are available in most book stores in Bali should you not be able to purchase on Amazon.[[ASIN:B0001I54S4 Ring of Fire: An Indonesian Odyssey]

I was looking for something about the developed parts of Indonesia and with more history, but this was enjoyable and a great adventure story.

I'm not sure if every detail is true, but given they documented it on film for a BBC documentary, I'm sure that most of it can be backed up. I love this book and have recommended it to anyone who loves travel, adventure, cultural experiences and anyone who has ever dreamed of getting truly off the beaten track. For those who love Indonesia, you will also love this book.. and for anyone who hasn't been, it will be high on your list!

I read this book on the way home from Bali. Although I had thought our trip to Bali was exotic, this book made our adventures in Bali seem quite tame. It provided a glimpse into the rich history and traditions of Indonesia. Would recommend to travelers to Indonesia, prior to or during their trip, to add to their Indonesian cultural experience.

I've been deep in another ocean lately. I swam in the shining blue waters of the inner bay as I read The Ten Thousand Things by Maria Dermout. Then I dove into the deeper magical waters of Gifts of Unknown Things by Lyall Watson. As I read this book I was sailing the high seas all around the Golden Archipeligo. So exciting! I have been on a great journey a parallel reality.

This is a great read in general, but an even more important read if you plan on visiting Indonesia. I've lived here for 5 years and this book answered a lot of questions that I had!

This was a fascinating account about a part of the world, of which so few people know .Laurence Blair is obviously a very special personality and I hope he continues to enjoy and explore unusual places.

I had a vague memory of having seen the TV series of Ring of Fire on the BBC back in the 1980's, when I was a teenager. Even though the series was not repeated, to my knowledge, images from the programmes haunted me and I periodically tried to find away to see these films again. It was a real joy to find that his book had been republished. It provides a great insight into the journey the Blair brothers undertook and it is a revelation how much the world has changed in the relatively short time since they first began to explore Indonesia. The book is beautifully written and it is a real shame there is such a shortage of images to go with the text, due to a devastating fire that destroyed most of Laurence Blair's slide collection. Anyone who has an interest in exploration, other cultures and systems of belief will find this an essential addition to their collection.