I do not know why vegetables are served in the portions that they are, and it is not necessarily a bad thing that they are served in those portions, but I know that water pollution has something to do with the safety of uncooked vegetables. (That is an issue that is very common in many other countries, and is not unique to Indonesia.) That being said, Indonesia is a tropical country and has two seasons, not four: hot and rainy, and hot and dry. That makes Indonesia’s climate ideal for growing crops like fruits and rice year-round, and is a part of why fruit and rice are such an important part of the diet (other than rice also being affordable).
Food and Indonesian Culture
This is less about the physical environment, but I did not know where else to mention this: food is a really important part of how Indonesians live. They are generally very kind and welcoming and love to give and receive gifts. One way they do that is through food, which is seen as a key part of receiving guests. There is also great variety in local cooking, and there are many dishes named for different cities and regions. For example, there is a city on the island of Sumatra, called Padang, which is famous for its spicy curry (called gulai ayam Padang). I have seen and heard of that curry being served all over Indonesia, and, coincidentally, had some for lunch today. I say all of that because food is a key part of Indonesian culture and their approach to life. I could not write about their food only separately from who they are as peoples (and I mean peoples), since food is not just something to be used or enjoyed; it is a way of celebrating who they are and where they are from, and of caring for others with that pride and joy.
