In Indonesia, French poet Rimbaud's voyage a mystery

In the summer of 1876, rebel French poet Arthur Rimbaud arrived on the Indonesian island of Java, enlisting in the colonial Dutch army before deserting after just two weeks, an escape still shrouded in mystery nearly 150 years later.

Salatiga -

Today in Java's Salatiga city, where coffee trees and bougainvillaeas bloom, only a plaque at the entrance of the mayor's residence recognises the fleeting passage of a man who inspired writers from James Joyce to Jim Morrison.

Such has been the influence of the poet, regarded as one of France's best, that the Indonesian education and culture ministry is considering paying tribute to his Javan journey with a memorial trail.

“I believe nearly every Indonesian poet who sees poetry as an expression of the subconscious and a manifestation of surrealism has read Arthur Rimbaud at least once in their life,” said Salatiga-born writer Triyanto Triwikromo.