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10 Famous Buddhist Temple in The World

Buddhism takes as its goal the escape from suffering and from the cycle of rebirth: the attainment of nirvana. There are between 230 million and 500 million Buddhists worldwide. An overview of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world.

Dragon Village at Tasikmalaya, West Java

If you are tired of life in a metropolitan city with its sky scrapers, you should take a few days off to stay in the Dragon village within Neglasari village, Salawu sub-district, Tasikmalaya, West Java. This 1.5 hectares village is still 'green' and not influenced by modernization..

Exotic Dieng Plateau

The name ‘dieng’ which literally translates as ‘abode of the Gods’ says all you need to know about this collection small ancient temples set in the remarkable volcanic landscape of the Dieng Plateau.

Living in the shadow of Indonesia's volcanoes

All hell is about to break loose, but Udi, a 60-year-old farmer from the village of Kinarejo on the Indonesian island of Java, will not budge. Not even though a mere three miles (five kilometers) separates the smoldering peak of Mount Merapi from Kinarejo.

National Geographic : Merapi Eruption

Nationalgeographic.com Smoke rises Monday from Indonesia's Mount Merapi, one of the world's most volatile and dangerous volcanoes.

September 22, 2010

Air Manis Beach

Description

Air Manis Beach is closely related to the legend of Malin Kundang in West Sumatra. Malin Kundang is a character fabled to have been turned to stone, together with his ship, after periods of disobedience to his mother.  By the beach, there is a Malin Kundang stone and several pieces of equipment from his ship, which are also stones. Based on the story, Malin Kundang was cursed by his mother for his refusal to acknowledging her as his mother after traveling to another region and becoming rich.

Air Manis beach is a favorite tourist site for local and foreign tourists because it has low waves and beautiful views of Mount Padang. There is also a small island called Pisang Kecil (literally means “small banana”) on its right side. From morning to afternoon, you can walk to this one hectare island through shallow water. In late afternoon, however, there is a tide and you must take a boat to return. On its right, there is another island called Pisang Besar (literally means “big banana”). Local inhabitants on this island are mostly farmers and fishermen.

To Do

Beside playing in the water and swimming, visitors can rent a motor boat to visit Pisang Kecil and Pisang Besar Islands which are located some 500 meters from the beach. On Pisang Kecil Island, visitors can sit under gazebos and enjoy sea and beach sceneries. If you want to stay overnight on Pisang Besar island, you can stay in a local inhabitant's home or your own tent.

If you visit Sikuai Island, you can try water sports such as surfing and diving. This island is famous for its white sand.

Get Around

You can walk around the beach and wade to Pisang Kecil Island. Visitors can also rent a motor boat to visit Sikuai Island which is located across Pisang Island.

Get There

Air Manis beach is located 15 km from Padang city center. From Minangkabau international airport, visitors can go to Air Manis by passing through Padang. If you want to use public transportation, you must first go to Plaza Sentral Pasar Raya from the airport exit gate in Simpang Ketaping. From the city center, you can take public transportation plying the Padang-Bungus route.


Tips

If you visit Air Manis beach, you should prepare extra clothes. You will be tempted to swim or walk to Pisang Kecil Island.


September 15, 2010

Visit Banda Aceh 2011

travelaceh.com
Before the tsunami and the peace Memorandum of Understanding, it could be said that Aceh was not developing at all. During the armed conflict which lasted from 1974 until 2005, tourism was completely ignored and one could safely say that almost nothing happened in terms of tourism although there were in fact a few friendship visits. Local people and those from outside thought Aceh had a lot of tourist potential because of its beautiful beaches and the relatively untouched remains and relics of the sultanate and colonial eras.
After the tsunami, Aceh started working on things that could restore prosperity to the people of Banda Aceh. To do that Banda Aceh cooperates with Aceh Besar and Sabang through a scheme called Basajan (Banda Aceh, Sabang, Janto – the capital of Aceh Besar).
Tourism in Banda Aceh places emphasis on spiritual, cultural and tsunami tourism. Aceh, as a region that has adopted the the Islamic sharia law and has diverse cultures, has become a special attraction for domestic as well as international tourists such as those from Malaysia. The tsunami natural disaster that struck Banda Aceh created its own uniquely dramatic monuments: PLTD Apung, mass graves, and the boat on top of a house are a few of the places you can visit.
In Aceh Besar there is adventure tourism allowing visitors to enjoy natural challenges or take a look places where GAM people went into hiding, to see where they lived, how they lived, and what they did.
Sabang will become the centre of marine tourism thanks to the beautiful and very widely known Weh Island and Rubiah Island, scuba diving sites that some people say are superior to Bunaken. The waters are very clear and there is diversity of fish species. These three regions could be offered to tourists in one package. So, actually there are a lot of things to draw people to visit Banda Aceh.
Up till now, people have visited Banda Aceh for only two or three days at a time, but the Basajan scheme is expected to extend the length of stays. Through the program Visit Banda Aceh, tourists will fill up the hotels and there will be an economic knock on effect for the population such as the increase in demands for prawns, fish, vegetables etc. The same goes for demand for transportation, traditional souvenirs and food that in turn will help small industries in Aceh to prosper. This will cause a multiplier effect which will energize and lift the population’s livelihoods.
The adoption of the Islamic sharia laws will not restrict tourists as they explore Aceh, because sharia is only applicable to followers of Islam, and not outsiders. Tourists visiting the region will feel safe and comfortable; for example, they do not have to wear veils while in Banda Aceh.
In supporting Visit Banda Aceh 2011, major events such as Banda Aceh Birthday Celebration, Taman Sari Festival, Baiturrahman Festival and Aceh Cultural Week will be held.
Developments that support the tourism industry will also be implemented continuously such as the tsunami museum, the floating PLTD and the tsunami site house. Renovation is also carried out on the tombs of famous ulamas (Islamic scholars/teachers) and kings and Hotel Aceh where President Soekarno accepted the money from the people of Aceh to buy “RI-1”, the Republic of Indonesia’s first aircraft. We hope that with this vision one day Banda Aceh will become one of Indonesia’s great tourist destinations.

September 14, 2010

Masterpieces of Chinese Brush Painting To Show Up in Indonesia

An Exhibition of Masterpieces of Chinese Brush Painting is scheduled to be held from Sept. 16 to 21 at the National Gallery in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta.

The exhibition was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia and the Chinese Embassy to Indonesia and presented by China Arts and Entertainment Group.

"The exhibition is part of activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relation," said Shao Yiwu, a cultural counselor from the Chinese Embassy.

He said that the exhibition would reach the climax stage on Sept. 21 as Indonesian government officials, celebrities and diplomas would come.

"We hope the exhibition would promote the friendship between China and Indonesia and increase the cultural exchange between the two countries," Shao added.

The Exhibition of Masterpieces of Chinese Brush Painting, with a theme of Ink Rhyme of Harmony, would show 50 pieces of brush painting of modern and contemporary Chinese brush painters, including Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi and Wu Guanzhong.

The sponsors said that these brush paintings had fully annotated the idea of harmony in the Chinese culture, by showing the aesthetic realm of water and ink mutual dyeing, dynamic and static co-existing and the blossoming expressive style of the masters.

Together with Chinese painting exhibition, the Indonesia National Gallery had another exhibition of the masterpieces of Balinese paintings, created by distinguished Balinese painters of Indonesia. The joint exhibition of two different style of paintings is deemed as a major event in the history of China- Indonesia cultural exchange.

Bali October Hilghlights

October Highlights
October is usually the beginning part of rainy season in Indonesiabut with the global warming it seems hard to predict. Anyway, my prediction is; it will still be bright sunny in October just like a year ago. This fact is an advantageous point if you come to Bali on October besides October is a low season that you will get the cheapest rate of Bali accommodation and October is the right month to enjoy some attractions described well in the following agenda.

October 1-6, 2010

Bali Writer’s Retreat
This is an event a week before Ubud’s Writer Festival aiming to learn how to be creative and use this creativity in writing a book. Bali Writer’s Retreat also gives the chance to the participants to know something about writing as business so that the writer can make money from their writing. There will be different topic in each day within 6 days in the ultimate Ubud. In the last day, a simple trip to verdant rice terrace will be organized. For those who would like to know further about writing then should stay in Ubudfor longer time since at 6-10 on the same month Ubud’s Writer and Reader festival will be held.
October 9, 2010
Tumpek Landep
Indeed, Balinese always express gratitude to the Almighty God in His various manifestations. On October 9th, Balinese will conduct the ceremony expressing gratitude to the lord of steel implement, the god of Pasupati. Special homage is directed to the god of Pasupati through the tool made from steel such as knife, motorbike, computer, scissors, and many more because these tools have helped Balinese in doing daily activity or working. So if you happen to be in Bali on that day, you will see, on the road, the vehicles decorated with coconut-leaves embellishment.
October 6 – 10, 2010
Ubud’s Writers and Readers Festival
Ubud’s Writer and Readers Festival is held annually, for this year its theme is “Bhineka Tunggal Ika: Harmony in Diversity”. It is very exciting to inform you that more than 20 writers from all over the world will attend to this international festival. Thus, if you book yourself in this event there will be a big chance to ‘steal’ secret points to be good in writing from the internationally acclaimed writers.
October 16-20, 2010
BALI NUSA DUA FIESTA
Nusa Dua Fiesta this year will be held during 5 days providing a plenty of pleasure: Balinese cultural heritage, food bazaar, culinary challenge for professional chef, and many more. Taking place on the white sandy beach of Nusa Dua Peninsula, this event will be flocked by tourists from all over the world to see many attractions including tasting the delectable food made by professional chefs and seeing how Balinese women make Gebogan Janur. Enjoy the spectacle and be the witness of spectacular feast.
Bali Villas – A Private Piece Of Paradise
All luxurious Bali Villas in villas-bali.com have been filtered in order to provide you the best Bali Private Villa in experiencing holiday, weddinghoneymoon which guarantee Privacy and Outstanding Personalized Service.

Indonesia Tourism Travel Fair 2010

The 3rd Indonesia Tourism & Travel Fair (ITTF), an annual exhibition highlighting everything about the tourism industry in Indonesia, is slated to hold its third year’s opening on 1 October, 2010.
The ITTF will feature more than 300 participants from the tourism industry and more than 500 buyers, both international and domestic and is a prime direct-selling venue as well as the best source of information for everyone already involved or want to enter the travelling and tourism world. Last year, ITTF produced transactions of more than USD20 million from more th an 250 buyers.
The ITTF is the brainchild of the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism and three of Indonesia’s largest tourism associations: the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA) and the Indonesian Congress and Convention Association (INCCA) as well as several other related organizations.
Cultural and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said that the ITTF will provide a strategic momentum for the government to increase its tourists goal.
for more informations : ittf2010.com

September 13, 2010

Garuda Indonesia International Photo Contest


For the fourth consecutive year, the Garuda Indonesia International Photo Contest (GIIPC) broke its own record again in regards to level of participation. The number of participants reached a new high of 8,050 this year from 6,170 last year. As many as 14,985 photos were submitted, also a rise from the 12,458 photos received last year.
The continually rising number of participants and submitted photos prove that photography is indeed an ever-growing field and the team at GIIPC is honoured to have played a part in supporting that growth, where logic, technical skills and strong sense of the aesthetics are championed, not just in Indonesia, but also in the international community.
This year, 36 countries participated in the event, a rise from 30 last year. The participating countries are Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Venezuela.
The rules of the preliminary round of the competition remain the same. Photographers submit their entries by registering at www.garudacompetition.com and posting their photos online. The best photos are then chosen by internal judges through an online judging selection and those who are selected will then be sent to a round of photo-hunting competition in secret locations.
GIIPC 2010 employs eminent photographers as judges that include Adek Berry, Agus Leonardus, Arbain Rambey, Goenadi Haryanto, Jan Dekker, Jerry Aurum, Makarios Soekojo, Oscar Motulloh and Tan Lip Seng. As of the second week of August, the judges have short-listed 479 photos and 15 photographers to go to the final stages of the photo contest. Out of these 15 photographers, five are from Indonesia, three are from Vietnam, two are from Myanmar and one contestant each from China, Bangladesh, India, Russia and the Netherlands.
The contestants will be competing for prizes in the categories of Best Culture, Best People, Best Landscape and Best Overall. This year, a special award in recognition of Best Female Participant will also be up for grabs. The total prize money is IDR 100 million, excluding 
other prizes.

The GIIPC Team congratulates the finalists for making it this far and wishes them luck in winning the competition.
Visit garudacompetion.com to see the finalists.

September 10, 2010

Indonesia Southeast Asia's Richest Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage buildings in a number of cities in Indonesia must be preserved because they have served as long-time witnesses to the progress of the cities and their dwellers, and are icons of national solidarity, identity and pride.
This was one of various suggestions raised at the fourth meeting of Asia-Europe Culture Ministers in Poznan, Poland, on Sept. 9-10, 2010.
Junus Satrio Atmodjo, director of cultural heritage at Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, who participated in the meeting, said at least 8,000 heritage buildings and sites have been registered in Indonesia.
The buildings are classified into several groups, including pre-historic era, Hindu-Buddha, Islam, colonial period and modern era. Many of the buildings still function according to their original design, such as several railway stations in central Jakarta.
“If we add to those other heritages like statues, the number would jump to tens or even hundreds of thousands,” Junus said as quoted by Kompas.com on Saturday.
He said many historical sites in Indonesia had been declared by Unesco as world heritages, including the Sangiran archeological site, Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple.
Indonesia, he continued, had the highest number and highest number of types of cultural heritages in Southeast Asia. “For Asia, China possibly is the biggest,” Junus added.

September 6, 2010

A Tale of Two Islands, Bali vs Phuket

The shaman inhaled the incense smoke and flicked flower petals into the tropical air. My husband and I were sitting on a patch of earth on the Indonesian island of Bali as the local priest, Ida Bagus Putu Wija, communed with the resident spirits about our vague plans to build a holiday home there. Eventually, the Balinese wise man gave us the news that would literally determine the shape of our future villa. In the parallel spirit world of this devoutly Hindu island, our peaceful stretch of riverbank was actually a bustling spirit town, far bigger than the nearby human village.

What exactly did this spirit city possess, I inquired? The shaman replied: on the lower part of our terraced land, near a rustling stand of bamboo, the spirits had built their own pharmacy, auto-body-repair shop and even a food stall that served fried rice. No infinity-edge swimming pool would be going there, lest we flood the otherworldly denizens picking up a prescription or delivering a motorcycle for a tune-up. We also would need to leave a section of riverbank undeveloped because a local demigod traversed the land on his daily pilgrimage to a volcano up north. My husband and I eyed each other. We'd been prepared for the Bali property market to throw up a challenge or two. But a hopping spirit metropolis and a commuting demigod weren't exactly what we had expected.

Who, sitting at a computer all day, hasn't imagined owning a personal slice of paradise, lush with bougainvillea and frangipani, perhaps a sea breeze carrying the scent of exotic herbs and barbecued delights? Southeast Asia abounds with such dream locales, but two destinations trump all others: Bali and the southern Thai island of Phuket. It is on these two chunks of land, a mere 2,400 square miles (6,200 sq km) combined, that thousands of expatriates have bought tropical vacation homes. Indeed, a global real estate slump notwithstanding, Bali and Phuket's residential sectors are still booming, in part because most of the foreign-owned property on these two islands isn't bank-financed. In Bali, despite a pair of terrorist bombings in 2002 and '05, land prices have increased by at least 20% annually over the past three years, with some prime beachfront land going for double what it did a year ago. In Phuket, which suffered a devastating tsunami in 2004 followed by political jitters because of a 2006 coup, prices for sea-view property on the island's west coast jumped upward of 30%, year on year, in July.

But is there only one heaven on earth? As the holiday-home market has taken off in Asia, Phuket and Bali have nurtured a healthy rivalry with each other, trading off the honor of being listed as Asia's best island in travel magazines. Phuket aficionados talk loftily of the Thai island's superior beaches and cheap but professional hospitals, while Bali fans boast of the island's volcanoes and great surfing spots. Nevertheless, the business of vacation villas isn't a zero-sum game, largely because the members of the international jet set who dig Phuket are a breed apart from the culture vultures who flock to the Indonesian island. "People are usually either Bali people or Phuket people," says Dominique Gallmann, the Swiss-born director of Exotiq Real Estate, which has offices in both Thailand and Indonesia. "They attract different crowds, so the idea of the two islands fighting over the second-home market isn't really true."

Oceans Apart
Despite the seeming similarities — balmy islands in Southeast Asia with international airports, abundant marine life and plenty of cafés serving espresso and freshly baked croissants — Bali and Phuket offer vastly different real estate experiences. First off, Bali is much cheaper than Phuket. Because the Indonesian island is so much larger than its Thai counterpart, Bali offers a wider diversity in terms of topography: verdant rice paddies, soaring volcanoes and several distinctive urban centers. The Indonesian island cherishes its deep cultural roots, with traditions interwoven into daily life, not manufactured for some cheesy ethnic show at a beach resort. But because of these bountiful customs, Bali teems with taboos that can trip up even veteran expatriates. By contrast, Phuket's real estate market is simpler to negotiate with several top international property agencies open for business. Buying a condominium is so straightforward that an increasing number of people — particularly from Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East — are purchasing for investment purposes. Yet all that ease, along with better roads and telecommunications, comes at prices that are roughly 40% higher than those in Bali. And for potential buyers who are concerned about cultural authenticity, Phuket underwhelms. Much of the island's vacation-property development follows an anodyne architectural style that could just as easily be in southern California or the Costa del Sol. Phuket may be in Thailand, but large swaths of it don't feel very Thai.


My husband and I chose Bali because we like things a little messy. We're both journalists who enjoy chatting with the shaman, exploring bumpy back-country lanes and trying spicy stews at the open-air restaurant a few rice paddies away from our land. But I recognize that not everyone finds charming the idea of a spirit tax — a contribution to the village partly based on how many spirits reside on your land, and a calculation, mind you, that can only be made by the village elders. Indeed, if you're looking for a stress-free condominium with access to yacht marinas and golf courses, Phuket is the right choice — as long as you have the cash to afford it. "There's a strange situation in Phuket," says Risinee Sarikaputra, head of research for property consultant Colliers International in Thailand. "You have low-end residential units that are bought by Thais, and you have luxury units that are bought by foreigners. But there's no real middle-class level. It's either low or high."

Asia's premier island escapes did not always profit from their coastal charms. Phuket came into its heyday in the 19th century when Chinese tin miners exploited its mineral-rich hills. Later, fortunes were made in rubber trees. The island's main city was originally inland from the Andaman Sea to distance itself from possible devastation by tsunamis or typhoons. So, too, in Bali, where the rich cultural legacy of the Hindu Majapahit culture drew bohemian Western visitors in the 1930s who were mystified as to why most Balinese turned their backs on the lovely beaches, even forsaking fish from their normal diets. (The answer was, in part, because the coasts are considered the domain of demons.)
In the 1970s, though, Bali and Phuket were inundated by foreigners searching for unspoiled hideaways. Tourism soon dominated other industries, with hotels and nightclubs lining once empty beaches. By the 1990s, as overworked Hong Kong investment bankers and Europeans priced out of the Mediterranean real estate market began looking for getaway-home alternatives, the residential property markets in Bali and Phuket began to sizzle. On the Indonesian island, vacation homes mostly take the form of individually constructed villas or those built by smaller developers. The houses, usually designed in a Bali modern style that is now an architectural touchstone for tropical hotels worldwide, are often rented out most of the year to offset building and maintenance costs. Although the Bali model allows for personal creativity, it also means that owners must hire full-time staff to tend to their paying guests, who fork out an average of $200 a night for a two-bedroom villa. In Phuket, however, the vacation market is dominated by condominiums or villa complexes managed by luxury hoteliers. Such management services come at a premium — these properties cost about 30% more than similar nonbranded villas — but you don't have to worry about whether the gardener is feuding with the cook.

House Rules
Buying property in both places isn't quite as simple as purchasing a house back home. Mortgages are rare. Currency fluctuations make buying at the right time all the trickier. And, most importantly, in both Thailand and Indonesia, foreigners cannot own land. Expatriates have two choices. They can either lease land on a long-term basis, which means the value tends to depreciate as the years pass. Or they can set up legal structures in which a local person or company owns the land but usage rights are held by the foreigner. Although tens of thousands of expatriates have negotiated such deals, they can be at a disadvantage should a dispute occur with the local owner. And in Thailand, government officials over the past two years have hinted that they may begin scrutinizing the legality of shell companies set up by foreigners.


Thailand does offer one other option. Unlike in Indonesia, foreigners can own condominiums outright, which explains why apartment complexes are popular in Phuket. Nonetheless, the real lure of Phuket is a villa of your own, preferably with a private infinity pool and ocean view. From 2006 to '07, at least 2,300 high-end residential units were launched in Phuket, and roughly 970 more came up for sale in the first half of this year, according to Colliers International. Prices have skyrocketed, with new buyers from India, South Korea and even Central Asia driving up demand. At the Trisara residential complex, for instance, a sea-view, fully furnished two-bedroom villa managed by the boutique hotel of the same name goes for upward of $4 million for a 120-year lease. A first phase of 18 villas perched over a secluded bay has already sold out, with one three-bedroom property having changed hands four times, its sale price more than tripling to $10 million earlier this year. "It's amazing to see these prices," says sales manager Sukanya Chuaywang, "but they keep selling."

Does the real estate meltdown in other parts of the world presage a price correction in paradise? Surely, as hedge-fund managers find themselves without fat end-of-year bonuses because of the recent market madness, they'll shy away from acquiring luxury second homes. Gallmann of Exotiq Real Estate acknowledges that the financial crisis will dent demand, particularly in Bali where the real estate volume is higher than in Phuket. But he isn't too worried. "Look, I've been involved with Bali for 20 years and through that time we've gone through more than you can imagine, from the Asian financial crisis and a political revolution to SARS, bird flu and two bombings," he says. "But in all that time, property prices have never dropped."

Down to Earth
For me, my current concerns are less global and more spiritual. The former owner of our land, a rice farmer, feels guilty because he failed to erect an on-site shrine to a local goddess. He thinks we should build it to ease his soul and promote village harmony. After all, locals have heard the spirits on our land wailing when they use a nearby water source. Then, in an offhand remark, our shaman tells us about a Frenchman who had built a villa nearby. Wija was called in to bless the land and chat with the spirits about their wishes. He gave advice to the foreigner but apparently none of the spirit-appeasement tactics were followed. After the house was built, a slew of mysterious things occurred. First there was a fire, Wija recounts, then a burglary. The foreigner has since sold his villa and left Bali. Wija smiles. "It is best to keep the spirits happy," he says. We can't agree more — but we still don't know how much happiness will cost us.



source : www.time.com

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