Exploring Indonesia

10 Amazing Hindu Temples

2011-08-10T11:05:00.000+07:00

Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions, and has over 900 million followers worldwide. Though most of the Hindus live in India there are substantial numbers present in Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Temple construction in India started nearly 2000 years ago and marked the transition of Hinduism from the Vedic religion. The architecture of Hindu temples has evolved ever since resulting in a great variety of styles. They are usually dedicated to one primary Hindu deity and feature a murti (sacred image) of the deity. Although it is not mandatory for a Hindu to visit a Hindu temple regularly, they play a vital role in Hindu society and culture.

10Tanah Lot

flickr/Peregrino Will Reign

Situated on a large rock, Tanah Lot is one of the most famous Hindu temples in Bali, and probably the most photographed. The Tanah Lot temple has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of 7 sea temples, each within eyesight of the next, to form a chain along the south-western coast of Bali.

9Kanchipuram Temples

flickr/Santhosh Janardhanan

The City of 1000 Temples, Kanchipuram is one of the oldest cities in South India, and known for its ancient Hindu temples and silk sarees. The city contains several big temples like the Varadharaja Perumal Temple for Lord Vishnu and the Ekambaranatha Temple which is one of the five forms of abodes of Lord Siva.

8Brihadeeswarar Temple

flickr/Matthew Winterburn

The Brihadishwara Temple, located in Thanjavur, India, was built by the Chola king Rajaraja I in the 11th century. The world’s first complete granite temple, Brihadishwara is a brilliant example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The temple tower is 66 meters (216 feet) high making it one of the tallest temples in the world.

7Khajuraho

flickr/kuranda

The village of Khajuraho is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It’s numerous Hindu and Jain temples are famous for their erotic sculpture. The temples were built over a span of 200 years, from 950 to 1150. A few of the temples are dedicated to the Jain pantheon and the rest to Hindu deities, to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and various Devi forms.

6Banteay Srei

flickr/Marc Aurel

Although officially part of the Angkor Wat complex, Banteay Srei lies 25 km (15 miles) north-east of the main group of temples, enough to list it separately here. The Hindu temple was completed in 967 AD and is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still clearly visible today. Banteay Srei is the only major temple at Angkor not built for a king, instead it was constructed by one of king Rajendravarman’s counselors, Yajnyavahara.

5Sri Ranganathaswamy

flickr/sowri

Dedicated to Lord Ranganatha (a reclining form of Lord Vishnu), the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, India is an important shrine that receives millions of visitors and pilgrims every year. With an area of 156 acres (6,31,000 m²), the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The oldest structure of the temple dates back to the 10th century.

4Virupaksha Temple

flickr/Marina & Enrique

The Virupaksha Temple in the city of Hampi in India started out as a small shrine and grew into a large complex under the Vijayanagara rulers. It is believed that this temple has been functioning uninterruptedly ever since the small shrine was built in the 7th century AD which makes it one of the oldest functioning Hindu temples in India. The largest entrance tower of the temple is 50 meters high.

3Prambanan

flickr/zsoolt

Prambanan is the largest and most beautiful Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Located about 18 km east of Yogyakarta, it is somewhat overshadowed by the even more awe-inspiring Borobudur situated just next door. The two sites are quite different in style though, with Prambanan being a collection of tall and pointed Hindu temples, instead of the single large Buddhist stupa of Borobudur.

Prambanan has three main temples dedicated to Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva and was built around 850AD by the Mataram Kingdom, rulers of central Java.

Explore Java

2Meenakshi Amman Temple

flickr/raysto

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most important Indian Hindu temples, located in the holy city of Madurai. The temple is dedicated to Sundareswar (form of Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi (form of Goddess Parvati). The complex houses 14 magnificent towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities, that are elaborately sculptured and painted.

The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned for the last couple of millennia, though the present structure was built in the early 17th century.

1Angkor Wat

flickr/DragonWoman

Angkor Wat (“City Temple”) is a vast temple complex in Cambodia featuring the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century AD. These include the famous Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largest single religious monument, and the Bayon temple (at Angkor Thom) with its multitude of massive stone faces. During it’s long history Angkor went through many changes in religion converting between Hinduism to Buddhism several times.

11 Incredible Terrace Fields

2011-08-10T00:00:00.001+07:00

In order to make the best of poor soil, water conservation, and mountainous terrain, terraced farming was introduced by various cultures around the world. Extremely labor intensive to build, terracing allowed the land to support civilization’s increased need for crops, livestock and poultry. Erosion was avoided, rain and runoff water was preserved, and otherwise unused hillside became arable due to terraced agriculture. Not only do these terraced fields provide essential goods for the local people but they also feature some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

11Sa Pa Terraces

flickr/Two Roses

Sa Pa is a town in northwest Vietnam not far from the Chinese border. The rice terrace fields, among the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam, can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands. Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice and corn on these paddy terraces, along with vegetables. Because of the climate, only one rice crop a year can be produced, resulting in abundant malnutrition.

10Pisac

flickr/Vautrin_Baires

The still intact terrace fields of Pisac, constructed by the Incas, are still being used today. These mountainous terraces consist of 16 different cultivation sections. Pisac, a word of Quechua origins, means “partridge”. Inca tradition dictated building cities in the shape of birds and animals, and as such, Pisac is partridge shaped. The Pisac terraces included a military citadel, religious temples, and individual dwellings, and overlooks the Sacred Valley, between the Salkantay Mountains. These terraces even boated two suspension bridges, the bases of which can still be seen.

9Douro Valley

flickr/Ryan Opaz

The home of port wine, the Douro Valley is located in northern Portugal, some distance from the city of Porto. The hills of the valley are covered with terrace fields of vines falling steeply down to the river banks. The scenery of the valley is spectacular with the colors of the land changing throughout the year as the vines mature. In autumn the vines take a reddish and golden color, while in February-March the almond blossom gives an added white pinkish tone to the region. As well as port wine, regular red and white wines are also produced in the valley.

8Bali Terraces

flickr/Miek37

The archetypical Bali rice terraces are ubiquitous, and Balinese culture has depended on this method of agriculture for almost 2000 years. The Balinese stepped rice paddies were carved by hand, with rudimentary tools, and maintained by succeeding generations.

In central Bali, north of the village of Tegallalang in the Ubud district, lies a series of thriving stepped rice paddies, a favorite with travelers and photographers. Other verdant terraced rice paddies can be found in Sayan, Jatiluwih, Pupuan and Tabanan. In Bali, the terraced rice paddies are worked according to a well organized social order, called a subak. The subak manages the irrigation water sources, on a strict schedule, fairly distributing the water.

7Choquequirao

flickr/ojjo

Another Peruvian stepped agricultural site is Choquequirao, meaning Cradle of Gold. Seated on the border of Cuzco and Apurimac, this impressive terraced site, is located 3085 meter (10,120 feet) above sea level. Choquequirao contains a staircase configuration, made up of 180 terraces. Built in a completely different style than Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is much larger in area. One can only travel to Choquequirao by foot or horseback, and as such, is visited much less often than Machu Picchu. Without benefit of wheels, the trek to Choquequirao from Cachora can take up to four days!

6Salinas de Maras

flickr/themanwithsalthair

The Salineras de Maras, or Inca salt pans have been used for centuries. Salt miners direct natural spring water, containing high concentrations of salt, into the man made terraced flats, numbering around 3,000. This spring water becomes saline by leeching salt from the mountain itself. When the water is evaporated by the sun, thick salt deposits remain. The salt is then cut into huge slabs and transported to the markets. As in some of the Asian rice paddies, these salt pans are passed from generation to generation, and have been in use for centuries. If you plan on visiting, visit in the late afternoon, when the reflected sunset causes the salt pans to appear as if made of gold.

5Ollantaytambo

flickr/Rodrigo Álvarez / Rupert

During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru it served as a stronghold for the Inca resistance. The valleys along Ollantaytambo are covered by an extensive set of agricultural terraces which start at the bottom of the valleys and climb up the surrounding hills. The terraces permitted farming on otherwise unusable terrain. Nowadays Ollantaytambo is an important tourist attraction and one of the most common starting points for hike known as the Inca Trail.

4Longji Terraces

flickr/thejerk

The Longji or Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces were built over 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. The terrace fields are found in Longsheng about a two hours drive from Guilin. From a distance, during the growing season, these winding terraces appear as if they were green woven cables laid out over the hillsides, starting at the riverbank and ending near the mountaintop. One can meander through the paddies and villages, greeting and being greeted by horses, pigs, chickens and hard working locals. These rice terraces are Longsheng’s answer to limited arable land and a scant water supply.

3Hani Terraces

flickr/Poorfish

The Hani rice paddy steppes are located below the villages on the side of the Ailao Mountains in Yuanyang, and have been cultivated for over 1,000 years. Also carved by hand by the Hani people, these rice terraces have turned a barren hillside into a lush sub-tropical paradise. These terrace fields support enough rice and fish cultivation for hundreds of thousands of people. Water is saved in the hilltop forests, and channeled down to the terraces for irrigation. The rice terraces are flooded from December to March, presenting a spectacular view to travelers.

2Banaue Rice Terraces

flickr/IRRI Images

Situated in the heartlands of the Cordilleras mountains of the Philippines and rising to an altitude of 1525 meters (5000 ft) are the Banaue Rice Terraces. The terraced fields were carved out by hand without modern tools by the Ifugao tribes and have been producing rice for almost 2,000 years. These terraces are so numerous, steep, and compact, that if stretched out end to end, they would wrap halfway around the globe. Lately, these under maintained rice terraces have been showing their age, as more and more Ifugao tribes people are emigrating to the cities.

1Machu Picchu

flickr/szeke

One of the most beautiful and impressive ancient sites in the world, Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by Hawaiian historian Hiram Bingham after it lay hidden for centuries above the Urubamba Valley. The “Lost City of the Incas” is invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces and watered by natural springs.

Machu Picchu’s narrow terraces were constructed from stone blocks, with thousands of pathways and steps, connecting buildings, plazas and the cemetery. Water was channeled in via aqueducts that had been chiseled into the mountainside, for livestock and to irrigate crops of potatoes and corn. There are no growing crops today on Machu Picchu’s terraces, but a spectacular site none the less.

10 Famous Buddhist Temple in The World

2011-03-08T15:34:00.000+07:00

Buddhism is a major world religion and philosophy founded in northeastern India in the 5th century AD. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as “The Buddha”, who was born in what is today Nepal. 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.

10Haeinsa Temple
South Korea, Info & Images

photo: erinc salor

Haeinsa (Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea) is one of the most important Buddhist temples in South Korea. The temple was first built in 802 and rebuilt in the 19th century after Haiensa was burned down in a fire in 1817. The temple’s greatest treasure however, a complete copy of the Buddhist scriptures (he Tripitaka Koreana) written on 81,258 woodblocks, survived the fire.

9Wat Arun
Thailand, Info & Images

photo: kainet

Situated on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River , Wat Arun (“Temple of Dawn”) is one of the oldest and best known landmarks in Bangkok. The temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Buddhist cosmology. Despite it’s name, the best views of Wat Arun are in the evening with the sun setting behind it.

8Pha That Luang
Laos, Info & Images

photo: A_E_P

Located in Vientiane, Pha That Luang (“Great Stupa in Lao”) is one of the most important monument inLaos. The stupa has several terraces with each level representing a different stage of Buddhist enlightenment. The lowest level represents the material world; the highest level represents the world of nothingness. Pha That Luang was built in the 16th century on the ruins of an earlier Khmer temple. The temple was destroyed by a Siamese invasion in 1828, then later reconstructed by the French in 1931.

7Jokhang
China, Info & Images

photo: ironmanixs

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the most important sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism attracting thousands of pilgrims each year. The temple was constructed by King Songtsän Gampo in the 7th century. The Mongols sacked the Jokhang temple several times but the building survived. Today the temple complex covers an area of about 25,000 square meters.

6Todaiji Temple
Japan, Info & Images

photo: roybuloy

Todaiji (“Great Eastern Temple”) in Nara is one of the most historically significant and famous Buddhist temples in Japan. The temple was built in the 8th century by Emperor Shomu as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan. Today little remains of the original buildings of Todaiji. The Daibutsuden (“Great Buddha Hall”), dates for the most part from 1709. It houses one of the largest Budha statues in Japan and is the worlds largest wooden building, even though it is only two-thirds the size of the original structure.

5Boudhanath
Nepal, Info & Images

photo: Ron Layters

Located in a suburb of Kathmandu, Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world. It is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal and many refugees from Tibet have settled here in the last few decades. It is probably best known for the Buddha eyes that are featured on all four sides of the tower. The present stupa is said to date from the 14th century, after the previous one was destroyed by Mughal invaders.

4Mahabodhi Temple
India, Info & Images

photo: FootFun

The Mahabodhi (Great Enlightenment) Temple is a Buddhist stupa located in Bodh Gaya. The main complex contains a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment and is the most sacred place in Buddhism. About 250 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment, Emperor Asoka built a temple at the spot. The present temple dates from the 5th-6th century.

3Shwedagon Pagoda
Myanmar, Info & Images

photo: druidabruxux

The Shwedagon Pagoda (or Golden Pagoda) in Yangon, is the holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma. The origins of Shwedagon are lost in antiquity but it is estimated that the Pagoda was first built by the Mon during the Bagan period, sometime between the 6th and 10th century AD. The temple complex is full of glittering, colorful stupas but the center of attention is the 99 meter high (326 feet) high main stupa that is completely covered in gold.

2Bagan
Myanmar, Info & Images

photo: woowoowoo

Bagan, also spelled Pagan, on the banks of the Ayerwaddy River, is home to the largest area of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world. It was the capital of several ancient kings of Burma who built perhaps as many as 4,400 temples during the height of the kingdom (between 1000 and 1200 AD). In 1287, the kingdom fell to the Mongols, after refusing to pay tribute to Kublai Khan and Bagan quickly declined as a political center, but continued to flourish as a place of Buddhist scholarship.

1Borobudur
Indonesia, Info & Images

photo: Kenyon College

Located on the Indonesian island of Java, 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta, the Borobudur is the largest and most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash.

Dragon Village at Tasikmalaya, West Java

2011-02-07T15:19:00.000+07:00

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. Some 311 people live in this village. You will have to take several hundred steps to cover the villages over 500 meters. You will see hundreds of high ebony trees, large green paddy fields and the long Ciwulang river. In addition, you will feel the cool air and sounds of river waterflows in the distance.

To Do

While taking these steps, you will be amazed by local green houses made of various bamboos and woods. These houses roofs are made of Nipah leafs, palm leafs or reeds and feature bamboo or wooden raised floors.

This moslem village in a fertile valley still maintains it‘s long traditions; For instance, the homes must face the north or south, and the mosques, city hall or bale patemon, and paddy granaries, must face the east or west. For years, they never added/reduced the number of buildings to remain 111 buildings total. Additionally, the traditional leaders fuse the government's electricity and prohibit their residents from using electronic appliances. All daily activities are performed manually.

Local inhabitants in the Dragon Village are famous for their simple and harmonious life. They are also known for their friendliness to domestic and foreign tourists. In addition to farming and raising livestock, they also produce handicrafts for souvenirs.

The inhabitants still maintain the Hajat Sasih ceremony during Islamic holidays in asking for blessings and safety from their ancestors, Eyang Singaparna, and as gratitude to the Almighty God for what they have.

In addition to Hajat Sasih, they also have rituals performed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. During these days, you are not allowed to visit the village because all its residents perform such rituals.

To Stay

This is where you could also go in seclusion, enjoying your stay in local green homes and taking a bath in cool Ciwulan river water. You could also enjoy quiet nights in your room with only a Vayer lamp.

Get There

To reach the Dragon Village, you can take an airplane from Jakarta to Husein Sastranegara airport in Bandung. From there, you can rent a car or use public transportation to Tasikmalaya or Garut.

Tips

Although you are not allowed to listen to your iPod, you could hear birds sing, waters flow, winds blow, insects and frogs and see many shaddy trees. To stay overnight, you have to ask for permission from local officials a few days in advance.

Exotic Dieng Plateau

2010-12-16T11:17:00.000+07:00

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. The misty location, sulphurous springs and colored lakes truly make this a place of natural wonder and cultural significance.

Come here and you will be transported back to ancient times. The temples are remnants from the glorious period of the Hindu empire in Java dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Standing on a plateau 2,000 meters (6,500 ft) above sea level, it is the extraordinary setting of these temples which make them most remarkable. It is believed that this place was chosen as the sacred location because of the spectacular landscape.

From the bubbling mudholes, brightly colored sulphur lakes and thick mist surrounding the plateau, visitors will easily understand why the ancient Javanese considered this place to be the seat of supernatural powers. Modern visitors to the plateau are enthralled by the unearthly beauty of this spot, with many finding it quite eerie.

Each of the small temples is named after figures in the epic tale of the Mahabarata such as Bima, Gatutkaca, Arjuna and Srikandi. It is believed that these temples used to serve as residences of Hindu priests who would spread Hindu teachings.

The natural splendors of this location are fascinating. From lakes with green and yellow hues to the pristine waters of the reflective ‘mirror’ lake, the natural beauty of this spot is superb. The mirror lake is particularly impressive as it offers a perfectly reflective image of the landscape. While sadly, the impact of logging can be seen as many of the trees surrounding the lake have been cut down, it still remains an impressive natural phenomenon.

Once you’ve walked to the top of the Dieng plateau you will feel like you are on top of the world. It will be difficult to know just where to look as the view from the plateau takes in steaming and colorful lakes, ancient temples and lush green landscape.

For a truly amazing spectacle, arrive at the plateau at sunrise and you will be spoiled with not one, but two amazing views of the sunrise, a ‘golden’ and a ‘silver’ sunrise. This double sunrise is a unique natural phenomenon. Visitors take in the first ‘golden’ sunrise from a watch tower while the second ‘silver’ sunrise can be seen from the temples.

Even the drive to the plateau offers impressive sights. On the way up, visitors will pass through tobacco plantations and beautiful mountain scenery.

The Dieng people are used to visitors and warmly welcome travelers to the region.

Get There

The easiest way to get to Dieng plateau is by car. It is located in Central Java, around a three hour drive from Yogya or only 25km from Wonosobo.

It is advisable to leave for the plateau early to reach the site before noon. Because of the altitude, the plateau is often covered in mist by early afternoon.

By public transport, you can take a bus from Yogya to Magelang and change for Wonosobo. From Wonosobo, take a minibus to the village of Dieng. The sites on the plateau can be reached on foot from the village of Dieng. If you are driving, parking is available near the main sites.

Tips

The plateau itself is cool, with an average temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius during the day. If you are visiting at sunrise remember to bring some warm clothes.

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Indonesia to Host the L-Men Mister International 2010

2010-11-02T14:03:00.002+07:00

L-Men, the effective nutrition for body building and athletic performance of active men, will hold the 5th edition of the Mister International male pageant at Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia on November 20th, 2010. Since its debut in 2006, this would be the first time for Indonesia to host this groundbreaking event. Around 45 contestants throughout the world have confirmed that they will be competing in this event. Mister International 2009 Bruno Kettels from Bolivia will crown his successor at the end of this event. Mister International 2010 will also line up some special performances from notable Indonesian hosts and musicians, such as Cathy Sharon, Steny Agustaf, Krisdayanti, Rini Idol, Duo Percussion, and Rampak Kendang Nusantara. So, Don’t miss it!

For more info, please visit www.l-menmisterinternational2010.com/

December Highlights In Bali

2010-10-31T14:31:00.000+07:00

December seems to be the most special month amongst other months in 2010. Three main holidays from three different religions will appear on December. Surely, as the community who tolerate other religions’ celebration, Balinese will respect any celebrations and hope everything will go smooth. December this year will be also filled by various festal events to welcome New Year 2011. Take a jaunt to Bali and experience the festal celebration of life!

7 December Moslem New Year
The celebration of Moslem New Year is as not festal as the celebration of New Year’s Eve on December 31^st. Even it could be said that there is no celebration, the city is just like usual. No fireworks, no trumpet, no feast. Moslem community goes to mosque, pray, and goes back to their home. However some shopping centers or communication products often give special discount on this day.

8 December Galungan Day
Galungan is Hindus’ main ceremony to celebrate the glory of righteousness against the wickedness. As the sign of the glory, Hindus create Penjor (decorated long bamboo) and stick it in front of the gate. Hence, when you come to Bali on this day you will see how beautiful Bali with the festal decoration of penjor. They celebrate Galungan day during three days. On the core day, Hindus go to temple and enjoy the togetherness with family staying far away from them. Every family cooks traditional dishes such as suckling pig and lawar then on the core of Galungan they gather and eat together.

18 December Kuningan Day
Kuningan is celebrated 10 days after Galungan to pray and demand prosperity from the God and ancestors. Balinese people believe that on this day, the ancestor spirits will return to heaven at mid-day. For this reason they conduct the ceremony and finish all things before 12 pm.

18 December Makotekan
Makotekan is identified as a celebration and ceremony to purify the village and as a symbol of never ending battle between virtue and evil. You can’t enjoy Makotekan at Kuta or Ubud, or Seminyak, since Makoketekan is the privileged ceremony held in Mungu village, Mengwi, Badung. This was a celebration of the glory of Mengwi Kingdom against to Blambangan. All male from Mungu carry Kotekan, long wood decorated with leaves and tamiang and pray firstly to ask for the blessing for the success of Makotekan. They then unite their kotekan forming a mount. Sometimes there is a guy climb it up and stand on the top peak to make another group fall down. It is worth to see! It is a battle where fun covers all the procession.

26 December Pangerebongan
Pangerebongan is another sacred traditional ceremony which aims to protect the village from the disease. This ceremony is also identified as mass trance ritual in which trance people will stab kris to their body.
Unbelievably, they are all ok, without blood or wound. Surely the procession is not all about mass trance. This sacred ritual started at 9 pm till afternoon in the courtyard of Pangerebongan Temple is followed by various rituals such as praying to the Lord, Tabuh rah, summoning ritual, and encircling the wantilan.

25 December Christmas Day
Although Bali Island is dominated with Hindu community but all people enjoy the friendly Santa Klaus in front of the mall entrance or any shopping centers in Bali. All shopping mall will be decorated with typical Christmas-tree decoration. Besides most of great resorts in Bali will do the same; even make special events to mark the coming Christmas. Enjoying Christmas in Bali will be a distinctive experience.

28-30 December Denpasar Festival (Gajah Mada Town Festival)
Starting from 2008 local government of Denpasar holds Gajah Mada Town Festival at Gajah Mada area to recall Denpasar community’s memory. Gajah Mada area was the most interesting area since it provided entrainment as well as shopping center in 1950s. However, nowadays because of the massive modern mall’s development Gajah Mada area turns to be forgotten. By presenting hundreds of various booths showcasing art works from many ethnics, culinary, and band performances, local government has helped Denpasar people to be entertained with something rare to be found in Denpasar. Although there is no official statement that Denpasar Festival will be held in this year yet but for you who plan to have vacation in December should add this event to your list to visit.

31 December New Year’s Eve
Bali will be flocked by many people coming from abroad or other areas in Indonesia to experience how festal Bali in celebrating New Year’s Eve. There will be a lot of fireworks, trumpet, music festival, and many events where people can enjoy the happiness and great entertainments. Welcome the first sun rise in 2011 in the Island Of The Gods.

source : blog.baliwww.com

Living in the shadow of Indonesia's volcanoes

2010-10-28T03:02:00.001+07:00

By Andrew Marshall

Photograph by John Stanmeyer

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. Not even though columns of noxious gas and the nervous tracings of seismographs signal an imminent explosion. Not even though the government has ordered a full-scale evacuation. "I feel safe here," he says. "If the Gatekeeper won't move, then neither will I."

Merapi is a natural-born killer. Rising almost 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) over forests and fields, it ranks among the world's most active and dangerous volcanoes. Its very name means "fire mountain." An eruption in 1930 killed more than 1,300; even in less deadly times, plumes drift menacingly from the peak. Some of the surrounding area, warns a local hazards map, is "frequently affected by pyroclastic flows, lava flows, rockfalls, toxic gases and glowing ejected rock fragments." As the volcano's rumbling crescendoed in May 2006, thousands fled the fertile slopes and settled reluctantly into makeshift camps at lower, safer altitudes. Even the resident monkeys descended in droves.

Not Udi and his fellow villagers, who take their cues from an octogenarian with dazzling dentures and a taste for menthol cigarettes: Mbah Marijan, the Gatekeeper of Merapi. Marijan has one of the more bizarre jobs in Indonesia, or anywhere else, for that matter. The fate of villagers like Udi and of the 500,000 residents of Yogyakarta, a city 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the south, rests on Marijan's thin shoulders. It is his responsibility to perform the rituals designed to appease an ogre believed to inhabit Merapi's summit. This time, the rituals seem to have fallen short. The warnings grow more urgent. Volcanologists, military commanders, even Indonesia's vice president beg him to evacuate. He flatly refuses. "It's your duty to come talk to me," he tells the police. "It is my duty to stay."

Marijan's behavior might seem suicidal anywhere else, but not in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,500 islands that straddles the western reaches of the hyperactive Ring of Fire. It's a zone of geophysical violence, a juncture of colliding tectonic plates that loops more than 25,000 miles (40,200 kilometers) around the Pacific. Geography has dealt Indonesia a wild card: Nowhere else do so many live so close to so many active volcanoes—129 by one count. On Java alone, 120 million people live in the shadow of more than 30 volcanoes, a proximity that has proved fatal to more than 140,000 in the past 500 years.

Death by volcano takes many forms: searing lava, suffocating mud, or the tsunamis that often follow an eruption. In 1883, Mount Krakatau (often misspelled as Krakatoa), located off Java's coast, triggered a tsunami that claimed more than 36,000 lives. The name became a metaphor for a catastrophic natural disaster.

For Marijan, though, an eruption is not so much a threat as a growth spurt. "The kingdom of Merapi is expanding," he says, with a nod at its smoldering peak. In Indonesia, volcanoes are not just a fact of life, they are life itself. Volcanic ash enriches the soil; farmers on Java can harvest three crops of rice in a season. Farmers on neighboring Borneo, with only one volcano, can't.

On a less earthly plane, volcanoes stand at the heart of a complicated set of mystical beliefs that grip millions of Indonesians and influence events in unexpected ways. Their peaks attract holy men and pilgrims. Their eruptions augur political change and social upheaval. You might say that in Indonesia, volcanoes are a cultural cauldron in which mysticism, modern life, Islam, and other religions mix—or don't. Indonesia, an assemblage of races, religions, and tongues, is riveted together by volcanoes. Reverence for them is virtually a national trait.

If the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, the government agency that keeps eight seismograph stations humming on Merapi, represents modern science, Marijan, the Gatekeeper of Merapi, is Indonesia at its most mystical. When a Dutch hiker went missing on the volcano in 1996, Marijan reportedly made the thick mist vanish and found the injured hiker in a ravine.

It is often hard to distinguish the kind of volcanic spasm that builds toward a convulsion from the seismic restlessness that settles back into quiescence. But monitoring technology has grown more sophisticated. Overnight, government volcanologists have raised the alert to its highest level. The lava dome might collapse at any moment. Hasn't Marijan heard? The entreaties leave Marijan unimpressed. The alerts are merely guesses by men at far remove from the spirit of the volcano. The lava dome collapse? "That's what the experts say," he says, smiling. "But an idiot like me can't see any change from yesterday."

INDONESIA'S MOTTO, "Bhinneka tunggal ika—Unity in diversity," speaks to some 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 languages and dialects. The government officially recognizes six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism, but mysticism riddles all faiths and bares their animistic roots. Sumatra, the vast island northwest of Java, is home to the Batak people, converted to Christianity by European missionaries in the 19th century. Yet many still believe the first human descended from heaven on a bamboo pole to Mount Pusuk Buhit, an active volcano on the shores of Lake Toba. The Tengger, Hindus who live around Mount Bromo in East Java, periodically climb through choking sulfurous clouds to throw money, vegetables, chickens, and an occasional goat into the crater. On Flores, the Nage, Catholics like most on that island, are buried with their heads toward Mount Ebulobo, whose cone fills their southern horizon.

Likewise, on largely Hindu Bali, volcanoes are sacred, none more so than 10,000-foot (3,000 meters) Mount Agung, its highest peak. It is said a true Balinese knows its location, even when blindfolded, and many sleep with their heads pointing toward it. In 1963 a catastrophic eruption of Mount Agung killed a thousand people. Others starved to death after ash smothered their crops. "The very ground beneath us trembled with the perpetual shocks of the explosions," wrote an eyewitness. Yet what once was spoken of as divine wrath is now seen as a gift. The rock and sand thrown up by the eruption built hotels, restaurants, and villas for hordes of foreign tourists, who started arriving in the 1970s. Despite attacks by Islamic terrorists in 2002 and 2005, which killed more than 220 people, tourism remains Bali's biggest industry. And by the grace of Agung and its neighbor, Mount Batur, houses that once nestled in fields of chilies and onions now overlook quarries filled with workers shoveling volcanic sand into trucks.

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National Geographic : Merapi Eruption

2010-10-27T14:43:00.000+07:00

Nationalgeographic.com

Smoke rises Monday from Indonesia's Mount Merapi, one of the world's most volatile and dangerous volcanoes. Thousands of people living on the volcano's fertile slopes began evacuating as Merapi started erupting Tuesday, sending hot ash and rocks high in the air. (See an Indonesia map.)

Scientists had been warning for days that pressure building in the rumbling volcano has the potential to set off an especially violent eruption. (See related pictures of the ten most dangerous U.S. volcanoes.)

"The energy is building up. ... We hope it will release slowly," Indonesian-government volcanologist Surono told reporters, according to the Associated Press. "Otherwise we're looking at a potentially huge eruption, bigger than anything we've seen in years."

Meanwhile, officials in western Indonesia are racing to deal with the aftermath of a deadly tsunami that struck the remote Mentawai Islands late Monday, killing at least 113 and leaving hundreds more missing. The killer wave, triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake centered offshore of the island of Sumatra, had many recalling the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which devastated the same region.

While it's unclear whether Monday's earthquake and the Merapi volcano eruption are linked, neither event is uncommon in Indonesia. The archipelago sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of fault lines that stretches from the Pacific coasts of the Americas through Japan and into Southeast Asia. (See "Deadly Java Quake Highlights "Ring of Fire" Dangers.")

Garuda Indonesia Launches Onboard Visa Processing

2010-10-16T11:40:00.000+07:00

Garuda Indonesia has introduced visa onboard processing facilities on all direct flights from Sydney to Jakarta, allowing passengers to fast track through immigration, avoid currency exchanges and notorious airport queues.

Garuda Indonesia passengers taking advantage of this new service will have their visa processed by immigration officials onboard the aircraft and payment will be processed when checking-in at Sydney airport.

Garuda hopes to extend the facility to other of its services departing Australia. So, let's make your flight be enjoy and happy with Garuda Indonesia Airlines.

Air Manis Beach

2010-09-22T16:20:00.000+07:00

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.

Visit Banda Aceh 2011

2010-09-15T09:13:00.000+07:00

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.

source: garudaindonesia magazine

Masterpieces of Chinese Brush Painting To Show Up in Indonesia

2010-09-14T09:39:00.001+07:00

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.

Source : news.xinhuanet.com

Bali October Hilghlights

2010-09-14T09:38:00.001+07:00

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 9^th, 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.

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Indonesia Tourism Travel Fair 2010

2010-09-14T09:22:00.001+07:00

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

Garuda Indonesia International Photo Contest

2010-09-13T09:01:00.001+07:00

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.

Indonesia Southeast Asia's Richest Cultural Heritage

2010-09-10T09:36:00.005+07:00

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.

A Tale of Two Islands, Bali vs Phuket

2010-09-06T10:51:00.000+07:00

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

The Masterpiece Of Indonesia

2010-08-31T16:20:00.000+07:00

Jepara itself is the name of a region in Central Java, Indonesia which is the center of the Jepara craftsmen. Currently, nearly 80 percent of residents of Jepara still pursue carving activities that is believed to have been there since the time of Majapahit (A big Hindu Kingdom in Indonesia) in the 13th century. Jepara carving continues to grow, both in the design, function, and aesthetics.

If you are an art lover and love beauty, the uniqueness of Jepara carving art may be one of your admirations. Jepara carving art is the best in Indonesia and becomes one of the leading export commodities of Indonesia. Jepara carving applied in furniture provides value added so that most Indonesian furniture can compete, and even is more superior than those made by other countries such as Vietnam.

Therefore, to meet the demand for such a large community inside and outside Indonesia, today the craftsmen begin creating three types of quality of Jepara carving art, usually called Class I, II, and III. This is done so that Jepara carving can be more popular in the community and can be purchased by various status of economic level of society. Nevertheless, for high quality carving wood, today the craftsmen of Jepara still use teak wood for the best result.

Among the current competition of export commodities, Jepara carving still exist because of their uniqueness. There is no similarity between the Jepara carving products. Because it is the art of man made or not done with modern machinery, Jepara carving art might be similar but never be same or identical. Thus, owning Jepara carving furniture and handicraft means collecting high value and aesthetic artwork.

source : http://goodnewsfromindonesia.org

Solo, The Real Java

2010-08-30T13:25:00.001+07:00

Famous as a city that is fiercely proud of its Javanese traditions, the regal city of Solo or Surakarta is known throughout Indonesia as a strong upholder of Javanese culture. A visit here is a chance to connect with and take in the sights and sounds of ancient Javanese culture. You’ll need at least a few days to explore the city to wander around and discover all the vibrant old markets, busy street life and ancient buildings.

Historically, Solo has been a centre of power in Central Java. In 1745 the Mataram court was transferred here from Kota Gede, and, since then, the city has built on its reputation as a cultural hub. From Solonese dance, wayang puppetry through to hand-crafted batik Solo remains a city that prides itself on its artistic traditions of elegance and refinement. Today, Solo is part of the province of Central Java.

While you are here pay a visit to the many cultural attractions of the city such as the two keratons or palaces, of the Sunan of Surakarta and the Prince of Mangkunegara. Take a load off your feet and ride a pushcart along the maze of white palace walls.

Absorb yourself in history with a becak ride through the old city.

Known as the city that never sleeps, there is always something going on in Solo. Warung’s operate almost around the clock so there is no danger of going hungry.

With a population of over 550,000 people, Solo is a densely populated city. But while people may live close together there are no high rise buildings, so this city has a community atmosphere that is difficult to find in any other city in Indonesia.

Compared to Java’s other ‘court’ city, Yogyakarta, fewer travelers journey to Solo. Come here and explore the refined and aristocratic Javanese traditions that you won’t find anywhere else.

To Do

Keraton Surakarta – also called the Kasunanan – was built in 1745 and is a must see for any visitor to Solo. As you enter the grounds you will be immediately transported to a place where tradition governs daily life. While most of the woodwork in the keraton of Yogya is colored green, the dominating color in the court of Solo is sky blue. This is a unique cultural attraction not to be missed.

Visitors to the palace are requested to wear a samir or red and gold ribbon around their neck as a mark of respect. Walking through the palace, stop and look at the huge mirror whose inscription invites the visitor to examine their soul before being received by the King. You will see areas such as the keputren – an area reserved for the Sunan’s (Kings) daughters and wives where the only man permitted to enter is the Sunan himself. Unfortunately a fire in 1985 has meant that some sections of the palace have been rebuilt. A new pavilion now stands following ancient descriptions, dominated by bold red and gold colors.

The Mangkunegaran palace or Pura Mangkunegaran is the other royal palace of Solo. Set within lush gardens and European fountains, this palace was founded by a dissident prince, who in the 18th century, was awarded a portion of the Sunan’s (King’s) fiefdom to ensure he remained loyal to the Sunan. To symbolize the junior rank of the Mangkunegaran, the palace is set south of the Kasunanan palace.

The Mesjid Ageng or Grand Mosque is a magnificently large mosque in a unique design that blends Middle East and traditional Javanese architecture. Originally built in 1750, the mosque has become bigger and more majestic as Sunans have made their own additions and renovations over the years. This remains a place of active worship and is still used for royal ceremonies and festivals such as the Sekaten. Visitors are welcome outside of prayer times but are required to dress respectfully, remove their shoes, and wash before entering.

For visitors traveling with children, take in the fun and excitement of the Sriwedari Amusement Park with rides and entertainment sure to impress the young ones. The onsite theatre puts on nightly cultural shows including wayang kulit (shadow puppet performance) and wayang orang (live theatre).

To Stay

While Solo is not as established as a tourist destination as Yogya, there are a wide range of accommodation options available. A number of major hotel chains have establishments here including the Novotel and the Ibis.

The Indah Palace hotel is a three star hotel located close to many of the landmarks in the city.

To Eat

Food is an important part of life in Solo so if you like to eat, you won’t be disappointed with this city. Solo hosts an array of eateries which sell all kinds of Javanese food. Warungs here are open almost 24 hours so no matter what the time, you’ll never go hungry in Solo.
As your choice of food is limited to Javanese cuisine, this is the perfect opportunity to try all those traditional dishes you’d never heard of until you got to Solo.

Some popular dishes in Solo include:

Ayam bakar – Barbequed chicken served with lalapan or raw vegetables.
Pecel – Cold cooked vegetables over rice with a spicy peanut sauce.
Kelapa muda utuh ¬– A whole young coconut which makes a refreshing drink.

To Buy

The biggest textile market in Java, the Pasar Klewer, is in Solo and attracts people from all over the island who flock here to shop and buy cloth of every imaginable description. This busy bazaar is a hive of activity. Many stall holders are from Arab and Muslim Indian descent giving the market a multi-cultural atmosphere. Shoppers will go through aisle after aisle of tiny stalls piled high with woven and printed cottons, linens, synthetics and silks – most of them in batik prints.

Pasar Triwindu is a small yet chaotic flea market where, if you’re willing to search, shoppers can find pretty much anything and everything as long as it’s used or old. From old masks, wayangs, musical instruments and coins, this is a market filled with endless curiosities. Even if you’re not in the market for something, it’s worth a look to come here and browse at the collection of oddities on sale.

The central market of Solo is Pasar Gede, located in the Chinese district. Every day
villagers pour in from the countryside to sell their produce here. Everything from vegetables, fruits, rice, coffee, dried fish, clothes and manufactured good is on sale here. This is a hot, crowded and cramped market where you will need to have your wits about you and your bargaining skills ready to get the best buys.

Fancy checking out a different kind of market? Parrots, chickens, doves, canaries, owls and the occasional eagle – all can be found on sale at Pasar Depok, Solo’s bird market.

Getting There

Solo has a large airport, the Surakarta - Adi Sumarmo Wiryokusumo International Airport, which has daily flights traveling from most major cities throughout Indonesia. International flights also fly from here to Malaysia and Singapore. AirAisa flies from Kuala Lumpur to Solo and SilkAir from Singapore.

Domestic airlines that fly in and out of Solo include Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air.

The train goes regularly between Solo and Jakarta and the trip takes between 11-12 hours. The train continues to Surabaya.

Night buses travel from Jakarta to Solo and take around 12 hours.

From Yogya, you can travel to Solo by express minibus which takes around one hour. The cheaper but more crowded public buses also travel by this route.

Eat Pray Love Showcases Bali to the World

2010-08-29T13:17:00.000+07:00

The long awaited film version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best selling memoirs Eat Pray Love, starring superstar Julia Robert showcasing the beauty of Ubud to the world, premiered In New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre on Tuesday 10 August 2010.

The premiere in America was also attended by co-star, Indonesia’s own celebrity Christine Hakim, and Director General for Tourism Promotion, Sapta Nirwandar. The film will open in U.S cinemas from 13 August. In Indonesia the film is expected to premier in October.

Eat, Pray and Love is already a world’s best selling book that tells the story of Liz Gilbert and her year long journey in Italy, India and Indonesia as she seeks to find balance and fulfilment in her life following the break down of her marriage. Liz ends her journey in Ubud, Bali, where, surrounded by spectacular natural beauty and friendly people, she finally finds contentment.

With an all star cast and big names like Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem as well as local Indonesian beauty Christine Hakim, the film promises to be a huge hit. Chiristine Hakim, a prominent Indonesian film star herself, plays Wayan, the traditional Balinese healer, who, along with Ketut Liyer, help Liz rediscover her ability to love.

Filmed in Bali, namely Jimbaran and Ubud, the movie showcases the spectacular Indonesian landscape and Balinese culture which Ubud is famous for. Ubud has turned into a popular resort for relaxation and inspiration. Ubud was voted as The Top City in Asia and The Friendliest City by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Prambanan, The Most Beautiful Hinduism Temple

2010-08-29T12:49:00.000+07:00

As the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, the beautiful and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle and an icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

Located not far from the Buddhist Borobudur temple, the proximity of the two temples tells us that on Java, Buddhism and Hinduism lived peacefully next to one another.

Prambanan is known locally as Roro Jonggrang, coming from the legend of the ‘slender virgin’. According to the legend once upon a time, there was a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso. He wanted to marry a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang. Her father, the king, agreed and forced her to marry Bandung Bondowoso. Butm Sita did not love him yet could not refuse him.

After careful consideration, she thought of a way to refuse Bondowoso, whose magical power was well-known. She decided she would agree but only if Bondowoso built 1,000 temples in one night before the break of dawn.

She insisted that the work must be completed before the rooster crowed, something she believed was impossible. But with the help of genies and his own magical powers, Bondowoso managed to complete 999 temples. Panicked, Jonggrang told the women of her village to start pounding rice so that the rooster would wake up and begin to crow. When Bondowoso heard this he was deeply disappointed and wildly enraged. When he found out that Roro Jonggrang had made the roosters crow, he turned her into stone, The statue of a slender virgin graces the main Prambanan temple, while a group of temples nearby is called the Candi Sewu or the Thousand Temples.

The temples at Prambanan were built in the 9th century. The biggest temple is dedicated to Shiva – the destroyer, and the two smaller ones which sit on its right and left are dedicated to Brahma -¬ the creator and Wisnhu – the sustainer. The tallest temple of Prambanan is a staggering 47 meters high. Its peak visible from far away and rises high above the ruins of the other temples.

After hundreds of years of neglect, the Prambanan temple was rediscovered by CA Lons, a Dutchman, in 1733. Since then, this temple has been revitalized and today is widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia.

The grandeur, complexity, and integrated architectural concept of Prambanan makes this a truly amazing structure. As a unique cultural and architectural marvel, Prambanan was declared a World Heritage site in 1991 by UNESCO.

To Do

The relief’s inside the temple show the epic story of Ramayana. Inside, there are also historical items such as the Lingga Batara Siwa stone, a symbol of fertility.

From May to October at full moon, the classic Javanese Ramayana ballet or dance drama (hyperlink) is performed by more than 250 dancers in an outdoor open stage with as its backdrop the full moon dramatically rising over the temples.

The epic Ramayana tells the story of Prince Rama and his wife Sita who are wandering in the forest. When Rama sees a golden deer he chases it, but not before drawing a circle around Sita. He tells her not to step out of the circle to stay safe. The king of ogres Rahwana lures Sita out of the circle, abducts her and carries her to his kingdom, Alengka.

The grief stricken Rama is assisted by the monkey king, Hanuman., who finds Sita in Rahwana’s palace. He burns Alengka and Sita is saved and restored to her husband.

While you are here you will want to snap as many photos as you can. The ticket you purchase to enter Prambanan is valid for a whole day meaning you can exit and re-enter the sites as many times as you wish. This is the same for tickets purchased for Borobudur temple. For photographers this means you can take pictures of the site at different times of the day.

To Stay

There is a wide variety of inns and hotels to choose from in nearby Yogyakarta. For more information refer to our Travel Directory.

If you're after a touch of luxury, try the Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa. It's near the airport and has a large pool as well as gift shops, entertainment, and food. The Hyatt is another luxury hotel to stay at.

Many hotels in nearby Yogya also have high quality restaurants where serving a combination of modern Western food and traditional Yogya cuisine

Tea is a specialty of this region. Wherever you go in the Java plains, the climate remains warm throughout the year which means there is nothing more refreshing than a big pitcher of cold javanese tea. A big cup of cold ginger Javanese tea usually costs only IDR 2,000.

Getting Around

Visitors to Prambanan wander around the temples on foot. This is the best way to enjoy the lush landscape and take in the detailed architecture and design of the temples up close.

This temple compound covers 39.8 hectares. In the main yard, there are the three main temples, as well as three Wahana temples, two Apit temples, and eight Patok temples surrounded by fences. In the second yard, there are another 224 Perwara temples. Wandering around here and examining the intricate stonework will be enough to keep you busy all day!

Compared to the temples in Angkor Wat, the temples of Prambanan are much easier to navigate and more tourist-friendly. The area surrounding Prambanan is developed, with a landscaped park and stores selling tourist souvenirs. While it’s not a temple set in a remote rustic setting, the splendor of the temple will make you quickly forget your surroundings. You will be transported back to an ancient time where ritual and culture dominated every part of life.

Getting There

The closest cities to Prambanan, are either Yogyakarta (insert hyperlink) or Semarang. Garuda Indonesia, Mandala, Merpati Nusantara Airlines and a number of domestic airlines fly to these cities from Jakarta and other large cities in Indonesia. AirAsia is the first international airline that flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta.

From Yogyakarta, you can rent a car to go to Klaten. From there, you can walk to the temple.

If have been busy and are really tired of walking, you can always call for a becak. With the cost of about Rp10,000 the Becak driver will bring you right up to the entrance gate of the Temple, not far from the ticket box.

Free Marine Booklet

2010-08-24T03:49:00.000+07:00

Published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Marine Booklet is a comprehensive guide to plan your Surfing and Diving trip in Indonesia.

Title: Marine Booklet 2007, 47 pages, full color (2007)

Published by:
Directorate General of Marketing
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Merdeka Barat 17 Jakarta 10110.

To download, you should have acrobat reader and for more simply please click right on the file and choose "save target as".

Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) 2010

2010-08-23T15:35:00.000+07:00

TIME is the premier tourism event in Indonesia, in which top industry policy makers, practitioners, sellers and buyers of Indonesian-based tourism products and services participate. It accommodates the interests of those who sell Indonesia’s tourism products and services to the international markets. The event will feature most of Indonesia’s tourist attractions which include all popular destinations and special interests as well as top tourist facilities available in the country.

TIME 2010 is also the best and most effective means for buyers from all over the world to experience and understand the ultimate diversity of Indonesia. A visit to this amazing archipelago will more often than not short. There is simply so much to experience but never enough time.

Be part of TIME 2010 which will be held in Lombok-Sumbawa and you will qualify for the following benefits:

* 32 pre-scheduled appointments between Buyers and Sellers
* AD 75 for Buyers from sponsoring international airlines and AD 50 for Sellers on domestic routes

* An excellent opportunity of comprehensive Post Conference Tours

Our sincere thanks and appreciation go to Indonesian tourism industry which has made TIME a success reaching its sixteenth (16th) year now, especially to the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Garuda Indonesia, Association of the Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA), Indonesia Hotels and Restaurant Association (PHRI), other supporting airlines, media members, and all related parties which are contributing to the success of TIME 2010.

Participate with us and find out more info by logging in to: www.pasarwisata.com

See you in Lombok…

Tour De Bintan

2010-08-22T14:36:00.002+07:00

Made up of three stages, the Tour de Bintan will cover in 2010 a total distance of 268km and will include various intermediate sprints for the Sprint Ace and King Of the Mountain jerseys.

The Tour de Bintan will unveil to you the true Indonesia. As you ride past traditional fishing villages, dense lush green forests, beautiful unspoiled beaches, expect jubilant spectators in school uniforms, clapping and cheering at this spectacle of speed and colour never seen before.

While we expect some exciting team tactics, individual riders are more than welcome to test their mettle.

Tour de Bintan has some route is divide by three stage:

Stage 1: 156km:simpang lagoi - kijang simpang Lagoi

Stage 2: 74km:Nirwana Gardens – Tanjung Uban – Nirwana Gardens

Stage 3: 38km:Nirwana Gardens – Ria Bintan – Nirwana Gardens

For more info www.tourdebintan.com

Barong Dance, A Part of Balinese Culture

2010-08-11T14:23:00.000+07:00

Theater and dance is an integral part of Balinese culture. Balinese dances are famous all over the world and the Balinese themselves take them very seriously. Birthdays, weddings, and temples festivals are all occasions for dramatic performances and dance is inextricably linked with the Balinese religion. The commercial performances for tourists that are today offered on a daily basis in several places of Bali do, of course, not have the same religious significance and atmosphere of a dance that is performed at a real temple festival.

Barong is probably the most well known dance. It is also another story telling dance, narrating the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into one reality.

The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.

Somebody can die or get seriously injured in a Barong dance. It is said that if Rangda's spell is too strong, a weak soldier may not be able to resist it, even with the help of Barong. He may end up hurting himself with his own keris.

The masks of Barong and Rangda are considered sacred items, and before they are brought out, a priest must be present to offer blessings by sprinkling them with holy water taken from Mount Agung, and offerrings must be presented.

For Photos Galleries you can visit erwin stolz gallery

Regularly scheduled dance performances are available throughout the year.

The Republic's Living History

2010-08-02T12:46:00.000+07:00

In 1945, the Republic of Indonesia to fight hard for its independence. The fighters such as Bung Karno and other fighters collided with the tactics of the colonialists. and finally Indonesia won its independence. Want to know more about the history of life in Indonesian nation, just read this article by Widi Yunani. Here..

Luce d'Alma Resort & Spa at Gili Trawangan

2010-07-31T08:48:00.000+07:00

In Gili Trawangan - island of the indonesian archipelago near Bali – a newly opened resort, the only four-star hotel on the island: “ Luce d’Alma Resort & Spa ”. Managed by Lucio e Antonio Sodano, all facilities and comfort you could wish for, nestled in a unique atmosphere Distinguished by style and design: 16 large rooms (from 58 sq. mt.) opening out on to a magnificent 80 sq.mt pool, spa facilities and a hotel operated beach.

Furthermore, on an island which does not rely on spring water sources, a hydraulic system for fresh and drinkable water is undeniably a plus whilst hot water is guaranteed by solar pannels.
A fine restaurant and the genuine italian hospitality top it all.

The Gili islands are one of the worlds best kept secret. A group of three islands part of the vast indonesian archipelago, a short distance from Bali. Whilst the well known neighbouring island is praised for its animated life and surfing beaches, Gili offer an environment of untouched nature, relax, peacefullness and extraordinary crystal clear waters home to fish, turtles and corals - a cherished site for divers and quite beach life seekers. No motor vechicles are allowed on the island. Bicycles and local horse carts known as “cidomo”, are the only means of transport available.

The Gili islands have been able to preserve a simple lifestyle. The fast pace of other fashionable holiday destinations has not taken over. There are markets which cater basic necessities, local articraft shops and internet points. Evenings are animated by restaurants which offer local food and bars which are lively social meeting spots. Simply listening to music by candlelight is an option too.

Local villagers still live by ancient traditions and the receptive traveller can plunge into a genuine reality bonding with nature.

Until now, the Gili islands have been a sport attraction site favoured by young people, diving or snorkeling, looking for unexpensive room & board. The past few years however have witnessed a more sofisticated tourism claiming upgrade accomodations and services.

Meeting these new requests, the Sodano brothers, who have been operating in Indonesia for many years in Balinese real estate and hotels, have decided to offer what has been missing, an elegant and distictive resort secluded in a palm grove, where guests are pampered and can relax.
The structure, developed around the swimming pool, has sixteen large, contemporary furnished cottages enhanced by local ethnic pieces. Each cottage features a king size bed, a large closed bathroom - unusual by Indonesian standards – with bath, an elegant walled shower, hairdryer and robe included. Each has a spacious living room with international TV, telephone, cd-dvd, safebox, electric coffee-tea pot, mini-bar and air conditioning. Each cottage has direct access to the pool from its own private furnished terrace.

The main dining room which opens laterally as tradition wants, unites the best of European essential design and Balinese decor, enriched by precious woods.

The cuisine again reflects this euro-asian connubial elegance. Next to the traditional local delicacies, you are likely to find obvious and perfectly interpreted italian fare enriched with local influence by the hotel’s chefs.

The resort also offers the optimum of a traveller’s needs including fitness area and spa facilities with Jacuzzi and sauna under the supervision of well trained staff. Baby-sitting and laundry upon request.

The hotel operated beach, located at one of the best snorkeling areas, is easily reached in a few minutes (about 600 mt) and offers comfortable sun-loungers, umbrellas and bar service. Bikes are available for hotel guests to freely ride around the island and reach beach sites easily.

Excursions with private motorboats to near Lombok can be arranged to take advantage of the golf courses.

Diving affecionados won’t be disappointed. The hotel works with one of the most important centres of the Island, The Bali Diving Academy.

How to get to Gili Trawangan
The Gili Islands are easily reached by sea with daily fast boats (two hours) arriving directly at Trawangan; by air from Bali to Lombok (20 minutes) with transfer by boat from Lombok to Trawangan with the hotel’s private boat. The hotel will be pleased to organise all transport upon request.

The best time to go
The Gili Islands have a tropical climate, protected by the close lying Lombok mountains. They benefit sunshine and a fresh breeze for most part of the year. The best time to visit corrisponds to Indonesia’s dry season, April through October, although good weather prevails well beyond and is, in any case, a pleasant holiday all year round.

More Information : lucedalmaresort.com

The Samaya Hotel Bali

2010-07-30T16:50:00.000+07:00

The word “Samaya” is in Sanskrit, a word which refers to the inner sanctum of well being, a reflection of peace and tranquility where one finds refuge, a message conveying „I am with You‟. This unison is reflected in the personal feel and cozy character of The Samaya and this is just exactly as how guests want to the resort to be, private, serene and lavisly appointed.

Situated on the quiet side of Ayung River, The Samaya is just a few minutes from the centre historical of UBUD. Spectacularly located amid the rice fields and verdant hillsides of Bali‟s lush interior.

And this hotel also win a World Travel Awards 2009 as Indonesia's Leading Resort.

Interesting with this hotel, let's download their brochure here

Wakatobi Diving Site Awaiting Sail Banda Participant

2010-07-30T16:18:00.000+07:00

The participants of Sail Banda 2010 as well as divers from around the world will have a great opportunity to go diving in magnificent diving facilities at Wakatobi Marine National Park.

Sail Banda participants and tourist divers are expected to get a chance to dive in the superb diving sites and the most pristine reefs at Wakatobi Diving Resort, located in a beautiful tropical paradise of Onemobaa.

Therefore the Wakatobi district administration and local corral reef youths have expressed readiness to guide Sail Banda participants when they arrive at the location.

They are scheduled to be in Wakatobi from August 13 to 20, 2010, to enjoy the local stunning underwater panoramic beauty and diving in Wakatobi waters.

Wakatobi district head Hugua has said at least 1.3 million hectares of Wakatobi are part of Wakatobi National Marine Park with Karang Mari Mabo, Onemobaa, Pulau Hioga, and Pantai Patuno diving sites.

"The Corral Reef Youths whom we have prepared are ready to guide Sail Banda participants wherever they want to go diving at the center of the world`s corral reefs triangle here," Hugua said.

Divers, tourists, and guests will have an excellent diving holiday and enjoy every moment of it to see the colorful and magnificent underwater life because the area is tremendously rich in marine heritage.

Wakatobi is one of the protected marine national parks in Indonesia.

Known for its built-in Beach and a house reef just twenty meters from the dive center, Wakatobi attracts many professional divers from around the world who want to go diving there.

The Wakatobi Diving Resort is surrounded by stunning and pristine drop-offs, walls and slopes to ridges, caverns, caves and sea-mounts. Here at Wakatobi, the beauty of the marine life is waiting to be discovered and explored by the Sail Banda participants.

Besides, Wakatobi Diving Resort is also offering premier and luxurious accommodation with modern comforts to tourist divers and guests in Bungalows, Garden Bungalows, Beach Bungalows, and Cliff Villas.

Klewer Market at Solo

2010-07-28T08:16:00.000+07:00

Off the west gate of Karaton's North Square, this old market selling all kinds of fabrics, predominantly batik. Other traditional fabrics are lurik (hand-woven striped cotton cloth) and tenun ikat. There are hundreds of shops jammed along narrow passageways. The visitors must be prepared to bargain. Batik cloths and garments, hand-woven fabrics, traditional and local jewelry, leather puppets, basketry, tortoise-shell accessories, trinkets, brassware andKle other decorative items, and all kinds of antiques are local specialties. Souvenir and art objects are available in all major towns of Central Java, mostly in the downtown areas and popular market places or shopping centers.

Pasar Klewer in Solo is the busiest textile market in Java, a great place to buy not only the less expensive “stamped” (batik cap) cloths, but also some of the best hand-drawn batik tulis on the island. There are plenty of tailors in the market who can make shirts and skirts in a day. Also not to be missed while visiting Solo is the flea Market at Pasar Triwindu, where everything and anything is for sale to those willing to have a bit of fun bargaining.

Banda Aceh New Endeavours

2010-07-19T12:16:00.000+07:00

Five and a half years after the tsunami destroyed the city, Banda Aceh has started to stretch itself. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Islam’s former gateway to Indonesia and one of the oldest Islamic cities in Southeast Asia have finished, meaning it is time for the city to become a tourist destination yet again.

Aceh and its Islamic kingdom was known on the international stage as a prosperous country and was listed fifth in the world in the expansion of Islam. When it was built in 225 Hijriah, Perlak was the first Islamic kingdom in Nusantara and also the first in Southeast Asia. Its first king was Sultan Alaidin Saiyid Maulana Abdul Aziz Syah. After the kingdom of Perlak, only then did the Islamic kingdoms of Samudera Pase and Aceh Darussalam emerge.

According to old manuscripts and historical notes, the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam was built on the ruins of the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms of Indra Purba, Indra Purwa, Indra Patra and Indra Pura. Several remains of these kingdoms can be seen at sites around Banda Aceh.

In Kampong Pande there is the tombstone of Sultan Firman Syah, the grandson of Sultan Johan Syah, that has an inscription stating that Banda Aceh was the capital of the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam and that it was built on Friday, 1 Ramadhan 601 H (22 April 1205) by Sultan Johansyah after he defeated the Hindu and Buddhist Kingdom of Indra Purba whose capital was Bandar Lamuri.

Five and a half years after tsunami destroyed the city, Banda Aceh begins to rebuild the main potential for tourism. Many interesting places can be visited by foreign and domestic tourists.
The Islamic ambience was immediately apparent when I landed at Sultan Iskandar Muda airport. The characteristic domes of mosques welcome visitors to Banda Aceh. In this region, the women commonly wear veils. Another different thing is that when the call to prayer is resounding around the city, it goes quiet because all the inhabitants worship in the mosques, which are the centre of the people’s activities and the most often visited places in Aceh.

The Baiturrahman Masjid Raya (the Grand Mosque) is one of the main tourists destination and it’s the main symbol of Banda Aceh and is located to the south of Krueng Aceh River. This mosque, as is usual for a major mosque, is huge and grandiose and full of the faithful worshiping and carrying out various religious activities from Taman Pendidikan AlQuran (Koran education), reciting from the Koran, manasik haji rehearsals, weddings etc. The mosque, which was built during the glorious era of Sultan Iskandar Muda, was once used as the headquarters for the military in their defence of Aceh against the Dutch.

A new place of interest in Aceh is the Aceh Tsunami Museum that was built on a site covering about 10,000m2 on Jalan Iskandar Muda Blang Padang, Banda Aceh. This unique museum, built by local people, was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on 23rd February 2008. The museum, which is open twice a day from 10.00–12.00 and 15.00-17.00 (except Friday) really deserves the admiration it gets.

In addition to being a museum that contains a collection of pictures about the tsunami in Aceh, it is also a tsunami research and learning centre. It has an Escape Roof, an evacuation area for the public should there be a flood or tsunami. The roof area of the museum building is designed so that it can be planted with grass. The museum also comes complete with a public park called The Hill of Light, a small hill that can be used for initial rescue efforts in the eevent of a tsunami.

Unfortunately, the museum does not have a complete collection yet and there are only two floors people can visit while several rooms still look empty. Up to now the museum management is still encouraging people to register artifacts belonging to individuals, government and private agencies and also tsunami remains for the museum’s collection.

Right next to the museum is a cemetery complex for the members of the Dutch military who died in battles against the people of Aceh. The cemetery is called Kerkhoff and is evidence of the heroism of the people of Aceh in defending their region from Dutch colonialism. Kerkhoff was built in 1880 and the complex has about 2,200 Dutch military graves, from members the ordinary ranks to generals. General J.H.R. Kohler, who was shot dead by Acehnese troops in front of the Masjid Raya Baiturrahman, is buried here. The cemetery is adorned with lines of Bungong Jeumpa trees on the left and right of the road. The flowers are well known from the lyrics to an Acehnese song and are really pretty and fragrant.

Not far from Kerkhoff there is one of Iskandar Muda Sultanate’s legacies, Gunongan, a place of recreation for members of the royal family at that time. This place is the symbol of the strength of the Sultan’s love for his beautiful wife, Putri Phang (Putroe Phang), who hailed from Pahang, Malaysia. The white building, laid out in the form of a flower, is both unique and attractive.

Another interesting place in Banda Aceh is International Park where the aircraft Seulawah known as “RI-1”, as well as “RI-2”, can be seen. The monument provides real evidence of the support of the Aceh community for the Republic of Indonesia’s journey towards securing its independence. Seulawah, which was the first aircraft of Garuda Indonesia Airways, was paid for with money donated by business people and other ordinary citizens from Aceh.

Banda Aceh also offers opportunities for food tourism. Typical Acehnese food is a blend of various cultures such as Arab, Indian, Siamese, Spanish and Dutch. Its ayam tangkap has a special flavour and the spiced chicken fried with herbs has a fragant aroma that is enticing as well as being very delicious when served with sambal kecap and hot rice. And there is Mie Aceh with its special spices making it very tantalizing with its mixture of squid, crab and beef.

To enjoy Acehnese food in Banda Aceh is not difficult because there is a restaurant on almost every street. Some of the more interesting eateries are in Rex Peunayong, an open area in the city centre that offers various foods and drinks typical to Aceh such as Mie Aceh (Aceh noodle), Kerang Rebus (boiled clams), Sate Matang, Nasi Briani, Ayam Tangkap, Martabak Aceh as well as Aceh coffee. Rex only opens in the evening and there are inexpensive hotels and souvenir shops in the area.

Engaging in food tourism in Banda Aceh wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a cup of Acehnese coffee widely available in the coffee shops around the city. With the unique taste of this local coffee at a reasonable price, the snacks and WiFi facilities in almost every coffee shop, no wonder people like to linger here. There is always a new coffee shop in Banda Aceh, and there is no coffee shop without customers.

Buying rencong and Acehnese embroidery as souvenirs is a must. These two local specialities are available in the souvenir shops that you will find all over Banda Aceh in addition to Gampong Sibreh in Aceh Besar, a kampong whose population are almost all rencong artisans and Aceh embroidery makers. Apart from being full of traditional artisans, this kampong has the ambience of a typical Acehnese village with rumah panggung (houses on stilts) and local culture that is well preserved. Tourists visiting this place will always receive a warm welcome.

After the tsunami, the signing of the peace Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki between the government of the Republic of Indonesia and Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement or GAM) on 15th August 2005, has made Aceh very safe and open to all, including domestic and international tourists. The feeling of safety and fun have made tourists want to stay longer in this city of Serambi Mekkah or “the verandah of Mecca”.

Going to Banda Aceh:
Garuda Indonesia flies the Jakarta-Banda Aceh-Jakarta route 7 times per week, Jakarta-Medan-Banda Aceh route 7 times per week.

Where to stay in Banda Aceh:

Hermes Palace Hotel
Tel. +62 651 755 5888
Oasis Atjeh Hotel
Tel. +61 651 636 999
Grand Nanggroe Hotel
Tel. +62 651 35788
The Pade Hotel
Tel. +62 651 49999

Coffee stalls in Banda Aceh
are spread throughout the city, from Ulee-Kareng, Taman Sari, to Tepi Kali.

Tari Pendet ( Pendet Dance ), Beauty - Intractive

2010-07-02T14:29:00.000+07:00

Tari Pendet or Pendet Dance

Pendet is a traditional Balinese dance, in which offerings are made to purify the temple or theater as a prelude to ceremonies or other dances. Pendet is typically performed by young girls, carrying bowls of flower petals, handfuls of which are cast into the air at various times in the dance. Pendet can be thought of as a dance of greeting, to welcome the audience and invite spirits to enjoy a performance.

Traditional Balinese dances are the oldest form of performing arts in Bali. Traditional dances can be divided into two types, sacred dance called Wali and entertainment dance called Bebalihan. Wali (sacred dance) is usually performed in some ritual ceremonies only because it has strong magical powers and only can be performed by specific dancers. Bebalihan are usually performed in social events. In addition to entertain, Bebalihan also has other purposes such as: welcoming guests, celebration of harvests, or gathering crowds. Bebalihan has more variations than Wali.

Pendet is the presentation of an offering in the form of a ritual dance. Unlike the exhibition dances that demand arduous training, Pendet may be danced by anyone. It is taught simply by imitation.

Younger girls follow the movements of the elder women, who recognize their responsibility in setting a good example. Proficiency comes with age. As a religious dance, Pendet is usually performed during temple ceremonies.

All dancers carry in their right hand a small offering of incense, cakes, water vessels, or flower formations. With these they dance from shrine to shrine within thetemple. Pendet may be performed intermittently throughout the day and late into the night during temple feasts.

Kerak Telor, The Dellicious taste

2010-06-29T08:54:00.000+07:00

by: Yovita Siswati

Kerak Telor is a famous delicacy of Jakarta city, formerly known as Batavia. The native of Jakarta, known as the Betawi, has made this food for hundreds of years.

Every region in Indonesia has its own traditional food. Kerak Telor is a famous delicacy of Jakarta city, formerly known as Batavia. The native of Jakarta known as the Betawi has made this food since hundreds of years ago.

What is Kerak Telor?

It looks like scrambled egg but the taste is very much different. Kerak Telor is a snack mainly made of glutinous rice and duck egg. It is served with dried shrimp topping and shredded coconut.

The ingredients are glutinous rice, duck egg, fried onion, dried shrimp, shredded coconut, salt, chili, pepper and sugar. The method of cooking is as follows: first, the glutinous rice is half cooked in a small pan. Please note that no cooking oil is used. The egg is then added. Other ingredients follow. If you like it hot, you can add extra chili and pepper. After a while, add the shredded coconut and dried shrimp and the omelet is ready to be served. The texture is crispy on its edge but soft in the middle. Kerak telor is best enjoyed with hot cup of black Java coffee.

One interesting fact, the traditional vendors still cook the omelet using charcoal. This method of cooking only made the taste richer and more delicious.
The story behind Kerak Telor

In the Colonial era, kerak telor was a privileged food. It was served in big parties held by colonial government as well as rich Betawi. The recipe as well as the profession as kerak telor vendor had been passed from generation to generation. The most skillful kerak telor vendors usually come from Mampang, a small area in South Jakarta, called Betawi Mampang.

It is a sad fact that the Betawi is gradually push out of the centre of the city, mainly due to economic reasons. Most of their land had been sold to property developer and on that land now stand many skyscrapers. Along with the diminishing Betawi community, the real original kerak telor is becoming harder to find. Many of the vendors now start taking over family business of selling kerak telor at a very young age, sometime right after finishing high school.

Where to find Kerak Telor?

Kerak Telor usually sold during Jakartaanniversary festival. The festival held in Kemayoran area, starts in mid June and ends in mid July. Beyond this festive season, it is rather difficult to find. However, part of a tourism campaign, the Governor of Jakarta has recently established a Betawi Conservation Village in South Jakarta. There are around ten vendors in this village who sell kerak telor near a lake in the village area. Mostly are native Betawi. The price is around US$ 1-2 per pax.

Bintan A Paradise in Its Own Right

2010-06-20T19:28:00.000+07:00

A visit to Bintan offers you an insight into its illustrious past as well as its promising future in the realm of tourism.

Bintan, an island in the Riau Islands province, has a beautiful coastline that runs about 100 kilometers, most of which comprises pristine white sandy beaches.

Located a 30-minute ferry ride from Batam or 45 minutes away from Singapore by a high-speed catamaran, Bintan is the largest of no less than 3,200 islands in the Riau archipelago.

It is often described as a unique paradise, where life is simple and its multicultural population of some 200.000 people – mostly Javanese, Buginese and Chinese – are friendly and live in harmony.

Bintan was initially part of the Riau Province, but to accommodate post-reform separatist sentiments the government and the House of Representatives agreed to spin off Riau Islands as a separate province in July 2004 with Tanjung Pinang as its capital.

In visiting Bintan, most holidaymakers and pleasure-seekers head straight to Bintan Resort where life seldom moves beyond sitting by swimming pools sipping gin tonics at luxury hotels, snorkeling, fishing, canoeing and wind surfing. Its all-year round sunny weather allows for upscale activities such as golfing, jet-skiing, sailing, diving and island hopping.
Most tourism activities are concentrated on the north coast around Lagoi, while the east coast is still unspoiled and worth a visit.

To those with a passion for facts and figures: there are seven international hotels, four resorts and three international golf courses with 36 holes in Bintan Resort, covering 23,000 hectares, designed by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

Comparisons to Bali’s tourist enclave Nusa Dua is inevitable but this is hardly an-apple-to-apple exercise. While the resort island is by all measures unique and distinctive to the point of being in a class of its own, Bintan has sufficient drawing power to attract large numbers of tourists from Europe, Japan and South Korea (and, of course, Singapore) and foreign companies to hold their annual meetings.

Local tourist guidebooks trace Bintan back to the 13th century, when the island was a part of the magnificent Sriwijaya Empire of what is now South Sumatra.

As historical data show, Sri Tri Buana, a member of the royal family of Palembang, visited Riau Islands in 1290 and joined forces with the island’s ruler to take over Bintan and later became its king.

Since then Bintan has become a perennial battleground involving the Malacca and Johor sultanates, the Portuguese, the Buginese, the Acehnese and the Dutch because of its strategic location as a port and trade center in the region.

But when the British in 1819 discovered and developed Singapore to became a regional trading center, Bintan’s stature diminished enormously. The island experienced a permanent reversal of political and trading fortune and today remains overshadowed by neighboring Batam and Singapore.

“In the 1980s, the leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore initiated the Sijori (Singapore, Johor and Indonesia) Growth Triangle and signed agreements to invest in Bintan and Batam, the latter once a deserted island that was turned into a special bonded zone,” says, Abdul Waahab, the Singaporean general manager of Nirwana Gardens. (See also Travel Notes.)

Singapore also signed a special agreement with Indonesia to lease its northern coast and develop it into a resort called Bintan Resort. The powerful Salim Group was then brought in to join forces with Singapore’s equally powerful business group, Sembawang, to develop the area.

It now features excellent infrastructure and is home to such luxury and exclusive entities such as Nirwana Gardens, Club Mediteranee, Bintan Lagoon and Banyan Tree.
Says Wahab: “About 5000 people are employed in this resort.”

At one time Bintan saw huge investments coming their way, including industrial parks that many Japanese and American companies use as their manufacturing base.

For some reasons, not the least the global economic crisis, that lustre has slightly worn off. But that has not prevented Bintan to remain as a popular tourist destination with its own brand of allure.

Places of Interest in Bintan

Tanjung Pinang
The main and busy port town, where trader and passenger ships link all parts of Indonesia with Singapore. In many ways, the city reminds us of Bogor in West Java some 20 years ago, as it transforms itself from a quaint and rustic place into a city teeming with ATMs and internet kiosks.
Tanjung Uban
The second largest town after Tanjung Pinang, on the north western coast of Bintan Island. Along the seaside is a charming boardwalk called “Pelantar” with houses, accommodations and restaurants built above the sea, where you can
buy art works and handicrafts.
Senggarang Island
Visit the over 300 years old banyan tree temple.
Another temple is also on hand, Xuan Tian Shang-di, named after a Chinese ruler.
Penyengat Island
15 Minutes away away from Tanjung Pinang by motor-powered sampan boat.
Spend some time at a 200-year-old well-maintained grand mosque of the Sultan of Riau, an old palace and royal tombs, and a typical Riau traditional house.
Pantai Trikora
A beach on the east coast where the sand is white and the water clean, a great place for relaxation. Visit also a nearby fishing village and a small traditional boat building facility.

What to do in Bintan

Mountain Biking
The quiet, hilly and well-maintained roads of Bintan are ideal for biking.
Bintan Elephant Park
Seven Sumatran elephants beckon you to an interactive adventure by offering you a ride into the forest.
Gunung Bintan Adventure Trek
The 340-meter high mountain of Gunung Bintan offers visitors breathtaking panoramic views from the summit.
Bintan’s rainforest features giant trees and rare animals.
Mangrove Discovery Tour
The beauty and mystique of Bintan’s flora and fauna.

Getting There

You can reach Bintan from Batam Island, Singapore or Malaysia (Johor Baru) by scheduled ferries. Bintan has a small airport in Kijang serving domestic flights to and from Jakarta.

Garuda Indonesia flies daily to Batam, 21 times per week.

Source : garudamagazine

Ujung Genteng Beach- A never - Ending Andventure

2010-06-13T13:41:00.000+07:00

The Adventure Begins

Although the clock said it was still only 4 am, I couldn’t keep my eyes shut. I was too excited about starting my journey along Ujung Genteng beach later that morning. The first test came a moment later as thunderbolts roared and the drenching rain poured down without restraint.

Our basecamp and starting point was Ujung Genteng Beach, where there are a lot of places to stay - mostly cheap guesthouses and villas. The Warung (small shops or stalls) were our last chance to stock up on supplies because after setting off from this place there would be no other warung or villages along our planned route. There would be nothing but beaches, forests and hills. Our aim was to pitch our tent in Batu Keris Beach, about 30 kms away. And the next morning we were to return via a different route, shorter at about 17 kilometres, through the forests lying behind the beach.

“We can’t wait any longer. We have to start now,” said Petrus, our team leader.

At 8 o’clock on the dot, wearing our raincoats, we started trudging along the beach.

Conditions underfoot were firm because of all the rain and this helped keep my feet from sinking into soft sand. Remember, I had a 15 kilogramme rucksack on my back.

The going got heavier as we made our way along Cipanarikan Beach. The weather became hot all of a sudden and the drying sand turned soft and sucked at our feet. Each step was really heavy! Fortunately the view was lovely with the calm, bluish water and the wide, white beach. We stopped for a short rest here.

After we’d had our picnic lunch, the weather grew hotter. This meant I had to get ready for the next, more difficult challenge. Firstly, despite the high temperatures on the beach, I had to go easy on our already limited reserves of water. Secondly, Petrus already warned us that along the next section of the beach it would be very difficult to find any shade. Thirdly, the hot weather would make the sand dry and soft. This meant that the walking would be heavy going.

The Challenge of Karang Taraje
For more than two hours we braved the heat and the laden strides before we finally came to a rocky beach. The ground was more solid here so it was easier traverse. We walked quite a long way under the hot sun above that southern shore before we eventually arrived at cliffs with forests behind them. The rocks were quite tall and jagged. It was just like Skull Island in the movie King Kong. This was Karang Taraje Beach.

There was no other way to go except walking along the foot of cliff next to the crashing waves. For a moment, with the rocks so slippery and sharp, I wasn’t sure I was all that keen on taking this route. If I were to lose my footing, it would be catastrophic! Petrus told us that Karang Taraje in the local language meant “rock stairs”. Perhaps this was because the rocks here were tiered just like a flight of stairs.

All along Karang Taraje Beach I saw only rocks and not one bit of sand. Indeed, this beach is not suitable for swimming. Our path came to an end at an even bigger cliff than the first one. I had to cross a crevice using only two bamboo poles. With the help of several seasoned mountain climber friends I crawled up the side of the cliff. The sound of the dashing breakers below as I scrambled up the four metre tall cliff was a terrifying combination.

I needed to be patient here because we had to tackle the difficult route one by one. Behind the cliff I was relieved to see a plateau of rock that was quite wide and flat. From here I could see the shoreline of Karang Taraje. Although seemingly unfriedly, Karang Taraje beach was a captivating blend of the beauty and ferocity with its commanding cliffs lapped by the boisterous breaking waves.

Once past the shoreline at “Skull Island”, the beach became sandy again. And once again our feet began to sink. We took frequent breathers because of our heavy packs and the stinging sun. At one point the group was split but we didn’t let ourselves get too far apart.

Getting Harder
The journey was getting harder because it turned out that we couldn’t keep up with the schedule we’d set ourselves. The day was getting on and we still had a long way to go and knowing that made me feel even more tired. It was true, I didn’t have to climb cliffs again but the flat route with soft sand and the sun beaming down was all a big challenge for me. We were exhausted and dehydrated.

We continued walking and rested often before finally reaching Ombak Tujuh Beach. The curve of this beach was also quite long, stretching almost 4 kilometres. There were no sharp rocks here. What I could see was only the horizon in the distance and the rolling waves that tumbled onto the edge of the beach. There were huge waves that allegedly could split into seven, or so they say, and this is how the beach got its name.

The journey following this stretch of coast seemed never-ending. I felt like I was walking across an endless desert. I felt like Brooke Shield in the film Sahara. Sweltering and relentless. The porter who was helping us to carry our food continued to comfort me by saying, “We are almost there, Sir, just one more turn.” As far as I could remember, those were his exact words almost two hours beforehand.

We often encountered waterways that we had to wade across. Their depths varied, some thigh high, others came right up to our tummies. What was clear was that to cross these waterways I had no choice but to hold my backpack up high with one hand.

Walking past bend after bend on the beach, there seemed no clear sign that we would arrive at Batu Keris soon. We had walked for eight hours and there still seemed no end to it. As we approached Batu Keris Beach, we turned right into the forest behind the beach.

The forest here was dense and almost untouched. The road started to climb slopes and then descend again. Several times we came across small stretches of beach and then plunged back into the forest again. After more of this up and down trekking, we finally arrived on a pretty big beach below a cliff. I thought that this was where we were going to make our camp. It turned out that Batu Keris Beach was still way off in the far distance. I could see my friends who were ahead of us. Our destination was still very far away.

Arriving at Batu Keris
Again we walked through small forests and for the umpteenth time we had to cross an estuary this time using using the two bamboo poles. Afterwards, we walked along a beach with wooded hills up on our right. After turning one more time, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. We had arrived at Batu Keris Beach.

The beach was quite big and several parts of it had some coral. Just behind the beach there was a hill covered with relatively thick forest. On our right there was a cliff standing 10 metres tall.

The sunset was obscured by clouds that evening but just enjoying the crashing waves and the rustling of the wind was refreshing enough. The forest and the hills behind us made our camp really seem like it was completely isolated. There were no other signs of anyone else around except for us.

“The nearest village is 10 kilometres from here,” explained Petrus.

After savouring dinner to the accompaniment of the splashing of the sea and the chattering crickets, I immediately slipped into a deep slumber. Both my legs felt sore from walking for nine hours along the sea’s edge while carrying that heavy pack. However, our challenge was far from over. At 3 o’clock in the middle of the night the rain lashed down on us and, with a strong wind buffeting too, my tent began to leak.

So, in the morning I had to take everything out of my backpack and dry it in the open. The rainbow that appeared near our camp made the view even more beautiful. The waves were not so big and the spectacle of the rows of rough coral caught by the sun’s rays accentuated the ferocious side of Batu Keris Beach.

Although flat, and in places sandy, swimming here was not recommended. Coral reefs were scattered everywhere including close to the beach and further out to the sea too. Because it was almost untouched by visitors, I was able to enjoy this natural beauty. Moreover, as we were told, the nearest settlement was 10 kilometres away. One thing that was guaranteed at Batu Keris Beach: it was free of peddlers and hawkers!

The Adventure is (not) Over
We should have started our journey home at 7 am. However, because the supply team had been delayed by the torrential rain and unable to reach our camp in time, our journey back had to start without breakfast. At 9 am we hiked back into the forest behind the beach.

“The forest route is shorter than the beach route,” our porter said. The beach route was 30 kilometres while the forest route was only about 17 kilometres.

It turned out that the short route wasn’t all that much easier. The rain that had been falling mercilessly since dawn had turned the narrow track into treacherous mud which made walking a real hassle. At one point I even sunk calf deep in mud. In the end I decided to go barefoot.

The muddy, sloping track saw me slipping over and over again. Several times I had to endure the agony of stepping on thorns. It was a no win situation because putting the shoes back on made it more slippery and difficult to walk. Travelling through the forest turned out to present its own challenges. The trees here was not as dense as they were in the mountains but there was a lot of coarse, face high grass and the path was narrow and mucky.

Meanwhile, the weather continued to overheat us, making the journey in the forest just as scorching as it had been along the beach.

Unforeseen circumstances made this journey feel never-ending too. The failure of the supply team to get to our overnight campsite, the unexpected natural conditions in the forest and the extreme heat, had resulted in our water running out prematurely. When we had to cross another river by walking along a very slippery tree trunk, it was very hard for me to concentrate. Luckily my friends kept encouraging me.

Several kilometres from the first river, we had to wade across another one whose current was swifter. This time we didn’t have a tree trunk but had to go into the water. This was better than crossing on that tree trunk. Splash!! We all jumped into the river.

When we had finished enjoying the refreshing water of the river, some of us thought we could not go on walking because we had run out of drinking water and we still had 10 kilometres to go. In the end we asked our porter to find motorbike taxis in the nearest village.
A few minutes later, a whole gaggle of motorbike taxis turned up to take our weary bodies home. Travelling on a motorbike in this area was also a unique adventure. Going uphill and downhill on slithery roads, through forests and tall coarse grass and past plantations, was all an unforgettable experience. As we went went over one hill I happened to see a stretch of coconut plantation on a hilly area with the sea as the backdrop. Very beautiful!

By 3 pm we had arrived back at our starting point, Ujung Genteng Beach. While resting, we ate our lunch and kidded around. Our adventure was complete although in the end we hadn’t been able finish it on foot. However, apart from all that, we agreed that we had enjoyed a very different adventure, one that had taken us along beaches and through forests, and that had confronted us with various circumstances and weather that we won’t forget.

Getting there
It is not difficult to get to Ujung Genteng from Jakarta. If you take public transport, get on a bus bound for Bogor, then continue on another bus from Bogor to Surade. From Surade, take an angkot (minibus) to Ujung Genteng.

What to do
If you are crazy about mountain biking, Ujung Genteng’s trails are enticing enough to try out. Jungle & beach trekking: the long shoreline with different distinctive features and the forest with it tall coarse grass, hills and coconut groves, will turn your visit to Ujung Genteng into an unforgettable adventure.

When to go
April to October, during the dry season, is the best time to enjoy the charms
and challenges of Ujung Genteng.

Where to stay
At Ujung Genteng Beach, there are many villas and local residents’ houses for rent. The prices vary. One of the more well known ones is Pondok Hexa (021-7509271). Nature lovers may want to camp along the shoreline.

What to see
A turtle breeding facility in Ujung Genteng is one of the places tourists are most interested in. On certain days there is the release of baby turtles into open sea. Curug Cikaso, although not located near the beach, is part of Ujung Genteng area and is one of the most popular local tourist destinations.

source : garuda Magazine

Ternate - Tidore - World History, Natural beauty

2010-05-30T19:04:00.000+07:00

Spices and Maluku - two inseparable things. And so are Ternate-Tidore in world history. Five centuries ago, the two big sultanates in the eastern part of our country emerged onto the stage of world history. They were sought after, and even fought over. The existence of the spice islands - the islands

of Maluku, especially Ternate-Tidore as clove producers, and the Banda Islands as nutmeg producers - motivated people to travel right around the world for the first time.

History records that Christopher Columbus, who discovered the North American continent, made his voyage in

order to find spices, the actual location of which was a mystery to Europeans at that time. The desire to control these premier commodities, whose status then resembled what oil’s is nowadays, was indeed very strong. And Ternate-Tidore were the world’s only producers of clove - the most sought after spice of them all.

The Origin of Cloves and the Arena of World Politics

All cloves on the planet came from here. A long ti

me ago, trading them was under the control of the Sultans of Ternate and Tidore, two kingdoms sitting on two adjacent islands and, so the story goes, they were the most highly respected in eastern Indonesia at the time.

Ferdinand Magellan was sent by Charles I, King of Spain, to find spice islands. His fleet arrived from the east but was a bit too far north in the Philippines, which later went on to become a Spanish colony. Magellan himself died there, but his remaining fleet, Trinidad and Victoria, finally arrived in Tidore on 8th November 1521. The Spanish, followed by the British, the Dutch and others, also reached Ternate-Tidore. The Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drake’s legendary ship from Britain, for example, docked at Ternate in

1579, and Cornelis de Houtman from the Netherlands came in around 1596. Ternate–Tidore then moved onto the world geopolitical stage.

A Visit to the Palace

Five hundred years have passed. Spices are no longer the world’s most precious commodities. The two big sultanates have now been incorporated into the Province of North Maluku together with the islands of Halmahera, Morotai, Bacan and others. Ternate has become its capital and at the same time Maluku’s second biggest city. Its economy is alive and well, mark

ed by the bustle of its inhabitants and the heavy traffic of motorised vehicles and public transport.

The Sultan of Ternate’s yellow Grand Palace sits on higher ground in the city centre, not far from the seaside. Behind it the Mountain of Gamalama stand no less grandly. There is speculation as to whether Sultan Baabullah (1570-1583) governed one of the strongest kingdoms in Nusantara from here, controlling the trade of cloves which spiced up royal feasts back in the castles of Europe. The greatness of Baabullah was widely recognised; he was in 1574 one of the few Nusantara kings - or perhaps even the only one - to succesfully drive the Portuguese colonists away.

The palace is now a museum. However, you should know that it was built at the end of the 19th century. So it is not the origin

al building.

Tracing History’s Footsteps

On these two islands, neith

er of which is wider than 12 km, stand several fortresses that witnessed the world’s history unfold. A bit to the north of the palace, in Ter

nate city centre, is Fort Oranje whose construction was completed in around 1607. It was the first centre for the Dutch East Indies government in Nusantara. Not many people know that Ternate was once a Dutch colonial capital. The fortress is relatively big compared to other fortresses in our country.

To the north of the city there is Fort Toloko standing on a hill. This Portuguese built fortress is very well maintained and looks like it has been renovated

. From on top of it, Ternate is in full view, as is the Island of Tidore across the water from it.

Still in the city, but a bit to the south, stands the Kayu Merah Fortress built by the Portuguese in 1510. This fortress with its strong thick walls is the only one remaining on the water’s edge and looks like it is keeping watch over the sea in front of it.

To the west there is another quite small but beautiful fortress called Fort Nostra Senhora do Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary), or Fort Gamalama as it is commonly referred to as. This fortress was perhaps built by the Portuguese as well. It is now in ruins and not on the seaside anymore but what remains still looks quite stunning.

The Twin Island

Tidore, Ternate’s “twin” island, although separated only by a one kilometre wide strait, turns out to be quiet and peaceful. Crossing the water to Tidore, we are welcomed by a simple but very important inscription which commemorates the arrival of the Trinidad and Victoria on 8 November 1521, having sailed for 2 years, 2 months and 28 days from Seville, on their epic voyage around the world seeking spices. Trinidad then sank on her way home, leaving Victoria to return to Seville as the first ship to have sucessfully sailed the proverbial Seven Seas.

The inscription is signed by the Spanish Ambassador to Indonesia. If, from the story above, it is clear that Ternate is “Portugese”, then Tidore is indeed “Spanish”. Another proof of Tidore’s “Spanishness” is the Tohula Fort above Soa Siu.

A day trip to Tidore from Ternate is possible because it is quite close, just a few minutes in a wooden boat. On this island stands the palace of the Sultanate of Tidore. If Ternate has Baabullah, Tidore has Nuku, her most well known ruler.

If Ternate has Gunung Gamalama, her twin island has Gunung Kiematubu. A stretch of fairly smooth asphalt road will take us to that traditonal villa

ge to see how Tidore’s native people live.

The Scene on the One Thousand Rupiah Banknote

Do you have a one thousand rupiah bank note? Please have a look at what is written there. “Pulau Maitara dan Tidore”, that’s the description there. It is a real depiction of Ternate. Do you want to see for yourself the scene pictured on the banknote? Easy. Go to the south of Ternate. It is not difficult to get there and only about 10 minutes from the city. The view is indeed fantastic.

Apart from being chock full of history, North Maluku is beautiful. The islands there are like miniature volcanoes rising up out of the sea, creating a landscape that might be from a fairy story.

Travelling here will not only bring you back to the golden age of spices but will also give you unforgettable memories. And don’t forget to sample their fresh sea fish with the renowned sambal dabu-dabu or their specialty sago snack.

Getting to Ternate

Garuda Indonesia flies The Jakarta-Manado-Ternate vv route 7 times per week

Source : Garuda Indonesia Magazine

Tourindonesiaunite Talkshow & Photo Exhibition

2010-05-28T15:07:00.000+07:00

After the successful performance of Endah n Rhesa in the 1st pre event in Score, Ciwalk on April 23rd 2010, #tourindonesiaunite will hold the 2nd pre event to commemorate The National Education Day in this May. This inspiring event will be completed by the photos exhibition and talkshow on May 28th-30th 2010 in Braga City Walk Bandung. The theme of the photos which were contested before is 1001 dreams in the limited educational support in indonesia and those all were judged by the expert juries of photography; Galih Sedayu, Ari Angin and Deni Sugandi.

The summit agenda is talkshow about "Gerakan Hati, Satu Langkah membantu mengejar mimpi" which will be held on May 30th by inviting the activists of #tourindonesiaunite : Leonita Julian and Ramya Prajna as the resources. Moreover, #tourindonesiaunite will also allow everyone to vote Komodo as the new7wonders of nature on Vote Komodo booth.

In this event, the winners of photography contest will be announced. The whole event can be enjoyed for free cost included certificate. This 2nd pre event of #tourindonesiaunite is supported by Detik Bandung, Oz Radio , 99ersr radio, JONAS photo and Pikiran Rakyat.

#tourindonesiaunite which was supported by Pandji Pragiwaksono and Glenn Fredly and the 1st time with the main purpose to explore the spirit of indonesian youth is the charity event of education.

So, Book your weekend calendar now!

For the further information, please contact Wahyu; phone +62 856 244 65 431

The International Rinjani Mountain Climbing July 2010

2010-05-15T17:42:00.000+07:00

The International Rinjani Mountain Climbing event in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is scheduled in July 2010, with more foreign mountain climbers taking part.

"I have several times coordinated preparations of the international event in Jakarta, and this time its schedule has been set in July 2010," Head of the NTB Cultural and Tourism Agency Lalu Gita Ariadi said here Tuesday.

Ariadi said the organizers of the international event was set up by the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation (PHKA), of the Forestry Ministry.

Rinjani is the second highest volcano in Indonesia after Mt Kerinci (3,800 meters) in Sumatra, and has become very popular to local and foreign tourists.

The geo-tourism potentials include the beautiful cauldron, lake, peak, waterfalls, hot springs, caves, erruption history, blast-hole and new lava flow, and has therefore been suggested to become the first geopark in Indonesia.

The 3,726 meters high volcano had been suggested to be developed into Indonesia`s first geopark, or one of the 54 geoparks in 17 countries of the world.

Since placed under the management of RTMB, Rinjani had been several time been given national and international awards like the World Agency Award 2004 and the Tourism For Tomorrow Awards in 2006 and 2008.

The Rinjani Mountain Climbing will be started in mid-April to early in December, depending on weather conditions.

The route of the climb will reach Lake Segara Anak, by two routes namely the Senaru climb in 7-10 hours on foot covering eight kilometers, and Sembalun route in 8-10 hours.

Visitors who are already at Pelawangan would still need 4-5 hours to reach the peak of Rinjani through the climbing routes in forests.

Let's Exploring Indonesia and find the unique things from this country

Source: ANTARA News www.antara.co.id

12 countries to attend ethnic language congress in Baubau

2010-04-29T10:59:00.000+07:00

Representatives of 12 countries have confirmed to attend an international ethnic language congress in the Southeast Sulawesi city of Baubau on July 8, 2010.

Local tourism and cultural office's archaeological service spokesman Ali Arham said Wednesday that out of 30 countries invited to attend the congress, 12 had confirmed their participation.

"They have sent their confirmation to us by email," Ali said, adding that the 12 countries included The Netherlands, Australia, the US, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

Ali said other countries expected to confirm their participation in the near future would be, among others, Germany, China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.

He said that besides foreign participants, the congress would also be attended by a number of linguists from several universities in Indonesia.

Arham said the congress was aimed at enabling the participants to discuss various issues related to ethnic languages and literature.

The result of the congress would then be reported to the government to make a policy to preserve and develop other languages, he said.

source: the jakarta post

Hundreds to take part in Sail Indonesia

2010-04-29T10:46:00.001+07:00

Around 220 participants from 22 countries across the world have confirmed their participation in the 10th of Sail Indonesia, which will start on July 24.

According to the annual sailing rally’s official website www.sailindonesia.net, the participants will depart from Darwin, Australia, and enter Indonesia through Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Provincial tourism agency official Ubaldus Gogi told tempointeraktif.com on Tuesday the participants would visit Rote Ndao, Alor, Sikka, Nagekeo, Ende, South Central Timor and Labuan Bajo.

After spending a few days in Kupang, some the participants would take part in the Sail Banda in Maluku, while some others would visit Bali.

Enjoying Bumi Sriwijaya

2010-04-25T15:54:00.000+07:00

by: garuda magazine
Packed with historic sites and renowned for the quality of its cuisine, Palembang’s charms are attractive indeed

Palembang, the capital of South Sumatera Province, is also known as Bumi Sriwijaya (Sriwijaya Land). In 712 AD this area was the centre of the largest and strongest maritime kingdom in Indonesia, whose influence reached as far as China in the North and Madagascar off the coast of Africa to the west.

“Nak kemano kita kak? (Where are we going now, sister?)” asked Pak Wicaksono with distinctive accent Palembang, the driver who was going to escort me on my journey around Bumi Sriwijaya.

The heavy rain that started in the early hours of the morning actually made me pretty reluctant to get moving. Because Palembang is on average only 12 metres above sea level, and with tides reaching 3 to 5 metres, several lower lying parts of the city, especially on the outskirts, are often flooded. However, I eventually decided to drive around while waiting for the rain to stop and started savouring the city which is officially the 17th Tourist Gateway in Indonesia.

Fifteen minutes out on the road and the rain eased, although the sun was still hiding behind the clouds as I arrived at Jembatan Ampera (Ampera Bridge), one of the city’s icons. It was built by Japan and was opened by President Soekarno in 1964; at that time it was the longest bridge in south east Asia.

The bridge across the River Musi is 1,177 metres long, 22 metres wide and 11.50 metres above the surface of the water. Early on it was called Musi Bridge but then in the 1970s it was renamed Ampera Bridge (the People’s Hardship Mandate).

It used to be that the middle part of the bridge could be raised so that ships could pass underneath. However, since the 1970s, because people are more and more mobile and there are more vehicles, as well as for some technical reasons, the bascule bridge function is no longer in use.

From the bridge, I went to the area around Kuto Besak Fort which is close to the Museum of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin and Mesjid Agung (the Great Mosque).

The Fort of Kuto Besak, whose walls are three metres high, was constructed by the Sultan of Palembang and it took 17 years to complete. It was built as a defence against the Dutch military who tried several times to capture Palembang. It is now used as the headquarters of Kodam II Sriwijaya (the regional military command) and Dr. A.K. Gani Hospital. This means that tourists are only able to see its exterior.

The Museum of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II, which faces the Musi River, is located at the northern end of Ampera Bridge. It was built by the Dutch authorities in 1823 on the site of the Sultan of Palembang’s palace which was destroyed when the Dutch attacked. The museum building, which is a combination of traditional Malay and Dutch colonial architecture, was used as a residence by Dutch officials. This museum has a collection of historical and cultural artefacts from Palembang.

Not far from the museum and the fort, the Great Mosque stands imposingly on the corner of Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and Jl. Merdeka. This mosque is one of the legacies of the Palembang Sultanate and was built by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I in 1740. The area in the vicinity of the mosque used to be the capital of the Islamic Kingdom of Palembang.

The tourists flock to the area around Kuto Besak Fort morn, noon and night. Many of them come here to appreciate the picturesque views with Ampera Bridge and the Musi River in the background. What is more, we can also rent a boat and cruise down what is often referred to as the river tourist town.

At night the area promises different charms: the sparkling lights that decorate Ampera Bridge; floating coffee shops offering the sensations of coffee and Palembang specialty snacks, such as pempek, amidst the rhythms and cadence of street musicians and the rocking motion of the Musi River’s ripples.

If the weather is inclement, the most interesting and tantalising tourist activity in Palembang is related to its delicious cuisine.

In almost every corner of Palembang we can find mobile food sellers on their bicycles or motorbikes, and foodstalls and restaurants along the streets, all offering Pelembang’s famous snack.

Pempek is well known and closely identified with Palembang. It is a kind of dumpling made from fish and tapioca flour, served with a thin sauce called cuko made from white sugar, garlic, table vinegar and chillies. It is said to be a dish with some foreign influence and has been in existence since the 16th Century when Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II reigned in the Kingdom of Sriwijaya. An old Chinese man, so the story goes, thought it such a pity that the abundance of fish caught in the Musi River was not being put to good use. They only fried and salted them. After a bit of experimentation, the old man was finally successful and came up with a new snack and hawked it around town on his bicycle. People wanting to buy some called out to him: “Apek! Apek!” (meaning “old” in Chinese). Over the course of time, the food became known as empek-empek before finally changing to pempek.

Apart from pempek, Palembang boasts other specialties with fish as their main ingredient such as model, tekwan and Palembang crackers, also known as kemplang, consisting of fried, grilled kemplang and kerupuk. Several other localities in South Sumatra, like Ogan Ilir and Ogan Komering Ilir, are well know for their salted fish and smoked fish. And another area is known for its Pindang.

Another kind of food that is no less delicious is celor noodle in Rumah Makan 26 Jl. Ilir HM Syafei. During holidays this smallish restaurant may sell as many as 1,000 portions of celor noodles in a day. The secret of its tastiness is way that the flavour of shrimp is allowed to dominate the other ingredients. The noodles are the yellow egg kind but, while egg noodles are usually curly, these are much bigger and straight rather like spaghetti. Those who have not tried celor noodle before may well think it is a variant of the famous Italian pasta.

It was still pouring when I arrived at No. 30 Jl. Kiranggo Wirosentiko, Ilir, Palembang. Along this street there are a lot of craftspeople producing woven cloth called songket and several songket boutiques. Palembang’s songket, both in the form of broadcloth and scarves, is nowadays well known all over Indonesia, especially after it being heavily promoted at various events, festivals and exhibitions.

Songket is a traditional craft native to Palembang, using silk combined with golden threads woven with a high degree of artistry. It is a cottage industry and normally carried out by women.

Songket, which is usually quite expensive, utilizes various motifs such as lepus, jando beraes, bunga inten, tretes midar, pulir biru, kembang suku hijau, bungo cino, bunga pacik and others. Women usually wear them for weddings, formal parties and traditional ceremonies.

One of the boutiques that travellers often visit is Fikri Collection, which sells different kinds of songket with both traditional and the most up-to-date designs. There are about 20 craftspeople employed there and we can see them at work. There are about 50 others who carry out their craft and work from home. The price varies from Rp. 600,000 to several million rupiah, depending on the type of material and the motif.

Besides visiting the weaving district on Jl. Kiranggo Wirosentiko, I also went to Kampoeng BNI Tenun Songket in Muara Penimbung Village, Indralaya, in the Regency of Ogan Ilir, South Sumatera. The weaving kampong that lies about 35 kilometres from Palembang was inaugurated by the Coordinating Minister of Economics, Hatta Rajasa, last February.

The Songket Weaving Village was developed by BNI to produce songket cloth. This cottage industry so far has not been able to reach optimal production nor have the villagers prospered. In BNI’s programme, called PKBL (Program Kerja Bina Lingkungan or Environment Building Work Programme), the craftspeople receive training, consultation, capital and help with marketing.

Like other big cities in Indonesia, the traffic in Palembang is heavy. In order to provide its people with decent, safe and inexpensive public transport, the local authorities are planning to launch a bus service called “Trans-Musi” to replace the current bus routes. However, those old buses are certainly interesting with pictures covering almost the entire windscreen!

The last ten years in Palembang have seen a lot of changes. The common impression that a trip there will not be comfortable one has changed. Now it is safe and pleasant, and the clean up continues as it prepares itself to become the host and venue for the SEA GAMES XXVI next year.

Getting to Palembang:
Garuda Indonesia has 49 flights on the Jakarta-Palembang vv route every week.

Pangandaran Beach

2010-04-15T14:31:00.000+07:00

Pangandaran is a small town and a subdistrict in southern Ciamis regency, West Java, Indonesia. It is located on the southern coast of Java. Pangandaran is a popular tourist destination, having a beach which is considered to be one of the finest in Java and which offers excellent surfing.

A kite-flying festival is held on the beach in July and August. It is reported that the locals used to fly kites in the evenings to catch bats, and may still do so. There is a local belief that wearing any green garment in this area will anger Loro Kidul, the Javanese guardian spirit or goddess of the southern sea, and will bring misfortune.

The Penanjung Pangandaran nature reserve is nearby on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. About eighty percent of the nature reserve is secondary rainforest. The flora of the nature reserve includes the Rafflesia.

A tsunami hit the area on 17 July 2006. An undersea earthquake measured at 7.7 on the Richter scale triggered a three metre high tidal wave. Extensive damage was caused and hundreds of people were reported to be dead or missing

Pangandaran is a Tourist Location in West Java, Indonesia. Pangandaran is Family friendly and has also for individual Tourists much to offer. In the Bay Area Pananjung are two beautiful Beaches for swimming, surfing or just relaxing. Here you have much Activities and Adventures like Trekking, Snorkeling, Fishing and many more..

The National Park
On the southside From Pangandaran is a National Park mostly as Jungle. You can Walk there with a Guide to the beautiful Waterfalls and enjoy the flora and fauna. Or by a 1 day Trip around the Park

Batu Karas
Batu Karas is a little Village 1 hour away from Pangandaran. It's famous for Surfing there.

Batu Hiu
Batu Hiu is a Place between Pangandaran and Batu Karas. Batu Hiu means Shark's Rock wich is a coastal rock having the shape of a shark. It's nice for relaxing there or swimming at the Beach.

Green Canyon
The best Way to go to the Green Canyon is with a Guide or by Rent a Motorbyke. At a Boat Station are many Boats who drive to the Green Canyon. After 45 Minutes Boat drive over a nice River you are there. There is also the chance to swimming in the Green Canyon.

Getting Here
Pangandaran is locatet at the Southcoast from West Java, Indonesia in the District Ciamis. See the Descriptions above and the Map for further Information.

From Jakarta
A fast Way from Jakarta is by bus. The buses drive nearly every hour from Kampung Rambutan bus station toward Pangandaran. Most buses drive directly to Pangandaran. With some buses you have to change the bus in Ciamis or Banjar. The trip lasts around 7 hours and cost around Rp.50'000 without AC and around Rp.80'000 with AC. The fee depends on the bus company.

It's also possible to rent a Car with a Driver in Jakarta. This will cost around Rp.1'500'000.

From Bandung
With the bus you reach Pangandaran on the bus station Cicaheum. Some buses drive directly to Pangandaran. With some buses you have to change the bus in Ciamis or Banjar. It's recommendable to take a bus who drive direct to Pangandaran. The buses from Banjar are small and mostly overcrowded.