Air Manis Beach

Description

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

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

To Do

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

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

Get Around

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

Get There

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

Tips

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

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Visit Banda Aceh 2011

travelaceh.com

Before the tsunami and the peace Memorandum of Understanding, it could be said that Aceh was not developing at all. During the armed conflict which lasted from 1974 until 2005, tourism was completely ignored and one could safely say that almost nothing happened in terms of tourism although there were in fact a few friendship visits. Local people and those from outside thought Aceh had a lot of tourist potential because of its beautiful beaches and the relatively untouched remains and relics of the sultanate and colonial eras.

After the tsunami, Aceh started working on things that could restore prosperity to the people of Banda Aceh. To do that Banda Aceh cooperates with Aceh Besar and Sabang through a scheme called Basajan (Banda Aceh, Sabang, Janto – the capital of Aceh Besar).

Tourism in Banda Aceh places emphasis on spiritual, cultural and tsunami tourism. Aceh, as a region that has adopted the the Islamic sharia law and has diverse cultures, has become a special attraction for domestic as well as international tourists such as those from Malaysia. The tsunami natural disaster that struck Banda Aceh created its own uniquely dramatic monuments: PLTD Apung, mass graves, and the boat on top of a house are a few of the places you can visit.

In Aceh Besar there is adventure tourism allowing visitors to enjoy natural challenges or take a look places where GAM people went into hiding, to see where they lived, how they lived, and what they did.

Sabang will become the centre of marine tourism thanks to the beautiful and very widely known Weh Island and Rubiah Island, scuba diving sites that some people say are superior to Bunaken. The waters are very clear and there is diversity of fish species. These three regions could be offered to tourists in one package. So, actually there are a lot of things to draw people to visit Banda Aceh.

Up till now, people have visited Banda Aceh for only two or three days at a time, but the Basajan scheme is expected to extend the length of stays. Through the program Visit Banda Aceh, tourists will fill up the hotels and there will be an economic knock on effect for the population such as the increase in demands for prawns, fish, vegetables etc. The same goes for demand for transportation, traditional souvenirs and food that in turn will help small industries in Aceh to prosper. This will cause a multiplier effect which will energize and lift the population’s livelihoods.

The adoption of the Islamic sharia laws will not restrict tourists as they explore Aceh, because sharia is only applicable to followers of Islam, and not outsiders. Tourists visiting the region will feel safe and comfortable; for example, they do not have to wear veils while in Banda Aceh.

In supporting Visit Banda Aceh 2011, major events such as Banda Aceh Birthday Celebration, Taman Sari Festival, Baiturrahman Festival and Aceh Cultural Week will be held.

Developments that support the tourism industry will also be implemented continuously such as the tsunami museum, the floating PLTD and the tsunami site house. Renovation is also carried out on the tombs of famous ulamas (Islamic scholars/teachers) and kings and Hotel Aceh where President Soekarno accepted the money from the people of Aceh to buy “RI-1”, the Republic of Indonesia’s first aircraft. We hope that with this vision one day Banda Aceh will become one of Indonesia’s great tourist destinations.

source: garudaindonesia magazine

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Masterpieces of Chinese Brush Painting To Show Up in Indonesia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source : news.xinhuanet.com

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Bali October Hilghlights

October Highlights

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

October 1-6, 2010

Bali Writer’s Retreat

This is an event a week before Ubud’s Writer Festival aiming to learn how to be creative and use this creativity in writing a book. Bali Writer’s Retreat also gives the chance to the participants to know something about writing as business so that the writer can make money from their writing. There will be different topic in each day within 6 days in the ultimate Ubud. In the last day, a simple trip to verdant rice terrace will be organized. For those who would like to know further about writing then should stay in Ubudfor longer time since at 6-10 on the same month Ubud’s Writer and Reader festival will be held.

October 9, 2010

Tumpek Landep

Indeed, Balinese always express gratitude to the Almighty God in His various manifestations. On October 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.

Bali Villas – A Private Piece Of Paradise

All luxurious Bali Villas in villas-bali.com have been filtered in order to provide you the best Bali Private Villa in experiencing holiday, wedding, honeymoon which guarantee Privacy and Outstanding Personalized Service.

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Indonesia Tourism Travel Fair 2010

The 3rd Indonesia Tourism & Travel Fair (ITTF), an annual exhibition highlighting everything about the tourism industry in Indonesia, is slated to hold its third year’s opening on 1 October, 2010.

The ITTF will feature more than 300 participants from the tourism industry and more than 500 buyers, both international and domestic and is a prime direct-selling venue as well as the best source of information for everyone already involved or want to enter the travelling and tourism world. Last year, ITTF produced transactions of more than USD20 million from more th an 250 buyers.

The ITTF is the brainchild of the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism and three of Indonesia’s largest tourism associations: the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA) and the Indonesian Congress and Convention Association (INCCA) as well as several other related organizations.

Cultural and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said that the ITTF will provide a strategic momentum for the government to increase its tourists goal.

for more informations : ittf2010.com

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Garuda Indonesia International Photo Contest

For the fourth consecutive year, the Garuda Indonesia International Photo Contest (GIIPC) broke its own record again in regards to level of participation. The number of participants reached a new high of 8,050 this year from 6,170 last year. As many as 14,985 photos were submitted, also a rise from the 12,458 photos received last year.

The continually rising number of participants and submitted photos prove that photography is indeed an ever-growing field and the team at GIIPC is honoured to have played a part in supporting that growth, where logic, technical skills and strong sense of the aesthetics are championed, not just in Indonesia, but also in the international community.

This year, 36 countries participated in the event, a rise from 30 last year. The participating countries are Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Venezuela.

The rules of the preliminary round of the competition remain the same. Photographers submit their entries by registering at www.garudacompetition.com and posting their photos online. The best photos are then chosen by internal judges through an online judging selection and those who are selected will then be sent to a round of photo-hunting competition in secret locations.

GIIPC 2010 employs eminent photographers as judges that include Adek Berry, Agus Leonardus, Arbain Rambey, Goenadi Haryanto, Jan Dekker, Jerry Aurum, Makarios Soekojo, Oscar Motulloh and Tan Lip Seng. As of the second week of August, the judges have short-listed 479 photos and 15 photographers to go to the final stages of the photo contest. Out of these 15 photographers, five are from Indonesia, three are from Vietnam, two are from Myanmar and one contestant each from China, Bangladesh, India, Russia and the Netherlands.

The contestants will be competing for prizes in the categories of Best Culture, Best People, Best Landscape and Best Overall. This year, a special award in recognition of Best Female Participant will also be up for grabs. The total prize money is IDR 100 million, excluding 

other prizes.

The GIIPC Team congratulates the finalists for making it this far and wishes them luck in winning the competition.

Visit garudacompetion.com to see the finalists.

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Indonesia Southeast Asia's Richest Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage buildings in a number of cities in Indonesia must be preserved because they have served as long-time witnesses to the progress of the cities and their dwellers, and are icons of national solidarity, identity and pride.

This was one of various suggestions raised at the fourth meeting of Asia-Europe Culture Ministers in Poznan, Poland, on Sept. 9-10, 2010.

Junus Satrio Atmodjo, director of cultural heritage at Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, who participated in the meeting, said at least 8,000 heritage buildings and sites have been registered in Indonesia.

The buildings are classified into several groups, including pre-historic era, Hindu-Buddha, Islam, colonial period and modern era. Many of the buildings still function according to their original design, such as several railway stations in central Jakarta.

“If we add to those other heritages like statues, the number would jump to tens or even hundreds of thousands,” Junus said as quoted by Kompas.com on Saturday.

He said many historical sites in Indonesia had been declared by Unesco as world heritages, including the Sangiran archeological site, Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple.

Indonesia, he continued, had the highest number and highest number of types of cultural heritages in Southeast Asia. “For Asia, China possibly is the biggest,” Junus added.

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