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Tangkuban Perahu Volcano Crater

Tangkuban perahu is an active volcano, it is located 25 - 30 kilometers north of Bandung direction of Lembang. Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is an appealing destination that is fond to visit. The name translates roughly to "overturning of (a) boat" or "overturned boat" in Sundanese, referring to the local legend of its creation. The huge crater is an astonishing view and we could explore the crater around two hours. The sulphur fumes still emit from the crater though it is not particularly active.

Where to stay
There are numerous hotels covering every budget case around Bandung city. But if you have the intensity to stay longer near Tangkuban Perahu, there are numerous hotels in Lembang (North Of Bandung) and experience the ambience of country side whilst breathing a clear air which is hard to persue in the city.

Dining Guide
Restaurants and warungs are scattered around Tangkuban Perahu. But if you want to experience a different vibe there are various eating places around Lembang.

What to do
• Sight seeing
• Trekking
• Photographing
• Hiking to the edge of the crater to view the hot water springs up-close,
• Boiled some eggs cooked on its hot surface of the hot springs

Tips
• Not everyone could stand with the fumes of the sulphurs, handkerchief are suggested to cover your nose and mouth
• Do not hesitate to resist the sellers offered if you are not interested.
• It is suggested that you bring a jacket/sweater to avoid cold temperature
• Try to go early as possible because around noon the mist start to roll in through the trees

Derawan Island

Derawan island is clearly listed on the world diving map. This stunning under water world is located on t

he North Eastern tip of Berau District, East Borneo. Derawan also sits nicely on the list of world class diving destinations at number three after Yap and Pulau Island at Micronesia. Indeed hundreds of manta rays, green turtles, sharks, barracuda and other rare sea creatures can be found here. The islands human inhabitanta, the brave seafaring community of Bejau Moro from South Philipina are also renowned for their hospitality. No wonder, some say Derawan Island is like piece of heaven on earth.

Astonishment marks the faces of visitors entering Derawan Island by boat. The calm sea is a clear shade of turquoise and the sky is a pastel blue. From the distance, five groups of white sand islands with dark green trees can be seen. About 600 m from the beach, the sea gets shallow (only one to f

ive meters deep) and the water is clear as glass. When you get there ask the skipper to turn off the engine and let the boat sway to soft wind.

Welcome to the tropical archipelago " the stuff of dreams, a little island with soft sand, coconut trees at the edge of the shore where sail

ors tie their ships, a small forest in the middle of the island with various plants and animals. Not only the unbelievable the biodiversity makes this place an enchanting destination, the under water topography also make this island a dream for divers.

Derawans six islands are Kakaban, Semama, Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua, and Panjang Island all unusually different which first attracted researcher

s from LIPI on 1995 who discovered the unique biodiversity of Derawan Island. They found it to consist of fish (138 species), crustaceans (15 species), mollusca (137 species) and encinodermata (2 species). The coral reef, extensive virgin mangrove forest, turtles and mantas and the unique Kakaban Lake, make Derawan an important sea ecosystem to study for marine biologists.

Getting There

Its

fairly easy to reach Derawan Island from Jakarta, Surabaya, Jogjakarta or Denpasar. You can fly to Balikpapan, East Borneo by Garuda, Lion the flight takes three hours. From Balikpapan you have to fly an hour to Tanjung Redeb, the capital of Berau Regency by KAL Star, Deraya or DAS. If you want to go by sea, you can take boat from Samarinda or Tarakan to Tanjung Redeb and continue by rented motorboat.

[=Where to Stay">[=Where to Stay=]

Since 1993 Derawan Island has been managed by PT. Bhuni Manimbora Interbuana with cottage facilities, diving tools, speedboats and restaurant. Hotels manage by local people such an Danakan, Derawan Lestari III, Derawan Lestari I, IIHAMS Inn and Yogie Mas Provide a cheaper alternative priced between Rp 45,00-Rp100,000/night.

[=Moving Around">[=Moving Around=]

There are 28 diving site identified, to explore all the areas you'll need at least 10 days with only one dive at each area. Explore the land on foot. Use a boat to move from one place to another.

[=Dining Guide">[=Dining Guide=]

Various restaurants and cafes throughout Derawan islands.

[=Souvenir Tips">[=Souvenir Tips=]

Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals, etc.

[=Other Things to See or Do">[=Other Things to See or Do=]

• Diving

  You can see sharks, dugongs, natural pearls, canary crabs, trevally, wrasses, barracudas, eagle rays, green turtles and fish between the coral reefs.

• Swimming, snorkeling, fishing.

• Walking around on the beach.
• Watching the turtles

Travel Tips=]

• You can rent diving tools in Derawan Island.
• Join a tour if you'll be diving for the first time.

Grajagan (G-Land) Bali

....G-Land. G-Spot. Gee-Whiz Land!..a world famous wave that is definitely not overrated.. an awesome, overpowering arena..and, until exploitated, it will remain a prime destination of the surfing world, a place where surfers can come to live out a lo

Photo " G-Land Surf Camp"

ng awaited fantasy....

- Recent comments by various surf media about G-Land, or Grajagan, a now legendary surf spot on the southeastern coast of Java. (Indonesia Surfing-Periplus Action Guide)

Exotic surf travel almost never has the kind of grace and logic that it does in magazines and movies. Beautiful, uncharted waves are out there, but its a long, tedious, sometimes dangerous job finding them. Only a few surfers ever sail out into the great unknown. This is why many people today think of Grajagan (G-Land), in southeast Java, not just as a perfect wave, but as a perfect adventure.

More than a name or a place, G-land is a haven. So close but yet so far from Bali, G-land is a magnet for swell and is definitely not overrated. The set up in G-land is simple, the relaxed atmosphere and pumping waves make for an experience like no other surf trip. Starting with the fact that its located at

Photo " G-Land Surf Camp"

the edge of a jungle filled with birds, reptiles, insects and other creatures not found on the beaches of Sydney or Los Angeles.

G-Land is a long fast wave typical of most Indonesian waves, suggested surf board length at 68 " 72 Gun " unless you surf like a top 44 contender, so bring a couple of Guns and your hot-dogger for the small days or down at 20/20s. You should bring at least 2 boards, Indonesian waves are powerful and its possible to break boards, so be prepared and bring at least two boards.

Ijen plateau

Ijen is actually a complex of stratovolcanoes near Banyuwangi in East of Java. Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater) is the center of attraction, which contains a nearly 1 km wide, turquoise-colored, acid crater lake.
Kawah Ijen is also the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater floor. The weight of the sulfur stones carried by the labor shoulder can reached up to 80 kg. Coffee, cocoa, clove and rubber plantation surrounding the area of the Ijen Crater, which was established by Dutch colonial government is still run very well and can be visited. A trip to Ijen Crater starts from Bondowoso or Banyuwangi where many tourist information and facilities are available.

How to Get There:
Ijen Plateau is usually accessed from the town of Bondowoso and Banyuwangi. Pos Paltuding, the starting point for the hike to Kawah Ijen, is 64 km from Bondowoso. The starting point can also be reached from Banyuwangi with 4WD vehicles.

Photo by Patmawinata

The Best Season to Visit:
April to October every year.

what should traveller do in Reccession condition

As we know, now economic condition isn't really good. all of thing's prices going up, unfortunately our salary not going up. In the summer holiday like now, the problem bigger than usual, our child would request some vacation or holiday which we already promised her/him. so Should we cancel our vacation in the midst of a recession? TOTALLY NOT.

You're own financial situation should weigh more on your decision than talk about the economy. You've saved the money so you won' be going into debt. You've saved the money so the money isn't coming out of your house payment or bill money. You sound responsible with money so I suspect you are not draining your savings account to go. If all that is true then go. Why not? Enjoy yourself. Put a little money into the economy. If you have a real concern about losing your jobs in the not so distant future then you may want to reconsider. Otherwise don't let the sky is falling crowd stop you.

So although Economic going down, it was global economic, not yours...

Beijing, China's Culture City

Beijing is a city in northern China and the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the four municipalities of the PRC, which are equivalent to provinces in China's administrative structure. Beijing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, and has also been known in English as Peking (English pronunciation (info)). The municipality of Beijing borders Hebei Province to the north, west, south, and for a small section in the east, and Tianjin Municipality to the southeast.

Beijing is China's second largest city, after Shanghai. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. It is also the focal point of many international flights to China. Beijing is recognised as the political, educational, and cultural center of the People's Republic of China, while Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in economic fields. The city will host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Beijing or Peking means "northern capital", in line with the common East Asian tradition whereby capital cities are explicitly named as such. Other cities that are similarly named include Nanjing , China, meaning "southern capital"; Tokyo, Japan, and ?ông Kinh (now Hanoi), Vietnam, both meaning "eastern capital"; as well as Kyoto , Japan, and Seoul Korea, both meaning simply "capital".

Tips for traveller

There are always ways that smart travelers can save money by looking at cost-cutting alternatives to the usual way of getting from point A to point B. You might worry that this means having less fun or depriving yourself, but look at it another way: If you're worried about the debt you're racking up for that family vacation, you're not going to truly enjoy yourself even if you're in paradise.

So get creative with these tips, travel off the beaten path a little, and save some of your cash for when you get home. Peace of mind is a fantastic travel souvenir.

1. Try the next generation of travel websites.

Surely you're familiar with the big three travel sites -- Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz. But more often than not they don't provide the best prices.

Rather than serving as online travel agents, these free sites search all of the other travel sites, dozens or even hundreds of airlines, discount websites, car rental companies, hotels, cruise lines, and more to find you the best possible price.

For best results, take some time to do many searches, including individual airline websites -- especially the small regional carriers.

2. Try the train.

If you're thinking about a car trip but balking at the skyrocketing cost of fuel, consider Amtrak as an alternative. Especially on the coasts, where the cost of gasoline is always higher than in the interior of the country, this can make a lot of financial sense.

3. Choose pedestrian-friendly destinations.

This one goes hand-in-hand with taking the train. Save hundreds on a rental car by traveling to a destination that's ideal for walking and has good public transit.

New York City, is an obvious choice for walkers because of the extensive subway system, but cities like San Francisco with its BART line; Portland, Ore., with its MAX light rail; Boston with its "T" lines; and Chicago with its El are also easily cities to navigate without ever stepping into a car.

4. Travel where the dollar stretches.

Because of the weak dollar, most of the major destinations in Europe are ruinously expensive for Americans right now. London, Paris, Rome -- they're all budget-breakers because the Euro and the pound are pummeling the greenback. However, there are still many great destinations where the dollar packs a punch and you can get an incredible experience for a reasonable amount of money.

5. Get creative with lodging.

Rather than staying at a major chain hotel like Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott, why not consider more innovative options? For example, bed and breakfasts throughout the country offer great rates that often beat the major chains, along with other money-saving promotions.

If you're adventurous and don't care about amenities, try youth hostels. These backpacker-friendly lodgings are clean, safe, and usually full of interesting folks from all over the world.

6. Pay for a kitchen.

If you're staying in a hotel, pay a little extra to get one with a full kitchen, especially if you're going to be at your destination for a while and you have kids.

7. Find someone to take you on a tour.

Tours of a destination from a local tour company can get expensive, as the tour operators sell you on extras or hit you with "surprise" fees. So if you're staying at a bed and breakfast, why not ask the innkeeper to take you on a tour of the town in exchange for a fine dinner? Or in a bigger city, offer a local merchant $25 to guide you around the great local neighborhoods after he or she closes her store.

8. Stay close to home.

When the cost of gas, the rigor of air travel, and the hassle of packing up the kids is just too daunting, consider staying home and discovering nearby attractions you may never have seen.

So start to make a plan for your travel journey.

Surabaya, Indonesian Heroes Town

Surabaya (formerly spelled as Soerabaja) is Indonesia's second-largest city, and the capital of the province of East Java. It is also one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. It is located on the northern shore of eastern Java at the mouth of the Mas River and at the side of the Madura Strait. Known as the city of heroes, because of its heroic role in the history of Indonesia. In 2007, the population of the city is approximately 3 million.

Surabaya is commonly said to derive its name from the words sura or suro (shark) and baya or boyo (crocodile), two creatures which, in a local myth, fought each other in order to gain the title of "the strongest and most powerful animal" in the area according to a Jayabaya prophecy. This prophecy tells about a big fight between a giant white shark and a giant white crocodile in seizing the city upstream. Now the two animals are used as the city's logo, the two facing each other while circling the city's monument, the Heroic Monument (also known as Heroes' monument). This folk etymology, though embraced enthusiastically by city leaders, is somewhat dubious. Alternate derivations proliferate: e.g. from the Javanese sura ing baya, meaning "bravely facing danger". Some people consider this Jayabaya prophecy as a great war between Surabaya native people and invaders in 1945, while another story is about two heroes that fought each other in order to be the king of the city. The two heroes were Sura and Baya.

As the main seaport and commercial center in the eastern region of Indonesia, Surabaya has become one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia. Today, Surabaya's population is around five million, and the surrounding metropolitan area houses at least 7 million. The areas surrounding Surabaya include Lamongan to the northwest, Gresik to the west, Bangkalan to the northeast, Sidoarjo to the south, and Mojokerto and Jombang to the southwest.

Currently, the Indonesian government is building the Suramadu Bridge between Surabaya and the island of Madura; when completed, it will be the longest bridge in the country. Madura is currently accessible by a ferry service that operates regularly from Surabaya's port, Tanjung Perak (which literally means: "Silver Cape" in Indonesian).

BRI Tower, BII Tower, and Graha Pena are three of the highest towers in Surabaya.

Plaza Tunjungan, Galaxy Mall, Surabaya Plaza, Supermal Pakuwon Indah, and Royal Plaza Surabaya are the famous shopping centres in Surabaya.

Surabaya is home to the Eastern Armada, one of two in the Indonesian Navy. Its strong maritime heritage is also reflected with the Submarine Monument, a real retired Russian submarine, called Pasopati, that was converted into a museum ship in the city centre.

Flooding is common in many areas of the city during the rainy season, mostly caused by clogged sewers and inept bureaucracy. The fact that Surabaya is located in a river delta and has a flat and relatively low elevation doesn't help the matter either.

Surabaya is the location of the only synagogue in Indonesia, although it is currently inactive.^[3][4]

Surabaya's zoo, opened in 1916, was the first in the world to have successfully bred orangutans in captivity.

Other points of interest include:

• Grand Mosque of Surabaya, the largest mosque in East Java.
• Cheng Ho Mosque, the first mosque in Indonesia built with a Chinese style architecture
• Jales Veva Jaya Mahe Monument, a large, admiral-like statue which commemorates the Indonesian Navy.
• Mpu Tantular Museum, has a large collection of ancient Javanese artifacts.
• Monkasel, abbreviated from Monumen Kapal Selam (English: Submarine Monument), an old submarine placed as a tourism attraction inside which people can wander. Right beside the monument there is a building where a short movie about the history of the submarine itself can be watched.
• Bonbin Surabaya is one of the famous zoos in Southeast Asia
• Heroic Monument is the main symbol and one of the attractive tourist destinations in Surabaya and Southeast Asia

Ngaben, An unique Balinese Tradition

Ngaben, or Cremation Ceremony, is the ritual performed in Bali to send the deceased to the next life. The body of the deceased will be placed as if sleeping, and the family will continue to treat the deceased as sleeping. No tears are shed, because the deceased is only temporarily not present and will reincarnate or find his final rest in Moksha (freeing from the reincarnation and death cycle).

The proper day of the ceremony is always a matter of consulting a specialist on ceremony days. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin. This coffin is placed inside a sarcophagus resembling a buffalo (Lembu) or in a temple structure (Wadah) made of paper and wood. The buffalo or temple structure will be carried to the cremation site in a procession. The procession is not walking in a straight line. This is to confuse bad spirits and keep them away from the deceased.

The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the whole structure, together with the body of the deceased. The fire is necessary to free the spirit from the body and enable reincarnation.

Ngaben is not always immediately performed. For higher caste members it is normal to perform the ritual within 3 days. For lower caste members the deceased are buried first and later, often in a group ceremony for the whole village, cremated.

Rinjani National park

GUNUNG RINJANI NATIONAL PARK : One of the Best Treks in Southeast Asia

Gunung Rinjani National Park covers an area of 41,330 hectares on the northern part of Lombok. The peak of Gunung Rinjani reaching up to 3,726m dominates the landscape.

Gunung Rinjani National Park offers the beauty of the volcano, the Segara Anakan Crater Lake and the challenge of climbing the mountain. There are also guided village tours which provides a glimpse of local culture and the opportunity to meet the locals.

How to Get There :
Senaru and Sembalun Lawang Villages are The two starting points for excursions into the park as well as for climbing Mount Rinjani. Senaru Village can be reached within three hours drive to the north from Mataram, while Sembalun Lawang Village is approximately a four hours drive to the east of Mataram.

The Best Season to Visit :
August to December every year.

Indonesian Food Festival

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority does not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority do not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Street food is a quick meal sold by a vendor with a push cart, basket, at a stall, or possibly at a store where customers can see the preparation of food clearly. It provides a close connection between the customer and the street food, unlike having a plate of food in a restaurant.

The types of food offered vary from a simple fried tofu to a much more complicated dish like gudeg (raw jackfruit cooked in a Javanese traditional way that originated from Yogyakarta). In big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Medan, the street vendors offer many a traditional food from various regions in the archipelago. But in smaller cities, they are usually of the local cuisine.

The most commonly found street food is bakso or meatballs that are usually served in a bowl, like soup, with noodles, bean curds (tofu), eggs, and/or fried meat.

Another popular soup-like street food is soto. It is mainly comprised of broth and vegetables. The meats most commonly used are beef and chicken, but there are also sotos with mutton and pork. It is usually accompanied by rice or compressed rice. Sotos are differentiated by the ingredients in them, such as soto ayam (chicken) and soto kambing (mutton).

There are many sotos in Indonesia, as different regions and ethnicities have their own ways of preparing the cuisine, such as soto Madura (from East Java), soto Betawi (from Jakarta), soto Padang (from West Sumatra), so to Bandung (from West Java), soto Banjar (from South Kalimantan), and coto Makassar (from South Sulawesi).

The other popular delicacy often sold by street vendors is satay. It is a dish consisting of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef, pork, or fish) on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings, mostly made of ground nuts. Satay may have originated in Java or Sumatra, but is very popular outside Indonesia too. Similar to soto bakso and soto, there are many types of satay from sate Madura to Padang, sate Iilit, sate susu, kulit, sate Ponorogo and many more.

Nasi goreng (steamed rice stir-fried with eggs, meatballs, chicken/beef/shrimp, assorted vegetables and often with sweet soy sauce seasoning) is also very popular along with nasi rawon (rice served with dark beef soup) originally from East Java. The dark colour comes from the meaty seeds of kluwak nuts. Usually served with uncooked mung bean sprouts and salty duck eggs, pecel (a mixture of vegetables and traditional crackers with spicy peanut paste). Madiun and Blitar in East Java are popular for their pecel and gado-gado (a mixture of vegetables, crackers and rice with peanut flavoured sauce). The taste is sweet in Eastern Java and salty in Western Java.

Aman Jiwo Resort, Central Java Indonesia

Amanjiwo (peaceful soul) opened in Central Java in 1997. With clear views to 8th century Borobudur, and drawing its design inspiration from this the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world, Amanjiwo specializes in cultural excursions and experience, highlighting the influential and long-standing artistic traditions of Central Java.

Amanjiwo (which means peaceful soul and opened in 1997) is fashioned out of limestone and takes its inspiration from the surrounding culture of Central Java. The resort is located within a natural amphitheatre with the limestone Menoreh Hills rising directly behind, the Kedu Plain in front and four volcanoes "Sumbing, Sundoro, Merbabu and Merapi" gracing the horizon. Amanjiwo looks out onto Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world. Indeed, Borobudur is carefully mirrored in the resorts design and central dome. The view runs arrow-straight through Amanjiwos entrance and the stone corridor that neatly cleaves the resort, up the steps to the soaring, bell-shaped rotunda, down to the Dining Room, on to the Terrace, past rice fields in an unwavering line to Borobudur itself. Several kampungs (small villages) are within walking distance.

Amanjiwo is constructed from paras yogya " the local limestone. Thirty-six suites radiate outward from the main building in two deep crescents. These are rimmed by high, limestone walls set off by spider lilies and morning glory. The walls blend into the stone walkways that link the suites to the main building and the Pool Club. At the far end of the resort, in a lush tranquil setting, is the Dalem Jiwo, a large private suite with two separate bedrooms.

• Amanjiwo can be reached by daily domestic flights to Yogyakarta and Solo either from Indonesias capital, Jakarta, or from Bali. Flights take less than an hour from either place and Amanjiwo is a one-hour complimentary transfer from Yogyakarta or two hours on the more scenic route from Solo, which passes some of the biggest volcanoes in Java. There are also several direct flights to Solo from Singapore and a thrice-weekly service to Yogyakarta from Kuala Lumpur.
• Private air charter on a six-seater Piper Chieftain is available between Bali and Yogyakarta at a cost of US$2,590 nett. The flight takes two hours and maximum load is 500kg which allows for approximately four passengers with luggage or six with only hand luggage.

Amanjiwos main building is framed by 36 suites arrayed in two deep crescents. The walled suites feature terrazzo flooring, high ceilings, domed roofs and sliding glass doors opening onto a garden terrace with a view towards Borobudur. 15 suites come with private swimming pools.

From Amanjiwos entrance, five steps climb to the rotunda bar, a circular salon of columns, ceiling fans and a coconut-wood bar. The Bar gives way to the arcing Dining Room, with its amber washed, silver-leaf ceiling. Indonesian and Western cuisine are both available in an open air setting. The speciality of the house is makan malam, classic Javanese offerings served in brass dishes. A Javanese gamelan orchestra performs at lunch and dinner.

You can move around Amanjiwo site on foot or bicycle.

Theres a lot of thing that you can see and do here in Amanjiwo, including:

• Visiting the city of Yogyakarta and Solo
• Trekking: Hike up the Menoreh Hills to a vantage point over the Kedu plain or the leisurely 40 minute walk through the village of Selogriyo and its surrounding verdant jungle and steep rice terraces.
• See the crowded of Market mornings in Central Java
• Watch the village dances
• Golf
• Watching the mist rise off the rice fields and densely packed coconut plantations
• Revealing the silhouettes of distant volcanoes in the distance.

Borobudur Statue

One of the 7 wonders in the ancient world, Borobudur is located near Magelang. Borobudur, a Hindu Buddhist temple, was built in the 9th century. This temple has Gupta architecture of India's influence.

Constructed on a hill about 46 meters high, Borobudur has about 55,000 m3 or stones. Borobudur is design symbolizes the structure of the universe. This design influences temples in Angkor, Cambodia. This temple was found in 1815, under volcanic ash. About 41 kilometers northward from Jogjakarta, Borobudur offers spectacular sight in this modern world.

Getting There
Borobudur is only 1 hour away by car from Jogjakarta. You can either join a tour or rent a car to this spot.


Where to Stay
Inns and hotels in Jogjakarta.

Moving Around
You'll explore this site on foot. Climb this magnificent temple and marvel at various carvings on the stone around you.

Dining Guide
You can bring your own food or buy them around this site.

Souvenir Tips
Souvenirs related to Borobudur can be bought in Jogjakarta. You can buy silver Borobudur's miniature (silver plated ones are also available), keychains, and many more. T-Shirts and postcards with an overview of Borobudur are popular as keepsakes.

Other Things to See or Do
Marvel at the magnificent view. For better understanding of this temple, you can join a tour or hire a licensed tour guide here. Climb the temple to reach the top, where you can see an vacant space signifying emptiness as completion. There's a superstition saying that if you climb this temple with one wish deep in mind, try touching Buddha's figure inside the stupa, which is bell-like in structure. If you're able to touch the Buddha, your wish will come true. Take note of the stone carvings. There are many stories in these stones.

Maninjau Lake, Indonesia

Refreshing Maninjau Lake

Maninjau Lake West Sumatra, is one of the most splendid lakes in Indonesia. This volcanic lake is situated more or less 461 meters above sea level. This lake, 100 m2 in size with the maximum depth of 500 meters, is associated with a legend. It is said that from the local folklore called "Bujang Sembilan" (roughly translates as "Nine Young Men"), one of these men died by plunging himself to the crater. The crater then expanded, forming a lake.

Maninjau Lake has a five starred resort located on the top of a hill. With pleasant, inspiring sceneries, staying around Maninjau Lake will be a dazzling experience for you.

Maninjau Village is located near the lake. Buya HAMKA, one of the most notable novelists in Indonesia, was born here. HAMKA wrote the phenomenal Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wijk. Another famous person born here is Rangkayo Rasuna Said, one of Indonesia's national hero. Her name is immortalized as one of the protocol roads in Jakarta.



Getting There

Located only 35 kilometers away from Bukittinggi, you can visit this site by using a car or a public transportation.


Where to Stay

You can stay at various inns and hotels in Bukittinggi, or at Maninjau Resort, which is closer.


Moving Around

From where you stay, you can use a private car or public transportation to view the magnificent scenery.


Dining Guide

You can eat at several nearby restaurants or hotels. Bear in mind that West Sumatran food tends to be spicy.


Souvenir Tips

You can buy traditional Minangese crafts within the area or in Bukittinggi. Various songket (hand-woven cloth), slippers, shoes, bags, money pouches made of songket, and other unique items are also available. You can also buy traditional West Sumatran snack such as cassava chips coated with chili sauce.


Other Things to See or Do

Simple water recreations can be done in the lake. Unfortunately, since the locals consider swimsuits improper, you shouldn't swim in this lake. You can swim in the resort or in other hotels. If you stay at the resort, you can also use the fitness center and jogging track.

Berastagi, North Sumatra Indonesia

A Lovely Tourist Town, Berastagi in North Sumatra

Berastagi is a lovely tourist town in the Karo highlands on the way from Medan to Lake Toba. It is situated at an altitude of 1300m and with the setting of by two volcanoes, Mt.Sinabung and Mt.Sibayak. At Gundaling Hill you can see a clear view of those two volcanoes.

The area is known for its cool climate, orchids, flowers, vegetables and fruits and the most famous of which is the "Marquisa" or known as passion fruit which is commonly made into a refreshing fruit-drink. The local markets are swarming with activity and scenes from traditional Karo life. Days are extremely pleasant and nights can be quite cool.

After arriving on Polonia - Medan International Airport, you can use taxi or tourist buses to reach Berastagi. Its located 66 km from Medan, the capital city and will take around two hours drive.

At Gundaling Hills, theres a pleasant colonial-style hotel with a golf course, as well as a range of other star and non-star hotels and accommodations.

Just same like the other Sumatras regions, it served spicy foods. Its worth to try local dishes like Chicken Rice, Medan KweTyaow and others. If you like to drive to Medan, you will find Merdeka Walk. It is the first Tensile Structure (Alfresco Outdoor Concept) in Indonesia and the hottest place to hangout in Medan City with cafes, restaurants, exhibition and entertainment.

You can move around the town by local transport that form of the horse-drawn called sado. Also you can rent a bike from Villa Flores Restaurant.

There are a number of attractions in the town itself, including three markets: the photogenic general market, which takes place five times a week (not Wed or Sun) behind the bus station; the daily fruit market, which also sells souvenirs, to the west of the roundabout, and the Sunday market, which takes place every other week on top of Gundaling Hill and attracts such novelty acts as the teeth-pulling man (Rp200 per tooth) and the snake charmer.
You will find some fine examples of traditional Karo Batak architecture in the villages around Berastagi. The best known is Lingga Village, 15 km from Berastagi.

The wide main street is covered with restaurants and hotels, souvenir shops, and the central market attracts farmers from all over the area. You may buy some souvenirs here, like Batak Ulos-hand woven cloth from Medan, rattan plaitwork, hand-printed batik, paintings, carvings or try to buy Marquisa fruits and bring it home with you!

You better avoid come on Sunday, because many day trippers from Medan come to Berastagi to climb Mt.Sibayak
Days are extremely pleasant and nights can be quite cool. Equipped yourself with simple, warm and comfortable clothes

Bali bird park

Find yourself at the Bali Bird Park to witness the largest and finest collection of Indonesian birds in the world plus fantastic birds from Africa & South America.

Encompassing two hectares of botanical landscape, the park provides sanctuary to almost 1000 birds of 250 different species.

Our innovative approach towards the display of rare and tropical birds has progressed from traditional exhibits to that of showcasing mixed species in their natural habitats & in large walk in Aviaries and free range throughout the park.

The park accommodates an amazing display of flora with more then 2000 tropical plants including 50 varieties of palms alone and attracting numerous butterflies.

Incorporating a breeding, research and veterinary facility within the complex, the park has a high success rate in the captive reproduction of exotic birds such as the Bird. of Paradise and Hornbill.

Join us for an adventure that has no boundaries as we take you on a journey across the Indonesian archipelago, Latin America and South Africa.

The park is divided into regions that recreate the natural habitats of our birds, complete with indigenous plant life and traditional artefacts for authenticity.

Experience the original Jungle birds of Bali and encounter the world's rarest bird, the Bali Starling.

Baliem Valley - Papua

Once you read or give it a deeper study to Danis way of life, dont be surprise that you may find your eye lifting or forehead wrinkling. Why? Because the Dani is uniquely amazing.

The Dani men and women sleep separately in different honai (Danis traditional house). The men sleep grouped in one honai, while the women and children slumber in another honai. As descended from their ancestor, sex is taboo for the women after giving birth, for 2 or 5 years, as the result the Dani generated healthier kids since the women focus on babysitting the kids during the most important phase of growth. This situation makes the men vulnerable to polygamy, its a true fact of life that the Dani men are allowed to have more than 1 wife or as many as he can afford. A man should give 4-5 pigs to the girls parent he wants to marry. For Dani men, his social status are initiated by the number of wives and pigs he has.

Another remarkable custom of Dani is that women will amputate their finger when their relatives die, hence doesnt be surprise when you see women with missing finger.

To enhance the quality of your experience in Baliem Valley, guide is essential since there are no clear maps or signage initiated for visitor. The guide will help to lead the track, communicate with the local people and in advance, the guide will inform the tourist about local dos and donts.


Flying might be the only way to access the Baliem Valley through Wamena. Here are some alternatives on carrier from Jayapura to Wamena: (For further info, ask the officers at Sentani Airport Information Center).

Bromo Mountain

A volcanic massive extending from Semeru volcano, the Tengger highlands date back to about 820,000 years ago and consists of five overlapping strato-volcanoes, each truncated by a caldera. An overlapping cluster of post-caldera cones was constructed on the floor of the sand sea caldera within the past several thousand years. The youngest of these is Bromo, one of Java’s most active and most frequently visited volcanoes with a caldera extending 16 km wide.
Visitors come for the surreal experience of crossing the empty sea of black sand inside the caldera of an ancient volcano. In the dry season, people walk or take horses at three in the morning in order to reach the peak in time to catch the sunrise over the mountains.

How to Get There:
Most visitors come through Probolinggo, a small transit town located on Surabaya – Banyuwangi coastal route. From there, catch the
public minibuses that go to Cemara Lawang village, located 3 km away from the crater wall.

The Best Season to Visit:
April to October every year.

Mount Bromo (Gunung Bromo, 2,392m) is an active volcano in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park of East Java, Indonesia. Bromo isn't the highest mountain in Java — that honor goes to nearby Mount Semeru at 3,676m — but it's probably the most famous one. Bromo is in fact only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it's easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.

When timing any activities in the area, bear in mind that sunset is soon after 5 PM and sunrise is correspondingly early at around 5:30 AM. This means you'll usually need to get up by 3:30 AM or so to get there in time for dawn. What we could see in Bromo mountain?

* Mount Batok (2440m) is a brown volcanic cone at the north center of the caldera. Unlike the other nearby peaks it is no longer active and actually has some vegetation growing on it, mostly the local cemara tree that somehow manages to survive even on volcanic ash.

* Mount Bromo, edges tinged with white sulphur and always bubbling, is the main sight. To reach it on foot, pick the left fork at Cemoro Lawang's solitary crossing, then head down the ramp into the caldera and then across the caldera to the Hindu temple at the foot of the mountain. From the temple a steep path of 250 steps leads to the edge of the crater and a precarious meter-wide ledge from where to gaze into the volcano.

* Mount Penanjakan (2770m), located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from Tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses. Most of the crowd comes to see the dawn at 5 AM, and you'll likely have the large concrete observation post to yourself if you arrive later in the day.

* Viewpoint #2, along the trail from Cemoro Lawang to Mt. Penanjakan, is an excellent way to get a stunning view of the caldera (see pictures above) without the crowds. To reach it, head west from Cemoro Lawang (past Cemero Indah) for 6 km, past farms and fields. The paved road eventually turns into a twisty mountain trail that ends with a flight of stairs on the right, and the viewpoint (with concrete shelter) is at the top. Allow 1.5 hours for the climb up at a steady pace, and bring along a torch if attempting this at night.

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