INDONESIAN EXOTIC ISLAND RESORT : BEACH, CULTURE AND UNIQUE TRADITIONS

Honeymoon Destinations

2009-10-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

After the big day is over, then you can begin the best part of the wedding ceremony – heading off to your honeymoon, a sliver of time in which to unwind and spend hour after hour of quality time together. The best honeymoon destinations offer this opportunity, along with a chance to explore a foreign land, or just laze away beneath the palm trees in paradise.

It should come as no surprise that beach-centered escapes are the most common kind of vacations for newlyweds. Hawaii is always top of the list when it comes to best honeymoon destinations – where sexy ambiance, luxurious resorts and breathtaking views collide. It doesn’t matter which part you choose, really; Maui, the Big Island, Oahu – all of them are time-tested, top honeymoon destinations. Love-struck and dewy-eyed couples abound here, where hundreds of honeymoon packages are offered, and can be had for reasonable prices. You can even mix a little adventure into your stay, as opportunities to hike, dive and surf are everywhere.

For similar reasons, the Caribbean is home to many of the world’s best honeymoon destinations. Whether you prefer the reggae beats of Jamaica, verdant hills of Saint Lucia or the exotic colonial appeal of Barbados, the Gulf of Mexico has something for you. Bermuda and the Virgin Islands (primarily St. Thomas) are the most popular trips to take, but top honeymoon destinations can be found just by closing your eyes and pointing at a map of this region. The Cayman Islands are another place that spends a lot of time catering to new couples.

Some couples prefer the innate sexiness of Europe over sandy beaches, which is why millions make their way to romance capitals such as Paris, London and Rome each year after their nuptials. France and Italy have long fashioned themselves as lands for lovers, and one trip across the Atlantic will prove just why. There’s nothing like seeing your lover in the soft light along the Seine in Paris at night, or amidst the ruins of Rome. The whispers of the Mediterranean often bring out the best in newlyweds, as the South of France and the Greek Islands also have a broad appeal, and are easily amongst the world’s best honeymoon destinations.

The South Pacific is another place to relax and begin wedded bliss. Tahiti, Bora Bora and Fiji are all top honeymoon destinations, each offering their own take on honeymoon packages and blessed seclusion. It’s further out of the way than more traditional honeymoon trips, and that’s what makes it so nice. You can sit safely away with your new spouse and take in isolated lagoons, moonlit dinners and exquisite sunsets to your heart’s content.

Ideas for a Romantic Hawaii Vacation

2009-04-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

We hope you'll like our collection of ideas, tips and information on some of the best romantic Hawaii vacation spots for couples. We include condo and beach rentals in Hawaii, tips on Wakiki coupons and free things to do on Honolulu, romantic beaches, vacation spots, and some of the most romantic things to do in Hawaii.

Travel to Hawaii

Low-priced flights to Honolulu are fairly easy to find, since most of the major US airlines fly there - United, American, and Delta.

Instead of trying to piece everything together, we recommend getting an air and hotel package for your romantic trip to Hawaii. It will mean less hassle, and a better deal too.

How to Get from Honolulu International Airport to Waikiki: "HNL" will be where your Hawaii vacation starts, and it's about a 1/2 hour drive from the airport to downtown Waikiki. Numerous car rental, taxi and Honolulu airport shuttle bus ($12-$15) options are there.

When is the best time to visit Hawaii? Just about anytime is good! December to March will be a little more crowded, pricier and hotter. The weather is fine year-round, but spring and fall give you the best balance of everything.

More on Hawaii Vacations...

Romantic Hawaii Accommodation - All sorts of deals on Hawaii beach hotels and luxury resorts, plus reviews, package discounts and more.

Air Travel to Hawaii - Our guide to airlines, flights, flying times and the best price for airfares to Honolulu and the Islands.

A Guide for Flights to Kauai - A look at airlines that fly to Kauai, HI from both the USA mainland and other Hawaiian Islands, including flight times and cheap airfare deals.

Hawaii Vacation Planning - One of the sites we use, from the the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Exotic Vacation Destinations

2009-04-18T04:47:00.000-07:00

The appeal of exotic destinations – so far from everyday life that we will forever be changed. Whether it is barren stretches of desert, small mountain villages or pristine wildlife you seek, pretty much any continent is home to at least one of the top exotic travel destinations – it just depends on how dedicated you are to discovering yourself in the unknown.

The sweeping sands of the Sahara call out to millions each year – from Morocco to Tunisia to Egypt, you can easily find yourself on camelback, covering the sun-scorched earth, the soothing sands blowing to the east. Morocco also has the scenic Rif mountains and beach resort towns like Agadir, making the country one of the most diverse in the world. Egypt has, of course, some of the most famous landmarks in the world, and as far as exotic destinations go, Tunisia has managed to hide much of itself from the encroachment of globalization while featuring quaint Mediterranean villages along its north coast.

Another top exotic travel destination in the area is the country of Turkey. Bordering both the Aegean and Mediterranean, it is the cradle of civilization. From the famed Turkish baths to the dazzling bazaars, the city of Istanbul is one of the most important historical and cultural capitals in the world, and the combination of Middle Eastern and European influences just adds to the ambiance. Dodge donkeys, goats and camels as you make your way through the city’s dusty streets, or head straight to the picturesque little merchant villages that dot the map.

If you are looking for exotic vacation destinations even further east, look no further than Southeast Asia. Whether you want to wander tiny mountain towns in Nepal, go on a spiritual journey through the Buddhist-intensive Tibet, or play with the tigers in Thailand, there’s no shortage of exotic destinations here. If you are feeling especially adventurous, there’s hardly a greater challenge, or more rewarding trip than India. The land of spices and princes has lost nothing of its majesty over the years, making it one of the top exotic travel destinations in the world. Whether you are riding the Ganges or parsing the intricacies of Hinduism, India is likely as different as possible from the places you’ve been.

The entire continent of Africa is pretty exotic in itself, but the island nation of Madagascar might top them all. And if you are looking for exotic vacation destinations that feature some of the world’s most intense and lovable wildlife, this is the place for you. If that’s not enough, you can head over to the Okavango Delta in Northwestern Botswana. A flood plain spread across the desert, it is an oasis not only for the hippos, crocodiles and zebra that frequent the area, but for tourists alike. The night sounds of the delta are in equal turns soothing and unsettling, and the smooth rustle of nocturnal predators can be heard across the plain. Exotic vacation destinations don’t get much better than this.

Wedding Destinations

2009-04-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

For those who love to travel and want a wholly unique way to begin married life, there are destination wedding packages that will take the most important day of your life and take it to a whole other level. Certain wedding destinations are tried and true, whereas other more exotic locales are turning up on itineraries more and more often.

The gold standard for wedding destinations has remained fairly unchanged over the years, and it’s no coincidence that these locations are often classic honeymoon spots, too. If you want nothing more than a romantic sandy beach to tie the knot, Hawaii is a great choice. Every island will offer a slight variation on what you want, but as a destination, wedding packages to Maui and Oahu are often the most popular. Maui has just the right mix of secluded beaches, outdoor activities and an enticing ambiance that has brought lovers to its shores for years. On Oahu you’ll find cheaper prices, but less availability, so that might be a deciding factor in your destination wedding planning.

Tourist hotspots in Mexico also double as great wedding destinations. Whether it is Cancun, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan, Mexico adds a bit of color and excitement to any wedding plans. The crescent shaped bay in Acapulco is the country’s most popular nuptial site, so there are numerous destination wedding packages to choose from. If it was good enough for the Kennedys and the Clintons, so shall it be for you. Mazatlan has a more casual vibe, which is perfect for couples who want to keep the proceedings a little lower key – plus it is often the least expensive location down south for destination wedding planning.

Of course, you could always go the path tread by millions of lovers throughout the years and head straight to Vegas. Whether you want to be brought together by the bonds of holy matrimony by an Elvis impersonator, or want a more traditional wedding, Las Vegas will always be there to provide. Every major casino in the city has a wedding chapel in their hotel, and they range in style and ambiance, usually following the casino’s overall theme. These chapels can be set up just as luxurious or laid back as you desire, from the top of the line Mirage and Caesar’s chapels to quaint locations such as the Monte Carlo or Luxor. The nice thing about Vegas as a wedding destination is that the huge numbers of ceremonies that take place every year make the planning staffs amongst the most helpful and knowledgeable that you’ll ever find. Vegas weddings are specifically designed to make the hardship of planning a moot point.

If you want to get really exotic with your plans, Thailand is steadily rising in popularity as a weddings destination. Other than the amazing location, your money will stretch so far, you may think of staying there. If you ever wanted to head down the aisle on an elephant, or have tigers looking on as you say your vows – well, Thailand is the place for you. Phuket is where a lot of lovestruck couples head to (both for weddings and honeymoons), and will certainly be an unforgettable experience.

Romantic Destinations

2009-04-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

Whether you are heading out with wedding bells in mind or simply looking for a great trip with your significant other, romantic destinations abound. Poets and musicians have long sung the praises of cities like Paris and Rome, while others might prefer an exotic or untouched beach in Hawaii or the Caribbean. No matter what goal you have in mind, romantic travel destinations can be found on every continent.

When you are talking about love and romance, no place springs to mind as quickly as Paris. Millions have fallen in love beneath the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The city itself is imbued with a certain ambiance perfect for couples new and old, an energy for lovers that cannot be overstated. The south of France holds its own when it comes to romantic destinations: Arles, St. Tropez, Nice – these cities display the same charm, combining romantic atmosphere with access to the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.

Another European city that screams romance is Rome. Upon the city of ruins, Rome is a city for lovers – whether you are parading down the Spanish Steps or lolling through the Villa Borghese, it’s easy to fall in love with just about anyone. Rome itself is one of the world’s most popular romantic wedding destinations, a perfect place to say “I do” to the one you’ll be with forever. Plus, you don’t even have to leave for the honeymoon. Florence and pretty much any city in Tuscany are also romantic travel destinations with few equals.

Few things say romance better than a secluded beach. The soft sand under foot, the gentle swaying of the ocean, the sun on your back – there are thousands of possible beaches that make for romantic travel destinations. Hawaii is perhaps the most romantic spot in the U.S., with the quiet beaches of Maui being the most likely location for a sumptuous honeymoon. If you wanted quieter still, try the island of Kauai on your next vacation – few will argue that it is near the top of the list when discussing romantic destinations.

The Caribbean is another excellent spot with so much variety, it might be hard to choose which island to have your romantic getaway upon. For those that want a luxurious resort that will cater to its every whim, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic fit the bill. St. Bart’s is all luxury, all the time, and is definitely one of the world’s top romantic wedding destinations. If you want a rich blend of the Caribbean and Europe, try Martinique or Guadaloupe – these former French colonies merge the rhythm of the islands with wondrous food and architecture. But, really, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the Caribbean islands.

The beaches of Mexico - whether tourist driven cities like Acapulco or Cabo San Lucas – or smaller cities like Cozumel or Ixtapa, are other popular romantic wedding destinations. The soft blue ocean and quaint architecture of the Gold Coast is the perfect setting for both tying the knot or just getting away from it all.

Family Vacation Destinations

2009-03-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

Nothing builds memories like a family vacation, and setting up with your kids in tow can be quite a rewarding, if not challenging, adventures. Though most every location is arranged to cater to families as well as single travelers, there are some family vacation destinations that are head and shoulders above the rest.

If you can afford the admission prices, both Disneyland and Disneyworld promise to be amongst the best family vacation destinations available. You will never find a child who didn’t enjoy the theme parks, and there are plenty of rides and activities to engage adults. But if you are already a child at heart, you should have no problem enjoying either one. Both also have nearby family attractions too – both are within close proximity of a Universal Studios (there’s one in Orlando , too) plus both are within major urban areas that offer a wealth of other family friendly things to do.

Along the same lines, Legoland is another great place for family travel. The California location is just an hour south of Disneyland, adding just another reason to head to the coast. Or, if you are feeling like making a big trip of it, the original Legoland sits in the city of Billund,Denmark .

Sometimes the best family vacation destinations aren’t the most obvious. But beaches and resorts are usually safe bets when it comes to keeping all members occupied and happy. Families are all over both coasts, even in adult-centered cities like Miami. Going to Hawaii is like taking your family on an exotic vacation, while staying on familiar ground. Honolulu has space for everyone, whether you prefer sunbathing, water sports, or just splashing around in the warm Pacific. Key West offers many of the same pleasures, and can be less expensive than Hawaii, depending on where you are coming from. Taking a Caribbean cruise is perfect for family travel, too, with new and different locations each day, and the soothing ocean and cruise activities to keep everyone happy.

If you want to expose your family to the world outside America, a family European vacation can be a great way to bring everyone closer together. Though usually the turf of backpackers and experienced travelers, Europe can still be one of the best family vacation destinations. The dynamics will be a bit more complicated, so you may want to keep your daily travel times to a minimum, seeing more of just a few countries instead of trying to take a whirlwind trip across the continent.

European Destinations

2009-03-13T04:39:00.000-07:00

European travel is always near the top of most popular vacations. Whether seeing one country at a time, or going for a whirlwind tour of the entire continent, here are ten of the best cities to see when in Europe.
Lisbon

The slippery streets of connecting the bars of Barrio Alto, sardines cooking uncovered at every corner. The winding passageways adrift in Fado music leading to the Moorish castle atop the Alfama district. The immense festivals that bring visitors from all over the continent. Lisbon might not be the first capital you think of when planning a trip to Europe, but it will rank high on anyone’s list of best European travel destinations.

Monaco

You don’t have to be rich and famous (though it helps) to enjoy this tiny principality on the Mediterranean coast. Located along the coast with Nice and Cannes, this city/country is almost entirely centered around its enormous casinos, exquisite and fanciful establishments that seems more like palaces than a gambling halls. Like Las Vegas, Monaco never seems to stop, not even in the small hours, another reason it is one of the most popular European destinations.

Pecs

A quaint little town just miles from the Croatian border, this Hungarian city has been torn apart by war more times than one can count, but what was left unscathed from the bloody battles between Moslems and Christians gives Pecs an exuberant Mediterranean flair – while it’s now more of a university city, this imbues Pecs with a sense of youthful optimism that is in turns obvious and in tangible.

San Sebastian

One trip into Basque country will be all that you need to understand this city’s ongoing popularity. One of the rainiest cities in the world during much of the year, it becomes a shimmering summer capital during the warmer months. From the swaying Bay of Biscay to the terminally green hillsides surrounding San Sebastian, aristocrats have long sung its praises, and you will too.

Berlin

Unmistakably the art capital of Europe, the enormity of Berlin is at first too much to take in. But as you make your way through the maze of stoic Soviet architecture, nonstop danceclubs, and tempting pastry shops, there will be little you want to leave out during your stay. The still obvious disparities between the east and west sides of the city give Berlin a unique outlay, constant contrasts that make this one of the most intriguing and popular European destinations.

Cinque Terre

Everywhere along the Italian Riviera is worthy of a long trip, but this collection of fishing villages has only recently felt the boom of tourism. Though they go to sleep early, these small towns offer a glimpse into rural Italy that is unmatched about anywhere else. Hiking and food are the real draws here, and as you look out onto the Mediterranean, surrounded by olive groves, you will not question why everyone speaks of Cinque Terre in such reverential terms.

Sighisoara

Deep in the heart of Transylvania, you half expect to find vampires around every turn in the city - possibly because it is well known as the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (aka Count Dracula). A city untouched by, well, just about anything modern, this hilltop town was built in the 15^th

century, and seems to have forgotten the rest of the world. The array of cobblestone streets, tangled and arbitrary, lead you through a wonderland of medieval architecture and unmistakable grace.

Bergen

Maybe the most scenic city in Norway, the reason this is one of the top European travel destinations is due to its access to the country’s famed fjords. Norway’s longest fjord is just a short walk to the north, and the resorts here are world-class, especially popular during the springtime.

Amsterdam

Though the city is fabled for its unabashed hedonism, there’s a quaint, provincial charm to most of the city – glassy canals, the constant ringing of bicyclists as they circumnavigate the crowds, the ubiquitous cafes that line every street, it all adds up to one of the most popular European travel destinations.

Carcassone

With the snow-capped Pyrenees brushed quietly on the city’s backdrop, this jewel in the southwest of France might not be at the top of most popular European destinations…and that’s a shame. Alive with regional flavor, Carcassone features the remains of medieval architecture unlike any other you will see in Europe.

Bruges

Once one of the world’s wealthiest cities, many hints of the past still remain. This Belgian city is awash in gothic buildings, its medieval history still alive and very much intact today. Bruges has made an elegant transition to a cosmopolitan city and remains one of the most popular European destinations due to its ability to find the right balance between the new and old.

Top 10 Exotic Honeymoon Destinations

2009-03-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Tahiti

As breathtaking by moonlight as it is stunning under the all-embracing sun, Tahiti is a true island paradise. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, the Tahiti Islands are known for charming over-the-water bungalows, seclusion, and privacy. Whether its pampering yourself with a Polynesian spa, cruising among all the Tahiti Islands, or enjoying your first newlywed private picnic near Bora Bora, Tahiti is undoubtedly the ultimate romantic honeymoon destination.

Balize

If you are looking for a romantic, private honeymoon with a little bit of adventure thrown in, Belize is the perfect honeymoon for you! Private cabanas at the edge of a rainforest, a tour of the Mayan ruins, kayaking, and romantic candlelight dinners on the deck of your cabana are just a few examples of your honeymoon experience in Belize!

Costarica, Central America

Costa Rica, located in Central America, is increasingly becoming one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world - reason being that Costa Rica has something for all types of honeymooners. A typical Costa Rican honeymoon would include visiting its beautiful beaches, touring active volcanoes followed by relaxing volcanic mud massages, and adventurous rainforest tours.
Bali Indonesia

Bali, a tropical Indonesian Island, is one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in East Asia. Bali is the ultimate honeymoon experience for couples seeking romance and intimacy. Couples can choose to stay in private villas in Bali that have tropical gardens, private swimming pools, and a well trained house staff including a maids and cooks.

Punta Cana Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is becoming one of the Carribbean’s top honeymoon destinations. Located on the Dominican Republic Island, Punta Cana is known for its spectacular beaches, clear waters, and white sands.

Seychelles Islands:

Looking for a truly unique exotic honeymoon vacation? Then visit the islands of Seychelles, located slightly east of Africa in the Western Indian Ocean. At Seychelles, newlyweds can enjoy taking romantic strolls on pink sanded beaches and adventurous walks through rainforests. This tropical island is a year round honeymoon destination for sun worshippers and beach lovers.

Kamalame Cay, Bahamas:

Kamalame Cay is private island hideaway off the coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas. Kamalame Cay is the perfect choice for couples who want a blend of romance and adventure for their honeymoon. Kamalame Cay features Caribbean cuisine, breathtaking beaches, adventure, privacy, and of course romance.

Turtle Island, Fiji

Turtle Island is one of the more popular honeymoon destinations. For water lovers, newlyweds can enjoy snorkling, sailing, and saltwater fly fishing. Turtle Island has 14 white sandy beaches. Some are naturally occurring palm fringed beaches. Some are adjacent to the living and dining areas, and some are totally isolated, bounded by high cliffs or set within a cove.

Rome and the Amalfi Coast:

Begin your honeymoon with a tour of Rome - home of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, and Colosseum. After a fun-filled day of touring the city as newlyweds, enjoy a romantic Italian dinner for two at a local trattoria.
After Rome, travel to the Amalfi Coast to end your honeymoon with relaxation and privacy. Amalfi coast is made up of quaint town after town, balanced on hilltops and cliffs looking over the romantic Mediterranean Sea.
Hawaii Islands

Aloha! Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean , is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations. Whether it is indulging in a Polynesian Luao or sitting together under under the stars on the wall of a stone pier overlooking the dazzling lights of Waikiki, there is no doubt that you can’t go wrong with a honeymoon destination to Hawaii. Each of its Islands are unique and worth traveling to as newlyweds. For example, the Big Island is known for its active volcanos and waterfalls. Or, if you are looking to do some whale watching, golfing, or snorkeling, Maui might be the island for you.

Indonesian Travel Tips

2009-02-02T00:56:00.000-08:00

With nearly constant temperatures year-round and a visa process that makes it easy on With nearly constant temperatures year-round and a visa process that makes it easy on Westerners, Indonesia is a welcoming country, and the locals will go out of their way to make sure that visitors have a great trip.Immigration: All travelers to Indonesia must possess passports, valid for at least six months after arrival, and proof of onward passage out of the country (View Information on Visa Requirements).

Time Zones:

Indonesia is divided into three time zones:Western Indonesia Time (Sumatra, Java, West and Central Kalimantan): GMT + 7 (West).Central Indonesia TIme (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara): GMT + 8 (Central).East Indonesia Time (Maluku, Irian Jaya): GMT + 9 (East).

Telephone:
IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 62 (followed by 22 for Bandung, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan and 31 for Surabaya). Outgoing international code: 00. Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. Public phones are available in coins, cards, chips and (in some tourist areas) credit card operated machines. State-operated phone booths (WARTEL), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found throughout the country.
For emergencies, dial 110 (police) or 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents) or 119 (ambulance for general health) or 113 (fire department).Electricity: Cities run on 220 volts, 50 cycle's AC system. Rural areas may only be able to provide 110 volts.

Language:
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language. words in Bahasa are pronounced pretty much as they are written. In all tourist destination areas English is the number one foreign language spoken and written. (Learn Bahasa Indonesia)

Currency:
Rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500 and 100. Coins are in denominations of Rp1000, 500, 100, 50 and 25. In major centers, travelers cheques in US dollars are readily accepted and most hotels in tourist or commercial centers will accept major credit cards.Currency Exchange ATM machines are generally located in the major cities with few to none in outlying areas.

MasterCard,
American Express and Visa are widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. In more remote areas, it is best to carry cash in small denominations. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.Travellers cheques: Limited merchant acceptance but can be easily exchanged at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Tipping:
Hotels and restaurants catering for international visitors include a service charge on all their bills. However, small tips for good service are always appreciated. Whether you tip or not, you will find the people of Jakarta very friendly and you can expect good service.Tipping taxi drivers Rp. 1,000 or leaving the change is appreciated but not mandatory. It is advisable to carry small change as taxi drivers are often short of change.

Taxi Security:
In Jakarta most taxi companies have an alert light on the top of the car which is activated in case of an emergency (robbery of or by a passenger). Other taxi drivers or policemen see the light on and realize that the taxi driver or passenger is in need of assistance. In addition to this standard alert light, all Blue Bird Group taxis have a hidden security device which, if activated, enables the dispatcher to overhear and record the conversation between the driver and passenger using a special radio frequency. This provides protection both for the driver and the passengers. An alert goes out in the case of a true emergency and the taxi is quickly surrounded by other Blue Bird taxis to ensure the safety of the driver and passenger. No need to wait for the uncertain response from the police.

Weather:
Tropical climate varying from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather from June to October. The western monsoon brings the main rains from November to March. Rainstorms occur all year. Higher regions are cooler.There are occasional showers during the transitional periods and the general maximum temperature is 33°C (62°F) and the general minimum 21°C (41°F). Humidity is high at all times.

Shopping:
Favourite buys are batik cloth, woodcarvings and sculpture, silverwork, woven baskets and hats, bamboo articles, kerises (small daggers), paintings and woven cloth. Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 10.00-21.00. Most local markets open either very early in the morning or at dusk.Theft: "Beware of thieves" signs or announcements from time in department stores or shopping areas should not be ignored. Ladies are advised to carry their bags in front of them. Wallets in your back pockets will make you an easy target.

Indonesian exotic Hotel

2009-02-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

Indonesia is a country of diversity, from its modern capital city of Jakarta and some other densely populated areas to the genuine paradise of some of its untouched islands. Beautiful, busy, diverse, fascinating, Indonesia has much to offer the adventurous students.

Distinguished by its unique geographical characteristic, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, situated in Southeastern Asia near the Equator between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean and is composed of 17,508 islands. Approximately 6,000 of these islands are inhabited, with five main islands and 30 smaller archipelagos serving as home to the majority of the population.

Credit Photos: Oberoi Lombok
Indonesia is a challenging yet rewarding study abroad destination whether you are looking to study art, culture, history, religion, or a variety of other areas. Explore the possibilities.Our hotel directory for cheap hotel deals and lodgings in Indonesia, Southeast Asia. To help you make your hotel reservation we have split up Indonesia into several areas to help you plan your vacation.Simply select the hotel region you prefer and let all-hotels take you on your next city break or vacation to Indonesia.

Credit Photos: Oberoi Lombok
Our wide range of Indonesia accommodation allows you to experience all that the world’s largest archipelago has to offer; whether it is the spectacular white beaches of Bali, or perhaps the dense rainforests and volcanoes of Sumatra, we have accommodation in Indonesia to suit any travelers budget or need.Indonesia is a land of differences; with over 300 different ethnic groups, the land is a melting pot of cultures and lifestyles. From all these ingredients, Indonesia has it’s own distinctive cuisine, which varies across it’s region… and likewise with it’s music.

Credit Photos: Oberoi Lombok
Our Bali and Lombok accommodation is perfect situated for those travelers longing to explore the white sandy beaches, the lush jungles and mountain scenery of the island. While the more popular tourist spots are located around the southern beaches, there is also a wealth of picturesque villages to explore throughout the island. A staple feature for those traveling to Bali is the Mother's Temple, locally known as Pura Besakih – a major tourist attraction and to Gili Islands where pristine turquoise water and excellent coral reefs..Or perhaps use our Lombok accommodation to explore the many temples of the region. Spectacular coral reefs, surfing and hot springs are all within easy reach from your accommodation. Only 50 kilometers east of Bali, the North-western beaches offer a quieter alternative, with fewer cars and motorbikes around.

Credit Photos: Oberoi Lombok
Perhaps it is Sumatra, with it’s volcanic lakes that you are after. The town of Bukittinggi is a popular destination with most tourists, as it is particularly famed for it’s Padang cuisine.Or maybe Yogyakarta is the area for you, with it’s hub of many arts centers, galleries, markets, craft shops and bazaars. The area also boasts Borobudor, which is a 1000-year-old Buddhist temple filled with historic art.

Credit Photos: Oberoi Lombok
With just these few examples, it is clear that with such a varied land and culture, Indonesia has a destination to offer everyone; and our range of accommodation and hotels in Bali will provide the perfect base to explore all that is available.So why not browse through our list of popular regions and Indonesian accommodation on our navigation on the left.

HOTEL DIRECTORY LIST
Location

Jakarta Hotels Directory

Yogyakarta Hotels Directory

Kuta and Legian Beach Hotels Directory

Jimbaran Beach Hotels Directory

Nusa Dua Beach Bali

Sanur Beach Hotels Directory

Ubud Village Hotels Directory

Lovina Beach Hotels Directory

Candi Dasa Hotels Directory

Senggigi Beach Area Hotels Directory

Gili Trawangan Hotels Directory

Gili Meno Hotels Directory

Gili Air Hotels Directory

Kuta Beach Lombok Hotels Directory

Moyo Aman Wana Resort

Puri Komodo Resort

Nihiwatu Resort Resort

Newa Resort Sumba

Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodges

Samboja Orangutan Eco Lodges

Derawan Island Dive Resort

Sangalaki Island Dive Resort

Nabucco Island Dive Resort

Gangga Island Resort

Manado City Hotels Directory

Kungkungan Bay Resort Lembeh

Prince John Dive Resort

Toraja Land Hotels Directory

Makasar City Hotels Directory

Amatoa Luxury Beach Resort Bira Beach

Selayar Island Dive Resort

La Petit Kepa Island Bungalows

Ambon Hotels Directory

Maulana Hotel Banda Naira

Misol Eco Lodges

Jayapura Hotels Directory

Baliem Valley Resort

Bajo Komodo Eco Lodge Labuan Bajo

Lombok Eco Lodges

Indonesian Exotic Island And Unique Culture

2009-01-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

Indonesia occupies most of the Malay Archipelago and extends into western Melanesia, as well. The country has 17,508 islands officially, with about 6,000 of those inhabited. Counting tidal islands (periodically submerged) doubles the island figure, and many islands with no name or the same names, making it very confusing even to the government of Indonesia. Management of the islands sometimes includes a Regency (Indonesia) covers a small island chain.

Sumatera Island

Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470,000 km?) and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two larger islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are partially in Indonesia).An ancient name for Sumatra was Swarna Dwipa, (Sanskrit for Isle of Gold), apparently based on the fact that mines in the Sumatran highlands were exporting gold from fairly early times.
More Details .....!

JAVA ISLAND

Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city Jakarta. Once the centre of powerful Hindu kingdoms and the core of the Colonial Dutch East Indies, Java now plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia. Housing a population of 124 million, it is the most populous island in the world. Java is also one of the most densely populated regions on Earth.More Details .....!

Kalimantan (Borneo) Island

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesia's region of Borneo is called Kalimantan, while Malaysia's region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo.Borneo is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait to the east, and the Java Sea and Karimata Strait to the south. It has an area of 743,330 km? (287,000 square miles).More Details .....!
Sulawesi Island
sulawesi (formerly more commonly known as Celebes, a Portuguese-originated form of the name) is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands.The Portuguese were the first to refer to Sulawesi as 'Celebes' however the origins of this name are unclear. One suggestion is the Bugis word si-lebih for 'more islands' - a reference to its shape suggesting it was more than one island.
More Details .....!

Nusa Tenggara (Lesser Sunda Island)

The Nusa Tenggara (little Southeast Islands), or Lesser Sunda Islands, are a group of islands in the middle-south part of the Malay Archipelago. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up the Sunda Islands. The islands are part of a volcanic arc, the Sunda Archipelago, formed by seduction along the Java Trench.They are split into East Timor and the Indonesian provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and part of East Nusa Tenggara.More Details .....!

Maluku Islands

The Maluku Islands (also known as the Moluccas, Moluccan Islands, the Spice Islands or simply Maluku) are an archipelago in Indonesia, and part of the larger Malay Archipelago. They are located on the Australian Plate, lying east of Sulawesi (Celebes), west of New Guinea, and north of Timor. The islands were also historically known as the "Spice Islands" by the Chinese and Europeans, but this term has also been applied to other islands.

Most of the islands are mountainous, some with active Volcanoes, and enjoy a wet climate.
Papua

Western New Guinea is the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and consists of two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It was previously known by various names, including Netherlands New Guinea (1895–1 October 1962), West New Guinea (1 October 1962–1 May 1963), West Irian (1 May 1963–1973), and Irian Jaya (1973–2000). The incorporation of Western New Guinea into Indonesia remains controversial with human rights NGOs, including some supporters in the United States Congress and other bodies, as well as many of the territory's indigenous population. Many indigenous inhabitants and human rights NGOs refer to it as West Papua.
More Details .....!

Extreme Watersport And Exotic Trekking

2009-01-03T03:04:00.000-08:00

Indonesia sailing Cruise

Indonesia is an ideal place for sailing due to its vast number of islands and pristine waters full of exotic animal and plant life. There are a variety of sailing excursions on offer in Indonesia and some tourists come to this region primarily to sail, but once you take a sailing trip you will see why. The nameless tiny islands that litter the vast blue water with the inviting white sandy beaches touched by no one, the coral reefs, the peace and quite are some of the attractions that sailing in Indonesia has to offer. More Details .....!

Indonesia Mountain Trekking

The best way to explore and appreciate the rich geographical and cultural diversity of Indonesia is to set out on foot: to hike, to trek or to climb into the fascinating environments and beautiful countryside of this diverse, exotic land.If you intend to really immerse yourself in unique Indonesian trekking experiences, you have four main options: hiking up live volcanoes; climbing mountains; exploring remote cultures; or tracking through jungles. Note that the hikes and treks described here are just a few examples of what's available - there are countless others, less well-known but just as remarkable in their way. More Details .....!

Indonesia liveaboards destinations

Indonesia has such a superb array of liveaboards destinations that any one of its lesser known attractions would be major draw cards elsewhere in the world.The Komodo Island National Marine Park continues to be our most popular Indonesia liveaboards destination. Strong currents sweep rich plankton harvests into the shallow water channels around these islands, attracting large, feeding pelagics such as whale sharks and manta rays. The walls field an incredible amount of colourful filter feeders, such as sea apples, sea squirts, tunicates and crinoids.
More Details .....!

INDONESIA SURFING

Surfing in Indonesia is a very popular sport. In fact, Indonesia has an equatorial type of climate which is perfectly suited to Surfing. There are two seasons which have the effect of the neighboring seas and is determined by the monsoons. The dry season extends from June to September while the wet season is from November to March. The average Relative humidity is generally 80% throughout the year. The climate is also accompanied by thunderstorms.There are 9 surf regions in Indonesia. These are Sumatra, Mentawai, East Bali, Sumbawa, Sumba, Roti East Indonesia, Java, Bali and Lombok.
More Details .....!

INDONESIA HOTELS AND RESORTS

We offers business and leisure travelers alike the easiest way to find and book a hotel room anywhere in Indonesia's largest cities and most popular resort destinations.Lombokmarine.com provides complete up-to-date hotel information together with current availability and personalized service with a friendly and professional staff to answer your questions and assist you to get the best possible rate and quick confirmation for the hotel of your choice. this week's best deals in each area are below however if your favourite hotel is not listed just click on the area and you will taken to a page listing all available hotels.
More Details .....!

Preserver – Adventure Travel Boot Camp

2008-12-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

It’s certainly better to be safe than sorry whether trekking in India, deep-sea diving off a remote Indonesia island or scaling a lonely peak in the Himalayas. “Not sweating the small stuff” can be the beginning physically and financially, and, remember, sometimes, you can choose your lot in life.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO*

Government AdvisoriesIt’s

always worth read the travel advisories published online by the governments of the united states, united kingdom and Australia to determine crime, terrorism and other risks – but be aware that government information gathering is an inexact science. Travel advisories are often researched and written by overseas embassy staff who rely on personal experience, local and foreign media reports and, only in some cases, on field assessments.

* Tour Companies

Check out the tour company/outfitter before you submit your credit card. Make sure the organization has an excellent service and safety track record, as well as liability insurance. Contact former clients and get their honest feedback.

*Tour Guides

Select a company that employs local guides who are environmentally ethical and experienced and/or licensed on this activity.

* Read

Carefully comb through your brochure reading every word, line and footnote. Give particular attention to the small print: are you sleeping in hotels, or school, huts, and tents? Will you carrying your backpack, sleeping bag, cooking pots, and food supplies? Is the tour company providing a van to move the heavy equipment from sire to site? Will the company address your dietary and/or medical restrictions/preferences?

* Pre-trip Directions

Do you need anti-malaria drugs, vaccinations, and water sterilizing and snake bite kits? Will you be met at the airport by a company representative, or do you have to find your way to the hotel on your own?

* Age/Activity Appropriate

Select an age and experience appropriate adventure, if you are not sure where you fit, call the company and discuss your abilities as well as your limitations and expectations. Listen carefully to the responses to your questions. Remember, the tour operator is motivated to get your business, and may not necessarily have your very best interests at heart.

* Bring the Right Equipment

For example, if you are going white-water rafting and kayaking, pack waterproof gear. For horseback riding and hiking, break in the boots before you leave for the trip. If you are not sure what you need, ask the tour operator and speak with other people who are going to be part of your group.

* Get in Condition

Increase and direct your workout regime to meet the demands adventure. Hike, bike, walk the number of miles each day that you are expecting on the trip. If you don’t have the stamina at home, you will not have it on the trip!

* Insurance

Purchase the appropriate travel insurance plan for the type of adventure you are planning (i.E. Scuba diving, mountain hiking) and the number of days you will be engaged in the activities.

PRIMED, READY TO GO

Adventure travelers are a hardy bunch.

Don’t even think about complaining. Bad weather is just “weather” and sport enthusiasts don’t let rain, sleep or wind prevent them from climbing the mountain or hiking the planned 15 miles. By being prepared mentally, physically and emotionally for the “great adventure”, time outdoors will not only be memorable, it is likely to become an addiction.

MUST HAVES

For the newbies to the great outdoors, the following lists will help to insure both an excellent and safe experience.

* Sleeping Bag

This is not a time to compromise. The best sleeping bags are available. Bag selection is based on the temperature and conditions expected on the trip. For a comfortable trip, include the pillow, sleeping pad and booties, as well as a storage sack

* Walking Sticks

It is hard to image that a walking stick is necessary for climbing a hill, and actually eases muscle strain on straight terrain, but it does. Do not even think about mountain hiking, or country walking tours without a stick for both your right and left hand.Select a stick with a leather handle and sturdy grips, so that they do not slide out of control from sweaty palms, or drift away if you trip. If you select a model that folds, the walking sticks can be tucked into backpacks when they are unnecessary.

* Rain Cover

This means a poncho for cover from head to ankle. Raincoats are not useful outside the city, and usually do not have enough repellant to keep bone dry in severe weather conditions. Under the poncho the smart adventurer will wear a water proof jacket and water repellant shirts, pants, socks and hiking shoes.

* Rain Cover Backpack

Holding survival gear, including water bottle, walking sticks, flash light, first aid bandages, sun block, etc. A backpack is one of the most important items that adventure travelers carry. A rain cover for the backpack will ensure the stuff inside stays dry and useable.

* Stuffed in the Back Pack>

Water Bottle – Do not leave anywhere without at least one full water bottle or a hydration system. Depending on the planned route, and anticipated conditions, supplemental water bottles may be necessary.> Pocket knife with locking blades – The Swiss army knife is a wonderful invention and all the included options are delightful to have; however, with a limited budget, a good hunting knife from the local army/navy store will be ok.> First aid kit – Available in sports dear shops at a premium, the traveler can put a fist aid kit together at a minimal coast

ESSENTIALS – Ace bandage + alcohol swabs + alka seltzer + antibiotic cream + antihistamine tablets + aspirin tablets + band-aids + bug repellant + Dr.Scholl’s foot products, from mole skin to inner soles + duck tape, 6-12 feet + flash light + energy drink + Kleenex tissues + nylon cord, 30 feet + Pepto-Bismol + Phillips milk magnesium + plastic bags + safety pins + sun block + sunglasses + sun hat + survival whistle + watch + wind goggles.> Stuffed in the Duffel BagThe duffel bag holds all the things needed throughout the trip, from basic hygiene products to frills and fluff.

ESSENTIALS – Aluminum foil _ antibiotic tablets + bandana/hair clip + bath towel + bathing suit + batteries for flash light + binoculars + camp shoes: sandals, flip flops, water shoes + camping necessities + candles + cell phone + clothes pins + clothing: pants/t-shirts + comb/brush + compass + corkscrew/bottle opener + cutting board + day or fanny pack + deodorant (unscented) + dish cloth/sponge + dish washing detergent, low phosphate + disinfectant cleaner (Lysol) + disposable cameras + drinking cup + emergency space blanket + food, spices, salt/pepper + hand cream + leather and/or cotton gloves (waterproof) + laundry detergent (low phosphate) + lighter + matches (waterproof) + pocket magnifying mirror + nail file/emery board + needle/thread/buttons + pan for barbecue + paper toweling + pencil/paper + plastic fork/spoon + pot holder + pot scrubber/steel wool pad + razor (disposable) + sack for dirty clothing + safety pins + serving plate + shampoo in plastic bottle + tube shorts/long pants + soap in plastic container (glycerin) unscented + socks (light/medium weight/water proof/resistant) + space contact lenses or glasses + sweat shirt + tarp (footprint or drop cloth) + toilet paper in Ziploc bag + tongs/spatula + tooth brush/paste in plastic holder + towel + trash bag + t-shirts (short/long sleeve) + underwear + weather radio.> For Cold Weather/Mountain TopsCap + crampons + glacial glasses + hand warmers/wool gloves (water proof) + heavy socks + hiking boots + neck scarf + ski mask-small pot/container for melting snow + trekking poles.* Cooking and EatingCamp cookware + camp stove + coffee, tea, hot chocolate + collapsible fresh water jug + condiments + cooking oil + cooler- food + fuel for stove + honey, sugar + measuring cup + metal skewers + plastic tableware + tongs + trash bag + Ziploc bags.

Taman Rahasia Boutique Resort & Spa

2008-12-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

Bali is a magical and legendary island. It has a deep affect on all those who take the time to discover the marvelous cycles of ceremony and religion that are so finely interwoven into the fabric of the Balinese existence. Nestled in the quaint village of Penestanan Kaja, just 1 kilometer from Ubud, you will discover M12210, the Secret Garden. Seven spacious rooms reside among lush tropical gardens, towering coconut palms and gently swaying bamboo. Fragrant jasmine & frangipani bursting with color are a delight to the senses. The soothing sounds of trickling fountains and ponds filled with tropical fish and flowers create the perfect background for meditation and relaxation. Emerald green rice fields are just a few steps away. Enjoy a refreshing swim in our natural stone paved pool. A cascading waterfall set among tropical orchids, rock gardens and exotic plants create a truly memorable setting.Treat yourself to a day of soothing bliss in our spa. We offer a full range of spa services. Whether it’s a 30 minute "Mini-massage" or a 6 hour day of "Sheer Indulgence," we have the right spa treatment for you. Enjoy a light snack or meal in our Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Splashing fountains and fish ponds create a lovely backdrop any time of day. Our small size ensures the utmost in service, with attention to all the details. At M12210, we offer all the amenities the discerning traveler has come to expect. Please join us. Let us pamper and spoil you, for an unforgettable Bali experience.
Property amenities:Our 7 rooms are situated in 2 buildings that gracefully incorporate traditional Balinese architecture, reflecting superior craftsmanship. All of our spacious rooms are furnished using an attractive mix of both antique and contemporary Indonesian furnishings. Spend a day on your private verandah, enjoying relaxing views of the pool and gardens.* Superior Rooms feature a queen sized bed plus day bed & private garden bathroom with shower. Air-conditioned.* Deluxe Rooms feature a four poster king-sized bed, day bed mini-bar and deluxe tropical garden bathroom with shower and separate bathtub. Air-Conditioned.Taman Rahasia is tucked away in the village of Penestanan Kaja, on the outskirts of Ubud. Concerned with the over-development of the rice-fields, the owners chose to use a site located in a coconut & bamboo grove that was once a part of the family compound. In building, care was taken to leave as much of the existing vegetation in place and the coconut trees that were cut down were then used in the building process. Our goal at Taman Rahasia is to give you the perfect Balinese experience.

South America

2008-12-08T05:24:00.000-08:00

South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, and bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean. As part of the Americas, South America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World unknown to Europeans. South America offers a range of travel options - with stunning coastlines, vibrant cities, historic colonial towns, mountainous treks and the vast and bio-diverse Amazonian rainforest.

Highlights

• Angel Falls, Canaima National Park Venezuela

• Merida, Venezuela

• Amazon River Basin, Brazil/Peru/Bolivia

• The Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Brazil

• Iguaçu Falls, Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay

• The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

• Huascarán National Park, Peru • Machu Picchu, Peru

• Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

• Atacama Desert, Chile

• Wine Regions of Chile and Argentina

• Snow Skiing-Valle Nevado(Chile), Chillan(Chile), Las Lenas(Argentina)

• Puerto Varas, Chile; Bariloche, Argentina

• Torres del Paine, Chile

• Ushuaia, Argentina

Links: South America Travel Blogs (all) South America Travel Photos South America Travel Forum Areas in South America: Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Falkland Islands French Guiana Guyana Paraguay Peru South Georgia Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

Tropic Resort & Spa In Bali

2008-09-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

Hotels in Nusa Dua excel themselves in providing a perfect getaway consisted of Balinese garden, tropical beach and a tranquil atmosphere. Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in Bali is one of the favorite choices of travelers regarding magnificent accommodation tinged with Balinese hospitality.
Location of Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in Bali
This one of the best 4 Star Hotels in Bali, by virtue of its exotic location has been drawing tourists from all over the globe. Like most of the multi-starrer Hotels in Bali, this one too, provides an easy accessibility to the beach, Bali International Airport and the shopping and entertainment places.
Room Facilities at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in Bali
100 deluxe Balinese Bungalows with balcony or terrace overlooking the lavish beautiful gardens await you at this multi-starrer accommodation. All bungalows are fashioned with all modern amenities for your comforts.
Hotel Amenities and Services at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in Bali
Dining at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in BaliEnjoy local food along with continental, Chinese, Japanese as well as Indian cuisine at the onsite restaurant of this hotel. Besides, enjoy the cocktails while the cool sea breezes rustle the palm leaves at the poolside bar.
Business and Conference at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in BaliAll corporate facilities including the secretarial service are available at this hotel.
Fitness and Recreation at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in BaliThe swimming pool and the spa facility will make your holiday at this best of Bali 4 Star Hotels a memorable one.
Other Amenities and Services at Bali Tropic Resort & Spa in BaliThe facilities available at Bali

Tropic Resort & Spa in Bali in Indonesia are-

- Laundry

- Pressing and dry cleaning service

- Shopping arcade

- Barber and beauty salon

- Drugstore

- Souvenir shops

- Taxi service

- Massage service

- Medical clinic and

- Doctor on call

Welcome To Bali

2008-09-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. Beneath a lotus pool floating above treetops and Bali's sacred Ayung River, discover a few dozen enormous suites and private villas nestled in the jungle. Spa magic with the secrets of the East. Eclectic dining at the breathtaking valley's edge. Experience the diversity of Bali by pairing your visit with a stay at Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay, with far-reaching ocean views.
"A dramatic descent leads to the panoramic open-air lobby, the Jati Bar, the valley-rim Ayung Terrace restaurant, and, eventually the 18 suites and 42 ingeniously camouflaged villas, where dragonflies skim private plunge pools and bamboo stalks soar skyward."
Robb Report Luxury Resorts, Summer 2008

Escape with Four Seasons
Bed and Breakfast Package: Enjoy a complimentary daily breakfast.

Wayang Kulit, Masterpiece Java Art Performance

2008-09-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

Jogja at night are gorgeus, especially if you spend your time to witness one of the greatest puppetry culture on Indonesia. Sound of Gamelan echoing in the air combined with a soft Sinden’s voices will keep you “alive” for rest of the night. Epic brought by Dalang will create an aura which bring you into the story, as one of the character. So then you will realize the greatness of Javanese Culture from the Ancient Age.
Wayang kulit is half of millenieum years old. It is very first appeareance has it own story, has something to do with Islamic first arrival. One of the Wali Songo created it by adopted it from Wayang Beber that developed from the Age of Hindu and Buddhist. That step was taken because Wayang has already well known among The Javanese, so it will be a perfect tool to missionary endeavor, but Islam prohibit Art Form. So, the result is Wayang kulit, where people just see the shadow.
Wayang Kulit shows brought by the Greatest Public Entertainer all over the World. How come?, for over night, Dalang plays hundred of character of Wayang kulit created from Buffalo hide with tatah sungging (Hide sculpture). He must perfectly mastered Voice acting, changing intonation, spit some humor and even sing. For more bright up the show, he will be helped by musicians whose plays gamelan and Sinden.
Wayang has hundreds of Character. Idle character placed within Dalang side. When it comes to play the role, it will perform as a shadows behind white screen. Every Epic presents diferent story and role. The role divided by 4 category : lakon pakem, lakon carangan, lakon gubahan and lakon karangan. Lakon pakem has complete story adapted from Wayang’s library, lakon carangan just a slightly the red line of the story. Lakon Gubahan source isnt come from Wayang’s library but it still uses a couple place from the library. Lakon Karangan is completely off topic.
Wayang Story source come from a couple ancient book such Ramayana, Mahabharata, Pustaka Raja Purwa and Purwakanda
Sasono Hinggil can be found at North of South Alun-alun, Wayang’s Shows are very frequent perform here. Every second and fourth sunday start at 9 p.m and will end on the morning. Bangsal Sri Maganti located on Kraton Yogyakarta also has a show, perform for 2 hours start at 10 p.m every saturday, with entrance fee IDR.5000.

Javanese Musical Instrument

2008-09-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Gamelan has an old and mysterious origin. Apparently it predates the Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominated Indonesia in its earliest records, and instead represents a native art form. The instruments developed into their current form during the Majapahit Empire. In Javanese mythology, the gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in Saka era 167 (c. AD 230), the god who ruled as king of all Java from a palace on the Maendra mountains in Medangkamulan (now Mount Lawu). He needed a signal to summon the gods, and thus invented the gong. For more complex messages, he invented two other Gongs, thus forming the original gamelan set. In contrast to the heavy Indian influence in other art forms, the only obvious Indian influence in gamelan music is in the Javanese style of singing.
In the palaces of Java are the oldest known ensembles, the Munggang and KodokngorIk gamelans, apparently from the 12th century. These formed the basis of a “loud style.” A different, “soft style” developed out of thekemanak tradition and is related to the traditions of singing Javanese poetry, in a manner which is often believed to be similar to performance of modern bedhaya dance. In the 17th century, these loud and soft styles mixed, and to a large extent the variety of modern gamelan styles of Bali, Java, and Sunda resulted from different ways of mixing these elements. Thus, despite the seeming diversity of styles, many of the same theoretical concepts, instruments, and techniques are shared between the styles.

Exotic resort Gallery

2008-08-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Romantic Resort

Diving Resort

Relexations Resort

Freedom Swimming Resort

Exsclusive resort

2008-08-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Selayar Island

The island of Selayar lies off cape Bira on the southwest tip of Sulawesi. The long island has been slated for tourism development and offers some good exploratory diving both around the island and the cape.

Selayar Island

A mountain range runs along the eastern side of the island rising to 600 meters and dropping to over 2,500 meters below the surface. This makes for some awesome wall diving in great visibility. There is a stunning 3 kilometer long house reef consisting of pristine coral slopes and walls where drift diving can be done. Marine life is astounding with huge shoals of fish and bigger visitors including hammerhead sharks and blacktops.
It is difficult to divide the sea around Selayar into single dive sites as the whole coast can be considered as one huge dive site. The reefs that surround the east side of Selayar are mostly steep walls that are full of overhangs and small caves. Slopes and an underwater mountain are not far from the resort. Even before the naval marine park was founded, the unique richness of the fish in Selayar was extraordinary. Since the reefs were put under protection in 2000, there has been breathtaking growth of corals. Soft corals growing on the steep walls and hard corals at the reef top impress every diver. The Indo-Pacific is known as the world’s ocean which is richest in species. And at Selayar there is the chance to see everything that the tropical underwater world has to offer – from pygmy seahorses to hammerheads. Here are a few highlights to give a first impression of what is waiting to be seen under water:

House reef

The house reef is certainly a highlight in Selayar! Those who have not had enough after two boat dives can ‘send themselves to the bottom’ at any time directly at the house reef drop-off. For those who prefer more comfort, we have built a new 80 metre long jetty, completed in October 2005. By Christmas 2006, this should be extended to 100 metres and will reach the edge of the reef. However, the way to the house reef drop-off is rewarding in itself: a field of sea weed and a coral garden make it into a special experience. It is impossible to explore the full length of the house reef in just one holiday. There is so much to see in the first 20 metres that normally nobody – or at least no photographer – will manage to get much further. No-limit-diving at the house reef is included and we guarantee that no one will get bored.

Caves & Overhangs

Length of trip – 5 minutes: a wall that slopes on a length of 45 metres, with caves and overhangs. This is an ideal place to discover snails, crabs and a great variety of gorgonian fans and other soft corals. There are ideal subjects for both wide-angle photography and macro photography. ‘Caves and Overhangs’ is the home of pygmy seahorses ( also pygmy seahorse ‘Denise’, the smallest and last to be discovered in the family). The current flows slightly northwards most of the time, and we surface on the dive on an extraordinary reef top.

Shark Point

Length of trip – 10 minutes: the dive begins at a deep drop-off, which becomes a slope after about 200 metres. We dive along a wall that is beautifully overgrown with gorgonian fans, sponges and whip corals. When the current sets in, we meet big schools of jacks and snappers. After we arrive at the slope, we go down to about 40m depth. With a bit of luck, you can meet every kind of predatory fish there - grey and white-tip reef sharks, as well as eagle rays and at some times of the year, hammerheads. The site always offers a lot of diversity, and even if there are no predatory fish, you are bound to come across turtles and napoleons. Back on the reef top, we pass a coral block with leaf fish and snails. Before we surface, we have a look under a table coral where some small sharks offer them accommodation.

Bira

There are a number of impressive dive spots around the peninsular here but currents can be strong and unpredicatable. Sharks are often sighted in the waters around Pulau Kambing where the walls drop to below 60 meters and there are plenty of big schooling fish on the hunt. The Cape has a couple of good spots and some interesting coral formations including a spur at 30 meters that is often surrounded by reef sharks. Maramasa Pinnacles are located to the north of Bira and offer good diving although evidence of dynamite fishing can be seen.

Taka Bonerate

AtolJust southeast of Selayar Island is the third largest coral atoll in the world. The Taka Bonerate National Park was setup in 1992 to protect the ecosystem of the 2,220 square kilometer area. The atolls rise abruptly from a deep oceanic trench and offer some fantastic wall diving in good visibility. There is an astounding variety of coral growth and sea-grass on these atolls, fringing and barrier reefs. Marine life is equal to any other area in Sulawesi with huge schools of fish, pelagic and bigger hunters. The additional advantage here is that the area is still untouched by dive tourism and can be considered as one of the worlds few remaining dive frontiers.

For liveaboard diving in Bira, Selayar and Taka Bonerate Atol, Please email us at: info@lombokmarine.com

2008-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Western New Guinea is the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and consists of two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It was previously known by various names, including Netherlands New Guinea (1895–1 October 1962), West New Guinea (1 October 1962–1 May 1963), West Irian (1 May 1963–1973), and Irian Jaya (1973–2000). The incorporation of western New Guinea into Indonesia remains controversial with human rights NGOs, including some supporters in the United States Congress and other bodies, as well as many of the territory's indigenous population. Many indigenous inhabitants and human rights NGOs refer to it as West Papua.
Western New Guinea was annexed by Indonesia under the 1969 Act of Free Choice in accord with the controversial 1962 New York Agreement. During the rule of President Suharto from 1965 to 1998, human rights and other advocates criticized Indonesian government policies in the province as repressive, and the area received relatively little attention in Indonesia's development plans. During the Reformasi period from 1998 to 2001, Papua and other Indonesian provinces received greater regional autonomy. In 2001, a law was passed granting "Special Autonomy" status to Papua, although many of the law's requirements have either not been implemented or have been only minimally implemented.[1][2][3]
In 2003, the Indonesian central government declared that the province would be split into three provinces: Papua Province, Central Irian Jaya Province, and West Irian Jaya Province. Opposition to this resulted in the plan for Central Irian Jaya province being scrapped, and even the designation of West Irian Jaya Province is still legally unclear. Despite this, the West Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat) province was formed on February 6, 2006 and the name was officially changed to West Papua (Papua Barat) on February 7, 2007. The independent sovereign state of Papua New Guinea (PNG) borders Papua Province to the east.

History
Papuans have inhabited the Australasian continental island of Papua for over 40,000 years while Austronesians have been there for several thousand years. These groups have developed diverse cultures and languages in situ; there are over 300 languages and two hundred additional dialects in West New Guinea alone .
On June 13, 1545 Ortiz de Retez, in command of the San Juan, left port in Tidore, an island of the East Indies and sailed to reach the northern coast of the island of New Guinea, which he ventured along as far as the mouth of the Mamberamo River. He took possession of the land for the Spanish Crown, in the process giving the island the name by which it is known today. He called it Nueva Guinea owing to the resemblance of the local inhabitants to the peoples of the Guinea coast in West Africa.
Dutch control
In 1828, the Dutch claimed the south coast west of the 141st meridian, and in 1848 added the north coast west of Humboldt Bay. The border at 141° East was 'marked' on the coast by iron signpost displaying the Dutch coat of arms by an expedition in 1881[4]. The Netherlands established trading posts in the area after Britain and Germany recognised the Dutch claims in treaties of 1885 and 1895. At much the same time, Britain claimed south-east New Guinea later known as the Territory of Papua and Germany claimed the northeast, later known as the Territory of New Guinea.
In 1923, the Nieuw Guinea Beweging (New Guinea Movement) was created in the Netherlands by ultra right-wing supporters calling for Dutchmen to create a tropical Netherlands in Papua. This prewar movement without full government support was largely unsuccessful in its drive, but did coincide with the development of a plan for Eurasian settlement of the Dutch Indies to establish Dutch farms in northern West New Guinea. This effort also failed as most returned to Java disillusioned, and by 1938 just 50 settlers remained near Hollandia and 258 in Manokwari.

In the early 1930s, the need for a national Papuan government was discussed by graduates of the Dutch Protestant Missionary Teachers College in Mei Wondama, Manokwari. These graduates continued their discussions among the wider community and quickly succeeded in cultivating a desire for national unity across the region and its three hundred languages. The College Principal Rev. Kijne also composed "Hai Tanahku Papua" ("Oh My Land Papua"), which in 1961 was adopted as the national anthem.
A exploration company NNGPM was formed in 1935 by Shell (40%), Mobil (40%) and Chevron's Far Pacific investments (20%) to explore West New Guinea. During 1936, Jean Dozy working for NNGPM reported the world's richest gold and copper deposits in a mountain near Timika which he named Ertsberg (Mountain of Ore). Unable to license the find from the Dutch or indigenous landowners, NNGPM maintained secrecy of the discovery.
In 1942, the northern coast of West New Guinea and the nearby islands were occupied by Japan. Allied forces expelled the Japanese in 1944, and with Papuan approval, the United States constructed a headquarters for Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Hollandia (now Jayapura) and over twenty US bases and hospitals intended as a staging point for operations taking of the Philippines.
West New Guinean farms supplied food for the half million US troops. Papuan men went into battle to carry the wounded, acted as guides and translators, and provided a range of services, from construction work and carpentry to serving as machine shop workers and mechanics.

The Dutch retained possession of West New Guinea from 1945, but upon reaching Java 4,000 km west they did not find similar levels of support from the population of Java. Indonesian leaders Mohammad Hatta and Sukarno had declared independence weeks before and claimed all Dutch possessions should become part of the United States of Indonesia. The dispute continued until the Round Table Conference, which was held from August to October 1949 at the Hague. Unable to reach a compromise on the matter of West New Guinea, the conference closed with the parties agreeing to discuss the West New Guinea issue within one year.
In December 1950[5] the United Nations requested the Special Committee on Decolonization to accept transmission of information regarding the territory in accord with Article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations. Article 73e constituted formal recognition of the territory's right to independence and the Netherlands obligation to assist. After repeated Indonesian claims to possession of Dutch New Guinea, the Netherlands invited Indonesia to present its claim before an International Court of Law. Indonesia declined the offer. Concerned by Indonesian insurgencies beginning in 1950, the Netherlands accelerated its education and technical programs in preparation for independence. A naval academy was opened in 1956, and Papuan troops and naval cadets began service by 1957.
By 1959, Papuans were nurses, dental surgeons, draftsmen, architects, telephone repairmen, and radio and power technicians, cultivating a range of experimental commercial crops and serving as police, forestry and meteorological staff. This progress towards self-government was documented in reports prepared for the United Nations from 1950 to 1961.

Local Council elections were held and Papuan representatives elected from 1955. On 6 March 1959 the New York Times published an article revealing the Dutch government had discovered alluvial gold flowing into the Arafura Sea and were searching for the gold's mountain source.[citation needed] In 1959, Freeport Sulphur approached the Dutch East Borneo company for partnership. An agreement signed in January 1960 to lodge a Dutch claim for the Timika area as a copper deposit did not inform the government about the gold or known extent of the copper deposit.[citation needed]
Election of a national parliament began on 9 January 1961 in fifteen electoral districts with direct voting in Manokwari and Hollandia to select 26 Councillors, of whom 16 were elected, 12 appointed, 23 were Papuan, and one female Councillors. The Councillors were sworn in by Governor Platteel on 1 April 1961, and the Council took office on 5 April 1961. The inauguration was attended by officials from Australia, Britain, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and members of the South Pacific Commission; a large Australian delegation was headed by Mr Hasluck MP and included Sir Alistair McMullan, President of Australian Senate. The United States declined the invitation to attend the inauguration.
After news that the Hague was considering an United States plan to trade the territory to United Nations administration, Papuan Councillors met for six hours in the New Guinea Council building on 19 October 1961 to elect a National Committee which drafted a Manifesto for Independence & Self-government, a National flag (Morning Star), State Seal, selected a national anthem ("Hai Tanahkoe Papua" / "Oh My Land Papua"), and called for the people to be known as Papuans. The New Guinea Council voted unanimous support of these proposals on 30 October 1961, and on the 31st October 1961 presented the Morning Star flag and Manifesto to Governor Platteel who said (translated) "Never before has the oneness of the Council been put forward so strongly." The Dutch recognized the flag and anthem on November 18, 1961 (Government Gazettes of Dutch New Guinea Nos. 68 and 69), and these ordinances came into effect on December 1, 1961.
Indonesian control and resistance
At the US White House a proposal to have the Netherlands trade West New Guinea to Indonesia was opposed by the Bureau of European Affairs who viewed this "would simply trade white for brown colonialism"; but from April 1961 Robert Komer and McGeorge Bundy promoted a plan to have the United Nations give the transfer an outward appearance of legitimacy. Though reluctant, John Kennedy was told the transfer of the territory was the only means to prevent Indonesia turning to Soviet aid.
The Morning Star flag was raised next to the Dutch tricolour on December 1, 1961, an act which Papuan independence supporters celebrate each year at flag raising ceremonies. National Committee Chairman Mr Inury said: "My Dear compatriots, you are looking at the symbol of our unity and our desire to take our place among the nations of the world. As long as we are not really united we shall not be free. To be united means to work hard for the good of our country, now, until the day that we shall be independent, and further from that day on."

On January 2, 1962 Indonesia which had made seven known insurgency attempts since 1950 now created the Mandala Command headed by Brig. General Suharto to coordinate military efforts for the territory. Two previous insurgencies, Pasukan Gerilya 100 (November 1960) and Pasukan Gerilya 200 (September 1961), were followed by Pasukan Gerilya 300 with 115 insurgents leaving Jakarta on four Jaguar class torpedo boats (January 15), intercepted in the Aru Sea the lead boat was sunk and 51 survivors were picked up after Commodore Yos Sudarso went down with his boat.
Continuing US efforts to have the Netherlands secretly negotiate the transfer of the territory to Indonesian administration eventually succeeded in creating the "New York Agreement" signed in August 1962. The Australian government, which previously had been a firm supporter of the Papuan independence, also reversed its policy to support incorporation with Indonesia.

The agreement, ratified in the UN on September 21, 1962, stipulated that authority would transfer to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) on 1 October 1963, and that once UNTEA had informed the public of the terms of the Agreement had the option to transfer administration of the territory to Indonesia after May 1, 1963, until such time as an "Act of Free Choice" could determine the will of the people. Under Article 18 of the Agreement "all adults, male and female, not foreign nationals" were to be allowed to vote in an Act "in accordance with international practice". On May 1, 1963 UNTEA transferred total administration of West New Guinea to the Republic of Indonesia. The capital Hollandia was renamed Kota Baru for the transfer to Indonesian administration and on 5 September 1963 West Irian was declared a "quarantine territory" with Foreign Minister Subandrio administrating visitor permits.Since the 1960s, consistent reports have filtered out of the territory of government suppression and terrorism, including murder, political assassination, imprisonment, torture, and aerial bombardments. The Indonesian government disbanded the New Guinea Council and forbade the use of the West Papua flag or the singing of the national anthem. There has been considerable resistance to Indonesian integration and occupation, both through civil disobedience (such as Morning Star flag raising ceremonies) and via the formation of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, or Free Papua Movement) in 1965.
Since the 1960s, consistent reports have filtered out of the territory of government suppression and terrorism, including murder, political assassination, imprisonment, torture, and aerial bombardments. The Indonesian government disbanded the New Guinea Council and forbade the use of the West Papua flag or the singing of the national anthem. There has been considerable resistance to Indonesian integration and occupation, both through civil disobedience (such as Morning Star flag raising ceremonies) and via the formation of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, or Free Papua Movement) in 1965. The movement's military arm is the TPN, or Liberation Army of Free Papua. Amnesty International has estimated more than 100,000 Papuans, one-sixth of the population, have died as a result of government-sponsored violence against West Papuans,while others had previously specified much higher death tolls.

After General Suharto replaced Sukarno as President of Indonesia, Freeport Sulphur was the first foreign company awarded a mining license, a 30 year license to mine the Tembagapura region of Papua for gold and copper.
In 1969, General Sarwo Edhi Wibowo oversaw the Indonesian conduct of the widely criticized "Act of Free Choice." Prior to the vote, the Indonesian military rounded up and detained for one month a large group of Papuan tribal leaders. The Papuans were daily threatened with death at gunpoint if the entire group did not vote to continue Indonesian rule. Assembled troops and two Western observers acted as witnesses to the public vote; however, the Western observers left after witnessing the first two hundred (of 1,054) votes for integration. Concerned over Communism in South East Asia, and with an eye toward extracting Papua's vast mineral wealth, the US and other Western powers ignored protests over the circumstances surrounding the vote The process was deemed to have been an "Act of Free Choice" in accordance with the United Nations requirements, and Indonesia formally annexed the territory in August. Dissenters mockingly called it the "Act of No Choice" or "Act Free of Choice."

In 1971, construction of the world's largest copper and gold mine (also the world's largest open cut mine) began. Under an Indonesian agreement signed in 1967 (two years before the "Act of Free Choice"), the US company Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. obtained a 30-year exclusive mining license from Suharto in (dating from the mine's opening in 1973). The pact was extended in 1991 by another 30 years. After 1988 with the opening of the Grasberg mine it became the biggest gold mine and lowest extraction-price copper mine in the world. Locals made several violent attempts to dissuade the mine owners, including sabotage of a pipeline that July, but order was quickly restored.
Regions
Indonesia structures regions by Regencies and districts within those. Though names and areas of control of these regional structures can vary over time in accord with changing political and other requirements, in 2004 Papua province (including what is now West Papua province) consisted of 27 regencies (kabupaten), 2 cities (kotamadya), 117 subdistricts (kecamatan), 66 kelurahan, and 830 villages (desa).
As of 2004, the Regencies in Papua province were: Asmat, Biak Numfor, Boven Digoel, Jayapura, Kota Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Keerom, Mappi, Merauke, Mimika, Nabire, Paniai, Pegunungan Bintang, Puncak Jaya, Sarmi, Supiori, Tolikara, Waropen, Yahukimo, and Yapen Waropen. The Regencies in the same time period for West Papua province were: Fak-Fak, Kaimana, Manokwari, Raja Ampat, Sorong, Kota Sorong, Sorong Selatan, Teluk Bintuni, and Teluk Wondama.
In 2003 the western-most third of Papua province was split into a separate province, called West Irian Jaya, which was itself renamed West Papua province in 2007.

Jayapura, founded in 1910 as Hollandia, had by 1962 developed into a city with modern civil, educational, and medical services. Since Indonesian administration these services have been replaced by Indonesian equivalents such as the TNI (military) replacing the Papuan police force. The name of the city has been changed from Hollandia, to Kotabaru then Sukarnopura and finally Jayapura.
It is the largest city in Western New Guinea, boasting a small but active tourism industry, it is a neat and pleasant city built on a slope overlooking the bay. Cenderawasih University campus houses the Jayapura Museum. Tanjung Ria beach, well-known to the Allies during World War II, is a popular holiday resort now with facilities for water sports, and General Douglas MacArthur's World War II quarters are still intact.
In the 1970s and 1980s the Indonesian state accelerated its transmigration program, under which tens of thousands of Javanese and Sumatran migrants were resettled to Papua. Prior to Indonesian rule, the non-indigenous Asian population was estimated at 16,600; while the Papuan population were a mix of Roman Catholics, Protestants and pagan people following tribal religions[12]. Critics suspect that the transmigration program's purpose was to tip the balance of the province's population from the heavily Melanesian Papuans toward western Indonesians, thus further consolidating Indonesian control. The transmigration program officially ended in the late 1990s, although so-called "spontaneous migration" by western Indonesians voluntarily relocating to provinces such as Papua seeking economic opportunity has increased and remains at high levels.
A separatist congress in 2000 again calling for independence resulted in a military crackdown on independence supporters. In 2001, a now-majority Islamic population was given limited autonomy. An August 2001, US State Department travel warning advised "all travel by US and other foreign government officials to Aceh, Papua and the Moluccas (provinces of North Maluku and Maluku) has been restricted by the Indonesian government".

During the Abdurrahman Wahid administration in 2000, Papua gained a "Special Autonomy" status, an attempted political compromise between separatists and the central government that has weak support within the Jakarta government. Despite lack of political will of politicians in Jakarta to proceed with real implementation of the Special Autonomy, which is stipulated by law, the region was divided into two provinces: the province of Papua and the province of Irian Jaya Barat, based on a Presidential Instruction
In January 2001, soon after President Wahid was impeached by the Parliament and replaced by Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri. The division of the province has neither directly cancelled the Law of Special Autonomy of Papua nor engaged ongoing protest in the region. There was brief consideration of dividing the territory into thirds, but the plan was quickly abandoned.In January 2006, 43 refugees in a traditional canoe landed on the coast of Australia with a banner stating the Indonesian military was carrying out a genocide in Papua. They were transported to an Australian immigration detention facility on Christmas Island, 2,600 km (1,400 nmi) north-west of Perth, and 360 km (190 nmi) south of the western head of Java. On March 23, 2006, the Australian government granted temporary protection visas to 42 of the 43 having determined all 43 were bonafide refugees.[13] A day later Indonesia recalled its ambassador to Australia.
Geography
Land AreaArea 420,540 km²ClimateRainfall 1,00 to 10,000 mmTemperature 0 to 32 °CHumidity 80%

A central East-West mountain range dominates the geography of New Guinea, over 1600 km in total length. The western section is around 600 km long and 100 km across. Steep mountains 3000 to 4000 m and up to 5000 m high along the range ensures a steady supply of rain from the tropical atmosphere. The tree line is around 4000 m elevation and the tallest peaks are snowbound year round.
Both north and west of the central ranges the land remains mountainous — mostly 1000 to 2000 m high — and covered by thick rain forest with a warm humid climate year round.The third major habitat feature is the south east lowlands with extensive wetlands stretching for hundreds of kilometers.
The province has 40 major rivers, 12 lakes, and 40 islands. The Mamberamo river, sometimes referred to as the "Amazon of Papua" is the province's largest river which winds through the northern part of the province. The result is a large area of lakes and rivers known as the Lakes Plains region. The vast southern lowlands, which consist of a mosaic of habitats including mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamp forest, and lowland rainforest, are home to a dense population of fishermen and gatherers such as the Asmat people. The famous Baliem Valley, home of the Dani people is a tableland 1600 m above sea level in the midst of the central mountain range; Puncak Jaya (formerly Carstensz Pyramid) is a mist covered limestone mountain peak 4,884 m above sea level, the highest point in Indonesia.
The border with Papua New Guinea mostly follows the 141st meridian, with one section defined by the Fly River. This border is largely unguarded, and has seen a dramatic amount of refugees and illegal aliens cross over to PNG to flee the Indonesians. There are no reliable estimates on how many have crossed.

Sulawesi Island

2008-08-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sulawesi (formerly more commonly known as Celebes, a Portuguese-originated form of the name) is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands.

Etymology

The Portuguese were the first to refer to Sulawesi as 'Celebes' however the origins of this name are unclear. One suggestion is the Bugis word si-lebih for 'more islands' - a reference to its shape suggesting it was more than one island. The modern name 'Sulawesi' possibly comes from the words sula ('island') and besi ('iron') thought to be reference to the rich Lake Matano iron deposits. Other suggestion is that it comes from the portuguese word "celebres" or famous ones, as these islands were famous for their spices throughout Asia and even Europe, this being the reason that attracted them to these islands.

History

The settlement of South Sulawesi by modern humans is dated to c. 1500 BC. Following Bellwood's model of a southward migration of Austronesian-speaking farmers (AN), radiocarbon dates from caves in Maros suggest a date in the mid-second millennium B.C. for the arrival of an AN group from east Borneo speaking a Proto-South Sulawesi language (PSS). Initial settlement was probably around the mouth of the Sa'dan river, on the northwest coast of the peninsula, although the south coast has also been suggested. Subsequent migrations across the mountainous landscape resulted in the geographical isolation of PSS speakers and the evolution of their languages into the eight families of the South Sulawesi language group. If each group can be said to have a homeland, that of the Bugis – today the most numerous group – was around lakes Témpé and Sidénréng in the Walennaé depression. Here for some 2,000 years lived the linguistic group that would become the modern Bugis; the archaic name, which is preserved in the languages of other Indonesian groups, was Ugiq. Despite the fact that today they are closely linked with the Makasar, their closest linguistic neighbors are the Toraja.

Pre-1200 CE Bugis society would have been organized into petty chiefdoms, which would have both warred and, in times of peace, exchanged wives with each other. Personal security would have been negligible, head-hunting an established cultural practice, and crocodiles and malaria a common source of mortality. The political economy would have been a mixture of hunting and gathering and swidden or shifting agriculture. Speculative planting of wet rice would have taken place along the margins of the lakes.

Starting in the 13th century, access to prestige trade goods and to sources of iron started to alter long-standing cultural patterns, and to permit ambitious individuals to build larger political units. It is not known why these two ingredients appeared together; one was perhaps the product of the other. By 1400, a number of nascent agricultural principalities had arisen in the western Cenrana valley, as well as on the south coast and on the east coast near modern Parepare.

The first Europeans to visit the island (which they believed an archipelago due to its contorted shape) were Portuguese sailors in 1525, sent from the Moluccas in search of gold, which the islands had the reputation of producing. From 1669, the Dutch East India Company had a presence at Makassar, and in 1905 the entire island became part of the Dutch state colony of the Netherlands East Indies until Japanese occupation in World War II. Sulawesi was incorporated in the independent 'Republic of Indonesia' during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1950.

Geography

Sulawesi is the world's eleventh-largest island, covering an area of 174,600 km². The island is surrounded by Borneo to the west, by the Philippines to the north, by Maluku to the east, and by Flores and Timor to the south. It has a distinctive shape, dominated by four large peninsulas: the Semenanjung Minahassa; the East Peninsula; the South Peninsula; and the South-east Peninsula. The central part of the island is ruggedly mountainous, such that the island's peninsulas have traditionally been remote from each other, with better connections by sea than by road.The island is subdivided into six provinces: Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi. West Sulawesi is a new province, created in 2004 from part of South Sulawesi. The largest cities on the island are Makassar, on the southwestern coast of the island, and Manado, on the northern tip.

Flora and Fauna

Sulawesi straddles Wallace's Line meaning that it has a mix of both Asian and Austronesian species. However, the majority of Sulawesi's wildlife belongs to the Australasia region. 2,290 km² of the island is devoted to Lore Lindu National Park.

There are 127 known mammalian species in Sulawesi. A large percentage of these mammals, 62% (79 species) are endemic, meaning that they are found nowhere else in Indonesia or the world. The largest native mammal in Sulawesi is the dwarf buffalo, locally known as the anoa. By contrast, because many birds can fly between islands, Sulawesian bird species tend to be found on other nearby islands as well, such as Borneo; only 34% of Sulawesi's birds are found nowhere else. The most important among these last is the maleo, a bird that spends most of its time on the ground. It has undergone an observed very rapid decline. An international partnership of conservationists, donors, and local people have formed the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation , in an effort to raise awareness and protect the nesting grounds of these birds on the central-eastern arm of the island.

Sulawesi also has several endemic species of freshwater fish, such as those in the genus Nomorhamphus, a species flock of livebearing freshwater halfbeaks containing at least 19 distinct species, most of which are only found on Sulawesi.

The island was recently the subject of an Ecoregional Conservation Assessment, coordinated by the Nature Conservancy. Detailed reports about the vegetation of the island are available. The assessment produced a detailed and annotated list of 'conservation portfolio' sites . This information was widely distributed to local government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Detailed conservation priorities have also been outlined in a recent publication .

The lowland forests on the island are, unfortunately, almost gone. Because of the relative geological youth of the island and its dramatic and sharp topography, the lowland areas are naturally limited in their extent. The past decade has seen dramatic conversion of this rare and endangered habitat. The island also possesses one of the largest outcrops of Serpentine_soil in the world, which support an unusual and large community of specialized plant species. Overall, the flora and fauna of this unique center of global biodiversity is very poorly documented and understood and remains critically threatened.

Religious faiths

Islam is the majority religion in Sulawesi. The conversion of the lowlands of the south western peninsula (South Sulawesi) to Islam occurred in the early 17th century. The kingdom of Luwu in the Gulf of Bone was the first to accept Islam in February 1605; the Makasar kingdom of Goa-Talloq, centered on the modern-day city of Makassar, followed suit in September.[15] However, the Gorontalo and the Mongondow peoples of the northern peninsula largely converted to Islam only in the 19th century. Most Muslims are Sunnis. Muslims can be found in all parts of Sulawesi.Though Islam is the religion of the majority of Sulawesi's people, large regions of the island observe other religions as well.Christians form a substantial minority. According to the demographer Toby Alice Volkman, 17% of Sulawesi's population is Protestant and 2% is Roman Catholic. Christians are concentrated on the tip of the northern peninsula around the city of Manado, which is inhabited by the Minahasa, a predominantly Protestant people, and the northernmost Sangihe and Talaud islands. The famous Toraja people of Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi have largely converted to Christianity since Indonesia's independence. There are also substantial numbers of Christians around Lake Poso in Central Sulawesi and among the Pamona speaking peoples of Central Sulawesi. There has also been growth in the Christian population of the Banggai Islands and the Eastern Peninsula in Central Sulawesi, traditionally thought of as Muslim areas (which in the past were controlled by Muslim sultanates in Tidore and Ternate). Christians can be found in every major Sulawesi city.Though most people identify themselves as Muslims or Christians, they often subscribe to local beliefs and deities as well. It is not unusual (and fully accepted) for Muslims and Christians to make offerings to local gods, goddesses, and spirits.Smaller communities of Buddhists and Hindus are also found on Sulawesi, usually among the Chinese, Balinese and Indian communities.

Come and Discover Indonesia Islands with us!

Maluku Island

2008-08-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Maluku, Indonesia, also known as the Moluccas or the Spice Islands, is a region of Indonesia consisting of approximately 1000 islands, that lies between Sulawesi and Papua. A place which is the transition zone between the Asian and Australian fauna and flora, and also between the Malay-based cultures of western Indonesia and those of Melanesia, Maluku, Indonesia, is a wonderful place to have a vacation in.

In the era of the Dutch traders, the islands of Maluku, Indonesia, were the only place on earth where nutmeg, mace and several other valuable spices were grown. In fact, Maluku, Indonesia, first came to be on the world map as the place where exotic spices could be imported from. Now, however, Maluku, Indonesia, is also a well-known tourist destination.

A province of Indonesia where only 10% of the total surface area is land, Maluku, Indonesia, is surrounded by seas, that is, at places thousands of meters deep. But, the vast sea-coasts and long beaches are not just the topographical features of the islands. The Maluku, Indonesia, islands are forest-covered, and mountainous. The mountains are mostly craters, and, the islands of Maluku, Indonesia, are sitting atop one of the most active volcanic belts of the world. In fact, the last 400 years have seen more than 70 eruptions in the Maluku, Indonesia.

Maluku, Indonesia, has many interesting places to see, that will make the visit of a tourist worthwhile. The major locations that one can go to while in Maluku, Indonesia have been listed down for you by LombokMarine.com.
Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku, Indonesia

Maluku lies across a transition zone between Asian and Australian fauna and flora, and also between the Malay-based cultures of western Indonesia and those of Melanesia. there are over 1,000 islands in the Province most of which are uninhabited. 85% of Maluku is water and it sits astride one of the world's most actively volatile volcanic belts. The region has known more than 70 eruptions over the last 400years. Tremors and volcanic explosions are by no means rare events and, in fact, many of the islands form classic scenes of volcanic cones rising out of the sea.

Maluku is blessed with incredible sea gardens, idyllic, tropical beaches and wonderful landscapes rich with a great variety of endemic plant and animal species. The rugged, forest-coated and mountainous hinterlands of the islands are home to the Racker tailed king fisher, the Red-crested Moluccan cockatoo, and other brilliantly-colored lorikeets and parrots.

Formerly known as the Moluccas, these are the famed Spice Islands, which Indian, Arab, Chinese and later European traders spoke of. These islands felt the force of 16th and 17th attempts by major European sea faring nations to establish their influence and power. In the year 1511, the Portuguese built their first fort in the area on the island of Ternate and established a monopoly of the clove trade. The Spanish also came, but posed little threat to the Portuguese.

It was the Dutch, who arrived in 1599, that proved to be a strong adversary in the quest for, and control of, Maluku's tree surest Armed conflicts broke out, taking a heavy toll from the island populations as well as the rival European powers an' when the Dutch finally emerged as victors they enforced the trade monopoly with an iron fist. Whole villages were razed to the ground and thousands of islanders died, especially on the island of Banda, in the so called Hongi Expeditions.

The British briefly occupied Maluku during the Napoleonic Wars, but Dutch rule was restored in 1814 and it wasn't until 1863 that the compulsory cultivation of spices was abolished in the province. Now it is fish and other sea products that are Maluku's major sources of revenue, but nickel, oil, manganese and various kinds of timber also contribute to the province's wealth.

The main gateway into Maluku is through the provincial capital of Ambon, which is served by regular flights to most parts of the archipelago. Air and sea transportation connect the islands themselves together very well. The province has 79 seaports and 25 airports, but only about 4 km of roads. However, good roads on many of the islands provide easy access to the more remote places of interest.

PLACE OF INTEREST

Ambon

Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku which is built on a hillside overlooking the bay, has a number of interesting sites of historical and cultural interests. Among them are the remnants of some old forts built by the Dutch East Indies Company during the heydays of the spice trade and the Museum Siwa Lima with its collection of local arts and crafts. More ruins of forts are found such as the Dutch one at Lima and those of the Portuguese at Hila, which are almost entirely hidden underneath the contorted roots of a giant Banyan tree. The ANZAC War Cemetery near Ambon town is the site of services held every year on April 25, to commemorate the Allied soldiers who died in the region during World War II. Ambon is at the Maluku end of the annual yacht race between Darwin, Australia and Ambon. The race usually takes place at the end of July and the beginning of August.

Coral Sea Gardens

Good beaches with coral reefs just off the shore are found around Pombo island Namalatu beach and at Hunimoa Beach on Ambon. A popular recreation beach on the same island is Natsepa, Honimua and Namalatu.

Banda Islands

The Banda group, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consists of three larger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near the island Manuk, the water reaches a depth of more than 6,500 meters. Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation. The third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The last eruption of Mt. Api occurred only a few years ago.

The seas around Banda are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal- clear waters. Facilities for sightseeing, snorkeling and skin diving are available, as well as clean, comfortable cottages. Banda saw some of the bloodiest episodes of Maluku's past history during the 17th century. In 1609, the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) dispatched Verhoeff to the islands to obtain the contested spice trade monopoly at any cost. Confronted by a superior power, the people of Banda were forced to allow the company to establish a fort, but in that same year Verhoeff was killed together with 45 of his men.

The Company retaliated, but peace was not restored.In 1619, VO.C. Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen arrived at the head of a penal expedition and exterminated the entire population of Banda. The land was divided into lots, called "perken", and given to former company employees, the "perkiniers", who were obliged to grow nutmeg and sell them at predetermined prices to the company. Slaves did the actual work in the fields. The old "perkenier houses", or what is left of them, and old churches still retain a peculiar colonial character to the port town of Bandaneira today. Two old forts Belgica and Nassau, are inside the town limits. Others are found elsewhere on the islands. See also the former Dutch Governor's mansion, the Museum of History in Neira, and the huge nutmeg plantation nearby.

Seram IslandOne of the biggest island in Maluku. The beaches in Ceram are generally beautiful and suitable for swimming, fishing etc. Sea gardens, Sago woods, Maiden forests. Naulu race, who still keep their habits and traditional way of life. Exotic nature, flora and fauna, Manusela National Park, Kasa islet and Babi islet surrounded by white sandy beaches, beautiful spots for swimming and fishing and gorgeous sea gardens. Wonderful waterfall and beautiful surrounding panorama in the village of Rumakai Antiques.

Halmahera Islands

Ternate, an island off the west coast of Halmahera in northern Maluku, was once the seat of an important kingdom which prospered from the spice trade. The Portuguese, the Spanish and the Dutch vied with each other for influence on this island. A stronghold of Islam in the otherwise predominantly Christian province of Maluku, Ternate nevertheless carries the clear imprints of both its pre Islamic past and its period of contact with the West, especially the Portuguese.

The old sultan's palace in Ternate town is now a museum. In the vicinity are the ruins of old Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch forts. The remnants of the Dutch Fort Orange are right in town. About five kilometers west of the town, on the slope of a 1,715 meter tall volcano in the middle of the island, is Afo, with its giant clove tree, said to be more than 360 years old to be the ancestor of all clove trees in the world. Morotai Island, just off Halmahera's northern arm, was an important airbase during World War II, first for the Allies and later for ~the Japanese until its recapture near the end of the war. The ghosts of war still linger in this area, where many wrecks of aircraft and rusting guns lie abandoned in the bushes.

Come and Discover Indonesia Islands with us!

Lesser Sundas Islands - Nusa Tenggara Travel Guides

2008-08-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

LESSER SUNDAS ISLANDS

A group of islands of the western Malay Archipelago between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Greater Sunda Islands include Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Sulawesi; the Lesser Sunda Islands lie east of Java and extend from Bali to Timor. Sumatra and Java are separated by the Sunda Strait, a narrow channel linking the Indian Ocean with the Java Sea.

Archipelago extending from the Malay Peninsula to the Moluccas. The islands make up most of the land area of Indonesia, with only northern and northwestern Borneo and the eastern portion of Timor not under Indonesian political control. They include the Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and adjacent smaller islands) and the Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor, Alor, and adjacent smaller islands). Most of the islands are part of a geologically unstable and volcanically active island arc. Malay cultures and languages predominate in the area.

Sunda Islands , mainly in Indonesia, between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, comprising the western part of the Malay Archipelago. It includes two main groups: the Greater Sunda Islands, to which belong the largest islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi; and the Lesser Sundas, which lie E of Java and include Sumbawa, Flores, Timor, and Sumba (the largest islands). Bali and Lombok, although smaller, are the most important of the Lesser Sundas.

The Lesser Sundas, which were renamed Nusa Tenggara [southeastern islands] in 1954, form two provinces within Indonesia. Malaysia, Brunei, and East Timor are the other nations wholly or partially in the Sunda Islands. The Sunda Strait, 20 to 65 mi (32–100 km) wide, between Java and Sumatra, connects the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean.The Lesser Sundas deciduous forests are found on a string of volcanic islands. They stretch across the Java Sea between Australia and Borneo. It is part of a unique biogeographic region known as Wallacea, which contains a very distinctive fauna representing a mix of Asian and Australasian species. These distinctive seasonal dry forests harbor unique species, including the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world, and seventeen bird species found nowhere else on Earth. A combination of shifting agriculture and human-caused fires has significantly reduced the amount of natural forest in this ecoregion.

Location and General Description

This ecoregion represents the semi-evergreen dry forests in the Lesser Sunda Islands. It extends eastfrom the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa to Flores and Alor in the Indonesian Archipelago. Rinjani volcano on Lombok is the highest mountain in the ecoregion, at 3,726 meters (m). The Lesser Sundas are an inner volcanic island arc, created by the subduction and partial melting of the Australian tectonic plate below the Eurasian plate. The islands represent Tertiary and Quaternary volcanoes that have coalesced with lava and sediment. There is actually a geologic discontinuity between Lombok and Sumbawa, on the Sunda Arc, and the rest of the islands, part of the Banda Arc. With the exception of Komodo, which is Mesozoic, most of the islands were built during two pulses in the Tertiary (Mio-Pliocene) and Quaternary (recent). This ecoregion is separated from Bali and Java to the west by Wallace's Line, which marks the end of the Sunda Shelf. With an average annual rainfall of 1,349 millimeters (mm), this region is the driest but also the most seasonal in Indonesia. Based on the Köppen climate system, this ecoregion has a tropical dry climate zone. This distinctive climate has given rise to a vegetation that is strikingly different from that of the rest of the archipelago. Much of the natural habitat is composed of monsoon forests and savanna woodlands.

The monsoon forests consist of several forest subtypes, notably moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest, dry thorn forest, and dry evergreen forest. Moist deciduous forests also occur as a band of lowland forest at the base of the hills and as gallery forests along streams, especially on Komodo Island. Dominant trees include Tamarindus indica and Sterculia foetida. The dry deciduous forest at altitudes below 200 m is dominated by Protium javanicum, Schleichera oleosa, and Schoutenia ovata, whereas at medium altitudes, from 200 to 800 m, the dominant tree is Tabernaemontana floribunda. At these altitudes, lianas and climbers become common, especially the white-flowered liana Bauhinia. Above 1,000 m, Euphorbiaceae tend to become common and well represented.

Dry thorn forest is another type of monsoon forest in this ecoregion, although little is left because it has been cleared by setting fires. This forest formation still exists along the southeast coast of Lombok and the southwest coast of Sumbawa but is being cleared in the latter region for road building, mine development, and a transmigration site.

Dry evergreen forest occurs above dry deciduous forest and below the true evergreen montane forest, at 1,000 m above sea level on Mt. Batulante in northwest Sumbawa. Below 1,200 m on the north slopes, Albizia chinensis is a characteristic species. Other common species include Chionanthus, Prunus, and two Cryptocarya species. On many islands, drier areas in steep-sided valleys contain gallery forest. On Sumbawa, for instance, gallery forest is found from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level and is also present in lower montane forests. By contrast, the southern hill slopes along the southern coasts are kept moist during the dry season by the southeast trade winds, and dipterocarp rain forest occurs on the southwest hills of both Lombok and Sumbawa. Lombok also contains one of the few remaining patches of tropical semi-evergreen rain forest, at volcanic Mt. Rinjani, which acts as the major water catchment area for the whole island.

Twenty-meter-high mixed montane forests of Podocarpus and Engelhardia are found from about 1,200 to 2,100 m, with lianas, epiphytes, and orchids such as Corybas, Corymborkis, and Malaxis very much in evidence. At higher elevations of up to 2,700 m, Casuarina junghuhniana forests occur. Toward the summit, from 3,300 to 3,400 m, the rocky ridges were once covered with lichens, mosses, grasses, herbs, and some ferns but are now being eroded. On Sumbawa, the south slopes of Mt. Batulante above 1,000 m are covered with a Cryptocarya-Meliaceae montane forest, although species composition varies with moisture. This forest is dominated by two species of Cryptocarya, one in the drier and usually lower forest (from 1,000 to 1,500 m above sea level) and the other at higher or moister sites. Drier, stonier slopes in poorer forest are the only places where lianas are common. Further east, from the eastern part of Flores to Alor, the forests are dominated by Pterocarpus indicus.

There are also two types of savanna in this ecoregion: a Borassus flabellifer savanna that occurs from sea level to 400 m on Komodo, Rinca, and the north and south coasts of Flores; and the Ziziphus mauritiana savanna, which occurs on more sandy clay alluvial, and sometimes water-logged, soil. The dominant grasses are Eulalia leschenaultiana, spear grass (Heteropogon contortus, Themeda frondosa), and Themeda triandra.

Biodiversity Features

This area, part of the Wallacean sub-region, includes a mix of Asian and Australian fauna, and because of the long years of isolation from the mainland it harbors many endemic mammals and birds. Most of the endemic mammals occur on Komodo and Flores eastward, rather than Lombok and Sumbawa. One of the important and better-known endemic species in this ecoregion is the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the largest lizard in the world.

The mammal fauna in this ecoregion consists of fifty species, including five ecoregional endemics, including the critically endangered Flores shrew (Suncus mertensi) and the vulnerable Komodo rat (Komodomys rintjanus) (Table 1). With the exception of the New Caledonia dry forests, with six endemic mammals, the five endemic mammals in this ecoregion are more than are found in any other dry forest ecoregion in the Indo-Pacific.

This ecoregion also harbors about 273 bird species, of which 29 are endemic or near endemic (Table 2). The ecoregion is consistent with the Northern Nusa Tenggara Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Of the twenty-nine restricted-range species in the EBA, seventeen are found nowhere else in the world. Three are endemic and threatened, including the endangered Flores monarch (Monarcha sacerdotum) and the vulnerable Wallace's hanging-parrot (Loriculus flosculus) and Flores crow (Corvus florensis). In addition, the white-rumped kingfisher (Caridonax fulgidus) is the sole representative of an endemic monotypic genus.The Komodo dragon deserves special mention. It is the largest lizard species in the world. Varanus komodoensis occupies five islands: Komodo, Padar, Rinca, Gili Motang, and Flores. These animals range from sea level to approximately 450 m in elevation, mainly in tropical deciduous monsoon forest, tropical savanna, and grassland. They feed on a wide variety of animal food, including insects, lizards, snakes, birds, deer, wild boar, monkeys, and bird eggs; they also feed on carrion. Adults may have a foraging range of 500 hectares (ha). There are approximately 4,000 protected individuals in Komodo National Park.

Come and Discover Indonesia Islands with us!

2008-08-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesia's region of Borneo is called Kalimantan, while Malaysia's region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo.

The North and North-western part of the island are the East Malaysian state of Serawak and Sabah, with the newly independent state of Brunei Darusalam between them. The rest of the island is part of Indonesia, divided into four provinces - East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.Borneo/Kalimantan is the huge adventure travel destination. It is one the world’s third largest island covering the area of 747,000 square kilometer and covered by one of the world’s largest stretches of tropical rain forest through which flows tremendous mighty rivers which are the island’s highway.

Dayak is a collective name for over 200 different tribes living throughout Borneo's interior . They are the true 'people of the jungle'. The Dayak people lives in the hinterland along the banks of major river and in a long house. It is customary for them to live with a whole extended family or with one clan. Each family has their own compartment and the chief of the clan will occupy the central chamber Mahakam River - This giant muddy river is the highway to the interior.

The Mahakam divides itself into three geographical sections. The lower Mahakam, stretches from Samarinda to Muara Prahu just beyond Lake Jempang, an easy tour for visitors short on time. The middle Mahakam includes a series of villages and the upper Mahakam, is an isolated region generally reached by plane at the Datah Dawai airfield at Long Lunuk.Orang Utan is derived from the Indonesian/Malay language means man of the forest. Borneo and Sumatera island are well known with its large rain forest on the equator,

Orang Utan of a significant numbers exist on both islands. Travel to Borneo nowadays access available from few points of Indonesia such as Balikpapan, Surabaya and Semarang of Indonesia.Borneo, of which Indonesian Kalimantan covers two-thirds, is a single, vast-ecosystem in which the thick, exuberant forest that covers the world's third largest island acts as an enormous sponge.Formed over millions of years, the rainforest of Kalimantan is almost completely self-sustaining, requiring little more than water from the skies to survive. The soil on which the forest grows is thin and poor, and rather than drawing nutrients from the ground, it feeds on its own debris, recycling the nutrients contained in the rotting compost on the floor.

Trees soar upwards, reaching a height of seventy meters or more, providing support for vines, creepers and orchids, and creating a dense canopy of leaves that protects the layer of humus from being washed away by the fierce tropical storms. While the thick cover of the forest blocks direct sunlight, rotting leaves and root mass store water from the rains, releasing it gradually during the dry season.

Thus, the forest also creates and maintains the dark, warm, dank environment essential for its own continuous growth and that of the life within it.In sheer terms of number and range of types of plants and animal, this forest is richer than any place on earth.

More than five million species live here, more than half of the world's total, all on a single island. These include virulently poisonous mushrooms that glow in the dark, proboscis monkeys, named for their droopy, fleshy noses, orchid s in colors bright and subtle, carnivorous pitcher plants that lure insects by mimicking the pungent odor of rotting meat, the mighty orangutan, which build nests of leaves and branches where they sleep, often more than thirty meters above the ground, and more than six hundred different types of bird, including the hornbill and the pheasant.

Kalimantan is a single, vast ecosystem in which the thick, exuberant forest that covers the world's third largest island acts as an enormous sponge.The Punan, the original people of Kalimantan, and the Dayak, a later wave of migrants who arrived several thousand years ago, have lived in harmony with their natural environment for thousands of years, harvesting the produce of the forest without causing significant damage.Some Dayak still live in communal longhouses on river banks and survive through the practice of a form of slash-and-burn farming ideally suited to the lightly populated hinterland. There are many different tribes, each with its own culture and language: some, like the Keyah and the Kayan, stretch their ear lobes with heavy brass rings and cover their bodies with tattoos of vines, snakes and abstract, swirling patterns. Amongst others, old women, shamans and healers, conduct exorcisms in deep trance.

Geography

Borneo is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait to the east, and the Java Sea and Karimata Strait to the south. It has an area of 743,330 km² (287,000 square miles).To the west of Borneo are the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. To the south is Java. To the east is the island of Sulawesi (Celebes). To the northeast is the Philippines.Borneo's highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, with an elevation of 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level. This makes it the world's third highest island.The largest river systems are the Kapuas River, with approximately 1,143 km the longest river in Indonesia, the Rajang River in Sarawak with some 563 km the longest river in Malaysia, the Barito River about 880 km long and the Mahakam River about 980 km long.

Borneo is also known for its extensive cave systems. Clearwater cave has one of the world's longest underwater rivers. Deer cave, thought to be the largest cave passage in the world, is home to over three million bats and guano accumulated to over 100 metres high.The Island of

Borneo is divided administratively into:

* The Indonesian provinces of East, South, West and Central Kalimantan

* The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak (the Federal Territory of Labuan is located on nearshore islands of Borneo, but not on the island of Borneo itself)

* The independent country of Brunei (main part and eastern exclave of Temburong)

Ethnic and biological diversity

There are over 30 ethnic groups living in Borneo, making the population of this island one of the most varied of human social groups.

The native ethnic groups are Austronesians and their languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Some ethnicities are now represented by only 30-100 individuals and are threatened with extinction.

Much culture, language, ethnomusic and traditional knowledge has yet to be documented by anthropologists. Ancestral knowledge of ethnobotany and ethnozoology is useful in drug discovery (for example, bintangor plant for AIDS) or as future alternative food sources (such as sago starch for lactic acid production and sago maggots as a protein source).Certain indigenous people (such as the Kayan, Kenyah, Punan Bah and Penan) living on the island have been struggling for decades for their right to preserve their environment from loggers and transmigrant settlers and colonists. Land reform is needed for future development in the face of rapid economic changes.

The type of rainforests found in Borneo include the high diversity mixed dipterocarp forest, the rare peat swamp forests and heath forest.Researchers scouring swamps in the heart of Borneo island have discovered a venomous species of snake that can change its skin color. Scientists named their find the Kapuas mud snake, and speculated it might only occur in the Kapuas River drainage system.World Wildlife Fund has stated that 361 animal and plant species have been discovered in Borneo since 1996, underscoring its unparalleled biodiversity.In the 18 month period from July 2005 until December 2006, another 52 new species were found.

2008-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. Once the centre of powerful Hindu kingdoms and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies, Java now plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia. Housing a population of 124 million, it is the most populous island in the world. Java is also one of the most densely populated regions on Earth.Formed mostly as the result of volcanic events, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island of Indonesia. A chain of volcanic mountains forms an east-west spine along the island. It has three main languages, and most residents are bilingual, with Indonesian as their second language. While the majority of Javanese are Muslim (or at least nominally Muslim), Java has a diverse mixture of religious beliefs and cultures.

Jakarta

The capital city of the Republic of Indonesia, is a special territory enjoying the status of a province, consisting of Greater Jakarta, covering an area of 637.44 square km. Located on the northern coast of West Java, it is the center of government, commerce and industry and as such has an extensive communications network with the rest of the country and the outside world. As Indonesia's main gateway, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves a growing number of international airlines and domestic flights. Jakarta is a city of contrasts; the traditional and the modern, the rich and the poor, the sacral and the worldly, often stand side by side in this bustling metropolis.Even its population, gathered from all those diverse ethnic and cultural groups which compose Indonesia, are constantly juxtaposed as an ever- present reminder of the national motto; Unity in Diversity.

Banten

Banten is a province of Indonesia, located at the western end of Java Island. Banten has an area of 9,160.7 km² and population of 9,083,114 (2005). Banten was established in October 2000 after being separated from West Java province. The capital of the province is Serang.
Banten in the fifth century was part of Tarumanagara kingdom. A stone inscription, called Prasasti Cidanghiang, coming from Tarumanagara era can be found at Lebak area at the bank of Cidanghiang river, in Pandeglang Regency, Banten. The Prasasti Cidanghiang, found in 1947, contains 2 lines of poetic sentences in Sanskrit written in Pallava characters. The inscription proclaims Purnawarman as the standard for rulers around the world.

West Java

West Java (Indonesian: :Jawa Barat), with population around 35.72 million, is the most populous province of Indonesia, located on Java Island. Its capital city is Bandung.Sundanese share Java island with other Malayan people: Javanese people. They primarily live in their home province of West Java. Although Sundanese live in the same island with Javanese, they consider themselves a distinct cultural area called Sunda. Someone moving from West Java Province to Central or East Java Provinces, is literally said to be moving from Sunda to Java.

Central Java

Flanked by West and East Java, this province is centrally located on Java island with Semarang as its provincial capital situated on the northern coast. A network of good roads and highways in addition to solid railways linking its major cities and villages plus the accessibility to reach it by air through three main airports, all assure the visitor that he finds himself in a region with more than adequate communicationsTo most Indonesian visitors Central Java's history and its social influence over the whole nation are relatively known. The very first Moslem kingdom on the island was founded in 1511 at Demak, about 40 km from Semarang, which became the beachhead from which Islam spread out throughout the island. Today Demak is a sleepy little town, however, its glory of the past is still visible from one of the major relics now still well preserved, the Grand Mosque, a quaint blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture, still honored and worshipped by Javanese pilgrims.

Yogyakarta

Or simply Yogya, is one of the foremost cultural centers of Java. Located at the foot of the active Merapi volcano, Yogyakarta was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram., from which present day Yogyakarta has inherited the best of traditions. The city itself has a special charm which seldom fails to captivate the visitor.This province is one of the most densely populated areas of Indonesia. The city came into being in 1755, after the division of Mataram into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Gamelan, classical and contemporary Javanese dances, the wayang kulit leather puppet theater and other expressions of traditional art will keep the visitor spellbound. Local craftsmen excel in the arts of batiks, silver and leather work.

East Java

Magnificent mountain scenery include the crater and sea of sand at Mount Bromo, the "sulfur mountain" Welirang and rugged lien Plateau. Little of the Majapahit empire's former glory still stands in East Java to day with the exception of temple ruins and some archaeological discoveries. East Java's claim to fame in modern history is its vanguard role in the struggle for independence against colonial forces in 1945.Surabaya is the capital city for the east Java province that has the most bustling city. Business and leisure trip as a choice to visit the east of Java.

2008-08-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470,000 km²) and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two larger islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are partially in Indonesia).

History

People who spoke Austronesian languages first arrived in Sumatra around 500 BCE, as part of the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan to Southeast Asia. With its location in the India-China sea trade route, several trading towns flourished, especially in the eastern coast, and were influenced by Indian religions. One of the earliest known kingdoms was Kantoli, which flourished in the 5th century AD in southern Sumatra. Kantoli was replaced by the Empire of Srivijaya and then later by the Kingdom of Samudra.

Srivijaya was a Buddhist monarchy centered in what is now Palembang. Dominating the region through trade and conquest throughout the 7th to 9th centuries, the Empire helped spread the Malay culture throughout Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, and western Borneo. The empire was a thalassocracy, or maritime power that extended its influence from island to island.Srivijayan influence waned in the 11th century after it was defeated by the Chola Empire of southern India. Sumatra was then subject to conquests from Javanese kingdoms, first Singhasari and subsequently Majapahit. At the same time Islam made its way to Sumatra, spreading through contacts with Arabs and Indian traders.By the late 13th century, the monarch of the Samudra kingdom (now in Aceh) had converted to Islam. Ibn Battuta, who visited the kingdom during his journey, pronounced the kingdom's name as "Sumatra", hence the name of the island.

Samudra was succeeded by the powerful Aceh Sultanate, which survived to the 20th century. With the coming of the Dutch, the many Sumatran princely states gradually fell under their control. Aceh, in the north, was the major obstacle, as the Dutch were involved in the long and costly Aceh War (1870-1905).On December 26, 2004, the western coast and islands of Sumatra, particularly Aceh province, were devastated by a nearly 15 meter high tsunami following the 9.2-magnitude Indian Ocean earthquake. The death toll surpassed 170,000 in Indonesia alone, primarily in Aceh.In 2005 there was an 8.7 magnitude aftershock of the previous earthquake in December 2004. See 2005 Sumatran Earthquake. In addition to the subduction megathrust earthquake off the west coast, Sunda arc, the Great Sumatran Fault, a transform fault, runs the entire length of the island. The pressure on this fault increased dramatically after the December 2004 earthquake, and seismologists are afraid an earthquake is going to occur soon. The fault ends directly below the devastated city of Banda Aceh.

Administration

The administrative regions of Sumatra (or the smaller islands nearby) are:

* Aceh - capital: Banda Aceh

* Bangka-Belitung - capital: Pangkalpinang

* Bengkulu - capital: Bengkulu

* Jambi - capital: Jambi

* Lampung - capital: Bandar Lampung

* Riau - capital: Pekanbaru

* Riau Islands - capital: Tanjung Pinang

* West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) - capital: Padang

* South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) - capital: Palembang

* North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) - capital: Medan

Geography

The longest axis of the island runs approximately 1,790 km (1,100 miles) northwest - southeast, crossing the equator near the center. At its widest point the island spans 435 km (270 miles). The interior of the island is dominated by two geographical regions: the Barisan Mountains in the west and swampy plains in the east.To the southeast is Java, separated by the Sunda Strait. To the north is the Malay Peninsula, separated by the Straits of Malacca. To the east is Borneo, across the Karimata Strait. West of the island is the Indian Ocean.The backbone of the island is the Barisan mountains chain, with the active volcano Mount Kerinci's 3,805 m (12,467 feet) the highest point, located at about the midpoint of the range.

The volcanic activity of this region endowed the region with fertile land and beautiful sceneries, for instance around the Lake Toba. It also contains deposits of coal and gold.To the east, big rivers carry silt from the mountain, forming the vast lowland interspersed by swamps. Even if mostly unsuitable for farming, the area is currently of great economic importance for Indonesia. It produces oil from both above and below the soil—palm oil and petroleum.Most of Sumatra used to be covered by tropical rainforest, but economic development coupled with corruption and illegal logging has severely threatened its existence. Conservation areas have not been spared from destruction, either.The island is the world's 5th highest island, although only the third highest in the Indonesian archipelago.

Flora and fauna

The island is home to a host of species including: Sumatran Pine, Rafflesia arnoldii (world's largest individual flower), Titan arum (world's tallest and largest inflorescence flower), Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Sumatran Elephant, Sumatran Striped Rabbit, Malayan Tapir, Malayan Sun Bear, Bornean Clouded Leopard, and many birds and butterflies.The major threats to Sumatran forest are the pulp and paper industry and expansion of palm oil plantations.The island includes more than 10 National Parks, including 3 which are listed as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra World Heritage Site—

Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

Demographics

Sumatra is not very densely populated, about 96 people per km²—more than 45 million people in total. It is nonetheless the fourth most populous island in the world. The most populous regions include most of North Sumatra and central highlands in West Sumatra, while the major urban centers are Medan and Palembang.The people composed of many different ethnic groups, speaking 52 different languages. Most of these groups, however, share many similar traditions and the different tongues are closely related. Malay-speaking people dominate the eastern coast, while people in the southern and central interior speak languages related to Malay, such as the Lampung and Minangkabau people. The highland of northern Sumatra is inhabited by the Bataks, while the northernmost coast is dominated by Acehs. Ethnic Chinese minorities are also present in urban centers.A majority of people in Sumatra are Muslims (90%). Most central Bataks, meanwhile, are Protestant Christians—a religion introduced by the Dutch. The rest follow Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, and Chinese traditional beliefs.

2008-08-11T01:46:00.000-07:00

Oceania

The continent or region of Oceania has various definitions - with interpretations including Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, East Timor and parts of Indonesia. The name Oceania is used because it is the ocean and adjacent seas rather than a continent that link the lands together. Oceania offers a varied landscape - with regions varying from forest to mountain range, to island paradises dotted amongst temperate waters. Due to the region's formation, the islands of Oceania hold a diverse range of animals and plants, often unique to their own island or region.

Highlights •

The Great Walks of New Zealand

• Uluru • Hike on Franz Josef or Fox Glacier

• Extreme Sports in Queenstown, New Zealand • Surfing

• The South Pacific Islands • Scuba Diving: Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, The Great Barrier Reef, Poor Knights Islands

• Gondwana Forests of New Caledonia, New Zealand and the Southwest Coast of Australia • Native Cultures: Aborigines of Australia, The Maori of Aotorea and the many elaborate cultures of Papua New Guinea.

Links:

Oceania Travel Blogs (all) Oceania Travel Photos Oceania Travel Forum Areas in Oceania: Australia Cook Islands Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru New Caledonia New Zealand Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu

Pingo.com International Comunications

2008-08-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Pingo has hired a full time writer & graphic designer to help out its partners.
Free Original Articles: If you can find a great place to post an original article or how to on an authority site or your own personal site. Pitch us on what you can do to promote Pingo? Provide your site, contact info & the site you think you can get it published. The keyword you want optimized and idea for a story for us to assign the task.
Free Custom Banners:Since we gave away custom banners as a prize last month. We thought we could offer this to all are partners. Just tell us your plans to market Pingo and what custom banner you think will work best on your site. Then give us the detailed work order that explains the type of design, size and images you'd like to have created.
We have several strategies that also will work to promote Pingo: Viral Video: Build out videos about these promotions & new ratesSocial Networking: Get the word out on Int. social community sites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websitesForum Postings: Simple step of just getting active in ethnic forums.Reviews: Writing personal reviews and posting on authority sites.
These are just a few simple ways to earn your big Pingo commission checks.

Exotic Asia Tour

2008-08-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

Asia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent containing more than 60 percent of the world's human population. The Asian continent lies to the east of the Suez Canal and the Ural Mountains and to the south of the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Asia has a long history of a highly developed culture, and as a result holds many Wonders of the World and astounding historic sites. Asia also offers mountain ranges, volcanoes, idyllic islands, thriving cities and a diverse range of cultures.

Highlights •

Angkor Wat • The Great Wall of China • Tokyo • Hong Kong • The backpackers hub of Bangkok • The Buddhist monasteries of Nepal • The Himalayan Mountain Range • The Temple of Heaven, Beijing • Mt. Fuji • Taj Mahal, Agra

Links:

Asia Travel Blogs (all) Asia Travel Photos Asia Travel Forum Areas in Asia: Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Burma Cambodia China East Timor Georgia Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Laos Macau Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Nepal North Korea Pakistan Philippines Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vietnam

Exotic Batam Island : Indonesia

2008-08-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Batam is one of the 3,000 islands which make up the Riau Archipelago and is closest to Singapore which is only 5o minutes away by ferry (Batam Fast). the island is developing into a major tourist destination because of its proximity to Singapore. Many tourists come from nearby Singapore for a short holiday, duty free shopping and great seafood. For instance, in our tour group, me and my friend were the only Filipinos out of 12 people. the rest were singaporeans who were having holiday at the Holiday Inn and other hotels. Despite the budding economy, Batam retains the rural charm, peaceful spots with quiet beaches. Fishing villages supply delicious seafood to visitors. We had our sumptous lunch at Golden Prawn restaurant. While in Batam, we visited Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. It is also known as the Laughing Buddha temple. It allegedly brings in thousands of visitors daily. We also went to Batam Shopping Mall. Shopping is duty free throughout the island.

Exotic Travel Club

2008-08-05T05:22:00.000-07:00

Exotic Travel Club is not for everyone, only for those who wish to travel smart and add that special something extra to their vacations. Exotic travelers are all-inclusive and elusive. One moment they are escaping to an Exotic Resort on the Mayan Riviera for relaxation and fun in the sun and the next moment they are boarding a cruise for an exotic venture down the Yangtze River. With the tools to demand the best for less, Exotic Travelers go anywhere at anytime with great savings. Welcome to Exotic's world of travel opportunity. Imagine yourself there. Now go!
Exotic Resorts span the Mayan Riviera from the Mayan ruins of Tulum to the nightlife, shopping and activity Mecca of Cancun. Each resort has its own unique atmosphere. While some are adults-only and meant for romance others are especially designed for family vacations. All Exotic Resorts have an atmosphere of laid-back luxury. Travelers come to relax and have fun in a Caribbean paradise while enjoying service and accommodation of the highest quality. Gourmet cuisine and luxurious amenities make each vacation at an Exotic Resort an unforgettable experience.
Exotic Travelers consider the glistening white beaches and clear turquoise ocean of the Mayan Riviera their second home. Although they often return to a favorite resort time and time again, using their Exotic Travel Club membership they can choose to vacation at any of eleven Exotic Resorts, depending on which best suits their vacation plans. If traveling with family, they may opt for Azul Beach, Azul View or the Fives. If looking for romance they may choose the Casitas, El Dorado Royale or El Dorado Seaside Suites. Hidden Beach, Au Natural Club, as well as Caliente Tampa and Caliente Caribe in the Dominican Republic offer those who dare to be bare a perfectly luxurious, laid back, get away. For those seeking adventure and romance, Mi Hotelito is just steps away from Marina Maroma Paradise which offers everything from ATVs and speedboats to romantic lobster dinner cruises and horseback riding. Whether they select one of Exotic's family or adults-only resorts, Exotic Travelers can always depend on friendly professional staff, quality amenities, gourmet cuisine, luxury and great service.
Beyond vacations, Exotic Resorts are the perfect settings for special events. Every service and amenity imaginable to celebrate and facilitate weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, family reunions, seminars and conventions is available right here at Exotic Resorts. Kid's clubs, banquet rooms, convention facilities, chapels, gazebos, numerous all-inclusive restaurants boasting outstanding service and gourmet cuisine, and of course the fine, bleached sand and endless, clear ocean of the Caribbean. In any location you select for your special event, staff and coordinators will provide service that goes above and beyond to ensure that the expectations of you and your guests are exceeded.
For that romantic escape, that great family vacation, that once in a lifetime special event, Exotic Travel Club ensures that you and your loved ones will enjoy only the best throughout your stay in the beautiful Mayan Riviera. Furthermore; with Exotic Travel Club you will enjoy luxury service and accommodations generally reserved for the rich and famous, without spending all your savings - guaranteeing that your future will be full of many more great Exotic vacations.

Bunaken National Marine Park - North Sulawesi

2008-08-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

Manado or Menado is your setting off point to stunning Bunaken National Marine Park

Manado or Menado is your setting off point to stunning Bunaken National Marine ParkProtected since 1991 for its fantastic reefs and mangroves and outstanding biodiversity. The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep, clear, refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C). Bunaken National Marine Park is home to some of the world’s best year-round snorkeling and scuba diving. Check out the Bunaken Island Group – Bunaken, manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain – each ringed in part by a pristine white-sand beach.

Map of Sulawesi

In shallow water just a few meters offshore lies a band of eye-catching reefs, while further out, in the 60 to 120 foot zone another band of coral reefs teams with all sizes of fish, brilliant in hues and decoration, swimming around you in dizzying numbers, almost bouncing off your wetsuit.

Map of the island group (Click on the pic to zoom it)

In the thousands of little nooks along the wall you will spy delicate pencil-thin blue-ribbon eels, clear and reddish-striped coral shrimp, lurking lobsters and scuttling crabs. In deeper waters will really get your heart started, as if it wasn’t hammering with adrenal jazz already.Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.Fees/PermitsAll visitors to the Bunaken National Park (divers and non-divers) are required to pay an entrance fee, in accordance with North Sulawesi Provincial Government Provincial Law Number 9/2002. The entrance fee for locals is Rp2,500 a day and for foreign visitors is Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6), or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$17) for a waterproof plastic entrance tag (can be attached to your diving gear) valid for the full calendar year.

GET INBunaken is about 45-60 minutes by boat from Manado. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests. Alternatively, a public boat leaves daily except Sunday at 2PM, or you can charter a boat anytime.HOW TO GET THEREThere are now international flights to Manado.Singapore Airlines' regional airline SilkAir flies from Singapore to Manado four times a week - every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight takes about three and half hours. nd from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines via Kota Kinabalu.From IndonesiaManado is well connected with most Indonesian cities. Daily flights arrive from Jakarta and Surabaya in Java, Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi, Denpasar in Bali, Balikpapan in Kalimantan as well as Sorong in Irian Jaya. Connecting flights from other cities fly usually via Jakarta or Ujung Pandang.The following airlines fly to Manado:Batavia Air Garuda Indonesia Mandala Airlines Merpati AirFrom Manado to Bunaken IslandIn case you wish to come to the island on your own you can get a public boat, which leaves from the harbour at around 2pm every day except Sundays, or you can charter a private boat at any time. The boat ride takes 45-60 minutes. The public boat will drop you off in Bunaken Village from where you can walk (about 30 minutes) or hire a boat at anytime.

Why an Exotic Resort

2008-08-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

We invite you to look at the quality and benefits of Exotic Travel Club through the eyes of industry professionals. Whether evaluating an Exotic Resort, the services offered to Members or the flexibility and value of Exotic's travel program, experts agree that Exotic Members get a lot more for a lot less.
Jacuzzis, hammocks and lazy rivers that pass by your suite and lead to huge pools are just a few examples of luxuries that you can count on while visiting an Exotic Resort. Services such as 24 room service and golf cart transportation around the resort are extra special touches, but perhaps the most obvious indication of quality is the Gourmet Inclusive plan.

What makes Gourmet Inclusive different? For any parent who has stood in a buffet line twice waiting first for their child's meal and then for theirs, then tried to stop the child from dashing around the restaurant while helplessly hollering from their coveted position in line... For anyone who has spent their vacation savings on an all-inclusive plan that features fish and chicken today followed by chicken and fish tomorrow... We proudly present Gourmet Inclusive. A plan that that lets you remain seated, enjoying the company of those you care about, while service staff go above and beyond to bring you anything you desire. Cuisine is born of the freshest ingredients, inspired by flavors from around the globe and prepared with the skill and creativity of world-class chefs.
Don't just eat; savor the Gourmet Inclusive experience.

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN RINJANI NATIONAL PARK

2008-08-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

Over 20 villages surround Mt. Rinjani and there are many routes up the mountain, but the main access is from Senaru in the north and Sembalun Lawang to the east.
Gunung Rinjani national park lies within the major transition zone (Wallace) where the flora and fauna of south East Asia makes a dramatic transition into that which is typical of Australia. The park has a rich variety of plants and animals, although they can be hard to spot due to the terrain and rainforest cover.

Sometimes seen early in the morning is the morning is the rare black Ebony leaf monkey, know locally as lutung. The long tailed gray macaque of kera is common in Lombok and order males are seen on the crater rim. Rusa deer are forest dwellers and are occasionally seen a long the Rinjani trek train.

The smaller barking deer or kijang has an alarm call with a distinct dog - like bark. Look for the disturbed ground where the wild pig or babi hutan has been foraging. Also found in the forest is the leopard cat or bodok alas, palm civet or ujat and porcupine or landak.

A variety of colorful birds live in the forest of the park. Perhaps the best – know icon of the park is the crested cockatoo that is not found any further west of Lombok. Many of the forest-dwelling animals, insects, birds, civets, and monkeys owe their survival to the wild fig tree or beringin as a provider of food and shelter.

The pine-like casuarinas species, Cemara, are a feature of the grassy higher slopes. Orchids or anggrek are also a feature of the grassland areas, as is edelweiss or bunga abadi growing above the tree line, it is a beautiful icon of the park and one of the park and one of our best-know sub-alvine plants.

The following stories are a selection taken from a booklet for village guides containing a collection of traditional stories that have been related for generations by the people of Dusun Senaru.

Bunut Ngengkang
The first place to rest, located where the paths from Senaru and Semokan meet. Here is a Banyan tree with a wide space on the lower part, which looks like a person standing up with legs apart. That is why it is called Bunut Ngengkang. Andongan Tambing is one of the forrest entry gates and the First Camp on the Rinjani Trek. At this point the trekkers are warned to be careful of the steep slopes.

Half Way Point (Pos II Campsite)At the second resting place (Camp II) is a stone which is called Batu Penyesalan. This marks the place where the trekkers feels a conflict about whether to continue or to turn back because we still have as far to go to our destination as we have already walked.
Usually it takes about two hours to walk here from Bunut Ngengkang.CavesOne of the three famous caves (Goa Susu, Goa Payung, dan Goa Manik), Susu Cave is a good place for self reflection and is often used as a place to meditate. The people with unclean and envious mind will have difficulty entering Susu cave which has a narrow entrance, but people with noble and pure mind will easily enter the cave.Inside the cave water drips from the tip of a stone which looks like a nipple, so people say the water in Goa Susu tastes different. Inside Goa Susu is hot and there is a lot of smoke which looks like cooking steam so people call this Mengukus (hot house) and sometimes people call it Rontgen (X-Ray).Healing Hot SpringsAiq Kalak means hot water and it is used to cure various deseases. One of the hot springs is named Pangkereman Jembangan which is meant a place for dipping. The water which spurts out of the spring is very hot. Weapons such as keris, swords, big knives, and lances are dipped in the spring to test their magic power. If the weapon become sticky it means that the weapon is bad and has no magical power. However if the weapon remain unchanged it means that the weapon has supernatural power and the power and the strength will be increased.People also use the hot spring to make medicine from coconut cream. After dipping a bottle of coconut cream in the hot spring if the liquid becomes clear oily it can be used as medicinal oil. Then the medicinal oil is used for good things and is called Siu Satus Tunggal or in Bayan language Siu Satunggal which means that it can be used to cure a thousand kinds of desease. Segara Anak Crater LakeSegara Anak Lake is so wide it appears like the sea with its blue water. The name Segara Anak means child of the sea.

Segara Anak Lake holds various mysteries and invisible power.People feel content to stay a long time in this place because of the large community of mysterious spirits which live arround the lake. The local people believe that if the lake looks wide when seen at a distance it is a sign they will live to an old age; or if the lake seems narrow it is a sign of a short age. So in order not to be pessimistic, people quickly purify themselves by lifting up their spirits and calm soul and look at the lake contentedly.In the area of the lake it is forbidden to have sexual intercourse, to complain or say dirty things. We must be patient when facing problems.Local StrawberryThis plant grows along the route to Mt. Rinjani. It has thorns like the rose and the fruit is red like strawberry. It has a sweet and slightly sour taste and is good to eat when trekkers are hungry and thirsty.Eternal Flower or EdelweisThe plant or the flowers should not be taken because it grows in the park and in the mysterious world of the spirit kingdom. In the past, someone who wanted this flower must be brave enough to fight and gamble his soul. That is why the flower is called Sandar Nyawa. The flower has never wilted and is as old as the mysterious spirits.The Peak of RinjaniThe people of Lombok believe that the peak of Mt. Rinjani is where Dewi Anjani, the queen spirit and ruler of Mt. Rinjani lives. To the south-east from the peak in a sea of dust called Segara Muncar is the invisible palace of the queen Dewi Anjani and her followers. They are good spirits. According to a story about the Queen Spirit Dewi Anjani she was the daugther of a King who would not allow her to marry her boyfriend. At a spring called Mandala she dissappeared and changed from the real world to the spirit world.Mount Baru Jari (Gunung Baru)Gunung Baru is the name of the new volcano which emerged in the center of Segara Anak Lake. People believe that Gunung Baru is the navel of Mt. Rinjani. That is why if Gunung Baru erupted it will not harm the people of Lombok unless the eruption is from the peak of Mt. Rinjani. Some people said that the 1994 Gunung Baru eruption was caused by siprits who were building something because the stones that erupted were arranged in an orderly and attractive way at the foot of Gunung Baru.

BOOKING INFORMATION
PT. Lombok Network Holidays
Jl. Intermilan 87 Puri Meninting Lombok Indonesia
Tel: +62 370 662 8139, Fax: +62 370 634 162, Mobile/SMS: +62 81 8369619
Email: mailto:adventure@lombok-network.com?subject=Rinjani%20Programme%20-%20Feedback

GENERAL INFORMATION LOMBOK ISLAND

2008-08-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Geography & Climate

The island of Lombok is located east of Bali. Tourism is not quite as developed yet as Bali and it is that reason which makes Lombok the perfect getaway. Escape to picturesque mountainside landscapes to white sand beaches of the Gili Islands. A place to relax and unwind from the daily life back home. Lombok also has the third largest volcano in all of Indonesia, Mount Rinjani, which extends 3726 meters high with a crater lake called Segara Anak.

The main season here are wet season which starts from November to May and dry season start from May-October. The best time to come is in the month of May when the weather is just perfect with bright daylight and green scenery.

People & Religion
The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks. They speak Indonesian as well as their local Sasak language. The other main ethnicity’s include Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese.
Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok. The majority of the population on Lombok are Muslims. Every Friday around 12.30 noon, Muslims go to the mosques just like Christians go to church on Sunday. Therefore, on that day most businesses and government offices are closed half day and then re-open again after praying (not including Senggigi).

If you are planning on traveling around the island and visiting small villages it is more respectable to wear slacks or knee length shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong. If you happened to be here during Ramadan, which is the Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, please do not to eat, drink or smoke out in the open public during this month long fast. Even though the people don’t seem bothered in the common tourist areas like, Senggigi and the Gili islands, it is better to respect the people and not eat or smoke openly.

Wetu Telu

Wetu telu is an unique religion that that blends Islam - Animism and is only found in north Lombok.
It roots stem from the village of Bayan in the north.

The people who practice this still consider themselves Muslims but they have their own rituals in addition to the normal Muslim ones. One such ceremony is Nyiu, that takes place 1000 days after someone dies.
The relatives of the deceased offer material things like clothing, toothbrushes, food, dishes, mattresses, etc. so the deceased will be pleased in heaven.

Money & Local Currencies

When changing money there are many money changers in Lombok. The best rates are usually in Senggigi. Money changers prefer new, clean large bills and will accept smaller denominations at a lower rate. If you have traveler’s checks the rate will be less than bank notes.

Be sure to count your money before you leave money changers. You can also check local banks but the rate is slightly lower than outside. Re-count the money in front of the money changer reception is a must, as usually there's a quick tricky way how they can steal your money.

A suggestion when changing money. If you plan on making small purchases be sure to carry small denominations with you because many sellers do not have change. The Rupiah come in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 500, 100 in coin.

Vehicle Rentals:

Dont miss Lombok's beautiful scenery. If you choose to rent a car or motorcycles and drive yourself, you must have an International Driving License.
Renting a car is a good alternative to get around Lombok, either self driving or with driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. (Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or dinner). If you are pleased with service, tip ( Rp. 20,000 minimum). If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all cost.

Motorcycles are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Island, but Tourists are frequently injured in motorbike accident. If you rent a bike, drive slowly and very defensively. Helmets are required by law but those provided by rental agencies offer little protection.

Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, arrive between 08 AM and 11:30 AM. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30AM - 3 PM Monday - Thursday, 07:00AM - noon on Friday, banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Cell Phone
Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM. If you have brought your cellular hand phone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.

Health and Medical Info
Most hotels have on call doctors. For what it is known by Australian as "Bali Belly", Iomotil and Imodium eliminate Symptoms, but not infections. A fever along with the symptoms requires doctor prescribed antibiotics. Drink as much as liquid as possible. For discomfort, diarrhea, and cramping, drink strong, hot tea; avoid fruits and spicy food. Drink only bottled water or boiled water (air putih).

Peel the fruit before eating; avoid raw vegetables except at reputable restaurants. Ice in restaurants is safe. Protect yourself from the intense equatorial sun. Use sun block and hat. Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing in Indonesia. Local sex workers have multiple partners from all over the world. Act responsibly and use condoms, available over the counter at pharmacies.

Going Native - The Lombok Way

2008-07-31T04:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Civilities

Sasak does not have greetings such as "Good Morning". A Sasak approaching a friend might ask, in the local language, " How are you?, How's your family?" simply as a form of greeting. Locals will frequently ask foreigners like this in English (it may be their only English!) as a greeting. Don't get annoyed - they are just trying to be polite. A smile and a "hello", or greeting in Indonesian, is a polite and adequate response.

Castes

Unlike the Muslims in general, the Sasak in Northern and west Lombok have a caste system. There are four caste castes, the highest being Datu for men and Denek Bini for women, the second Raden for men, and Denda for women, the third Buling and the fourth Jajar Karang. In Central and East Lombok, Lalu for men and Lale for women.

Traditional Culture

Traditional law (adat) is still fundamental to the way of life on Lombok today, particularly customs relating to courting and marriage rituals and circumcision ceremonies. In western Lombok you can see Balinese ceremonies and temples with colorful procession and decorative offerings. Sasak ceremonies are often less visible, though you may see colorful procession as well. Ask around and you can probably find when and where festivals and celebrations are being held.

Circumcision

The laws of Islam require that all boys be circumcised (Nyunatang), and in Indonesia this usually done somewhere between ages of 6 to 11 years old. Much pomp and circumstance mark this occasion on Lombok. The boys are carried through the village streets on painted wooden horses or lions with tails of palm fronds.

Marriage Rituals

Young couple in Lombok have a choice of three rituals; the first is an arranged marriage, the second a union between cousins, and the third elopement. The first two are uncomplicated: the parents of the prospective bridal couple meet to discuss the bride's dowry and sort out any religious differences. Having handled the business arrangements, the ceremony called "sorong serah" is performed.

The third method is far more complicated and dramatic. Theoretically a young girl is forbidden to marry a man of a lower caste, but this rule can be broken through kidnapping and eloping. As a result, eloping is still a widespread practice on Lombok, despite the fact that in most instances the parents of the couple know what's afoot.

Originally it was used as a means of eluding other competitors for the girl's hand or in order to avoid family friction, but it also minimized the heavy expenses of a wedding ceremony. The rules of this ritual are laid down and must be followed step by step. After the girl is spirited away by the boy, he required to report to the Kepala Desa (Chief of the Village). The Kepala Desa then notifies the girl's family through the head of their village. A delegation from the boy's family visits the girl's parent, and between them they settle on a price for the bride, a fine (uang adat) which is distributed among members of the bride's family in recompense for losing her.

Traditional dowries are worked out according to the caste differences; the lower his caste and the higher hers, the more he has to pay. Once this has been settled the wedding begins. Generally the bride and the groom dressed in ceremonial clothes, carried through the village's street, accompanied with sounds of traditional music (gamelan) mingle with the shouts and laughter of the guests as the couple are swooped up and down and around on their way to the wedding place. Throughout the whole ceremony, the bride must look downcast and unhappy at the prospect of leaving her family.

Language

Most people on Lombok are bilingual, speaking their own ethnic language, Sasak, as well as the national language, Bahasa Indonesia, which they have learned at school and use as their formal and official mode of communication. English is becoming more widely spoken on Lombok includes Police and other officials. Travelers without a grasp of Bahasa can get by, but some knowledge of it enhances an understanding of the island and could also be valuable an an emergency. Check out the Learning Bahasa Indonesia page to understand most common used phrases.

Food

In the main Tourist area; Senggigi, Gili Islands and Kuta Beach Lombok, numbers of Tourist's Restaurant available serving Western food, Indonesian and Chinese food. In Mataram and in some remote area on Lombok, Indonesian food, Padang food and Chinese food are dominating. Rumah Makan (eating place) can be found easily in Mataram, Ampenan and in most main street. Sasak Food uses white rice as staple, served with vegetable curries or soup, chicken, beef, fishes, hot chilli and no pork. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word Lombok means Chilli paper and it used liberally in local cooking. The famous sasak food are:

* Ayam Taliwang, fried or grilled wild young chicken with chilli sauce is originally from Taliwang Sumbawa, but it has become a Lombok speciality.
* Sate Ikan Tanjung, one of the tastiest food on Lombok, originally coming from a village called Tanjung - Northern Lombok. Pieces of fresh snapper or tuna mixed with coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic, chilli paper, spices, wrapped onto sate stick and grilled. Try them on your way back from a day tour from waterfall or gili Islands.
* Ares, a dish made from the pith of banana tree stem, with coconut juice, garlic and spices.
* Pelecing Kangkung, very popular on Lombok as a daily dishes to eat together with plain rice. Cooked water convolvulus (kangkung), mixed with a sauce made with chilli, fish paste (terasi), tomato salt and lime.

PT. LOMBOK NETWORK HOLIDAYS

TRAVEL, LEISURE & ADVENTURE MANAGEMENT

Jl. Intermilan 87 Puri Meninting Lombok Indonesia

Tel: +62 370 662 8139, Fax: +62 370 634 162, Mobile/SMS: +62 81 8369619

Email: info@lombok-network.com

KOMODO CRUISE [ BY BOAT FROM LOMBOK ]

2008-07-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

The province NTB, in fact the whole of Eastern Indonesia or Nusa Tenggara, offers a unique potential for inter- island discoveries: pristine beaches with crystal clear water, a world of white sand, colorful corals and tropical fishes for snorkeling and diving, exciting land excursions to volcanoes/laces (Tambora) or just pure enjoyment of the generally calm sea, a fresh breeze and that crushing or island feeling.

Unfortunately, most of these treasures are not that easily found by the average tourist as tourist infrastructure ( transport, hotels) in those rather remote areas is still underdeveloped and access by air (irregular, expensive) or land (lengthy, uncomfortable) not always easy or certain.
One good alternative is access by water, i.e. boat trips, which combine transport (the way is the good) and accommodation in a most enjoyable and comfortable way, offering relaxation and excitement at the same tame. Despite its potential, this area of maritime tourism appears to be still underdeveloped. There are some sailing or motor boat tours, operating from Bali (to Gilis, up to Komodo) as well as International luxury cruises ”but those tent to be on the upper end and , with $ 150- 200 or even up to $ 300/day, are not easily affordable for most tourists.
Lombok Network Holidays as a travel agency in co-operation with Perama Tours offers a 5 days cruise to Komodo/ Flores (one way or return). This tour is what the story is about which my wife and I went on in may 2003, a voyage which we most thoroughly enjoyed, leaving us with unforgettable memories and which we only can recommend as the best way to explore Nusa Tenggara.
First may be a few facts about Perama, the boat, the trip: The Phinisi boat, ours was called “Tala” 114, is 23m long, has a reliable 210 HP Nissan engine (with good wind also supporting sails are set); it can accommodate reasonably well up to 25 passengers (the crew was almost twice as large), we did take off as planned and on time.

Of course in a confined space as the boat the other team members- crew or passengers- are an important part of the whole trip. For us, both added to the delight of the cruise; there was Paul I (and his wife Kathy), the climatologist, with whom we had stimulating conversation, or Paul I, the computer man, the only one who left in Labuhan Bajo/ Flores. The British - German mix became more cosmopolitan when we were joined on the return trip by 7 newcomers: a Korean, a Swedish couple and, the rare exception, an Indonesia couple. Obviously at full capacity (max 30) it will get somewhat crowded. We, like rest, had’’ deck.
Class” i.e. sleeping in the open on a mat wherever it was convenient. on the return voyage we took a cabin, small but comfortable, always a fresh breeze and the shooting sea .sailing almost along the equator, the calm zones, there area hardly any storms and in the dry season sunshine is guaranteed, without being sticky hot. There is no need for AC. Lets go back to the beginning of our story and journey. We took off from Mataram 11.00 sharp, after 200 m the first stop: Mataram mall to allow for last minute shopping. Except for a few personal things there was hardly any need for it as food on board was excellent-thanks to Jeff our cook - and plentiful; drinks, snacks etc. Were also available at reasonable prices.
After 30 min the bus with our “tour director” Gusti, 5 passengers and 4 crew rattled on, down the main highway to the eastern side of Lombok by 13.00 we had reached Labuhan Lombok where we were show another Perama Phinisi under construction (very labor intensive indeed), to bee ready for service in September. A friendly welcome with fried bananas and then aboard to meet the full crew, explores the ship and settle down on deck. It was only a short sail to the next island, under “development” by Perama. A first plunge into the sea, beach walk, snorkeling, shell collection. Like on some of the other islands visited, Perama is engaged in promoting community development under the campaign P4: Perlindungan (Environment), Pertanian (Agriculture), Perkebunan, Kemiskinan (Anti Poverty). For the welcome evening the crew had organized a fish bar-b-que on the beach and everyone of the crew joined in the ‘’singing talent show’’, enjoying themselves maybe more than the rest, but it was fun and a good start to get to know each other.Later in the evening ‘’Thala 144’’ lifted anchor and we headed east, into a calm night and sea, above us a clear, star studded, night.
Tired out from sun, sea and sand, the slight rocking movement brought a quick sleep. Next morning after a spectacular sunrise we arrived at Satonda Island - off the coast of Tambora - with its mighty volcano. After a brief walk we reach a tranquil, clear (but salty) volcanic lake and another 10 min hike brought us to the top of the rim, from where we enjoyed a magnificent panorama to Sumbawa as well as a number of smaller island, stretched like a ring of pearls along the equator. To fresh up we anchored for another swim and snorkeling at Donggo beach. To meet the locals we also at a fishing village along the coast of Sumbawa. While we approach the village by speedboat, hundreds of children gather on the beach and give as a warm welcome. As t5his area is not yet “spoiled” by tourism, it was fortunately not “Mr.” or “money” but a friendly smile and genuine curiosity. Of course everyone was very excited when we showed him or her a brief video run of the film we had taken. The lady in charge of the village (sub) health center showed us around on short stroll up to a mountain spring, which provides much needed water, not only for drinking but even for small scale irrigation.
The village, despite also signs a poverty (we promised to send her anti malaria medicine), appeared well kept and we learnt a lot about village life, from agriculture to fishery, even observed a local blacksmith.
Our next and by all eagerly awaited destination was Komodo. While we approached the island we could watch already a “dragon” on the beach, also some wild pigs. There were several of those huge lizards lying around the ranger station rather lazily. After we had secured all the “demo” or “proof” photos and films for our folks at home, our guide took us on 2 hours walk/hike through the nature reserve / park. We didn’t spot any more Komodos in the wild but were more than compensated by the flora and fauna, the songs and whistles of hundreds of birds, the sighting of a white Kakatua, high up on a Lontar palm. Back at the boat the cook had prepared already an excellent lunch, not only fish but also of fruit and other delicacies. Time again for another swim, just 30 minutes away on “Red Beach”, one of the most beautiful beaches in the natural bay: Spotless clean, pure white sand, turquoise blue water in many shades and to beat it all a still intact, colorful coral garden with hundreds of fish, and 3 sea turtles. During 30 years in Indonesia. I have seen many beaches and Christa (an avid snorkeler who can spend hours in/on water) and I have been rather disappointed about coral devastations in recent years in Indonesia. Now here it was like 20 years ago: a world of wonders, colors and living corals, enhanced by the reflection of the white sandy ocean ground: stunning and spectacular.
For us much too soon we had to leave this wonder - water – world and to learn that in Labuhan Bajo (Flores), half time and returning point had been reached. The cave ( goa ) excursion was an interesting land based diversion but not match the sea adventure. With a new team (some of them had explored Flores during the 5 day stop – over) we headed for Rinca Island where we actually did meet wild Komodos in the jungle or rather savannah. That not all is well from an environmental point was demonstrated in another bay / beach, which unfortunately happened to be littered with plastic/garbage both at the beach and underwater.
Then we were heading west, a lovely day voyage where we were sizzling on the san deck, always cooled by a fresh breeze. Suddenly the crew jumped up and started to pull at the long fishing line which came to live as a beautiful blue marlin thrashed out of the water and minutes later lay on deck. I could not feel but pity for that beautiful creature (180 cm, 15kg) as it was cut to shumi-shumi by our Korean friend and the happy crew. Rather unusual we even caught another Merlin the next day.
Moyo island, our next and last major stop, is know for is luxury resort Amanwana where you, like princess Diana, can spend 700$ p.d fortunately nature is free for every one and we felt like kings when we took a plunge the Moyo waterfall into the natural pool of clear and cool water or got a massage from the swirling and foaming currents. After this it was all relaxing as we sailed along the Sumbawa coast to Labuhan Lombok and were brought back to our hotels in Mataram by bus.
Some cruises have the reputation for being, and some are in fact, rather expensive. For what we have seen and for what we got with Parama it was a bargain: all inclusive. For the 5 day 4 night voyage about 160 US$ for deck class (220US$ cabin).
Obviously some things as to comfort could still be improved (the manager appears to be receptive to suggestions), it is not a luxury all AC cruise (where pay 150 – 300$ p.d.) but is offers all you basically need and is affordable to the budged traveler as well.In fact what appears to be missing in the Indonesia / Nusa Tenggara cruise program is what may be called ‘’middles class’’ cruise with somewhat higher. Comfort (cabin) standards, at possibly higher but still reasonable prices (50 – 100 US $ p.d.)We definitely felt we got our money’s worth and felt treated very well. It is an excellent, if not the best, way to explore magnificent Nusa Tenggara, which we can recommend to anyone and which should be further developed / promoted by the public and private sector in NTB.
Mt. Tambora Climbs Fisherman Night Out Tour de Lombok
A Day Out in Sikur (East Lombok) Beyond Senggigi Lombok Religious Diversity

PT. LOMBOK NETWORK HOLIDAYS
TRAVEL, ADVENTURE & LEISURE MANAGEMENT

Hotel and Resort in Bandung

2008-07-29T03:22:00.000-07:00

Hyatt Regency Bandung
Hyatt Regency Bandung is an international deluxe hotel in the highland city of Bandung, third largest city of Indonesia and centre of the textile industry. Hyatt Regency Bandung is an ideal business address for travellers and corporate meetings alike...

City of Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java Province, Indonesia. Located on a highland plateau 768 meters above sea level. Bandung is bookmarked by several hilly, mountainous parts. The Lembang highlands to the north is a popular weekend getaway area, offering even cooler climates and beautiful views of the surrounding plateau. Its popularity ensures its continuing development, with new hotels, resorts and restaurants built and continuing the urban expansion further north. Traditionally, this area is also supported by agriculture in form of flower and vegetable plantations, and several tea plantations further north.

The area surrounding Bandung is volcanic, and tourist attractions such as Maribaya and Tangkuban Perahu are only a short trip away. Maribaya offers mountainous terrain and its hot, sulfur springs are a popular destination year-long.

The recent expansion of the city borders added the southern lowlands to the city of Bandung, mostly consisting of industrialized areas and recently housing developments. The garment industry is dominant among the manufacturing companies, and attracts many migrants from the countryside to relocate to Bandung

Blue Point Bay Villas

2008-07-28T03:12:00.000-07:00

Blue Point Bay Villas is the ultimate coast resort located on top of the cliff, on the extreme southern shore of Bali. The romantic idea resolved in a concept, combining state of the art comfort with the genuine ocean view. Probably there is no comparison to this area in Bali, possibly in the world. The focus is towards the middle to upper class traveler . Our location, facilities and service emphasize and qualify this.

ACCOMMODATION

Honeymoon Villas
Total Villas: four
75 sq. mts with two smaller buildings within the villa area. Each villa consists of one bedroom, one bathroom and an open air ocean view verandah. Ideal for dining, facing a plunge pool. One of the smaller buildings is a kitchen, and the other is a wooden gazebo designed for siestas.

Presidential Villas
Total Villas: five
200 sq. mts. Single storey, with a main building and two smaller Bales, comprising a kitchen and a small wooden gazebo. Each of these excellent villas offer two spacious bedrooms, with their own private bathroom, a semi - circular verandah for living / dining area and an open entrance foyer. There is also a 20 sq. mts plunge pool attached to a wooden sundeck.

Two - storey Villas
Total Villas: eight
140 sq. mts. Villas under one roof. The superior Villa can be split into two separate units or opened into the large unit for families or groups. The bedrooms and the bathrooms are located on the ground floor. The sea facing top floor is an open air area sheltered by rainproof bamboo curtains , and comfortable furnitures.

Two - storey split Villas
Total Villas: fourteen
Total area of 130 sq.m. Each villa's bedroom and bathroom are located on the ground floor. On the top floor, there is an open multifunction area, ideal for activities, dining or just enjoy the magnificent sunset.

Hotels and resorts in Jogja Indonesia

2008-07-27T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hotels and resorts in Jogjakarta (also known as Yogyakarta or Jogja)

Amanjiwo - Aman Resorts in 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. Amanjiwo is constructed from paras yogya – the local limestone.

Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta
Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa boast 241 Rooms and 17 Suites and the largest convention facilities in Yogyakarta, with theatre seating for up to 1800 people. All rooms are elegantly appointed and designed to meet your every need.

Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta is situated in the scenic outskirts of north-western Yogyakarta, set in 24 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens. Hyatt Regency provides a wide range of services guaranteed to satisfy the needs of the most discerning guests.

Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta)

Yogyakarta (also Jogjakarta or Jogja) is a city and province on the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the only province in Indonesia that is still formally governed by a precolonial Sultanate, the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. The city is known as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows. It is also famous as a center for Indonesian higher education. The official name of the Yogyakarta province is Special Region of Yogyakarta

At Yogyakarta's center is the kraton, or Sultan's palace. Surrounding the kraton is a densely-populated residential neighborhood that occupies land that was formerly the Sultan's sole domain; evidence of this former use remains in the form of old walls and the ruined "Water Castle"(tamansari), built in 1758 as a pleasure garden. No longer used by the sultan, the garden had been largely abandoned,and was used for housing by palace employees and descendants. Reconstruction efforts began in 2004, and an effort to renew the neighborhood around the kraton has begun.

While the city sprawls in all directions from the kraton, the core of the modern city is to the north, site of a few buildings with distinctive Dutch colonial-era architecture, and the contemporary commercial district. Jalan Malioboro, with rows of sidewalk vendors and nearby market and malls, is the primary shopping street for tourists in the city, while Jalan Solo, further north, is a shopping district more frequented by locals. At the southern end of Malioboro, on the east side is the large local market of Beringharjo, not far from Fort Vredeburg a restored Dutch fort.

Yogyakarta's airport is Adisucipto International Airport. The city is located on one of the two major railway lines across Java between Jakarta /Bandung and Surabaya. It has two passenger railway stations, Tugu is the major intercity station. The other is Lempuyangan. The city has an extensive system of public city buses, and is a major destination for inter-city buses to elsewhere on Java or Bali, as well as taxis, andong, and becak. Motorbikes are by far the most commonly-used personal transportation, but an increasing number of residents own automobiles.

DIRECT BOAT FROM BALI TO GILI ISLANDS

2008-07-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

BOAT SCHEDULE: BANGSAL - GILI ISLANDS

Current tariffs for Public, Charter and island's hopping boat. Once you arrive at Bangsal Harbour, please go ahead to the ticket counter near the beach and register yourself there. There will be a few local boys who will offer a boat for you to charter, but mostly with irrational price. Don't be a fool. Keep walking and get used to these hassle. Once you arrive at the ticket counter, you are safe. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

DIRECT BOAT FROM BALI TO GILI ISLANDS

Blue Water Safaris is an alternative transport by sea directly from Benoa Harbour in Bali to Gili Trawangan. Gili Cat, a new boat also offer a direct transfer from Padang Bay (East Bali) to Gili Trawangan.

DAILY BOAT FROM BANGSAL; TIME, SCHEDULE & PRICES
ROUTE	PUBLIC BOAT	BOAT CHARTER		SHUTTLE/SHARE		ISLAND HOPING
	PRICE/ PAX	ONE WAY	RETURN	PRICE/ PAX	TIME	PRICE/ PAX	TIME
FROM BANGSAL TO:
GILI AIR	7,000	135,000	258,000	20,650	16.30
GILI MENO	7,500	145,000	278,000	21,650	16.30
GILI TRAWANGAN	8,000	155,000	306,000	22,650	16.30
AIR + MENO			368,000
AIR + TRAWANGAN			388,000
MENO + TRAWANGAN			378,000
AIR + MENO + TRW			390,000
GILI AIR TO:
BANGSAL	7,000			20,650	08:30
GILI MENO						18,000	08.30
GILI TRAWANGAN						21,000	15.00
GILI MENO TO:
BANGSAL	7,500			21,650			09.50
GILI AIR						18,000	16.20
GILI TRAWANGAN						21,000	08.50
GILI TRAWANGAN TO:
BANGSAL	8,000			22,650	08:15
GILI AIR						18,000	09.30
GILI MENO						21,000	16.00

* Resources: Koperasi Karya Bahari Pemenang Lombok Barat NTB January 2008

PT. LOMBOK NETWORK HOLIDAYS

Jl. Intermilan 87 Puri Meninting Lombok Indonesia

Tel: +62 370 662 8139, Fax: +62 370 634 162, Mobile/SMS: +62 81 757678 23

Email: adventure@lombok-network.com

MEMBER OF ASITA (ASSOCIATION OF INDONESIA TRAVEL AGENT)

KUTA BEACH BALI INDONESIA

2008-07-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

KUTA BEACH & SOUTH LOMBOK

The best-known place on the south coast is Lombok's Kuta Beach (Sometime spelt Kute Beach) a magnificent stretch of white sand and blue sea with rugged hills rising around it, famous for its surfing spots.

Kuta Beach Lombok attract visitors for its beautiful virgin beaches and surfing spots. Surfers from all over the world find Kuta Lombok as a surfer paradise. South coast of Lombok is famous for the high waves and Kuta Lombok is a good base for the surfers.

Many visitors come back year after year to surf the famous Kuta waves. Whether you are an experienced surfer or a beginner you will find the surf spot for you. Surf boards & boogie boards are available to rent or bring your own. You will need transport to the waves from Kuta, most guests choose to rent motorcycles which come with a special surf rack attached.

The new International Airport is now being developed and big plans to develop a whole stretch of the superb south coast with luxury hotels. After many years of speculation there are signs something is happening, with the road from Praya completely remade and big new road running to as yet undeveloped beaches. Meanwhile, Kuta and South Lombok is now getting famous and raise visitor's curiosity.

HOW TO GET THERE

1. Public Transportation from Mataram to Kuta

Take a minibus from the bus terminal (Mandalika) to Praya, then swift to bemo to Sengkol, then swift another bemo to Kuta. Prices are change every year especially the "Fuel Raise" in Indonesia also affect the land transportation fares. Tips: use your negotiation skills before entering the car, as if they see tourist, they charge double or even unrealistic fare.

2. Shuttle Bus

To eliminate hassle and bustle, shuttle bus could be one of a good option, eventhough travel time can be long because the bus will have many stop over dropping and picking up other passangers from their hub/offices in main tourist attraction like Senggigi or Bangsal Harbour.

3. Taxi Service

This could be another good option. Metered taxi available upon request or just waive your hand and tell them where to go. It could be pricy for a long distance journey.

4. Private Pick Up & Transfer Service

This could be one of the best option if you wish to enjoy your holiday without hassle and bustle. You can pre-book a private transfer service to reputable local tour operator at a reasonable rates or contact Lombok Network Holidays for an assistance by phone: +62 370 6628139, or SMS: +62 81 8369619. Traveling in the group and share the fares will make it even much cheaper.

2008-07-23T00:45:00.000-07:00

MT RINJANI TREKKING MAP

Map courtesy of Rinjani Tek Centre (RTC)

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN RINJANI NATIONAL PARK

Over 20 villages surround Mt. Rinjani and there are many routes up the mountain, but the main access is from Senaru in the north and Sembalun Lawang to the east.

Gunung Rinjani national park lies within the major transition zone (Wallace) where the flora and fauna of south East Asia makes a dramatic transition into that which is typical of Australia. The park has a rich variety of plants and animals, although they can be hard to spot due to the terrain and rainforest cover.

Sometimes seen early in the morning is the morning is the rare black Ebony leaf monkey, know locally as lutung. The long tailed gray macaque of kera is common in Lombok and order males are seen on the crater rim. Rusa deer are forest dwellers and are occasionally seen a long the Rinjani trek train.

The smaller barking deer or kijang has an alarm call with a distinct dog - like bark. Look for the disturbed ground where the wild pig or babi hutan has been foraging. Also found in the forest is the leopard cat or bodok alas, palm civet or ujat and porcupine or landak.

A variety of colorful birds live in the forest of the park. Perhaps the best – know icon of the park is the crested cockatoo that is not found any further west of Lombok. Many of the forest-dwelling animals, insects, birds, civets, and monkeys owe their survival to the wild fig tree or beringin as a provider of food and shelter.

The pine-like casuarinas species, Cemara, are a feature of the grassy higher slopes. Orchids or anggrek are also a feature of the grassland areas, as is edelweiss or bunga abadi growing above the tree line, it is a beautiful icon of the park and one of the park and one of our best-know sub-alvine plants.

The following stories are a selection taken from a booklet for village guides containing a collection of traditional stories that have been related for generations by the people of Dusun Se Bunut Ngengkang

The first place to rest, located where the paths from Senaru and Semokan meet. Here is a Banyan tree with a wide space on the lower part, which looks like a person standing up with legs apart. That is why it is called Bunut Ngengkang. Andongan Tambing is one of the forrest entry gates and the First Camp on the Rinjani Trek. At this point the trekkers are warned to be careful of the steep slopes.

Half Way Point (Pos II Campsite)At the second resting place (Camp II) is a stone which is called Batu Penyesalan. This marks the place where the trekkers feels a conflict about whether to continue or to turn back because we still have as far to go to our destination as we have already walked.
Usually it takes about two hours to walk here from Bunut Ngengkang.CavesOne of the three famous caves (Goa Susu, Goa Payung, dan Goa Manik), Susu Cave is a good place for self reflection and is often used as a place to meditate. The people with unclean and envious mind will have difficulty entering Susu cave which has a narrow entrance, but people with noble and pure mind will easily enter the cave.Inside the cave water drips from the tip of a stone which looks like a nipple, so people say the water in Goa Susu tastes different. Inside Goa Susu is hot and there is a lot of smoke which looks like cooking steam so people call this Mengukus (hot house) and sometimes people call it Rontgen (X-Ray).Healing Hot SpringsAiq Kalak means hot water and it is used to cure various deseases. One of the hot springs is named Pangkereman Jembangan which is meant a place for dipping. The water which spurts out of the spring is very hot. Weapons such as keris, swords, big knives, and lances are dipped in the spring to test their magic power. If the weapon become sticky it means that the weapon is bad and has no magical power. However if the weapon remain unchanged it means that the weapon has supernatural power and the power and the strength will be increased.People also use the hot spring to make medicine from coconut cream. After dipping a bottle of coconut cream in the hot spring if the liquid becomes clear oily it can be used as medicinal oil. Then the medicinal oil is used for good things and is called Siu Satus Tunggal or in Bayan language Siu Satunggal which means that it can be used to cure a thousand kinds of desease. Segara Anak Crater LakeSegara Anak Lake is so wide it appears like the sea with its blue water. The name Segara Anak means child of the sea.

Segara Anak Lake holds various mysteries and invisible power.People feel content to stay a long time in this place because of the large community of mysterious spirits which live arround the lake. The local people believe that if the lake looks wide when seen at a distance it is a sign they will live to an old age; or if the lake seems narrow it is a sign of a short age. So in order not to be pessimistic, people quickly purify themselves by lifting up their spirits and calm soul and look at the lake contentedly.In the area of the lake it is forbidden to have sexual intercourse, to complain or say dirty things. We must be patient when facing problems.Local StrawberryThis plant grows along the route to Mt. Rinjani. It has thorns like the rose and the fruit is red like strawberry. It has a sweet and slightly sour taste and is good to eat when trekkers are hungry and thirsty.Eternal Flower or EdelweisThe plant or the flowers should not be taken because it grows in the park and in the mysterious world of the spirit kingdom. In the past, someone who wanted this flower must be brave enough to fight and gamble his soul. That is why the flower is called Sandar Nyawa. The flower has never wilted and is as old as the mysterious spirits.The Peak of RinjaniThe people of Lombok believe that the peak of Mt. Rinjani is where Dewi Anjani, the queen spirit and ruler of Mt. Rinjani lives. To the south-east from the peak in a sea of dust called Segara Muncar is the invisible palace of the queen Dewi Anjani and her followers. They are good spirits. According to a story about the Queen Spirit Dewi Anjani she was the daugther of a King who would not allow her to marry her boyfriend. At a spring called Mandala she dissappeared and changed from the real world to the spirit world.Mount Baru Jari (Gunung Baru)Gunung Baru is the name of the new volcano which emerged in the center of Segara Anak Lake. People believe that Gunung Baru is the navel of Mt. Rinjani. That is why if Gunung Baru erupted it will not harm the people of Lombok unless the eruption is from the peak of Mt. Rinjani. Some people said that the 1994 Gunung Baru eruption was caused by siprits who were building something because the stones that erupted were arranged in an orderly and attractive way at the foot of Gunung Baru.

Gili Meno Lombok Island

2008-07-22T00:38:00.000-07:00

General Information

Gili Meno, the middle island, the smallest of the three Gili's and it is the quietest with fewer tourists. A great escape for honeymooners or someone who wants to get away from it all.
Special features of the island is the salt lake and spectacular dive sites such as, Meno Wall, Sea Turtle Point, and Blue Coral Point. The beach on eastern part of the island is very nice and there's snorkeling just offshore and further north.
In the past Meno was known to have lots of mosquitoes but steps have been taken to control it. Still the best time to visit the island is during dry season.

MENO'S BIRD PARK

On the island of Gili Meno, a new tourist attraction introduced by an Australian businessman who live in Bali, with hundreds of various tropical birds from many different rain forests of Indonesia. Bring over your camera to shoot some spectacular moment.Humidity on Gili Meno is higher than two other Gilis. Equipped yourself with sun protection and mosquito repellent.
Access to Gili Meno from Bangsal Harbour:Public boat from Bangsal Harbour to gili Meno could be a problem, because passenger list at the ticket counter must reach at least 20 pax, otherwise you must charter the boat. If you meet other travellers, try ask them to share the price of boat charter. Most likely Public Boat goes often to Gili Air and Gili Trawangan. If you have no choice, rather than charter the boat yourself, try stay for a night in Gili Air or Gili Trawangan, then in the next morning take Island Hopping Boat that regularly leaves twice a day daily at around 9 - 10AM and 14:00 - 15:00PM.

Facilities on Gili Meno

Electricity supply is now available on Gili Meno. The electrical voltage in Indonesia is 220 Volt, if you bring any devices which require recharged at lower voltage (110 Volt) bring an electrical voltage converter or ask the hotel where you stay for STAVOLT. Money changers are available in most Tourist Information, but usually give you a lower rate than changing on the mainland of Lombok. Internet rental are available in all the islands. Possible to make int'l phone calls on all islands.
A Health center (PUSKESMAS) is being developed on Gili Meno under funding of contributions from local businesses. Bring along some important medication kits just in case, because there's no doctor available on the island.
For your own safety, deposit valuable items at the reception where you're staying at. Carry only small cash and necessary items.
Activities
There are many options for an enjoyable holiday on the islands. You can rent snorkeling equipment, join a diving course, or just snorkeling off-the-shore to see the magnificent coral reefs and fishes.
There are few quality scuba diving operations on all the islands. The blue coral garden around the north east of gili meno can be reached by snorkeling off-the-beach. Turtle point and meno wall located in the north west of Gili Meno and can be reached only by boat. Join any of the boat dive trips available.
While the island is busiest from May through August, the quieter off-season from January to April provides a better opportunity to enjoy all the islet has to offer, with accommodation prices at their lowest level. To get around the isle, the only means of transport are Cidomos, horse drawn carriages. Bicycle rentals are available too. Expect higher prices for most things there since all food and goods must be brought over from the mainland.

Gili Trawangan Lombok Island

2008-07-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

General Information
Gili Air is the nearest Gili to Lombok. It is also the most populated and you will find more trees there than the other Gili's. The local inhabitants are: Sasak, Mandar, Bugis and Makassar. You can find their unique culture that is different from Lombok and wonderful beaches. Many of the older generation still make their living as boatmen, fisherman and farming coconuts.

There are only a few number of 2 stars hotels (rooms with air conditioning, swimming pool, TV etc) on Gili Air. Most of places to stay are located in south, west and east side of the island. You can find many homestays or budget accommodation on this island. The island remains quiet and relaxing.

There are only a few number of 2 stars hotels (rooms with air conditioning, swimming pool, TV etc) on Gili Air. Most of places to stay are located in south, west and east side of the island. You can find many homestays or budget accommodation on this island. The island remains quiet and relaxing.
Most accommodations are locally owned and managed, while a few of the upmarket hotels own and managed by foreign investors. You can go from one island to another by joining the gili island's hoping boat (depart twice a day). People here are more friendly than on Gili Trawangan.

Activities

Snorkeling and diving are the highlight of the activities. Snorkeling area are located in the south east (opposite-facing the Lombok Golf Kosaido) and along to the north east). You can just jump into the water to see the colorful fishes and coral reef. In the western part of Gili Air you can't snorkel off the beaches. When the moon is high (low tide), you can't swim off the beach. You need to walk to the south or east side.

There are few quality scuba diving operations on all the islands.
While the island is busiest from May through August, the quieter off-season from January to April provides a better opportunity to enjoy all the islet has to offer, with acomodation prices their lowest level.

To get around the isle, the only means of transport are Cidomos, horse drawn carriages. Bicycle rentals are available too. Expect higher prices for most things there since all food and goods must be brought over from the mainland.

Bali Resort Info

2008-07-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Bali is considered a ‘resort’ island, but the vast majority of the accommodations available for visitors would not be put into the resort category. Most visitors stay in small and cheap guesthouses or almost as small and reasonably priced hotels, but there are definitely plenty of actual resort hotels on the island as well.
You could broadly put them into two major categories, but there is some crossover.

Local resorts

Bali has had upscale visitors since almost the beginning of the tourism boom, and many smaller local resort hotels have been around for decades. They tend to be simple, but quite luxurious at the same time. There will be no golf course adjacent to these places, but they are often overloaded with charm, local flavor, and impressive arts and crafts throughout the rooms and the complex. Prices of one of these places can start as low as around US$30 per night, but can go way up from there. The good news is you tend to get what you pay for in this category. In other words, if one small resort charges US$60 per night and another charges US$100 per night, the more expensive one will be noticeably nicer and/or have a better location.

International resorts
These are mostly concentrated in the southern peninsula of Nusa Dua, which is more or less a gated community that was purpose-built to become the center for large international hotels. Some of the names are familiar like Hilton, Grand Hyatt, Sheraton, and even Club Med, but many similar places with the same amounts of luxury stand between those along the main strip in Nusa Dua. There are also a few international resorts in the Kuta/Legian area, Sanur, and a few boutique resorts in more remote parts of the island as well.

Where to book a resort in Bali
Unlike the majority of Bali’s guesthouses and cheaper hotels, most of the resorts on the island are connected to internet booking engines. It’s important that you are clear on which type of resort you are hoping to book because if you are expecting a Hilton you might be disappointed if you book one of the local-style resorts instead. And if you really want to experience the magic that so many people find on their Bali visit, you’ll only get a small taste of it if you stay at the Hilton, for example, in Nusa Dua.

Kuta/Legian

Bali has a number of tourist areas which have developed over time either by design or by natural progression, to become resort areas. The first area in Bali to become popular with modern day tourists was Kuta. Now extending along Jl. Legian through Legian and Seminyak, this area is sometimes referred to as the “Kuta resort”. The main street in this whole area runs parallel to the beach a mere 500 meters away. Shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs line many of the cross streets, along with hotels and villas, which are often tucked away down a small lane. Staying in the Kuta resort area gives you the best access to creature comforts, with maximum action guaranteed. The Kuta resort area is suitable for people who like to shop, dine, party, enjoy the beach. Close interaction with Balinese locals is easy, although some of the commercialism is a bit strong.Map of Kuta & Legian Map of Legian Map of Seminyak & Petitenget

Sanur
Sanur was the second main resort area in Bali, the Grand Bali Beach Hotel opening in 1966. Most of the tourist development is strung out along the main street, Jl. Danau Tamblingan, (which runs parallel to the beach) and its cross streets. There are mid-range accommodation options in Sanur as well as some larger upscale hotels. You do not get the array of cheaper accommodation that is available in Kuta. Jl. Danau Tamblingan is lined with shops, restaurants and bars, but not nightclubs. Sanur is ideal for older people or families.Map of Sanur

Lovina
Lovina on the north coast of Bali is a string of villages stretching a few kilometers along the main road. In the early 1990’s this was more of a backpacker area but has become more of a mid-range location. The Lovina resort area is popular with Europeans especially the Dutch and is suitable for family groups and people who want a quieter tourist scene.Map of Lovina

Nusa Dua
The Nusa Dua resort complex is a specially designed location consisting of 20+ resort hotels. It represents the largest collection of resorts in Bali. Nusa Dua is the true resort hotel center of Bali. Specially designed and operating within its own area, the Nusa Dua resort area guarantees high levels of luxury, privacy and aims to maintain a distance between guests and locals.
Nusa Dua was never a heavily populated area, so without a reason to enter the complex, most locals stay away from the complex, meaning traffic levels are low and the place is quiet. Outside the main gate is the small local community, in the small desa’s of Peken, Balikembar, Bualu Indah, Pande and Penyarikan.
Below are some helpful links with more information on the resorts in the Nusa Dua area.Hotels in Nusa Dua & Tanjung Benoa Map of Nusa Dua & Tanjung Benoa Nusa Dua: What’s it all about?Nusa Dua Area Guide Bali Tourist Development Corporation: Organized tourism in Bali Nusa Dua Hotels Nusa Dua Beach Hotel - Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia Map of Nusa Dua Pantai Geger: Nusa Dua Bali Klenteng Darma Yasa: Tanjung Benoa, Bali Bali Hilton to Become the Ayodya Resort Westin Resort Nusa Dua builds new Ocean View Suites Conrad Bali: One of the best new hotels in the world Conrad Bali Resort & Spa - Benoa, Bali, Indonesia - part 1 Conrad Bali Resort & Spa - Benoa, Bali, Indonesia Ramada Benoa Resort - Benoa, Bali, Indonesia Westin Resort Nusa Dua builds new Ocean View Suites Swiss - bel Hotel Bali AGA - Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia Aston Bali Resort & Spa - Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia Aston Bali Resort & Spa - Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia Ramada Benoa Resort - Benoa, Bali, Indonesia

Learning to surf in Bali

2008-07-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

Renting a surfboard in Bali

Do not rent from the guys on the beach. All those boards are snapped, and will snap again at some point, in the same place. When that happens, the owner will demand $300. Australian Palu from Byron Bay, has 3 shops in the Kuta area selling boards, as well as a surf school. He also has a selection of used boards for rent of sale. Palu does a range of boards, focusing on the learner end of the market. Ollie did find a fish type board, ideal for an experienced surfer in small swell. The prices for the brand new rental for a week was 600,000rp. The price to buy its was 2.5m rp. Short term rental include 20,000rp per hour, 150,000rp, 600,000rp, deposit or passport required. Day surf trips can be arranged, including lunch for $100.

Buying a surfboard in Bali:

The Kuta area offers plenty of choice for those wishing to buy a new surfboard. Here is an interview with Australian board maker Palu in Kuta Bali. Epoxy boards are available in the Kuta area as well as brand name boards in the big surf shops such as Rip Curl.
Bali surfing local resourcesMagic Wave is a local community newspaper available for free in the Kuta / Seminyak area. Here’s an interview with editor Ebong.
Tide charts are freely available in many surf shops around Bali, especially in the Kuta area. Beginners should only surf at high tide, more experienced surfers being able to pick their moment with a bit more accuracy.

Surf girl in Bali

Surfer girl-Surfer Girl is one of Bali’s most well known shops. Located on Jl. Legian in Kuta, the shop offers bright, fun beach wear for ladies. Surfer Girl is owned by an Australian guy, who is a great supporter of local charities, and helps out at the Kuta Karnival.

Surfing movies

Bali’s tourism industry owes a lot to surfing, after all it was the surf at Kuta Beach that first drew Aussies here in the 60’s and 70’s. The surf movie is a part of the culture too, with epics like The Endless Summer, Morning of the Earth and Riding Giants leaving viewers not just with a sense or awe, but with a vivid memory of the place they were filmed.
Surfing is a huge part of Bali’s attraction. Instead surfing’s success in intertwined with the rise of tourism in Bali. Many of the early warungs and guests houses in the Kuta area were there to serve the surfers who ventured over from Australia, to discover the mysteries of Bali. Bali and Indonesia are the ultimate adventure for surfers, who can explore the archipelago cheaply and discover new breaks. Back in 1970 many of Bali’s famous breaks were still undiscovered, or at least, unpublicized. People talk about the ‘Secret Place‘ (Uluwatu) and how word got around of the great waves out there. From Kuta it took hours to get to due to the lack of roads and obstacles in the way.
In 1971 Australian Albert Falzon filmed Morning of the Earth, a classic surf movie, that took in footage of surfers in Australia, Hawaii and Bali. Uluwatu was ‘discovered’ in Morning of the Earth, as far as the surfing world was concerned.
Timmy Turner’s ‘Second Thoughts‘ is a surf-doco about his trip to the jungles of west Java, to surf barrels on an uninhabited Indonesian island. Its knarley dude!

History of surfing in Bali

2008-07-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

How it began:

Surfing in Bali began in 1936, when American Bob Koke, a Californian, who had moved from Hawaii, with his wife Louise, opened the Bali Hotel on Kuta Beach. Bob had a long board he had brought with him from Hawaii and the rest was history. Surfing didn’t immediately catch on though and lucky old Bob had all the waves to himself (he had the whole Bukit to himself, only he didn’t know it was there). The 1960’s saw the start of surfers trickling into Bali and after Kim Bradley, Jerry Lopez and others discovered the Bukit peninsula and the other breaks the scene was set.
Why is Bali a great surf destination:Bali is a good place for surfing for a number of reasons. These include warm water, relatively uncrowded breaks, when compared to California and Australia. Bali gets some kind of surf most of the year, there are beach breaks and Kuta and Dreamland and also reef breaks on the rest of the Bukit, including the famous Uluwatu. Bali’s unique geography, means that you can get a selection of left hand breaks on one side of the Bukit, drive for 20 minutes and get another whole selection of right hand breaks. In Lombok, for example, you’d have to ride for 4 hours or more, to get from one side of the island, to the other.
During the dry season (April-October), the trade winds favour surfing the western side of the coast, including the breaks on the western Bukit including Uluwatu and Bingin. During the wet season (November-March) the tides and winds favour the eastern coast including the eastern

Bukit breaks such as Nusa Dua and Sri Lanka.

Surfing regions in Bali:You could say that there are 4 basic surfing regions in Bali, West Bali (Medewi, Balian), South Bali (Canggu, Gado Gado, Padma, the Bukit (Bingin, Balangan, , Nusa Dua, Sri Lanka) East Bali (Ketewel, Keramas, Nusa Lembongan (Playgrounds, Shipwrecks, Lacerations).
The best beginning waves in Bali:Kuta Beach is the ultimate beginner’s wave. Complete with long sandy beach, plenty of people on hand as well as a surf recuse tower and jet-ski. Competition isn’t too fierce either making this beach a good learning environment.
Padma is a kilometer north of Kuta Beach and has a nice little wave at high tide.
Best waves in Bali:The most famous wave in Bali is Uluwatu on the tip of the western Bukit. This is actually 5 breaks that combine to draw the top surfers from around the world.
Padang Padang on the western Bukit is known to be one of the best performance waves in Bali.
Balangan is a reef break, but at high tide is suitable for beginners. Great sand beach, long fun ride.
The best surfing breaks in Bali as far as performance are Uluwatu which sees good size surf and had 5 breaks. Bingin, which has a short fast barrel, Padang Padang which has a fast barrel and dangerous reef, and Nusa Dua.
Balian -When people think of surf spots in west Bali, they think of Medewi. Balian is located on the SW coast of Bali west of Soka Beach, not as far as Medewi. Balian offers a tranquil setting with ever increasing accommodation options.

Bingin -Bingin is one of the famous surfing breaks of the Bukit Peninsula. The short, fast barrel is a joyride for those who dare. Exactly what is out there at Bingin and who is it good for?
One place that is ideally suited for surfers who have to be close to the water is Chocky’s Place. This guest house is run by Australian Kenny Cole and offer decent accommodation right on the beach at Bingin. For surfers who are planning their first trip to Bali, Bingin is a short fast left-hander. The take-off point is often crowded, but when you catch a wave there, you’ll see what all the fuss is about.
Chocky’s PlaceBingin BeachBaliBali phone: + 62 81805444833. Australia phone: + 61 410312728Email:info@chockysplace.com
Ketewel -Ketewel is no Kuta Beach when it comes to beauty. This black sand beach is littered with driftwood and the remains of offerings. Tourist don’t come to this beach to sunbathe, they come to surf. When I showed up today, there were about 20 people in the water, the sun was shining, winds were down and there was some swell.
Access to the beach is easy and there is a limited amount of parking right at the beach. The one warung serves simple snacks and drinks. A teh panas ( hot tea cost 1,000rp). Asking the warung owner about accommodation in the area for surfers, he’ll say ‘tidak ada‘ (don’t have). Most people either stay in Kuta or Sanur, coming out to surf then heading back.
The surfing crowd at Ketewel usually consists of locals and Japanese, including girls on body boards. Sitting next to 2 Japanese guys admiring the view the atmosphere seemed quite civilized. Another 12kms east along the Bypass and you’ll come to Keramas, another wet season surf spot. Ketewel seemed like a place beginners / intermediates might enjoy, not people looking for epic surfing. Surprisingly WannaSurf describes it as a ‘regional classic, pro’s and kamikazi’s only’. Beach access has improved. Driving time from Kuta 30 minutes.http://www.baliblog.com/travel-tips/the-surfing-scene-at-ketewel-bali.html
Green Ball -To get to Green Ball, you head up the hill onto the Bukit, from Bypass Ngurah Rai (heading to Nusa Dua), then at the 4 way intersection (Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Balangan), turn left towards Nusa Dua. You will see a sign for the Bali Cliff Resort, and the surf beach at Green Ball.
Arriving at Green Ball you’ll see a dirt parking area, with an old guy selling drinks. A small water was 3,000rp, so best to bring your own drinks if price in a concern. There are a couple of hundred concrete steps leading form the cliff, down to the sand beach.
For us non surfers, Green Ball is an okay beach to relax on. Devoid of trees, the cliffs provide some shade. The water is relatively clean and to the right of the beach is a large cave with bats.

AMARI CORAL BEACH RESORT

2008-07-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Amari Coral Beach Resort Phuket InfoIf you’re looking for the perfect getaway plan, this could be it. Located at the quiet end of Patong, Phuket’s most popular beach, the Amari Coral Beach Resort boasts numerous amenities beyond their comfortable rooms and extreme dedication to customer satisfaction. Guests will surely enjoy the Sivara Spa, two swimming pools and fitness area. A renowned Italian restaurant overlooks the bay, making it a perfect location for those seeking a romantic mood. Also located on site is a professional diving center offering PADI scuba diving trips for guests of all skill levels and the bay is also home to many species of colorful fish for those who simply want to snorkel off the beach. To continue with your reservation at Amari Coral Beach Resort Phuket, please enter your arrival and departure date into our secure online form.

La Gritta

An outstanding Italian menu, contemporary decor, a superb bay-side setting and an excellent wine cellar all conspire to make dining in La Gritta an unforgettable experience. In addition, La Gritta Terrace provides the perfect location to experience Italian cuisine whilst enjoying the fresh sea air. La Gritta has 48 seats and is open from 18:00 to 24:00. La Gritta Terrace has 36 seats and is open from 10:00 to 24:00. Both are open every day.

Kinaree Thai Restaurant Traditional

Thai dishes are all the more delicious in the classic setting of The Kinaree Thai Restaurant. There is a weekly cultural music and dance performance which is complimented by an expansive Thai buffet. Kinaree Thai Restaurant has 120 seats and is open from 18:00 to 23:00 every day.

The Rim Talay Restaurant

The open air structure of the Rim Talay Restaurant allows diners to enjoy the balmy, tropical breeze as they enjoy an international selection of dishes from the a la carte menu. Alternatively, guests can indulge in one of the restaurant's spectacular buffets. The restaurant also has the additional feature of a pool bar. The

Rim Talay Restaurant has 200 seats and is open from 06:00 to 24:00 every day.

The Lobby Bar

Wedding & Vow Renewals

2008-07-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

BALI ADVENTURE WEDDINGS

will make your wedding dreams come true with an exotic wedding in Bali. Experience our totally unique venue for your dream wedding or vow renewal ceremony in paradise. Imagine taking a regal seat atop an elaborately decorated Sumatran elephant while you take your vows in the wildly exotic and enchanting atmosphere of the Elephant Safari Park in Taro, Bali

Click here to download the 'Wedding Packages'
Click here to see what some of our couples say!

Our wedding assistants have a professional background and extensive experience in offering the highest level of services to assist and ensure your magical wedding day will run as smoothly as possible.
For any couple considering marriage in Bali it is important to note that authorities will generally agree to marry a couple who belong to one of the 5 religions recognized within Indonesia (Protestant, Catholic, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist) and prefer that the couple are of the same religious belief. All couples are also required to present a 'Certificate of Non Impediment,' or similar document, declaring freedom to marry.
Click here to see our testimonials!

OUR SERVICES include arrangements for RELIGIOUS ONLY and FULL LEGAL ceremonies.
RELIGIOUS ONLY CEREMONY INCLUDES:

Minister of your religion (your vows or standard)
Bali Adventure Executive as your personal assistant
Private transport to and from the Elephant Safari Park
Private apartment on site for use as a changing room
Vows exchanged on an Elephant in full ceremonial dress
4 Balinese flower girls in ceremonial dress
2 umbrella boys in Balinese ceremonial dress
A 20 minutes elephant ride after the ceremony
Special mini buffet lunch for the wedding couple including welcome drink and table decoration
Complimentary wedding cake for wedding couple
Click here to download the 'Wedding Packages'

OPTIONAL EXTRAS AVAILABLE:

Traditional Balinese costumes and specialist make-up artist and hairdresser for bride and groom US$250 per couple.
Traditional Balinese floral arrangement and bride's bouquet US$150.
Video cameraman US$350 includes a copy of the video (choice of VHS, VCD, DVD).
Professional photographer US$150 (includes photo processing and wedding album).
Traditional Balinese dancer US$200
Balinese gamelan musician US$150
Elephant Safari Park can arrange catering for larger groups.