Oct 29, 2008

Lake Tondano Festival

Lake Tondano-Remboken. About 36 km southwest of Manado is Lake Tondano, 600 m above sea level. The drive to Tondano passes through charming villages and sprawling clove plantations. Situated right on the edge of the lake is the Remboken Tourist site, an ideal place for after skiing, fishing, and natural boating. Bungalows, a natural hot water swimming pool and restaurants are available.

Lake Tondano Festival

5 - 10 November, 2008
An event celebrating the culture of Minahasa during which traditional dances such as: Maengket, Katrili, Tumatenden and Pisok dance are performed, as well as bamboo and kolintang performances and a traditional boat race.

Oct 28, 2008

Jaksa Street

Located in Center Jakarta, Indonesia, Jalan Jaksa is the most important tourist and backpacker street in Jakarta is the cheap accommodation, budget friendly restaurants and bars. Every year it celebrates its diverse identity with the annual festival Jaksa Street includes the live music, art exhibitions, craft stalls and sporting competitions. The only goal of the day is fun and entertainment, usually late at night

Jalan Jaksa is a 400-meters street, It is located strategically as an alternative way from Kebon Sirih street to Wahid Hasyim street. From this street, the tourists can go forward to National Museum and Monas, and Gambir Station with a relatively close distance.

Accommodation in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta

Jalan Jaksa Street and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of accommodation options. The street itself offers mainly low-end accommodation with hostels often situated off the main street on alley (gang) running out to the side. Wahid Hasyim Road which dissects the lower end of the street, has plenty of midrange options including the Ibis Hotel. For something a bit more decent, take a few minutes' cab ride to Thamrin Road where you can choose from several four and five star hotels.

Food in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta

The sidewalks of Jalan Jaksa Street abound with countless make-shift eating places known as warungs. A gas burner, an old worked over cooking pan and a small grill fueled with coconut shells adorn the fast food stalls with grilled and fried food being cooked and ready in a few minutes. Fried rice or nasi goreng, fried noodles or mie goreng, satay or small beef kebabs with peanut sauce, grilled fish or ikan baker are the most popular ones. The street also features several cafes and restaurants where you can have the conventional western dishes.

Nightlife in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta

Jalan Jaksa Street has several bars and cafés and what is most delightful about them is that here you can have your favorite beer at a price that costs a little more than it costs to buy from a local supermarket. Whereas, in most of the places in Jakarta, the price of alcoholic beverages can often be higher than in European capitals. Every roadside vendor here also seems to sell beer; ice-packed, beer-filled cool boxes are a common sight here. Some bars also play live music and offer other facilities like a pool table. A mixed crowd of prostitutes, shoddy middle-aged expats and Jakarta youngsters throng these places. However, the new age up-market style bars are coming up with fully air conditioned ambience featuring pool tables and projection screen televisions.

Shopping in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta

Jalan Jaksa Street may be an odd choice for shopping in Jakarta but it can turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sarinah Mall is the handiest place for a last minute shopping. There are several floors selling clothes, souvenirs, batik and the third and fifth floor have two internet cafes. A medium sized supermarket can be found in the middle at the fork leading to jl Kebon Sirih Barat. Fast internet cafes are located on both sides of the supermarket. Travel agencies are on Jalan Jaksa offer worldwide package services.

Oct 22, 2008

Samalona Island

Samalona Island. Across the harbour of Makassar is Samalona Island, which has been developed into a pleasant recreational resort. It can be reached by boat in 45 minutes and has simple accomodation. Recreational sports include diving, snorkeling, water skiing and fishing. Best months to visit are from February to October.

Samalona Island is a cluster of coral reefs area with 2,34 ha in width. This small island is a favourite destination for local and international tourists. There are some activities you can do there like sunbathing above the sandy beach and diving into the deep waters of Samalona Island to observe the wonderful coral reefs and beautiful sub-marine life within. The best months for visiting Samalona Island range from February to October.

This pleasant recreational area contains so much mysteries dealing with some wreck ships, the remnants of the world war II. At least there are seven ships that were sank there. They are Maru Boat, a Japanese warship that is approximately located at 30 meters deep; Japanese gunboat; Hakko Maru cargo vessel made of the Dutch; and Japanese submarine hunter. Now, they have turned into wonderful coral reefs where ample fishes live within. Such wonderful scenery of submarine life surrounding Samalona Island is a distinction from other destinations. Many come to the location for diving in purpose to observe some wreck ships inside the surrounding waters of the island.

Besides revealing the mysteries within and observing the wonderful submarine life in Samalona Island, you can watch the sunrise and likewise the sunset on the same position. There are numerous kinds of local seafood cooked with special recipe and method. For instance, fishes are cooked by putting them above coconut shell covered by some leaves growing around the location. By such cuisine, the appetizing aroma wafting from the coconut shell will lure you to taste it soon.

Tana Toraja

The road from Makassar or Ujung Pandang to Toraja runs along the coast for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the entrance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a distance after passing the market village of Mebali. They form a sharp contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces and the rusty read of the tropical laterite soil. This is Tana Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.

Tana Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony which is called Rambu Solo. In Tana Toraja, dead body is not buried, but it is put in Tongkonan for several times, even can be more than ten years until the family have enough money to held the ceremony. After ceremony, the dead body is brought to the cave or to the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that the dead body is not buried but just put on stone or ground, or put in the hole.The funeral festival season begins when the last rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July, and lasts through to September.

Directly from Hasanuddin airport, Makassar or Ujung Pandang, proceed to TANA TORAJA (twice a week on tuesday and friday) through the airport of Rantetayo, near Makle, 24 km south of Rantepao and there is a bus service to town.

By AirBy Lands
Buses to Rantepao from Ujung Pandang leave daily from Ujung Pandang. The journey takes 8 hours and includes a meal stop. Tickets should be bought in town but coaches actually leave from DAYA bus terminal, 20 minutes out of town by bemo. Coaches typically leave in the morning ( 7 am ), noon ( 1 pm ) and at night ( 7 pm).
Several companies in Rantepao run buses back to Ujung Pandang with the departure time and prices. The number of buses each day depends on the number of passengers.

Tourist who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many choices since there is lot of hotels available. Or if you had an adventurous soul, you can sleep in villages on the way.

Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides chartered vehicles (minibuses and Jeeps) with or without driver. While you are in the village you can take a walk to move around.

* Exploring the market; You should not to be missed going to the traditional market. Here you can get the top end of Toraja coffee beans [like Robusta and Arabica]. And several local veggies, fruits Tamarella or Terong Belanda and gold fish [ikan mas].

* Visit Batu Tumonga Plateu; It means stone that facing to the sky. From here can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between padi fields. And, several giant stones became cave graveyard. The views is pretty awesome. The huge of Tana Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and greenery. Like a patchwork in gradation hue of green color

* Palawa is an excellent village to visit a Tongkonan, or a burial place still swarming with celebrations and festivals.

* Take a side trip from Rantepao to Kete, a traditional village with excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a hillside is a grave site with lifesize statues guarding over old coffins

Most of the times, you can't eat at these locations; however more warung and restaurants appear along the road. You can also bring your own foods and drinks.

There is a souvenirs shop where you can buy everything specific from Tana Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.

* Visitor are expected to adhere to local dress customs and to bring a token present, such as cigarettes or coffee whenever entered Tongkonan.

* As roads are not always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walk, even when the weather is good (between May and October).

* Beware with your head whenever going inside to Tongkonan, The Torajan traditional house.

* Enrekang, Makale and Toraja Higland are surrounded by astonishing volcanic rocky cliffs. Do not miss it , just stop and take picture for awhile and you will not regret.

Oct 20, 2008

Jalan Malioboro

Stretching on imaginary poles connecting Yogyakarta Sultan Palace, Tugu and the peak of Merapi Mountain, this street forms trading locality after Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I developed means of trading through traditional market since 1758. After 248 years, the place still persists as a trading area; it even becomes the icon of Yogyakarta, known as Malioboro.

Located around 800 meters from Yogyakarta Sultan Palace, this place was always crowded with flowers each time the Palace held ceremonies. Malioboro that in Sanskrit means bouquet serves as a basis for naming this street.

Framed by shops, offices, restaurants, star hotels and historical buildings, the street that once functioned as struggling center during the second Dutch military aggression in 1948 was once a place of wandering for the artists joining together in Persada Studi Klub (PSK) community led by Umbul Landu Paranggi since 1970s to around the end of 1990s.

Souvenirs Paradise
Enjoying shopping experience, hunting exclusive souvenirs of Jogja, tourists may walk on foot along the arcades of Malioboro Street. There are many vendors selling their merchandises, ranging from such local handicrafts as batik, rattan ornament, leather puppet, bamboo handicrafts (key holder, ornament lamp, and others) as well as blangkon (Javanese / Jogjanese traditional cap) and silver goods to general little things that you may find in other trading places. Along the arcade, tourists will not only enjoy shopping peacefully on sunny or rainy days but they also enjoy bargaining prices. If they are good at bargaining and have good luck, they will end up buying at third quarter or even half of the prices offered.

Do not forget to save energy. There is still one big traditional market tourists must visit. Well known as Pasar Beringharjo, this market provides complete traditional products in addition to similar goods sold along the arcade of Malioboro Street. In addition to local products of Jogja, products from neighboring areas such as Pekalongan batik and Solo batik are available. There are many choices of hand made batik, printed batik, window curtain with unique motifs and batik bed sheet. This place will satisfy the desire of buying unique goods at reasonable price.

Please make sure that you are not cheated by the offered prices. Usually, the vendors will increase the prices for tourists.

Vredeburg Fort and Gedung Agung
At the end of this "bouquet" street, tourists can drop by at Vredeburg Fort that is located across Gedung Agung. This fort was the Dutch protection basis from possible attacks by Yogyakarta Kingdom troops. Similar to other forts, this place built in 1765 is high, square walls confining the area inside with one monitoring tower in each of the four corners for patrolling purpose. From the tower at the southern part,took the opportunity to enjoy sceneries of the Sultan Palace and other historical buildings.

Malioboro Cross-Legged Food Vendors (Lesehan, Javanese Language)
When the sun sets in the west and at the same time the lights along the street and the arcade add more beauty to Malioboro, food sellers begin to set the cross-legged eating place. Special menu of Jogja such as Gudeg and Pecel Lele are served in addition to oriental cuisines and sea food as well as Padang cuisine of West Sumatra. The street singers will sing hit songs and memory songs for some small change.

For tourists who are going to try menus served along Malioboro Street, please do not hesitate to check the price list and confirm it to the seller to prevent illogical charge.

Visiting Yogyakarta, the city known as "The Javanese Culture Living Museum" will not be complete unless you pay a visit to the street that keeps various stories of Indonesian Nation struggle and crowded with various souvenirs. It is paradise for history lovers and souvenirs hunters.

Malang Regency

Malang is one of clean and cool cities in East Java has, without any doubt, been famous since long time ago. Historical remmants scattered around Malang Showing that it hat played important roles in may eras and stretching out from 112° 17' 10,90° up to 112° 57' 0,00° east Longitude and extending from 7° 44' 55,11° up to 8° 26' 35,45° South Latitude.

Malang regency is bordered by Blitar and Kediri Regencies on the West; Jombang, Mojokerto and Pasuruan Regencies on the North; Probolinggo and Lumajang Regencies on the East and Indian Ocean on the South.

Malang is known with its beautiful beaches. There are many tourists who always visit Malang's beaches in holiday. The beaches are Ngliyep beach, Balekambang beach, and Sendang Biru beach.
Then the foreign tourists are commonly interesting to Malang's temples that save the historical value of the past Kingdom in Malang regency, they are; Singosari temple, Jago temple, Kidal temple, etc. Beside that, Malang still has a lot of tourism objects that will attract you to visit it. Coban Rondo waterfall, Wonosari tea plantation, Wendit pool, mount Kawi, mount Bromo panorama, Coban Pelangi waterfall, Karangkates recreation park, and the others, are Malang's interesting places that presents their nature scenery.

Also visit Malang City Tour that offers its interesting places such as; City Hall, Monument Juang'45, bird and flowers market, senaputra park, kayu tangan complex, City Square, Senaputra Park, etc.

Oct 10, 2008

Derawan Island Popular Diving Destination in Indonesia

Derawan Island is preserve area that went out to sea, part of Sangalaki island, which is located not far from offshore Batu foreland, between Berau and Tarakan. This island has beautiful panorama with clean white coast with adjoining coconut palm forest, and a number of small villages encircle island. This place has known as sea tourism location especially for dive and snorkeling activities. Although situation of outlying, but the popularity of Derawan Island and islands in vicinity increasingly as location sea tourism. The marines around Derawan Island is rich with fish especially a kind of fish that always forage on the surface of water whereas birds fly above it to pounce adrift food on the sea. Green tortoise, which is scarce laid eggs along the Derawan Island beach, is not far from diving Derawan Dive Resort location. You will not meet car or motor in this island while electrics only live a few nocturnal clocks.

Derawan Island Popular Diving Destination in Indonesia

Derawan Island is situated of the west coast of Borneo and is part of the Sangalaki archipelago.

Derawan is an idyllic tropical island with white sandy beaches and coconut palms. Getting to Derawan usually involves a scheduled flight from the UK to Singapore then a second flight to Balikpapan on Kalimantan Island before travelling the final leg of the journey to Derawan by speedboat. Non-divers may consider this location limited in terms of things to do and see, unless the non-diver is content with sun, sand, swimming/ snorkelling and a good book.

The Diving

The seas around Derawan are noted for Manta Rays, particularly at Sangalaki and Kakaban Islands. You are also likely to see schooling tuna, jacks, white tip nurse and leopard sharks. Derawan Island is famous for the abundance of giant green turtles. Some visitors report that frequent.

Derawan Island Diving Destination

Notable Dive Sites

Derawan Island
The Terrains. Sightings of green turtles, white tip, leopard & nurse sharks, barracuda, napoleon wrasse, cuttle fish, Spanish mackerel, jacks, bat fish and the usual reef fish.

Sangalaki Island
Noted for Mantas

Kakaban Island
The prehistoric lake.
Jellyfish that don't sting, sea cucumbers, sea snakes & gobbies

Barracuda Point
As the name suggests. Also possible to see blue tuna and sharks

Maratua Island
5 knot currents make for interesting drift diving with a variety of larger fish sightings including eagle rays.

Best Time to Visit
March to November.

World Wise
The best time for Manta sightings is March-June & September-November
Winds can reduce the viz underwater, but not a serious problem unless intent on wide-angle photography.

Popoh Beach


Popoh beach is the interesting tourism object in Tulungagung regency. In this tourism object, you can enjoy the beautiful of nature scenery, astonished with a thousand temples; enjoy the swimming pool, and fauna. This tourism object has managed by the region government of Tulungagung, together with Retjo Pentoeng Cigarettes Company.

In this Popoh Beach is also equipped with lodges facility, fish market, marine tourism, and a few places for fishing. The communities around always held a traditional ceremony called ì Labuh Semboyoî by wash away sacrifice of two goatís head to the sea for the ìrulerî of south sea (Indonesia Ocean). That ceremony is aimed to get a lot of fish from south sea.

There is onyx handicraft place as Tulungagung souvenirs and located along the road way to Popoh, Boyolangu, Campurdarat, Besuki. We can reach it by motorboat to walk around Sidem Beach, Klatak, Gemah and Bayeman. Popoh Beach is presents tourism a lot and has playground for the kids, smooth spoon beach, quay wall, sea fish market, seafood, etc. The other tourism facilities of Popoh beach is lodges for the visitors who want to stay here for a while and enjoy Popoh beach longer. The place of fishermen is at east side and stick out to sea. If we lucky, we can see the fishermen get their fish from sea and sell it with affordable price.

Almost every holiday and red day, this tourism object is always full of visitors, both from Tulungagung around also foreign tourists.