Indonesia Island Tour Journal

Losari beach,the beauty scenery of sunset and sunrise at one point in Makassar

2012-01-18T16:17:00.000+07:00

All over Indonesia, there is only one beach that able to serve you the beauty scenery of sunset and sunrise at one point. This place is Losari Beach in Makassar, Sulawesi Island. The position of this beach is along north to south of this coast makes Losari Beach able to serves you sunset and sunrise at one point.

Losari Beach has strategic position because it lies on the central point of Makassar city. It lies along more or less 4 kilometers away. This beach can be reach easily through main road of the city that is why there are many international and famous hotels build along this place.
Enjoy staying at the beautiful resort in and hotels in Sulawesi Island at low rates. It lists every hotels and resorts in Sulawesi subject to the area covering from Makasar, Toraja, Palu, Manado, Bunaken.

General Information

Losari Beach Hotel is located on the main business district area of Makasar. Losari Beach Hotel is 5 minute drive to the harbor and 25 minute drive to Hasanudin Airport.

Accommodations :

Losari Beach Hotel completed with 40 Room including, sunset suite, sea-view deluxe, bay view superior, standard double/ twin / single rooms, all rooms are AC with private bath and shower, bathtub, Hot & Cold Water, IDD Phone, Mini Bar, Satellite TV & In-house Video Channels, Safe Deposit Boxes, 24 Hours Security, 24 Room Service,Tour Desk, Laundry/ dry-cleaning, money changer, Doctor's on call, baby sitter.

Services & Facilities

Losari Beach Hotel completed with Samalona Coffee Shop, European cuisine, Lobby bar with piano, Live music & Pub, Mini Banquet, Karaoke with wide screen, Meeting room, Travel agent, Business center, Fitness & Sauna

The best time for you to come and visit Losari beach is around 3 to 9 PM. You can sit back relax and enjoy this clean beach, or if you want to have an exercise, you can take 500 meters jogging track along the pedestrians. Losari beach serves you clean air and unstoppable wind blows, also the red and goldish sun who sweep faces along the beach side. Along the beach, you can also get traditional local foods and snacks. You can get Coto Makassar, local foods from Makassar, and also other seafood that served with local recipes of Bugis community, local community in Makassar.

Located on the Losari Beach, renowned for its magnificent sunsets, Losari Inn is perfect destination for budget tourists. The airport is just a 25-minute-drive away. Group functions for up to 500 persons, can be accommodated. Whether it is for a small 50-person meeting or a simple reception for 250 people, we can help. Lae Lae restaurant is a truly unique dining experience in a relaxed setting – a perfect gathering place for all occasions.

Facilities

* 24 x 7 room service
* Lae Lae & Tanaberu Restaurants
* Laundry & dry cleaning
* Car rental
* Safe deposit box
* Doctor on call
* Major credit cards accepted
* Seafood restaurants accommodating 200 guests
* Pub and Karaoke accommodating 150 guests
* Kareba Open-Air Sunset Café
* Elevator

Amenities

* Master bedside control panel for music, TV, radio, lighting, in-house video laser disc, local & international channel program are available in every room.
* Refrigerator and mini bars
* International Direct Dial (IDD)
* Private Bath & Shower

Lokking at Fantastic Lake in Kintamani

2009-05-18T16:29:00.006+07:00

Location

The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan provide a great view of the still active Mount Batur and its fantastic lake. Seven miles in diameter and sixty feet deep, Batur caldera is simply astounding. From Penelokan, take the road Kedisan on the shores of the lake where boats can be rented to cross over to Trunyan. The spectacular mountainous region around Kintamani with its deep Crater Lake and bubbling hot springs, make this region a must to visit. Batur Lake is the largest lake in Bali and the region offers some of the most spectacular views to be found anywhere on the island. Batur Lake also provides water for an underground network of streams and springs across the southern slopes of the mountain. Kintamani is really great for day trips, trekking or simply for getting away from it all for a few days.

The district is the earliest known kingdom in Bali, dating from the tenth century. The evenings get cool up here but it's well worth the stay overnight to climb the volcano and watch the sunrise. Many cheap cottages are available here.

Kintamani can run through Payangan or from Denpasar through the Sangeh monkey forest, Plaga and Lampu, arriving to the north of Kintamani. Bemos to Kintamani are available from Ubud via Sakah (notable for its huge "Baby" statue). They also run via Tampaksiring and Bangli. From Denpasar bemos leave for Kintamani from the Batubulan terminal until late afternoon.

Tour to Kintamani is a very impressive experience where Kintamani Area have very beautiful panorama located in plateau and also encircled by mountain atmosphere with the windblast from Mount Batur. Carpet of Batur Lake seen far below and also there are local resident house beside of Batur Lake. Beside of that, Mount Batur which to date still be active growing its beautiful for Kintamani Area.

Kintamani Tour

After watching the 'Barong Dance', we will stop at Tohpati, the center of Balinese hand weaving and hand made Batik process.Then visit Celuk, with a center of gold and silver work. Original designs in delicate filigree make Balinese jewelry one of the most unusual styles in Asia. Although individual pieces are elaborate, they have simple origins in their making. Artisans use a tree stump with a protruding iron spike as a pounding base, a bamboo stem to catch the fillings, and a manually operated gas pump for heat. As the most of the Balinese crafts, gold and silver work is a hereditary trade. Apprentices begin young, by the time the boys are twelve, they are already producing fine ornaments from the precious metals. and then Mas Village, according to mythology, Pedanda Sakti Bahu Rauh, the first Hindu priest who come to Bali, settled in this village. Many of the Brahmans concentrated in Mas claim descent from this famous priest. In the 13th century, the founders of the village built a large temple to please the ancestors.

The Brahman class became so influential that the whole community came to share in the festivities of the temple, as they are still do today in Pura Taman Pule built up on the same site. In the olden days, the fine arts of woodcarving and painting were reserved exclusively for the royal and religious purposes. Nowadays, they are also produced for fun and commerce. Men of every caste are artisans and the particularly talented live in Mas. Don't be surprised when you visit an art shop to find a core of wood carvers busy making statues, a carver select his seasoned block of timber, then shapes the rough from with an axe. With mallet and dozens of small chisels, the carving is incised with ornaments, and finally smoothed. The sculptors begin young. The most expressive carving is often done by boys of twelve years. As a craftsman says: "young boys have no worries in life, they just carve". Afterwards ,we will visit Bedulu,(elephant Cave), was once the capital of a great kingdom with a semi-mythical pig-headed king, Dalem Beda-Hulu. The legend relates how Beda-Hulu possessed magical powers. He used to sit and meditate, removing his head to reach the beyond. On one such occasion, an unnatural disturbance occurred and the king was forced to get a new head quickly. A pig happened by and its head was taken to place on then neck of the king. Thereafter the king was forced to sit on a high throne and forbade his subjects to look up at him. Beda-Hulu means " he who changed head". PURA SAMUAN TIGA: temple of the meeting of the three. The name is possibly a reference to the Hindu trinity, or it may refer to the meetings held here in the early 11th century.

Kintamani Village

Not far away from Bedulu there are the Yeh Pulu reliefs and Goa Gajah.

GOA GAJAH: the famous "Elephant Cave". It overlooks the Petanu River and consists of a Siwaitic rock-cut cave, a bathing place, a monks' chamber, a number of Buddhist rock-cut stuppas and statues, and several foundations. It is known as the 11th century Buddhist hermitage.

YEH PULU RELIEFS: chipped away from the sheer rock face, the 25-meter-long series of Yeh Pulu carvings are said to date back to the 14th century. The reliefs are in naturalistic style. Legend has it that the great giant architect-general, Kebo Iwa carved out the enchanting picture-shape of village life and animals, which are interspersed with Balinese Hindu gods, with his fingernails.You will also visit Kintamani consisting almost entirely concrete buildings with rusty corrugated iron roofs, it isn't particularly appealing and it is too far north from the rim of the crater for the best views of the lake Batur. It is famous for its breed of furry dogs and the huge outdoor market held every three days.and have lunch there to enjoy the view.

On the return journey to hotel, you will be taken through Tegallalang, where rice terraces are naturally arranged in a geometric, magnificent settings.

Ubud Town, One of Bali's major arts and culture centres

2009-05-17T11:06:00.005+07:00

Location

Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali in Ubud District, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. One of Bali's major arts and culture centres, it has developed a large tourism industry.

Ubud has a population of about 8,000 people, but it is becoming difficult to distinguish the town itself from the villages that once surrounded it.

Town Orientation And Accomodation

The main street is Jalan Raya Ubud (Jl. Raya means main road), which runs east-west through the center of town. Two long roads, Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman, extend south from Jl. Raya Ubud. Puri Saren Agung is a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey Forest and Raya Ubud roads. The home of Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1910-1978), the last "king" of Ubud, it is now occupied by his descendants and dance performances are held in its courtyard. It was also one of Ubud's first hotels, dating back to the 1930s.

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a sacred nature reserve located near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. It houses a temple and over 200 long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys.

Tourism to Ubud has a focus on culture, yoga and nature. In contrast to the main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud area has forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and less congestion although traffic has increased dramatically in the 21st century. A number of smaller "boutique"-style hotels are located in and around Ubud, which commonly offer spa treatments by the foothills or treks up Ubud's mountains.

The Moon of Pejeng, in nearby Pejeng, is the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world, dating from circa 300BC. It is a popular
destination for tourists interested in local culture, as is the Goa Gajah, or 'Elephant Cave', complex.

The town of Ubud has few sights within walking distance, and you'll need some form of transport to get to the temples in the vicinity. The easiest option is to join a tour, or just charter a taxi/bemo for a few hours.

* Botanic Garden, Kutuh Kaja, +62 361 970 951, [1]. The recently opened Botanic Garden is a wonderful way to spend a few hours walking around and exploring the valley that it fills. It is best to go in the morning and avoid the afternoon heat.

* Monkey Forest, south end of Jl. Monkey Forest; [2]. A forest full of ravenous monkeys, so don't bring any food or risk bites and rabies injections. Stroll through to find Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, a Temple of the Dead.

* Museum Puri Lukisan (Museum of Fine Arts), Jl. Raya Ubud (spot the sign and cross the bridge to enter), [3]. Three buildings showcasing traditional and modern Balinese art. The displays are musty and English labeling is a little spotty, but some of the works, particularly the carvings, are quite amazing. Entrance Rp 20,000.

* Museum Rudana, Jl. Cok Rai Pudak 44, Peliatan, Ubud, [4]. Ph : Tel: +62 361 975779, Fax : +62 361 975091. E-mail: rudana@senatorrudana.com. Run by its owner and sole artist Nyoman Rudana.

* Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women, Jalan Sriwedari 2B, +62 361 975485, Banjar Taman, Ubud, [5]. The Seniwati Gallery features art by women; "Seni" is Indonesian for "art" and "Wati" means "women".

All of the following temples cost Rp. 6000/3000 adults/children, and can be reached by taking bemos towards Tampaksiring. Everybody must wear a sash, available at the entrance for a Rp. 1000 donation, and either long pants or a sarong (from Rp. 5000 from hawkers).
Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)
Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)

* Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), 3 km east from Ubud. A popular little excursion from Ubud, the centerpiece here is a cave, whose entrance is an ornately carved demon's mouth. Inside are some fragmentary lingam and yoni (phallus and vagina) statues, as well as a statue of Ganesha. Statues stand guard around pools near the entrance and a little path leads to a waterfall, rice fields and some Buddhist stupa fragments.

* Gunung Kawi (Poet Mountain), Tampaksiring, 18 km northeast from Ubud. Entrance fee is Rp. 6000, sarong is rented for free. Dating from the 11th century, this is presumed to be the burial complex of King Anak Wungsu and his many wives. Reached by climbing down 371 steps, the location at the bottom of a steep valley lined with paddy fields is stunning. The smaller complex on the south side of the river is presumed to be for the king's wives, while the larger complex is thought to be for the King himself and perhaps his concubines. You must take off your shoes before entering into the central pura complex. About one km downstream there are further tomb cloisters. On the way back up, take a break at Cafe Kawi, which has cold drinks (Rp. 10,000 & up) and fresh breezes (free).

* Tirta Empul, Tampaksiring, 20 km northeast from Ubud. One of the holiest temples on Bali, built around hot springs that now bubble eerily in the central courtyard. Balinese themselves come here to bathe and purify themselves physically and spiritually, and during Galungan the sacred barong masks are bathed here. The complex dates to 960, but the present buildings are all modern reconstructions.

Land in the Middle of the sea, Tanah Lot

2009-05-16T23:58:00.003+07:00

Location

Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home of a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot and a popular motif for tourists photography.

Tanah Lot means "Land in the Middle of the sea" in Balinese language[citation needed]. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th century priest Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.[citation needed]

The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples were established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast.

At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. As well as one giant snake which also protects the temple, which was created from Nirartha’s scarf when he established the island.

The area leading to Tanah Lot is highly commercialised and people are required to pay to enter the area. To reach the temple, visitors must walk through a carefully planned set of Balinese market-format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. On the mainland cliff tops, restaurants have also been provided for tourists.

See

Tanah Lot is one of the most famous temples on Bali. This is a temple complex on a cliff. Plenty of tourists come there, especially at the sunset, there are also a great amount of venders of different types offering everything possible. Entrance fee is 10 000 IDR, parking fee is 5000 IDR. At the moment (July 2006) the temple is being renovated, entrance is prohibited, but the complex itself is worth visiting: very beautiful pictures can be done from two cliffs above the ocean. It is also possible to come to the temple walking in the water in order to receive the ministrations of priests, who stand there, sprinkle people with Holy water and put them (like real Hindus) some rice on the forehead, what means "good thinking".

Accomodation

* Le Meridien Nirwana Golf and Spa Resort [1] You can see Tanah Lot temple from the lobby and its an amazing view with the waves pounding the ground. The resort is surrounded by huge gold course and paddy field. For golf lovers, this is an heaven because of the view of nature, ocean, Tanah Lot during the game. At night the resort is quiet and you can view the moon light from the sunset bar lounge. Many honeymooners choose this resort due to its location that's secluded from the hustle and bustle of Kuta city. The rooms pretty big, consist of shower & bath tub and balcony for all rooms. They have limited Villas with plunge pool, Bali begong and outdoor shower. For those wanting to experience ubud and kuta can use the shuttle service that's free.

* Semarapura Villa - Semarapura Private Villa

Took its first booking in Christmas 2008, this 5 bedroom Villa is an expansive luxury beachfront villa, located about 10 mins south of Tanah Lot, 40 minutes from Seminyak on Bali’s southwest coast. This private Bali rental villa is comprised of a series of pavilions, swimming pool and ornamental ponds, leisurely spread throughout an expansive 5000 square metres (one acre and a quarter) of rolling lawns. Fully staffed and ideal for events.

*Villa les Rizieres - Luxury and Private villa in Tanah Lot Bali

Villa les Rizieres offers a unique way to experience all of the island's charms at your own pace. 6 luxury bedrooms villa + one extra bedroom. Villa les Rizieres can luxury accommodate 14 persons. This is a unique property - 1.5 hectare land- for whom seeking a classy living in Bali. The villa benefits from the ideal situation in Tanah Lot, next to Nirvana Golf course awarded the best Golf course in Asia for the last 5 years, and designed by Greg Norman.

Jimbaran,fishing village and tourist resort in Bali

2009-04-27T07:05:00.002+07:00

Jimbaran is a fishing village and tourist resort in Bali, Indonesia. Located just at the south of Ngurah Rai International Airport, the beach is cluttered with seafood restaurants and some of the finest luxury hotels in the world. Tourism in Jimbaran has increased rapidly that has boosted local economy, but it suffered by the 2005 Bali bombings where the bomb exploded in one of the restaurants in Jimbaran.

Jimbaran lies on the 'neck' of the southern peninsula in Bali and is widely known for the fresh seafood kiosks that are scattered along the beach. Diners select the live seafood that they wish to eat, and it is immediately prepared, generally grilled over a fire of coconut husks rather than charcoal.

Sit back and simply think of one thing; the most beautiful painting of a sunset dinner-on-the-beach complete with boats slowly gliding along and musicians playing from their souls. Now jump into the painting, you have just arrived at Jimbaran Beach, Bali, Indonesia.

South of the international airport, Jimbaran Beach is safely nestled in between that and Kedonganan Beach to the south. Jimbaran Beach is an extremely tranquil beach and perfectly white. Walking or just sitting and waiting for the sunset are two of the most popular activities to do on this beach. The popularity of Jimbaran Beach has arisen significantly with the appearance of more and more luxury and five-star hotels beachside. Now everyone seems to know about this little once forgotten beach.

The dining spots in Jimbaran Beach are famous for serving delicious sea food with local recipes. Western cuisine is also available in the restaurants. A must is a sunset dinner along one of the many delicious cafes offering the freshest seafood around, lining Jimbaran beach. The breeze from the ocean and the sound of the waves are enhance your total dining experience.

Along the beach there are many opportunities to dine out. Many of the local peoples have opened up various cafes for passersby and tourists. This is very popular because of the enormous selection of seafood that they offer. This, coupled with their special seafood recipes, or even Indonesian recipes mixed with western culture, make for an exquisite dining experience. The fish are supplied by local fishermen who sell their fish pretty much all day long.

With the sunset coming up on Jimbaran Beach you may start to see the sky change beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red. This is usually when the cafes start to put out their dinner chairs onto the sand overlooking the beach, and all of the action on the beach starts to subside while everything else begins to focus on the cafes.

The locals like to set a romantic mood for the evening so the whip out some fancy candles and musicians begin to play soothing music. It is quite a sight to see. Once the jukungs begin to fill up the coast line is when things start getting really beautiful and picturesque here in Indonesia.

The calmness of the waters makes Jimbaran a perfect place for swimming. Gentle tides, dramatic sunsets, fine seafood restaurants. No water sports available on the beach although some may be arranged with the hotels that provide equipment and boats for snorkeling trips and sea canoe excursions.

Jimbaran Beach –Bali- BEACH INDEX:

• Sand – Soft white sand
• Facilities – Plenty around the hotels and cafes.
• Shade - Several palm trees
• Sports – No water sports available unless arranged by hotels.

• Notes –

Lovina Beach,Lng stretch of black sand beach

2009-04-23T08:43:00.003+07:00

The coastal villages of Anturan, Tukad Mungga, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus are along an 8 kilometer stretch of tranquil black sand beach.

Located only four kilometers west of Singaraja, the capital of North Bali, and a ninety-kilometer drive from Denpasar. This resort currently has many restaurants especially those offering seafood, some star hotels, and many good and truly relaxing accommodations

Go to the Location

Perama offers transportation all around Bali to all mayor tourist destinations. They use small mini buses without air conditioning and the prices are reasonable. Prices and timetables can be found on their website.

Bemo’s are the public transport buses. They are extremely cheap, however you need have some patience and Bemo’s can be crowded. They are a challenge for the experienced traveler.

You can hire a car and drive up from the South. Far better, given the relative costs and the roads/driving in Bali, hire a driver and car. You can travel from Kuta in less than 3hrs and from the airport or Sanur in about 2.30hrs. You will travel through (Pura Ulun Danau) Bedugul and could go the pretty way through Munduk if you are not in a hurry. So you could stop to take in the temple, lakes and rice paddies on your trip and make a day of it.

Location

Air Panas/ Banjar Hot Springs — Located west of Lovina, Air Panas is an enchanting hot springs with stone carved mouths gushing water among a lush garden setting. A nominal entrance fee is charged.
Expect to be offered dolphin sighting trips every other minute. These trips leave each morning and have very mixed reviews as the boats tend to outnumber the dolphins, but it can still be an enjoyable ride. Prices are fixed by a dolphin cartel, they are around 50.000 (4 euro)
Snorkeling and scuba diving trips leave from Kalibukbuk for Deer Island and other north shore dive spots. There are several dive operators based out of Lovina that operate daily dive trips to Menjanan Island, Tulamben and Amed, as well as night dives from the local shore. Spice Diversare based out of Lovina and offer day trips to all of the dive spots on the northern shore. Guides are available in a variety of languages and multi-day discounts are available.
Cockfights are held around lovina. You will see around Lovina many older people training the cocks, just ask them to bring you to a fight.

Spa

Lovina is lucky to have several spa facilities. While a little more low key than the spas to the south, the service is excellent and the prices, being much less than the opulent spas in the south, are an excellent value and well worth it.
Agung's Spa. Offers body scrubs, facials, massage, etc. It is also the nicest spa facility in Lovina, though by Balinese standards it is much smaller and basic than what you would find elsewhere on the island.
Bali Samadhi Spa (Tel. 081 338 558 260) — in Lovina offers a variety of massages. One is called Rebalancing Massage a very nice mixture between therapeutic and well-being massage. Mandi Lulur scrubs are available including the yogurt mask.

Diving

Lovina Dive, Jalan Raya Banyualit, ☎ +628123842415 (info@lovinadive.com), . averages. US$55-$75 per day. edit

For those without diving licenses, one may get liscensed in a matter of a few days of courses in Lovina. The diving enthusiast will probably want to move on to Menjangan Island, Bali's most famous diving site. It is an hour's drive from Lovina where one would then take a 30-minute boat ride onto the island. As part of Bali Barat National Park, Menjangan Island is well known for it's clearest water in the Indonesian archipelago, where you can go diving or snorkeling amongst the coral reefs and fish in the sparkling clear water. Another popular attraction is the dolphin watching. A small traditional boat called, jukung, may be hired form the villagers in the morning to bring us off shore to meet these smart and cute creatures.

Other interesting sites nearby include the Buddhist Vihara in Banjar village, hot springs, and Singsing waterfalls.

One of the most beautiful beaches on Bali's islands,Dreamland Beach

2009-04-06T09:05:00.003+07:00

Dreamland Beach is a beach located on the Bukit peninsula, on the island of Bali, Indonesia.

The beach provides basic accommodation and cafes for surfers and day trippers. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island, it is also renowned for its dangerous shorebreak.

It is the site of the failed Pecatu Graha development, planned by Tommy Suharto, the corrupt youngest son of the former president Suharto.

As of 2008 this is an active building site with all the previous Warongs having been levelled for a hotel complex.

Dreamland is on the south side of Bali, about 30 to 40 minutes from Kuta. There are 2 alternative ways to go to Dreamland. You can either go through the Jimbaran Bay area or pass through the Dwipayana University (a well-known public university in Bali); both ways are easy to follow. If you do get lost, ask for directions to Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK). It’s a famous cultural park located in Bukit Unggasan, Jimbaran. Here you can find a 75 meter-high and 60-meter wide figure of god Visnu, one of the Trimurti symbols in Hinduism. The status is made by I Nyoman Nuarta, and is now still unfinished. When it is done, it will be taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York!

About 15 minutes from GWK, you will find a big statue of Garuda (the symbol of Indonesia), on the right side of the road. That means you’re just a stone throw’s away from Dreamland Beach. Dreamland Beach is located on a big-deserted property, a failed Pecatu Graha development. You will probably have to pay about Rp 5000 for the entry. When you get to the end of the road, you will be on top of a cliff, with the big blue ocean’s sky in front of you. Look down! That’s Dreamland Beach

You have to walk a little then down a path of stairs to reach the beach.. Once on the sand, you will find rented umbrellas and beach benches facing the beach. You can also order food and drinks from the local traditional cafés available all around the beach. The cafes might seem common and usual, but many of them actually serve European dishes which is out of the ordinary for this setting. Planning to spend the night? Some of the local cafes offer humble accommodations at a reasonable price (ranged between Rp 50,000 to Rp 200,000 per night). In the evening, enjoy the sunset whilst several tourists build a campfire on the beach, or just play a light game of beach ball. As for me, I prefer swimming offshore and enjoy the sunset from there.

There are not many activities to be done here at night. The electricity is turned off after 10 pm and thus candles are lit to chase away the deep darkness of the night. After having dinner, the best thing you can do is to read a book or have a draft of cold beer. Otherwise, you can go upstairs to where most of the rooms are and enjoy the scenery. The moon’s reflection dancing in a flurry of lights on the ocean’s surface is simply breathtaking. During the peak season (July and December), some of the rooms on this floor will be more packed so at least you are not alone and will have company to chat with along with your own group of friends. It is always interesting meeting other travelers and sharing experiences. When you finally feel like sleeping, go back to your room and snuggle under the blanket. The lullaby of tides breaking on the shore is such a peaceful sound to sleep to. Being in Dreamland is like being in a dream you wish you will never wake up from.

Dive resort and national park, Bunaken island

2009-04-04T19:13:00.004+07:00

Bunaken is one of Indonesia's most famous dive/snorkeling areas, and it draws scuba divers & snorkelers from all over the world. In addition to Bunaken itself, a rather featureless banana-shaped island, the National Park includes the neighboring islands of Manado Tua, a distinctive cone-shaped extinct volcano, Siladen, Montehagen, Nain, and Nain Kecil.

Location

Bunaken 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 2-3PM from the canal on the north side of the market. The cost is 25,000Rp for tourists (7,000Rp for locals). It returns to Manado from the jetty in Bunaken village around 8-8:30AM every morning except Sunday. You can also charter a boat both ways at anytime.

As of September 2008, entry to the park costs either Rp 50,000/day or Rp 150,000/Calendar year. Even though the fee does not seem to be automatically levied upon entrance to the island, it is the responsibility of all visitors to the Park to have one, and most reputable dive shops will supply them. As proof of payment, you will receive a plastic tag that must be carried at all times — it's waterproof and can be attached to your diving gear.

Diving Location

The thing to do in Bunaken is dive, dive and dive! However, the steep walls and occasionally strong, rapidly changing currents mean that many sites cater more to the intermediate/advanced diver, although there are beginner-friendly sites too and all dive shops can arrange intro dives and Open Water Diver courses. The North Sulawesi Watersports Association offers oodles of detail on diving in the park. The park also offers outstanding snorkeling!

All dive shops in the park are affiliated with resorts, so see Sleep below for listings.

The snorkeling is fantastic just in front of many of the resorts that surround the island, with an incredible amount of marine life living in the shallows and also on the outer walls. Remember not to snorkel without fins as the currents can sometimes be strong, and change quickly even when they are not. Pick a reference point on the island and do not stray too far unless you are a confident swimmer.

Tourism on Bunaken has been very much geared towards divers over the years, but the trend seems to be changing and more and more snorkelers are visiting the area as too are those who wish to just relax immersed in nature...away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Possible activities for landlubbers include:

* Beach-combing, especially at low tide when the reef top is accessible
* Hiking to some of the secluded coves on the Eastern and Northern part of the island, but trails are poorly marked
* Fishing, but only outside of the park boundaries: hire a boat or join one of the local fishing boats.
* Dolphin & Whale watching, either while on diving or snorkeling boat trips or by hiring a boat.

The thing to do in Bunaken is dive, dive and dive! However, the steep walls and occasionally strong, rapidly changing currents mean that many sites cater more to the intermediate/advanced diver, although there are beginner-friendly sites too and all dive shops can arrange intro dives and Open Water Diver courses. The North Sulawesi Watersports Association offers oodles of detail on diving in the park. The park also offers outstanding snorkeling!

All dive shops in the park are affiliated with resorts, so see Sleep below for listings.

The snorkeling is fantastic just in front of many of the resorts that surround the island, with an incredible amount of marine life living in the shallows and also on the outer walls. Remember not to snorkel without fins as the currents can sometimes be strong, and change quickly even when they are not. Pick a reference point on the island and do not stray too far unless you are a confident swimmer.

Accomodation

Most people choose to sleep at their dive resorts, almost all of which offer full board and attractive package offers. Those on the south and west sides of Bunaken have a strip of beach (coarse yellow sand), while the east side has a mixture of mangroves and small beaches with better reefs.
[edit] Lodging

* Bastianos Dive Resorts. Will pick up from Manado hotels.

* Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort, tel. +62 813 56930370 (Skype: bunakenchacha). On the eastern side of Bunaken; 10 cottages all with en-suite bathrooms (hot water showers), large balconies, all Superior Cottages are equipped with A/C. Private white sand beach, "House Reef" with floating pontoon for snorkelers, Massage treatments available. Restaurant above the beach, Wifi in bar/restaurant, PADI Dive Center. Packages start from US$60 per person/per night ; Accommodation & Dive Packages from US$145 per person/per night.

* Bunaken Village Resort. Located along the Pangalisang beach on the east coast of Bunaken. 8 cottages, restaurant, dive shop, beach bar, and swimming pool around a nicely landscaped small garden. Rooms 20-25€, 2 boat dives 40€. Next door just south of Two Fish Divers.

* Froggies Divers, [www.divefroggies.com]. A high quality dive operator with comfortable bungalows and excellent food.

* Living Colours, tel. +62-812-4306063. Diver-oriented resort run by the shop of the same name, the bungalows are spacious and clean. Rooms 35€/person, including three excellent meals. Lately chosen as " Best resort all around Bunaken" by Lonely Planet Indonesia.

* Lorenso's Bungalows. 5 min down the coast from Living Colours, offering cheaper but more basic bungalows at 125,000- 250,000 Rp. per person, per night

* M.C. Dive Bunaken. Located near the Bunaken Village Has a very nice beach just next to the village and offers relaxed diving. Also offering Padi Dive Courses and Specialty's, Basic cottages 14€, more "luxurious" bungalows: 20€, including all meals, coffee, tea and water. 2 dives 40€, third dive 15€

* Siladen Resort & Spa, tel. +62-431-856820. Small exclusive international resort on Siladen Island across from Bunaken. Multilingual PADI dive center, gourmet restaurant, lounge bar, Spa, large salt water pool. Located on the secluded western side of Siladen on a 300 meter stretch of white coral beach facing Manadotua Vulcano. Only 15 villas. PADI courses and full packages available.

* Two Fish Divers, tel. +62-811-432805. Small and friendly PADI Gold Palm IDC Resort based on Bunaken Island. Cottages are basic but comfortable, and are right in front of the mangroves. The food is reliable, if monotonous. Vegetarians are usually offered fresh grilled fish in place of meat dishes. Offers fun dives for experienced and inexperienced divers, with small groups of 2-4 divers per dive guide. Also offers a full range of PADI dive courses from Open Water Course through to Instructor. Rooms start at 12 Euros per person to 25 Euros per person.

Bali's most famous diving area, Tulamben

2009-04-03T23:11:00.004+07:00

Tulamben is a small town on the north-east coast of Bali. It is a popular dive site in Bali, especially around the wreck of the Liberty Glo, a US Army Transport ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. It is a very easy wreck dive and may by done by divers of all certificatin levels. It is accessed directly from the shoreline and located about 25 meters from shore. At it deepest point, it is about 30 meters from the surface and it tops out at about 5 meters from the surface.

DESCRIPTION OF TULAMBEN'S DIVE SITES:

Elegant Squat Lobster, Tulamben, Coral Garden Tulamben has become Bali's most famous diving area and therefore where you are most likely to meet internationally recognised underwater photographers and writers. Tulamben Bay, like the rest of Bali, is situated in the richest marine biogeographic zone in the world. Being on the north-east coast, the bay receives very plankton-rich waters from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. This, coupled with the fact that the three main dive sites provide totally different physical environments, mean that Tulamben contains a stunningly diverse underwater ecosystem.

The beach is fist-sized black volcanic rocks that become sand in the shallows. This black sand does not provide the reflective properties of white limestone sand and, combined with the amount of plankton in the water, accounts for the relatively low visibility (12-25M). It does however provide a dramatic contrast, which brings out the colours of the corals, gorgonians, fish and other marinelife. The 100s of macro-species that live here both blend and contrast beautifully with the sand.

Tulamben is a wonderful place to learn to dive and to learn about underwater life. There are occasional sightings of Mola-Mola (Sunfish), Manta Rays, Whale Shark, tuna and other pelagics but it is the permanent population of Tulamben that brings people here for the 1st and 100th time.

The Coral Garden

Running along the middle section of Tulamben beach is a shallow reef (averaging 8-12m so also excellent for snorkelling) of mainly table and fire corals interspersed with anemones as well as barrel and other sponges. The fishlife, as with the Drop-off and the Wreck, is very diverse. It is here that you can see a surprising number of Blue Ribbon Eels (the juveniles are black) and octopus, the variety of shrimp is surprising too along with the different anemonefish. The bigger fish seen here are Bumphead Parrotfish and Black Tip reef shark.

The depth and location make the Coral Garden a very good, and popular, Night Dive on which you may see Spanish Dancers and flashlight fish.

In fact the diving actually extends much deeper than 12M, if you carry on down the sand slope, you'll find barrel sponges with many surprises: juvenile Emperor Angelfish, Two-spot Lionfish, maybe a school of juvenile catfish; cleaning stations with shrimp and wrasse, a shoal of Razorfish swaying in their hiding place. If you continue along the slope, towards the start of the Drop-off, you'll come to a dry river bed, scooped out into a bowl-shape, marked by ridges radiating outwards. These ridges are often the best places in Tulamben to find unexpected specimens. Although it is certainly not an area for divers looking for a profusion of marinelife!

Surfing in 7 excellent surf spots at Panaitan Island

2009-04-02T09:12:00.006+07:00

Indonesia only has 2 World Heritage Listed National Parks. One is Ujung Kulon (of which Panaitan Island is a part) and the other is Komodo. Accommodations are currently available on Peucang Island and it is the current and ideal location for the Ranger Station as more than 85% of the National Park of Ujung Kulon is on the mainland of West Java and Peucang is a 5 minute boat ride across the small 100% wave protected channel from the bulk of the park. Speedboats, transfer boats, canoes, and a beautiful sand volleyball court are all there for guest use.

Location

Situated just off the coast of West Java, Panaitan Island hosts 7 excellent surf spots including the legendary One Palm Point and Apocalypse.

Panaitan is rich of wildlife and now you can surf its world class waves in warm, clear blue water away from crowds.

Panaitan is part of Ujung Kulon national park, which is a United Nations World Heritage site. Our boats have the required government permits to take you to these great waves.

There has been controversy in the surfing community about surfing at Panaitan, particularly about a landbased surfcamp on the island. We offer two types of stay: on a boat or on the nearby island of Peucang which is in use by park rangers. Therefore, we leave Panaitan and the park as we found it.

Want to come along and get the wave of your life?

Trips on offer by us are supported by: Ujung Kulon National park, Javan Rhino Eco Tour and the Panaitan Surfing Club

The Surf

* ONE PALM POINT a shallow reef break open relentless barreling left

* ROC ’ N ROLL along hollow winding left that break into the deep water

* NIGHT PALMS a smoking left

* PUSSY CAT an easy left fun workable walls breaking into deep water

* APOCALYPSE that has been compared to Back Door Pipe

* DAVES Place another Left

* And other unnamed Point break / spot on main land Java Ujung Kulon

The Waves

All Panaitan's waves are within one bay so there’s less time cruising between breaks, more time surfing.

- One Palm Point - long hollow left point that spins out freight train barrels over a shallow reef. This wave has been ridden for up to 800 meters (not a misprint) and has been described as the undisputed best and longest barrel in Indo.

- Napalms - perfect barrelly left unloading over an inner-bay reef. Top-to-bottom pit perfection.

- Pussys - easy left with workable walls breaking in deep water.

- Illusions - epic right reef with workable walls and barrel sections.

- Indicators - wally right breaks on smaller swells.

- Apocalypse - top-to-bottom righthand barrel that’s been compared with Backdoor Pipe. Other secrets...

Exploring to ' The Four Kings' Island, Raja Ampat Island

2009-03-24T08:57:00.013+07:00

Location

Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. It encompasses more than 9.8 million acres (40,000 km²) of land and sea, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia. It is a part of the newly named West Papua (province) of Indonesia which was formerly Irian Jaya.

According to the Conservation International Rapid Assessment Bulletin the marine life diversity is considerably greater than all other areas sampled in the Coral Triangle of Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat are possibly the richest in the world. The area's massive coral colonies show that its reefs are resistant to threats like coral bleaching and disease - threats that now jeopardise the survival of corals around the world, though the area is remote and relatively untouched by humans. In addition, Raja Ampat's strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat's coral diversity, resilience, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global priority for marine protection, as human activity here has the potential to be catastrophic.

Over 1,070 fish species, 537 coral species (a remarkable 96% of all scleratinia recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands), and 699 mollusc species, the variety of marine life is staggering.Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs.

To address these issues, the Conservancy launched a new project to protect Raja Ampat, working in close partnership with the government and communities to:

1. contribute to a comprehensive conservation action plan to protect Raja Ampat's reefs and forests;
2. help incorporate marine protected area management into long-term planning and policy; and,
3. establish a network of marine protected areas for Raja Ampat.

The Conservancy's ultimate goal is to protect Raja Ampat's magnificent reefs while sustaining the livelihoods of local people.

For further information, please contact:

The Nature Conservancy
Coral Triangle Centre
Jalan Pengembak No. 2
Sanur, Bali, 80228
Indonesia
tel +62.361.287.272
fax +62.361.270.737
email info@coraltrianglecenter.org | www.coraltrianglecenter.org | www.nature.org

The Nature Conservancy is a private, international, non-profit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 14 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 80 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. On the web at www.nature.org.

Diving Season

Raja Ampat diving is superb just about all year round. The term High Season is of little meaning here since there is such an expanse of sea visited by only a few liveaboards that "diver soup" is not really a danger. May to September is light rainy season, and Mid-July to mid-September sees some small surface swells, but not usually serious enough to interfere with your enjoyment.

Sorido bay Resort

The new "Sorido Bay Resort" offers western comforts in traditional Papuan setting. It is a combination of modern and traditional building methods to create a balanced and comfortable resort. This resort is built for the more demanding diver and specially the UW photographer.

The resort has all comforts but is completely integrated in nature and has one of the worlds richest dive sites as its house reef. The boats used for dining are silent (Honda 4 stroke engines) and all diving is tailor made and personalized.

Welcome to Sunrise Beach, Sanur Beach-Bali

2009-03-22T08:30:00.007+07:00

Right on the beach of Sanur, Bali's most popular area. Just 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), 25 minutes to Kuta, 40 minutes to Nusa Dua, and 20 minutes to the capital-Denpasar.

Location

Address:
Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Sanur.
P.O. BOX 3279 Denpasar 80032 Bali Indonesia.
Telephone: [62]-(361) 288011, Telefax: [62]-(361) 287566.

Many scheduled international airlines fly direct to Bali (DPS). Some airlines may terminate at Jakarta (CGK) which requires

a transit to a domestic carrier. Garuda Indonesia operates wide body aircraft service on the 1.5 hours Jakarta-Bali route. Garuda Indonesia flies direct to Bali from Japan and Australia/New Zealand. Cruise ships dock at the port of Padang Bai which is a two hour drive from the hotel.

Accomodation

This five-star hotel is located in the most strategic area of Sanur beach and is the ideal choice for tourists as well as business people. It is located only 25 minutes from Ngurah Rai airport or 15 minutes from Denpasar. The beach surround the hotel is quite wide and free from coral reef, so guests can freely relax at the beach.

For those who enjoy water sports, there are two choices of water sport facilities, motorboat and jet ski at Matahari Sport on the western part of the beach, and other water sports such as sail boating, surfing and wind surfing at the Blue Oasis on the eastern beach.

The hotel located at Jl. Danau Tamblingan and in operation since July 29, 1974 is located in a very natural setting with large shady trees and rows of waving coconut trees.

Facilities of Hotel Sanur Beach are the most complete in the Sanur region. Its rooms are large and very comfortable, with interior dominated by wooden material, which gives an impression of warmth, friendliness and naturalness.

For business people, there is also the Business Center complete with facilities such as Internet, typing/secretarial services, scanning facilities, etc. For banquets and big meetings, there is the Wantilan Conference Center, whereas for small meetings you can use the Garuda Room, and for boardroom meetings there is the Jauk Room.

Guests are also pampered with a variety in choices of food presented with friendly and attentive service. The Basilico, an open-air restaurant near the beach, serves Italian food with a refined touch of the Mediterranean – complete with selected wine. Meanwhile at the Tirta Poolside Restaurant, you can enjoy various Indonesian as well as international cuisines. In addition there is the Peppers Latino Grill and Bar, which serves unique Latin American food presented in a Mediterranean atmosphere.

To maintain your health and fitness, there is a spa and fitness center managed by the Grand Odiseus chain that has international reputation. There are also two swimming pools and a children's pool not far from the children's playground. Then you have the jogging track that runs around the park near the Wisnu Wing, where you can find the oldest trees in the Sanur area and a beach volleyball court in front of the Bamboo Bar. If you are bicycling lover, you can enjoy a cycling tour to the villages accompanied by an experienced tourist guide from Sanur Beach Hotel.

Padang Bai, friendly fishing village on the east coast

2009-03-21T06:58:00.006+07:00

Map of Padang Bai

Traveling to Padang Bai location

Asia : Southeast Asia : Indonesia : Bali : Padang Bai
Padang Bai (also Padangbai) is a small port in east Bali.Padang Bai is 54km east from Denpasar.

Perama, JL Legian 39, Kuta, Tel: 0361-751 551. They will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to your destination. Reserve one day in advance.

There are slow boats from Lembar (Lombok) every hour. The trip takes four hours (Rp 32,000).Ferry staff often offer their private room to tourist for Rp 50,000. Room is clean with 3 beds. Ferry service available 24 hours a day. Fast ferry recently stopped service.Perama Tour also runs daily cruises from Padang Bai directly to Senggigi (Lombok) for Rp200,000.

The Gili Cat and Perama Express operate from Padang Bai to the Gili Islands, see that article for details.

Location

Padang Bai is a beautiful, small, friendly fishing village on the east coast. Not all but, sadly, a lot of people don't stop to enjoy the life of Padang Bai. Padang Bai is also the main ferry port for heading east to the island of Lombok. Most people on a limited time rush through on their way to the Gilli islands off the coast of Lombok and beyond.

The main beach is generally awash with colorful outrigger fishing boats built in the shape of marlin. The front of the boat shaped with the point of its mouth open wide and large eyes looking to the heavens to its curved bow ending in its upright tail.

Either side of the main beach are two other coves. To reach the secluded Bias Tegul Beach, back out of the the main beach cross the ferry carpark and turn up the road next to the police station. Keep walking up the hill until you see the sign to the beach on the right. Be careful on this hillside track. Before you head down into the cove turn around. Weather permitting you should be able to see the largest of volcanoes on Bali, Gunung Agung. It's a powerful sight. This village is noted for its diving and Gekko Dive (english) and Water Worx Dive Center (german/english) are the friendliest and right on the beach with their own bars for after-diving refreshments.

Shopping & Accommodation

Bamboo Cafe is a lovely place to eat great and healthy food - they use bottled Aqua water for shakes etc. The cafe has been newly built mostly from bamboo and you can enjoy surprisingly good live rock and native music played by the very friendly and fun staff. It has also 3 nice aircon rooms. From the Police station keep walking up the hill in the direction to the Bias Tugal beach and after 100 m find the Cafe on the left side of

There are plenty of bars and small cafes to choose from along the beach in the village. On entering Padang Bai, head over to the left of the Bay, keeping the ferry jetty to your right. The road here runs along the beach and is full of activity, dive shops, bars and small home stays (nice and cheap) In the evening there are a few bars actually on the beach - notably "The Reggae Bar" livens up about 10PM. They have great music and flame wielding bar staff. After a while you forget the plastic chairs that wobble in the sand as the setting is just unique.

* Puri Rai Hotel, . A Melati accommodation with 1 star hotel services, located on Jl. Silayukti Padangbai, the eastern part of Bali. Has a swimming pool.

* Mustika Sari Beach Hotel, +62.361.8528521,

Jl.Raya Silakyukti. Offering a sea view, this 1-star hotel caters to the budget travelers with an array of modern facilities, Balinese architecture and sculpture, and a turquoise lagoon. Traditional paintings, wall hangings and Balinese handicrafts in the rooms lend further ambianc

One Destination Island Tour In Indonesia : Flores Island Tour Package

2009-03-20T08:42:00.004+07:00

The Komodo Dragon in Flores Indonesia

Danau Kelimutu, Three Colors Lake

Danau Kelimutu, Three Colors Lake

Danau Kelimutu

Flores Island is lying east of Bali in East Nusa Tenggara. It is about 2 hours flight from Denpasar - Bali by Fokker 27 of Merpati Airlines.

Centuries earlier, Portuguese explores discovered it as the jewels in the neckless of Indonesia Islands and gave the island its lyrical name "Cabo das Flora" means "Cape of Flowers" after the beautiful coral formations that shimmer in her crystal sea.

Flores Island promises an forgettable vacation for those who want to relax on a palm fringed beach, explore the enchanting coral playgrounds. Venture inland to discover the island's rich cultural heritage, the magnificent of "Kelimutu" - the Three Color Lakes, see the Giant Lizards - Komodo Dragons on their natural habitat, and much more .....

Flores Island is a dazzling kaleidoscope of prehistoric dragons and wild horses colored lakes and actives volcanoes, traditional villages and megalithic cultures, coral reefs and untouched beaches

The Flores archipelago itself is endless in diversity. Starting in the west lies the KOMODO ISLAND, where the biggest lizard in the world (the Komodo Dragons), can be seen. The sea around these island also offers excellent coral reefs to explore.

East of Komodo island is the main island of Flores. Unique to this island is the world famous Mt. Kelimutu with its three colored lakes.

Flores also offer traditional villages with megalithic cultures set in an untamed volcanic landscape, sunny beaches, coral reefs and beautifully hand made textiles.

Wildlife includes species of lizards, monkeys and parrots. There is also abundant marine life with reef sharks, sperm whale dolphins and tropical fish.

East of the island lies the Outer Island. Rich in colonial history, but still strong in traditional ways of living and beliefs. In the sea around these island one can also see whales and enjoy game fishing.

Mountain and Valleys in Flores Island

About 70 millions years ago, due to a collision between the Australian - Indian Ocean plate and Eurasian plate, large volcanoes erupted. These volcanoes slowly merged together to form the green jewel, Flores.

The cone shaped volcanoes on Flores are still potentially and demonstrably active.
The Chapel of Christ in Larantuka was miraculously spared when Mt. Ile Mandiri erupted in the early 1980s. In Ruteng a new volacano "Anak Ranaka" appeared as recently as 1988. And smoke can still be seen rising from Mt. Ebulobo, on traveling the road from Bajawa to Ende.

Flores mountains offer great opportunities for trekking and hiking, where you pass terraced rice fields laying deep in the sloping valleys, or climbing over mountain passes to traditional villages.

The Three Colored Lakes of Flores Tours

"Konderatu - konderatu, let the clouds part so we may see your glory"

Set high among the mountains in the middle of Flores island is Mt. Kelimtu with its three volcanic craters, each with it's own colored lake. Most visitor make an early start to reach the summit and see the sunrise, which through its rays reveals the true colors of the lakes.

Local believe the colors are influenced by the kind of spirits that dwell in them.
Scientists believe it is due to the high mineral content dissolved in the water, either way it is a spectacular sight.

Prehistoric Dragons in Komodo Island

With one large bite the huge dragon, with its flickering forked tongue, ripped into the flesh of its prey and then gulped it down in one piece.

The Komodo Dragon Varanus Komodoensis is the largest of all lizards in the world, measuring up to three meters in length and over 150 kilos in weight. These dragons are carnivorous and if hungry will turn on their own.

Official guides work and study on Komodo Island assisting in fieldwork and research. They have the knowledge and experience to show you these spectacular animals.
Komodo island and nearby Rica Island are not just "dragons" but also offer a variety of other wildlife such as wild horses, birds, and deer as well as abundant marine life.
Komodo dragons are only found among the island of the National Park.
Accommodation is available for those who wish to become aquainted with Varanus Komodoensis.

Traditions and Megaliths

Although the vast majority of Flores is Catholic, many people still follow their old ways, by living in traditional villages and placing food offerings on megalithic stones, to appease their ancestor.

In the mountains, around Bajawa, the Ngada people still follow the law laid down by their ancestors. The Ngadanese are divided into set, clans, that have head chiefs and elders who decide over matters such as land-rights, funerals, marriages and other ceremonies.

The area Lio, Mt. Kelimutu, has a legend about four brothers who migrated from Java and formed the first Lio clans. All clan that live and form the same area, elect lords and chiefs to decide over community matters. Each clan owns a clan house where the bones of important ancestors are kept, and rituals are held. The Lio village is a cluster of houses with large high steep roofs erected around sacred stones, and megalithic.

Weaving in the Flores Island

Women throughout Flores still hand-weave their textiles using natural dyes and handspun cotton, known as Ikat weaving. Flores textiles are rustic in color with abstract motifs of chickens, mountains and traditional houses. Some weaving areas are, Pagal around Ruteng, Wolotopo, Nggela in Ende region and Sikka nearby Maumere.

Coral Reefs

Where the world can you dine with pre-historic dragons, then leave them to digest their food, while you explore the unique underwater world.

Flores, the treasure of coral reefs, rich with colorful sea gardens, giant clans, caves, and clear water that teems with more species of fish than can be found in all the rivers and lakes of Europe.

There are three location, Labuan Bajo, Riung, and Maumere that offer facilities for snorkeling and certified divers. Labuan Bajo, the prefect location to explore untouched coral in Komodo National Park.

Maumere also offers the opportunity to explore great marine life, around 40 different dive sites in the Marine Garden of the Bay of Maumere. Dive into the crystal clear water with normal visibility of 60 - 150 yard and the right temperature of 26 - 28°Celcius, where you will see more species of fish than anywhere else and exciting marine life.

Overlook at Lake Maninjau, a notable tourist destination

2009-03-18T06:33:00.003+07:00

Lake Maninjau (Indonesian: Danau Maninjau, Meninjau means Overlook or Observation ) is a caldera lake in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located 16 km to the west of Bukittinggi, at [show location on an interactive map] 0°19′S 100°12′E / 0.317°S 100.2°E / -0.317; 100.2.

The Maninjau caldera was formed by a volcanic eruption estimated to have occurred around 52,000 years ago.[1] Deposits from the eruption have been found in a radial distribution around Maninjau extending up to 50 km to the east, 75 km to the southeast, and west to the present coastline. The deposits are estimated to be distributed over 8500 km² and have a volume of 220–250 km³. The caldera has a length of 20 km and a width of 8 km.

The lake

Lake Maninjau has an area of 99.5 km², being approximately 16 km long and 7 km wide. The average depth is 105 m, with a maximum depth of 165 m. The natural outlet for excess water is the Antokan river, located on the west side of the lake. It is the only lake in Sumatra which has a natural outlet to the west coast. Since 1983 this water has been used to generate hydroelectric power for West Sumatra.

Most of the people who live around Lake Maninjau are ethnically Minangkabau. Villages on the shores of the lake include Maninjau and Bayur.

Maninjau is a notable tourist destination in the region due to its scenic beauty and mild climate. It is also used as a site for paragliding.

Tourist destination

Maninjau is a notable tourist destination in the region due to its scenic beauty and mild climate. It is also used as a site for paragliding. On the uphill close to the lake, there is a 5 star hotel to lodge in. To reach maninjau, you can rent a car from Bukittinggi, which is located 35 kilometer from the site. Or you can also travel by public transport.

There are so many restaurants at maninjau. However, you must be careful because local cooking is highly seasoned and spiced. This is the specific charasteristic of West Sumatra foods. So you must be clever to choose.

If you want to buy souvenir, you can buy songket, a cloth embroidered with bits of gold or silver thread. Or you can choose any products made of songket, such as sandal, shoes, bag, coin box, etc. Other specific characteristic food that you can buy is kripik singkong pedas, a spiced crispy chip made from cassava.

Besides enjoying the beauty of the scene, you also can enjoy any other receation means there. However, due to the local custom, you are not allowed swimming at the lake using swimming cloth. If you want to do swimming, please do it at many resorts and hotels around the lake. At Maninjau resort, you can visit fitness center and jogging track.

The hotel price at maninjau is not expensive. For standard room, which has private bathroom, you only pay as cheap as 30000 rupiahs. Or bungalow, with the price of 50000 rupiahs. The hotel is very clean, and you can have beer and many choices of food, at very reasonable price. Some hotels are surrounded by rice fields, such as Beach Inn. So if we want to reach them, we have to pass the green-yelowish fields and enjoy its beauty.

Hill around the lake and villages of Maninjau are decorated by forestlike tree gardens before it reaches real forest on the upper hill. You can see there fruit trees such as rambutan, langsat, and durian.

The best-time to visit Maninjau lake is April - September. Because if you come there on September to April, you will get rainy season, where you will rarely see beautiful sunset.

Local agriculture

The lake is used for aquaculture, using karamba floating net cages. The technique was introduced in 1992, and by 1997 there were over 2,000 cage units with over 600 households engaged. Each cage may have 3-4 production cycles each year. There is evidence of pollution around some karamba area.

On the edge of the lake, the landuse includes rice fields in the swamps and the lower slopes. The villages are bordered uphill by a large belt of forestlike tree gardens, which dissolves into the upper montane forest on the steepest parts of the slopes up to the ridge of the caldera.

The tree gardens include three typical components:

* Fruit trees including durian, jack fruit, cempedak, rambutan, langsat, golden berries and water apples.
* Timber species including Toona sinensis and Pterospermum javanicum.
* Spice trees including cinnamon, coffee, nutmeg and cardamum.

Welcome to Amed, dive place in Bali

2009-02-20T08:47:00.005+07:00

Jukung Dive Bali in Amed is a PADI-resort, which means that we maintain high quality standards for all diving we offer to our guests, safety in diving and equipment are absolute priorities.

Therefore we only use first-class materials, regulators, BCD'S, shorty's etc, are mainly Mares which is a first quality brand in the diving industry. Next to that we made sure to employ a staff of excellent and very dedicated dive-masters (all PADI certified) and maintenance technicians.

Divers of all levels are welcome at Jukung Dive Bali. Please take a look in our guestbook for the comments of divers who have been here in Amed before you. Next to our "dive-shop", we have our Jukung Dive-café where you can relax after your dives, compare your experiences with other divers and have your lunch between dives. Dinner is also possible. Our friendly staff welcomes you with "selamat datang" and is looking forward to serve you your morning coffee, your mixed juice or your "Bintang besar, yang dingin sekali!" (a very cold beer).

For all our courses and introductions to diving we use our own swimmingpool, this pool, situated in our "Taman Sari", is exclusively used by our divers. After your dives and courses you can also relax here.
Our multilingual staff and management is at your disposal (Indonesian, Dutch, German, English, French and some Japanese).

As a Go Eco Operator - Jukung Dive Bali is committed to environmentally responsible business practices and to providing our customers with dive experiences that enhance visitor awareness of our local aquatic environment.

Lake Toba desription for travel guide

2009-02-17T09:23:00.005+07:00

Lake Toba (Indonesian: Danau Toba) is a lake and supervolcano, 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres (1,666 ft) at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about 900 m (3,000 ft), the lake stretches from [show location on an interactive map] 2°53′N 98°31′E / 2.88°N 98.52°E / 2.88; 98.52 to [show location on an interactive map] 2°21′N 99°06′E / 2.35°N 99.1°E / 2.35; 99.1. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world. In addition, it is the site of the 75,000-year-old supervolcanic eruption, the largest in the last 25 million years; where it staged a massive climate-changing event that scientists believe might have wiped out much of humanity. The massive eruption is believed to have a VEI intensity of 8.

The Toba caldera complex in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia consists of four overlapping volcanic craters that adjoin the Sumatran "volcanic front". The youngest and fourth caldera is the world’s largest Quarternary caldera (100 by 30 kilometres) and intercepts the three older calderas. An estimate of 2500-3000 cubic kilometres of dense-rock equivalent pyroclastic material, nicknamed the Youngest Toba tuff, was blasted from the youngest caldera during one of the largest single eruptions in geologic history. Following the "Youngest Toba tuff eruption", a typical resurgent dome formed within the new caldera, joining two half-domes separated by a longitudinal graben.

There are at least four cones, four stratovolcanoes and three craters visible in the lake.

Lake Toba offers a nurturing environment for fish such as the tilapia mossambica, aplocheilus pachax, lebistes reticulatus, osphronemus goramy, trichogaster trichopterus, channa striata, chana gachua, clarias batrachus, clarias nieuhofi, clarias. sp., nemachilus fasciatus, cyprinus carpio, puntius javanicus, puntius binotatus, osteochilus nasselti, lissochilus sp., labeobarbus sora, and rasbora sp.

Many other types of plants and animals live within the boundaries of Lake Toba. Flora organisms include various types of phytoplankton, emerged macrophytes, floating macrophytes, and submerged macrophytes. Fauna include several variations of zooplankton and benthos

Local transportation around the lake takes the form of boats (cheaper, school boats with limited schedules and more expensive public boats that operate throughout the day).

Public Boats from Parapat and surrounding areas sail from either Ajibata or Tigaraja to Tuktuk or Tomok at Samosir Island. The fee is 7,000 IDR per trip. There is also bigger ship which transports Cars and Busses sailing between Tigaraja and Tomok.

Hire a motorcycle for a day or two and get out and about (Rp.70,000 per day inclusive of 4 litres of petrol). Take a map. There are no police checking licenses and there is not much traffic - just watch out for the big trucks, buses and diabolical bridges. A good journey to take on a motorcycle would be to travel North from Tuk Tuk around to the western shore, stopping at the tourist sites along the way such as the many and varied traditional houses and villages. The roads are very bad in the centre of the island (bumpy and washed out) and it takes half a day to cross this way (verse 1-2 hours by coast road which is more scenic anyway). You can expect to ride at least up to 100km in the day.

It may be obvious but just remember there are no taxis around Tuk Tuk. Sure you can walk the small part of the island in an hour or so but if you are heading out for the night plan ahead on how you will get back home. The locals are very friendly people. WONDERFUL PEOPLE who will go out of their way to help. However, some corners of the island are very quiet at night and you may find yourself on a long long walk.

Most of the cottages and guest houses at Tuk Tuk will rent you a very serviceable bicycle for a nominal fee, this is a very much preferred way to get around, but be very careful for the cars as nobody looks and there does not seem to be any right side of the road, even when its the left side.

Travel to Pulau Weh Island One of Tropical Island in Indonesia

2009-02-16T20:08:00.006+07:00

Weh Island is located in the Andaman Sea, where two groups of islands, the Nicobar Islands and Andaman Islands, are scattered in one line from Sumatra to the north up to the Burma plate. The Andaman Sea lies on an active moving small tectonic plate (microplate). A complex geological fault system and volcanic arc islands have been created along the length of the sea by the movement of the microplate.

The island is just 350 metres (1,150 ft) off the northernmost tip of Sumatra. The island is small at only 156.3 km², but mountainous. The highest peak is a fumarolic volcano and is 617 metres (2,024 ft).[1] The last known eruption is estimated to have occurred in the Pleistocene age. As a result of this eruption, the mountain partially collapsed, was filled by the sea and thus a separate island was formed.

At nine metres depth (29.5 ft) close to Sabang city, underwater fumaroles emerge from the seabed.[3] A volcanic cone is found in the jungle. There are three solfatara (mudpot) fields on the island: one is 750 m (0.5 mi) southeast of the summit and the others are 5 km (3 mi) and 11.5 km (7 mi) northwest of the summit on the western shore of Lhok Perialakot bay.

PULAU WEH DIVING

There are four islets surrounding Weh Island: Klah, Rubiah, Seulako, and Rondo. Among those, Rubiah is well known for diving tourism, because of its coral reefs. When traveling to Saudi Arabia was only possible by sea, Rubiah was used as a place of quarantine for Indonesian Muslim during the Hajj pilgrimage season ,

Pristine coral reefs and the common sighting of large marine animals attract visitors to this unspoiled tropical paradise. The currents around pulau Weh draw the big plankton feeders such as whale sharks and manta rays, with the former frequenting the area each January. Dolphin sightings, sometimes with pods numbering hundreds, are a common occurrence. Around and on pulau Weh are two protected areas: Rubiah sea garden (2,600 hectares) and Iboih recreation park (1,300 ha). A 350m wide channel separates pulau Weh from its reef-encircled sister island, pulau Rubiah.

The most northwestern island of Indonesia offers truly world class diving with clear waters and impressive under water landscapes. Here, where the Andaman Sea meets the Indian Ocean, the deep waters and currents around the island sustain an unbelievable amount and variety of marine life, ranging from tiny critters to grand pelagic's ...

Dive in crowds of fish, not in crowds of divers:
Still being an insiders' secret, and off the beaten track, Pulau Weh offers unspoiled and uncrowded dive sites. Add our team's dedication, experience and love for the ocean and you'll get unforgettable dives, from spectacular full-adrenaline dives to long slow relaxed macro spotting dives.

Pulau Weh is located on the northwestern tip of Sumatra, a 350 meter wide channel fills the gap between Pulau Weh and its reef-encircled sister island, Pulau Rubiah where good drift dives can be had. The island also offers wrecks, drop offs and an amazing array of marine life. Most dive sites are reachable by boat within 30 minutes from Ibioh, a pleasant fishing village where most visitors find themselves based.

http://www.lombokmarine.com

Regency of South Aceh

2009-02-15T06:26:00.008+07:00

South Aceh Regency is adjacent to South West Aceh Regency in the north, Aceh Singkil Regency in the south, South East Aceh Regency in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the west. Its total area is 3.842 square kilometres with Tapaktuan as the capital of the regency. It is devided into 16 districts and 369 subdistricts. South Aceh Regency is famous for its nutmegs which become a symbol for this regency. Nutmegs consist of fruits, flower called fuli and nut.Fuli and Nutmeg have high commercial values. Because they can be used as ingredient or spices.From nutmegs distillation, we can get nutmegs oil which is important for ointment, ingredient, and aromatic spices to certain medicine. This oil is marketed to Medan and Padang, even exported to Singapore, South Korea, Japan Australia and England. People and south Aceh also process the nutmegs fruit into syrup and candiie fruit. The producers of nutmegs are Meukek, Labuhanhaji, North Kluet, and Samudra districts. 80% ot South Aceh is 500 metres over the sea level and the soil is fertilized, soit is suitable for farming and plantation.The government offers investors to depelop horticulture plantation for the products like banana, durian, and peanut or beans. South Aceh also has potential in fishery because it is adjacent to the Indian Ocean. All kind of fish caught by the fishermen there have high economical value. Trading sector, hotel and restaurant have been the second contributor for their gross domestic bruto. Comodities of the trade are agricultural products, constraction material like cement. To support trading activities they have appropriate infrascuctures like Lhok Jamin Bakongan port,Tapaktuan Public Port and Labuhan Baji port.

http://regionalinvestment.com

Travel to Halmahera Island One of Tropical Island in Indonesia

2009-02-14T09:15:00.003+07:00

Sunrise in Halmahera Island

One of Historical Place in Halmahera

Island and Mountain in Halmahera Island

Masjid of Ternate one famous place to visiting

HALMAHERA ISLAND

Halmahera island lies to the east of Ternate City, separated only by a narrow strait so it become one destination place for your tour. It is a mountainous island, still largely covered with forests. The coastlines are white sand and coral reefs are found in its waters. Offering a beautiful spectacle, Mount Mamuya (Gunung Mamuya) (930 m) spews burning lava from time to time, adding to the allure of this island.
Pearl oyster breeding farms on Mangaliho Island can be reach by motor boat.

North of Halmahera Island
Geographically, North Halmahera Island is regency stay at 10,57'-20, 0' north latitude and 1280,17'-1280, 18' east longitude. North Halmahera regency declared on 31 May 2003 with its capital is Tobelo. It also has new districts and villages. Nine districts were developed to 22 districts and 174 villages become 260 villages. The wide this regency is 24.983,32 km2 that contains of 19.536,02 km2 (78%) sea area and 5.447,30 km2 (22%) land area. There are 76 islands, 19 islands have no named. Almost, every island has its beautiful panorama. The small islands with its white sand beach, the beautiful sea garden with its various fishes, various flora and fauna and its culture, can also find the historical sites in World War II in this region.

The number of North Halmahera regency in 2003 is 169.440 of men, 75 % is farmer and fisherman. North Halmahera is one of agarics with its nature potency that contains of field sector, gardening, plantation, fish, maritime, breeding, mining, small industry, and tourism.

Banda Aceh

2009-02-14T07:49:00.002+07:00

Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 21 m. The population was approximately 260,000 in 2006.

The city name first was named as Kutaraja, determined as the provincial capital in 1956. Kuta Raja means "City of the King", in reference to the founding of the Aceh Sultanate from Champa origins. Later its name was changed into Banda Aceh, where the first part of its name comes from the Persian bandar (بندر) and means "port" or "haven". It is also proudly referred to as the "port to Meccah", as Islam first arrived in Aceh and spread throughout Southeast Asia.

Until December 26, 2004, Banda Aceh was a relatively little known town. On that day the Indian Ocean earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra. Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the earthquake's epicenter, and suffered further damage when a tsunami struck shortly afterwards. It was the worst hit area out of all the locations hit. 130,000 people died and many more were injured. The tsunamis resulted from an earthquake of 9.0 on the richter scale and struck at about 6:58am. The epicenter was about 155 miles off the coast of Banda Aceh.

The elected mayor and vice-mayor of Banda Aceh are Mawardi Nurdin and Illiza Saaduddin.

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

This is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It was rebuilt in 1875 after it was burnt down in the Aceh war

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banda_Aceh

islands of indonesia

2008-05-20T06:43:00.002+07:00

Islands of Indonesia

Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands according to Indonesian government estimates, with about 6,000 of those inhabited. The country extends from adjacent the Malay Peninsula in its west and into Melanesia in its east. According to a 2002 survey by National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), Indonesia has 18,306 islands. 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.

On September 21, 2007, an 8.4 Earthquake struck Sumatra near South Pagai Island, producing a cluster of 6 small new islands, and enlarging others by uplift.[1] A large portion of Indonesia is seismically active, the number, size, shape of islands continues to evolve.

Main islands

* Greater Sunda Islands
o Borneo — divided between Indonesian Kalimantan, Brunei, and Malaysia's states of Sabah and Sarawak
o Java (formerly Jawa Dwipa)
o Sumatra (formerly Swarna Dwipa)
o Sulawesi (formerly Celebes)
* New Guinea — divided between Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea

Other islands

Java

Province of Banten

* Deli
* Manuk
* Panaitan
* Panjang
* Sangiang
* Tunda
* Umang

Province of DKI Jakarta

* Thousand Islands archipelago (Kepulauan Seribu) 105 islands. Only 11 islands are inhabited.
o Angel (Pulau Bidadari)
o Ayer
o Big Bira (Pulau Bira Besar)
o Big Lancong (Pulau Lancong Besar)
o Big Umbrella (Pulau Payung Besar)
o Boy Scouts (Pulau Pramuka)
o Cipir
o Coconut (Pulau Kelapa)
o Edam
o Great Tiger (Pulau Macan Besar)
o Hope (Pulau Harapan)
o Karya
o Kelor
o Kotok
o Lucky Java (Pulau Untung Jawa)
o Onrust
o Panggang
o Pantara
o Rainbow (Pulau Pelangi)
o Sebira
o Sepa
o Stingray (Pulau Pari)
o Tidung

Province of West Java

* Rakit

Province of Central Java

* Karimun Java
* Nusa Kambangan - prison island

Province of East Java

* Bawean archipelago (kepulauan Bawean)
* Genteng
* Iyang
* Kambing Island (East Java)
* Kangean Islands archipelago (kepulauan Kangean)
* Madura
* Masalembu
* Nusa Barung
* Puteran
* Raas
* Raja
* Sapudi

Sumatra

Province of Aceh, 119 islands

* Aceh island
* Asu
* Babi
* Banyak archipelago (kepulauan Banyak), 99 islands
o Balai
o Bangkaru
o Singkilbaru
o Tuangku
o Ujung Batu
* Bawah
* Breueh
* Hinako
* Lasia
* Weh Island
* Simeulue Island

Province of North Sumatra, 419 islands

* Batu archipelago (formerly Batoe Eilanden), 51 islands
o Sibuasi
o Pini
o Tanahbala
o Tanahmasa
* Batumakalele
* Bau
* Bawa
* Berhala island on the Strait of Malacca
* Hamutaia
* Imanna
* Jake
* Lego
* Makole
* Masa
* Nias archipelago (kepulauan Nias)
o Simuk
* Pasu
* Samosir island on Lake Toba
* Sigata
* Simaleh
* Wunga

Province of West Sumatra

* Mentawai Islands
o Siberut
o Sipura (Pulau Sipora)
o North Pagai
o South Pagai
* Pasumpahan

Province of Lampung

* Child of Krakatoa (Pulau Anak Krakatau)

Province of Riau

* Rupat
* Bengkalis
* Padang
* Rangsang
* Tebing Tinggi Island
* Basu

Province of Riau Islands, about 3,200 islands

* Natuna archipelago (Kepulauan Natuna)
o South Natuna archipelago
+ Midai island
+ Subi island
+ Panjang Island, (Natuna)
+ Serasan island
o Anambas archipelago
+ Airabu island
+ Jemaja island
+ Mubur island
+ Siantan island
+ Matak island
+ Tarempah island
o Natuna Besar archipelago
+ Natuna Besar island
+ Laut, (Natuna) island
o Tambelan archipelago
+ Badas Islands archipelago
+ Tembelan Besar island
+ Uwi island
+ Mendarik island
+ Benua island
+ Panjantan island
* Riau Archipelago
o Batam
o Bintan
o Bulan
o Combol
o Galang
o Karimun
o Kundur
o Rempang
* Lingga Islands
o Lingga with nearby islands:
+ Alut
o Singkep with nearby islands:
+ Posik
+ Serak
+ Lalang
o Sebangka with nearby islands:
+ Senayang
+ Kapas
+ Kentar
+ Mowang
+ Lobam
+ Cempah
o Bakung
o Selayar, (Riau Is)
o Temiang
o Mesawak

Province of Bangka-Belitung Islands

* Bangka Island
* Belitung
* Liat
* Lepar
* Mendanau

Kalimantan

Province of East Kalimantan

* Derawan Islands
o Kakaban
o Bunaka
* Balabalagan Islands
* Bunyu
* Mandul
* Mapat
* Sebatik
* Tarakan Island
* Maratua

Province of South Kalimantan

* Laut Kecil Islands
o Matasiri
o Kalambau
o Kadapongan
* Laut Island
* Sebuku
* Karamain

Province of Central Kalimantan

Province of West Kalimantan

* Pandang Tikar
* Karimata Islands
o Karimata
* Bawal
* Galam
* Maya Karimata also just "Maya"

Sulawesi

Province of North Sulawesi

* Talaud Islands
o Karakelong
o Salebabu
o Kaburuang
* Miangas
* Sangihe Islands
o Budike
o Sangir Besar, aka Sangir Island
o Kalama Island
o Karatikang
o Para Island
o Siau Island
o Tahulandang
o Biaro
o Talisei
o Bangka (Sangihe)
* Nanusa Islands
* Karakaralong Islands

Province of Central Sulawesi

* Togian Islands
o Unauna
o Batudaka
o Togian
o Talatakoh
o Puah Island
* Banggai Islands
o Peleng
o Banggai
o Bangkulu
o Bowokan Islands (aka Treko)
+ Bowokan
* Timpaus
* Salabangka Islands
* Manui

Province of South Sulawesi

* Pabbiring Islands
* Marasende
* Doangdoangan Besar
* Kalukalukuang
* Dewalakang-Lompo
* Tanakeke
* Taka Rewataya
* Sabalana Islands
* Tengah Islands
* Selayar Islands
o Kambing Island (South Sulawesi)
o Selayar Island
* Tambalongang
* Kayuadi
* Tanahjampea
* Kalao
* Bonerate
* Takabonerate Islands
* Macan Islands

Province of Southeast Sulawesi

* Tukangbesi Islands
o Wakatobi
+ Wangiwangi Island,
+ Kambode
+ Kampenane
+ Timor
+ Kaledupa
+ Hoga
+ Linea Island,
+ Tomea
+ Talondano
+ Lineta
+ Binongko
o Moromaho
o Cowocowo
o Kentiole
o Runduma
o Anano
o Karang Kapota atoll
o Karang Kaledupa atoll
o Karang Koromaha atoll
o Karang Kadupa atoll
o Langkesi islands
* Wowoni
* Buton
* Muna
* Siumpu
* Batuata
* Kabaena
* Kakabia
* Karompa Lompo
* Kalaotoa
* Bahulu
* Labengke
* Padea Besar

Lesser Sunda Islands

Province of Bali

* Bali
* Nusa Penida
* Nusa Lembongan
* Nusa Ceningan

Province of West Nusa Tenggara

* Lombok
* Sumbawa
* Sangeang
* Moyo Island

Province of East Nusa Tenggara

* Alor Archipelago (kepulauan Alor), 14 islands + 1 (E.Timor)
o Alor
o Buaya
o Kepa
o Pantar
o Pura
o Tereweng
o Kangge
o Kura)
o Sika
o Kapas
o Batang Island
o Lapang
o Rusa
* Flores
* Komodo
* Palu'e aka Palu
* Rinca
* Rote Island
* Savu (Savu Islands)
o Rai Hawu (Savu, Sawu, Sabu, Sawoe, Havu, Hawu, awoe)
o Rai Jua (Rai Djua, Raijua)
o Rai Dana (Dana)
* Solor Archipelago
o Adonara
o Lembata (Lomblen)
o Solor
* Sumba
* Timor—divided between Indonesian West Timor and the independent nation of East Timor
* Semau

Maluku

Province of Maluku

* Buru, former prison island, with nearby islands:
o Ambelau

* Seram, with nearby islands:
o Ambon (Amboyna)
o Buano
o Haruku
o Kelang
o Manipa
o Saparua

* Gorong archipelago (Kepulauan Gorong)
o Gorong
o Manawoka
o Panjang

* Watubela archipelago (Kepulauan Watubela)
o Kasiui
o Tioor

* Banda archipelago (Kepulauan Banda)
o Ay
o Banana (Pulau Pisang)
o Banda Naira
o Batukapal
o Big Banda (Pulau Banda Besar/Lonthoir)
o Crab (Pulau Karaka)
o Hatta (formerly Rozengain island)
o Manuk
o Manukang
o Nailaka
o Run
o Saaru

* Tayandu Islands (also Tayahad), 17 islands
o Kaimeer
o Kur Island
o Manggur
o Taam
o Tayandu
o Walir

* Kai archipelago (Kepulauan Kai)
o Big kai (Pulau Kai Besar)
o Small kai (Pulau Kai Kecil)
o Kaitanimbar

* Aru archipelago (Kepulauan Aru), 85 islands (the largest are Warilau, Kola, Wokam, Kobroor, Maikoor and Trangan)
o Baun
o Enu
o Kobroor
o Kola Island
o Maikoor
o Penambulai
o Trangan
o Wamar
o Warilau
o Wokam
o Workai
o Jin Islands (Kepulauan Jin)

* Tanimbar Islands archipelago (Kepulauan Tanimbar), 66 islands, only 7 inhabited
o Fordata
o Larat
o Maru
o Molu
o Nuswotar
o Selaru
o Selu
o Seira
o Wotap
o Wuliaru
o Yamdena

* Babar Island archipelago (Kepulauan Babar), 6 islands
o Babar
o Dai
o Daweloor
o Dawera
o Masela
o Wetan

* Barat Daya Islands archipelago (Kepulauan Barat Daya)
o Damar
o Maopora
o Romang
o Wetar

* Sermata archipelago (Kepulauan Sermata)
o Sermata
o Coconut (Pulau Kelapa)
o Luang

* Leti Islands archipelago (Kepulauan Leti)
o Kisar
o Lakor
o Leti
o Moa

Small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea

* Nila
* Serua
* Teun

The province of North Maluku

* Halmahera, with nearby islands:
o Damar (North Maluku)
o Hasil
o Machian (Pulau Makian)
o Mare
o Morotai
o Moti
o Sayafi
o Ternate
o Tidore

* Bacan, with nearby islands:
o Kasiruta
o Kayoa
o Latalata
o Mandioli
o Taneti

* Morotai, with nearby islands:
* Rau

* Gebe Umera, with nearby islands:
o Yu

* North Loloda archipelago (Kepulauan Loloda Utara)
o Dagasuli
o Doi

* Widi archipelago (Kepulauan Widi)

* Obi Islands, with nearby islands:
o Bisa
o Gomumu
o Obilatu
o Tapat
o Tobalai

* Sula archipelago (Kepulauan Sula)
o Lifamatola
o Mangole
o Seho
o Sulabesi
o Taliabu

Small volcanic islands in North Maluku

* Mayu
* Pisang (North Maluku)
* Tifore
* Lawin
* Boo Islands

New Guinea

Islands on the west of the main New Guinea island

Province of West Papua

610 islands, 35 inhabited

North of New Guinea Island:

* Asia Islands archipelago (kepulauan Asia)
o Fani
o Igin
o Miarin
* Ayu Islands archipelago (kepulauan Ayu)
* Mapia Islands north of Cenderawasih Bay
o Bras Island
o Pegun Island
* Bantang (Batangpele), with nearby islands:
o Minyahun
o Penemu
o Yar
* Kabu Islands (kepulauan Kabu)
* Kalis Islands (kepulauan Kalis)
* Mansuar, with nearby islands:
o Kri

* Raja Ampat archipelago (kepulauan Raja Ampat or Four Kings archipelago): over 1500 islands
o Batanta
o Gag
o Fam Islands (kepulauan Fam)
o Misool with nearby islands:
+ Babi
+ Daram
+ Ketimkerio
+ Polee
+ Wagmab
+ Walib
+ Warakaraket/Warakaget
o Nusela Islands (kepulauan Nusela)
o Rombombo Islands (kepulauan Rombombo) - near Sorong
+ Doom
+ Kabra
+ Tsiof
o Selawati
o Waigeo
+ Gam
+ Kawe
+ Me
+ Uranie
+ Wayag
+ Yeben
+ Kofiau
* Sariga Islands (kepulauan Sariga)
o Selawati, nearby islands:
o Batanta
+ Igiem
+ Jefman/Yefman
+ Warir
o Sayang
o Su Islands (kepulauan Su)
* Wai (on the strait of Dampier)
* Segaf Islands, due south of Misool.
* Valse Pisang Islands, due east of Misool.

Other islands in West Papua Province:

within Cenderawasih Bay:

* Auri Islands archipelago (kepulauan Auri)
* Meos Waar
* Rumberpon
* Roon Island
* Meos Angra

in Sebakor Bay:

* Karas
* Semai

in Kamrau Bay:

* Adi Island (in Kaimana regency)
* Aduma

Others:

* Sabuda (near Fatagar Tuting cape)

Province of Papua:

* Biak Islands (kepulauan Biak aka Schouten archipelago):
o Biak
o Padaido Islands (kepulauan Padaido)
o Numfor
o Yapen
o Mios Num
o Kaipuri
o Supiori
* Kumamba Islands (Kepulauan Kumamba)
* Podena Islands (Kep Podena)
* Moor Islands archipelago (kepulauan Moor) in Cenderawasih Bay
* Komoran
* Yos Sudarso (Dolak, Kimaam, and formerly Frederik-Hendrik Island)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_of_Indonesia

Savu Island

2008-05-18T06:55:00.000+07:00

Savu

Savu (also known as Sawu, Sabu, Sawoe, Havu, Hawu, Hawoe) is an island which is situated midway between Sumba and Rote, west of Timor, in Indonesia's eastern province, East Nusa Tenggara. Ferries connect the islands to Waingapu, on Sumba, and Kupang, in West Timor. It is also possible to fly to Savu from Kupang.

The Savu Islands (Kepulauan Savu) include Rai Hawu, Rai Jua and Rai Dana. The three islands are fringed by coral reef and sandy beaches. Rai Dana is a small, uninhabited island, situated thirty kilometres south-west of Rai Jua. From April to October, deep ocean swells pound the south facing coastlines.

The land is covered for the most part by grassland and palms. The climate is dry for large parts of the year, due to hot winds blowing from the Australian continent. Most rain falls during the months from November to March. Between 82% & 94% of all rain falls during the west monsoon, with little or no rain falling for the months of August to October. The mean annual rainfall for Savu Island is 1019 mm. During the dry season, the islands' streams dry up, so the islanders depend on wells for their water supply.

The population is about 30 000. Savu has strong historical ties with Hinduism in Java and the people consider themselves of Hindu origin. The society still performs traditional animistic beliefs, known as Djingi Tiu. Dutch missionaries introduced Protestantism which remains on the islands today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savu

biggest island of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara,Sumbawa

2008-05-17T08:30:00.002+07:00

SUMBAWA

Sumbawa Island is the biggest island of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara and is located east of Lombok and west of the Komodos and Flores.

Despite the dominance of Islam, tradition (adat) remains strong here. Although outsiders call the whole island “Sumbawa”, on the island this term is only used for the west. Sumbawa Island comprises of 4 regencies: West Sumbawa (capital: Taliwang), Sumbawa (capital: Sumbawa Besar), Dompu (capital: Dompu) and Bima (capital: Bima). Each regency has its own distinctive atmosphere and history. Sumbawa Island is three times the size of Lombok but holds just 1 million people. Therefore the island is a true nature paradise. The island stretches 300 kilometres east-west but its width varies from 15 to 90 kilometres.

The two main ethnic groups of Sumbawa Island are the Tau Samawa who mainly reside in the Sumbawa district and the Dou Mbojo who live in the Bima district. The Samawa’s language is close to that of the Lombok Sasaks and Balinese to the west whereas the Bimanese language belongs to the eastern part of Eastern Indonesia. Sumbawa Island has a dominant Sulawesi influence, especially in architecture and the coastal population includes Bugis and Makassarese settlers. The Bima district is distinctively Arabic but a few kilometres east of Bima city, near Wavo, old traditions are strongly followed still today and ancient rituals connected with ancestral spirits are conducted regularly.

Just recently archaeological excavations were conducted on Mount Tambora, Sumbawa’s volcano, discovering a complete city buried under 40 meters of volcanic ash together with ancient Chinese porcelain items.

Mount Tambora erupted in 1815 and was recorded as the greatest eruption in known history. Once the highest volcano in Indonesia, Mount Tambora was truncated to 2,851 meters and the cone holds a huge caldera. A three day trek up to summit leads through dense rain forest and savannah areas. The highlight at the end of the trek is a boat trip to the island of Satonda consisting of the top of an emerging volcano (300 m) with a salt water lake. The island is home to many bird species and endemic fish as well as sea turtles.

The regency of West Sumbawa is most likely the most beautiful in regards of nature. Isolated pristine beaches and turquoise waters line the west Sumbawa coast from Taliwang to Sekongkang. Most visitors to Sumbawa race straight to Bima to catch the boats to Komodo and therefore this area has been completely ignored by tourism with the result that the area is a real paradise for outback adventure. But the visitor is not only blessed with countless sparkling bays, the area also comprises of interesting history and traditional art work such as hand loom weaving and rotan crafts. Traditional dances going back to early Arabic influence and pre Islamic graves can add to the West Sumbawan experience.

Sultan Palaces in Sumbawa Besar and Bima, Dutch heritage in Wavo and Sulawesi style weavings in Dompu as well as first class surfing in Dompu and West Sumbawa are other attractions not to be missed.

Parts of Sumbawa Island resemble landscapes of North Australia and explain the Wallace Line such as Lake Taliwang covered with huge lotus flowers. Large herds of water buffaloes can be observed on lonely beaches and shy monkeys play in rain forests.

http://www.indonesialogue.com

the capital of Indonesia,Jakarta

2008-05-15T06:21:00.000+07:00

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, located on the northwest part of Java.Jakarta has been called a study in contrasts: traditional and modern; rich and poor; spiritual and wordly stand side by side in this bustling metropolis. Among the 8 million people who call Jakarta home, one find representatives of the many diverse ethnic and cultural groups which shape Indonesia, a reminder of the nation’s motto: ‘Unity in Diverse’. You may have to search high and low in this multi-cultural collage to find one of the proud ethnic Jakartans, called "Orang Betawi".

Their language.Betawi Malay, has two variations, conventional Betawi Malay, spoken by elder people and bred in Jakarta, and modern Jakarta Malay, a slang form spoken by the younger generation and migrants.

Jakarta is the port of entry for many tourists and business people. It is home to a dynamic contrast between Western-style skyscrapers, modern urban life-styles and traditional Indonesian culture. It’s rapid growth into a metropolitan city reflects the economic, political, social and industrial development of the nation. In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centers. It contains many tourists attractions such as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful ‘Indonesia in Miniature’ Park), restored colonial period buildings, island resorts in the Pula Seribu (Thousand Island), and an extensive beach recreation complex called Ancol.

Districts

Jakarta is administratively divided into the following unimaginatively named districts:

* Central Jakarta (Jakarta Pusat, postal code: 10XXX) - an aptly named district and the site of Jakarta's symbol, the National Monument. Presidential palace, office buildings,hotels, Mangga Dua shopping center, Menteng residential area.

* West Jakarta (Jakarta Barat, 11XXX) - Jakarta's Chinatown, museums, trading centers, nightlife entertainment centers, shopping centers and malls.

* South Jakarta (Jakarta Selatan, 12XXX) - shopping centers, malls, restaurants, hotels, nightlife entertainment center (Blok M), Senayan sports complex, residential areas.

* East Jakarta (Jakarta Timur, 13XXX) - Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Utan Kayu art community, Cibubur camping ground, industrial parks, Halim Perdanakusuma airport.

* North Jakarta (Jakarta Utara, 14XXX) - Beautiful Thousand Islands, Ancol Bayfront City, and Kelapa Gading shopping centers.

Suburbs:

* Tangerang (15XXX) - Soekarno Hatta airport, golf course, industrial parks.
* Bogor (16XXX) - Beautiful palace, botany garden, golf course.
o Depok, Bogor (164XX) - Universities.
* Bekasi (17XXX) - Industrial parks.

Accommodation

The capital city has a wide choice of fine hotels which are managed by well known international chains. These include the Jakarta Hilton, The Mandarin Oriental, Sahid Jaya Hotel, Hotel Borobudur Inter-Continenetal, Aryaduta, Grand Hyatt, Hotel Sari Pan Pacific, Hotel Indonesia, President Hotel and independent hotels like Hotel Horison, Jayakarta Tower and Hotel Kartika Chandara.

The first five are rated five-star and the remainder four-star. All three and two-star hotels, in Jakarta have air-conditioned rooms, restaurants, bar, room service and laundry with a few exceptions. Most of those in the three-star, category have swimming pools, nightclubs and shopping arcades.

Most of the one-star hotels have conditioned rooms, with attached bathrooms telephones and restaurants.

see:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Jakarta
http://www.travel-indonesia.com

welcome to Bali paradise

2008-05-14T06:27:00.000+07:00

Bali

A friendly and remarkably artistic people, the Balinese have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies, making Bali synonymous world wide with the perfect ‘tropical paradise’. Terraced ricefields dominate the landscape, rivers and small irrigation streams direct the luscious green landscape, filling the air with the enchanting sound of running almost through the center of the island. In Bali the mountains are the home of the gods. Shrouded in mystery and magic, they stretch skywards in majestic splendour. Bali’s main volcano is the sometimes explosive Gunung Agung, which is considered sacred among local people as the center of the universe. Many visitors leave with the same beliefs.

The Balinese have been more exposed to international tourist and generally speak more English than people in other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. They have managed to preserved their culture despite overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by an ever-increasing number of tourists. Bali’s International Airport, Ngurah Rai, is in the south of the island and is served by numerous international airlines and charters. In order to keep up with the growing the number of visitors and the need for their comfort, more hotels have been built, ranging from small bungalows for budget travelers to the luxurious Nusa Dua tourist resort area. Water sports have naturally gained in popularity and Bali offers superb surfing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and white water rafting.

Diving

Tiny, volcanic Bali is one of the most enchanting islands in the world. It entices a million tourists a year, drawn like moths towards an exotic flame. A flame fed by a fascination with the unique Hindu-Balinese culture of a gentle people, the legendary beauty of a land chequered by verdant rice fields studded by ancient temples, and the allure of coral seas alive with marine life beyond imagination.

The truth is, there is no better place than Bali for an introduction to Indonesia’s under-water wonderland. And no harder place to decide between time on land or under water.

In the traditional tourist stronghold of the Kuta/Nusa Dua/Sanur triangle, divers have a reef at their doorstep. It is a moderate drop, an undemanding dive made thrilling by a surprising range of fish.

There is more at Nusa Benida, 1.5 hours away by boat. Upwellings mean good visibility, bracing waters and challenging currents. Abundant and varied hard corals hug drop-offs and steep slopes rife with sweetlips, mantas and sharks. Lucky divers may glimpse the bizarre and rare oceanic sunfish and hawksbill turtles.

But the best of Bali’s waters lie beyond the tourist triangle. Discover Titan triggerfish and blue-spotted stingrays in Padang Bais mixed reef; coral walls of an underwater canyon at Candi Dasa; a kaleidoscope of fish at Cemeluk’s coastal reef; friendly fish at Tulamhen’s picturesque Liberty Wreck; and craggy reef walls blanketed by soft coral in Menjangans mind-snapping clear waters.

Hard-core divers can escape the established dive zones with a hired boat. A long ride north brings them to the Kangean Islands, to a world of coral knolls rising from sandy beds.

Irian Jaya Island

2008-05-13T07:40:00.001+07:00

Irian Jaya

Iran Jaya is a land of contrasts, with some of the impenetrable jungles in the world and snowcapped mountain peaks towering over glacial lakes. Irian Jaya is Indonesia's largest and easternmost province and covers the western half of the world's second largest island. It is a land of exceptional natural grandeur, with beautiful scenic beaches, immense stretches of marshlands, cool grassy meadows and powerful rivers carving gorges through dense primeval forests. The most heavily populated and cultivated parts of the island are the Paniai Lakes district and Baliem valley to the east.

The people of the island can be divided into more than 250 sub-groups, including the Marind anim, Yah'ray, Asmat, Mandobo, Dani and Afyat. Those in the central highlands still, maintain their customs and traditions, virtually untouched by outside influences. The different tribes have lived, for the most part, in isolation from even one another, resulting in an incredibly diverse mixture of cultures.

The coastal regions of Irian Jaya, however were visited as early as the 7th century by traders from Sriwijaya. European traders looking for spices began arriving in the early 16th century, and have left historical footprints in the area with names such as Bougainville, Cape d'Urville and the Torres Straits. It was the Dutch who made the most lasting impact on the island, when 1828 they formally made Irian a Dutch Territory, which it remained until 1962.

The Provincial capital of Jayapura is situated on hills which overlook the sea, and accessible by boat and plane. It was here that General Mac Arthur assembled his fleet for the invasion of the Philippines during the world war. Regular flights to other major parts of the archipelago are available with Garuda and Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

Welcome to Batam Island

2008-05-10T10:42:00.001+07:00

Batam is one of the 3,000 islands, which make up the Riau Archipelago and is closest to Singapore, which is only 20 km away or twenty minutes by air-conditioned ferry. The 415kms island has a population of 700,000 most of whom are Malays (85%) and Chinese (14%). A few indigenous Orang Laut tribes still live in the island.

Batam can be reached by ferries from the islands of Singapore, Bintan and Karimun. 3 different ferry operators, Penguin, Batam Fast and WaveMaster, provide services between Batam and Singapore daily. Ferries from Singapore will drop off and pick up passengers from one of the 5 international terminals in Batam: Teluk Senimba (Waterfront City), Sekupang, Batam Center, Batu Ampar (Harbour Bay) and Nongsa Pura.

Batam's air travel is handled at the Hang Nadim International Airport. The Indonesian government is planning to build a bridge linking the islands Batam and Bintan.

In addition to the oil support industries of Batu Ampar and a fast growing electronics industry, Batam now attracts increasing numbers of tourists. Many come from Singapore for a short holiday with friends and family, duty-free shopping and great seafood. The visitors to Singapore hope over for a day or weekend trip.

from : http://www.millennium-tours.com

Diving For Kids in Tropical Island - Manado Indonesia

2007-11-29T18:24:00.000+07:00

If want to make your enjoy with unforgetable tour in the Indonesia, You can go to Mapia Resort. Mapia-Onong resorts offer a low price baby sitting facility. If you want to spend the day on the boat diving or snorkeling, our patient Indonesian nannies will take perfect care of your baby and hand it back to you, bathed and happy, when you return from your day out. your children can accompany you on the diving boat if they wish to. The kids will enjoy snorkeling, and will be looked after by our competent crew members.

Mapia's swimming pool guarantees safe bathing and a lot of fun for our little guests. Children aged 8 years can join the PADI Bubblemaker programme, a beautiful scuba diving experience in a totally safe environment. At the age of 10, children might enrol in a full course and become a certified PADI Junior Open Water Diver. Please refer to the information about our scuba diving school. A vacation in Sulawesi can give so much to your child: the contact with the wildlife and with a different culture in which children occupy an important and natural role. It will be an unforgettable experience for them.

2006-11-08T13:03:00.000+07:00

Diving in Siladen Island

Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that bloom when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of fishes and schooling snappers. Siladen Island is very nice spot for both snorkeling and diving. This site is located off Siladen Island about a 45 minute trip by boat. There is a variety of exquisite soft corals at the reef top. Turtles, Napoleon Wrasses, and other small creatures are common sights here. Groupers, Butterflyfish, Sting Rays, and Spotted Eagle Rays are possible to encounter. The currents are moderate to strong. Rated : Advanced diver; vertical wall diving; depth 5-30m; av vis 25m; strong currents

Siladen Island Utara.
This dive site is located right behind Siladen Island. The current is moderate to strong – making it a site for experienced divers. This is a good place to see Turtles. Snappers, Emperor Angelfish, and reef white tip sharks are also found here. A lot of macro life at the stepped sandy bottom. Rated: Advanced diver; depth 15-25m;av vis 25m; strong currents

to reach Siladen island you can go from Bunaken Island or Manado city.

Scubapro diving and snorkelling equipment is available for rent. You can select among a full range of diving packages, including unlimited diving. If you do not have a diving certificate or if you want to improve your diving skills, a full range of PADI diving courses is offered in English, French, Italian, German and Indonesian.

The guides will take you diving at over 30 sites in the Bunaken Marine Park, one of the world's premium diving areas, and to our very own recently discovered sites. Here you will discover a full range of marine life, of all sizes, shapes and... colours! Night diving on our house reef will add a memorable experience to your stay.

At the diving center you will also be able to book other activities such as trekking, rafting, fishing and canyoning.

2006-11-05T14:52:00.000+07:00

Togian Island

Togian Island set on an approximate land area of 59, 773.27 hectares with a 108,669.99 km2 sea area reaching depths over 200 meters, the cluster is situated in the center of the Tomini Bay (Teluk Tomini) and consists of 56 islands.

The marine environment of Togian Island include sea grass beds, mangroves, and a large beauty diversity of coral reef habitats in relatively close proximity. This environment is extremely productive in term of fisheries and other marine harvest. The area also protect several endangered species, including the coconut crab and endemic primate.

The reefs and coastal areas provide habitat and breeding areas for hawksbill turtle, the green turtle and the dugong. Togian forests and skies are filled with exotic creatures such as the Togian Macaque, the babirusa, the Sulawesi Hornbill, and hanging parrots. Within this tropical paradise island, 37 villages provide bright spots of gaiety and culture of several ethnicities, including the suku Bobongko, suku Togian, suku Suluan and the suku Bajau.

resources :
http://www.world66.com
http://www.sulawesi-info.com
http://www.bodeweb.de
http://www.maleo-cottages.com

Information about Bunaken Island

2006-11-05T14:31:00.000+07:00

Information about Bunaken Island

Climate of Bunaken Island

Bunaken Islandis barely a degree above the equator and thus tropical climate. The winter season brings frequent rains, sometimes in storms lasting for several days, which make the air nice and cool but also reduce visibility. The high season is thus the dry summer season from June to August, when temperatures climb to 35° but visibility reaches a maximum.

Get in Bunaken Island

Bunaken Island is about 45-60 minutes by boat from Manado city. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests/tourist. Alternatively if you want to go to Bunaken Island you can use a public boat leaves daily except Sunday at 2 PM, or you can charter a boat anytime.

Fees or Permits get in Bunaken Island

As of 2006, entry to the park costs either 50,000 rupiahs /day (US$5) or Rp 150,000 rupiahs /year (US$15), usually paid at your lodgings. As proof of payment, you will receive a plastic tag that must be carried at all times; it is waterproof and can be attached to your diving gear.

2006-11-05T13:20:00.000+07:00

Welcome to Bunaken Island

Bunaken Island National Marine Park is an officially protected and recognized nature reserve. With a Northern and a Southern, section it exists out of two main parts.

The Bunaken Island National Marine Park was formally by Indonesian goverment established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of national marine parks. The Bunaken Island National Marine Park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of theBunaken park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua Island, Mantehage Island, Nain Island and Siladen Island. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists. The waters of Bunaken Island National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear, refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest : corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken Island. The Bunaken Island National Marine Park has around more than70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii Island. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where more than 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific ocean, are found. Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the Bunaken park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park. Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts. Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. If successful, Bunaken Marine Park will stand as an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

resources :
http://www.sulawesi-info.com
photos :
http://www.divetrip.com
http://www.merelyscene.com
http://www.geocities.com/smilinghostel
http://www.pulisanresort-sulawesi.com
http://skyscrapercity.com

Diving in Alor Island

2006-10-08T15:43:00.000+07:00

The undeveloped Alor Island regency is home to just two percent of republic of Indonesia's population. The Alor Straight is a first class, undiscovered scuba diving region and one of Indonesia's best kept diving secrets.

The water's surrounding the Alor Island regency are extremely rich with varied reef profiles, including walls, seamounts, rocky outcrops, and pristine coral-reefs and othe sea animal. The secret dive site in the Kalibahi Bay is home to harlequin shrimp, sea horses, ghost pipefish, wonderpus, mimic octopus and hairy frogfish.

Sustainable fishing practices and eco tourism are prevalent in the Alor Island region and there are no signs of reef degradation. Opportunities abound to interact with the locals on the various islands, who are a traditional seafaring people. Visibility underwater is extremely good, the water is warm and the density of divers is minimal making Alor a perfect tropical scuba diving destination.

sources :

http://www.regal-diving.co.uk

photos :

http://www.alor-island.com

http://digilander.libero.it

http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl

Most interest place in alor island

2006-10-08T15:23:00.000+07:00

Most interest place in alor island

A lot of villages on the Alor islands still follow a traditional lifestyle, depending on their isolation and historical factors. In the Alor Island villages some of the houses, if not all, are three-tiered and thatch covered. To visit these villages takes some time and patience, as transport can be irregular and road conditions bad. However, there are some villages that can be reached easily. They are not far from Kalabahi and still follow the old lifestyle. Villagers are generally very happy to receive visitors.

Most markets outside of Kalabahi still use the traditional bartering system. Visiting a market gives you a good idea of the local life. Markets along the coast attract people from all over the island archipelago, arriving in all sorts of watercraft. Those who wish to visit a local market will have to rise early. Transport to local market
s usually leaves from the main terminals in Kalabahi.

Because of its young volcanic geological nature there are some remarkable things to be seen on Alor. It’s only active volcano, Gunung Sirung (Sirong Mount), probably one of the least explored volcanoes in Indonesia, can be easily reached from Barunusa on Pantar.

sources :

http://www.alor-island.com

photos :

http://www.alor-island.com

http://digilander.libero.it

http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl

Welcome to Alor Island

2006-10-08T15:08:00.000+07:00

Welcome to Alor Island

Alor Island is the last group of islands in the far eastern end of the Solor-Alor archipelago. It is about 65 kilometers from Timor Island. East Timor can easily be seen from the beach in Kolana, east Alor Island. The island archipelago consists of 15 islands. The largest inhabited island is Alor Island, followed by Pantar Island, Pura Island, Ternate Island, Treweng Island, Buaya Island, Kangge Island, and Kepa Island.

According to the latest consensus there are about more tahn 200.000 people currently living on Alor, of which the majority -75 %- are Protestant, the rest are almost all Muslim, only a few villages have the Catholic faith. Nevertheless spiritual belief and traditions are still strong.

Alor is one of the 14 regencies in the province Nusa Tengarra Timur. It consists of 9 sub-districts and 158 villages. The head of the local government is the Bupati.

The regional government is seated in Kalabahi, the one and only town on the Alor islands. All the main commercial and administrative activities take place in Kalabahi. According to estimations about 60.000 people live in and around Kalabahi.

Linguistically Alor is remarkably diverse, according to a recent survey by the Leiden University in Holland; there are approximately 14 different languages on the Alor islands. Most of these languages are related to Papuan languages, except the language spoken by some fishing communities, which is commonly referred to as bahasa Alor or more correctly bahasa Lamaholot. This is an Austronesian language and is related to languages spoken in East-Flores. (For more infomation about Linguistic variation on Alor visit: www.letleidenuniv.nl/aapp/alor.html )

The Alor islands were formed by volcanic activity and are very rough and jagged. Kalabahi is one of the only large flat areas on Alor. This is also the reason why the colonial Dutch government decided to move the capital and main port from Alor- Kecil to Kalabahi in 1911.

Agriculture still dominates the economic structure of Alor. Nevertheless the contribution of the agricultural sector to the island’s economy is still relatively small. Much of the farming is traditional subsistence farming where the products of the lands are used for own consumption. Other aspects are that the market prices are very low, the infrastructure is poor, and that there is little knowledge of other farming techniques.

However, the local government is trying to improve the infrastructure and agricultural input to the local economy, in cooperation with partner organizations. New cash crops and farming techniques are being introduced, some with remarkable results. A good example is the village of Apui, where some high quality vanilla is being produced.

Slowly but steadily Alor is gaining a position on the regional and international market, products such as turmeric, seaweed, tamarind, candlenut, sandalwood and cloves are finding their way to ports all over Republic of Indonesia. Some examples of Alorese products that are on the international market are black pebbles, vanilla, seed lack and pearls.

Despite being far away from international trade centers and seaports, Alor lies right next to East-Timor. Historically Alor and East-Timor have always been close neighbors, it is hoped that soon old trade relations and export links can soon be re-established. This reunion could have enormous economical opportunities for both islands.

sources :

http://www.alor-island.com

photos :

http://www.alor-island.com

http://digilander.libero.it

http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl

Getting to Flores Island

2006-10-08T14:50:00.000+07:00

Connecting service (one plane change) is available from every part of the world to Denpasar, Bali on China, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Singapore Airlines , EVA, Malaysian Airlines. Merpati Nusantara Airlines fly regular from Denpasar City( Bali Island ) to Maumere and twice a week from Denpasar City ( Bali Island) to Labuan Bajo (Bajo Port - West Flores Island).

For those who prefer a little more comfort, many tour operators in Bali offer 7days cruises that include a stop at Komodo Island

AIRCRAFT USED :
There are only one type of aircraft used F27, consisting of 42 - 51 seats

AIRLINE COMPANY :Merpati Airlines & Pelita Airlines

TRIP FROM FLORES TO KOMODO ISLAND OR BIMA BY BOAT

Boat Used for Komodo trip from Sape & Labuan Bajo (Bajo Port)
Boat Size : 40 feet, Power : 110hp
Capacity 8 overnight passengers
Safety equipment : life jacket, Dinghy : 1
Communication : radio
Cabin : Open bunk bed cabin (4 - left side, 4 - right side), Dining : Upper deck dinning space
Sundeck : Upper deck, Toilet : Upper deck
Kitchen : 1, Crew & skipper

4 Hours from Labuan Bajo to Komodo one way
5 - 7hours from Sape Harbour to Komodo island One way
Labuan Bajo harbour (Labuan Bajo) a few minutes from airport
Sape Harbour (Bima) 2 hours from airport

our team get this information from :
http://www.bali-travel-online.com

Welcome to Flores Island

2006-10-08T14:07:00.000+07:00

Flores island lies between Sumbawa Island and Timor islands is an abbreviation of Cabo da Flores which was used by Portuguese sailor in the 17th century to identify the cape on the eastern end of the islands because of its unique underwater gardens. The sea gardens extend a long most of the northern coastline and offshore reefs and they are most profuse near Maumere city where a diving resort and and also Riung resort. Divided by mountain chains and volcanoes, the island populated by ethnic groups with their own traditions and languages.

Mt. Kelimutu, 1.690m fifty years ago, had three lakes, one lake was blue green water, one fiery green and one red. Thirty years later, the colors had changed to blue, red brown and cafe au lait. Now, Ata Bupu Lake is a dramatic dark-brown. Ata Polo are dark red-brown, and only Nuwa Muri remains aquamarine or turquoise as it apparently always was. No one can explain the cause of such color changes except to suppose that different minerals are dissolved in the waters of each lake.

The countryside surrounding the lake, though no longer so "natural" as in the days of early Dutch visitors - some hundred years ago - is still mountainous and dramatic enough with panoramic views all side

Flores Coastline
Riung :
Journeying across Flores island, tantalizing glimpses of the coastline - Riung : Pulau Tujuh Belas (seventeen island) , "nature preservation". Enjoying snorkeling in enormous "aquarium" siesta on white sandy beach of Pulau Rutong, see myrids of bat colony hanging over mangrove trees.

Ropa
Feel your unforgetable experience from your trip in to a more secluded place, stay at local house, fishing, trekking, climbing mountain, sleep in a tree-huts. Finding ruins of past generation, who lived spreading a long the mountain. This trip suitable for young and middle age. It is really tropical adventure.

resources : http://www.bali-travel-online.com
images :
http://www.seaside-adventures.com
http://www.baliassociates.com
http://www.wildretreat.com

Welcome to West Sumbawa

2006-10-07T07:11:00.000+07:00

WELCOME TO WEST SUMBAWA

We would like to introduce you to a very unique area in West Nusa Tenggara - Indonesia : The Regency of West Sumbawa, with empty white beaches and crystal blue lagoons, beauty sea view, the best surfing in South East Asia, stunning jungle areas, unique gigantic waterfalls, local wild horses, a unique Arab influenced tradition that combined with Sumbawa Tradition and an outstanding history - some of the oldest historical sites in Indonesia are to be found here, West Sumbawa. The historical sites back to 2000 BC.

Arriving by ferry from Lombok Island in Poto Tano, the small harbour settlement with Buginese-style houses, most travellers continue on the Dompu - Bima Highway to get to the Komodo Islands. The small turn off to the right to Taliwang (capital city of West Sumbawa) is mostly ignored. Quite a shame, because turning off here you will virtually enter world paradise view.

Just before arriving in Taliwang you will pass by Lebo Taliwang (here there are the lake of Taliwang), covered with pink and white water lilies (during the rainy season most spectacular). The scenery and atmosphere is accelerating and will always stay in your best memories. Egrets and pelicans are regular visitors to Sumbawa Island, some coming from North Australia which features very similar flora like this area (The Wallace Line).

To the east of Taliwang, the area of Brang Rea (the "Big River" Sungai besar in Bahasa Indonesia), wide green valleys surrounded by lush mountain country and quaint Pangung villages greet you. The Pangung house, so typical for this area, is a type of clan house and at times up to 20 people live in one house. really unique ...
The cooking is still done on traditional stone ovens, heated by wood and many Pangung houses do not have bathrooms or toilets yet. The river is the life line.

Further north thick green jungles and isolated mountain villages call for adventurous trekking along crystal clear streams (you can drink straight from the rivers here, don't worry it is no polution) - just watch the leeches during the wet season! Treks on horse back can also be organised.

You will stay with members of the Sumbawa Island local community in a Pangung house and experience their vibrant daily life, eat their delicious fresh dishes and drink exquisite home grown coffee. There are no hotels here, so please be prepared for very simple amenities and facilities.

A 2000 year old historical site and superb unknown music styles will be special moments for you and you will witness something very different here. It is definitely not the typical Indonesia. Some time ago, the Talebir Foundation was established, for the protection of history, culture and environment.

The Beaches of West Sumbawa are the best. No sarong sellers, noisy motor boats or plastic garbage - just clean sands and tranquility. Turtles still visit these beaches to lay their eggs. Accommodation varies from budget to resort-style.

Handicrafts of West Sumbawa differ from those in Lombok and the quality is excellent. CCTA has started a small self-funded handicraft training program to enhance designs and creativity to achieve successful exports. This will in the long run especially help the women artisans. West Sumbawa produces superb rotan mats and basket ware as well as simple stylish pottery items.

The people of West Sumbawa are open-minded and love visitors with whom they can share their culture. The hospitality of West Sumbawans is outstanding. The language spoken here is Bahasa Samawa and around Taliwang the dialect varies again. It's a very melodious language with soft swinging sounds. That might explain why West Sumbawans love to sing most of the time.

See, listen, touch and feel all the unique things in West Sumbawa.

Sumbawa Island text resource :http://www.creativetoursasia.com.au
Sumbawa Island pictures :
http://www.judynoai.com
http://www.99venus.net
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com

Welcome to Sumbawa Island

2006-10-07T07:00:00.000+07:00

WELCOME TO SUMBAWA ISLAND

Sumbawa Island is the biggest island of the Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat - Indonesia and is located east of Lombok Island and west of the Komodos Island and Flores Island. Despite the dominance of Islam, local tradition (adat daerah) remains strong in Sumba Island. Although outsiders call the whole island “Sumbawa”, on the island this term is only used for the west. Sumbawa Island comprises of four regencies: Sumbawa Barat (capital: Taliwang), Sumbawa Besar (capital: Sumbawa Besar), Dompu (capital: Dompu) and Bima (capital: Bima). Each regency has its own distinctive atmosphere, culture and history. Sumbawa Island is three times the size of Lombok but holds just 1 million people. Therefore the island is a true nature paradise taht have unique tradition. The Sumbawa island stretches 300 kilometres east-west but its width varies from 15 to 90 kilometres. The two main ethnic groups of Sumbawa Island are the Tau Samawa who mainly reside in the Sumbawa district and the Dou Mbojo who live in the Bima district. The Samawa’s language is close to that of the Lombok Sasaks and Balinese to the west whereas the Bimanese language belongs to the eastern part of Eastern Indonesia. Sumbawa Island has a dominant Sulawesi influence, especially in architecture and the coastal population includes Bugis and Makassarese settlers. The Bima district is distinctively Arabic but a few kilometres east of Bima city, near Wavo, old traditions are strongly followed still today and ancient rituals connected with ancestral spirits are conducted regularly. Just recently archaeological excavations were conducted on Mount Tambora, Sumbawa’s volcano, discovering a complete city buried under 40 meters of volcanic ash together with ancient Chinese porcelain items. Mount Tambora erupted in 1815 and was recorded as the greatest eruption in known history. Once the highest volcano in Indonesia, Mount Tambora was truncated to 2,851 meters and the cone holds a huge caldera. A three day trek up to summit leads through dense rain forest and savannah areas. The highlight at the end of the trek is a boat trip to the island of Satonda consisting of the top of an emerging volcano (300 m) with a salt water lake. The island is home to many bird species,lizard and endemic fish as well as sea turtles. The regency of West Sumbawa Island is most likely the most beautiful in regards of nature. Isolated pristine beaches and turquoise waters line the west Sumbawa coast from Taliwang to Sekongkang. Most visitors to Sumbawa Island race straight to Bima to catch the boats to Komodo Island and therefore this area has been completely ignored by tourism with the result that the area is a real paradise for outback adventure. But the visitor is not only blessed with countless sparkling bays, the area also comprises of interesting history and traditional art work such as hand loom weaving and rotan crafts. Traditional dances going back to early Arabic influence and pre Islamic graves can add to the West Sumbawan experience. Sultan Palaces in Sumbawa Besar and Bima, Dutch heritage in Wavo and Sulawesi style weavings in Dompu regency as well as first class surfing in Dompu and West Sumbawa are other attractions not to be missed. Parts of Sumbawa Island resemble landscapes of North Australia and explain the Wallace Line such as Lake Taliwang covered with huge lotus flowers. Large herds of water buffaloes can be observed on lonely beaches and shy monkeys play in rain forests.

See, listen, touch, and feel all unique things in Sumbawa Island - Indonesia.

Sumbawa Island text resource :http://www.creativetoursasia.com.au
Sumbawa Island pictures :
http://www.judynoai.com
http://www.99venus.net
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com

Borneo Island, Home of Orang Utans

2006-09-10T23:17:00.000+07:00

Welcome To Borneo Island

Formerly known as Borneo, Kalimantan (In bahasa Indonesia) is the world's second largest island. The North and North-western part of the borneo island are the East Malaysian state of Serawak and Sabah region, with the newly independent country 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.

The tremendous outspread of jungles and wilderness, which are so rich in natural resources as timber, gas, oil and coal as well as scenic beauty - are comparable to that of a continent alone. Focal point for most visitors is the mighty Mahakam river, which meanders through thousands of kilometers through one of the worlds largest tropical rainforests, from its head water near the center of the island.The twenty main Dayak tribes - once feared as headhunters have their homes in this river basin, A remarkable varieties of plants and animals life including the famous fresh water dolphins which often accompany boats along the river make a visit to Kalimantan an enthralling venture to a different world. In year to come the Mahakam river trips are most likely to have a more modern outlook with modern crafts and all possible amenities. Unfortunately under such circumstances the Dayak village would have last their primitive charm, and a cliche scene of souvenirs shops would cluster along the riverside.

The time to take your Mahakam river trip is now...!! we hesitate to say that this tours are designed for the vigorous and adventurous visitors, but those taking these tours should be prepared for a degree of un-sophistication. River crafts have usually only one toilet on board, and sleeping accommodation is on the thin mattress, with blankets provided. If you are prepared to put up rith a little roughing up for a few days you will be guaranteed the adventure of your life time.

Tanjung Puting reserve, 415.050 hectares is situated in an ecologically diverse area of wetland, lowlands, swamp and hardwood rain forest. Borneo and Sumatra are the only places left in the world where Orang Utans (the man of the forest) still survive in their natural habitat.

resource: http://www.bali-travel-online.com

Getting to Komodo Island

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Most visitors (domestic and international) enter (Komodo Island) Komodo National Park (KNP) through the gateway cities of Labuan Bajo (LAbuan Bajo Port) in the west of Flores or Bima City in eastern Sumbawa Island, the departure point for your trip is actually Denpasar, Bali.

By Air:
Both Labuan Bajo and Bima City are serviced by regularly scheduled Air flights from Bali.

Denpasar City - Labuan Bajo
Flight Time: 90 minutes

1. Garuda Indonesia AIRLINES / INDONESIA AIR TRANSPORT
DPS - LBJ : Daily 09.00 - 10.30
LBJ - DPS : Daily 11.00 - 12.30

2. MERPATI AIRLINES
DPS - LBJ : Tue & Sat 11.00 - 12.40
LBJ - DPS : Tue & Sat 13.15 - 15.00

3. TRANS NUSA AIRLINES
DPS - LBJ : Tue & Sun 09.00 - 10.30
LBJ - DPS : Tue & Sun 11.00 - 12.30

Note: the flight schedule may change with or without prior notice

Denpasar City -Bima
Flight time: 50 minutes

MERPATI AIRLINES
DPS - BIMA : Daily 13.55 - 14.45
BIMA - DPS : Daily 15.15 - 16.05

Note: the flight schedule may change with or without prior notice

By Land:
The gateway cities of Labuan Bajo and Bima are connected to Denpasar, Bali by overland buses.

By Sea (ferry):
Travel time: approximately 36 hours

The gateway cities of Labuan Bajo and Bima are also connected to Denpasar, Bali by inter-island ferry.
Contact the Indonesia Sea Transportation Company (PELNI) at Jalan Raya Kuta No. 299, Tuban - Bali (Tel: 0361 - 763 963) to reserve a seat on the KM. Tilong Kabila, which departs Benoa Port, Bali bound for Bima and Labuan Bajo

Benoa-Bima-Labuan Bajo
Fortnightly (every two weeks) on Saturdays: 09.00-20.00 (next day).

Labuan Bajo-Bima-Benoa
Fortnightly (every two weeks) on Thursdays: 08.00-11.00 (next day).

Note: the ferry schedule may change with or without prior notice

By Sea (live-aboard):
Komodo National Park is serviced by a wide range of live-aboard boats, with return packages to Komodo National Park from a variety of departure points, including Bali, Lombok, Bima and Labuan Bajo

From Gateway Cities to Komodo National Park (KNP)
You can easily organize a shared boat charter by local boat from either ports at Labuan Bajo or Bima (Sape) to the two major points of access in the Park: Loh Liang (on Komodo Island) or Loh Buaya (on Rinca Island)

resource : http://komodonationalpark.org

feel you visiting the jurrassic Island

2006-09-02T07:32:00.000+07:00

What can you do & see in Komodo Island

KOMODO ISLAND TREKKING

There is a trekking trail of about 30 minutes from the sea shore to the site "Indonesia Jurassic Park", the Komodo lizard or "giant Lizard" (Varanus Komodensis) on it's habitat. If you have a lot of tme you also can visit to the other island nearby such as Rinca Island, Padar Island, Kerora Island, Gili Motong Island and Papagaran Island. The Komodo island group comprises of many big and small island.

Although the Komodo Island in the tropic area, the vegetation at the Komodo Island are only comprises of trees and grass (like the savannah). The forest is not too thick, and the ground is covered by the grass while there are only rare trees to grow. The situation there just like the savannah. Beside the komodo it self, the site also the home of many other animals including wild water buffaloes, deer, bird, eagle and long tailed macaque.

DIVING AND SNORKELING IN THE SEA OF KOMODO ISLAND

The water of Komodo is very ideal place for many kinds of sea activities. A lot of our visitors enjoy very much the underwater side of Komodo. It's just like the missing paradise for he underwater world lover. It has many excellent dive spots.

In the sea it's vibrant color and exotic life will enchant divers and snorkelers alike as endless schools of fish ride the waterways rushing up from deep sea vents, below them the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of florescent corals and marine invertebrates - an underwater photographers paradise.

The corals in Komodo National park are forams, cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and marine mammals , pristine, Mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugong, many pelagic, to the tiny pygmy seahorses, frog fish, you name it we've got it. The sites vary from gentle easy coral slopes to heart pounding adrenalin rides, from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean, the underwater terrain is so varied with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, unique reef, slopes, caves, swim-through, channels, bulk all with varying colors, sizes and types of colorful coral both hard and soft.

RESEARCH IN THE LAND OF JURASSIC

If you a researcher or an environmental activist, you can research a lot of object in the Komodo island. Komodo is one interesting object research, it is Jurassic animal that remain until now. beside that you can a lot of object that find out only in the Komodo Island. This research not only for biologist but for almost science such as geography, geology, anthropology, oceanography, etc

Komodo "Jurasic" Island

2006-09-02T07:31:00.001+07:00

Welcome to Komodo "Jurassic" Island

Komodo island (Pulau Komodo in Bahasa Indonesia), A-small island at the west side of Flores Island, located between Sumbawa, (west Nusa Tenggara) and Flores (East Nusa Tenggara) is home to the Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodensis)- the largest 'prehistoric' lizard in the world. actually named "Giant Lizard". And the only animal of it's kind that has survived This ancient creature can grow up to three meters in length and weigh as much as two hundred kilograms. These amazing reptiles roam freely and are fast runners as well as strong climbers, powerful diggers and good swimmers. They can kill buffalo, deer, and even cannibalize their own kind. No wonder they have survived for more than ten million years! Safely escorted by an experienced park ranger you walk through Komodo's dry savanna forest where you can see deer, wild boar and an amazing variety of exotic birds. feel you entering the Jurassic era ... see the really Jurassic lizard.

getting to Seribu Island

2006-09-02T07:31:00.000+07:00

To reach the Seribu Islands ( Thousand Island ) you can rent boat from Marina Ancol - Jakarta.

To reach Putri Island (Princess Island)
Four outboard engines speed boats will transfer you to the island from Marina Ancol at pier 9. It takes around Putri Island for a distance of about 70 km.

Kotok Island
The Resort is accessible in 90 minutes by boat from Marina Ancol scheduled daily and minimum passenger of 4 persons per departure. subject weather condition.

Pelangi Island
Pelangi Island is accessible by boat from Marina Ancol an by small plane from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport via Pulau Panjang.

Sepa Island
Sepa Island is reachable by boat in about 90 minutes from Marina Ancol.

Kelor Island
is very closed to Pulau Kapal (ship island) and pulau Bidadari (angel island). Reachable in one hour by the sea from Marina Ancol.

Rambut Island (Hair Island)
is 45 hectares large and is surrounded by coral reefs and mangrove stands. It can beach from Marina Ancol via the islands Bidadari, Onrust, Kelor, Ubi Kecil and Untungjawa.

You can explore one by one island with the boat

enjoy your holiday in Seribu Island

2006-09-02T07:30:00.000+07:00

as maritime tourism this Island tourism provide the best experiences in :

Diving

snorkeling,

banana boat rides,

water ski,

Parasailing,

Swimming,

Fishing,

Exploring one by one Island

Visit the last Dutch Building . ..

other ...? you can find other only in the Thousand Island Jakarta

The most interesting Place in Seribu Island

2006-09-02T07:29:00.000+07:00

Seribu Island - Indonesia

The Resort was designed to let you enjoy the nature, both physically and mentally. Consisting 2 islands the resort is offering a highly professional services, delicious foods and spacious cottages.

Accommodations:

Built on two island, Timur (east) Island and Barat (west) Island the resort has 56 cottages at Timur and 34 cottages at Barat.

Facilities:

Timur Island has 4 tennis courts, a continental and Indonesian foods restaurant, snack counter, souvenir shop, disco and marine sport rental shop. Barat Island has a convention hall of 180 sq meters, large, scuba diving shop, swimming pool and a Japanese foods restaurant, a Teppanyaki restaurant, fresh water swimming pool and scuba diving shop.

Bidadari Island

Being the nearest Island Resort, Pulau Bidadari is reachable in 20 minutes ride on speedboat, about 15 km. from the Ancol marina. The cottages are built among trees which provide shady and comfortable environment giving you the feeling of being integrated with the nature. And those floating over the sea give you to the touch of fishermen's home atmosphere.

To make your visit a complete one. join our organized tour to neighboring island Kahyangan, Kelor and Onrust where historical remains of the Dutch's East Indies Company of the 17th Century are preserved.

Accommodations:

Different types of cottages accommodating respectively from 2 to 4 persons per cottage.

Matahari Island

The Matahari Island Resort is situated on Pulau Macan Besar ( Great Tiger Island ) and was recently as October 1992. Most people will reach it in around two hours on the modern cruisers which leave from the Marina Ancol. Some arrive by helicopter since the the Resort has its own helipad.

Accommodations:

On the island you find 83 two-storied and nicely furnished cottages, all with double bedrooms and an extra sofa- bed. Each bedroom has its own private bath, air conditioning and telephone - the comforts of home on a tropical island. Most of the cottages have been built around the shoreline so the balconies offer you the prospect of tantalizing views over the surrounding islands and a front row seat to watch the drama of spectacular sunset.

Recreation Facilities:

For sporting facilities include two tennis courts, volley ball, badminton, table tennis, a jogging track, floor chess, billiards, sea - water rock pool and children playground. jet skiing, wind surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving (all water sports equipment can be rented on site at the Marine Shop). Nighttime fishing expeditions can be arranged too. For an evening's entertainment on shore there is the Bamboo Bar which karaoke, disco music and movie presentations. The main restaurant offers buffet - style Indonesian and European food.

Meeting Facilities:

Furnished with the necessary meeting equipment the Bamboo Meeting room can seat from 40 to 100 persons. In case you have rented the whole resort for your party there is simple seating capacity up to 150 persons in the main restaurant too.

Putri Island

Located just a few breast - stroke away from Jakarta, Putri Island offers paradise beauty on its soft and sandy beach and crystal clear water all around. A holiday resort of which you will dream to return over and over again.

Accommodations:

The cottages are surrounded by green leafy gardens bathed in a warm traditional rusticity that offers such tranquillizing atmosphere with rooms gracefully decorated and furnished in the traditional style.

Recreation Facilities:

Sport gears and recreation grounds are available entirely meant for your pleasure and leisure e.g. undersea aquarium, scuba, diving, snorkeling, fishing, canoes, glass-bottom boat, semi-submersible boat, etc.

Meeting Facilities:

A luxurious meeting room furnished with modern equipments for up to 60 persons is available.

Transportations:

Four outboard engines speed boats will transfer you to the island from Marina Ancol at pier 9. It takes around Putri Island for a distance of about 70 km.

Ayer (Anyer) Island

Located about 14 km off Jakarta, Pulau Anyer is nestled in a beautiful Bay of Jakarta with crystal clear water, white sandy beach and tropical breeze gently caressing green coconut leaves.

In ancient days, the island was the private recreational retreat of the king of the Thousand Islands and was called after the famous garden in a Mahabharata epic, Taman (park) Pringgodani.

Today it's a 6-hectare island paradise set up to make your dreams come true.

Accommodations:

Air conditioned and equipped with telephone, TV-set, refrigerator, private bath and terrace all 41 land and floating cottages and 3 bungalows are decorated with Asmat sculptures (an Irian culture) and other typical Indonesian decor, each cottage has a terrace and living room, air conditioned, private bath room, telephone, refrigerator and color TV.

Recreation Facilities:

Swimming pool, children pool, 2 tennis courts, badminton courts, volley ball courts, table tennis, indoor games room, motor boat, canoes, banana boat, jet ski, fishing, fund bike, jogging track, giant chess, children playground, billiard, karaoke.

Meeting Facilities:

A luxurious meeting room furnished with modern equipments for up to 60 persons is available. Microphone/wireless, overhead/slide projector and screen, Video VHS and TV monitor, flip chart and white board.

Other Facilities:

Anyer Restaurant & Bar, Manokwari Coffee Shop, 24 hours Room Service, Laundry , Souvenirs Shop, House Clinic.

Kotok Island

Seduce yourself to a peaceful environment of sun, sand and sea surrounded by smiling faces at your service, unparalleled facilities in diving , snorkeling, inter island tours, fishing , sailing, jogging, delicious foods of the Kotok Island birds tweeting their early morning sonata.

Accommodations:

Located in the east part of Kotok Island, this Resort has many different types of bungalows. Each bedroom has its own private bath with hot an cool water, air conditioning and private beach with sun deck and couches.

Recreation Facilities:

Jet ski, snorkeling, super float, fishing boat, beach volley, canoes, badminton , table tennis, dive shop, discothèque, coco's cafe, barbecue, chess game, etc.

Kul Kul Island Resorts

Located in center part of Kotok Island with natural breeze ventilated non-air conditioned room or comfortable air-conditioned room or comfortable air-conditioned bungalow and honeymoon suite.

Accommodations:

Located in center part of Kotok Island with natural breeze ventilated non-air conditioned room or comfortable air-conditioned room or comfortable air-conditioned bungalow and honeymoon suite.

Recreation Facilities:

Diving (with fully equipped diving shop for sales and rental). snorkeling, fishing, inter island tours, jogging track, open air restaurant & bar , mini shop, etc.

Transportations:

The Resort is accessible in 90 minutes by boat from Marina Ancol scheduled daily and minimum passenger of 4 persons per departure. subject weather condition.

Pelangi Island

Pelangi Island is located among the Thousand Island lie off Jakarta 's Northern Coast about 70 km. from Marina Ancol, Jakarta and can breached by speed boats around one and a half hour trip. Densely covered by lush palm and pine trees which is surrounded by watch sandy beach in the middle of silver clean blue waters will make this green tropical pelangi Island an ideal gateway to enjoy the sea, sand and sun.

Accommodations:

The comfortable accommodation comprises 18 hotel rooms, 29 standard bungalows and 4 executive bungalows which is well-equipped with full air-conditioning, mini bar, two beds, showers (hot and cold water) etc. all bungalows facing the beach with front terrace so that you can relax and enjoy attractive beautiful sea view and tropical sunset or sunrise.

Meeting Facilities:

Furnished with modern meeting equipment a meeting room accommodating up to 60 persons is also available. There are also other facilities such as floating restaurant, dive shop, tennis court, mini shop, medical clinic etc.

Transportations:

Pelangi Island is accessible by boat from Marina Ancol an by small plane from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport via Pulau Panjang.

Sepa Island

Once in a while you may feel the need to break away from the ordinary, to do the unusual to touch the nature. Sepa Island has it "nature" and has long been admired for white sandy beaches, crystal clear water surrounding and teeming with marine life.

Accommodations:

There are 43 neat and clean air-conditioned cottages, built in small native designed with private showers, a lavatory and terrace facing to the sea. A spacious restaurant will provide meals in different tasty menu from Western, Chinese and Indonesian, including seafood. At the same place in restaurant, there are a discotheque ready for your night entertainment.

Recreation Facilities:

Glass bottom boat, banana boat, jet-ski, fishing boat and dive sport is available.

Transportations:

Sepa Island is reachable by boat in about 90 minutes from Marina Ancol.

OTHER ISLANDS

Onrust Island

lies close to the islands Kelor and Bidadari. It takes only about one hour from Muara angke or the marina Ancol - Jakarta, to set the island. The name "Onrust" means "restlessness" in the Dutch language. The island is 1,512 hectares large. It's said to have once been the most magnificent shipyard in the Southeast Asia, in fact which was know ledged by Captain James T. Cook, the skipper or the "Endeavor" who stepped by in 1770. Onrust Island - also called Damar Besar island, lies near Tanjung Priok, Jakartas call it "Pulau Monyet" (monkey island). There is a lighthouse on this island, built in 1879.

Bokor Island

is one of the islands earmarked to become part of a nature reserve for sea life. Beautiful hard and soft corals, fishes and mollusks line in waters around the island.

Kelor Island

is very closed to Pulau Kapal (ship island) and pulau Bidadari (angel island). Reachable in one hour by the sea from Marina Ancol. The remains of a 17th century Dutch fort and shipyard are found on this island.

Rambut Island (Hair Island)

is 45 hectares large and is surrounded by coral reefs and mangrove stands. It can beach from Maina Ancol via the islands Bidadari, Onrust, Kelor, Ubi Kecil and Untungjawa. This island is also called "kerajaan burung" (bird kingdom), because it is a bird sanctuary where various bird sanctuary the island has attracted the attention of the authorities since the 1930.

Pari Island

is and ocean logical science observation. An important aspect of the studies undertaken at Pulau Pari concerns the conditions of the coral reefs and marine life in these waters.

Perak Island

has clean water and suitable for snorkeling and swimming. This is most pleasant place for camping.

Melinjo Island

near Pulau Perak, has nice bungalows with splendid scenery. This island is mostly visited by young tourist.

resource : http://www.adventureindonesia.com/jakarta-thou-isle.htm

Welcome to Seribu Island

2006-09-02T07:28:00.000+07:00

THOUSAND ISLAND - INDONESIA

Scattered in Bay of Jakarta (45 KM from Jakarta Seashore), accessible ranging from 25 minutes to 1,5 hours by speedboat off Marina Jaya Ancol Beach. The Thousand Island (Kepulauan Seribu in Bahasa Indonesia). The thousand island have a lot of variety of unique ecosystem. Thousand Island consist of around 340 islets, including sand bars.

Set in a clean blue sea filled with myriad of tropical fish living among multicolored corrals, the Thousand Island are tremendously tempting places to spend your vacation. Some of them have been developed into holiday resorts for real lovers of sea, sand and sun.

Sepa Island, Pelangi Island, Alam Kotok Island, Bidadari Island are the center of Island tourism. Furnished with ample holiday comforts such as accommodation, pool, restaurant and water sport facilities it is an ideal island tourism for a change from the routines of your life. For underwater world lovers or divers, it's a paradise .

Getting to Lombok Island

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GETTING TO LOMBOK ISLAND

By Air (Domestic flights and International flights) :

Garuda Indonesia

Daily flights from Jakarta - Jogyakarta - Mataram, and Surabaya-Mataram.

Sales Office: Hotel Lombok Raya Jalan. Panca Usaha No. 11 Mataram

Telp: (0370) 637950, 623762, Fax: (0370) 637951

Airport Office: Tel: (0370) 622987 ext: 246.

Merpati Nusantara Airlines

20 minutes short flight from Denpasar - Lombok - Denpasar.

6 flights served daily.

Sales Office: Jalan. Pejanggik 69 Mataram.

Telp: +62 370 636745, 621111, Fax: 633691

Garuda Citilink

Sales Office: Citra Mulia Antar Nusa, Jalan Jayengrana Blok C Cakranegara Lombok.

Telp: +62 370 633469, 633986, 633888

Fax: +62 370 633453

Wings Air

Effective August 13th, 2004. Daily 4 Flights AMI (Mataram) - DPS (Denpasar-Bali), DPS-AMI.

Lion Air

Daily flights from Ujung Pandang - Surabaya - Mataram - Surabaya - Ujung Pandang.

Sales Office: Citra Mulia Antar Nusa, Jalan Jayengrana Blok C Cakranegara Lombok.

Telp: +62 370 633469, 633986, 633888

Fax: +62 370 633453

ADAM AIR

Effective mid January 2005

Boeing 737-400.

Address: Jalan. Pejanggik No 100 Cakranegara - Mataram Lombok

Telp: +62 370 633999, Fax: +62 370 648966

GT AIR

Effective November 10th 2004

Denpasar - Mataram - Denpasar, Denpasar - Labuhan Bajo - Denpasar

Departure every Tues -Wed - Fri - Sun from Denpasar

For reservation, contact: +62 370 634 935

Silk Air ( International flights)

3 flights weekly from Changi Singapore Airport - Mataram Lombok - Singapore.

Sales Office: Komplek Bandara Selaparang Mataram

Telp: +62 370 636924, 628254, 634776 (MATARAM).

By Sea :

Bounty Cruise

Departs four times per week Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Benoa harbour, from Bali Island at 9 am returns 14.00 pm to Bali

Car or Passenger

Feries depart Padang Bai-Bali for Lombok every two hours, the trip takes 4 hours

Buses ply the route between Padang Bai and Denpasar City

Perama Shuttle Bus

Daily departure from Kuta area, Ubud, Candidasa directly to Mataram, Senggigi, Bangsal and Gili Island. Price includes ferry and buses for both Bali & Lombok.

For budget travelers (Backpackers), this option is recommended to eliminate hassle and bustle.

Regular ASDP Ferry

Public Ferry (approx 3,5 hours) departs every 2 hours from Padang Bai (BALI) to Lembar (LOMBOK) all day, all night 24 hours.

Ticket is easy to get once you arrive at the Harbour.

For information on Ferry Schedule, contact:

Pelabuhan Penyeberangan Lembar, Telp: +62 370 681187, 637209.

source: http://www.lombok-network.com http://www.lomboksumbawa.com

See and feel the unique of Lombok Island

2006-09-02T07:26:00.000+07:00

What can you do & see in Lombok Island

Trekking Rinjani Mountain in Lombok Island

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. The challenging three-day Rinjani Trek route from Senaru to the crater rim (Plawangan), down to the stunning crater lake then on to Sembalun Lawang, is considered one of the best treks in South East Asia. Those heading for the summit usually prefer to start in Sembalun Lawang.

A model for ecotourism in Indonesia, the community-based activities are focussed on the Rinjani Trek Centre in Senaru, the most popular starting point for the tough trek. Developed with New Zealand Government assistance since 1999, the Rinjani Trek Centre embodies under one roof (satu atap) the unique partnership of the National Park, tourism industry and local communities that has been forged to manage and protect the Rinjani mountain environment.

Coral and diving in Lombok Island

Three small islands, surrounded by coral, The Gilis, off Lombok's west coast, are fast becoming one of her main drawcards. Dive centres with all the high tech equipment and professional instructors ensure that visiting divers at all levels of experience and ability can dive in waters that have more varieties of fish than anywhere in the world - and that includes The Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea.

Gili Trawangan now appears to head the list as the most popular island - it has long had a reputation as the 'party' island mainly through a concentrated and central foreshore area of restaurants, dive operations and hotels including some luxury boutique choices.

Gili Meno, still the quietest island is a place to escape to and although it has a smaller list of accommodation options those that it has are tending towards a more up-market clientele. Snorkeling off beaches of pure white sand the coral is superb.

Gili Air has the largest local population and while it has more of a lived-in feeling than the other two islands for some that is quite possibly its attraction. On Gili Air it's possible to likewise enjoy the marine possibilities but also one can absorb some of the local culture missing on the other islands.

I addition to the Gilis there are many other dive and snorkel possibilities such as an area now being prmoted on the rugged south coast where the experienced can now dive among hammerheads and rays.

Surfing in Lombok

For one of the best surfs on the island, Bangko Bangko is about 90 kilometres from Mataram and located on the furthest point to the west on Lombok's foot. It's mostly deserted but famous in some circles for its surfing waves where it's known as Desert Point.

The trip to Bangko Bangko takes two hours but it's a beautiful drive beside the ocean where you'll see lots of white sand on the stretches of beaches beside the road side and white sandy beaches that ring the many islands (gili's) off shore such as Gili Nanggu, Gili Sulat and Gili Gede.

It's definitely one of the best surfing locations in Indonesia and the waters are also ideal for sport fishing. Slated as an area for future development Bangko Bangko already has a small resort of luxury villas located in a quiet bay only a few minutes from the surf and fishing grounds.

Play Golf in Lombok Island

No matter where you go in the world, golfers will have their way. Lombok island has its own spectacular course.

On the island of Lombok, the Rinjani Golf Course embraces most of these essential ingredients of what golf is today. They’re pretty serious about golf, too! The latest trends and record breaking distance fairways are apparent but not the be all and end all of the game. At the same time everyone is serious about improving their game, and dare I say it, winning? The bottom line, however, seems to be enjoyment - an aspect often lost in many of the more ‘sophicticated’ locations. But don’t get me wrong, if you want to talk about location, Lombok’s Rinjani Country Club Golf Club ideally positioned 500 metres above sea level in the cool foothills of the Mount Rinjani mountain range, defers to no one.

Jack Nicklaus couldn’t have planned it better. A 3,700-meter volcano looms in the distance while other smaller mountains join in to create a superb natural vista. For those used to playing at sea level or adjacent to city skylines the escape is a feeling that must create a more relaxed mental attitude to one’s game. Yes, in these conditions the last thing one thinks about is stress. It shows that there is more to a game of golf than just hittting that little ball down fairways, out of bunkers and onto greens.

The Golf Resort has a swimming pool to cool off in, villas for those who wish to stay overnight, a restaurant that serves cold beer, a driving range, a putting green and a tennis court. And the 45-minute drive from Senggigi to the course takes you through some of Lombok’s lushest countryside, passing by the water palace of Narmada and skirting Suranadi with its manicured rice terraces, old Dutch hotel, and small Hindu temple.

Game fishing in Lombok Island

Like surfing, deep-sea, game-fishing is an activity relying on a knowledge of underwater reefs, ocean floor contours, tides and currents and the weather. Mistakes can spell disaster, expertise success. Lombok being an island that has on one side a peaceful sea and the other the often times raging ocean is perfectly positioned to cater to a variety of fishing wants. Says Ted Turnbull, who fishes from his own traditionally styled outriggers: 'We may not have the latest fish catching technology, but we do have the fish. And while game-fishing in Lombok is still in its infant stages and relatively uncharted, this adds to the excitement. We surely can boast some of the best game-fishing in the world today'.

And a trip out in Ted's boat (pictured right) not only guarantees fish, but also gives you another spectacular view of Lombok. Rugged cliffs mark the southern coastline while white sandy beaches with palm trees are the norm on the western and northern coast. Of course what better place from which to see unhindered the huge mass of Mt Rinjani rising out of the inner island areas.

Here is Ted's account of a recent venture: 'Within moments of anchoring - bingo! The fish were lining up to get on board. The instant your line was in the water the bites started. The first line out pulled in two nice Trevally. After that the Red Snapper were hoisted on board by the dozen and getting bigger and bigger. Then there were Grey Snapper, White Snapper, Coral Trout, Grouper, Shark and Sea Bass. It was nothing to see a Giant Trevally of 30kgs being caught on one of our hand lines.

Visit The Central of Lombok Art and Craft

Lombok's terracota pottery is gaining an international reputation for its quality workmanship. In the villages of Penujak, Banyumulek and Masbagic, all located within one hour's drive from Mataram, one can see pottery makers painstakingly moulding vases, jugs and plates in exactly the same way as they have been crafted for centuries. Only done by women, the pottery is all shaped by hand without the aid of a potter's wheel.

There are also numerous traditional looms producing varieties of hand-woven materials of very good quality. Villages specialising in cloth-weaving are Sukarare, Pringgasela and Rambitan/Sade. Lombok is also noted for basketware which differs from village to village.

See The Lombok Traditional Performance and Culture

Peresean ("fighting art" performance with rattan shield made of cowhide)

A 'fight' performance by two young man armed with rattan sticks and shields made of cowhide. The Pekembar or a judge determines if the fight should carry on, or the is a winner.

Gendang Beleq Performance

Go to any festival or ceremony in Central Lombok and you will hear the beat of drums over all else. These big drums are called Gendang Beleq. The big shape and loud sound of the drums characterize the spirit of war, indeed, according to historians, the drums were used to escort soldiers in battle during the eras when Lombok was ruled by kings. Nowadays however the drums are used for more peaceful occasions such as in wedding carnival parades called Nyongkolan and also as a welcome for important guests.

Perang Topat (Perang Ketupat in Bahasa Indonesia)

Perang Topat (Topat War) is a ritual ceremony which is performed as an expression of gratitude to God for his blessing of fertile soil plentiful agricultural produce. This event is performed in Lingsar Park by both Hindus and Sasaks, who throw rice cakes 'topat' at each other.

The show begins at 5.30 PM after Pedande Mapuja, when the Waru flowers fall (Rorok Kembang Waru). The ceremony is usually held every year at the time of sixth full moon (according to the Sasak calendar) some time in November or December.

Lebaran Topat (Lebaran Ketupat in Bahasa Indonesia)

Lebaran Topat is a cultural event related to the Moslem religion in Lombok Island. Lebaran Topat as the tradition to celebrate Lebaran and recreation by bringing traditional food 'Topat' with variety of side dishes including vegetable, it's held in the 7 day after Idul Fitri. Lebaran Topat is held particularly in the West Lombok, started to pray for happiness and prosperity in the mosque, musholla, family grave yard and followed by recreation a long the coast line, the traditional food (topat) and variety of side dishes including vegetable dishes.

Cupak Gerantang

A dance performance based on the story of Panji Legenda, the local legends adapted from the original story from Java culture. It is loaded with social and educational messages. It's performed from 21.00 PM to 04.00 AM.

Male'an Sampi

Male'an Sampi is a traditional event in Lombok. It is a race between cattle held on flat ground about 100 meters long which is waterlogged. In Sasak language the meaning of Male'an Sampi can be divided into two word, Male'an meaning to chase and Sampi means cow. Generally, Male'an Sampi is a favourite pastime for farmers and cattle breeders in West Lombok. This event is usually held at the planing season when the farm is empty. The farmers and cattle breeders usually serve on the organizing committees of such events.

Batek Baris dance

In this marching dance, the Dutch military marching style is imitated. Most of the orders are given in Dutch, but pronounced in the Sasak dialect. The Batek Baris is usually performed as part of the traditional Pujawali ceremony processions, especially in Pura Lingsar temple in West Lombok during the Perang Topat celebration.

source : http://www.lomboksumbawa.com

The most interesting Place in Lombok Island

2006-09-02T07:24:00.000+07:00

The Most Intereresting Place in Lombok Island

SENGGIGI BEACH (Pantai Senggigi)

Senggigi Beach is to Lombok what Kuta Beach is to Bali. It is the most popular and becomes the tourist centre of the island. However, it is incomparable to what Bali is now, if anything, Senggigi Beach resembles the idyllic Kuta Beach in its heyday many years ago when it was beautiful beach, flanked by some losmens ( low-cost family-run pensions ) and restaurants.

Senggigi Beach is set in tropical greenery where palm trees are grown, and it is located in mountain background with scenic spectacles. Of an eye view, it is almost no property like three-four-five star hotels are standing there, it looks so quite and peaceful. It has beautiful beaches; fascinating sunset and coconut palm trees are completing the dream of a holiday land. Then in the afternoon, and even at early morning as you turn your eyes off the Lombok Strait there would be hundreds of sailing boats on their way to fishing and home after their night in the ocean. All these are what Senggigi Beach is for you.

THE LESSER ISLANDS OF LOMBOK

Lombok has lots of smaller islands, which are sparkling along its coastal boundary. To the north, Gili Terawangan Island, Gili MenoIsland, and Gili Air Island, are the favourite islands providing white sandy beaches, clear crystal water, beautiful marine life, and colourful coral and fish. You find a lot different variety of fish from Lombok Island.

More islands are located to the southwest of Lombok, namely Gili Nanggu Island, Gili Genting Island , Gili Gede Island, Gili Layar Island, Gili Poh Island, Gili Lampu Island, Gili Sudak Islandand many others, are all unspoilt islands. Some islands are also located off the south coast and the eastern tip of Lombok.

PURA MERU (Meru Temple)

Pura Meru is the largest Hindu Temple in Lombok and it is dedicated to the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Wisnu. The Pura symbolises the universe and has three courts. The first one is the hall with 'Bale Kul-Kul' a wooden bell beaten to call the Hindu people from the surrounding areas to ceremony. The second court is provided with two buildings where people may arrange their offerings such as fruits and flowers. The innermost is the centre court where three Merus and thirty-three smaller shrines are available. It is located in Cakranegara, and it was built in 1720.

MAYURA (The Palace of Balinese Kingdom)

It is one part of the Royal Court of the former Balinese Kingdom in Lombok and was built in 1744. It is situated close to Pura Meru in Cakranegara. The house in the middle of a large pond is called 'Bale Kambang' or the Floating House and was both a court of justice and a place of meeting for the Hindu Lords.

At the Bale Kambang some hajj-like-statues were put representing the good co-operation amongst the two larger communities, the Sasak-Moslem and the Hindu-Balinese.

In the attempt to rule Lombok, a Dutch colonial expedition came to Mayura to enforce their authority - General Van Ham the leader was killed here together with all of his men. His grave can still be seen at Karang Jangkong, Cakranegara.

MANDALIKA MARKET (Pasar Mandalika)

This market is the re-present of the old Sweta Market. Proportionally as to what Sweta Market was, Mandalika Market remains the largest public market of Lombok complete with all of its uniqueness. All kinds of Lombok product can be found here. Varied Lombok crops, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, clothes, kitchen utensils, agriculture-tools, almost anything, all arrange on its own stall and row depending on the sort of good to be sold. The grocers come from different part of the island and that also makes this market so interesting. Take your chance on listening them communicating one to another using our Sasak Language, you will be amazed - there are about 30 dialects of Sasak Language used on the island.

Mandalika Bird Market is located nearby; displaying various species rarely found nowadays, many are almost on the verge of extinction. This is an easy place to observe the bird treasury from the still existing faunas of West Nusa Tenggara Province.

NARMADA (Istana Anak Agung Ngurah)

Narmada was a summer palace for the Royal Family of King Anak Agung Ngurah, was built in 1727. It is a good place to spend some time after the hectic life of town, having beautiful gardens and an artificial lake made for ritual purposes.

A sacred spring water called 'Tirta Amerta Padmawangi' or more well-known as 'Water of Eternity', is believed to have the effect of keeping one fresh and young, can be found at the centre of the Palace. A holy temple lies at the top of the area is dedicated to Shiva and is called Pura Kalasa.

SURANADI (Mountain Resort)

The mountain resort, Suranadi, offers great freshness and is suitable as a recreational area. It has plenty of spring water and has a cold watered pool. The surrounding forest offers an opportunity to wander and enjoy the quite atmosphere of tropical greenery. In the outside yards of the hotel, exist the eels, which have been sanctified and may not be caught. Suranadi lies at some six kilometres from Narmada.

Sesaot walking site can be found at two kilometres north of Suranadi. Golong Golf Course lies within ten minutes drive to the south. Also, Suranadi produces various kinds of fresh fruits - some fruit stalls are available just near-by the entrance of Suranadi Hotel. Suranadi is an ideal spot to have fun, sport and relaxation as well.

KARANG BAYAN (Kampung Tradisional Karang Bayan)

A traditional village situated at some seven kilometres north of Narmada, whose people still practise the unique Sasak tradition and life-style. Some note that the people still follow the faith of Moslem Waktu Telu, a belief resulting from the influence of Hinduism on Islam.

An old mosque can still be found in the centre of the village, and is preserved in the original construction style. Sekepat or Sekenem pavilions are found mostly at the front of the local's traditional houses functioned as meeting places or guest receptions. And a Rumah Adat (traditional house) where the head of the village lives, is located at the centre of the village, and is regarded as symbols of unification of the entire area.

LINGSAR (Candi Lingsar)

Lingsar Temple is the most unique and holy temple found only on this fertile land of Lombok. It belongs to both the Hindu and the Moslem Waktu Telu. Some may consider this uniqueness is odd, but here it is natural and is regarded as the re-present or symbol of harmony amongst these faithful people.

There are two main praying places, one named Pura Gaduh erected for the Hindus, and Kemalik for the ones following the faith of Moslem Waktu Telu.

An artificial war called 'Perang Ketupat' held once a year somewhere between October to December - may be interpreted in various ways. One might say as thanks giving ceremony, or a ritual to bring rain and good harvest. Ketupat is boiled rice wrapped with palm leaves and is used as the weapons instead of arrows, keris dagger or spear.

PURA GUNUNG SARI (Gunung sari Temple)

Heroic patriotism remains alongside the history of Perang Puputan (suicide attack) as the last battle between the Dutch General, Van der Petter, with his troops and the King of Lombok Anak Agung Nengah with his followers (November 22, 1894). The battle, fought on the hill of Gunung Sari, was ended by the defeat of the King. A temple, known as Pura Gunung Sari, was erected on the hilltop as the witness of the tragedy. It is four kilometres from Mataram to the north.

BATU BOLONG ( Hole Large Rock)

As its name implies, Batu Bolong is marked by a large rock with a hole in it. The Pura (temple) on top of the rock, looks across Lombok Strait to Bali where Mt. Agung towers over the horizon spiking the sky, is where the Hindu people come to make offering at certain time. The story told, is that, a long time ago one beautiful virgin was cased into the sea from the top of the rock; that is why, people say, the pura was built on the spot, and why many sharks petrol the water below to protect the holy place. When the weather is fine and the sky is clear, Batu Bolong is one of the best places to witness the amazing sunset of Lombok.

MT. PENGSONG

Approximately 6 kilometres to the South of Mataram lies Mt. Pengsong that offers visitors with scenic landscapes of it's surrounding. In fact this object is provided for the energetic, as we have to climb up to the top (in approximately ten to fifteen minutes) for the best rewards. Rice paddy fields, the surrounding villages and the entire towns of Ampenan, Mataram and Cakranegara can be viewed from this top. Besides when the weather is sunny day and the sky is clear, if you view to the West across the Lombok Strait there lies Mt. Agung of Bali. Some photography opportunists frequently took this spot for the best Lombok sunset. This place is regarded one of the sacred places for the Hindus, therefore on the very top of this hill was built one holy temple with few shrines. Some also note that the monkeys that live in this area was said to be the protector of this holy place.

GETAP ( Traditional Blacksmith Village)

Getap Traditional Blacksmith Village is located at one kilometre to the South of Cakranegara. Manual labours such as pounding and hammering, blowing coal-fire with traditional air pump, heavy-sweats and the noise of bang-bang, are apart of daily routines to be found in this village. Some said that the people who become the blacksmiths of this area has been rewarded this particular job by the former Balinese King of Lombok. This talent then was inherited to the following generations. In the old time these people used to produce war-supplies, but mostly nowadays they produce all kinds of agriculture tools and daily utensils for family-houses. One thing we proud of these people are that most of them become the re-cycle agents of any wasted metal materials of cars and industries. This is in agreement to our views on environment sustainity.

THE WEST NUSA TENGGARA MUSEUM

This museum is the biggest one found in this province preserving artefacts and various historical items of Lombok and Sumbawa. Nowadays it houses over one thousand of precious items and the many Royal belongings of Bima, Dompu, Sumbawa Besar, Selaparang of East Lombok, Pejanggik of Central Lombok, Cakranegara of West Lombok, Bayan and Sembalun of North Lombok. The collections also include 1239 manuscripts conveying the ancient history of the area, written on lontar (dried palm leaves), barks of tree, and bamboo in ancient native language. This museum is located on Jalan Panji Tilar Negara in Ampenan.

SEKARBELA VILLAGE (Kampung Sekarbela)

Sekarbela Village is to Lombok what Celuk and Mas Village are to Bali. It is the centre of silver and goldsmith of Lombok. Nowadays, as this island is getting more popular with its pearl productions, hence the village is better known as the pearl centre. People can easily buy pearl jewelleries in silver or gold bounding; plenty of jewellery-shops line the main roadsides of this village. It is located at some two kilometres from Mataram to the South.

RUNGKANG (Kampung Rungkang)

This village is one of the handicrafts centres of Lombok. Many kinds of Lombok handicrafts are produced in this village, such as the various items of woodcarvings, boxes of plaited elephant-grass, woods, bamboos and barks of trees. Antique souvenirs also can be found, such as old Lombok keris-daggers, antique weavings of various origins, porcelains etc. Visitors can easily shop and buy those things at the many souvenir-shops and handicrafts-centres of this village. It is located at some two kilometres from Cakranegara to the North.

THE LOMBOK KUTA BEACH

This beach is very popular in Lombok, besides it is the best beach found on this island. The local Sasak legend said that one beautiful Princess named Putri Mandalika (Princess Mandalika) had found her tragic faith here. She was so perfect and the kind of loveable woman by all of her people. There were some Princes deeply felt in love to her and all insisted on marrying her. She was so confused, but then The Almighty God gave her a solution for which she obeyed in her devotion and for her love to all of her people. Shortly it is said she was transformed into sea-worms of the local language is called 'Nyale'. One annual ceremony is held here on Kuta Beach, and this become inseparable tradition of the local Sasak people. To remind on her, some locals named the beach as Putri Mandalika Beach. Some hotels and bungalows now are available in Kuta Beach. It is about 60 kilometres from Mataram to the South.

BANYUMULEK, PENUJAK AND MASBAGIK (Pottery Villages)

Pottery is the speciality of these villages. In the old time of Lombok most of the daily utensils were provided by nature combining with a simple process of creation. The clay soil was transformed into kitchenwares, and any sort of construction of facility necessary to support the watering systems for town and field. The people of the villages have created the pottery for many years and most seem to possess natural talent as well as the motivation to keep the tradition of pottery making alive.

It is worth witnessing these creations and mingling with the people will offer many enjoyable moments. While little kids are forming strange figures and their parents are spending their farm-off-time on simple looms, are the best moments for watching people at work along with the process, constantly in progress of teaching skills to the young.

LABUAPI WOODCARVING VILLAGE

There are lots of woodcraft centres in Lombok, but it's apparent that Labuapi village has the biggest productivity. The village itself has approximately 42 units of industry centre and accommodate 350 workers with product capacity of 24.900 pieces annually. There are various items produced here. Wood-masks, seashell decorated boxes, indigenous Lombok statues, wood-plates, and the many kinds of wall decoration of wood etc. The interestsants may include the visit to this village in half-day or full-day sightseeing.

SUKARARA VILLAGE

One might wonder that Indonesia's weaving art form is so various and distinctively from island to island, and even from village to village. The Lombok traditional weaving at Sukarara Village will impress you with its beautiful motives and designs. Glance at very young girls cleverly playing the threads and the wooden looms, creating patterns using figures of the moon, flowers, dragons, etc.

The tradition amongst the local Sasaks is that weaving is considered an essential talent that a woman should possess as much as the ability to grow and process rice, however, the local Sasak men are as much the weaver as the women.

PUJUT, RAMBITAN AND SADE VILLAGE

Pujut, Rambitan and Sade Village are the most interesting Sasak traditional villages where most of the inhabitants practise and maintain their traditional and cultural values. The Sasak villages exist mostly on sloping hills, with the people living on farm produce and the rising of cattle. Rice and corn, their annual crops, can be cultivated only during the rainy season, with most families keeping animals such as chicken, goats, cows and buffaloes for the food the offer during the summer season.

Sasak villages are distinctively marked by grass-roofed-houses symmetrically constructed on wood frames and most with bamboo-walls. Bale is the construction for a living house, built with a single room functioning both as a sleeping room and kitchen. Lumbung is a curve-like construction functions as a rice store. Most Sasak houses are built with a lumbung and some also include sekepat or sekenem, construction which functions as guest reception or meeting place.

Pujut, Rambitan and Sade Villages are located in the southern part of Lombok, some sixty kilometres from Mataram.

BELEKA AND LOYOK VILLAGE

These villages are situated in central and east Lombok, and both are featuring craftsmanship of a high standard. The rattan handicraft of Beleka Village and bamboo handicraft of Loyok Village offer quality and artistic design. Woodcarvings are also available in Beleka Village. The interestsants may have a wander through these villages in a full-day handicrafts tour.

TETEBATU, LOANGGALI, TIMBENUH AND LEMOR

These mountain resorts are situated in East Lombok featuring greenery and breathtaking views. Tetebatu provides walking paths through sawah (paddy field) and ladang (dry field) heading to preserved forest where communities of black-monkeys and rare species of birds can be seen. The art performance at Loanggali will impress you throughout the whole set of traditional dances acted by the locals. Timbenuh highland offers a vantage point from which half of Lombok with its panoramic views can be observed, and also the scenic spectacles, which extend across the Alas Strait to Sumbawa Island.

On the way to Lemor you will pass the grave of Rajah Selaparang the King of the first Moslem Kingdom of Lombok and that one of his daughter Princes Dewi Anjani, the Empress of all refined creatures inhabiting Mt. Rinjani, Lemor then awaits your discovery.

SEMBALUN (kampung Sembalun)

It is an isolated village, situated at more than a hundred kilometres to the north of Mataram, located in the middle high-land, surrounded by mountains, with the towering peak of Rinjani Volcano offering an endless beauty in the background. The village stands still, on its own, complete with its unchanged traditions performed in every aspect of daily life.

To become one of the gateways to climb Mt. Rinjani, this village provides mountain climbers some simple home-stays, porters and tourist information centre.

BAYAN (Kampung Bayan)

Having been made the base for trekking to Segara Anak Lake, Bayan Village is more popular than its neighbouring village, Sembalun. However, within the District Bayan some interesting objects can be found here and are still little known due to less publicity. Mesjid Bayan the 16th century old Moslem Mosque which is protected and preserved as part of the cultural heritage of Sasak people, Sendanggila Waterfall which is said to be connected to the crater lake of Rinjani Volcano, and Senaru Traditional Sasak Village the last village passed before ascending the Rinjani Mountain, all those are featuring unspoilt uniqueness.

RINJANI VOLCANO (Gunung Rinjani)

The majestic pinnacle of Mt. Rinjani dominates the panoramas of Lombok. This island's highest peak (3726 metres) is seen from anywhere in Lombok. Some consider that Rinjani Mountain is sacred place; therefore it is common to observe the ritual practices made by the people on the lakesides or at certain places around the Crater Lake. This magnificent mountain has become the highlights of Lombok tourism and long has attracted visitors or climbers from both Indonesian and international tourists. Nowadays various facilities have been created to ease the climbers in accessing the volcano. Trekking tour guide and mountain porters have been provided with sufficient skills and knowledge's through training programs held by local government and some affiliated NGOs. There are two-access points to trek this mountain, ones may take Sembalun for the best access in ascending the mountain peak, and others may take Senaru access point to catch for Segara Anak Crater Lake. And ideal duration for this trekking tour is three days and two nights for Senaru - Base Camp III - Segara Anak Crater Lake return, and four days three nights for Sembalun - the Summit - Segara Anak Crater Lake - then return via Senaru Village.

TAJUNG LUAR

Tanjung Luar Village is well known for its quality fresh fish and it supplies the fish consumption of mostly the entire area of Lombok, consequently it is named the largest fishing village on the island. Fishing enthusiasts are recommended to fish here for the best catches. Barracuda, big tuna, stingray, sharks are favourite sea dwellers to be found off the coast. Just at near-by Tanjung Luar, a large traditional salt-farm with piles of crystals, and the farmer's simple kilns for further process, are observable during the drive to the village.

Trace-The-Past (Japanese Memorial Objects)

The island of Lombok is also preserving memorial objects in form of the Second World War ruins. Although most people will not spend most time for a moaning ceremony, but some would trace back what the-left-of-the-past. There are number of places spread-apart secluding the island, at Gili Terawangan, at Bangko-Bangko, at Tanjung Ringgit, at Lembah Sempaga, at Gunung Sari and many others which were hidden along with the history gone-by. Due to the distance, which extend in between each memorial object, at least two or three days tour is required to cover all of the destinations.

SURF-LOMBOK-WAVES

The most of Lombok south coasts offer the surf-seekers challenging waves of various grades. We have spotted out four surf-points, which are highly recommended for our surf lovers. Within the Lombok Kuta Beach we reserve two points, namely Gerupuk that provides neutral waves, and Aik Guling provided mostly for the left-handed. Several kilometres to the West of Kuta Beach we have found Pengantap desert point that provides various grades of attractions, but it is ideal only during the periods of June, July, August, December and January. Our next attraction is at Ekas Beach that reserves challenging waves and reef-break-point, reachable by boat or by land from Kuta Beach in approximately one and half hour cruise.

SEGARA RIVER - RAFTING (new)

An international standard river rafting now has taken place on over 8 kilometres long of Segara River, near Gondang, North of Lombok. A well-experienced rafting operator known as Lombok Inter Rafting operates this new attraction in Lombok, and it has made years of studies towards the establishment. The rafting location, the Segara River, is set amidst the tropical greenery of rain forest secluded by dense woods and ridges. The trip to the start point is also no less attractive as it passes through heartbreaking trails into woods and valleys. All rafting facilities of international standards are provided, including life insurance.

LOMBOK GOLF COURSES

There are two 18-hole golf courses have been developed in Lombok. Namely Rinjani Golf Country Club, which is located in Peresak Village, near Narmada, 30 minutes drive from Mataram or 45 minutes from Senggigi; and Lombok Golf Kosaido Country Club, which is located in Sire Beach, approximately 45 minutes drive from Senggigi or Mataram. Both courses offer international standard services, complete with golf club and restaurants. You can just come and play, compete with your friends for joys and funs, or exercise your skills by challenging the course's obstacles for your future championship.

resource : http://www.visit-lombok.com

Unique things from Lombok Island

2006-09-02T07:22:00.000+07:00

CULTURE IN LOMBOK ISLAND

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. The circumcision is performed without anesthetic as each boy must be prepared to suffer pain for Allah.

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 Islandare 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. Travellers 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 emmergency.

Food

In the main Tourist area; Senggigi Island, 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.

resource : http://www.lombok-network.com