Resorts & Hotels In Bali

Bali is overflowing with all types of accommodation – beautiful tropical villas, luxurious resorts, private cottages and small low-rate hotels. One of the top rated places to stay on the island is Hotel Como Shambhala Estate located in Ubud. The posh residence features elegantly-designed interiors, swanky rooms overlooking picturesque gardens, high-class furnishing, and extra spa treatments and yoga classes. Another top-line tourist site is the St. Regis Bali Resort offering utmost relaxation in a combination of modern design and antique influence. The impressive accommodation spoiles guests in a restaurant, a bar, a hairdressing saloon and exclusive apartments looking over colorful gardens. Bvlgari Hotel is another sparking lodging, displaying a stunning collection of Balinese antiques and beautifully-designed artistic ornaments, so it is a grand resort complex suitable to both business and leisure travelers.

Bali offers a wide variety of cheap holiday packages and great lodging deals, all providing cautious and friendly services. One of the preferred budget hotels in Bali is Bali Lovina Beach Cottages. The tranquil vacation place is located amidst a lush tropical garden, right in front of the picturesque Lovina Beach and offering excellent facilities for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Another comfortable accommodation for budget-minded travelers is Ida Hotel. The boutique lodging boasts a great range of amenities and services including a dining place serving traditional Indonesian cuisine, a huge pool with Jacuzzi and a pool-side massage parlor. Sorga Cottages are located only a short distance to the popular Kuta Beach and tender calm and private holiday atmosphere, modern facilities and luxuriously designed rooms – everything at affordable prices!

The island of Bali is a place where tourists can spot the magnitude even in the air of the enchanting place – it is saturated with calmness, quietness and wisdom. Along with exquisite hotels and beach resorts, this Indonesian holiday destination is abundant in tropical plants and rare trees. The fragrance of the variety of blooming flowers is everywhere – hibiscus, jasmine, orchids and magnolia scents fill every street of the holy place. Hundreds of diverse bird and animal species find their home on the island. The sightseeing options are immense – the active mall volcano of Mount Batur, the amazing waterfall at Gitgit, the Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, the Reptile Park sheltering a great number of snakes, lizards and crocodile are only a few of the "must see" landmarks in Bali.

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Posted in: Bali Hotel

Bali Beaches

Everything you need to know about Bali Beaches

Bali beaches.... from palm fringed white sand on the east coast to the wilder black sand beaches on the west coast, with sleepy undisturbed coves in-between.

Once the haunt of surfers, Bali's beaches now welcome visitors in search of paradise with superb hotels and excellent facilities. Check our beach guide.

Beaches In Bali

Legian

At the Legian you can basically do whatever you wanna do – play paddle ball, football, get a massage, manicure, read, meditate, exercise… Here it is easy to differentiate the workers and the holidayers. The former has a lot more clothes on compared to the latter. The second group of people in the Legian all seems desperate for a golden tan, which isn’t difficult to get and in the nicest way possible in this lovely beach of swirling skirts and beautiful waves. Another wonderful thing about this place is the array of different nationalities all busking together under the sun, giving an additional experience to the place with the colours of the world vibrant and alive here.

Jimbaran

This sleepy cove where little fishing boats huddle together has some time ago been livened up by the opening of Four Seasons Resort and Intercontinental. It has steadily gotten more and more vivacious what with the grilled seafood restaurants being set up all around the beach and the water sports equipments being available for rent.

Kuta

This beach was one of the places well-loved by the hippies of the 60’s. It is now the centre of Bali entertainment – shopping, clubbing, food etc. You can find them all here and at the top of its notch. Yet do not ever forget to bargain! The shop vendors will be merciless if you don’t show some cunning. In Kuta you can basically do everything you would like to at a beach and more!

Tuban

Here in Tuban is where all the big hotels can be found. This is the stretch between the airport and Kuta, and it is a lush area with good security.

Uluwatu

Formally the dedicated playground of the best surfers, the developments that have ensued on the barren bukit and this means that the beach is now more accessible and anyone and everyone can take advantage of the stunning coasts. The go-getter surfers looking for the best spots that others wouldn’t bother venturing to in the hassle that’s involved have now lost their exclusivity to Uluwatu.

Sanur

It takes about 20mins from Kuta to travel to Sanur. This beach is located on the eastern part of Bali. It is ideal for snorkeling and just chilling, attracting millions of paradise-seekers each year. Besides being the first beach resort, Sanur is also where Bali’s largest traditional village is.

Nusa Dua

A posh place with big name hotels lining the smooth white sandy beach. Some of these resorts are so exclusive they even have their own private beaches but in all, most areas are accessible.

Nusa Lembongan

This beach is one of the more popular destinations for day cruises on the many pleasure boats sailing from Bali. You can also do diving or snorkeling which are also very popular here as the aquamarine bays are brimming with colourful sea life

Padang Bai

This beach is also the harbour where boats from Lombok take off. The fishing village here is a lovely, laidback place where a short walk over the headland will take you to intimate white sands.

Candi Dasa

This beach is the gateway to east Bali. It used toi be heavily eroded away because of the coral picking that was the main source of livelihood for the locals then. Now beach restoration efforts have been started and tidal walls erected to maintain the beach.

Lovina

Lovina beach is one of the few coves between Singaraja and Seririt that offers peaceful, safe waters. Despite the grayish tinge of the sand, it is blissfully quiet and well-loved by the crowd who shun the glitzy loud beach resorts of the south. A sight well worth the watch is the dolphins that play in the water just off Lovina beach…

Tanah Lot

This beach in Bali is in the west coast. It is exotic and beautiful.However the seas here are treacherous and surfing isn’t recommended for beginners. For safe swimming do head on to another beach. The rice fields here are the most fertile in all of Bali.

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Posted in: Bali Beach

Bali is Magical : Simply the World's Best Island for Tourism

Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.

Travel & Leisure Magazine has awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions.

Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life.  For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately carved temples.

For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this world.  Indeed, this relatively small island holds many   surprises.

This is a miraculous island indeed, for after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and international visitors alike.  Here gather a variety of visitors from around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and lakes at  Batur, Kintamani, or  Lake Beratan at  Bedugul, to those who merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach.

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Posted in: Bali-Lombok

Visiting Komodo National Park, The Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo Island is located in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago, Indonesia. Komodo is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature Finalist that has announced by New Open Word Foundation.  The Komodo dragon is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo island , Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. Komodo Dragon is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 ft) and weighing around 70 kilograms.

Komodo Dragon, Komodo Island Indonesia

In the wild their range has contracted due to human activities and Komodo Dragon are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Komodo Dragon are protected under Indonesian law, and a national park, Komodo National Park, was founded to aid protection efforts.

The Komodo dragon is a vulnerable species and is found on the IUCN Red List. There are approximately living Komodo dragons in the wild. populations of Komodo Dragon are restricted to the islands of Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Rinca, Komodo and Flores. the Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo dragon populations on islands including Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. The others live with the people, because they believe the Komodo Dragon is their ancient.

Something that make this island is worth to become one of the new 7 wonders of nature, is because there are so many Komodo Dragons in there.

In Komodo, at least 1300 of Komodo Dragons was noted on August 2009, beside 1200 others that is spread in Rinca (island) and Padar (island).

Beside Komodo Dragon, you could enjoy the best dive site for eastern of Indonesia also in Komodo. Most of the dive masters over the world have unbelieveable dive trip during their visiting to this island.

Natural state of the dry and arid make a uniqueness. The existence of vast savannas, water resources are limited and temperatures hot enough, it turns out to be the habitat favored by a kind of ancient animals Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).

Much of this national park is savanna with palm trees (Borassus flabellifer) the most dominant and distinctive. Some plants that exist in the Park, among others, rattan (Calamus sp.), Bamboo (Bambusa sp.), Acid (Tamarindus indica), bulging (Sterculia foetida), lote (Ziziphus jujuba), and mangrove (Rhizophora sp.)

In addition to the typical wildlife of Komodo, there are deer (Cervus timorensis floresiensis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), ajag (Cuon alpinus javanicus), wild horse (Equus qaballus), wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), 2 species of sea turtles, 10 species of dolphins , 6 species of whales and dugongs are often seen in marine waters of Komodo National Park.

The potential of marine life in this park, there were 259 types of coral and 1,000 species of fish such as barracuda, marlin, yellow tail, red snapper, baronang, and others.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo Island

Traditional War Dance in Flores

So, I think visiting Komodo National Park and enjoy the dive sites in this island, would be come one of the best trip you have ever had in your live.

Bernard Weber, the founder of New 7 Wonders, said, "If we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it", so don't forget to vote the Komodo for the one of New 7 Wonders of Nature in here http://www.new7wonders.com/.

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Posted in: Nusa-Tenggara

Surfing in Uluwatu, Bali

The name Uluwatu came from the word "Ulu" which means "land's end" and "watu" which means "rock". It's the most exotic temple in Bali, Indonesia. The inner sanctum of the pura is perched majestically on the edge of a steep cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of southern Bali. It's a must visit travel destination for surfers and if you only on a vacation, then the spectacular view will satisfied you. Getting trading pins from Bali can make a good collection of memories.

Surfing Heaven

Uluwatu is a well known destination among surfing enthusiasts. Most of the surf spots are only suitable for advanced or expert surfers. Elsewhere on the west coast of the Bukit Peninsula, top class surfing spots are Dreamland, Padang-Padang, Bingin and Suluban.

There are 4 different sections to surf at Uluwatu. Temples has a long, hollow wave that works well on a middle to high tide. The Peak is right in front of the warungs on the cliff and in line with the cave and this break is also best on the high tide. Racetrack is a super fast but makeable barrel that works on a low tide, but does get seriously shallow. Outside Corner is considered by many surfers to be one of the best waves anywhere in the world, The Corner won't even begin to break until the swell is at least around 8' then, if your game, you are in for one long, fast ride.

Another Attractions

Besides surfing, there are lots of attractions and beautiful places you need to see. Kecak Dance (monkey dance, it's a traditional Balinesse dance) performances are held at the temple daily between 6 PM and 7 PM. Also don't forget to visit the temple that mentioned early before in this post. The temple is inhabited by large number of monkeys, who are extremely adept at snatching visitors' belonging, including bags, cameras and eyeglasses. Keep a very close grip on all your belongings and stow away your eyeglasses if at all possible. If you do have something taken, the monkeys can usually be induced to exchange it for some fruit.

When you decided to stay a night here the most recommended lodge would be Bali Cliff Resort. Rates start at US$ 100. Located in the southernmost part of Bali. Very seculed and hard to get to. It is situated high on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula with cycloramic views. The resort has a pool that overlooks the ocean. The resort also has a ballroom on site. Breakfast is included and offers a pizzeria, bar and restaurant for dining. There are many other hotels too; Blue Point Bay Villas, Bulgari Resort, Gong, Villa Moonlight, etc...

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Posted in: Bali-Lombok

Indonesia "The Ultimate in Diversity"

If you thrive in the natural world, traveling in Indonesia will delight you. Indonesia is a huge country – about the size of Japan, U.K., Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece combined. Large parts of it are only semi-tamed and remain a tropical paradise. Indonesia offers the naturalist an almost infinite variety of flora and fauna such as the Titan Arum – the world’s tallest flower, the Rafflesia – the world’s biggest flower, the Borneo and Sumatran orangutan, the Komodo dragon, Sumatran tigers, Javanese one-horned rhinos, and much, much more.

  

Indonesia is a trekker’s heaven that allows you to enjoy breathtaking views from atop any one of the 150+ Indonesian volcanoes or slog through the Sumatran tropical rainforest on your way to attempt to spot the elusive Sumatran tiger.

If modern society and culture is your thing, head for Indonesia’s capital - Jakarta - where you can don your tuxedo or evening gown and join the elite of Indonesian society and diplomats from around the world for an evening at the Jakarta Symphony.

  

Those into indigenous culture could get lost in a world unto itself. Immerse yourself among the 300+ tribal communities spread throughout this archipelago nation of 17,508 islands. Visit the Kabu, Bakak, Minangkabau, Dayak, or the Dani people. Drink in their culture, learn about their customs, be entertained by their traditional dance, and enjoy their traditional tribal art in the form of woodcarvings, ceramics, textiles, basket weaving, beadwork, puppets, metalwork, and jewelry. But be careful, you may have to hire a container ship to take all those memories of your Indonesia travel experience home.

  

Those who surf Indonesia are thrilled by the waves off Nusa Lembongan or one of the many other excellent surfing destinations. Indonesia hosts a number of professional international surfing competitions each year and is widely recognized for excellence by surfing professionals.

Beach lovers are sure to find their perfect beach. With over 50,000 kilometers of coastline – enough to wrap around the earth and have enough left over to go from London to New York, your perfect spot in the sun will find you.

Do you like to eat? Well, Indonesian food will capture your soul. The food here is full of flavor from chili, cumin, coriander, garlic, and a wide variety of other spicy tidbits depending on the region you are in, and whose mother's recipe is being used. Most food in Indonesia is home cooked and sold on the street in "Warungs" which are simple outside eateries, or by roving vendors who clang a bell or make some other unique noise as they make their way down the street. Don't miss the Nasi Uduk – rice cooked in coconut milk and served with meat or tofu, and sometimes vegetables.

Scuba divers will find world class diving throughout Indonesia. From the deep waters off Pulau Weh, where the Andaman Sea joins the Indian Ocean, to the incredible Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, to stunning Tulamben Bay in Bali, diving in Indonesia promises a rich experience exploring the natural underwater world.

If all this adventure stuff is not for you, don't despair. Indonesia offers tourists a whole host of 5-star luxury havens that will pamper you and succumb to your every desire. Stay in one of these oases of comfort and they will bring Indonesian food and culture to you, to enjoy in air-conditioned comfort.

The Indonesia travel experience is one which invites travelers to witness history in the making - a young emerging nation racing to blend the ancient economic, political, and cultural ways of the orient, with those of the modern age of globalization.

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Borobudur Buddhist Temple

Have you ever heard about Borobudur Buddhist Temple in Indonesia? It's a unique 9th century temple which built as a single large stupa. A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, and used as a place of worship. Measuring in 123×123 m (403.5 × 403.5 ft), Borobudur temple is the largest Buddhist structure in the world.

Architecture

Borobudur Buddhist Temple has 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building, represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.

The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The three upper terraces feature 72 small stupas surrounding one large central stupa. Each stupa is bell-shaped and pierced by numerous decorative openings. Statues of the Buddha sit inside the pierced enclosures.

You can see the 72 stupas in Borobudur's upper platform

As a single large stupa, when viewed from above, Borobudur temple takes the form of a giant tantric Buddhist mandala, simultaneously representing the Buddhist cosmology and the nature of mind. The base form also can be viewed as a Lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

Borobudur was finished in the time of King Samaratungga's reign. He is one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun.

Location

Situated in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, Borobudur is considered as one of the world's ancient wonder heritages. If you think that Bali is the only interesting place to visit in Indonesia, then you might consider it again. With over 2.5 million visitors annually (which 20% of them are international tourists), Borobudur is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.

This temple is also located near Jogjakarta, about 40 km (25 mi) northwest from the city. Jogjakarta is renowned as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Many tourists come to Jogjakarta for its strong Javanese culture and tradition.

The surrounding area of Borobudur and Jogjakarta also filled with other Buddhist and Hindu temples, including the Prambanan temples compound. So, this enormous stupa, Borobudur Buddhist Temple, is a perfect spot for your travel destination.

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Posted in: Java

Diving Experience in Bunaken, Sulawesi

Bunaken is one of the most spectacular spots for diving and admiring marine life. Other places nearby are also ranked among the favorites by locals and international tourists Located near Sulawesi or Celebes, Indonesia, Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen Island, Lembeh Strait are perfect destinations for amateur and professional divers.

Bunaken is an 8.08 km² island in the Bay of Manado, situated in the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bunaken forms part of the administrative city of Manado , capital of North Sulawesi. The marine Park around Bunaken is part of the  National Park that also includes the ocean around the island of  Manado Tua – or Old Manado, Siladen and Mantehage.  

Within the Bunaken Marine Park, visitors can see various strange and colourful marine life along its sea bed. To reach this park, you can take a motorboat. The journey from Manado takes around 40 minutes.  Entrance fee is 25,000 rupiahs per person per visit.

The translucent waters of the Bunaken seas enable people to clearly view numerous sea biota. There are 13 species of coral reefs in this park, dominated by edge ridges and block ridges of rocks. The most attractive view is the steep vertical sloppy coral reef that plunges down as deep as 25-50 meters.

Feast your eyes on 91 types of fish found in the Bunaken National Park, amongst which are the locally known gusimi horse fish (Hippocampus), the white oci (Seriola rivoliana), yellow-tailed lolosi (Lutjanus kasmira), goropa (Ephinephelus spilotoceps and Pseudanthias hypselosoma), ila gasi (Scolopsis bilineatus) and others.

Divers may also meet mollusk like the giant kima (Tridacna gigas), goat head (Cassis cornuta), nautilus (Nautilus pompillius) and tunikates/ascidian.

For those who enjoy scuba diving, this is a great place to be. With about 20 dive spots to choose from, divers will have the chance to swim below the sea, and frolic joyfully while admiring the sea creatures.

Make sure to visit Bunaken during its best season between May to August. That way you can explore the Park  to its fullest.

To observe some of the fascinating images of Bunaken Marine Park, you can visit our photo essay: Bunaken&Derawan Underwater Paradise

Similarly stunning are the sceneries of Kalasey seas,at the outskirt of Manado in: The Deep Water Paradise of Kalasey Seas off Manado

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Posted in: Sulawesi

North Sulawesi is Your Gateway to Diving, Travel, and Adventure in the Southwest Pacific

North Sulawesi is your gateway to diving, travel, and adventure in the southwest  Pacific. Be one of the of the lucky few to visit our unspoiled tropical islands. North Sulawesi has an abundance and variety of accommodation and facilities available to meet the needs of travelers from backpackers and budget class to four-star resorts. The natural wonders of North Sulawesi make it well suited to both organized and adventure travel. The full spectrum of scuba diving activities is available in North Sulawesi.

The diving ranges from the magnificent coral gardens of Bunaken Marine Park and Bangka Strait to the walls of fishes and underwater volcanoes of the Sangihe Islands to the unusual and rarely seen critters of Lembeh Strait. Land-based activities focus on rain forest hiking in Tangkoko Nature Reserve (home to the largest concentration of black crested macaques and the world's smallest primate, the tarsier) and Dumoga Bone National Park (home to the fabled babirusa pig deer), along with viewing scenic waterfalls, volcano climbing and river rafting and even golf. Exploring the Tomohon/Tondano highlands area, rice paddies, coconut plantations and flower gardens rounds out the activities.

Dive the clear waters, steep walls and world-class coral gardens of Bunaken Marine Park. Visit Bangka Strait for an encounter with whales, manta rays and other pelagics. Sail to the Sangihe Islands and dive in search of a sunken city, through walls of fishes or on an underwater volcano. Explore Lembeh Strait and discover its rare and unusual marine life and WWII shipwrecks. Whether you are a novice or an expert, we have the diving for you.

Visit the highland towns of Tomohon and Tondano. Clove and coconut plantations, rice paddies and flower gardens fill our highlands with the same beauty and serenity found in our smiling people. Visit a small pottery village and a Chinese Buddhist Temple. Pack a lunch and hike to a mountain waterfall. Enjoy a soak in one of our hot springs. Overnight at a cottage on Lake Tondano. Relax in the peaceful atmosphere and cool mountain air, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Climb to the rim of a steaming volcano. Raft down one of our whitewater rivers. Trek through our majestic Asian rainforest. See the world's largest concentration of black crested macaques and glimpse a tarsier, the world's smallest primate, at Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Visit Dumoga Bone National Park where you can search for the fabled babirusa pig deer. Take a 3-day overland trip to the rainforests of Central Sulawesi.

Perhaps North Sulawesi's most valuable asset is its genuinely friendly and open people. For your next holiday, come visit the smiles of Sulawesi - you won't be sorry.

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Posted in: Sulawesi

Baliem Valley of Wamena - Dani Tribes - West Papua Travel Guide

High up in the mountains of central Papua at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level, hemmed in by steep green mountain walls, lies the stunningly beautiful Baliem valley, home of the Dani tribe.

The Baliem Valley, also spelled Balim Valley and sometimes known as the Grand Valley, of the highlands of Western New Guinea, is occupied by the Dani people. The main town in the valley is Wamena. Baliem valley is 72 km. long, and 15 km to 31 km wide in places. It is cut by the Baliem river, which has its source in the northern Trikora mountain, cascading into the Grand Valley, to meander down and further rushing south dropping 1,500 meters to become a large muddy river that slowly empties into the Arafura Sea.

The Baliem Valley was once dubbed Shangri La and it is easy to see why. The Valley is incredibly lush and fertile and is surrounded on all sides by towering peaks of 2,500 to 3,000 metres. The fertility is such that the valley has been farmed for 9,000 years but it was only discovered by westerners in 1938! There are three mains tribes inhabiting the Baliem Valley: The Dani in the base, the Lani to the west and the Yali in the south-east. Each tribe has a distinct culture. One sure and interesting way to distinguish between the tribes is from the Koteka, or penis gourd, sported by the male members. The men of each tribe tend to the growing of the gourds with the three tribes each cultivating a different style. The Dani use a long, thin Koteka, the Lani sport a medium sized, wide cannon-like gourd, and the Yali wear the longest of all.

The Dani

Entering Dani territory involves a journey into a deeper reality.

The inevitable pig-feast on arrival is your rite of passage into their unique culture for an engrossing a four or five hour intense experience. You will find yourself in a simple, traditional compound surrounded by fully greased and painted Dani tribes-people wearing their ceremonial best.

The whole elaborate affair is deeply spiritual, far more than a photo-session can ever capture. Here you will be warmly greeted by the amazing Chief Yali, Kelly's adoptive father who is legendary amongst the Dani for his kindness, generosity and skills in the art of co-operation and avoiding conflict. With this unique and privileged connection you will receive the full weight of Dani hospitality.

The Lani

Like the Dani, the Lani are expert farmers utilising a highly effective and efficient irrigation system to produce abundant crops of Sweet Potatoes (Ubi), Tobacco, Beans, Taro, Spinach, Sugar Cane and Bananas. Much of the Lani lands lie in a beautiful oasis interspersed with checkerboard patterned sweet potato gardens. The Lani are more stockily built than the medium-bodied Dani and their lands are more densely populated. They tend to congregate in largish villages rather than the small compounds which dominate Dani territory.

The weather in the Valley is predominantly sunny and trekking along the river amidst the terraced farmlands and wondrous forests is a trekker's paradise. Trails are usually clear and maintained as local people travel them and this makes the trekking pretty comfortable.

The Yali

The Yali tribe lives high up along the valley ridges in the Jayawijaya mountains. The land here is rugged and thinly populated. The tribes-people live in wooden huts with roofs made of tree-bark and they are grouped into small compounds. A vegetable garden and dense rainforest will surround each compound.

Trekking in the Yali area is more strenuous than in the lower reaches of the Valley but it is perfect for the fit trekker who wants to experience truly virgin rainforest and the unique people who live amidst it.

Only recently emerged from the Stone Age, the Dani are known as the “gentle warriors”. With their simple tools of stone and bone, they nonetheless, managed to sculpt green fields that hug the hills, where they grow root crops, and raise pigs. They have also built outposts and lookout towers to defend their valley from hostile tribes.

Because of the fertile soil and their agricultural skills, the Dani together with the sub-tribes of the Yali and the Lani, are, therefore, the most populous in Papua, living scattered in small communities near their gardens among the steep mountain slopes. Today, they also cultivate bananas, taro and yams, ginger, tobacco and cucumbers.

The men's and women's huts (locally called the honai) have thick thatched roofs, which keep the huts cool during the day and warm during the cold nights.

As far as the outside world was concerned, the discovery of the Baliem Valley and the unexpected presence of its large agricultural population was made by Richard Archbold’s third zoological expedition to New Guinea in 1938. On 21 June an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) found what the expedition called the 'Grand Valley'. Since then the valley has gradually been opened up to a limited amount of tourism.

 

In summary, The Baliem Valley will provide a never to be forgotten experience. The inhabitants of the valley are essentially peace-loving agrarians who welcome visitors wholeheartedly.

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Posted in: Papua

Raja Ampat Maritime Tour, Papua, Indonesia

Raja Ampat Maritime Tour was located in the Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua Province, Indonesia. For the divers and the lover of the underwater world, Papua was diving heaven that presented the astonishing wealth of the sea biota. Some that were famous were Raja Ampat Waters. This region was called as Coral Reef Paradise (coral reef heaven) by the world divers.  

Raja Ampat Islands was not only regarded as the biggest marine park in Indonesia, but also was believed in had the biggest wealth of the sea biota in the world. The underwater nature panorama of Raja Ampat began known when a Netherlands Nationality skilled diver named Max Ammer visited this region. The first visit of Max Ammer during 1990 to Raja Ampat began with his wish to investigate the ship and the aircraft that foundered in World War II. In 1998 he asked Gerry Allen, a fisheries expert from Australia, to hold the survey in this place. How most startled is Gerry Allen saw underwater resources that were so heterogeneous in very big number.

Gerry Allen afterwards contacted International Conservation to hold the survey of the underwater wealth in Raja Ampat Waters during 2001 and 2002. Results of this survey proved that Raja Ampat Waters were the coral reef region with the biggest wealth of the sea biota in the world. The content of the wealth of the sea biota of Raja Ampat is biggest all over the area of the triangle of world coral, that is Philippine-Indonesian-Papua Nugini. The triangle of this coral was the heart of the wealth of the world coral reef that was protected and appointed to be based on conservation of the protection of international nature. From around the 600 's the coral reef kind in the world, among them was in waters of Raja Ampat.

Because the width of Raja Ampat Waters as well as its wealth of the sea biota that were varied, tourists who wanted to enjoy the underwater panorama could choose several diving points. Around the Kri Island, for example, tourists could witness beauty of the coral reef as well as very amazing various fish kinds, including the Queensland fish kind grouper that was famous, kuwe fish, large-scale, the groper, the coral shark, tuna, napoeleon wrasse, barracuda, as well as giant trevally.

The other diving point was in Sardine Reef with the depth around 10 metres. This place presented various fish kinds including the Parrotfish fish that had the sparkling color. If wanting to try the sensation being in the tunnel of the coral stone, tourists could dive around the Kaboei Bay Rock Island. In this island was gotten a gulf that beneath was a tunnel of the coral stone. In Kaboei Bay Rock also was gotten coral caves that were occupied by the bat, as well as in several places were found the remnants of human bones. Still many others the diving points that could be investigated by the divers, like in The Passage, Fam Island, as well as the Misool Island.

Apart from enjoying the wealth of the sea biota, tourists could also enjoy sites of the underwater history, among them the warship as well as the fighter that foundered in Raja Ampat Waters. Not only that, tourists could also enjoy beauty of the islands in the territory of Raja Ampat. The mainland of the islands in this region was relative still natural, the lagoon and the gulf quite protected, had the coastal carpet that enchanted, as well as clear sea.

Interested tourists visited Raja Ampat could leave from Jakarta or other big cities headed the Domine Eduard Osok Airport, Sorong, and West Papua. From the Domine Eduard Osok Airport, tourists could continue the trip headed Raja Ampat used the fast ship had a capacity of 10 people with cost around 3 million rupiah in one trip. The trip by the fast ship needed time around 3 - 4 hours.

In the underwater tour region of Raja Ampat tourists could receive facilities that were adequate in several available sub-areas, like in the Kri Island, Waigeo, Mansuar, and Misool. The other alternative was by choosing to spend the night for days on the ship (Liveaboard) by leasing the Pinisi ship that was modified especially for the diving activity for several days.

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Posted in: Papua

Visit Maluku Islands, Indonesia

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

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

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

some active volcanoes throughout the Maluku Islands

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

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

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

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

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

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

Halmahera Islands

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

Seram Island

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

Banda Islands

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

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Posted in: Maluku

Traveling Indonesia Visit Taman Nasinonal Kepulauan Seribu - Thousand Islands

Taman Nasional Kepulauan Seribu with the meaning Thousands of Island. Thousand Island lies in the waters of Jakarta Bay which has 100 miles length and 108,000 ha width. There’re about 110 islands, in some large and small group of islands in the Thousand Island. Those islands divided into tourism islands, conservation, historical island, and island for community empowerment in accordance with the characteristics differences between each island. Thousand Island is a district under the government of DKI Jakarta Province and is headed by a regent which office is on Pramuka Island. As the capital district, Pramuka Island has a complete infrastructure such as school buildings, sports facilities, an integrated security system to health facility and hospital units with some speed boat ambulance.

Thousand Island waters with its diversity of marine’s flora and fauna makes this place become comfortable place for nautical sports and recreation. You can experience various kind of sports and recreational facilities with marine nuances at Thousand Island such as Jet Ski, Canoe, fishing, wind surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Other sports that tourists usually like to do there are jogging, tennis, beach volley, billiard, and golf are also available at Thousand Islands. 
  

Tourism Islands in the Thousand Island have a good quality of accommodations with unique architecture and interesting interior. Some of the lodging has a room with a standard suite and executive room. Other supporting facilities on the tourism islands of Thousand Islands\ are such as meeting/convention room, bar, restaurant, karaoke, discotheque, swimming pool, tennis field, beach volley and souvenir shops.

There’re 45 islands that are meant for tourism destination which are classified into general tourism and special tourism. Among the islands that are included in Thousand Island, six of them have been made as the tourism islands. Those six islands are Ayer Island, Bidadari Island, Kotok Island, Putri Island, Pantara Island, and Sepa Island. Those tourism islands equipped with adequate and even complete facilities and infrastructure.

Some tourism islands provide a package called "inter island tours" that allow tourists to visit the islands around with all the charm various natural beauties they have. Islands that do not provide resort equipped with home stay accommodation that are provided among the residence of local people who lives there. Among the islands that provide such accommodation are Pramuka Island and Untung Java Island.

Some management of the tourism islands has its own transportation facility. Likewise to the government of Thousand Island district. The ships are operated every day to facilitate the needs of tourists and local residents to visit tourism islands or other island with local people settled there. The ships depart from the Marina Ancol at 08.00 or at 09.00 and return from the island at13:30 or at 14.00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB)

It will require about 20 minutes to reach the nearest island and three hours to reach the farthest island by riding speedboat from the port of Marina Ancol.

In addition to the speedboat, other transportations used are timber ships (some kind of traditional boat) with capacity of 50 - 60 passengers. Those raditional and motorized boats that is equipped with life jackets for passengers are departing every day from Muara Angke Port to Pramuka Island and Panggang Island with transit time about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Travelers can also use having fun with glass bottom boat at Putri Island to see the diversity of underwater wealth there or playing with banana boat with family or friends.

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Posted in: Jakarta

Visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) Jakarta, Start Your Trip There Since Morning!

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah/TMII (literally translated: “Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park”) is a recreation area and park which is the synopsis of virtual aspects of Indonesian life, representing the cultures, natures and heritages of Indonesian people. TMII located at an area called Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, with total width of 165 hectares.

It was on 13th March 1970 in a meeting in the residence of President Soeharto (the 2nd President of Indonesia), Mrs. Siti Hartinah Soeharto, President Soeharto’s wife, proposed an idea of creating a way to raise the senses of nationality, devotion and proud of Indonesia among Indonesian people. The idea was then realized by constructing a recreation area which represents the wealth and beauty of Indonesia in miniatures, which named Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). The construction of TMII was started in 1971, and officially open on 20th April, 1975.

The traditional pavilions appear as traditional houses and buildings from 26 provinces in Indonesia. The pavilions are supplemented with ornaments and motifs from each territory. They are also equipped with traditional furniture that is unique to each territory. Some pavilions you could see in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah are including traditional house of Tongkonan from Tana Toraja, Bolon from Batak Toba, Bagonjong from West Sumatera, Joglo from Java, and Lamin from Dayak Ethnic at East Kalimantan. Since there are 26 provinces represented at TMII, hence there’re also 26 pavilions in there. However, there’s a plan to construct six more pavilions which will represent six new provinces in Indonesia.

You could get around Taman Mini Indonesia Indah by walking, driving personal vehicle, renting bicycle or using transportation facilities provided by Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Transportation facilities provided by Taman Mini Indonesia Indah are including TMII ride that brings people to travel around TMII, mini train, Samirono passageway train, swan boat, and cable car (named Sky Lift Indonesia).

Weekend and holidays always been the peak season at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. If you’re not a type of person who enjoys crowds, it’s recommended to visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah on weekdays.

Since the recreation area in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is wide enough, it’s good for you to start your trip there since morning.

Do not forget to bring umbrella or hat to protect your head from sun, especially if you intend to get around by walk.

As far as possible please wear flexible footwear which you could wear and un-wear easily. When you enter the pavilion you’re not allowed to wear footwear.

The easiest transportation to reach Taman Mini Indonesia Indah so far is by taxi.

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Posted in: Jakarta

MONAS - Monumen Nasional have become icon of Jakarta City, Indonesia

MONAS is the name of Monumen Nasional (National Monument).  Monas was located in the centre of the Jakarta City, Indonesia. Every day the holiday, Monas was always visited by many tourists. Here you could enjoy many tour kinds and the educational material. Tourists could climb onto the monument that soared as far as the Monas peak. And you could play sport with the friend and the family. Tourists could also enjoy the garden that was beautiful with various bushy and beautiful trees. Or tourists could enjoy water entertainment that was interesting.

Monas was built be as high as 132 meters and have the shape of lingga yoni. All this building was covered by marble. In the peak part was gotten the cup that above was gotten the flame from bronze that the height 17 meters and the diameter 6 meters seriously 14,5 ton. This flame was covered gold weighing 45 kg. The Monas flame consisted of 77 parts that were united. 

The Monas history. Monas began to be built in August 1959. The Monas building whole was drafted by the Indonesian architects that are Soedarsono, Frederich Silaban and Ir. Rooseno. On August 17 1961, Monas was declared by President Soekarno, and began to be opened for the public since July 12 1975. Whereas the territory of the city arboretum around Monas beforehand was known by the name of the Gambir Field. Afterwards could change the name several times became the Ikada Field, Merdeka Field, Monas Field and afterwards became the Monas Garden.

Monas was built be as high as 132 meters and have the shape of lingga yoni. All this building was covered by marble. In the peak part was gotten the cup that above was gotten the flame from bronze that the height 17 meters and the diameter 6 meters seriously 14,5 ton. This flame was covered gold weighing 45 kg. The Monas flame consisted of 77 parts that were united.

The yard of the peak of the width 11x11 m. To reach the yard of the peak, the visitor could use the lift for a long time the trip around 3 minutes. Round the lift was gotten the ladder of the emergency. From the yard of the Monas peak, the visitor could see skyscraper buildings in the Jakarta City. Moreover if clear air, the visitor could see the Salak Mountain in West Java and Javanese Sea with the Thousand Islands. The low yard of the width 45x45 m. High from the Monas foundation to the low yard that is 17 meters. In this part the visitor could see the Monas Garden that was the beautiful city forest.

At the bottom of Monas was gotten a room that is the Nasional Museum. The height is 8 meters. This museum put forward the history of the struggle for the Indonesian Nation. The area from this museum was 80x80 m. To the four sides of the museum was gotten by 12 dioramas (the window of the show) that put forward the Indonesian history from the time of the ancestors of the Indonesian Nation of kingdoms to G30S PKI.

Tourists could also eliminate your bored feeling by enjoying the Monas Garden, that is a city forest that was drafted with the beautiful garden. In this garden tourists could play together the herd of deliberate deer was brought in from the Bogor Palace to enliven this garden. Moreover tourists could also play sport in this garden with the friend and the family. The Monas garden was also supplemented with the water reservoir danced. The performance of water danced this was very interesting to be watched tonight. Water will move with beautiful in accordance with the song wave that was played. Moreover was also showed the colored laser to this dancing water.

For tourists who wanted to maintain the health, apart from playing sport in the Monas Garden, tourists then could do the reflection massage for free. In this garden was provided the stones that was sharp enough for tourists step on while reflection massage. In this garden also was provided by several fields’ football and basketball that could be used by anyone. If tired tourists walked in the garden measuring 80 hectare this, tourists could use the tour carriage. This garden was free was visited by anyone and was open free for the public.

To be able to enter the Monas building, tourists could go through the entrance in and around the statue of Prince Diponegoro. Then tourists will go through the underground path to enter Monas. You could then go through the entrance in the Monas yard the northern part. The opened hour of Monas was at 9.00 the morning till 16.00 in the afternoon.

To visit Monas, there were many transport kinds that could be used by you. If the user's tourists of the train, you could use KRL Jabodetabek the kind express that stopped in the Gambir station. You could then use transport facilities of the bus of Trans Jakarta. If tourists used the personal vehicle, was available the special IRTI parking lot, or tourists could park the vehicle in the Gambir station.

Monas could become one of the choices of tourists to go on a trip with the family and the educational place of children to more knew the Indonesian history. Tourists could then enjoy fresh air from shady trees in Monas. And don't forget to maintain the cleanliness of the Monas Garden in order to stay beautiful to be enjoyed by everyone.

If you come to visit Jakarta a time to visit Taman Monument Monas. Here you can learn the history of Indonesia and see the sights of the city Jakarta.  

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Posted in: Jakarta