Tolire Lake - Maluku

Tolire Lake, Ternate. Photo: Michael SjukrieLong time ago, in a small village, a father impregnated his own daughter and causing God fury. God cursed the father and his daughter-the form of big Tolire Lake reflected the fathers figure and the Small Tolire Lake reflected his daughter. Other myth about the lake, local people believe that the lake is the house for many invisible crocodiles.

Tolire lake covered 5 acre and 50 m depth located 10 km from the main city, Ternate and reachable by bus or Ojeg (ojeg: rented bike) depend on the mode of travel (if you manage your travel individually/couple, you better take ojeg, otherwise, for those who wish to travel in a group, hiring bus would be perfect). Tolire lake stated in the deep crater of Mt. Gamalama, the highest mountain in North Maluku with highest peak is 1715 m above sea level.

The relaxing and oozing view of Gamalama mountain, the crystal clear water of the lake, the luscious green view of the forest, the enchanting sounds of chirping birds and the lovely smile of Ternates people, all bounding together make this place glowing with beauties

Getting There
Lot of eager visitors questioned this simple-easy-issue. Dont worry, all you have to do is prepare your packs and then take flights. From Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport flight toward Hasanuddin Airport, Makassar (it takes you 3.45 hours). Dont forget to have SARABA in the airport (SARABA is local beverage)

Take 30 minutes flight from Hasanuddin Airport to Sultan Baabullah Airport, Ternate. You are getting close to Tolire Lake and Gamalama Mountain. Be patient during 10 km trip by hired-bus (US$28, rate subjected to US$1=Rp. 9019,- January 10th, 2007). For individual traveler, use ojeg (rented bike drives by owner), costs Rp. 10.000,-/hours

Where to Stay
You can stay in non-star hotel owned by local people, installed with Television and air-conditioning

Moving Around
You can acces the lake using hired bus if you wish to travel in a group, while "ojek" will be the perfect choice for individual traveller. Dining GuideThere are several foods, beverage and fruit to boost-up your taste and surely make your visit unforgettable. Unique and genuine! Thats how the visitors, whether it Indonesian or foreigner express their feeling the moment they give it a try.

• SARABA : made from coconut milk, brown sugar and ginger
• Sagu : local food made from sago palm
• Durian: a very famous fruit in Indonesia with strong aroma. You can buy it along Tolire Lake and it costs you Rp. 5.000,-
• Bagea: traditional cake made from sagu, crispy and a bit salty. And the best way to enjoy it is with sweet black tea
• Makron: made from sagu (sago) mix with almond
• Nasi Jaha: made from submerged rice in coconut milk-put in bamboo stick-grilled in charcoal
  

Souvenir Tips
You can buy various souvenir in Pasar Gamalama or in the middle of Ternate town, traditional food, local handicrafts and etc. Make sure you know how to bargain the price to get the best price

Other Things to See or Do
After an extraordinary experience at Gamalama Mountain and Tolire Lake, dont forget to visit other places of interest which located near by the lake. Make sure you dont miss these:

• Small Tolire Lake
• Ngade lake
• Sultan Baabullahs grave
• Old forts as the legacy of Portuguese
• Sulamadaha Beach
• Gamalama market
• If you are not tired enough, found your self in Saturday night pub crawl and count 1-2-3 step for the POCO-POCO (line dancing focused on food-step)

Travel Tips

• Throwing small stone using slingshot to the lake (you can buy the stone from the kids who sale it Rp.1.000,- for 5 stones). What is unique about this? Many visitors claim when I throw it to the lake, its never touch the water, Believe it or not! Thats how they told their experiences.
• Bring your sweater or jacket
• Bring your camera/handy cam because you wont let your self miss all the beauties, the lake, the mountain and the people as well
• Dont bathing in the lake. Local people believe, if somebody bathing in the lake, something bad will happen. While the visitors said, it's way too cold.

Do You Know? Facts about Ternate
Famous for various spices
Place for many historical building as the legacy of Portuguese and Netherlands in the past.

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Baliem Valley - Papua

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

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

Another remarkable custom of Dani is that women will amputate their finger when their relatives die, hence doesnt be surprise when you see women with missing finger. To enhance the quality of your experience in Baliem Valley, guide is essential since there are no clear maps or signage initiated for visitor. The guide will help to lead the track, communicate with the local people and in advance, the guide will inform the tourist about local dos and donts.

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

• Trigana Air Services provide daily flights into and out of Wamena. Spot the Trigana Air Service Offices at Sentani Airport terminal and Wamena Airport terminal.
• MAF
• AMA
• Yajasi
• Manunggal Air
• Hercules carrier provide by Indonesian army (TNI)

To access Baliem Valley, you can rent car or public bus from Wamena. For those who are adventurer and cultural observer in heart, stay and mingle with the Baliem Valley people is possible, just make sure your guide booked it before your visit. Go Show? Affordable.

If the first alternative is way too extreme, you can stay at hotels at Wamena:

• Wamena Hotel at Jl. Homhom 61
• Srikandi Hotel at Jl. Irian 16
• Pondok Wisata Putri Dani at Jl. Irian 40
• Nayak Hotel at Jl. Gatot Subroto 63
• Hotel Syah Rial Makmur at Jl. Gatot Subroto 45
• Hotel Anggrek at Jalan Ambon 1
• Baliem Pilamo Hotel at Jalan Trikora
• Baliem Valley Resort (3 star resort), http://www.baliem-valley-resort.de/

Would you mind if we say ON FOOT? Healthy foot and fit body? Absolutely. Through trekking, you can witness traditional ceremonies, traditional markets and the people of Dani. There is no restaurant inside the Baliem- Valley, a guide could bargain the Dani people to provide simple meals. Its stoutly advised, that the visitor bring their own meals and snack during the trekking. Meals and snacks can be found in grocery store at Wamena

• Souvenir can be easily found on the valley and buy the crafts directly from the Dani people.
• Stone blade is a major favorite for the tourist
• Sekan: rattan bracelate
• Noken: made from trees bark
• Head and arm necklace
• Jogal: grass skirt
• And other head decorations
• The captivating Baliem Fiesta is held on August around 10 - 17 August every year. The festival performs traditional dances, pig races, ancestral fighting and races. Today, Baliem Fiesta is one of the main reasons why tourists visit Papua. Its a magical Fiesta says most of the tourist.
• Join the large and busy local market at Sinatma.
• Spotting mummies at Kurulu Village.
• Guide is needed to explore the valley
• Dont forget to bring the copy of your Surat Keterangan Jalan
• Best time to visit is between March and August
• If you travel during the rainy season, be prepared with cold weather equipment
• Ask your guide about Dos and Donts in the Baliem Valley

Foreigner must obtain a travel permit letter or known as Surat Keterangan Jalan to get the access into the interior part of Papua. You can obtain the Surat Keterangan Jalan at main town police station such as Jayapura, Merauka, Timika, Biak, Nabire, Monokwari and other main city. The permit of lasts will depend on your request, from 1 week until 1 month or even longer. Please prepare copies of your passport, recent photograph and list of places you wish to visit. Its easy to get the Surat Keterangan Jalan, because the officers are friendly and helpful.

You can ask your travel agent to arrange the Surat Keterangan Jalan.
Source : http://www.my-indonesia.info/

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Flora and Fauna In Sulawesi

In general, varieties of flora and fauna in North Sulawesi with the same regions in Indonesia, unless some type of animal that does not exist in other areas such as Babi Rusa, Maleo Birds, Birds Taong, Kera Mini (Tarsius Spectrum) in the Nature Reserve of Bitung Fish and Ancient Sea King (Coelacant) removed Manado Beach.

This region there is no wild animals except the type of snake and crocodile which is not many. The sea area of North Sulawesi, there are several species of fish, sea corals, plankton and lumutan. Besides, the start dibudidayakan active seaweed and pearl shell. Some types of fish that is famous and is one of the sources of income include: tuna, tuna, yellow tail, shrimp, sea, and others.

The state of flora can be said that part of the mainland of North Sulawesi is dominated by forest. Heaviness jungle from a height of 300 meters from sea level to the top of the mountain with a variety of good quality timber, such eboni (ebony) wood iron, wood linggua, cempaka wood, wood nantu, gopasa wood, Meranti wood, there are also rattan, and various types of Dammar. In addition, there are lots of hard plantation crops, among others, coconut, nutmeg, and cloves.

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Lampung & Krakatau Volcanic Island

Ancient Chinese travel chronicles refer to a place in the most southerly part of Sumatra called “Lampung” or “place of southerly winds”. The province is gene-rally flat with the highest mountains of Gunung Pesagi, Tanggamas, Seminiung, Sekincau and Raya all being dormant volcanoes. Bandar Lampung, the Provincial capital, was formerly two separate towns, Tanjungkarang and the port of Teluk Betung, which after the infamous eruption of Krakatau were both completely covered in volcanic ash. In the course of development, however this town have merged together to become one single city.

Tourist Office:
Jl. Ahmad Dahlan No. 79, Gunung Mas,
Bandar Lampung 35211
Phone. (0721) 263401, 361430
Fax. (0721) 266184


Getting there:
Domestic airlines have daily flight from Jakarta. Rajabasa bus terminal is one of the busiest in Sumatra, with a constant flow of departures. The trip from Jakarta takes eight hours which include crossing Sunda strait between Merak in Java and Bakaheuni Lampung by ferry. Three trains a day run from Palembang.

Tourism Events
Krakatau Festival. This annual event is held at the end of August 25-30 2008 the festival commemorate Krakatau’s eruption in the late 19th century. The volcano is located in the Sunda Strait, South of Lampung, in the southern tip of Sumatra.


Places of Interest
Bandar Lampung has a Museum and a Monument of Krakatau Eruption.

Krakatau Island
Krakatau is an inhabited island and located on the southern part of the Bay of Lampung. Krakatau is reachable in three hours by boat from Canti, a fishing village near Kalianda, South Lampung. Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) is still growing, first emerging from the sea in early 1928, 45 years after the legendary eruption in 1883.

Krakatau Island is currently among three destination in Indonesia that has been qualified in the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign held by the New 7 Wonders Foundation (two other candidates is Lake Toba and and Komodo National Park). You could support Krakatau Island to become the New 7 Wonders of Nature by voting through the following the URL:

http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking/

Pugung Archaeological
Pugung Archaeological Site in Pugung Raharjo village, 40 kms northeast of Bandar Lampung is a site of megalith and prehistoric relics, as well those of the classical Hindu-Buddhist period.

Merak Belantung Beach
Merak Belantung Beach is 40 km south of Bandar Lampung, on the way to the seaport of Bakauheni, the beach is ideal for swimming and wind surfing. Cottages are available.

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Kuta - Bali

Kuta - Badung Regency
From street cafes to hot pubs, Kuta has it all. It stands as the melting pot of the Island, in which wide-ranging visitors from Australia to Americans would fall for the warm Kuta Beach.

Being popular for its water adventures, usual sights captured in the beach will be the surfers experiencing the thrilling tide or white women enjoying sunbathing on the white sand beach. Coast guards will be seen busy setting their eyes on every inch of the beach to make sure tourist safety.

Parasailing or shell collecting is the other common activities at the beach.Meanwhile, vendors situated at special space at the beach and beyond offer various merchandises, such as beach sandals, bikinis, T-shirts, colorful short pans, art works and souvenirs, at affordable price, making Kuta one of Bali's shopping paradises.

Hotels and villas flock around the famous beach with various offers, from luxury to budget-wise. As clock turns to 6 p.m., people may get started for the Kuta's nightlife adventure.

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Jakarta

This is my photo in Jakarta - Tugu Monumen Nasional (Tugu Monas). Please visit this place...

Jakarta is the dynamic capital city of the Republic of Indonesia, a country composed of more than 17,000 islands with a population of over 200 millions. Comprising more than 300 ethnic groups speaking 200 distinct languages and dialects, the Indonesian population exhibit incredible diversity in its linguistic, cultural and religious traditions. As the nation capital, Jakarta is truly a "meeting point" of representatives from troughout the archipelago.

History of JAKARTA
Jakarta the city of history mention the earlier phase emanates from the diverse ancient inscriptions found in the nearby port, begin at least the 14th century with the development of a small port of Hindu Padjajaran Kingdom which known as Sunda Kelapa at the mouth of Ciliwung River. Searching for the fabled “Spice Island”, the Portuguese were the first Europeans which arrive and establish a fortress on the site in the early 16th century.

Culinary
Jakarta is a gastronomic paradise for gourmets and has a variety of restaurants to choose.

Heritage
The cultural guarantee could personally take the form of the object made by humankind, did not move or move that took the form of unity or the group, or a part-a part or the remnants the rest of them, that be aged at least 500 years.

Shopping Centers
Shopping world in Jakarta is the greater and colorful recently with the opening of some new shopping centers. All of Jakarta area has their own shopping centre icon and characteristic of the shoppers.

Culture
Jakarta has its own special Betawi culture, which the influences reached the city’s shores over the centuries.

Source : http://jakarta-tourism.go.id/wisatadkiapp/

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Barong Dance

Barong Dance

Barong Dance is a Pre-Hindu cultural heritage that uses the shape of dolls quadruped or ancient people who have magical power.

Barong mask is made from wood taken from haunted places such as tombs, therefore Barong is a sacred object which is purified by Hindu community in Bali. This dance show with or without a story, always beginning with a first note, which accompanied with the gamelan. There are several types of dance BARONG but that often showing for tourism consumption is the type of Baring Ket.

Barong Ket or Keket Barong is dance is the most widely found in Bali and most showing and have a full dance movement. From shape, Barong Ket is a mix between a lion, tiger, cow or Boma. The body from Barong is decorated with carvings, carvings made of leather, glass mirror adhere a sparkler and body hair made from perasok (fiber from plant leaves like pandan), or ijuk there's also a crow-quill. To famouse Barong is carried by two dancers called Juru Saluk / Savior Bapang, a dancer in the head and the other in the buttocks and tail. Barong Dance Keket portray this fight without end about the good (dharma) and malignancy (adharma) which is a blend, which is always opposite (rwa bhineda).

Go to show Barong dance : in Jumpai village, to the south of Tangkas village in Klungkung regency, near the coast, the benevolent barong dance is the famous performance all over Bali island. Jumpai it self is best known for being the center of magic.

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Bali

Balinese with society and culture that is unique is not the migration of the new growth. Bali Daily society with a culture that always show the color of the local culture shows that the flow passing through Bali has a long history. Various archaeological findings in the various regions prove Bali travel long island of Bali in unison with the region and other countries. As with other areas in the archipelago, during the early period of life-form in Bali are grouped as pre-historic era. During the pre-history is not found records that describe the order of life form. Which is the reference the findings of various equipment is used as a means of sustaining human life when it Bali.

Various findings of the pre-history, pre historic era Bali - as with most other regions - covering three levels of culture phase. The first layer is the life of the culture on the hunt. Natural, hunting is a way to maintain viability of very clear and easy to do. With the simple tools of stone, which peninggalannya found in the area Sembiran in Bali Batur region and the north, human Bali is able to survive. Legacy equipment that is better, with the use of bone, also found in the cave Selonding in the area Bulit, Badung South. This shows that the hunt is long past time along with increasing thought pattern that the better.

Still based on the findings of ancient objects, Bali envisaged that the start time to leave and go hunting in the farming plant. Although the order has entered the lives of more terpola the raise, the group human Bali at that time the switch is alive. Various residual found similar findings as in many offshore areas west of Bali, North Bali, Bali and South. Tatatan believed to live with the settlement order as the transition of human life from Bali in time to pre-history era history. Residual nekara ancient form of bronze and a variety of metal goods in the region Pejeng Gianyar, and again proves that the order have a more structured society.

Concurrently with the pre-history of the era to era history, the influence of Hindu India's entry to Indonesia are estimated to give a strong impetus to the cultural leap in Bali. This transition, which is commonly referred to as the Bali Ancient century between 8 to 13 centuries, with a very clear change again due to the influence of Majapahit who intends to unite the archipelago Palapa Oath Gajah Mada in the early 13 th century. Framework of government and community structures to adjust the pattern of Majapahit. Of local culture and ancient Balinese Hindu culture of the Javanese Majapahit in Bali cause rejection of the various resistance in various regions in Bali. Slowly and surely, with the adjustments and mixing the two sides, Bali, to find the pattern of cultural thought patterns in accordance with the community and the natural Bali.

Adjustment model is that it would then form a society and culture inherited Bali has become a unique and special, absorbing elements of Hindu and Javanese Majapahit, but thick with local color.

Development of cultural patterns in Bali next time-period, age and occupation era of independence, following the natural flow that is receiving the same outside influences that dissolved in color to the local culture.

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