Kolbano Beach Kupang Indonesia

Kalbano Beach

 About Kolbano Beach

Bit bored with beautiful beaches with white sand? Try this one, the beach of Kolbano. It is very unique because it is not made of white sand but of colorful stones.

The beach is located in the Village Kolbano, Kolbano District, South Central Timor (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara province with total area of ??17 km2. Kolbano Beach is famous for its colored stones and the stones have been mined and traded by the local population since 1971. These stones are usually used as decorative stone in gardens.

This beach has various forms of rocks and a variety of colors like red, green, yellow, black, patterned stones and even those have three colors (red, black and beige).

Getting to Kolbano Beach

This beach can be reached by using Mandala Airlines, Sriwijaya Airlines, Merpati Airlines or Batavia Airlines to get in Kupang.

On arrival in Kupang you can continue your journey by city bus to Kolbano (Rp.60.000), it takes about 6 hours. Because the bus takes 6 hours for a one-way trip it is better to stay the night in Kupang and get on the 6:00 am bus to Kolbano.

Read More

NATIONAL MONUMENT (MONAS), JAKARTA, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

MONUMEN NASIONAL (MONAS)

About National Monument (Monas)

The National Monument Monas (Monumen Nasional) is a 132 meter high tower in Jakarta standing in the middle of Medan Merdeka (Merdeka Square). The monument symbolizes the Indonesian independence struggle.

President Sukarno directed the construction of Monas which began in 1961. It was opened to the public only 14 years later at 12 July 1975 due to construction problems. The monument consists of two parts. The first part is the base platform called the goblet, at a height of 17 meters. Above this is the 117.7 meter tall obelisk made of Italian marble. The goblet represent the Yoni, which resembles a lesung rice mortar (grinder cup) and symbolizes the female organs while the obelisk resembles Lingga, an alu rice pestle (the grinder) symbolizing the male organs.

At the top of the monument is a golden flame called the Flame of Independence. The flame 14 meters heigh and is made of 14.5 ton bronze coated by 50kg of gold.

At a height of 115 meter is a 11x11 meter viewing platform which can be reached by an elevator at the south side of the structure. Binoculars are provided to fully enjoy the Jakarta skyline. A ticket to the Monas viewing platform is Rp. 7,500.

Inside the goblet is the Hall of Independence (Ruang Kemerdekaan) containing various symbols of the Indonesian independence like the original text of the Proclamation of Independence, a map of the archipelago coated in gold and the Indonesian coat of arms.

A level below, inside the base of Monas is the Indonesian National History Museum. Inside are 51 diorama's (three dimensional models) telling the history of Indonesia from the prehistory to recent times.

Around the monument is a big park where you can hide for a minute from the Jakarta traffic.

Read More

TAMAN MINI INDONESIA INDAH

About Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

About Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah or often shortened as TMII is a cultural themed Indonesian tourist area located in East Jakarta.

TMII is basically a summary of various aspects of the life's of the Indonesian people who are spread over 26 provinces (in 1975). In the middle of the park there is a miniature lake depicting the Indonesian archipelago. TMII was opened in 1991 by Mrs. Tien Soeharto.

As for the parts of TMII namely:

• Pavillion area
  This is the area that includes a variety of buildings in the traditional architecture of almost every ethnic group in Indonesia.
• Religious Buildings
  Representing a variety of buildings or places of worship which are famous in Indonesia, it also illustrates the harmony and inter-religious harmony in Indonesia. The buildings include:
  1. Diponegoro Mosque
  2. Catholic Church of Santa Cantharina
  3. the Hallelujah Protestant Church
  4. Pura Penataraan Agung Kertabumi
  5. Wihara Arya Dwipa Arama
  6. Sasana Adirasa Pangaeran Samber Nyawa
  7. Confucian Temple
• Recreation Facilities
  There are a number of recreational facilities that makes TMII a good place to go to with children. In addition to the natural surroundings, cleanliness and the many rides for children, TMII can increase the knowledge about Indonesia and about its cultural diversity. The recreation facilities of TMII include:
  1. Indonesian Children's Palace
  2. Hanging Train
  3. Swan Boat Arsipel Indonesia
  4. Park Among Putro
  5. Park Ria Atmaja
  6. Village Tourism
  7. Swimming pool Snow Bay (Rp 25,000 per person)
• Theatre and Cinema
  Buildings which are specifically used as a place of art performances and movies, among others:
  1. IMAX Teater Keong Mas, in this IMAX theater are a variety of environmental-themed films played.
  2. Teater My Homeland
  3. Teater 4D A normal 3D theater but with the addition of smell.
• Parks
  Built specifically to show the beauty of the flora and fauna in Indonesia there are ten parks in the TMII area, namely:
  1. Orchid Garden (Taman Anggrek)
  2. Garden of the Pharmacy of Life (Taman Apotek Hidup)
  3. Cactus Garden (Taman Kaktus)
  4. Jasmin Garden (Taman Melati)
  5. Taman Bunga Keong Mas
  6. Freshwater Fish Aquarium (Akuarium Ikan Air Tawar)
  7. Bekisar Park
  8. Bird Park
  9. Ria Atma Park, with a stage for musical performances
  10. Indonesian Chinese Cultural Park
• Museums
  The museums store and display a variety of historical, technological and cultural objects, as well as specimens from the flora and fauna in Indonesia. For a price of Rp 2000 you can visit no less than 14 museums who are all located in this area. Among others:
  1. Museum Indonesia
  2. Museum Purna Bakti Pertiwi
  3. Soldiers Museum (Museum Keprajuritan)
  4. Stamp Museum (Museum Prangko)
  5. Heritage Museum (Museum Pusaka)
  6. Transport Museum (Museum Transportasi)
  7. Museum of Electricity and New Energy (Museum Listrik dan Energi Bar)
  8. Telecommunications museum (Museum Telekomunikasi)
  9. Information Museum (Museum Penerangan)
  10. Sports Museum (Museum Olahraga)
  11. Asmat Museum
  12. Indonesia Wildlife Museum and Reptile Park (Museum Satwa Indonesia Komodo dan Reptil)
  13. Insect Museum ((Museum Serangga)
  14. Central Museum of Science and Technology Demonstration ((Museum Pusat Peragaan Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Teknologi)
  15. Oil and Gas Museum (Museum Minyak dan Gas Bumi)
  16. Museum of East Timor (Museum Timor Leste)

Read More

RAGUNAN ZOO

RAGUNAN ZOO

About Ragunan Zoo

Jakarta's Ragunan Zoo is located in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. It is the home for over 4000 animals and 260 species, most of these are endangered and threatened throughout Indonesia and the world. It has a good collection of Indonesian wildlife, including Komodo Dragons, orangutans and tigers.

The Ragunan Zoo was established in 1864 by the Vereneging Planten en Dierentuin, a Dutch East Indies organization for flora and fauna lovers. At first it was in Central Jakarta at the Cikini area, it moved to its current location in 1966. It is set in a lush tropical surrounding.

The Zoo includes the Schmutzer Primate Center, named after Pauline Schmutzer who donated her estate to the center. The purpose of the center is to provide primates such as gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees a natural habitat as possible. For instance, at the orangutan area thick dark glass prevents the orangutans for seeing the visitors while they can see the animals.

The zoo is ideal for children as it includes a Childrens Zoo, elephant and boat rides, a pony cart and playgrounds.

Read More

ANCOL BAY CITY

Ancol Bay City

 About Ancol Bay City

Ancol Bay City or also known as Ancol Dreamland is the largest and most attractive recreation park in the Jakarta area. It consists amongst others of a golf course, a theme park, hotels, nightclubs and swimming pools. It is located at the north of Jakarta on reclaimed land at the Bay of Jakarta.

Ancol Bay City

Entertainment at Ancol Dreamland:

• Fantasy World (Dunia fantasi). Jakarta's theme park with over 40 rides and attractions including the Halilintar twisted roller coaster and shows. Ticket price for entrance to Fantasy World is Rp 135,000 per person on weekdays.
• Atlantis Water adventure. A five hectare large water park themed on the mythological city of Atlantis with a wave pool, waterfall pool, slides, children's pools, continues flowing river pool and restaurants. Entrance is Rp 90,000 on weekdays
• Sea world. One of the largest oceanarium in South East Asia featuring pools for alligators and sharks, and a few general pools as the Sea friends pool and the Main pool
• Pasar Seni: An art market which in the course of it's 25 years history has become a center for handicrafts and other art products as well as a center for artists to directly create and sell their products.
• Executive Golf Fun, Ancol's 18 holes international beach golf course.
• Beaches. Within the resort you can find the Carnival beach and the Festival beach.

Read More

Ujung Genteng Beach

About Ujung Genteng Beach

The Pantai Ujung Genteng (Ujung Genteng Beach) is located on the south coast of Java, at the Indian Ocean in the Ciracap District, West Java. The sea is fairly quiet here with relatively small waves due to the rocks on the sides of the beach. The sea water is very clear which makes it possible to see the coral and fish with the naked eye without snorkeling. This is also a favorite place to watch the sunset.


In this area are many things to see and do amongst others:

• Aquarium Cibuaya. This is a natural aquarium where the fish are kept in holes on the beach. Located at Cibuaya Beach.
• Pengumbuhan Beach, a favorite place for surfers and the Green Turtle, but then for laying their eggs.
• Tebing Amanda Ratu (Amanda Ratu Cliff). Here you will feel as you were at the Tanah Lot (Bali) because of the huge rock in the sea where the waves hit upon as at Tanah Lot.
• Curung Cikasa (Cikasa Waterfall). Not far from the Ujung Genteng Beach is this waterfall where you can see three waterfalls at the same time.
• Sugar Making, in this area sugar is made by collecting fluids from the coconut tree which is then processed to make sugar.

Getting to Ujung Genteng Beach

From the Indonesian capital Jakarta the beach is about 220km away, from Bandung 230km. It would take about 6 to 7 hours by car as the road is quite good.

With bus it will take about 10 hours since you need to transfer a few times. From Jakarta take a bus to Sukabumi, transfer there to a bus or minivan then to Lembursitu. At Lembursitu take a public minivan to Surade. At the Surade terminal walk out to the main road to get an angkot to Ujung Genteng.

Read More

Tangkuban Perahu, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Tangkuban Perahu, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

About Tangkuban Perahu


Gunung (Mountain) Tangkuban Perahu is located about 30 kilometers north of the city of Bandung, more precisely in the area of Lembang, about 30 minutes with a car or motorbike. Tangkuban Perahu has a cold air and hot springs at the foot of the mountain at an altitude of 2084 meters. Cool air, tea plantations, valleys and tall pine trees will accompany you on your journey towards the entree of Tangkuban Perahu, where the tickets at Rp. 13,000 per person are sold (and the cost of parking your vehicle). Here you can already enjoy the beauty and coolness of Tangkuban Perahu.

Tangkuban Perahu is the largest mountain in the Parahyangan mountain range. The mountain is named this way because the shape resembles that of a boat overturned. Tangkuban Perahu is famous for its craters. There are two paths to go to the craters. The first street or road is more difficult and takes a longer time and is usually closed after rain because it is considered too dangerous. The second path is a new paved path that allows you to get to the craters also after rain, on the side of a curvy path are many trumpet flowers and trees. There are three famous craters in the Tangkuban Perahu region worth a visit, namely:

• Kawah Ratu (Queen's Crater):
  This is the largest crater of the three. There is a special bus parking area before Queen's Crater, if you come by bus here you need to get off and continue with the use of ELF. But if you use a private vehicle, you can simply park it on the other side of this crater. You can see the Queen's crater from above, barrier fence at the edges of the crater protect you from getting to close. You can also see the whole crater by climbing to higher grounds. The ground around the crater is generally white with yellow sulfur stones. There are shops in this area that offer a variety of souvenirs and accessories, some serve food and hot drinks like bandrek and you also can ride a horse here.
•  Kawah Upas (Upas Crater)
  Located next to the Queen Crater, this crater is more shallow and flat. Be careful because the path to the Upas Crater is quite dangerous.
• Kawah Domas (Domas Crater)
  This one is located below the Queen�s crater. if you come through the new path you will find the gate to Domas Crater before the one to Queen�s Crater. In Domas Crater you can get a closer look of a crater. You can even try to boil eggs in the crater�s water. If you want to see Domas Crater after 16:00 hour, you must hire a guide (for your own protection since it will be dark soon).

The legend of Tangkuban Perahu Mountain
Tangkuban Perahu has a legend, the core of the story Tangkuban Perahu is the presence of a young man named Sangkuriang who fell in love and wants to marry a woman named Dayang Sumbi. They fall for each other, but Dayang Sumbi realizes later that Sangkuriang is her biological child who went away long ago because she was very angry after Sangkuriang killed his pet dog when they failed to hunt deer. He did not know but that pet dog was his biological father.

Now, knowing Sangkuriang is her biological child she will not marry him, but he does not believe her and still insists. Finally she agrees if he can make a lake and a boat in one night. Aided by genies and spirits Sangkuriang began to make the lake and the boat. Seeing Sangkuriang nearly completed the boat Dayang Sumbi plans to trick him.She set fires in the east so the chickens start crowing and the genies that had helped Sangkuriang left because they thought it was already morning. Without their help Sangkuriang can not finish on time. Sangkuriang was furious and kicked the boat, the boat fell upside down and there was Tangkuban Perahu Mountain.

Read More

Situ Patenggang

Situ Patenggang

About Situ Patenggang

Lake Patenggang or also known as Situ Patenggang (which means lake in the Sundanese language) is situated about 1600 meters above sea level. The lake is located in Ciwidey Patenggang about 47 kilometers south of the city of Bandung, West Java, about a 2 hours drive. The journey to Situ is still very natural with lots of green of the trees on the side of the road which provide a shade on the road and numerous tea plantations and strawberry farms. Besides the fresh air and the natural surroundings the many curves in the road makes the journey to Sity Patenggang also a joy to ride.

Arriving in Situ, you will be greeted with an impressive lake, with mountains towering around it. On the edge of the lake there are numerous beautiful boats with bright colors, ready to take you around the lake for Rp. 15,000 per person. Or if you do not want to get around too far away you can also rent a water bicycle and go by yourself. You can also just sit by the lake and enjoy the serenity of this place and its natural beauty.

Batu Cinta (Rock of love)
Situ patengan not only offers the charm of nature, it also contains the famous and historic island of Asmara (Pulau Asmara) and the Batu Cinta. Pulau Asmara and Batu Cinta is located in the middle of the lake with a large stone. The stone is called Batu Cinta (Rock of love) and has a legendary story. This story stems from a love story of two lovers Ki Santang and Dewi Rengganis separated and eventually reunited in this place. Local people believe the water that fills the lake is a tear of the Ki Santang and Dewi Rengganis, which is why some people call this lake Situ Penganten (bride). Usually the tourists who visit Situ will also visit the Rock of Love. It is said that for anyone who arrive with a partner to the Rock of Love and have gone around the island, then the relationship will be durable and lasting.

Besides the beautiful nature, around the lake are shops that offer a variety of souvenirs or fresh fruits which of course you can take home as souvenirs for relatives. If you want to stay longer there are also several hotels and bungalows with adequate facilities.

Read More

West Bali National Park

West Bali National Park

About West Bali National Park

Set at the western tip of Bali, close to Java, the West Bali National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat, or TNBB) covers an area of 19.003 hectare of which 3200 hectares of coastal waters and coral reefs. Unlike most of the other National Parks in Indonesia the vegetation is not tropical rainforest but, due to lack of rain in this area, coastal savannah. The southern side receives more rain and here the vegetation is more tropical, also the coastal lands are made up of mangrove forests. In the sea are several coral islands. The land area is characterized by the remains of four Pleistocene volcanic mountains with Gunung Patas the highest at 1412 meters.

There are about 200 species of plants in the West Bali National Park, 300 species of birds and many other forms of wildlife including several species of monkeys (leaf monkeys, macaques and black monkeys), deers, pigs, iguanas and several species of snakes.

The entrance and Park headquarters are at Cekik where you can arrange guides and permits. There is also a visitors' centre at Labuhan Lalang. If you want to go trekking in the park a certified guide is mandatory and expensive. A guide for a day can cost up to Rp 400,000 depending on the size of the group and the length of the trek.
There are set trails in the Park but you will see the most wildlife and enjoy the nature more fully if you go off the trail. Here you will be surrounded by quietness only interrupted by rustling trees and the sound of the overly abundant birds.

Read More