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Bali Travel Guide
Bali, a tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago, is so picturesque and immaculate, it could almost be a painted backdrop. Synonymous with style, entertainment and fun, Bali attracts large volumes of tourists. A unique atmosphere is created by rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, dense tropical jungles, long sandy beaches, warm blue water and friendly people who don’t just have a culture but live it.
Although it is relatively small compared to the other two favourite Indonesian holiday destinations Sumatra and Java, Bali most certainly did not escape the Indonesian lover’s attention. Whereas one can find great extended areas of densed forests on Sumatra and Buddhist centres (such as the one at Borobodur) and vulcanoes on Java, Bali has a lot of the same kind - and maybe even of a prettier kind. However, everything is on a smaller scale, because Bali is not only small in size but also has a high density of population.
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Batam Travel Guide
Batam is one of the islands in the Riau Islands province of Indonesia, 415 km˛, with about 600,000 inhabitants, of whom about 85% are Malay and 14% are Chinese.
About 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore it has grown from a small village into one of Indonesia’s industrial centres at first at Batamindo, on 3.20 km˛, but now on more than 20 centres for 175,000 workers due to its proximity with Singapore and Johor. The principal town is Nagoya, named, during the Japanese occupation, after the city in Japan. Batam entertainment scene… a full-blown, low-cost playground on the front doorstep of Singapore with a burgeoning nightlife like the Thailand or Macau of yesteryear. It’s still a new, fresh, –raw and vibrant, frontier yet at the same time is captivatingly laid back, and welcoming. And the beautiful, smiling, welcoming Indonesian girls are judged by many of the Westerners who have visited, settled and often married here to be among the most gracious, charming and generous in the world.
If business and investment are your prime interests then you have found one of the fastest growing and most dynamic economic zones of South Asia – one where you will get the Red Carpet treatment from local authorities who understand your needs and concerns and want you here.
Should you simply want to set up a home here property is cheap, living costs are low and most of the services you need for a quality lifestyle are readily available. If you need more then Singapore is just an hour away across the Strait.
Bintan Travel Guide
Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Lada is an island of 1,866 square kilometer making part of the Riau Islands province of Indonesia. It is the largest of 3,200 islands in the Riau Archipelago.
Bintan Island is located about 48 km (30 miles) southeast of Singapore.
Because of the strategic location in the Growth Triangle and its location close to Singapore, Bintan developed rapidly. Since the early 1990s, the island has been one of the main industrial estates and popular tourist destinations of Indonesia.
The main city of Bintan is Tanjung Pinang. From Singapore (Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal) Bintan can be reached with a 45-minute ferry trip. The island of Batam is close as well.
Flores Travel Guide
Flores is one of the most beautiful islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Lying close to the equator, Flores is a long, narrow and rugged island marked with dramatic volcanoes and beautiful mountain lakes and forests. Strategically located between the bigger islands of Java and Timor, it is just 360 kilometers long and varies from 12 to 70 kilometers wide. Flores is located east of Sumbawa and Komodo and west of Lomblen and the Alor archipelago. To the southeast is Timor. To the south, across the Sumba strait, is Sumba and to the north, beyond the Flores Sea, is Sulawesi.
Flores is a home of the unique culture, nature beauties and more. Divided by mountain chains and volcanoes, the island populated by ethnic groups with their own traditions and languages. Predominantly Catholic, the have retained several aspects of the Portuguise culture such as the Easter parade held annually at Larantuka on the eastern part of the island and the Royal Regalia of the former King of Sikka. The main attraction is the coloured lakes of Kelimutu, near Moni The lake are located in volcanoes that are no longer active (you hope). Bawaja is the best place to start from if you want to see something of the traditional villages.
Labuanboja is a good place to relax a bit, the beaches are pretty okay and accommodation is cheap.
Hinako Travel Guide
Hinako island is located in Pulau Nias, many tourist object in here such as Surfing, lake, traditional culture, etc. Located in the Hinako group of islands, west of Nias, West Sumatra is the Island of Asu. For the past 5 years, Steve Stewart & Mark “Max” Grant of the Sunshine coast, Australia have called this home along with an Indonesian partner they have built “Wisma Jendela” - House of Windows. Originally all there was in this region was the famous perfect righthander at Lagundri Bay, first surfed in 1975, but since there has been a couple of world class waves located in the Hinako group of islands, west of Nias. These waves are called Asu and Bawa.
The peak period is March to November. The Waves have been well documented over recent years in various surfing movies for the quality and excellent shape. We will transport you to the surfing reefs in a brand new 27ft centre consul boat with 200hp.
This truly is one of the few places in the world that almost guarantees daily perfection and solid glass barrels.
Irian jaya Travel Guide
Irian Jaya is a hot humid island rising from the sea with some of the most impenetrable jungles in the world and yet also has snow caps covering 5000 meter high mountain peaks towering over glacier lakes. Irian Jaya is Indonesia’s largest and easternmost province and covers western half of the world’s second largest island. The islands is covered with thick forests and it is very hard to get from A to B. Think of this as part of the fun and you will have a great time on Irian Jaya.
Irian Jaya is the nation’s geographically largest province, some 2,500 miles east from Jakarta, is home to one of the world’s biggest gold mines. Oil, gas and minerals lie beneath its thick jungles. Months of negotiations by Wahid and offers of greater provincial autonomy have not stemmed the bloodshed. Thousands have been killed in the two conflicts and in sectarian fighting in Maluku province, just west of Irian Jaya. Most travelers head for the Baliem Valley via either Jayapura or biak. Baliem Valley is where the Dani people live. The main town of the valley, Wamena, has some modern facilities but even here you will see men wearing their penis gourds proudly (that’s the only way to wear them, actually) and women in grass skirts. From Wamena you can explore the rest of the valley using guides.
Java Travel Guide
Java is an island of Indonesia, and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. It is the most populous island in the world, indeed it has a larger population than either the continents of Australia or Antarctica (see the list of islands by population). Java is located in a chain of islands with Kalimantan (Borneo) to the north, Sumatra to the northwest, Bali to the east, Borneo to the northeast and Christmas Island to the south. It is the world’s 13th largest island.
Java is almost entirely of volcanic origin, and contains no less than thirty-eight mountains of that conical form which indicates their having at one time or other been active volcanoes. See Volcanoes of Java. Java is Indonesia’s most populated island and can, for convenience’s sake, be divided into three parts: West, Central and East Java. West Java is the part of the island where the capital Jakarta is located. Although some people want to get out of this slightly oppressing metropolis as quickly as possible, there are some interesting historical sights and museums. Fair chance that you will see some signs of the still ongoing explosive political situation.
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Kalimantan Travel Guide
Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. It occupies the central and southern regions of the island. Kalimantan is one of the least visited parts of Indonesia. The main reason for this is that it takes a long time and a fair amount of money and effort to explore. The good thing about the lack of tourists is that Kalimantan has remained unspoilt. The indigenous Dayaks, or the Orang Gunung (Mountain People), traditionally live in longhouses called Lamin or Umaq Daru that can house as many as 50 people. Once known as headhunters, the tribe consists of many sub-tribes such as Iban, Punan and Banuaq. The arrival of newcomers has given this land a rich cultural mixture of Dayak, Malay, Chinese, Javanese plus religious influence of Islamic teachings and Hinduism.
Pontianak
As the capital of West Kalimantan, there are some interesting places to visit, among others the Equator Monument, Kadariah palace in Kampung Dalam, the State Museum, the Kapuas and Landak Bridges with a river view and floating market. Dine can simply relax in the recreational park Tirta Ria. The beach resort of Kijing and Temajoh Island are good places for diving, fishing and sailing.
Betana (Long House)
On the outskirts of Pontianak is a Daya traditional long house at Saham village, 158 from Pontianak. The measures of long house are: 186 m long, 6 m wide 269 people live there. There is no accommodation here.
Pasir Panjang
It lies 17 km from Singkawang in the Sambas regency. There is the beach resort of Pasir Panjang, ideal for swimming. Comfortable cottages are available equipped with a tennis court. In the vicinity of Singkawang, the Gunung Poteng hill resort with its fresh air is a good place for nature lovers.
National Park and Nature Reserve
The Gunung [Mount) Palung national park located in the Ketapang regency is home to miscellaneous flora and fauna. The Raya Pasi mountain located in the Singkawang regency is also interesting to visit to see the Rafflesia or the Giant Flower.
Singkawang is also a nature reserve. The forest of Sanggau is worth a visit where hot springs, lakes and caves can be found. The other nature recerves are the forests of Baning and Kelam Hill in the Sintang Regency. While in Kapuas Hulu, there is the Bentuang Karimun nature reserve where lake Sentarum and the protected Siluk fish (Sclerop hages Formocus) are found.
Sambas Palace
This palace is one of the remnants of the Kingdom of Sambas. Up to the present time it is still kept in good condition. There are manya antiques to be seen.
Komodo Travel Guide
Komodo is famous for its dragons. Giant lizards (probably not the right technical term) that can swallow an entire goat. The area of Komodo, primary destination, is incredible. The abundance of life, unbelievable reefs and walls make it among the most spetacular in the world. The only village on the island is Komodo, it’s a nice place but if you are here for dragon spotting head for Banu Nggulung (come again?). A guide will take you to a dried up river bed where the dragons come to have a look at the tourists. The best season is the dry season when the dragons come to the watering holes.
The easiest way of getting to Komodo is to take the boat from Flores.
Krakatoa Travel Guide
Krakatoa (Indonesian name: Krakatau) is a volcano on the Indonesian island of Rakata in the Sunda Strait. It has erupted repeatedly, massively and with disastrous consequences throughout recorded history, notably in 416, but the most well known of these events occurred in August 1883.
Krakatoa is an Island about 1.5 miles in diamtere. To the suth of Krakatoa is a large crater around 2,000 feet in diameter. There was a large eruption and a large piece of krakatoa was blown clean out of the island (300meters) It created a tidal wave at 40 meters, that killed many residents. The explosion is classed as one of the largest volcanic eruptions in modern times; so great was the outpouring of ashes and lava that new islands were formed, and debris was scattered across the Indian Ocean as far as Madagascar. Since then there have been several lesser eruptions.
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