Kepulauan Seribu National Park. Group of Heaven.

Kepulauan Seribu National Park is one of the representatives of the marine nature conservation area in Indonesia, which is located approximately 45 km north of Jakarta. There are 78 large-small island with a height of not more than three meters above sea level, and it is a group of islands reefs.

Hundreds of years ago, the coral islands were formed on the colonies of coral animals that are already dead. The colony was initially grown on the shallow seabed, and then the upper layer of the ocean surface then the experience of weathering. Then on top of rock plains, growing pioneer species such as shrubs, some species of trees and there was land. Mainland in the islands were not the same as mainland consisting of soil. And so, the plants and its animals are different too.

Generally, the plants contained in the Kepulauan Seribu National Park is dominated by coastal plants, such as 'Nyamplung' (Calophyllum inophyllum), 'Waru' (Hibicus tiliaceus), 'Pandan' (Pandanus sp.), Sea pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), 'Cangkudu' (Morinda citrifolia), Butun ( Barringtonia asiatica), Bogem (Bruguiera sp.), 'Sukun' (Artocarpus altilis), 'Ketapang' (Terminalia cattapa), and 'Kecundang (Cerbena adollam).

The wealth of marine life park is composed of hard and soft corals as much as 54 species, 144 species of fish, two kinds of clams, three groups of algae such as Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta and Phaeophyta, six types of seaweed such as Halodule sp., Halophila sp., and Enhalus sp ., and 17 kinds of shore birds.

Kepulauan Seribu National Park is a place of nesting for hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill and green turtles are endangered species and rarely found in other waters, especially the northern coast of Java Island, breeding on the Semak Daun Island.

Captive breeding is aimed at restoring populations of endangered sea turtles. Breeding activities include semi-natural hatchery and turtle child care until it is ready to be released into the wild.

Most of the beaches in this national park is protected by mangrove forests, where the living monitor lizards, golden-ring snakes and pythons.

Behind the phenomenon and the secrets of the nature, the most captivating of The Kepulauan Seribu National Park is its natural beauty. Symphony of the green tiny islands, crashing waves, golden colored sunlight in the evening; will reassure those who are in the Kepulauan Seribu National Park.

Some Islands / Attractions to be Visited
Pramuka Island, Semak Daun Island, Kelapa Island and Panggang Island :
Seeing the turtle breeding, animal observation and marine tourism.

Pramuka Island, Opak Island, Karang Congkak Island :
Wreck diving ships that sank.

Panjang Island, Putri Island, Pelangi Island and Perak Island :
Nautical tourism which is managed by the private sector.

Semut Island, Karang Congkak Island, Karang Kroja Island, Kotok Besar Island, Kotok Kecil Island and Gosong Laga Island :
For diving and snorkeling activities.Source

Bunaken National Park. The exotic of underwater life.

Bunaken National Park is a marine park located in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. This park is located in the Coral Triangle, a habitat for 390 species of coral reef and also various species of fish, molluscs, reptiles and marine mammals. Bunaken National Park is very representative of Indonesia's marine ecosystems, including sea grass, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems.

This national park was established in 1991 and covers an area of 890.65 km ². 97% of this national park is the habitat of the sea, while the remaining 3% is land, consists of five islands: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Naen and Siladen.

Bunaken National Park has a rich coral reef ecosystem. There are approximately 390 species of coral reefs in this region. Algal species that can be found in Bunaken National Park is Caulerpa, Halimeda and Padina, while a lot of seaweed species found were Thalassia hemprichii, Enhallus acoroides, and Thalassaodendron ciliatum. Bunaken National Park also has various species of fish, marine mammals, reptiles, birds, molluscs and mangroves. Approximately 90 species of fish living in waters of this region.

On the mainland, the island is rich in Arecaceae, sago, woka, silar and coconut. In addition, the Bunaken National Park also has an animal species that live on land, such as deer and possum. Mangrove forest in this park into a habitat for crabs, lobsters, molluscs and sea birds.

Bunaken National Park was formally established in 1991 and is one of Indonesia's first marine park. In 2005, Indonesia registered Bunaken National Park for input into UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite having the status of national park and get adequate financing, this park has a small degradation due to mining of coral reefs, anchor damage, the use of bombs and cyanide in fishing, diving and trash. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) provides conservation assistance as part of "the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Eco-region Action Plan". Conservation includes patrol, which managed to reduce the use of bombs in catching fish

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Ambarawa Railway Museum. Standing Strong Across Ages.

Ambarawa Railway Museum is a railway station which is now converted into a museum in Ambarawa, Central Java, which has the completeness of the train that had triumphed in it day. One of the steam railway locomotive number B 2502 and B 2503 Esslingen Maschinenfabriek made until now still can run the activity as a tourist railway. Serrated steam train is unique and is one of three remaining in the world. Two of them exist in Switzerland and India. Apart from this unique collection, it still can be witnessed various types of steam locomotives of the series B, C, D up to the largest type of CC (CC 5029, Schweizerische Lokomotiv und Maschinenfabrik) in the museum yard.


Ambarawa originally a military town during the Dutch colonial administration. King William I ordered to build a new railway station that allows the government to transport troops to Semarang. On May 21, 1873, the railway station was built on land Ambarawa 127 500 m². The station was originally known as William I.

Willem I Railway Station was originally the point of transportation between the 4ft 8 ½ in (1435 mm) rail branch from Kedungjati in the northeast and the 3ft 6in (1067 mm) rail line further towards Yogyakarta via Magelang from the south. This still can be seen that the two sides built railway station to accommodate different sizes.

Ambarawa railway museum and then established on October 6, 1976 at Station Ambarawa to preserve steam locomotives which later came to the end of the recovery when the 3ft 6in (1067 mm) railway line from the State Railways closed. This is an open museum located next to the original station.

The museum collected 21 steam locomotives. Currently four locomotives are operational. Other collections of the museum include old telephones, telegraph morse Equipments, Equipments old bells and signals, and Some antique furnitures. B2502 Steam locomotive, one of the four locomotives that are still active and is one of three left in the world.

Some of the steam locomotive is a two-B25-B2502 0-4 2T / 3, which from the original fleet of five supplied to the line of about 100 years ago (the third locomotive (B2501) are stored in a park in a nearby town) that E1060 E10 00-10 - 0T which was originally delivered to West Sumatra in 1960 to work in the coal train, but then was brought to Java, and a conventional locomotive-0T 2-6 C1218 returned to be used again in the year 2006.

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GedongSongo Temple. Fusion of Two Ancient Tradition.

Gedongsongo Temple on the slopes of Mount Ungaran built in the 8th century AD. Gedongsongo name given by locals for the temple complex. Gedongsongo derived from the Javanese language, "Gedong" means house or building, "Songo" means nine. So the meaning of the word Gedongsongo is nine (groups of) buildings. Gedongsongo Temple complex built from the bottom row up to the top of the hills at Mount Ungaran. This shows the character of a very specific Gedongsongo Temple is a fusion between the two religions that are local and global.Mount is a place of sacrifice to ancestor spirits. This belief is a pre-Hindu traditions of local communities. While the mountain is also a place of residence of the gods according to Hindu tradition, who was then developing globally affects nearly half of the world. Local traditions are usually reduced it role by global traditions, but both are able to standing equal in Gedongsongo.

In 1740, Løten found Gedongsongo Temple complex. Year 1804, the Raffles recorded the complex by name Gedong Pitoe because only found seven groups of buildings. Van Braam makes the publication in 1925, Friederich and Hoopermans make writing about Gedongsongo in 1865. In 1908 Van Stein Callenfels do research on the temple complex and Knebel taking inventory in the year 1910-1911.

In Gedongsongo Temple Complex, the foot can be recognizable through a profile that consists of hand bells and the seam is straight. On the outside of the body of the temple there are niches that once contained statues Parswadewata, but now mostly in empty condition, so the first temple-filled phallus and yoni niche in the stall. Recesses of the outer body are decorated with floral motifs and sometimes there are ornaments in the form Kala.

Parswadewata in Java is interpreted as offerings to ancestral spirits who have been united with Shiva and the temple symbolized by the Linga-Yoni who escorted the god of accompaniment, namely: Durga (the wife of Shiva), Ganesh (Shiva's son), and Agastya (a hermit who has the spiritual ability equivalent to god).

Three-tiered roof of the temple is decorated with miniature temples and antefix either plain or decorated. Plan of the temple is almost entirely a square but there is also a temple with a rectangular plan, is the size of the temple is very varied, ranging in width 4.5 m -9.5 m, 4.8 m length - 9m with different height from 3m - 8.9 m.

Temple on the sidelines between Gedong III with IV Gedong there is a mountain kepunden as hot springs. The tourists can take a shower and warm baths disebuah kepunden built near them. The smell of sulfur is strong enough and pretty thick clouds of smoke as he approached the hot springs.

According to the story surrounding people, supposedly the source of hot water is guarded by a creature named Nyai Gayatri, spirits of women from the island of Bali. Nyai Gayatri is one of ladies from King Sima. After death, Nyai Gayatri's spirits inhabit this spring. Nyai Gayatri is someone who loves to help others. Until died too, Nyai Gayatri still helpful. One way is to help cure diseases for people who bathe in these springs.

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Old Town Area of Semarang. The Remain of a Glory.

Based on its history, the city of Semarang has an existing area at about the 18th century became the center of trade. At present that region is called the Old Town area (Kawasan Kota Tua). At that time, to safeguard the citizens and territory, a Fort was built at that area, which was named the VIJHOEK Fort. To speed up the lines of communication between all Three gates in the fort the streets of transportation was made, with its main street named: Heeren STRAAT. Currently named Jl. LetJend Soeprapto. One of the existing location of the castle door until now is the Berok Bridge (Jembatan Berok), called the DE ZUIDER POR.

Transport path through the water is very important, it is evidenced by the rivers that surround this area that can be navigable from the sea up to Sebandaran area, area of Chinatown. That time the Dutch East Indies had ranked second as a producer of sugar all over the world. At the time Forced Cultivation was happening  (Cultur stelsel) throughout the Netherlands East Indies area.

Semarang's Old City area is also called OUTSTADT. The area is approximately 31 hectares. Judging from the condition of geography, it seems that this area separate from the surrounding areas, so that seems like a separate city, earning the nickname "LITTLE Netherland."

Semarang's Old City area is a witness to the history of Dutch colonial in Indonesia for more than two centuries, and its location adjacent economic zone. In this place there are about 50 ancient buildings that still stand strong and have a history of colonialism in Semarang.

Place to visits

Lighthouse (Mercusuar)
Built in 1884. Construction of the lighthouse is related to the construction of the port city of Semarang as by the colonial government for the transport of sugar exports to the world. During the nineteenth century Indonesia when it was called the Dutch East Indies had occupied the second rank as the world sugar producer. The lighthouse building is the only one in Central Java.

Tawang Railway Station
Station Tambak Sari in Jalan Sari Pengapon, built by NIS (Nederlandsche Indische SPOORWEGMAATSCHARIJ), inaugurated by the Governor-General MR. BARON SLOET VAN DE BEELE. This station replaces the previous station, was built on June 16, 1864 until February 10, 1870 to serve the route Semarang - Yogyakarta - Solo. Because the station was no longer eligible, after the increasing volume of freight, then Tawang Station was built. Building architect is JP DE landing. The building was completed in May 1914. This building has an architectural style appropriate to tropical conditions. This building has a visual axis with the Church Blenduk thereby increasing the value of the area. These buildings include "tetenger" city of Semarang.

CHURCH BLENDUK
Church Blenduk has been more than 200 years old and pledged as a "tetenger" (Landmark) in Semarang. Located at Jalan Let Jend. Suprapto No.32. Blenduk church named because the top two towers and a large dome. Dome in Javanese means Blenduk. This building began its establishment in 1753, used for Nederlandsche Indische Kerk church. This building was repaired again in 1756, 1787, and 1794. In 1894 this building was dismantled as a state now. Architects of this development is the HPA DE Wilde and WWESTMAS.

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Komodo Island. The Land of Living Dragons.

Komodo Island is an island located in the Nusa Tenggara Islands. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for animals native Komodo dragon. This island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government. Komodo Island in the eastern island of Sumbawa, which are separated by the Sape Strait.

Administratively, these islands including Komodo district, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Komodo Island is the most western tip of Nusa Tenggara Timur province, bordering the province of West Nusa Tenggara.

At Komodo Island, Komodo dragons live and breed well. Until August 2009, on this island there are about 1,300 Komodo dragons. Coupled with the other islands, such as Island and Rinca and Gili Motang, their numbers totaled about 2500. There are also around 100 dragons in the Wae Wuul Nature Reserve on the mainland island of Flores but was not included in the Komodo National Park.

Besides Komodo dragons, this island also store a variety of exotic flora of Sepang wood which by local people used as medicine and dye clothes, this nitak tree or sterculia oblongata in believe are useful as medicines and it seeds are crispy and tasty as the peas.

The history of Komodo Island starts in 1910. When the Dutch named the island on the south side of East Nusa Tenggara Province as the Island of Komodo. It begins with Lieutenant Steyn van Hens Broek who tries to prove Dutch troops's statements about the presence of large animal resembling a dragon on the island. Steyn then killed a Komodo dragon and bring documentation to the Museum and Botanical Garden in Bogor to be investigated.

In 2009, the Park has been named finalist in the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" which was published in the year 2010 new through online voting at www.N7W.com

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Kota Tua Jakarta. A piece of Memory.

 Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua Jakarta), also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia (Oud Batavia), is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. This special region spans 1.3 square kilometres of both North Jakarta and West Jakarta (Kelurahan Pinangsia, Taman Sari and Kelurahan Roa Malaka, Tambora).

Dubbed "The Jewel of Asia" and "Queen of the East" in the 16th century by European sailors, Old Jakarta — or Batavia, as it was named by the Dutch — was once considered a center of commerce for the whole continent due to its strategic location and fertile resources.

Places to visits at Kota Tua Jakarta

The Jakarta History Museum

Fatahillah Museum, also known as the Jakarta History Museum or the Museum of Batavia is a museum located at Jalan Taman Fatahillah No. 2, West Jakarta, an area of more than 1300 square meters.This building was once the Stadhuis or City Hall, built in 1707-1710 by order of Governor-General Johan Van Hoorn. City Hall building was similar to Dam Palace in Amsterdam.Objects that can be found in this museum include the history of Jakarta, replicas of relics of the Tarumanegara and Pajajaran, the results of archaeological excavations in Jakarta, antique furniture from the 17th century until the 19th, which is a fusion of European style, People's Republic of China, and Indonesia. There are also ceramics, pottery, and stone inscriptions. This collection is available at various spaces, such as Jakarta Prehistoric Room, Tarumanegara Room, Fatahillah Room, Jayakarta Room, Sultan Agung Suite, and MH Thamrin Space.

Bank of Indonesia Museum
Bank Indonesia building in Jakarta Kota area, which is selected and designated as a Building Museum Bank Indonesia, is a monumental building that is full of historical value and architectural beauty. As an asset for the city rich history, this building has been determined by the Regional Government of DKI Jakarta as a cultural heritage building in accordance with the Heritage Act No. 5 / 1992. Therefore, it is an appropriate step if the building is preserved and used as a professionally managed museum, So it can show us the image of Bank Indonesia which is care at history, culture, and education for the society and participate historic buildings revitalization in region of Jakarta Kota .

Jakarta Cathedral
Jakarta Cathedral Church (official name: Santa Maria Patron Appointed To Heaven, De Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming) is a church in Jakarta. This church building was inaugurated in 1901 and built with a neo-gothic architecture of Europe, which is a very common architecture used to build the church building a few centuries ago. The present church was designed and begun by Father Antonius Dijkmans and laying the first stone by Carolus Provicaris Wenneker. This work was followed by Cuypers-Hulswit when Dijkmans could not go on, and then inaugurated and blessed on April 21, 1901 by Msgr. Edmundus Sybradus Luypen, SJ, Vicar Apostolic of Jakarta.

Angke Mosque
Angke Masjid Mosque located in West Jakarta Angke and easily reached by minibus from Fatahillah Museum of the City or the city bus station. This is the only one old mosque in Jakarta, which still survives. The building of this mosque there are two floors, which are characterized by typical Javanese architecture. Angke mosque which is now known by the name of Al-Anwar Mosque is closely associated with Chinese people in Batavia (now Jakarta).

Luar Batang Mosque
Luar Batang Mosque location is at Jalan Luar Batang I, Kampung Luar Batang, North Jakarta. Many Javanese people who live here, so in a map made in 1780 Van Der Parra called Javasche Kwartier location, but after that people would know him Luar Batang. After investigation, the person at that moment if this means to the location outside the city limits and must pass a sign in the form of bars, not explained what sticks. So then introduced with the title Luar Batang until now.

Zion Church
This church is located not far from the Railway Station of Jakarta, precisely at the Pangeran Jayakarta Street, West Jakarta, was built in 1693. This Portuguese church built in 1693, called De Nieuwe Potugeesche Buitenkerk (The New Church of Portuguese outside the fort). This church was officially opened on October 23, 1695 and funded jointly by the Portuguese and the Dutch East India Company. This church is one of the oldest churches in the area of jakarta. The oldest church in Jakarta was built in 1693 by architect Ewout Verhagen. From the outside, not a cursory look something special from Zion Church. However, antique curved windows with more or less three meters high and the gates of the church with antique pillars, which sustain the triangle (fronton) Greek style, makes this church special.

Toko Merah
At Kali Besar Barat Street, West Jakarta, When the VOC is the downtown of Batavia, there is a building that was almost all red front. Toko Merah is the name of the building, now is still standing strong despite three centuries old. A number of governors general of the VOC inhabitted this building, which was located in the middle of the walled city of Batavia. Baron van Imhoff Gustaf built this two-story building in 1730. That building has witnessed many important events, experienced by the city of Batavia. At least in front of the building there was a major riot occurred when a massacre against the Chinese people.

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Surfing on a piece land of Heaven

Lombok has become one of the surfer destination for many years. Surfing enthusiasts, especially those who's coming from overseas and only came to Indonesia to surf and want to find another place other than Bali, will find Lombok and Sumbawa as place of unimaginable before, especially because of the surrounding natural environment and place of its own. Surfing has provided the largest input for Bali tourism industry in the early time of its popularity, but after more and more visitors excess population of visitors for the purpose of surfing led to a decline in popularity.

Lombok and Sumbawa are new places that are still unexplored, being host to several surfing locations in the south Pacific Ocean, Lombok provides many sites with good waves.

Lombok without doubt has a left-hand wave, the best in the world and the place is located in Desert Point at Bangko Bangko, southwest Lombok ongoing as are made by machines. However surfers sometimes very crowded and when low tide, it can be dangerous.

Lombok also has other surf destinations namely Kuta Lombok, this place is different from Kuta Bali. In Gerupuk, South region, the wave left and right is more suited for long board.

Not far from there Gerupuk Ekas Bay with a wave of right and left with a large size. North Towards Lombok, right in the tourist center of this island, namely the area of Senggigi which is very famous for local surfers, particularly beginners have the right and left waves are unique.

Waves in the area of Senggigi is channging compared to the South region of the island of Lombok. The waves here get a boost from the sea in the Straits of Lombok. Lodging main classes directly in front of the Senggigi Beach surf location promises comfort to fans of heavy surf marsupial. However, moderate and regular class lodging can also be easily met in this region.

Towards the North, there are Alang Alang points and some good places to surf along the Northwest coast of Lombok Island. Completing the place - where other surf, a small archipelago in the local language called Gili and the most famous of which is three Gili, namely Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air, offers some the best surfing spot.

There is also a place that is good for surfing in the territory of the neighboring island of Lombok is still a part of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara, Sumbawa Island with the various waves of the class depending on where you are headed. For example Lakey in Dompu, with five great waves adjacent to one another. Places - a nice place in the territory of the West coast of Sumbawa is Scar Reef, Supersucks, and Donut's offers magical waves which are not for beginners.

There are so many "hidden area" to find when you explore the beach - the beach in Sumbawa. And when you miss so many beautiful places are isolated on the beach, when you find it as if the area into your own property.

In general surfing in Lombok and Sumbawa region suitable to use a short board. A challenge to use the long board when he found a wave of increasingly steep and curvy curves. If you want to surf here always remember that you are surfing on the sharp rocks and cautious - careful.

Bali, Lombok Island differ so does the island of Sumbawa. Population, indigenous cultures, religions and ways of life and especially the scenery around is right - completely unique amongst the islands - the island is also the island - another island in Indonesia. Experience an unforgettable beautiful you'll get during the visit the place - the place, but always remember to maintain a healthy environment around if you visit the place - the place for the conservation of nature that we can inherit to the next generation.

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