Vacation

Karimun Jawa, Indonesia

2011-08-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Karimunjawa adalah kepulauan di Laut Jawa yang termasuk dalam Kabupaten Jepara, Jawa Tengah. Dengan luas daratan ±1.500 hektare dan perairan ±110.000 hektare, Karimunjawa kini dikembangkan menjadi pesona wisata Taman Laut yang mulai banyak digemari wisatawan lokal maupun mancanegara.

Berdasarkan legenda yang beredar di kepulauan, Pulau Karimunjawa ditemukan oleh Sunan Muria. Legenda itu berkisah tentang Sunan Muria yang prihatin atas kenakalan putranya, Amir Hasan. Dengan maksud mendidik, Sunan Muria kemudian memerintahkan putranya untuk pergi ke sebuah pulau yang nampak "kremun-kremun" (kabur) dari puncak Gunung Muria agar si anak dapat memperdalam dan mengembangkan ilmu agamanya. Karena tampak"kremun-kremun" maka dinamakanlah pulau tersebut Pulau Karimun.

Karimunjawa adalah rumah bagi terumbu karang, hutan bakau, hutan pantai, serta hampir 400 spesies fauna laut, di antaranya 242 jenis ikan hias. Beberapa fauna langka yang berhabitat disini adalah elang laut dada putih, penyu sisik, dan penyu hijau.

Tumbuhan yang menjadi ciri khas Taman Nasional Karimunjawa yaitu dewadaru (Crystocalyx macrophyla) yang terdapat pada hutan hujan dataran rendah.

Ombak di Karimunjawa tergolong rendah dan jinak, dibatasi oleh pantai yang kebanyakan adalah pantai pasir putih halus.

Transportasi paling umum digunakan untuk ke Karimunjawa adalah kapal dari Semarang dan Jepara. Dari Pelabuhan Tanjung Emas, Semarang, kapal Kartini I (kapal cepat) berangkat setiap Sabtu pukul 9 pagi ke Karimunjawa dan kembali dari Karimunjawa setiap Minggu siang, lama penyebrangan 2-3 jam.

Dari Pelabuhan Kartini,Jepara terdapat Kapal Muria yang berangkat setiap dua hari sekali,lama penyebrangan kapal ekonomi ini +/- 6 jam pelayaran. perlu diperhatikan untuk jadwal kapal dari pelabuhan Jepara biasanya berangkat hari selasa,kamis,sabtu jam 9 pagi dan dari karimunjawa menuju jepara rabu,jumat,minggu jam 8 pagi. jadwal ini bisa berubah sesuai dengan cuaca atau ombak di laut jawa. seandainya terjadi gelombang tinggi maka pihak perhubungan di pelabuhan tidak akan memberikan izin pelayaran, dan jadwal keberangkatan kapal akan berubah mengikuti perubahan cuaca. Pelabuhan jepara juga bisa membawa Mobil dan motor untuk diseberangkan ke Karinjawa.

Jalur udara dapat ditempuh dari Bandara Ahmad Yani, Semarang menuju Bandar Udara Dewa Daru di Pulau Kemujan dengan pesawat sewa jenis CASSA 212 yang disediakan oleh PT. Wisata Laut Nusa Permai (Kura-Kura Resort). Waktu tempuh kurang lebih 30 menit.

dan banyak Paket Wisata yang ditawarkan di Karimun Jawa

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

2011-01-30T01:23:00.000-08:00

Built in 1928, the historic neo-classical Fullerton Building was transformed into a 400-room luxury hotel in 2001. It is dynamically located in the heart of the financial and arts districts, along the scenic Singapore River. The hotel successfully blends rich heritage with contemporary style to offer an unsurpassed world-class accommodation experience for business and leisure travellers. It is a 25-minutes drive from Singapore Changi Airport and a short walk to the Raffles Place Mass Rapid Transit station. In the immediate vicinity are Boat Quay, the Asian Civilizations Museum, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, The Fullerton Waterboat House, One Fullerton, Merlion Park, and Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay.

Booking website		Room & rates	Recent best price
++ Exclusive of taxes and booking fees
	preferredhotels.com	Book Two EnjoyBook Two Enjoy - inclusive American Buffet Breakfast for 2 pers...	US$183
	agoda.com	Courtyard@#!Book now – rate includes 25% discount!	US$223
	hoteltravel.com	Courtyard room	US$230
	travelintelligence.com	Fullerton hotel hot deal	US$273
	hotels.com	Courtyard	US$277
	dhr.com	Courtyard Twin Room	US$312
	hotelclub.com	Heritage Room-2 Twin Single Beds Or 1 King Bed	US$536
	booking.com	Courtyard Double or Twin Room - Non Refundable	US$237++

PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE

2011-01-30T01:18:00.000-08:00

With 778 well-appointed rooms and suites and over 20 meeting and banquet venues, Pan Pacific Singapore presents the choice accommodation option for a business or leisure travellers, merely 20 minutes away from Changi International Airport.

Immerse in 37 floors of luxury presenting beautiful views of the bustling financial district and Marina Bay while the hotel's central location amongst three shopping malls, including Suntec Singapore International Conventions and Exhibitions Centre, offers over 1,000 shops and restaurants to be explored.

A total of six world-class restaurants and a contemporary lounge offer a multitude of dining and entertainment options within the hotel. Replete with leisure facilities including a gymnasium, spa, tennis courts and swimming pool, Pan Pacific Singapore presents the perfect getaway option.

Booking website		Room & rates	Recent best price
++ Exclusive of taxes and booking fees
	fastbooking.com	Deluxe-Room	US$186
	agoda.com	Deluxe Hot Deal@#!Limited time offer – rate includes 55% discount!	US$198
	hotels.com	Deluxe Balcony room-Non refundable	US$201
	hoteltravel.com	Deluxe balcony - non refund	US$211
	hotelclub.com	Deluxe-2 Twin Bed Or 1 King Bed	US$237
	ratestogo.com	Deluxe Balcony Room	US$237
	priceline.com.hk	Deluxe Balcony Room	US$238
	booking.com	Deluxe Double or Twin Room - Non Refundable	US$181++

Tourist attractions in Jakarta

2010-09-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

Ancol Dream Park (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol): consists of Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy world), Seaworld (for the largest aquarium in South East Asia), Gelanggang Samudra (Ocean Park), resorts, hotel, beach, marina, and great restaurants. It's one of the biggest park in Asia. Entrance ticket, weekdays : Rp. 133.000,-, weekend: Rp. 163.000,-

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah: Just Like Its name which mean Beautiful Indonesia in Little Park we can see the whole Indonesian Culture from here. It offers an exciting tour of 30 provinces of Indonesia with samplings of the country's more than 250 cultures. Highlight features are the Museum Indonesia and the Keong Emas IMAX theater.

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Arts Theater): This neo-renaissance structure was meticulously restored, and now one of the proud landmarks among the many Jakarta buildings which have been conserved. Some of the city best performance by both local and visiting artists are often held here.

Museum Nasional: The museum houses vast collections of prehistoric, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, including one of the world's largest collections of Southeast Asian ceramics and Hindu Javanese art. The museum was opened in 1868. Entrance ticket : Rp. 750,-

Pasar Baru: Although the name means New Market, it doesn't mean the place is new at all. Dating back to the Dutch colonial era, it has been one of the main hub for commodities trading. And nowadays, it has been nothing short of a mixture of stores packed up in a very limited space. You can bet to find unbranded items with good quality and good price here.

Monas (National Monument): Jakarta's best known landmark, the 137 meter monument is located in the center of Merdeka (Freedom) square. From the observation deck, you can view the city. At the basement there are dioramas that portray the dramatic story of Indonesia history. Entrance ticket : Rp. 2500,-, ticket to the top of monas : Rp. 7500,-

Presidential Palace. Located north of the National Monument, the official residence and office of the Indonesian president is open to the public on weekends for free, preferbly make reservation first and use formal clothes, no sandals.

Textile Museum: The museum houses a large collections of textiles related to the religious and social practices of the major islands of the archipelago, including batik, ikat and kain ulos.

Gedung Proklamasi(Proclamation Building): The historical site of Indonesian independence, where on August 17th, 1945 Soekarno-Hatta (Indonesian first president and vice-president) declared the nation's independence.

Lubang Buaya: Another historical site, despite a darker one in Indonesian history. It marks the site where a failed coup d' etat by Partai Komunis Indonesia (Indonesian Communist Party) met its end, alongside the bodies of several high-ranking generals who were tortured to death for not cooperating the revolutionaries.

Museum Sasmita Loka

Museum Wayang (Puppet Museum): This museum is dedicated to puppetry, one of Indonesia's most famous traditional art forms. On display are the wayang kulit shadow puppets, three-dimensional wooden puppets and special dance masks. Wayang performances are presented on Sunday at 10 am.

Jalan Surabaya (Surabaya Street): For a unique shopping experience, visit this lively open-air antique market on the fringes of the Menteng residential neighborhood. A good place to bargain for exotic treaures.

Sunda Kelapa Port / Old Harbour: The old port area of Sunda Kelapa remains today as a bustling hub for inter islands trade. Graceful Bugis phinisi schooners, the world's last wind-powered sailing fleet used for trade, still berthed at the quay as they have for century.

Ragunan Zoo: Located to the south Jakarta near Pasar Minggu, this 185-hectare city zoo contains a comprehensive collection of some 3600 species of wildlife from throughout Indonesua. Look for the rare Komodo dragon. The animals live in natural habitats. Pusat Primata Schmutzer consists of gorillas and other various primate fauna.

Istiqlal Mosque: the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia and Cathedral Church located right in front of it)

Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands): Located north of Jakarta in the Java Sea, these stunning Kepulauan Seribu, easily accessible by speed boat from Ancol marina. This spray of some 300 hundred sandy, picturesque islets offers invigorating respitee for those wishing to escape from the bustling city.

Museum Adam Malik: A small museum dedicated to Mr Adam Malik, one of the renowned figure, who represented Indonesia in the United Nations, among many of his other feats as Indonesian foreign minister then.

Museum ABRI (Military Museum)

Jembatan Kota Intan (Kota Intan drawbridge): The bridge was developed coincide with the development of Batavia by Jan Pieterzoon Coen in 1628, and the only one of the rests of many suspension bridge ever decorating Batavia city.

Bird Market: Located at Jalan Barito in South Jakarta and Jalan Pramuka in Central Jakarta, here you can find various colourful tropical birds on sale.

Fish Market and Museum Bahari (Maritime Museum): Located at the mouth of the Ciliwung river, this market area bustles with activities related to the sea. The Museum Bahari situated at the harbor, is housed in restored Dutch warehouses dating back to the first trading post of the Dutch East Indies.

Bird Island (in Thousand Islands)

Atmosfear Dry Slider Located in FX Lifestyle Center Mall Sudirman, one of the world's longest slider and fastest

Museum Bank Mandiri : Located in the Old Town area opposite the Northern Terminus of Corridor 1 of the Busway and Kota Station,see the history of banking in the Dutch colonial era. Sections include the history of how the Dutch segregated the services offered to bankers by race, the history of the creation of Bank Mandiri and it's memorabilia , Colonial Era Bank Governors and Rupiah bank notes through time.

wikitravel.org/en/Jakarta

About Jakarta

2010-09-28T23:01:00.000-07:00

History

The port of Sunda Kelapa dates to the 12th century, when it served the Sundanese kingdom of Pajajaran near present-day Bogor. The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, who were given the permission by the Hindu Kingdom of Pakuan Pajajaran to erect a godown in 1522. Control was still firmly in local hands, and in 1527 the city was conquered by Prince Fatahillah, a Muslim prince from Cirebon, who changed the name to Jayakarta.

By the end of the 16th century, however, the Dutch (led by Jan Pieterszoon Coen) had pretty much taken over the port city, and the razing of a competing English fort in 1619 secured their hold on the island. Under the name Batavia, the new Dutch town became the capital of the Dutch East Indies and was known as the Queen of the East.

However, the Dutch made the mistake of attempting to replicate Holland by digging canals throughout the malarial swamps in the area, resulting in shockingly high death rates and earning the town the epithet White Man's Graveyard. In the early 1800's most canals were filled in, the town was shifted 4 kilometers inland and the Pearl of the Orient flourished once again.

In 1740, there was a rebellion by Chinese slaves against Dutch. The rebellion was put down harshly with the massacre of thousands of Chinese slaves. The remaining Chinese slaves were exiled to Sri Lanka.

In 1795, the Netherlands were invaded and occupied by France, and on March 17, 1798, the Batavian Republic, a satellite state of France, took over both VOC debts and assets. But on August 26, 1811, a British expedition led by Lord Minto defeated the French/Dutch troops in Jakarta, leading to a brief occupation of Indonesia by the British (led by Sir Stamford Raffles of Singapore fame) in 1811-1816. In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna, Indonesia was officially handed over from the British to the Dutch government.

The name Jakarta was adopted as a short form of Jayakarta when the city was conquered by the Japanese in 1942. After the war, the Indonesian war of independence followed, with the capital briefly shifted to Yogyakarta after the Dutch attacked. The war lasted until 1949, when the Dutch accepted Indonesian independence and handed back the town, which became Indonesia's capital again.

Since independence Jakarta's population has skyrocketed, thanks to migrants coming to the city in search of wealth. The entire Jabotabek(Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi) metropolitan region is estimated to have 16-18 million people, a figure projected to double to 30 million by 2016. The official name of the city is Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta Raya (DKI Jakarta), meaning "Special Capital City Region".

Ubud - Bali

2010-09-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

What is Ubud?

Ubud is located 35 km northeast of Bali's International Airport. It is attractive to tourists for a variety of reasons. On a relatively small island with a horde of attractions, Ubud is centrally located, and even the closest beach is only 15 minutes away.

The Ubud area is around two- to three hundred meters above sea level and surrounded by rice fields, which makes it noticeably cooler than then other tourist destinations in Bali. Neighbouring villages are well known for unique bamboo crafts and furniture, wood- and stone carving and many other crafts.

Ubud is famous for it's regularly nightly traditional dance performances, which are part of the traditional culture and are arranged for tourists on a regular schedule. Hindu-Balinese ceremonies take place on a nearly daily basis, especially in the European summer, which is the driest and coolest season here.

Ubud is popular in part today because it is the best place in Bali to break out of the tourist mode and get off the beaten path, although far from undiscovered. Hotels are plentiful; home stays and Indonesian guesthouses (losmen) are easily available to the foreign tourist. Many tourists simply base their entire stay in the city and travel to other destinations from Ubud.

Accommodations in Ubud are also somewhat more reasonably priced than in the beach towns of Bali. But atmosphere is perhaps the major attractions. One visitor summed it up this way: Kuta is madness, Sanur is sterile, and Nusa Dua is culturally isolated; Ubud is the place to go.

the best place in Bali.

you can search many galery art and ARTSWORLD of Ubud which is called the VILLAGE OF THE ARTISTS. Meanwhile this village became more alike a countrytown and anyone who is visiting has the problem to find the right MUSEUM, GALLERY or ARTIST.

about Kuta Bali

2010-09-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

KutaKuta is more that just a great beach. Kuta is the activity hub and entertainment playground of Bali, located just minutes drive south of the capital Denpasar. The area known as 'Kuta' can be roughly divided into four areas: Seminyak, Kuta, Legian and Tuban. Kuta is a thriving tourist resort, popular mainly among the younger travelers as well as tourists from Asia.

Kuta, in addition to being the No. 1 Sunset Site in Bali with its spectacular sunsets, is also the centre of night life activities in Southern Bali and a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. This former Hippies' Paradise is still paradise for those who love sea, sun and sand. Accommodation ranges from international hotels to home-stays. The village is a lively activity hub and abounds with restaurants, shops, discotheques and other tourist facilities. Most hotels and resorts in and around Kuta encompass spas which offer massages and beauty treatments. The larger hotels usually also offer a variety of sports facilities

Kuta beach was the first beaches discovered by tourists and remains as one of the favorite beaches with the majority of visitors. The southern (Tuban) end of the beach is bordered by the airport’s runway, which gives you a breathtaking landing experience. The beach stretches as far north as the eye can see including Tuban, Kuta and Legian beaches which are collectively known as 'Kuta Beach'. Along Kuta Reef the waves will invite you to test your surfing skills. It is a world renowned beach for surfing although currents and strong undertow can make it less suitable for swimming.

SunsetsKuta Beach is Bali's No 1 sunset site. Hundreds of people would gather every late afternoon to watch the spectacular sunsets. There is only one word to describe the sunsets in Bali - spectacular! In December, when the sun is close to its lowest point, a large, bright orange/red sun will approach the horizon off Kuta, and descending ever so slowly into the ocean. Brilliant shadows are cast everywhere, gold reflections on the water and strips of clouds float across the sky as the curtain of darkness falls on another day. Often, a light wisp of cloud will float across the setting sun, stealing the completeness of the sun, as if to accessorize it with a flowing silk scarf. Hundreds of pairs of eyes watch as the sun's bottom touches the horizon and, in a matter of minutes, vanishes from the sight. The whole experience is drop-dead romantic. Try it. I guarantee you will melt and, like most, will return again and again for the Bali sunset experience on Kuta Beach.

Online Shop papercraft

2010-09-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

"DACRISTA" ONLINE SHOP

Kami menjual berbagai macam model papercraft yang unik dan menarik
dengan harga mulai dari RP 50.000 -
RP 150.000 (belum termasuk ongkos kirim)

pemesanan hub : bztravis4@gmail.com

Nasi Liwet (Solo)

2010-07-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Nasi liwet adalah makanan khas kota Solo. Nasi liwet adalah nasi gurih (dimasak dengan kelapa) mirip nasi uduk, yang disajikan dengan sayur labu siam, suwiran ayam (daging ayam dipotong kecil-kecil) dan areh (semacam bubur gurih dari kelapa).

Penduduk kota Solo biasa memakan nasi liwet setiap waktu mulai dari untuk sarapan, sampai makan malam. Nasi liwet biasa dijajakan keliling dengan bakul bambu oleh ibu-ibu yang menggendongnya tiap pagi atau dijual di warung lesehan (tanpa kursi). Tempat paling terkenal untuk penjualan nasi liwet (warung lesehan) adalah di daerah Keprabon yang hanya berjualan pada malam hari.

Soto BeTaWi

2010-06-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

As a typical food of Jakarta, soto betawi has become one of the preferred meal. Broth of coconut milk, white and tender pieces of meat served hot, ideal for dining in the rainy season and cold air. One of the places that sell Soto soto Betawi betawi Umar Idris is located in Petamburan area, precisely in KS Tubun Road No.15 B, Petamburan, Jakarta.

Material:
Beef 1 / 2 kg.
Tomato 2 pcs
3bh boiled egg
Lime juice 3 pcs
3 pcs of steamed potatoes.
Fried shallots.
1 stalk green onion slices 1 / 2 cm
Coconut milk from half coconut
Galangal 1 vertebra
1 stalk lemongrass
Citrus leaves 3 lbr
Salt, sugar to taste
Spice paste:
5 pcs shallots
3 Garlic cloves
Pecan 5 pcs
Turmeric 1cm
Ginger 1cm

How to cook:
Boil beef in 2 liter of water until tender, then cut into pieces of meat 1x2x1/2cm or to taste.
Stir-fry ground spices until fragrant pieces of meat stir input add lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, salt and sugar.
Enter into the broth add the coconut milk and stir-cook stirring occasionally until meat is tender and delicious gravy.
How to serve:
In a serving bowl contents sliced boiled potatoes, boiled egg slices, tomato slices soto provide meat and sprinkle with green onion sauce, fried shallots. And serve warm with sliced lemon.
Sambal soto:
5 pcs red chillies in cooking, add a little salt grind give soto soup.

GUdeg -masakan Indonesia-

2010-06-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Gudeg (bahasa Jawa gudheg) adalah makanan khas Yogyakarta dan Jawa Tengah yang terbuat dari nangka muda yang dimasak dengan santan. Perlu waktu berjam-jam untuk membuat masakan ini. Warna coklat biasanya dihasilkan oleh daun jati yang dimasak bersamaan. Gudeg dimakan dengan nasi dan disajikan dengan kuah santan kental (areh), ayam kampung, telur, tahu dan sambal goreng krecek.
Ada berbagai varian gudeg, antara lain:

Gudeg kering, yaitu gudeg yang disajikan dengan areh kental, jauh lebih kental daripada santan pada masakan padang.
Gudeg basah, yaitu gudeg yang disajikan dengan areh encer.
Gudeg Solo, yaitu gudeg yang arehnya berwarna putih.

St. Petersburg

2010-06-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

St. Petersburg Holidays start from £495 per person, including direct flights with British Airways, transfers and three nights accommodation. St. Petersburg city breaks have so much to offer that a couple of nights may not be enough. It's been calculated that it would take 7 years to look at each item in the Hermitage alone!

May - July is the peak season and hotel and flight prices can be rather expensive. It is often better to visit in Spring or Autumn when the weather is not too cold or hot, there are fewer tourists around and there is a greater availability of hotels at more reasonable rates.

Our St. Petersburg city break packages include:

Return direct flights from London Heathrow with British Airways (we can also arrange flights from other departure cities)
Airport transfers in St. Petersburg
Accommodation in a twin / double room (single supplement available)
Breakfast at hotel
All taxes

We can also help with Russian Visa arrangements and arrange guided tours and tickets to the theatre or ballet at well-known venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre.
All St. Petersburg City Break Packages are priced per person and are based on availability and two people sharing a twin or double room.

The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

2010-06-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Nara first developed after being designated the capital in 710.The Great Buddha of Todaiji - a symbol of the ancient capital of JapanLatest Topics

Roppongi, with International Atmosphere
The World's Biggest Electrical Town, Akihabara
Registration at Lodging Facilities Changed
Flash Photo Report of the 2005 EXPO, Aichi

Nara prefecture
The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara refer to the ruins, 6 temples and 8 primeval forests in the Nara City area.The central monument is the Heijokyo-ato (Imperial Palace), the site of a royal palace in the present-day city of Nara. This is where the emperor resided and various government offices were located when Heijokyo of Nara was designated the capital in 710. After the capital was transferred to Heiankyo (present-day Kyoto) in 794, Heijokyo was temporarily turned over for use as farmland; after, however, influential temples and shrines including Kofukuji and Todaiji were erected and the area was again developed as "a capital of temples and shrines". The palace site was discovered in 1889. The "Sujakumon Gate" (reconstructed in 1998) and the gardens were reconstructed based on the results of excavation while preserving the spacious heath, and activities are promoted to conserve the ancient image. A reference library was also established here, where you will learn about the excavations and research that are always in progress in the area.

The "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" include 6 temples: Todaiji, Kasuga-Taisha, Kofukuji, Yakushiji, Toshodaiji and Gangouji. Todaiji is a noteworthy example, visited by Japanese students on school trips and tourists from all over the world. This temple was built by order of Emperor Shomu (ruling from 724 to 749) in order to protect the country. The 14.7-meter-high Great Buddha in the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) symbolizes Nara, and his pose of holding up the palm of his right hand to the front while placing his left hand on his knee with the palm upwards means that he gives strength to the people with his right hand while promising to grant their wishes with his left. The main body of the Buddha has been repaired many times over the years, but the lotus petal part used as the foundation and both legs are as they were when first made. The building, reconstructed in the Edo era, is the largest-scale ancient wooden building in the world.

Dusun Jogja Village Inn/star 3

2010-06-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dusun Jogja Village Inn is a tranquil boutique hotel where intimacy, luxury and style come together to create peaceful respite. The staff welcomes you like a family member where the Jogja charms embrace you warmly.

Location
By driving: 5 minutes from sultan's palace, 10 minutes from the city center, 20 minutes from the Adisucipto Airport, 5 km to bird market, 7 km from Kota Gede (silver market)

HONEYMOON RETREAT PACKAGE
Suite Room (3 days 2 night Package) / couple
Deluxe Room (3 days 2 night Package) / couple

This retreat includes:

* Courtesy coach airport-hotel-airport
* Special fruit basket and welcome drink upon arrival
* One bottle of champagne/wine depends on the room
* Daily breakfast of your choice wherever you heart feels
* Daily afternoon teas
* One candle light dinner for two
* Village Tour by Andong (Horse Cart)
* Malioboro shuttle
* Traditional massage for 2 persons
* Memorial photograph
* Exotic souvenir

For more information, visit www.jvidusun.co.id

DUSUN JOGJA VILLAGE INN
Jl. Menukan 5, Yogyakarta 55153
Phone: +62 274 373031, +62 274 384438
Fax: +62 274 382202

Hotel Facilities & Services

* 24 rooms with private terrace/balcony
* Bathtub with hot/cold water
* Air conditioner (AC)
* Room service
* Salty water Swimming pool
* Njoglo Resto
* Soko Bar
* Mini bar
* Dry cleaning
* Saraswati Spa
* Newspapers
* Artshops
* Daily Breakfasts
* Local/IDD call
* Fax
* Internet
* Movie room
* TV in every room
* Library
* Tropical garden view
* Merapi Tour Travel Agent

ST REGIS Bali

2010-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you value the space, informality and privacy of a villa but don't feel comfortable without all facilities and the polished service of an international top resort, we have the right place for you.

Lounging next to your private pool just a few meters away from the ocean, you can ask your personal butler to serve Russian caviar, live Boston lobster, freshly shucked Kumamoto oysters or home cured salmon with a bottle of Salon, Krug Vintage or Dom Perignon at any time of the day (or night).

Enjoy the best of two worlds: Ultimate luxury on the "Ultimate Island" — further improved by valuable extra benefits provided by BALIVILLAS.COM.
The St. Regis Bali Resort, the island's newest luxury property, opened on a quiet stretch of Nusa Dua beach adjacent to the "Bali Golf & Country Club" in late 2008 and is setting new standards in respect of luxurious accommodation and personalized services. The resort consists of 124 suites, villas and residences set on 20 acres (8.8 hectares) of prime property right on the beach in Nusa Dua.
You will enjoy the luxury of space from suites to grand villas, the outstanding cuisine served in spectacular restaurants or in your villa and the famous signature REMÈDE spa treatments. The quality of personalized services provided around the clock by the resort's professional butlers and over 400 other staff including 11 foreigners is unsurpassed.

Guest accommodations have an open, airy feeling with spacious living areas and artful, residential touches throughout. Suites and villas offer exquisite furnishings and amenities, often balconies and ocean views, and all guests have access to calm, swimmable lagoons.
Villas are surrounded by lush tropical gardens with private pools and feature classic Indonesian "Bales", open gazebos for dining or lounging on a day bed in the balmy air. All guest rooms feature finely appointed marble bathrooms, walk in wardrobes and plush robes as well as the latest entertainment technologies. No detail goes unnoticed.
Book your stay of two nights or more at the ST. REGIS BALI through BALIVILLAS.COM and you will enjoy many extra benefits worth about US$700 including:

Bali Concierge VIP Airport Reception;
Private airport transfer on arrival & departure;
Use of an air-conditioned car with a reliable driver for up to 10 consecutive hours every day during your whole stay;
Sensational daily gourmet breakfast at the BONEKA restaurant;
One 2-hour REMÈDE signature spa treatment for 2 persons;
One chilled bottle of Balinese sparkling wine on arrival;
BALIVILLAS.COM welcome pack containing a Bali guidebook with maps, up-to-date practical information on Bali, an audio CD and a CD Rom with a complete Balinese cooking course (introduction plus 7 lessons) as well as over 60 recipies to take home as a souvenir.

You can choose from various types of accommodation. Please remember, our rates already include the valuable benefits listed above, St. Regis' truly outstanding daily gourmet breakfast and Bali's 21% tax & service charge:

St. Regis Suite — US$660 net
St. Regis Pool Suites — US$860 net
St. Regis Gardenia Villa — US$1,160 net
St. Regis Lagoon 1 b/r Villa — US$1,360 net
St. Regis Lagoon 2 b/r Villa — US$1,960 net
St. Regis Strand Villa — US$2,850 net

more information http://www.balivillas.com

Pantai Teluk Penyu

2010-06-25T14:57:00.001-07:00

Kawasan pantai yang membujur dari utara (Pelabuhan Perikanan Samudra Cilacap), ke selatan (Pulau Nusakambangan) dengan panorama gelombang laut yang cukup besar, kapal-kapal tanker yang keluar masuk Pelabuhan Tanjung Intan dan perahu-perahu nelayan tradisional yang berlalu lalang di sepanjang pantai Teluk Penyu serta tegarnya Kilang Pertamina dan Pulau Nusakambangan menambah indahnya suasana pantai.

Berbagai makanan khas hasil laut dan cinderamata dapat dijumpai dengan mudah di sepanjang pantai dan dengan mudah dapat dijumpai dan selalu dekat dengan wisatawan yang berkunjung ke pantai Teluk Penyu sepanjang hari hingga tengah malam.

Terletak di Kecamatan Cilacap Selatan dengan jarak 2 km ke arah timur dari pusat kota Kabupaten Cilacap dan dapat dijangkau dengan kendaraan umum dan pribadi.

Harga Tiket Masuk :

Orang	Tarif
	Hari Biasa			Hari Libur
	Pagi	Siang	Malam	Pagi	Siang	Malam
Dewasa	Rp. 3.000,-	Rp. 4.000,-	Rp. 3.000,-	Rp. 4.000,-	Rp. 5.000,-	Rp. 4.000,-
Anak	Rp. 2.500,-	Rp. 3.000,-	Rp. 2.500,-	Rp. 3.000,-	Rp. 4.000,-	Rp. 3.000,-

Layanan informasi :

1. Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Kab. Cilacap Telp. 0282-534481

2. Unit Pelaksana Teknis Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Wilayah Cilacap Telp. 0282-534003

email : diparta_clp@yahoo.co.id

Traditional French cuisine

2010-02-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

Description : Located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower 95 metres above the ground, the Altitude 95 restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Seine and ... its quays, the Trocadéro esplanade and the Ecole Militaire. Bask in the decor of this restaurant in the heart of the most famous monument in Paris, which makes you feel as if you’re in an airship moored over the capital, while sampling delicacies such as ‘Foie gras de canard, finger figues’, ‘Suprême de volaille rôti, risotto vert’, and ‘Dos de Saumon, légumes du Sud cuisinés à la tomate, jus court’ with a cheesecake served with a red berry compote to follow: you’ll have an absolutely unforgettable lunch or dinner.

Informations

Opening hours

Dinner :

from 18:30 to 23:30

Lunch :

from 11:30 to 16:00

Open on those public holidays :

1 November, 11 November, 14 July, 15 August, 25 December, 1 January, 1 May, 8 May, Ascension Day, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Easter, Whitsuntide

Discover on the Eiffel Tower first floor, the brand new 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, featuring a new cooking and boasting a new decor. Have a taste of exception in the middle of the sky.

Quasi de veau aux cèpes et noisettes torréfiées, pommes écrasées - suprême de volaille rôti, risotto vert

Specialities :

Traditional

Setting / decor :

Situated on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower, this establishment will be closed for renovation work from 2 November 2008 to end March 2009.

Interesting view :

View of Trocadero, Ecole Militaire, and Paris from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower.

Number of seats :

266

Prices

Prices detail :

Cost of lift to access restaurant: €4.50

Menu prices : 19 - 80 €

Services

Air conditioning | Bar in restaurant | Room hire | Groups accepted

Groups accepted (>10 pers.) :

200

Modes of payment accepted

CB Visa | American Express | Carte JCB | Eurocard/Mastercard

contact Website : www.restaurants-toureiffel.com

Aeon Bukit Tinggi Klang

2010-02-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

The AEON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre is also popularly known as Jusco Bukit Tinggi and is the newest shopping centre in Klang, the royal town of Selangor. This mall was opened to the public on 24th November 2007 with over 5,000 parking bays. The first hour of parking is free of charge. With the theme, "Experience The Difference", this mall is one of the shopping complex that the residents of Klang and the surrounding go for their shopping, entertainment and leisure. The place is usually packed during the weekends. There are over 160 retail outlets which feature branded goods such as Guess, Timberland and Hush Puppies.

Jusco

Jusco Supermarket is the main anchor tenant here. It occupies all three floors. If you are regular customer of Jusco, you will be able to collect shopping points by joining the JUSCO membership card. All types of household goods can be purchased here.

Cinema and Karaoke TGV Cinema is located here as well as Green Box Karaoke to cater for your entertainment needs.

more info : http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com

UPACARA ADANG {PB XIII MENANAK NASI} BULAN MARET 2010

2010-01-24T21:43:00.001-08:00

Upacara Agung ini hanya terjadi dalam 8 Tahun sekali {DAL }. Paku Buwono XIII akan menanak nasi sendiri dan membagi2kan masakannya. untuk para tetamu-tetamu yang berada di Karaton Surakarta Hadiningrat...
Paku Buwono XIII bersama keluarganya, akan menanak Nasi dengan DANDANG KYAI DHUDHA peninggalan JAKATARUB dan NAWANG WULAN...Diperkirakan akan banyak yang hadir dalam acara langka ini.. silahkan kita bergabung....

Berkeliling Desa Wisata Pentingsari

2010-01-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

untuk mengangkat potensi pariwisata Jogja. Terutama di wilayah Sleman. Warga bahu-membahu dengan pemerintah untuk menyukseskan program ini.

Dari banyaknya desa wisata yang bertebaran di kawasan Sleman, salah satunya adalah Dusun Pentingsari, yang masih bisa dibilang muda namun berhasil melengkapi sarana dan prasarananya dengan cepat.

Terletak di Kelurahan Umbulharjo, Kecamatan Cangkringan, Kabupaten Sleman, warga dan pengelola dusun ini memang amat antusias untuk dapat menjadi salah satu desa wisata yang menarik. Alamnya yang asri dan penduduknya yang ramah menjadi aset utama mereka. Ini semua dilengkapi dengan berbagai muatan historis dan budaya yang melatar belakangi keberadaan desa ini.

Untuk itu, warga dan pengelola desa telah mulai menggarap kegiatan-kegiatan potensial di desa mereka. Sebut saja trekking di antara hamparan tanaman padi, melewati perkebunan salak, menyusuri sungai yang jernih, hingga menelusuri goa di ujung desa.

Tak hanya itu, Dusun Pentingsari juga memiliki obyek-obyek lain yang kental dengan nuansa mistis. Seperti Pancuran Sendangsari, Batu Dakon, Batu Persembahan dan Watu Gajah.

Kaitan erat antara Pangeran Diponegoro semasa masa perjuangan dengan desa ini pun menyisakan obyek-obyek sejarah yang menarik untuk dikunjungi. Salah satunya adalah luweng yang digunakan Pangeran Diponegoro dan prajuritnya sebagai dapur umum.

Di ujung lain desa, pemancingan seluas satu hektar disediakan untuk memenuhi keinginan para pengunjung yang hobby memancing. Kolam pemancingan juga dapat berfungsi sebagai tempat bersantai bersama dengan teman, keluarga, atau bahkan kolega.

Dengan persiapan yang cukup matang, dalam waktu yang singkat, desa ini memang telah menunjukkan keberadaannya. Suasana yang asri dan tenang dapat menjadi alternatif saat bosan dengan kepenatan kota.

-http://www.trulyjogja.com-

DUTA GARDEN HOTEL

2010-01-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

DUTA HOTEL GROUP

DUTA GARDEN HOTEL

Duta Garden Hotel adalah salah satu dari tiga hotel yang tergabung dalam jaringan hotel Java Bali Accommodation (JBA).

Hotel ini teletak di dusun Timuran Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, yang merupakan jantung budaya masyarakat Jawa Tengah. Dari hotel ini kita hanya perlu berjalan kaki sekitar 10 menit untuk sampai di Kraton dan pusat kota, Istana Air Tamansari, Pusat Batik dan Pementasan Ramayana yang berlangsung setiap hari.

Hotel ini hanya 20 menit berkendaraan dari bandara Adisucipto, 30 menit dari Candi Prambanan yang merupakan candi Hindu terbesar di Asia Tenggara, dan 45 menit dari Candi Borobudur yang merupakan candi Budha terbesar di dunia.

DUTA GUEST HOUSE

Duta Guest House adalah salah satu dari akomodasi di bawah manajemen Duta Garden Hotel, dan terletak di Jl. Prawirotaman No.26, Yogyakarta. Fasilitas yang ditawarkan hotel ini adalah, antara lain, kamar mandi pribadi dengan shower, kolam renang, restoran, dan lobby yang dilengkapi televisi.

Pelayanan lain yang ditawarkan Duta Guest House termasuk penyimpanan barang dalam safe deposit box, layanan pos, layanan tiket untuk perjalanan wisata, layanan taksi dan tour, sambungan langsung internasional, dan layanan faksimili.

DELTA HOMESTAY

Delta Homestay adalah pilihan akomodasi lain yang ditawarkan oleh Duta Garden Hotel. Berlokasi di Jl. Prawirotaman MG III/597-A, Yogyakarta, fasilitas yang ditawarkannya antara lain kolam renang, safe deposit box, layanan pos, laundry service, layanan tiket untuk perjalanan wisata, layanan taksi dan tour, layanan informasi turis, sambungan langsung internasional, dan layanan faksimili.

Air Sex World Championships

2009-12-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Telaga Magetan

2009-10-29T22:35:00.001-07:00

Telaga Sarangan yang juga dikenal sebagai telaga pasir ini adalah sebuah telaga alami yang terletak di kaki Gunung Lawu, di Kecamatan Plaosan, Kabupaten Magetan, Jawa Timur. Berjarak sekitar 16 kilometer arah barat kota Magetan. Telaga ini luasnya sekitar 30 hektar dan berkedalaman 28 meter. Dengan suhu udara antara 18 hingga 25 derajat Celsius, Telaga Sarangan mampu menarik ratusan ribu pengunjung setiap tahunnya.

Telaga Sarangan merupakan obyek wisata terkenal andalan Magetan. Di sekeliling telaga terdapat dua hotel berbintang, 43 hotel kelas melati, dan 18 pondok wisata. Di samping puluhan kios cendera mata, pengunjung dapat pula menikmati indahnya Sarangan dengan berkuda mengitari telaga, atau mengendarai kapal cepat. Fasilitas obyek wisata lainnya pun tersedia, misalnya rumah makan, tempat bermain, pasar wisata, tempat parkir, sarana telepon umum, tempat ibadah, dan taman.

Keberadaan 19 rumah makan di sekitar telaga menjadikan para pengunjung memiliki banyak alternatif pilihan menu. Demikian pula keberadaan pedagang kaki lima yang menawarkan berbagai suvenir telah memberikan kemudahan kepada pengunjung untuk membeli oleh-oleh. Hidangan khas yang dijajakan di sekitar telaga adalah sate kelinci.

Magetan juga tertolong dengan adanya potensi industri kecil setempat yang mampu memproduksi kerajinan untuk suvenir, misalnya anyaman bambu, kerajinan kulit, dan produk makanan khas seperti emping melinjo dan lempeng (kerupuk dari nasi).

Telaga Sarangan juga memiliki layanan jasa sewa perahu dan becak air. Ada 51 perahu motor dan 13 becak air yang dapat digunakan untuk menjelajahi telaga.

Telaga Sarangan memiliki beberapa kalender event penting tahunan, yaitu labuh sesaji pada Jumat Pon bulan Ruwah, liburan sekolah di pertengahan tahun, Ledug Sura 1 Muharram, dan pesta kembang api di malam pergantian tahun.

Pemkab setempat tengah membuat proyek jalan tembus yang menghubungkan Telaga Sarangan dengan obyek wisata Tawangmangu di Kabupaten Karanganyar. Proyek pelebaran dan pelandaian jalan curam yang menghubungkan dua daerah tersebut diharapkan selesai tahun 2007.

Obyek wisata ini dapat ditempuh dari Kota Magetan; dan lokasinya tak jauh dengan Air Terjun Grojogan Sewu, Tawangmangu (Kabupaten Karanganyar, Jawa Tengah).

Pemkab Magetan juga ingin mengembangkan Waduk Poncol (sekitar 10 kilometer arah selatan Telaga Sarangan) sebagai obyek wisata alternatif dan sebagai sarana untuk menanggulangi kekurangan air di beberapa daerah di Kabupaten Magetan.

the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

2009-10-12T10:55:00.001-07:00

Many of the magnificent bronze objects in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara were found at the nearby Urartian site of Altintepe, east of Erzincan.

Ahlat Site

In Kars, the Havariler Museum (the 10th century Church of the Apostles) reveals a curious mixture of architectural influences. Bas - reliefs representing the twelve apostles in rather stiff and primitive poses, ring the exterior drum of the dome. The Archeological Museum houses beautiful wood carvings, an excellent collection of coins found in the surrounding region, as well as many ethnographic items relating to eastern Turkey
Malatya has an archeological museum that houses new finds from the Lower Firat (Euphrates) region that date from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages.

Artifact from Akdamar Museum

In Ahlat, the Turkish Art Museum houses a collection of ceramics, ancient coins and jewelery. As you drive on around the lake you come to Adilcevaz, you can stop at the ruins some of which can also be seen in Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

Artifacts from Van Museum

Van's Archeological Museum is in the new city, inland from the uninhabited old district.

the Samsun Museum.

2009-10-12T10:52:00.001-07:00

Kirklareli hosts the Archeology Museum that exhibits finds and artificats from local excavations.

The Bolu Archeology Museum and The Ethography Museum have artifacts from the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Periods.

Icon in the Sinop, Archeology Museum

The Archeology Museum in Sinop exhibits several beautiful golden icons, and the Aslan Torunlar Museum (18th century) displays ethnographical artifacts and finds.

Ikiztepe, 7 km northeast of Bafra is an archeological site including over 600 graves from the early Bronze Age (2300-2100 BC) that uncovers much of Black Sea regional history.

The artifacts, including jewelery, which is especially important, can be seen in the Samsun Museum.

Lesser Ayasofya Museum, Trabzon

The Ataturk Museum in Samsun, houses many objects and documents relating to the war.

The Archeology Museum in Samsun not only displays the finds from Ikiztepe but also from Dundartepe and Amisos, as Samsun was known in ancient times.

The jewel of Trabzon's monuments is the restored 13th century Byzantine church, used for centuries as a mosque and now as the Ayasofya Museum which contains splendid frescoes, some of the finest examples of Byzantine painting, cover every one of the interior church walls.

In Trabzon, wooden houses fill the old quarter nestled in the ancient fortificiations, which still remain the spirit of a medieval town. The house in which Ataturk stayed has been made into a museum.

In Rize, Mehmet Matarci Mansion is now an Ataturk Museum that displays his personal belongings as well as ethnographical artifacts from the region.

The Archeological Museum

2009-10-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Archeological Museum, near Konak Square, houses a superb collection of antiquities including the statues of Poseidon and Demeter which, in ancient times, stood in the Agora. (Closed on Mondays)

Poseidon and Demeter, Izmir Archeology Museum

Next to the Archeology Museum, the Ethnography Museum contains folkloric artifacts, which include a fine collection of Bergama and Gordes carpets, traditional costumes and camel bridles. (Closed on Mondays).

The Ataturk Museum is situated on Ataturk Caddesi in an old Izmir house used by the founder of the Turkish Republic. It exhibits photographs of the leader as well as some of his personal effects. (Closed on Mondays).

The Fine Arts Museum, located in Konak, displays the works of famous Turkish painters. (Closed on Mondays).

The Seljuk Yasar Art Museum is a private museum on Cumhuriyet Bulvari with a collection of 20th-century Turkish art. (Closed on Sundays).

The Natural History Museum in Bornova acts as a natural reserve of the Aegean Region landscapes' historical preservation. (Closed on Sundays).

The Odemis Archeological Museum is about 60 km east of Izmir and displays regional artifacts. (Closed on weekends).

The Tire Archeological Museum is about 50 km east of Izmir. (Closed on weekends).

Hotels, restaurants and cafes along the traffic in the harbor of Cannakkale Strait offer a view of The Canakkale Archeological Museum.

The Kutahya Archeological Museum was a medrese in the 14th century that now displays ethnographia, Roman and Byzantine relics, and Iznik and Kutahya tiles / porcelains from the Ottoman times.

Ceramic Fountain, Kutahya

Lajos Kossuth, the 19th - century Hungarian hero, lived with his family in what is now the Kossuth House Museum where relics and documents related to Kossuth are now displayed.

The adjacent medrese or theological college to Muradiye Mosque in Manisa, today houses The Manisa Archeological Museum.

Historically, Usak was an important carpet weaving center and tourists find The Archeology Museum informative and interesting. The Kaftanci House Museum, together with The Ataturk Ethnography Museum, displays wonderful Usak carpets and kilims in Ataturk's former residence.

The Open-air Museum (Acik Hava Muzesi) is near the north entrance of the town of Dinar, 100km south of Afyon.

The Archeology Museum houses an impressive collection of statues and other finds recovered during th excavations at Ephesus.

Turkish Bath Museum, in a building from the 16th century, shows Turkish life at the hamam (bath).

Near Seljuk is a TCDD Open-air Steam Locomotives Museum displaying historical train cars in Camlik.

The Ataturk Ethnography Museum in the city center displays folk art and ethnic artifacts.

In the village of Ozluce, a veritable-Open-air-museum east of Mugla, is Turolian Park, where you can fid fossils that geologists claim are 5 - 9 million years old.

Bodrum Archeological Museum houses artifacts and remains that date as far back as the Bronze Age.

LOMBOK ISLAND

2009-09-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Lombok island is located east of Bali. Lombok geographically is almost the same size as Bali and, just as there are popular tourist areas on Bali, so Lombok offers a variety of destinations to suit different holidaymakers' tastes.

Tropical climate with warm and humid weather all year round. Temperature range from 21 Celsius to 32 Celsius. Wet season starts from November to May and dry season start from May-October.

The best time to come is in the month of May when the weather is just perfect with bright daylight and green scenery.

People & Religion
Population is about 2,5 million. The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks who make up 70% of the population are the predominant group with Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese and other ethnics groups making up the rest. Bahasa Indonesia is the National Language, but English is widely spoken.

Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.

Islam is the majority religion, but all other religions are practiced freely. Every Friday around 12.30 noon, Muslims go to the mosques just like Christians go to church on Sunday.

If you are planning on traveling around the island and visiting small villages it is more respectable to wear slacks or knee length shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong. If you happened to be here during Ramadan, which is the Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, please do not to eat, drink or smoke out in the open public during this month long fast. Even though the people don’t seem bothered in the common tourist areas like, Senggigi and the Gili islands, it is better to respect the people and not eat or smoke openly.

Wetu Telu
Wetu telu is an unique religion that that blends Islam - Animism and is only found in north Lombok.
It roots stem from the village of Bayan in the north. The people who practice this still consider themselves Muslims but they have their own rituals in addition to the normal Muslim ones. One such ceremony is Nyiu, that takes place 1000 days after someone dies. The relatives of the deceased offer material things like clothing, toothbrushes, food, dishes, mattresses, etc. so the deceased will be pleased in heaven.

Money & Local Currencies
When changing money there are many money changers in Lombok. The best rates are usually in Senggigi. Money changers prefer new, clean large bills and will accept smaller denominations at a lower rate.

If you have traveler’s checks the rate will be less than bank notes.

Be sure to count your money before you leave money changers.

You can also check local banks but the rate is slightly lower than outside. Re-count the money in front of the money changer reception is a must, as usually there's a quick tricky way how they can steal your money. A suggestion when changing money. If you plan on making small purchases be sure to carry small denominations with you because many sellers do not have change. The Rupiah come in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 500, 100 in coin.

Vehicle Rentals:
Don't miss Lombok's beautiful scenery. If you choose to rent a car or motorcycles and drive yourself, you must have an International Driving License.

Renting a car is a good alternative to get around Lombok, either self driving or with driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. (Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or dinner). If you are pleased with service, tip ( Rp. 20,000 minimum). If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all cost.

Motorcycles are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Island, but Tourists are frequently injured in motorbike accident. If you rent a bike, drive slowly and very defensively. Helmets are required by law but those provided by rental agencies offer little protection.

Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, arrive between 08 AM and 11:30 AM. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30AM - 3 PM Monday - Thursday, 07:00AM - noon on Friday. Banks and Government Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Health and Medical Info
Most hotels have on call doctors. For what it is known by Australian as "Bali Belly", Iomotil and Imodium eliminate Symptoms, but not infections. A fever along with the symptoms requires doctor prescribed antibiotics. Drink as much as liquid as possible. For discomfort, diarrhea, and cramping, drink strong, hot tea; avoid fruits and spicy food. Drink only bottled water or boiled water (air putih).

Peel the fruit before eating; avoid raw vegetables except at reputable restaurants. Ice in restaurants is safe. Protect yourself from the intense equatorial sun. Use sun block and hat. Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing in Indonesia. Local sex workers have multiple partners from all over the world. Act responsibly and use condoms, available over the counter at pharmacies.

Uluwatu

2009-09-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Pura Luhur Uluwatu adalah salah satu pura di Bali dengan lokasinya yang sangat indah. Daya tarik utama bagi para wisatawan dari pura ini adalah panoramanya yang spektakuler. Terletak di bagian barat laut, pura ini seperti bertengger di ujung tebing batu yang sangat tinggi dan curam, dengan pemandangan lautnya dibawah berwarna biru bersih dan hantaman ombak yang menghasilkan buih-buih putih yang sangat cantik.

Menurut sejarah, seorang pendeta Hindu yang berasal dari Jawa bernama Empu Kuturan adalah orang yang pertama kali membangun pura di tempat ini. Kemudian diteruskan oleh sejawatnya yang kemudian juga membangun pura Tanah Lot yang juga terkenal dengan pemandangan matahari terbenam (sunset) yang sangat indah.

Untuk bisa masuk kedalam pura ini pengunjung harus mengenakan sarung dan selempang yang bisa disewa ditempat itu. Waktu terbaik untuk mengunjungi pura Uluwatu adalah sore hari pada saat matahari terbenam sehingga bisa menyaksikan pemandangan spektakulernya.

Tembahan informasi, disekitar komplek pura terdapat segerombolan monyet. Para monyet ini biasanya suka usil dengan mengambil berbagai macam barang yang dibawa pengunjung. Barang yang sering menjadi incaran mereka adalah kacamata, tas, dompetatau apa saja yang gampang direbut. Jadi hati-hati dengan mereka apabila sedang berkunjung di komplek pura Uluwatu Bali.

Pantai Sanur

2009-09-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Pantai Sanur adalah salah satu pantai yang menarik di Pulau Bali. Pantai ini memiliki panjang 3 kilometer dengan garis pantai menghadap ke timur. Pantai Sanur terkenal dengan pantainya yang berwarna putih bersih dan lembut. Disamping itu, pantai Sanur merupakan pantai yang berbatu karang sehingga memiliki kelebihan tersendiri.

Dibandingkan dengan Kuta, kawasan Sanur menyediakan tempat menginap yang relatif lebih mahal namun tenang. Dibandingkan dengan Nusa Dua, Sanur menawarkan harga yang sedikit lebih murah.

Kawasan pantai Sanur merupakan alternatif bagi para turis lokal maupun mancanegara yang ingin menghindari nuansa hiruk pikuk seperti Kuta, Legian atau Seminyak. Di area ini ketenangan dan kenyamanan adalah prioritas utama. Bagi yang suka menikmati matahari terbit (sunrise) maka Sanur adalah tempat yang sangat tepat.

Seperti halnya terutama di area Nusa Dua, di Sanur juga terdapat hotel-hotel kelas dunia. Disini berdiri Hyatt Sanur Bali, Sanur Beach Hotel, Mercure Resort Sanur, Grand Bali Beach yang memiliki lapangan golf di areal hotelnya. Selain itu sebagian besar semua hotel berbintang yang ada di Sanur bisa dipastikan memiliki pantai sendiri (private beach) di bagian belakang hotel. Jadi kehidupan kelas dunia dengan tinggal di hotel-hotel bertarif mahal masih bisa Anda dapatkan di kawasan Sanur.

Solo (surakarta)

2009-09-03T10:37:00.001-07:00

Kota Surakarta bukanlah kota yang tua (berdiri tahun 1745) namun memiliki peran sejarah yang besar. Kota ini pernah menjadi pusat pemerintahan pada masa akhir Kesultanan Mataram. Setelah perpecahan Mataram, Surakarta menjadi pusat pemerintahan Kasunanan Surakarta dan Praja Mangkunagaran. Jika ditarik lebih jauh, kedua pusat feodalisme Jawa ini memiliki keterkaitan dengan Majapahit, karena dinasti Mataram merupakan keturunan dari raja-raja Kesultanan Demak, yang juga merupakan penerus suksesi dinasti Wijaya, sang pendiri Majapahit.

Dalam perkembangannya, Solo menjadi kota dagang penting (di Solo berdiri Syarikat Dagang Islam pada tahun 1905), kota wisata (dijuluki "kota pelesir", dengan konotasi agak negatif), dan kota budaya. Bangunan bersejarah, produk kesenian, makanan khas, serta hiburan mudah dijumpai di tempat ini dan di titik-titik di sekitar kota ini.

Wisata budaya

Keraton Surakarta
Istana Mangkunagaran
Museum Radyapustaka
Museum Galeri Batik Kuno Danarhadi
Kampung Wisata Batik Kauman Solo
Museum Lukis Dullah
Candi Prambanan Klaten
Balai Sujatmoko toko Gramedia (tempat even pameran kesenian)
Galeri ASDI, Jl. Slamet Riyadi
Taman Sriwedari
Taman Budaya Jateng di Surakarta (TBS)/ Teater Arena).
Pasar Barang antik Triwindu.
Pasar Iwak Hias (pasar gedhe)
Pasar Keris dan Cenderamata Alun-Alun Utara Kraton Solo.
Pasar Klewer (Pasar Batik terbesar di Indonesia)
Kasar barang klithikan NItiharjo Silir Semanggi
Kampung batik laweyan
Pasar buku kuno di Alun-alun Utara Kraton SoloBelanja Grosir Pakaian Online di www.grosirpasarklewer.com. Toko Online baju di Pasar Klewer, Solo. Jual kaos, blus, dress, batik, jaket, bedcover, busana muslim, dll Peluang usaha bagi pedagang di luar kota solo, tidak perlu datang ke pasar klewer, cukup didepan komputer, Anda bisa belanja online, kapanpun dan dimanapun.

Dead Sea

2009-08-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Dead Sea Mud is world renowned for it's properties.

Health & Wellbeing Spa at the Dead Sea.

One of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world, the Jordanian east coast of the Dead Sea has evolved into a major hub of both religious and health & wellness tourism in the region. A series of good roads, excellent hotels with spa and fitness facilities, as well as archaeological and spiritual discoveries make this region as enticing to today’s international visitors as it was to kings, emperors, traders, prophets and pilgrims in antiquity.

Unusually high salt content enables one to
float effortlessly.

The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. All of whom have luxuriated in the Dead Sea’s rich, black, stimulating mud and floated effortlessly on their backs while soaking up the water's healthy minerals along with the gently diffused rays of the Jordanian sun.

Amman Touristic Beach

Situated on the Dead Sea main road, two kilometers after the hotels area . Amman Touristic Beach offers swimming pools, changing rooms for low budget travelers and locals for minimal fees. Amaman Touristic Beach is an ideal location for beach parties and events.

For further information contact: 05 3560804

Without doubt, the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400 metres (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products.

The Dead Sea is flanked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost other-worldly beauty. Although sparsely populated and serenely quiet now, the area is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar.

National Museum

2009-08-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Museum is situated on Merdeka Barat Street. Currently the National Museum houses collections of 109,342 objects under the categories of prehistory, archaeology, ethnography, numismatics-heraldic, geography and historical relics. In 1994, the museum started with is expansion project. The new building, constructed in the same architectural style as the old, comprises an arena for theatrical performances and more spaces for exhibitions. The museum curators provide detailed information and guidance on collections-related subjects during working hours. The daily activities at the National Museum include collecting, caring for and protecting collections and providing information on the museum and its collections to visitors and the public at large. The Indonesian Heritage Society (HIS) voluntarily assists the museum in handling the inventory of the collections.

The museum's Conservation and Restoration Division is dedicated to conserving and restoring the collected objects in order to protect them from possible damages and loss. The staffs also take preventive measures against possible damages or loss through manual, alarm and control system. This Museum is open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from 8.30 am to 11.30 am on Friday, and from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm on Saturday. The Museum is closed on Monday and Public Holidays.

This museum is also has supporting with such tourism facilities. A small gift shop located in the entrance hall has the same opening hours as the rest of The Museum. It offers a selection of books, postcards and reproductions of various exhibits. The front courtyard can accommodate cars and tour buses. Visitors are kindly asked to refrain from smoking, eating and drinking in all areas of the Museum, and are prohibited from touching the exhibits.

Jakarta

2009-08-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Jakarta is the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia, a country composed of more than 13,000 islands with a population of over 180 million. Comprising more than 300 ethnic groups speaking 200 different languages, the Indonesia population exhibits marked diversity in its linguistic, culture, and religious traditions. As the Capital City, Jakarta is a melting pot of representatives from each of these ethnic groups. Jakarta is a special territory enjoying the status of a province, consisting of Greater Jakarta, covering of 637.44 square km area. Located on the northern coast of West Java, it is the center of government, commerce and industry and has an extensive communications network with the rest of the country and the outside world. Strategically positioned in the archipelago, the city is also the principal gateway to the rest of Indonesia. From the Capital City, sophisticated land, air, and sea transport is available to the rest of the country and beyond.

Jakarta is one of Indonesia's designated tourist areas. It is a gateway to other tourist destinations in Indonesia and is equipped with all the means of modern transportation by air, sea, rail, or by land. It has the largest and most modern airport in the country, the most important harbor in Indonesia and is well connected by rail of good roads to other destinations in Java, Sumatra, and Bali. As Indonesia's main gateway, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves a growing number of international airlines and domestic flights. Jakarta is a city of contrasts; the traditional and the modern, the rich and the poor, the sacral and the worldly, often stand side by side in this bustling metropolis. Even its population gathered from all those diverse ethnic and cultural groups, which compose Indonesia, are constantly juxtaposed present reminder of the national motto; Unity in Diversity.

Finding its origin in the small early 16th century harbor town of Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta's founding is thought to have taken place on June 22, 1527, when it was re-named Jayakarta, meaning Glorious Victory by the conquering Prince Fatahillah from neighboring Cirebon. The Dutch East Indies Company, which captured the town and destroyed it in 1619, changed its name into Batavia and made it the center for the expansion of their power in the East Indies. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Batavia fell into the hands of the invading Japanese forces that changed the name of the city into 'Jakarta' as a gesture aimed at winning the sympathy of the Indonesians. The name was retained after Indonesia achieved national independence after the war's end.

The ethnic of Jakarta called "Orang Betawi" speaks Betawi Malay, spoken as well in the surrounding towns such as Bekasi and Tangerang. Their language, Betawi Malay, has two variations: conventional Betawi Malay, spoken by elder people and bred in Jakarta, and modern Jakarta Malay, a slang form spoken by the younger generation and migrants.

Jakarta's architecture reflects to a large extent the influx of outside influences, which came and has remained in this vital seaport city. Taman Fatahillah Restoration Project, begun in the early 1970s has restored one of the oldest sections of Jakarta also known as Old Batavia to approximately its original state. The Old Portuguese Church and warehouse have been rehabilitated into living museums. The old Supreme Court building is now a museum of fine arts, which also houses part of the excellent Chinese porcelain collection of former Vice President Adam Malik. The old Town Hall has become the Jakarta Museum, displaying such rare items as Indonesia's old historical documents and Dutch period furniture. Its tower clock was once returned to England to be repaired under its lifetime guarantee, which up to now has already lasted hundreds of years.

In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centers. It contains many tourist attractions such as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful "Indonesia in Miniature" Park), restored colonial period buildings, island resorts in the Pula Seribu (Thousand Island), and an extensive beach recreation complex called Ancol. "Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park" popularly called TMII "Taman Mini Indonesia Indah", built to portray the variety of cultures found within the many islands contained in the Republic of Indonesia, this open-air museum comprises the many architectural forms of arts and traditions of all Indonesia provinces. It is proof of the country's motto of Unity in Diversity as well as Freedom of Religion depicted in the houses of worship built on the grounds.

Jakarta has preserved its past and is developing for the future. Skyscrapers in the center of the city are part of a new look. Modern luxury hotels today cater to the discriminating visitors. Transport within the city is plentiful. Jakarta is the center of the nation's industrial, political and cultural life. It is home to many of the country's finest research institutes, educational facilities, and cultural organizations. Jakarta is uniquely the seat of both the national as well as the regional government.

Over the last several decades, Jakarta has proudly developed into one of Asia's most prominent metropolitan centers. Today, Jakarta's skyline is covered by modern high rises. The many state-of-the-art shopping centers, recreation complexes and toll-roads have become hallmarks of the city. The quality of life and the general welfare of its inhabitants have improved considerably with the city's fast pace of development. Jakarta's cultural richness and dynamic growth contribute significantly to its growing importance as one of the world's leading capital cities.

more info klik jakarta tourism

Pasar Klewer, Solo

2009-08-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Located at a distance of 60 kilometer away from Yogyakarta, Solo can easily be reached by bus or taxi. Once known as Surakarta, this city has an international airport too. Being a former royal residence, Solo boasts of a number of royal palaces. The palaces testify to the wealth and power of the mighty Javanese empire. Besides, Hindu temples that are located around this laid back city also attract a lot of tourists. Palaces often serve as the landmark for shopping venues. Since palaces are the major attraction in Solo, the main concentration of shopping stalls is located there. Confirming to this trend, Pasar Klewer is a market located in the vicinity of a palace. Specializing in selling mainly fabric and batic clothing, the hundreds of shops are a great place to buy items on cheap

Being a royal seat once, Solo is dotted by more than one Karaton. Adjacent areas of a Karaton or palace are often the venue for shopping locations. The Pasar Klewer is located a little distance away from the west gate of Karaton's North Square. This old market mainly sells every possible variety of fabrics. Batik clothes are however sold most. This market is a good place to buy traditional fabrics and dresses like lurik. Lurik is a hand woven striped cotton cloth. Other traditional Indonesian garments sold at this market are tenun ikat. Dozens of tailoring shops at Pasar Klewer market would, within a very short time, make shirts, trousers and Indonesian national costume with your bought fabric or batik clothes.

With over hundred shops tucked into narrow passageways, there is stiff competition among sellers. Do not hesitate to bargain as this is the best way to buy fabrics and batiks on cheap. Besides the clothes; other items sold at this market are: traditional and local jewellery; leather puppets; basketry, tortoise shell accessories, trinkets and bronze ware. Souvenir shops too are located at Pasar Klewer market. You can buy a replica of palaces, temples and other royal symbols.
(http://www.asiarooms.com)

Surakarta (Solo)

2009-08-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Kota Surakarta (juga Solo, Sala, dan [tidak dipakai lagi] Salakarta) adalah sebuah kota di Provinsi Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. Di Indonesia, Surakarta merupakan kota peringkat kesepuluh terbesar (setelah Yogyakarta). Sisi timur kota ini dilewati sungai yang terabadikan dalam salah satu lagu keroncong, Bengawan Solo. Kota ini dulu juga tempat kedudukan dari residen, yang membawahi Karesidenan Surakarta di masa awal kemerdekaan. Jabatan residen sekarang dihapuskan dan diganti menjadi "pembantu gubernur untuk wilayah Surakarta". Kota Surakarta memiliki semboyan BERSERI yang merupakan akronim dari Bersih, Sehat, Rapi, dan Indah. Untuk kepentingan pemasaran pariwisata, Solo mengambil slogan pariwisata Solo the Spirit of Java yang diharapkan bisa membangun citra kota Solo sebagai pusat kebudayaan Jawa.

(http://id.wikipedia.org)

About SIPA Festival 2009

2009-08-10T12:37:00.001-07:00

Why is Solo well-known as a Cultural City? Answering this question should unveil the vibrant life and rich cultural traditions interwoven in the breath of the city. This is where and when it all started and lasts.

One of the fascinating facets that makes this city deserve to be called a Cultural City is the dynamics of doing their performing art events. The enchanting events embody the passion of the artists that has been legendary since the ancient
time.

The performing art events in this city are stunning. Not only do they wrap the great diversity of the arts but they have also become the center of the gravity. It roots deeply in the inner of the city’s life.

It can be easily spotted throughout the dazzling urban life of Solo City that performing arts have been an integral part of the universe. Public, private and independent institutions have been playing critical roles in keeping the passion
sparkling.

This astonishing phenomenon about Solo City has again authenticated itself as a cultural city that carries full of energy. They even go beyond the boundary of nation and culture to create the utmost synergy through multi-national and multi-cultural performing art collaborations. What is going to happen then is beyond the imagination.

Solo International Performing Art (SIPA) 2009 is the answer for the integration of inter-performing art spirits. It is an international event which will immerse the spirit, passion and devotion of the artists and people surrounding them. This will laud the beauty of a cultural city named Solo. (SIPA 2009)

Solo International Performing Art (SIPA)

2009-08-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

Jadwal Acara Solo International Performing Arts

Pra Event

1. Pusat Perbelanjaan Solo Square tanggal 22 Juli 2009 jam 15.30 WIB
2. Lor In Hotel tanggal 24 Juli 2009 jam 14.00 WIB
3. Galabo (depan Beteng Trade Centre) tanggal 25 Juli 2009 jam 20.00 WIB

Tanggal: 7 Agustus 2009

I. Pembukaan – MC: Alvin Adam (Just Alvin Metro TV)

II. Penampilan Delegasi:

1. Eko Supriyanto, Solo Dance Studio menampilkan seni tari.
2. Korean Choir Performance menampilkan paduan suara.
3. Oto Sidarta, Jakarta menampilkan seni musik.
4. Slamet Gundono, solo menampilkan wayang suket.
5. Chinese Opera Institute, Singapura menampilkan opera China.

Tanggal: 8 Agustus 2009

Penampilan Delegasi:
1. Luo Chao-yun’s Music Company, Taiwan menampilkan seni musik.
2. Chinese Opera Institute, Singapura menampilkan opera China.
3. Denmark menampilkan seni musik.
4. Philipina menampilkan seni tari dan musik.
5. Atas Bumi Bawah Langit (ABBAL), Muntilan menampilkan seni tari.
6. Sahita, Solo menampilkan seni tari.

Tanggal: 9 Agustus 2009

Penampilan Delegasi:
1. Memet Chairul Slamet, Yogyakarta menampilkan seni musik kontemporer
2. Philipina menampilkan seni tari dan musik.
3. Martion, Sumatera Barat menampilkan seni tari.
4. The Gadhon Mataraman, Yogyakarta menampilkan seni musik.
5. Seni Sumedang, Jawa Barat menampilkan seni musik dan tari.

Tanggal: 10 agustus 2009

Penampilan Delegasi:
1. Kito Siopo, Jepang menampilkan seni musik kontemporer.
2. Akademi Seni Mangkunegaran (ASGA), Solo menampilkan seni tari.
3. Lixse Aguilar, Venezuela menampilkan seni tari.
4. Sendratasik Unesa, Surabaya menampilkan seni tari.
5. Malire, Bandung menampilkan seni musik kontemporer.
6. Etno Ensamble, Solo menampilkan seni musik kontemporer.

more info : log on sipa 2009

Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Pk, HI

2009-07-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

The Island of Hawai'i is the furthest south of any in the island chain, and it's larger than all the other islands put together. It's also the home of the world's highest mountain (Mauna Kea) though much of the base is submerged. Nearby Kiluaea is the most active volcano in the world, and is also the most popular visitor attraction in a state that's full of visitor attractions. The Big Island, as it's called, is the only place where one can ski in the daytime and walk barefoot in a warm sea at sundown.

Kona

This spread-out district stretches from South Kona, the location of Honaunau Bay, to the vast Kona State Park . The inland area resembles a run-of-the-mill mainland suburban community. The Kona Airport is located a few miles north of Kailua-Kona on Highway 19. The most heavily populated area is Kailua-Kona. It's the site of the Kailua Pier , the main tourist shopping drag. Just below Kailua-Kona is Keahou-Kona. Most of the area hotels are ranged down the coast, from Kailua to Keahou.

Central Kailua-Kona has a half-dozen attractions, including Ahu'ena Heiau and Hulihe'e Palace . Along the coastline are Laaloa Beach Park , known for its "magic sands," and the Kona Historical Society Museum . The southern town of Captain Cook is considered a part of greater Kona. Many people make the trip down the coast to snorkel at the marine preserve or view the sea captain's monument.

Kohala Coast/Kohala

The name translates to "Gold Coast." At first, it's hard to understand why this place deserves its name; the terrain is harsh, barren and almost spooky.

That is, until one reaches the resort districts.

The first one is Ka'upulehu, home of the Four Seasons and the legendary Kona Village Resort . You must have a room reservation—or at the very least, a lunch reservation—to get inside the gates. Further up the road is Waikoloa . This resort isn't as picky; it'll let anyone inside. Plenty of visitors to other districts opt to spend a full day exploring Waikoloa.

Further along you'll find Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea. Each resort district has a few four-star hotels, a few luxury condomium complexes and a dozen gourmet restaurants. Stop by the secluded beach park on the Mauna Lani property where the fabulous Puako Petroglyphs are located. Hapuna Beach Park sits in splendid isolation on the North Kohala Coast.

If there is one thing that brings people from around the world to the Kohala Coast, it is the golf. Most area courses rank among the top 100 in the United States. Hapuna Golf Course , Francis Brown I & II and the Waikoloa Village Golf Courses are all world-renowned.

After Mauna Kea, things change. Beach parks dot the coastline, and little settlements crop up alongside the highway. The pace of life slows down to correspond with the speed limit. North Kohala is ranch land and coffee country. Buy coffee at Kohala Coffee Mill in downtown Hawi. Take a horseback excursion with Paniolo Adventures . Dine at Cafe Pesto or Bamboo .

Upcountry

Inland from Waikoloa is the town of Waimea. It's small and out-of-the-way, but it has an abundance of personality. Businesses here are usually family-owned, and many of them feature island-made products.

The land surrounding Waimea is either part of the Parker Ranch (the largest ranch in the state), or part of the Waipio Valley, which can only be toured on horseback or by covered wagon. Parker Ranch runs many attractions, though it is in the middle of construction and renovations currently. Hamakua Coast, the northeastern coastline of Hawaii, is often classified among the most scenic drives in the world. Hilo

Below the Hamakua Coast, in a fertile little pocket that gets more rain than just about any other place in the world, is Hilo. This is a booming town by Hawaiian standards. Of course, it knows how it appears to mainland visitors: cute, quaint and stuck in a time warp. It plays up that image, offering historic tours and a daily fish market.

Downtown Hilo is located on the waterfront. Sightseers can start at either Banyan Drive or the new Tsunami Museum . There's also the East Hawaii Cultural Center and Lyman Museum . For information on these attractions and on the outlying areas, visit the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau .

Volcano

South of Hilo on Highway 11 is the most famous spot in the islands. Officially titled Hawaii Volcanoes National Park , it is informally known as “The Volcano” or “Kilauea.” Kilauea is, in fact, only a part of the massive park, but it's the part that everyone comes to see. Belching smoke and spewing flame, this is the most active volcano in the world. The Kilauea Visitor Center, Volcano Art Center and Jaggar Museum are open daily.

South and Central Regions

Between Volcano on the east side and Kona on the west, the island is a vast expanse of untouched volcanic overflow. The majority of it is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park . Above this is Mauna Kea State Recreation Area , the best star-gazing spot in the world and a designated astronomy center. The road to Mauna Kea cannot be navigated in a rental car.

The southern tip of the island, which is also the southernmost point in the U.S., has barely been touched by civilization. There are a few hotels and a few B&Bs. Travelers to the south shore usually visit the semi-famous Punalu'u Bakeshop & Visitor Center for lunch.

The Big Island really lives up to its nickname. You can drive for hours and see nothing at all. Then, suddenly, you'll stumble on a patch of land so developed that it resembles a strip mall in suburban Nevada. The Kona Coast is a desert. Hilo is a rainforest. There are palm trees growing out of lava rock on the Kohala Coast. There is skiing on Mauna Kea. Tens of thousands of feet below the snow-capped peak, sea turtles and dolphins play in an ocean as warm as bathwater.

Honolulu, HI

2009-07-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Stretching for around a dozen miles along the southern coast of Oahu, and home to more than 400,000 people, HONOLULU is by far Hawaii's largest city. As the site of the islands' major airport and of the legendary beaches and skyscrapers of WAIKIKI, it also provides most visitors with their first taste of Hawaii. Many, unfortunately, leave without ever realizing quite how out of keeping it is with the rest of the state.
Honolulu only came into being after the arrival of the foreigners; from the early days of sandalwood and whaling, through the rise of King Sugar and the development of Pearl Harbor, to its modern incarnation as a tourist dreamland, the fortunes of the city have depended on the ever-increasing integration of Hawaii into the global economy. Benefits of this process include an exhilarating energy and dynamism, and the cosmopolitan air that comes from being a major world crossroads. Among drawbacks are the fact that there's little genuinely Hawaiian about Honolulu, and the rampant over-development of Waikiki.
The setting is beautiful, right on the Pacific Ocean and backed by the dramatic pali (cliffs) of the Ko'olau mountains. Downtown Honolulu, centered around a group of administrative buildings that date from the final days of the Hawaiian monarchy, nestles at the foot of the extinct Punchbowl volcano, now a military cemetery. It's a manageable size, and a lot quieter than its glamourous image might suggest. Immediately to the west is livelier Chinatown, while the airport lies four or five miles further west again, just before the sheltered inlet of Pearl Harbor.
The distinct district of Waikiki is about three miles east of downtown, conspicuous not only for its towering hotels but also for the furrowed brow of another extinct volcano, Diamond Head. Although Waikiki is a small suburb, and one that most Honolulu residents rarely visit, for package tourists it's the tail that wags the dog. They spend their days on Waikiki's
beaches, and their nights in its hotels, restaurants and bars; apart from the odd expedition to the nearby Ala Moana shopping mall, the rest of Honolulu might just as well not exist.

The sun-and-fun appeal of Waikiki may wear off after a few days, but it can still make an excellent base for a longer stay on Oahu. Downtown Honolulu is easily accessible, and holds top-quality museums like the Bishop Museum and the Academy of Arts as well as offering some superb rainforest hikes, especially in Makiki and Manoa valleys, just a mile or so up from the city center. You can also get a bus to just about anywhere on the island, while, if you rent a car, the North Shore beaches are less than two hours' drive away.Honolulu, HI

TOURS & EVENTS White House Tours

2009-07-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.
White House Visitor Center

All tours are significantly enhanced if visitors stop by the White House Visitor Center located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, before or after their tour. The Center is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders, as well as a thirty-minute video. Allow between 20 minutes to one hour to explore the exhibits. The White House Historical Association also sponsors a sales area. Please note that restrooms are available, but food service is not.
Mobility-Impaired / Wheelchairs

Visitors scheduled for tours who require the loan of a wheelchair should notify the officer at the Visitors Entrance upon arrival. Unfortunately, reservations are not possible. Visitors in wheelchairs, or with other mobility disabilities, use the same Visitors Entrance and are escorted by ramp from the entrance level to the Ground floor, and by the elevator from the Ground floor to the State floor.
Hearing-Impaired

Tours for hearing-impaired groups of ten or more may be requested through one’s Member of Congress. The Visitors Office TDD (telephone device for the deaf) is 202-456-2121.
Visually-Impaired

Tours for visually-impaired groups of ten or more may be requested through one’s Member of Congress. Guide animals are permitted in the White House.
General Tour Information

All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 to determine if any last minute changes have been made in the tour schedule.
Prohibited Items

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, food and beverages of any kind, strollers, cameras, video recorders or any type of recording device, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. Umbrellas, wallets, cell phones and car keys are permitted.

Please note that no storage facilities are available on or around the complex. Individuals who arrive with prohibited items will not be permitted to enter the White House.
Parking

The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Restrooms/Public telephones

The nearest restrooms and public telephones to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House) and in the White House Visitor Center. Restrooms or public telephones are not available at the White House.

ABC Carpet & Home

2009-07-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

888 Broadway at 19th St.
Manhattan, NY 10003
phone: 212-473-3000

green pick

The industry and city-standard for all things devoted to the home, this department-store-sized space houses everything from delicate votive holders to modern chairs reupholstered in bright suzani. Floors are devoted to specific styles--from mid-century modern vintage to traditional designs to outright antiques. You'll also find a huge range of upscale linens, a curtain and textile department and an in-house out post of stationery boutique Cursive.

47th Street - The Diamond District

2009-07-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

580 Fifth Avenue Room 323
New York, NY 10036
phone: 212-302-5739
fax: 212-302-7835

hours: 9:30am-5:30pm Even on Sundays there are some businesses open and you will always find good value

url: diamonddistrict.org

description

Bargain seekers and connoisseurs alike hunt 47th Street for that most precious of objects: the perfect diamond at the perfect price. Close to 90% of the diamonds that enter the U.S. go through the Diamond District, and with more than 2,600 independent jewelers on the strip, that guarantees lower costs and better quality. Just remember: Don’t be afraid to haggle.

celebrate brooklyn

2009-07-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

Prospect Park Bandshell
Prospect Park West at 9th St
Brooklyn, NY 11215

subway: F to 15th St--Prospect Park; 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza | get directions

description

A favorite amongst Brooklyn’s summertime concert series, Celebrate Brooklyn! is set at the beautiful Prospect Park Bandshell, where tons of seating and tree-shaded areas make for a lovely spot for a picnic, a plastic cup of wine and a free show. This year’s series kicks off on June 8 with the Green Gala opening night, promoting eco-friendly practices. Other standout shows include a benefit from Brooklyn’s own electro-rock duo MGMT (already sold out, but you might be able to snag tickets online) and a performance from ’70s icon Jackson Browne in July. Check the Celebrate Brooklyn! website for the full calendar and updates on shows.

Tanjung Rusa

2009-07-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Highlights A variety of small invertebrates and fish, including sharks and giant trevally, are visible while snorkeling the rocky slopes. Deeper diving to 40m reveals many coral trout, large groupers, schools of giant trevally, and massive dogtooth tuna.

Notes to Divers

Fantastic diving and snorkeling. Ideal entry is approximately 100m south of the bay’s western point. Once you have rounded the point, continue diving westwards. The shallow reef at the end of the dive is an excellent coral garden. Strong currents and sometimes down-currents can be experienced on the point. Recommended time to dive is during slack-tide.

komodo national park

2009-06-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

About Komodo National Park

To learn more about Komodo National Park either scroll down or click on one of the topics below.

Location
History
Demographics
Education
Health
Socio-Cultural and Anthropologic Conditions
Terrestrial Physical Environment
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Terrestrial Fauna
Marine Physical Environment
Marine Ecosystems
Marine Flora
Marine Fauna

LOCATION :

Komodo National Park lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP) provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2. (Click on the map to enlarge - 70kB)

HISTORY :

Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.

The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.

Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

DEMOGRAPHICS :

There are presently almost 4,000 inhabitants living within the park spread out over four settlements (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages existed prior to 1980 before the area was declared a national park. In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930. The population increased rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281 families numbering 1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the local population had increased exponentially. Komodo Village has had the highest population increase of the villages within the Park, mostly due to migration by people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South Sulawesi. The number of buildings in Kampung Komodo has increased rapidly from 30 houses in 1958, to 194 houses in 1994, and 270 houses in 2000. Papagaran village is similar in size, with 258 families totaling 1,078 people. As of 1999, Rinca’s population was 835, and Kerora's population was 185 people. The total population currently living in the Park is 3,267 people, while 16,816 people live in the area immediately surrounding the Park.

EDUCATION :

The average level of education in the villages of Komodo National Park is grade four of elementary school. There is an elementary school located in each of the villages, but new students are not recruited each year. On average, each village has four classes and four teachers. Most of the children from the small islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school. Less than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary school will continue to high school since the major economic opportunity (fishing) does not require further education. Children must be sent to Labuan Bajo to attend high school, but this is rarely done in fishermen’s families.

HEALTH :

Most of the villages located in and around the Park have few fresh water facilities available, if any, particularly during the dry season. Water quality declines during this time period and many people become ill. Malaria and diarrhea are rampant in the area. On Mesa island, with a population of around 1,500 people, there is no fresh water available. Fresh water is brought by boat in jerrycans from Labuan Bajo. Each family needs an average of Rp 100,000.- per month to buy fresh water (2000). Almost every village has a local medical facility with staff, and at least a paramedic. The quality of medical care facilities is low.

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ANTHROPOLOGIC CONDITIONS :

Traditional Customs: Traditional communities in Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa have been subjected to outside influences and the influence of traditional customs is dwindling. Television, radio, and increased mobility have all played a part in accelerating the rate of change. There has been a steady influx of migrants into the area. At the moment nearly all villages consist of more than one ethnic group.

Religion: The majority of fishermen living in the villages in the vicinity of the Park are Muslims. Hajis have a strong influence in the dynamics of community development. Fishermen hailing from South Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima are mostly Moslems. The community from Manggarai are mostly Christians.

Anthropology and Language: There are several cultural sites within the Park, particularly on Komodo Island. These sites are not well documented, however, and there are many questions concerning the history of human inhabitance on the island. Outside the Park, in Warloka village on Flores, there is a Chinese trading post remnant of some interest. Archeological finds from this site have been looted in the recent past. Most communities in and around the Park can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Bajo language is the language used for daily communication in most communities.

TERRESTRIAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT :

Topography: The topography is varied, with slopes from 0 – 80%. There is little flat ground, and that is generally located near the beach. The altitude varies from sea level to 735 m above sea level. The highest peak is Gunung Satalibo on Komodo Island.

Geology: The islands in Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin. The area is at the juncture of two continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The friction of these two plates has led to large volcanic eruptions and caused the up-thrusting of coral reefs. Although there are no active volcanoes in the park, tremors from Gili Banta (last eruption 1957) and Gunung Sangeang Api (last eruption 1996) are common. West Komodo probably formed during the Jurasic era approximately 130 million years ago. East Komodo, Rinca, and Padar probably formed approximately 49 million years ago during the Eocene era.

Climate: Komodo National Park has little or no rainfall for approximately 8 months of the year, and is strongly impacted by monsoonal rains. High humidity levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain tops and ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C, with an average humidity level of 36%. From November through March the wind is from the west and causes large waves that hit the entire length of Komodo island’s west beach. From April through October the wind is dry and large waves hit the south beaches of Rinca and Komodo islands.

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS :

The terrestrial ecosystems are strongly affected by the climate: a lengthy dry season with high temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon rains. The Park is situated in a transition zone between Australian and Asian flora and fauna. Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass-woodland savanna, tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, and quasi cloud forest.

Due to the dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have specific adaptations to help them obtain and retain water. Past fires have selected for species that are fire-adapted, such as some grass species and shrubs. Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees. Important food tree species for the local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp., Opuntia sp., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., ‘Kedongdong hutan’ (Saruga floribunda), and ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa).

TERRESTRIAL FAUNA :

The terrestrial fauna is of rather poor diversity in comparison to the marine fauna. The number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic.. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin (e.g., deer, pig, macaques, civet). Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.

Reptiles: The most famous of Komodo National Park's reptiles is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the world's largest reptiles and can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. To find out more about this fascinating creature click here.

Other than the Komodo Dragon twelve terrestrial snake species are found on the island. including the cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), Russel’s pit viper (Vipera russeli), and the green tree vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris). Lizards include 9 skink species (Scinidae), geckos (Gekkonidae), limbless lizards (Dibamidae), and, of course, the monitor lizards (Varanidae). Frogs include the Asian Bullfrog (Kaloula baleata), Oreophyne jeffersoniana and Oreophyne darewskyi. They are typically found at higher, moister altitudes.

Mammals: Mammals include the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis), the main prey of the Komodo dragon, horses (Equus sp.), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus lehmanni), the endemic Rinca rat (Rattus rintjanus), and fruit bats. One can also find goats, dogs and domestic cats.

Birds: One of the main bird species is the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardti), a ground dwelling bird. In areas of savanna, 27 species were observed. Geopelia striata and Streptopelia chinensis were the most common species. In mixed deciduous habitat, 28 bird species were observed, and Philemon buceroides, Ducula aenea, and Zosterops chloris were the most common.

MARINE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT :

The marine area constitutes 67% of the Park. The open waters in the Park are between 100 and 200 m deep. The straits between Rinca and Flores and between Padar and Rinca, are relatively shallow (30 to 70 m deep), with strong tidal currents. The combination of strong currents, coral reefs and islets make navigation around the islands in Komodo National Park difficult and dangerous. Sheltered deep anchorage is available at the bay of Loh Liang on Komodo’s east coast, the South East coast of Padar, and the bays of Loh Kima and Loh Dasami on Rinca.

In the North of the Park water temperature ranges between 25 – 29°C. In the middle, the temperature ranges between 24 and 28°C. The temperatures are lowest in the South, ranging from 22 – 28°C. Water salinity is about 34 ppt and the water is quite clear, although the waters closer to the islands are relatively more turbid.

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS :

Indonesia is the only equatorial region in the world where there is an exchange of marine flora and fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Passages in Nusa Tenggara (formerly the Lesser Sunda Islands) between the Sunda and Sahul shelves allow movement between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The three main ecosystems in Komodo National Park are seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. The Park is probably a regular cetacean migration route.

MARINE FLORA :

The three major coastal marine plants are algae, seagrasses and mangrove trees. Algae are primitive plants, which do not have true roots, leaves or stems. An important reef-building algae is the red coralline algae, which actually secretes a hard limestone skeleton that can encrust and cement dead coral together. Seagrasses are modern plants that produce flowers, fruits and seeds for reproduction. As their name suggests, they generally look like large blades of grass growing underwater in sand near the shore. Thallasia sp. and Zastera spp. are the common species found in the Park. Mangroves trees can live in salty soil or water, and are found throughout the Park. An assessment of mangrove resources identified at least 19 species of true mangroves and several more species of mangrove associates within the Park's borders.

MARINE FAUNA :

Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of forams, cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Some notable species with high commercial value include sea cucumbers (Holothuria), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and groupers.

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Taman Nasional Bunaken

2009-06-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Taman Nasional Bunaken merupakan perwakilan ekosistem perairan tropis Indonesia yang terdiri dari ekosistem hutan bakau, padang lamun, terumbu karang, dan ekosistem daratan/pesisir.

Pada bagian Utara terdiri dari pulau Bunaken, pulau Manado Tua, pulau Montehage, pulau Siladen, pulau Nain, pulau Nain Kecil, dan sebagian wilayah pesisir Tanjung Pisok. Sedangkan pada bagian Selatan meliputi sebagian pesisir Tanjung Kelapa.

Potensi daratan pulau-pulau taman nasional ini kaya dengan jenis palem, sagu, woka, silar dan kelapa. Jenis satwa yang ada di daratan dan pesisir antara lain kera hitam Sulawesi (Macaca nigra nigra), rusa (Cervus timorensis russa), dan kuskus (Ailurops ursinus ursinus).

Jenis tumbuhan di hutan bakau Taman Nasional Bunaken yaitu Rhizophora sp., Sonneratia sp., Lumnitzera sp., dan Bruguiera sp. Hutan ini kaya dengan berbagai jenis kepiting, udang, moluska dan berbagai jenis burung laut seperti camar, bangau, dara laut, dan cangak laut.

Jenis ganggang yang terdapat di taman nasional ini meliputi jenis Caulerpa sp., Halimeda sp., dan Padina sp. Padang lamun yang mendominasi terutama di pulau Montehage, dan pulau Nain yaitu Thalassia hemprichii, Enhallus acoroides,dan Thalassodendron ciliatum.

Tercatat 13 genera karang hidup di perairan Taman Nasional Bunaken, didominasi oleh jenis terumbu karang tepi dan terumbu karang penghalang. Yang paling menarik adalah tebing karang vertikal sampai sejauh 25-50 meter.

Sekitar 91 jenis ikan terdapat di perairan Taman Nasional Bunaken, diantaranya ikan kuda gusumi (Hippocampus kuda), oci putih (Seriola rivoliana), lolosi ekor kuning (Lutjanus kasmira), goropa (Ephinephelus spilotoceps dan Pseudanthias hypselosoma), ila gasi (Scolopsis bilineatus), dan lain-lain.

Jenis moluska seperti kima raksasa (Tridacna gigas), kepala kambing (Cassis cornuta), nautilus berongga (Nautilus pompillius), dantunikates/ascidian.

Musim kunjungan terbaik: bulan Mei s/d Agustus setiap tahunnya.

Cara pencapaian lokasi: Taman Nasional Bunaken dapat dicapai melalui Pelabuhan Manado, Marina Nusantara Diving Centre (NDC) di Kecamatan Molas dan Marina Blue Banter. Dari Pelabuhan Manado dengan menggunakan perahu motor menuju pulau Siladen dapat ditempuh + 20 menit, pulau Bunaken + 30 menit, pulau Montehage + 50 menit dan pulau Nain +60 menit. Dari Blue Banter Marina dengan menggunakan kapal pesiar yang tersedia menuju daerah wisata di pulau Bunaken dapat ditempuh dalam waktu 10-15 menit, sedangkan dari pelabuhan NDC menuju lokasi penyelaman di pulau Bunaken dengan menggunakan speed boat ditempuh dalam waktu + 20 menit.

SENGGIGI BEACH, LOMBOK INDONESIA

2009-06-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, port for the Gili Islands. Along the way, a fantastic scenery of the north west coast of Lombok awaits. Most travelers start or end their stay at Senggigi because of the easy access to Mataram Airport and accommodations options are available to all budgets. If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock to Senggigi, since the dock on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers south of Mataram.

There are plenty of activities you can do to complete your holiday. Sightseeing or touring organized by reputable local tour operators is the best option to discover what Lombok has to offer. Renting a car or motor cycle is also good alternative to get around, either self-driving, or with a driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. Car rental in Lombok is more expensive than Bali. Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or diner. If you are pleased with service, tip the driver or local guide at the end. If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all costs.

INFORMATION

Senggigi Post Office located on the main street of Senggigi, opposite from Pamour Art & Antique shop. Health Centre or Puskesmas located near Hotel Puri Saron. Drugstore or Apotik available next to the gate of Intan Lombok Hotel. Dentist available at Meninting Puskesmas 10 minutes drive from Senggigi towards direction to the airport.

Bank BNI available during office hours 5 days a week located near the Post Office. ATM's (Automatic Teller Machine) are easy to find. ATM BCA, ATM BNI, ATM Mandiri are available, you can swift your credit card and withdraw local currency IDR (Rupiah).

Police office located in Senggigi Art Market, near The Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort. Telephone Service (Wartel) available near Melati Dua Hotel. Internet Cafes are: Millenium Internet (opposite Papaya Restaurant) and Star Internet Service located in Senggigi Plaza with dedicated broadband speed at reasonable rates. Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM and CDMA. If you have brought your cellular handphone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.

Money changers are available almost in every corner of Senggigi. Double count your money before leaving the money changers to get the accurate amount. Hotel reception also change foreign money with lower rates.

Mini markets are located next to Bank BNI and near the Papaya Cafe.

Local Indonesian Foods sells nasi campur and warung Padang can be found right opposite from Taman Restaurant. At night, you can find the famous Nasi Goreng at Warung Cak Poer.

Tipping

Most larger hotels and restaurants automatically add Government Tax and Service charge up to 21% to the bill. Tipping is expected in main tourist area, but you're not compelled to tip at restaurants. If you like your driver or local tour guide, a tip of 10-15% is appreciated.

Carry small changes with you as taxi drivers often have none.

Airport or hotel porters expect Rp. 2000 - 10,000 per bag depending on the size and weights.

Disabled

Wheelchair ramps and van lifts are non existent. Many major hotels have limited handicapped facilities and accommodation. Advise your tour operators or hotel for special assistance.

BUMBU BALI

2009-06-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

THE CREATION OF BUMBU BALI

Bali’s first authentic Balinese restaurant was created following the principals used in designing a traditional Balinese home compound. On our menu you will not find Balinese food commonly served in hotels and tourist restaurants, as it is our aim to serve Balinese food the way you find it prepared in Balinese homes or during traditional ceremonies. We take you on a journey into the culinary delights our island paradise has to offer.

Countless trips into villages, homes and temples, together with an endless drive in researching deeper into the food culture of Bali have resulted in several highly acclaimed publications by Heinz von Holzen the Godfather of Bumbu Bali. In “The Food of Bali”, “Bali Unveiled: The Secrets of Balinese Cuisine” and “Feast of Flavours from the Balinese Kitchen”, one will discover many secret dishes and delights served on our menu.

Recognized by locals and visitors alike as the leading Balinese Restaurant in Bali, and the many awards received since opening the small door in 1997, together with the incorporation of every day Balinese life into a harmonious surrounding will ensure a most memorable and authentic dining experience.

COOKING SCHOOL

To promote the food of Bali further we offer interested visitors to participate in our very popular cooking program. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we take participants to the local markets where we purchase many of the produces for the day’s class. After a hearty Balinese Breakfast we will spend a most informative morning in a specially designed kitchen preparing and grinding a minimum of 25 recipes. Classes are limited to 12 participants, this to give everyone a chance to receive personal attention in the step-by-step preparation of the dishes.

No effort has been spared in creating a place of discovery, friendliness and comfort. It is our aim not only to share with you the best dishes of Bali put to also let you into the many secrets of a true Balinese home.

We look forward to your visit, which we hope will be the first of many to follow.

The Team of Bumbu Bali

USEFUL INFORMATION
Address :
Jalan Pratama, Tanjung Benoa,
P.O.Box 132 Nusa Dua 80363
Bali - Indonesia

Restaurants : 62 361 774502, 772299
Office : 62 361 771256
Fax : 62 361 771728
E-mail : info@balifoods.com
Web Sites:
http://www.balifoods.com
http://www.indo-chef.com

OPENING HOURS:
Lunch-Dinner 11.00 a.m- 11.00 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT:
Every Wednesday and Friday – Cultural Performance
Time: 08.00pm to 09.00pm

CUISINE: Traditional Balinese Specialties

Museums of Italy

2009-05-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Uffizi Gallery - Galleria degli Uffizi

Loggiato degli Uffizi, 6 - Florence

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8:15am - 7:00pm

Closing days: every Monday, January 1, May 1, December 25.

Services: cloack room, bar, bookshop.

Official Web Site: www.uffizi.firenze.it

Notes:
Visits to the Vasarian Corridor are possible for groups of minimum 10 people. Request, indicating date and time, must be faxed to: 011-39-055-264406

The most important art collection in Italy, and one of the richest in the world, was started in 1580. Since the beginning it was arranged (with many changes along the way) in the majestic Uffizi Palace, erected by Vasari and completed by Buontalenti. It contains much of the fundamental production of Tuscan artistic schools from the 13th c. onward, as well as works by Venetian, Roman, Emilian, German, Flemish, Spanish and French painters.

Masterpieces by Cimabue, Duccio ("Madonna Rucellai"), Giotto ("Madonna with the Holy Child, Angels and Saints"), Simone Martini ("Annunciation"), Daddi, Gaddi, Orcagna, Lorenzo Monaco, Gentile da Fabriano, Paolo Uccello, Masaccio and Masolino, Domenico Veneziano, Piero della Francesca ("The Dukes of Montefeltro"), Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Baldovinetti, A. and P. Pollaiolo, Botticelli, ("Birth of Venus", "Primavera", etc), L. di Credi, Ghirlandaio, Rogier van der Weyden, Hugo van der Goes (Portinari Tryptych), Leonardo ("Adoration of the Magi", "Annunciation"), Verrocchio, Signorelli, Perugino, Berruguete, Pontormo, A. del Sarto, Bronzino, Melozzo da Forli, Durer, Cranach, Giambellino, Holbein, Altdorfer, David, Correggio, Mantegna, Luini, Moroni, Rosso Fiorentino, Michelangelo ("Holy Family"), Raphael ("Madonna of the Finch", "Pope Leo X", etc), Titian ("Venus of Urbino" and other paintings), Parmigianino, Lotto, Veronese, Tintoretto, Bassano, El Greco, Rubens, van Dyck, Caravaggio, A. Carracci, Rembrandt, ("Old Rabbi" and two self-portraits), Ruysdael, Guardi, Canaletto, Chardin, Nattier and Goya.

The Uffizi Façade overlooking the Arno

Also very important are the classical and hellenistic statues, witnessing the collectioning passion of the Medicis and the Lorenas ("Venus", "Knife-grinder", the group "Niobe and the Niobides"). Collections of tapestries (16th and 17th c.), ancient marbles and miniatures. On the ground floor, in the premises of the former church of S. Pietro Scheraggio, valuable frescoes, including the series of the celebrities by A. del Castagno (around 1450), and "Annunciation" by Botticelli.

Rome - Italia

2009-05-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

A trip to Italy is always an artistic tour. In this country there are many and so widespread art treasures of every age, that it can really be considered a real art gallery outside. Treasures of culture and art that make Italy precious, the country that has the largest number of sites included in the list of UNESCO heritage of humanity.

Kuta Beach

2009-05-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Once a lonely little village on the road from Denpasar to Bukit Peninsula, Kuta is now the tourist Mecca of Bali, popular mainly among the young and adventurous. Kuta beach is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. Coconut trees line the sand beach as far as the eyes can see towards the north stopped by the runway of Denpasar's airport far in the west. The sunset in Kuta is most breathtaking. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport's runway, which gives the visitors a breathtaking landing experience. Kuta Beach bustles with tourists' vendors and locals. It's the most popular beach in Bali and the island's number one party zone. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, the waves will invite to surfing. Rapid development and an influx of visitors haven't kept the surfers away and Kuta still remains one of Bali's best surfing beaches and a great place to enjoy a beach lifestyle. While the surfers are still part of the Kuta scene, it's the shopping, nightlife and party vibes that attracts thousands of visitors. There's a huge choice of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The accommodation in Kuta range from a modest home stay for a few dollars a night to luxurious, five star, international hotels costing several hundred to several thousand dollars a night. Legian Street, situated directly behind the row of hotels that face the beach, is lined with shops of all varieties. We can find any Balinese handicrafts here, from the least expensive to the most exquisite; or unique stores such as the leather store staffed by two young Balinese men that will perfectly sculpt a leather jacket. (They are all extremely talented artists). _At night, Kuta is alive with night life. Western influences create discotheques, dance clubs, and pubs. Gastronomical demands inspire a multitude of restaurants, serving traditional Indonesian and Balinese food to various ethnic meals from Japan, Switzerland, etc. As if these were not enough, various Balinese dance performances are staged in Kuta every night. One of the best Kecak performances is found in Kuta.

THE STORY OF THE MURAL AT GALERIA CROSSROAD

2009-05-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Galeria crossroad is presumably one of the hearts of Yogyakarta city. This crossroad connects the busiest areas in this gudeg city, namely Jalan Jendral Sudirman with the old Bethesda on it, the busy Jalan Sagan, Jalan Solo as the shopping centre and Lempuyangan area that is famous for its Lempuyangan railway station, the oldest station in Yogyakarta. The crossroad now becomes one of the most crowded areas with the busiest traffic.

If you only look or pass by the crossroad, it will be meaningless. However, when you know the history further, you will find it more meaningful. To the north east of the crossroad, there used to be a gambling centre. The place was always busy every night; it seemed like the Las Vegas in the small Yogyakarta city. As the story tells, whosoever got into the gambling centre would certainly be addicted and would be trapped into the gambling network in it.

In the past, in the west part of the gambling centre, there was a small warong. The small food stall witnessed the losers who lamented over their fate after loosing their belongings in the gamble. Those who got their fortune in the gamble rarely dropped by in this warong since they would spend their money for luxurious things. It was in that small warong that the losers would stare at the luxurious thing, Galeria Mall.

Now, the gambling centre has disappeared. Nonetheless, the trace of its existence is represented by the mural inspired by Farhanski and Apotik Komik with the theme of "Buying Dreams". The mural is painted on the west wall of the gambling centre. The idea of the mural originated from Farhanski's experience when he saw the losers lamented over their fate in the warong. The mural seems like teasing the gamblers who depend their entire life on fortune.

The description of the murals intending to satire the gamblers who used to gamble in the east area of the wall is clear. The big writing, for example, says "Urip Waton Ngglindhing", meaning life just goes on. The text satires the life of gamblers that seems lying on the dice, or just rotates like wheels, without planning or efforts to achieve better life. When they win, they become rich at once; when they lose, they become poor at once, too.

Another text still satires the gamblers, saying "Ngglindhinge wong ndhuwur iso mabur, ngglindhinge wong ngisor mundhak ndlosor", which means the winning of the rich will make them fly even higher but the lose of the poor will make them even worse. Another text reminds people of the livelihood, "Rejeki iku Gusti allah sing ngatur, ora usah ngoyo lan nggresulo", which means God has determined how much we get; we do not have to exert and to complaint.

The pictures in the murals highlight the messages of the text. There are pictures of 'king' and 'queen', the characters in the cards used in gambling. Pictures of luxurious goods such as diamond are also depicted in the murals. There are also pictures of wheels and feet that might symbolize the message of the text that the life of a gambler is like the wheel that must always rotate without anyone can predict what is going to happen.

Initially, the murals teasing the gamblers cover the entire wall, but now only some parts of them can bee seen. The other parts, especially the bottom part, are decorated with other murals by different muralists. The latter might be considered to damage the previous pictures, but actually they response to the previous ones by depicting other activities done at this crossroad. Again, murals can tell daily activities of Galeria crossroad.

The daily activities include posters sticking on the wall. Galeria crossroad with its crowdedness is certainly a strategic place to promote different products. Unfortunately, the posters seem do not care of the murals existence on the wall that are intended to take care of the neglected wall. As a result, some people paint the posters covering the murals as form of protest.

The protest against posters sticking is clear. The murals in the form of texts are made directly on the posters. When YogYES took a close look, the surface of the murals were not smooth; that indicated the posters underlying the murals. With such a protest, the sticking of the posters is still done until now.

So special the murals in this area that people in the location that make their living as vendors were involved in the making process. hus, the murals are not exclusive work of the artists but they were made by local community because what were described in the murals were discussed and made together with the people. During the completion of the works, they even had to change the themes three times.

Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Photo & Artistic: Agung Sulistiono Mabruron
English Translation: Emanuel, Downhill English Services

Chocolate Souvenir & Toko Coklat

2009-05-12T05:11:00.000-07:00

..BE SWEET...
Show your love and appreciation to people
that matter to you most.

Give them these chocolate gift packages from
Truly Chocolate

Give them these chocolate lover gift packages with Delectable,
mouth-watering treat wrapped in beautiful packaging.

Our varied selection of chocolate gift collections will
surely make them happy and their sweet tooth satisfied.

Truly Chocolate offers fabulous chocolate gift ideas
that are perfect as presents to
your weddings, clients, business associates and customers.

For delighting your guests, friends and families on
special occasions and for any other reason you need a great gift!

**Daftar Harga**

Isi 1
Isi 2
Isi 3
Isi 4
Isi 5
Isi 6
Isi 7
Isi 8
Isi 9
Isi 10
Isi 11
Isi 12
Isi 14
Isi 16
Isi 18
Isi 25
1 Kg (70pcs)

: Rp.4000
: Rp. 5000
: Rp. 7.500
: Rp. 9.500
: Rp. 11.000
: Rp. 13.500
: Rp. 15.500
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: Rp. 21.000
: Rp. 25.000
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:Rp. 150.000

Chocolate Souvenir & Toko Coklat

Dyana ArumdhaniJl.
Imam bonjol II. Perum taman asterblok A1/200
Cibitung - Bekasi 17520

Indonesia

+62 8158975424
darumdhani@yahoo.com

Bali kuta blast monument

2009-05-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Kuta is a town in southern Bali, Indonesia. A former fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see substantial tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations. It is known internationally for its long sandy beach, varied accommodation, many restaurants and bars, and substantial Australian population. It is located near Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport.

Kuta was the site of the October 12, 2002 Bali bombing (202 killed) and the October 1, 2005 Bali bombing (26 killed).

Kuta is now the center of an extensive tourist-oriented urban area that merges into the neighboring towns. Legian, to the north, is the commercial hub of Kuta and the site of many restaurants and entertainment spots. Most of the area's big beachfront hotels are in the southern section of Tuban.

Legian and Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta along Jl. Legian and Jl. Basangkasa. They are somewhat quieter suburbs with cottage-style accommodations, where many of the expat crowd live. Also to the north are Petitenget, Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh - new and quieter continuations of Kuta's beach. They are easy to reach through Abian Timbul or Denpasar and Kerobokan. Several large hotels are located in this area: the Oberoi Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, the Intan Bali Village, the Legian in Petitenget, the Dewata Beach and the Bali Sani Suites in Berawa.

To the south, Kuta Beach extends beyond the airport into Jimbaran. Other nearby towns and villages include Seseh (6.4 nm), Denpasar (4.5 nm), Ujung (1.8 nm), Pesanggaran (2.0 nm), Kedunganan (2.9 nm) and Tuban (1.0 nm).

The Balinese Provincial Government have taken the view that the preservation of the Balinese culture, natural resources and wildlife are of primary importance in the development of the island. To this end they have limited tourist development to the peninsula on the extreme southern aspect of the island; Kuta beach is on the western side of this peninsula and Sanur is on the east. To the north of the peninsula no new tourist development is supposedly permitted

Balinese Dances

2009-05-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

Most Balinese dance performances are held in the evenings, however, you can also see some Barong Dance performances in the morning.

If you prefer to watch one of these Balinese dance performances in a hotel after a sumptuous dinner buffet, the OBEROI is recommended because of the beautiful beach front setting. For those who do not wish to have dinner here, there is a US$10/person fee to enjoy the dances; Classical Dance on Tuesdays and Ramayana Dance on Thursdays, starting from 8:30 p.m.

Bali Dance Festival offers daily dance performance during buffet at US$25 per person. The restaurant opens at 7:00pm for dinner and on 8:00pm the performance starts. For further information and booking, please call 703-060.

If you have rented a villa, you can contact our local Service Center at 703-060 to arrange a private Balinese dance performance in your garden at any time convenient for you. 40 to 60 dancers and musicians in beautiful costumes will perform the Balinese dances of your choice and be afterwards available to explain anything you might wish to know.

	Barong Dance: This Balinese dance is about a contest between the opposing forces of chaos and destruction ("Rangda") and order (the "Barong"). Performances in Suwung and Kesiman (suburbs of Denpasar), and in Batubulan daily from 9:00 or 9:30 a.m.; in Banjar Abasan, Singapadu, daily from 9:30 a.m., and at Puri Saren in Ubud, Friday from 6:30 p.m.
	Legong Dance: A highly stylized, extremely difficult dance performed by young girls. Choreographed to the finest details, and no improvisation allowed. Performances at the Peliatan Stage, Friday from 6:30 p.m., at Pura Dalem, Puri Peliatan, Saturday from 6:30 p.m., at Pura Peliatan in Ubud, Sunday from 7:30 p.m., and at Puri Saren, Ubud, Monday from 7:30 p.m.
	Kecak Dance: A ritual dance created in the early 1930's for the movie "Island of the Demons" by the German painter and intellectual Walter Spies who combined the chorus of the "Sanghyang" trance dance with a story from the "Ramayana" legend. Very impressive with its circular chorus of sometimes over 100 bare chested male singers. Performances are held at the Arts Center, Denpasar, daily from 6:30 p.m., and in Banjar Tegal, Ubud, Sunday from 6:00 p.m.
	Fire Dance: The Fire Dance is an exorcist dance against spirit possession. Girls in trance dance barefoot among glowing coals. Performances in Bona Kangin, Gianyar, Friday. Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. In Bonasari, Gianyar, Friday, Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 p.m., and in Batubulan, daily from 6:30 p.m.
	Ramayana Dance: There are occasional performances of this Balinese dance Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa. This cultural dinner show is available on Tuesdays from 8:00 p.m at Rp. 240,000 + 21% tax and service charges per person.

Sanur

2009-05-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Before 1970 if one heard the name of Sanur, the immediate horrifying thinking is black magic. The whole Bali knew this, that Sanur, especially certain person in the village had strong magic practitioners. It was not rare the rumor among people that during certain season it was a magic power war between magic masters of Sanur and those of Kamasan village in Klungkung regency. People only saw round glimmering fires swept above houses, or among trees than colliding and broken into flakes of fires or slowly flying red light diminishing into the dark, and many strange thing people said.

The first inscription disclosing the mystery of Balinese history was also found in Sanur, now preserved at the temple named " Pura Blanjong " This inscription dated back to 913 AD mentions the king Sri Kesari Warmadewa and "Walidwipa". Wali is the variation of " Bali " and dwipa means island. This is probably the origin of the name " Bali ", although other opinion holds that " Bali " originally " Wali " means " offering" or Balinese " Banten " It is believed that Sri Kesari is the founder of Warmadewa dynasty who ruled Bali for almost 425 yeas from around the year of 913 through 1345 AD. It was mentioned that the capital city of the kingdom is "Singhadwara" If Singhadwara is the port city which was probably Sanur itself, that means the place of the inscribed pillar must have been constructed just on the beach line. Now the position of the pillar is around 300 meters from the beach line. A team of archaeologists and geologists have the opinion that the sedimentation on the beach of Sanur was very rapid, in the past it was possible that the current of the sea around Sanur come from east part of Bali and just put the deposit of sediments on the beach which have made the beach longer and longer become more wider. Or a theory that the level of the sea has been going down recently, and will probably in certain period back to the level it was reached before. Before 1970, the village of Sanur was one of the village that produced lime stone for building materials. They collect the corals on the beach and burnt in a kiln resulting a yellow powder that sold to all areas of South Bali. Now this kind of industry has long been disappeared.

The beach of Sanur consist of bigger granulations of white to yellow sandy beach with wider shallow sea bed. During low tide the beach look very wide due to this natural formation. The beach is good for swimming, and during Sunday from 4 pm the beach of Merta Sari, just south to Bali Hyatt hotel is always full of local people with their family. While during certain months, usually December until February it is often that wave brings sea weed waste so the beach look dirty.

In 1996 a beach reclamation was don on the island of Serangan, just around 3 kms south of Sanur Beach. The reclamation causing the rerouting of the sea current to Sanur, as the deeper current is blocked. This have caused a great abrasion at some spots of Sanur beach.

Sanur has attracted many important persons to visit it's magic name since 1930s such as artists, anthropologists, and writers. To mention a few are Dr. Jack Mershon with his anthropologist wife Katherine, painters such as Walter Spies, Le Mayeur de Bruxelles, anthropologist Jane Belo, a writer Vicki Baum, and other important persons. Le Mayeur even built his house and studio in Sanur after marrying Balinese lady named Ni Polok. Now his house has become a museum and still preserved for public.

In 1965 was built the first biggest hotel in Bali that is The Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Then followed by Garuda Hotel (now Sanur Beach Hotel), Bali Hyatt Hotel, Sindu Beach Hotel, and various other big and small hotels. In it's later development Sanur not just for a comfortable overnight hotels, but has been developing also many leisure and sports activities such as sea-kayaking, outrigger, speed boats, water scooters, walking on sea bed, water skiing, diving, and many others.

Nusa Dua, Bali

2009-05-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Located minutes away from the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport on the sun-drenched shores of beautiful Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa's 23 acres of sculpted gardens provide an oasis of space and tranquility in the heart of exotic Bali. The accomodation features 381 rooms and suites in a resort hotel that invites you to immerse yourself in the pageantry of one of the world's most vibrant cultures.

A palace of refined luxury and privileged hospitality, this 5-star diamond hotel in Bali has welcomed Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers since its grand opening for guests who expect the extraordinary to be an imperative, an unforgettable holiday experience awaits you at this luxury Bali Hotel.

http://www.nusaduahotel.com/ : more info

Dusun Jogja Village Inn/star 3

2009-05-07T23:51:00.000-07:00

Dusun Jogja Village Inn is a tranquil boutique hotel where intimacy, luxury and style come together to create peaceful respite. The staff welcomes you like a family member where the Jogja charms embrace you warmly.

Location
By driving: 5 minutes from sultan's palace, 10 minutes from the city center, 20 minutes from the Adisucipto Airport, 5 km to bird market, 7 km from Kota Gede (silver market)

HONEYMOON RETREAT PACKAGE
Suite Room (3 days 2 night Package) / couple
Deluxe Room (3 days 2 night Package) / couple
This retreat includes:

* Courtesy coach airport-hotel-airport
* Special fruit basket and welcome drink upon arrival
* One bottle of champagne/wine depends on the room
* Daily breakfast of your choice wherever you heart feels
* Daily afternoon teas
* One candle light dinner for two
* Village Tour by Andong (Horse Cart)
* Malioboro shuttle
* Traditional massage for 2 persons
* Memorial photograph
* Exotic souvenir

For more information, visit www.jvidusun.co.id

DUSUN JOGJA VILLAGE INN
Jl. Menukan 5, Yogyakarta 55153
Phone: +62 274 373031, +62 274 384438
Fax: +62 274 382202
Shortcut URL:
http://www.yogyes.com/jvidusun

Hotel Facilities & Services

* 24 rooms with private terrace/balcony
* Bathtub with hot/cold water
* Air conditioner (AC)
* Room service
* Salty water Swimming pool
* Njoglo Resto
* Soko Bar
* Mini bar
* Dry cleaning
* Saraswati Spa
* Newspapers
* Artshops
* Daily Breakfasts
* Local/IDD call
* Fax
* Internet
* Movie room
* TV in every room
* Library
* Tropical garden view
* Merapi Tour Travel Agent

Hotel Reservation:http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-hotel/star/dusun-jogja-village-inn/

by.yogyes

BAYWATCH pecel - Tasting pecel Kembang Turi prepared by Grandma Warno "Anderson"

2009-05-07T23:44:00.000-07:00

At first, I wondered about the name 'pecel Baywatch' for the menu served by Grandma Warno. I naughtily imagined that the seller of the food dresses in bikini like Pamela Anderson or at least the warong is at the seaside. It turned out to be wrong. This is the full story.

Grandma Warno's warong is located in Kasongan area, on the way to Gunung Sempu to be exact. The warong that has been operating for 35 years is very simple. The name board of the warong is only of 30 x 20 cm2 size so that it will be overlooked if we do not notice it well. The interior of the warong is completed with simple, functional household furnishings. There are only some wooden tables and chairs and one bamboo divan. Behind the table where the goods are displayed, there is a kitchen with some braziers that always billow smokes. In fact, it is such an accidental setting because in general a kitchen is set at the back part. Grandma Warno set the kitchen in front part of the warong after the earthquake in May 2006 that ruined his house. "There's not enough money to build a new kitchen," he said.

Grandma Warno sells pecel (it is mix of boiled vegetables served with peanut sauce) as the main course with various side dishes, ranging from fried cat fish and eel, sweet marinated tempe, mangut belut(eels cooked in thick, spicy coconut milk), to fried noodles. YogYES ordered all of the menus in order to taste these cuisines by Grandma Warno.

While waiting, I imagined the origin of pecel that is as absurd as the origin of soto. Many areas in Java have this menu with its own characteristic, take example of pecel Madiun, pecel Blitar, pecel Madura, pecel Slawi, and others. However, at least a Dutch historian named H.J. Graaf once revealed that when Ki Ageng Pemanahan executed the order of Sultan Hadiwijaya to move to a forest called Alas Mentaok (now Kotagede), his group was welcomed by the society along Opak River and was entertained with various foods, including pecel.

I ended my imagination when the pecel came with several side dishes on the table. A plate of pecel, fried cat fish, and fried, marinated, sweet tofu seemed to wait for being enjoyed. There are four kinds of vegetable mixed with peanut sauce, namely spinach, papaya leaf, turi flower (Sesbania grandiflora), and been sprout. The sweet peanut sauce will seduce our tongue. While chewing the turi flower that tastes a little bit bitter, the sweet taste blends to produce delicacy that cannot be expressed easily.

The serving of such pecel with the turi flower is characteristic of the village pecel. It is difficult at this time to get sellers of this kind of pecel. It is believed that turi flowers have the efficacy to reduce mild headache and inflammation. It is not surprising, therefore, that the people of Java, India, and Suriname (who are of the same descendent with Javanese people) eat young turi flowers as vegetable.

pecel will taste more delicious if it is added with fried cat fish or fried, sweet, marinated tofu. The cat fish is fried deep to result if crispy taste. The fried, sweet, marinated tofu is served with fresh, green chilly as side dish. There are also some other menus such as fried eels with its two variations. First, the deep fried small eels and regular fried of bigger size eels. For those fond of spicy food, fried noodle and eels cooked in spicy, thick coconut milk are also served. The smokes from the braziers add the sensation of the taste in this warong.

It is either being full or the effect of the turi flowers, I feel that my brain was brighter than before. While having small talks with Grandma Warno and his assistant, I finally knew the story behind the name pecel Baywatch. It is because Grandma Warno and his assistant always wear sleeveless undershirt that is so comfortable to be worn in Kasongan Bantul area with its dry and hot weather.

Although you can find pecel sellers almost anywhere, pecel Baywatch definitely offers you something different. A combination of delicious food, village atmosphere, and friendliness of Grandma Warno "Anderson".
see

Japanese New Year Celebration

2009-05-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

How is new year celebrated in Japan? Japanese new year celebration is from January 1st to 3rd and is called shougatsu. January 1st is called gantan and is a Japanese national holiday. Japanese new year is the most important holiday in Japan. People say to each other "ake-mashite-omedetou-gozaimasu" (Happy New Year) whenever they see at the first time in the new year.

Japanese people eat special dishes called osechi ryouri during shogatsu. Osechi ryouri is packed in a Jubako box, which has several layers. The foods are colorful and artistically presented. Each dish has a particular meaning. For example, prawns for long life, kuromame (sweet black beans) for health, kazunoko (herring roe) for fertility, tazukuri (teriyaki taste small sardines) for a good harvest, kurikinton (sweet chestnuts and mashed sweet potato) for happiness, and so on. It is also traditional to eat mochi (rice cake) dishes on New Year's holidays. Zouni (rice cake soup) is the most popular mochi dish. The ingredients vary depending on regions and families. If you are lucky, you can taste many different zouni in Japan. People usually spend New Year's holidays quietly at home eating various food. There is a custom of giving money to children on New Year's holidays in Japan. It's called otoshidama. If you are going to family gatherings, it's good to prepare some money in small envelopes.

It is traditional for Japanese people to visit to a shrine or a temple during New Year's holidays. People pray for safety, health and good fortune. The first visit to a temple or shrine in a year is called hatsumoude. It is not a very religious event but rather a custom. Many well-known temples and shrines are extremely crowded. Some temples and shrines expect a couple million visitors during New Year's holidays each year. If you want to visit one of the famous shrines or temples, be aware of pickpockets. The Most Popular Shrines and Temples for Hatsumoude

Government offices are usually closed from Dec. 29th to January 3rd. Financial institutions are usually closed from Dec. 31st to January 3rd. Since most businesses are closed during the first three days of the year, the streets tend to be quiet except for those near shrines and temples. Many department stores hold New Year's special sales, so it might be worth it to check the prices out if you have shopping needs.
Tokyo Shopping Spots

Japanese New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve Events in Japan

Aomori prefecture / Akita prefectureA range of mountains

2009-05-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

The vast primeval beech forest, which is home to a precious population of animals and plants, is just like a forest museum

Aomori prefecture / Akita prefectureA range of mountains reaching an altitude of around 1000 m extends east and west over an area of 130,000 ha that straddles the prefectures of Aomori and Akita. The central area (16,971 ha) in these mountains was registered as a natural heritage site in 1993. This is one of the last natural beech forests left in East Asia. One of the main features of the Shirakami-sanchi area is the rough mountainous landscape cut through with deep gorges by its numerous rivers. The area is peppered with valleys and waterfalls including the Mase Valley, Anmon Falls and Daira-kyo Gorge and attracts many anglers and trekkers. It is also home to some of the most unique plants in the world, as well as rare animals including a protected species of dormouse, the black woodpecker, Japanese serow and golden eagle.

The best season to visit this area is in the summer when there is plenty of water in the rivers or in the fall when the mountains turn red with tinted leaves. The fall colors in the valleys viewed from the top of a gigantic bridge are breathtakingly beautiful. The course taking in the Anmon Falls that form a 3-step waterfall (approx. 1 hr. 10 min. one-way hike up a well-tended path) is extremely popular with people who enjoy walking. There are also full-fledged climbing courses to reach mountain summits such as Shirakami-dake and Tengu-dake, so why not try one of these if you are a keen climber. The Shirakami-sanchi Visitor Center, which operates as a tourist information office, also has much to offer. The wildlife and ecosystem of Shirakami-sanchi are presented in 3D models, and the charms of Shirakami-sanchi can be viewed on a huge screen in a 30-min. film shown 5 times a day in the visual experience hall. There is an entry procedure that must be followed before you are allowed into the core part of the Shirakami-sanchi World Heritage Area (on the Aomori prefecture side), so you need to inquire at the Aomori office of the Tohoku Regional Forest Office (Tel: 017-781-2117) http://www.jomon.ne.jp/~eirin001/index.htm. However, there is no need to apply beforehand to enjoy the hike up to the Anmon Falls.

Many beech forests around the world lost much of their ecological diversity due to the formation of continental glaciers some 2 million years ago; however, the beech forests and primeval plant population survive in Japan because continental glaciation did not occur here. Beech trees are extremely resistant to the weight of heavy snow, allowing these trees to survive the huge snowfalls on the Japan Sea side of the islands. There used to be many beech forests in Japan, but because this wood is not particularly useful as lumber, the trees were cut down after World War II and many beech forests were lost. However, this situation threatens the wellbeing of Asiatic black bears and black woodpeckers, and now there is an active conservation movement to preserve primeval beech forests. When visiting Shirakami-sanchi, please follow the rules of good hiking etiquette such as taking all garbage home, visiting the toilet before going to the mountains and not feeding the animals, in order to protect this precious wilderness.

Rumah Mertua Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta (Jogja)

2009-04-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Rumah Mertua ('the house of parents in law') is a small boutique hotel with 11 comfortable bedrooms and a traditional restaurant with romantic garden environment. It combines the luxury of a good hotel with the environment of a traditonal Javanese house. Located in the Javanese cultural center: Yogyakarta.

Located just outside the crowded center and only a 10-minute drive to the center of Yogyakarta (Yogya), Rumah Mertua is the ideal place to start discovering the Java's natural beaches, mountains, volcanos, Hindu temple Prambanan, the Sultan Palace and the world's biggest Buddhist temple: the Borobudur.

comfortables rooms :

A small boutique hotel with 11 comfortable bedrooms. Equipped with airconditioner, cable TV, hot & cold water, the rooms are designed using modern Javanese atmosphere.
We have standard, superior and deluxe rooms. Our deluxe rooms are more spacious (38 m2) with a private terrace facing the tropical garden & swimming pool. Other facilities are garden restaurant, swimming pool, car rental, laundry service and taxi service.
We accept Visa Card and Master Card.
Room rates:

4 Standard Room (20m2) Rp 275,000 (double/twin)
2 Superior Room (28m2) Rp 335,000 (double)
1 Family Room (32m2) Rp 450,000 (2 doubles)
4 Deluxe Room (38m2) Rp 399,000 (double/twin)

Extra Mattress Rp 95,000.

High season surcharge:

· + Rp. 50.000 on 15 June 2009 until 01 Augt 2009
· + Rp. 100.000 on 18 Sept 2009 until 27 Sept 2009
· + Rp. 100.000 on 23 Des 2009 until 03 Jan 2010

The above rates are per room per night including tax, services and breakfast.

€1 = Rp 15,000

Vaclities :

Air-conditioned rooms

Hot and cold water

Color TV

Garden Restaurant

Swimming pool

Car rental

Laundry service

Taxi service

Travel, tour and track arrangements

Mini bar (Deluxe & Superior)

Save Deposit Box

Internet Service

Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar Gg Padma no. 5,
Kab. Sleman, Yogyakarta 55581 - Indonesia
Telp. : +62-274-866680
Fax. : +62-274-4361015

Email.: info@rumahmertua.com

log on : http://www.rumahmertua.com

Dhyana Pura Beach Resort

2009-04-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Overview

The SRI Bungalows reflect traditional Balinese Architecture with its elegant proportion peaked thatched roofs, ceramic tiles, Bamboo and wood bed rooms style. The lush garden with its courtyard style and decorated by coconut plantation, banana three flowers and also any colorful flowers..

SRI Bungalows Ubud is an epicenter of Balinese culture and art offering of Bali. Known for its friendly people and living traditions.
SRI Bungalows is centrally located in the heart of Monkey Forest Street, a short walk to the monkey forest and Ubud Market.
SRI means the goddess of the rice and symbol of property. Staying in SRI Bungalows will make you to be live in the peaceful place. The hospitality of the staff are so kind and would be touching your heart.

Accommodation Information

We have 2 categories of rooms as below :
Standards room : we have 12 rooms ( 5 rooms with double bed with king / queen size and 7 rooms with twin bed , 1 double ( king size ) and 1 single bed .
Facilities of this rooms :
Fan , AC , Fridge , IDD Telephone , Free Wi-Fi ( hot spot ) available in the rooms , hot and cold water .

Deluxe rooms : We have 4 rooms with double bed , king / queen size with the view overlooking to the rice field .
Facilities of this rooms :
AC , Fridge , TV satellite , Free Wi-Fi ( hot spot ) available in the room , hot and cold water .

Hotels Facilities :
Main Swimming pool .
Air Conditioner and Fan bedrooms
Save deposit Box

Transportation
24 hours Reception
Multilingual Hotel Staff
Laundry Service and Dry Cleaning
Internet Service
Parking Area
Doctor On Call 24 Hours
Mini Bar
IDD Telephone

Location Information

SRI Bungalows is located at Monkey Forest Street nearby Monkey Forest and Ubud Market or Ubud Palace . It take in about 10 minutes by walking

Vacation

Karimun Jawa, Indonesia

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

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PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE

This Week's Best Rates - PAN PACIFIC SINGApoRe

Tourist attractions in Jakarta

About Jakarta

History

Ubud - Bali

What is Ubud?

about Kuta Bali

Online Shop papercraft

Nasi Liwet (Solo)

Soto BeTaWi

GUdeg -masakan Indonesia-

St. Petersburg

The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Dusun Jogja Village Inn/star 3

ST REGIS Bali

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Aeon Bukit Tinggi Klang

UPACARA ADANG {PB XIII MENANAK NASI} BULAN MARET 2010

Berkeliling Desa Wisata Pentingsari

DUTA GARDEN HOTEL

Air Sex World Championships

Telaga Magetan

the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

the Samsun Museum.

The Archeological Museum

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Dead Sea

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About SIPA Festival 2009

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Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Pk, HI

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TOURS & EVENTS White House Tours

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celebrate brooklyn

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Museums of Italy

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THE STORY OF THE MURAL AT GALERIA CROSSROAD

Chocolate Souvenir & Toko Coklat

Bali kuta blast monument

Balinese Dances

Sanur

Nusa Dua, Bali

Dusun Jogja Village Inn/star 3

BAYWATCH pecel - Tasting pecel Kembang Turi prepared by Grandma Warno "Anderson"

Japanese New Year Celebration

Aomori prefecture / Akita prefectureA range of mountains

Rumah Mertua Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta (Jogja)

Dhyana Pura Beach Resort