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Indonesian Wonder (604)
October
Beautiful beaches located not far from Padang city often become tourism destinations by tourists when visiting West Sumatera. One of them is Pasir Jambak beach which is located 17 kilometers from Padang, the capital city of West Sumatera. It takes around one and a half hours from Padang.
All beaches which are located in Padang and surrounding areas face to sunset. No wonder, if towards evening, those beaches are visited by a lot of tourists to enjoy beautiful sunset.
You can also ride a bicycle at the beach. The beach’s contour, which is wide and flat, makes this tourism destination to be comfortable place to ride a bicycle. In addition, there are many activities which can be conducted when you are at Pasir Jambak beach; you can swim, sun bath, play football and rent a boat to sail at the sea.
To enter Pasir Jambak beach, you only pay around Rp 5,000, including parking fee. Facilities at the beach are quite complete such as toilet, restaurant, parking lot and gazebo for relaxation. If you want to stay at night, at surrounding of the beach, there are many hotels and lodgings.
October
Es Dawet is a typical beverage of East Java which is sweet and tasty. The traditional beverage then sold across cities in Java island. Es Dawet consists of dawet (cendol), liquid brown sugar, coconut milk and ice. In general, Dawet has the same shape, eventhough it appears in various colors. The shape is a little bit long like worm. Unlike other dawet, dawet Ponorogo has different shape. It is round shape and usually called Dawet Gempol because in Javanese language the word gempol means round.
In a bowl of dawet gempol, consists of dawet, liquid brown sugar, sliced jackfruit, coconut milk, and ice sometimes added with dawet made of black sticky rice and palm flour. Because of various flavors in one portion, making dawet gempol is very different from dawet in general.
The combination of sweet taste, savory taste of coconut milk and brown sugar, combined with cold taste of ice and savory dawet, coupled with the sweet taste of black sticky rice, adding to the delicious taste of this drink. The dawet Gempol in Ponorogo is served uniquely, a bowl as dawet container is covered with a small plate. In Ponorogo, you can easily find Es Dawet Gempol, especially if you visit the region during Ramadan, because this drink is used as a breaking fast menu. The price of Es Dawet Gempol is relatively cheap which is around Rp. 2,500 to Rp. 5,000 per portion.
October
Batu Bolong temple is one of tourism objects in Lombok coast and built on black stone. The location of the temple is very strategic. It is located at Batu Bolong hamlet, Batulayar district, West Lombok or around 5 minutes from tourism center of Senggigi Island or 20 minutes from Mataram City.
According to history, Batu Bolong temple was built in 1533 by an ascetic, namely Dang Hyang Dwijendra from East Java when he spread out Hindu from Java Island to Bali Island and the last destination was Lombok Island.
The name of the temple is taken from shape of the black stone where the temple was built. The big stone with hill shape has a hole. In the past, the hole was an access for local people to look for wood at Senggigi forest, before artery street was built on the slope of the hills which connects West and North Lombok regency.
If sea water is in low tide, you can be through the hole which is like cave and around 5 meters on foot, you will directly arrive at Duduk beach, the long beach where there is no building surrounding the beach, except small stalls.
To enter the temple complex, you have to pay for Rp15,000 – Rp 20,000 for donation. The doormen will give you yellow shawl which is tied on your waist, as appreciation that you are the guest of the temple.
When entering the temple, you should not be too noisy because it is worship place. Surrounding Batu Bolong temple, there are provided many lodgings if you want to enjoy longer the beauty of nature surrounding the temple.
October
Ujung Kulon is the oldest national park in Indonesia, which was inaugurated as one of World Heritages, that has been protected by UNESCO since 1991, because its area includes very large protected forest. Until now, there are more than 50 rhinos which live in this habitat. Earlier, Ujung Kulon was agricultural area. But finally, it was destroyed when Mt. Krakatau erupted on August 27, 1883, which changed the area to become forest again. Ujung Kulon was explored for the first time by botanist from Germany, F. Junghuhn in 1846 to collect tropical plants. At that time, wealth of flora and fauna of Ujung Kulon have begun to be known by scientists. Although, the eruption of Mt. Krakatau has swept Ujung Kulon area, several years later, the ecosystem-vegetation and wild animals in Ujung Kulon grow well and fast. Thus, some areas are determined as protected areas. National Park area of Ujung Kulon is administratively located at Sumur and Cimanggu district, Pandeglang regency, Banten province. In late 2018, Ujung Kulon National Park was hit again by tsunami which destroyed parts of the area. However, within three months, 70 percent of the area has been restored by provincial government of Banten and proposed as UNESCO Global Geopark by Tourism Office of Banten province which is fully supported by Indonesian Tourism Ministry.
“…I will support national geopark proposal of Ujung Kulon. We hope this year, Ujung Kulon will be National Geopark. I instructed it to the party at Tourism Ministry. Requirement, which is not fulfilled yet, is master plan but we are still lucky because its proposal is postponed until October. So, we hope this year it becomes National Geopark and next year, Ujung Kulon will have become UNESCO Global Geopark.” Minister Arif Yahya said.
National Park which is well known with symbol “One-horned rhinoceros” becomes one of tourism destinations which should be visited if you are in Banten. The entrance ticket to the park can be obtained at National Park office in Labuan or at Tamanjaya post. If you want to stay at night, you can rent lodging at Tamanjaya village, Handeuleum and Peucang Island.
October
Lung Anai is one of villages at Loa Kulu district, Kutai Kertanegara regency, East Kalimantan province. The village has the status as cultural village since 2007. Interestingly, the village is one of thebirth points of Dayak Kenyah community, precisely sub tribe of Lepoq Jalan. Dayak Kenyah Lepoq Jalan tribe, comes from Malinau region, North Kalimantan, exactly from Apau Kayan village. Currently, the tribe settled surrounding 20 villages in East Kalimantan. But the largest community existed at Lung Anai. According to history, Dayak Kenyah Lapoq Jalan community began to come to Lung Anai in the 1960s.
To reach Lung Anai tourism village it takes 3 hours from Samarinda, the capital city of East Kalimantan through land transportation. You will pass through winding and rocky roads. However, you can enjoy green pasture views and shady trees along the trip. Once arriving at Lung Anai village, you will directly see Lamin house. Lamin is traditional house of Dayak Kenyah tribe. The house is usually used to welcome guest and become the center of all traditional ceremonies of the local people. Lung Anai villagers still preserve their tradition until nowadays.
One of traditions which is still preserved by Lung Anai villagers, is Uman Undat. The ceremony is an expression of gratitute toward abundant harvest in a year. The ceremony is conducted by pounding rice in a mortar to be flour, after that entered into pieces of bamboo then burned. After the rice flour in the bamboo has cooked, then eaten together with the villagers. Tourists who attend the ceremony, can participate in Uman Undat tradition. In Lung Anai tourism village, you can also buy typical handicrafts of the village as souvenir.
September
Pagoda of Lumbini Park is a replica of Pagoda Shwedagon which is located in Burma, Myanmar. Its building is very beautiful and magnificent because it is coated with gold colored paint. Entering Pagoda complex, at the main gate, there is door with ethnic design of sculptured artist in Myanmar. The worship place also stores many relics which are remains of the ashes of the saints and put on the Pagoda.
Besides the beauty of pagoda which can be enjoyed by tourists, they can also admire the atmosphere surrounding the building. To go the park, visitors must be through suspension bridge to cross. The suspension bridge is more known with the name ‘Titi Lumbini’ and it is around 20 meters long.
The tourists are free to see the park with beautiful flowers under the bridge. They are also given knowledge on some plants because there is information board. Pagoda of Lumbini Park is at Tongkoh village, Dolat Rakyat district, North Sumatera. Because it is located at hamlet, the worship place has beautiful view and fresh air. If you go from Medan, you will take for 2 – 3 hours to arrive at Berastagi. If you use public transportation, you can go to Tugu Buah Jeruk. Afterwards, you take a walk for 3 minutes to Lumbini Natural Park.
September
Pepe river is located at Tawangsari village, Teras, Boyolali, Central Java. In the past, the river became the target of sand and stone diggers as a livelihood of most Tawangsari villagers. The condition was exacerbated by low awareness on environment, so that the river which flowing from Mt. Merbabu until Bengawan Solo river, is full of plastic garbage. Seeing the condition, a group of society who joined in the River Care Community, finally stopped the digging activity at the river for the sake of environmental preservation. The community initiated the development of 'River Tubing' with rafting concept.
Pepe River tour is unlike other natural tours because it uses used tire. The visitors sit on used big rubber tire, then floated and washed away by river currents as far as 1.5 kilometers for one and a half hour. When enjoying Pepe River tour activity, you will feel the sensation of bouncing into the rock, plunging into rapids, until being overturned, and plunging into the river. I suggest you do not forget to stop at many interesting spots for selfie. You can enjoy all of the fun by only paying Rp 40,000- Rp45,000 per person. The ticket is included for safety facility and to taste typical culinary of Boyolali, such as wedang jahe or ginger drink and bobor soup. The Pepe River tour is located at Ngebrak floodgate area, Tawangsari village which is about one kilometers from Solo-Semarang highway.
The fun tour at Pepe river still continue.Around one kilometers from the location of river tubing, there is available edupark Camp Bell 2 for the visitors. In addition to natural tour such as outbond and farming, the Camp Bell 2 tour package also introduces integrated agriculture which produces biogas from cattle dung. There is also integrated garbage processing area namely Berkah Asri Mandiri. Not only receive garbage from residents, the edupark activists also routinely conduct cleaning activities twice a week.
September
Pagang Island is located on the middle sea of West Sumatera, precisely part of South Pesisir regency, West Sumatra. Now, the island becomes a new icon of West Sumatera province. The island area of 10 hectares has white sand beach which is soft and warm as well as coconut trees which dominate small natural forest.
The island is surrounded by blue, clear and calm water and the cluster of coral reefs makes Pagang Island becoming interesting tourism object for people who have hobbies of snorkeling or swimming.
The facilities on Pagang Island are quite simple. You can be acquainted with residents of the island. Some of them will allow you to catch fish or ready to deliver you do trekking to small hills at the middle of the island. There are only a fewer occupants of the island, but they are very friendly to tourists.
The sea panorama of West Sumatra from small hills is so beautiful. You can imagine if you are on the hills to witness the blue sea surrounding you.
To access Pagang Island from Padang city, you can use public transportation to Muaro seaport, and to be continued by renting motor boat to Pagang Island. The trip takes about 2 hours.
September
Located in the west of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, Nias Island is the biggest and most advanced island among other islands at the west coast of Sumatra. The island is occupied by Nias tribe (Ono Niha) which still has megalithic culture. The region has tourism objects such as surfing, traditional house, diving spot, Hombo Batu (jumping stone). Trip to Nias Island from Medan (the capital city of North Sumatra province) can be accessed through three modes of transportation: land, sea and air transportation.
Currently, the name of Nias Island is very popular in Indonesia. Because, Nias Island is one of icons of Indonesian tourism destination through Sail Nias 2019 event. The implementation of Sail Nias 2019 involved a number of ministries and agencies to promote Nias as destination with surfing as tourism potential of world class. Its sea which has blue-greenish color will welcome your arrival on the island. Nias Island has cultural wealth and natural beauty and interesting marine spots.
Tourism as main sector must be supported by all communities. The tourism destination has to be supported adequate infrastructure and good transportation to accelerate tourism target 2019. As an island with major tourism potential, Nias Island becomes one of priority travel destinations, which is being developed by the Indonesian government. You can visit Teluk Dalam district which has some places that become tourism objects, such as Sorake and Lagundri beach, and Bawömataluo village which has a lot of traditional houses that are hundreds of years old.
September
Siguntang hill in Palembang is not probably as popular as Ampera Bridge which splits Musi River. The hill is a sacred place which has story of Sriwijaya kingdom. Siguntang hill is located at Bukit Lama village in West Ilir district, Palembang, South Sumatera. In the past, Siguntang hill was believed as a place for praying of royal family as well as meditation place to calm the mind. Until now, the hill, whose height is 29-30 meters above sea level, is still considered sacred by the local people. Usually, visitors who come to Palembang will do pilgrimage to Palembang noble’s tombs and considered as founder of Palembang City. The hill is the highest point in Pelembang so that it is believed to be the safest place if there is flood. On the peak of the hill, there are some tombs which are related to the figures of kings, nobles and heroes of Malay-Sriwijaya. It is quite easy to access tourism object of Siguntang hill, because it is located in the downtown of Palembang. The trip to the destination can be accessed from the downtown by using land transportation to Ampera-Bukit Besar. The land transportation will carry you directly to Siguntang hill. Entering to the hill area, the visitor will be charged the entrance ticket Rp 3,000 for adult and Rp 2000 for kids. Because its location is close to the downtown. So, it is not difficult to find restaurants. You can also find hotels in accordance with your need and budget.