Jakarta New Year 2012

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Tonight Jakarta will full of exploded material burnt. If you heard Jakarta's bombing by fundamental terrorist several years ago, don't worry. Because tonight is a new year. So many fire work will paint the Jakarta's sky. There many spot you can enjoy your new year count down at Jakarta. Ancol, Bundaran HI, Monumen Nasional.   

All people, young old, bring their trumpet, blowing them with happy sound. Hopping for better in 2012 full with health and wealth.

Kawah Putih

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Located at Ciwidey resort, south west of Bandung (West Java Province capital), Kawah Putih is a ruin of eruption oh Patuha mountain a few century ago. Called Kawah Putih (Whiite Crater) because all you have to see is a white panorama because of steam from sulfuric hot water lake.

Easy to reach, from Cikopo Tol Exit (Purbaleunyi tol road) is about 26kms. The road is moderately in good conditiion, but beware of hairpin.
Ciwidey also known of the home of good strawberry. A fruit rich in vitamin C.

Escape to Ujung Genteng Beach

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Ujung Genteng Beach is a series of beaches located about 66 kilometers south of Pelabuhan Ratu regional district.
Attraction:
Fishing at Cibuaya Beach
Walking trough sandy beach of Pangumbahan
Surf at Pangumbahan beach
Sea Turtle conservation at Pangumbahan Beach
Sunset worshiper at Muara Cipanarikan 

Wanna surf? Try Karanghawu Beach

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Karanghawu Beach is located  at Cisolok street about 18 kilometers west of Pelabuhan Ratu district region. Only 20 minutes drive from Pelabuhan ratu or 5 minutes from Cimaja surf spot. The wave is fairly big to swing your surf board. There is a surf course operated by locals.

There is no entrance ticket to enter Karanghawu beach, because you have paid it at entrance portal in Pelabuhan Ratu beach complex (after pass Pelabuhan Ratu Fish Market).

So, why let your surf board dry still?

Tips if you start from Jakarta:

to avoid cruel traffic jam at Caringin (after Ciawi Toll exit) be surely you start very early morning

after pass trough Caringin district, turn left (there's a Goose statue on your right) to alternative road to Sukabumi to avoid traffic jam at Cicurug Market, after pass Cicurug Market turn right at Cibadak T intersection

Museum Nasional

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Located at  12th Medan Merdeka Barat Street Jakarta capital region (west of National Monument -Monas-), maybe the biggest museum in Indonesia.
Collection of prehistoric era, ethnographic, geographic and archeology were fairly complete.

There is a beautiful and detail statue of Ken Dedes, wife of Ken Arok King of Singhasari Kingdom. Some people Ken Dedes was believed as the ancestor of java Kings.

Also enjoy the collection of Gold Crown of Kings all around Indonesia. For example the artistic gold Crown of Klungkung Kingdom, one of former kingdom in Bali.

Tourist guide service:
English Tours : every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30
French Tours : third week Wednesday every month 09.30

Tickets: Rp. 10.000

Office Hour:
Tuesday-Friday 08.00-16.00
Saturday-Sunday 08.00-17.00
Close on Monday and public holiday

Other tourist attraction at / back to Jakarta

Textile Museum

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Located at 2-4th KS Tubun Street, Jakarta Capital Region, the building was built in 19th century, formerly was a villa owned by French citizen. In a need of showing a multicolor of traditional Indonesian textile heritage, the building was inaugurated as Jakarta Textile Museum in June 28th 1976 by Mrs. Tien Soeharto (wife of former President Soeharto).

ATTRACTION:

Collections:

over of 650 batik collections, over of 750 woven, 60 tools.

Workshop:
You can enjoy a short course of batik making.
Library:
Find a series of textile reference.
Natural Dyes Garden:
Find a collection of various plants used to raw material for natural dyes.
Batik Gallery:
Find a number of ancient batik from all around Indonesia.

Office hours:

Tuesday-Sunday 09.00-15.00 WIB (GMT+7)
Closed on every Monday

Tickets:

Rp.2.000

other tourist attraction at / back to Jakarta

Bandung

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Bandung is a capital city of west java province. Since in colonial period Bandung has Paris van java for its name. Because of its beauty and cool fair climate. In 1955 Bandung became the house of Asian African Conference held by Soekarno (first Indonesia president) at Gedung Merdeka Jalan Asia-Afrika. Louis Pasteur a biological scientist had his long year work in Bandung.

Bandung is the home of Sundanese culture. Now Bandung knows as the home for factory outlet, such a shop sell any kind fashion things like jeans, jackets, shoes and hand bags.  But Bandung also offer you hot spring and volcano crater, tea farm on a hills, strawberry farm.

Must see:

1. Cihampelas Jeans center
2. Cibaduyut Shoes center
3. Braga citywalk
4. Geological Museum
5. Sari ater hot spring
6. Tangkuban Parahu volcano crater
7. Boscha observatory
8. Kawah Putih crater
9. Situ Patenggang lake

How to get there:
From Jakarta : Cikampek toll road continued to (turn on Sadang junction) Purbaleunyi Toll Road, exit at Pasteur gate.

Fatahillah Museum

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This two floors building is the former Town Hall of Batavia, was built in 1710. Maybe the oldest building in Jakarta. Located at Jalan Taman Fatahillah No. 1. In front the museum you can find two Portuguese canons with roman inscription Ex Me Ipsa Renata Sum meaning I'm reborn from myself.

Feature :

Old maps from 17th century

Old betawi furniture from 17th century

Jail, Old swords

Old European Porcelain, kitchenware, utensils.

Portrait of Batavia's governor General.

Open : Tuesday-Sunday 09.00-15.00
Close: Monday / Public Holiday
Phone: +6221 6929101

Other tourist attraction at / back to Jakarta

Jakarta

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Although several travel site write "travel warning" on their Jakarta's guide, due on terrorist bombing, let me tell you that Jakarta is still worth to visit. Jakarta is capital city of Indonesia. Spread of unstoppable modernization wave such skyscraper building, mall,  live together with village called kampung.
Batavia was the former name for Jakarta in colonial period. The ruin of colonial period still can be seen today.
Must see:

1. Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands)
2. Monumen Nasional (Monas)
3. Kota Tua (old Town)
4. Museum Fatahillah (Fatahillah Museum)
5. Museum Wayang (Puppet Museum)
6. Museum Bahari (Maritime Museum)
7. Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa (Sunda Kelapa Port)
8. Museum Tekstil (Textile Museum)
9. Museum Nasional / museum gajah
10. Ragunan Zoo
11. Jaksa Street night life

Parangtritis Beach

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Parangtritis beach is located about 26 kilometers south of Yogyakarta. You may enjoy watch the scenery, ride horse pulled chariot or just walk through that sandy beach. Parangtritis is a  combination of rocked cliff and wild wave of Hindia ocean. Be careful if you love to swim.

other tourist attraction at / back to Yogyakarta

Kota Gede Silver Handicraft

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According to Babad Tanah Djawi book (the history of Java Land by W.L. Olthof) Kota Gede was the former capital city  of Mataram Kingdom in 1586 when Panembahan Senopati became first King of its Kingdom. There was royal palace, royal cemetery and royal mosque can be seen until today. But along  the need of bigger palace, the capital was moved to Kartasura.

Now Kota Gede known as the home of silversmith. You can shop any kind of silver ring, bracelet, borobudur miniature, earrings, brooch, or prambanan miniature. Most of Kota Gede's people are silver craftsmen. They gained silver craftsmen skill from their ancestor. Kota Gede located about 6 kilometers southeast from Yogyakarta.

other tourist attraction at / back to Yogyakarta

Prambanan Temple

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Prambanan temple is located at Jalan Jogja-Solo km 16, Desa Prambanan about 17 kilometers northeast from Yogyakarta. It was bult by King Rakai Pikatan and King Rakai Balitung in 10th century. It had 47 meters height and detail relief of Ramayana story, Prambanan is the most beautiful Hindus heritage sites in Indonesia. 

other tourist attraction at / back to Yogyakarta

Ratu Boko Temple

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Ratu Boko Temple is a blend of Buddhist and Hindus architectural. At this period both religion are the biggest believe system in Indonesia. This shrine is built around 8th century by King Rakai Panangkaran (descendant of Syailendra dynasty) .  Its former name is Abhayagiri Vihara mean a peace shrine on a hill. Located on a 196 meters above sea level plateau, south east of Prambanan Temple Complex. Maybe the most architectural attractive palace at its period. 

According to its name, you will feel a peace when you come to its stairs specially when sunset.

Other tourist attraction at / back to Yogyakarta

Borobudur Temple

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Borobudur is a Buddhist temple. Built by Syailendra dynasty between 750-850 AD. Along the decrease of power of its dynasty, Borobudur is forgotten. In 1815, a ruler British Governor, Thomas Stamford Raffles start a project to uncover Borobudur from Merapi volcano dust.

In 1983 the project was finished by Indonesia government and in 1991 Borobudur had a world heritage site status from UNICEF.

If you watch Borobudur you will wonder how the workers build such a giant building and it's 2760 relief detail with available technology at this era. Almost 60.000 cubic meters of stone. How to cut and transport it from river around Borobudur.

Every Wesak Day (Buddhist holiday) in May or June, a festival will be hold in this temple. Borobudur mean Buddhist monastery on the hills is located at Magelang, Central Java Province. One hour drive from Yogyakarta.

  

Other tourist attraction at / back to Yogyakarta.

Malioboro Street

Beringharjo Traditional Market

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Malioboro Street is a main shopping street in Jogja. Malioboro is a Sanskrit word mean a set of flower. Long ago when Sultan's palace had a festival, Malioboro will full of flower.

But now Malioboro is full with handicraft gallery, modern mall, batik gallery and restaurant. You should go to Malioboro at night. You can find a T-shirt with funny picture on it such I love Jogja, Tintin in Jogja, or Andong.
Usually tourist walk a long the road but you can ride an Andong (traditional chariot pulled by Horse) or ride Becak (such a three wheeled bicycle).

If you are a batik lover, try to see Beringharjo traditional market. You can shop till you drop. There are any kind of batik like Parang style, Kawung style, or Lurik. Most of store are sell the merchandise on negotiation price but moderately cheap. Malioboro is not only a street, it's representing Jogja it self. There are famous idiom said : you not go to Jogja yet if you not go to Malioboro.

Other tourist attraction / back to Yogyakarta

Vredeburg Fortress

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Vredeburg fortress mean fort of peace. It was build by Dutch government in 1765 during a colonial time. It has a control towers in each four corners. For spying Sultan's palace at south, a home for Dutch governor when visited Jogja and putting canon gun.

Vredeburg fortress is located at Jalan Maliboro, (now jalan Ahmad Yani) Yogyakarta, infront of Gedung Agung, one of presidential palace of Republic Indonesia.

This museum is one of landmark of Jogja. Every June-August (during school holiday), Jogjakarta art festival which hold once a year is hold too at the fortress. You can find art festival, food bazaar, handicraft market and cultural discussion. 

Office hour:

Tuesday-Thursday 08.00-16.00

Saturday-Sunday 08.00-17.00

Close every Monday.

Back to Yogyakarta.

Puro Pakualaman

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Pakualaman Palace is located at Jalan Sultan Agung, Yogyakarta.

Although smaller than Sultan's palace, but its architecture is still fascinating. Puro Pakualaman is a home of Pakualam king of Pakualaman kingdom. In 1813, Prince Notokusumo (son of Hamengkubuwono I) was crowned by British Kingdom to be Pangeran Adipati Pakualam I. In this period Indonesia was conquered by British government under Thomas Stanford Raffles.

In the main room you will see a set of Gamelan (javanesse pentatonic ensemble).

Entry ticket and guided tour by donation.

Back to Yogyakarta.

Keraton Yogyakarta

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Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, or Keraton was build by Prince Mangkubumi  in 1755. He is the first king of Kesultanan Yogya (Yogya Kingdom) as known as Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. After 1950 Yogya kingdom is part of Indonesia.

You can see the exotic architecture of this palace.

Back to Yogyakarta.

 

Yogyakarta

Tugu statue, a symbol of Jogja

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Yogyakarta or Jogja is capital city of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) Province. Yogyakarta is a place where traditional heritage and modern things were live together in harmony. You can see a temple and palace from the past and enjoy modern cafe at night.
Yogyakarta maybe is the origin of pure java language.  

Must see:

1. Keraton Ngayogyakarta (Sultan's palace)
2. Puro Pakualaman (Paku Alam's palace)
3. Vredeburg Fortress (Benteng Vredeburg)
4. Malioboro Street
5. Prambanan Temple
6. Borobudur Temple
7. Ratu Boko Temple
8. Kota Gede silver handicraft
9. Parang Tritis Beach

Suggested Itinerary :

DAY #1
morning-afternoon       sultan palace, pakualaman palace
evening-night               malioboro street night market
DAY #2
morning-afternoon       parangtritis beach


How To Get There: (from Jakarta)
by train: from Gambir railway station Jakarta to Tugu railway station Yogyakarta.
by airplane : from Sukarno-Hatta airport to Adisucipto airport

Pangandaran Beach

Pangandaran Beach was located at Desa Pananjung, about 2 hours with car south of Banjar  town, West Java. Pangandaran is unique because you can see sunrise and sunset at the same place. 

A must see event in that beautiful beach is:

1. Hajat Laut such a thanksgiving day every Muharam (Islamic calendar)
2. International Kite Festival every June or July 
3. Firework Party every New year.

You can swim, ride jet ski, go around with long tail boat or just walking on the 2 kilometers soft and warm beach sand. There are a lot of hotels, cafes or bicycle rental. Its very nice to see beach just 200 meters from your window. If you love body painting there are a tattoo corners a long the shore. So, why wait too long to pack your bag and fly to Pangandaran.

How to get there:

From Jakarta by bus from Kampung Rambutan bus terminal (Kampung Rambutan-Pangandaran).

Ticket Rp 2.500 per person plus Rp.27.200 per car (valid in 2011).

Thanks for enjoy Indonesia.

Kawah Ratu Crater Tangkuban Perahu

Kawah Ratu (Ratu Crater) is very fascinating. The scenic sight has attracted the soul of Geological Guru Prof Adrian de Neve who taught at Geological Department University of Padjajaran Bandung. He had the last will that the dust of his cremated body be kept at Ratu crater. 

Tangkuban Perahu was born over than 100 million years ago and has been active until now. Because of its geological activities like gases and hot spring  is still appeared until now.

Tangkuban Perahu is a Strato type volcano,  located about 20 kilometers north of Bandung, West Java, has 2.083 meters above sea level altitude. Last eruption in 1983. 

Tangkuban Perahu is habitat of Lutung  such as black monkey (Trachiphitecus auratus), Surili  such a silver monkey (Presbytis comata), Macan Tutul such a big wild cat (Phantera pardus) and Elang Jawa such an eagle (Spezaetus bartelsi).
Also endemic habitat of Puspa (Schima walichii) and jurasic period tree, Pakis purba (Polysitium setiferum). Tangkuban Perahu has more than one crater, the other crater are Domas Crater and Upas Crater. At Domas Crates you can see a troubled hot spring.

Ticket for Tourist (from overseas) is Rp.50.000 per person  plus Rp.15.000 per car (valid in 2011). Open everyday at 07.00 until 17.00 WIB (GMT+7). 
Thanks for enjoy Indonesia.

Other tourist attraction at / around / back to Bandung