Come and Visit Kasa Island, West Seram, Maluku Province.

Kasa Island is one of the maritime tourist attractions located in the district of West Seram, Maluku Province. The island area is around 53 ha with ocean Nature Park of 1100 ha and the vast plains of around 900 Ha. This island lies between Ambon island and Seram island and about 55 km from Tulehu port in the district of Salahatu, Maluku Tengah Regency.

Kasa island besides having beautiful natural scenery, it also have marine resources which are so great with diverse coral reefs. Various shades of sea life with fish, corals diverse shapes and sizes can be found here.In addition, the island also has some potential of Kasa flora and fauna. Some of the potential flora Kasa is Anggrek Bulan Island Ambon, Sea Pine, Sea Waru, Bintanggor, Sea Pandan and Beringin Beach. While the potential of fauna is a bird habitat Camar, Shorebirds, and megapode (Maleo).

The island has white sand with a beautiful underwater scenery and natural very suitable for a break from the hustle and the bustle of modern life. For water sport enthusiasts, you can swim and dive accompanied by a fish while enjoying the coral reefs and other marine life.

This island can be accessed approximately one hour 30 minutes from the Capital City of Piru-West Seram using sea transport in the form of a speedboat. In addition, you can also reach through another route about two hours from Natsepa beach. Browse Pulau Kasa https://youtu.be/HIj18vbvbss to know more Kasa Island

Visit "Old City" of Jakarta : Toko Merah

Toko Merah, a legacy of the Dutch colonisation.

Toko Merah or "red store" is a legacy of the Dutch colonial building located on the west bank of Kali Besar, Jakarta Old Town. Built in 1730 and is one of the oldest buildings in Jakarta. The building was once the residence of Governor General van Imhoff (1705-1751).  

Toko Merah building located at Jl. Kali Besar No. 11, West Jakarta. From a business standpoint, Toko Merah precisely located on the west bank of Kali Besar (de Groote River), as the "central business district" her Batavia. At that time the Ciliwung River is the lifeblood of the busy water traffic up to the inland navigable. Kali Besar neighborhood itself is one of the elite residential area in the city of Old Batavia.

In its history, the function and ownership of the two-floored building changed over time. it was used as the campus and dormitory of Academie de Marine (Naval Academy), office, even Heerenlogement  or hotel for government officials. The name of "Toko Merah" was inscripted into the luxurious building when used as  a store owned by a chiness businessmen, Oey Liauw Kong since the middle of 19 centuries. 

Source: Kompas, Friday, January 8, 2016.

Visit Tambora Challenge 2016 in West Nusa Tenggara.

Kompas Tambora Challenge 2016 (@hariankompas)

After the success of last year, the event of Tambora Challenge 2016 will be held again this year. The event is part of Wonderful Tambora Festival taking place over five days, from 11 to 16 April 2016. Wonderful Tambora Festival will be centered in Doro Ncanga, the foot of Mount Tambora with a series of event featuring various arts and cultural performance of West Nusa Tenggara.

Tambora Challenge 2016 consists of several activities. In the run activities, there is an Ultra Run or Ultra Marathon divided into two categories, namely 320 kilometers and 100 kilometers. Running category of the 320-kilometer distance is the longest and heaviest event in Southeast Asia.

Last year, only eight participants enrolled in the Ultra Marathon and two runners reached the finish point. Alan Maulana, runner from Bandung, West Java, managed to finish the race Ultra Marathon Trans-Sumbawa in the first position. He arrived at finish line in Doro ncanga, Dompu, NTB, with a time of 62.8 hours. President Jokowi who arrived in the location pinned medals and prizes for Alan.

For 2016, the 320-kilometer category, the runners will take the same route ie from Pototano, the western end of the island of Sumbawa, and will end at Doro Ncanga. While those who take part in the category of 100 kilometers will start in Lombok. There is also a category Relay 100 and 50 K.

Tambora Bike Camp

After successful with a number of Bike Tour around islands in the country, Leading Newspaper, in 2016, Kompas will challenge bikers to join Tambora Bike Camp across Sumbawa Island with different concept namely self support. 

This bike camping concept requires bikers to bring along his necessities. there will be no supporting vehicles to transport all equipment including personal belongings 

Bikers will start from Taliwang, West Sumbawa, to Sumbawa Besar, Pulau Moyo, and finish in Doro Ncangan, the foot of Mount Tambora, Dompu. Participants will take a route full of beautiful view of beaches and stay over night in Desa Luk, Kecamatan Rhee, after cycling 80 kilometers from starting point in Taliwang.

Next day, after 30 kilometers bikers will across from Badas port to Moyo Island dan stay over night in this beautiful island. The third day, participants will go across to Calabai Port and directly to Doro Ncanga, around 30 kilometers in distance.

Source: www.tamborachallenge.com

Experience The Best Ever Solar Eclipse 2016 in Palembang, South Sumatera.

 City and Time of Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia (@hariankompas)

The total solar eclipse will take place on March 9, 2016, and can be seen from 11 provinces in Indonesia including South Sumatra. It is not only an attraction for Indonesia itself, but also for foreign tourists to come and witness the total solar eclipse in Indonesia. 

The eclipse can be seen from the province of West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.

The best location of viewing in South Sumatra is Palembang. The capital city of South Sumatera will be covered by sun eclipse for over 1 minute 51 second. The  eclipse will start at around 07:20:50 and end at 07:22:51 WIB (Western Indonesian Time); the maximum eclipse will be at 07:21:45.

The total solar eclipse in Palembang take five stages as follows :

1. Partial eclipse begins (first contact): The Moon's shadow starts becoming visible over the Sun's disc. In Palembang, the first contact will take place at 06:20:30 WIB;
2. Total eclipse begins (second contact at 07:20:50 WIB): Almost the entire disc of the Sun is covered by the Moon;
3. Maximum eclipse or totality: at approximately 07:21:45 the Moon will completely covers the disc of the Sun;
4. Total eclipse ends (third contact): The Moon's shadow starts moving away and the Sun reappears at 07:22:51 WIB;
5. Partial eclipse ends (fourth contact): The Moon stops overlapping the Sun's disc. The eclipse ends at 08:31:28 WIB. (www.timeanddate.com)

In 1988, the eclipse hit the peak at 07.29. The crowd, locals as well foreign tourists, gathered along the Ampera bridge to witness the nature but rare moment. as oppose to the crowd, astronomers chose Kenten Golf Course.

Ampera Bridge in the night, a viewing spot of sun eclipse in 1988.

So, it could be the best time for you to visit Palembang, including South Sumatra. Don't forget while you are there, special cuisine of Palembang Malay is waiting to enjoy. 

Source: taken from a number of sources 

Tourist Destination With Arabic Taste in West Java : Puncak.

Puncak is a mountain area in West Java. It is among well-known tourist destinations in West Java. Puncak means "peak"; indeed, it lies along highlands stretching from Bogor regency to the Cianjur regency. 

Green and Hilly Landscape of Puncak (Wikipedia.com)

Puncak is on the foot and slopes of the Gede-Pangrango Mount and is at an average altitude of 700-1800 m above sea level with the air temperature reaching an average of 14-18 degrees Celsius.The highland, being cooler than Jakarta, has already been popular resort area for the inhabitants of Jakarta who is looking for cooler air.

Puncak Pass is the most popular spot in Puncak Area. Being the highest point, at around 1500 meter above MSL, making it a "must spot" to have a break along the passage from Bogor city to Cianjur city.  Other interesting spots to visit in Puncak Area are:

• Kota Bunga, Cianjur;
• Taman Safari;
• Bogor Botanical Garden;
• National Park Gunung Pangrango;
• President Palace, Cipanas;
• Restaurant Rindu Alam;
• Tea Plantation Gunung Mas;
• Atta'awun Mosque;
• Taman Wisata matahari;
• Melrimba Garden;
• Telaga Warna;
• Riung Gunung Restaurant;
• Citamiang Camping Ground;
• Hand-gliding and Paragliding Station around Atta'awun Mosque;

The attractions of cool temperature, green and hilly area, along with friendly people has made Puncak among the favorite destination for domestic and international visitors, including visitors from Arab countries. Among Arabic tourists, Puncak is known as Jabal al Akhdar ( Green Mountain). According statistics, around 90 per cent of Arabic tourist, between 1000 to 1500 monthly visiting Puncak, comes from Saudi Arabia (Kompas, Wednesday, 13 January 2016). Other Arabic tourists comes from UEA, Kuwait, Bharain, Qatar, Yemen and other North African Countries like Egypt, Aljazair, Tunisia, and Marrocco.

The popularity of Puncak as among middle east visitors has gradually made the area  Arabic-friendly tourist destination in the past ten years. Puncak has, partly, turned into Arabic village like in Warung Kaleng, Cisarua, Bogor. In Sampay Kampong, Tugu Utara Village, Cisarua nearly all commercial building such as salon, restaurants, groceries, money changers, travel agents spa and massage facilities are signed with Arabic words. 

Arabic visitors will also find a three-level restaurant, Zahra Al Jazeerah, in Kota Bunga, Pacet,Cianjur. The restaurant is the biggest middle east restaurant in Puncak area. Besides, as moslem Arabic tourists can go to Al Qona'ah Mosque in Warung Kaleng to have Friday prayers where the preaching is delivered in Arabic.

Source: Kompas, Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

The Most Favorite Place in Bali, Padang Padang Beach.

Padang Padang beach is a tourist spot in Bali. It is very charming and attractive to visit, its beach is not less beautiful than other beaches in Bali. Padang Padang beach scenery is very beautiful with clear water blue-green. Soft white sand and the quiet sound of the waves makes this very suitable for your holiday.

Padang Padang beach is one of the most famous surfing beaches in Bali, located in the village of Ungasan on the same stretch as the famous beach known as Uluwatu peninsula. Stunning white sand beach is only 100 meters long from north to south and is located at the bottom of a large rock cliffs.

From the cliff you can watch the waves roll in from the bright blue Indian Ocean - sunset here is spectacular which makes it a very popular place for tourists

You can enjoy to surf the beach is, but sometimes the waves can be very high and challenging, this beach is a beach famous among tourists and locals, it tends to be quite busy so at peak times it is best to just try to surf if you super confident. The best time of year to surf in the area definitely dry season, because this is when the best waves occur.

The right time to visit this beach is for no Rip Curl Cup, an invitational surfing competition that is interesting enough international crowd to spectate and compete. It began in late July / early August depending on the size of the swell and the general weather and the opening and closing parties are a lot of fun.

Source : http://www.inbali.org/place/padang_padang_beach/

Visit the Asian African Conference 1955 City, Bandung, West Java.

Museum of the Asian African Conference.

Bandung City is well known as " a must destination" among domestic tourists, particularly to those who come from Jakarta. Every weekend, Bandung City is packed with visitors to enjoy cool weather as well as man-made attractions in and around Bandung. From 19 to 24th April, 2015 the government of Indonesia commemorated the Asian African Conference in 1955 in Jakarta and the peak in Bandung. The improvements along Jalan Asia Afrika make it more like " the Europe".
Here is a list of attractions to visit :

Gedung Sate in the dark.

Gedung Sate Bandung

Located at Jl Diponegoro Bandung and had stood on since July 27, 1920. The building is named after Gedung Satay for at top the roof was made to look like a stick of satay and at the beginning of the construction of the building is called  "Gouvernements Bedrijven" which was set up to be one of the central government of the Netherlands, because the Dutch government that already sets the Bandung serve as the capital of the Dutch Colonial.

Braga Street

Jalan Braga

So if you want to feel the historical attractions in Bandung, just visit Jalan Braga.Actually many places in Bandung do have a high historical value. When we travel to Bandung, sometimes we can see many buildings with typical Dutch colonial architecture including in Jalan Braga.Currently Jalan Braga is one of the famous attractions and become the icon of Bandung. Here, you can find a building called Gedung Landmark Braga. it is used to be a bookstore, named Van Dorp. The Bookstore was established a long time, even after Indonesia's independence, ie from about 1922 to 1960.

Saung Angklung Mang Ujo

This is a place for the show, and also a center of handicrafts made of bamboo, as well as workshops of various musical instruments from bamboo. Additionally, Saung Angklung Udjo also has a goal to become an educational laboratory and also a center for learning preserve Sundanese culture, in particular is Angklung. 

Kawah Putih Ciwidey Bandung

It is a tourist place in Bandung which are already popular and become a tourist destination of a lot of visitors. White crater is a tourist attraction with the natural beauty category has its own charm so as to attract a lot of tourists to visit Bandung travel to this one.

Tangkuban Perahu
Still in the category of natural attractions in Bandung, Tangkuban Perahu is very famous all because his legend. I'm sure many have heard or read about this mountain. Additionally Tangkuban Perahu also become one of the favorite tourist attractions in Bandung and much in demand by tourists.

Strawberry Gardens
In place of Bandung tour this one you can directly pick strawberries with your own hands that are available on the estate. While picking strawberries, you can see the beautiful scenery around in Lembang, South Bandung as well as natural paddies, tea gardens and mountains. Fresh air is a common feature of the area south of Bandung and will accompany you during the visit.

Here are attractions you can visit in Central Bandung :

1. Alun-alun (Bandung Square) and Mosque Agung - Jl. Asia Afrika
2. Bandung Tempo Doeloe ( Bandung Oldies) - Jl. Braga
3. Gedung Sate Bandung - ( the office of governor)
4. Bandung Zoo- Jl. Tamansari
5. Lapangan Gasebu (Gabungan Sepakbola Bandung Utara- Football Association of North Bandung)
6. Monumen Perjuangan Rakyat Jawa Barat - Jl. Dipatiukur
7. Monumen Hussein Sastranegara - Jl. Pajajaran
8. Monumen Bandung Lautan Api - Jl. M. Toha
9. Geology Muzeum- Jl Diponegoro
10. Asian African Conference Muzeum - Jl. Asia Afrika
11. Museum Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi - Jl. Lembong
12. Indonesian Post Muzeum- Jl. Cisanggarung
13. Sri Baduga Muzeum - Jl. Lingkar Selatan
14. Jean Shopping Center along Jl. Cihampelas
15. Shopping Center of Pasar Baru - Jl. Otto
16. Shopping Center of  Kings Plaza - Jl. Kepatihan
17. Shoes and Bag Shopping Center in Cibaduyut - Jl. Cibaduyut
18. Factory Outlets along Jalan Riau and Jalan Dago
19. Taman Tegalega - Astana Anyar
20. Taman Makam Pahlawan - Cikutra Bandung
21. Taman Lansia - Jl. Cisangkuy
22. Taman Kota Bandung - Jl. Merdeka
23. Taman Ade Irma Suryani Nasution (Taman Lalu Lintas) - Jl. Sumatera
24. Bandung Institute of technology (ITB) and Taman Ganesha - Jln Ganesha
25. Taman Kantor Pemerintah Kota Bandung

In Southern Bandung :

1. Camping Ground Ranca Upas - Ciwidey
2. Ciwidey and Alam Bandung Selatan
3. Kamojang Creater- Paseh Jawa Barat
4. White Creater Gunung Patuha - Ciwidey
5. Hot Water Pool Cimanggu
6. Trekking Road to Kawah Putih
7. Hot Spring Water Walini - Ciwidey
8. Deer Captive Ranca Upas - Ciwidey
9. Tea Plantation Rancabali - Ciwidey
10. Tea Plantation Gambung - Ciwidey
11. Vegetable Plantation - Pangalengan
12. Lake Cipanunjang - Pangalengan
13. Lake Cileunca - Pangalengan
14. Soreang main road Bandung - Ciwidey
15. Lake Patengan - Ciwidey
16. Strawbery Picking - Ciwidey
17. Center of skin craftment Cibaduyut

  In Northern Bandung Utara :

1. Panorama of alternative road Lembang to Dago
2. Fishing Arena Bonita - Lembang
3. Camping Ground - Cikole
4. Water fall Cimahi - Cisarua
5. Water fall Dago - Dago
6. Water fall Omas - Taman Wisata Maribaya
7. Creater Ratu - Gunung Tangkuban Parahu
8. Creater Upas - Gunung Tangkuban Parahu
9. Creater Domas - Gunung Tangkuban Parahu
10. Strawbery Plantation Parongpong
11. Monumen Pasir Pahlawan Otto Iskandar Dinata - Lembang
12. Tea Plantation Subang - Jawa Barat
13. Hot Spring Water Ciater
14. Lake Lembang - Lembang
15. Spirit Camp & Sahabat Alam - Jl. Sersan Bajuri
16. Taman Budaya Dago - Dago
17. Flower garden Parongpong
18. Forest garden Jaya Giri - Lembang
19. Taman Hutan Dago Pakar dan Gua Belanda/Jepang
20. Taman Bunga Cihideung - Jl. Sersan Bajuri
21. Star observatory Bosscha - Lembang
22. Vila Istana Bunga - Cihideung Lembang
23. Tour of Lembang - Bandung
24. Kampung Gajah - Bandung Utara
25. Floating Market Lembang - Bandung Utara
26. Milk Tofu Lembang - Bandung Utara
27. Kampung Daun dan Sapu Lidi - Bandung Utara
28. Dusun Bambu - Bandung Utara

  In Eastern Bandung :

1. Caringin Tilu - Pegunungan Manglayang
2. Water fall Cinulang / Sindulang - Cicalengka
3. Oray Tapa - Pegunungan Manglayang
4. Padepokan Dayang Sumbi (Budidaya Ulat Sutera) - Arcamanik
5. Saung Angklung Mang Udjo - Padasuka
6. Situs Kerajaan Kendan - Nagrek
7. Situs Legenda Ciung Wanara - Karangkamulyan
8. Warung Bandrek "Warban" Sekejolang - Ciburial

In Western Bandung :

1. Paddy field Padalarang - Cianjur
2. Rafting route - Citarum
3. Cave Pawon - Jawa Barat
4. Cave Sang Hyang Tikoro - Jawa Barat
5. Strawberry Field Cihideung - Lembang Bandung
6. Lembah Cimeta Citarum Purba - Padalarang
7. Leuwi Opat Curug Tilu - Desa Cihanjuang Rahayu Parongpong
8. Monumen Taman R.A. Kartini - Baros Cimahi
9. Puspa Iptek Kota Baru Parahyangan - Padalarang
10. Carst/Kapur Citatah - Padalarang
11. Hotspring water Cipanas - Jawa Barat
12. Megaliticum site Gunung Padang (terbesar se-Asia Tenggara)
13. Taman Bunga Cihideung - Bandung Barat
14. Reservoir Ciburuy - Padalarang
15. Reservoir Saguling - Jawa Barat

 Source : http://www.ragamtempatwisata.com