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Selasa, 24 Juli 2012

Visit to Sokha Beach at Sihanoukville in Cambodia

Cambodia is one of tourist destinations and most exciting new world. Following more than 25 years of isolation, Cambodia opened to tourists within the early years of the 90s and tourism increases year by year. The best looking holiday destinations of Cambodia is Angkor Wat and the temples of Angkor Siem Reap province, along with appealing places of cultural capital Pnom Penh and Sihanoukville beach with provincial full extent of required services like hotels, restaurants, the entertainment and some other tourist services.
Here are some of the top places for you to travel to when you attend Cambodia:
1. Angkor - Wonders of the famous: Destination of holidaymakers to Cambodia's Angkor is always mysterious. Road from Siem Reap is really close to the temple along with the gorgeous old trees with two sides, most of these plants to embracing the new 6-7 Xue.Nobody language and emotions that can describe their beauty and the wonder of Angkor, unless you come to your location and see it all firsthand. The architects from the 9th century, with the talented craftsmen of this place made a great architectural complicated with 600 projects are scattered in a dense forest region 45 km 2 wide. Attractive and most significant is Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Bayon and Taprom.
• Angkor Thom is the capital city last and longest of the Khmer Empire. Jayavarman VIIwas a built in XII century. A 9 km wide, inside there are quite a few temples from previous times as well as the temples are Jayavarman and his successors built. At the heartof the national temple of Jayavarman, Bayon, with other relics clustered around theVictory Square is situated just north of the temple.
• Bayon Temple make guests really feel they fly and entirely conquered by the beauty and packed with vibrant patterns. The temple is comprised of 50 stone towers. Its core is an architectural style terraces built pagoda with 16 medium with many little towers linked together, the middle is really a gold circular tower, 45 meters high Top of each tower, all four sides are smiling Buddha. The stone reliefs at the Bayon will be the region told them that Sakyamuni and chronicles the lives of Cambodians within the Angkor era.
• Taprom temple is in addition referred to as Queen's Tomb, where the wonderful trees covered much work, creating shapes and fascinating ancient monsters. Here there's a mysterious corridor, go inside it, if your hands softly on the chest beating will hear the beating expectations on powerful through the walls.
• Angkor Wat is the culmination of emotions. The temple faces west, so visitors frequently come to visit it inside the afternoon, when the bright sunshine illuminates both the temple. The temple is way south - 1,400 meters lengthy north and east - west 800 m. All the same, it doesn't get people to feel strange or so acres of space here is really liberal. A broad and deep moat running around the outer, the vast space full of lotus flowers make the mood pleasant Angkor.
2. Banlung will be the provincial capital of Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. This is in addition the district capital of the district Banlung. Town population is 17,000. The town formerly known as Labansiek. This will be the commercial center of the surrounding villages to buy goods is a tiny town in Rattanakiri province located in the mountainous northeastern Cambodia is probably one of the most memorable stop for international travelers. This location famous for its gorgeous majestic waterfalls, villages of ethnic gentle, naive will certainly leave a great impression inside the heart of tourists.
three. Cambodia's Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is really a complicated of buildings where the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia, built over a century ago to cater for accommodation, pursuits of the monarch, the king and family the foreign visitors, this location is also a place where the court setting, the protocol and royal ceremonies. Royal Palace complex comprises of a monument which includes the Silver Pagoda and also the Grand Palace is a combination of several other buildings plus the gardens with numerous flowers you might have many years of age. Grand Palace and Silver Pagoda form an architectural ensemble is a symptom of Cambodia. The job is located facing the river cool location to see is indispensable in this journey to find out the country of Cambodia.
4. Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake or sea is a combination system of rivers and rivers have wonderful importance for Cambodia. This is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia as well as the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. As the terrain particularly hydrological program changed twice a year for the Tonle Sap lake is probably one of the freshwater ecosystem variety and abundance. Silt and nutrients from the lower enrichment Tonle Sap lake should be considerably bigger fish globally. Fishery on the lake to feed 3 million men and women and provided 75% yield with 60% of freshwater fish protein for Cambodians.
five. Cambodia's coastal town of Kep can be a selection of the most effective tourists within the tour last week. Kampot province is located quite close to the city of Kep should facilitate combining a trip last week. Path around the beach in Kep long 5 - 6km. One side of the sea, a twisted round the mountain to the peak rop trees. Kep gently sloping beach, waves gently, blue water. Several pairs of mountain resorts and accommodation right after the beautiful beach of straw, leaves along the sea. The scene was peaceful and gentle. Along the beach road with empty beaches, with many vendors. Beaches often crowded on weekends and fairly crowded on weekdays. The road through Kep, along the coast and round once again. Cars and trucks pay highway fees for traffic on this road. Motorcycles and pedestrians are free. This is a one-way streets and visitors police frequently check Cambodian penalize violators.Wat is Samot Reangsey tourist can't miss a tour of the city of Kep. The pagoda can be found 2km from the city center. This is really a Cambodian temple with appealing architectural functions. There are dual island "rabbit" to the city center about 30 minutes by train. The island has white sand beaches and coconut inside the sea rather, visitors can swim with a snorkel around the rocks. Sea corals, but not a lot of fish. Currently the island has only a straightforward guesthouse.
6. Sihanouk Ville (formerly called Som Kongpong) is a port city in southern Cambodia, the Gulf of Thailand. The city is circled by the beach with the jaggery balls soaring along with the offshore islands with pristine tropical forest dreaming. Sihanoukville looks younger than most other urban centers of this country. Built in the late 1950s to produce a port city Sihanoukville modern, urban nature, and seem far more open than the deep common in urban areas. Now, Sihanoukville like a tourist town than a sea port city. This can be a destination for domestic travelers weekend holiday, and the amount of foreign tourists come here on a bigger well. You can catch the occasional bull strolling across the primary road and also the curious eyes of local men and women. On the beach is the sunlight even a lot more color layers, the thick thatched roof restaurant. Around coastal areas and much more restaurants, bungalows and hotels springing up to welcome guests. Sihanoukville has many resting places, such as a five-star resorts on Sokha Beach, a fashionable location in the center along with the beach, a couple of hotels to upgrade to three star accommodation and many popular particularly on hills Meteorological Station ( a.k.a. the winner). Fresh seafood, particularly crabs, shrimps, fish is invariably about the most appealing of the city. However, there are many places serving food outlets, like the dish of Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, France, India, Germany, Sri Lanka, Britain, Italy, a few pizza shops, a bakery and coffee shop Espresso. Currently, Sihanoukville can be a fairly lively nightlife with bars open late at night, particularly on hills and meteorological station, in the central region along with the beach bar as Ochheuteal, Serendipity, Victory. If you hate noise, you can take a boat to the little island fishing, diving watch coral (snorkel and scuba) or play jet skies, kayaks or rowing can also love the sunset sitting on the beach every afternoon about ...

To find out more information about top 100 cities in the world, visit famouswonders.com and while you are at it, check out famous landmarks in Cambodia .


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Source: http://travelinasia.articlealley.com/visit-to-sokha-beach-at-sihanoukville-in-cambodia-2206560.html



Minggu, 13 Mei 2012

Travel to Bali For Your Next Holiday

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There has to be a reason for Bali being regarded as the Best Island in the World by an international magazine, and it surely has many. Small in size, but huge on attractions, Bali charms endlessly. A place with a natural charm, Bali is home to some of the most exotic pagodas, beaches, lush fields, deep wilds and a lovely tropical climate. As morning chants from pagodas fill the air, Buddhist colors flow and Japanese practices make the day. Bali, a land of many cultures, displays a unique and fascinating culture of its won. A fascinating fusion of some of the most intriguing cultures that live on the face of the earth, Bali has come out with a culture all beautiful in itself.
One simply cannot miss the enchanting sun-kissed beaches in Bali. Golden strips of sands flooded with sunlight are simply the best places on earth to catch on a good time doing nothing. Its tropical climate and ample of sunshine adds to the magic of the natural charm. As one moves the greenery of the rice expanses takes on ones mind. And the deep woods are not simply exciting but also have an aura of mystery around them. A number of pretty volcanoes that dot the island do no less in contributing to the beauty of the landscape.
As the natural beauty of Bali soothes your soul, the land has loads to get your adrenalin pumping. Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben are some of the most exciting Scuba diving spots in Bali. With it ribbons of exotic beaches, Bali is a surfing hot spot too. With paragliding opportunities, gliding over the spectacular beaches can be an absolutely thrilling event. And it's not just about surfing and beaches. Bali is fast growing as a hot destination for other sports as well. It is home to some of the finest golf courses in the world too. Another amazing and less strenuous way of getting thrill is a cycle trek along the lovely country side. Tourists are sure to find many local dealers renting out cycles. Cruising the high seas can also be exhilarating. Get in touch with one of the many local cruise organizing people. They can offer you a good range of cruises to pick from.
The dense jungles of Bali are always a retreat for the nature and wildlife lovers. Deep and dense, these forests are home to large variety of various species. An incredible variety of birds have chosen these jungles as their home, making it a paradise for every avian-watcher. Take an elephant safari to tour the deep woods and explore the natural wealth they possess. The Bird Park in Bali is one of the best spots to go for a bird-spotting adventure. The waters here let you enjoy a good session of dolphin watching. Watching these lovely creatures in their natural habit is always rewarding.
For the weary, Bali is a great place to rejuvenate. It's not just its natural beauty and calm that helps you refresh. Bali is known for its exotic spas and invigorating massages. The traditional Balinese massages are completely natural and can work wonders on you. Extremely therapeutic these sessions can be of great health benefits.
Considered to be the most visitor-friendly island in this part of the world, the sense of hospitality in Bali is worth commending too. It is its culture that gives Bali this trait. This hospitality can very well be seen in the large numbers of hotels that have come up in Bali. Tourists would hardly find it difficult to find a hotel in Bali. The place has a hotel to cater to almost all kinds of needs, preferences and budgets. From the most fabulous resorts and big star hotel brands to economical hotels, Bali has it all. Bungalows and Villas can also be taken up for an all new staying experience.
For more information on Bali Holidays, Indonesia, or other International Holidays please visit our website.
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Rabu, 09 Mei 2012

Exploration And Adventure: Some Fun Travel Ideas


By traveling, you get to see exciting places, while learning about other cultures. It does, however, require an investment of time and money. Here are a few tips you can use in making you vacation both enjoyable and affordable.

Many stores charge too much for these types of products. Instead, try different space folding techniques for efficiently packing clothes. This will help you in your quest to get some more space in your bags.

Don't bring any unnecessary valuables with you. If you bring a lot of valuables with you, you have a greater chance of losing them or having them stolen.

You can ask a hotel if they have any out-of-service rooms if they are already fully booked for the time you wish to stay. These out of service rooms are rooms that require minor maintenance such as repainting the walls or cleaning a stain on the carpet.

If you're planning on making hotel stays, travel candles are something you'll want to bring with you. The candle will make the room smell better and feel more like home. Not only is it romantic, it will relax you and help you to fall asleep. There are many candle options available that are small and the wax is contained to prevent wax from causing damage.

Sleeping pills or tranquilizers can help you through those long red-eye flights. Sleeping on a plane can be difficult due to the uncomfortable seats, the strange atmosphere and the sounds of the aircraft and other passengers. To get through your flight as painless as possible, take a sleeping pill to help ensure you can fall asleep. Don't take any pills until after the plan has taken off. If there is an issue or delay you would be sleeping in the terminal!

If you arrive at your location before your baggage, don't freak out. First, seek out an airport official, and have him or her locate the office for lost luggage. Have your travel documents ready, as there will most likely be paperwork. This process will locate your luggage, and it will be transported to you as soon as possible.

Make sure that every person you travel with, including children, has identification. Be sure your children carry change in case they need to make a phone call from a pay phone. Parents also need to keep a picture of each kid, making note of their height and weight on the back.

If your travels include multiple countries, ensure that your visas are appropriate and up-to-date. You may not be able to travel with the documents you already have, so be prepared to get the visas you need and plan ahead. Check with your travel agent or the embassy for the country you are traveling to in order to be sure you are obtaining the correct documentation.

To enjoy your destination to its fullest, don't forget to factor in the weather. Use the Internet to see what the weather will be for the area you plan to visit. This way, you can prepare for unpleasant surprises and plan alternate activities if the beach is too frigid or the ski slope is sweltering.

Follow these tips and your next vacation should be the relaxing trip you dreamed of. You can prepare for your upcoming trip right away by making your own list.


Travel Advice That You Can Trust
Published May 8th, 2012

Source : ©2010 Flixya Entertainment LLC., All Rights Reserved /Exploration And Adventure: Some Fun Travel Ideas.



Jumat, 28 Oktober 2011

Unique Heritage and culture

Central Java Province, as one of the Indonesia tourist destination areas, offers various kinds of tourist attractions whether natural, cultural, or man made features. Central Java is located exactly in the middle of Java Island. It borders with West Java Province in the western part, while in the eastern part borders with East Java Province. On the part of the southern side lies also the province of Yogyakarta Special Region. Central Java is the island's cultural, geographic, and historic heartland. Universities, dance schools, pottery, handicrafts, textiles and carving, give to the region a rich culture and interesting shopping. This is also the place of the famous Javanese temples of Borobudur. But it is not the only ones to be noted; Dieng plateau and Sukuh temple are worth a visit. Performing arts is still widely practiced, and traditional dance dramas (Wayang Orang) or shadow puppets (Wayang Kulit) performances are easy to find. Mountains cross the entire central portion of the province. The cool slopes contain numerous hill resorts (Tawangmangu, Kaliurang, Sarangan). The very first Moslem kingdom on the island was founded in 1511 at Demak, about 40 km from Semarang. Today Demak is a sleepy little town, however, its glory of the past is still visible from one of the major relics, which is still well preserved. The Grand Mosque, a quaint blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture, still honored and worshipped by Javanese pilgrims. Surakarta, better known as Solo, is the cradle of Javanese culture in the province. TV courts of Solo embody the noble value that the Javanese attach to grace and refinement, with majestic ceremonies and royal festivals still held with great pomp and circumstance. Although no longer the seat of power it once was, descendants of the royal houses of Solo are regarded as leaders of, Javanese culture and traditions, upholding standards of sophistication and conduct. The rich and fertile plains of the region support an enormous population of over 30 million people. The low land plains are found alongside the northern beaches. The high land plains are found in the Center of Central Java with mountains stretching lengthwise from the west to the east with a line of mountains, such as Mount Slamet (3,428 m), Mount Perahu (2,585 m), Mount Sindoro (3,135 m) Mount Sumbing (3,321 m), Mount Merapi (3,142 m), Mount Ungaran (2,050 m). Near the border with East Java Province is Mount Lawu (3,265 m), while on the northern side there is Mount Muria (1,602 m). At the feet of these mountains will find pleasant and cool highland plains with beautiful panoramas such as Baturaden, the Dieng Plateau, Bandungan, Kopeng, Tawangmangu, Solo, etc. Apart from these mountains there are some small mountains and lime mountains. The Biggest Rivers found in the Central Java are Serayu River, with its source from the Dieng Plateau and "Bengawan Solo" River. Geographically Central Java is located between 5o 40' and 8o 30' South Latitude and between 108o 30' and 111o 30' East Longitude. This province is bordered by: North side: Java Sea South side: Indian Ocean and the Special Territory of Yogyakarta West side: West Java Province East side: East Java Province Wide Area The wide area of this province is 34,206 sq. km. Administration A governor as a high rank heads Central Java province; Central Java consists of 35 regencies and municipalities. Bupati (Regent) and municipalities head the regency by Walikota (Mayor). The regencies and municipalities divided into district headed by Camat and district divided into villages headed by Lurah or Kepala Desa. Climate The average temperature of this area is 21o - 32o C with rainy season on October to April and dry season on April to October. Religion The Freedom of embrace religion is fully guaranteed by government. Islam is a greatest number among the five recognized religions (Moslem, Protestant, Catholic, Buddha and Hindu). Language Java language with various dialects is the daily language used by most of Central Java people but Bahasa Indonesia as mother tongue. People The people of Central Java will welcome all of the tourists with hospitable and friendly. The population is about 30.7 million (based on census in 2002) or about 896 persons per square kilometer with living as farmer, trader, and official government. Besides original tribe, some foreign tribes stay here such as Arabic, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani. "Kebaya" is representing traditional clothes wearied by woman. Indonesia-tourism | Destination | Hotel | Restaurant | Travel-agent | Money-changer | Artshop | History | Map Say in Indonesia | Do & Don'ts | Tropical Health | Essential | Fast-fact | Travel Formality | Webmaster | Term of Use Copyright © 20006 www.indonesia-tourism.com. All rights reserved, webdesign by Baligraph Graphic House

Rabu, 26 Oktober 2011

indonesia-tourism.com

DRINI BEACH Drini beach, which lies in Ngestirejo village, Tanjungsari district, is located about 1 km away in the east of Sepanjang Beach. The special character of this beach is the coral island with Drini trees on it. As it is said, poisonous snakes avoid this Drini tree wood. Copyright © 20006 www.indonesia-tourism.com. All rights reserved, webdesign by Baligraph Graphic House

Senin, 24 Oktober 2011

garudamagazine.com

25 Great Tours in Indonesia Java Paragliding Tour Indonesia is truly one of the world’s best sites for budding paragliders. Fly Indonesia Paragliding Tour (www.indonesia-paragliding.com) offers flying packages that are suitable for all pilots at a variety of flying sites across the archipelago. Launch yourself off a Hindu temple or soar over 20 km of coastal ridge before making an exciting landing. You can even take off from a volcanic mountain range and experience breathtaking panoramas before finally setting down on the biggest landing zone in the world, the so-called “Sea of Sand”. In Java, you can fly at Puncak in West Java, at Wonogiri in Central Java and at Mount Bromo and Mount Banyak in East Java. Discover the Real North Sulawesi North Sulawesi has always been popular for its amazing underwater diving havens. However the area offers so much more than that. The North Sulawesi Adventure Tour from Matahatikita Tours (www.matahatikita.com) consists of multi-day, monster tour packages that will take you on enjoyable hikes to tropical forests and volcanic mountains and on river rafting and snorkelling trips, as well as give you the opportunity to spot rare and exotic animals around Mount Tumpa Ilo-Ilo, the Tangkoko Nature Reserve and the Bunaken National Marine Park. Climb Rinjani Climbing Mount Rinjani (3,726 m), which lies on the island of Lombok, is certainly possible, although only a handful ever make it to the peak’s summit. Most stop at the crater rim in fact (approx. 2,700 m), where the views of the crater lake are simply mind-blowing. Making the extra 1,000 m ascent to the very top requires a fairly high level of fitness. Your best bet is to set out together with an organised trek, such as that offered by John’s Adventures (www.lombok-rinjanitrek.com), which runs a 3D/2N trekking package starting from Sembalun and ending in Senaru. Meet the Orangutans What’s a trip to Kalimantan without an up-close and intimate encounter with the island’s beloved, perennially popular king of the swingers, the Bornean orangutan? These adorable, intelligent primates attract countless tourists with their fascinating looks, intelligence and behaviour. Borneo Orangutan Adventure Tours (www.orangutanadventuretours.com) offers between three and six-day tours to observe these remarkable human cousins. Tours include trips to Camp Leakey, where the older orangutans are reintroduced into the rainforest, treks through the rainforest in search of other wildlife and treks to Pondok Tanggui, a second rehabilitation site. Frolic in Wakatobi’s Underwater Park Wakatobi is well-known among divers as one of the world’s best dive sites. And so no trip to Wakatobi is complete without a decent dive, or a snorkelling session at the very least. By far the best and most popular dive facility-cum-resort here is the Wakatobi Dive Resort (www.wakatobi.com), which offers seven-day packages which include accommodation, unlimited beach diving, three boat dives per day and all meals. The resort also offers an even more exotic liveaboard stay on its luxury dive yacht, the Pelagian. Tana Toraja Expedition The famed Tana Toraja, often dubbed the “Land of Heavenly Kings”, is replete with rugged mountains and verdant valleys which house a people whose love of religious spectacle is equalled only by their hospitality. With majestic panoramas, captivating villages and dramatic ceremonies, Tana Toraja is the undisputed highlight of any journey to Sulawesi. Adventure Indonesia (www.adventureindonesia.com) offers a four, five or six-day Toraja & Bugis Cultural Tour. The six-day tour is the most immersive and will allow you to spend over three days in the Land of the Toraja, observing its ancient inheritance, cultural performances and daily life. The tour starts and ends in Jakarta. Re-discover Bali in “The Thing” If you’re a hardcore Baliphile, then you may think you’ve seen everything that the island has to offer. Well, try this on for size. How about exploring Bali in a classic VW 181 convertible (or “The Thing”)? Bali Safari Tours (www.balisafaritours.com) offers a four-day VW tour that will take you to just about every site of interest in Bali. You will pay a visit to Lake Batur, drive along the Jatiluwih's rice terraces, stop by at coffee plantations, sail out to watch dolphins off the coast of North Bali and take a hike through the jungles. Birdwatching in Lore Lindu The Lore Rindu National Park is a habitat for numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi. Sulawesi Tour (sulawesitour.com) offers a seven-day, bird-watching tour of this UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves designated national park, which will give you the opportunity to spot rare maleo, red-knobbed hornbills, anoa and tarsier. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megaliths dating from before 1300 AD. Java-Bali Volcano Adventure Ever wonder what makes a volcano tick? Well why not embark on an educational adventure exploring volcanoes sprawled across Java all the way to Bali with Volcano Adventure Indonesia (VAI, www.volcanoadventureindonesia.com). From Anak Krakatau, Papandayan and Galunggung to Merapi, Welirang, Arjuno, Semeru, Bromo, Kawah Ijen and Mount Batur, there’s no shortage of volcanic vistas to check out. The tour also offers you the chance to observe and directly interact with locals at each particular site, and did we mention that you’ll be trekking through Java all the way to Bali? That’s right, you’d better book that month-long holiday, because this tour will take you a whole 23 days to complete. Cruise the Mahakam River Embark on an unforgettable tour cruising down Borneo’s mighty Mahakam, the largest river in East Kalimantan. Along the way you’ll get to see how communities live and how life flourishes on this revered, life-giving river. Eco Tours Indonesia (www.ecotoursindonesia.com) offers several Mahakam River Tours, all of which will take you on a journey deep into the heart of Borneo, through Muara Muntai to Lake Jempang and Mancong Village. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a special welcome ceremony from the Dayak Benuaq tribe in front of one of their unique long houses and, depending on the length of your tour, the trip can extend all the way to Tenggarong, Loa Janan and then on to a victorious finish in the city of Balikpapan. Cave Tubing at Pindul Cave This unassuming cave, located about two hours from downtown Yogyakarta, promises a unique and quite unforgettable adventure: cave tubing. As its name suggests, you’ll be floating on an inflated rubber tube down a peaceful underground cave river. To ensure perfect levels of safety, you’ll be equipped with a floating device, rubber safety shoes, a helmet and a headlamp, as well as the company of a qualified instructor who will ride alongside you, making this tour suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Please email dewabejo@hotmail.com to make a reservation. Pekalen River Whitewater Rafting Regulo Arus Liar (www.reguloadventure.co.id) has been offering whitewater rafting tours since 2002, and likes to refer to its tours as “outdoor learning” or “one-stop adventure”. The various tour packages on offer explore the beauty of the Pekalen River in East Java and include Adventure Rafting, Fun Rafting, Eco Rafting, Oto Rafting, Moonlight Rafting and Camping Rafting. Each of these tours promises adventure aplenty and other outbound, adventure activities are also offered by this operator. Jungle Trekking from Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang Covering an area of some 17,000 hectares, Tangkahan in North Sumatra is perennially popular with visitors eager to experience its elephants, orangutans and tropical-rainforest panoramas. The Tangkahan Tourism Foundation (www.tangkahanecotourism.com) is the main tourism arm of the Tangkahan area and offers various attractive tour packages, including two-day jungle treks through the Mount Leuser National Park by elephant, accompanied by mahout (elephant trainers). There’s also a more extensive 4D/3N jungle patrol from Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang, also on elephant back. Jeep Safari in West Java Bimex Tours and Travel (www.bimextours.com) will take you on an off-road adventure in 4WD jeeps that will reveal some lesser-known natural gems to the north and south of Bandung in West Java. These hidden attractions remain well below the radars of most casual tourists, and many of these objects are hidden atop pristine hills and can only be reached via an off-road vehicle. Some examples of these secret attractions are the pottery workshop in Plered, the Jatiluhur Dam, Garut, Mount Papandayan, Ciwidey, the Rancabali tea plantation, the Situ Patenggang area and the famous white crater of Mount Patuha. Laskar Pelangi Tour in Belitung Belitung Island Tour Operator (www.belitungisland.com) offers various attractive packages that show off the pristine beauty of Belitung to tourists. One of the more interesting packages on offer is the Laskar Pelangi Tour, a unique tour that traces the footsteps of the characters from the wildly popular “Laskar Pelangi” (“Rainbow Troops”), a popular novel and Indonesia’s biggest box-office smash of all time. As well as exploring the island and its beautiful beaches, the tour will also take you snorkelling, kayaking and cycling, and even offer you a short culinary tour. Mentawai Siberut Island Trekking Adventure Indonesia (www.adventureindonesia.com) offers exotic tours to some of the remotest areas in Indonesia, including jungle exploration to the wild heart of Siberut Island, which lies off the coast of West Sumatra. The real highlight of the journey is the chance to meet the native of Siberut, traditional hunter-gatherer clans who are now coming into contact with the modern world for the first time. You will stay as guests of a local kerei (medicine-man) in an uma (traditional house). Track Down the World’s Smallest Primate The 9,000-hectare Tangkoko Nature Reserve is home to the last surviving crested black macaque (a species of black monkey indigenous to North Sulawesi), as well as the world’s smallest primate, the spectral tarsier. Manado Safari Tours (www.manadosafaris.com) offer one or two-day safari tours through the national park and the chance to see these adorable yet elusive creatures. Canyoning in Flores Canyoning is a fun outdoor adventure involving descent into a canyon by means of caving, walking, wading, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, sliding down natural slopes, and even swimming in whitewater. Adventure and Spirit (www.adventureandspirit.com) explores and puts up new canyoning routes in Indonesia for tourists to experience, including in Flores, where a collaboration with Swisscontact WISATA (www.florestourism.com) aims to develop canyoning, while keeping its natural wealth safe and its local economy protected. Dive at Indonesia’s Kilometre Zero Pulau Weh (Weh Island), is Indonesia’s most north-western island and offers truly world-class diving, clear waters and impressive underwater landscapes. Here, where the Andaman Sea meets the Indian Ocean, the deep waters and currents around the island sustain an unbelievable amount and variety of marine life, ranging from tiny critters to grand pelagics. One of the tour operators that provides diving package in this area is the Lumba-Lumba Diving Centre (www.lumbalumba.com). Banda Sea and Halmahera Cruise The Seven Seas (www.thesevenseas.net) is a traditional Bugis ship equipped with eight large rooms and bathrooms, and has been operating for over ten years as a highly-regarded liveaboard option. One of its best tour packages explores the Banda Islands, which are known as spectacular snorkelling and diving havens. The Banda Sea supports one of the world’s richest collections of coral life, and numerous idyllic islands, both large and small, are scattered around this part of the world, including Buru, Halmahera, Ambon, Seram, Kei and many, many more. Carstensz Pyramid Expedition The Carstensz Pyramid, which rises an eye-watering 4,884 metres above sea level, is one of the so-called “seven summits” (the highest mountains of the seven continents). Initially, expeditions to this primeval ice-region required an astoundingly complex procedure of permission from the local government and this has, alas, continued until the present. With the help of Dr. Werner Weiglein (www.papua-explorer.de) though, co-founder of the Baliem Valley Resort in Wamena, you can rest assured that you won’t have to worry about the bureaucratic headaches. Birdwatching in East Nusa Tenggara The Jakarta-based Indecon (www.indecon.or.id) offers ecotour packages to East Nusa Tenggara, an exotic region which features some of Indonesia’s best bird diversity. Birds endemic to Lewa and Sumba include the apricot-breasted sunbird, the Sumba jungle flycatcher, the cinnamon-banded kingfisher, the endangered Sumba hornbill and some spectacular parrot species, such as the marigold lorikeet and the red-cheeked, great billed and eclectus parrots. Whale Shark Encounter in Teluk Cendrawasih Have a burning desire to see whale sharks up close and personal one day? Simply head down to Teluk Cendrawasih National Park in West Papua, where over 50 whale sharks swim freely the year round in the Kwatisore. Office of Balai Besar Taman Nasional Teluk Cenderawasih (62 986 212 303) or Bram Maruanaya (62 812 489 1651). Wildlife Adventure in Kalimantan Kalimantan’s many national parks and reserves provide excellent opportunities to spot endemic wildlife, and many of the species to be found here are endangered. Primates such as the orangutan, Mueller’s Bornean grey gibbon, the pig-tailed macaque and the slow loris are just some of the species you’ll experience under the thick canopies of Kalimantan’s rainforests. One of the tour operators offering the chance to explore the island’s rich interior is X-Treme Borneo (www.extremeborneo.com). Liveaboard Trip to Komodo An alternative way to relish and experience the mystique of Komodo Island is by admiring it from aboard a traditional phinisi boat. The Felicia (www.felicia-liveaboard.com) is a pinisi boat that was custom designed for such a purpose, and this 30-metre long floating hotel was manufactured in Tanjung Bira in South Sulawesi. The boat houses six bedrooms which come complete with their own bathrooms. One of the most popular packages offered on the Felicia involves an exploration of Komodo Island and a number of top diving spots en route. © 2006 - 2010 Garuda Magazine, All Rights Reserved - Site by Indesain Studios

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the setting Overlooking sparkling white sands and calm water, Tao Benoa features great views and a healthy dose of Thai culture. The walls and ceiling are decked in red and gold and made us feel like Anna walking into the King’s palace. There was plenty of sunlight shining through the French windows, but if you want to really soak up the sun, then Tao’s outdoor area is quite lovely and is gently caressed by cool ocean breezes. grazing tao benoa the food If your palate craves South-East Asian fare, then it will be well satisfied here. We started our festive lunch with some thod man kung, a fried and dried minced prawn cake which was crunchy on the outside and succulent inside. The real deal came when some classically tangy tom yam kung and Penang green curry were served. The two dishes were rich in both colour and flavour. The fresh king river prawns in the tom yam kissed the lemongrass broth, kaffir leaves and chilli, while the creamy coconut milk drizzled on top of the Penang green curry balanced the excitement of the spices perfectly.Our pla tord Kariam prikthai was certainly not as tricky to eat as it was to order. The stir-fried grouper was lightly sautéed in fresh garlic and black pepper and was delightfully spiced and a real treat. Our sensational seafood was complemented by a traditional green-mango salad known as yam mamung, which added a deliciously sour freshness to the proceedings. All were served with white or red rice. the unique Tao Benoa offered us some real acculturation! It specialises in Thai food, however the influence of various nations can be detected in its vast menu. East meets West here as authentic spices are blended and fused into a culinary cornucopia that really tingles the old taste buds. Milder dishes are available but it’s the piquant dishes that are the real deal here. Tao Benoa, Jl. Pratama no. 96, Tanjung Benoa, T: 0361 772 902 © 2010 Hello Bali Magazine, All Rights Reserved. Indo Multi Media