The Magnificent Borobudur Temple - CENTRAL JAVA

I have visited this magnificent temple for many times. The first one is when I was in elementary school, joining the school tour program. I have also taken my children to visit this invaluable heritage for many times, and they were always excited and amazed.  

Borobudur is the most famous Buddhist stupa and temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia dating from the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty.  It is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site since 1991. This is one of world's truly great ancient monuments, the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on earth, and everyone who visits it will be amazed by its scale of location and details of the construction. Set as it is in the heart of the verdant Kedu Plain, the backdrop of mighty active volcanoes only enhances the sense of perfection.

This awe inspiring monument is truly a marvel. After a visit here you will understand why Borobudur is Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and a famous icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
Sitting on a hilltop, it covers an massive area, of 123 x 123 meters measuring. The monument is a fantastic design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking stone blocks held together without any glue. Imagine the genius architect namely Gunadarma and the huge works to build this masterpiece 1200 years ago, probably with thousands workers and thousands workdays.

As well as being the single most popular tourist attraction in modern day Indonesia, Borobudur has resumed its role as an important place of worship and pilgrimage for Indonesian Buddhists. Visitors should be understanding and respectful of this, especially during major Buddhist holiday periods, such as Vesak holiday.

How to get there

Take a flight, bus or train from Jakarta or other cities of Indonesia to Yogyakarta,  and drive a car or take a bus to Borobudur. It is only about one hour’s drive from Yogyakarta. I recommend you to get there by joining a tour or renting a car. You can find a lot of tour agency in Yogya.
Entering the temple complex is easy and most visitors choose to wander around on foot.

What to eat

Jogjakarta is the best place to go to taste some delicious local specialties. Gudeg is one of them. Don’t miss to try it, remember “gudeg” ok? J

Where to stay

As Borobudur is only a one hour drive from Jogjakarta, many visitors choose to stay in Jogja where there are a wide variety of hotels, from a simple bed & breakfast to 5 starred hotels. You can then conveniently resume your tour to Yogyakarta’s tourist attractions such as Malioboro, Yogyakarta Palace, Prampanan Temple, Parangtritis beach and Depok Beach.  
Another choice, there are hotels perched in the nearby beautiful highlands of Magelang. Magelang hotels are approximately 20 km miles north of the Borobudur Temple.

Tips

·         During a full moon in May, the Vesak (Waisak) festival attracts many pilgrims and visitors. This is a Buddhist festival celebrating the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha. If you’re interested in cultural festivals, this is an ideal time to visit Borobudur.

·         Dress respectfully in light and comfortable clothes.

·         Hire a licensed tour guide to get better explanation about the temple

·         Use a hat or umbrella to protect you from scorching heat of the sun, especially in dry season.

Additional source: www.indonesia.travel

MEET RHINO AT UJUNG KULON - BANTEN WESTERN JAVA

Want to meet Rhino? Come to Ujungkulon, Banten, Western Java and take a chance to play with him…hehe (I am kidding)

Ujung Kulon (means : Western Tip) is located at the westernmost tip of Java Island, within Banten province of Indonesia.

The Ujung Kulon National Park is the triangular peninsula situated at the south western-most tip of Java. It includes the volcanic island group of Krakatau and other islands including Panaitan, as well as smaller offshore islets such as Handeuleum and Peucang on the Sunda Strait.

Ujung Kulon is Indonesia’s first and prime National Park, which was designated as a nature reserve since 1921.  This is the largest remaining lowland tropical rainforest ecosystem in West Java. And, together with the awesome Krakatau volcano the 137,000 hectares Park was declared Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ujung Kulon is the habitat of the rhinoceros of which only about 60 survive today. Seeing one of these animals is very rare since they are shy and are traceable only at night. Typical Javan rhinos were over 170 cm in height. At the shoulders, more than 3 metres in length and 2,200 kg. In body weightJavan rhinos are believed to be capable of running as fast as a person and so advice to visitors, should they happen to come across one, is to climb the nearest tree and take a photo - in that order.

Here also roam free some endangered animals like leopard cats, gibbons, long-tailed macaques, leaf-monkeys, crocodiles, muntjaks, mousedeer and herds of grazing wild oxen. In the Park’s surrounding seas are found the great clam, clown fish, angel fish, parrot fish, mudskippers which can climb trees, and archer fish, which spit water up to a height of more than two meters to catch insects…amazing, right?

How to get there

From Jakarta, you can drive to Serang (Banten Province) via highway, then continue to Labuan, which will take approximately 2 hours. Ujung Kulon can be reached by chartered speedboat from Labuan to Peucang Island, which takes about 5 hours. Or you can travel for 3.5 hours by car from Labuan to Tamanjaya, where trip into the park usually starts.

Optionally you can find some travel agency at Jakarta to arrange everything for you.

Where to stay

Accommodations are available on Peucang Island and at Handeuleum Island.

What to eat

Accomodation at Peucang and Handulum Island serve 3 meals a day.

What to do

The Ujung Kulon Park is also rich in plant life. It has nearly 1000 species of plants with some 57 categorized as endangered species, including various species of orchids.

Visitors to the Park may also enjoy fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, white sandy beaches, thermal springs, thrilling caves, and beautiful sea gardens. You can observe animals is at Handeuleum Island. From here you can further explore rivers and mangrove forests. While Peucang Island is ideal for snorkeling, diving and fishing with its clear blue water, white beaches and coral reefs.

Panaitan Island offers diving and surfing experience. In this island there is a place called ‘one palm point’, a perfect place for surfing for its high and big waves.

Some tips

·         Best time to visit the Ujung Kulon Park is between April through September. To enter the Park a permit is required obtainable at the Forestry and Nature Protection office in Labuan. Visit their official site here.

·         Do not forget to bring some foods and drinking water with you.

·         Before visiting Ujung Kulon you had better consume some anti malaria medicine and take some anti mosquito lotion with you.

The Beauty & Mistics of Pelabuhan Ratu Beach - WEST JAVA

Pelabuhan Ratu Beach is a resort on the southern coast of the Indian Ocean in West Java . It was located approximately 60 km to the south of the city of Sukabumi .
This beach is known to have a very strong waves and therefore dangerous for swimmers beach . Its topography is blend  of  steep ramps beaches , rock cliffs , pounding surf , and natural forest reserves .
Since this place has its own appeal, President Sukarno established a resting place in 1960 in Tenjo Resmi next to the beach . In addition , on the initiative of  The firs President of Indonesia,  Samudera Beach Hotel, one of the first luxury hotels in Indonesia was built.

Culture & Myth
Southern coastal communities , especially Palabuhanratu believe that the presence of the ruler of the southern sea Queen of South . That said , it was a beautiful queen like an angel . In the South Seas - another name for the Indian Ocean - south of the island of Java , he was enthroned in a kingdom of spirits and wonderful .
In April usually around Palabuhanratu community rituals traditional ceremony held Fishermen 's Day . Fishermen 's Day is meant as a celebration over the sustenance that they get from the sea and so kept away from disaster . Usually the ceremony is provided offerings of buffalo head that will be floated out to sea .
access

How to get there
Travelers can use public transport to travel to Pelabuhan Ratu Beach . Terminal region of Jakarta or Bogor , Travelers can use the bus destination Sukabumi - Pelabuhan Ratu . If the drive itself from Sukabumi About a 60 min . The distance is only about 60 km to the south of the city of Sukabumi .

 
What to do
Relax and enjoy the beauty of the beach,  feel the mistical circumference and watch the fascinating suset.

If you like surfing you, there are at least nine recomendable good locations , namely Batu Guram , Karang Sari , Samudera Beach , Cimaja , Karang Haji , Indicator , Sunset Beach , Waves Edge Seven to tile . Each beach has its own characteristic waves.

Where to stay
As this place is well-known for long time, various hotels are available in Pelabuhan Ratu. Some of them are five-star hotel  such as Samudera Beach Hotel Inna , Flowers Ayu Bungalows & Restaurant and Augusta Pelabuhan Ratu Hotel. In addition to the large and luxury Hotels , in this area there are also a number of small hotels and inns

What to Eat
Do not worry in Pelabuhan Ratu many classy restaurants up the street stalls , because its location is quite close to the Pelabuhan Ratu shopping center (indonesia: “pasar”) and fish auction . You can buy fish at this auction and you burn yourself or handed over to the restaurant to process .

Wherelse to go
Not far from the beach Palabuhanratu there are several other tourist locations. Karanghawu Beach , which is located about 20 km from the city center Palabuhanratu , a coastal reef that juts into the sea and perforated in several parts of it . Coral shape more like a furnace , in Sundanese called " Hawu ".  Approximately 17 miles of  Palabuhan Ratu beach you can goto Cisolok hot springs, where the water containing high sulfur that is useful for health.

Happy traveling, see you there :)