Category Archives: Destinations

Asia, Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, Editor's Picks

Places to Visit in China for ‘Romance of Three Kingdoms’ Trip

02/27/2014 Shem MD 1 Comment

If you love Chinese culture, you must know about the famous historical romance, ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’. This romance, which portrays the turbulent era of Three Kingdom Period in the 3rd century A.D., has become a favorite story around the world and even made into various movie and stage play adaptations. Romance of the Three Kingdoms trip has become favorite travel plan for those who visit China, where people will visit places that are depicted in the romance or places related to popular movie and series adaptation.

So, what kind of places you can visit if you are also a fan of this romance? There are two kinds of travel plans you can do: visit to places that become background of the famous series adaption in China, and visit to places that actually appear in the romance. Both offer beautiful view and fascinating historical trip, and you will be happy to see for yourself places that appear in your favorite Chinese historical romance.
Here are some recommended places to see for your Romance of the Three Kingdoms trip in China.

Wuhan City, Hubei

This is a very important city in China, a center of trade, education and tourism industry and also the fifth biggest city in China. Wuhan once ruled by the Kingdom of Wu, one of important kingdoms during the actual Three Kingdom period between 220 and 280 A. D. This city is bustling with activities and you can see a lot of interesting things and places of interests here.

Chibi (Red Cliff), Yangtze River

Everyone who knows the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms must know the name of Red Cliff. Also known as Chibi, the cliff that is located near Yangtze River is one of the must-visit places in China for Romance of the Three Kingdoms trip. The famous war between the three kingdoms in the year 280 happened here, and people love to visit this cliff to commemorate the heroic Zhuge Liang, the main character in the romance, and also admire the beautiful view.

The Ancient City of Jingzhou

Jingzhou is also a place that became site of a great war between the three kingdoms. This is a beautiful historical city with polygonal protective walls, six entrance gates, hundreds of mausoleums, ancient tombs and many other historical relics. The tombs themselves are the resting places for descendants of Chu Kingdom families. This is a great place to visit for all the romance fans.

Wuxi, the Famous Series Set

The most famous series adaptation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms were filmed in a city called Wuxi, and many romance fans also love to visit this city because of this. The large studio in this city is also called Three Kingdoms City based on the popularity. If you watch the show, you will be happy to involve this city as one of destinations for your Romance of Three Kingdoms visit. Aside from the actual series site, Wuxi also has a lot of beautiful places such as lakes and parks. You can ride rickshaw or watch martial art demonstration at nearby Shaolin Temple.

Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Indonesia, Sport and Adventure

Unforgettable Mahakam River Adventure in East Borneo

02/25/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

Do you want something challenging when visiting East Borneo? Try joining Mahakam River adventure, a popular travel package designed for tourists who want to look more closely the beauty of forest, river and culture of Dayak people in Borneo. Almost the entire trip is conducted on the boat, although tourists will also walk out the boat to walk in the forest and visit various Dayak villages and communities. You can get exciting adventure, but you still get the comfort of well planned travel package.
Since this is a popular package in travel companies in Borneo, you can get guides who speak English, good accommodation, and even air conditioned boat for extra comfort.

Beautiful Nature Trip in Mahakam River Adventure

If you join Mahakam River Adventure, you can see everything that makes East Borneo forest famous. Once you enter the forest, your guide will show you beautiful birds, exotic trees and flowers, river dolphins and, if you are lucky, you can see orangutans among the trees. You can also visit orangutan sanctuary and research center. Guides know when Mahakam’s unique river dolphins appear on the surface, so do not miss it. You can also step out of the boat on designated spots and do jungle trekking in Kutai National Park.
Imagine the feeling when you spend the night sleeping in an air conditioned boat and waking up with the sight of rainforest in the morning with birds and river singing. This is truly an unforgettable trip to take.

Cultural Trip in Mahakam River Adventure

Mahakam River is an important river for Dayak people living around it, so you will also get a chance to see cultural richness of Dayak people. For example, during your trip, you will visit places such as the village of Dayak Benuaq people with its signature longhouse, where you can see traditional dances, ceremony and weapon. You can also visit unique floating house in Tanjung Isuy area, see actual Dayak villages along the river, and visit the Palace of Sultan Kartanegara, which was converted into museum.
This is a trip that will open your eyes about the richness of culture in East Borneo; therefore, this is a great trip to take if you are with family.

Preparation for Mahakam River Adventure

Since Mahakam River adventure involves visit to the forest and traditional villages as well as trekking, there are some preparations and notions to remember:

Always prepare appropriate clothing to explore the forest and river; wear good shoes to tread the wildlife area, comfy socks, cotton clothing, wide brim hat, and apply sunscreen. Also, prepare mosquito repellent.
Do not bring excessive things when you are doing jungle trekking or visiting villages. Prepare a nice, comfortable bag to carry essentials such as bottled water, tissue, bug repellent, sunscreen, camera, wallet and maybe small binocular if you want to see birds and monkeys.
Do not litter or destroy plants and hurt animals. Also, do not act disrespectfully when visiting Dayak villages; always respect people you meet and pay attention to what the guide says.

Mahakam River Adventure is the best adventure trip you can take in East Borneo.

Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Derawan Island, the Best Island Trip Destination in Borneo

02/24/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

If you love island trip, consider visiting East Borneo province in Indonesia. This province is famous for its Derawan Island; an area consists of several smaller islands with beautiful beaches. The island has become very famous since the 90’s as a great place to do diving, snorkeling, watching sea turtles and golden jellyfish, and basically just enjoying beautiful nature of East Borneo. You require hours of trip from the international airport of Sepinggan in Balikpapan, but it is really worth the trip.

About Derawan Island Location

Derawan Island is a part of administrative area of Berau Regency, about 30 minutes of plane trip from Balikpapan City. However, once you arrive in Berau, you still have to use car to the Port of Tanjung Batu, before using boat to reach Derawan Island. It takes about 3 hours from Balikpapan to Derawan (not to mention extra time you must spend in other trips before reaching Balikpapan), but there are many transportation means that can take you there because of the popularity of this island.

Derawan Island itself consists of 4 main islands; Sangalaki, Derawan, Kakaban and Maratua. You can visit each of this island area by using boat rented from the island next to it. For full travel around all islands in one day, you can rent a boat that costs around $150 per day. This is a practical way to visit all islands at once in a day. You can save much more money if you order travel package.

What to Do in Derawan Island

There are many interesting things you can do in Derawan. For starter, this island has really beautiful beaches, and they are relatively quiet despite many tourists that come. Therefore, they make perfect spots for swimming and snorkeling, and of course diving in some beach points. You can also rent floaters, being photographed underwater by the guide, or watching sea turtles in their natural habitats.

You may also want to visit Kakaban Island to swim in the famous Kakaban Lake, which is full of non venomous golden jellyfish; this is one of two lakes in the world that are full of non venomous jellyfish (the other one is in Philippine). You can swim and do snorkeling here, with rented snorkeling equipment. If you visit with tour guide, you can also get photographed underwater while playing with golden jellyfish.

Going with the travel group also has its own benefits; you can join unforgettable seafood barbeque dinner on the beachside.

What Not to Do in Derawan Island

There are a couple of rules you must remember when visiting Derawan Island. You are forbidden to throw garbage from the boat or to the beach in the island. Since you may not always find the trash can in the island, you are advised to bring special plastic bag to keep the trash, and throw it away once you find trash can. Also, in Kakaban Island, you are forbidden to enter the jellyfish lake by jumping, since it will disturb and even kill the jellyfish.

Destinations, Editor's Picks, Europe

Dubrovnik Travel Guide – Exploring The Treasures of the Adriatic Medieval City

02/23/2014 Josip Ivanovic 1 Comment

Popularly described as ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic“, Dubrovnik is one of the top tourist destinations in Croatia. Millions of visitors flock to the medieval city annually to enjoy its various attractions which include historical treasures, pristine nature, exciting culture, sumptuous cuisine and a glitzy nightlife. However, to enjoy the best of what the city has to offer, there are a few basics which any visitor should know.

When to Visit?

Dubrovnik is an all year destination. However, most people prefer to visit in the summer season, which stretches from May to October. The peak of season is July to August. During these months, the city is overrun with tourists, and hotel prices spike. The advantage of visiting during these months is that you’ll get to witness the famous Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

From May to June, or September and October you can enjoy Dubrovnik, at lower prices and without the crowds of the peak season.

Getting There

There are direct flights to Dubrovnik from some major European cities. You can take a flight to Split, which is the second largest city in Croatia and well connected with all the major cities in Europe. From Split there is a possibility to take a bus to Dubrovnik, or for more convenience you can rent a car or take an airport taxi directly to the Dubrovnik.

There are also international bus lines from cities Trieste in Italy, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Novi in Montenegro, as well as from all Croatian cities.

There are also a number of international cruise ships which dock in Dubrovnik.

What to See?

Any visit to Dubrovnik has to begin in the Old Town. It is a medieval city with cobbled streets, no cars and a wealth of history which caused it to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main attraction are the city walls, built in the 14th and 15th Centuries. A walk along the walls can offer a glimpse into the city’s ancient fortifications. You can climb on the defense towers and enjoy spectacular views of the city.

The Old Town houses a number of magnificent Baroque and Romanesque architectural masterpieces. These include ancient palaces such as the 15th Century Sponza Palace and Rector’s palace. There are also a number of cathedrals, built between the 14th and 19th Centuries. These include Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Church of St. Ignatius (a Jesuit cathedral modeled after the Spanish Steps in Rome), Church of Saint Blaise, Dominican Monastery (with a Romanesque church) and Franciscan Monastery (with a Baroque church). There are also a number of museums, monuments and even the iconic Fort Lovrijenac.

The Old Town is also home to the oldest working pharmacy in Europe. It was founded in the 1317. and has been issuing prescriptions for over 700 years. Sitting in the Franciscan Monastery, it not only still sells prescriptions, its ancient medical books, stone bowls and lab equipment can still be viewed in a museum right next to it.

One of the truly unique experiences in Dubrovnik is the Teatum 5D. This is a virtual tour of the city featuring videos, holograms and lasers. It highlights the best parts of the city and gives visitors a quick snapshot of the city in just 35 minutes. This high-tech experience is relished by almost every visitor to Dubrovnik.

Fun and Adventure

Dubrovnik is famous for spectacularly beautiful sunny beaches. The most popular beaches are the Lapad, Banje and Copacabana. Here, you can enjoy a number of activities such as swimming, sunbathing or just chilling out. Those who want a little vigor can engage in mini-soccer, beach volleyball and water polo.

The waters surrounding Dubrovnik are some of the most spectacular in the Adriatic Sea. They are endowed with colorful plants, boisterous aquatic life and wonderful cliffs. As such, scuba diving is one of the star attractions in Dubrovnik. There are a number of scuba diving locations dotted all over the Dubrovnik Riviera. Popular ones include the idyllic village of Mini and the luxurious Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.

Sailing expeditions to the surrounding areas is a popular activity among visitors in Dubrovnik. One of the closest destinations is the Lokrum Island, located a mere 10 minutes by boat off the cost of Dubrovnik. Visitors go there to enjoy its idyllic beaches, sumptuous dishes and sea kayaking. Other destinations are the iconic island of Mljet as well as Cavtat and the Elafitti Islands. The sailing expeditions are typically carried out by boat, yacht or cruise ships.

Dubrovnik hosts a number of festivals. The most famous is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. This 47-day event features over 2,000 performers from different parts of the world. It includes extravagant performances of classical music, dance, opera, poetry and theater. There are both open air and in-house performances in various places around Dubrovnik.

Where to Eat?

Dubrovnik is a truly cosmopolitan city, with restaurants and cafes serving most international dishes. However, the local cuisine is Dalmatian, with influences of Italian, French and Russian Cuisine. One of the places to sample some local dishes is the Nautika. Here, you can savor Dalmatian delicacies like Lopud brodet. Other popular restaurants are the Porat Restaurant & Terrace, Gils Cuisine & Pop Lounge, Domino Steak House, Taj Mahal and Dubravka 1836.

Where to Sleep?

There are a number of hotels which offer 4 and 5 star accommodation and facilities. Some of the oldest (and most popular) are the iconic Grand Hotel and Grand Imperial Hotel which were built in the 1890s. Some recent additions include the luxurious Villa Dubrovnik and Hotel Dubrovnik Palace. These hotels pamper guests with luxurious accommodations, spa treatments, well stocked bars and multi-course meals. Also, there is a wide choice of apartments for any budget and everyone can find the best possible accommodation.

More Information

Those are some of the basics recommendations on how to get the best out of The Pearl of the Adriatic for any traveler planing to visit Dubrovnik. For more information you can visit or contact the Dubrovnik Tourist Office.

Asia, Editor's Picks, Shopping Guide

Greenbelt Mall, Philippines

02/09/2014 Andre Tirtodipoero 2 Comments

Malls, are always defined as a building with so many boutiques inside and women carrying a minimum of one shopping bag moving here and there. The image of a big building with so many shops inside are familiar to our mind when we talk about a mall. For those who are not really interested in shopping, especially boys, coming to a mall is a very lazy thing to-do. Well if you try to come to Greenbelt Mall, there will be a different story.

There is a big-enough Asian garden in the front of this mall door. For boys or any other friends and family that do not like shopping so much, you can rest around this garden while waiting for the girls. What if it’s raining? Greenbelt Mall has also provided a very beautiful interior design for you. You can take so many great pictures here with you friends. But before you do that, remove all the images of a tall silver building that is so boring, so you can really enjoy Greenbelt Mall.

Not only views, Greenbelt also provided some events that you can enjoy in the mall. Music bands may also ccompany you and your resting time in the garden. That is why this mall is highly recommended for a place-to-visit during the weekends. No tickets are needed, no need to join a very long queue just to enjoy a music performance. This can be a great place to relase all of your stress in the whole week so you can prepare yourself weell for the upcoming week!

Some friends said that this mall stores are giving out things with cheap prices. Sadly, they are lacking of mall’s cleaning and condition service. There are issues that the place is smelly. Some said that every single thing in this world is not perfect. Greenbelt has won their designs and cheap stuffs, but not the grooming. But, coming into this place just for a new bright ideas for design class and study is not a bad idea to start with

Asia, Editor's Picks

Inspiring Inle Lake

02/07/2014 Len Rutledge Leave a comment

Words: Len Rutledge Pictures: Phensri Rutledge

Everyone visiting Inle Lake in Myanmar’s hilly north-east has an image in their mind of an Intha fisherman rowing with one leg at the stern of a flat-bottomed canoe, past a backdrop of mist-shrouded mountains. Fortunately most leave having seen their dream. With its stilted villages built over the water, ancient stupa complexes and a backdrop of green hills, Inle is the top attraction of Shan State and it has become one of Myanmar’s most visited tourist areas. There are flights from Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan to little Heho airport which at times seems overwhelmed by the volume of travellers.

Nyaung Shwe

This is the largest town near the lake but many visitors prefer to stay at one of the small hotels, guest houses or resorts around the lake. Even if you do this, don’t overlook the town. The busy Mingalar Market is in the northern part of the town and this sells a range of goods, mainly in the morning.

A little way outside the town, is the teakwood Shwe Yawnghwe Monastery. The monastery has an ordination hall with unique oval windows and this has become a tourist attraction because of the opportunity to photograph young monks standing behind these.

Getting Around

To reach most of the lakeside accommodation you need to transfer to a long-tail boat in Nyaung Shwe for a ride first down a wide canal, and then across Inle Lake itself. You will be pleased to find that the high-powered boats for tourists have padded seats, umbrellas and life jackets. The locals are not so lucky and we saw many boats that seemed well overloaded.

Floating gardens

These are created by collecting weeds from the surface and lashing them together to form metre-thick floating strips. These are then anchored to the bed of the lake with bamboo poles, and heaped with mud scooped from the bottom. This means that they can be used regardless of fluctuating water levels. Crops – including cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, peas, beans and aubergine – are grown year-round.

We’d seen some of the small wooden boats so piled up with weeds from the lake that they were sitting barely above the water and we’d seen groups of people in their boats working together to collect these weeds and now we knew why.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

The pagoda has been constructed in the traditional and elaborate Myanmar style of architecture even though it is over the water. At the centre of the monastery building is a golden stupa topped with an ornamental umbrella-shape. The interior walls of the temple are decorated with murals depicting Buddhist stories. In the central shrine in the main hall there are five small lumpy gold objects that were once recognised as Buddhas. Devotees have been placing so much gold leaf on them for so long, that the original forms are no longer recognizable.

One-leg rowers

The smooth lake, the blue sky, the small wooden boats with their huge basket nets, the rowers standing tall, leg and oar moving as one, make for a thrilling encounter. The rowers are men who stand in the stern of their boats with one leg wrapped around a single oar moving it steadily back and forth in an easy rhythmic practiced motion. Theories as to why this method of rowing evolved range from it providing both hands free for handling the fishing nets, to needing to stand to be able to see the reeds and weeds in the water ahead.

Local markets

The markets in the Inle Lake area move each day from one of five locations to the next, ranging from Nyaung Shwe at the north end of the lake to Nam Pan towards the south end. Farmers come from all around to sell their produce, traders come to buy in bulk, and families come to do their regular household shopping. It is colourful and there is a strong sense of community but it rapidly gets crowded – mainly with tourists.

One of the interesting aspects of the market is seeing women of the Pa-O ethnic group, the second most numerous tribe in the region. These women wear dark plain coloured skirts (lungyis) with long sleeveless shirts, cropped long-sleeved black jacketsand distinctive brightly coloured turbans.

Nga Hpe Chaung monastery

It was built in the 1850’s on teak columns in the middle of the lake. It is a handsome building housing many beautiful Buddhist artifacts, and quite a few monks. Awhile back the head abbot and some of the monks trained several cats to jump through hoops, so it became known as the ‘jumping cat’ monastery to foreign backpackers. The trained cats are no more so you will just have to put up with the idyllic setting, its collection of old Buddhas from around Myanmar, and its peace and tranquillity.

In Dein

A narrow canal wound its way from the lake, initially through reed beds but later through dense jungle until finally the village emerged around a bend. It was a perfect rural scene with water buffaloes wallowing while women from the local village washed clothes nearby.

We alighted at a small jetty and were immediately besieged by the locals who peddle their bamboo hats, “Welcome to Inle” T-shirts and Shan-style bags from little stalls. The highlight in town is a breathtaking complex of 1,094 16^th century stupas, the main In Dein pagoda and the surrounding ruins which cover the dome of a hill. You reach here up a long roof-covered passage where there are hundreds of vendors. The top provides a sweeping view of the lake and surrounding farmlands.

Len Rutledge is the author of Experience Myanmar available as an e-book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HPQHC5I

Asia, Editor's Picks, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

Famous Food You Can Try in Geylang

01/30/2014 Shem MD 1 Comment

If you love to eat and have a plan to visit Singapore, do not miss the chance to sample foods in Geylang. This popular tourist destination is famous for its lines of food stalls and restaurants, and you can eat almost anything Asia can offer. This is because Singapore is like a small Asia, where immigrants from various parts in Asia come and blend with locals, creating unique mix of culture.

You can eat Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese foods in Geylang, whether you eat at cheap food hawker stalls or in fancy restaurants. Here are some of the best ‘must-try’ foods in Geylang area.

Crispy Chicken at Moi Lum Restaurant

Moi Lum is a famous restaurant located in Maxwell Road, and this is a favorite place for many Singaporean families and tourists to gather and enjoy hearty meals. The restaurant is not fancy and more like a homey, family style restaurant. There are various Chinese dishes here, but the favorite is crispy roast chicken and crispy chicken skin. They both come with delicious sauce, and while the roast chicken is tender and juicy with delicious skin, the crispy chicken skin is probably better as beer companion. The taste is amazing, not too salty and very crispy as well as succulent. Address: 38 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069116.

Geylang Claypot Rice

This is a great, hot and hearty dish that you can eat anywhere, but the most famous Geylang claypot rice is served in a restaurant with the same name. This dish is a combination of rice, vegetables, marinated chicken and fish, pork and traditional Chinese sausages made of pork and duck liver. Cooked in a clay pot and eaten directly from it, the dish has rich taste and it will make you feel super satisfied. Address: 639 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389570.

Smelly Tofu

This funny sounding dish is fermented fried tofu served in thin slices, eaten with condiments and sauce such as sweet and spicy sauce. The most famous restaurant that serves smelly tofu is Mini Star, which is located in 789 Geylang Road.

Turtle Soup

There are only few places that serve turtle soup, and one of the famous places is Ser Seng, a herbal store that also doubles as restaurant. Turtle soup is famous as a long time healthy food that has a lot of benefits in China, and it is also believed to make you live long (from the fact that many turtles can live for hundreds of years). The soup itself is probably more like chicken soup with herbal aroma, but it is the health benefits that people are looking for. Address : Lorong 21 Geylang, 29 Lorong Bachok.

Rochor Bean Curd

Rochor Bean Curd is a famous dessert in Geylang Road that is sought out by many culinary lovers. Despite the small shop, the dessert is very delicious. It is made of coagulated soymilk and it can be served hot for breakfast, or cold for delicious dessert. The cold version is sometimes served with gelatinous pearls. The shop also sells other soy related snacks and dishes such as tofu fries and fried bread. Address: 745 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389653.

So, if you are in Geylang, do not forget to visit these places and try their unique dishes. Of course, while you are in Singapore, you do not want to miss a chance to taste durian, the king of fruit.

North America, Travel Planning, Travel Tips

Planning a 5 Day Trip to Nicaragua- What to do and Watch Out?

01/21/2014 Tim Scott Leave a comment

Are you visiting Nicaragua for the first time? It will be great if you plan a 5 day trip to this destination. Your five day trip could cover the rich culture, picturesque landscapes, lush jungles, island tours and amazing boat rides. While Nicaragua is too wide to explore completely in five days, you can still do and watch a lot in your family vacation.

What all you can do and watch out in Nicaragua on a 5 day trip?

Day 1

Arrive at Managua to Rio San Juan

After arriving and having breakfast at your hotel in Managua, take a domestic flight to San Carlos. Meet the local guides and explore the place own the Rio San Juan to the riverside town of El Castillo. On this boat tour, you can watch out the amazing wildlife which is essentially known as the Gold Route. Keep your eyes throughout your journey and spot the entire species of birds and monkeys to Nicaragua. Lunch will be served to you on the boat en route.

Day 2:

Juan Venado Island Tour

On the second day, visit to Juan Venado island, a natural reserve at Nicaragua’s Pacific coast offering a habitat for a wide number of beautiful wetland creatures, birds, and sea turtles. Do watch these native species and relish the outstanding sand beaches as you voyage through the island via your boat. You can then enjoy a perfect lunch at a restaurant in Las Penitas.

Day 3:

Selva Negra and San Jacinto mud pots

This morning, you must do something unique. After having breakfast at your hotel, you can go on a long drive to San Jacinto Mud Pots. This place is certainly geologically impressive. You can rest and see the boiling mud pits and steaming vents that offer a splendid display. So, this site is just amazing to explore on the 3^rd day of your Nicaragua family trip.

Day 4:

Visit Granada, City Tour & Boat Ride

This is your second last day when you can definitely drive to Colonial Granada which was founded in 1524. The place is rich with culture, beautiful in architecture and has a area filled with magnificent homes, churches, patios and more. Here, you can stroll through the overwhelming streets and get lost into the amazing ambiance prior to relishing a lunch at a restaurant.

Day 5:

Enjoying the last day at Ometepe Island

On the last day of your tour, you should not miss exploring the Ometepe Island. This tour will indeed allow you to discover the ever beautiful wildlife, ecosystem alongside the popular Istiam River. This will just consume your three hours and you can then relax the island at your leisure.

The five day trip to Nicaragua will be as exciting as it seems. So, what is making you wait so long? Pack your bags and embark on an ever memorable journey of your life.

Asia, Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Tanjung Puting, the Sanctuary for Orangutans

01/20/2014 Shem MD 2 Comments

Summary: One of the most prominent natural parks in Borneo, Tanjung Puting is also a beautiful sanctuary for orangutans and a great place to learn about environment.

It is not a secret that forest in Indonesia is in threat of extinction due to activities, such as illegal logging, which even has reached national park. Therefore, many efforts have been made to increase people’s conscience and knowledge about environment. Tanjung Puting is one of the national parks in Borneo Island, in West Kalimantan area in particular. The forest is a part of Indonesia and becomes a sanctuary for various plants, trees and animals species, including the orangutans.

Tanjung Puting is a very important national park in West Kalimantan, because it serves as a sanctuary for rare species of plants and animals. Despite damages from occasional forest fire and illegal logging, many efforts are made constantly to prevent further damages and combat illegal logging. Opening the park for public education is one of them.

History

The national park has existed since 1937, when the Dutch government turned it into sanctuary for orangutans and proboscis monkeys. The park size is 415.040 hectares, and the national park consists of sanctuary, production forests (for certified logging and plantation) and water area. Since 1984, the sanctuary has been declared national park by Indonesian government.

Ecosystem, Animals and Plants

Tanjung Puting National Park is a rich ecosystem, consisting of lowland tropical forest, dry forest, swamp area, mangrove forest and coastal forest. The rich ecosystem layers in this national park create heavens for various species of plants and animals and make this park one of the richest tropical national parks in the world in terms of species and ecosystem types.

The national park is a house for many distinctive species of animals and plants, and many of them are endemics or they cannot be found naturally in other areas except West Kalimantan. Here are some plants and animals you can find in this national park.

Animals

Tanjung Puting National Park is a home for more than 35 species of animals, and many of them are extremely rare. For example, sindang lawe bird (Ciconia stormii) is declared as one of the rarest birds in the world, and the bird does not exist anywhere but in this area. In addition, the great Alba birds are among the most abundant here.

Tanjung Puting National Park is commonly known as a sanctuary for rare mammals such as sun bear, deer, mouse deer, dugong, proboscis monkeys and of course the orangutans. In fact, there is special facility in this park with the main mission to increase the population of orangutans in Kalimantan.

Plants

Tanjung Puting National Park is a home for various trees, which often become target for illegal loggers such as the Shorea species (meranti), Dipterocarpus species (gaharu), Nipah trees, rattan and mangrove trees. There are also unique plants such as the bug-eater plant Nephentes (Kantong Semar).

Now, Tanjung Puting National Park is open for public, as a facility to educate people about environment and ecosystem. People can also come to the orangutan research facility called Camp Leakey to learn more about orangutans and see the species that are taken care of before being released. They can interact with the orangutans, including feeding them and taking pictures.

Asia, Editor's Picks, Festivals, Indonesia

Chinese New Year Customs in Indonesia

01/18/2014 Shem MD 2 Comments

Summary: Indonesia has large Chinese populations, and Chinese New Year customs in Indonesia reflect beautiful blend between Chinese and local cultures.

Indonesia is a giant melting pot for various cultures, including Chinese. Therefore, Chinese New Year is an event that is hugely celebrated in this country. While the Chinese descendants in various areas still maintain the old traditions every year, the celebrations can also be enjoyed by other people, especially in Chinatown areas. Chinese New Year celebrations and customs in Indonesia are something you cannot miss while you are here. Here is what you can expect to find when ‘Imlek’ or Chinese New Year is approaching in Indonesia.

Gift Sets Everywhere

When the Chinese New Year is approaching, expect to see various department stores and supermarkets displaying various flowers, moon cakes, fruits and gift sets in beautiful packages. Even the stores that are not specifically located within the Chinatown or Chinese population area will display such goods. There are also large bunch of red envelopes people use to give money, usually to younger people. This is because gift giving is an inseparable part of every celebration in Indonesia. It symbolizes prosperity and well wishes.

Many plant shops also sell orange trees in pots as well as special flowers used in traditional floral arrangement. Flowers, in Chinese tradition, symbolize growth and prosperity, while the orange trees symbolize happiness.

Courtesy of Thejakartapost.com

Traditional Foods

The Chinese in Indonesia are descendants of immigrants that came from various areas in China such as Shanghai and Guang Zhou. Therefore, you can find huge arrays of traditional foods in Indonesian markets, stores and Chinatowns when the Chinese New Year is approaching. Here are some examples:

Fish; this is a type of food commonly served in many tables during Chinese New Year. Fish symbolizes prosperity and happiness because the Chinese character for fish is similar to the word ‘abundance.’ The fish is usually served whole, in sweet and sour sauce or steamed. Whole fish symbolizes family togetherness. It is no wonder that fish prices are often hiked up in many markets when the Chinese New Year is approaching.

Jiaozi; this is a type of meat dumpling traditionally served in northern China region. The dumpling name symbolizes a phrase that means the last meeting on the last hour before the New Year comes.

Sweet Tray; red trays full of various sweets from fruits, seeds and peanuts are often sold in various stores near Chinese New Year, because they are traditional foods to serve in many houses or given as gifts. The trays symbolize togetherness, good luck and ‘sweet’ beginning of the year.

Whole Chicken and Noodle; they traditionally represent long life and prosperity, but to achieve the true meaning, both foods must be served whole. The chicken should not be cut up and must be served with the head. Noodle is not cut; therefore, it becomes super long in your bowl.

Festivities for Everyone

One beautiful aspect about Chinese New Year customs in Indonesia is that the celebration is for everyone. Families may gather for private moments, but the entire spirit of celebration belongs to everybody. Chinatown will be packed with people, including tourists, who want to look for various delicacies and goods that are usually just sold during this special moment. Lion dance and various performances are held in many venues for everyone.

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