Editor's Picks, Indonesia, Travel Tips

Nice Places for Family Vacation in Bali

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Bali is a popular tourist destination, especially among backpackers. There are so many things to see here, from beautiful views to cultural attractions. You may have a lot of freedom to explore it if you jus visit by yourself or with good friends, but, what if you visit Bali with your entire family? Surely, you must pick places where you and your kids can have fun together. While you may have to skip nightclubs, you can still have fun in various tourist attractions and destinations in Bali. Here are some fun activities you can do together with the entire family.

Water Sport

Water sport and play are fun activities for both adults and kids. Bring your family to Kuta Waterbom Park for a fun filled day. This water park has actually regarded as the world’s 3rd best water park and becomes 2013 Traveler’s Choice in Trip Advisor website. Besides various water plays, you can also enjoy delicious buffet meal or being pampered in spa facility.

Do you want something more challenging? Head to Tanjung Benoa, a coastal area near Nusa Dua where you can enjoy various water sports, as well as diving and snorkeling. Here, you can enjoy water sports such as parasailing, banana boat, water donut, and flying fish. Kids can join these activities as long as they are already 6 years old and accompanied by adults.

Animals

If your kids love animals, there are many places you can visit in Bali to enjoy interesting and cute animals as well as learning about nature. Bali Bird Park is a famous animal sanctuary that keeps huge collections of rare birds, reptiles and other animals.

You can also take your kids to Ubud, where there are several animal related destinations. Animal Welfare Association is located in Monkey Forest Road and keeps stray cats and dogs that have been vaccinated and tamed. Kids can learn how to take care of pets in proper ways, as well as playing with cute cats and dogs. You can also adopt an animal or make donation.

Other animal related place to visit in Ubud is Bali Bird Walks, where you can take a walk in Tjampuhan Village and enjoy rural views as well as local birds. You and family can also join local guides in ‘farmer for a day’ activity.

Finally, there are P Stables, a stable compound located near Pererenan Village and open for public. Here, you and your family can learn how to ride a horse, before a trained guide take you to nearby beach for an unforgettable beachside horse riding.

Culture

Bali is rich in cultural heritage, so there are many places where you can take your family to see it. There is the iconic Tanah Lot Temple where you can enjoy sunset, before heading to the temple and enjoy traditional dance performance (based on schedule). You can also visit Tirta Gangga Park, a beautiful historical site that used to be private sanctuary for royal families.

Bali is not just about beachside clubs, bars, shopping and surfing. There are so many things to see in this island while enjoying precious time with your family.

Asia, Editor's Picks, Food

12 Japanese Most Iconic Foods

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Japanese food is a world of its own. It is beautiful to look at, made with great skills and sense of beauty, and has unique flavor. Japanese food is so popular in many countries in the world, and you can find Japanese food almost everywhere. Are you fancy yourself as a food lover? Let’s check if you recognize all of these 12 iconic Japanese foods.

Oden
Oden is a type of street food you can find during autumn and winter, because its ingredients are stewed and served with hot broth. Ingredients of oden can consist of fish cakes, thick omelet, carrot, chicken, radish, dumplings and many more.

Sushi
You must know that this is a fish dish, usually eaten with rice. However, sushi has a lot of variations. There is maki-zushi (rolled sushi wrapped in seaweed and filled with fish and vegetables), nigiri sushi (handmade sushi with rectangular sticky rice and different toppings), temaki (sushi rolled in ice cream cone shaped seaweed) and many more.

Mochi
Mochi is a type of rice cake that can be either sweet or savory. Sweet mochi is eaten with sugar or soy powder, and unsweetened mocha becomes topping for savory dish such as udon (noodle dish).

Anpan and Melon Pan
Anpan and melon pan are two famous breads in Japan. Anpan is a traditional sweet bun that dates back from the Meiji Era, filled with red bean paste. Melon pan is called ‘melon’ because the shape is like half melon, not because it has melon in it.

Ramen and Udon
Ramen and udon are two popular noodle dishes in Japan. Ramen has soy sauce or meat broth with pork and egg as common toppings, while udon has thick shape and usually topped with tempura or fried tofu.

Tempura
Tempura is a term of deep fried meat, vegetables, chicken or seafood that is covered with batter. They are fried in vegetable oil and eaten with dipping sauce.

Sukiyaki and Shabu-shabu
Sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are popular winter dishes served in hot pot style, and consist of thin slices of meat and vegetables. They are usually eaten with rice and accompanied by sake or beer.

Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is an Osaka dish that is often cooked as method to use leftovers, but it is popular outside Japan as ‘Japanese pancake’ although it is more like savory dish than cake. The batter is made of egg and flour, and the topping consists of shredded cabbage, chicken, seafood or anything you want.

Gyoza
Gyoza is a type of dumpling originated from China, but the Japanese version has more garlic in it and the wrapping is thinner. It is filled with chicken, beef or pork, and eaten with soy sauce.

Miso
Miso is a famous soup that is made of miso paste (a kind of soy paste), seaweed and fish stock, with fillings such as tofu, vegetables and onion. It is often served for daily meals and very healthy.

Teriyaki
Teriyaki is a term for meat or fish dish that is cooked in sweet and savory sauce. The sauce is made of sugar, soy sauce, honey and mirin.

Oshiruko
Oshiruko is often called dessert soup, because it is sweet but look like thick soup. It is made of red bean and eaten hot with mochi or dumpling. It is often served during winter or as New Year dish.

There are still many signature dishes in Japan, but these 12 foods can be considered as the most iconic ones, both in and outside Japan.

Editor's Picks, Food

8 World’s Most Expensive Foods

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While most of us are usually content with eating whole food bought from grocery stores or local restaurants, many people in the world refuse to feel simply content with common food ingredients and dishes. They are willing to pay huge fortune for exquisite and luxurious food, which brings us to this list of 8 most expensive foods in the world.

Wagyu Steak

Wagyu steak is made of the meat of Wagyu cows, particularly the ones that are raised in Kobe farm. The meat is tender, succulent, and has thick, delicious fat that gives the steak its great taste. The most expensive Wagyu steak is served at Craftsteak in New York City, with a hefty sum of $2,800.

Beluga Caviar

Caviar itself is already expensive, but Beluga Caviar tops all types of caviar when it comes to price. This type of fish egg is harvested from rare sturgeon fish from Iranian coast. It can cost as much as $3,200 per pound. Once cooked, it is very salty and usually eaten with pastry.

Yubari Melon

Yubari melon is a type of rare melon grown by farmers in Yubari. This melon can only grow in that certain area and has a tender, sweet and exquisite taste, different from that of other melons in Japan or even the world. A pair of Yubari melons can cost around $22,800.

Caciocavallo Podolico

Caciocavallo Podolico is an Italian cheese made of the milk of Podolico cows, which is rare because the cows only produce it in very small quantity. It can cost around $650 per pound.

Densuke Watermelon

Another expensive fruit from Japan is Densuke Watermelon. It is a rare watermelon, which can only grow in North Hokkaido area. The watermelon has dark skin, very crunchy compared to watermelons we used to eat, and has rich sweetness. With weight reaching up 17 pounds and hefty price of $6,100 per fruit, this watermelon often becomes expensive gifts because of their rarity.

Fugu

Fugu is a type of blowfish that is famous for both its delicate taste and its poison. That is why, all chefs that handle fugu in Japan must have special license and certificate from vigorous training. Once turned into a dish, fugu can cost as much as $100 per serving (which, I remind you, is quite small).

Matsutake Mushrooms

Matsutake Mushrooms are known by many chefs in the world as the most expensive mushroom. This mushroom is very rare because it only grows during autumn in specific type of trees. It has fragrant smell and rich taste, and can cost as much as $1,000 per pound.

Blue Fin Tuna

Blue Fin Tuna is a type of gigantic tuna that can grow as heavy as 100 pound. The fish is usually caught during winter. If it is caught during summer, the meat will taste oily. It is popular as sashimi ingredient in Japan, with a price of up to $250 per pound.

These foods are considered expensive because they are rare, not easy to make or can only be found in certain areas. Despite the hefty prices, they do not stop many people from spending much money just to experience the most exclusive delicacies money can buy.

Editor's Picks, Hotels and Resorts, Indonesia, Sponsored

HARRIS Hotel and Conventions, the Best Resort Hotel in Malang, East Java, Indonesia

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Cheers! I always heard this word anytime I visited HARRIS hotel and met the hotel staffs. The smile will never fade away from your face any time you are greeted by the hotel staffs. This reflects the hospitality of the staffs at HARRIS Hotel and Conventions, Malang. 

Simple, unique, and friendly; these three words reflect the situation in the five-star hotel, which is dominated by orange tone that brings a fresh feeling and atmosphere into the hotel. Situated at the “green” Riverside, near to Malang – Surabaya main highway, from which you can easily get access to the bus station and to the airport. HARRIS Hotel and Conventions, Malang is an ideal place to hold a business seminar, business conference and convention, and many other business and personal activities.

Courtesy of  Malang.Harrishotel.com

In addition, it provides a relaxing atmosphere for the visitors, like me, Shem MD, who came with all family members for an unforgettable weekend in one of the best resort hotels in Malang, East Java, such as HARRIS Hotel and Conventions Malang. I visited the hotel during the weekend when I could do many activities. I stayed at the hotel for a pleasing serenity it offers. Getting into the Green Estate of Riverside, you can easily find the hotel with 229 beds. In addition, it is equipped with a ballroom with a capacity of 1500 individuals and 3 meeting rooms with seating capacity of 50 persons each. This is possible for the ultimate serenity the hotel offers.

HARRIS Hotel and Conventions, Malang, is an ideal place for a relief from the crowded urban life. When arriving at the hotel lobby, I was welcomed by hotel staffs in orange suite, offering professional and hospitable services, such as welcome drink and cold towel. The General Manager of HARRIS Hotel and Conventions Malang, Stylianos Koureas was there to provide us with interesting information on what to do in the hotel. Mr. Stylianos is very warm and polite. It is not surprising to know that he has been awarded as “GM of The Year” for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2013 by Tauzia Hotel Management.

Courtesy of  Malang.Harrishotel.com

After the check-in process, I was brought to my room, namely HARRIS Suite Room No 709. It was a wonderful hotel room suite, with 48 square meter. This suite room is divided into two rooms, the bedroom and the living room. The bathroom space is divided into two different bathrooms, a comfortable guest bathroom in the living room and master bedroom, which is equipped with on-bedroom guest bathtubs.

harris-hotel-conventions-malang

Courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

In the living room, I could enjoy Smart TV channel, which is connected to internet, equipped with a complete set of complete home theatre and 3D glasses, for a memorable home theatre experience. Yes, you can enjoy the 3D home theatre from the comfort of your hotel room. It is fantastic! you can browse the internet as much as you want, using free but fast Wi-Fi services, which could be accessed from the hotel room or from any other areas in the hotel.

After spending sometime lying on the comfortable bed and enjoying 3D home theater movies in the room suite, I moved to the amazing recreation activity area. There are 3 great swimming pools which equipped with a variety of water playing tools, kid’s playing club (Dino’s club), HARRIS hotel cafe and terrace, HARRIS juice bar, fitness center, sauna, wedding chapel, and ping pong table, and many more. More interestingly, the recreation area is surrounded by amazing natural scene, green mountains, and rows of pine trees. All of these will encourage you stay longer in this area.

After enjoying various activities in the recreation area, I enjoyed Spa service in HARRIS spa, which is known to be the best place for relaxation and spa service in Malang. This time, I had “Cempaka Massage,” a combination of Javanese relaxing massage, body scrub, and milk mask. Two hours I spent in the spa went so fast and I felt so relaxed after the massage. You will find your body and soul relaxed after the Javanese relaxing massage. Your skin tone becomes lighter with body scrub and milk mask treatment. For these convenient services, you only had to pay IDR 325.000, the service and the comfort really pay the price. However, if you need a cheaper one, you can have cheaper spa service in the hotel, for which you just need to pay IDR 175.000. I agree with the statement that HARRIS spa is the best spa in Malang.

Courtesy of  Malang.Harrishotel.com

Sunset was the time for me to enjoy the classy delicacies in the hotel. I went to the HARRIS restaurant and cafe, which is located near to the main swimming pool. It provides a serene environment. Here, you can enjoy a variety of high-quality foods, with the rows of pine trees as the background scene and with the fresh air of Malang City soothing your mind. Of the various menus, ranging from Indonesian-specific food to Italian food, Chinese food as well as any other Western foods, I opted western-style food, namely, Balsamic Glazed filet mignon, recommended by Mr. Stylianos, the General Manager of HARRIS Hotel and Conventions Malang.

Within few minutes, some appetizers were served to me before the main course, namely, cheese ball and mozzarella sticks. For the main course, I spent IDR 165.000 and the taste really paid the price. I enjoyed the smaller end of smooth perfectly roasted tenderloin. It was juicy and tasty, with balsamic sauce spread around the filet mignon. It blended nicely with the meat. You can taste the real balsamic vinegar and red wine in the sauce. The foods really pay the amount you spend and you will never feel disappointed with them.

Then came the time for hotel room, where I spent the night under a relaxing atmosphere on the king-size bed. In the next morning, I woke up to enjoy the breakfast buffet. The hotel served the best variations of breakfast menus from different countries. You can visit HARRIS Hotel and Conventions Malang for vacation, business, or for any other activities in Malang City, and you will enjoy a memorable experience staying at the resort hotel.

Other attractive things in the hotel include the following:

–       Unique HARRIS slippers

–       HARRIS car with a unique design

–       HARRIS boutique

–       Happy Feet Reflexiology

–       Daily kids activities

–       Outdoor fun vehicles

–       The spacious parking lot for cars and buses

Location :

HARRIS Hotel & Conventions Malang

Jl. A Yani Utara Riverside Block C-1 Malang 65126, Indonesia

Phone: +62 341 299 2299 I Fax: +62 341 299 2288

Email: sales@harris-malang.com

Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, Indonesia

Discovering the Marvelous Tribal Life in Baliem Valley, Papua, Indonesia

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In addition to Raja Ampat, which is known for its wonderful marine tourism, Papua has another tourist attraction. If you have much with natural tourist destinations, why don’t you try a cultural, tribal one? Living in urban areas, you may not be familiar with the tribal life. You can enjoy it in Baliem Valley. Are you strange with the name? Perhaps; but, you will not be strange to the name “Wamena, Papua, Indonesia”, where Baliem Valley is situated.

Tourism Activities

Trekking tribal villages is the main tourist activity in Baliem Valley. It is home to Dani people that are known for tough and warm spirit. There, you can still be able to meet local men with their penis gourd attire, living in stone-age villages. Uniqueness of the area is not limited to the people and the culture. You can also find unusual traditional architectures, namely, grass huts. Enjoy the fascinating views of forests, green fields, and rivers, with mountain as the background.

You can also go to the settlement areas of Lani tribe, Yali Tribes, and even to Asmat lands. You can begin the exploration from Wamena and follow the game trails to the neighboring valleys or to the mountains, which are accessible by walking, to get some fresh air. The trekking package takes about 30 days even though you can find much shorter expedition to the nearby villages.

Roaming through the markets in Wamena is another fascinating thing to do in Baliem Valley. If you do not have enough energy to hike 100 feet to Yali settlements, you may choose to take bicycle or rickshaw to explore the traditional markets. There, you can find fresh local fruits, local clothing and crafts, and some modern-style products like electronics and even car parts. You can take photographs of local children with their smiling face and show the photos to them (in fact, local children like to be photographed, particularly by the strangers).

Accommodation

You can find a number of hotels and accommodations in Wamena. However, if you come from a different province or from a different country and need to make online reservation, you only have a single choice, namely, the Baliem Valley Resort, a 3-star resort that is situated about 1.100 hectares away from the tribal villages. It is worthy knowing that few hotels provide internet connection, but if you need it, you can go to one of the internet cafes in Wamena.

Accessibility

To go to Wamena, you can fly from Jayapura; it takes about 40 minutes of air travel. Wamena has an airport terminal, in addition to an airstrip. If you are lucky, you can fly with military Hercules from Timika to Wamena or from Sorong to Wamena. The flight costs cheaper with Hercules, but you may not find a certain flight schedule.

Tips

The following tips may help you during a visit in Baliem Valley :

  • If you want to explore the tribal areas in and around Baliem Valley, you had better join a tourist agent or get a guide. Few local people can speak other languages, English even less.
  • Make sure you ask permission before taking photographs of anything in the market, particularly those from remote villages.
  • Make sure you prepare snacks and other stuffs you may need before night. Few areas have street lamp, and few stores open at night.
  • You had better allocate some extra budget when visiting Baliem Valley. Ever stuffs are flown there, and it is evident from the prices.
Asia, Destinations, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

Singapore Iconic Menu to Try in One Day

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Singapore is not only famous as a shopping and entertainment center, but also a food paradise. A melting pot of Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnicities, Singapore has rich food culture. It has been in the list of recommended countries to have culinary adventure in many travel magazines and websites for a long time. This time, let us show you 5 iconic Singaporean food and beverages (including really nice cocktail) that you can enjoy in a day, from morning until the evening.

Singaporean Breakfast Set

In a country rich in food culture, even a simple breakfast holds certain appeals. Singaporeans have many different breakfast variations, but one of the simplest and most favorite breakfast dishes is the Singaporean Breakfast Set. This seems like your typical toast and egg breakfast, but with some twists. The toasts are eaten with kaya spread, a type of creamy and sweet jam made of eggs, pandanus leaf and coconut. The eggs are soft boiled, and they come with a steaming cup of coffee or milk tea. Locals often break the toasts and eat the pieces by dipping them into the egg yolks, after adding soy sauce.
Some places recommended by Singaporean is Ya Kun, Killeney, ToastBox and Wang Cafe as these establishments have opened branches all over Singapore. In our opinion, the best Kaya Toast is from Killeney Kopitiam. It costs S$1.60 for the normal kaya toast and S$1.80 if you want it served on French loaf which is their main branch located at 67 Killiney Road, Singapore.

Laksa

Laksa is a Malayan noodle dish with coconut base broth, and places recommended by Singaporean is 328 Katong laksa located at 53 East Coast Road, singapore. This laksa dish is a variation of Malayan laksa called laksa lemak (‘lemak’ is a term given for its coconut milk based broth), which is slightly creamy but spicy. This noodle dish is unique because the noodles are cut into shorter pieces, so you can eat the dish with only spoon instead of struggling with long noodle strings, forks or chopsticks.

Chicken Rice

If you want something healthier and more fulfilling, try Nasi Ayam or Chicken Rice. This dish shares similarities with many other rice dishes in other Asian countries such as Malaysia and China (the famous inspiration is Hainan Chicken Rice). If you cannot handle hot dishes, this is the safer choice. The best place to enjoy this food is at Tian Tian Chicken Rice, one of the most famous chicken rice stalls in Singapore. Located at 443 Joo Chiat Road  Singapore. It even gained the approval of Anthony Bourdain when he was in Singapore.

Chili Crab with Mantou Bread

Chili crab is another iconic Singaporean dishes, and its dubbed down version often appears in various Asian themed restaurants around the world. However, nothing beats the kicking spices in the crab’s sauce. Chili crab was invented by Cher Yam Tian and her husband, Lim Choon Ngee, in around 1950’s. Since then, chili crab becomes a kind of national dish.

The crab is served steaming hot with generous amount of thick red sauce, which is sweet, sour and spicy. The original chili crab has delicious sauce that many people refuse to waste it away. Mantou or Chinese fried bread is often served with chili crab, so people can enjoy the sauce by dipping bread on it. The best place to try Singaporean chilli crab is at No Signboard Seafood. Try the signature Chilli Crab and Black pepper crab here. Located at 414 Geylang Road, Singapore.

Singaporean Sling

Finally, close your day by enjoying Singaporean Sling, an Asian cocktail first made around 1915 by a bartender named Ngiam Tong Boon. This cocktail consist of gin and brandy as the main alcohol, then mixed grenadine, cherry brandy, lemon or lime juice, pineapple juice, Benedictine and Cointreau. This is a type of straight up cocktail, means you drink it as soon as it is poured from the shaker, without ice.

The taste of this cocktail is described as rich, fresh and light, with foamy surface and fragrant smell from the fresh fruit juices and garnish. This is truly the perfect drink to end your culinary adventure in Singapore from morning to evening.

Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Toba Lake, the Beautiful Super Volcano

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Ask any Indonesian to mention the most iconic natural wonder in North Sumatra, big chance he or she will mention Danau Toba (Lake Toba). This volcanic lake is one of the most distinctive in the world, because it has been deduced that this ‘lake’ is actually the mouth of a giant volcano (super volcano). Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of the lake, are two natural wonders in North Sumatra that holds a lot of potentials as well as beauty.

History

According to geological point of view, this beautiful and serene lake was once a massive eruption site that brought drastic climatic change and phenomenon called volcanic winter. This is known among geologists as the Toba Catastrophic Event, which occurred around 75,500 years ago. Lake Toba that we know now is actually a caldera, and Samosir Island is a resurgent dome. However, while this volcanic lake spread terror and disaster thousands of years ago, it is now one of the most iconic natural travel destinations in Indonesia and the world. Let us see what this lake has to offer if you visit.

Natural Attractions

Lake Toba is rich in its biodiversity, with fertile ground and lush tropical forest around it, with many species of birds and mammals. On the higher ground, the forest consists of pine forests. The lake is also habitat of various species of phytoplankton. However, the lake itself is poor in nutrition, so there is not much fish living there naturally. Besides the endemic Batak fish (Rasboratobana), other fish species in this lake were introduced from outside.

Toba Lake and Samosir Island are beautiful and they make great photography objects. In addition, the lake water is naturally warm because of the volcanic nature; this makes many visitors love to take a dip in it. The volcanic nature of this lake also created several hot springs on the western part of Samosir Island with IDR 2000 (around 2 cents) as entrance fee, and free use of communal hot spring pool. Unless if you want to swim in ‘foreign tourist’s pool,’ which costs IDR 10,000 ($1).

The Offers

Locals who live around the Toba are mostly from Batak ethnicity. They are friendly and enthusiastic to help tourist get around, sometimes showing the nearest cheap restaurants or the best spots to take pictures. While their native languages are Batak, they mostly can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Many locals also perform in various dances specially presented for tourists, cooperating with travel agents and local restaurants.

Visiting Toba Lake has long become recommended itinerary for hotels and travel agents in North Sumatra. While there are now many public facilities and entertainment to enjoy around the lake area, there is nothing better than kicking back and enjoying beautiful view quietly, savoring the beauty of this super volcano that once had become so destructive.

Despite its history and adversaries that the lake faces now (including illegal logging, pollution and deforestation), Lake Toba and Samosir Island will still become North Sumatra’s iconic pride and continue to draw visitors from around the world.


Expedia.com

Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Komodo Island: The Isle of Roaming Dragons

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If someone asks you where you can still see dragons nowadays other than in many fantasy movies, the answer is Pulau Komodo (Komodo Island). As the name states, this is the island where komodo dragon, a species of prehistoric monitor lizard, still roams freely and has never been altered from their original shapes from millions of years ago.

Komodo Island is located in the southern part of Indonesia archipelago, and is officially under the administration of East Nusa Tenggara province. The island has been included in the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and is actually a part of Komodo National Park. With the size of 390 square kilometers and around 2,000 of population, Komodo Island is located in a neat position between Sumbawa and Flores. The people here live side by side with various rare animal species that roam freely, including the famous Komodo dragon (Varanuskomodoensis).

History behind the Dragon Island

Legend about the ‘dragon island’ was first brought up by Dutch sailors posted in East Nusa Tenggara during the early 20th century. The sailors reported about giant dragons that roamed freely on the island, with were as large as 2 meters in length and could spit fire (actually poisonous saliva). A lieutenant named Steyn van Hensbroek then visited the island and killed one of the dragons, then ordered the specimen to be photographed and recorded, with the results being sent to Zoological Museum and Botanical Garden in West Java. Since then, the ‘dragon’ is called Komodo dragon, based on the name of the island.

Surely enough, Komodo dragons become the iconic animals in Komodo Island despite their ferocious nature. Komodo is a dangerous predator that can easily harm and kill large mammals, including humans. Their saliva contains 40 different types of bacteria and there is no cure for all these bacteria, and their sense of smell is strong. Therefore, women who are in their periods are forbidden to enter the island.

The Natural Attractions

Despite of the ferocious Komodo, this island also holds other natural attractions. Komodo Island has many Java deer, buffaloes, boars, wild horses, macaques and civets. The island also has unique species of cockatoo and friarbirds. It also has beautiful underwater view, and has become one of the most beautiful diving sites in Indonesia.

Roaming the beach in this island is also a unique experience. Besides seeing the lives of locals, we can also see pink beach. This phenomenon happens because the sand consists of red sand, white sand, and small pieces of Foraminifera. This pink beach is one of only seven other similar beaches in the world.

The popularity of Komodo Island inspired various travel agents and hotels in East Nusa Tenggara to arrange Komodo related activities. There are Komodo expedition trip, diving package, Komodo kayaking and camping. However, if visitors want to see Komodo, they must visit via the national park’s office, so there will be experienced guides to accompany them.With its unique fauna, natural beauty and long last legend of the ‘real dragons,’ the Komodo Island will still become a one of a kind island in Indonesia archipelago.

Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Bunaken, Underwater Paradise in North Sulawesi

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As a maritime country, Indonesia is famous for its various diving sites. One of the most colorful diving sites is Bunaken Island, which is located in North Sulawesi and a part of Manado municipality. The Island is only 8 km square in size, but it has one of the richest marine biodiversity stuffs in the world.

Bunaken Island itself is a part of Bunaken National Marine Park. It has been the pride of people in Manado since first established in 1991. Many divers and snorkelers around the world make this island one of their must-visit places for diving. It is not surprising considering its underwater beauty.

Bunaken got its rich biodiversity from the meeting between Northeastern currents and their counter currents, which constantly create a large swimming larva and plankton traps. This, in turn, attracts various species of animals that eat those larva and planktons, and in turn attract more large animals, forming a biodiversity. Other factors that make Bunaken so rich in life forms are its constantly warm water, being a tropical sea with temperature that ranges between 27 and 29 Celsius degree. This is an ideal condition for various marine plants and coral reefs to grow and multiply.

Biodiversity of Bunaken

Many divers and snorkelers have described incredible view under Bunaken water; not only because the water is clear blue, but also because the underwater life is very rich. It is said that Bunaken has about 70 percent of all fish species in Indo-Western Pacific, as well as having 7 out of 8 species of rare giant clams in the whole world.

Divers can also see hundreds of coral fish species, among them are damsels, gobies, clown fish and groupers. Other animals include sea turtle, several species of sea horses, colorful coral reefs and sponges. In fact, Bunaken has about 70 coral genera, which is claimed to be more than those in Hawaiian Island. There are also unique, rare animals such as dugongs. Bunaken is so famous that Department of Tourism always puts this island and one of the most recommended destinations for people who visit Eastern Indonesia areas, especially Sulawesi.

How to Enter Bunaken

To reach Bunaken, visitors can depart from Manado by boat in a 60 minutes trip. Public boats are available every day except on Sunday, with quite cheap fares; around $2.5 (IDR 25,000) for tourists. The boat departs at 2-3 PM and returns from the island at 8-8.30 AM. Many travel agents also arrange trip to the island with chartered boat. The entry fee to the island is $5 (IDR 50,000).

Bunaken also offers other activities. For example, instead of diving, visitors can join a hiking trip to see Bunaken’s coastal beauty from hilltop. Visitors can also join local anglers for a fishing trip, or hire boats to watch whales and dolphins. The beach is also nice for lazy strolling, but visitors must be careful about sea tide rising. Bunaken is clearly one of the most beautiful natural attractions Indonesia has, and its rich biodiversity suitably earns it the reputation as the underwater paradise in North Sulawesi.

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Editor's Picks, Indonesia

Exploring the Wonder of Crude Marine Tourism at Raja Ampat

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That Indonesia is a wonderful tourist destination is not a secret. It is home to many stunning islands, diverse cultures and delicious foods. Indonesia has so many wonderful tourist destinations that offer naturally rustic environment, which you cannot find in Bali or in any other established destinations. One of them is Raja Ampat in the Province of Papua, Indonesia.

What to Do

  • Diving

Raja Ampat is the destination of choice for divers and marine tourism lovers. It is even said to be one of 10 world’s best places, if not the best one, for diving since it has rare seawater flora and fauna. It has more than 600 species of coral reefs, which are not found at any other areas anymore. Preserved coral reefs are found in the strait between Waigeo Island and Batanta Island, in Kofiau, Misool, and Wayag Islands.

  • Boat Tour

Exploring the islands using a boat is an amazing activity to do in Raja Ampat. Renting a small boat, you can explore the islands freely. You can travel to the four main islands, with their hilly contour, and hundreds of other smaller islands. It is for sure, you will be amazed by the natural panorama surrounding you.

  • Trekking

Another way to explore the islands is trekking. Raja Ampat is known for scarce, unique fauna, like bald Cendrawasih, red Cendrawasih, maleo, waigeo, or kus-kus. In addition, trekking in the area of Tomolol will bring you to old bat caves, rare orchids or palms. Having a seat near to the natural falls in Salawati Island soothes your soul and mind, of course. There is also a traditional village in Waigeo, where you can sightsee and enjoy the unique and rustic environment.

What to Buy

Papua community is known for unique handicrafts, made of natural materials, particularly wood and bamboo. To get something interesting for your beloved ones at home, you can go handicraft centers or souvenir stores, such as plait crafts (anyaman) at Arborek, South Waigeo Island. You can bring the following stuffs home.

  • Sculptures, made by Asmat community; you can also learn to make the sculpture with the assistance of Asmat crafters.
  • Traditional clothes
  • Traditional flutes, and some other crafts

Where to Live

Raja Ampat is under large construction projects for accommodations in the Tourist Center, namely Saonek Monde, resorts in Nyandebabo, Waiwo Island, and South Wiageo Island. Right now, you have some alternative resorts, including:

  • Island camps, where you can enjoy local dishes like fish soup
  • Boathouses that are usually provided by diving agents
  • Kri Eco Resort, a unique resort with rustic style, built over the water
  • Sarido Bay Resort, which provides you with the joy of a house reef style
  • Hotels and resorts on Saonek Monde, Mansuar island, and Tenwupnor island

You may have to allocate relatively substantial amount of budget for a visit to Raja Ampat. From Jakarta, Indonesia, you fly to Sorong via Manado. The flight takes about 6 hours. From Sorong, you can go to Raja Ampat using speedboat or long boat for about 40 minutes of travel time. The standard transportation cost to Raja Ampat ranges from IDR 1 million to 1,2 millions. Surely, the cost and time you invest to visit Raja Ampat will be paid by the joy and unforgettable experience you get.

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