Locations with ‘The Lion King’-esque sights in Indonesia

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The breathtaking view of Baluran National Park in Banyuwangi, East Java. (Shutterstock/-) A remake of the 90s classic The Lion King is back on the silver screen. This time, however, the animation has been re-made to a life-like recreation of the original film. This new live-action-take on the movie takes viewers directly to the African terrain, represented with the best realism technology has to offer. With the quality of the realism in this movie, viewers might be curious as to how these terrains may look in the real world. But in order to see these sights, viewers in Indonesia might not have … Continue reading →

On Mount Merapi, Samiran villagers open homes to tourists

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Samiran tourist village is home to the Merapi Garden area. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi) Five years ago, Samiran in Selo district, Boyolali regency, Central Java, was just a small village located on the slopes of Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu, serving as a transit place for climbers. The locals of Samiran could be found voluntarily hosting hikers who needed a place to stay while waiting for the right time to climb. They never asked for payment for their services, which included accommodation and meals. Today, the village is no longer the same. Samiran is now home to homestays and supporting tourist … Continue reading →

5 destinations to photograph wild animals in Indonesia

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A Javan rusa fawn on a beach in West Bali National Park. (Shutterstock/Tropical studio) Are you a wildlife photography enthusiast? There is no need to travel all the way to Africa in order to capture National Geographic-worthy wildlife photos. Here in Indonesia there are many destinations in which to photograph animals in their natural habitat, with many species available to be snapped. What you need to prepare are tickets, equipment and a schedule to ensure the weather will support your quest for the best photographs. Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan Boat tours along the river are a definite highlight of … Continue reading →

12 great reasons to visit South Sulawesi

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A stone garden in the prehistoric Leang caves area, Bantimurung district, South Sulawesi. (Shutterstock/krisbiantoandy) If you’re looking for an Indonesian destination rich in culture, active pursuits and unparalleled marine life, don’t miss South Sulawesi. This diverse destination seemingly has it all; from UNESCO-listed scuba diving to white-sand islands, impressive karst landscapes, hiking and cave paintings dating back over 35,000 years. Now is the best time to visit, so pack your bags and remember to take your best camera — you’re going to need it. 1. Explore the wonders of Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park The lush Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park is well … Continue reading →

Banda Islands: Portal into another world

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There is a lot to see in the Banda Islands, a place that can bring any visitor back into the past. The sky is a grey wash. Dark clouds hang low and ragged over a silver sea. Wind whips up white caps ahead of a storm, and sheets of rain are drawn like curtains across the water, smudging the line between sea and sky. Beneath the water, coral gardens cover the steep slopes and walls. Pink fan corals wave in the currents, blue-tipped staghorn, pale pink barrel sponge, blue coral, plate coral, patches of branching fire, brain coral, feather stars; … Continue reading →

Tourism minister launches hyperlocal GrabAndong transportation in Yogyakarta

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Tourism Minister Arief Yahya officially launched GrabAndong, a horse-drawn carriage ride-hailing service for travelers visiting the Malioboro area in downtown Yogyakarta, which can be accessed through the Grab application. “With the support of technology, hopefully more travelers will visit the tourist destinations here,” Arief said in his speech at the launch of the service during the Malioboro Night Festival on Friday. Andong, traditional horse-drawn carriages, are available along the city’s legendary Jl. Malioboro for tourists to explore the area. A trip usually costs Rp 100,000 (US$7). Arief said a survey revealed that almost 70 percent of tourists, 50 percent of … Continue reading →

RUMAH ATSIRI: SCENTED HEAVEN IN TAWANGMANGU

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“These are some old pictures of this place” our tour guide explained to us at the start of our garden tour. From the photos showcased at their lobby, I could see that there weren’t many changes to this place. Rumah Atsiri used to be a former citronella fragrance oil-processing factory, based in Tawangmangu, Central Java. It is an educational recreation site related to essential oil. Rumah is Indonesian word for house, while Atsiri or Asiri means something that evaporates. It is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Rumah Atsiri building How much is it? To visit Rumah Atsiri, we have to pay the card as … Continue reading →

The unforgettable Rote Island

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Perfect moment: Sunset at Nemberala Beach on Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara. (JP/Ayu Saptarika) Rote Island in East Nusa Tenggara offers outstanding beaches with perfect waves, making it well known among surfers across the globe. But this is not its only charm. The island also boasts many incredible panoramas, traditional crafts and food. Surrounded by the Timor Sea and the Indian Ocean, Rote’s tropical climate makes staying there feel exotic. The island is accessible from the East Nusa Tenggara capital, Kupang, via sea or air transportation. Not many people crowd the streets of the 1,200-square meter island because most of … Continue reading →

White sand of Nusa Dua in Bali Island

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Nusa Dua, the remarkable island located in Indonesia, was designed with a great purpose: to be an all-inclusive kind of tourist destination. It is considered as a perfect place for both family trip and romantic honeymoons. Island of Nusa Dua located in South Bali is mostly known as an area with great five-star resorts and was built and designed with the idea to compete with the worldwide famous resorts. It is situated 22 kilometers from Denpasar and offers luxurious accommodation, nice dining, R&R and golf resorts. In order to enhance the safety of the guests, everyone entering Nusa Dua resorts is checked by high-level security systems. Nusa Dua … Continue reading →

145-year-old Blitar coffee plantation lures tourists with colonial history, internship opportunity

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At the foot of Mount Kelud in Blitar, a coffee plantation established at the end of the 19th century offers an interesting experience for tourists. In the middle of the plantation, which is situated 450 to 600 meters above sea level, tourists can enjoy coffee in the unique colonial atmosphere of the old buildings and factories of the Dutch colonial era. Anthony Fokker, who founded the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, is said to have been born there in 1890. The plantation was opened in 1874 by Dutchman HJ Velsink and named “Kultuur Mij Karanganjar”, with the main commodity being robusta coffee … Continue reading →