Tag Archives: travel

Manado – Forgotten diamond of Sulawesi

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In a country like Indonesia, where the territorial waters cover more than the entire land area, Manado was necessarily a town overlooking the sea. And yet, very few of those traveling to discover Indonesian beauties decide to stop by this beautiful city. Most travelers who come to the capital of North Sulawesi don’t pay attention to Manado as much as it deserves. Usually, they just make a quick stop at its airport and depart to nearby islands. That’s probably the reason why Manado has been preserved as a non-touristic city. Even though there are no significant tourist attractions, the friendliness … Continue reading →

Useful phrases and tips for communication in Indonesian language

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Believe it or not, there are 583 languages and dialects spoken in Indonesia, including languages of various ethnic groups of the country. Some of these languages are Acehnese, Batak, Sundanese, Javanese, Toraja, Buginese and many others. All of them are subdivided into dialects. Even though the Indonesian language is the national language of this country, you can hear English pretty often, especially when it comes to tourist areas. You can also hear some German and Dutch in big cities if you are lucky enough. In order to have successful communication with native people once you find yourself away from tourist … Continue reading →

Tempestuous history of Indonesia

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Your journey to Indonesia will be a better experience if you get to know more about its past and all types of influences which made Indonesia be just like it is today. That’s why we prepared a short guide through the history of Indonesia. So, let’s start exploring the dynamic past of this wonderful country. Beginnings Not long ago prevailed the belief that about 500 000 years ago in central Java a primitive humanoid with African origin (Homo erectus) had lived. Homo erectus inhabited Indonesia after he found the isthmus which existed back then and crossed it. Indonesia was his habitat until Homo … Continue reading →

Wakatobi Islands: Underwater nirvana like no other

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Indonesia is a country where acronyms abound, so when I was informed I was traveling with a group of friends to Wakatobi, I assumed it was just to one island by that name. It was only later that it dawned on me that Wakatobi was also an acronym. Wakatobi is an abbreviation of the collective names for a string of islands that lie southeast of Sulawesi, which are Wangi Wangi Island, Kaledupa Island, Tomia Island and Binongko Island. It is also referred to as the Tukang Besi Islands. Sulawesi itself forms part of the archipelago of Indonesia. It lies toward … Continue reading →

Myths and history of Belakang Padang Island

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Belakang Padang Island rises from the waters of the Singapore strait. (JP/Fadli) A myth says that those who go to Belakang Padang Island will have their yearnings met. Thus, a romantic nickname was born: “Penawar Rindu“, the island that soothes longing hearts. Riau province, which is close to Singapore, consists of 108 islands. Only 43 of them are inhabited. Situated six nautical miles from Singapore, the people of Belakang Padang Island can easily see the skyscrapers of the city-state, such as Marina Bay Sands. Going to Singapore from Belakang Padang takes about 15 to 20 minutes on a speed boat. Boats for … Continue reading →

Kuta – Indonesian diamond on the Island of Gods

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You won’t find a better place for entertainment, nightlife and cheap accommodation than Kuta, at least on the island of Bali. The easiest way of reaching Kuta is a ride from Ubud, which lasts for about 90 minutes. Atmosphere in the street In the Poppies Gang II street, there are hundreds of stands where you can buy literally anything and everything. Don’t forget to bargain, because sellers are looking forward to that! If you are a lover of malls, you’ll certainly have fun at Discovery, which is a modern shopping mall. Tropical Fruits – Bali, Indonesia Evenings in Kuta Streets are usually crowded with tourists, most … Continue reading →

A glance at the wetlands of East Kalimantan from the Somber River, Graha Indah mangrove center

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As East Kalimantan prepares to become Indonesia’s future capital, a trip to anywhere in the province promises to be more interesting than ever. The Jakarta Post recently took a trip to the East Kalimantan city of Balikpapan on a media junket with tech company Grab Indonesia. Our first destination right after getting off a morning flight from Jakarta was Graha Indah Mangrove Center Balikpapan, about an hour’s drive away from the airport that is now named Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan (SAMS) International Airport, previously known simply as Sepinggan airport. We traveled from the airport to the mangrove center using the GrabRent … Continue reading →

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 →