Beautiful Places in Indonesia: March 2011

Banda Island

BANDA ISLAND

Banda Island

The Banda group, about 160 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consists of three larger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia’s deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near Manuk Island, the water reaches more than 6,500 meters depth. Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Mount Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation. The third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The last eruption of Mt. Api occurred only a few years ago. The seas around Banda are the sites of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal-clear waters. Facilities for sightseeing, snorkeling and skin-diving are available, as well as clean, comfortable cottages.
Banda saw some of the bloodiest episodes of Maluku’s past history during the 17th century. In 1609, the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) dispatched Verhoeff to the islands to obtain the contested spice trade monopoly at any cost. Confronted by a superior power, people Banda were forced to allow the company to establish a fort, but in that same year Verhoeff was killed together with 45 of his men. The Company retaliated, but peace was not restored. In 1619, V.O.C. Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen arrived at the head of a penal expedition and exterminated the entire population of Banda. The land was divided into lots, called “perken”, and given to former company employees, the “perkiniers”, who were obliged to grow nutmeg and sell them at predetermined prices to the company. Slaves did the actual work in the fields. The old “perkenier houses”, or what is left of them, and old churches still retain a peculiar colonial character to the port town of Bandaneira today. Two old forts Belgica and Nassau are inside the town limits. Others are found elsewhere on the islands. See also the former Dutch Governor’s mansion, the History Museum in Neira, and the huge nutmeg plantation nearby.

banda sea

Jimbaran by Night

Jimbaran, Bali, by Night

when the sound of music buzzing around in the air,

and the smoke of roasted fish floats thickly, melt with the sound of waves...

here's the place where white wine meets chili sauce in the same table! :)

Sam Poo Kong Temple

This is the picture of Sam Poo Kong temple, a chinese temple that was built 6 centuries ago, in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.

It is believed that it was Cheng Ho, a captain of Ming Dynasty mission who established this place. Cheng Ho, also called Zheng He, was a Chinese Muslim admiral and explorer whose voyages throughout the world 600 years ago have been discussed in many quarters. As a trade and politics emissary of the Chinese emperor, he and his 27,000 men in some 200 ships traveled around the world over a period of 28 years in the 15th century.

This temple is a remarkable souvenir from the very early period of the aculturation of Javanese and Chinese cultures.

Look at the branch of the tree. Regarding on the shape, local people said that it was the chain of the anchor thrown by Cheng Ho.

one of the praying corners

the main gate

Sam Poo Kong temple is unique, not only because it remains in a country with muslim majority, but also since it is the only chinese temple in the world that has 3 layered roof. This place is more special for this is the place where people with different beliefs; Moslems, Buddhists and Confusius come to pray.

Karimunjawa

What will you feel when you sit there, watching the calm sunset in a calm island, which is not so known?

Or, sailing in wooden canoe along the river that goes towards the clear watered sea, with virgin mangrove forests all over the edge?

Witness the clear water, that you can see through virgin coral reefs, embordered by green beaches with slender coconut trees that dance as the wind blows...

A young fellow joyfully cherish the richness of the land, climbing up for fresh coconut juice in a sunny day...

And the sharks are being protected here,

As well as the green turtles that discover their freedom to breed

Rest. Feel free, relieve yourself from the crowded world around you. The beauty of mother nature will heal you, here, in Karimunjawa Islands, Central Java-Indonesia...

Technical Data:
Location : Karimunjawa Islands (consists of 27 isles), Jepara Municipality, Central Java-Indonesia.
Size: 7129 Hectares of land, 107.225 Hectares of water area
Karimunjawa Islands has been decided as National Marine Life Conservation site by the government of the Republic Indonesia since 1986.
There are only a few people living in the area, whom mostly have high consciousness to conserve the land and the water safe in the nature.
How to get there: by speedboat from Semarang, the capital of Central Java-Indonesia

Uluwatu

the rock, and the Indian Ocean.
The strengh that meet into one, under the heat of tropical sun

since centuries, this land has been surrounded by the holy spirits that melt in the air, signatured within the holy statues and temples, standing still in front the crowds of admirations...

peacefully living within the colors of flowers, none dare to harm them as they are signified as the inseparapable parts of the holy breeze...

feel the freedom, sailing with the waves and being drifted out of the horizon...

until the sun rests, we're standing still in harmony...

Red Hot Chili Lombok

Red Hot Chili Lombok :-)

What matters is NOT WHERE we go, but HOW we CHERISH the beauty of the earth...

And there I was, with my beloved, JFB, trying to explore another part of the earth this summer. A beautiful island, Lombok, Indonesia...

Lombok is the place where the beauty of the lanscapes, sea, mountains and wildlife melt. And here are there, some pictures to let yourself imagine.

Me, waiting for sunset at beautiful Malimbu...

cute wild dog stared at me at Malimbu, Western Lombok...

Me in my green raincoat looks so tiny beneath Singang Gila Waterfall!

and...it was the "road" that we took to reach the second waterfall, Tiuk Kelep

walking against the stream under the rain... can you imagine how fantastic it felt?

the old tunnels where we walked in to go back to our basecamp at John's Adventure

Northern Coast of Lombok, the black-grey sand

mount Agung, Bali, seen from behind the wild grass on Northern Coast of Lombok

This Is The Sea That Brought Us Here...

You might guess that the beach pictured above is one of those beaches in world-known tourism spots. You might guess that it's Bali, Lombok, or maybe some of those famous beaches in Thailand.

But No. It's none of them. It's ACEH.

Yes, ACEH. You heard of this place after the December 2004's devastating tsunami, yet the sea that drifted thousands of lives away is actually this gorgeous...