Indonesia Travel Guide

Prambanan Temple or sometimes called as Roro Jonggrang temple is recognized as one of the most beautiful Hindu temples in the world. UNESCO has included it as one of the world’s heritages in 1991. Prambanan Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Indonesia, even in Southeast Asia. The temple is not only famous with its magnificent building, but also with its historical story as well as the legend behinds it.

There is a popular legend among Javanese people that relates to the built of Prambanan Temple. Most Javanese people believe that Prambanan Temple was built because of the power of Bandung Bondowoso. Based on the legend, there was a very beautiful young princess, named Rara Jonggrang. She was the daughter of King Boko. Bandung Bondowoso wanted to marry her. Roro Jonggrang would agree to marry him with one condition. It is said that Bandung
Bondowoso had to build thousand statues in one night. Bandung Bondowoso accepted this condition. When he finished his 999th statue, Roro Jonggrang played a trick on him, so he couldn’t finish all the statues. Then he became angry and cursed Roro Jonggrang to be the last statue. Many people believed that the statue of a lady, who is placed in the temple, is the statue of Roro Jonggrang. That is why the temple is also called as Roro Jonggrang temple.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Java Island

Java is most is the most densely populated island of Indonesia, situated between Sumatra and Bali. Popular tourist destinations include the city of Yogyakarta, a massive pyramid-like monument known as Borobudur, and Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple in Java. The island is divided into six provinces: DKI Jakarta (Indonesia Capital City), Banten, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, and DI Yogyakarta.

Penari Jaipong

The Verdant Land of Parahiangan

West JAva surrounds Jakarta on three sides. It is a region of sandy beaches and lush, breathtaking landscape. Around 70 KM form Jakarta is Bogor, a pleasant and cool town famous for its Botanical Garden built in 1817. The garden cover an area of 87 hectares and shelters 15.000 species of rare trees, such as a carrion-smelling, stemless and leafless plant, and plants from all over the world. As well as an extraordinary collection of 5000 orchids in its orchids gardens. It borders the Presidential Palace, home of the Dutch Governor General during the colonial period.

Baduy Village

In the highlands live some of the most isolated communities of Indonesia’s population. The Baduy in Banten live in the Kendeng highlands and still guard ancient Sundanese traditions and customs. In the highlands of Salawu, Tasikmalaya, the people of Kampung Naga form a closed community, preferring to live and work in their homeland.

West Java offers many adrenaline pumping activities. Trekkers exploring the tropical rainforests of  Ujung Kulon in Banten at the southwestern tip of West Java may be lucky enough to meet its most famous inhabitant, the endangered one-horn rhinoceros.

Beneath the waters, beatiful sea gardens are found off hte nearby Peucang and Panaitan islands. In the Sunda Strait, a seascape of craked volcanic rock around Krakatau, and the caves and tunnels around Ujung Kulon provide an interesting underwater experience.

Around 50 KM south of Bogor, Pelabuhan Ratu is a popular seaside resort on the south coast. Leaving the toll expressway, the road passes through hilly country and plantations. Despite strong undertow and surf, Pelabuhan Ratu welcomes a growing number of surfers from Jakarta.

Yet, many have also come to West Java for healings int the highlands. The rainforests, natural springs and cascading waterfalls of Mount Salak provide the prefect spot for cleansing both body and mind. Treatments at Javana Spa include Indonesian traditional and aromatic massages, volcanic mud body masque, facial aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. At Sari Ater on the slopes of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, mineral and sulphure springs help you to unwind and heal most skin problems.

Angklung, Java Traditional Music Art

In Bandung, the provincial capital, visit Mang Udjo’s Angklung Workshop in the cool village of Padasuka for the soothing melody of a bamboo orchestra. Bamboo handicrafts and musical instruments of fine workmanship and exact tuning are made and sold here. Bandung is also famous for its hundreds of factory outlets, for the latest off-the-rack fashion. The Juanda park in the city’s suburb has caves from the time of the Dutch and Japanese occupation for a spooky experience.

When in West Java, hunt around for authentic items, such as hand-carved wooden statues and screen, hand-woven and painted cottons and silks, embroidery, shell-ornaments, basketry, sandstone statues and bamboo furniture. Get hand-painted Tasik umbrellas and the Wayang Golek, a three-dimensional puppet used in the traditional theater.

Cradle of Culture and Classic Tradition

Borobudur Temple

The land’s long and rich history cannot be seperated from the influences of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. The region is dotted with temples; stark Shivaite temples are found in the Dieng Plateau of Wonosobo, about 2,093 m above sea level. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and the world’s eighth wonder. The two-level pyramid symbolizes the ten stages of the Mahayana Buddhist cosmic system. The walls of Borobudur are sculptured in bas-reliefs extendinf over a total of 6 km.

Prambanan Temple

The 9th century Prambanan temple complex in the outskirts of Yogyakarta consists of three curtyards and temples that surround three main shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Ciwa, Vishnu and Brahma. The temple’s relief are beautifully carved dan depict the Hindu cosmic system and stories from Ramayana. Traditional Javanese ballets are performed on open air stages during full moon evenings. The spread of Islam in Java also left several interesting monuments, such as the 15th century Minaret Mosque in Kudus, the oldest mosque in Central Java.

Age-old culture, traditions and values of the Javanese are kept alive in the courts of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat in Yogyakarta and Pakualaman and Mangkunegaran in Surakarta. The grant and elegant Javanese architecture of the eighteenth century kratons or palace guard priceless royal heirlooms and precious antiques.

In Yogyakarta, the walled-in kraton compound is a veritable city within a city. It is home to 25,000 people and includes the Sultan’s huge palace, the Taman Sari water castle, a bird market and several craft industries.

Take a trip on a historic steam locomotion to enjoy cool highland scenery from the Ambarawa Train Museum near Semarang. At Losari, take the time ti visit a popular teahouse which has been around since the Dutch colonial period. Relax and take in the spectacular panorama of coffee plantations set against the volcanoes, Sundoro an Sumbing.

Apart from graceful classic dances and mesmerizing wayang theaters, Java offers a fantastic array of art and craft. There’s teak carvings from Jepara; leather goods, batik and masks from Yogya and Surakarta. Apart from batik, lurik is a woven textile that is made into sarongs, bed covers, upholstery and garments. Delicate and intricately-made silverworks are produces in Kota Gede, Yogyakarta. Several workshops are open to give public a first-hand experience in how silver is transformed into lovely works of art. Kota Gede also hides a secret of lovely traditional Javanese architecture, transquilty and languid pace of bygone eras when Kota Gede was the seat of the mighty Mataram Kingdom of the 16th century.

Ancient Temples and Java Performing Arts

Java’s easternmost province isn’t short of attractions either. The archeological site at Trowulan Village was the ancient capital of the Great Majapahit Empire. Kalimas, in the province’s capital, Surabaya, is an old traditional harbor for ohinisis or Bugis schooners.

For an unforgettable experience, go up the ancient caldera of Mount Bromo in East JAva on horseback to watch the sun rise over a sea of sand. Int he ancient caldera, two volcanoes are visible, the prefect coned and extinct Batok, and Bromo  which still releases smoke and volcanic sulphur fumes. Once a year, the Tengger people of the mountain pay homege to the gods who dwell on Mount Bromo in a Kesada ceremony in which scarificial offerings are thrown into the crater. Another well-visited crater is Mount Ijen which 1 km in diameter, 175 m deep and has a turquoise lake in tis center.

At the easternmost end of the island, Meru Betiri National Park is the last remaining habitat of the Javanese tigers, panther and giant green turtles who come to lay hundreds of eggs on Sukamade Beach. Nearby Banyuwangi and Plengkung Bay Java are also gaining recognition as a top surfing spot in the world.

Across the Madura Straits lies the island of Madura, famous for its daring bull races called karapan sapi. Regulary held at the Pamekasan Stadium, bulls race across the grass with the jockeys standing on a wooden skid that are fastenes to a yoke placed between two bulls. The Maduranese not only show a great deal of excitement out of watching this race, they take their local sport very seriously. Jockeys and bull owners are held in great esteem by the community.

Wayang Kulit Puppet

The Wayang Kulit or classic leather puppet theater performance usually takes place all through the night until the early hours. It takes its repertoire from either the Ramayana or Mahabarata epics. The court dances of Yogyakarta are among the most refined and sublime of Javanese dances, such as the Golek and Bedoyo, performed by nine female dancers

Indonesia : Gem of the Equator

Gem Of Equator

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, consisting of more than 17,000 islands. Spread across 5,120 km of ocean and positioned between Asia and Australia, this country is as wide as the European continent. Four-fifths of the area is sea, with the major islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Unity in Diversity
As the world’s 14th largest nation, Indonesia’s population totals over 200 million, comparising 250-300 ethnic groups that have their own language and dialects bute are united with Bahasa Indonesia, the national language spoken throughtout the archipelago.

The majority of Indonesians are Islam, with Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists and followers of Confucianism making up the rest. Since 2001 the Chinese culture has experienced a welcomed revival that served to enrich the country’s cultural diversity.

The Nature
Indonesia’s flora and fauna is diversely rich as its land and people. Asian mammals in the west, Australians marsupial species and birds in the east and the endemic species are in the middle of archipelago.

Orangutans, tigers, one horned rhinos, elephant, dugongs, anoas, komodo dragons are the pride of  Indonesia. The seas around archipelago also hold the country’s treasures, a rich marine environment that holds a myriad of species, from fish, corals and marine mammals. National parks around the archipelago serve to preserve this rich natural heritage.

Rules and Regulations
Immigration
All travellers to Indonesia must be in possession of passport valid for at least six months from date of arrival and have proof (tickets) of onward or return passage.

Immigration authorities provide Free Tourist Visas for a period of 30 days to nationals from 11 countries  only on the basis of reciprocity. These countries are Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darusalam, the Philipines, Hongkong SAR, Macao SAR, Chile, Marocco, Peru and Vietnam.

Moreover, Visa On Arrival has been given to nationals from 36 countries. There are : Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Visa Of Arrival (VOA) is valid  for 30 days and may be extended under the permission of Indonesian Immigration with the condition as follows :

• natural disaster occurs in the place visited by tourist;
• the traveler is taken ill or meets with an accident during their visit.

Other nationals must apply for visa at Indonesia Embassies or Consulates in their home country. Visa cannot be replaced with any other forms of immigration letters.

Entry ports where Visa On Arrival may be issued are (Airports) :

• Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta
• Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali
• Polonia Airport in Medan
• Sultan Syarif Kasim Airport in Pekanbaru
• Minang Kabau Airport in Padang
• Juanda Airport in Surabaya
• Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado.

Seaports :

Indonesia Beach

Batam, The Sekupang, Batuampar, Nongsa and Marina,Teluk Senimba, Bandar Bintan, Talani Lagoi and Bandar Sri Udana Labon in the Riau archipelago, Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang, Belawan and Sibolga in North Sumatra, Yos Sudarso in Ambon, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya,Teluk Bayur of Padang,Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Padang Bai and Benoa in Bali, the port of Jayapura, Bitung in Manado,Tanjung Balai Karimun,Tanjung Mas in Central Java, Tenau and Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara, Pare-pare and Soekarno-Hatta port in South Sulawesi.

ClimateCustoms
Customs allow on entry a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable amount of perfume per adult. One litre of alcoholic beverage may be brought in per person 18 years of age or over. Goods up to the value of U.S.$1,000 per person may be brought in as gifts. Cameras, video cameras, portable radios, cassette recorders, binoculars and sport equipments are admitted. They must be declared to Customs.
Prohibited are firearms, narcotic drugs, pornography, transceivers and cordless telephones. Chinese traditional medicines must be registered by Depkes RI. Films, pre-recorded video tapes and laser disks must be screened by the Censor Board. There is no restriction import or export of foreign and travelers cheques. However, the import and export of Indonesian currency exceeding Rp100 million is prohibited.

Climate-wise, Indonesia is distinctly Tropical. Tropical climate varying from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather (June to September), while the western monsoon brings the main rains (December to March). Rainstorms occur all year. Temperatures range from 21°C (70°F) to 33°C (90°F). Higher regions are cooler.