According to the public story around, Tabuhan cave has found by Kyai Santiko who lost his ox but finnaly the ox was come to a cave. His ox didn't want to out from the cave, because it save many water from the root on it. After the brushwood has cleaned, the cave was taken care by Raden Bagus Joko Lelono and a princess Raden Ayu Mardilah.
Tabuhan Cave is on the southwest coast East Java, is the emmense interior of Tabuhan cave. This cave called Tabuhan because it sounds like local musicians play tunes by striking lomesone stalactites that resound in perfect pitch to the music.
The cave it self is spectacular, its varilored stalagmites reaching upwards as high as 50 meters toward pendant stalagtites formed by water dripping from the roof.
It is called as Tabuhan cave because if lapped will yield sound like rhythm of Javanese music (gamelan). Tabuhan cave is initialy known as Tapan cave because since ahead applied by the chevaliers for some meditation like; Sanggargenu, Bambang Trigo. Wareng village is recognized caused the legend of Banteng Wareng which is descendant of Sultan Yogyakarta. It is told also in 1825 happened war Diponegoro, Raden Banteng Wareng show his patriotic soul opposed the colonized with Diponegoro.
This cave is located in Wareng village, Punung district about 40 km from Pacitan city towards west. The facility like Musholla and souvenir shops (Multifarious stone products /Akik).
Quoted from : http://www.eastjava.com/tourism/pacitan/gua-tabuhan.html
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Monday, May 3, 2010
Lovina Beach
Lovina is one of the famous tourist places in north part of Bali which own beautiful of calm sea water, blackish chromatic sand and the sea with its dolphin. One of the favorite fascinations in Lovina is dolphin watching tour. Hundreds of dolphins can be seen in the morning time around 1 km offshore. We can see the dolphin attractions in this place like jumping. It is not fail to draw if the tourist has the time to see the sunset here. Lovina area is also supported by the number of tourism fascination which is can be reached from this location. Places of interests around Lovina are Hot Water Banjar, Wihara Budha (Buddies shrine), Gigit Waterfall and some countryside exist around the
Location
Lovina Beach, Places to Visit in BaliLovina is officially located in Kalibukbuk area and covering some countryside like Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan and Kalibukbuk countryside. Kalibugbug countryside it self is located in Buleleng sub district, meanwhile the Kaliasem and Temukus countryside are located in Banjar sub district where it both of them are belong to Buleleng regency. The eastern countryside is called Pemaron about 5 Km west of Singaraja, and the western countryside is Temukus about 12 Km west of Singaraja.
Lovina Beach is a Tourist Destination in Bali
The centre of activities in Lovina area is located 10 Km from Singaraja town. Nowadays, Lovina area is becoming the center of tourism activities in north part of Bali and offer many kind of accommodations, restaurants, bars, beach activities, art shops, bank, transportations etc. The accommodations in this area are a available from the star hotel class until small hotel even the home stay for the low budget travelers. As a tourist area and center of tourism in Singaraja, Lovina get the biggest visit from tourist who visiting north part of Bali . It is estimated by 90% from tourist who pay a visit to north part of Bali will in Lovina.
History
Lovina, North Bali, Dolphin Watching TourThere are no clear sources or evidence hit the name of Lovina genesis. Pursuant to the reference of the children from Anak Agung Panji Tisna, the clan of famous Buleleng King that the name of Lovina is given by him which is located in Kaliasem countryside, where at the first time he build a bungalow as a resort. He said that the name of Lovina is taken away from a name of small hotel in India that is lafeina whereabouts he stayed and write the book with the title of Ni Ketut Widhi. This book is translated into some languages. In memory of the hotel name, hence the ownership lands give the Lovina name. But there is also other version that is Lovina Name is given caused by its 2 Santen trees are planted by him and grow embracing each other. In this case Lovina is coming from Latin Language that mean is loving each other or love. Then Lovina's name is interpreted as abbreviation from Love and Ina and it is interpreted as Love to Indonesia.
Quated from : http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Lovina-Beach.htm
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Location
Lovina Beach, Places to Visit in BaliLovina is officially located in Kalibukbuk area and covering some countryside like Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan and Kalibukbuk countryside. Kalibugbug countryside it self is located in Buleleng sub district, meanwhile the Kaliasem and Temukus countryside are located in Banjar sub district where it both of them are belong to Buleleng regency. The eastern countryside is called Pemaron about 5 Km west of Singaraja, and the western countryside is Temukus about 12 Km west of Singaraja.
Lovina Beach is a Tourist Destination in Bali
The centre of activities in Lovina area is located 10 Km from Singaraja town. Nowadays, Lovina area is becoming the center of tourism activities in north part of Bali and offer many kind of accommodations, restaurants, bars, beach activities, art shops, bank, transportations etc. The accommodations in this area are a available from the star hotel class until small hotel even the home stay for the low budget travelers. As a tourist area and center of tourism in Singaraja, Lovina get the biggest visit from tourist who visiting north part of Bali . It is estimated by 90% from tourist who pay a visit to north part of Bali will in Lovina.
History
Lovina, North Bali, Dolphin Watching TourThere are no clear sources or evidence hit the name of Lovina genesis. Pursuant to the reference of the children from Anak Agung Panji Tisna, the clan of famous Buleleng King that the name of Lovina is given by him which is located in Kaliasem countryside, where at the first time he build a bungalow as a resort. He said that the name of Lovina is taken away from a name of small hotel in India that is lafeina whereabouts he stayed and write the book with the title of Ni Ketut Widhi. This book is translated into some languages. In memory of the hotel name, hence the ownership lands give the Lovina name. But there is also other version that is Lovina Name is given caused by its 2 Santen trees are planted by him and grow embracing each other. In this case Lovina is coming from Latin Language that mean is loving each other or love. Then Lovina's name is interpreted as abbreviation from Love and Ina and it is interpreted as Love to Indonesia.
Quated from : http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Lovina-Beach.htm
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Secret Hotels of Bali
AMED
Blue Moon Villas
Though it's long been popular with divers and snorkelers, Bali's remote northeast coast is still off the beaten track for most visitors. That may change if more hotels follow the example of Blue Moon Villas, a stylish boutique hotel that makes the most of its dramatic coastal setting. Designed by local architect Pak Jaya, it has five rooms in three bright, airy villas, as well as an open-sided lobby/restaurant and a small infinity pool. The rooms all have balconies or terraces, some of which are large enough to double as living rooms. As in many Balinese hotels, the bathrooms are partly open to the outside but completely private. The staff is friendly but less deferential than in the main Balinese resorts--which could be because many of the staff members are related to the hotel's co-owner, Komang John, an engaging local guy who also gave his name to the hotel's restaurant (his brother is one of the chefs). After a dinner of fresh wahoo barbecued over coconut husks, you'll want to sit on your balcony and watch the fishing boats fan out into the ocean. In the morning, if the local roosters wake you in time, you can go out in a fishing boat to watch the sun rise. 011-62/812-362-2597, bluemoonvillas.com, from $60.
UBUD
Ulun Ubud Resort & Spa
In an open-air workshop just to the west of Ubud, Bali's cultural capital, a young woodcarver is contemplating his latest work--a goddess slowly emerging from a twisted tree trunk. Satisfied at last, he marks the wood and begins carving again. The craftsman's boss is Gus Tu, son of a noted local woodcarver and owner of the Ulun Ubud, which sits next to the workshop. The artistic heritage is obvious as you meander down the paths and steep steps linking the hotel's 22 thatched cottages: Each nook and cranny holds a statue or a carving--a Hindu warrior here, a head of the Buddha there, and everywhere countless carved frogs, fish, shrimp, and crabs. The rooms are simple but comfortable, with bathrooms that could do with a little updating and wide balconies that overlook a lush river valley. The hotel has a reasonable restaurant serving Balinese and Western dishes, and there's a free shuttle if you're inclined to sample some of Ubud's many restaurants. If you take breakfast on your balcony, you may hear the distant chink-chink-chink of iron on stone. Look down toward the river and you'll see that along its banks, local craftspeople are cutting stone to make new carvings, some of which may well show up on the hotel's rambling grounds. 011-62/361-975-024, ulunubud.com, from $75 year-round, breakfast included.
Quoted from : http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040400852.html
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Blue Moon Villas
Though it's long been popular with divers and snorkelers, Bali's remote northeast coast is still off the beaten track for most visitors. That may change if more hotels follow the example of Blue Moon Villas, a stylish boutique hotel that makes the most of its dramatic coastal setting. Designed by local architect Pak Jaya, it has five rooms in three bright, airy villas, as well as an open-sided lobby/restaurant and a small infinity pool. The rooms all have balconies or terraces, some of which are large enough to double as living rooms. As in many Balinese hotels, the bathrooms are partly open to the outside but completely private. The staff is friendly but less deferential than in the main Balinese resorts--which could be because many of the staff members are related to the hotel's co-owner, Komang John, an engaging local guy who also gave his name to the hotel's restaurant (his brother is one of the chefs). After a dinner of fresh wahoo barbecued over coconut husks, you'll want to sit on your balcony and watch the fishing boats fan out into the ocean. In the morning, if the local roosters wake you in time, you can go out in a fishing boat to watch the sun rise. 011-62/812-362-2597, bluemoonvillas.com, from $60.
UBUD
Ulun Ubud Resort & Spa
In an open-air workshop just to the west of Ubud, Bali's cultural capital, a young woodcarver is contemplating his latest work--a goddess slowly emerging from a twisted tree trunk. Satisfied at last, he marks the wood and begins carving again. The craftsman's boss is Gus Tu, son of a noted local woodcarver and owner of the Ulun Ubud, which sits next to the workshop. The artistic heritage is obvious as you meander down the paths and steep steps linking the hotel's 22 thatched cottages: Each nook and cranny holds a statue or a carving--a Hindu warrior here, a head of the Buddha there, and everywhere countless carved frogs, fish, shrimp, and crabs. The rooms are simple but comfortable, with bathrooms that could do with a little updating and wide balconies that overlook a lush river valley. The hotel has a reasonable restaurant serving Balinese and Western dishes, and there's a free shuttle if you're inclined to sample some of Ubud's many restaurants. If you take breakfast on your balcony, you may hear the distant chink-chink-chink of iron on stone. Look down toward the river and you'll see that along its banks, local craftspeople are cutting stone to make new carvings, some of which may well show up on the hotel's rambling grounds. 011-62/361-975-024, ulunubud.com, from $75 year-round, breakfast included.
Quoted from : http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040400852.html
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Grand Canyon
The road to the Grand Canyon from the south crosses a gently rising plateau that gives no hint at what is about to unfold. You wonder if you have made a wrong turn. All at once an immense gorge a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide opens up. The scale is so vast that even from the best vantage point only a fraction of the canyon's 277 miles can be seen.
Nearly five million people travel here each year; 90 percent first see the canyon from the South Rim with its dramatic views into the deep inner gorge of the Colorado River. So many feet have stepped cautiously to the edge of major overlooks that in places the rock has been polished smooth. But most of the park's 1,904 square miles are maintained as wilderness. You can avoid crowds by hiking the park's many trails or driving to the cool evergreen forests of the North Rim where people are fewer and viewing is more leisurely.
The Grand Canyon boasts some of the nation's cleanest air, with visibility averaging 90 to 110 miles. Increasingly, though, air pollution blurs vistas that once were sharp and rich hued. Hazy days have become more common, with visibility dropping as low as 40 miles. Haze from forest fires and pollen has always been present, but the recent increase is traced to sources outside the park, like copper smelters and urban areas in Arizona, southern California, and even Mexico.
It's hard to look at the canyon and not be curious about geology. Rock that dates back 1.8 billion years lies at the bottom. Exactly how the river formed the canyon is still unclear, but geologists generally agree that most of the cutting occurred within the last five million years.
How to Get There
South Rim: From Flagstaff, Arizona (about 80 miles away), take US 180 skirting the San Francisco Peaks to South Rim entrance, or take US 89 to Cameron, then Ariz. 64 with views of the Little Colorado River Gorge to Desert View entrance.
North Rim: Take Ariz. 67 from Jacob Lake through the Kaibab National Forest to North Rim entrance. The two rims are 10 air miles apart but 215 miles by car, a 5-hour drive. Airports: Grand Canyon near South Rim; Flagstaff; Las Vegas; Phoenix.
When to Go
South Rim is open all year; North Rim facilities are closed from mid-October to mid-May. Ariz. 67 usually closes due to deep snows late November to mid-May. Hikers and mule riders to the inner canyon, where temperatures reach 118°F, prefer spring and fall; the prime river season is April through October. During summer on the South Rim, time your visit to midweek, arriving early to avoid the crowds.
How to Visit
On a 1-day visit to the South Rim take the Hermit Road west of the village for classic views of the main canyon. The drive is closed to automobiles March through November, but free buses take you to the overlooks. The best second-day activity is the Desert View Drive tour east of Mather Point for great views of the Colorado River and eastern canyon.
On a longer stay, take the North Rim's Cape Royal Road for broad panoramic vistas. You may also enjoy a hike on a backcountry trail; a mule ride down the Bright Angel Trail; a week-long raft trip through the canyon on the Colorado River; and a scenic flight for a bird's-eye view of the canyon. The mule and raft trips and backcountry hikes require reservations far in advance.
Quoted from : http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/grand-canyon-national-park/
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Nearly five million people travel here each year; 90 percent first see the canyon from the South Rim with its dramatic views into the deep inner gorge of the Colorado River. So many feet have stepped cautiously to the edge of major overlooks that in places the rock has been polished smooth. But most of the park's 1,904 square miles are maintained as wilderness. You can avoid crowds by hiking the park's many trails or driving to the cool evergreen forests of the North Rim where people are fewer and viewing is more leisurely.
The Grand Canyon boasts some of the nation's cleanest air, with visibility averaging 90 to 110 miles. Increasingly, though, air pollution blurs vistas that once were sharp and rich hued. Hazy days have become more common, with visibility dropping as low as 40 miles. Haze from forest fires and pollen has always been present, but the recent increase is traced to sources outside the park, like copper smelters and urban areas in Arizona, southern California, and even Mexico.
It's hard to look at the canyon and not be curious about geology. Rock that dates back 1.8 billion years lies at the bottom. Exactly how the river formed the canyon is still unclear, but geologists generally agree that most of the cutting occurred within the last five million years.
How to Get There
South Rim: From Flagstaff, Arizona (about 80 miles away), take US 180 skirting the San Francisco Peaks to South Rim entrance, or take US 89 to Cameron, then Ariz. 64 with views of the Little Colorado River Gorge to Desert View entrance.
North Rim: Take Ariz. 67 from Jacob Lake through the Kaibab National Forest to North Rim entrance. The two rims are 10 air miles apart but 215 miles by car, a 5-hour drive. Airports: Grand Canyon near South Rim; Flagstaff; Las Vegas; Phoenix.
When to Go
South Rim is open all year; North Rim facilities are closed from mid-October to mid-May. Ariz. 67 usually closes due to deep snows late November to mid-May. Hikers and mule riders to the inner canyon, where temperatures reach 118°F, prefer spring and fall; the prime river season is April through October. During summer on the South Rim, time your visit to midweek, arriving early to avoid the crowds.
How to Visit
On a 1-day visit to the South Rim take the Hermit Road west of the village for classic views of the main canyon. The drive is closed to automobiles March through November, but free buses take you to the overlooks. The best second-day activity is the Desert View Drive tour east of Mather Point for great views of the Colorado River and eastern canyon.
On a longer stay, take the North Rim's Cape Royal Road for broad panoramic vistas. You may also enjoy a hike on a backcountry trail; a mule ride down the Bright Angel Trail; a week-long raft trip through the canyon on the Colorado River; and a scenic flight for a bird's-eye view of the canyon. The mule and raft trips and backcountry hikes require reservations far in advance.
Quoted from : http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/grand-canyon-national-park/
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the world's highest free standing, snow-covered equatorial mountain. Now charted and climbed; stories of her resident man-eating spirits are relegated to the realms of folklore.
But Mount Kilimanjaro continues to preserve a mysticism that defies all recent knowledge of her slopes. Images of the towering snow-covered cone rising majestically from fertile green foothills have become a powerful motif of Tanzania's extraordinary extremes. Few could deny a very distinct sense of awe when the cloud clears to reveal a glimpse of the towering peaks, shining bright in the equatorial sun.
A Towering Life Force
Kilimanjaro represents a powerful life force for the local Chagga people and all those who have made their lives around this mountain, providing rich volcanic soils for agriculture and an endless source of pure spring waters.
Climbing Kilimanjaro
One of the most amazing aspects of the mountain in the present day is the accessibility of its peak to climbers with no mountain climbing equipment or real previous experience of scaling such heights. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain that regular tourists can climb, although it remains a considerable feat of human endurance!
The breathable oxygen at the top is less than half the amount than is common at sea level, and climbers cover at least eighty kilometres on nothing but their own two feet over the five days it takes to reach the top and return.
Preserving the Mountain
The number of climbers has escalated to over a thousand a year during the last century, quite a development since Hans Meyer made history as the first European to scale the highest point of Kilimanjaro in 1889. The increasing numbers each year have made it necessary for the National Park to insist that all climbs are pre-booked, and passes are no longer issued at the last minute at the park gate.
Overall Fitness Required
Although it is possible to simply trek a route to the pinnacle of Kibo without relying on professional climbing equipment, it remains a hard and serious endeavour that requires a level of physical fitness, stamina and a realistic awareness of the potentially damaging effects of high altitudes.
Many tour operators request that clients consult a doctor before attempting to scale the mountain, and have a physical check-up for overall fitness.
Phases of the Climb; First Stage,Tropical Forest
With most of the old lowland forest now cultivated and settled, the first experience of the mountain environment begins with the dense vegetation of tropical montane forest between 1850m and around 2800m.
Cloud condensation mainly gathers around the forest, so this area is usually damp or drenched with rainfall, creating an intriguing mass of plant life and running rivers between endemic tree species. The area of heath just beyond the tree line also enjoys a relatively misty and damp environment as cloud clings around the density of trees. This is covered with heather and shrubs such as Erica Arborea and Stoebe Kilimandsharica, and a number of dramatic looking Proteas.
Open Moorland
From around 3,200m a wide expanse of moorland extends beyond the heath and the cloud line, so that here the skies are generally clear, making the sunshine intense during the days and the nights cool and clear.
The climbing incline remains gentle, but thinning oxygen provides less fuel to energise the muscles and can dramatically slow the pace of walking. Hardy endemic species of Giant Groundsels (Senecio) and Lobelia (Deckenii) towering up to 4m high thrive in this moorland zone and give the landscape a strangely primeval atmosphere.
Alpine Desert, Sparse Vegetation
Even higher, beyond 4,000m, this sensation intensifies as the landscape develops into a more bizarre alpine desert, with sandy loose earth and intense weather conditions and temperature fluctuations so dramatic that barely any plant species survive other than everlasting flowers, mosses and lichens. Only the odd lichen survives beyond 5000m, after Kibo Huts and beyond the Saddle, where the landscape is predominantly rock and ice fields. Here, climbers experience the final steep push to the summit.
Saddle to Summit
The easterly routes, Marangu, Mweka, Loitokitok and Rongai all converge west of the saddle near Gillmans Point, between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Kibos crater is roughly circular with an inner cone extending to 5,800m, (100m lower than the summit at Uhuru Peak).
At the centre an inner crater with walls between 12 and 20 m high contains another concentric minor cone, the centre of which falls away into the 360m span of the ash pit. This is the 120 metre deep central core of the volcano, and casts sulphurous boiling smoke from its depths despite the frozen, snowy outskirts.
Planning your Kilimanjaro Climb
Kili climbs can be arranged for a variety of different routes and with various options for accommodation. It is really well worth spending time in the planning stages!
Quoted from : http://www.tanzaniaodyssey.com/mount-kilimanjaro/kilimanjaro.htm
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
But Mount Kilimanjaro continues to preserve a mysticism that defies all recent knowledge of her slopes. Images of the towering snow-covered cone rising majestically from fertile green foothills have become a powerful motif of Tanzania's extraordinary extremes. Few could deny a very distinct sense of awe when the cloud clears to reveal a glimpse of the towering peaks, shining bright in the equatorial sun.
A Towering Life Force
Kilimanjaro represents a powerful life force for the local Chagga people and all those who have made their lives around this mountain, providing rich volcanic soils for agriculture and an endless source of pure spring waters.
Climbing Kilimanjaro
One of the most amazing aspects of the mountain in the present day is the accessibility of its peak to climbers with no mountain climbing equipment or real previous experience of scaling such heights. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain that regular tourists can climb, although it remains a considerable feat of human endurance!
The breathable oxygen at the top is less than half the amount than is common at sea level, and climbers cover at least eighty kilometres on nothing but their own two feet over the five days it takes to reach the top and return.
Preserving the Mountain
The number of climbers has escalated to over a thousand a year during the last century, quite a development since Hans Meyer made history as the first European to scale the highest point of Kilimanjaro in 1889. The increasing numbers each year have made it necessary for the National Park to insist that all climbs are pre-booked, and passes are no longer issued at the last minute at the park gate.
Overall Fitness Required
Although it is possible to simply trek a route to the pinnacle of Kibo without relying on professional climbing equipment, it remains a hard and serious endeavour that requires a level of physical fitness, stamina and a realistic awareness of the potentially damaging effects of high altitudes.
Many tour operators request that clients consult a doctor before attempting to scale the mountain, and have a physical check-up for overall fitness.
Phases of the Climb; First Stage,Tropical Forest
With most of the old lowland forest now cultivated and settled, the first experience of the mountain environment begins with the dense vegetation of tropical montane forest between 1850m and around 2800m.
Cloud condensation mainly gathers around the forest, so this area is usually damp or drenched with rainfall, creating an intriguing mass of plant life and running rivers between endemic tree species. The area of heath just beyond the tree line also enjoys a relatively misty and damp environment as cloud clings around the density of trees. This is covered with heather and shrubs such as Erica Arborea and Stoebe Kilimandsharica, and a number of dramatic looking Proteas.
Open Moorland
From around 3,200m a wide expanse of moorland extends beyond the heath and the cloud line, so that here the skies are generally clear, making the sunshine intense during the days and the nights cool and clear.
The climbing incline remains gentle, but thinning oxygen provides less fuel to energise the muscles and can dramatically slow the pace of walking. Hardy endemic species of Giant Groundsels (Senecio) and Lobelia (Deckenii) towering up to 4m high thrive in this moorland zone and give the landscape a strangely primeval atmosphere.
Alpine Desert, Sparse Vegetation
Even higher, beyond 4,000m, this sensation intensifies as the landscape develops into a more bizarre alpine desert, with sandy loose earth and intense weather conditions and temperature fluctuations so dramatic that barely any plant species survive other than everlasting flowers, mosses and lichens. Only the odd lichen survives beyond 5000m, after Kibo Huts and beyond the Saddle, where the landscape is predominantly rock and ice fields. Here, climbers experience the final steep push to the summit.
Saddle to Summit
The easterly routes, Marangu, Mweka, Loitokitok and Rongai all converge west of the saddle near Gillmans Point, between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Kibos crater is roughly circular with an inner cone extending to 5,800m, (100m lower than the summit at Uhuru Peak).
At the centre an inner crater with walls between 12 and 20 m high contains another concentric minor cone, the centre of which falls away into the 360m span of the ash pit. This is the 120 metre deep central core of the volcano, and casts sulphurous boiling smoke from its depths despite the frozen, snowy outskirts.
Planning your Kilimanjaro Climb
Kili climbs can be arranged for a variety of different routes and with various options for accommodation. It is really well worth spending time in the planning stages!
Quoted from : http://www.tanzaniaodyssey.com/mount-kilimanjaro/kilimanjaro.htm
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Thirty under-the-radar islands, from Oregon to the Greek Aegean, where you can kick back and let yourself go.
Warm blue water, pristine white sand, swaying coconut palms: Belize’s South Water Caye is a tropical paradise pared down to the alluring basics. Some 30 years ago, only fishermen inhabited this 15-acre islet; today, because it lies distinctly off the Caribbean’s beaten path, frankly, not too much has changed. You can still enjoy the surf’s rhythmic, soporific whush-shhh over sunset drinks at a sandy-bottomed bar.
There’s something magnetic—almost primevally compelling—about a fleck of land bounded by endless sea. And having to share the space with a crowd of tourists can ruin the magic. Fortunately, secret islands like South Water Caye still exist. And for those willing to search for solitude, the reward may be your own maritime Shangri-la.
“People rarely follow the road less traveled,” says Kelly Shea, a Travel + Leisure A-List agent who organizes journeys in Greece. “They have their minds set on Mykonos and Santorini.” But Alonissos—in the country’s Northern Sporades archipelago, in the Aegean Sea—is tougher to access. “Americans have never heard of it,” she says, “and there are no luxury hotels. But it has isolated coves where you won’t see another person all day.”
Alonissos’s primary lure is its marine park—at 875 square miles, Europe’s largest—where striped dolphins and endangered monk seals abound. The isle also features hiking trails that meander through fields of ruby-red blooms, olive groves, and pebble beaches. In the cobblestone streets of the old town of Chora, cheery, Venetian-designed tavernas grill up the catch of the day while live Greek music drifts out of open pub windows.
Ferries make the trip to this 14-mile-long ribbon of flowering rock in a couple of hours from nearby Skiathos, where there’s a small regional airport. But Alonissos remains comparatively remote, so—unlike in Mykonos—the beaches and restaurants and bars have space to spare.
While seclusion has helped hide places such as Alonissos, it’s neither a guarantee (think St. Bart’s) nor a necessity. Just 10 miles from Portland, OR, sprawls a 24,000-acre stretch of river-encircled farmland called Sauvie Island. Known among foodies as the epicenter of the Northwest’s locavore movement, the place bursts with fresh, pick-your-own harvests: plum-colored marionberries, sweet corn, plump pumpkins. And with Stumptown only a 15-minute drive away, Sauvie also represents that rare find: a weekend getaway that’s easy and affordable.
So whether you’re looking for a secluded atoll renowned for its beauty or a little-known enclave just around the corner, T+L’s list of 30 secret islands is sure to reveal a dream destination you’ve been craving. —Catesby Holmes
Quoted from : http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-secret-islands-on-earth/1
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
There’s something magnetic—almost primevally compelling—about a fleck of land bounded by endless sea. And having to share the space with a crowd of tourists can ruin the magic. Fortunately, secret islands like South Water Caye still exist. And for those willing to search for solitude, the reward may be your own maritime Shangri-la.
“People rarely follow the road less traveled,” says Kelly Shea, a Travel + Leisure A-List agent who organizes journeys in Greece. “They have their minds set on Mykonos and Santorini.” But Alonissos—in the country’s Northern Sporades archipelago, in the Aegean Sea—is tougher to access. “Americans have never heard of it,” she says, “and there are no luxury hotels. But it has isolated coves where you won’t see another person all day.”
Alonissos’s primary lure is its marine park—at 875 square miles, Europe’s largest—where striped dolphins and endangered monk seals abound. The isle also features hiking trails that meander through fields of ruby-red blooms, olive groves, and pebble beaches. In the cobblestone streets of the old town of Chora, cheery, Venetian-designed tavernas grill up the catch of the day while live Greek music drifts out of open pub windows.
Ferries make the trip to this 14-mile-long ribbon of flowering rock in a couple of hours from nearby Skiathos, where there’s a small regional airport. But Alonissos remains comparatively remote, so—unlike in Mykonos—the beaches and restaurants and bars have space to spare.
While seclusion has helped hide places such as Alonissos, it’s neither a guarantee (think St. Bart’s) nor a necessity. Just 10 miles from Portland, OR, sprawls a 24,000-acre stretch of river-encircled farmland called Sauvie Island. Known among foodies as the epicenter of the Northwest’s locavore movement, the place bursts with fresh, pick-your-own harvests: plum-colored marionberries, sweet corn, plump pumpkins. And with Stumptown only a 15-minute drive away, Sauvie also represents that rare find: a weekend getaway that’s easy and affordable.
So whether you’re looking for a secluded atoll renowned for its beauty or a little-known enclave just around the corner, T+L’s list of 30 secret islands is sure to reveal a dream destination you’ve been craving. —Catesby Holmes
Quoted from : http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-secret-islands-on-earth/1
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Kumala Island Tourism Park
Kumala island is situated in the middle of Mahakam River, passing Tenggarong city, in Kutai Kartanegara district. At first, this 85 hectare island was a sedimentation of mud, forming a land. This island is unique as it looks like a boat in the middle of a river.
Before transforming into a modern recreation site, Kumala was a site for hundreds of bekantan (Nasalis Larvatus) and various types of Borneo wild reptiles. Tourist Park of Kumala Island was developed since 2002. Entrance fee to this tourist park is Rp2,000 per person.
Getting There
It is easier and closer to reach Tenggarong city from Samarinda. From Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan, you can take either a local plane to Samarinda or you can also take a taxi for Rp250,000 to Rp300,000.
From there, you can take a ketinting or motorboat to Kumala island from a pier at Diponegoro street, Tenggarong. It will take not more than 5 minutes to reach the island for Rp4,000 (if more than 5 persons) or Rp20,000 (if less than 5 persons) as you will be considered renting the boat.
Getting Around
To take a trip around the island, tourist cars are provided for Rp3,000-Rp4,000 per person for each trip. If less than 5 passangers, this car must be rented for Rp20,000.
To Do
Tourist Park of Kumala Island is like a small Disneyland in East Kalimantan. Its location in the middle of an island increases its exotica and different impression when enjoying various facilities provided.
The most famous facility is Sky Tower where visitors could see the whole island and Tenggarong city from the 78 meter tall tower. Visitors claim the tower in an aquarium type of hexagonal room which slowly rotates so that they could see all over the island.
Other facilities provided among others are bumper cars, Lamin Beyoq, Lamin Mancong, and Lamin Wahau, Merry Go round, Lembuswana statue, fountain pond, Pesut Lake etc.
To Stay
If you wish to stay in the middle of the island, the park management provides a rental cottage, complete with a swimming pool and catering service.
You should book one week in advance so that the management could make the proper preparations. Since the cottage is not open daily, it will be better to order it for groups. This cottage may accommodate up to 100 visitors. For reservation and further information, please contact +62 541 7069945.
To Eat
The Park has food stalls selling nasi rames (rice combination platter) and bakso (meat balls) for visitors. Various types of snacks are also provided here.
To Buy
Shops selling various types of traditional souvenirs are provided. In addition, various types of t-shirts can also be used as souvenirs from Kumala island.
Quoted from : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/105/kumala-island-tourism-park
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
Before transforming into a modern recreation site, Kumala was a site for hundreds of bekantan (Nasalis Larvatus) and various types of Borneo wild reptiles. Tourist Park of Kumala Island was developed since 2002. Entrance fee to this tourist park is Rp2,000 per person.
Getting There
It is easier and closer to reach Tenggarong city from Samarinda. From Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan, you can take either a local plane to Samarinda or you can also take a taxi for Rp250,000 to Rp300,000.
From there, you can take a ketinting or motorboat to Kumala island from a pier at Diponegoro street, Tenggarong. It will take not more than 5 minutes to reach the island for Rp4,000 (if more than 5 persons) or Rp20,000 (if less than 5 persons) as you will be considered renting the boat.
Getting Around
To take a trip around the island, tourist cars are provided for Rp3,000-Rp4,000 per person for each trip. If less than 5 passangers, this car must be rented for Rp20,000.
To Do
Tourist Park of Kumala Island is like a small Disneyland in East Kalimantan. Its location in the middle of an island increases its exotica and different impression when enjoying various facilities provided.
The most famous facility is Sky Tower where visitors could see the whole island and Tenggarong city from the 78 meter tall tower. Visitors claim the tower in an aquarium type of hexagonal room which slowly rotates so that they could see all over the island.
Other facilities provided among others are bumper cars, Lamin Beyoq, Lamin Mancong, and Lamin Wahau, Merry Go round, Lembuswana statue, fountain pond, Pesut Lake etc.
To Stay
If you wish to stay in the middle of the island, the park management provides a rental cottage, complete with a swimming pool and catering service.
You should book one week in advance so that the management could make the proper preparations. Since the cottage is not open daily, it will be better to order it for groups. This cottage may accommodate up to 100 visitors. For reservation and further information, please contact +62 541 7069945.
To Eat
The Park has food stalls selling nasi rames (rice combination platter) and bakso (meat balls) for visitors. Various types of snacks are also provided here.
To Buy
Shops selling various types of traditional souvenirs are provided. In addition, various types of t-shirts can also be used as souvenirs from Kumala island.
Quoted from : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/105/kumala-island-tourism-park
Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours
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