Heritage Sites : Ancient Sites of Kokas

Ancient Sites of Kokas

Ancient Sites of Kokas are remains of pre-history sites where you can find drawings on canyons. These drawings show palms and animals which are still clear until now.

These drawings on canyons locally known as Tapuraran, were made using natural materials in red color, similar to human blood. Therefore, the local community often calls them blood paintings.

In several parts, you can find human bones, because ancestors of the local community did not bury dead bodies but placed them by the canyon, inside caves, capes, or under a big tree which was believed to be special or sacred.

If you want to stay overnight, there is a simple temporary shelter available in Kokas city center.

There are several simple food stalls and shops selling snacks.

No shop selling souvenirs here. If your lucky, you can find fishermen selling their fresh fish.

It will not take a long time to visit all sites. When sea water is high, you can even climb the canyon and see the paintings closely.

These sites are in Andamata, Fior, Forir, Darembang, and Goras, in Kokas district, Fak-Fak, West Papua. To go to Fak-Fak, flights and ships are available on certain days and their schedules are frequently changed every month.

For air transportation, it is easier if you take a flight to Sorong, West Papua first. From Domine Eduard Osok airport in Sorong, you can take Wings Air, Merpati Air, Tri M. G Airlines, or Express Air to Torea airport in Fak-Fak for about 45 minutes.

For sea transportation, Ciremai (from Jakarta), Nggapulu, and Tatamailau are available to take you to Fak-Fak. Most flights and ships usually go to Fak-Fak via Sorong.

To go to the ancient Sites of Kokas, you can take an inter-city transportation from Fak-Fak to Kokas for about 50 kilometers and two hours. From Kokas, you can continue your journey by a rented longboat for about one hour.

The number of inter-city transportations from Fak-Fak to Kokas is very limited. Since no village along the way, public transportations here usually will leave only when all seats are occupied. Alternatively, you can take a rented car for a faster journey to the site.

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Heritage Sites : Ampera Bridge

Ampera Bridge

Ampera Bridge was constructed in April 1962, after getting approval of President Soekarno. At first, this 1,177 meters long and 22 meters wide bridge was called Bung Karno Bridge. It was officially opened on 30 September 1965 by Let. Gen. Ahmad Yani. However, following a political turmoil in 1966 i.e., when anti-Soekarno movement was stronger, the bridge was renamed to Ampera Bridge. Palembang citizens, however, prefer to call it "Musi Project".

Parts of this 944 tons bridge can lift up and down about 10 meters per minute. It has two lifting towers of 63 meters tall. Distance between these two towers is 75 meters. They have two pendulums, weighing about 500 tons each.

When the middle shares of the bridge is lifted, wide ship of 60 meters wide and a maximum of 44.50 meters tall can pass to ford of Musi River. And when the middle shares of this bridge is not lifted, maximum height of ships that can pass under the bridge is only nine meters above the water level. Unfortunately, at present, the bridge cannot be lifted for safety reasons.

It is easy to find hotels in Palembang. You can find star or ordinary hotels along Kapten A Rivai, Sudirman, R Sukamto, Veteran, and POM IX streets.

You won’t find any difficulty to find local foods here. Not far from Palembang Grand Mosque, you can enjoy Palembang traditional foods like empek-empek panggang and kerupuk (crackers) for Rp1.500 to Rp22.200 per piece, depending where you eat. In addition, there is a food stall selling es belimbing (star fruit ice). It is the only food stall that sells es belimbing. Its name is Ujuk.

On Musi River, there are floating restaurants where you could dine while seeing Ampera Bridge.

To buy souvenirs, you only need to walk some 50 meters from Ampera Bridge where you can find a market selling various types of local foods and souvenirs such as fruits and Songket (woven fabrics). This market is called Pasar 16 Ilir. About three kilometers from there, you could find a Songket center and 50 meters from there, you could find a lekeur (carving) center.

It is best to visit Ampera Bridge on foot so that you could feel the windblows from Musi River.

Ampera Bridge is located in Palembang. You can go to this city from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II airport at Tanjung Api-Api Street. It is an international airport that it is accessible from Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Thailand. To go to Musi River, you can take a taxi or rented car from the airport. Distance between the airport and city center is about 6 km.

In the city center, there are nine public transportations and seven city buses from various destinations that can take you to Ampera. You only need to pay Rp1,500 to Rp5,000.

If you like to see Ampera Bridge closely, please don’t use a motor vehicle because if you stop in the middle of the bridge, the police officer will give you a ticket.

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Heritage Sites : Ambarawa

Ambarawa : Experience Rural Java’s Traditional Life

The hinterland of Semarang, capital of the province of Central Java is lush green: a beautiful scenic landscape of rising volcanoes, green valleys and fertile rice fields. Cruise lines call on Semarang to allow passengers to visit the nearby 9^th century Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

One and a half hour’s driving from Semarang on a smooth road towards Salatiga, one enjoys the true Javanese rural life all the way to the town of Ambarawa , some 17 km north from Salatiga. This is the halfway mark to Borobudur.

Here in Ambarawa you can find Indonesia’s Railway Museum, home to 21 old steam locomotives, the oldest of which is the 1891 Hartmann Chemnitz, in use until the 1970’s when the railways here were closed. Nearby is also a natural grotto to the Virgin Mary and the Stations of the Cross, surrounded by flower gardens and fish ponds.

Slightly further west in the Dieng plateau are the ancient temples known as Gedong Songo, or "the nine buildings", constructed between 730 AD -780 AD during the Sanjaya Dynasty.

Also not far from Ambarawa are the Losari Coffee plantation and the hill town of Bandungan, favorite recreation area for people from Semarang and Yogyakarta.

But Ambarawa also has a grimmer side to its history when during World War II, the Japanese interned European families in camps here.

Recommended accommodations when you stay around Ambarawa are:

Losari Spa Retreat and Coffee Plantation

Phone: +62 298 596 333

Fax: +62 298 592 696

Email: info@losaricoffeeplantation.com

There are hotels and comfortable accommodations available in Semarang and surrounding. You are welcome to check it here

Eating in the rural area of Central Java is unforgettable, not just because of its mouth-watering taste in each bite of steamed vegetables, traditionally cooked curry, and succulent beefy satay, but also for its low prices that are often times baffling to visitors.

Serabi (also spelled surabi in other parts of the country) is taking Ambarawa to another level of its culinary delights, as Ngampin, or Serabi Ngampin, or Serabi Kucur, is famous for its sweet, tender Javanese pancake. The way it is cooked is traditional, which is how the pancake gains its savory taste. You can find it almost everywhere along the road bertween Semarang – Ambarawa. Rows of blue painted warungs, food stalls, are there for you to visit.

Semiyer rice cake is also a delicacy to sample. It is very thin, crispy, and tasty to the mouth and eyes. The main ingredient is cassava that grows abundant in the area.

Pecel Mbok Kami and Pecel Tukinem (founded by Veronica Tukinem) is said to be one of the most must-taste foods in Ambarawa. It is a portion of plain rice with steamed vegetables with coconut paste, plus some crackers that bring Javanese taste to the banana-leaf plate. If you wish to add some more add-ons, like friend chicken, chilly eggs, fish curry, and beef curry, then you are welcome to eat like the Javanese. To savour these, do not miss the operational hour between 7 in the morning to 12 at noon around Kantor Gotong Royong, and if you missed the time, go to Madam Veronica Tukinem’s house at Sanggrahan, close to a technical school of Dr. Cipto.

If you wish, buy Tahu Serasi, a readily packaged tofu from Serasi group. Here, the soybean is known to be one of the best in Central Java. A package of 8 pieces of Tahu Serasi is around IDR 10,000 (or around US$ 1.00). Deep fry it for several minutes and you know how tasty is the soybean from Ambarawa.

Ambarawa is around one and a half hour drive from Semarang, capital city of Central Java, or around two hours from Yogyakarta. Buses are available at the bus stations.

The bus terminal in Ambarawa is called Bawen Bus Terminal. If you are in Yogyakarta, go to Giwangan Bus Station, the largest type-A bus terminal in Indonesia. The bus to Ambarawa usually goes to Semarang. If you are in Semarang, proceed to theTerboyo Bus Terminal. Going to Ambarawa, the bus usually continues to Yogyakarta.

The recommended buses are: PO Raya, Kramat Djati, and Nusantara.

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Heritage Sites : Prambanan

Prambanan : The Exotic Hindu Temple

As the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, the beautiful and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle and an icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

Located not far from the Buddhist Borobudur temple, the proximity of the two temples tells us that on Java, Buddhism and Hinduism lived peacefully next to one another.

Prambanan is known locally as Roro Jonggrang, coming from the legend of the ‘slender virgin’. According to the legend once upon a time, there was a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso. He wanted to marry a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang. Her father, the king, agreed and forced her to marry Bandung Bondowoso. Butm Sita did not love him yet could not refuse him.

After careful consideration, she thought of a way to refuse Bondowoso, whose magical power was well-known. She decided she would agree but only if Bondowoso built 1,000 temples in one night before the break of dawn.

She insisted that the work must be completed before the rooster crowed, something she believed was impossible. But with the help of genies and his own magical powers, Bondowoso managed to complete 999 temples. Panicked, Jonggrang told the women of her village to start pounding rice so that the rooster would wake up and begin to crow. When Bondowoso heard this he was deeply disappointed and wildly enraged. When he found out that Roro Jonggrang had made the roosters crow, he turned her into stone, The statue of a slender virgin graces the main Prambanan temple, while a group of temples nearby is called the Candi Sewu or the Thousand Temples.

The temples at Prambanan were built in the 9th century. The biggest temple is dedicated to Shiva – the destroyer, and the two smaller ones which sit on its right and left are dedicated to Brahma -¬ the creator and Wisnhu – the sustainer. The tallest temple of Prambanan is a staggering 47 meters high. Its peak visible from far away and rises high above the ruins of the other temples.

After hundreds of years of neglect, the Prambanan temple was rediscovered by CA Lons, a Dutchman, in 1733. Since then, this temple has been revitalized and today is widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia.

The grandeur, complexity, and integrated architectural concept of Prambanan makes this a truly amazing structure. As a unique cultural and architectural marvel, Prambanan was declared a World Heritage site in 1991 by UNESCO.

There is a wide variety of inns and hotels to choose from in nearby Yogyakarta. For more information refer to our Travel Directory.

If you're after a touch of luxury, try the Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa. It's near the airport and has a large pool as well as gift shops, entertainment, and food. The Hyatt is another luxury hotel to stay at.

Many hotels in nearby Yogya also have high quality restaurants where serving a combination of modern Western food and traditional Yogya cuisine

Tea is a specialty of this region. Wherever you go in the Java plains, the climate remains warm throughout the year which means there is nothing more refreshing than a big pitcher of cold javanese tea. A big cup of cold ginger Javanese tea usually costs only IDR 2,000.

Visitors to Prambanan wander around the temples on foot. This is the best way to enjoy the lush landscape and take in the detailed architecture and design of the temples up close.

This temple compound covers 39.8 hectares. In the main yard, there are the three main temples, as well as three Wahana temples, two Apit temples, and eight Patok temples surrounded by fences. In the second yard, there are another 224 Perwara temples. Wandering around here and examining the intricate stonework will be enough to keep you busy all day!

Compared to the temples in Angkor Wat, the temples of Prambanan are much easier to navigate and more tourist-friendly. The area surrounding Prambanan is developed, with a landscaped park and stores selling tourist souvenirs. While it’s not a temple set in a remote rustic setting, the splendor of the temple will make you quickly forget your surroundings. You will be transported back to an ancient time where ritual and culture dominated every part of life.

The closest cities to Prambanan, are either Yogyakarta (insert hyperlink) or Semarang. Garuda Indonesia, Mandala, Merpati Nusantara Airlines and a number of domestic airlines fly to these cities from Jakarta and other large cities in Indonesia. AirAsia is the first international airline that flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta.

From Yogyakarta, you can rent a car to go to Klaten. From there, you can walk to the temple.

If have been busy and are really tired of walking, you can always call for a becak. With the cost of about Rp10,000 the Becak driver will bring you right up to the entrance gate of the Temple, not far from the ticket box.

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Heritage Sites : Borobudur

Borobudur : A Wonder of Indonesia History

The magnificent Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. This awe inspiring monument is truly a marvel. After a visit here you will understand why it is Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and a famous icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

Located on the island of Java, the temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. It covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.

The temple has remained strong even through ten centuries of neglect. It was rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures.

The temple is decorated with stone carvings in bas-relief representing images from the life of Buddha. Commentators claim that this is the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit.

This monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The ten levels of the temple symbolize the three divisions of the religion’s cosmic system. As visitors begin their journey at the base of the temple, they make their way to the top of the monument through the three levels of Budhist cosmology, Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). As visitors walk to the top the monument guides the pilgrims past 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

The whole monument itself resembles a giant stupa, but seen from above it forms a mandala. The great stupa at the top of the temple sits 40 meters above the ground. This main dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

Historians suggest that the name of Borobudur comes from the Sanskrit ‘Vihara Buddha Uhr’ or the ‘Buddhist monastery on the hill’.

As Borobudur is only a one hour drive from Jogjakarta, many visitors choose to stay in Jogja where there are a wide variety of hotels, from a simple bed & breakfast to starred hotels. Just look at our Travel Directory to search for hotels in DI Yogyakarta.

For visitors who want to stay as close as possible to the magnificent Borobudur temple there are other accommodation options. Standing high amidst the Menoreh Hills with some truly stunning views of Borobudur, the Amanjiwo hotel is a majestic building and almost a tourist attraction in its own right. Located only 3 km / 2 miles to the South of Borobudur the Amanjiwo is a luxury hotel where guests enjoy exclusive suites with private swimming pools.

Alternatively, there are hotels perched in the nearby beautiful highlands of Magelang. Magelang hotels are approximately 20 km/12 miles north of the Borobudur Temple. One of the most impressive hotels in this area is the Losari Coffee Plantation, which offers villa-style accommodation where the verandahs overlook some impressive views of the nearby volcanoes.

The best way to explore this site is on foot. As you climb to the top of this magnificent temple you will marvel at the intricate detailed stone carvings displayed on the temples walls. You will certainly miss a great experience if you visit this enormous temple without learning about its history and importance which are captured on its many reliefs.

Guides are available for around Rp 50 thousand. This is a wise investment as a guide will be able to walk you around the site and explain the history of the temple, beginning with its construction during the Syailendra dynasty. The stone carvings attached to the temple display legends and stories which have great philosophical significance.

For visitors with children, don’t miss the massive green grass area surrounding the Borobudur site.

You may choose to walk through Green Park from the entrance. Many vendors will offer you souvenirs and other knick knacks as you walk through this area, however there are regulations in place to prevent them from disturbing visitors.

Borobudur is only one hour’s drive from Yogyakarta. The easiest way to get there is by joining a tour or renting a car.

During your journey to Borobudur, enjoy the fresh cool air of Magelang city with its roads lined with big shady trees. Borobudur itself stands tall against the spectacular backdrop of the Menoreh mountain range that surrounds it.

Entering the temple compound is easy and most visitors choose to wander around on foot. Alternatively you can chart a cart (pulled by a horse) at a reasonable price.
Alternatively, cruise passengers who disembark at Semarang can take a day tour driving through Wonosobo to Borobudur.

• Held once a year during a full moon in May, the Vesak (Waisak) festival attracts many pilgrims and visitors. This is a Buddhist festival celebrating the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha. If you’re interested in cultural festivals, this is an ideal time to visit Borobudur.

• Dress respectfully in light and comfortable clothes.

• Hire a licensed tour guide, so you'll get better information.

• During a dry season, you should wear a hat or an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun or the occasional shower. You can rent one for around Rp2,000 (about US $0.18)

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Heritage Sites : Bali

Bali : Simply the World's Best Island

Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.

Travel & Leisure Magazine has awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions.

Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life. For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately carved temples.

For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this world. Indeed, this relatively small island holds many surprises.

This is a miraculous island indeed, for after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and international visitors alike. Here gather a variety of visitors from around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and lakes at Batur, Kintamani, or Lake Beratan at Bedugul, to those who merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach.

Many beautiful resorts offer fine lodgings. Most of the starred hotels are located near the beach. Otherwise, they usually have their own private spots at certain beaches. You can find them easily at popular spots like Kuta or Sanur.

If you're in a serene highland like Ubud, forget starred hotels. You're there to embrace the atmosphere. Just pick one of the small lodgings lining up the streets. And even the smallest one's ready to make you feel welcome.

During the 2007 Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, a man in a wheelchair checked in at a small inn on Monkey Forest. He had some difficulties in navigating through the stairs to his bungalow. He then left for the Festival. When he returned at night, the owner had already paved an ascending lane to his bungalow. That's a typical Balinese hospitality.

When you've already picked a certain destination in Bali, just check out our Travel Directory. See what options are near.

Like the food of other regions in Indonesia, Balinese staple food is rice, served with small portions of spicy, pungent vegetables, fish or meat and served almost always with sambal or chili paste. Bali is a few of the regions in Indonesia whose majority of its people are non Muslims, thus babi guling or roasted suckling pig is a specialty, as is bebek betutu, smoked stuffed duck wrapped in bamboo leaves.

In Jimbaran area, for instance, you can sample seafood dishes while sitting on the beach. Visit this place in the evening, the cool atmosphere and caressing breeze will make your dining experience remarkable.

There are are thousands of giftshops in Bali. Everywhere you go, from Denpasar to Ubud, you'll find many things you'd like to bring back home. Try clicking the "Find a Shop" button on the bottom right if you need some pointers.

There are many modes of transport to help you get around in Bali. A variety of excellent half day, full day and overnight tour packages are available from your hotel desk or any of the numerous travel agents and tour operators which abound in Bali. Or you can find a car and driver who will also act as your guide.

Whilst walking about, you will be barraged with constant questions of "Transport, transport?". Competition is tight and many drivers know several languages. Tell the driver your desired route and negotiate a fee.

An important virtue to have while on the road in Bali is patience! Although the road system in the heavily populated areas is quite reasonable (condition wise) in comparison to other developing countries, it can be heavily congested at peak periods. Ceremonial processions often take up the entire road so if you're caught behind a procession, enjoy the colorful experience.

With increasing number of direct flights from many parts of the world, getting to Bali is easy. Flights from Jakarta to Bali take about 1.5 hours, from Singapore and Perth (Australia) around 2.5 and 3 hours, from Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and from Sydney/Melbourne about 5.5 to 6 hours on many national and international carriers.

Just make sure that you look for "Denpasar (DPS)" instead of "Bali" in airline time tables. Denpasar is the capital of Bali. While the name of its international airport is Ngurah Rai.

Another means to reach the island is by ferry from Banyuwangi, located at the most eastern tip of East Java. It takes 30 to 45 minutes crossing from Banyuwangi to Ketapang on Bali. From Bali, you can also continue further by ferry to the island of Lombok, in West Nusa Tenggara . Take the ferry at Padang Bay with transit at Lembar seaport for a total of 4 hours journey.

Bali has many travel agents to assist you with your holiday plans.

Remember to "hoot" your horn when going around curves on mountainous roads as it is very common to drive in the middle of the road here. There are a lot of one way roads in Bali. If you miss your turn off you may have to drive quite a distance before being able to turn back. Be alert!

We highly recommend you fill up at any of the numerous government owned petrol stations. In more remote areas at stalls by the side of the road sell bottles of clear liquid. The quality may not be as good as at the petrol station and could cause damage to the rental car.

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Heritage Sites

Heritage Sites

Many of the world's most ancient wonders can be found in Indonesia. From sacred temples to palace ruins, from prehistoric remains to living traditions, visitors from around the world come to Indonesia, attracted by its unique and diverse cultures and vibrant heritage.

Whether you take the opportunity to see traditional batik cloths being made, experience centuries old customs and festivities with a visit to a traditional village, or soak up some history in one of Indonesia's many museums – the list of heritage attractions appears endless.

Bali

Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.

read more >>

Borobudur

The magnificent Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s...

read more >>

Prambanan

As the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, the beautiful and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle and an icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Located not far from the Buddhist Borobudur temple, the proximity of the two...

read more >>

AMBARAWA: Experience Rural Java’s Traditional Life

The hinterland of Semarang, capital of the province of Central Java is lush green: a beautiful scenic landscape of rising volcanoes, green valleys and fertile rice fields. Cruise lines call on Semarang to allow passengers to visit the...

read more >>

Ampera Bridge

Ampera Bridge was constructed in April 1962, after getting approval of President Soekarno. At first, this 1,177 meters long and 22 meters wide bridge was called Bung Karno Bridge. It was officially opened on 30 September 1965 by Let. Gen. Ahmad Yani...

read more >>

Ancient Sites of Kokas

Ancient Sites of Kokas are remains of pre-history sites where you can find drawings on canyons. These drawings show palms and animals which are still clear until now. These drawings on canyons locally known as Tapuraran, were made using natural...

read more >>

Ban Hin Kiong Temple

The beautifully designed Ban Hin Kiong Temple in the heart of Manado’s China Town is 335 years old and is the oldest Chinese temple built here during the Qing Dynasty era in China (1644-1911). It is a house of worship for the Tridharma...

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Location: Sulawesi » North Sulawesi » Manado City

Banda Aceh

Its auspicious position on the tip of the westernmost point of the Indonesian archipelago has made the town of Banda Aceh a recognized transit point as well as a hub for education, commerce, and government. The Aceh Darussalam Kingdom was...

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Location: Sumatra » Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam » Kota Banda Aceh

Bandarlampung: Sumatra’s Southern Gateway

Perched on the hills overlooking Lampung Bay, Bandarlampung is the capital and largest city of Lampung, the southern-most province on the island of Sumatra. The city acts as an inter-island hub and main gateway to Sumatra from Java. As the fourth...

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Location: Sumatra » Lampung » Kota Bandar Lampung

Bandung’s precious Tropical Art-Deco Heritage

In the 1920’s when the Dutch decided to gradually move its colonial capital to Bandung, it was the heyday of Art Deco. That is the reason why until today Bandung still holds some of the best examples of Tropical Art Deco architecture in...

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Location: Java » West Java » Kota Bandung

Batu Basurek

Batu Basurek is a stone with inscriptions in the old Palava script of India, bearing the legend of Adityawarman in the year 1347. Literally, "Batu Basurek" itself means "The Written Stone".The stone's 25 cm wide, 80 cm high, and 10 cm thick....

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Location: Sumatra » West Sumatra » Kab. Tanah Datar

Bukit Kasih

Bukit Kasih – or the Hill of Love is located in the village of Kanonang at Kawangkoan, some 55 kilometers from Manado, North Sulawesi. It was built in 2002 as a spiritual center where religious followers from various faiths can gather,...

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Location: Sulawesi » North Sulawesi » Manado City

Fort Marlborough

Fort Marlborough. The British or ‘Raffles’ Fort, was built between 1714 and 1719 and was famous as the second-strongest fort built by British in Asia, Fort George in Madras, India being the first. It was restored and opened to the public...

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Location: Sumatra » Bengkulu » Kota Bengkulu

Fort Rotterdam and the I La Galigo Museum within: History of South Sulawesi

Standing majestically at the western coast of Makassar, Fort Rotterdam is recognized as the city’s most iconic landmark. With historical traces dating back to the Kingom of Gowa from the 16thth century to colonization by the Dutch, this Fort...

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Location: Sulawesi » South Sulawesi » Kota Makassar

Galang Island

In the 1980’s, Galang Island suddenly became famous. This island was a topic of discussion in the United Nations since it became home to thousands of Vietnamese boat people, refugees who left their country following the Vietnam War. They came...

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Location: Sumatra » Riau Archipelago » Kota Batam

Heritage Sites in Jakarta

There are more than thirty museums in Jakarta. And tens of art galleries. So we'll list a few places you shouldn't miss: Museum Gajah (National Museum)Located at the west side of Merdeka square; it offers historical, pre-historical,...

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Location: Java » DKI Jakarta

Imogiri

Imogiri, the official cemetery of the royal descendents from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, is about 17 kms southeast of Yogyakarta and easily accessible by the bus or car. The tombs lie within three main courtyards perched on a hilltop. Entry into the...

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Location: Java » DI Yogyakarta » Kab. Bantul

Jakarta's Inspiring Istiqlal Mosque

First opened to the public by Indonesia’s first President, Soekarno, on 22 February 1978, the grand Istiqlal Mosque of Jakarta is the largest mosque in South East Asia both in structure and capacity, as it can accommodate congregations of up to...

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Location: Java » DKI Jakarta » Jakarta Pusat

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