TANA TORAJA VACATION

People of The Mountains

Of all the incredibly interesting cultures found in Indonesia, perhaps none is more fascinating than that of the Torajas. Isolated by difficult terrain and fierce privacy, the people of Tanah Toraja remained free of outside influence until early this century when the Dutch finally made contact. For centuries, the mountainous Torajas barely interacted with their seafaring Bugis neighbours and escaped the attention of the Dutch.

In a setting of steep rocky mountains, this green jungle and fertile rice paddies, Torajaland's geography mesmerizes even the most travelled adventurers. But the Torajan culture itself surpasses the physical beauty of the place.

Torajan houses are beyond distinct: traditional houses, tongkonan, are raised on piles. The rooftops rear up very high on both ends, suggestive of the horns of a water buffalo (Torajans revere the water buffalo as sacred). Every tongkonan faces north and is accompanied by a matching though smaller rice barn. Underneath each rice barn, a wooden sitting platform makes the familiy's meeting place: sitting there, the villagers might ask you to join them for a glass of home-made palm wine.

The most unique aspect of Torajan culture revolves around death. When a person dies, they must be sent to the after-world with the greatest attention. An elaborate funeral follows, with special bamboo huts being built to house hundred – sometimes even thousands – of guests who might come from as far away as Jakarta. From an overlooking tower, the deceased presides over the festivities, which include animal sacrifices and might last as many as seven days. For rich ornoble people, tau-tau (wooden effigies of the deceased) are carved and dressed. In a lasting and impressive gesture, the tau-tau are placed in hollowed-out cliff faces for all the world to see.

Sam Poo Kong Chinese Temple

It is not hard to find the famous temple. Anywhere you are in Semarang, just ask the local, for they will tell you right away. Sam Poo Kong Chinese Temple or known as the stone building, looks different than others, situated on the left side hills heading towards Ungaran from Semarang.

It's called the Stone Building due to the main building and temple is actually a caved stone, which is nowadays situated at the back of the main building. The stone cave is the main prying room to ask for ciamshie as assign of good luck for the pilgrims. And this is what to believes as the headquarters of Admiral Cheng Ho and his soldiers when they visited Java.

This Chinese Temple is quite spectacular, especially since it's been renovated in a number of times and is free of flood now. According to one of the tour guide in this temple, the Sam Poo Kong Complex was built simultaneously. The first building was built in 1724 in order to honot Admiral Cheng Ho (Sam Poo Tay Djien), who came to Semarang, in Simongan Beach to be exact. Nowadays Simongan Beach is the name of the road that situated right in front of Sam Poo Kong Chinese Temple.

Major renovation of Sam Poo Kong was done in the year 2002, which took three years up until 2005, exactly at the commemoration of the 600^th year of the arrival Admiral Cheng Ho. Cheng Ho first came in year 1405, and revisited in 1516.

Should you enter the temple from the north entrance, you'll be greeted by two statues of Gupala giants on left and right side of the gate. After passing a red building with a model of a veranda, you'll see on your right a row of typical Chinese temple buildings.

The color red wraps its main columns, hundreds of lamps, even the roofs are colored in red. To the right of the main building stands two little temple to honor Kyai Jangkar (there's an anker from Cheng Ho's ship) and Kyai Cundrik Bumi (the weapons that was brought inside Cheng Ho's ship). And as to the left, there's thetemple of Kyai Jurumundi, and next to it is temple of Dewa Bumi.

The yard in front of the main building is quite spacious, here there are several small statues and medium size statue of Admiral Cheng Ho. It's a shame that statue is not tall enough, drowned by the height of rows of building behind it.

Another interesting thing due to its uniqueness is a tree that has roots that resembles the chain of a big ship, twirling around the trees all over the complex. And so it's called the chain root tree.

As a reminder, Cheng Ho or Zeng He (1371-1433), is an admiral, traveler, and skilled diplomat, whom tried to broaden China's influence towards the countries in Hindi sea. In his quest, he succeeded in gaining business and diplomatic relations with at least 35 countries! An outstanding achievement, considering the sailing condition at that time.

Everyday, there are always people visiting this temple, but the amount is not always the same, sometime there are only 1 or 2 people, but on some other day it grew to hundreds of people. Sam Poo Kong foundation, who manages the temple, is planning to build a place for pilgrims from out of town to spend the night in. The 4 floored building is entering its finishing phase.

Cheng Ho is an old story which interesting to learn, yet the Admiral has certainly left many valued lessons to enhanced relationship among many religions an ethnics.

Railway mounting tour

As to the train station museum, according to PT Kereta Api, it suits the purposes of educating, preserving, conserving, research, development, observation, and not to forget, recreational.

In the train station museum, situated some of communication devices from the old days such as old phone receivers made in the year 1900, 1901, and 1926 by the Americans, Conductor's hat, mottos, numerous photos, the Yasa Hall of Semarang 1918, telegraph device, type writer, ticketing machine, and two toilets with Hesren and Dames written in the doors.

The Ambarawa Train station museum with ancient technology that served the need of transportation since the pre-independence era until 1964. This museum consist of 21 stem locomotives, situated in the north and west of the museum, and 5 steam locomotives situated in the depot, which 3 of them are operable.

Other than the Train Station Museum, Ambarawa trains station also have an old locomotive that can travel the mountains with its gears. This one of a kind Indonesia's geared train is still capable of hiking slopes with 30 degrees incline towards Bedono station which is 9 kilometers away and the journey can be made in about an hour, with the capacity of 80 passengers. The geared steam locomotive is unique and is one among three that are left in the world. With two other situated in India and Swiss.

Tourist can enjoy the beautiful panorama along the way, trough Ungaran and Merbabu Mountains that situated high above with and Pening swamps below it, which are truly a breathtaking view.

The museum provides three kinds of tour which are named 'Railway Mountain Tour'. Tourists can enjoy the natural view of Ambarawa and the surrounding villages by riding on the geared steam locomotive, or Lori on demand.

According ti the history, Ambarawa during the Dutch-Hindi era was a military area, and there for, King Willem the 1^st wanted to build a train station in order to mobilize his soldiers toward Semarang. On the 23^rd of May 1873, Ambarawa train station was built on a 127.500 m2 of land.

During its reigning days, Ambarawa train station was known as Willem 1. Ceased its functions of serving the tracks Ambarawa-Kedungjati, Semarang, and in the year 1976 for the tracks Ambarawa-Secang, Magelang, and also Ambarawa-Temanggung.

With the closing of Ambarawa train station, on the 8^th of April 1976, The Governor of Central Java, Soeparjo Rustam, along with the Head of Public Train Company, Soeharso declared Ambarwa Train Station as museum by gathering 21 of locomotives that took part in the battle for independence, especially in mobilizing Indonesia's soldiers.

With its massive containment of history along with the touch of the well preserved locomotives, made this location a favorite spot to make pre-wedding pictures, or just to walk pets for the locals.

Mount Krakatau

This region is the mountain panorama that is still active, because the location is surrounded by sea, maritime tourism activities such as termasukolahraga water diving, snorkeling and other activities to become one of that region. Due leakan pad tremendous year 1883 has changed the habitat so that all can be witnessed here in the early beginning of life and animal plants.
Geographically, this area included in the autonomous regions Lampung, but more easy accessibility of Banten province. And if you want to see the beauty of nearby mountains, the dikalukan can rent a boat with a good beach from Anyer, Carita and Tanjung Lesung. With all the charm and mystery of nature in such a way that, quite probably the reason why the area surrounding Mount Krakatau an mengundangminat always people there to visit, both the tourists who only picnic or simply to find inspiration as well as among scientists that research in the framework of dating.
When the days when crawling dusk, eksotisme Krakatau mountain area more obvious. Travelers will be amazed to see the sun sinking spell back from this mountain, tourists can see the beauty of the Sunda, Tel; uk Lampung beautiful, charm the west coast of Banten, Lau-thatch ships crossing-Bakauheni Merak, which is always crowded, and the flickering began nelaayan of distance.

Ujung Kulon Tour

If it's still panatai fascination with the west, perjalan you can proceed to Ujung Kulon. There are two objectives, namely tourism area Tanjung Pulau Umang Lesung or in Ujung Kulon. In that location, where the sunset is near.
To go to Tanjung Lesung take about one hour from the area Carita. Travel the country roads of Carita, Labuhan, Panimbang, Citeureup ago arrived in Tanjung Lesung. Ocean blue carpet menjadipemandangan along the road to Tanjung Lesung. Sea sersa the dkat ketikak Citeureup enter the area, even if it is reported tide season arrived, the waves menghempas to the road.
If you want to vacation in Tanjung Lesung, there are two options where to stay. At home residents who made home, or stay in the resort with the facilities that the hotel star tidakmkalah in Jakarta. Here you not only enjoy the high seas but also can see from the nearby coral reef conservation in the middle of the sea.
Not far from Tanjung Lesung atausatu half hours by using a vehicle, you will arrive in the district well. In this area will be visible to a small island with white sandy jejran small gazebo-gazebo that is slick Dann beautiful. That Umang Island, an island of 5 hectares was changed into a luxurious health resort.
To reach this place takes approximately 10-15 minutes away by boat kecicl, from Sumur. A lot of charm that can be enjoyed during a trip to the island to incoming tourism in the area of Ujung Kulon is. On this island you can stay around or just to enjoy the scenery of sea, mountains, forests, and hills.
If your time is quite long, it's not complete if it does not descend to the Ujung Kulon national park, which is the most important nature conservation areas in Indonesia. Yah, Ujung Kulon indeed have good biodiversity of flora and fauna and various types of vegetation and is a representative tropical rain forest ecosystem datran lower left and terluas. This condition is an ideal habitat for rare animals viability as a bercula Badak, buffalo and several types of birds, other than monyek, deer and other.

Simpang Lima icon of the city

Semarang as the capital of Central Java is mending itself in order to gain local and domestic tourist interest, especially when the government has declares that the Visit Indonesia Year was to be extended until late 2009.

Actually, tourism objects are relatively common in Semarang, Just to mention, Tanjung Emas Harbor, Tugu Muda, museums such as the Nyonya Meneer, Jamu Jago, Muri, and Mandala Bakti, and then the newly renovated zoo, and the Chinese Tample of Sam Poo Kong.

Visiting Semarang just doesn't feel right when you haven't seen Simpang Lima (Five intersections). But some are thinking, what's so special about Simpang Lima? A place like that you can always find in Jakarta, in fact, there many such places that you can find here in the capital city.

Regarding to this kind of places, you may find iti anywhere, but should you be there yourself, you'll feel the different ambience. Friendliness and quietness are two things that worth mentioning. To the Semarang people, Simpang Lima is their icon of the city, and they're proud of it.

It's called Simpang Lima, due to the five major roads that lead to one spot, which is the boulevard. Those five roads are Pandanaran, Pahlawan, Ahmad Yani, KH Ahmad Dahlan, and Gajah Mada Streets. As is said, Pandanaran is a name of a sovereign whom served to the needs of the locals, and not to himself. He made many sacrifices to the society, not only with his wealth and fortune, but also his life.

The Simpang Lima Boulevards an open space for the society of many walks of life. The boulevard feels alive during the night before Sundays, Sunday Mornings, or on public holidays. On the night before Sundays and the morning after it, there many vendors selling things with affordable prices. Among them are handyman equipments, DVD disc, belt, shorts, and many home utensils. Including souvenirs, school utensil, sandals, and hair equipment are sold here.

Simpang Lima feel cozy and quiet, especially during the monsoon, due to the large trees that surrounded the place. There are even some that reached the height of 5 meters.

Around the Simpang Lima area there some object that are shame to be missed. On the west side there's the Baiturrahman Mosque as the prating spot of Moslems. On another west side there's the E-Plaza, one of the movie theatres that exist in Semarang. Other than that, there are meny supermarkets such as Ramayana on the south side, Matahari Plaza on the north, Mall Ciputra and Robinson on the north, they are also Horrison Hotel on the east and Ciputra Hotel on the north side, which made Simpang Lima a never resting place.

Many kind of food and snacks are scattered and sold in "lesehan" style on the path walk and squares. In Semarang, Simpang Lima is the center. Semarang also has religious tourism, which is the Great Mosque.

Rumors has it, the mosque is one of the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia, completed with a tower as high as 99 meters. The height made accordingly to the 99 characteristics of God. The tower is also use as the gathering place to determine the beginning of Ramadahan.

Semarang doesn't only have tourism potentials in the city, but also in its district. The sites in the district of Semarang are just as beautiful as the city. One among many is the Hills Joglo Villa at the foot of mount Ungaran. This area gives you the village atmosphere surrounded by rice fields. There are also many Joglo houses here, one of them is the house that was built in 1822, in the village of Godong, there even some genuine furniture left inside the house.

Facilities such as swimming pool and gallery are provided in this house. When entering the gallery, visitors can see varieties of paintings, or ancient pottery that are found in the island of Java and Bali, there are even some that originated from Vietnam.

Just a little bit to the south, in Ambarawa to be exact, you can stop by at the Banaran coffee Village in Bawen Street. Many facilities are offered here; among them are swimming pool, tennis court, play ground, camping ground, and ball room. You can go around this area by riding tourism coach that only costs Rp 4,000.

Not only looking trough the coffee plantation, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery. For there you can see five mountains at once, those are Sumbing, Gajah Mungkur, Kelir, Elomoyo, and Merbabu, which surrounded the plantation. To end the journey around the coffee plantation, visitors will enjoy the scenery of sunset while with a cup of coffee and dumplings.

Nowadays, the capital of Semarang is Ungaran. There, you can see the Train Station Museum, Palagan Ambarawa, and Willem II fort.

Source: Health n Tourism

Carita Beach

Once satisfied, you can continue the journey to another object that is not less beautiful Carita beach that is located in the Sunda strait coast. This region is a popular tourist destination in the province of Banten. The strategic location, because it is at the road Carita-Labuan, easier access to tourists. It's not too far from the beach making this so popular, so many tourists visited domestic and overseas, especially on weekends and holidays other.
Coastal area which is located in Tanjung Carita is the carpet of white sand with a sloping green vegetation typical beach. Not too far from the beach and there is a river Cikembang river Cimeti a clear and elegant look with the green hills that are latarnya. Sloping white sand that support the tourist activities, such as sunbathing and sports.
For those of you who want to drive the adrenalin, 3 km along the coast also provide a variety of challenging games such as surfing, jet ski, speed boat or banana boat. Not far from the beach, you can also perform various activities such as diving or snorkeling in the marine park. You will be amazed to see various types of ornamental fish and marine biota have. Of course all this can cause a sensation which is difficult recede

Anyer beach

Enjoy the beauty of nature Banten indeed bring us to a destination in the frame of nature treat the challenging spirit of adventure. Unuk and the natural beauty that is, if Jakarta can be started through the area from the nearest beach is Anyer. The popular beach since 1980 and is renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of Banten location not too far from Jakarta.
With the distance about 160 km, can travel from place about two hours using a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, the city of Serang, Banten province capital, Anyer beach is about 35 km. On this beach you can menikamti panoramic sea blue horizon of a blue jga. Paving the wide sand beach and clean the area is comfortable to use for activities to swimming, surfing or diving.
Towards the afternoon, you can relax on the beach while enjoying the lips sinking sun, which is accompanied by sea birds which fly low and occasionally prey fish along the coast, as if all reinforces how beautiful this region. When you are bored by the beach, you can also enjoy the charm Anyer beach panorama from the top of the lighthouse relic found in the Netherlands region.

SAWARNA AIMS TO BECOME THE BALI OF BANTEN

The Sawarna Village, noted for its pristine beach with good waves for surfing, is now preparing to become "The Bali of Banten".

"We have drawn a master plan in which an integrated tourism complex will be built. The people in the village have prepared to welcome any kinds of tourists while preserving our own culture, just like the Balinese," said Erwin Komarasukma, the village head.

He further said that the local government has allocated a 16 hectare land for the purpose. In the tourism complex, there will be a water park, cottages, retailing complex where the Sawarna people can sell their handicrafts, restaurants, fisherman home stay complexes and so on.

"The master plan has been getting positive responses, but unfortunately we are stumbled on the funding of the permanent bridge construction. Without it, the master plan will be just a plan," Komarasukma said, adding that the 60 meter bridge would cost around Rp 2 billion. "It should be the provincial government's decision to take, but it seems not in the near future."

Currently Sawarna keeps receiving tourist visits everyday, domestically as well as internationally. They can spend the night at the villagers' homes with very reason able price. To go to the beach, about 65 km in length, people have to pass through the wooden hanging bridge as the land and the beach is separated by a wide and deep river. For those who heave no courage to go through it, they opt to fly using paragliding or light aircraft.

"Most of the foreign tourists do it that way. They fly from Pelabuhan Ratu and return there later; no spending for the local people. By building the integrated tourism complex, the tourist is hoped to stay and spend their money here.

However, the beach will be kept free for access, no entry charge whatsoever for anyone," Komarasukma said.

Sawarna village is flanked by a mountain and the sea, with breathtaking view of the beach, viewed from winding roller coaster well asphalted road. Due to its geographical conditions, it's no wonder if the village is also enriched by unique flora & fauna and natural caves.

For those who are interested to invest in Sawarna, it's better to start buying a piece of land now when the price is still relatively very cheap, between Rp 10,000 – Rp 60,000 per square meter.

Source: Travelwan Magazine

Lawang Sewu the building of a thousand doors

According to the history, at the beginning Lawang Sewu was use as the headquarter of Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS), the first Dutch owned public train company in Indonesia established in 1864.

When the five days war of Semarang erupted, 14^th-18^th August 1945, Lawang Sewu and areas near it became the center of armed conflict between Indonesian and Japanese soldiers. There were casualties as always. In order to commemorate these casualties, ono the left of the entrance gate, a column with the name of the name of all casualties was rise.

To the Semarang people, the name Lawang Sewu is common. An old building with pealing walls on the outside which give the appearance of being untattended. Yet, what is so special about the building that looks untaken care of?

According to the rumors, Lawang Sewu is haunted. Several screenshots and bravery trial even located in this building. As is said, in the bravery trial program, there were several sightings. Due to the haunted status, Lawang Sewu gain many tourist interests. To thoe two enjoy mystical stories, they choose to visit it in the night. Usually on Thursday and Saturday nights.

Lawang Sewu nowadays is managed by the State Owned Train Company. There are two kinds of tourist targeted to visit this building, domestic an international.

In the day, during holiday season Lawang Sewu usually visited by children from schools outside Semarang., there are even some that come from outside Central Java. They are eager to gain information about the history of Lawang Sewu. Other than the students, this historical building is also visited by families and other visitors.

Foreign tourists are usually comes from Holland, and Japan. They want to feel nostalgic touch of the building while some just want to see the firm and strong building with their own eyes. According to Bambang, a tour guide in Lawang Sewu, not so long ago, the were hundreds of foreign tourist came down from the cruise ship MS Stantendam which set Anker in Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang to see Lawang Sewu.

Actually, the building isn't spooky as it seems to be. If step inside it, it look rather clean and taken care of. Of course there's no lights what so ever inside. If the outlook seems spooky, that's where the appeal of Lawang Sewu is.

Lawang Sewu have basement. The Dutch uses it as cooling system of all the room above it. But when the Japanese came in and took over Lawang Sewu, they changed the function as dungeons. Rooms with the size of 1 meter square were fitted with five prisoners. Other than that it's also function as torturing room decapitation room! The victims were Indonesian and Dutch.

In order to get to the pitch black basement, you'll be escorted by a guide, with the fee of Rp 6,000/person. During the monsoon, the water entered the basement, the organizer provided boots and flashlights. If you are ever in Lawang Sewu don't miss the chance to do the basement tour.

If you enjoy tourism objects that can raise your adrenaline, Lawang Sewu is one of them.

Source: Health n Tourism