Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, the furthest out, has been tagged as the ‘party island’. And with three weekly parties and a groovy collection of beach bars, you can get loose here. But Trawangan is growing up, with stylish accommodation (including a number of inland vacation villas), a fun expat community and outstanding dining.

All-natural yet sprinkled with a collection of restaurants and bars that would meet the needs of any passionate cosmopolitan, Gili Trawangan is the road-weary rambler’s lucid fantasy. The biggest and more popular from the carless Gilis, Gili Trawangan earliest blipped on the tourism radar during the ’90s, when Bali rose to worldwide popularity and backpackers descended in search of white sand, warm water, rich reefs and a good party.

Expectations were exceeded across the board. Trawangan’s Indonesian community has benefited from the increase in tourism here, as well. Some of the best new bars and bungalows are locally owned. The water is the aqua blue colour you dream about and the snorkelling is great. Nest here and you’re still just a 20-minute beach walk away from that scrum of dive shops, sushi bars, lounges, reggae joints and beach front dining rooms that are difficult to resist

Boats dock on the island’s eastern shore, which is also home to most of Trawangan’s accommodation, restaurants and facilities. The best stretch of beach is on the stunning northwest corner. Stay here, and you’ll have a longer trek to the action.


Getting There
Travel via Senggigi; via the public boats that leave from Bangsal (the cheapest route), you can charter your own boat from Bangsal (195,000Rp) or book passage on a private speedboat. Blue Marlin and Manta Dive on Gili Trawangan can arrange transfers (600,000Rp for up to three people). Speedboats use the Teluk Nare harbour south of Bangsal.

Coming by public transport, catch a bus or bemo to Pemenang, from where it’s 1km by cidomo (3000Rp) to Bangsal Harbour. Bangsal is beyond annoying (see boxed text, opposite ). The touts raise blood pressure for a living, and you should sooner ignore than trust them. Boat tickets are sold at the Koperasi harbour office on the beach. Public boats run roughly from 8am to 5pm, but don’t leave until full (about 18 people). One-way fares at the time of research were 8000Rp to Gili Air, 9000Rp to Gili Meno and 10,000Rp to Gili Trawangan. Special charters can also be organised in Bangsal. Boats pull up on the beach when they get to the Gilis. You’ll have to wade ashore with your luggage.

View

image:gilibookings.com

Diving
Trawangan is made for divers, with six established scuba schools, including one of the best tech-diving schools in the world, and one newcomer (Diving Buddha).

Big Bubble (Phone 625 020; www.bigbubblediving.com)
Blue Marlin Dive Centre (Phone 632 424, 0813 39930190; www.bluemarlindive.com)
Diving Buddha (Phone 644 179)
Dream Divers (Phone 634 496; www.dreamdivers.com)
Manta Dive (Phone 643 649; www.manta-dive.com)
Trawangan Diving (Phone 649 220, 0813 3770 2332;www.trawangandive.com)
Villa Ombak Diving Academy (Phone 638 531)

www.buddhadivegili.com

Snorkelling
There’s exciting snorkelling off the beach north of the jetty. The coral isn’t in the best shape here, but there are tons of fish. The reef is healthier off the northwestern coast, but you may have to scramble over coral to access it at low tide. If the current is quick, you’ll have fun flying above the reef, but will have to walk back to your starting point. Snorkelling gear can be hired for around 25,000Rp per day from shops near the jetty.

image:baligilifastboat.com

Surfing & Kayaking
Trawangan offers a fast right break that can be surfed year-round and can swell overhead. It’s just south of Villa Ombak. Gili Surf Shop (Phone 0812 372 7615) in the pasar seni rents boards.
Karma Kayak (Phone 0818 0559 3710; tours 300,000Rp), a hotel, tapas bar and kayaking school, is set on the northern end of Gili Trawangan, where Astrid, a former champion stunt kayaker (she took silver at the 1991 world championship leads half-day kayaking trips around the Gilis when currents allow.

image:travellinginindonesia.com

image:www.idc-gili.com

Walking and Cycling
Trawangan is exciting to explore by walking or with bicycle. You can walk round the entire island in a several of hours - if you finish at the hill on the southwestern part (which has the remains of the old Japanese World war 2 gun placement), you’ll have terrific sunset views of Bali’s Gunung Agung.
Bikes will be the preferred mode of transport and are also easily hired from 25,000Rp per day. Your hotel can arrange rental otherwise you can approach the bicycle stores on the main drag directly.

image:www.nusatenggaraindonesia.com

Sleeping
over a hundred places to stay in Gili Trawangan. They range from simple village huts to mod Zen beach bungalows with outdoor baths to sprawling air-conditioned villas with private pools.

image:www.lombokgilihotels.com

Sirwa Homestay (s/d 40,000/45,000Rp)
Aldi Homestay (Phone 0813 3954 1102; s/d 60,000/100,000Rp)
Lisa Homestay (Phone 0813 3952 3364; r 75,000Rp)
Sandy Beach Cottage (Phone 625 020; d from 100,000Rp)
Edy Homestay (d from 120,000Rp)
Warna Homestay (Phone 623 859; d from 150,000Rp)
Puri Hondje (r 150,000Rp)
Balenta (Phone 0818 0520 3464; d from 180,000Rp)
Pondok Sederhana (Phone 0813 3860 9964; r 200,000Rp)
Trawangan Cottages (Phone 639 282; s/d 200,000/250,000Rp)
Quiet Water (Phone 0819 1753 1652; d from 250,000Rp)


Midrange
Black Sand Homestay (Phone 0812 372 0353; r from 300,000Rp)
Tir na Nog ( Phone 639 463; tirnanog@mataram.wasantara.net.id; r from 300,000Rp)
Rumah Saga ( Phone 648 604, 0818 0571 4315; www.rumahsaga.com; cottages 350,000-500,000Rp)
Pesona (Phone 660 7233; www.pesonaresort.com; r 400,000600,000Rp)
Sama Sama Bungalows ( Phone 0812 376 3650; r with aircon 400,000, deluxe lumbung 650,000Rp)
Beautiful Life Bungalows ( Phone 0818 0376 4102; bungalows 450,000Rp)
Tanah Qita ( Phone 639 159; bungalows 500,000Rp)
Balé Sampan ( Phone 0813 3988 2153, 0813 3774 8469; www.balesampanbungalows.com; bungalows with garden/sea view 500,000/800,000Rp)
Manta (Phone 643 649, 0812 376 4780; www.manta-dive .com; bungalows 550,000Rp)
Karma Kayak (Phone 0818 0559 3710; bungalows550,000Rp)
Trawangan Dive (Phone 649 220, 0813 3770 2332; www.trawangadive.com; bungalows US$60-80)
Kelapa Kecil (Phone 0812 376 6496; bungalows US$70-90)
H Rooms (Phone 639 248; villas from 800,000Rp)


Top End
Desa Dunia Beda (Phone 641 575; www.desaduniabeda.com; bungalows US$110-140 plus 21Phone tax)
Gili Exotic (Phone 692 113, 0818 360 019; www.giliexotic .com; villas 1,500,000Rp)
Kelapa Villas (Phone 632 424, 0812 375 6003; www.kelapa villas.com; villas US$150-550 plus 21Phone tax)
Gili Villas (Phone 0812 376 4780; www.gilivillasindonesia .com; villas US$250)

Papua

Right here the modern world is still clawing at the edges of a very traditional one, where lots of people buy food in supermarkets but others hunt it with bows and arrows. On this youngest part of Indonesia very little roads connect the dozen or so towns, and also to travel any distance you need to choose to use the air or the water. In several ways, Papua feels a different country - which is what most Papuans, who are ethnically distinct from other Indonesians. Exploring inside Papua’s interior now will amaze you only with all the charm of the peoples, the resilience of their cultures and the splendour of their landscapes. Nor is awesome every exaggeration for the islands and also beaches all-around Papua’s coasts and the marine life on their own coral reefs. The diversity of life around the Raja Ampat islands, specially, has biologists and scuba divers reaching for ever more original superlatives. Traveling in Papua will be challenging, and never one that comes cheap. But everything you do here is an adventure, and people who take on Papua’s challenge are guaranteed that combination of trepidation and pleasure that only the very best travels are made.

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CLIMATE

In (blank), (blank) drier months are from May to November, but all the parts of Papua have some rain year-round. December to April sees roughly twice as much rain monthly in every areas - that could be inconvenient and not comfortable but doesn’t make travel impossible. Sorong and the Raja Ampat islands at the tip of the Vogelkop are exceptions to the general pattern , getting their heaviest rain between April and September. The far south is the only area with a proper dry season: Merauke normally receives fewer than 50mm of rain monthly from June to October. Temperatures and humidity are high all year in the lowlands, but it’s cooler in the highlands, and highland nights could be positively cold.

CULTURE
Papua is known as a land of many cultures - those of the 200-plus local peoples and people of all the immigrants from other regions of Indonesia, who dominate inside the cities now composition over 40% of Papua’s population. Papuans are mostly Christian with traditional animism.
Most well-known ethnic groups of Papua:
Amungme, Asmat, Bauzi, Dani, Kamoro, Kombai, Korowai, Mee, Sentani, Yali, Yei

GETTING THERE
Get to Jakarta, Makassar, Denpasar, Manado or Ambon, and then take an onward domestic flight. Visitors going directly for the Baliem Valley must fly first to Jayapura, that will (blank) served by five airlines from Jakarta and Makassar, and by Garuda from Denpasar. For the Raja Ampat islands, fly to Sorong from Jakarta, Makassar, Ambon or Manado. You can also fly to Manokwari, Biak or Timika from Makassar or Jakarta, and to Fak-Fak from Ambon. Most flights to Papua from Jakarta are overnight, with a small-hours stop in Makassar. The cheapest Jakarta-Jayapura fares at research time, from around 1,500,000Rp one way, were with Batavia Air and Lion Air.

Airfast (www.airfastindonesia.com)

Batavia Air (www.batavia-air.co.id)

Expressair (www.expressair.biz)

Garuda (www.garuda-indonesia.com)

Lion Air (www.lionair.co.id)

Merpati (www.merpati.co.id)

Wings Air (www.lionair.co.id)

Boat

A few Pelni liners link Papuan ports with Maluku, Sulawesi and Java every two or four weeks. Almost all pass through Sorong, which has six inbound and six outbound sailings every two weeks. Jayapura has five arrivals and departures every two weeks. A few Perintis boats regularly link the north coast of Papua with Sulawesi and northern Maluku, and connect the south coast with southeast Maluku. 

Bali

Impossibly natural rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, wonderful Hindu temple events, mesmerising dancing shows, wide lace of beaches, a truly lovely people: you will find as many images of Bali and there is flowers on the ubiquitous frangipani trees. The small island - it is easy to drive the whole coast in one day - looms large for every trip to Indonesia. No place is more visitor-friendly. Hotels vary from surfer dives and the exciting won't stops to sybaritic retreats in the lush hills. The shopping, from hackneyed baubles to designer duds will put ‘extra bag’ at the top of your list. You are able to have dinner with local foods bursting with flavors fresh from the marketplaces or let a world-class chef take yourself on some culinary journey around the world. From cold Bintang at sunset to an impressive night clubbing, the social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude. So when comes time to relax, you can find a low-cost beach massage or lose your self in the all-day spa.

And even small definitely doesn’t mean homogeneous. Manic Kuta segues into luxurious Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty journeys among the volcanoes. Calm beach areas like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be found right around the coast and merely offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa Lembongan. While you find the beautiful little religious offerings that appear to materialise everywhere like by magic, you’ll see that their little tapestry of colors and textures is a metaphor for Bali itself.

Culture
Bali’s culture strips the cliché in the word unique. The variation of Hinduism applied with great fervour is found no place else on this planet and has inspired fervent artistic expressions that charms visitors. People in Bali is actually all Indonesian; 95% are of Balinese Hindu descent and can be identified as ethnic Balinese. The residents are generally from other places of the nation, particularly Java.

Religion
You can’t escape from religion in Bali - there re temples in most village, shrines in most ield and offerings made at each corner. The Balinese already had strong religious beliefs and a dynamic cultural life, and the new influences ere simply overlaid on existing practices - hence the peculiar Balinese interpretation of Hinduism. The Balinese worship the same gods as the Hindus of India - the trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu - however they also have a supreme god, Sanghyang Widi. Unlike in India, the trinity is never seen - a vacant shrine or empty throne tells all. Nor is Sanghyang Widi often worshipped, though villagers may pray to him when they have settled new land and are about to build a new village. Other Hindu gods such as Ganesh, Shiva’s elephant-headed son, may occasionally appear, but a great many purely Balinese gods, spirits and entities have far more relevance in everyday life.

Temple

The word for temple is pura, which is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘a space surrounded by a wall’. As in so much of Balinese religion, the temples, though nominally Hindu, owe much to the pre-Majapahit era. Their kaja, kelod or kangin (alignment towards the mountains, the sea or the sunrise) is in deference to spirits that are more animist than Hindu.

TOP FIVE TEMPLES

• Pura Luhur Ulu Watu ( p291 ), on the Bukit Peninsula, one of Bali’s nine directional temples, with a spectacular cliff-top location.
• Pura Tirta Empul ( p323 ) at Tampaksaring, renowned for its beauty and nearby springs and bathing pools.
• Pura Luhur Batukau ( p355 ) on the slopes of Gunung Batukau, with its cool, misty atmosphere.
• Pura Kehen ( p326 ), state temple of the Bangli kingdom and miniature version of Pura Besakih.
• Pura Maduwe Karang ( p358 ), near Kubutambahan, an elaborate seaside temple with some surprising carvings.

Dance

Many visitors are seduced by the haunting and melodic charms of a dance performance in Ubud, a quintessential Bali experience. Music, dance and drama are closely related in Bali. In fact, dance and drama are synonymous, though some ‘dances’ are more drama and less dance, and others more dance and less drama. Balinese dance tends to be precise, shifting and jerky, like the accompanying gamelan music, which has abrupt shifts of tempo and dramatic changes between silence and crashing noise. There’s virtually no physical contact in Balinese dancing – each dancer moves independently, but every movement of wrist, hand and finger is important. Even facial expressions are carefully choreographed to convey the character of the dance.

Getting There

Ngurah Rai Airport

(DPS) is just south of Kuta, however it is 

sometimes referred to internationally as 

Denpasar (which is 15km north) or on some 

internet flight booking sites as Bali.

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International airlines flying to and from Bali:

• Garuda Indonesia (GA; Map pp298-9 ; %0361-227824; www.garuda-indonesia.com; Jl Sugianyar 5, Denpasar) Serves Australia and major cities in Asia direct.
• AirAsia (AK; %0361-760116; www.airasia.com; ticket office outside international terminal) Serves Kota  Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching in Malaysia, connects to London.
• Cathay Pacific Airways (CX; %0361-766931; www.cathaypacific.com) Serves Hong Kong.
• China Airlines (CI; %0361-754856; www.china-airlines.com) Serves Taipei.
• Eva Air (BR; %0361-751011; www.evaair.com) Serves Taipei.
• Japan Airlines (JL; %0361-757077; www.jal.co.jp) Serves Tokyo.
• Jetstar/Qantas Airways (QF; Map p286 ; %0361288331;www.qantas.com.au; Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur) Serves Australia.
• Korean Air (KE; %0361-768377; www.koreanair.com) Serves Seoul.
• Lion Air (JT; %0804-177 8899; www.lionair.co.id) Serves Singapore.
• Malaysia Airlines (MH; %0361-764995; www.mas.com.my) Serves Kuala Lumpur.
• Pacific Blue (DJ; %+61 7 3295 2296; www.flypacificblue.com) Offshoot of Australia’s Virgin Blue.
• Singapore Airlines (SQ; Map p270 ; %0361-768388;www.singaporeair.com; GOI Bldg, Airport Parking Lot) Several Singapore flights daily.
• Thai Airways International ( TG; Map p286 ; %0361288141;www.thaiair.com; Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur) Serves Bangkok.

Domestic flying to and from Bali:

• AirAsia (AK; www.airasia.com) Fast-growing Malaysianbased budget carrier with a web of Indonesian domestic flights.
• Batavia Air (7P; www.batavia-air.co.id) Serves numerous destinations; has the enigmatic slogan: ‘Trust us to fly’.
• Garuda Indonesia (GA; www.garuda-indonesia.com) The national carrier serves numerous cities.
• Lion Air (JT; www.lionair.co.id) Fast-expanding budget carrier has a web of services across the archipelago; carried the most passengers in 2008.
• Mandala Airlines (RI; www.mandalaair.com) Serves major routes.
• Merpati Airlines (MZ; www.merpati.co.id) Serves many smaller Indonesian cities, in addition to the main ones.

Taxi to/from Airport

• Denpasar 70,000-90,000Rp
• Jimbaran 75,000-95,000Rp
• Kuta Beach 45,000-50,000Rp
• Legian 55,000-65,000Rp
• Nusa Dua 95,000-105,000Rp
• Sanur 95,000Rp
• Seminyak 70,000-80,000Rp
• Ubud 195,000-225,000Rp

Bicycle

Many visitors are using bikes around the towns and for day trips in Bali. Ask at your accommodation about where you can rent a good bike; hotels often have their own. Generally, prices range from 20,000Rp to 30,000Rp per day.

Car & Motorcycle

A small Suzuki or Toyota 4WD is the typical rental vehicle in Bali. Typical costs are 150,000Rp to 180,000Rp per day, including insurance and unlimited kilometres but not including fuel. Hiring a car with driver will cost around 350,000Rp to 600,000Rp for an eight- to 10-hour day.

Motorcycles are a popular way to get around Bali, Typically you can expect to pay from around 30,000 to 40,000Rp a day. This includes a flimsy helmet.

Krakatau Travel

Krakatau, one of the most popular of the world’s popular volcanoes, is a name most people knows - but several really know of it's location. Resting in relative peace several 50km from the West Java coast or 40km from Sumatra, the volcano is today a darkness of its former self - a little number of disconnected islands centred on Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau), a volcanic mass that's been on the boil since 1928. The spotlight regarding any trip to Krakatau is rounding Pulau Rakata and first glimpsing the menacing peak of Krakatau’s child.

Krakatau is only reachable by boat. It’s often possible to land about the eastern side of Anak Krakatau, however this is much depending on volcanic activity. If conditions are great, organised tours normally take visitors about 150m in the side of Anak Krakatau. Travelling to the side of the caldera is not advisable - humans have been killed by flying rocks. Always seek qualified advice before you make any trip to the volcano. After Krakatau, tours mostly move on to hike and snorkel on neighbouring islands.

Generally visitors to Krakatau arrive from Carita and the other beach resorts around the west coast of Java. However, Krakatau technically lies in Sumatra’s Lampung province, and will be slightly faster and cheaper to reach Krakatau from the little port of Kalianda, 30km north from the ferry terminal at Bakauheni.

Prices vary depending on expertise of the boat, but always charter a good boat you can pay for. In the rainy season (November to March) you'll find strong currents and bad seas, but even in the dry season strong southeast winds might make the swells and make a crossing inadvisable. Krakatau is usually 90minute trip via Carita using a fast boat if climate is fine. It’s a good oneday trip, but it’s absolutely worth the energy - if you're able to hire a safe boat.

Small fishing boats is probably low-cost, however so can be the tales of travellers who spent the night time, or longer, adrift in high swells. Reliable boats with radios and life jackets start from 1,800,000Rp for a small utility boat (maximum of six persons) and increase close to 3,300,000Rp for faster boats (eight to 10 persons). These can be organised via Carita agents or Marina Lippo in Carita.

Information

Labuan PHKA office phone 801731; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri has information on the volcano..

Pulau Dua Banten

West Java expands in the remote islands from the Ujung Kulon National Park (last Javan home of the one-horned rhino) in the west towards sweeping beaches of Pangandaran in the east. In between, you can go to the infamous offshore volcano of Krakatau, relax in chilled coastal resorts, become familiar with Sundanese tradition in Cianjur and then stroll through Bogor’s lush botanical gardens.

Many visitors simply go straight from Jakarta to Merak on their way to (or from) Sumatra, simply because there’s not much in this region to attract your attention. Came from here you are able to head to the west coast, though, and the historic town of Banten.

Pulau Dua / Pulau Burung Bird Sanctuary

Off the north coast at Banten, Pulau Dua is one of Indonesia’s major bird sanctuaries. The island has a large resident population – mainly herons, storks and cormorants – but the peak time is between March and July, when great numbers of migratory birds flock here for the breeding season.

It’s a half-hour trip by chartered boat from the Karanghantu harbour in Banten, but you can walk across the fish ponds (via bridges) to the island. From Banten, take an angkot 5km east to Sawahluhur village. The trail to the island starts 100m or so before the village and then it’s a hot 1km walk, weaving between the fish ponds – just keep heading for the trees on the horizon. There is a PHKA post with a derelict hut that has bare wooden beds and not much else. If you are planning to stay, bring food and water.

 

Carita Beach

160 km fro Jakarta, take a bus to Labuan and then an angkot to Carita (5000Rp).To Anyer, an angkot costs 7000Rp. Carita offers a more traditional and laidback sense than Anyer and a certain scruffy charm. This beach is large, and there’s some terrific swimming and some relatively priced accommodation choices. Travels to Krakatau ( opposite ) and Ujung Kulon National Park are best organised here. The hotel Sunset View is the best place for information. Heading north from Labuan port, the usual access point, Carita proper starts around 8km further on

About 2km from Carita across the rice paddies you will see the village of Sindanglaut (End of the Sea), that's the location where the large tsunami of 1883 ended its destructive run. Hutan Wisata Carita is known as a forest reserve with walks over the hills and jungle. Curug Gendang waterfall is the three-hour return hike through the reserve.

Hutan Wisata Carita

Curug Gendal Waterfall

Krakatau diving

Black Rhino - Ujung Kulon

Travel agencies including Black Rhino, close to the Sunset View hotel, can schedule diving (just like Rakata Hotel); two-dive excursions start at 750,000Rp including equipment rental. The perfect diving is in Ujung Kulon National Park, but Krakatau and Pulau Sanghiang are also of interest

Mostly everyone in town will try to peddle you a Krakatau trip. Look at your tour boat first as waves can be rough, and be sure it provides a radio on board. Black Rhino ( above ) and Rakata Hotel receive great reports; after negotiating, day trips to Krakatau start from about 1,800,000Rp. Trips to Ujung Kulon cost from US$280 per person for four days and three nights; overnight trips to Badui villages start at US$150.

Hotel

Sunset View (r 85,000Rp, with air-con 150,000Rp; a) The cheapest option on this stretch, though the small, poky rooms could do with a really good scrub.

Rakata Hotel (r 90,000Rp, with air-con & TV 175,000Rp; a) Another inexpensive option, the Rakata offers reasonably priced rooms, though tariffs jump on weekends. The restaurant serves up good seafood and tours can be set up here.

Carita Baka Baka (r from 160,000Rp, family bungalows from 450,000Rp; a) It’s looking a bit weary these days, and maintenance is not what it should be, but this midrange place has an idyllic spot right on the beach and is surrounded by palm trees. Rates double at weekends. 

Mutiara Carita (www.mutiara-carita .com; r from 450,000Rp, cottages from 800,000Rp; as) Stylish rooms and thatched cottages, some with beachfront aspects, in a large, leafy complex that has a tennis court, pool tables (and, unfortunately, karaoke). The kids’ facilities and activities are excellent here.

Krakatau Surf Carita (villas from 635,000Rp; as) This place has three classes of well-constructed, attractive detached bungalows (with either two or four bedrooms) right on the beach, with a view of the crashing surf. Prices rise by 30% on weekends. Add 21% tax to room rates.

Valentine Restaurant (meals from 30,000Rp) Carita has scores of inexpensive local places that specialise in fish and seafood, but for a smarter setting head to this elegant place, opposite the Krakatau Surf, which has a long menu of meat and fish dishes. 

Pulau Bidadari, Jakarta

A popular destination for locals and expats alike lies only kilometres from the polluted harbour of Jakarta. Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands), a string of islands in Teluk Jakarta (Jakarta Bay), is the perfect respite for those stuck in the capital too long.

No matter what the misleading name, you will find entirely 130 islands within the group, and also these, 37 are used for commercial purposes. Pulau Pramuka is the group’s district centre, most people live on Pulau Kelapa, which is certainly about 15km north of Jakarta. Close to Pulau Kelapa, Pulau Panjan is the only airstrip in the islands.

Many accessible islands are already developed into resorts with bungalows plus water sports. Most of these are pricey by Indonesian standards and cost high weekend supplements. The fact that said, they greatly have white-sand beaches and quiet, clear seas (aside from the islands close to the mainland).

This resorts now have offices in Jakarta or at the Ancol Marina (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol) for bookings. And also booking through their respective offices, you can take reservations from the Jakarta Visitor Information Office, allowing for better comparisons.

Getting There & Around
The resorts already have daily speedboats from Jakarta’s Ancol Marina for visitors and day tourists, mostly departing among 8am and 11am and coming back among 2pm and 5pm, with additional services on weekends. Some are just a 20-minute trip away, however the farthest islands take around two hours to reach. Return day-trip prices to the resorts with lunch include Pulau Bidadari (240,000Rp), Pulau Ayer (314,000Rp), Pulau Sepa (618,000Rp) and Pulau Kotok (850,000Rp). Gray Line has also day trips to the islands. Locals will ferry you from one island to another location (but this could be pricey). Most islands are small enough to simply explore by walking. 

Pulau Bidadari

Is nearest resort island and is popular with Jakarta residents for day trips. Its one of the least interesting resorts, but you can use it to go to other islands like Pulau Kahyangan, Pulau Kelor (which has the wrecks of the old Dutch fort), or Pulau Onrust (where the remains of the 18th-century shipyard can be explored). Boats could be hired for your short trip from Pulau Bidadari for 50,000Rp per hour.

The island’s resort (per person incl full board from 454,000Rp) includes a various simple cottages and sports facilities, and can be booked at Ancol Marina. 

Diving Kakaban Island

asiadivingvacation.com

Kakaban island is part of the Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia The island has an area of 774.2 hectares (1,913 acres) and is quite steep with limestone cliffs covered with dense jungle right down to the water's edge and few beaches. The wall drops to 180 metres (590 ft) and currents can be strong with upwelling, downcurrent and reversing directions. The most distinctive feature is the huge brackish water lake in the middle of the island, in the local dialect Kakaban means "hug" as the island hugs the lake from the surrounding seawater.

In the middle of this island is a mangrove-fringed lake, slightly above sea level, where thousands of non-stinging jellyfish live making it interesting for diving. The jellyfish consist of four different species which have lost their natural defense system because of the lack of major predators in the lake. Similar lakes exist in thePhilippines ( Siargao ) Palau, with Jellyfish Lake being the best known.

The lake has warm brackish water and the bottom is covered with marine green algae. There are other animals living here, some sea cucumbers, gobies, sea anemones, tunicates, crustaceans, nudibranchs, orange purple clams and yellow clams on the branches, and snakes.

The lake is at most 17 metres (56 ft) deep with poor visibility and is 10 minutes walk from the beach. Kakaban was probably uplifted during the Holocene and sea water was trapped turning the area and formed a landlocked marine lake. The water is now a mixture of salt water and sweet water from the rain.

Stingless Jellyfish

In general, people feared to jellyfish because they have stings and fatal, but there are jellyfish that do not have stings. Ornate Cassiopeia is their name. Generally known by the name Stingless jellyfish. This change is due to the natural evolution of life on the habitat of these jellyfish. Living in close environment make the jellyfish do not have threat from vertebrate. Therefore this type of jellyfish do not need stings to protect themselves.

Not only that, these jellyfish will also issue a colorful light when it was getting dark. This jellyfish swim upside down with tentacles facing upwards. This is because a closed environment, so that food in the water becomes limited. Therefore, the jellyfish do simbioses mutualism with algae. Algae need sunlight to produce food. In the world, there are only two places which is the origin habitat of this type of jellyfish. Kakaban Island in Indonesia and Palau, Micronesia.

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How to get there 

- Flight Jakarta-Tarakan; Tarakan-Jakart: 2-way, Rp. 1.3Million/person

- Airport tax Jakarta: Rp. 40K

- Airport Tax Juwata Tarakan: Rp. 30K

- Juwata Airport to Pelabuhan SDF: Rp. 50K

- Speed Boat Tarakan - Tanjung Selor: : Rp. 85K

- Public Transport Tanjung Selor – Berau: Rp. 70K

- Public Transport Berau – Pelabuhan Tanjung Batu: Rp. 60K

- Speed Boat Tanjung Batu – Derawan: 250K(available for 5 person)

- Motel/Hotel at Derawan: Rp.75-450K

Borobudur

Borobudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.[1] A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa.

Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra 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.[2][3] The monument is both a shrine to theLord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels symbolic of Buddhist cosmology: Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.

GETTING THERE
Thai Airways has a Delhi–Bangkok-Jakarta option for around 237,000 return economy
There is a direct flight to Yogjakarta from Singapore and all major cities in Indonesia. Borobudur is a 45-minute drive from the airport and is best seen in the morning. Taxis and guides can be hired for the day at the airport.

WHEN TO GO
The dry season, from May to September, is the best time to visit.

Stay
You need not stay in Yogjakarta. An easy day trip can be made from Jakarta or Bali. If you are flying to
Bali from Jakarta stop over at Yogjakarta for the day and take an onward evening flight to Bali. However, if
you want a night halt—all kinds of hotels are available—from the international Sheraton, Hyatt, Ibis
and Novotel chains to budget hotels with familiar names such as Manohara, Arjun, Saraswati.

Shop
Batik textiles, including sarongs and wall hangings; mind boggling array of spices; wayang
kulit puppets; and silver.

Bali Dance

The Pendet is one of the oldest Balinese dances used in ceremonies. There are gestures of worship and the use of flower petals in its sequence. Yet lately the Asosiasi Seni Tari Indonesia (the Indonesian Arts Institute) in Denpasar has recreated it into an abridged version that falls into the welcoming dance category of Balinese dance.

The Agung Rai Museum of Art, better known by its abbreviated name ARMA, is located in the village of Pengosekan in Ubud, and has a mission to preserve Balinese culture and introduce local arts to youth at an early age. They provide a special space at the Museum for children to learn to dance. The children are mostly elementary grade schoolchildren and are taught basic traditional dance by experienced dance teachers. 

Dance lessons are held every day, except during certain occasions such as when religious ceremonies are at their peak. One dance can be completely mastered after a year of practice. Dancing the Balinese forms are not as easy as they may seem. There are basic dance moves that must be understood and usually this is the most difficult part, yet it forms the strong base.  

There are at least three basics that must be mastered; gem, seledet, and egol. Ngagem is executing the asymmetric position of the body in a stationary posture. Agem can be divided into two parts: right and left. The right agem is when the upper body slants to the right and the hips to the left, while the hands are at shoulder level.

Seledet is the facial expression that focuses on the sharp dashing glances of the eyes, with directions in accordance to the agem posture. While executing or ngagem to the right, then the seledet glances would normally be to the upper right and lower right.

Learning to nyeledet does not only involve the eye movements but also the facial expressions. A dance surely comes to life when dynamic expressions are skillfully carried out. Sometimes a dancer may either seem fierce, sweet and timid, or dead serious, depending on the act being performed.

Egol or the ‘hip shake’ is executed while stepping on the spot or forward. It is the most difficult move and requires stamina. Because the body posture when executing this move is not standing upright but rather in what the Balinese refer to as ngeed or standing with a slight squat. Generally this is the position throughout the dance sequence. Besides that, the ngegol is not only about shaking the hips but also maintaining the harmony between the hip, hand gestures, and the head.

Ubud surely has become a focal point in the island’s art scene. Those curious about Bali’s arts and culture will find the answers in Ubud. For those who just want to know the basics, they can pay to visit the various local workshops. But for those who want to dive even deeper, they can pay a living Balinese maestro a visit.

Several other senior Balinese dancers that can be asked for guidance include the likes of the topeng mask and gambuh maestros from the village of Batuan, I Made Djimat; Kebyar Duduk maestro, Ida Bagus Oka Wirjana or better known by the name Gus Aji Blangsinga from the village of Blangsinga.

Learning Balinese dance can be done throughout the island. One hotel in the Nusa Dua area has also added a facility for its guests, especially children. The Laguna also provides its guest’s children with complimentary Balinese dance lessons as one of their kid’s club activities. The children can get busy learning the moves while their parents have their own agenda. They can don traditional Balinese attire during the lessons and learn under the guidance of Komang Suarti, The Laguna’s Human Resources Manager. So far, the children who participate express high enthusiasm in each of their moves. Balinese dance give you the chance to feel and experience part of the heritage, which suits both young and old. 

Ecotourism in Bali

Pelaga 

Pelaga is one of four villages that make up Jaringan Ekowisata Desa ('Village Ecotourism Network," or JED), a cooperative that aims to channel the benefit of tourism directly back to Balinese communities, while providing visitors with a substantive rural experience. Another is Sibetan , set in the foothills of mount Agung, the island's highest and most venerated volcano. Sibetan is perhaps best known for the cultivation of snake fruit, which some enterprising Germans recently taught locals to turn into a sort of tropical schnapps. Nusa Ceningan, a somnolent isle of fisherfolk and seaweed farmers, is also part of the network, as is Tenganan, a walled village dating back to the 11th century whose residents, known as the Bali Aga- literally, "original Balinese" - are renowned for their pre-Hindu customs and distinctive double-ikat weaving technique.

Pelaga is the most visited of the four JED villages, all of which derive their main income from agriculture. In Pelaga, that means export-quality Arabica coffee, which villagers sell to a wholesaler in Java. As we amble through the maze of trails that crisscross the village's plantations, Pelaga was where it was first cultivated on Bali. The network gives you access to the inner workings of places by the people who actually live there and who have a stake in protecting it. "Every year in Bali, 200 hectares of farmland are lost to tourism and real estate development."

Visit Pelaga, situated far from the crowds of Kuta and Seminyak some 1,100 meters above sea level, and your first impression will doubtless be the sheer beauty of the surroundings. Central Bali is like one vast garden of orchards, plantations, and rice fields, spread across an undulating landscape punctuated by volcanic peaks. You'll be greeted in Pe1aga's bale subak, a large thatch-roofed pavilion that acts as the administrative center of the village's subak association, which coordinates the irrigation of the paddies. (Pelaga's Subak comprises 170 families, and like all such associations, it involves a complex cycle of rituals reflecting the tripartite Balinese principal of Tri Hita Karana - roughly, " there paths to prosperity" - which advocates balance between people, nature, and god.) You'll be served local coffee laced with cinnamon from an earthenware pot steaming over a wood oven, before setting off on a tour of the coffee plantation or, if you'd rather, a longer three-hour trek that lakes in a waterfall and some fine views. The lunch is a buffet-style interpretation of the classic Balinese rijsttafel, a sampling of dishes - minced pork satay, peanut-sauce salad - that rely on organic ingredient grown or raised in the near vicinity.

Nusa Ceningan

Nusa Ceningan, the lesser known neighbor of touristy Nusa Lembongan , just off Bali's cast coast. Here, concerted action by the community kept out a development consortium that was seeking to purchase the entire island and fill it with star rated hotels. "We're now trying to draw up a strategy for managing the island based on our own sustainable principles," says my guide I Gede Lama as we eat a lunch of freshly caught tuna, purchased from some fishermen we stumbled upon during our morning tour of the 300-hedare island. Fishing, unsurprisingly, is a staple industry here, hut seaweed farming is the mainstay of Ceningan’s economy. At low tide, villagers drag their skiffs into the shallows and fill them with the Euchema Cotonii and spinosum grasses, harvested here for export as ingredients in the cosmetics and food industries.

After making the 45-minute crossing from Bali by speedboat, visitors to Nusa Ceningan usually spend the night at a lodge in the island's hilly interior. Activities include canoe trips out to the seaweed farms, snorkeling, and a moped tour of the island that takes in the rugged beauty of its western reaches, which receive a constant battering from the high swell of the Lombok Strait.

The packaging of culture is inevitable with mass tourism, and in Bali, visitors typically encounter it through carefully choreographed performances. You won't find anything staged at any of the JED villages. But that doesn’t mean you won't witness a temple ceremony or even a more intimate rite of passage in someone's home. It really iust depends on what’s happening that day.

"Next week, the pandanus-leaf wars are taking place in 'Tenganan," Gede Astana tells me as I bid him farewell back on the Bali mainland. "You should come.'· I've heard of this ancient gladiatorial ritual, unique to Tenganan, where young men do good-natured battle with thorny Pandanus leaves and woven shields, often drawing blood. "You can eyen join in if you like," Astana adds with a laugh. I tell him I'll go - but only to watch. I prefer my cultural immersion to be as painless as possible.