Wednesday

Legend of Lake Toba


Once upon a time, lived a young orphan farmer in the northern part of the Sumatran Island. This area was very dry. The young man lived from farming and fishing. One day he went fishing, he already fishing for half of the day but still not getting any fish yet. So he returned home for the day turns to night, but when he nearly left he saw a big beautiful golden fish, he then caught the fish and brought it home. He intended to cook the fish right away but watched the beauty of this fish he then cancelled his intention. He chose to keep it as pet, and then he placed it in a big pond and feed it. On the next day, like usual, he went to his farm, and on the noon he comeback home, to have lunch. But when he arrived in his house he was very startled for the meal had prepared to be eaten. He then fears that the fish might be stolen, and then hastily he ran to the back of his house.

However, the fish was still in place, for a long time he thinks, “Who cooks those meals”, but because his is very hungry, he ate those meals. But this incident continued to occur again repeatedly, every time he came home for lunch, the meals are prepared on the table. Then one day this young man made a strategy to find out who cooks those meals, the next day he then began to commence his strategy, he then hide around the trees close to his house. He was waiting for a long time, but the smoke in his kitchen still has not been seen, and when he then intended to return home, he began to see the smoke in the kitchen.

"Hey woman, who are you, and where are you came from?” the woman began to drop tears, and then the young man saw his fish was no longer in the pond. He asked the woman, “hey woman, where is the fish in that pond?” the Woman cried intensely, but this young man continued to ask and finally the woman answers, “I was the fish that was caught by you”. The young man then startled, but because he felt that he had hurt the feelings this woman, then he said, “Hey woman, did you want to become my wife??” the Woman then startled, he stay quiet, then the young man said “Why are you silent??” Then the woman said, “I wanted to become your wife. But with one condition.” ”What is the condition?” the young man quickly asked, the woman then said, “In the future if our child was born and grew, never even once you said that he/she was anakni Dekke (child of a fish) ”. The young man then agreed to that condition and swore he will never say it.

Then they were married and granted a child. When the child was 6 years old, this child turn to be very naughty. Then one day the mother told her child to deliver meals to his father field, the child then went to deliver rice to his father. But in the middle of the trip, this child was felt hungry, then the child opened food package for his father, and ate the food. After finished eating, the child then wrapped it back and continued the trip to his father's field. On arrival the child gave the food package to the father, the father was very happy, the father then sat and immediately opened the food package that was sent by his wife to be carried by his child. But he was very startled when he opened the package there is only bones remained. The father then asked his child “Hay my child, why there are only bones left in this package??” And the child answers,” In my trip I felt hungry, so I ate the food.” Listened to that the father was very angry, he then slap his child and said, "Botul maho anakni dekke (Why you child of a fish),". The child is then ran home crying and ask to his mother “Mak, Olo do na in dokkon amangi, botul do au anakni dekke? (Mother, is it true what father said, that I am a child from a fish?) ” Heard his child's words his mother was startled. While dropping tears and saying in her heart, “My husband has violated his swore, and now I must return to my place.” Then the sky was suddenly become dark followed with lightning, thunder, storm, and rain. The child and the mother disappeared, from their footprint emerged a spring that flowed water as swiftly as possible. Until this area was turned into a lake, that was named as “Tuba Lake” the lake without mercy, but because of the bataks was difficult to say “Tuba”, then this lake was mentioned as.  LAKE TOBA. According to the local Citizen, the mother return as a huge fish (the lake guardian), and until today no one is able to measure the depth of this lake. Many tourists that tried to dive into the lake but never return. The lake depth in the book is only estimation not as a fact.

source: indonesia-tourism.com

Lake Toba



Lake Toba also known as Danau Toba in Indonesia is the largest volcanic lake ( crater lake ) in the world. Lake Toba was created by the eruption of a super volcano 75 thousand years ago. It is still surrounded by the crater edge of that volcano, and in the middle of the lake, volcanic activity created Samosir an island as big as Singapore. Attached to that island is a small peninsula, with the village of Tuktuk on it. This is the tourist destination of the area, where we enjoy the cool air, a dive in the lake, the relaxed atmosphere, and the local Batak culture.

Lake Toba is a 100kms x 30kms volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Lake Toba has become one of the main tourist attractions for a long time in North Sumatra.

Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle. The large volcano island in the middle of Lake Toba is Samosir Island. At 630km², Samosir is also notable as being the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world.


Lake Toba is about 4 hours drive by car from Medan City (North Sumatra, Indonesia). You can travel by public bus which may take longer to about 6 hours. The usual stop is the town of Pematang Siantar ” halfway to Lake Toba.

These are the things that you can find when touring to Lake Toba:
- Liberty of Lekjon
- Mountain bikes to explore Samosir island
- Traditional Batak house
- Graves of Tomok
- Tuktuk restaurants and hotels
- The flora and fauna of the lake.

Tuesday

RAJA AMPAT



Raja Ampat is a district that is located in West Papua, Indonesia. This region stores a million beauty scene under the sea. Raja Ampat tourism is recognized as one of the best 10 diving tourism in the world.

Raja Ampat is a new district in Indonesia. Located in regions of West Papua is only seven years old. In fact, infrastructure is inadequate. To reach the Raja Ampat, travelers or tourist must fly to Sorong and then go with ship along the sea as far as 71 km to arrive in Raja Ampat.

Although still young district, Raja Ampat had reach tourists as much as 5 thousand tourist per year in 2009. The target, tourist arrivals reached 6 thousand in 2010.

Enchantment under the sea and natural wealth, the mainstay of the Raja Ampat District through competitiveness of of tourism in Indonesia and the world. This region is known as a center for tropical natural resources of the world's richest.

Raja Ampat exists in the center of coral triangle, that is the center of the richest natural tropical marine diversity in the world, today.

With 456 coral species (this number is more half of the total global coral species) and around 828 coral fish species, and also dusted with the beautiful coral islands, make this area has a high value as the natural conservation and tourism interest.

Not to mention, many unique floras in the islands and the existence of many endemic animals (like, spotted couscous, the yellow-crested cockatoos, parakeets, frogs and snakes) have enriched conservational value of this area as an extremely interesting ecotourisme destination area.

Saturday

KOMODO ISLAND




Komodo Island is an island located in the Nusa Tenggara Islands. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for native animals Komodo. This island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government. Komodo Island located in the eastern island of Sumbawa, which are separated by the Sape Strait. Sub District of Komodo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Komodo Island  is the most  faraway at Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, bordering the West Nusa Tenggara Province.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other  notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.

 In the Komodo island, Komodo lives and breed very well. by August 2009, on this island there are about 1,300 Komodo (Varanus komodoensis). If it is include with other islands, such as Rinca Island and Gili Motang island, their totaled about 2500 komodo. 

Traveling to visit this endangered animal can be done through Labuan Bajo or Sape on Sumbawa Island to the east. However, advisable to go through Labuan Bajo because the distance is only around 3 hours journey by motor boat.

The most amazing in traveling or touring to Komodo National Park is that we can see from the close of this endangered animal activity, Komodo. During the trip you can see the beautiful natural scenery. In the vicinity of  Flores, there were 60 islands. However, the most frequently visited are the Rinca Islands and Komodo Island.

For tourists who love trekking, they can cross the field accompanied by an officer. On this island, komodo endangered animals could be found. However, this reptiles  is rarely seen in the daytime. Becouse if there is sun light and heat temperature  Komodo likely to take refuge in their burrows or under trees.

Friday

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) or "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park


Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) or "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park" is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. The park is a synopsis of Indonesian culture, with virtually all aspects of daily life in Indonesia's 33 provinces encapsulated in separate pavilions with the collections of architecture, clothing, dances and traditions are all depicted impeccably. 

TMII is the most popular and familiar recreation place for the citizens of Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia and even for foreigners. The concept of TMII is to present vehicles and facilities in a recreative, informative, educational, communicative and attractive way (RIECA).
TMII as a vehicle presenting the diversity of the people of Indonesia and the variety of the cultural wealth enables the community to gain interesting experience, knowledge and information regarding various aspect of culture, tradition, customs, forms of art as far as the introduction of cultural objects.

The Indonesia in Miniature is presented in a complete manner, seen from the land profile, natural wealth, the variety of the regional arts and culture, the development of science and technology, and various forms of up-to-date arts and culture. It is expressed in the form of the Miniature Indonesian Archipelago, an artificial lake with an imitation of the Indonesian Archipelago with the land profile and regional pavilions. Each pavilion presents a traditional house in traditional architecture with the cultural objects, art performances, traditional ceremonies, cuisine varieties and various details of the related region, which actually shows the "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity) of Indonesia.

Besides the regional pavilions, there is a row of museums displaying not only historical and cultural collections, past and present technology, but also creating a dialogue with the visitors through various exhibitions which - in turn - will become the milestone in creating the future. The 15 museums are among others the Indonesian Museum, the Transportation Museum, the "Graha Widya Patra" Museum and the Science and Technology Exhibition Centre, which form an unlimited source of information.


The available recreational vehicles are also interesting, for example recreations with a natural nuance present 11 Parks among others the Birds Park, the Freshwater Aquarium Park, the Golden Snail Flower Garden; and various innovative vehicles like the Indonesian Children Palace, the Golden Snail Imax Theater, the 4D'Motion Theater, the Sky-lift, the Aeromovel monorail; moreover the Chinese Indonesian Cultural Park and the TMII Waterpark are still under constructions.


The various kinds of vehicles and facilities all have a recreational, educational, preservation dimension, as well as enriching the firmament of science and the heritage of cultural values of the people of Indonesia.

Location and Space

TMII is located in Jakarta, the Capital City of the Republic of Indonesia; with a distance of about 2 km from the "Kampung Rambutan" Terminal, about 5 km from Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, and 200 m from the Jagorawi Tollgate. The strategic location will make it possible for people to reach TMII by various kinds of vehicles.


The area is 150 ha large and lies under the administration of four "kelurahan" (villages) and three "kecamatan" (sub-district), namely the Bambu Apus and Ceger Villages in the Cipayung Sub-district, the Dukuh Village of the Kramat Jati Sub-district and the Pinang Ranti Village of the Kampung Makasar Sub-district, East Jakarta. The area is in fact only part of the area allocated to TMII, because based on the Decree of the Governor of Jakarta No. 3498 dated October 9, 1984 the area has been enlarged to 394,535 ha. As TMII is a "Growing Project" the area is utilized in accordance with the development and needs.

Saturday

Indonesia islands



Republic of Indonesia is a country in which population of around 238 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, and has the world's largest population of Muslims. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president.

Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest—and the politically dominant—ethnic group, beside Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a history of colonialism including rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty remains widespread in contemporary Indonesia.

Indonesia is often referred to as the world's largest archipelago, a name which aptly represents its 17,000 or so islands which span more than 5000 km (around 3,200 miles) eastward from Sabang in northern Sumatra to Merauke in Irian Jaya. If you superimpose a map of Indonesia over one of Europe, you will find that it stretches from Ireland to Iran; compared to the United States, it covers the area from California to Bermuda. 

There are eight major islands or island groups in this enormous chain. The largest landmasses consist of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes) and Irian Jaya (the western half of Papua New Guinea). The smaller islands fall into two main groups: the Molluccas to the northeast, and the lesser Sunda chain east of Bali. Bali is a unique island, which for a number of reasons can be put into a class of its own. 

The territory of the Republic of Indonesia stretches from 6o08' north latitude to 11o15' south latitude, and from 94o45' to 141o05' east longitude. The Indonesian sea area is four times greater than its land area, which is about 1.9 million sq. km. The sea area is about 7.9 million sq. km (including an exclusive economic zone) and constitutes about 81% of the total area of the country.

The five main islands are: Sumatra, which is about 473,606 sq. km. in size; the most fertile and densely populated islands, Java/Madura, 132,107 sq. km; Kalimantan, which comprises two-thirds of the island of Borneo and measures 539,460 sq. km; Sulawesi, 189,216 sq. km; and Irian Jaya, 421,981 sq. km, which is part of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Indonesia's other islands are smaller in size.