Tag: Indonesia

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Asia Beaches

Tidung Island

Tidung Island is an island in Indonesia that is located close to the capital city Jakarta. The Tidung Island is classified as Big Tidung and smaller Tidung and since the small island is mainly just covered with Mangrove forests, the bigger island is a place of tourist attraction.

The best part about this island is that it is mainly undiscovered and a less talked about place among tourists which makes it less crowded and relatively cheap! What else could you ask for? It is a large island with a single road in the middle. White sand beaches and clear blue water for as far as eyes can see. The island is basically a breeding ground for mangroves and the seeds are planted once a year.

How to reach:

From a port in North Jakarta (Muara Angke), you can either reach Tidung by a slow wooden boat or ferry or speed boating. The ferry would take 3 hours to reach while the speed boat would take you there in one and a half hours. The ferry timing is 7 am sharp and since it only leave once a day, make sure you are on it.

Lodgings:

The island is not commercially developed and is maintained locally by the people who live there. The lodgings are available on the big island of Tidung Besar as the smaller island is uninhabited. The people of the island have decorated their homes and fitted air conditioners so it is quite comfortable. It is a community-based island so instead of expensive hotels and resorts, you get to stay with the locals in their homes. Don’t worry they are quite charming and nice!

Tidung Waters are shallow and there are coral reefs, tropical fish and exotic sea creatures in it. The underwater world is one marvelous part of the island and if that does not tempt you to visit here, I do not know what will. It is the perfect place for marine tourism and diving for beginners. People interested in studying coral reefs may also visit.

There are also tree houses near the beach where you can sit back and enjoy the delightful blue waves. Also, it is one of the most pocket-friendly places to visit. A trip to Tidung will fit right into your budget and it is a better and cheaper option than the other crowded or expensive islands. This is a place of peace and quiet where you can hide from the noisy city and just live in the moment.

The most popular thing about the island is the bridge connecting Small Tidung and Tidung Large. It is a long bridge and locally known as ‘Bridge of Love’. At the beginning point of the bridge, locals often demonstrate diving into the beautiful blue water, entertaining the tourists and filling them with a desire to jump into those waters themselves. The end of the bridge lies at the small Tidung island where you may cycle along the paths, or relax at empty white sand beaches, soaking in the sun and filling your sight with beautiful scenery. The bridge itself offers picturesque views but crossing this bridge needs a strong courageous heart and is no child’s game.

Tidung Island also offers water sports facilities and many water games for the thrill-seekers and people with an adventurous spirit.  These water game facilities are available at the western part of Large Tidung.  Visit Tidung for a family getaway and you will have so much fun that you will not want to go back home. It has all the necessary fragments of paradise, so don’t miss out!

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Asia Beaches

All you need to know about Nikoi island

Imagine a whole resort Island spread over 37 acres of land. Located 8 km off the east coast of Indonesia, Pulau Nikoi is a private island resort with over fifteen beach houses. It is considered as one of the best private islands in the world.

But that isn’t all. The resort is marked as an eco-resort using driftwood as construction material. The double layer roof makes ventilation easy and thus, no need for air conditions. They also use solar energy for all the electrical and heating requirements. The resort Island practices responsible tourism and has even been awarded for it.

Upon our arrival at the island, we were greeted and taken through a tree-shaded path to the check-in area. From there, we were accompanied to our villa which was beautiful and spacious with a bed in the middle and great view of the waters. We weren’t worried about no air conditioning because the cool breeze and the weather make up for it. The room had all the basic amenities along with a great view.

Beach: The soft sandy beaches are perfect for a do-nothing holiday at this resort. Even their bar and dining area have a sand-covered flooring making it exotic. We walked barefoot at times and on others wore our flip-flops because that is the way to truly enjoy the experience. We walked through different trails on the beach or explore parts of the island. Find the perfect spot to swim and just dive in. We also approached the staff who suggested various beach sports like kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, rock climbing and the best part was that the cost was included in your full board charge.

As for food, daily meals were served and the food was delicious. Water and coffee or tea are also offered but you can also opt for alcoholic or other exotic drinks. They inform you in advance about the menu for the next meal. They even have two separate dining areas, one for families with kids and other for adults. Some complimentary snacks and chips are always good to have at the poolside.

Vegetarian Food:

Since Nikoi Island is a private resort, there are no restaurants there and you have to eat the food from their kitchen. But to mention that their food was delicious and of sizeable proportions is a must. The first meal includes a light mix vegetable salad in vinaigrette sauce. That is followed by stir-fried vegetables and rice with a Chinese flavor to it. Then for dessert, we had bread pudding which was sweet and delicious.

For dinner’s main course, we had fried aubergine in red sauce and green curry. They had lots of options for beef and other non-veg items and comparatively fewer options for vegetarian food. But we did end up eating was prepared well. Then there was ice-cream cake for dessert. For the next day, we had Indonesian food platter. What we liked is the staff is very accommodating and you just have to convey your wishes.

We spent three days at the resort and by the time our stay ended, we were reluctant to leave the place. We had gotten so used to the ambiance of the place and the luxury associated with it. Spending your holidays here is the best option if you just want a relaxing time or want to spend some quality time with your partner.

Do try:

Snorkeling on the beach. We spotted corals right away, though there were fewer species of fish there. But it was fun overall with turtles too.

The spa is decently priced and you can get great soothing massages. After all, what a vacation without a good massage?

Highlights: the whole experience itself was wonderful but we’d like to make special mentions to the staff who were always courteous and helpful. We loved the tranquillity of the place since there were no huge crowds, just a bunch of other families. Not that this isn’t the place for you if you are looking for a party or exciting times. But if you want to enjoy quiet peaceful times with little exertion, this is the perfect place for you.

How to get here:

The overall time the journey from Singapore’s Tanah Merah ferry terminal to Nikoi island takes is approximately two and a half hours. There are also regular high-speed ferries that operate between Singapore and Bintan Resorts. This service takes less than 1 hour.

The journey itself is quite easy and comfortable but it took some time to get to the ferry.

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Adventure Asia Rejuvenate

Bandung-The perfect love for nature starts here

Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. The city is nicknamed as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have flowers in abundance. Visitors can take a flight to Bandung from the major cities of Indonesia and can get to Bandung by plane through Bandung Husein Sastranegara Airport.

All full of the volcanoes and the craters formed due to the years of existence, the Bandung city is a bittersweet mixture. The other side of the city belongs to the wildly beautiful green landscapes, the tea plantations, and the beautiful people all around. The city is known locally to be among the most beautiful cities in the country along with being known as the third largest city in Indonesia. The people here are all cultured and elegant. Winters are especially suitable to visit the place. The chilly wind will give you goosebumps as you move forward to explore more of the city with your naked eyes.

Here are some reasons why one must never miss a trip to the place whenever they can-

Have a walk into the live crater- This experience is something really uncalled for, but once you have it, you feel the electricity running through your nerves. Tankuban Perahu is the name of the volcano located at closer to the city of Bandung. Up on the crater, there are ample stores where you can buy the artifacts to make the journey more memorable. The white smoke constantly erupting out of it may be frightening to you but also is a fascinating feeling. Don’t miss that at any cost!

See Dusun Bambu- The very relaxing park at the feet of the mountain is a very happy go lucky kind of place. The picturesque valleys around the park compel you to just lie down and stare at them for hours. And if the soft music is on, you want nothing else. The valleys all around echo peace and tranquillity and this must be the last place before you take off from the city.

Food at the Peak- This one restaurant is the most famous one in the city and the most favorite one of the tourists. All the national cuisines along with the popular international ones are served here in all their deliciousness. The live bands play music as you sit in the beautifully lit place along with your loved ones enjoying the fascinating food and drinks.

Witness the Saung Angklung Udjo show- The happiest place in the entire city is this! The Angklung is a local musical instrument made of bamboo and produces some great sounds which are enchanting and seductive for the ones listening to them for the first time. The music show takes place almost every day and everyone should visit it once at-least.

Kawah Putih- Literally translated as White Crater, Kawah Putih is one of the most interesting things about the city that may be the sole reason to visit the place. The land engulfed in whiteness is surrounded by the beautiful natural landscapes and opens all the senses. From the beautiful lake to the photogenic trees surrounding the area, the place is just perfect.

These are enough reasons to give the Indonesian city of Bandung a try. Indonesia may not be a very popular destination at present, but the land of volcanoes is still one of the most photogenic Asian countries to not miss.

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Asia

Where to eat Indian food in Jakarta

Indian food has a variety of dishes all spiced up and delicious. There is no shortage of restaurants that serve Indian food in Jakarta but in terms of taste and quality, I have compiled a list of the best places to eat Indian Food in Jakarta.

Let’s take a look:

Ganesha Ek Sanskriti

Address: BRI II Building, Jl Jend Sudirman Kv 44-46

Ph no: +62215719415

Address 2: Kemang Square Lt 2, Jl Kemang Raya No 5

Ph no: +62217196837

Ganesha is the top restaurant in Jakarta for Indian food. With its ethnic interior and branches spread in two different places, it not only offers a homely feel but also a variety of North Indian and Tandoori dishes. Their menu is divided into non-vegetarian and vegetarian items and everything is delicious. So you can order anything and it will turn out to be delicious

Kinara

Address: Kemang Raya No. 8-B

Ph no: +62217192677

Though it may be a little pricey, the food is definitely worth it. Also, the overall ambience of the place gives off a good vibe. They have a rooftop area for parties but even the main dining area is no less than royal.  My recommendation is to go for the Sunday brunch and get some free juice and lassi. The brunch starts from 11 am onwards. Otherwise, get ready to loosen your pockets.

Queen’s Tandoor

Address: Permata Plaza, Jl M H Thamrin Kav. 57

Ph no: +62213903286

This is one of the oldest and well-established restaurants that is known popularly for its fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisine. It also offers a wide variety of Indian food such as South Indian Dosa. You can also try their signature dish that is raan-e-bahaar, a mildly spiced lamb leg. You can trust Queen’s Tandoor to only serve you quality dishes made from fresh ingredients.

Koh-e-noor

Address: jl Rasuna Said C-22, Pasar Festival GF.03-04 Jakarta Selatan

Ph no: +62215276531

Koh-e-noor is one of the less pricey restaurants. The interiors are decorated with Indian paintings and ornaments giving it an ethnic look. You should try their naan, banarasi Dum aloo and do not forget the delicious Jalzeera. That is just what I found the most delicious but you can also pick one of the many things from the menu. In fact, there are also options for Vegans. The service is fast, there is a variety of Biryanis that you can try and this is one of the places that you will find yourself returning too. It is one of the places that will give you all you desire in terms of tasty food without burning a hole in your pocket.

Man aur Tan

Address: Jl Prof. Dr. Satrio Casablanca Kuningan (6th floor), Jakarta Selatan

Ph no: +622130040888

Address 2: Merlynn Park hotel Lantai 5, JL KH. Hasyim Ashari, No. 29-31

Ph no: +622130026888

It is a clever wordplay on Manhattan hotel. But this is one romantic restaurant and you can take your loved one there for a special date. The royal ambiance of the restaurant will make them feel like a king or queen and you shall be treated majestically while enjoying the deliciousness of North Indian cuisines. The staff may be Indonesian, they greet you in an Indian way making you feel at home.

Some more suggestions would be D’Bollywood, Samy’s Curry, Eastern Promise, Spicerack and Frontpage. That wraps it up. These are the most fantastic restaurants that will serve authentic finger-licking good Indian food that will make your stomach happy and your heart sing.

Categories
Asia

The 6 Best Unconventional Holidaying Places Around Indonesia

Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world offers a lot of diversity to its visitors. To most Indians, Indonesia means Bali but it has a host of other locations which are must visits while going to the place. 6 of them are listed below.

 Tana Toraja

Tana Toraja is loved for its special tribal culture. Situated in the Central Highlands of the Sulawesi Island, it is one of the places that celebrate death. One can see more action going on during a funeral here than during a wedding ceremony.  The countryside’s greenery, terraced rice plantations, spirit guardians and rock-cut tombs, and unique traditions make this place a must visit.

 Kawah Ijen

Kawah Ijen is the world’s most acidic lake. Located on the eastern end of the Java Island, it gives you the opportunity to experience one of Mother Nature’s most amazing creations and get to see the conditions where sulphur miners of the region eke out a difficult living for a paltry sum.

Karimun Java

Have you ever heard of a place where humans can swim along with baby sharks?! Well, the small equatorial islands of Karimun Jawa are one of such rare spots. Located amidst the rough waters between Kalimantan and the Java Island, Karimun Jawa is home to beautiful white beaches and exotic coral reefs. It is highly recommended to stay with a native family in their home here and cherish a relaxed holiday. Snorkelling and scuba diving are the most popular water sports that can be done here, while jungle trekking is quite popular on the island.

Gunung Merapi

Gunung Merapi is Indonesia’s most active volcano and goes up every 4th year. The eruption is often so heavy that drenches the entire UNESCO world heritage sites of Borobudur and Prambanan in tonnes of ash. Hiking to the top of this active volcano, watching the hot lava boil inside it and seeing the picturesque sunrise over the mountain landscape is an unmatched experience in itself.

Kintamani

Bali is known for its beaches and temples by everyone but a few of them know about a hill station that it has, called Kintamani which is located near the Batur volcano and caldera. This picturesque place is also home to the beautiful Pura Ulan Danu Batur temple. You should go here for its natural beauty, a nice temple experience, cool weather and a luxuriant green countryside indulgence.

Sumbawa

Conventionally, Bali is very popular among travellers for its surf breaks but if you are fond of surfing and wish for a quieter place than it, then Sumbawa is just the place for you! Located in the East Timor Sea at just the north of East Timor, Sumbawa offers a blend of deserted stretches of gorgeous beaches, beautiful surf breaks, and an experience that Bali might have offered about 50 years ago. This place is meant to be visited for the ultimate offbeat beach lover.

Do include the aforementioned places in your Indonesia itinerary next time!

Categories
Asia

Borobudur is a majestic 9th century Buddhist temple and one of the Seven Wonders of the World

Borobudur temple located in Java, Indonesia is a famous Buddhist temple which dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries and is known to be among UNESCO’s world heritage sites. It is the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on the earth and that makes it an essential pilgrim site for the Buddhists.

How to reach here

The nearest airport to the place is the Yogyakarta’s Adisucipto international airport and Solo’s Adisumarmo International Airport. Both are international airports and a few hours ride from the airport will take you to the temple complex in no time.

About

The site is open to public visits from 6AM-5PM.

The place reeks of Buddhism through every corner and there are more than a hundred little and big statues of Buddhas seated inside perforated stupas and then comes the biggest stupa of them all, located right in the center of the massive complex. The stupas have been here for more than 1200 years in total and are still standing, clearly passing the every test of time put before them.

The Buddha statues are in the universal posture in which Gautam Buddha has been seen, the Chakra parivartan mudra. However, most of the idols are in good condition but a few of them have no heads over them. The local government decided to let them be in order to ensure the authenticity of the monument. Some of the heads have been stolen while some are placed in high-end history museums across the globe.

Each of the stupas mentioned above has a lotus base, telling a lot about the ancient architectural prowess Indonesians had possessed. And the more surprising thing is that there no mortar or nails that were used in sticking the stone together. The stones have been interlocked in a certain way to give it an illusion of being mortared. There are tiny spaces here and there in the stones, giving and impression that the entire structure could fall any minute but as it happens to be the case, it hasn’t and it won’t.

At the top three levels, there are stupas, while there are circumambulation paths on the next six levels. As you walk around, you can clearly see walls around you with scriptures written on them. They talk about the life of Gautam Buddha and some of his most ardent followers.

History

The temple was built around 800 CE by the Sailendra dynasty, making it one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world. It has been said that it took around 75 years to make the temple. For the stone interlocked structures, the architects from all over the world were invited, and they performed a great task of merging science with architecture in order to give the world a monument that is as pleasurable to the sense as is a source of wonder.

Tip

If you are still at Borobudur during the late afternoon, at the time nearing sunset, then do not miss the experience and visit the top level for sunset. You will find the surroundings to be very quiet at this time, and the sunset view behind the mountains to the west is quite mesmerizing and magical.

Best Time to visit

The best time to visit the monument is around May to September, and you should carry water with you as there is none available at the monument.

This magnificent piece of architecture has always been a tourist magnet and will continue to do so, as long as the world keeps respecting the sheer power of architecture combined with religion.

The Borobudur Temple, located at Borobudur District, South of Magelang is not the only sight to visit. Besides Borobudur temple, the waterfall named Kedung Kayang should be on your list of things to do in Magelang. This beautiful waterfall is definitely a hidden gem for tourists and remains pretty busy with locals. Besides the waterfall, you should also check out the Setumbu Hill where you can enjoy the glorious sunrise overlooking Borobudur temple.

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