Banjarmasin (City of a Thousands Rivers)

One of the province in Kalimantan is South Kalimantan, that the capital city is Banjarmasin, one of big city in Kalimantan Banjarmasin is addresses as city of water or city of a thousands rivers, many canals and waterways there, like in Venice. The rivers is like a hearth of the city, most of native people in Banjarmasin are use rivers for their daily activities, such as for transportation and for trading using a boat that called "Klotok" And also people built houses on the riverside or even on the rivers or it called "Lanting".

How to get There?

We can go to Banjarmasin by Airplane or by Passenger Boat.

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Satay

Satay or sate is a dish consisting of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat (chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, etc.) on bamboo skewers (although the more authentic version uses skewers from the midrib of the coconut leaf). These are grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings (depends on satay recipe variants).

Satay may have originated in Java, Indonesia, but it is also popular in many other Southeast Asian countries, such as: Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, as well as in The Netherlands which was influenced through its former colonies.

Satay is a very popular delicacy in Indonesia,
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Nasi Padang (Rendang)

Padang: The birthplace of rendang

Padang in West Sumatra is known more as the origin of the country’s most popular cuisine than as a provincial capital, thanks to the ubiquitous Padang restaurants.

Go to any town or city across the archipelago, and the chances are you will find a place to eat called Rumah Makan Padang or Padang Restaurant, either on the roadside, or in luxurious malls or even in more upmarket establishments. How did it happen?

To explain the success of the food of the people of West Sumatra, one has to know that the Padang men have an adventurous spirit and like to broaden their horizons. It is said they believe that their mother’s cooking is the very best and cannot not be found anywhere else.

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NIAS Island

With it's famous megalithic stone altars and furniture, spectacular traditional architecture, and complex religious rites, this fasctinating island offers a journey in to the past. Nias island lies approximately 125 km south west of Sibolga city. The land has rolling mountainous terrain, gorges, ravines, and rivers ans is subject to earth quakes. The northern half of the island is sparsely populated and featured large swampy areas.
The local people of Nias called the island as Tano Niha, or land of the people. Ethnically the Niah who called them selves as Ono Niha are mixed of proto-Malay who have had contacts with the Asian Mongolid world. Their exact origin is misty. Many features, practises and cultures are of their own. Untill now those practises and cultures still well maintained. This is the place that you may discover the live of the stone age era. Stone jumping is one of the popular activities which still well preserved.
During the past, this activity is showing the maturity of a man, and used to be meaning to win a war. The stone jumper used to jumped over the enemies trench to get in to the trench and opened the enemies gate for his companion. However now it used to attract visitors.
For the nature sport lover, Nias provides very very excellent spot for surfing. This is one of the world class surf site in our country. We highly recommend you to the the activity during the dry season (April to October)

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Berastagi

Berastagi

Berastagi, a tourist town, is another lovely town located in Karo highlands. The town is known for its plantations and various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit, most famous which is Marquisa passion fruit. It's 66 km southwest of Medan and is 4.594 feet above sea level. There is a pleasant colonial-style hotel with a golf course. Other new hotels can also be found. From Gundaling Hill a clear view of Mt. Sibayak and Mt. Sinabung volcanoes can be seen.

From this city, the visitors will enjoy charming scenery to the active mountainside, which are Sibayak Mountain and Sinabung Mountain. To climb Sibayak Mountain require at least 3 hours trip and we could enjoy pretty scenery in these mountains or 3 to 4 hours trip in the forest to see the nature wealth inside, for both the flora and the fauna around this forest.

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Lake Toba

Lake Toba (Danau Toba) is the largest lake in South East Asia and is located in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering area 1707 sq km (bigger than Singapore) with an island in the center. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is probably the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Some studies say it might have been associated with causing previous ice age/climate change.

The island in the middle - Pulau Samosir - was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. You get a ferry from Parapat to Pulau Samosir Island, they run every 1-2 hours, the last one at 7:30pm (Rp 7000). Self proclaimed 'Tourist Hunters' may befriend you on the boat but are harmless and often helpful to find things, arrangements etc (Bintang can fix you up with anything). Tuk Tuk is the main town to stay on Samosir.

Talk

Lake Toba used to be popular tourist destination but now not many tourist come, which means many services, no crowds, cheap prices and friendly locals grateful for your business. It is a great laid back place to chill out for a few days after jungle trekking etc. The location is very popular with Chinese tourists around the Chinese New Year, when availability drops dramatically and accommodation costs are known to sky rocket.

Get in

The main town is Parapat, about 4 hours by car from Medan (4-6 hours by public bus). Public Bus fee is 18,000 IDR. A scheduled and shared 7 passenger minivan costs 60,000 IDR and can be arranged by most hotels in Medan (Feb 2008 price). A private taxi costs about 600,000 IDR one way from Medan (Feb 2008 price).
Get around

Local transportation around the lake takes the form of boats (cheaper, school boats with limited schedules and more expensive public boats that operate throughout the day).

Public Boats from Parapat and surrounding areas sail from either Ajibata or Tigaraja to Tuktuk or Tomok at Samosir Island. The fee is 7,000 IDR per trip. There is also bigger ship which transports Cars and Busses sailing between Tigaraja and Tomok.

Hire a motorcycle for a day or two and get out and about (Rp.70,000 per day inclusive of 4 litres of petrol). Take a map. There are no police checking licenses and there is not much traffic - just watch out for the big trucks, buses and diabolical bridges. A good journey to take on a motorcycle would be to travel North from Tuk Tuk around to the western shore, stopping at the tourist sites along the way such as the many and varied traditional houses and villages. The roads are very bad in the centre of the island (bumpy and washed out) and it takes half a day to cross this way (verse 1-2 hours by coast road which is more scenic anyway). You can expect to ride at least up to 100km in the day.

See

There are hot springs on the western side of the island just across the causeway from Pangururan.
Itineraries

* Samosir - Many Big Statues as Cemeteries for Batak people ancestors
* Samosir, Simanindo - Batak Museum with traditional dance performed twice daily
* Samosir, Ambarita - Stone chairs used for judgement and executions

Do

Kick back and relax after the frenetic atmosphere of Indonesia. Enjoy the fact that the residents are used to Westerners and won't hassle you; most of them are stoned. Swim in the volcanically warmed waters of the lake or arrange an overnight 'party' boat out on the lake if you can get enough volunteers together. A beautiful place to do nothing at all. Plenty of second hand book shops to stock up on reading material.

Sleep

* Tabo Cottages is the most luxurious accommodation on the island. Prices start at around Rp.120,000 per night and climb up from there. The rooms are very clean and quite modern by Sumateran standards. Internet is available from the family's computer for a nominal rate and the western-styled food served in the restaurant is very good.
* There are numerous hotels and guest houses, mainly in Tuk tuk but with a few scattered in other small towns around the island.
* Liberta Homestay is a good budget choice for 35000Rp/night+. It has quiet private cabins on the lake. Friendly owner Mr Moon will sing, cook, and go out of his way for you.
* Bagus Bay is a lovely place next to the lake. A dark wood and bamboo bar/restaurant give the place a particularly relaxed feel. The rooms are basic and range between 25000 and 50000 rupiah. Good food and cold beer at a reasonable price.
* Samosir Cottages accommodates many of the travellers who arrive late in Parapat, as there is usually a representative to ship them to the cottages. This is not a bad thing, however - the place is large, with a big variety in the price of rooms (Rp 30,000 and upwards). The waterfront is clean, and the restaurant is large and serves good food.

Eat

* Jenny's Restaurant on Samosir Island, Tuk Tuk. There is only one or two roads in Tuk Tuk, so simply ask for Jenny's. Jenny and her husband Rinto run the very simple but cozy restaurant with view on the wonderful lake Toba. You will notice that every day the table cloth are being changed, a usually rare to find nicety and convenience. The curry is delicious. A must-try is the fresh lake-fish, steamed or grilled. Even western food like Schnitzel (breaded pork or chicken chop pan fried) is very good. For dessert try the fresh papaya that grows in the back-yard or a golden-brown banana pancake with chocolate sauce and a sprinkle of coconut. Once all the guests in the small place with only about 5 tables are fed and happy, Rinto will take the guitar from the wall and entertain his patrons. When he is singing old Batak songs about earlier times and you listen to the guitar tunes and his melancholic voice, your eyes wander over the lake and you feel like never leaving Samosir again.

Cotney Restaurant - It is located by the Samosir resort on Tuk Tuk. Specialties include delcious rendanags, curries, and the best smiles on the island by the two lovely sisters who run the restaurant. Internet is also offered for the cheapest price on the island.

* The main road around Tuktuk is lined with small restaurants of varying quality. Also on offer is magic mushroom and various 'happy herb' pizzas if you want that.

Drink

There is one discotheque on Fri and Sat nights - expect the latest 80s music. Better to drink at your guest house generally.

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Thousand Islands

White sand, coconut palms fringing the shore, multicoloured coral reefs, abundant shoals of unique, colourful fish, a golden sun setting in clear blue skies….does that fit your image of Jakarta? Unlikely, but then you’re probably forgetting that the beautiful Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) are also part of what is known as the city of Jakarta.


Located on a gulf facing the Java Sea, Jakarta has four main ports from which to access the Thousand Islands: Ancol Marina, Sunda Kelapa, Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Kait. Ancol Marina is the most usual departure point, speed boats leaving regularly to whisk you away from the city heat to the cool, palm fringed beaches of paradise. However chartering a boat is also possible for anyone with a more adventurous spirit. The Marina Jaya Ancol itself is buzzing with yachts, motor and sail boats, and is the place to go for marine recreation. Jet skies canoes, sail boats wind surfering and waterskiing are all to be found, along with all kinds of fishing gear you may need for hire. Numerous stalls along the beach serve drinks and snacks while tents are available for sunbathers and sea-lovers.

But it is the Tousand Islands which are the real jewels. The Kepulauan Seribu, as they are known locally, are a group of islands sprinkled across the Java Sea to the north of Jakarta. As the name suggests, the way the islands lie seemingly scattered closely to each other offers you a thousand of beaches, a thousand pleasures and a thousand golden sunsets. The surrounding waters in particular are a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers, Kotok being the most famous.

Despite the romantic name, there are in fact about 340 islets in Kepulauan Seribu. Islets that have been developed for tourism include Bidadari, Ayer, Laki, Puteri and Tanjung, and bungalows, restaurants, diving and sailing facilities are available on all these islets and others. For anyone with dreams of Robinson Crusoe style seclusion, delightful beaches can also be found in Matahari, Kulkul Kotok, Pelangi, Sepa, Onrust, Edam, Bokor, Kelor, Rambut, Ubi Kecil, Untungjawa, Pari, Perak, Melinjo, Pancalirang, Gosong, Ringgit, Sebaru, Hantu, Antuk, Bira, Panjang, Kelapa, Panggang, Lang, Tidung Besar, Payung, Kongsi, Pari, Damar Besar, Kelor, Kapal, Cipir and Nyamuk.

So if you are in Jakarta and become weary of the frenetic turbulence of the modern metropolis, hop on an early morning boat and escape across the Java Sea to a paradise island in the sun…. you can be there in time for breakfast on Saturday morning, and back in town by sunset Sunday evening without even leaving Jakarta!

Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu) scaterred in the Bay of Jakarta, accessible ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours by speedboat off Marina Jaya Ancol or Tanjung Kait. The Thousand Islands or Kepulauan Seribu consist of around 340 isles, including sand bars.

Set in a clean blue sea filled with myriad of tropical fish living among muticolored corals, the Thousand Islands are tremendously tempting places to spenc your vacation. Some of them have been developed into holiday resorts for real lovers of sea, sand and sun.

Furnished with ample, holiday comforts such as accommodation, restaurants, pools and other sport facilities it is an ideal place for a change from the routinism of your life. For water sports and underwater world lovers, it’s a paradise.


Pulau Ayer Island Resort & Cottages

Located about 14 kilometers north of Jakarta, or 30 minutes boat trip from Marina Ancol, Jakarta, part of the Thousand Island’s covering a total area of 60 hectares, a beautiful spot to witness the famed sunset of the Jakarta bay.


Bidadari Island Resort

Being the nearest Island Resort, Pulau Bidadari is reachable in 20 minutes ride on speedboat, about 15 kms, from the Ancol’s Marina. The cottages are built among trees which provide shady and comfortable envronment giving you the

feeling of being integrated with the nature. And those floating over the sea give you the touch of fishermen’s home atmosphere.


Pelangi Island Resort

Pelangi Island is 70 kms from Marina Ancol, Jakarta and can be reached by speedboat around one and a half hour trip.Densely covered by lush palm and pine trees which is surrounded by watch sandy beach in the middle of silver clean blue waters will make this green tropical Pelangi Island on ideal gateway to enjoy the sea, sand and sun.


Putri Resort Hotel

Located just a few breast-stroke away from Jakarta, Putri Island offers paradisian beauty on its soft and white sandy beach and crystal clear water all around. A holiday resort of which you will dream to return over and over again.


Alam Kotok Island Resorts

Alam Kotok offers a chance to holiday in the untouched island habitat of the exotic “ Thousand Island” just 90 minutes from Jakarta. This peaceful tropical atoll has been kept in its original pristine state, the flora and the fauna undisturbed by cozy cottages tucked amongst the foliage, looking out to sea. Here the only sounds are the wind in the trees, birdsong, and the gentle waves lapping the shore. Discover the gentle rhytm of island life, diving the colorful coral reefs, swimming and wandering at leisure.

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