Komodo Dragon Island

There are many attractions in this world, you live to select which one, which one will be the main priority of your vacation, what you like adventure, shopping, beaches, historic sites, beautiful place, strange place.

One example is a strange place in the universe ra amsih this, because this Komodo dragon island is the remains of prehistoric era mankind. komodo dragon is one that can survive up to now among the many types of dinosaurs.

 People there can live side by side each other with this horrible monster. interesting not, please just you come here, see weirdness with your own eyes.
I suggest you to ask the scout by experts, or people who already understand well about the ins and outs of this deadly islands.
Safely enjoy the days that say you forget for a lifetime, maybe you could be pursued to rise to the top of the tree. watch yourself.

Reminder : 5th March Bali CLOSED for NYEPI

Bali Governor, I Made Mangku Pastika has sent reminders to all authorities, airlines and tour operators that Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport and all harbours to the island will be closed for 24 hours in conjunction with Nyepi, the one day in the year observed on Bali with Silence and Meditation.

Ngurah Rai Airport will be closed for 24 hours to all air traffic starting from 06.0 am on Saturday, 5 March to 06.0 am on Sunday, 6 March 2011. The airport will receive only technical landings, while all serving staff are required to remain within the airport compound for 24 hours.  

Similar conditions apply to all seaports including those connecting Bali to Java and Lombok.

The provincial government has also asked all Television and Radio Broadcasts to shut down for the day.

This year, Nyepi, which marks the Balinese New Year of Saka 1933, falls on Saturday, 5 March 2011. On this day there will be no traffic in the streets, no pedestrians on the roads or beaches, families are not allowed to light a fire, and there will be no lights during the entire night. Traditional security personnel, called pecalang will be patrolling the streets and beaches.  Special arrangements are made for emergency cases. 

The Principles of Nyepi

To the Balinese the Bali-Hindu New Year is a day to restore balance in the universe. This is done through strict observance of Nyepi, which demands both silence and darkness for 24-hours during the period from sunrise on 5th March to sunrise the following day.

In summary, religious observance of the day stipulate compliance to four tenets, namely:
• Amati geni - not to ignite fires or turn on lights.
• Amati Karya -  refrain from all activities and work.
• Amati lelungan - to stay at home and embark on no trips or journeys
• Amati lelanguan - to not satisfy any passion or engage in other pleasurable pursuits.

Consequently, all visitors to Bali are also required to stay indoors and do whatever activities within buildings only. No one is allowed on the beaches nor swimming pools. At night hotels will draw all curtains so as to keep lights from shining outside the hotel.

Kuta Beach Celebrations on Eve of Nyepi

On the Eve of Nyepi, starting 06.0 in the evening on 4 March, loud celebrations will be held on Kuta Beach, with highlight the ogoh-ogoh or huge papier-mache dolls symbolizing the evil spirit Bhuta Kala.  Participated by 16 hamlets of Kuta, each displaying their respective effigy, the giant ogoh-ogoh will be paraded through the streets of Kuta  and judged by a team of jury. There will also be performances of traditional music and dance.

Candi (Ancient Temples), Yogyakarta

Candi is ancient archeological structure constructed during 7th-9th century aimed for a specific religion (Budha or Hindu). It was constructed from hundreds of volcanic or river stone blocks and assembled solely by human labor. Candi walls is often carved with reliefs depicting stories, and a stone God or Godess statue usually sits at the center.
There are several candi located in Yogyakarta and it's proximity. Borobudur, one of famous candi is in Magelang, not far from Yogyakarta. Prambanan, also a well-known candi is in the Yogyakarta-Central Java border area.

• Candi Sambisari
  Candi Sambisari is very unique. Unlike other candi, it sits at estimated 6m below the ground line. It is easy to reach because it is located close to Adisucipto International Airport. You can go there by taxi. Candi Sambisari consists of one main candi and three supporting candis (perwara). You can see lingga and yoni, symbol of male and female sex, inside the main candi. In the main candi's wall, there are three statue, Agastya in south side, Ganesha in east side, and Dewi Durga in north side. From the lingga, yoni, and the statues, it has been concluded that the Sambisari was built to adore Siva Gods. There is no fixed reference about when and who built this candi. But from the Wanua III inscriptions, Candi Sambisari is predicted to be cunstructed in 9th century (812-838 AD). 

• Candi Kalasan
  Candi Kalasan is located not far from Prambanan, around 2 km to the west from Prambanan or 14 km to the east from Yogyakarta. This candi is on the south side of the Prambanan-Yogyakarta main road. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta. Constructed in late 7th century (778 AD) by Rakai Panangkaran from Sanjaya Dinasty. He was Hindu but he built a Buddhist temple, thus it reflects peacefully religion life during that time. The relief carved in this candi are known to be the most beautiful. The wall is covered by ancient white cement called bajralepa. Candi Kalasan was built to adore Dewi Tara (Tara Godess). A Boddhisatva bronze statue used to be placed inside the candi, but this statue is not there anymore. 

• Candi Sari
  Candi Sari is located not far from Candi Kalasan, estimated 600 m to north-east from Candi Kalasan. This candi was built as an ancient Buddhist monk dormitory. Inside the candi, there are two floors with three rooms on each floor. The reliefs is similar with Candi Kalasan's and the wall is also covered with bajralepa. There are Boddhisatva and Tara Godess carved beside the windows that show us the relation between Candi Kalasan and Candi Sari. The unique rooftop consists of 9 stupas in grid. The holes in some areas shows that woods was used to complete the construction. This candi is predicted to be build in the same era with Candi Kalasan. 

Local delicacies

The following dishes should be on every Yogyakarta traveller's agenda:

• Gudeg, a curry of jackfruit, chicken and egg served with rice, and is the most famous local dish. Goopy slop in various shades of brown, the stuff does not look particularly appetizing, but it can be tasty if done right.There are many gudeg restaurants, but the most popular are: Gudeg Wijilan, Gudeg Juminten, Gudeg Bu Tjitro, Gudeg Tugu, Gudeg Bu Ahmad. If you can wake up early in the morning, you may find small stalls serving Gudeg just at the corner of the street, or close to traditional markets. If you can't sleep at night, you can go to Jalan Janturan and enjoy the Gudeg Pawon (enjoying gudeg inside the old style kitchen) that open in late night. 

 

• Ayam Goreng Mbok Berek (Mbok Berek's Fried Chicken). Fried free range chicken with mild garlic and coriander flavor served with crunchy crackers.

• Nasi Langgi, locally known as Sego Langgi (Langgi Rice). Warm rice served with various side dishes. Can be found in small stall in Gandekan street. 

• Kipo, bite size snacks made of green colored tapioca dough filled with sweetened grated coconut. Can be found in Kotagede. 

• Bakpia, another bite size snack made from sweetened greenbean paste wrapped with thin dough pastry. The most popular bakpia is known as Bakpia Patuk, which not surprisingly, are sold in Pathuk street, also known as Jalan Aip K.S. Tubun. 

• Jadah Tempe, sandwich of rice cake and sweet beancake. Can be found in Kaliurang. 

• Es rujak or rujak es krim, a fruit salad made from mangos, papayas, apples, pineapples, cucumbers etc., mixed with palm sugar, lime juice, salt, chillies and (of course) ice cream (es krim). All flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty) in one plate. In case you are at UGM campus, have a look along Jalan Kaliurang. Small foodstalls sell es rujak there (only very late morning to early afternoon). If you are not close to UGM, keep your eyes open. 

• Angkringan, a food seller using hopper as store. The famous food sold here is Nasi Kucing (Cat Rice) that consists of a small serving rice with a sambal (chilies) or oseng-oseng and wrapped using a piece of paper or banana leaf. The most popular angkringan is Angkringan Lik Man, also known as Angkringan Tugu, located in Jalan Wongso Dirjan, north side of Yogyakarta Railway Station (Tugu Station). See Angkringan Tugu below. Angkringan usually opens from afternoon (2 PM) or evening (6 PM) until late night (1 AM) or morning (4 AM). 

Pasar Tiban Kauman Yogyakarta

During the Ramadhan fasting season, the local residents at Kauman area open a temporary market selling many kind apetizing snacks and dishes. This market is not only great for sampling local foods, but also great for experiencing old architecture as it is set on a long pathway of classic javanese neighborhood.

Opens at around 3PM and closes at 6PM, the foods are meant to be eaten for breaking the fasting at dawn. Consuming the food in the area before dawn, even if you are not fasting, is considered inappropiate. Kauman, means the place for preachers since it is in the same block of the Masjid Agung (sultan's royal mosque), was home to many islamic leaders such as Ahmad Dahlan, the founder of Muhammadiyah movement.

Warm the Body with ‘Wedang Ronde’

Wedang Ronde is a traditional Javanese drink served in a bowl, which is very helpful when the weather is cold. From the words, wedang is a Javanese language means a drink, ronde is the name for the main part of the drink. This kind of drink uses ginger as its ingredient. To get the merit, ginger is boiled in the water, along with other substances. As it has ginger, it will warm anybody who drinks it.  The taste is sweet but rather hot.

The substances of Wedang Ronde are ginger, citronella, brown sugar, salt, peanuts, the fruits of the sugar palm, and ronde (rice flour balls). The ronde itself is made from sticky rice. In the middle of the ball shaped ronde there is a mixture of brown sugar and peanuts. The peanut is heated in utensil without oil or water. The best utensil is earthen pot.
We can find Wedang ronde at Yogyakarta such as Alun-alun Utara, Alun-alun Selatan, Godean market, Malioboro street, etc. People specifically sell it with a cart. The price for a bowl of wedang ronde is about IDR 3000.

Yogyakarta Culinary

Yogyakarta is heaven of inexpensive foods, and some tasty and filling dishes can be as low as 25 US cents. However, since there are hundreds, if not thousands hawker stalls offering inexpensive foods, some of them are not delicious. For a start, head to well known food stalls such as:

• Angkringan Tugu, hawker stall located close to the Tugu Station serving small rice packs (known as sego kucing) and various other foods, 6PM-4AM. The most popular beverages is kopi joss, Javanese espresso dipped with burning coal. Very inexpensive. Rp 1,000-6,000.

• Gudeg Tugu, Jalan Diponegoro, close to Kranggan marketplace, 7PM-1AM. Popular Gudeg stall. A complete dish consists of: warm rice, shredded chicken, brown hard-boiled egg, gudeg, areh sauce, and the hot & spicy sambal goreng krecek. Rp 7,000-10,000.

• Rumah Makan Es Ceria. Address JL Gandekan Lor No. 42. (close to sraswijyan, just go west from hotels and turn left). Great, cheap eats -all in a huge smorgasboard, you choose what you like and then the cashier estimates a price. Tasty and dirt cheap. Also ice deserts and fruit shakes.

• Soto Pak Soleh. Tegalrejo, near Diponegoro Museum. This well-known restaurant is Pak Soleh's family business and is now ran by his son. They only serve Yogyakarta-style beef soup as their main menu, which has a spicy taste from the added ginger. Rp 5,000.

• Spesial Sambal. A local chain for those who like spicy, hot food. Their speciality, as the name suggests, is their various kind of sambal (sambal is a kind of hot relish). Rp 5,000-12,000.

• Waroeng Steak. A local restaurant chain. Their speciality is batter-fried beef steak served with thick gravy. Rp 6,000-15,000.

• Waroeng Jepara, Jalan Wolter Monginsidi 49, Jogjakarta. Fame for their traditional Jepara flavours (only warung in Jogjakarta that serves Jepara food), this modern-furnished warung is run by friendly locals. Speciality includes "pecil pari" (spicy stingray), "bothok tahu" (tofu in papaya leaf) and "sayur lodeh" (jackfruit soup) . Rp 5,000-Rp 30,000.

• Xtra Hot. A local tent-scheme restaurant specializing in delicious grilled food, with a good variety of sambals (chili) to choose from, yet with affordable prices. Located in Jalan Kaliurang (Next to BCA Bank). Main courses from Rp 4,500 (U$0.5) onwards.
• Soto Sawah Pak Slamet. A local chicken soup store located at 5 km west side from Yogya, Open morning - afternoon. Rp 5,000
• Soto Pak Marto A local delicacy of beef based soup served with rice (mixed in or separate), go to the one located near Keraton. Offals are include in unless specifically asked for beef only. Fried offals, ordered on the side to be eaten with kecap manis is very delicious.
• Pempek Ulu Bundar Located strategically near to Mirota crossroad, serves delicious pempek and kakap meat ball soup with very low prices. Most expensive menu is just Rp 5,000.

Mid-range

• FoodFezt Jalan Kaliurang km 5.5, +62 274 554554. Many kinds of local Indonesian foods: Nasi kebuli, nasi merah, soto betawi, sate buntel, mushroom satay, and also dessert like pancakes, ice creams etc. It has a garden with lots of bamboo tree and other plants. The waiters use wireless gadgets to serve their customers in order to maintain a 'paperless' order system.
• Ayam Goreng Suharti, Jalan Laksda Adisucipto 208, Yogyakarta, +62 274 515522. A very popular mbok berek fried chicken restaurant, the recipe still remains a secret.
• Bakmi Kadin, Jalan Bintaran Kulon 3, Yogyakarta. Javanese style soft-fried noodles. Don't miss the popular wedang bajigur, a local beverages made from warm coconut milk with subtle ginger flavor and garnished with diced coconut and kolang-kaling. Local kroncong street quartet often performs in the area. Rp 18,000-20,000.
• Dixie Easy Dining or simply Dixie, Jalan Gejayan 40b (south Selokan Mataram), +62 274 560745. Offers various kind western and asian dishes served with distinct modern-asian style. Nice modern-ethnical interior. Rp 8,000-50,000.
• Empek-Empek Kamto, Jalan Beskalan 3 Yogyakarta (opp to Ramai Shopping Mall's south entrance), +62 274 514294. Originated from Palembang, deep-fried fish cake and served with sour soy sauce. There are many variety of empek-empek: kapal selam (means submarine) comes with boiled eggs inside, adaaan/bulat has a garlic taste, while lenggang is an empek-empek omelet.
• Gudeg Sagan, An eating place in Jalan Sagan (In front of Toko Sagan Baru) offering rice, seasoned porridge, gudeg, areh sauce, sambal goreng krecek, complete with chicken and brown hard-boiled egg.
• Gudeg Wijilan Yu Djum, Jalan Wijilan 31, Kraton and Jalan Kaliurang km 4.5, Karangasem CT III/22, Yogyakarta 55281, +62 274 515968. A more lavish variety of Gudeg, served with thicker sauce, and more expensive as well.
• Kedai Tiga Nyonya, Jalan Jendral Sudirman 16, Yogyakarta, +62 274 589315. 10AM-10PM. Peranakan food restaurant, a fusion of Indonesian, Chinese, and Dutch cuisine. Their specialty is grilled fish, sour ribs soup, and candlenut chicken. Rp 20,000-50,000
• Pecel Solo, Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar 52, Sleman (adj Hyatt Regency), Phone: +62 274 866588. Offers a large selection of Solo style foods like Pecel Solo (vegetables with peanut sauce), Sego Liwet (steamed rice with sweet curry sauce), Nasi Kebuli (pungent rice with roasted lamb), and Bebek Goreng (fried duck Solo style). Rp 10,000-30,000.
• Quali Resto, Plaza Ambarrukmo, 3rd floor, near the foodcourt. Serves various kind of chinese dishes, but their specialty is kwetiaw (wide noodles). Rp 15,000.
• Sate Karang, Lapangan Karang, Kotagede, Yogyakarta. 5PM-10.30PM. Grilled beef satay served with lontongs (rice cake), peanut sauce and thin curry soup. Rp 15.000.
• Sapi Bali, Jalan Umbul Permai, Mudal, Sariharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman, Yogyakarta, +62 274 7858938. Serves Balinese style ribs, although a little too hot and spicy for some foreigner. If you do not prefer hot and spicy dish, opt for Soy Sauce Ribs instead. Rp 25,000.
• Sendang K Pitoe, a famous shrimp and sea food restaurant located on the outskirts of the city specifically Jamur, Minggir, Sleman, Yogyakarta, +62 274 747 1114. Very delicious fried shrimp served fresh from the ponds in the still relatively untouched village. Don't get mistaken by the nearby Mang Engking, also a shrimp restaurant with an ill-earned reputation of dirty food.
• Via Via, Jalan Prawirotaman, An excellent traveller's cafe, there are clocks on the wall showing the time in other Via Via cafes around the world and a mix of travellers and Indonesian locals. Offers a range of western dishes (good french onion soup) and specialty Indonesian dishes at a good price. Caters very well to vegetarians (tofu and tempe). Cane chairs and lots of space and games. Rp 20,000-40,000.
• Kesuma Restaurant, Mantrijeron 99 Sartono J. III, Prawirotaman Area, +62 274 8245027. A cozy and pleasant place where you can find an excellent local home cooking. The menu is exclusively native of Yogya or Solo. There is a small garden where guests can settle in a Gasebo and the main room is in a Limassan, traditional Javanese wooden house. 10AM-11PM. Rp 20,000-50,000

 
Splurge
 
Yogya is filled with many 'high-end' restaurants serving many kind of dishes, from western to asian to asian-fusion cuisines.

• Gabah Resto, Jalan Dewi Sartika 11A Sagan, +62 274 515626. Western dishes. Modern classy decoration. Rp75,000-Rp150,000.

• Royal Garden Restaurant Jl Pekapalan 7, Alun-Alun Utara, Yogyakarta, +62 274 386767, +62 274 373343. Chinese-Indonesian dishes with kraton style atmosphere. Rp 40,000-80,000.

• Gajah Wong, Jalan Gejayan, +62 274 588294, Serves many kind of dishes including French, Italian, Indian, Chinese as well as Indonesian. Divided into 3 zones: Country, Javanese and Colonial, each is lavishly decorated and themed with live music. In the Javanese zone, you can hear the Javanese gamelan music performed throughout the night, while the Colonial zone has a live jazz band.
• Androwino Bistro Jalan Laksda Adisucipto Km 8.7, Yogyakarta, +62 274 488588. The all day dining restaurant offering Continental and Asian cuisine in a relaxed modern Javanese setting. The restaurant is located at the top floor of Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa where at the entrance of the restaurant guests will be welcomed with a big painting of Grandfather from the hotel’s Owner named Sampean Dalem Ingkang Sinuhun Kandjeng Susuhunan Pakoe Boewono X, 1896 – 1939(King of Solo)and guests will see the beautiful landscaping of Tamansari water castle swimming pool and breathtaking mount Merapi.

MALIOBORO, YOGYAKARTA

Malioboro is a well-known shopping promenade and very popular among Indonesian as well as international tourists.


Spans from the Tugu Station to the Sultan's square, Malioboro is 2 kilometers in length and home to hundreds of shops and street-stalls which offers various kind of handicrafts. Several notable places in Malioboro are:

• Pasar Beringharjo (Beringharjo Marketplace), Jalan Pabringan 1, Yogyakarta 55122 (north of Vredeburg Fort), +62 274 515871, 561510. Literally means slanted land, Beringaharjo is the largest traditional marketplace in Yogyakarta. The vendors sell many kind of goods, ranging from basic household items (vegetables, fruits, meats) to many kind of handicrafts. Haggle furiously.
• Mirota Batik (opp Pasar Beringharjo), Jalan Ahmad Yani 9, Yogyakarta 55122, +62 274 588524, +62 274 518127, +62 274 547016 . The large family-owned store offers plenty of handicrafts, not only from Yogyakarta but also from all part of Indonesia.
• Dagadu (lower ground floor Malioboro Mall). Offers funny contemporary t-shirts and souvenirs that revolves around Yogyakarta people's culture.

• Ciamis Art Shop (153 Jl. Malioboro). Shadow puppets, masks, carvings, and more at fixed prices that are lower than in the market. Open from 9:00 - 13:00 and 18:00 - 21:00.

• Nadzar (187 Jl. Malioboro). Huge souvenir shop specializing in batik, art, jewelry, and more. Has every souvenir you could imagine and all at fixed prices.

If travelling on foot is not your thing, you can ride the pedal-powered trishaw called becak, or the andong horsecart.
Warning: While Yogyakarta is safer than Jakarta, it's not free from pickpockets. Most of the time, Malioboro sidewalk is overcrowded, take standard precautions to protect your belongings.

KALIADEM, Merapi Lava Tour Area.

The kaliadem could be reached by your own vehicle; the route heading is easier. But you must be careful, about 5 kilometers near the tourist area, you will find the tight, up and down small streets.

This position of the Kaliadem is 1100 meters above the sea level. It's make the air still relatively cool, although the tree forest was destroyed when the hot clouds hit on.


On October 2010 the government closed Kaliadem until the situation safer and the activity of Mount Merapi back to normal. When the area was opened again, hundreds visitors has been came until today, locals and foreigners. A few months after the eruption, some buildings and many objects that burnt just left.
The location around the house caretaker of Mount Merapi Ki Surakso Hargo or Mbah Maridjan in Kinahrejo, Umbulharjo Village, District Cangkringan, Sleman which devastated hit by hot clouds is currently a favorite of tourists visiting the area.

Destroyed house in Cangkringan Village after the eruptions

At this time, Kaliadem areas is dominated with white sand and the stones from the Mount Merapi eruption, looks more exotic. Sometimes, Merapi Peak is seen so clearly without any equipment tools because it's very close. Especially at night, the visitor can watch molten lava from the peak. The red lava looks contrast with the dark night sky.
When you planned to visit Kaliadem don't forget to bring your camera. Takes every moment and every corner at Lava Tour area, there's area you will get a lot of interesting object and exotic view.