Kayan Mentarang National Park

Kayan Mentarang National Park

In 1980, Kayan Mentarang National Park, KMNP, was designated as “Natural Reservation Area,” then was changed to “National Park and Forest Tourism Destination” by the decree of Forestry Minister No.631/ Kpts-11/ 1996, in 1996. The entire width of KMNP is around 1.360.500 ha.
With Mount Longnawan as the highest peak, this national park comprises the various landscapes such as flat area, hills and mountainous area, about 200 meters to 2.558 meters above the sea level. It has tropical climate, the average rainfall is around 3.000 mm / year, with the temperature is around 20,5° C to 33° C. During September to December is the best time for visiting the location.
Kayan Mentarang National Park is the biggest and the oldest forest area, both primary and secondary forest, in the Southeast Asia. It is derived from the name of two significant rivers spread out in Bulungan District, the Kayan River, located in the south of the area and the Mentarang River, located in the north of the area.

There are many various species of flora and fauna. The various types of vegetative in the location are categorized by the substrate substance and the variety of topography.

• The hills and the Lowland of Dipterocarpaceae forest, over than 50 % of the entire width.
• The Lowland and mountainous forest (at altitude of 1.200 to 1.600 meters) which is over than 40 % of the entire width.
•  The Kerangas Forest, growing in the low substrate substance.
•  The Limestone forest.
•  The Savanna, which is the effect of shifting cultivating.
•  The Secondary forest, the effect of take and turn cultivating.

You will find some plant species such as pulai (Alstonia scholaris), jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), agathis (Agathis borneensis), kayu ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), rengas (Gluta wallichii), gaharu (Aquilaria malacensis), aren (Arenga pinnata), orchid, palm, etc. In addition, you will see Rhodonderon (the only flower that can be found in Asia).More than 100 types of mammals (15 of them are endemic), eight types of primates, and over 310 types of birds (20 types are Kalimantan endemic threatened with extinction) can be found there. From the mammal species, you will see macan dahan (Neofelis nebulosa), kucing dampak (Prionailurus planicipes), civet cat (Felis marmorata), red cat (Felis badia), honeybear (Helarctos malayanus), bull (Bos javanicus), deer (Muntiacus spp), forest pig (Sus sp), and bajing jenthik (Sundaicurus jentiki subsiganus). The Primates animals such as lutung dahi putih (Presbytis frontata), lutung merah (Presbytis rubicunda), beruk (Macaca nemestrina), bekatan/kahau (Nasalis lavaratus), klampiau (Hylobates mulleri), long tail monkey (Macaca fasicularis), and Tarsius (Tarsius bancanus) can be found there. The species of birds such as kuau kerdil (Polyplectron schleimacheri), julang jambul hitam (Aceros corrugatus), enggang jambul hitam (Anthrococeros malayanus), enggang gading (Bucceros vigil), and cucak rawa (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) can be found in the same location.

A threatened with extinction species of Kalimantan Elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), can be found when you are lucky. The species includes into the sub-species of Asian Elephants that was assumed that were intentionally brought to Kalimantan.   According to the survey of Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam, BKSDA (Natural Resources and Conservation Center), WWF and the Biological Laboratory of Forestry Faculty of Mulawarman University on February to March 2007 states that about 25 to 45 of Kalimantan Elephants population which were remained.

KMNP is inhabited by about 20.000 -  25.000 of Dayak people in various sub-tribes such as Dayak Kenyah, Dayak Puran, Dayak Lund Aye, Dayak Tagel, and Dayak Lun Bawang. They live in their tradition in the Lamin homes (The stage houses of Dayak tribes that are inhabited by 100 peoples). They live by farming, using their own knowledge about natural conservation. They know how to preserve natural resources based on their principals such as how to cultivate various paddies.
Hiking, jungle trekking passing through the river and enjoying the magnificent scenery and the wonderful waterfall can be activities for you. It is also used for research and observation by students, lecturer and professional researcher focusing on natural preservation and environment cases.

Where Kayan Mentarang National Park Location?

Kayan Mentarang National Park is administratively included into Bulungan District, East Kalimantan Province. It is at 01º 59´- 04º 24´ of north latitude and at 114 º 49´-116 º 16´ of west altitudes.You may take air transportations to reach the destination. The access is about an hour from Samarinda to Tarakan, continued by Klotok / speedboat passing by the River Mentarang in approximately 6 hours.

There are three rivers, the River Bahau, the River Kayan and the River Mentarang, which are used for water transportation by visitors. During the journey, you will see the various of wildlife animals inhabiting the destination.There are lodgements for you who want to spend more days in the location. Check posts, Klotok/ speedboat and other facilities are easily found there.

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The Traditional Art of Didong in Nagroe Aceh Darussalam

Didong Gayo Aceh

Most of Gayo people in Central Aceh District live either in mountainous areas or in highlands. They tend to preserve their traditions like Didong. Didong is a very popular traditional art amongst Gayo people. The players of Didong are commonly called ceh-ceh didong. There are Ceh Lakiki, Ceh To`et, Ceh Daman, Ceh Ibrahim Kadir, Ceh Ujang Lakiki, Ceh Ucak, Ceh Tujuh, Ceh Idris Sidang Temas and Ceh Abd Rauf who are famous didong players in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.

More often than not, it is usually performed in groups consisting of 15 men showing self-improvisation such as sitting, standing, while hitting their feet on the floor. This wonderful performance with beautiful dance come out from the combination of reciting magnificent Gayo poems, beating of traditional percussions, pillows and pans, and clapping hands.

Didong is the proudness of Gayo people that stays alive among the enormous influence of modern technology and western civilization. Gayo people never get bored with the play, watching every show that is performed on Saturday night starting after Isya (7 p.m.) until Subuh (4 a.m.).

The recited poems combined with dance, literature, and “hypnotizing” sound luring the viewers to keep watching the performance, offer the portrayal of social and religious messages and the relation between human and their nature. The performance also contains moral messages so that we can set a wise mindset towards human being.

The regeneration processes of didong are done well as there are many talented figures appear at every generation. Most of them learn from nature. They acquire the knowledge of nature cosmology as a part of microcosm awareness, wise and local awareness. It tends to show humanistic messages and people`s aspirations. A director, Garin Nugroho, states that Aceh is a warehouse of great artists.

Didong Traditional Art can be watched in Central Aceh District, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province, Indonesia.It will be easy to reach the location through Bireun City, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province. There is a small bus station where numbers of public transportation can be easily found there. It will carry you to Takengon with IDR 25.000 for its costs (per January 2008) for approximately five hours. You may also take alternative way to Central Aceh District by Blang Kejeren or Kutacane.There are some middle class hotels or luxurious hotels, restaurants and food stalls in Takengon, Central Aceh District. However, there is only little information stating that hotels or inns can be easily found in the hinterlands of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province.

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The Beauty of Tanjung Bira Beach

Tanjung Bira Beach

Tanjung Bira Beach is a famous white sandy beach in South Sulawesi Province. It is clean and neatly organized and its beauty and pleasantness are well known even by foreign countries. Foreign tourists from other countries visit the beach for enjoying their holidays.Tanjung Bira Beach is a totally bewitching beach whose white sand is like wheat flour spread along the seashore. You can do activities such as diving, swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. You can also watch the sunset or sunrise in the same position. In addition, the enchantment of Liukang Beach and Kambing Island located in the transmarine of the beach will amaze you during the visit to the destination.

Where Tanjung Bira Beach Location?

Tanjung Bira Beach is located on the southernmost of South Sulawesi Province. It lies in Bonto Bahari Sub-district, Bulu Kumba District. It is about 40 km away from Bulu Kumba city or 200 km from Makassar city. It is better for you to take types of public transportations (e.g. Panther, Kijang, or Innova) about Rp. 35.000 in cost, considering that it will be hard to find buses to reach the destination from Bulu Kumba. You may also use Pete-pete (Minibus) for your alternatives to reach the destination that will be about three to three a half hours with Rp. 8.000 to Rp. Rp. 10.000 for its costs.

If you start the trip from Hasanuddin Airport, use taxi to Malengkari Bus Station in Makassar city then continue to Bulu Kumba or Tanjung Bira Beach for about Rp. 40.000 in cost. In the location, public transportations will disappear at evening. If you are eager to get back to Makassar in the same day, you can charter cars with Rp. 500.000 for its cost.

It has been equipped with various facilities such as restaurants, hotels, villas and bungalows offering various prices from Rp. 100.000 to Rp. 600.000 / night. Water sports equipments for diving and snorkeling can be easily found with Rp. 30.000 for its costs. If you are eager to look around the destination, you may take motorcycle rental services for about Rp. 65.000. For you loving diving, you can take ferryboat services in the harbor that will carry you to Selayar Island with Rp. 65.000 in cost.

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Turi Agricultural Tourism

Neither a botanical expert nor an agricultural expert generated the idea of making Zalacca edulis (salak) gardening area, named Turi Agricultural Tourism in Sleman, D.I. Yogyakarta Province. The person was actually a professor of dental faculty named Sudibyo. The professor has many experiences in the development of Zalacca edulis since he was in Junior High School (about 1958). From those experiences, he tried to find a way to replace Zalacca edulis without letting it die.

Then, Sudibyo persuaded the local people to develop Zalacca edulis. Although the people doubted it in the beginning because they must have ignored other plants, they finally followed Sudibyo‘s advice. Gradually, this activity became the specialty of Turi people and finally Sudibyo aroused an idea to found Turi Zalacca edulis Agricultural Tourism area in 1988. This Turi Agricultural Tourism was legally opened since 1994.

Besides for its well-kept ecosystem condition, Turi Agricultural Tourism area becomes special because of its Zalacca edulis. Tourists can see the unique Zalacca edulis because the top part of it is like oil palm tree. It is so beautiful to see thousands of Zalacca edulis which are arranged in such a nice way in Turi Agricultural Tourism area.

In this agricultural tourism area which is located in 200-meter depth above sea surface, the tourists can go around the huge Zalacca edulis garden with a tourist guide. After going around the garden, tourists can eat Zalacca edulis which are picked when going around the garden in a place which has been provided by the agricultural tourism manager. The pulpy part of the fruits which grow in the lower part of this plant is very sweet and does not stick on its seed as Zalacca edulis fruits in general.

Besides, while enjoying the cool air in this area, the tourists can continue the trip in one of the reliable gardens of Turi Agricultural Tourism named Nusantara Garden (Kebun Nusantara). In this 2-hectare garden, the tourists can see 17 kinds of Zalacca edulis. Those 17 kinds of Zalacca edulis are super Zalacca edulis, yellow Zalacca edulis, black Zalacca edulis, condet Zalacca, manggala Zalacca, gading Zalacca, semeru Zalacca, and tanonjaya Zalacca.

The guide will also take tourists to places of several herbs which are developed in this agricultural tourism area. The herbs which can be found are Curcuma xanthorthiza, Zingiber officinale, Averrhoa belimbi, Kaempferia galanga, etc.

Turi Agricultural Location

This agricultural tourism area is located in Gadung, Kebun Keto Village, Turi Sub-district, Sleman Regency, D.I. Yogyakarta Province, about 25 km from Yogyakarta City. If we go to this agricultural tourism area by private transportations from the city center; Malioboro and its surroundings, it needs about 40 minutes. Besides going by private transportations, the tourists who are interested in this agricultural tourism can go by Trans Jogja bus, route 2A from the city center with charge as much as IDR 3.000 (March 2008). Then, the tourists get off in Trans Jogja halt which is located in Jombor Terminal. In this terminal, the tourists move to a small bus ‘Jogja-Turi‘ route. This bus will take you to Turi Agricultural Tourism location.

If the tourists depart from the capital of Sleman Regency, the travel will take only 20 minutes by private transportation to this agricultural tourism area. However, the tourists can also reach the location by ‘Jogja-Turi‘ buses which pass the main road of Jogja-Magelang. The tourists, who want to explore this Zalacca edulis garden (the main zone of agricultural tourism) 27-hectare wide, are asked for charge as much as IDR 2.000,00. However, if the visitors want a tourism packet to pick Zalacca edulis directly in the garden, they will be asked for special charge, about IDR 8.000,00.

Besides showing the beauty of Zalacca edulis, the Turi Agricultural Tourism Area also provides other facilities; they are swimming pool, fishing pond, paddle boats, and playground for children. The tourists will be accompanied by a tourist guide who knows the detail of Zalacca edulis in this area very much.

Because there is no inns in this area, the tourists can stay in one of the hotels or inns which is located in Palagan Tentara Pelajar Street (the street which is passed to reach the location).

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Tinoor Waterfall

Visiting Tomohon City, You will be amazed after knowing the enormous tourism potencies which are available there. One those great potencies is nature tourism which is Tinoor Waterfall. Nature tourism is a special offering for you visiting Tomohon considering its geographic landscape taking form in hilly areas, mountains, forests, rivers, and waterfalls. One of the worth visiting tourism destinations in Tomohon is Tinoor waterfall or usually called regesan.

The government of Tomohon City utilized this site not only for tourism destination, but also for academic purposes such as Boy Scouts` camp ground and research filed. Tomohon government continuously maintains this site by adding the number of supporting facilities such as food stalls, inns, cottages, and shelters. Likewise, Tomohon district government also manages this site as a worth visiting tourism destination in Tomohon City.

You will not only experience the sensation of being flashed by the water falling down from the crag, but also a green park for having momentous time with your family. Its surrounding area looks beautiful for the colourful and various flowers growing up there. This place is the right place for you seeking for tranquil holiday ever.

Nearby the waterfall, you may find many food stalls standing in a row offering the typical foods of Minahasa. Besides, you will also find a famous tea plantation area in Tomohon.

The geographic landscape around the waterfall gives you a magnificent view of surrounding nature. It is the best place for you who love painting or taking photographs.

Tinoor Waterfall Location

Tinoor Waterfall is situated on the slope of Mount Empung, in the north of Tomohon City. Administratively, it lies in Tinoor Village, North Tomohon Sub-district, Tomohon City, North Sulawesi Province. Now you can easily accessed Tinoor waterfall since the road leading to the location had been paved. You must take the route Manado-Tomohon to reach the location, about 1 km from Manado. However, when entering the waterfall location, you have to pass by a footpath leading to the waterfall by walking. You may take a rest for a moment in surrounding cottages or food stalls offering typical foods of Minahasa such as yellow rice. Some other typical foods from Minahasa are peret (bat-meat cooking), turean (white tail rat), and renga (watered-snail).

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Lake Kerinci

Lake Kerinci

The lake kerinci which is located in the slope of Mount Raja is the biggest lake in Kerinci district. It is 5.000 meters square wide, at an altitude of 783 meters. The scenery of the lake is so enchanted so you will not easily get bored watching the spread out clear water with wonderful marched mountainous. In the center of the lake, some fishermen`s traditional boats sail above the calm water surface where many kinds of fishes can be found within.In the villages around the lake, there are many heritages of the Stone Age era in shape of carved stones.  It indicates that the area around the lake had ever been settled by ancient people living about thousand years ago. There is an annual event showing the traditional art performances of Jambi province. It is proposed for welcoming the tourists visiting Lake Kerinci.

Where Lake Kerinci Location?

Lake Kerinci is located between Danau Kerinci Sub-district and Keliling Sub-district, Kerinci District, Jambi Province. There are three alternatives for accessing the destination; you may take either public or private transportations.

• Started from Jambi to Sungai Penuh, about 500 km away that can be reached in approximately 10 hours.
• Started from Padang to Tapan continue to Sungai Penuh, 278 km which will spend about seven hours.
• Started from Padang to Muaralabuh continue to Kersik Tuo, 211 km, in approximately five to six hours.

The entrance ticket is range between Rp. 3.000 for adult and Rp. 2.000 for children. There is no luxurious hotel, but you can spend more days remembering that motels can be easily found in Sungai Penuh city. Its costs range from Rp. 15.000 to Rp. 100.000 / night. Do not be afraid about the services of the motels because you will get pleasant services. For foods and beverages, do not forget to eat Beras Gayo, Gulai Ikan Semah (Semah Fish Curry), Dendeng Beteko (Beteko Jerked Meat), Tojin nut, Lemang, and Pelompek lemon or you may also taste Kerinci coffee and Kayu Aro tea.

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The Amazing of Likupang Beach in Manado City

Likupang Beach

Likupang Beach is a famous tourism destination which is densely visited by visitors especially on holiday. It had ever shocked the Representatives of WWF in the beginning of March 2007 when a green turtle, chelonia mydas, was found by a fisherman. Though it is a famous and crowded beach, it can still keep its quality either its nature or tourism value, proven by the existence of green turtle. It is included into the Tourism Development Programs of Manado Government.

It will be unforgettable moment for you taking footstep along the thousands of grain sands or having other activities such as diving and snorkeling. As an alternative for you who get bored after spending the times above this sandy beach, you may rent motor boat for enjoying the beauty of Bangka Island‘s Sea Park in the transmarine of Likupang Beach. It spends about 30 minutes from Likupang Beach.

Where Likupang Beach Location?

Likupang Beach

Likupang Beach is located 48 km northeastward of Manado city in Bitung district. It lies in the edge of North Sulawesi province.Likupang Beach is located 48 km northeastward of Manado city in Bitung district. It lies in the edge of North Sulawesi province. It is far enough from Manado city, so it is better for you to take public transportations. However if you want to use your own car, it is not a problem. There are many Mikrolet (Minibus) that can be easily found in the Paal 2 bus station. It will carry you to the Likupang bus station. Around the location, there are hotels, motor boat rental services, and water sports equipments especially for snorkeling and diving.

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