Tomohon, the City of Flower

Though this is predicated as the City of Flower, Tomohon City`s coat of arms has no flower symbol on it. Its coat of arms includes a green mountain representing the geographic landscape of Tomohon, which is hilly area with enchanted nature. Tomohon`s coat of arms is aimed at informing public about Tomohon`s tranquillity, natural resources, and tourism potencies. Another symbol on Tomohon`s coat of arms is a streaky brown land depicting Tomohon`s prosperity.

For those reasons, Tomohon people call their city as `the City of Flower` considering the fertility of Tomohon`s land that is good for various flowers. In the beginning of 2000, a regional development programme made appear Tomohon City as the new district, separated from Minahasa District.

As a new district, Tomohon was officially launched on August 4th, 2003 by the Minister of Domestic Affair, Harry Sabarno. Since the time, Tomohon develops fast as one of the most crowded city in North Sulawesi.

Now Tomohon District encompasses five sub-districts which are West Tomohon, East Tomohon, Central Tomohon, South Tomohon, and North Tomohon. In addition, at least there are 35 villages based on the administrative area of Tomohon District. Most of Tomohon areas have enormous tourism potencies.

The geographic landscapes of Tomohon are hilly and mountainous areas ranging from the north to the south of North Sulawesi Province. Such topography causes the city development grows slowly.

Tomohon International Flower Festival

Tomohon is a site for four mountains, which two of them are still actives, namely Mount Lokon and Mount Mahawu. In addition, Mount Lokon is the highest mount in North Sulawesi which is 1.580 meters above the sea level.

There are several colourful parks in the centre of the city with various flowers growing up there. The local government of Tomohon City routinely holds annual flower festival which is able to attract many tourists to come to Tomohon.

Not only colourful parks with various flowers, but you can also find other wonderful tourism destinations such as Lake Linow, waruga (sarcophagus), tinoor waterfall, doa hill, agritourism in Rurukan, wooden house craft centre in Woloan, and amphitheatre in Woloan. Likewise, if you want to buy some souvenirs typically Minahasa, you can get them in the traditional or modern markets in the heart of Tomohon City. Some other worth visiting tourism destinations nearby Tomohon City are Bunaken sea park, Lake Tondano, Mount Klabat, Mount Soputan, and Kali Waterfall.

Welcoming `Visit Tomohon 2008`, Tomohon local government along with Tomohon people set some cultural and tourism agendas to attract many tourists to visit Tomohon. Some of the agendas on Visit Tomohon 2008 are cultural and music festival, flower exhibition, photography competition, fashion style, and a seminar on flower cultivation.

Tomohon City Location

Tomohon City lies around 22 km away east of Manado City, the capital of North Sulawesi Province. However, it is about 15 km away from Tondano and 55 km from Bitung City.Tomohon City lies around 22 km away east of Manado City, the capital of North Sulawesi Province. However, it is about 15 km away from Tondano and 55 km from Bitung City.

You can take any public transport to reach Tomohon City. Now, access to Tomohon City has been paved out hence you can easily reach there for having wonderful holiday ever. You can find easily many supporting facilities during the visit to Tomohon, the City of Flower. You can spend more days in the location considering the number of inns or star hotels there. Moreover, you can easily find souvenir shops along the main road of Tomohon City.

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The Old Palopo Mosque ins South Sulawesi

Palopo Mosque

The Old Palopo Mosque is the mosque of Luwu Kingdom that was built by the King of Luwu, Datu Payung Luwu XVI Pati Pasaung Toampanangi Sultan Abdullah Matinroe in 1604 A. D. It is 15 meter squares. It was named Old (Tua), because of its age, Palopo was taken from Bugis and Luwu language which contain two meanings: first, a kind of food made of the mixture of sticky rice and sugar water; second, putting a pin into a hole of building‘s beam. These two meanings have a relation with the process of building the Mosque.

There is an opinion that visiting Palopo City will not be officially regarded Palopo before touching the main beam of Old Palopo Mosque which is made of  Cinaduri wood, and the wall that is made of the mixture of egg white. That is why, the mosque always has many visitors, especially in Ramadhan (the fasting month in Islam). In Ramadhan, after dhuhur until around the time for breaking the fast, usually people keep staying in the mosque to learn the Koran, recite the Koran in turns (tadarrus), and chant confession of faith repeatedly (dzikr). The visitors are not only the citizens of Palopo city, but also from nearby districts, such as Luwu district, North Luwu district, Sidrap district, and Wajo district.

The mosque has gone through a few renovations. Nevertheless, the architecture does not change a lot. To preserve it, the local government has planned fund in ABPD (annual regional government monetary plan) every year, for paying employees, Islamic scholars, and three imams (leader of communal prayer). Beside receiving honorarium, the employees of the mosque also receive clean water facility from the local government without any charge.
The architecture of the Old Palopo Mosque is very unique. There are four main elements attach to the construction of the mosque, Bugis, Java, Hindu and Islam.

The first is the local Bugis element. This element can be seen at the whole structure of the building which consists of three storeys, just like the concept of stage house. The three storeys building concept is also consistently applied to the other parts, such as roof and the decoration comprising three stacks; supporting beams that also consists of three stacks, pallanga (pedestal), alliri possi (main beam) and soddu; three stacks wall with serrations; and the colouring of the beams (green, white, and brown stacking from up to down).

Second, Javanese element. It can be seen on the roof, which is influenced by traditional Javanese houses‘ roof (Joglo). It shapes three stacks/layers pyramid or is often called tajug. The two lower layers are supported by four beams which are often called sokoguru in the Javanese construction. In addition, the top layer is supported by single pillar of cinna gori wood (Cinaduri) with the diameter 90 centimetres. At the top of the roof, there are blue ceramic ornaments that probably came from China.

Third, Hindu element. This element can be seen through the mosque which has square shape, as the influence of Hindu temple construction. On the lower part of the wall, there is a lotus motif just like the one in the Borobudur Temple. The upper wall has also the same motif as Hindu temple in Java Island.

Fourth, Islamic element. The element can be seen through the windows which have five straight iron bars for each window. They symbolize the amount of salaat that a Moslem has to do in a day.

Palopo Mosque Location

The Old Palopo  Mosque is located in Palopo City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.The city of Palopo is located 390 km north of Makassar city. To get to Palopo from Makassar, people can drive private vehicles or public transportations (cars: panther, kijang, and bus).

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Lake Poso

Lake Poso, which is situated at an altitude of 657 meters, is a worth visiting tourism destination located in Tentena City, Poso District, Central Sulawesi Province. This site, which is the third biggest lake in Indonesia, ranges 32 km in length and 16 km in width, with 360 meters of deep water in the south and 510 meters deep in the north.

The panoramic view of surrounding area lures many visitors to come to the lake. Its fresh air, white sand, and green forest on the slope nearby the lake are distinguishing features. Moreover, the lake can be easily accessed for its strategic location at the cross sea voyage connecting Toraja, Poso, Gorontalo, and Manado. Hence, you can get there in ease.

The water in Lake Poso tends to be pure and clean at all times. Though fast current from several tributaries flows to the lake, the water keeps clean, pure, and turquoise. White sand in the lakeside that mixes together with golden yellow sand on the other sides provides magnificent scenery, especially when the sun is going to set.

Enjoy the sensation of feeling like in a beach. Feel its tranquil and turquoise water of Lake Poso. Numerous small fishes swim happily under the water swapped away by wave. There is no coral reef under the lake, proper for you who want to plunge into the lake.

Nearby the lake, you can see multifarious orchids in an orchid park namely Taman Anggrel Alami Bancea. This park stands on a 5.000 ha wide land. Feel free to enjoy the beauty of 55 types of orchids in the park.

One more feature provided by the lake, it is a Lake Poso Festival that is organized in the fourth week of August. Some cultural and traditional competitions are held during the festival. Hence, visiting Lake Poso can be a cultural tourism, not solely enjoying nature tourism.

Lake Poso

Lake Poso lies in Tentena City, Poso District, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Lake Poso is 283 kilometres south of Palu City, and 56 kilometres from Poso. You can reach the location by taking any public transportation from Palu City in approximately eight hours. It will be shorter if you take route from Poso that spends about one a half hours. For you who want to stay more days around the location, you can easily find hotels, lodgements, and inns around the lake. Some food stalls are also ready at all times serving you with various foods, typical of Central Sulawesi Province.

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Mount Slamet

Mount Slamet – 3.432 meters above the sea level – is the highest volcanic mount in Central Java, and second highest mount in Java Island. The area of Mount Slamet comprises four forest areas, which are Montane Forest, Hilly Dipterocarp Forest, Ericeous Forest (mountainous forest), and Upper Dipterocarp Forest.

Mount Slamet offers distinguishing mountainous escapade with meandering and challenging track leading to the peak of the mount. You will find no water spring along the track, unless you choose Bambangan track.

On the slope of the mount, you can find several other interesting tourism destinations such as Batu Raden and Guci hot water spring. Those areas encompass some other tourism objects like botanical garden, Curug Gede, Pencuran Pitu, PAncuran Telu, Wana Wisata, Telaga Sunyi, and Kaloka Widya Mandala Park.

Mount Slamet Location

Situated at 7º14,30‘ southern latitude and 109º 12,30‘ eastern longitude, Mount Slamet lies northwest of Purbalingga City, approximately 30 kilometres. The entire area of the mount is administratively located in five districts which are Banyumas, Pemalang, Banjarnegara, Brebes, and Purbalingga districts.

You can start Mount Slamet escapade tour from Grumbul Alur Bambangan in Kutabawa Village, Karangeja Sub-district, Purbalingga District. To reach Purbalingga you can take any public transport from Purwokerto to Blambangan passing by Bobotsari before succeeding to Penjangan Village. Since arriving at Penjangan Village, you have to continue the trip leading to Blambangan by walk for approximately an hour.

Post for climbers is located in Blambangan Village. Climbers from the entire world usually gather in this post to plan the best route for climbing. In common, the journey to the peak of the mount usually spends about six hours. And please do not hesitate to ask for guidance from surrounding local inhabitants for detail information about the area around the mount.

As an alternative climbing track, you can choose a route from Mount Malang in Serang Village and Batu Raden route as well. Along the way leading to the peak of Mount Slamet, you can find some posts for taking a rest. Those posts are listed below:

• Mount Malang–Pondok Gembiring (1 km)
• Pondok Gembiring–Pondok Walang (0,5 km)
• Pondok Walang–Pondok Cemara (0,5 km)
• Pondok Cemara–Samarantu (1,5 km)
• Samarantu–Sampang Rangkah (0,75 km)
• Sampang Rangkah–Sampang Ketebon (0,6 km)
• Sampang ketebon–Batur (0,9 km)
• Batur–Sampang Jampang (0,3 km)
• Sampang Jampang–Sampang Kredit (0,6 km)
• Sampang Kredit–Plawangan (0,5 km)
• Plawangan–Puncak (1 km, through Slamet Cave)

There is a post in Grumbul Alur, Blambangan, that was built for those who want to take a rest during the journey to the highest point in Central Java, Mount Slamet. Some guides are ready to tell the detail information about the surrounding area of the mount. If you want to stay more days in the mount, you may erect camp after permission from staffers of Mount Slamet Management.

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Batu Raden

Batu Raden is a worth visiting tourism destination located in Banyumas District, Central Java. Since the first time it was officially launched for public visit, the location has been known as a mountainous tourism destination. Here you can see the wonderful scenery of the surrounding areas offering fresh air with approximately 18º - 25º Celsius in the average temperature.  Taking a bird-eyes view from the peak of the location when the sun shines brightly, you can see the entire part of beautiful scenery of Purwokerto City, Nusakambangan Island, and some enchanted beaches in Cilacap coastal area. Batu Raden, 16,5 hectares in width of which 25 percent of the entire width, is opened for public investment (go public).

The name of Batu Raden itself stems from two Javanese words that are Batur (hill, land, friend, and assistant) and Raden (noble person). The combination of Batur and Raden then creates an interpretation that Batu Raden is a flat area possessing beautiful scenery.

Two folklores dealing with the origin of Batu Raden comes from Sheikh Maulana Maghribi and Kadipaten Kutaliman. According to Sheikh Maulana Maghribi, once Prince Rum from Turkey saw a mysterious light in the easternmost of Asia. Being eager to know what kind of light it was, he undertook an investigation to a place that now is known Batu Raden. In a short, after he reached the location, he found the source of the light that came from a Hindu hermit was leaning on a rose-apple tree.

Another story telling the origin of Batu Raden takes form in a romantic story involving Adipati Kutaliman, his consort, and his servant. There was a time that the consort fell in love with the servant. Knowing that relationship, both were alienated from royal family. No longer had they gone out from the royal family, the consort gave birth to a son in a riverbank located in the northern direction of Kutaliman District. The location where the consort gave birth now is known as Batu Raden.

Batu Raden is famous as a tourism destination where some other tourism destinations are available. You will discover some other interesting objects such as follows:

• Botanical garden. Find multifarious flowers and other rare floras such as Havana flowers, Daun Dewa, Brimulia, Keladi Tikus, Antarium Lipstick, Paris Palm, and Widoro Laut. All these colourful flowers are available either for display or sold, hence you can buy them as souvenirs with reasonable prices.
• Curug Gede. This site is located at Ketenger Village, approximately three kilometres from Batu Raden, where a beautiful waterfall exists there.
• Pancuran Pitu. This site lies 2,5 km from Batu Raden – on the slope of Mount Slamet – and is a hot water spring - 60º - 70º Celsius in average.
• Pancuran Telu. This site is officially launched on January 18th, 1987. The water from this site bears efficacy to heal some diseases that distinguishes the location from the others.
• Wana Wisata. Lying two kilometres from Batu Raden, this location possesses enchanting green forest scenery and is the right place for camping.
•  Telaga Sunyi. A tranquil location wherein a pond with pure water is present there. This site is located about two kilometres eastern direction from Batu Raden.
• Kaloka Widya Mandala Park. Invite your family here for the educational recreation. This location is a zoo where you can find various faunas inhabiting within. Moreover, here you can also visit a museum wherein numerous rare species bones are kept well.

Likewise, you may also experience cultural tourism like:

• Grebeg Syura or Sedekah Bumi. This rite is commonly held on the ninth day of the first month of Islamic calendar. This rite is aimed at preventing bad deed and expelling evil spirits that may occur in this city.
• Kenthongan (a bamboo tube).
• Calung (a bamboo xylophone) and lengger. Calung is a musical instrument resembling a xylophone that is made of bamboo of which is played by striking on its body. Lengger is a traditional dance performed by two girls that is followed by musical tone from calung.
• Banyumas traditional clothes. In Banyumas District, you can find two models of traditional clothes categorized based on the Banyumas people‘s social status, which are wong cilik (proletarian) and bangsawan (high class). Traditional clothes for proletarian take form in ancingan, bebed wala, pinjungan, iketan, and nempean, while high class‘s traditional clothes are usually called beskap – for male – and nyamping – for female.
• Ebeg or Kuda Lumping. This one is the Javanese hobby-horse trance dance that is commonly performed by several male-dancers sitting astride on bamboo horses. This traditional dancer is usually followed by traditionally musical performance namely bendhe.
• Sadranan. Visiting to a holy site, usually graveyard, then is preceded by kenduren – the Javanese ceremony for preventing the village from evil spirit.

Baturaden Location

You can find Batu Raden on the slope of Mount Slamet. This location is situated at an altitude of 640 meters. You can reach the location from the heart of Purwokerto City (14 km in distance), Banyumas District, Central Java Province. You can easily access the location by taking any public or private transport. It usually spends about 15 minutes, when the road is not crowded, from Purwokerto City.

You need to pay IDR 3.000/person. However, you have to pay additional entrance ticket for these conditions below:

• IDR 1.000 for those who take a motorcycle inside the location
• IDR 4.000 for those who take private or chartered cars, unless a minibus, inside the location
• IDR 5.500 for those who bring a minibus inside the location
• IDR 1.000 to visit a botanical garden inside the location
• IDR 1.000 to visit Curug Gede
• IDR 5.000 to visit Pancuran Pitu, Pancuran Telu, and Curug Gede
• IDR 2.500 to visit Kaloka Widya Mandala Park.

Your visit to Batu Raden will be more exciting as there are supporting facilities that are intentionally provided by the location‘s management. Those supporting facilities are:

• Swimming pool (IDR 1.500 of entrance ticket)
• Body-sliding pool (IDR 1.500 of entrance ticket)
• Sulphurous bathing pool (IDR 15.000 of entrance ticket)
• Water cycling (IDR 1.500 of entrance ticket)
• VIP class Hot water pool (IDR 3.000 of entrance ticket – 15 minutes in maximum)
• The first class Hot water (IDR 2.000 of  entrance ticket – 15 minutes in maximum)
• Merry-go-around arena (IDR 1.500 of entrance ticket)

The areas surrounding Batu Raden offer various choices for you who want to stay more days there. You can find lodgements, small hotels, and inns around the location. In the east of the location, you can, likewise, easily find hotels and inns. However, the center for numerous hospitality services are located in the west of the location, where you can easily find tour and travel agents, restaurants, public buildings, spas, bungalows, souvenir shops, and many more.

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Tongkang Burn Tradition in Bagansiapiapi

Tongkang is an artistic boat made of paper. The tradition to burn Tongkang (Chinese: go ge cap lak) is one of the annual cultural tourisms that have become the mainstay of Rokan Hilir District and Riau Province. The tradition has been included in Indonesia tourism visit agenda 2008. This typical ritual of Chinese ethnic in Bagansiapiapi, Riau, is held in every 15th and 16th April, the fifth month of Chinese lunar calendar.

One day before holding the ritual, tongkang along with its replica are paraded toward the oldest Pagoda in Bagansiapiapi to be lodged overnight and will be brought to an open space to be burned on the next day.

For some people, this ritual is used to see their fortunes of their business in the following year. When the pole of tongkang after being burned is facing to the sea, then the business is more directed to the sea. Conversely, when facing the ground, then the business is focused to the ground. Some opinion mentions that the tradition is only an expression of gratitude to God, who bestowed His kindness to them. Another opinion says as an expression of determination to make the place as their homeland, as well as self-affirmation to be never return to the ancestral homeland.

Tongkang burn tradition in Bagansiapiapi is unique and only one in Indonesia. We can watch a variety of attractions with strong character of Chinese ethnic knick-knacks. In the event, we can watch the Barongsai dance, opera, traditional dances of Chinese ethnic, and modern musical performances featured by some artists brought from Indonesia and aboard.

Tongkang Burn Location

The ritual is held in Bagansiapiapi City, Rokan Hilir district, Riau Province, Indonesia. The city is located about 300 kilometers north of Pekanbaru City, the capital of Riau province. The local government has provided various supporting facilities, such as lodging places and outlets to get various unique crafts of Bagansiapiapi.

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The Forest Area of Mount Klabat

The forest area of Mount Klabat encompasses a 5.300 ha area which is situated on the highest mount in North Sulawesi namely Mount Klabat (1.990 meter above the sea level). This forest area is a right place for mountain trekking lovers who want to enjoy the enchanted view of surrounding nature.

In the early years of Indonesian Independence Day, Mount Klabat or gunung hutan (Forest Mountain) was utilized by `anti-Indonesia` people as a sanctuary from Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia-ABRI (Indonesian Armed Forces).

Exploring this forest area, you will discover multifarious floras and faunas that are intentionally preserved by Minahasa local government. The forest area of Mount Klabat has four dipterocarps which may also be used as campground. Those four dipterocarps are hilly dipterocarp forest area, upper dipterocarp forest area, montane forest area, and ericaceous forest area.

There are six check posts along the footpath leading to the top. The first post – Aermadidi – is the starting point to reach the peak of Mount Klabat. In that post, you need to register your name and identity for safety during the visit to Mount Klabat. You will pass by a coconut plantation nearby the first post.

It spends approximately four hours to reach the peak of Mount Klabat by walk. You are allowed to ask for guides from professional tour operators who will heartily accompany you during the visit. On Sunday, the location is densely visited by visitors, hence if you want to experience a tranquil holiday, avoid visiting the location on that day.

Mount Klabat Location

Mount Klabat lies in Aermadidi Sub-district, Manado City, North Sulawesi. It is 18 km distance from Manado. To reach the location by taking public transport, it spends approximately 30 minutes. You may take public transport to reach Aermadidi Sub-district from Manado City. After 30-minute journey from Manado, you will pass by a gateway to Mount Klabat.

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