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Best things to do in Labun Bajo

Labun Bajo is a small village on the island of Flores. This place is famous for its Komodo dragons, wonderful underwater world and friendly citizens. Many people fall in love with Labun Bajo because of its natural charm and friendly citizens. Are you already interested in this beautiful destination? Keep reading and be amazed by Labun Bajo.

Trek your way through Komodo Forest
Are you looking for an adventure? Then stop looking and go to Komodo Forest. During one of these tours, you will be guided by an ranger who will bring you to the Komodo Dragons. The Komodo dragon as the biggest lizard in the world and that’s also the reason why Labun Bajo is so famous. You will trek your way through the forest, where you will see the beauty of nature itself and during your trek, you’ll also see the fearless Komodo Dragon which can get a length of 4 to 5 meter.

Want to see 3 different beaches in 1 day
Go to Padar island where you’ll see 3 different beaches in just 1 day. The beaches are famous as a view point at Komodo Island. That’s because of its 3 different beaches which has al a different colour. One of the beaches is pink, one of them is white and one of them is black. This is a wonderful sight to see and you even get the chance to see the Komodo Dragons, but be aware that the dragons like to be in the shade and that you are not allowed to come near the Komodo Dragons. The best time to climb Padar island is in the early morning due to the temperature.

Dive everywhere you can
Komodo National park is a group of islands which is famous for its biodiversity underwater. Everywhere in Komodo National park is a good place to dive where you can see a lot of the underwater world. There is even the possibility to swim with manta rays at Komodo National park. Have you ever done that? At the same spot, you can also swim with sea turtles which is and extraordinary experience which you have to do during your stay in Labun Bajo.

Go to the fish market for freshly caught fish
Every morning, the fishermen of Labun Bajo fern the see to catch fish to sell at the fish market. The fish they sell is full of flavour and that’s why you have to taste this during your stay in Labun Bajo. The market is also a nice opportunity to meet different people due to the extraordinary mix of visitors of the market. The people who visit the market are expats, backpackers and locals. This is something you don’t see a lot of times happening and that’s why the market is a good place to visit.

Explorer the cave of Batu Cermin
Do you stay in Labun Bajo, but you don’t want to go too far away from the village? Then you should go to Bato Cermin cave. The name of the cave is “Batu Cermin” cave which means Mirror Cave in English. The reason why this cave is called the mirror cave is because, this cave is filled with crystals which shine bright in the morning sun, so you have to be in the cave between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The cave is located in a natural canyon which for you is a wonderful sight to see.

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Best things to do in Tana Toraja

This place has been opened for the rest of the world at the beginning of the last century. That’s because, Tana Toraja is protected by big mountains and rugged granite cliffs. Tana Toraja is located in the north of the province South Celebs. This is also the middle of the island of Sulawesi. Because this place is discovered early in this century, Tana Toraja has still a lot authentic traditions which makes it a special experience to visit this place. But Tana Toraja has also modernised in a short time. They even have embraced Christianity.

Visit the village above the clouds
Visit Lolai Village which is located on a cluster of mountains. The village exists on a height of 1400 meter above sea level and this is a wonderful sight to see. The houses of the village aslo look extraordinary, cause the roofs which have the shape of a boat. The village is surrounded by clouds which gives you the feeling that you’re in heaven. The citizens of the village are friendly and welcoming. They like to see tourist. The village is also easy to reach, due to the infrastructure which makes it possible for cars to reach. Do we see you in Lolai Village?

Climb mount Sesean
The climb of mount Sesean is a tough one with a lot of muddy paths, but you will be rewarded with beautiful views after you climbed the mountain. Put on your sturdy shoes and begin early morning with the climb and don’t forget to bring warm clothes with you. After you reached the top, you will have a beautiful panorama view over the whole area of Tana Toraja.

Raft on the Sa’dan River
The Sa’dan river is a fun challenge for everyone who likes rafting. The river is 184km long with a lot of different rapids which makes this river a good rafting spot for everyone who likes rafting, even if they are a beginner. Along the way, you will be amazed by all the flora and fauna of the surrounding area. The river flows through a rainforest which is the reason for the beautiful flora and fauna of the area. The river itself can be really wild which gives you a lot of adrenaline during your rafting adventure.

Visit the extraordinary Londa cemetery
Go to Londa and see a cemetery like you have never seen before. This cemetery is made out of cliffs with tombs for the dead people of Tana Toraja. The dolls you see in the cliffs represents the dead who are buried in their tombs. This is something very important within the culture of Tana Toraja. The dolls are beautifully made to show their respect for the people who lost their live. Nowadays Londa is a tourist sight you have to see during your stay in Tana Toraja, cause if you haven’t seen this, you haven’t been in the “real” Tana Toraja.

Try the local cuisine
When you are in Tana Toraja, you have to try out some local dishes. One of them is Pa’Piong. This is dish which can be made from a various amount of fish or meat which will be mixed with spices and other ingredients like lemon grass ,grated coconut, scallions, pepper, garlic and leaves of Miana. All the ingredients will mixed and put in a shell of bamboo. The ingredients will be cooked barbeque style which gives the dish an amazing taste.

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Best thing to do in Padang

 

Padang is the port of West Sumatra. Padang is also the largest port of West Sumatra. Because of this, Padang is a real trading city. Mostly of the goods which are traded are cinnamon, rubber, coffee, tea, cement and coal. Padang has also a very popular beach which houses a legend. During you stay in Padang, you cannot skip  the local cuisine, cause it will be a pity to be missed.

Lake Maninjau

You have to visit lake Maninjau during your stay in Padang. The has a is a stunning sight to see and there are a lot of activities which you can do. Just try fishing and catch a big one, go for dinner with a romantically atmosphere due to the beautiful sunset or enjoy the view of the lake by just looking to it. The lake is just like a mirror which don’t make you feel bored due to the ever changing sky which will be reflected by the lake.

Travel to China in just one day

You are reading it right. You can get in one day a full-china-experience! Visit China town in Padang and be surrounded by a totally different atmosphere which you get from the Indonesian culture. During your visit, you must see the Chinese temple of China town. This is the landmark of China town itself, so you haven’t been there if you haven’t visited the temple. The surrounding area of China town doesn’t have many restaurants which means that you have to try the local food if you want to eat something, but that’s not a problem because the local food is delicious and really cheap.

Enjoy your day on Air Manis Beach

Have you ever heard of the legend of Manis Beach? The locals say that once upon a time there was a rebellious boy. Hey was always against his mother, even when the mother tried to be the best for his son. And then god decided to turn the boy into stone as punishment for his behaviour. Can you find the boy of stone on the beach? The beach is also perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sunset. The sunset which you see on the beach is also the second reason why this beach is so famous. Do we see you at Air Manis Beach?

Visit the Pagaruyung Palace

This Palace is one of the most famous historic object in West – Sumatra. The original palace is actual burned, but the palace have enough cultural value to rebuild it. Nowadays the palace has also a different location. The first palace was built on the peak of Pagaruyung’s Batu Patah hill. Nowadays, the palace is located to the south where the first temple stood. You have to visit the palace, cause it brings you back in time.

Try the local cuisine

During your stay in Padang, you cannot miss out the local cuisine. One thing you have to try is Rendang. Rendang is curry and beef. The chef cooks for you the curry and beef up to 8 hours to give its signature black colour. During the time the curry get prepared, the chef is also caramelizing some coconut milk to add to the dish. The dish has also different variations with chicken and vegetables, so everyone can eat it.

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Best things to do in Manado

Manado is the capital city of North Celebes and there are plenty of activities which you can do during your stay in this city. First of all, we have to talk about Bunaken which is a famous divers destination due to its high biodiversity underwater. After you took a dive, you have to trek Gunung Mahawu which will amaze you with fantastic sights. Still haven’t seen enough? Go on safari to see the most interesting and beautiful animals. Do we see you in Manado?

Explorer the underwater world of Bunaken
During your stay in Bunaken, you have to go to Manado. This diving spot welcomes all divers, even if you are a beginner. During your diving adventure, you’ll encounter with a lot of life underwater. The spot has a high biodiversity and has even one of the highest biodiversity’s in the world. It is even possible to swim with sea turtles, which you have to do when you get the opportunity. The water is also pleasurable to jump in, due to its naturally warm temperature.

Trek on the volcanoes in the surrounding area
Volcano trekking is something you have to do during your stay in Manado. You can go to the Gunung Mahawu which will show you beautiful panorama’s at the end of the trek. During you trek, you will also be amazed by the beauty of nature. The trek itself will show you a lot of fresh green landscapes which gives you a surreal feeling and at the end, you will see a crater lake. This crater lake changes colour every day so be amazed by the sight of the active volcano.

Go on a small beautiful safari
Just 60km away from Manado, you will find the Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve. This small reserve shows a lot of biodiversity in little time. This reserve is also the home of the Tarsiers which are called the ghost animals due to their appearance. Encountering with these animals will make your visit even more special. There are also a lot of different birds which have beautiful shapes. Be amazed in this small part of rain forest.

Cultures which are living together in peace
Manado is a city which has a majority of Christians, but there are also Hindu’s, Muslims and Buda’s. All of these religions live peacefully together and they even made a big monument which symbolize that. The monument is called the hill of love and you really have to see that, because it shows what people are capable of when it comes to handcrafts. In the hill, you see two enormous faces carved out of stone. These people are unified and that’s why the people of Manado see this as a symbol for their respect.

Meat which you have never tasted before
Manado‘s cuisine is different than the other parts of Indonesia. Due to the majority of Christians, Manado is a destination with different norms when it comes to food. The area has a lot of different kinds of meat. Do you want to taste something else which you usually don’t eat? Than you have to go to Manado. They serve every kind of meat which has 4 legs and they even sell meat from snakes. Curious about their cuisine now?

Indonesia’s Beautiful Underwater

Indonesia consists of 36% of main land and islands, and 64% of sea. So, besides having a range of beautiful landscapes and volcanoes, Indonesia also has countless water resources and underwater beauties. Not to mention the beautiful beaches stretch along the country, for Indonesia is the biggest archipelago country in the world.

As an Indonesian, I am aware that my country is an epicenter of biodiversity, hosting a greater variety of marine life than anywhere else on earth. Having bunch of dive sites throughout the archipelago, Indonesia provides many kinds of diving style to try. From challenging drift diving, extensive reef diving, amazing night diving, unique muck diving, and stunning steep walls to enjoy. This fact makes me curious of knowing more of the underwater world and decided to take a diving license to explore deeper and longer.

And once I saw how underwater world looks like, I never stop craving for more dives in my life. Since I live in a beautiful Bali island, which surrounded by some popular dives area, I usually go for a dive trip every few months. Tulamben, Amed, Padang Bai, and Menjangan Island are the perfect option for recreational dive as well for beginner divers. For the adventure seekers and big fish lovers, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida Island in Bali or small islands in south west Lombok are the answer. So far, my favorite dive sites are Tulamben with its Ship Wreck and Nusa Penida with its Manta Point. Diving with some Manta Rays surrounds me gives a special sensation and makes me more grateful for a chance to see such a beautiful giant fish yet friendly.

Fransisca dives in Tulamben Coral Garden

When I’m not diving, snorkeling and skin diving are my other water activities. With its pristine water, Bali and Lombok offer the easiest way to enjoy the underwater. You can get in a glass bottom boat, and enjoy the trip to the snorkeling spot by watching the underwater life beneath your feet.

Of course Bali and Lombok are not the only underwater paradise in Indonesia. There are a lot more destinations that have different beauty to offer. East Indonesia is famous with its underwater heaven. From Karimun islands in East Java, Wakatobi islands in Celebes, Mollucas islands, Nusa Tenggara islands, until the famous Raja Ampat in West Papua islands. Not to mention, underwater of Weh island in the very west of Indonesia also surprisingly beautiful. All of them offer you the stunning underwater experience that you will never forget.

Spare your time to enjoy the sea and underwater when you visit Indonesia. If you want to peep a bit of underwater beauty, take a snorkeling tour. By floating with mask and snorkel, you already can see the corals and colorful fish decorating the underwater world. If you are curious what lies down there and want to explore deeper, take a diving lesson to get a license. Or if you only have limited time, join in a Discover Scuba Diving trip. It allows you to dive up to 12 meters without holding the license. And trust me, once you get down there and see the underwater beauty, you will never see the world in the same way you see it before!

 

So, ready to see the other world under the water? Grab your google, snorkel, and fins! And let’s enjoy the underwater heaven of Indonesia.

 

 

Written by Fransisca Widi

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Best things to do in Lampung

Lampung is a smaller city in South Sumatra. Getting around in Lampung is ideal by scooter or scooter taxi. Speaking about scooter taxi, this is something which you certainly have to do during your stay in Lampung. This city is easy to explorer in a short time which means that you also have enough time to discover the area surrounding Lampung and that’s a good thing, due to all the activities you can do like visiting elephants or explorer other small islands. Interested? Than you have to read more about our recommendations of Lampung

Go to a small paradise
The island of Pahawang is a small secret tropical paradise for people who like snorkelling and relaxing. Sounds great, isn’t it? During you snorkelling trips, you even get the chance to encounter with several clownfish. Have you ever seen the movie finding Nemo? Than you will feel like you are playing in the movie. There are also several corals which have several colours, so you won’t get bored looking to them. Don’t you want to snorkel? No problem, just take your towel and go to the beach to relax.

Encounter with elephants
During your stay in Lampung, you have to go to Way Kambas. This is the elephant park of Sumatra which exists during the time that Sumatra was ruled by kings and sultans. Back in the days, the elephant where raised to be fighting in war. Nowadays, the elephants are trained to help humans. This is beneficial for both humans and elephants, because elephants help humans and humans protect elephants from harm.

Shop your new clothes and other goods in Boemi Kedaton Mall
Boemi Kedaton Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Lampung. This mall is also new so it will give you a modern – like feeling when you are shopping due to all the renovations which took place. There are a lot of stores which vary from souvenir stores to clothing stores, to beauty stores. Because of this, the possibility is high than you can stay here for a long time during your time shopping in the mall.

Spending you day at the beach
During your stay in Lampung, you have to go to Mutun beach. Why? This beach offers a lot of activities which you can do and the beach is easy accessible from Lampung city. When you arrive you see a lot of people who are canoe-boating, banana-boating, swimming, etc. These are all activities which you can do during your stay here. Not interested to do activities? Don’t worry, you can always take you towel with you and look for a quiet place ate the beach.

Taste the cuisine of Lampung
During your stay in Lampung you cannot miss out the cuisine which the area has to offer. One of the most famous dishes of Lampung is Seruit. This is a fish with a kind of mango or shrimp. Tourists love this food, just like locals. The fish is made out of a harpoon which is with a filling which is delicious. Are you hungry now? Than go to Lampung and join us for dinner.