Archive for June 13th, 2006
1. FINNA GOLF and COUNTRY CLUB
The Beauty of nature, the heritage of golf…..
Finna Golf and Country Club Resort was developed to offer its members and guests the finest golf and family resort in Indonesia. The golf was meticulously planned to combine a world class mountain resort ambiance with a truly outstanding 18 hole championship golf course.
On arrival at the magnificent Clubhouse, members and guests will find life has a new tempo: relaxing, calm an unpolluted. Renowned for its refreshing cool climate and scenic beauty, the Tretes region of Java has for centuries provided a welcome sanctuary, rich in spiritual and natural beauty.
The course was designed by Thompson Wolveridge and Perret, has two putting greens and a driving range.
2. THE TAMAN DAYU GOLF CLUB
We have designed a course that fits naturally into the environment, provides a good test of golf for all players and features spectacular views and scenery.
The course was designed by golf course architect of the year, Jack Nicklaus.
3. BUKIT DARMO GOLF SURABAYA
Bukit Darmo, the first international championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus II in Asia, offers excellent challenges and enjoyment to all golfers of various skill levels, in a beautiful, natural setting complete with world-class facilities. “Bukit Darmo is a special course for me because it was my very first opportunity to design a course in Asia”.
4. GOLF GRAHA FAMILI and COUNTRY CLUB
The gorgeous 18 hole golf course combines the challenges and comfort that every player desires and so rarely finds. Golf Graha Famili also manages the golf academy, which is so popular amongst beginners and young players.
Another facility is the handsome proshop offering a wide range of golf paraphenalia, from golf balls to branded club and golf attire. Golf Graha Famili is regarded by all comers as a fascinating world of golf.
5. CIPUTRA GOLF and COUNTRY CLUB
Modern Golf Courses endeavour to inspire players to think strategically and be heroic. Players can no longer rely on technical ability alone, but they must also be able to think strategically to achieve their best result.
Ciputra Golf, covering 125 hectares of beautifully sculpted fairway and greens, was designed to be a key venue for regional and international tournaments. The course has 27 holes, is par 108 and has a total length of 9145 meters – offering many unforgettable moments. The course was designed by Andy Dye from Dye Designs Corp,. a reputable golf course world class designer. The designer took full advantage of the range and elevation in developing the course. Following the natural hill and valley topography of the area, the course is designed stadium style with the holes in the valley.
Night Golf; an alternative option for those busy days - why not pursue this different challenge from time to time.
6. YANI GOLF CLUB SURABAYA
Surabaya’s oldest course, Yani Golf Club is located near the toll road and next to Surabaya’s Hilton International Hotel. The course was first opened in 1898 and is ranked in the category of “Grand Old Dames” of traditional course designs with tree lined narrow fairways. The course was built following the contours of the hilly terrain in this southern part of Surabaya. Yani could be compared with a course like Senayan or Rawamangun in Jakarta.
Due to circumstances beyond its control the club’s membership declined, forcing the closure of the course in the early sixties. It was re-opened in 1965. In 1980, a certain professor Erich Kremmer renovated the course and presently it is open to members as well as to the public. In 2000, Yani was selected as the venue for the PON 2000 (national games) golf tournament. Yani is a pretty course and golfers who love a traditional English / European style tree-rich layout - of which there are not too many in Indonesia, will certainly enjoy playing this one.
June 13th, 2006
97 km from Banyuwangi. Situated on the south coast, Sukamade beach is the site where turtles appear between about 9 p.m. to midnight to lay eggs, which they bury under about half a meter of sand. The egg-laying is subject to seasons, and at times the beach can be awash with turtles, especially during the full moon. Beach guards collect the eggs shortly after they have been laid and rebury them elsewhere where they are safe from poachers and such animals as leopards. The eggs hatch in about two months after which the young turtles are tended in special tanks at Sukamade until they are strong enough to survive in the ocean. Today, more than 2,500 turtles have been tagged and recorded since the beach became a protected area in 1972.
The huge creatures which struggle from the moonlight surf are not without problems, as predators on and off the shore will devour most of their eggs and offsprings, but at least they are spared the human poacher. If homosapiens does lurk in the shadows, it is only the curious.
Sukamade is still very isolated. To get there requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and above all perseverence. Main access is through a 50 km stretch of extremely rough road, passing rubber, coffee, and cocoa plantations. As yet there are no bridges crossing the the rivers, which, though negotiable during the dry season, can become very difficult to cross during the rainy season. Despite the discomfort, however, the trip may be rewarding. Two full days are needed for the 2-way journey with an overnight stop in Sukamade where limited accommodafon is available
How to reach Sukamade:
Surabaya - Probolinggo (99 km) : bus/train
Probolinggo - Jember (99 km) : bus/train
Jember - Jajag (74 km) : bus/train
Jajag - Sukamade (62 km) : taxi
A conservation effort has been underway for some years at Sukamade Beach, where four types of sea turtle come regularly to nest. Stability of the turtle population has been helped by a careful system of tagging and monitoring, as well as the use of special hatcheries. Watching these giant creatures emerge from the surf and struggle-up the beach to lay their eggs on a moonlit night is a unique and unforgettable experience, and one which is certain to ensure Sukamade’s ever growing popularity.
source : www.petra.ac.id/eastjava/cities/banyuw/tourobj/ban10.htm
June 13th, 2006
Bintan, is the largest of 3,200 islands in the Riau archipelago and the third largest of 27 provinces in Indonesia.
Located just 45 kilometres south-east of Singapore and twice its size, northern Bintan is easily accessible via a 45-minute ride on a high speed catamaran from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. To get to the southern part of Bintan, ferries also depart from the World Trade Centre and take 90 minutes each way. Despite Bintan’s proximity, you will need your passport and, where necessary, a visa.
In the northern sector of Bintan Island is Bintan Resorts, a 23,000 hectare development which is being jointly undertaken by the Singaporean and Indonesian governments. It has 18 kilometres of pristine white beaches and azure waters, rich with marine life and offers the ideal retreat for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Accommodation options include hotels, condominiums, luxury villas and chalets. It is possible to rent cars and there are transfers from the ferry terminal and between the various hotel resorts.
Bintan Resorts has a dedicated sea-sports centre offering a variety of activities underwater and on the water including hosting a major annual windsurfing event. Choose from motorised and non-motorised watersports including jet skiing, windsurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving or just unwinding on the beach.
Diving at Bintan is a comfortable experience for newcomers and aficionados alike with waters gentle enough for novices and enough undiscovered surprises to content old-time divers. The best diving is from April to October and Bintan’s marine population includes more than 100,000 species with snails, clams, oysters, squid, nudibranchs and sea shells. There are also regular dolphin sightings.
On land, Bintan has several excellent golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ian Baker-Finch, and it is worth taking a sightseeing trip to the southern part of the island. You can take a public bus between northern and southern Bintan, or travel by charter taxi or speed boat arranged through your hotel. The trip will take approximately 90 minutes.
In the south, a must see is a visit to Bintan’s capital, Tanjung Pinang, a quaint old town characterised by rows of wooden houses on stilts linked by a maze of walkways.
A ten-minute ride on a motorised sampan will take you to historical Pulau Penyengat, originally the home of the Melaka Sultanate. This tiny island is distinguished from afar by a glittering dome belonging to its 170-year-old mosque which houses a rare handwritten Koran. Near the mosque are the royal tombs of past sultans.
Also in the south is the rustic fishing village of Senggarang, which was the previous capital, before being razed by fire. Once the home of the Bugis, today it has a strong Chinese population with a Chinese village.
Senggarang is renowned for its Land, Sea and Earth Temples, more than 100 years old, to which many Singaporean Chinese come to worship during festivals. There is also the 300-year-old Kwan Yin Temple, which is the oldest in the Riau group, situated near the mouth of the Snake River (Sungai Ular).
There are so many leisure facilities being developed within Bintan Resorts that visitors won’t need to go far in order to experience something new. A stroll through Bintan’s nature trails enjoying the lush tropical flora and fauna might even provide a glimpse of the shy mouse-deer. As well as a wildlife sanctuary, there is also an agro-tech park (where visitors can pick their own fruit and vegetables), a marina centre and excellent retail facilities.
For a unique dining experience, enjoy spectacular views as you sample Indonesian seafood cuisine at Panorama Kelong Restaurant which seats up to 100 diners in a traditional stilt structure stretching 200 metres into the sea. It offers outdoor and air-conditioned dining areas and bar facilities.
Planned future leisure developments include a health spa, an amusement park with old-fashioned merry-go-rounds as well as more sophisticated roller coasters and other attractions, and entertainment complexes which will incorporate amusement arcades, cinemas and pubs.
The resorts employ more than 2,000 locals from the nearby town of Tanjung Uban and many are resettling in new homes in the form of cluster housing and dormitory accommodation at Bintan Resorts. Many new facilities have also been provided for the locals including a mosque and a park complete with barbeque and sporting facilities.
June 13th, 2006
Guci, Tegal, Central Java, Indonesia
Apa yang anda bayangkan begitu teringat nama Tegal? Warteg, Martabak, Teh Poci atau Etos kerja? Apapun jawabannya, semuanya memang identik dgn Tegal. Sebuah “icon” yang menjadi ciri tentang Tegal dan orang Tegal.
Cerita tentang The Poci, terbayang nikmatnya seruput teh tubruk hangat dari Slawi, dengan gula batunya yang dituang dari Poci tanah liat. Ini mengingatkan kenangan masa silam, saat-saat Sosro belum melahirkan teh celupnya. Teh tubruk asli sekarang ini agak sulit didapatkan, kecuali pada momen khusus, nostalgia yang dicari atau anda memang datang langsung ke Tegal.
Cerita tentang Teh Poci, teringat Guci. Guci sebuah poci pancuran besar yg berasal dari alam. Airnya mengepul hangat dari perut bumi, yang ditampung di dalam kolam, membentuk pemandian umum.
Tua, muda, lelaki, perempuan berendam bersama-sama. Penikmatnya duduk bersila menikmati hangatnya pancuran ditengah kesejukan kaki pegunungan Slamet. Air panas bercampur belerang, meregangkan otot yg kaku kedinginan, juga memberikan efek penyembuhan kulit-kulit yang sudah menua. Mitos dan kenyataan tentang air belerang ini sudah diakui dan berlaku di gunung vulkanoe manapun.
Guci pemandian alam yang khas Tegal, siapapun anda, tanpa memandang jenis kelamin usia, atau asal usul, semuanya dipersilahkan duduk tenang berendam, tak perlu risih berbaur dipancuran yg sama. Buat yang sedikit malu-malu kucing, boleh pake kaca mata gelap, asal jangan lirak-lirik saja.
Ada 13 pancuran umum dan 10 air terjun alam. Tinggal pilih, semuanya baru keluar dari sumber mata air yg sama.
Guci sudah komersial, jadi anda bisa mendapatkan banyak pilihan bermalam dari penginapan melati sampai bintang empat. Terdapat sarana rekreasi ikutan spt menunggang kuda dan hiking. Aktifitas di Guci selain berendam memperbaiki kulit, menikmati keindahan alam, bahkan ada juga yang mencari pesugihan. Karena didalam mitosnya
Suasana pegunungan dan keramaian yang ada mirip peristirahatan di Puncak Pass Cianjur. Sayur2an segar dari kebun di lereng2 gunung banyak dijajakan, dan biasa dibawa pulang sebagai buah tangan. Guci tempat yang cocok untuk liburan keluarga. Pada musim liburan sekolah, mungkin terlalu ramai. tetapi buat yang punya masalah kulit tidak usah ragu2 untuk berendam bersama, airnya jernih dan mengalir dan tentunya mumpung lagi di Tegal.
Guci berada 40 km di selatan kota Tegal jurusan Slawi, Purwokerto. Anda akan melalui Lebaksiu. Sebuah kecamatan kecil, dimana sebagian besar penduduknya adalah migran pedagang martabak di kota2 besar di segala penjuru tanah air. dari Banda Aceh sampai Jaya Pura, termasuk sebagian besar yang ada di Jakarta. Selain Lebaksiu tadi, anda juga tidak boleh lewatkan Warung Sate Kambing …..setelah itu ada penujuk jalan yg menunjukkan tanda arah Guci, belok kiri lewat Bumi Jawa, desa Tuwel dan akhirnya sampai diatas di ketinggian 1,050 meter dpl.
Selamat menikmati Guci…
Sumber : www.pbase.com/archiaston/guci
June 13th, 2006
South East Sulawesi covers South East Sulawesi peninsula, Buton Island, Muna Island and small islands spread out at south and South East of the peninsula. It is located length wise - west to south east. It borders to the north by South Sulawesi Province and Central Sulawesi Province, to the south by the Flores sea, to the east by the Banda sea and to the west by Bone Bay. South East Sulawesi Province is populated by more than 1.2 Million People. The people are devided into five diverse and interesting cultural groups: the Tolaki, Morunene, Buton, Muna(locally called the Wuna), and the Bajo.
This offer the visitor a glimpse of life-styles which have survived man’s rush to modernization while using much of today’s technology to their advantage.
Most of the land area of South Sulawesi is covered by natural jungle, with extensive plantations of teak and ironwood, which are used for for local handicrafts and contributes to the local economy. Much of the beauty of the region has been reserved for prosperity by declaring it National Parks and Nuture Preserves.
The entire province is inhabited by wonereous animals living freely and can be seen and appreciated by visitors. Deer, Wild pigs, small rodent-like animals called Kus-Kus, monkeys, snakes, anoa(small Buffalo) and numerous birds are abound. The hunting of animals, national parks and preserves are, forbidden and are carefully controlled by the local Government in other areas.
The warmth of the Sulawesi people, the local flora, fauna, and untouched beaches, are the highlights of this unique locale. It is truly on of the worlds remaining natural habitants waiting to show off for visitors who can appreciate such natural beauty and the people who live in it.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Kendari
South East Sulawesi’s capital is Kendari. It lies along the sloping hill and seaside of Kendari bay, residence to approximately 100 000 people. Kendari boast the manufacture of numerous fine artistic handicrafts, for both home and office use. These are reproduced by skilled craftsmen, from original designs, handed down through generations, using indigenous roots and ironwood. Visitors will find a visit to the Berlin Handicraft centre and the handicraft exhibition centre valuable. These centres belong to to the local Association of Government Wives(PKK), and displays items which may be purchased to adorn the most discrimanting setting. Visitors will find frequent, colorful ceremonial events in and around Kendari. To be present on these occasions is to be invited to participate. For the closing of any ceremonial event in Kendari will be highlighted by the local “Modero dance” performed by local men and women. All onlookers are invited to join in the dance, as part of the conclusion and harmonious farewell.
Moramo Waterfall
No other in Indonesia is quite like the Moramo Waterfall. It traverses a 2 Km plateau, with 127 seperate terrace plumes, with the top of the waterfall some 100 meters above its pool basin. The falls have seven main terraces, each with its own natural bathing pool.
This combination produces clean, fresh, cool air in the shade producing tropical jungle forest setting which surrounds the falls. Those who love nature at its purest will find this an ideal environment. Only 65 Km east of Kendari, Moramo waterfall is aesily accesible by car or by boat, crossing Moramo Bay, with a wide panoramic view of the sea.
Moramo Bay
This clean, pollution-free bay is only one and a half hours by car or speedboat from Kendari. The white sand beaches of Moramo Bay are a host to all sorts of water activities and sports:from sun bathing to water skiing, swimming to boating, including observation of numerous fish life under clear,clean water.
Sea Garden of Pulau Hari
In the Indonesian language(Bahasa Indonesia),”hari” means daylight. Beacause of the way the sun’s rays reflect from the water of the sea surrounding this island, the local people call it the “Island of Daylight”, Palau Hari. Swimming, boating and other sports find a natural home along these shores. Diving tp view colorful fish in a sea garden setting of coral is a popular activity.
National Parks and Conservation Areas
AOPA is a dike covering an area of 96.804 hectares containing smaller dikes with plantations within them.
Many varieties of indigenous birds and plant life can be seen here. Wild animals abound, running everywhere in this man-made lake environment.
Nirwana Beach and Bone Oge
Nirwana Beach is located 12 Km from the village of Baubau,and is the capital of the Buton Regency. It is well-liked for swimming and recreational beach sports, alongits white sandy shore and its small adjoining island, only thirty minutes away by sailboat. Fishing is said to be ideal on this island.
Buton Island and the Sultanate of Buton
To the southeast of Sulawesi mainland, Buton island remains part of the province of Southeast Sulawesi. long before the independance of indonesia and the unification of Buton with the rest of the country, Buton was a Kingdom.
The Kingdom existed from the 14th to the 16th century. After this and until Indonesia’s independance, it remained a sultanate.
During the Sultanate period, residents conducted trade and communicated with China and the Majapahit Kingdom, on the island of Java. The first ruler who governed this region was a queen and the last ruler was a king. It was the last ruler, King Laki Laponto, who became the first sultan of Buton. Buton island is well known for its asphalt, called buton or butas asphalt, and for its teak and ironwood. There is a daily boat service from Kendari, with a stop-over in Raha, the capital city of the island of Muna. The most fascinating cultural appeal of Buton island can be enjoyed when local people conduct ceremonies,celebrations and folk events which welcome honored guests. One such unique event is “Pkandekandea”, when foods and cakes are offered to visitors, and traditional dances are performed.
Napabale and Motonunu lakes
Napabale lake is at the foot of a hill, connected to the sea via a natural tunnel. At low tide swimmers can traverse this span of water for a most unusual experience. However it is unadvisable and dangerous to attemp this feat during high tide, as the water rises to half meter from the roof of the tunnel.
Motonunu lake is known for its clean, clear, dark blue water. Though it is connected to the sea, its water remains fresh and not salty. Both lakes are 15km from Raha, the capital of Muna Regency, on Muna island. The are accessible, by sailboat, from Raha in only 45 minutes.
Batu Gong beach and Toli-Toli hill
Batu Gong beach is an off-shore recreational resort along 3Km of white sandy beach.
At the edge of the beach are large rocks. Whan it is hit, it sounds like a gong. The nice panorama over the sea can be enjoyed from the hill of Toli-Toli. This hill resort is 22 Km from Kendari.
source : www.indonesiasouthafrica.co.za/sewesi.html
June 13th, 2006