Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda islands of Indonesia. The Park belongs in the Komodo Sub-District of Manggarai District in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara.


Komodo National Park was established in 1980. The Park was also declared a World Heritage Site and A Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986.

Komodo National Park includes both land and marine areas: The islands were declared a national park to protect the endangered Komodo dragons and their environment, as well as the biodiversity of the islands. The marine park was established to protect the high diversity of marine life in the waters surrounding the islands, some of the richest on the planet.


The main islands are Komodo Island, Padar, Rinca, Gili Mota and Nusa Kode but there are many smaller islands included as well.

Komodo National Park covers 1,817 square kilometers. The islands of Komodo National Park total over 603 square kilometers (60,300 ha) and the marine waters total 1,214 square kilometers (121,400 ha).


Komodo National Park lies in the heart of “Wallacea”. The Wallacea region resulted from two continents colliding together to form a unique set of volcanic islands that contain a mixture of both Australian and Asian birds and animals.

West Komodo was probably the first to form from volcanic activity in the Jurrasic era about 130 to134 million years ago. East Komodo, along with Padar and Rinca, are younger and probably emerged in the Eocene era about 49 million years ago.

Most of Komodo island is made of masses of volcanic rock flanked by sandstone, and conglomerates of limestone, sandy shale, and clay. Eastern Komodo island, Padar and
Rinca are mainly very steep hills of limestone from fossilized coral.


Rinca and several other small islands in the Park contain red-yellow Mediterranean soil. This type of soil is vulnerable to erosion especially after rains as frequent fires expose loose soil during the dry season. Komodo and Padar as well as some of the smaller islands in the Park contain grayish-brown complex soil. This soil is a made up of several types of soil, which are also vulnerable to erosion.

The highest point in Komodo is Gunung Satalibo at 735 meters above sea level.

There are no active volcanoes in the Park although the islands are located in one of the world's most active volcanic belts. Tremors from the volcanic belt are common. The closest active volcano is Gili Banta just 10 km west of Komodo Island. Gili Banta is a submarine volcano that last erupted in 1957. Gunung Sangeang Api located northwest of Komodo Island last erupted in 1996 and is still venting from the northern peak.

In general, rivers and streams appear during the rainy season and disappear during the dry season. However, fairly extensive water sources can be found on Gunung Ara and Gunung Satalibo on Komodo and on Doro Ora in Rinca. Waterflow is dependent upon the dense forest cover in these areas. These water sources provide limited fresh water via springs and pools throughout the year on Komodo and Rinca, but the quality and size of these springs vary greatly.

[source: KOMODO NATIONAL PARK official site]

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Sangiran Site

One of the internationally interesting tourist place in Sragen is sangiran Site which is built in the Sangiran Dome. The Dome itself is located in the Depression of Solo in the northwest slope of mount Lawu (about 17 kilometers from Solo). The area is about 56 square kilometers which streches in three districts in Sragen Regency, namely Gemolong, Kalijambe, and Plupuh and one district in Karanganyar Regency, namely Gondangrejo. Sangiran become the most important site for the development of knowledge, such as for anthropology, and tourism as well.

Up to now, there have been fifty kinds of Hominid Fossils discovered in Sangiran. It is 65% of the discoveries of hominid fossils in Indonesia of 50% of dicoveries in the world! The total numbers of fossils discovered in Sangiran are approximately 13,809 pieces which 2,934 of them are presented in the display room and the rest 10,975 pieces are kept in the storage room. Based on the fossils discoveries, Sangiran Site become the most important pre-historic human civilization site. It is the right place to study human evoolution. The site is also the most comprehensive one in the world. Therefore, Sangiran Site is categorized as Cultural World Heritage number 593 by UNESCO on December 5, 1996 in Merida, Mexico.

The research in Sangiran was firstly conducted by German paleonthologist named G.H.R Von Koenigswald in 1930's. He trained Sangiran people how to identify and manage the fossils professionally. The research results, then, was collected in Totomarsono's house (the head of Krikilan village) until 1975. At that time, there were many visitors who came to this place and an idea to built on the 1,000 square meters area located beside the village hall of Krikilan (Balai Desa Krikilan). A new representative museum was built in 1980 to keep the discovered fossils and to give a good service to the visitors. The museum was built on 16,675 square meters area with 750 square meters main building.

[source: Sangiran brochure]

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Kuta Bali

Kuta in addition to being the Sunset Site Number One, with its daily spectacular sunsets, it is also the centre of night life activities in Southern Bali and a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants line up the streets as well as the Bachfront,Hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive homestay to a luxurious resort, will ready accomodate you.

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The beach of Kuta is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport’s runway, which gives you a breathtaking landing experience. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, waves will invite you to test your surfing

Kuta is very short drive away from the airport, and transportation is readily available to take you from and to Kuta to and from anywhere else in Bali.

[Source: indo dot com]

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Parangtritis Beach

One of the most interesting places in Central Java, the beach named Parangtritis and also called Pantai Paris (Paris Beach) by local people. It is the local legend that has demanded the beach of Parangtritis like the location of the palace of Kanjeng Ratu Kidul, the rule of the invisible world of the southern ocean. Cost what the truth costs, the beach of Parangtritis is one of sites of the tourism that you must visit. Which is more, in the complex, is interesting object of the tourism, that is to say: Beach of Parangwedang, Parangkusumo, mountain of Gambirowati, cave of Langse, and burial of Syeh Belu-Belu.

It is located near 27 kilometers of Yogyakarta, Parangtritis can be reached of two ways, through the village of Kretek or a longest but established way more through the village of Imogiri and Siluk. Also there is another alternative route: Yogyakarta - Imogiri - Siluk - Parangtritis. This is 10 km longer than the common route. It offers, however, interesting sight, like a combination scene of rivers and coral reef hills.

The beach of Parangtritis is a charming beach with many phenomena of impression, naturally and supra naturally. The waves regularly bring in new wood and the land bamboo, washing themselves of another next beach probably. A little wood is chosen and cleared by locals that will be used for their own house. Parangtritis is a beach that inclines that it enchants combined with rocky hills, dunes, and a white sandy beach. In addition to being famous like recreacional point. Parangtritis is also a sacred place. Much people come to the beach to make the meditation. Until now, this area he is remaining worked as the place to make the traditional ceremony called labuhan. Many hotels and restaurants are available for the lovers of sunbathe.
Swimming throughout the coast is not allowed because it is waves is not too friendly. Not preocuparte, nevertheless, you can mount a horse or mount in a car of the horse that enjoys the water and horizon and putting of the sun and dunes and everything of sand that you wish a. Throughout the coast there are many shutdowns that offer fresh coconuts, young (that costs IDR 5000 by each one).

Not only the waves and the swishing wind that will satisfy you desire of relaxing, but the natural and supra natural tourism objects around Parangtritis beach will give you other satisfaction.

Gumbirowati Highland - Going along the Parangtritis road on the way to the Langse cave you can reach this place. Just from this highland, you may get pleasure from the beautiful horizon of Parangtritis beach. The Gapit Hill is another place around this highland, a spot for taking off of ones in gantole.

The Langse Cave - The Langse cave is located on the foot of Parangtritis slope. It is well known place for meditation more than similar places in this area, such as the Tapan cave, the Beji spring, and the Siluman cave. In his books, Dr. Hermanus Johannes de Graaf, a Dutch scientist specializing in Javanese review, states that the Langse cave is Kanjeng Ratu Kidul's cave where Mataram's kings often visit. Once, purportedly, Syekh Siti Jenar and Sunan Kalijaga meditated there.
Coming from the Parangtritis beach you have to go for about 3 km to the east. Don't be frightened when you are on the edge of an almost vertical slope of 400 m in height. It is a wonderful challenge. The path to the location is a combination of stairs (4 separated ones), roots, and stones.
Entering to the cave, you may take a bath in one of the rooms with the so cold water from the cave spring. It contains high level of calcium, which is good for eliminating fatigue. After bathing, you are welcome for meditating. The silence in the cave will help you concentrate. The splashing wave of the south ocean is the only sound you hear there.

Syeh Belu-Belu's funeral - This especially sacred funeral is located on a fishing hill. In particular days, there are various people making devotional visit there, especially on one night before Friday and Tuesday in Kliwon day (one of 5 Javanese days regarded as the most mystic day).

Gumuk (the only sand dunes in South East of Asia) - There is spreading sand dunes named gumuk. The gumuk in this area is a rare phenomenon in the humid tropical area; even it is the only one in the South East of Asia area. The other places with similar sand dunes are the Arabic Saudi and the Gobi desert (China).
The gumuk is a natural laboratory formed through thousands years. There are some rare gumuk shape types in Parangkusumo, namely barchans, parabolic, comb, and longitudinal dunes. Nowadays, the types are not as complete as before, but the barchans and longitudinal ones.

Parangwedang - Parangwedang is a hot spring that is rich of mineral (the mostly elements are Na, Cl, and Mg). Uniquely, the sulfur element, the most common content of spring, is not found there.

Attention: It is suggested that visitors should not be in green in Parangtritis beach to give respect to the local inhabitants belief. They are afraid of calamity befalling ones who are wearing green clothes.

Parangtritis' photos:
Peoples are enjoying the swishing wind...
A horse car...
Waiting for sunset...
Sunset at Parangtritis... Such as beautiful place is it?

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Ngobaran Beach

After went to Ngrenehan Beach and enjoyed the grilled fish, it wasn't complete if you didn't visit the next beach, Ngobaran Beach, that is located adjacent to it. The location of the beach with high cliff is around two kilometers from Ngrenehan Beach. It is not far, isn't it? Local people of Ngrenehan Beach even talk and visit Ngobaran Beach, why don't you?
Ngobaran is such an exotic beach. When sea water falls, you can see spread of both green and brown seaweed. Being looked from the top, the spread of the algae growing in between coral reef looks like spread of rice field in a densely populated area. Tens of sea animal species also present in between the coral reef, ranging from sea urchin, starfish, to various types of cockle shells.
What you will not find in other beaches is the cultural enchantment, ranging from the building to the local food. One interesting place is four praying places that stand side by side. Is it form of multiculturalism? Who knows.
The most prominent one is a building that looks like a temple with ornaments of god statues in white color. The building was built in 2003 to commemorate the arrival of Brawijaya V, one of Majapahit's king, in Ngobaran. The people who use the place are of Kejawan belief. The name 'Kejawan' originates from the nickname of Brawijaya V's son, namely Bondhan Kejawan. The person who built the building acknowledge to be the descendant of Brawijaya V and appointed one person in the community to keep this place.
Walking to the left side of the praying place, you will see Javanese building, Joglo, which is used by followers of Kejawen belief to say their prayer. The people tell that Kejawan belief is different from Kejawen one. However, they cannot pinpoint the differences.
If you continue your way in front of the joglo, you fill see a stone box with dry plant on it. The plant is confined with grey wood fence. The point where the dry plant grows was the place where Brawijaya V pretended to burn himself. He took this step because he was not willing to fight his son, Raden Patah (the first King of Demak).
The truth of this story about Brawijaya V is doubted by many historians. The reason is, if Raden Patah attacked Brawijaya V, it will give an image that Islam was spread in a violent way. Many historians suggest that the existing historical evidences do not sufficiently conclude that Raden Patah made an attack. You may search any information for further assurance about it.
Some meters of the box where the dry plant grows there is a temple for Hindu people to say prayer. No detail information of its foundation.
In front of the dry plant grows, there is a mosque with the size of around 3x4 meters. The mosque building is quite simple since the floor is of sands as if it unites with the beach. What is unique is its direction. Most of the mosques in Indonesia face westwards, but this mosque faces southwards. The front part where the religious leader leads the prayer is open so that it directly sees the ocean. But no one knows the reason, they even get surprised because the founder of the mosque is a well known kyai of Nahdatul Ulama who lived in Panggang, Gunung Kidul. For correct direction for those who want to pray in the mosque, local people make a sign on the wall using red pencil.
After being astonished with the religious site, you can get down to the beach. When you come early in the morning, you will see people take seaweed. They sell the seaweed at 1,000 to 1,500 Rupiah per kilogram. They use the earnings for their daily lives.
If you come in the afternoon, however, you will see people searching for sea urchin for their side dish at their dinner. The spines of the sea urchin must be cut first then it is pried using a sickle. The meat inside of the sea urchin is then taken out. When searching for the sea urchin, people usually bring bucket, coconut sieve, sickle, and hat to prevent them from the sun.The ingredients to cook sea urchin are salt and chilli. It is then fried. Not many people sell this menu. They say that the meat is quite delicious. If you really want to have a try, please ask them to cook specially for you. Maybe you have special recipe to cook sea urchin so that it can be served as favourite cuisine and increase society welfare.

[source: yogyes.com]

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Ngrenehan Beach

After showing Baron-Kukup-Sepanjang-Drini-Sundak-Krakal beach junction, now we go to a little westside from Baron Beach. You can see from the map

you will get the beach named Ngrenehan. It's hard to read that name, are you got that problem too? :-) Huh... Forget it, it doesn't matter... It's doesn't mean we can not go there...
Ngrenehan beach is located at Kanigoro village, Saptosari sub district, abput 30 km at the south of Wonosari city. This beach is gulf that guarded by limestone hill and amazing panorama with the sea waves struck white sand. Visitor's could see the fisherman's activities and get various fried/ grill fishes as souvenirs. In this area about 1 km west of this beach there are Ngobaran and Nguyahan beaches. Every month when the moon is full, Hindu people do Melasty ceremony at Ngobaran beach.
In Ngrenehan Beach visitor's could see the fisherman's activities and get various fried/grill fishes as souvenirs. Have a nice tour...

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The Old Kuta Beach

One of the beautiful beach in Yogyakarta, Sepanjang Beach is also called The Old Kuta Beach. Because you can feel the old Kuta's look like in past time. Sepanjang has long coastal lines, clean sand, and medium waves. It's lies some kilometres from Kukup and Sundak Beach, and it is one of newly opened beaches. The name 'Sepanjang' which means 'long' derives from the characteristic of the beach that has the longest coastal lines of all beaches in Gunung Kidul. The atmosphere of this beach is so natural. The seaside is decorated with palm trees and huts roofed with dry leaves. The coral reef in the rise and fall of tides area is kept well. The dashes of waves reflect blue color signaling uncontaminated seawater. With such a situation, it is not false if the local government and investors plan to make this beach as the second Kuta Beach. We can just choose: suns bathing under the bright sun, surfing, or just enjoy the beach beauty. We can enjoy all the things when we come to that beach.

Such as situation makes the local goverment and investors try to make this beach to became as second Kuta Beach! The natural atmosphere make this beach superior to Kuta Beach, but Sepanjang beach wasn't offer such as cafe, pub, or luxurious cottages, it keep you close to nature. Such as you can dig otu coral reefs to get mollusks and starfishes. You can also put out seaweed from the corals. But you must be careful for not to stick the sea urchin's spines. Such as another fun which you can find out on the Kuta Beach, do you think so?

Look at the back of the beach, you will see two hills one which valley where local people plant corn as their main food. The top of that hill has bought by investors to built some villa or motel in order that visitors can stay.

Seagrass Chopper

Map

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Krakal Beach, Yogyakarta

After visiting Baron, Kukup, or Drini Beach, you should go to the next beach, about 6 kilometers from Kukup beach, you will find the Krakal beach, one of the interesting places in Yogyakarta. Krakal is a white sand beach stretch along 5 kilometers. This is longest beach of the junction is located in Ngestirejo village, Tanjungsari district, about 3 km away in the east of Baron-Kukup-Sepanjang-Drini beach junction, has scratching white hill with blue slopes gently to the sea. The beauty of green lime-scratching hill with blue seawater offers a perfect harmony, which is very natural and ideal for sun bathing. Krakal beach mostly is a white sandy beach in Yogyakarta area. There's a development now because of its beautiful panorama of the southern sea. It should be careful here because it has big wave and the texture of the beach which are rocks meet the sands.

This is Krakal Beach.

Among all the beaches that stretch along Java beaches, Krakal with its white sandy beach surrounded with mountainous rocky hills is the most beautiful one. Krakal is close to Kukup beach and Baron cove. This cove is in fact an estuary of an underground river that comes up exactly at the waterfront. It is interesting to observe the combination of the beach and the cove from the protruding rocky hills that flank the caves on both sides.

Here are my photos:

I visited the beachs start from Baron to another just in a day, from morning untill sunset! Awesome...

This is photo taken from Baron Beach.

There are some big coral rock in Krakal Beach.

Krakal's big wave.

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Drini Beach - Yogyakarta

Drini Beach or Pantai Drini is an Interesting Places in Yogyakarta same as Baron Beach and Kukup Beach. Drini beach which reside in Ngestirejo village, Tanjungsari sub area, about 1 km away in the east of Sepanjang Beach. What's special? The special of this beach is the coral island with Drini trees on it. As is said, poisonous snakes avoid the wood of this Drini trees. So, maybe you should not expect to see snake if you have been there... :p

From this photo, you can see and feel a quiet atmosphere, i mean this beach is quite than Baron, there are no beachcomber like Baron Beach. But there are still people there to take a photos and relaxing. So, if you want to relax in a place that have open sea, Drini Beach is a good choice i think.

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KUKUP BEACH - JOGJAKARTA

KUKUP BEACH

Another INTERESTING PLACE is Kukup Beach, or call it Pantai Kukup in Indonesia. Kukup Beach is a white sandy beach located in Kemadang village, Tanjungsari district, about 1 km away in the east of Baron beach. So you can ride a bike to reach Baron from there. It has a pathway trough the hill up to Baron beach and also a coral island, which is connected by a senggol bridge. Kukup Beach, grey black sand dunes, treacherous ocean currents and jagged rocks. This beach is located near Baron Beach, only 1 km east! So you should see two of them.

Here are some photos that was taken by my phone's camera:

There are also fishes for sale...

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BARON BEACH - YOGYAKARTA

It's a nice place, beautiful beach with beautiful billow. One of an interesting place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In Baron Beach there is a mouth of Underground River that can be used for bathing after playing in the beach.

Baron beach lies in Kemandang Village, Tanjungsari sub district about 23 km in the South of Wonosari city. Baron beach is the first beach that would be found in the junction of Baron, Kukup, Sepanjang, Drini, Krakal and Sundak beaches area.
In Baron beach there is a mouth of Underground River that can be used for bathing after playing in the beach. The visitors can also enjoy various kinds of low prices seafood or fresh fish and Baron's special menu namely Kakap fish soup. There is limestone hill on can reach the place by passing through a path. Visitors could have a magnificent view of the beach, about 10 kilometers in the West of Baron beach there are Parang Racuk hill with mountain slopes, it challenge you to do some adventures.
Every syuro month (the first month of Javanese calendar), the fisherman societies organize Labuhan, sea offering ceremony, to express their gratitude to the God for the abundant fish harvest and for the welfare in fishing).

Here are some photos which was taken from my vacation...

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Keraton Yogyakarta

Keraton Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta have many nice place to go, there are too many beautiful beachs, amazing temples, culture arts areas, unique crafts, and many nice places. But in this post, i will introducing you by satarting from the central of Yogyakarta. In the center of Yogyakarta city, had be constructed the steady castle, the King Palace! It was named Keraton.

The palace court with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture. It is located in the center of the city of Yogyakarta or just called Yogya as the local people call it. Keraton means a place where the Ratu-king lives, other word is Kedaton, with the same meaning. In the Javanese teachings, it has a deep philosophical meaning.
The architect designer of this palace was Sultan Hamengkubuwono I himself, who was also the founder of the kingdom of NGAYOGYAKARTA HADININGRAT. His skill in architecture was appreciated by the dutch scientist - DR. Pigeund and DR. Adam who adored him as " the architect of his brother-Pakubuwono II of Surakarta".
The first king moved to his huge and magnificent Keraton on October 7, 1756. Although there are some European style of some parts of the building, structurally this is the vivid example of Javanese palace architecture.
The 14.000 sq. m of the Keraton Yogya has deep philosophical meaning with all its building, courts, carving, trees, and location. This is a Keraton full of significant symbols of human life.
Usually visitors are coming from MALIOBORO STREET, southward through the Alun-alun (north square). In order to understand perfectly well the symbolic meaning of the Keraton, one should walk from south to north. Start from Krapyak, a village of about 3 km south of Keraton.

The visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the keraton in former times by visiting the life-size diorama of wedding ceremonies on the palace meeting hall, performed by puppets, which are intentionally arranged to create such an atmosphere. Sets of Javanese musical instruments, antiques and heirlooms have made the palace of Yogyakarta worth to visit. Many sets of gamelan music instruments, antiques, and heirlooms make the palace of Yogyakarta the most interesting tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. The palace of Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the family.

Inside the Keraton, there is a museum dedicated to the late Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, the father of the present Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX was a famous political figure and leader in Indonesia. His support and contribution for the Republic of Indonesia to gain independence are sincerely respected and recognized by almost every citizen.
Yogyakarta was temporary capital of Indonesia (1946-1949) and by law is granted the status of special region equals to province. The museum exhibit gilt copies of sacred Pusaka (the heirlooms), gifts from foreign monarchs, gamelan, royal carriages and some photos of the royal families and family tree.
There is a special pavillion dedicated to the active participation of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX for the struggle of Indonesia's independence. Besides his position as a traditional leader as the Sultan of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, he was also appointed as the Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region for life by the President of RI.
The Present Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region The present Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, has been inaugurated in October 3, 1998 as the Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region upon request by the people of Yogyakarta. It is a sign of appreciation for his dedication to the people and the country. In the recently difficult period, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, has emerged as one of the national trustworthy leaders for peaceful reformation.

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