Bandung - City of Tourism

North Bandung

Bandung, the capital of West Java province, located about 180 kilometres (110 mi) southeast of Jakarta, is the third largest city in Indonesia. Its elevation is 768 metres (2,520 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by up to 2,400 m (7,874 ft) high Late Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic terrain. The 400 km² flat of central Bandung plain is situated in the middle of 2,340.88 km² wide of the Bandung Basin; the basin comprises Bandung, the Cimahi city, part of Bandung Regency, part of West Bandung Regency, and part of Sumedang Regency. The basin's main river is the Citarum; one of its branches, the Cikapundung, divides Bandung from north to south before it merges with Citarum again in Dayeuhkolot. The Bandung Basin is an important source of water for drinking water, irrigation and fisheries, and its 6,147 million m³ of groundwater is a major reservoir for the city.

Paku Haji, West Bandung

The northern part of the city is hillier than the rest; the distinguished truncated flat-peak shape of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (Tangkuban Perahu literally means 'up-turned boat') can be seen from the city to the north. Long-term volcanic activity has created fertile andisol soil in the north, suitable for intensive rice, fruit, tea, tobacco and coffee plantations. In the south and east, alluvial soils deposited by the Cikapundung river are mostly found.

CIC Parongpong

Geological data shows that the Bandung Basin is located on an ancient volcano, known as Mount Sunda, erected up to 3,000–4,000 metres (9,850–13,100 ft) during the Pleistocene age. Two large-scale eruptions took place; the first formed the basin and the other (est. 55,000 Before Present) blocked the Citarum river, turning the basin into a lake known as "the Great Lake of Bandung". The lake drained away; the reason for which is the subject of ongoing debate among geologists.

Tangkuban Parahu Mount

Bandung has served for popular weekend-break destination for people living in Jakarta. The cooler climate of highland plantation area, the varieties of food, the cheaper fashion shops located in factory outlets and distros, golf courses, and a zoo are some of the attractions of the city. Bandung is also a popular shopping destination for its good value textile and fashion products among Malaysians and Singaporeans.

In the 1990s, local designers opened denim clothing stores along Cihampelas Street which transformed into a "jeans street". The city attracts people from other big cities to buy local fashion wears, as they are cheaper than branded items. Beside at Cihampelas Street, many factory outlets also opened at Riau Street, Setiabudi Street, and Djuanda Street (known as Dago). Textile factories on the outskirts of Bandung have opened factory outlets on site selling what is marketed as sisa export (rejected or over-produced export quality items). Bandung Supermal, Bandung Indah Plaza, Ciwalk acronims of Cihampelas Walk and Paris van Java are famous shopping centres in Bandung.

In Bandung Supermal area is being built Trans Studio Bandung with 4.2 hectares indoor area. One of rider, launch coaster is one of three in the world (the other two in US). At the same area also will be built 3 stars and 6 stars (first in Bandung) hotels.

Significant tourist sites nearby to Bandung include the Tangkuban Prahu volcano crater to the north, the striking Kawah Putih volcano lake and Patenggang Lake, a lake surrounded by tea-plantation about 50 km to the south.

 Kawah Putih, South Bandung

Backpacker to Bali

Bali is an island in Indonesia, located between Java to the west and Lombok to the east.

The island of Bali is a popular tourist destination for both backpackers and people looking for a relaxing vacation. With accommodation ranging from budget homestays to luxury hotels and boutique resorts, Bali caters for travellers on any budget. Since it is relatively close to Perth in Australia, Bali remains a popular spot for Aussies from the Land Down Under.

Bali has miles of beaches on which to soak up the sun’s rays, from long sandy ones in Kuta and Seminyak, to sheltered coves with coral reefs in Uluwatu, to paradise white beaches in Padangbai. But find the time to dust the sand off your feet and venture to the interior of the island, and you’ll find iridescent green rice fields, volcanoes and mountains.

Bali is known for some of the best surf in the world, so it’s not surprising the island attracts surfers from across the globe who come in search of the perfect wave. Whether you’re a beginner looking to stand up on a board for the first time, or an experienced surfer looking to get barrelled on the reef breaks down in the south, Bali has waves every level of surfer.

From story-telling Barong dances to charming temple ceremonies- Bali offers a unique cultural experience. The majority of the Balinese people follow the Hindu religion and this is evident in their everyday practices as well as the many temples scattered across the island. Bali is a very spiritual place, and the artsy town of Ubud is becoming increasingly popular with tourists seeking yoga holidays, spa retreats and traditional healing.

The island is known for its arts and crafts and is a haven for clothing and accessories designers, with a glamorous expat scene. Bali is so very ‘now’ and is becoming increasingly  trendy, with luxury hotels, boutique shops, organic delis and ultra-chic sunset bars. A night out in Bali can range from drinking Bintangs by the beach to wild nights out in chaotic Kuta.

If you’re looking for some cheap Asian food, grab some sate chicken from one of the street stalls or snack on Nasi Goreng in one of the many warungs. Sick of rice? No problem. Bali has numerous international restaurants serving all kinds of food from Italian pasta to Japanese sushi. Oh and be prepared to have the best banana milkshakes of your life.

With a tropical climate, Bali offers warm weather all year round which makes it a great destination for holidaymakers looking for sun, sea and pumping surf. What’s more, the Balinese people are extremely friendly and helpful, making it a great place for backpacking.

Diving in Bali

With its idyllic beaches, welcoming climate and exotic cuisine, it’s no surprise that Bali is such a popular destination for holidaymakers in search of a bit of R and R. However, the island is also popular amongst backpackers thanks to the many activities on offer that can’t really be enjoyed in the British climate: surfing, for example, and diving. With such clear blue seas and such diversity of underwater life, why wouldn’t you want to explore the diving possibilities in Bali?

As surfing is also a popular pastime for people travelling to Bali, aspiring divers would be best advised to avoid touristy areas in the south that see the majority of the surfing trade happen. This means that, as well as experiencing the exoticism on offer when you go diving, you can also explore a more traditional slice of Bali life, visiting areas that remain largely uninfluenced by the tourism industry. The best diving spots can be found around the east and north of the island, or you can take a 45 minute boat ride to the east to discover other dive spots on the islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
You can be as adventurous or as cautious as you like with dive sites on the island, as different areas offer a chance to see different kinds of underwater life. For those divers with a taste for the exotic and the exciting, areas like Tepekong, Gilli Biaha, and Manta Point are frequented by sharks of varying sizes. Manta Point in particular is also home to species of turtles and manta rays, so affords divers some truly unique experiences. On the opposite end of the scale is Secret Bay, located in front of the docking area of the Gilimanuk Harbor. This is a great site for a bit of micro activity, with beautiful varieties of underwater life from Snake Eels to Cockatoo Fish, and Flounders to Sea Hares.
Bali is also home to one of the continent’s most famous diving sites: the Liberty Wreck. Located 30 metres from shore, the Liberty Wreck is the 120 metre long wreckage of a World War II cargo ship, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine out in the Lombok Strait on 11 January 1942. The wreck is home to many species of large fish, reef fish, and eels, and is a popular spot for night diving as it is so close to the shore.
If you’re going to take a diving trip to Bali, be sure to have all eventualities covered by purchasing a good travel insurance plan from a company like Direct Travel Insurance. That way you can dive and explore with peace of mind, and understand what everyone is raving about.

www.balibackpacking.com

Yogyakarta City of Culture

Yogyakarta is the second most important tourist destination in Indonesia after Bali. Most tourists come to Yogyakarta for its strong Javanese culture and tradition. This makes it prominent among other Javanese cities. Along with Surakarta or Solo, a city lying about 64 km to the east, Yogyakarta is the centre of Javanese culture.

 A group of local tourist in front of Borobudur Temple

The area of the city of Yogyakarta is 32.5 km². While the city spreads in all directions from the kraton (the Sultan's palace), the core of the modern city is to the north, centring around Dutch colonial-era buildings and the commercial district. Jalan Malioboro, with rows of pavement vendors and nearby market and malls, is the primary shopping street for tourists in the city, while Jalan Solo, further north, is a shopping district more frequented by locals. At the southern end of Malioboro, on the east side is the large local market of Beringharjo, not far from Fort Vredeburg a restored Dutch fort.

 The Sultan's Palace (Keraton Sultan Yogyakarta)

At Yogyakarta's centre is the kraton, or Sultan's palace. Surrounding the kraton is a densely populated residential neighbourhood that occupies land that was formerly the Sultan's sole domain. Evidence of this former use remains in the form of old walls and the ruined Taman Sari, built in 1758 as a pleasure garden. No longer used by the sultan, the garden had been largely abandoned. For a time, it was used for housing by palace employees and descendants. Reconstruction efforts began in 2004, and an effort to renew the neighbourhood around the kraton has begun. The site is a developing tourist attraction.

Borobudur, the world's largest temple

Yogyakarta is served by Adisucipto International Airport which connects the city with some other major cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Makassar, Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, and Pontianak. It also connects the city with Singapore (operated by Indonesia AirAsia) and Kuala Lumpur (operated by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines).

The city is located on one of the two major railway lines across Java between Jakarta / Bandung and Surabaya. It has two passenger railway stations, Tugu Railway Station which serves business and executive class trains, and Lempuyangan Station which serves economy class trains. Both stations are located in the heart of the city.

 Malioboro street

The city has an extensive system of public city buses, and is a major destination for inter-city buses to elsewhere on Java or Bali, as well as taxis, andongs, and becaks. Motorbikes are by far the most commonly used personal transportation, but an increasing number of residents own automobiles.

 Cheap Hotel, only 7 US $ - 12 US $

Starting from early 2008, the city has operated a bus rapid transit system called Trans Jogja. This system is modeled after TransJakarta. But unlike Trans Jakarta, there is no particular lane for Trans Jogja buses, they run on main streets. Currently there are six lines of Trans Jogja service, with routes throughout main streets of Yogyakarta, which some overlap one another. The lines extend from Jombor bus station in the north as far as Giwangan main bus terminal in the south and Prambanan bus shelter in the east via Adisucipto International Airport. Trans Jogja has now become a new trademark of Yogyakarta and frequently used by local citizens and tourists alike.