Indonesia Traveling Guide

In decades, Bali island has become one of the most famous and popular places that chosen as travel destinations by people all over the globe. The beauty of nature of this island has become a strong attraction that bring tourist all over the world come and visit this place to enjoy a very  nice and fun holiday. A huge number of tourists and visitors coming in to the island has stimulated the growth of a variety of businesses related to the field of tourism.  One of the businesses that are growing so fast is car rental services.

Plenty of Bali rental car agencies emerges from a small individual entrepreneurship to a large scale established company business diversification. All come with many kind and type of services that are packed to win the competition.

Whether you are traveling for leisure or business, rent a car from local car rental can provide the freedom and flexibility to carry all of thing you must done as planned before the trip. But sometimes, using car rental services  is not as easy as we thought. In fact, rent a car when traveling might cause various complications problems that we never imagined before. Here’s some example you might experience : to decide what most appropriate rental fee you should pay, which rental package is the most economical for you , is the car rental  fee  including insurance or not?  You better search and learn as many information about car rental to help you  make a decision. There are many articles and tips about rent a car in internet that you can get for free.  It would be good if you can find  articles or tips about car rental service in the place you’re going to visit.  Let say if you going to visit Bali island in Indonesia, as a popular tourist destination you will find a wide range of car rental provider that offer various services that are different from each other. Car rental services is one of many business fields that is growing very rapidly with a very high competition in Bali since there are hundreds or maybe thousands of tourists enter to  this island every day.

In order to get the best deals of Bali rental car, you better learning and comparing offering from several rental car agencies before make a decision which agency offers the best deal you can get.
To get the best car rental deals in Bali, you do not need to rush to choose the first car rental services you find. Studying and comparing several existing institutions, ranging from the type of car that is registered is available to have, additional facilities they offer, terms and conditions apply, and of course also comparing the rental price of each agency. More carefully you make a comparison service from all agencies that you meet, you will get the best car rental deal value to you.

Using the Bali car rental services, you also need to determine whether you will use the services of a driver or you want to push yourself. These options have a big impact on your activity entirely. Please consider carefully the weaknesses and benefits of each option. Driving yourself, you are free to organize your time and all the trips you make this choice because it usually has no time limit. Problems will arise if you are too tired or get lost in the crowded city you are not familiar with. Conversely, if you use the services of a driver, in addition you can save a lot of energy, you will not get lost in a strange city streets for you. The downside of this option, in addition you have to pay more, you are also limited by the driver working time. It can make you rush and feels like being chased by time.

For anyone that has visited the world famous island of Bali, or even those who haven’t, many of you have likely heard of Jimbaran Beach, one of the favorite spots amongst the multitude of interesting places scattered across the island. Jimbaran beach offers a host of mouth-watering treats and could very well be the center of culinary tourism on the southern coast of Bali. Jimbaran beach is located in the village of Jimbaran within walking distance from the fishing village, Kedonganan.


Located so close to the center of fresh fish and sea food, the coast stretching between Jimbaran and Kedonganan has been established as a hub of restaurants, food stalls and seaside cafés serving a range of fantastically fresh and perfectly prepared seafood dishes, to a backdrop of sloping white sands and gentle rolling waves, and in the distance planes taking off and landing at Bali’s international airport, creating the perfect setting for a romantic evening meal.


Rows of tables and chairs are arranged along the seaside, where visitors can sit, eat and relax to the glow of the setting sun and candle light. The range of dishes served is quite diverse in choice of species, size, style of cooking and of course, taste. Fish, squid, lobster, crab, scallops and shrimp either baked, boiled, fried, sautéed, or steamed are just some of the options on the menu, and many restaurants offer a blend of Balinese and international flavors. Not a big fan of seafood? Not to fear. You can still enjoy the breezy beach atmosphere, and have a taste of the non-seafood dishes offered by many of the waterfront eateries.


Needless to say, Jimbaran beach is most popular, and extremely crowded in the evenings, where the dinner hour coincides with the Sun’s slow and spectacular journey westward – a bonus that can be enjoyed for free. Live music performances along the shore also add to the ambience of the sea breeze, fresh food and setting sun.

Aside from the range of restaurants and cafes along the beach, a variety of other facilities are also available. Done eating? Or at the beach before sunset? Hire a boat for a cruise around Jimbaran. Want to try more adventurous activities? Surfing and parasailing equipment are available for rent. Take a stroll down the beach, or just lounge in the sand. Whatever you need, there’s something for everyone.


There are several hotels located in the area as well if you like Jimbaran so much, you want to spend your entire holiday there. Five-star hotels and international class resorts, spas and villas as well as more simple lodgings are found along the road to Jimbaran Beach. Events are often held at the hotels, adding to the festive atmosphere of the beach at night.


Jimbaran Beach is about a 30 minute drive from Denpasar, the capital of Bali, 20 minutes from Nusa Dua, or about 10 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The island-clustered lagoon that promises panoramic views is best explored by snorkeling or simply walking along the coasts of clean, white sandy beaches.

Pari Island is not very large. Exploration may take about an hour or so. The road on the island is a neat and clean blend of rock and sand blocks. To get around, rent a bicycle from a vendor on the roadside for just  Rp.15,000 per hour  or Rp30.000  for the day.

Pari Island’s main beach might not be flattering. But try the “Virgin Beach” (Pantai Pasir Perawan) for the sunrise and water fun.

BBQ on the beach on a breezy night is unforgettable. Other water activities you will want to schedule are : Snorkeling, playing on the long sandy beach, fishing, sightseeing by bicycle, see crab and coral rehabilitation, and seaweed cultivation.

There are regulations that prohibit garbage entering the island from outside. Visitors to Pari Island are required to take with them any garbage accumulated during their visit here!

There are no hotels or resorts available. The homes of the island residents (homestay) is the only option here. You may contact Mr Salbi to arrange for lodging on this island. (081315294317).

Catch an International Flight to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport  from any city around the world.

From Jakarta to Pari Island in the Thousand Islands Archipelago, there are 3 ports of departure by sea to choose from :

The shortest boat ride is from Muara Saban Cituis Port, Tangerang, with a travel time of approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours.

The longest boat ride is from Muara Angke Port by a wooden fishing boat with a capacity of 100 to 120 people, and takes about 1 ½ or 2 hours of travel. A Return Ticket costs about Rp. 60,000 to 70.000, -  Be there by 6:00a.m. to catch the first boat.The address: Muara Angke Port, Mandala Bahari Street, Pluit, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

There are only 2 departures from Marina Jaya,  Ancol - at  08.00am and 12 noon. And returns at 14.00pm from Pari island. Sea Leader Marine Luxury Yacht charter provides rental in the Thousand Islands’ Marine National Park. Contact his office at Marina Pier, Ancol. For private charter: 021-6450310  and regular: 021-6450315.

There are several Tour Packages to Pari Island that are available for a time-saving, hassle-free vacation.

Membutuhkan kamera pengintai atau pengawas untuk rumah anda, tidak ada salahnya mempertimbangkan penggunaan kamera CCTV murah karena hanya untuk keperluan personal. 

Festival and Travel Mart 2011 was being held on last week at Raja Ampat Waisai Tercinta Beach (WTC), Raja Ampat, West Papua. This event was Opened with traditional dance and performance on last Thursday. Festival Committee Chairman & Travel Mart 2011 Ferdinand Dimara said that the maritime festival was intended to promote maritime tourism Raja Ampat. Besides bringing the existing tourism operators in Raja Ampat with a number of travel agents.

Raja Ampat, the beauty of the region which is rich with coral and marine life are very well known to the world. Therefore the Raja Ampat could become a major destination of foreign and domestic tourists. Especially diving and underwater tourism lovers. Raja Ampat consists of four large islands, namely Pulau Wageo, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifMisol, Batanta, and Salawati, as well as over 1,000 small islands to save the diversity of flora and fauna is also a cultural tradition.

In the maritime festival, visitors enjoyed package tours, traditional art performance and also some culinary. Meanwhile, according to Head of Culture and Tourism Raja Ampat Yusdi N Lamatenggo, festival was intended to introduce and promote the fascinating of Raja Ampat underwater panorama, also to increase tourist visits from 7,000 people (2010) to 10,000 this year.

There was also a photo contest focusing on underwater and panoramic views of the community life of Raja Ampat. Also, some seminars on nature diving. For more information about Raja Ampat visit this LINK.

Mataram’s new Lombok International Airport, located about 40 kilometers south of West Nusatenggara’s provincial capital, started operating now.

A Garuda Indonesia Airways Boeing 737-800 JR was the first commercial aircraft that landed at the new facility at 10.08 local time on Saturday. The plane landed smoothly on the airport’s runway, witnessed by thousands of people lining the airport’s perimeters.

The plane was carrying 108 people consisting of a group of West Nusa Tenggara government officials including Governor TGH M Zainul Majdi, councilors, as well as ordinary West Nusatenggara residents. They had been previously transported to Jakarta in order to make the flight to Lombok International Airport on the day of its opening.

The arriving people were greeted with a traditional ceremony to mark the new airport’s official opening. In his speech on the occasion Governor Zainul Majdi said, with the opening of the Lombok international airport, the local people’s long wait had finally ended.

"This is the beginning of progress as well as proof that West Nusa Tenggara also can advance and if all parties work hard then nothing is impossible," he added.

Meanwhile, Central Lombok Dsitrict Chief Suhaili FT appreciated all those who had supported the development of the international airport. Suhaili expressed his commitment to ensure the security and stability of the airport’s operations.

"No more doubts about safety. We can assure you. It is a testament that all parties in theis region want progress. Hopefully it is beneficial for all of us," he said. (Kompas.com)

Lombok island located in West Nusa Tenggara is almost head-to-head with its neighbour island, Bali, in competition of attracting foreign and domestic tourists.

Lombok island is one of the most complete tourist destinations with its fantastic natural resources, from Mount Rinjani to exotic and rarely visited beaches including Kuta beach, Aan Cape, as well as the attractive small islets (known as gili). To get more information visit this blog review about Lombok Island.

There are six ways that can be applied by backpackers or non-backpackers to maximize fun of having a vacation in the island.

1. Be well-prepared with itineraries. Spontanities in preparing them sometimes can be more exciting but they are supposed to be the subject to skip if you only have time contraints to have a vacation. Find as much as possible the information of destinations from internet such as accomodations, transportations, distances and durations of visiting one place to the others. Doing them will hinder you from conflict of ideas or spending time on discussing destinations especially if you take the vacation in groups.

One of the sites, www.visitlomboksumbawa.net helps you find the information on festivals usually held in Lombok. As an example, Malena Sapi (cow race) is held this month in West Lombok and Senggigi Festival is held in Batu Layar village, Lobar regency, West Lombok.

2. It takes more money if you have to rent a car compared with taking a public transportation in Lombok such as Bemo (shuttle bus) or Cidomo (horse cart). An 8-hour car rent of Avanza provided with its driver can be charged for local rate at Rp300,000. The service will enable you to reach areas not served by public transportations as bemo or cidomo are rarely found in Mataram and mostly found out of the city.

The car rent also offers a free of charge tour guide service besides a driver. The drivers know very well the tourist attractions mostly visited by tourists or places rarely visited but abundant with spectacular natural resources as they are natives of the local areas. Don't forget to get the fixed rate of the service to prevent you from having arguments when paying the bill after using the service.

3. Extra cash needed. No charges for entering handicraft centers in Banyumulek Village, Sasak tribe traditional village, Sade village, and Lingsar castle. However, there will be boxes of donation placed at several places that need your volunteer contributions of around Rp5,000-10,000 to help develop local villages.

The amount of money will be needed for volunteer payment of local tour guides that are able to tell you in details of stories and histories on local tourist attractions. That's why it's necessary to prepare small changes of Rp5,000-10,000.

4. Drop by the rarely visited places when taking a trip around Lombok Island as there are many unique places to explore besides common places visited by tourists. Thefore it is necessary to leave as early as 7 in the morning to make sure you have enough time to explore the places. During the time, you can take a view of Sasak farmers planting seeds of paddy in the morning mist. The rising sun shining the greeny paddy fields completes the lovely view.

The moment can be taken by photographers who want to get the scenes of farmers planting paddys, male farmers cultivating fields, as well irregular buyers purchasing dry unhusked rice from farmers. You can take time mingling with locals by greeting and introducing yourself to them. Gradually they will find the comfort to share with you about their daily life and activities as Sasak farmers. If lucky, you will be invited by them to have breakfast on the edge of paddy fields by them.

Stop by the open traditional markets located at road sides. There are days, Mondays and Thursdays, in which all traders from the whole regions of Lombok gather at spots such as Sengkol market, Central Lombok.

5. Be ready with sunblocks. Lombok island is well-known for its exotic beaches lying from West Lombok to South Lombok. Senggigi Beach and three gili lie; Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, lie in West Lombok. While fascinating beaches; Kuta, Tanjung Aan and Mawun beach, lie in South Lombok.

There several kinds of activities that you can do on the beaches such as sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, as well as surfing. Sunblock is compulsory to carry along as scorching sunshine on the beaches can get you sunburn. At least by applying sunblock, you do not have to be bothered thinking about being sunburn and can have more fun doing kinds of activities on the beaches.

6. Be ready to have parties on Gili and Senggigi! Night festivities in the island are minimal, not like the ones in Bali popular with its 24-hour festive life. The center of city looks quiet from sort of activities starting at 10 pm.

However, if you still insist on spending the night life in Lombok, you can head to Senggigi where dozens of cafes, karaoke pubs, as well as seafood restaurants are open till late at night.

Enjoy the beauty of night life if you happen to stay in Gili Trawangan. Tourist will be lured by festivities and music entertainment and they can dance to their hearts' contentment until morning comes.

Indonesia’s cultural diversity is a blessing, Culture and Tourism Resources Development Agency spokesman Pitana said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a public discussion in the framework of National Creative Week at Banyualit Buleleng Hotel in Buleleng district town of Singaraja, Pitana said the cultural diversity in Indonesia was among others in the form of traditional dances, music, art performances, fabric motifs, and handicrafts across the country.

He said the national cultural diversity should continue to be preserved and maintained in the face of various global cultural challenges. According to him, the cultural diversity was the capital to develop a better life because it was a base for the nation’s cultural, tourism, and economic development in a creative way.

Pitana explained that conservation and development of culture and tourism should use the concept of democracy or community empowerment in accordance with the objective of tourism development. He pointed out that in the other parts of the world, creative industry had positive impact on national and regional economy.

In England for example, Pitana said creative industry ranked second as a pillar of the country’s economy from the music, arts, and films. While in Canada, creative industry in 2002 contributed 5.4 percent of gross domestic product and 6 percent against the United State gross domestic product.

Therefore cultural and social observer Made Metra said Indonesia should empower and develop its creative industry as the identity of the nation.

Ambon will organize an International event this year. The World Assembly of Youth will take place from September 23 to September 29, 2011.

About the Island: The small island of Ambon was the centre of Dutch administration in Maluku, and today bustling Ambon city remains the capital of majority Christian southern Maluku province.

The island is made up by two "peninsulas", which are almost separate islands, joined by a narrow isthmus. Leitimur, the smaller, more densly populated half is majority Christian, and is also where Kota Ambon, Maluku's capital is situated.

Leihitu, the larger peninsula is more sparsely populated and has a majority Muslim population. Due to its relative remoteness from Kota Ambon it recieves fewer visitors and has preserved its traditional culture better.

While many visitors only ever see the city itself, they are missing the best of Pulau Ambon. Everyone should visit the beautiful rural parts of the island, and those with a few days to spare should also make an effort to visit the delightful, nearby Lease Islands:

Haruku makes an interesting day-trip, Saparua is the best relaxing getaway for an overnight stay, while tiny, unspoilt Nusalaut is totally off the beaten track. With a week or so extra time, you could also consider visiting the large island of Seram.

If you only pay a short visit in Kota Ambon, here are the sightseeing opportunities in and around Kota Ambon. Choose from any of these must-visit spots:

1.Pattimura Statue (a national hero from Ambon), at Lapangan Merdeka
2.Tugu Dolan at Kudamati
3.Tugu Trikora at Urimesing
4.Franciscus Xaverius (St. Francis Xavier) Statue (a catholic missionary) at Batumeja
5.Rumphius monument at Batu Meja
6.Namalatu Beach at Latuhalat
7.Natsepa Indah Beach at Natsepa
8.Santai Beach at Latuhalat
9.Pintu Kota at Airlow
10.Gong Perdamaian Dunia (World Peace Gong)
11.V.O.C. Bunker at Benteng Atas

Ambon is blessed with many white beaches ideal for skin diving and snorkeling. Experienced divers should try diving off Tanjung Setan (Satan’s Cape) at the far southern tip of Seram.

Don’t miss a visit to the sacred eels at Waai near Tulehu, 24 km. from Ambon. Here the sacred giant eels emerge from underwater caves when their keeper signals and feeds them with chicken eggs. The locals believe that when the eels and carp swim away, a disaster will occur. In 1960 an epidemic struck the area but once offerings were given, the eels returned and the epidemic stopped.

The majestic Lake Singkarak (Danau Singkarak) is Spread over two districts; Solok and Tanah Datar, the lake is a massive 1000 hectares. It is the widest lake in Sumatra and the second biggest lake on the island, after Lake Toba.
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This lake is located with a height of 363.5 meters above sea level (masl). This lake has a water catchment areas along the 1076 kilometers with rainfall up to 252 melimeter 82 per month.

It can not be denied, scenery surrounding natural attractions are so charming. So fantastic. The eyes are not tired of seeing the expanse of clear blue water with small ripples with it.

Lake Singkarak located in two districts in West Sumatra, Kabupaten Solok and Tanah Datar. Location Lake area of 129.70 km2, is also very strategically located on the roadside between Tanah Datar and Solok. Because of its location within easy reach.

In this resort you can do boating activities until the middle of the lake by using a canoe rental. The water was clear and cool, add the beauty of this charming lake nan. The sound of water ripples menghempas lake to the sand on the outskirts, also add to the atmosphere becomes serene. Not far from the lake area there is a resting place Biteh Nuts, precisely that is on the edge of Lake Singkarak.

Lake Singkarak also known as a place that is promising as a regional tourist fishing. Lake Singkarak, and is one of the local government program to promote the tourist attractions of the lake Singkarak.

How to get there: From Padang Minangkabau Airport is just about 1.5 hours-2 hours by public transport. When riding from Padang through the intersection of Solok, you must pass through this lake. And if along the edge of Bukittinggi telaknya only about 36 km from Bukittinggi, will pass the muffled Banjaran mountain on the left side of the road.

Besides the exciting tour, Lake Singkarak also be used as a place of sport such as on land can be used for trekking, jogging, calisthenics. On the lake for swimming sports, fishing, rowing and air sports like paragliding, skydiving, parasailing, paragliding floating in free air with beautiful scenery.

Locally Lake Singkarak is famous for its Bilih fish which is a species of fish that only lives in this lake. This fish is especially unique as it can’t survive anywhere but Lake Singkarak, not even in an aquarium.

The Tickets: Most airlines have special offers almost all the time. These offers are usually valid only for specific destinations and for specific dates (or days of week). If you are flexible on dates, check "what is on sale now", to get the best price! If there is no discount on your desired route and if your dates are flexible, you can wait for 2 to 4 weeks for a promotion on that particular route.

As many passengers prefer to fly on week-ends, week-end tickets sell first. If you don't book your trip well in advance (2-3 months beforehand) you may notice, for example, that Thursday flights are cheaper than Sunday flights. Some low cost carriers have special promotions on the flights during the week.

The cheapest tickets sell first. The policy of lowcost airlines is to sell cheap tickets at first and to gradually increase the price as tickets are bought. Usually, if you buy your ticket 2-3 months in advance, you will probably get the best price.

Secondary airports: Secondary airports (smaller airports or airports that are further away from the city center) usually have lower airport taxes, which translate into lower ticket prices. When comparing the prices of flights that depart from 2 different airports you need to also take into account the price you pay for transportation to and from the airport (shuttle bus, train ticket, gas, etc).

If there is no direct flight on your desired route and you have to change planes in order to reach your destination, you should take into account three very important "details".

First of all, you will have to buy your flight tickets separately, as if they were for two separate journeys. It may therefore happen that the sum you pay for the two flight tickets, especially if you buy them shortly before your flight date, be almost equal to the price you would pay for a direct flight with a regular line. Check and compare prices well before buying!

Moreover, when you arrive at the airport where need to change flights, you must collect your luggage yourself, as if your journey were over. Afterwards, you need to leave the airport security area, check-in for the second flight and go through the security check once again before boarding the second plane. Be extremely careful, as this could sometimes take more than 3 hours!

Last but not least, if your first flight is late, the next one will not wait for you, even if it is operated by the same airline. That is due to the policy of low cost companies which states that flights are independent from one another. Low cost airlines are not responsible for your losing the onward flights, no matter what.

Buy tickets: When you search for flights, some airlines show you the ticket price without taxes (like fuel fee, airport taxes, government taxes). Before choosing a flight, check the full price (inclusive of all taxes) that has to be displayed in one of the following steps (before you enter your card details).

Some low cost carriers offer you travel insurance by default. This insurance covers you for the duration of your flight/trip. If you already have a comprehensive health insurance policy, you are probably covered much better than you would be with the travel insurance offered by the airline. In this case, there is no point buying travel insurance together with the flight ticket.

Lately, some bargain airlines started selling "reserved seats" on the plane. However, the seats are all quite similar and even if you don't reserve a seat when you book your ticket you will still be able to choose your seat when you board the plane or you will be assigned one at the check in desk. So you can easily avoid paying extra money in order to reserve your seat.

All cheap airlines charge customers a payment handling fee, which covers the costs they incur when accepting Credit Card payments. The fee may vary depending on the card circuit (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners, etc) or the card type (Credit Card or Debit Card). Most of the time, if you pay by debit card you will be charged no payment handling fee or you will pay a lower fee than when paying by credit card.

Usually, if you choose the lowest fare you will not be allowed to freely modify you flight details later on (change dates or passenger names, etc). If you think that you might need to do this, you should consider buying a more flexible (but also more expensive) ticket.

As cheap airlines are trying to minimize their costs they usually have a restrictive luggage policy. - You can board the plane with only one piece of hand luggage (usually not heavier than 10kg and with maximum dimensions of 55x40x20cm). For detailed information on hand luggage allowance check the website of the carrier. - If you plan to also take hold baggage with you, you will need to pay for it online (when you book your ticket) or at the airport. Keep in mind that it is cheaper to pay for your checked-in luggage online than at the airport.

Most lowcost airlines now offer passengers the possibility to check in online for their flight. In most cases you can check in online only if you have no hold luggage. However, some airlines do have a special bag-drop desk for passengers who wish to check in online and to take hold luggage with them. By checking in online, you will avoid queuing in order to check-in at the airport (and you will probably also save some money).

Before departure: Low-cost airlines may (rarely) decide to change the departure / arrival airport (to another airport in the same city) or to reschedule flights. You are usually informed of these changes in advance, via e-mail. However, it is recommended that you re-check your flight details a couple of days before departure.

Avoid excess baggage charges by weighing your luggage at home and trying to stay under the weight limit (15 or 25 kilos per checked-in bag, depending on the airline). If you exceed the weight limit, you may be asked to pay 10-15E per extra kilo. If your luggage is overweight and you can't leave anything else at home, it may be a good idea for you to take a hand baggage. But be careful: you need to check the weight limits for your hand luggage too!

Usually, if one low-cost flight is late, it causes all the subsequent flights made with that particular airplane to be delayed. This is due to the fact that low-cost airlines prefer to have short waiting times (between 25 minutes and 2 hours) between flights. So if the flight before yours is late, your flight may even have a 1 or 2-hour delay. You can check the estimated departure/arrival time online, either on the website of the airport (for most airports) or on the website of the airline (for all major airlines).

One of the most important "features" of low cost flights is that the airlines do not offer free food and drinks on the plane. Food and drinks are sold on board, but they are quite expensive. If you travel on a low budget you should take some sandwiches from home. But remember that you cannot carry any liquids in your hand luggage past the security check!

At the airport: Plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Low-cost airlines will not wait for passengers who are late, as regular airlines do. Check-in opens 2 hours before departure and closes strictly 40 minutes before departure.

Many low cost airlines have a free seating policy, which means that you can choose your seat when you board the plane. The seats situated near the emergency exists have more leg room than the others, so if you are tall or have long legs, you will probably prefer to sit there!

Interesting decision has been made today for Komodo National Park participation in the New Seven Wonders of Nature competition. "After this decision is made, the Komodo National Park is no longer part of the campaign of the New Seven Wonders of Nature held by the New 7 Wonders Foundation," said Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

He claimed to be misled by the New 7 Wonders Foundation. Withdrawals made after the New 7 Wonders Foundation has threatened to exclude Komodo National Park from the list of 28 finalists because Indonesia refused to host the declaration of the winner of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

To host the New 7 Wonders Foundation, it requires Indonesia to pay 10 million U.S. dollars, or about USD 85.4 billion for the license only. Kembudpar also has to prepare another USD 35 million or equal to IDR 298.7 billion for the cost of organizing the event in Indonesia.

"Since we have not signed anything yet, and after taking consideration about the investment cost, we have decided to retreat, "Jero said. To learn more about Komodo National Park and the beauty of its nature, please visit the bolded link in this paragraph.

One of the surfers' paradiso and also best surf spot in Indonesia is Lakey Beach, located in Huu District, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara. Lakey Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia where the Lakey’s wave peak that so famous to foreign countries.

This beach is known for its excellence and consistency of the waves to become the world’s best surfing locations. Lakey Beach is also known for having the most complete types of waves than the other beaches in the world.

At Lakey Beach, surfers embrace many types of wave:

Nangas is a type of flat-shaped waves.
Lakey Peak is the first wave peaked and then leveled off
Pipe is a wave that looks like a pipe, a type of waves that can also be found in Hawaii.
Periscope is a type of wave that resembles a pair of binoculars so that when they bend over the waves, surfers as there are in the binoculars.

One amazing thing surgers love about Lakey Beach is the wave can move in both directions, left and right. Technically, the Lakey waves was considered safe for surfing sports, because in normal conditions the wave height between 1.5 to 3 meters and a depth of 4 meters of the beach, And with waves sound about 150 feet from tidal water.

Lakey Beach has become one of the leading tourist attraction with many facilities have been provided. Welcome to Lakey Beach Sumbawa!

West Nusa Tenggara or NTB province near Bali Island will soon see the completion of its Lombok International Airport that can also accommodate Air Bus 330 or Boeing 767 aircraft.

Lombok International Airport (BIL), located in Tanah Awu, Pujut sub-district, Central Lombok district, is about 40 kilometers south of the old Mataram Selaparang Airport.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to inaugurate the Lombok International Airport on October 1 this year.

The BIL worth 945.8 billion rupiah has a passenger terminal measuring 21 thousand square meters or four times wider than that of Selaparang Mataram Airport which is only 4,796 square meters. One US dollar is about 9,000 rupiah.

The BIL’s passenger accommodating capacity is three million passengers a year with a parking area of 17,500 square meters, while Selaparang airport’s parking lot is only 7,334 square meters.

In addition, the BIL has a runway of 2,750 meters x 40 meters square, so it can accommodate ten Air Bus 330 or Boeing 767 air planes.

We have to plan our trip before traveling, this is to ensure that we are going to have not only a pleasant trip but the most efficient trip that we could have. Today, we have so many low cost carriers/airlines with special offers almost all the time. Special offers always come with specific terms and conditions, and apply only for specific destinations and for specific dates. Those offers benefit most to those who are flexible on dates, because they can get the best price.

To get the lowest fare, it is highly recommended to book as earliest as possible and that is when the airlines launch the promotion. The lowest fare seats are always limited, so be hurry. By booking earlier, the chance to get the lowest rate on your traveling date is still high. Most of the lowest fare seats are available during weekdays (but not for the weekend). Low cost carrier doesn’t provide free meal during the travel; you can only bring limited baggage for the check-in baggage. They also set certain weight limit for hand luggage and hold baggage that is the baggage you bring on board. To avoid any excess baggage always bring with you luggage scales.

In some countries, you will arrive in the secondary airports, they usually smaller and are further away. You always need to pay more attention to your own baggage, particularly for the check-in baggage, always lock them! Today, there are many choices of lock, one worth to mention here is the tsa locks. One thing that can be mislead when purchasing low cost carrier is the fare, most promotion fares are before taxes (fuel fee, airport taxes and government taxes), so always check the full price, and this can be easily done at the website. Always plan your travel, and have a pleasant flight!

Prepare to be amazed by the virginal beaches of Lombok, meet with a magnificent mountainous landscape; a blend of man-made and natural beauty awaits you.

Because of the lack of development on the island, the majority of the sights here are natural marvels, The Gili islands offer a taste of isolated tropical living, where horse-drawn carts provide an ecologically and friendly alternative to motorbikes and cars.

The main visual attraction of Lombok is Mount Rinjani, an active volcano that towers over the island's fertile plains.

Attractive villages creating complicated crafts with handicraft methods passed down by generations; pepper the island, while the main form of architecture can be found in the temples and mosques that serve the two religions on the island - Islam and Hinduism.
Places to visit around Lombok Island:

Gili Islands

One of the most gorgeous tourist destinations is the Gili islands. Gili means ‘Small Island’, this cluster of three islands has escaped the trappings of modern life, with their undeveloped, perfect sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation.

Gili Trawangan is the most developed, Gili Meno the smallest and quietest, while Gili Air is the closest to the mainland with the largest population. Each island offers pretty much the same in the way of activities; world class surfing, diving and snorkeling and some tropical island lounging.

To access the islands, you can catch one of the regular shuttle boats.

Komodo Island

Komodo Island is located between Sumbawa and Flores, the Komodo Island is quite barren – a fact which makes the giant lizard, stand out all the more. These monitor lizards are indigenous to the region and grow up to three metres long, the world's largest living lizard.

Feeding on goats and deer, the people live in the fishing villages supplement their income by breeding goats for tourists to feed the lizards, an interesting experience to say the least. The nature reserve is easiest reached by ferry from Flores.

Kuta Beach

Besides Bali’s Kuta Beach, this is Lombok's Kuta Beach, a very own surfer's paradise with virginal white sand and turquoise waters, fringed by a hilly terrain.

The best-known place on the south coast, relatively lively and atmospheric; the area is one held in deep affection by its returning visitors and instantly wins over the hearts of the first-timers.

To get there, you need a 90-minute drive from Senggigi, Kuta is a great daytrip opportunity, one that should be enjoyed by all visitors.

Mount Rinjani Trekking and Eco Adventure

The second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia, it is part of the ‘Ring of fire’ and is considered a sacred place on Lombok. Please check the status of the volcano before visiting.

The chance to visit a volcano is always one that should not be missed. The highlands near the volcano are undeveloped and forested, while the lowlands are highly cultivated with fertile soil where rice, tobacco, cotton and soya beans are produced.

Protected by National Park status, visitors can attempt the three-day Rinjani Trek route from Senaru to the crater rim (Plawangan), down to the stunning crater lake then on to Sembalun Lawang. The track is considered as one of the best and most challenging treks in Southeast Asia.

Mantaram

Mataram is the capital city of Lombok, comprised of four towns, Ampenan, Mataram, Cakranegara (Cakra) and Sweta.

For art exhibitions, puppet shows or theatre be sure to head to the Mataram main square, which is about as busy as the whole island gets. Ampenan has the Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat museum, which gives a good overview of the culture of Lombok.

Narmada Park

Known as the resting place of the King of Lombok, this park has a Hindu temple and a small pond replicating in miniature the Crater Lake at Gunung Riniani. The Balinese Pujawali festival takes place here every year.

Narmada Park is situated 10 km east of Mataram, and is modeled on the basis of Mount Rinjani's pinnacle.

Pura Lingsar

Built in 1714, Pura Lingsar is a spiritual center for both Balinese Hinduism and the Wektu Telu religion, with temple buildings dedicated to both faiths.

Pura Lingsar is a sea temple situated at the far north end of the beach at Ampenan, Mataram.

One of the attraction is to feed hard-boiled eggs (available for sale outside) to holy eels in an enclosed pond dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The best time to visit the temple is December.

Sukarara

Famous for its unique handicrafts, in particular its hand-woven textiles, it is incredibly beautiful and the small village portrays the quaint lifestyle of the islanders. This place can be reached with 15 minutes ride to south of Mataram.

Take a trip and witness the production of this art form and the extent of the work and overriding quality belonging to each item produced. The surrounding view is incredible, the scenes are mountains and looming volcanic backdrop.

Tanjung Lunar

Inhabited by mainly fishermen Buginese migrants from South Sulawesi, In this long, meandering black beach, you can experience Indonesia’s old-world charm and observe the simplicity of the fishermen’s life.

Popular with surfers, it is set on the Southeastern coast of this island. At low tide the locals take to the beach to collect shells while the fishermen go about their day-to-day business.

A visit to this port will be an enjoyable experience.