Archive for Maret 2013

Indonesia is probably the least-explored tourism site in Southeast Asia considering that there are 17,000 islands lying through this country. Even the 60-days visa for tourist won’t be enough to go round all of the islands in Indonesia. Yet, with a little effort and patience, visitors will find a truly amazing experience of visiting a place like no others in the world. As an advantage, there aren’t many tourists have ever been in the wonderful secluded islands in Indonesia, so visitors may feel like being in their very own island. Only a few travel agent provides touring packages in these secluded islands; as a result, some of the tourists prefer to reach the islands by backpacking. Some useful tips for backpacking in some islands of Indonesia are provided below.

Decide where to go in Indonesia

With a wide range of choices, it is quite difficult to decide which places to be visited in Indonesia especially with limited-day visa. People may determine their choice of places by considering what kind of place they really want to visit. For those interested in diving in such a quite and peaceful sea without surrounded by the crowd, Raja Ampat in Papua makes the best place. While people seeking the land full the greenish landscape of rice field and have various unique cultures and traditions can direct into the island of Java where the largest Buddhist temple – Borobudur – exists. Bali is the best option for the ones wishing to sight a great sunset view on the beach as well as many traditional performances. As for people wanting to see the famous Komodo Dragons in their natural habitats can get straight to Komodo National Park, where magnificent diving sports can also be found. Different places in Indonesia offer different attractions to fulfill everyone’s desires.

Things to Consider while Backpacking in Indonesia

People can easily find the ATM in many big cities of Indonesia, but it is quite troublesome to find one in small villages or any secluded islands. Anyone wishing to visit those places are better to take some or more cash while they are still in big cities. Then, the transportation around Java, Bali, and Sumatra is well-establish and easy to get, but some areas are quite difficult to reach. One way to reach certain island in Indonesia is by boats or cruise vessels. Some islands in Indonesia are uncovered by the internet network, so the ones who really need the internet are better to stay in the well-established tourism sites like Bali, Bunaken, or Lake Toba. The last one, shopping in the street markets available in many places in Indonesia requires buyers to bargain otherwise they may get much higher prices than they should be.

Hopefully those tips above are useful for anyone planning to discover wonderful places in Indonesia by backpacking. For going backpacking without careful planning may get people nothing but tiring and miserable journey.

Mount Ijen in East Java is a mysterious, spectacularly beautiful place to visit. Gunung Ijen is Javanese for “Lonely Mountain”. The Hindu kings of the Majapahit era climbed the volcano to meditate and strengthen their inner power. At that time, the Ijen Massive was probably still a twin volcano more than 4000 meters high. Presumably the mountain blew itself up at the end of 16^th century, leaving a caldera 16 kilometers wide, one of the biggest in the world. Locals believe this disaster might have been behind the downfall of the great Majapahit empire.

In 1894, Dutchman Davit Bernie settled on the fertile Ijen plateau, where he found the ideal conditions for his coffee plants. Javanese coffee was so famous by then that the traders from other regions in the world applied the name “Java” to their beans to boost sales. Today the vast highland is famous for its coffee plantations. The locals are very proud of their coffee, claiming it is one of the few places in the world where the old Arabica Typica trees preserved. The coffee plantations of Blawan, Jampit, and Kalisat produce beans of the highest export quality. From May to September, state-owned company PT Perkebunan Nusantara XII harvests up to 180 tons of the red coffee beries each day. They are peeled, washed, and fermented on the same day, then left to dry in the sun for three weeks.

From Ijen plateau, a small road leads to Banyuwangi, the nearest city. Tourists rumble over the spreading potholes in rented jeeps, enjoying the safari-like adventure. Some 20 years ago, villagers say, tigers still roamed the area. The drive leads through dense forest and then plantations again — planters here also grow cocoa, cloves, and rubber. Halfway down, a small trail turns off the main road, winding through lush rice terraces, which can easily compete with the most picturesque fields on nearby Bali.

Finally, when it really does feel like being in the middle of nowhere, the path offers another surprise, leading to the door of a luxury hotel. When Ijen Resorts opened in this remote area around five years ago, many thought its owners crazy. They were soon proved wrong: the villas are often fully booked with mainly European guests keen on climbing Mount Ijen or honeymooners seeking seclusion.

While honeymooners and tired mountaineers relax beside the pool of the resort’s open-air restaurant, local children herd cows or geese toward their villages and farmers work in their rice fields. From the top of the stairs, the view of the surrounding mountains throws the visitor into a loop. A dark rock pool with natural spring water seems to flow directly into the rice terraces around the manicured garden.

TRAVEL TIPS

Getting There

Car rental is the best option. Ijen is a five-hour drive from Denpasar (including ferry), six hours from Surabaya. Banyuwangi is an hour away. Alternatively, take the train from Surabaya of the bus from Denpasar to Banyuwangi, and complete the journey using local transport.

Places to Stay

Arabika Homestay

Simple, modern guesthouse at Kalisat coffee plantation. Overnight stays at the colonial mansions of Blawan and Jampit plantations can also be arranged here.

Tel: +62-31-352 4893-95.

Website: www.ptpn12.com

Ijen Resorts and Villas

The French-managed hotel and bungalow resort stands in the middle of rice terraces and volcanoes. The resort has an open-air restaurant and a swimming pool with natural spring water.

Tel: +62-333-429 000

Both places organize jeeps and guided tours to Mount Ijen or the plantations.