Nias is an island famous for its megalithic buildings and arts, great waves to surf, and breath-taking tradition of Stone Jumping. This island is located on the western coast of Sumatra Island in Indonesia, an archipelago in Southeast Asia. The minor publication of this place makes it visited by only a number of foreign tourists while in fact, Nias offers winsome attractions any other places do not own. Nias provides a great vacation place for those wishing to feel different experience and adventure of traveling in a place where time is apparently not moving.

Megalithic Buildings and Arts

Megalithic buildings and arts mean buildings and arts made of huge rough stones in a simple shape and design. These arts and buildings evolved in Megalith period thousands years ago around some areas in Sumatra islands. The leftovers of Megalithic buildings and arts scatter in Nias island including tomb stones, great stone tables, and stone monuments which are utilized as the property to hold the Stone Jumping tradition. Those stone buildings and arts were not colored so that most of the island has the greyish color of stone. Being in Nias feel like dragging back to Megalithic period thousands years before.

Surfing Spot

The great waves – approximately 3.5 meters high – in the waters surrounding this island turn Nias to be one great spot for surfers. It is the best place for the professional surfers to show their skills of surfing in extremely high altitude of waves. One favorite spot for surfers in Nias is Sorake beach whose waves are never calm. Sometimes an international event for professional surfers in the world also takes place in Nias. The great waves completed with a peaceful atmosphere on the beach without the existence of many people causes the foreign surfers to visit Nias for several times.

Stone Jumping Tradition

Stone Jumping is one well-known tradition in Nias participated by most young men in that place. In this tradition, the participants wearing traditional costumes of Nias have to jump over 2 meters high of a stone monument. The Stone Jumping or Hombo Batu tradition is very much dangerous seeing that a little mistake may cause fatal injuries such as broken bones or even brain concussion. Still, young men in Nias are eager to do this tradition both to show attraction to the visitors and to prove themselves as Nias young men.

Time seems slowing down in Nias that the buildings, cultures and traditions are not change from time to time.

Located in the Southwestern tip of Java, Ujung Kulon National Park is a place to preserve the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros. The name Ujung Kulon is taken from Javanese phrase meaning the western tip which describes the location of the national park itself. In 1991, this park was proclaimed as one of the World’s Heritage Sites because it is the remains of rainforest in Java island as well as the natural habitats for 57 rare floras and 350 species of animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Javan Rhinoceros

Javan Rhinoceros, as the most protected animal in Ujung Kulon National Park, are very threatened for the reason that there are only about 50 or 60 rhinos left in this park. The rhinos make Ujung Kulon National Park as their only habitats for they can only live in certain tropical rainforest. The poor mammals were used to be hunted because of their horns. The horns were said to be a very valuable ingredient for the efficacious medicine from China, and the price for a kilogram of Javan Rhinos’ horns is no less than 30,000 USD. In order to maintain the population of Javan Rhinoceros, also known as Lesser One-horned Rhinoceros, several cameras were installed around this national park by UNESCO, and the cameras successfully captured a couple of rhinos with their calves. It is a very good news proving that Javan Rhinoceros are able to breed in their natural habitation.

Transportation and Accommodation

There isn’t any luxurious accommodation available around the national park, but you can stay at Red House Beach Villa, about 20 minutes drive from the Park, provides diving and fishing trip arrangements. One villa consists of 2 bedrooms with a cable TV, a seating area and a well-equipped kitchen with a microwave and a refrigerator. The private bathroom also comes with shower facilities. Other facilities offered at the property including laundry and ironing services. There's also a cook to prepare meals in guests’ villas upon request. Red House Beach Villa is approximately 3 km from Umang Island Harbour and is 2 hours’ drive from Pandeglang Bus Terminal. It is a 10-hour drive from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Rates start from USD 121.

As a matter of fact, the infrastructure towards Ujung Kulon National Park is not very good. In order to reach there, the visitors can have a tour from some resorts in Anyer, beach in the Northwest of Java, or take a bus from West Jakarta. Getting into a bus will be much cheaper, though it will take a long time and quite uncomfortable trip. Local villagers also provide rooms for rent in their houses. The more people staying in the lodges, the cheaper fee should be pay to rent the lodges from the villagers.  With the greater promotion from Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism concerning Indonesian tourism sites, The infrastructures and accommodations around Ujung Kulon National Park are more likely to be developed. Through this way, it will be easier for both local and foreign tourist to observe the most endangered large mammals in the world – Javan Rhinoceros.