INDONESIA HOLIDAY

GENERAL Info

Temperature : Live Forecast

Population : 234.89 million Time Zone : GMT/UTC +7 (Sumatra, Java and West& Central Kalim

Driving side : Drivers drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Languages : Bahasa Indonesia English Javanese Sunda

Religion :88% Muslim8% Christian2% Hindu

Emergency # :Police: 110 Ambulance: 118 Fire: 113

TOP DESTINATIONS

Bali - The Balinese do not even have a word for paradise in their language,

but Bali is so picturesque that one could be fooled into thinking it was a painted backdrop. The forests are lush and tropical, the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and volcanoes soar through the clouds. The paradise gloss, however, has been manufactured by the international tourist industry, and it pays scant regard to the political and economical reality of life on Bali.Java - The most developed island in Indonesia. Tranquil rural scenes are broken with streets choked with traffic, there is beautiful open country-sides and filthy cities; all characteristics of an Asian society that is rapidly experiencing transition. Java has a mix of historic influences and religions, producing architectural wonders such as Borobudur and Prambanan, from the Hindu-Buddhist empires that reached their zenith on Java.Lombok - This, mainly-Muslim, island is less developed than Bali. Here you will find better beaches, a bigger volcano and greater variety of landscapes. Because of the slow development and the fact that tourism is less intrusive here than on Bali,

you might find the people of Lombok less blase about tourists and, in some cases, even quite resentful of the new wave of tourism. The spectacular volcano of Gunung Rinjani dominates the tranquil countryside and uncrowded beaches.Sumatra - The island is as tropical as any island can get. Amazon-like rivers move slowly through canopies of natural rainforests, muddy mongrove estuaries, steamy interiors, brilliantly coloured flora and weird fauna. This is the perfect place for a boat trip. The island is struggling with a failing economy, despite its wealth of natural resources and the northern province has been the epicenter of religious violence between Christians and Muslims. The area has also been hit by devastating earthquakes.

WHEN TO GO

The best time to visit is in the dry season between May and October. Travel in the wet season is possible in most parts of the country, but travel on mud-clogged roads in less developed areas can be difficult. It can also be a deterrent to some activities. The main Indonesian holiday period is the end of Ramadan (usually mid-November through to mid-December) This Islamic festival lasts a month and members of this faith fast during daylight hours and only eat and drink once the sun has set and before it rises the following day.Nyepi - Is a festival that marks the beginning of a new lunar year and usually falls during the spring equinox (late March or early April). On this day, everyone in Bali including tourists must remain silent. No one is allowed to work, travel or partake in any indulgences. Visitors are advised to observe this custom and to stay within their lodgings for the day. It may seem like a day is wasted, but the previous night's festivities would have sapped substantial energy and spirit to make up for the day of stillness. It is believed that evil spirits leave the island, thinking that the place is uninhabited due to the complete stillness.Tumpek Landep Day - Devoted to Sanghyang Pasupati, lord of heirlooms, weapons and tools made of metal for war functions and magical powers. The ceremony is held at every compound and temple throughout Bali. Nusa Dua Festival - August/September) Travellers to Bali, will have a special treat when the rich and vibrant local culture is presented during this week-long Nusa Dua Festival. Rice Harvest Festival - Dedicated to the rice god Dewi Sri, is a blessed season for

the villages and the entire island will be repainted and decorated with flags. An atmosphere of happiness pervades. Small straw rice-god dolls are placed throughout the fields and villages as a tribute.

CULTURE

Over time, social and religious duty has been refined to form a code of behaviour called adat or traditional law. Islam is the predominant religion, but it is tempered by elements of Hindu-Buddhism, adat, and animism. Despite the lengthy colonial period, missionaries only succeeded in converting small pockets of the Indonesian population to Christianity. The most notable examples being the Bataks of Sumatra, the Toraks of Sulawesi and 95% of the population of Flores. It is believed that there are hundreds of places where spiritual energy is remarkably concentrated, and that it can be absorbed by followers (especially in Java).More that 300 languages are spoken and most belong to the Malay-Polynesian group, where many regional languages and dialects are spoken. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia, which is almost identical to Malay, using a number of foreign words which indicates the long history of contact between Indonesia and other cultures.Batik (the art of applying wax to cloth and then tie-dying it in colourful and dramatic designs) is produced widely throughout Indonesia. Yogyakarta, in Java, is the centre of this activity. Other forms of popular craft include: ikat (a type of weaving with tie-dyed threads), songket (silk cloth with gold or silver threads woven into it), and kris (artwork decorated with jewels). Popular artistic activities are Javanese wayang (puppet) plays and gamelan (hypnotic music composed mostly of percussive instruments).Indonesian cuisine is greatly influenced by the Chinese, such as Padang food from Sumatra. Throughout Indonesia there is vendors selling snacks such as potatoes, sweet nuts, biscuits or fruit. Rice is basic to each meal, and is often eaten as a soup, or with an assortment of hot & spicy side dishes, salads and pickles. The most common dish is Nasi goreng (fried rice), while sate (skewered meats with a spicy peanut sauce), gado-gado (bean sprouts and veggies in peanut sauce), and seafood are also popular. There is a wide variety of tropical fruits grown in Indonesia and you can expect to find custard apples, durians, guavas, jackfruits, mangoes, papayas, star fruits and rambutans in abundance.

GREAT OUTDOORS

Flores - The traditional whaling village of Lamalera, east of Flores, is a fascinating place to take a walk around the boatsheds and watch men making harpoons. The villagers are whalers by profession and therefore exempt from international whaling bans. The most fantastic attraction of Nusa Tenggara is Kelimutu's tri-coloured lakes. The water in these three volcanic craters have a strange way of changing colour, most recently being turquoise, olive and black. A few years ago, it was green-blue, maroon and black. The phenomena can not be explained, except for different minerals that are dissolved in each lake. Local legend explains the colour changing as the souls of the dead that travels to the lake; young souls supposedly go to the green lake, old souls to the milky turquoise, and souls of thieves and murderers to the black lake.Irian Jaya - Papua is one of the world's last wilderness areas. It's people, the Papuans, live in some of the most rugged terrain on earth: from mangrove swamps abundant with bird and animal life, to snowcapped mountains. Highlights include the Baliem Valley (with its unique culture), Sentani (for boat trips around the magnificent Sentani Lake), and Kota Biak (access to dive sites). There are no roads between major towns and the boats are slow, making air travel the most popular option for traveling. Be aware that permits from local police stations are required for travel to many areas.Kalimantan - Samarinda is the best starting point for fascinating longboat river trips to villages such as Tanjung Isuy, Muara Muntai, Melak and Long Iram. Tanjung Puting National Park (in central Kalimantan) is the home of a wide variety of plant and animal life, including crocodiles, bear cats, orang-utan, monkeys and dolphins. The equatorial river of Pontianak (in west Kalimantan) is lovely seen at sunset. A highlight is the wooden Mesjid Abdurrakham royal mosque. Pasir Panjang has pristine beaches close by, and is a great starting point for boat trips up the Kapuas.Komodo & Rinca - Two small islands between Flores and Sumbawa, in eastern Nusa Tenggara. These islands are famous for being home to the ponderous Komodo dragons. Komodo is a hilly, desolate island and brave visitors can watch organized feeding frenzies or join dragon spotting tours. Rinca's wildlife is fairly abundant. Visitors are sure to see several monkey colonies, deer, bush turkeys, eagles and wild water buffalo.

Visit East Kalimantan, Indonesia - by East Kalimantan, Indonesia from Indonesia - 2007-11-15

Welcome to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia is the one great outdoors activities for you and your family to explore Culture of Dayak Tribe along the Mahakam Mighty River, Museum of Mulawarman Hinduism Kingdom, Collections of Sultan Mulawarman, Royal Tomb of the family, the Old Mosque of Sabilal Muhtadin, Crocidiel farm, and handmade of traditional Sarung Samarinda, visit Derawan Island, where you may see pristine blue water ocean with alot of kind of flora and fauna in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

MOVING ARUOND

Domestic air service is a popular (and more convenient) choice of traveling, when it comes to getting from one destination to another, in Indonesia. Tickets bought overseas are quoted in US dollars and are about 50% more than if bought in Indonesia in rupiah.The main roads in Indonesia are generally excellently surfaced and the main fare of traveling on road would be the ekonomi buses. Express bus is the next step up and carries the same cargo, but will get to the destination quicker. The luxury air-con buses have all the whistles and bells a coach should have, but can be quite costly if you travel extensively. Rail travel is restricted to Java and Sumatra. It is advisable to buy train tickets well in advance to ensure a seat. Other transportation like cars, motorbikes and bicycles can be rented in the main cities and tourist centres. Ferries travel regularly between the various islands.Local transport includes the ubiquitous bemo (pick-up trucks with rows of seats along each side), opelet (minibuses), bajaj (auto rickshaws), becak (bicycle rickshaws), and dokar (horse-drawn carts), generally at ridiculously low prices. Many towns have taxis, but agree on a fare in advance.

NATIONAL FESTIVAL & HOLIDAY

Greberb Syawal Ceremony - (December/January) expresses praise and gratefulness to God by Moslems after having completed their fasting duty in the sacred month of Ramadhan. The ceremony begins with the parade of the Kraton guards in their colourful uniforms comprising of the Wirobrojo, Daeng, Ketanggung, Jogokaryo, Prawirotomo, Mantrijero troops lead by their commander-in-chief. Marching from the Siti Hinggil, through the Pagelaran to the Northern Square and then the Gunungan procession soon follows.Western New Year - (January 1st) is celebrated at hotels, resorts and within the town itself...any excuse for a party.Garebeg Mulud - Gunungan is the climax of sekaten and starts in the morning with a parade of the Palace Guards and crosses the northern yard of the Sultan's Palace. At 10.00 a.m. the Gunungan leaves the palace preceded by Bugis and Surokarso squads. The mountain-shaped Gunungan, made from vegetables, peanuts, red pepper, eggs and sticky rice, symbolizes the prosperity and the wealth of the Mataram Kingdom.Galungan - Another festival related to religion. It is observed in the eleventh week of the 210th day in the Balinese calendar and celebrates the creation of our world. This is Bali's most significant annual event, locals spend the day visiting family, friends and neighbours decked in their finest and indulge in heavy feasting.New Year's Day - (January 1st) On New Year's Eve street festivals and carnivals are held. Paper trumpets are sold and can be heard blown everywhere. New Year’s day itself tends to be a quiet affair as most people are recovering from the celebrations the night before.Maulud Nabi Muhammad - (July) Celebrates the birth of Mohammad. Festivities start one week before.Independence Day - (August 17th) is when the Republic of Indonesia achieved independence from the Dutch.Ramadan - (Usually mid-November through to mid-December) This Islamic festival lasts a month and members of this faith fast during daylight hours and only eat and drink once the sun has set and before it rises the following day.