Special Post : What We Have - Raja Ampat -

Lately, i was busy by many tests from my school. This year is my new year in high school, so it will be a normal  if i'm not posting as often as past in my old blog . So, many tests = No vacation. Honestly , i am run out of stories. If i do have any story, no documentation ... i mean no videos even a single photo. Because of that, now i've made a special post. Today's special post will tell you all about Indonesia's beaches.

As you know, Indonesia have more than 17.000 islands, so Indonesia have titled called " Indonesia : The Longest Sea Coast in Asia and Number 2 in the World after Canada " That's make sense because we have hundreds of beaches from the good to the best, from the most unique to the wildest. I'll tell you one of our best beach in the world, Raja Ampat Beach.

-One day, i'll be there -

Raja Ampat is the most bio-diversity underwater world, Raja Ampat is not a beach actually, but its a region where thousands of species lives together here. In December 2010, here is the list of bio-diversity.

1,606 species of reef fish in the Bird’s Head Seascape
35 species of endemic reef fish found only in the Birds Head Seascape
1,397 species of reef fish in Raja Ampat

603 species of hard coral recorded in the Bird’s Head Seascape
75% of all known coral species in the world
57 species of Mantis Shrimp in the Birds Head Seascape
10 times the number of hard coral species found in the entire Caribbean

13 species of Marine Mammals in the Bird’s Head Seascape
5 species of endangered sea turtles in the Bird’s Head Seascape

Where is Raja Ampat?

Raja Ampat located in the region of Papua province, in the eastern Indonesia. This is the Map that hopefully help you

Raja Ampat is a protected area, because of its magical underwater life, the government of Raja Ampat charge an entry fee. 

The entrance fee for foreign visitors is Rp 500,000/person/calender year (approximately US$55) for which they will receive a waterproof plastic entrance tag featuring a photo from Raja Ampat. All Indonesian visitors from outside Raja Ampat are required to pay Rp 250,000 and will receive an entry card. The annual tags and cards will be valid from January 1st until January 31st of the following year. 

What Will You Do There?

Diving, the first thing that you and everyone's priority. As the world's most diversity environment, it such a big regret for you if you not diving. You can learn if you can't dive. Just ask your tour guide and i think they might know the solution. You can also bird watching, expedition around the cave and do many things that unexpected. 

How to get there?

From Singapore : Silk Air have a regular flight from Singapore - Manado, then take a regular flight from Manado to Sorong ( with Lion Air or Merpati Air ) to make you easier, its a good idea to call your tour agent.

Outside Singapore and Domestic : Take a flight to Jakarta / Bali ( foreigner tourist) then take a flight to Sorong (with transit in Makassar / Manado ) 

I'd really hope that this place will be my next journey.

For More Info : DiveRajaAmpat 

Anyer - The Exotica of Banten

Perfect belongs to God, and I think this beach has proof that. Anyer beach is one of tourist’s favorite Beaches in Indonesia. White sands, cool waves, perfect sunset is what people want to if they’re at the beach. Before I went to that place, what I know it’s just Anyer is a beach. I mean just a beach. And what I know is I was wrong, it’s not just a beach. It’s marvelous.

Well, it all begins when I went to there with my classmates. 39 students and 6 Moms are ready to have a journey in this enchanting beach.  We used bus from our school in Jakarta to Anyer. It took more than 1,5 hours to go to Anyer. On my way to Anyer, we passed PT. Krakatau Steel, one of Indonesia’s biggest industrial companies in Java.  In that time, we passed its agglomeration region. They (PT. Krakatau Steel) have a big region there.

I and my weird sands -_-" haha..

After we took some hours to Anyer, we stop in a beach that no one managed it. We have some lunch there. After lunch we directly went to our resort. Our resort is the biggest resort in Anyer, it is called Marbella Hotels and Resorts. More than 2000 rooms and stars quality services make you feels at home. I and my friends book a room number 4001 that face to the street. Because the rooms that face over the beach have a bigger cost. We arrived there at noon, so we decided to go took a rest after a long journey to go here. At 5 pm I do woke up and directly grab my camera and ran into the beach catching the sunset.

At night, we had some farewell party because my classmates will go over another high schools around Jakarta and we dine in there and having fun in our last days before our graduations party. In Marbella Hotel’s Hall we celebrated our farewell party so nice. Late night, we heading to the car park, we burned a small campfire in the middle, we made a circle formation around the campfire and we sat down and tell our memories during we went to school. And by the way I forgot to tell you that this party also celebrated my birthday party because I was born at that day 15 years ago, so nice to said that  :D

Now the morning has come, I’ve wake up at 5 and I directly pray to god and ran out to the beach watching for sunrise. What I do regret for telling you this story is that in this time I don’t have camera, so I can’t catch the beautiful of Anyer beach. I’m waiting at the beach until noon, and then suddenly all of people do came to the beach, we play many games that tour guide here (officially from Marbella Resort). We play many untitled games because it’s an ordinary game from tour guide’s idea. We having fun until it’s time for me to go home at 3 PM. So sad to leave this enticing beach, but I have to do that. And I still thankful to god because this is my best gift for my birthday party : travelling Indonesia :D

Kampung Naga - Where People meet Nature

So, here i am in Kampung Naga ( Dragon Village). Kampung Naga is one of many unique places in Indonesia that attract many attention from the other countries. The people in Kampung Naga keep the traditions from their grandparents. one of the tradition is like: No Electricity, No Electronics, No Modern Object. So, they don't use TV, radio, even telegram!, If they want to communicate to someone or many people, they use "Kentongan" just like the picture right there. 

The majority of people here working as a farmer, wanderer, fisherman, handmade handicraft for tourist, carpenter, and rattan furnishing maker. All of the people here live in peace, no rich people and no poor people all balance. When i went there, i was really sad because there are no even like wedding ceremony, or monthly festival.

All of people here is believe in Islam religion. Well, in the 16th centuries they believed Hindu and animism (believe in things or objects) but since Islam comes to Indonesia, people here change their religion. I took a time to do pray Sholat in a mosque there. 

Well, at first it was so tired to know that if you want to go here from Jakarta (example) you need to go by bus to Tasikmalaya and then took a minibus to Garut and stop in Kampung Naga pitstop. When you get inside you''ll see many handicraft shops. Where is the village? you need to go down by stairs ( there are more than 200 stairs) and there you are. Look to the left, you'll see many terrace of Rice fields that absolutely beautiful. Look to the right, you'll see a river that i forgot the name is *sorry*. Go straight and you are inside the village.

I took a time to interview with the people here, because i am sundanese ( Tribe in Indonesia) and all of the people here are sundanese too, so we talk with sundanese languages. They said that living here is connected to nature and disconnected to the outer world. we here living in harmony and simple life. "We do many things by ourselves, we independent." and they don't need an electricity facility even the government has offer this village many times but they do kept their tradition and culture. 

The things that i can get from this village is that keep the trust from your grandparents. Here, we learn to commit to ourselves and that makes me amazing with the people here. Wander about this village? visit it! We'll wait~

Lake Toba - South East Asia's Biggest Lake

So, here i am in the biggest lake in Southeast Asia called Lake Toba. Well, i went to Lake Toba with all of my family during The Eid Fitr Holiday. I really excited when i've told by my mom that we heading to lake Toba this year. Before i continue this story, i'll let you know the history of Lake Toba

Lake Toba History


So, its all began in 75.000 BC when there was no Lake Toba, but Mount Toba. Yeah, Toba is the name of the volcano mount that erupted in that year of 75.000 BC. Mount Toba exploded and the scientist simplify that the type of the Mount Toba explosion is in Super Volcano Explosion. In that year, when Toba exploded the ash are blew away 10 km into the sky and made the sky turns dark for a week. From China to South Africa got affected.

What will you see here

Toba Lake as the biggest lake in South East Asia have many things that you want to see, buy, and take a pic with. And this enchanting lake is the highest lake in the world and that's amazing! If you take a small hike to the hill near the Toba Lake, you'll found a view just like the photo up there. Also, you can see Samosir Island, the island that located in the center of the lake.


The things that you can do


Many things that you can do here, when i went to that place, i took a trip with speedboat, and then fishing, and i go shopping some traditional crafts that really cheap and unique. I got an extraordinary moment when i was there. The facility that you'll get here is that you can also water skiing, rafting, power boating, and also visiting the Samosir Island. It such a fun moment that i love to share it with you all readers : D

How to get there?


Rental Car will be my first suggestion for you because the way car rental bring you to the lake it feels like you have your own car isn't it? Also you can take a bus from a terminal in Medan city. You can go to Jakarta with airplane and take a route to Medan or several airlines in Southeast Asia open a route to Medan from several cities.



The point is Lake Toba is one of the greatest spot that you need to visit while you come to Indonesia! Visit Lake Toba and feel the greatness!

Kota Tua - Back to The Old Jakarta

Kota Tua, the old version of Jakarta is one of people's most favorite tourism site in Jakarta. Because we can visit many museums in just one spot. Museums here such as Museum Bank Mandiri, Museum of Jakarta's History ( Museum Fatahillah ) , and Museum of Arts and Ceramics. Many tourist come here because they love to do many activities. The most favorite activity here is MuseumsMarathon. Ya, heading to those three museums and having so much fun + knowledge. Before i tell about those museums, i want to tell you my first visit to Kota Tua.

First Visit : Kota Tua in Weekend

So, my first visit and the last (until now) is on January 2009. I was celebrating New Year there. I and my friends did so much activities such as tour, cycling with Ontel, MuseumMarathon and many more. People prefer to visit this in the weekend just like i did. many peoples come here for having fun, knowledge, and some photographer take some pictures. Well, I've got no DSRL or SLR Camera, so i used my Digital Pocket Camera CANON IXUS 500D ( it's not a promotion). The photo on your left is me when i play with Ontel Bike. I rent the bike for Rp 20.000,00 And to get inside to this enchanting old town, you don't need to pay the entrance ticket! ( read = free!). This place is a perfect place for photo hunter.

Museum of Bank Mandiri

Museum of Bank Mandiri is located next to Kota Tua. Bank Mandiri as the owner of this great museum. Ticket entrance only Rp 2.000,00. But, for Students all around the world and Bank Mandiri customer will be cost cheaper, Rp 0.00 ( read = free ). What's inside? Museum Bank Mandiri has many collections that relating to the world of Banking such as Deposit slips from every age! We also can found many kind of Old Typewritter that really antique and amazing. And the most amazing is thath we can found Safety Deposit Box for bank that  really big! What can we learn here is all about the world of Bank.

Museum Bank MandiriJl. Lapangan Stasiun 1, Jakarta
Telp.: 021 690200
Open Hours: Tuesday - Sunday , 09.00-16.00 WIB

Museum Fatahillah

This museum is an icon of Kota Tua, Museum Fatahillah is the place where you can learn about the history of Jakarta. First is Sunda Kelapa Port, and then Jayakarta, and Batavia in Dutch Colonial Era, and finally the city of Jakarta. Learn all the memory of 484 years of Jakarta here. This Museum collect many things such as Hermes Statue, Dutch Cannon, And still keeping the General Governor of VOC's office! We can get inside with paying Rp 2.000,00 . it such a big memory for you after visiting this museums.


Museum Fatahilah (Museum Sejarah Jakarta)

Jl. Taman Fatahilah 2, Jakarta
Telp.: 021 6929101
Open Hours: Tuesday - Sunday , 09.00-15.00 WIB


Museum of Arts and Ceramics

Here we go to the last museum in Kota Tua that i want to post about. This museum collect many creative handcraft ceramics from all around Indonesia. Many ceramics here comes from a drowned yacht in the 16th century. This museum located in east of Museum Fatahillah. We can get inside with paying Rp 2.000,00. Actually this museum are a perfect spot for a loner because this museum are more quiet than the other two museums up there. What can we learn from here is the culture of Indonesia that captured in the complexion of the ceramic itselfs.

So, i ended up this MuseumMarathon and hopefully you all the readers will try the same as i did. Because Museum is not that bored, especially in Indonesia. Here, museum is fun, knowledgable and exciting.Visit Museum : D