Amandari is a luxury resort which richly defines Balinese. It upholds the values, culture, and the extraordinary beauty of Bali. Looking at every side, every corner of this magnificent place just makes it even better. It is located in central Bali near the wonderful village of Ubud. Amandari resort is in the midst of the breathtaking rice terraces, richly green forests, and the powerful Ayung River Gorge. Its architectural design is inspired by the wantilan or the village meeting place. The coconut wood and the stone floor just complete the open lobby.

Amandari resort has many facilities that offer different types of activities. They have a restaurant which is known to serve Western and Indonesian cuisine, and a bar with a wide variety of drinks to choose from. They have a library where you can do more than just read books and newspapers. It is also a place where you access the Internet. Amandari resort also offers a fully-equipped gym, an overlooking swimming pool, a world-class tennis court and golf course, and a locally-inspired spa. If you are more into extreme sports, then the white water rafting in the Ayung river is perfect for you.

Tourist can also enjoy the unique art, singing, and dancing in the nearby villages. Trips to these villages, either by foot or bicycle, can be arranged and you can instantly experience the warm culture and tradition of the area. Price ranges from US$ 750 to $3,500, depending on the suite and duration of stay. Amandari resort has received numerous awards from different award giving bodies for being one of the top resorts to stay in. The island of Bali is said to be the Island of the gods and a stay on Amandari resort would just make you feel that the gods share with you the true Balinese spirit.

Samosir Island, or Palau Samosir, is a large island in the middle of Lake Toba. It is situated north of Sumatra, Indonesia. The island is surprisingly just a little smaller than the country of Singapore and is located nearly exactly in the center of the lake. The lake is considered to be the fifth largest in the world. It is said that the island and water surrounding it was formed due to a volcanic eruption 75,000 years ago. Sadly, this massive eruption also caused the extinction of some species residing on the island. The town of Pangururan of Samosir Island is connected to Tele of main land Sumatra. Lavish forests, rocks, swamps and a small lake are few of the numerous great things to see in the island.

Samosir Island is the home of the Batak people, making it the center of their rich culture and tradition. Singing is a well-known custom of the Batak people. They love greeting their visitors with their own composed songs. There are also many fine Batak woodcarvers in Samosir Island. To reach the island, tourists must take the public bus, ferry, or car. Tourism is concentrated on the town of Tuk tuk. Tuk tuk is the best place to appreciate the exotic beauty of the island and the lake around it. Small canoes are used to cross the lake. One can go hiking on one of its towering mountains. People can enjoy the nearby hot springs. Samosir Island is also a perfect place to do paragliding. There is even an annual paragliding competition held during May on the island. One main attraction of the island is the tomb of their King Sidabatur in Tomok. Samosir Island is more than just its rich history. The Batak people, the scenery and all the exciting activities just makes Samosir Island a place worth looking and experiencing.

Manado Dive Resort is just a place to be to experience Indonesian exotic scuba diving. The wide variety of marine species separates Manado from the other diving sites. It is said that you can see about 70% of the marine species of the Indo-Western Pacific when you take a dive at Manado. Environmental efforts to preserve the beauty of the reef and all the living creatures there are being implemented in the area. Visitors should note that the months of July and August are the peak season, so it is advisable to book reservations in advance.

There is more to do in Manado than just diving and swimming in the clear blue water. The area is a volcanic island where green hills and lush vegetation define the island. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of the cuisine of the Manado people. There are numerous seafood restaurants offering the best seafood cuisine and street stalls that offer other exotic kinds of food.

Their Minahasan culture could be felt through their dishes and their craftwork. Weaved and wood carved souvenirs are artistically made that you might want to buy and take home. If you are more into branded products, famous designer brands are surprisingly found around the area. Land tours are great options to spend the day in Manado. One famous place is the “Mountain of Love” or Bukit Kasih. This place is filled with different places of worship. Whether you are a Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, or Christian, you can stop here and take a moment of silence.

The wide-eyed tarsier is an attraction in the Tangkoko National Park. Whales and dolphins are mostly seen during the months of August and September. Manado was originally a trading port used by the Spaniards. Now it is a large tourist attraction for scuba divers and vacationers.

There are many miniature theme parks all over the world, making one think that once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is a far cry from these, as it shows many aspects of the country, which brings the country to a new light for many tourists.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, translated into Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park and is also known as TMII, is located in East Jakarta. This park depicts the culture of the country interactively as people could not only see the miniature of the country’s 26 provinces but they could actually go inside the houses and see the structure up close, as though they are truly living in the house. Apart from these houses, there are gardens, small zoos, museums, and other recreation for tourists and locals alike. There are ten gardens in the park, which includes a cactus garden, a flower garden, and a medicinal-plant garden. Also within the park are small parks with animals, including a freshwater aquarium, a bird park, and even a park dedicated to the Bekisar chicken.

There are fourteen museums in TMII, most notable of which is the Keong Emas Imax Theater, which is designed like a golden snail. Other museums are those devoted to the komodo dragon, war, electricity, stamps, sports, cultural heritage, telecommunications, transportation, and oil and gas. There is also an insect museum and butterfly garden in the grounds. Work of Indonesian scholars as well as anything related to the Kuran could also be found in another exhibit, the Bayt al Qur’an and Museum Istiqlal.

There are also other recreational activities to be experienced in TMII. There is the Children’s Palace, which is shaped like a castle and has fairy tales from all over the world. Situated within the park grounds is a small arts and crafts village, a rare book market, theaters, one of which is 4D, and a fishing lake. There is also a small water park and something similar to a boot camp. The water park amenities include a wave pool, a vortex pool, a wave river, and even a hot spa. On the other hand, the camp, which is made for kids, has amenities that include a zip line, a canopy trail, tunnels, and bridges.

Transportation within Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is varied. People may take bike tours, the car tour, ride the swan boats, miniature railway, cable car, or the Aeromovel Indonesia, which is a train that generates energy from wind and is on top of an overpass that encircles the park.

Preserving the culture of one’s country is very hard, especially with the advent of the modern era where technology rules much of the economy. This is why the regency of the Toraja Land, situated in the highland region of Sulawesi garners much interest. Many of the locals have not only preserved much of their cultural heritage but are still practicing many of the traditions to this day.

The Toraja Land, or Tana Toraja is a place where the culture of one of Indonesia’s ethnic communities can be seen. The people in the villages live in traditional houses called tongkonan, which has a distinctive peaked roof. These people are usually of the same family. Their culture and beliefs are seen through the various woodcarvings. But amongst these things, apart from seeing the people and their homes, this place is famous for its funeral rites. The funeral rites may last for several days, or even weeks. The burial of the dead is unique to this ethnic group. For deceased adults, the coffin may be hung from a cliff or placed inside a cave or a carved stone grave. The tombs are man-made caves that are cut into the cliff faces. Balconies overlooking the planes are made for effigies of the dead, which are called tau tau. Carved stone graves are usually for nobles of the village. Those hung from the cliffs are left until the ropes rot and the coffin falls to the ground. For dead babies, the coffins are either hung from or buried inside a tree. This is practiced because of the belief that the babies will continue to grow as the tree grows.

The Toraja Land is also known for other things. Indonesian coffee, an Arabica coffee, originates from this island. Balok, a traditional Indonesian drink that is also known as tuak, can also be purchased here. This is palm wine and is said to be stronger if it has a darker color.

Indonesia has a lot of temples that venerate the Hindu deity. Prambanan Hindu Temple exceeds most of the temples in Indonesia with its size and beauty. The destruction of the smaller shrines does not even mar the magnificence of the place.

Prambanan Hindu Temple is located within Central Java. This temple complex consists of 224 shrines, 16 of which are within the central courtyard of the said complex. Most of the remaining 208 structures are small shrines which open to one of the four cardinal directions.

In the central courtyard, three shrines stand high, one for each of the Hindu trinity. The middle temple, the largest among the three, honors Shiva. This temple is the only temple in the complex with four entrances and has five chambers. This temple houses the statue of Shiva as well as smaller sculptures of other Hindu gods, namely: Durga, Shiva’s consort, is in the north chamber; Agastya, Shiva’s teacher, is in the south chamber; and Ganesha, Shiva’s son, occupies the west chamber.

Brahma’s temple, which is south of Shiva’s, houses the statue of Brahma in its only chamber. The temples of Brahma and Shiva are plastered with bas-reliefs of the Ramayana legend. The last of the main shrines, Vishnu’s temple, is similar to Brahma’s temple in its design. With only one large chamber, this is where Vishnu’s statue is contained. Unlike the other two, though, the outer walls depict the Krishnayana, which is the story of Vishnu’s human incarnation Krishna.

The three other shrines, each at the east of the main temples, are dedicated to their vehicles: Nandi, the bull, for Shiva; Hamsa, the swan, for Brahma; and Garuda, the eagle, for Vishnu. Other than these six main structures are two smaller temples, one to the north and the other to the south. There are also eight structures along the wall of the inner complex indicating the four cardinal directions and the four intermediate points.

The Prambanan Hindu Temple depicts the wondrous Hindu temple architecture in its classic glory.

Indonesia has a lot to offer. Everyone from locals to tourists, children and adults alike, may find something worth visiting in this wonderful country – one of which is Lombok, an island located in the western southeast islands of the said country.

Within the island is a collection of cities, each of which has something to offer potential visitors. Traveling within the island, one could choose to ride taxis or motorcycles if these are available. Many, however, choose to ride bicycles or the cidomo, which is a horse-drawn cart. Mt. Rinjani is one of the main attractions within the island as it is an active volcano and is the second highest Indonesian volcano. It has a lake, the Segara Anak Lake, in the crater, and a hot spring, the Aik Kalak, at the crater rim.

The first city, Mataram, is the largest of the mainland cities. Here, one could venture into the Mayura Garden and Water Park, which boasts of its magnificent architecture, history, landscape, and pond. In the middle of the pond is a small building where palace officials of erstwhile eras would hold meetings. Nearby, one could visit Pura Meru, or Meru Temple, which is a large temple with three pagodas on its grounds to symbolize the trinity in Hindu: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. People could also go to the Museum Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat, which shows exhibits regarding the history and culture of the island. Narmada Park, or Taman Narmada, is visited by many for the Youth Fountain.

Bangsal, another city in the mainland, serves as a port for the Gili Islands. The Gili Islands consists of three islands that form a straight line from the mainland. One could enjoy surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving in the reefs surrounding these islands. One of the islands, Gili Meno, has a small bird sanctuary. People who are searching for a more club or party scene are suggested to island-hop to Gili Trawangan.

Kuta is the city in Lombok, which possesses wonderful beaches and surfing spots. Praya, a city located in the central part of the island. Villages specializing in weaving, such as Sukarara, are found by traversing its main road.

And last but not the least is Senggigi, which is the foremost tourist destination. Tourists regularly visit Pura Batu Bolong and Pura Lingsar. Pura Batu Bolong is a small temple located at a cape in Senggigi. It is famous for its peak, where a chair symbolizes the throne of Brahma. Pura Lingsar, on the other hand, is a complex of temples and is known to be the holiest within the island.

With many countries working to preserve what remains of the once wonderful natural resources, it is still no small feat to actually create a sanctuary for many endangered species, let alone one. Komodo National Park is able to give just that to the animals in its care.

The Komodo National Park, founded in 1980 and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, serves as a home for the Komodo dragons and many other species, marine or otherwise. The dragons were conserved by the people living in the islands as it has been passed on from their ancestors that harming these creatures is considered a taboo. The dragons, which are part of the monitor lizard family, are known to be the largest of its species. Their size ranges from two to three meters, with the males being larger than the females. These animals are opportunistic carnivores rather than being predators. In the early times, some of the dragons were dependent on their human neighbors for food.

The area consists of three large islands and other smaller ones near the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. While the dragons are the main attraction for many, there are other things also worth seeing. Inhabiting the islands are various species of reptiles, mammals, and fish. Exotic reefs could be explored during dives. Flying foxes or fruit bats are best seen at twilight, as they soar in the sky in legions.

In this unspoiled land, one would see natural beaches and forests that had changed little since its creation. Trekking or boating is the only means of going around the island. Apart from seeing the dragons, trekking allows one to unwind and enjoy nature at its best. During these guided trips, rangers may offer one to view the feeding of the dragons. Boating, on the other hand, offers the person an alternative aspect of the beauty of the landscape.

With all of nature has to offer, Komodo National Park is truly one of its kind.

Walking near a volcano seems like a very exciting experience, even more so when the aforementioned volcano has always been active, with explosions every so and so year. Krakatoa Island offers that and much more to people who come to visit this wonderful place.

Krakatoa Island is also known as Krakatau. This name is used to identify a whole group of Islands. The main isle, known as Rakata, is a volcanic isle with the volcano occupying much of the land area resulting from its massive eruption on 1883. What’s interesting about this isle is that within it are three volcanic cones, two of which are considered to be twin volcanoes, though these two were destroyed by the 1883 eruption. Rakata has a crater with a diameter of 2000 feet. Along with the main volcano is also the newly formed volcano, aptly named Anak Krakatau, in the middle of this group of landmass, which emerged from the latter eruption. Since its discovery in 1927, it has steadily been growing and rising above sea level.

Within this area is the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ujung Kulon National Park. This reserve protects many endangered species, one of them being the Javan rhinoceros. The rhinoceros has a distinctive one horn on its head. Only 50 to 60 remain of this creature. Apart from the rhinoceros, the park is home to many flora and fauna. 57 species of flora found in the park are considered to be rare. Rangers could oversee travelers who want to climb the peak of the mountain. Around the area are magnificent lava formations and volcanic stones that were submerged in the sea, which could be explored by experienced divers. Tourists may trek within the isle. For those wanting to explore the clear waters of the park, swimming, snorkeling, and even fishing is allowed.

A day in Krakatoa Island would show one the beauty of nature, whether it be its destructive or nurturing side.

Bali is an island in Indonesia that is located at the extreme west of Lesser Sunda Islands that are present between Java and Lombok. Where Java is on the west and Lombok is towards the east of Indonesia. Indonesia has over seventeen thousand islands with a population of more than 200 million. Indonesia also has almost 400 volcanoes, out of which 70 are active and the rest are dormant. English is only used for commercial purposes. Most of the people here are Muslims and a minority of the population is Christian, Hindus and Buddhist.

Bali is the most commercial place in the entire Indonesia as it attracts a lot of tourists because it is known for its beautiful rice terraces, temples, arts, dance, painting, leather and music. The first sets of people to inhabit Bali were Austronesia’s in 200 B.C. These had initially migrated from Taiwan. The Bali culture had lots of influence of India i.e. the Hindus and Chinese culture. Bali is said to be a place that is full of fun, enjoyment and is famous for its mysterious past. Tourists from all over the world travel to this part of the city to see it culture, natural beauty, art and paintings.

If you are one of those who would want to go on a vacation, then this is a destination you must not strike off your list of vacations. Bali has no rail tracks; there are only coastal roads that surround the Island. The entire island is enclosed by coral reefs. The beaches that are in the south have white sand, however, the ones on the north and west have black sand. Another must see site in Bali is the Bali blast monument.