West Java

The enchanting land of Sunda stretches from the Sunda Strait in the West to the borders of Central Java in the east. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of the province, Bandung. The history of West Java is a story of trade, spices, and the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms.

In the late 1500's the region was ruled from mighty Cirebon, which still survives as a sultanate today, although a shadow of its former glory. West Java was one of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in the archipelago.

History

The oldest human inhabitant archaeological findings in the region were unearthed in Anyer (the western coast of Java) with evidences of bronze and iron metallurgical culture dated back to the first millennium AD.

The prehistoric Buni (the present-day Bekasi) clay pottery were later developed with evidences found from Anyer to Cirebon. Some artifacts (dated from 400 BC — AD 100) such as food and drink containers were found mostly as burial gifts. There is also archeological evidence in Batujaya Archaeological Site dating from the 2nd century, and according to Dr Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung Archeology Agency, Jiwa Temple in Batujaya, Karawang, West Java was also built around this time.

Recorded history of West Java administration was started from the fourth century with the existence of Tarumanagara kingdom. Seven inscribed stones written in Wengi letters (used in the Indian Pallava period) and in Sanskrit language describe most of the kings of Tarumanagara.[4] Records of Tarumanegara's administration lasted until the sixth century, which coincides with the attack of Sriwijaya as stated in the Kota Kapur inscription (AD 686).

The Sunda kingdom then came into the ruling power of the region, the reference to which were found in the Kebon Kopi II inscription (AD 932).

An ulama (holy man in Islam) known today as Sunan Gunung Jati settled in Banten Girang, with the intention of spreading the world of Islam in this still pagan town. In the meantime, the Sultanate of Demak from central Java grew into an immediate threat to Sunda kingdom. To defend against the threat, Prabu Surawisesa Jayaperkosa signed a treaty (known as the Luso Sundanese Treaty) with the Portuguese in 1512. In return, the Portuguese was granted an accession to build fortresses and warehouses in the area, as well as trading agreement with the kingdom. This first international treaty of West Java with the Europeans was commemorated by the placement of the Padrao stone monument at the riverbank of the Ciliwung River in 1522.

Although the treaty with Portuguese had been established, it could nptSunda Kalapa harbour fell under the alliance of the Sultanate of Demak and the Sultanate of Cirebon (former vassal state of Sunda kingdom) in 1524 after their troops under Paletehan alias Fadillah Khan had conquered the city. In 1524/1525, their troops under Sunan Gunung Jati also seized the port of Banten and established the Sultanate of Banten which was affiliating with the Sultanate of Demak. The war between the Sunda kingdom with Demak and Cirebon sultanates then continued for five years until a peace treaty were made in 1531 between King Surawisesa and Sunan Gunung Jati. From 1567 to 1579, under the last king Raja Mulya, alias Prabu Surya Kencana, Sunda kingdom declined essentially under the pressure from the Sultanate of Banten. After 1576, the kingdom could not maintain its capital at Pakuan Pajajaran (the present-day Bogor) and gradually the Sultanate of Banten took over the former Sunda kingdom's region. The Mataram Sultanate from central Java also seized the Priangan region, the southeastern part of the kingdom.

In the sixteenth century, the Dutch and the British trading companies established their trading ships in West Java after the falldown of Sultanate of Banten. For the next three hundred years, West Java fell under the Dutch East Indies' administration. West Java was officially declared as a province of Indonesia in 1950, referring to a statement from Staatblad number 378. On October 17, 2000, as part of nationwide political decentralization, Banten was separated from West Java and made into a new province.

taken and summarized from wikipedia.org

Entry

Domestic airlines serves to Bandung every day. Buses from Central Java and Jakarta arrived in Leuwi Panjang. Several trains operate from Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya to Bandung. Alternatively you can use rental service from neighboring cities to visit Bandung.

People & Culture

The native people are called Sundanese. Sundanese are friendly folks who value tradition. However in some big cities, like Bandung, the capital of West Java, other ethnic groups begin to dominate as well.

Cuisine

Many people visit Bandung, the capital of West Java province, to pamper their taste buds. You'll be amazed with what Bandung has to offer. From various food sold on street vendors to haute cuisine, every visitor will be able to find something to their liking here, in Bandung.

Sundanese (the people living in West Java are called Sundanese) has tempting refreshments. Sundanese food tends to be bland yet tasty unless you add sambal dadak (chili and other ingredients grinded together) to your food. If you're looking for more spicy taste, just add this sambal dadak with nasi timbel (steamed rice formed into a roll inside a banana leaf) and other specialties. This mouthwatering treat is too good to be missed! Usually sour vegetables soup (sayur asam) is accompanied by nasi timbel.

Sundanese people eat vegetables a lot. Sometimes they even eat raw vegetables (called lalap or lalapan) like cucumbers, tomatoes, coriander leaves, eggplants, cabbages, lettuces,and so on. Lalapan is usually accompanied by sambal dadak.

Probably one of the most well known dish, timbel, consists of nasi timbel, lalapan, sambal dadak, a piece of chicken (fried or roasted Sundanese style), fried beancurd, fried tempeh, a slice of jambal (salted fish). If you want to, you can add gepuk (slices of beef, mixed in traditional herbs, then fried), pepes (main ingredients such as fish, chicken, mushroom, etc. mixed with crushed and blended herbs, folded into a banana leaf, then steamed until they're ready to eat), sauteed greens, and others. Nasi timbel is a favorite among locals and visitors. Batagor baso tahu goreng (literally means, fried meatballs & beancurd) is one of the most well-sought specialty. Made from blended fish and beancurd, with a special peanut sauce, batagor?s popularity remains constant.

People with sweet tooth might fancy pisang molen (literally Sundanese Food means, molen banana), Indonesian traditional pastry filled with banana and cheese. For a variation, try brownies kukus (steamed brownies). Es cendol, made of blended/grinded rice, palm sugar, and coconut milk, is delightful on a hot day. While for a colder day, you might want to taste bandrek or bajigur.

Bandung also offers various milk products most notably, yoghurt. Basically there are two kinds of yoghurt in Bandung the thin one, and the thick one (French style).

Hot snacks ala Bandung are widely sold throughout the city. Among them are gehu-toge tahu- (beancurd with beansprouts and vegetables filling), pisang goreng (fried banana), cireng-aci goreng- (fried tapioca), and many more. You might be interested in trying other snacks such as, nangka goreng (fried jackfruit), peuyeum goreng (fermented cassava, fried), nanas goreng (fried pineapple), and so on. Ketan bakar (roasted sticky rice) and jagung bakar/rebus (roasted/boiled corns) are also recommended.

Nasi goreng (fried rice), although not originally from Bandung, is also a favorite. The ingredients vary, according to people's preference. Sometimes the rice is mixed with seafood (usually shrimps, pieces of cuttlefish, pieces of crab's flesh), chicken and vegetables, mutton and vegetables, salted fish, and so on.

Cakue, a dish made of flour dough then fried, also worths a try.

Bandung also has other kinds of restaurants, like Padangese (food from West Sumatra, very spicy in taste), Javanese (sweeter in taste), Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Western, Indian and a lot more.

Bandung City of Fashion

Bandung, capital of west Java , is a great place to visit any time of the year as it's not only renowned for its picturesque open vista, but the town also offers many attractions well worth a visit.

Surrounded by green fertile mountains, Bandung today is Indonesia's center for learning and creativity. Here is the wellknown, Institut Tekonologi Bandung (ITB) established since 1920, the university that has produced many of Indonesia's top scientists from engineers, geologists to leaders in business management. Today Bandung is one of Indonesia's most prestigeous university towns. Bandung is also the center of Indonesia's burgeoning ICT technology, at the same time it is a center of arts and artists. Every weekend and long holidays the city is filled with young people from Jakarta who flock to Bandung to enjoy its youthful creative atmosphere in music, painting, fashion, and the culinary arts.

Originally established in the late 19th century as a colonial garrison town, Bandung soon grew into a town for wealthy planters who owned the miles and miles of tea, coffee and cinchona plantations, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens in the cool and fertile hills of West Java. Bandung thus became the town of the European elite. And since this was the era of art deco, Bandung has a rich heritage of buildings in examplary art deco architecture. They include the beautiful Villa Isola, - now housing the University for Education-, the Concordia, the present Asian-African Museum , which was then the Society's Clubhouse- , the main Braga shopping center, where the Dutch colonial elite went to shop, and the Savoy-Homann and Preanger hotels, where they would overnight and hold grand balls.

While along the present Jalan Juanda, then known as Dago Boulevard, were the houses of the elite with their green lawns and flower gardens fronting opulent homes. In those colonial heydays in the early 20th century, Bandung became known as “Parijs van Java”, or the Paris of Java, where Dutch planters and ladies paraded and flaunted their wealth and beauty along the boulevards and Bragaweg, then the Champs Elysees of the East.

Today, Bandung is remembered in history internationally as the venue of the First Asian-African Conference held in 1955 which brought together for the first time, leaders of 29 Asian and African countries, who declared to jointly fight colonialism for national independence. Attending the Conference were noted national leaders, among whom, Jawaharlal Nehru and daughter Indira Gandhi of India, Chao En Lai of China, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and Indonesia's own President Soekarno. The Asian-African Conference became the precursor of the Non-Alighned Movement.

Later Bandung also became the center for textile mills producing much of Indonesia's textiles for fashion wear, linen and upholstery.

Standing some 768 m above sea level, Bandung is today the country's third largest city after Jakarta and Surabaya. Since the opening of the Cipularang Toll road, which cuts down travel from Jakarta to two hours from the previous four hours over the tortuous Puncak Pass, Bandung has become the favourite weekend getaway to relax and escape from the hectic pace of metropolitan Jakarta.

For Bandung offers trendy fashion wear at reasonable prices at its myriad factory outlets, a wide range of delicious local and international cuisines, and a distinct colonial European-style atmosphere combined with captivating traditional arts.

HOW TO REACH BANDUNG?
It is quite easy to reach Bandung. On your journey you'll see the wondrous views of the Parahyangan (land of God) landscape, which reboots your sense of adventure. There are many modes of transportation to choose from:

• By Air ,

Leaving on the airplane is the fastest way to reach Bandung. Air Asia provides thrice flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and daily flights from Bali (DPS) and Medan (MES) to Bandung (BDO) and vice versa. Malaysia Airlines also serves daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bandung

Deraya Airlines also operates daily flight from Jakarta (Halim Perdanakusuma Airport) to Bandung (Hussein Sastranegara Airport).
While Merpati Nusantara Airlines flies daily between Bandung- Bali , Bandung- Labuan Bajo , Bandung- Surabaya , and Bandung- Medan Book your ticket beforehand as this is necessary to secure a seat.

Wings Air, subsidiary of Lion Air, operate flight routes of Bandung-Bengkulu, Bandung- Palembang (South Sumatra) and Bandung-Tanjung Karang ( Bandar Lampung ) . Sriwijaya Air and Susi Air also provides flights to and from Bandung.

• By Land ,

Train
This is an ideal choice if you enjoy good views along the journey where your eyes will be spoilt by the beautiful lavish green of undulating hills, terraced paddy fields and tea plantations. From Jakarta the 180 km journey takes 3 hours.

PT KAI Persero (Kereta Api Indonesia) provides excellent train services to reach Bandung from several cities in Indonesia:

•If you leave from Jakarta (Gambir Train Station), Argo Gede will lead you to Bandung. Argo Gede serves only Executive-AC class but it is comfortable and faster train. The first train will leave at 5.30 am and the last train at 08.30 pm on weekdays and 09.30 pm on Sunday.

•If you come from Surabaya (Surabaya Gubeng Train Station) there are several trains that offer a scenic journey to Bandung. Turangga (Executive), Harina (Executive), Argowilis (Executive) and Mutiara Selatan (Business) ply the route daily. So, get ready to pack your bag the first train leaves at 07.00 am !

* Information about fares of the trains is available at www.kereta-api.co.id

Bus and Shuttle Car
There are also convenient buses operated by Primajasa which will take you to Bandung (Bandung Supermall) direct from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. The cost is approximately $US 8.50 per person.

However, if you're looking for something private and elegant, shuttle cars ( X-trans , Cipaganti , and Primajasa ) are also available in the airport. The cost is approximately $US 14.0 per person. All of them provide great, reliable, and safe services.

WHERE TO GO?

1.Art Deco

In the 1920's when the Dutch decided to gradually move its colonial capital to Bandung, it was the heyday of Art Deco. That is the reason why until today Bandung still holds some of the best examples of Tropical Art Deco architecture in the world. Bandung then prospered with more and more large plantations and large companies headquartered here. By 1939 Bandung's cinchona plantations produced 90% of the world's quinine, while Dutch coffers were filled with the sale of coffee grown around the city. As the new town became the home of the Dutch wealthy elite, Bandung came to be known as “Parijs van Java” – the Paris of Java.

As your train arrives at the Bandung station, you are already greeted by a fine example of Dutch architecture. When you disembark from the train, turn right and you will find an authentic interior of an Art Deco building. Constructed in 1884, Bandung's train station still maintains its authenticity and originality up to this day.

The Savoy Homann Hotel as well as the Grand Hotel Preanger are both prominent examples of well-preserved Art Deco architecture. The Preanger Hotel was built in 1929 by a Java-born Dutch architect, Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker, who previously worked for a famed American Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Schoemaker, who was then lecturer at the Bandoengsche Technische Hoogeschool , now the Bandung Institute of Technology , hired Soekarno, a draftsman who was also his student. History has it that this student draftsman would ultimately become the founding father and the first President of the Republic of Indonesia. The Grand Hotel Preanger has been modernized, but its original sections are maintained.

There are other buildings associated with Schoemaker's name. On Braga Street, his creations include Majestic Cinema , now the First Asian-African Conference Museum , and the adjoining Societeit Concordia Club House , currently Gedung Merdeka. The neo-gothic, Art Deco Catholic Cathedral of St. Petrus splendidly stands on Merdeka Street, a block from Braga Street. Schoemaker's masterpiece is Villa Isola on Dr. Setiabudhi Street, built in 1933 as a residence of a millionaire, DW Beretty. The house later turned into a hotel and is now used as the main office of a nationally-renowned university. This architectural jewel is considered as “Indonesia's greatest contribution to the world of art-deco” , boasting curvaceous shapes that blend beautifully with the terraced garden landscape.

Another prominent name that is also equally renowned for Bandung's Art Deco architecture is Albert Frederick Aalbers. Born in Rotterdam, the Dutch architect moved to Bandung in 1928 to try his luck in the Dutch East Indies. The architect's signature style, 'Streamlined Deco' on the façade, and 'Tropical Deco' inside, can be seen on Denis Bank , now Bank Jabar on Braga Street, and the nearby Savoy Homann Hotel .

Perhaps the most well-known art deco building stands precisely in the center of the city. The Gedung Sate , the building that is now the governor ’s office, was completed in 1920, and designed by J. Gerber. Famous for its skewer-like antenna - Satay or Sate - which gives the building its popular name, it combines neo-classical style with native elements and creates grandeur and a unique mixture of Western and Eastern atmosphere.

The Dutch East Indies architectural trails can still be seen in Bandung. The high concrete walls and decorated windows structure still stand silently today as a reminder of a bygone era, within which different cultures were assimilated. So, what are you waiting for? Pay a visit to the past. Be the one to witness, that there is still a little bit of 'Europe' in Bandung.

TRANSPORTATION?

FROM BANDUNG AIRPORT : Hussein Sastranegara Airport is only 4 km from the town centre. Taxis from the airport to town cost approx. $US 6 (50,000 IDR). Remember to use the safe “Airforce Cooperative” taxi from the airport to the hotel/town centre. Hotels in Bandung usually provide free airport transfer services. They will be pleased to pick you up if you tell them the time and date of arrival in advance.

ANGKOT

You won't want to miss the unique experience once you decide to take a ride in one of Bandung's most common transportation, the Angkot. It is an acronym from Angkutan Kota, Indonesian Bahasa for 'City Transport'. This is the cheapest public transportation you can get in Indonesia. So, don't expect five-star service or much convenience when getting around with it.

Angkot in Bandung comes in red, green, pink, yellow, blue, and occasionally in a combination of two completely unmatching color. In English this is pronounced 'un-caught', a public transport minivan, with single entry and exit door on the left, or at the back. This transport has a long seat and not-so-long one, facing sideways and each other. The long one, decent enough for the Asian physique, can accommodate seven people, while the other one accommodates five.

Most important to know is how to say, 'KIRI' (pronounced: key-ree), Bahasa for 'left' or 'stop here'. Why 'left'? In Indonesia, the traffic drives on the left. So “Kiri” is an indication that you wish to stop here or the Angkot will pass your destination. But if getting lost is what you want to do in your vacation, then enjoy taking an Angkot to get around.

The Angkot has no fixed fare as ths depends on how far you wish to travel. Don't worry though as the cost will be less than a dollar. It is best to ask the driver or kernet (the assistant driver) about the fare to go to your destination. Hail an Angkot as you would a taxi.

TAXI

If you're confused with the routes of the Angkot or if it's just too uncomfortable, then a taxi is the best choice for you to travel around Bandung. Official taxis in Bandung use meters but be careful when choosing an unmetered Taxi. Blue Bird is the best known and reliable taxi service.

CAR

Using your own car or renting a car is probably the easiest and the most convenient way to explore Bandung. There are many reliable local car rentals that you can find in Bandung;

•Cipaganti
Jl. Cipaganti 84 Bandung 40131
Phone: +62.22.2034376

•Dirgantara
Jl. Lamping 7 Bandung 40131
Phone: +62.22.2035050

•Lysan
Kompleks Mitra Dago Parahyangan
Bl I/11 Bandung
Phone: +62.22.7217070

•TotalCarRental
Jl. Jajaway Dago Atas 12 FA Bandung 40135
Phone: +62.22.82520044

Jakarta, Indonesian Capital

Capital of the Republic of Indonesia , Jakarta is a huge, sprawling metropolis, home to 9 million people. During the day the number increases with another 2 million as commuters make their way to work in the city, and flock out again in the evenings.

Located on the northern coast of Java, the province of Jakarta has rapidly expanded through the years, absorbing many villages in the process. In fact Jakarta is a conglomeration of villages known as kampungs, now crossed by main roads and super highways. It is small wonder therefore, that you may drive down one wide avenue one minute then suddenly find yourself squeezed into a small street together with scores of cars and motorbikes. The names of these former villages can be detected from their main streets, such as Tanah Abang, Kebon Kacang, Kebon Jeruk, Kampung Melayu, and many more. Together with its many suburbs Jakarta has become a megapolitan city. Therefore, when you visit Jakarta it is best to invest in a good map, or rely on GPS.

Jakarta itself is built on a wide flat delta, intersected by no less than 13 rivers. Fronting the city in the Bay of Jakarta are a large number of tiny islands, known as the Thousand Islands or Pulau Seribu, a tourist resort for snorkeling and swimming. To its south are the majestic volcanoes of Gede and Pangrango, where are cool mountain resorts like Bogor, Puncak, Sukabumi and Bandung .

Capital city of a country with 240 million population, Jakarta is not only the seat of the national government and the provincial government, this city is also Indonesia's political center. Moreover, Jakarta is also the center and hub of Indonesia's national finance and trade. It is no wonder, therefore that you will find Jakarta an ever dynamic city, a city that never sleeps.

HOW TO REACH JAKARTA?

Jakarta has two international airports, one is the larger Soekarno-Hatta international airport, located in Tangerang, now in the neighbouring province of Banten. The other is the smaller Halim Perdanakusumah airport, which is reserved to receive visiting Heads of State.

Many international airlines from Europe, Asia and Australia make the Soekarno-Hatta their turnaround airport, while a number do continue on to Bali and Australia. This airport is also the hub of Indonesia's own Garuda Indonesia as well as home for most of Indonesia's regular domestic airlines and low-cost carriers (LCC). Taxis can be hired at the airport to get into the city. There are options to take from regular taxis to limousines. Make sure that you get your taxi from the counter, rather than hail taxis from the kerb. There are buses going into town, but these are infrequent.

WHERE TO GO?
The best way to travel around Jakarta is by hired car, taxi or by package tour, Be prepared, though, to meet traffic jams, especially when travelling during peak hours and into business districts, including the area to the Old Batavia.

It is advisable therefore to choose a hotel near the location where you will have your meeting or business appointments or to the attraction or destination you wish to visit. Distances in Jakarta are far and there are frequent traffic snarls.

Lombok Island

LOMBOK

Lombok’s scenery and landscape, the people, culture and religion, are all markedly different from that of its neighbour, Bali. There is less rainfall and lower humidity on the smaller island, the beaches are clean and largely udeveloped, and the inland forests are mainly intact. It may be only a 20-minute flight away, twp hours on a fast boat or a few hour’s ride by slow car ferry, but it’s another world.

Lombok is roughly 70km (43miles) from north to south and the same distance across. Its great volcano, Gunung Rinjani, is the second highest in Indonesia and dominates the nothern half of the island. Most people live on the east-west plain across the middle, on the fertile lands below the mountain range. The far sputh is arid, with low, scrub-covered hills and eroded valleys, similiar to some parts of Australia.

From study of their plants an animals, the 19th-century naturalist Alfred Wallace divided the Indonesian islands into a western group, regarded as part of Southest Asia; and an eastern group, which belonged geographically to Australia/Oceania. He then drew the line between the two through the deep Lombok Strait, separating Balli and Lombok. The division is not so obvious but the basic principle of the ‘Wallace Line’ as a transitional zone, is accepted.

For many years, the island of Lombok was the domain of the Sasaks, a people who had come from the Asian mainland by way of Java and Bali. They were animists who revered the spirits they believed to be in the living things and the inanimate objects around them. As Islam spread through the islands (apart from Bali) some people in Lombok adopted it in a version of their own, Wektu Telu, which retained many influences of animism. Today, the majority of people are more or less orthodox Muslims. As you travel about Lombok, you will notice many exotic country mosques with their domes and arabesque arcades, aq well as the growing numbers of young women who wear robes and Islamic headscarves.

The first succession of Balinese invasions started in the 18th century. For a while, most of Lombok was governed from Karangasem Bali. Later, the Balinese province in Lombok became independent, and event attempted to capture Karangasem. The beliefs of the animist-Hindu Balinese and the animist-Muslim Sasaks were not always conflict and there was much intermarriage. Today, the Balinese minority mainly lives in west Lombok and is influential in commerceand tourism.

At the end of the 19th century, the Dutch took advantage of the confilct raging between the Sasaks side and then taking complete control. After the Japanese occupied Lombok during World War II, the Dutch briefly returned, only to depart again when Indonesia gained independence.

Where to Go in Lombok

The main attractions on Lombok are its laid-back pace, the beautiful, clean beaches, and the natural, unspoilt beauty. Visitors to Lombok are rewarded with the pleasures of the island’s relaxed, rustic ways-the sight of water buffaloes and their calves; hens and chicks dashing across your path; and sudden views of the blue sea dotted with sails. Most visitors stay in the hotels around Sengigi beach, or the offshore Gili Islands, but the far south also has good beaches and snorkelling.

There are a few notable temples, palaces and other historic sites, and there is a rich culture that needs to be sought out, rather than being obvious display. The co-existence of Sasak traditions and Balinese-Hindu practises means there are always ceremonies going on – ask at ypur hotel.

Some villages are renowned for their traditional craftsbasketry, weaving, pottery or carving. For an insight into village life, hire a car or motorbike, or take day trips to the villages and around the enchatting countryside. It’s worth inquiring about timing of local market days, held in the mornings ince or twice a week in many towns and villages. Outside of the towns, are roads are free of traffic, and a prime source of motor power is still the Cidimo, or pony-drawn carts.

Ampenan, Mataram and Cakranegara

Flights arrive at Selaparang Airports, on the nothern outskirts of Lombok’s capital, Mataram. The slow ferries from Balli dock at Lembar Harbour, 10km (6miles)to the south.

Not so long ago, the old port of Ampenan, the administrative centre of Mataram, and the commercial district of Cakranegara were completely separate. Now they have joined up in Urban sprawl, home to a quarter of a million people. A long, broad avenue links them all continues to Sweta, the island’s transports hub.

The port area of Ampenan is crumbling and mostly disused, but the narrow streets of the old town are livelier. Many of the people here are descended from Arab traders noticeable in the well-attended mosques and the cries of the muezzins in their minarates calling the faithful to prayer. The Museum Nusa Tenggara Barat (tue-sun 7am-2pm;charge), south of the centre in jalan Banjar Tilar Negara, gives an overview of the island’s culture, as well as its unique and volatile ecology.

Mataram is the provincial capital of Nusa Tenggara Barat and has the array of government institutions, as well as treelined residential streets with many opulent houses. Monkeys wait by the roadside for handouts as you approach the temple at the top of Gunung Pengsong, 6km (4miles) south.

Cakranegara (or just Cakra – pronounced ‘Chakra’) grew up around the palace of the Balinese Rajas. Today it is the commercial centre of Lombok. All that remains today of the royal compounds is the 1744 Mayura Water Palace, the former meeting hall and court of justice standing in the middle of a lake and reached by causeway guarded by old cannons. This was scence of a short-lived Balinese victory over Dutch troops in 1894. The result was reversed only weeks later and the Dutch went on to take over the whole island.

Across the street, Pura Meru, the biggest temple in Lombok, was built in 1720. It has three meru-topped shrines dedicated to Brahma, shiva and Vhisnu. The huge wooden drums in the outer courtyard are sounded, calling the Hindu community to festivals and ceremonies. Just to the east, Sweta buzzes with bemos, buses, and pony-powered cidomos. The biggest market in Lombok is also here.

Near the Capital

The hillside gardens and lake at Narmada, about 10km (6miles) east of Cakranegara, were laid out for a 19th-century king, to remind him of Gunung Rinjani and its crater lake when he became too infirm to make the journey to the real mountain. The resemblance is harder to see now that an extra pool and rectangular swimming pool have been added.

The north of Narmada at Lingsar, stands an ecumenical temple, Pura Lingsar, intended to bring together people of different religions. The upper compound is reserved for Hindus. The pool in the Wektu Telu temple is the home a big, old holy eels, which can be fed with offerings of boiled eggs sold by vendors at the gate. In another enclosure, the stones, wpund in white cloth with a yellow sash, come from Gunung Rinjani and are said to represent ancestral spirits. Chinese Taoists have put mirrors there to repel the malevolent spirits.

At Surandi, in the gardens just east of Lingsar, eggs are on the menu again for the residents of a pond in the temple of the Holy Eels. Nearby you can swimm in a spring-fed pool, or have lunch at the old Dutch-built Suranadi Hotel.

Sengigi Beach and the Gili Island

Heading north along the coast from Ampenan, look for Pura Segara, a sea temple on the shore near the colourful Chinese cemetry. Close by, villagers gather to haul the fishing boats up the beach and help sort the catch.

Pura Batu Bolong straddles an archway on a rock just before Sengigi. This ancient Hindu shrine just out to sea, and makes a great lookout point for watching the sunset over the Lombok strait.

The prime place to stay is around Sengigi Beach, just north of Batubolong. The beach shelves steeply in places, and the coral reef or rocks can be just below the surface, so it would be advisable that you wear rubber shoes, rather than walk about bare- footed. North of sengigi, the road passes some of the loveliest coastline in the Indonesian archipelago. At times it climbs to the cliff tops, and the swoops down into breathtaking bays. Tiny fishing villages hide among the palm trees, and the sea is flecked with bright sails.

Instead of the coast road, tours from Sengigi and traffic from Mataram sometimes take the inland route via the Pusuk Pass, a winding road through the mountains. The two roads meet at Pemenang, where a side road leads to the small harbour at Bangsal, which is the starting point for trips to the three Gili islands (gili mean island) just offshore. Gili air is nearest, about 3km (2miles) away. Next is Gili Meno, then Gili Trawangan, the furthest away at 8km (5miles) and also the biggest, despite only being 2.5 (1 ½ miles) long.

With white sand beaches and coral reefs, the Gilis are favourites of divers, travellers and partygoers. Gili Meno is the quietest of the three, while Gili Trawangan is distinguished as the party island. Here, life is laid-back, with numerous little beachside cafes and bamboo beach bungalows, but no cars, motorbikes or dogs to disturb the peace, although Trawangan now has a wider range of facilities. There are also plenty of dive centres here.

The boats that ply from Bangsal to the island wait for a full load of 15 to 20 people. In July and August that won’t take a long, nut out of season you can face a delay unless you pay for the empty places or charter a whole boat (fares are low and fixed); be sure to buy tickets from the main building on the beach and avoid the touts or the other makeshift ticket offices, which are operating a scam. Some of the larger hotels on the Gili Islands provide speedboat transfers for guests.

Bali the dewata island

Island of the thousand temple

Bali is not a large island: you will easily surround the island of Bali in just a few hours. but in Bali, the island with a thousand temples and all the luxury and beauty, will make you feel at home and stay or visit a few days in each region of the island.

take a moment to look at all the temples and all the cultural attractions on the island. landscapes and images of daily life on this island is something we can not miss on the way, it was part of the overall beauty that is in Bali. Best of all is to turn the corner and found the ceremonial procession, the entire population of a village, will be the best dressed and closed roads to perform their ceremonial procession. Temples, palaces and other buildings, but the exotic or exquisit, only really came to life when they are filled with busyness ceremonies and festival. Whe have selected some of the attractions of the most interesting and important, but to truly appreciate and absorb what you see, we suggest you relax and enjoy the site.

HOW TO REACH BALI ISLAND?

Bali island located in the middle of indonesia, the island of Bali has an international airport which receives flights from abroad. you can go directly to the Bali from your country or you can enter from jakarta which is the state capital and then use a domestic flight to Bali. If you want to enjoy the land and sea transportation you have alternative, from Jakarta to Surabaya you can use the train then continued to use the bus headed to Bali, a trip from Jakarta to Bali takes 30 hours.

WHERE TO GO?

1. Sanur

Shouteast of denpasar, bali’s capital, is sanur. In atmosphere, sanur falls somewhere between noisy kuta and secluded Nusa Dua. Half –hidden by tropical gardens and foliage, many of sanur,s hotel are small in scale and face the pleasant, sandy beach. The water is generally calm, protected from waves and undercurrents by an outlying coral reef. At high tide, the swimming is wonderfull, but at low tide, the water dips to knee or waist level, and wading is the only activity possible.

Just inland, pararell to the beach, sanur looks at first nothing more than a long strip of souvenir shops, clothing boutiques and restaurants. But take a walk long some of the lanes leading off the main road, Jalan Tanjung Sari, or beyond the impatient traffic of the bypass (jalan bypass) and you will find traditional life still going on as if tourism had never happened. Many small Indonesian and seafood restaurant on the street are pleasant; one or two are outstanding.

Only short walk north along the shore from the 10 storey Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel is the Le mayeur Museum (Tue-Sun 8am-2pm; charge), once the house of the Belgian painter, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur. He came to Bali in 1932 and stayed to marry the beautiful Ni Polok, who had been a well-known legong dancer before retiting to teach dance. In its day, the garden with it pond and satues was open on the seaward side; now it is enclosed. The out side of the house is covered with stone carving, while the interior is a gallery os sculpture collected by Le Mayeur. The wall are hung with his own paintings: European Landscapes, Balinese scenes and studies of dancers, mostly Ni Polok. When Le Mayeur past away in 1958, the house was turned into a museum.

At the southern end of Sanur Beach, near the Sanur Beach Hotel, the sign point to Pura Belanjong. It’s only a short walk, but few people find their way to this old temple, which is deserted unless there’s a ceremony.

2. NUSA LEMBONGAN

Near the small harbour at this end of sanur beach you can find motorised “perahu” (outtringger boats) to take you to Nusa Lembongan, an island 17 km (11 miles) offshore to the east, which is noted for its good surfing and snorkelling.

3. KUTA

The most famous stretch of beach in Bali forms the western shore of a narrow neck of land just north of the airport. After travellers in the 1960s discovered that they could enjoy a back-to-nature existence here at minimal cost, they gathered in increasing numbers. Tales ere told in Australia about the “perfect wave”, and Kuta became every surfer’s dream destination. Once a poor fishing village and wasteland believed to be inhabited by bad spirits, by the 1980s it was transformed into a frenetic scene, fuelled by alcohol and, for a while, illegal drugs. Today, the drugs is disappeared.

Kuta, and its progressively upscale neighbours to the north – Legian, Seminyak and Kerobokan (as well as Tuban, to the south) – provide an enormouse selection of hotel, restaurants and shop. You’ll find some of the best italian, French, vegetarian, greek, Spanish, Moroccan, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Indonesian restaurants on the island, as well as some of the best shops for craft from other islands, fashion, locally produced ikat cloth, and casual Bali-style beach clothing.

The beach is the real reason to be here, and even though you won’t escape the hawkers, it’s a rest cure after the bustle of town. Swim only between the flags, where lifeguards keep watch: the undertow and currents can be hazardous. At sunset, golden light reflects off the sea and local people come out to stroll or paddle in the shallows. Young men play soccer on the sand or join the tourists in a volleyballl game. While the eager beach masseuses rustlle up new wave of bussiness. Come nightfall, new choice beckon. You can inspect Bali’s selection shops, pick a restaurant, go on a pub cawl, or wait for midnight when the club get into gear

Tuban, Legian and Seminyak

Kuta Beach can mean the small area arround the original village, or the whole coast stretching from the airport nort to Legian and beyond. Kuta’s neigbours are developing separate identities. Tuban Beach to the south has many big hotels, a huge shopping mall and waterpark with waterslides and swimming pool, attractingfamilies and groups. The beach has calmer water and streets are quieter; however, sea pollution can sometimes be problem here.

Adjoining Kuta to the north, Legian at first seems like more of the same, with big concentration of places to eat,drink,dances and sleep along Jalan Melasti, Jalan Yudhistira and Jalan Legian it self. Sunrise is an idyllic time to be on Legian Beach. Surfers are out at the first light of dawn and runners pac the water’s edg.

4. SEMINYAK

A little further north is hip-and-vibrant Seminyak,which boasts the trendiest boutiques and homeware store’s on the island, along with highest concentration of independent fine-dinnings restaurants, and a wide choice of bars, nightclubs, spas, stylish hotel and sumptous holiday rental villas. The atmosphere is much more sophisticated then Kuta and the beach is quiter during the day. The pulsating night life and luxurious accomodation draw of fashionable crowd of people, especially Europeans. Nowhere, in recent years has the up market development of Bali been more evident than here.

Check out Jalan Laksamana and Jalan Abimayu. The former street is home to dozens of restaurants, which serve all kind cuisines, well along the latter you will find a string of live music bars, gay bars and clubs. There are also some chic home furnishing and decor stores along Jalan Raya Seminyak.

North again, surfers find their way to Canggu Beach by way of narrow roads through the rice fields. This is now a developing area with many luxury villas.

Bukit Badung and Nusa Dua

Refered to simply as Bukit (hill) by the ballinese, the penninsula south of the airport is almost a separated island. Most of it is a windswept limestone plateau, entirely unlike the rest of southern Bali. Too dry for rice, its rocky soil is used to grow beans, cassava and peanut. The dramatic coastline is pounded by Balli’s most challenging surf and, in the early 1970s, those in search of the perfect wave discovered some thrilling breaks, hidden coves and golden sand beaches. At the time there was almost no infrastructure. Now,the most exclusive destination on the island, the Bukit presents some of Balli’s most glamours villas and boutique hotels as well as the New Kuta Golf Course at Pecatu.

5. NUSA DUA

On the eastern side of the peninnsulla is Nusa Dua. A tourist enclave of wide paved lanes and manicureds gardens, and the “Bali Collection”-a shoppping mall and restaurant complex to support the many five star resorts. Here, the outside world including event the everyday Ballinese world is excluded. As at Sanur, when the tied is out, the water is too low for swimming, but most Nusa Dua hotels have vast swimming pools . there is little traffic or noise and no hassle from hawkers in this ribbon wrapped hotel zone.

6. TANJUNG BENOA

Jutting into the bay, north of Nusa Dua, lies Tanjung Benoa, a slender, 5km (3mile) long peninnsula, which points like a finger towards Benoa Harbour. On the tip, the village of Benoa was once a bustling trading port, but today the area is a water sport arena of jet sky, motorboat, divings centers bars and hotels, including the prestigious Conrad Resort.

Don’t confused Tanjung Benoa with Benoa Port, which is located on the opposite side of the muddy inlet known as Benoa Harbour. Reached from the Sanur Kuta road by the along causeway, the harbour is used by cargo ships, day cruisers, cruise ships, flying boat and the fast boat ferry services. There is a charge if you wish to drive along the causeway to the jetty, but there is no reason for going to the end unless you plan to take cruise to Nusa Lembongan or a deep sea fishing trip.

7. JIMBARAN BEACH

Jimbaran Beach is a great arc of sand facing a sheltered bay south of the airport, shared by an increasing number of resorts and hotels, and what was once a sleepy fishing village. The golden sand beach,however, remains relaxed an peaceful and due to an offshore coral reef, the sea is generraly save for swimming. What makes Jimbaran realloy famous is its fresh fish, traded daily nearby Kedonganan fish market. At sunset,the west-facing beach becomes a major attraction when bus loads of visitors come to partake in the seafood feasts served up in the many beachfront cafes.

8. PURA LUHUR ULUWATU

An 11th-century Hindu temple balanced on the veryedge of the perpendicular cliffs,some 70m (230ft) above the ocean. The area around the temple is inhabitted by a band of mischievous monkeys, who snatch tourists’ unguarded items, so don’t wear a hat, sunglasses, dangling earrings or anything else that can be yanked away from you. A kecak Ballinese-Dance performance takes place daily here at 6pm.