Beach is often a favorite tourist spot for most people to take a vacation. Java Island has many wonderful beaches to be missed. However, if you want to try other natural attractions , national parks can be alternative. One of intersting national parks in Java is Baluran National Park. This park is often referred as Indonesia's Africa. 

Location

Baluran National Park is located in the region of Banyuputih, Wongsorejo, Situbondo, Banyuwangi (north), East Java, Indonesia. The north side of the park is bordered by the Madura Strait, while the east by the Strait of Bali. In the midst of this national park there are Mount Baluran which is currently inactive volcano. Beside that, this national park is flanked by Mount Semeru and Mount Ijen. 

Access

For those of you who are outside the province of East Java, you must first come to the city of Surabaya. From Surabaya (East Java) you can take the coastal strip north eastwards past the town of Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Situbondo and Banyuputih. On arrival at Banyuputih take the road leading to the Bilik Village. Continue your journey to Wongosorejo village, on the way to this village, turn left towards the visitor center.

If the you are in the eastern region of East Java , you can take the path of Banyuwangi - Batang - Bekol with a distance of about 47 km. Or you can also take the route of Situbondo - Batangandengan with a distance of 60 km.

The road leading to the Baluran National Park is very convenient because it was paved. This road is a traffic lane that connects the province of Bali , Banyuwangi with the city of Surabaya so that those who are in nearby towns can access easily.

Arriving at Bekol, to get to the entrance of the National Park, you'll pass through the thin asphalt road as far as approximately 15 km. So it is recommended for those who bring a personal vehicle or renting a car not using sedans, SUV is better.

Condition of Baluran National Park

Baluran National Park is the largest savanna in Java with diverse animal and plant species. A visit to this location makes you looks like in Africa. That is why this National Park is often referred to Indonesia's Africa

Here you will be treated by a view of the deers running toward the puddles to drink, the peacock spread its tail, hordes of buffaloes and elephants, dozens of eagles that fly to find food to monkeys hanging from the trees and gathering on the road. The scenery is exactly like that can be found in Africa.

In addition to the hordes of animals that are free to move in the wild you will also be treated to views of 444 native plant species typical as Widoro bukol (Ziziphus rotundifolia), and Mimba (Azadirachta indica). These plant species is able to adapt very dry conditions. When other plants have started to dry, these species is still green.

Beside 444 species of plants, there are 26 species of mammals and 155 species of birds. Mammals that live in Baluran National Park, such as bison, deer, leopards, deer, and mangrove cat. There are also some rare birds such as kites fire, tuwuk / tuwur Asia , red jungle fowl, hornbills, and the stork casks.

Baluran National Park is representative of the dry forest ecosystem in Java with savanna vegetation types, mangrove forest, monsoon forest, coastal forest, lower montane forest, swamp forest, and green forest. 40 percent of savannah vegetation dominates the park.

Climate in Baluran National Park is a dry climate. During dry season, the water on the ground surface will be very limited.

What to do In Baluran National Park

If you are lovers of photography, it is advisable to begin the trip to Baluran National Park in the morning, start at 4:00 or 5:00 am so you can watch a beautiful sunrise on the sidelines of the fog and trees. The images you took will be much more dramatic, like African landscape photography style.

Another good location to see the sunrise is Bama beach. Around this beach, there are mangrove forest conservation areas which shouldn't be missed. Please be careful while in this area, because there are a lot of monkeys hanging around that ready to take your camera, and the rest of your luggage.

Beside enjoying the sunrise, in Bama Beach you can also go around Baluran National Park using rented boat on the beach. You can also do snorkeling while enjoying the diversity of marine life.

Tips

The best time to visit Baluran National Park is from March to August. Between July and August, you can watch the fight between deer, the monkey hunting crab, and peacocks dancing.

For those of you who want to camp, there are also camping ground provided by the manager. Bathrooms and water installations are available here.

You are prohibited to interrupt, destroy, take, or hunting flora and fauna that exist here.

It is advisable for you to bring supplies of food and beverages, because there are no special facilities for culinary .

Don't forget to bring your own plastic bags to dispose your trash during the trip to this National Park.

Ijen Crater is one of the most popular tourism resort in East Java, Indonesia. These attractions are part of the Ijen Resort Nature Reserve Travel. Administratively, the crater is located in two districts name Banyuwangi and Bondowoso. Ijen crater is above an altitude of 2,368 meters above sea level and is part of the Mount Ijen, one of the active volcanoes in Java .

The Crater with an area of ​​20 sq km is surrounded by caldera walls as high as 300-500 meters. In addition, the acid content that existed at the crater is close to zero with temperatures reaching 200 degrees Celsius, which means the crater water is enough to melt clothes or even human body in a short time.

However, just calm down. As long as you remain within safe distance , Kawah Ijen is harmless. However, due to a very high sulfur content, you are required to wear a mask for comfort when breathing. Temperatures around the tourist attractions can reach 2 degrees Celsius, so don't forget to bring warm and thick clothes.

In the western part of the crater there is a dam made by the Dutch to avoid overflowing of crater water. This defunct dam is made of concrete and could be alternative places to visit in the crater, but the path to getting there is difficult to pass.

To be able to enjoy the beauty of the crater , you can depart from Banyuwangi and Bondowoso heading to Paltuding, the final post in this tourist spot. From Paltuding, you have to hike for about 2 hours to get to the top of the caldera which is the closest location to watch the crater. From here, you can see the turquoise sea of ​​the crater with a puff of smoke. It's an amazing sight.

If you want to get the best views of the crater, you should start climbing departing from Paltuding about 4 AM hours with the above estimate at 6-7 o'clock in the morning. At this hour, the crater is at his best and produce the most beautiful scenery.

How could we set off up so early? Don't worry, around the Paltuding post, there are simple lodgings run by the local Forest Service. Before dawn, you will be woken up in preparation for a hike. If you do not want to spend the night at the inn, you can set up a tent for camping with friends in this post. But don't forget to take care of a camping permit.

The best time to visit tourist attractions in East Java is in the dry season, which is between the months of July to September. In the recent months, rain is rare so the terrain or climbing way is relatively safe and you can enjoy the crater without exposed to rain or fog.

What's Interesting from Ijen Crater ?

Blue Flames !

If you want to see the unusual beauty , try hiking in the early morning. Ijen Crater has another miracle, in the bottom of the crater there are blue flame which became uniqueness of this tourism spot. The blue flame are coming from the liquid sulfur that dried and become mineral locals. Blue flame can only be seen when the surrounding atmosphere is still dark.

One of Two Traditional Sulfur Mine Site in Indonesia

In Indonesia, there are only two traditional sulfur mine site,  in Welirang and in the crater. Mining process here is very simple and doesn't use sophisticated tools. Miners will go down closer to the crater to take sulfur bullion that has dried up with simple tools without adequate safety equipment.

Chunks of sulfur that had been frozen will be cut with a crowbar and then transported using a basket carried on the shoulders. Miners bear the heavy burden that can reach 80-100 kg and they had to take it to walk as far as 3 km to the sulfur collection points . For safety reason, each miner is allowed only to carry twice a day.

Sulfur will be collected in an old building from the Dutch called the Round Pos. Each basket of each miner will be weighed and exchanged for money according to the weight of sulfur.
 

You will encounter these miners while being around this tourist attractions. Feel free to say hello to them or simply inquire about the sulfur mining process. Although they looks tired and busy with their activities, miners are friendly people.

Special Souvenirs at Ijen Crater

When visiting a tourist spot, it feels incomplete if we didn't buy typical souvenirs. What can be gained from the crater? Ijen Crater is not only known as a tourism spot, this crater is also popular as a sulfur mine site.
 

At the crater, precisely in the post Paltuding, there are some simple stalls that selling food to the miners, but many tourists often stop by and enjoy warm drinks and food there .

One of the shop owner is Mr. Im who also works as a tour guide at the crater. Beside that, Mr. Im's stalls also sell crater souvenirs. This souvenir is made of bamboo and shaped to resemble a  miniature baskets owned by sulfur miners. Beside that, miners also sell miniature made by sulfur.

Coffe Agrotourism

If you're departing from Bondowoso, you will pass arabica coffee plantation area. Nothing wrong to stop by and try agrotourism experience here. You can walk around the estate and see the process of picking up to the processing in order to produce a coffee with the best taste.

Indonesia has many tourist attractions ranging from beautiful, stunning, attractive and frightening. There are several frightening tourist attractions in Indonesia. It was so horrible, many people who visited these place don't want to come for the second time. 

#1 Lawang Sewu

Lawang Sewu is an old building that said to be very haunted and terrible. Lawang itself means the door, and sewu means 9 that if  combined become nine doors. Actually, this building doesn't have nine doors,  but have many large windows so it is considered as the door by people. The building is located in the city of Semarang, precisely in the Tugu Muda roundabout formerly called Wilhelminaplein.

 

It was said that this Lawang Sewu is inhabited by Kuntilanak and Gunderuwo ghost that often roaming in the building. Nearby residents often see a shadow in the this old building.

#2 Lubang Buaya

Lubang Buaya is the victims of September 30th's  tragedy in 1965. Lubang Buaya is located in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta. Local residents often hear the shouts from the crocodile pit (Lubang Buaya), so they think this place is a horrible place.

#3 Kumala Island

Kumala Island was once a forest. People then turned it  into a tourist attraction by building a variety of entertainment venues. When the  workers were working in  this forest, they often saw kuntilanak wandering in the forest. Until now, this island is still feared by many people.

#4 Japan Cave

This cave is a terrible place that is often used as tourist attractions for tourists. Japan Cave was once a haven for Japanese army, which is made by the indigenous people when Romusha forced labor. If you enter this cave you will hear the screams like being in torments, and also the mysterious shadow that is often seen.

#5 Kontilola Cave

Kontilola cave is the most creepy cave in Indonesia. The cave is located in Papua. This cave has  its own peculiarities in it.  There are pictorial painting of a very strange man, having 3 meters tall, with a bald head and round and also has four fingers.

Local residents regard the painting as a very horrible alien. If you come there, you have to set up some full equipment so you could be safe.

Bunaken Marine Park is one of the tourism spot in Indonesia which lies in Manado, North Sulawesi. In 2005, Bunaken Marine Park have been designated as the world's heritage site. This is because of the richness and diversity of sea life ranging from the extraordinary coral reefs, sea grass to fish species there. This tourist spot has more than 30 diving spots, make it become favorite place for domestic and foreign divers.

Bunaken National Marine Park has an area of 75,265 ha. There are five islands included in this national park. They are Naen Island, Bunaken, Manado Tua Island, Siladen Island, Mantehage Island and more islands surrounding them. Total population in these island is around 21,000 people.

Bunaken Island is geographically included in the waters teritorial "Golden Triangle". More than 3000 species of fish are in Bunaken Marine Park. The "Golden Triangle" is the a waterway sea linking Philippine Sea, Sea of ​​Papua, and Indonesia sea. Because having rich natural resources, national and international organizations work together in carrying out the conservation of coral reefs and mangroves.

Manado City Government has made the idea of ​​Bunaken as a marine tourism and educational tourism, because local governments saw marine nature conservation activities in this region. And then in 1991, the Minister of Marine officially announced Bunaken National Marine Park.

Tourism Site

Bunaken has an area of ​​approximately 8 square kilometers located in the Bay of Manado. Bunaken is one of sea park which has the highest sea biodiversity in the world. There are many tourists who come to perform diving activities in the area of ​​Bunaken. Although the area reached 75,265 ha, the diving locations is very limited, just being around the beach which surrounds the five islands in the area of ​​Bunaken National Marine Park.

There are 40 diving sites which have diverse coral reefs and beautiful tropical ocean fish in Bunaken. Travelers who dives in Bunaken can see 150 species of fish from about 58 genus of fish and coral reefs.

Bunaken National Marine Park has 20 diving spot with varying depths. Of the 20 diving spots, 12 diving spots are located on the island of Bunaken. It is frequently visited by divers. Both local and foreign divers.

Bunaken dive spot lined up from the southeast to northwest. In this area there is a vertical and curved giant rock wall. This wall is the food source for fish and the other sea dwellers. 

Location

Bunaken is located in the sea waters of Sulawesi Island . Most of Sea Park is located in the northern Bay of Manado. To get to the Bunaken National Marine Park, you can use motor boat from Manado Bay.

Admission Prices

The admission price to the Bunaken National Marine Park is Rp. 50.000 ($5) / person for one entry.  You can buy Rp. 150.000 ($15) / person which valid for 1 year. If you buy a ticket that is valid for 1 year, you will be given a badge made of plastic instead of the ticket.

Facilities and Accommodations

Some hotel accommodation in Bunaken district already available with various options. Some of them are  Bunaken Island Dive Resort and Bunaken Divers Sea Breeze Resort . Both hotels are located on the island of Bunaken. You can rental diving equipment along with the instructor. The diving instructor has mastered French, Dutch, English, and German.

Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world that consists of 13.466 islands. This country has a lot of natural resources to enjoy. One of them is lake. Behind its beauty, several lake in Indonesia has mystical story. The story is usually come from the ancestor and passed down to the generation.

Tolire Lake

Tolire lake is located in Ternate, North Maluku, or about 10 km from the center of Ternate city. Beside having a unique shape, this lake also has an interesting narrative (legend).

Based on the narrative, and has been proven by some people, objects that was thrown into the lake will never touch the surface of the lake water. People believe this is because the power of stealth crocodile that nested inside the lake.

Pening Swamp (Rawa Pening)

Rawa Pening derived frow word "bening" which means "clear" . Rawa Pening is located in Semarang, Central Java.

According to legend, Rawa Pening is formed by the water that flows from the the stick done by Baru Klinthing. Baru Klinthing story tells about a little boy who has many scar on his body, and smells stink. People hate him, but an old widow accept and help him. This swamp is also preferred as fishing tourism object and water sports facilities. But in recent decades, fishing boats are hard to move.

Toba Lake

This lake is located in the city of Medan, North Sumatra. Toba is the largetst freshwater lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. This lake is unique because it has an island named Samosir in the middle.

Lake Toba has a legend about Dragon Guardian. According to the statement of the residents around the lake, they often sea a figure of a dragon in the Lake. The Dragon is believed to be the son of Mr Toba, who turned into a dragon to protect the lake.

Until now, the dragon still like to reveal itself. Most fisherman in the lake sometimes feel like a big snake is swimming in the lakes surface.

Gunung Tujuh Lake

Gunung Tujuh Lake is located in Kerinci, Jambi. Precisely in the Pelompek Village, Ayu Aro District. This lake is just behind Kerinci Mountain.

Native people known this lake as Sacred Lake. It is because the lake water is always clean, where the leaves that are falling from the trees around the lake, aren't visible on the surface of the water. People also narrated that sudden weather change often occur in this lake.

Kaco Lake

Kaco Lake is also located in Kerinci, Jambi. Precisely in the Lempur Village, Gunung Raya. Local people called it Kaco Lake, which means "glass" in English.

Lies in the height of 1289m above sea level, this lake is so small. Only about 30x30m. But it can present the beauty of the lake itself among the surrounding trees.

This lake has very clear water. The depth of this lake is still a mystery. Another miracle of this lake is that it can emit a clear light in the darkness, especially when full moon occur.

Many visitors who stay to see this miracle doesn't need light because the clear light of the lake is enough. Some researchers are trying to find answers to this phenomenon, but it still become mystery. The diver are always running out of oxygen before touching the lakebed.

The myth of the birth of Lake Kaco are told in the local folklore. It tells about beautiful princess who proposed by many man. Without any doubt they entrust precious stones to the King Crow, father of the princess. However, greedness make King Crow tarnish his own daughter. Later, her daughter was buried in the lake along with the treasures.

If this time you only know Sanur beach and Kuta Beach in Bali, you must visit this pretty beach that have grown into a place of Marine Tourism. The name is Pandawa Beach, or commonly known as Kutuh Beach. 

No need to doubt that Bali has a lot of amazing beauty. Cultural and religious plus the beauty of nature especially stunning Exotic beach make a lot of tourists want to visit this Bali Island .

Pandavas (Pandawa) beach located in South Region of Bali or in the Kutuh village, Badung. This beach was once called the Secret Beach because of its location which lies behind the high cliffs overgrown with shrubs. The beach which lies approximately 3 KM from Nusa Dua has long been known, but because the access to this beach is very difficult, it is rarely visited by tourists. 

Judging from the potential beauty of this beach, 10 years ago Badung regency  has opened the access road made ​​along approximately 1.5 KM that leads to the beach pandawa which passes through the high limestone cliffs. State of the road leading to the beach location is very unique and beautiful because it is flanked by cliffs that has been split.
 

Name of the Pandavas in Nusa Dua Beach is derived from the figure puppet Five Pandavas. Therefore, if you go in the beach area you will be served by 5 Statue of Pandavas, Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sadewa. They are measured with magnificent and the great statue was stored in a limestone cliff. You can watch the statue from coast to the west.

The Beauty of this coast no doubt. Shades of white sand, The clear water and the waves are singing from a distance. The breeze are ready to soothe your heart.

Access to Pandawa Beach in Nusa Dua Bali

Pandavas beach can be taken approximately 60 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport. Travel can be addressed from Kuta to Garuda Wisnu Kencana and then turn left towards Nusa Dua Bali. You just need to follow the signpost that reads "Pandava Beach" and then turn left to arrive at the intersection and adjust the path, you will arrived on the coast of Bali Pandavas. The terrain to this beach are passing through the rock cliffs and hollow hills.

Activities You Shouln't Miss

Visiting Pandawa Beach means you have to ready for wetting yourself. Swimming became an important activity beside a small boat ride or paraseiling. But, if you don't want to wet yourself then you can indulge yourself sitting in a cafe next to the beach cafe where you can feel a sip of coconut water accompanied by bajar corn. You can also stroll along the coast while seeing seaweed farmers doing their activities.