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Indonesia Travel Guide
Highlights: Upcoming Events and Festivals * Snorkeling and diving * Top Ten Things to do in Indonesia * Elephant trekking * Visa requirements
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Bali
Riau Islands (Batam, Bintan, Singkep)
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Indonesia is
an archipelago of over 13,000 islands stretching 5000km from the Asian
mainland into the Pacific Ocean. Indonesia's total area of sovereign
waters is 4,920,977Km2. With a population of over 230 Millions people it has over 300 ethnic groups and 365 languages and dialects. There is something for everyone in Indonesia. Tropical beaches, mountainous areas, volcanoes, tropical rainforest and jungles which contain some of the most unique and endangered flora and fauna in the world like the Sumatran Tiger and Orangutan.
There are 2 types of Visa on Arrival (VOA) issued in Indonesia:
It is best to pay for the VOA in US Dollars as it will take longer and a chance of being charged more if you pay in other currencies including Rupiah. Most places of entry issue the Visa on arrival though check before proceeding. Mainly the airports and sea ports will issue them. The VOA can not be extended. You must leave the country and re-enter and pay for a new Visa. Citizens of the following countries are exempt: Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. You can get a 60 day Visa though you will need to apply for this at an Indonesian Embassy/Consulate before traveling to Indonesia. If you stay longer than your Visa you will be charged up to US$20-30 per day over and will be denied entry to Indonesia for the following 12 months. If you over stay 60 days or more you are looking at a 25 Million Rupiah fine (US$2500) and possible up to 5 years in jail. Sail Bunaken 2009 is being held between August 12th - 20th in Bitung and Manado in North Sulawesi.There will be Yacht rallies, sail competitions, beach games, expo and conferences on sailing. www.sailbunaken2009.com Java International Soulnation Festival 30-31st October 2009. With international music artists like Arrested Development, Bobby Brown, Tortured Soul and Joss Stone. For more information check out the official website: www.javasoulnationfestival.com
Ramadan
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 5 -7 March 2010. Planned for one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. Set in the Indonesian captial, Jakarta. The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009 will bring together some of the industry's finest names, including BB King, David Foster, Peabo Bryson and Oleta Adams. For more information click here: www.javajazzfestival.com
Penggemar musik tidak dapat melewatkan salah satu festival jazz yang terbesar di dunia. Diadakan di ibukota, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2010 membawa nama-nama besar seperti BB King, David Foster, Peabo Bryson dan Oleta Adams.
Last updated 15th June 2009 |
 Borobodur - Java - largest Buddhist monument in the world Indonesia, being located on the equator has tropical weather all year round. With a vast majority of the central locations mountainous you can find cooler climates. Indonesia has the highest number of volcanoes ('Gunung Api' in Indonesian, literally meaning fire mountain) than any other country. The highest volcano is Mount Kerinci (Gunung Kerinci) 3605m located in Sumatra. Check out the Top 10 Volcanoes in Indonesia - click here.
The Top 10 Things to do in Indonesia 1. Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra 2. Surfing in Bali 3. Snorkeling in Manado, Sulawesi 4. Climb Rinjani Volcano in Lombok 5. Elephant Trekking in Tangkahan, Sumatra 6. Visit Borobodur in Java 7. Visit the dragons on Komodo Island 9. Cruise up the Mahakam River, Kalimantan 10. Play golf in Batam or Bintan
Snorkeling and Diving in Indonesia With over 13,000 islands, some of the most remotest places in the world it's not surprising Indonesia has some of the best snorkeling and diving locations in the world. Some of the best intact coral reefs, with some of the most diverse sea life including the biggest fish of them all, the whale shark visiting various islands in Indonesia throughout the year. Bali has been popular with divers over the last 30 years with best site off the northwest coast, Pulau Menjangan, part of the West Bali National Park though there are plenty of other places, more remote that offer greater opportunities. The more remote, less visited places have the snorkeling and dive opportunities with the greater variety of coral and sea life. Places like Sulawesi, West Papua and Sumatra may be hard to get to and take longer, they offer the more rewarding snorkeling, free from the crowds of tourists that visit Bali. There are a number of locations within Indonesia that are using Elephants as part of their eco-tourist activities. The Indonesian Elephants are amongst the most endangered species of the world. In North Sumatra, in a small village called Tangkahan, they have taken problem elephants, the ones that were damaging local communities and used them in a push to save the endangered elephants in the Gunung Leuser National Park. By using the elephants for eco-tourism they are funding patrols of the jungle to prevent illegal activities like illegal logging and animal poaching. You can visit the elephant camp, help wash the elephants as well as go trekking in the jungle on the back of the elephants. For more details about the trekking check out Sumatra Indonesia - Tangkahan. In Bali, not far from Ubud is the Elephant Safari Park which was officially opened in 2000 specifically for eco-tourism.
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