Sunday, March 29, 2009

Coban Rondo Waterfall

The Coban Rondo waterfall (we called The Wana Wisata Air Terjun Coban Rondo) is a beautiful waterfall and gives peacefull impression. The experiences never forget is The way to the waterfall, on the right and left side you can see the beautiful of aligment cypress and pine trees. The coban rondo waterfall was located 12 km from the Batu City, or to be precise in the Pandansari Village. Pujon. In the coban rondo you will be experienced by a waterfall with the height 60 m.


The Wana Wisata Air Terjun Coban Rondo region was the region that most was easy to be followed. The road to enter towards the location has been asphalted, so as really facilitated tourists if wanting to visit this waterfall. Around the waterfall of Coban Rondo, was filled pine trees and the mountain casuarina, made the atmosphere in this tourist attraction feel like cool. From this area , you can see also the panorama of Batu town.

The Coban Rondo waterfall kept the unique legend. It seems, under the waterfall was gotten the residence cave of a woman was named Dewi Anjarwati. Her husband, Raden Baron Kusuma fought against Joko Lelono, the young man who was interested with the beauty of Dewi Anjarwati and will kidnap her. Raden Baron was killed in the battle and the wife him was hidden in the cave by her servant. Therefore this place was given by the name of the Coban Rondo Waterfall (the widow’s waterfall).

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Kelimutu

Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the town of Moni in central Flores Island of Indonesia containing three summit crater lakes of varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red in color, respectively. The lake colors do vary on a periodic basis. Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes.

The lake have been a source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. The summit of the compound 1639-m-high Kelimutu volcano is elongated two km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara are located respectively three km to the north and two km to the south. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Borobudur Temple



The Borobodur Temple complex is one of the greatest monuments in the world. It is of uncertain age, but thought to have been built between the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth century A.D. For about a century and a half it was the spiritual centre of Buddhism in Java, then it was lost until its rediscovery in the eighteenth century.
The structure, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill in the form of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

One of the ninety-two Dhyani Buddha statues enclosed in stupas
For each direction there are ninety-two Dhyani Buddha statues and 1,460 relief scenes. The lowest level has 160 reliefs depicting cause and effect; the middle level contains various stories of the Buddha's life from the Jataka Tales; the highest level has no reliefs or decorations whatsoever but has a balcony, square in shape with round walls: a circle without beginning or end. Here is the place of the ninety-two Vajrasattvas or Dhyani Buddhas tucked into small stupas. Each of these statues has a mudra (hand gesture) indicating one of the five directions: east, with the mudra of calling the earth to witness; south, with the hand position of blessing; west, with the gesture of meditation; north, the mudra of fearlessness; and the centre with the gesture of teaching.

Devotional practice of circumambulate around the galleries and terraces
Besides being the highest symbol of Buddhism, the Borobodur stupa is also a replica of the universe. It symbolises the micro-cosmos, which is divided into three levels, in which man's world of desire is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level, the world in which man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses; the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire.

It is devotional practice to circumambulate around the galleries and terraces always turning to the left and keeping the edifice to the right while either chanting or meditating. In total, Borobodur represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.


Monday, March 9, 2009

Meru Betiri National Park

Meru Betiri National Park represents mangrove forest, swamp forest, and lowland rain forest ecosystems.

This Park is a natural habitat of the rafflesia flower (Rafflesia zollingeriana), and various other plants such as mangrove (Rhizophora sp.), api-api (Avicennia sp.), waru (Hibiscus tiliaceus), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), rengas (Gluta renghas), bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), and several medicinal plants.

This Park is also home to several protected animals, including 29 species of mammal and 180 species of bird. Among them are the banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus), panther (Panthera pardus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), red-tailed flying squirrel (Iomys horsfieldii), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis javanensis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), green peafowl (Pavo muticus), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), common green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Pacific ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Meru Betiri National Park is known as the last habitat of the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) which is now a highly endangered and protected species. However, no traces of this tiger have been found for many years and it is feared to be extinct.

Meru Betiri does have other distinct characteristics. Sukamade Beach is a habitat of the leatherback turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the common green turtle, and the Pacific ridley turtle. Several simple breeding facilities have been constructed at this beach to ensure that the turtles, too, do not become extinct.

Interesting locations/attractions:
Rajegwesi Beach: marine tours, swimming, animal/plant observation and cultural visits (traditional fishing communities).
Sumbersari: a grazing area (192 hectares), where visitors can watch animal like the sambar deer and barking deer. There is also a nature laboratory for research.
Sukamade Beach: turtles can be seen laying their eggs. Camping, wind surfing, plant and animal observation are also available here.
Hijau Bay: exploring the forest, marine tours and swimming.
Best time of year to visit: February to July.

How to reach the Park: Surabaya-Jember-Ambulu, about 5 hours by car (225 km); Ambulu-Curahnongko-Bandealit, about 3 hours, or Surabaya-Banyuwangi-Jajag, 6 hours (342 km); Jajag-Sarongan-Sukamade, 3 hours (60 km).