“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” - Jawaharial Nehru
On my upcoming sojourn in the archipelago I will be travelling to the eastern islands starting from Bali and then island-hopping eastwards to the far eastern island of Flores. Quite a while back I did this trip and was immensely impressed with the individual island’s culture and its peoples. Of course I can expect some changes to have occurred, like the losmens I stayed in last time might not be there, the warungs where I enjoyed the tastes of the local delicacies could have closed down or the friends that I made, moved on to better things. Most of the eastern islands are relatively poor compared to those of the larger islands and that of the mass tourism island of Bali. Subsequently, any though of western comforts are soon dismissed and should be before you venture out on a journey like this. It’s not a journey your regular tourist to Indonesia does.
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Located some 60 kilometers to the east of Ende, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, there are three lakes of three different colours that are collectively known as the Kelimutu Lakes. To get to the lakes, tourists must travel about two hours overland from Ende to the parking area of Kelimutu National Park and from there walk for about 30 minutes through casuarina trees to reach the crater. Scientists continue to puzzle over the colors of the lakes, which are situated about 1,690 meters above sea level, because they change over time. Before 2006, the lakes were red, blue and white. Now, the red lake is black-brown, the blue lake is light green and the white lake is black. The black-brown lake and the light green lake are located side-by-side, separated only by a wall of earth that is 100-200 centimeters thick.
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The domestic airline industry is becoming more competitive with
PT Eka Sari Lorena Airlines (Lorena Air) soon to enter the market hit hard by increasing fuel prices. Lorena Air, which is a subsidiary of transportation company Lorena Group, is scheduled to fly its first two Boeing 737-300 aircraft on June 6. The company will serve the Jakarta-Surabaya route four times a day. On June 12, the company will start serving Palembang and Pekanbaru twice a day according to a Business News report.
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Low-cost carrier AirAsia has introduced a checked baggage handing fee for all AirAsia flights from April 21 onwards as part of the company’s strategy to keep the airline’s basic fares low, which is its main priority. AirAsia said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur recently that there would be a charge per piece of checked baggage up to a maximum combined weight of 15 kg. “Anything over 15kg will be charged as excess in addition to the per piece checked baggage fee,” the company said. Passengers should pre-book their checked baggage to save costs and time at check-in.discount will be given for checked baggage booked more than four hours prior to departure,” it said. AirAsia said that passengers should be given the option to choose the services they require and pay only for those services.
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“Come, come … please. You see Museum Kereta (carriage museum),” were the words of a guide at Yogyakarta’s Kraton (palace). He was most insistent that the visitor to the Kraton also came to the nearby Museum Kereta. The walk to the museum is not far and visitors may benefit from the shade created by the kraton walls. On arrival, a huddle of men chatting pause from their conversations and cigarettes to offer warm greetings and collect small entrance fees (Rp 3,000 and, if you want to use a camera, a further Rp 1,000 is required). Once inside, a visually impressive display awaits.
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Travelling to Indonesia could become much easier next month, when the country’s national airline Garuda’s maiden flight between Chennai and Medan is set to take off. Indonesia’s acting ambassador to India Rizali W. Indrakesuma told Chennai businessmen on Friday that the new flight would strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two regions. Speaking on the sidelines of an interactive session with city Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Indrakesuma explained that this would be the first Garuda flight to India since the economic crisis of the late 1990s forced the airline to cut its earlier flight to Mumbai according to the Hindu Times. Asked why the resumption of flights is starting with Chennai, Mr. Indrakesuma said that one factor was the demographic make-up of Medan, in northern Sumatra, which is home to a large number of ethnic south Indians with links to Chennai. Increasing economic relationships with southern India could also be a factor.
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Along with the endorsement of 2008 as Visit Indonesia Year, a line-up of programs has been arranged to give visitors a closer encounter with the country’s magnificent culture. Here are some of the highlights to come in the next few months:
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The tourism business in South Sumatra has been sluggish for years. The province hardly figures as a major tourist destination, although the region was named Indonesia’s seventh tourist destination a few years back. In fact, the province is rich in culture and historical sites. These include prehistoric relics and attractions of historical value linked to Indonesia’s independence struggle. Unfortunately, this potential has remained largely untapped, consequently it has little business value.
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If you want to read just one book about food in Jakarta, make it The Jakarta Good Food Guide (JGFG). This is an indispensable guide for foodies and travelers looking for a taste of something different in Jakarta. Laksmi Pamuntjak is an independent reviewer who has deliberately avoided invitations of all sorts. I spent about two thirds of my life in the Jakarta, but it seems I have missed some of the “famous” restaurants and stalls Laksmi writes about. There are
around 440 restaurants including the kaki-lima (roadside stalls) she reviews in this third edition, which is available in English only. At Rp 200,000 (around US$20), this book is a steal. And the best place to store this guide is inside your car rather than on a shelf or coffee table.
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In what is seen as a boost to tourism in Kalimantan, Garuda Indonesia will fly from Jakarta to Pontianak three times a day to cater to rising demand for air services. Currently, Garuda serves the route once per day. Garuda had filed an application to the operator of Supadio Airport in Pontianak for an increase in the number of its flights from Jakarta to Pontianak or vice versa. It is expected that Garuda would be able to compete with other airlines which offered low-cost flights.
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