More About Padang, West Sumatera

The capital of West Sumatra, Padang is the door to the Minang highlands. With the greatest port on Sumatra's West Coast, this is a dealer town drawing in boats exchanging in products such as elastic, cinnamon, espresso, tee, bond and coal.

Padang is very pleasant with a nice promenade along the beach, distinctive Padang architecture and wonderfully friendly people. The city is also the home of the delicious Padang food and the town is stuffed with restaurants and street stalls.


Ladies are advised to wear long pants and at least a t-shirt with sleeves as you are entering a conservative city. Be aware that the men can get overly forward and cheeky.

It rains often in Padang. The roads flood quite easily as the city is still in the process of repairing the damage from the massive earthquake of recent years. Bring along a pair of slippers. These are useful in floods as well as for the beach.

For attractions, these are some attraction in Padang that tourists often to visit :

1. Lake Maninjau

Lake Maninjau is a caldera lake in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located 36 km to the west of Bukittinggi. Come to this ancient lake, set within a volcanic crater, to escape from the crowds and hustle and bustle of the rest of the country.

2. Sikuai Island

Sikuai is an island in the sub-district of Bungus Teluk Kabung, City of Padang, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The island is located about a half mile from the center of Padang and can be achieved using marine transportation such as ships, approximately 35 minutes from port of Muara Padang.

3. Air Manis Beach

Air Manis Beach is closely related to the legend of Malin Kundang in West Sumatra. Malin Kundang is a character fabled to have been turned to stone, together with his ship, after periods of disobedience to his mother. Air Manis beach is a favorite tourist site for local and foreign tourists because it has low waves and beautiful views of Mount Padang.

4. Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands are a chain of about seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Siberut (4,030 km²) is the largest of the islands. The other major islands are Sipura, North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie approximately 150 km off the Sumatran coast, across the Mentawai Strait. The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are known as the Mentawai people. The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for surfing.

5. Jam Gadang

Jam Gadang is an icon of Bukittinggi. In the Indonesian language, Jam Gadang means big clock and big it certainly is! This 26 meter tall clock was built in 1826 as a present from the Dutch Queen to the city secretary, Rook Maker.

But there are still few attractions you should visit when visiting Padang. Don't forget to have culinary tourism, because Padang is popular with its delicious culinaries.

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Favourite Restaurants in Bandung

Bandung is well-known as the heaven of culinary. There are many cool culinary spots with delicious foods and drinks. So, where are the favourite restaurants / cafe you should visit ? Check it out.

1. Kampung Daun Culture Gallery & Café
Located in cool & beautiful place, Kampung Daun Culture Gallery & Café is a unique café and interesting place to visit. Kampung Daun has a great place with its waterfall, floor sitting, and romantic lighting.

2. The Valley Bistro Cafe
Spoil yourself in the evenings at The Valley Bistro Garden. Indulge in the colourfull European, Japanese & Oriental cuisines, filled with flavour and elegance, in a warm & relaxed ambience.

3. Atmosphere Resort Café
Atmosphere Resort Café offers a wide range of finest European, Indonesian and Asian cuisines, in a comfortable and stylish atmosphere. The interior design is adapted from Balinese and extends with cozy ambience of polished woods, Gazebos and various watercress around the ponds, which give beautiful view and natural nuances.

4. The Peak Resort Dining
The Peak is a modern country style resort dining establishment, offering discerning indoor / outdoor dining service. An entertainment and dining landmark for discerning Indonesians and expatriates, The Peak has achieved celebrity status since it opened.

5. Bober Cafe
Bober Cafe specialized in seesha smoking, coffee and cookies. Established in early 2004, started with small and comfy hanging out places for young old community. On June 2008 Bober Cafe started their humble business to enlarge the landscape, provide high tech facility to pamper the top satisfaction of their lovely customer.

6. Pasadena Steak
Pasadena Steak is different to other steak restaurants in Bandung. Pasadena has a special taste of beef and cozy atmosphere of the spot. Favourite menus at Pasadena are T Bone and Cordon Blue. Few sauces can be found here such as mushroom, blackpepper, and barbeque sauce depends on your favourite.

7. Café Halaman
Kafe Halaman in Jalan Tamansari Bandung is one of places for food lovers. Just like its name, kafe halaman offers a pleasant atmosphere for its guests. The concept of eating in the backyard is a compliment for their delicious food and drinks. The old dutch style building emphasizes the romantic tone in this place.

8. Coca Suki Restaurant
Experience Thai-style steamboat with special Coca sauce and savour tasty flavours that linger wonderfully in your mouth. Together with the healthy goodness of fresh seafood, vegetables, meat and dumplings in a delicious hot broth comes in two flavours, tom-yum or clear, you will have a mouth- watering experience that you've never had before.

9. Rumah Stroberi Resto & Kebun
Rumah Stroberi offers comforts and activities for family gathering. Rumah Stroberi also provides a restaurant with great menus. Sundanese foods being favourite in this restaurant.

10. Platinum Resto
Platinum Resto is intended for those who are cosmopolitan and modern spirit. Platinum Resto present in shopping malls are quite prominent and backed with luxurious and modern interiors, and presents dishes that are perfect for those who are tasteful.

You like it? You can visit other restaurants in this page .

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Top 10 Places In The World to Spend Valentine's Day

It is February and there's a special day on 14th. Yeah that is Valentine's Day ! That day is a special day for couples in the world to celebrate their relationship.

Valentine's day gonna be wonderful if we spend it in foreign places and of course in a romantic city or place. We willl give you a recommendation of beautiful places in the world for you and your couple to spend.

1. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is one of the most romantic cities in the world and also a wonderful environment for both of you to eat, see sights, and feed off the passion of the city.

Buildings in the city are old enough to make your relationship feel young.  During your romantic holiday you can see the city by tour if you wish, but an even more intriguing option might be taking two of the many city bicycles available for rent around town.  Trying riding slowly, absorbing the beauty of the city, the plazas, the towers, the statues, there is so much to see but you will eventually have to stop, perhaps when you find a restaurant or small café.

2. Reykjavik, Iceland

There are 22 hours of night during Valentine’s Day in Reykjavik, which should fit your mood appropriately because night is really love time. Reykjavik Capital Area is a small and intimate with a big personality and some striking landmarks, including mountains, beautiful buildings both old and modern, a lake and intriguing sculptures. Walk into any bar on Laugavegur, the city’s main street or just walk along it deeply breathing the clearest air of the world.

3. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Rio is well known for the beauty of its beaches. Hills that are covered by tropical forests raise from the see and build a magnificent view.

The city is famous for the annual Carnival,  night and day music, singing, parties, balls, and street parades of brilliantly-costumed dancers performing  samba rhythms.

4. Venice, Italy

So what if Romeo and Juliet were pure fiction? The myth only makes this beautiful old city more romantic. In its heart, Hotel Due Torri Baglioni is the most romantic hotel, and its concierge is a confirmed romantic himself.

The crying violins in St. Marks Square may have moved indoors, but on a nice February day, the café tables are out in every sunny spot overlooking the Grand Canal. Arrive at the water entrance of boutique hotel Ca Maria Adele by gondola for the ultimate romantic experience; the more practical vaporetto stops in front of the church of Santa Maria della Salute, right next door. The 16th-Century palazzo has been preserved beautifully, while adding all the modern comforts.

5. Paris, France

The most romantic holiday destination – Paris is famous for its history and traditional outlook. If you are planning for a different romantic place, spring time in Paris is an exact time yo visit with your mate. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower with your partner, over to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Take a long walk along the tree lined streets of Paris and share those romantic moments spent together.

6. San Francisco, California

Valentine’s Day in San Francisco inspires parties, fundraisers, embarrassing public confessions, artwork, games, zoology lessons, cruises and of course, romantic dinners.

If you’re planning a romantic getaway in San Francisco, here are some great ideas for romantic San Francisco activities.

Best Sunset Walk: The walking path at Crissy Field provides a west-facing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Time it just right, starting about half an hour before “official” sunset time and you can watch the city lights come up on your way back.

Skyline View: On a clear day, the view of the San Francisco skyline from Treasure Island is unparalleled. Drive toward Oakland on the Bay Bridge, get in the left lane and exit halfway across. What appears to be a manned entrance booth is no longer in operation, so for more privacy, avoid the crowds that gather just outside it, drive further in and find a place to park.

Sunset Bay Cruise: A sunset bay cruise is a romantic trip if the weather is right, but not so much fun in the cold or fog, so we’d suggest booking just a few days in advance so you can check the forecast. You can go on a catamaran or a regular boat.

7. Saint Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg is Russia’s Center of culture and arts. Architecturally, it ranks as one of the most harmonious cities of Europe. The people of St. Petersburg are polite and intelligent. It has many large and grand theatres with international esteem: The Mariinsky Theatre, Maly (Little), Gorky, and Musical Comedy theatres.

Notable museums include the Hermitage and the State Russian Museum, which specializes in Russian painting. Nice recreation activities are found in the Kirov Park of Culture and Rest, the zoo, the botanical gardens, and numerous other smaller parks and gardens.

8. Amsterdam, Holland

Amsterdam is known for its historical attractions, for its collections of great art, his colors, tulips, windmills and bicycles. The city  is more than 700 years old. It is a living museum.

A romantic image is created by old town houses, the canals that are crossing the center like streets, the houseboats, the windmills, the bicycles, the towers, the churches and the music of carillons and barrel organs. The city is also famous for its countless Chinese and Indonesian restaurants and the red light district, the biggest in Europe.

9. New York City, USA

New York is the center of the world. A city that never sleeps. Full of entertainment and cultural differences. New York have the most famous shops and restaurants. It’s a city full of energy and contrasts.

Major attractions are the Skyline, Central Park, Liberty Island with the Statue of Liberty , the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal,  Ellis Island National Monument, the Brooklyn Bridge, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway, Washington Square Park and many more.

10. Vienna, Austria

Vienna in Austria is another suitable place for the lovers. People in love with each other come to visit this beautiful place from every corner of the world. The major attractions of the city includes great architecture, fabulous art and music and fantastic places like Museum of Fine Arts, Schoenbrunn Palace, Sigmund Freud Museum, St Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere Palace and The Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Vienna is proud of its tradition. You can still drink the same local wines in the taverns like a century ago.  It is even possible to ride in a two-horse carriage driven by a coachman.

Okay, just prepare your Valentine by now. Choose you favourite destination to spend your day with couple. Keep having a good relationship with your couple/wife/partner !

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Semarang, The Capital of Central Java

Semarang, the capital city of Central Java has a lot of good attractions that we must visit. Few of those attractions are historical sites of Dutch colonial heritage. This part of the city resembles the architecture of Holland. It has collections of old buildings that once were the residences and offices of officials in the Dutch East India Company, also known as the VOC. Those old Dutch buildings can be found in Kota Lama. 

Most renowned landmark in Kota Lama is the koepelkerk, or also known as the Emmanuel Church. Locally known as Gereja Bleduk, it is a Protestant church with a beautiful Pantheon style façade. Stroll around some more and you will be amazed by the whole complex. The postal office with its orange color wall stands in front of a busy street where becaks, or trishaws, pass by. The old deserted buildings are still there to survive the changing times. The mayor of Semarang is now planning to preservethe district.

The old city is also located very close to the Chinese settlements, Pecinan. Go there to see several Chinese temples with its busy daily life around them. Take a stroll in the city’s colorful Chinese district called Semawis and see the hustle and bustle of daily life in this community. As you make your way through the maze of streets and alleyways, sample some of the delicious Chinese cuisine on offer. Semarang with its Semawis and other centers of cuisine is a place for food hunters.

Bundaran Tugu Muda, or formerly known as the Wilhelminaplein, is a monument and pond built in tribute to the heroic actions of Semarang freedom fighters against the Japanese during the 5 day battle of 1945.  Built in 1953, this monument reflects the history of the town and of Indonesia, with reliefs depicting the difficult period under the Japanese occupation as displayed at the foot of the monument. 

Across the monument, a building built in 1904 and completed in 1907, stands gallantly. Recently renovated and conserved as one of the heritage buildings in Semarang, the  Lawang Sewu, or ‘thousand  doors’, is the name given by the locals. Formerly named the Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS), the building is an office for Indonesian railways. A 30-minute tour is a historical experience when accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide.

We have summarized attractions in Semarang you should see and visit on Tour Explora page.

http://www.tourexplora.com/tour/855/semarang-must-see

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Gili Trawangan, The Most Beautiful Gili's Lombok

Gili Trawangan is the largest of Lombok’s Gili Islands and the only one to rise significantly above sea level. Trawangan means Terowongan (Tunnel) due to there is a cave tunnel built in Japanese occupation. This island is also known as “Party Island” because most younger of tourists find themselves “Lost in Paradise”.

The Beaches of Gilis are still powdery white, the water is beautiful clear blue and they are positioned perfectly for sunsets over Bali’s Mount Agung and sunrise over Lombok’s Mount Rinjani. 

Various hotels, luxury villas, and boutique bungalows are easily to find in Gili Trawangan. Most of the accommodation centrally located on South East of Gili Trawangan. The higher price is located in the beach lines. 

Compared than other Gili islands, GIli Trawangan is more developed than Gili Meno or Gili Air. In Gili Trawangan there are also very quite places to stay in Southern and Northern of Trawangan. 

For activities, many tourist doing Snorkeling off-the-shore, sunbathing, swimming, or join any dive trips with any dive operators which colored the lines. There are quality dive schools which offering complete range of PADI courses, as well as Fun Dives. At night, just come to the restaurants and bars to enjoy the night with delicious food and beverages.

Evenings are animated by restaurants which offer local food and bars which are lively social meeting spots. Simply listening to music by candlelight is an option too.

Gili Trawangan : http://www.tourexplora.com/i/1542/gili-trawangan 

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Historical Sites in Jakarta

Jakarta has many historical stories during the Dutch and Japan colonialism. They also left heritage like buildings. By now we can still see heritages of them in Jakarta. I will share some popular old buildings in Jakarta. 

Museum Fatahillah

Fatahillah Museum or Batavia Museum, is located in the Old Town (known as Kota) of Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta History Museum, opened in 1974, displays objects from the prehistory period of the city region, the founding of Jayakarta in 1527, and through the Dutch colonization period from the 16th century until Indonesia’s Independence in 1945.

Tugu Kemerdekaan Proklamasi

The Indonesian proclamation of independence was first read in this place on 17 August 1945 by Indonesia’s first President Soekarno and vice-president M.Hatta. This places was Soekarno’s house located at Jalan Proklamasi 56 (was Pegangsaan Street).

Kota Tua

Kota is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia. Kota is Indonesian word for “city”, it was the reminiscent of the vicinity during colonial times in 16th century that the city was only within Batavia walled compound (today Kota), while the surrounding areas was only kampung (villages), orchards, and ricefields. The largely Chinese down town area of Glodok is a central part of Kota.

Museum Gedung Joang ‘45

Battle’45 Museum (Museum Joang’45) collects inheritances from the Indonesian independence battle time, that used/worn by Indonesian warriors. Visiting Battle’45 Museum would increase your knowledge and insight about Indonesian journey from the colonization time until finally free and independent.

Museum Lubang Buaya

Museum Lubang Buaya is a must to see tourist destination for those interested in the history of the blood incident G 30 S/PKI. Visitor can view the wax replicas of the events that took place of the murders of the six generals according to the curators of the museum.

National Monument (MONAS)

The National Monument (Monas) is a 433 ft (132 metre) tower in the centre of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia. Construction began in 1961 under the direction of President Sukarno. Monas was opened to the public in 1975. It is topped by a flame covered with gold foil.

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ)

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (“Jakarta Art Building”), historically known as Schouwburg Weltevreden, is a concert hall in Jakarta, Indonesia, built during the Dutch colonial period. It is close to the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral, near Lapangan Banteng Park.

Museum Nasional Indonesia

The National Museum of Indonesia is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta. Its broad collections cover all of Indonesia’s territory and almost all of its history.

Museum Bahari

The Maritime Museum (Museum Bahari) is located in the old Sunda Kelapa harbor area in Penjaringan Administrative Village. The museum was inaugurated inside the former Dutch East India Company warehouses. The museum focuses on the maritime history of Indonesia and the importance of the sea to the economy of present-day Indonesia.

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Beaches In Bali by Aldika - TourExplora

Kuta Beach

Kuta beach is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. Coconut trees line the sand beach as far as the eyes can see towards the north stopped by the runway of Denpasar's airport far in the west.

Dreamland Beach (New Kuta Beach)

Dreamland Beach Bali located in the village of Pecatu, Badung regency, located on the southern island of Bali. Dreamland can be reached about 30 minutes from Kuta Beach at Jimbaran. The beach is still beautiful and natural is located at the southern tip of South Badung.

Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach with calm and warm seawater located in east part of Denpasar Town. The beach location in eastside and south part of Sanur Village is an edge of Indonesia Ocean.

Jimbaran Beach (Pantai Kedonganan)

Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.

Lovina Beach

Lovina beach is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea.

Nusa Dua Beach

Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Beaches In Bali by Aldika - TourExplora

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