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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11 World Famous Buddha Statues

1.  Borobudur Buddha Statue

Buddha statues in Borobudur temple is a masterpiece of Indonesia ancient artist. All position of each Buddha statues are on sitting position with different hand styles. In the past time there are 504 Buddha statues, 300 statues were damaged and 43 statues lost.

2. Hussain Sagar Buddha Statue

This Buddha statue situated in the middle of man-made lake in Hyderabad, India. The statue has 17 metres of height and 320 tons of weight. It is the biggest monolithic statue in India, which created by sculptor only with a big stone. Tragic, when this statue was built, the statue fallen off into the lake and killed 8 employees. Then government refixed the statue and now being an attraction in Hyderabad.

3. Tian Tan Buddha Statue

Tian Tan Buddha statue located in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Made from bronze and finished at 1993. This Buddha Statue is main attraction of Po Lin Monastery which is symbolizing harmonization between human, nature, society, and religion. It is called Tian Tan due to below this statue is a Tian Tan Temple replica in Beijing. This statue has 34 metres of height and its posture symbolizing the quietness.

4. Monywa Buddha

Monywa is a city in the middle of Myanmar that located on Chindwin river. Here you can see the biggest lying down Buddha statue in the world. This statues has 90 metres of length and. The head of statues has 60 feet of height. Monywa Buddha built in 1991 and visitors can get into the statue.

5. Ayutthaya Buddha Head

Ayutthaya City in Thailand has unusual Buddha statue in the world. Between the ruins of Wat Mahathat, there is a statue which has been lost by time and only its head left, flanked by trees. This is being one of the beautiful statue in the world.

6. Gal Viharaya

Located in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa is a site which the most popular Buddha Statue lies down.  The monastery of the stone established in 12^th century. In the middle of te monastery there are 4 big Buddha statues lies down along 14 metres and a big 7 meters standing big Buddha statue.

7. Ushiku Daibutsu

Ushiku Daibutsu located in Ushiku city, Japan. Finished in 1995, this statue is one of the tallest statue in the world. Ushiku Daibutsu has 120 meters of height.

8. Temple of The Reclining Buddha

Located in Bangkok, Wat Pho is famous with a big lying down Buddha statue. This monastery being a largest and oldest monastery in Bangkok. This status was built 200 years after Bangkok being the capital city of Thailand.

9. Great Buddha of Kamakura

 Great Buddha of Kamakura or Daibutsu Kamakura in Japanese, is a historic bronze statues from Amida Buddha in Kamakura, Japan. The statue stands in peace above Kotokuin land. Daibutsu Kamakura being a top icon of Japan tourism industry.

10. Temple of The Emerald Buddha

Another popular monastery in Bangkok is Wat Phra Kaew. Inside the monastery there is Buddha Zamrud statue, the oldest and the most popular Buddha statue in the world. Based on folktales, this statue created in India about 43 BC in Pataliputra and stayed there for 300 years. In 4^th century AD, this statue brought to Sri Lanka bay monks to save it from war. And then brought to Thailand and moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1779.

11. Leshan Giant Buddha

Leshan Giant Buddha is one of the human masterpiece.The statue was carved on a valey that directly heading the sea in Sichuan, western China. Started from Tang Dinasty in 713 AD, this Buddha statue had just finished in 803 AD (90 years) involving many efforts from sculptors and artists.  

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Top 10 Kota Yang Wajib Dikunjungi Tahun 2012

Tidak terasa tahun 2011 akan segera berganti tahun menjadi 2012, dan tentunya banyak sekali memori indah di tahun 2011 yang sudah kita alami, entah itu pengalaman kerja, pengalaman manis dan pahit, bahkan juga pengalaman berlibur. Untuk menghilangkan segala penat dalam setahun penuh tersebut, pastinya kita akan mencari waktu dan tempat yang tepat untuk berlibur, bukan ? Tentunya kita akan mencari tempat yang akan selalu terkenang sepanjang hidup kita kelak.

Nah, karena tahun 2011 akan segera berlalu, maka mulai dari sekarang, persiapkanlah waktu dan budget untuk berlibur di tahun depan. Lonely Planet melansir ada 10 tempat yang wajib dikunjungi pada tahun 2012.

1. London, Inggris

Pada tahun 2012 akan diselenggarakan Olimpiade, dimana pesta olahraga terbesar di dunia akan hadir disini. Jadi jangan lewatkan event ini bila Anda nanti berkunjung ke London.

2. Orlando, Amerika Serikat

Tahun 2012 akan menjadi tahun yang spesial bagi Orlando, karena pada tanggal 25 dan 26 Februari, Orlando dipercaya menjadi tuan rumah pertandingan all-star NBA, dimana basket merupakan olahraga yang paling digemari di Amerika Serikat, dan dengan adanya acara ini dipastikan ribuan mata akan tertuju ke Orlando.

Orlando juga menjadi tempat favorit untuk mengajak keluarga Anda berlibur.  Ada beberapa taman rekreasi yang akan memanjakan anak-anak Anda bersenang-senang.  Jangan lupa juga untuk mengunjungi tempat bersejarah, seni, dan kebudayaan yang tentunya tidak akan terlupakan setelah Anda pulang dari Orlando.

3. Hongkong

Hongkong akan tetap menjadi pilihan favorit di Asia untuk dikunjungi.  Nikmati indahnya panorama Hong Kong pada malam hari dimana warna-warni lampu yang bersumber dari gedung-gedung tinggi akan terlihat sangat cantik. Banyak juga tempat berbelanja yang buka siang dan malam untuk memanjakan Anda mencari souvenir untuk dijadikan oleh-oleh.

4. Muscat, Oman

Oman menjadi negara di Asia yang mengejutkan dunia pariwisata. Salah satu kotanya, Muscat, menjadi daya tarik wisata tersendiri. Muscat difokuskan untuk menjadi pelopor pariwisata di Oman dengan sering mengadakan acara-acara kebudayaan tradisional dan membangun akomodasi-akomodasi mewah di pusat kota. Penduduk asli Mucat sangat senang bila kotanya dikunjungi oleh para pengunjung baru dari seluruh kota maupun dunia.

5. Bengaluru (Bangalore), India 

Bengaluru adalah kota metropolitan di India yang menawarkan banyak makanan lezat. Kota ini juga disebut "Kota Taman" karena taman-taman, bunga, dan pepohonannya yang indah.

6. Guimaraes, Portugal

Guimaraes yang berada di sebelah utara Portugal, diakui UNESCO sebagai daftar warisan dunia. Tapi entah mengapa jarang ada wisatawan asing yang berkunjung ke kota ini.

7. Cadiz, Spanyol

Kota cantik di Spanyol yang selalu memberi warna kehidupan tiap bulan Februari dimana Cadiz mengadakan 10 hari karnaval minum, menyanyi, dan menari bagi warganya.  Penduduk Cadiz di Spanyol terkenal dengan kejenakaannya, dan kejenakaan mereka akan diuji selama karnaval Februari nanti dimana tiap kelompok akan memakai lipstik dan wig pada saat mementaskan drama.

8. Stockholm, Swedia

Stockholm adalah kota cosmopolitan yang mendapat perhatian internasional dari buku terlarisnya Stieg Larsson, ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’.  Stockholm terkenal oleh keindahan, bangunan dan arsitekturnya, dikelilingi oleh banyak air yang bersih dan terbuka, serta memiliki banyak taman. Kadangkala Stockholm disebut juga sebagai ‘ Venice di Utara ’.

9. Santiago, Chili

Santiago adalah ibu kota sekaligus kota terbesar di Chile dengan penduduk lebih dari 5 juta orang. Anda dapat menemukan hampir semua yang Anda butuhkan di kota ini. Santiago memiliki semua hotel, penginapan murah dan sarapan, restoran-restoran dari beragam etnis, disko, klub-klub, museum, universitas, bandara nasional maupun internasional, bioskop, mall, dan masih banyak lagi yang semuanya berbintang.  

10. Darwin, Australia

Darwin merupakan ibu kota tropis Teritorial Utara yang tenang. Nikmati cuaca Darwin yang hangat dan perpaduan makanan serta budaya dalam berbagai festival dan pasar alam terbuka di kota ini.

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