Ujung Kulon National Park

Ever venture into the western part of Java Island, Indonesia? Well, in this place, located a national park called Ujung Kulon National Park, which is covering an area of ​​1.206 km2, which is the first national park was inaugurated in Indonesia. This national park consists of Krakatau island cluster and the small islands around it, such as handeuleum island and Peucang island. This national territory consists of its 443 km2 of marine area, which starts from The Cape of Ujung Kulon to the Indian Ocean.

In 1992, Ujung Kulon National Park was inaugurated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site that is protected. At the beginning of this region is an agricultural area. But when Krakatoa erupted on August 27, 1883, this area was devastated and turned back into forest. National Park which has beautiful natural scenery is now a conservation center to protect the Java Rhinoceros which the number is getting less. Currently at least 50 rhinos are in this conservation center.

* Classification of Ujung Kulon National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Country           : Indonesia

Category         : Nature

Criteria             : VII, IX

Region             : Asia Pacific

Official Inscription : 1991

National Park The Park is representative of the tropical rain forest ecosystem which is the largest lowland in West Java. In addition to special habitat for the rhino, the park is also used as a marine aquatic ecosystems, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. In this place, there are at least 35 species of mammals, 5 species of primates, 59 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 240 species of birds, 72 species of insects, 142 species of fish and 33 species of coral. There are approximately 700 species of plants are protected in this place, and 57 types of which are rare plants such as Bengang ( Lagerstroemiaspeciosa ) and Luminous ( Pterospermum Diversifolium ).

In addition to nature conservation center, Ujung Kulon National Park also offers many other attractions. You not only spoiled by a variety of rare animals, but also can enjoy a river with rapids sharp, waterfalls, white sand beaches, hot springs, marine parks and cultural heritage and history are unique and interesting, such as Ganesha statue on Mount Mercury, Panaitan Island.

* Address Ujung Kulon National Park

Jl. No Independence Pioneers. 51, Labuan, Pandeglang 42 264 West Java - Indonesia

Tel. +62 253 801731, Fax. +62 253 804651

Email: btnuk@cilegon.wasantara.net.id

Discovery Bogor Botanical Garden ( Kebun Raya Bogor )

Walk around the city of Bogor, it would not be complete without visiting Bogor Botanical Garden. Bogor Botanical Gardens is a large botanical gardens in Bogor city, has an area of ​​87 hectares. Besides being known as a botanical garden is cool and shady, this garden has a collection of 15,000 species of trees and plants. Since opening as the tourism spot, the Botanical Garden is one of the favorite tourist destinations in West Java are very crowded, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

History of the Botanical Garden

Long before it became the Botanical Gardens we know today, the Botanical Garden was originally a part of “samida” or artificial forest, in the era of Sunda Empire around the year 1474 to 1513. Artificial forest was made to preserve the environment as a place to nurture the seeds of the rare wood. In early 1800 - an, the Governor-General Thomas Stamford Raffles who inhabit the Bogor Palace has a huge interest in botany that intend to develop the Bogor Palace yard a beautiful garden. With the help of the botanist, Raffles conjure palace became a classic English-style botanical garden. Here's an idea that became the forerunner of the birth of the Botanical Garden and pretty, green and cool.

Establishment of Bogor Botanical Gardens started the development of science in Indonesia. From this was born a few other scientific institutions, such as the Bibliotheca Bogoriensis (1842), Herbarium Bogoriense (1844), Cibodas Botanical Garden (1860), Laboratory Treub (1884) and the Museum and Laboratory of Zoology (1894). On May 30, 1868, the Botanical Garden was officially separated the management is with the Bogor Palace yard.

Enjoying Exotic architecture around Europe

Once visitors enter the gates of the Botanical Garden, the tourists will immediately be spoiled with European-style architectural beauty that glows in the garden area. Bogor Botanical Gardens was known to be cool place because there are many large trees that shade. On the way around of Botanical Garden, then we will see Lady Raffles monument, which is a monument in memory of Lady Olivia Mariamne Raffles, wife of General Thomas Stamford Raffles (1811-1816).

Throughout the Bogor Botanical Gardens, there are many huge trees hundreds of years old. This tree is a cool place to take shelter and at once the object of interest for the photography. In addition, we are also given the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Bogor Palace, which is one of six palaces in Indonesia. The palace has some unique architecture, among others, the beautiful deer imported directly from Nepal.

Pull the Bogor Botanical Gardens

One appeal of the Botanical Garden is the presence of Carrion Flower (Amorphophalus Titanum), which is one of the typical flowers of Indonesia. When approaching a flower, the corpse flower will release a very pungent smell of carrion. The flower can achieve high rates 2meter and is the world's largest compound flower plants. In addition, there is also the oldest palm trees in Southeast Asia are still alive today.

* Address Bogor Botanical Gardens:

Jl. Ir. H. No Juanda. PO BOX 309 13 16 003 Bogor, West Java - Indonesia

Tel. +62 251-8322187, 83 222

Make Good Preparation Holiday

During long holiday, it’s the right time to prepare yourself for some vacation. Not only for refreshing mind and body, vacation will change your mood at the sudden and give you satisfaction. Indonesia offers you many choice : Toba Lake in North Sumatra, Kuta Beach in Bali or even Komodo National Park.

To have maximum benefit from vacation, we should have good preparation before travelling. Good preparation also avoid you from unnecessary thing, such as out of budget, bad transportation, etc. How to have a good preparation for vacation? Well, simply follow this tips guide you to prepare great vacation :

1.     Do Plan!

Make sure you have plan your vacation before, at least you must do survey before and know what will you do then. Go vacation without good preparation will set you in trouble. Consider several thing in your plan : cost, transportation, accommodation, people, suitcase, map, guide, etc. If you use travel agent service, make sure that the travel agent you choose has good reputation and trustworthy. If you travel by plane, make sure you reserve the ticket minimum two weeks before, to get the cheaper price.

2.     Only Bring What You Need!

Always remember, you go vacation for have fun and enjoy your quality time. Bring only what you need will help you to waste your time handling your suitcase. Heavy suitcase will make you holiday become unenjoyable and annoying, so it’s always important to be selective to bring stuff in your suitcase. Camera, phone and glasses are must bring stuff!

3.     Do Checklist

Involve checklist as your important stuff during vacation. Checklist is very important for you since your depart and leave the vacation spot. Checklist remind you the small thing which sometimes becomes very important. Checklist should contain the suitcase you bring, what-to-do & what-to-see schedule, people, etc.

4.     Check This Important Stuff!

For last preparation, check below important stuff :

·         Vacation destination, make sure that this spot is legal to visit and not in dangerous situation in last minutes you visit.

·         How long time to travel, don’t forget to predict traffic jam that may occur. It’s also anticipate you when you bring the big number of people. More time consume during travel, more cost you must spent.

·         The weather, some vacation spot is not friendly with particular weather, so make sure that you’re going to vacation spot consider this thing.

·         How many people you bring, communicate schedule and plan with them is very important.

·         Extra cost to spent.

Well, it doesn’t take a long time for you to prepare 4 points above. Good preparation before vacation will help you to enjoy your holiday more and more and bring you the rejoice and satisfaction. Happy holiday, readers!!

The Green Canyon, Another Heaven in West Java

America have Grand Canyon which known as the beautiful heaven of America, but then Indonesia can be proud because have the beautiful heaven which almost the same. It is Green Canyon, spell almost same with Grand Canyon in America. GreenCanyon is one of the beautiful tourist destination group located in West Java.

Administratively, Green Canyon located in the southern coast of Ciamis, West Java. To reach this place, tourist can travel a distance for about five hours by motorcycle from Bandung, the capital city of West Java. Unlike the Grand Canyon which offer the rock cliffs scenery, Indonesia Green Canyon is a long green river views that can be traced by the boat. Along the green river, tourist will be lulled by the beauty of the trees along the left bank and right bank. It’s amazing sight each moment you through by the boat.

By hiring the boat on the spot of Green Canyon, tourist can enjoy the beauty around Green Canyon. The hire cost is relatively cheap, it’s about Rp 75.000*/ boat or about $8,5*/ boat. This boat can carry up to five peopl, which means you can bring your family or friend together in a row enjoy the beautiful of Green Canyon.

In West Java, Green Canyon is one of the favorite tourist destinations, so that when the holiday comes, this place becomes more crowded than usual. Green Canyon is open every day at 7:30 to 16:00, except Friday 1:00 p.m. to 16:00. The best season to visit Green Canyon is a dry season, because during the dry season in the Green Canyon will be more beautiful to be enjoyed and will feel cool weather. In addition to the cliffs along the river green with beautiful trees, tourists can also enjoy the beauty of the Green Canyon caves and beautiful waterfalls. It's really interesting to visit, right?

Mekarsari Tourism Park, Enjoy The Green & Cultivation Vacation

Several years ago, this tourism park is frequently promoted as one of tourism park in Indonesia and you will hear it often through the glass screen. Mekarsari Tourism Park is very good vacation destination suggestion when you got stuck with your daily activities. Green place with nature valuable views and family park that warm you. It’s a beautiful place and right place to spend with family or friend, especially in the weekend.

Mekarsari Tourism Park is 264 hectares park which is not only a garden plant but also the preservation of cultivation ( agronomy ), breeding and the multiplication of seeds that also distributed to farmer and the general public. It’s located on Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java province. This place is getting crowded by tourist, both local and foreign tourist. Mekarsari Tourism Park is like the miniature of forest. Tourist can enjoy regular walk around the plant or trees, getting closer to the nature in the cool and green place, far away from the pollution and noise of the city. Green space is now getting hard to found in the city, so once you visit Mekarsari Tourism Park, you will definitely want to come back and feel the same sensation of green space.

What to Do in Mekarsari Tourism Park

Here is several activity which tourist can enjoy in Mekarsari Tourism Park :

·         Plant Crops

·         Melon Garden Tour

·         Salak ( Bark ) & Star fruit Garden Tour

·         Countryside Tour ( enjoy the rural atmosphere )

·         Eco Tourism Education

·         Cultivating Nature

·         Canal Tour

·         Kids Tour

·         Spotted Deer Conservation

·         Water Recreation

·         Outbond

·         Discovery Rare Plants

·         Etc

Woow… so many choice and that’s all involve the nature on it? Mekarsari Park can be a nice place to visiting with family and best friend.

Discovery The Rare Plants

Mekarsari TourismPark offer tourist the opportunity to discover the rare plant which is unique and interesting. Beyond that, you are also allowed to know the suprerior product of fruit that have been cultivated by the expert of Mekarsari park, such as sawo putih (casimiroa edulis )from Central America, water king guava ( Syzgium Samarangense ) derive from Thailand, shucks water guava, jackfruit bulb ( Artocarpus Heterophyllus ) which having a shape like a ball, skinless jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), etc. Mekarsari Tourism Park is the park where you can see melon with unique shape, such as shape of stars, heart and cubes. The melon taste sweet and the colour is very beautiful. For some fruits with those unique shape, you can pack it and bring it home.

Happy Vacation!!