Heaven under Wakatobi

WAKATOBI is the name of an archipelago located in an area of Sulawesi Tenggara (South Eastern), Indonesia. The name Wakatobi is derived from the names of the main islands that form the archipelago: Wangiwangi Island, Kaledupa Island, Tomea Island, and Binongko Island. The group is part of a larger group called the Tukangbesi Islands.

Wakatobi National Park has the configuration started from the flat area to the sloping area towards the sea, and some steep gull areas. The water depth varies, while the deepest reaches almost 1044 meters with sandy and rocky bottom area. This 18,377.31 marine area has 25 clusters or coral reef surrounded by beaches from coral islands with 600 km in length. Over 112 types of corals from 13 families can be seen here. The undersea wonders of Wakatobi has been known worldwide since The Wallacea Expedition from Britain in 1995.

The indigenous people who live in the area is Suku Laut or the Bajau tribe. According to the records of ancient Chinese and European explorers, said that from the whole human boating in Southeast Asia that still have traditional boating culture is the Bajau tribe. Seeing their daily life is interesting and unique, especially diving into the ocean without any equipment to spear fish.

How to get there

From Kendari to Bau-bau with regular speed boat, 2x a day abt 5 hours, or with an ordinary traditional boat 1x a day for 12 hours. From Bau-bau to Lasalimu get a four-wheeled vehicle ride for two hours, then climb onboard a express ferry Wanci - Lasalimu for an hour or Lasalimu-Wanci wooden boat for 2.5 hours. Wanci is the first gate into the Wakatobi National Park area.

The Wonders of Indonesian Sea - Part 3

Raja Ampat, The Number One

Raja Ampat in West Papua is the latest famous destination and also has a remarkable biodiversity. Some divers even call it an under-water paradise. Located in the triangle coral area, right at the center of the world's coral reefs diversity, Raja Ampat archipelago becomes the richest area for its biodiversity. Seventy-five percent (75%) of all coral species in the world is here. It is estimated that there are 1,074 species of fish in the area and this number will be increase for years to come.



There are more........

Hunger for more dive spots to explore? Well, there are plenty of exciting places to visit in Indonesia :

- Pemuteran in Bali
- North Halmahera in Maluku
- Komodo Island marine area in East Nusa Tenggara
- Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi
- Torgean in Central Sulawesi
- Karimun Jawa in Central Jawa
- Ujung Kulon in Banten
- Weh Island Marine Park in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
and many more places that has fascinating views and biodiversity that is not going to run out to explore in a short period.




Also read :
- Part 1
The Famous Bunaken
Heaven under Wakatobi

- Part 2
Nusa Penida
Derawan Island, The Kingdom of Green Turtle


taken from : VIP Yours, Jan 2011

The Wonders of Indonesian Sea - part 2 of 3

Nusa Penida Island, near the Island of God


Nusa Penida Island is also a marine tourist destination that may not be missed. It is situated in the southeast of Bali, which is separated by Badung Strait. Nusa Penida is rich with its colorful ornamental fishes. Recently, experts from the Conservation International Indonesia discovered five new species in this region, completing the other 550 reef fish species living in this region alone. The sea of Nusa Penida island is famous for diving spots such as Penida Bay, Manta Point, Batu Meling, Batu Lumbung, Batu Abah, Toyapakeh dan Malibu Point.



 Derawan Island, The Kingdom of Green Turtle


Derawan Island in East Kalimantan also shows an astonishing sea view. Derawan is known as the Green Turtle Kingdom. Every year, the are more than 5000 female turtles nest here. Some protected species such as whales, dolphins, hawksbill, and dugong can also be found here. The place is also a habitat for manta ray, one of the species of giant stingrays.



 ...... to be continued to Part 3
Raja Ampat, West Papua


Also read Part 1
- The famous Bunaken
- Heaven under Wakatobi

The Famous Bunaken, North Sulawesi

From the many marine tourist sites in Indonesia, Bunaken is probably the most popular. Bunaken island is located inside the Coral Triangle, which is the most beautiful natural conservation area in the world between the Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Indonesia.

Bunaken is an island located in Northern Sulawesi. It's surrounded by Bunaken Marine Park, which is a part of Bunaken National Park about 75.265 ha. There are 20 dive spots with various depths, up to 1344 meters. From the 20 dive spots, 12 of them are located around the Bunaken Island. These 12 areas are the most frequently visited spot by divers and those who love the scenery under the sea. Bunaken has a wonderful sea biodiversity, one of the highest in the world.

How to get there :

Tourists must go to Manado city to reach Bunaken Island.  There are connection flights from most parts of Indonesia. From Manado city, tourist can reach Bunaken National Park from three locations, Manado Port, Marina Nusantara Diving Centre (NDC)  and Marina Blue Banter.

From Manado Port, tourist may get speed boat to reach the park in 20 minutes. Tourist may also use yacht from Marina Blue Banter to reach the park in only 10-15 minutes.


Best time to visit is April - August every year, although the weather is usually nice all year long.

Tanah Lot Temple, Bali

Tanah Lot Temple is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency. It is situated in 30 Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple there are holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.

The word of Tanah Lot is consisted of two words that are Tanah word interpreted as a reef looking like gili or isle. Lot or Lod word has meaning the sea. So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea. The location is now called as Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental condition, hence the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan.

The function of this temple can be realized from the function of the main temple building which is located in the temple main area. In this place, there is a main temple to worship the god in form of Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea power. The media of worship to this god is the temple building with 5 storied meanwhile the 3 storied temple building in north part of this area is purposing to worship to Dang Hyang Nirartha.

In order to know the status of Tanah Lot Temple can be realized from the temple history, function and also incoming devotee existence pray when temple ceremony is held. In this case can be realized as follows:

• Tanah Lot Temple as dang Kahyangan(the big Holy Temples in Bali ), because the history and the Penyiwi (The people taking care of the temple) are from the local people from Tabanan regency and surrounding area
• Tanah Lot temple as Segara Temple, because its function as sanctum to worship the Bhatara Segara, the God with manifestation as the ocean Power Deity

The unique animal can be seen in this temple area is the snake which are generally can be met in the coast. Part of its stomach there are no athwart skin, there is only small skin, but this sea water snake very noxious but snakebite case are very seldom happened, because the sea water snake generally very passive.

As a favorite tourism destination in Bali, Tanah Lot owns a magnificent view in particular at the sunset time where the sun slows down to the earth stomach. Every visitor who is paying a visit to this place will be marveled to see the beauty panorama of Tanah Lot. Beside of this temple, there are other temples which can be seen on your visit to Tanah Lot like Batu Bolong Temple, Batumejan Temple and Enjung Galuh Temple.

Tangkuban Prahu Volcano, Lembang, West Java

The 1830 meter high Tangkuban Prahu volcano is one of Bandung 's main tourist attractions. With its 5 craters of which at least three are still active, it makes for a spectacular sight. Unfortunately, the smell is equally spectacular, the sulphur mostly resembling rotten eggs. The volcano can be reached in less than one and a half hours from Bandung and is approximately 30 minutes from the scruffy horticultural town of Lembang . To get there, take an angkot (minivan) to Lembang and change to another angkot that says Tangkuban Prahu.

The area of which the Tangkuban Prahu volcano forms the heart has been given the name Parahyangan , which translates to ‘home of the spirits' and is considered the spiritual origin of the Sundanese. Legend tells that in the past, a young boy by the name of Sang Kuriang fell in love with his own mother who he hadn't seen for many years (because he'd allegedly killed his father and was kicked out of the house). The mother, upon finding out the awkward family ties between her and ‘her lover', tries to get rid of his affection by giving him the impossible task of building 1000 boats in 1 night. If that wasn't hard enough, she also undermined his attempt by making the roosters cry too early. The son fails and will never be able to marry the love of his life. In anger and frustration, he kicks one of his newly built boats which turns upside down and grows into a mountain. That explains the name Tangkuban Prahu, which means ‘upside down boat'.


The park is a huge area with forests that make for great hikes to the craters. The main crater, kawah ratu , is lined with a selection of tacky tourist shops selling miniature ninja puppets, bonsai trees and hats made out of rabbit fur. This is also where most of the street/mountain vendors hold office with their strawberries and raspberries so be prepared to be followed around with those relentlessly.


The small information centre has a model of the volcanic area and some brochures, but the best way to enjoy the Tangkuban Prahu is to take a walk around the crater. There, the tourist traps are absent and the views of the bubbling mud and steam are quite impressive.


It is possible to walk down to the main kawah ratu crater in record speed of two hours, but make sure you wear appropriate shoes since the ‘road' is rocky and slippery. An alternative route would take you to kawah domas , a crater with a small sulphur mine that can be reached in about 30 minutes and where the main attraction is boiling eggs in the 94-98 degree water.


How to get there :
- From Bandung, exit the Pasteur toll road, turn left on Jalan Sukadjadi, follow the road to Lembang till you find the sign board of Tangkuban Prahu National Park, approx. 90 minutes.
- From Subang, exit the Subang roll road, follow the road to Lembang, approx. 3 hours but you will be given stunning view.

Kampung Pulo, Garut, West Java

KAMPUNG PULO is a hamlet consisting of just six houses and a small mosque, with historic significance. Originally the inhabitants were Hindu, but they were converted to Islam by a certain Embah Dalam Arif Mohammed in the first half of the 17th century. His grave lies on a hill next to a restored temple (see tip Candi Cangkuang).


It is said that Embah Dalem was defeated in his assault on the Dutch, and so ashamed that he dare not meet his king, Sultan Agung. Instead he hid himself in kampung Pulo. He was buried here and left six daughters and a son. The six houses were for the six daughters; until this day it is the women who inherit the houses. The men have to leave after they marry, so have the daughters for whom there is no house. No houses can be added in the precincts, a daughter settles in after her mother dies.

The people of Kampung Pulo maintain certain rules and rituals. They may not visit the graves of their ancestors on Wednesday, may not sound a big gong or keep big cattle in the kampung. The shape of the roofs of the house may not be altered. On the 14th of Maulud month the sacred objects are cleansed, like keris, precious stones and bullets.

The name Kampung Pulo means "island hamlet", but in reality the kampung lies on a peninsula. There is a small museum, in need of upgrading. The caretaker obligingly explains the history of the site, and the women are happy to show you inside their house. Do not forget to leave a small amount of money.


How to get there :
- From Bandung, take the toll road to Cileunyi, follow the street signs to Garut. From Garut take the road north to Leles.
- Or from Cipanas turn east at the corner near hotel Cipaganti, and when you reach the Garut-Leles road turn north.
- At Leles town square, find a sign to Candi Cangkuang pointing East. It is 3 km along this road to the site.
You may drive on until the parking and cross the lake by raft to reach Kampung Pulo (Rp 3.000 p.p./person, or charter Rp. 50.000,-). But, as the hamlet lies on a peninsula, you may also park near the lotus pond some 200 m before the parking, and take the path to the right along the pond. At the end of the earthen path you reach a concrete paved path. Follow this left to Kampung Pulo. Through the kampung you reach Candi Cangkuang.

Cangkuang Temple (Candi Cangkuang), Garut, West Java

Compared with Hindu temples in Central-Java, Candi Cangkuang is only a simple construction. Yet it is special in that it is one of only three known Hindu temples in West-Java, all discovered recently. The other two are Candi Rancaekek near Bandung and Candi Jiwa near Karawang. It is located in a small island in the middle of a lake called also Cangkuang.


Candi Cangkuang, located at Cangkuang village, was discovered accidentally in 1966, when archeologists were searching for the grave of one Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad (see tip Kampung Pulo). What was found consisted only of the foundation and a heap op rubble. Restauration was completed in 1976.


The Hindu temple stands on a small hill, facing the lake - away from the grave of the muslim Embah Dalem Arif Mohammed. The site is surrounded by several species of trees which may be of interest to botanists.


How to get here :

- From Bandung, take the toll road to Cileunyi, take follow the street signs to Garut. From Garut take the road north to Leles.

- or From Cipanas turn east at the corner near hotel Cipaganti, and when you reach the Garut-Leles road turn north.
- At Leles town square, find a sign to Candi Cangkuang pointing East. It is 3 km along this road to the site.
You may drive on until the parking and cross the lake by raft to reach the temple (Rp 3.000 p.p./person, or charter around Rp. 50.000,-). However, the temple is not really situated on an island, it is just a peninsula. So you may also park near the lotus pond some 200 m before the parking, and take the path along the pond to the right. At the end of the earthen path you reach a concrete paved path. Follow this left through Kampung Pulo to the temple. The kampung and the temple are adjacent.