Visitor Attractions in Indonesia

Indonesia is a land of mountains, volcanoes, dense forests, attractive beaches, spectacular natural beauty, which draws the attention of various tourists throughout the year. With its glorious temples, huge mosques, museums Indonesia is a house of several magnificent Indonesia Tourist Attractions.





Attractions in Indonesia





Java- Jakarta - The capital city of Jakarta retains much from the colonial Dutch and British periods, with many fine colonial-style buildings and the recently restored old quarter. You can visit at The National Monument towers, Merdeka Square, The Central Museum, Portuguese Church, Istiqlal Mosque etc. If you want to shop, then antiques market on Jalan Surabaya and batik factories in the Karet are the perfect place for you. Throughout the island, puppet shows are staged in which traditional wayang golak and wayang kulit marionettes act out stories based on well-known legends; performances can sometimes last all night.





Sumatra- The second-largest island in Indonesia is Sumatra, which is a house of the volcanic mountain range, hot springs, unexplored jungle and extensive plantations. Bengkulu, Gedung Wani and Mount Loeser Reserve are some of the amazing Reserve forests. The popular Indonesia Tourist Attractions situated in Sumatra are, Lake Toba, Lingga village, Bukittinggi's Fort de Kock that located close to the zoo, market, a refurbished rice barn and the Bundo Kandung Museum and the most attractive beaches on the east coast.








Sulawesi-


Popularly known as Orchid Island, Sulawesi is a land of high mountains, misty valleys and lakes, geysers and hot springs like Karumengan, Kinilow, Lahendong, Leilem and Makule. In the south is Bantimurung Nature Reserve which has thousands of exotic butterflies. The island has geysers and hot springs, the most celebrated of which are at Karumengan, Kinilow, Lahendong, Leilem and Makule. Torajaland is known as the ‘Land of the Heavenly Kings’ and its people are noted for their richly ornamented houses and custom of burying the dead in vertical cliffside tombs. Ujung Pandang, formerly Makassar, is celebrated for the Pinsa Harbour where wooden schooners of the famous Buganese seafarers are moored. Fort Rotterdam, built by Sultan Ala in 1660 to protect the town from pirates, is now being restored. Racing is a popular island activity; there is horseracing and bullock-racing and at Ranomuut there are races with traditional horse-drawn carts.





Bali-


With its spectacular white beaches, verdant jungle and mountain, Bali is a tropical paradise.


The landscape of Bali ‘is made up of volcanic mountains, lakes and rivers, terraced ricefields, giant banyans and palm groves and, on the coast, bays ringed with white sandy beaches. Bali is famous for its crafts and adventurous activities, which are organized on the southern beaches. The island lies a short distance from the eastern coast of Java, across the Strait of Bali. The tourist areas are in the south, around Sanur Beach and at Kuta, which lies on the other side of a narrow isthmus. The island also has thousands of temples – the exact number has never been counted – ranging from the great Holy Temple at Besakih to small village places of worship.





Lombok-


It is a land of temples local handicrafts like rattan baskets and woven fabrics. Lombok is a popular tourist destination where you can visit at the Senggigi Beach, Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani, and Desert Point well known for surfing. The island possesses one of the highest volcanic mountains in the Indonesian archipelago, Mount Rindjani,. The two main towns are Mataram, the capital, and the busy port of Ampenan; both are interesting to explore. The south coast is rocky. The west, with shimmering rice terraces, banana and coconut groves and fertile plains, looks like an extension of Bali. The east is dry, barren and desert-like in appearance. The north, the region dominated by Mount Rindjani, offers thick forests and dramatic vistas. There are also some glorious beaches, some of white sand, others, such as those near Ampenan, of black sand. At Narmada there is a huge complex of palace dwellings, complete with a well containing ‘rejuvenating waters’, built for a former Balinese king. At Pamenang, visitors can hire a boat and go diving, entering a clear-water world of brilliantly colored coral and inquisitive tropical fish.





Yogakartas-


Capital of Java Yogakarta is the centre of educational, cultural and economic activity. You must see the premier university of Indonesia, the Gajah Mada University and various arts centers, markets, galleries, craft shops and bazaars.





Moluccan Archipelago-


Also known as the Maluku Archipelago, it is made up of 1000 islands, many uninhabited and the rest so isolated from each other and from the outside world that each has its own culture and very often its own language. Halmahera is the largest island in the Moluccan group and one of the most diverse. Banda, in the middle of the Banda Sea, is often referred to as the original ‘Spice Island’ and is famous as a nutmeg-growing center. At present, the islands are popular for diving and snorkeling.





Nusa Tengara Archipelago-


Nusa Penida was at one time a penal colony but now attracts visitors to its dramatic seascapes and beaches. Komodo is home to the world’s largest and rarest species of monitor lizard, while Sumba is noted for its beautiful Ikat cloth. Mount Keli Mutu is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular natural sights, famous for its three crater lakes, whose striking colors change with the light of the day. little since the Bronze Age, yet the islands’ inhabitants are renowned as musicians and palm weavers. The Terawangan Islands is a small group with beautiful beaches and coral gardens. Lucipara has excellent waters for snorkeling. Bone Rate, Kangean, Tenggaya and Tukang Besi is a group of isolated islands in the Flores and Banda seas, epitomizing a tropical paradise.

About the Author:

Raman Verma is a travel consultant with Tour Packages India . Provides detailed information on Indonesia Holiday Packages

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/visitor-attractions-in-indonesia-368654.html

Author: Raman Verma

Sulumits Retsambew

See Asia in Multi-racial Singapore

If you plan on holidaying in an Asian city, you might want to consider Singapore.

There may be many good reasons to make Singapore your first ever destination in Asia. First of all, the city is clean, orderly and safe for visitors to move around on their own. Then, if you are traveling to multiple Asian destinations, there is a bewildering range of full-service and budget airlines from Singapore Airport. Also, English is widely spoken here.





But above all, Singapore offers the cultures of three ethnic groups: the Chinese, the Malays and the Indians. What can be more rewarding than seeing three Asian communities in one destination?





Indeed, the descendants of Asian immigrants have made Singapore a melting pot of cultures, where age-old traditions still hold sway.





Discover these unique traditions in Singapore by visiting the so-called 'ethnic enclaves': Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India. Each of these lovely spots may be enjoyed on a leisurely walking tour.





Chinatown:





When Singapore's founder Stamford Raffles set aside land for Chinatown, he dictated that the buildings should be made of permanent material. Thanks to Raffles and some conservation effort, Chinatown today remains a place to admire early-Singapore shophouse architecture.





Many of the original trades here, however, have been replaced by more upmarket activities like Chinese restaurants and tea houses. And as well. Opium dens, brothels and death houses (where the dying were condemned to) used to take up many of the shophouses here. Today, you'll only see pictures and mock-ups of these trades in the Chinatown Heritage Center.





Nevertheless, Chinatown retains a strong sense of 'Chinese-ness'.





Chinatown's restaurants used to serve only local and southern Chinese food. Today, however, you'll find many restaurants offering cuisines from other parts of China. These are run by first-generation immigrants who have come from various provinces in China. Singapore's oldest Chinese temple - the very elaborate Thian Hock Keng Temple - is also found here. Worth a visit also are the quaint shops specializing in Chinese calligraphy, antiques and traditional costumes.





Kampong Glam:





Kampong Glam is so called because the gelam tree - a relative of the eucalyptus - used to proliferate this area.





Today, Singapore's Malays continue to converge at Kampong Glam because the Sultan's Mosque - Singapore's largest mosque - is located here.





The Sultan's Mosque has a fascinating history. It was rebuilt in 1928 after a major fund-raising project. Many of the poorer folks who donated to the building apparently raised funds from collecting and selling used bottles. If you visit the mosque, you'll see its main dome sitting on a black rimmed structure made up entirely of glass bottles. It's not difficult to explain why they are there.





Also worth doing here are the workshops at the Malay Heritage Center. You may spend a day molding your own pottery or creating your own batik art. Else, go to nearby Arab Street and get yourself a nice rattan laundry basket, an Afghan carpet or an exquisite piece of silk for that head-turning dress.





Little India:





The main road in Little India is Serangoon Road. Till today, it remains the focus of Singapore's Indian community.





A nice walk starts near the Tekka Center. Here, prepare your nostrils for the overwhelming aroma of myriad spices and jasmine garlands, which the shops sell in abundance. You'll also find a baffling assortment de-husked coconuts, limes, clay receptacles and the like, all of which are used for worship at the temples nearby.





Linger a while and admire the women in their blazingly colourful sarees as they haggle with the stall holders over the prices of groceries. This is as authentic as Singapore gets.





If you've never walked into a Hindu temple, the Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple on Belilios Road is a must-see. Here, you'll first be awed by the realistic sculptures of Hindu deities. Inside, Hindu music creates a conducive atmosphere for devotees to worship. Visitors may join the proceedings, or simply marvel at the incredibly life-like statue of Hindu goddess Kali.





Bollywood music, curries and multi-colored sarees will also not escape your attention in Little India. If you love to shop and eat, you'll be spoilt for choice.





The Melting of Cultures:





These ethnic areas are of course not mutually exclusive and there is a lot inter-mingling among Singapore's ethnic groups. For example, you will find a Malay-frequented mosque standing gloriously in Little India and a major Indian temple smack in the heart of Chinatown. All these make for an enchanting visit.

About the Author:

Gabriel Tan is the editor of eTour Singapore.



See the photo tours of Singapore's Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India at his website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/see-asia-in-multiracial-singapore-371673.html

Author: Gabriel Tan

Sulumits Retsambew

5 Quick Ways to Get Free Ideas for Your Scrapbooking

There are thousands of free resources and ideas of scrapbooking in the internet or in the retail market such as the book store, or craft shop. But before you purchase anything, do you want to get some free ideas before you really decide to buy it ? If yes, here I share some of my experience and methods I am using now.

Method #1 Source from Internet.



Internet is the wonderful source for everything. The search engine is helping our daily life easier. Type something like scrapbooking free layout, or similar meaning of words, you can find many good sites that come with free layout downloadable for your scrapbooking needs.



Method #2 Scrapbooking forum.



Scrapbooking forum is another interesting place for you. I love to join forum and read all the scrapbooker guru comment and ideas sharing. Sometime, the forum members share their design free too!



Method #3 Library.



Yes! Library is a place of free treasure for us. If you are book worm, library is a good place for free ideas. Simply borrow craft books or scrapbooking reference books, you can find wonderful creative idea from all the craft books from the library.



Method #4 Visit Art Exhibition.



Artist are very creative with their idea. I enjoy visiting art museum whenever I am free to go. Be inspiring by all the art work and they are really good to spark an idea in your personal scrapbooking theme.



Method #5 Craft store.



I love and enjoy shopping in craft store, even I do not have anything in mind to buy yet! Craft store is a free source for my scrapbooking ideas. In my recent visit, I have an idea of creating batik scrapbooking!



Well that's all the quick ways, hope you like it!

About the Author:

And now I would like to offer you free access to 3 of my Instant Scrapbooking Guide Templates when you subscribe to my free Instant Scrapbooking Guide, full range of long term newsletter plus free printable design on Scrapbooking that you can use as embelishment or layout.



You can get your instant access at http://www.InstantScrapbookingGuide.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/5-quick-ways-to-get-free-ideas-for-your-scrapbooking-387763.html

Author: Jasmine N

Sulumits Retsambew

What is Culture of South India?

HISTORY:

South India has a unique and diverse culture, traditions and history which had been ruled by Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Cholas, Kakatiya, Pandyas, Cheras, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara over different parts prior to the British occupation of India. The history of south India Travel dates back to 8000 BC where many ancient aim have been found. This region has also connection with Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and the Chinese in its crossroads. The medieval period saw the rise and fall of Muslim power in South India. Finally, British established their dominance and continued until independence. After independence, most of South India was included in Madras State, which included the former Madras Presidency and the princely states of Banganapalle, Pudukkottai and Sandur.


GEOGRAPHY:South India is a peninsula bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea, on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the north by the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. The line created by the Narmada River and Mahanadi River is the traditional boundary between northern and southern India. The Western Ghats, along the western coast, mark another boundary of the plateau. Between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea lies the narrow trip known as Konkan Region which encompasses the area of Narmada as well as Goa. To the south of Western Ghats lies Malnad region along the Karnataka coast, and terminate at the Nilgiri mountains. The largest rivers of south India are Narmada, the Tapti and the Mahi, Krishna, Kaveri etc. The four states of India generally follow linguistic boundaries with a number of overlapping traditional geographic regions. South India is full of tourist destinations for beach lovers, some famous beaches include Alappuzha Beach, Kovalam Beach, Varkala Beach, Beaches of Tamilnadu, Marina Beach, Mahabalipuram Beach, Kanyakumari Beach, Malpe Beach, Maravanthe Beach, Murudeshwar Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Kovalam Beach, Kanyakumari Beach etc. South India provide many hill stations like Munnar, Kodaikanal, Nilgiri Hills and Ooty etc.





FLORA AND FAUNA:





South India with its dense forests, exotic fauna and amazing appeal has always been a favorite wildlife destination for tourists around the world with lush evergreen vegetation, tropical dry forests, scrub lands and moist forests made it a biodiversity hotspot. The region also offers the best Indian wildlife sanctuaries like Periyar National Park, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Mudumalai National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Silent Valley National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctury, Viralimalai Sanctuary, Karnataka Wildlife, Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park etc. Other tourist attractions include the backwaters like the Pulicut Lake in Andhra Pradesh, Pitchavarum in Tamil Nadu and the famed backwaters of Kerala formed by the Vembanad Lake, the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kayamkulam Lake.





CULTURE AND HERITAGE:





South Indian culture refers to the confluence of the four southern most states of India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The weltanschauung of South Indians is essentially the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the body, and motherhood, which is exemplified through their dance, clothing, and sculptures. South Indian women traditionally wear the Saree while the men wear a type of sarong, which could be either a white pancha (veshti in Tamil) or a colourful lungi with typical batik patterns. The music of South India is commonly known as Carnatic music, which includes rhythmic and structured music by composers like Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa, Tyagaraja, Annamacharya, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Shyama Shastri, Subbaraya Shastri, Mysore Vasudevachar and Swathi Thirunal. The contemporary singer Dr. K. J. Yesudas is a cultural ambassador of Carnatic music. South India is home to several distinct dance forms like Koodiyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Yakshagana, Theyyam, Ottamthullal, Oppana, Kerala Natanam and Mohiniaattam etc. visit for Online Hotel Booking





CUISINE :





Cooking pattern in the four states of the south zone, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, largely remain the same with rice as the staple diet, while fish is an integral component of coastal South Indian meals. However, Hyderbadi Biryani, Sambar, Dosa, Idli, Bhagara Baingan, Romaali Roti, Kesari Bhath, Pineapple Pachhady, Fish Molee, Ven Pongal, Chettinad Chicken, Masala Vada, Pal Payasam, Medu Vada, Avial (Semi-dry, Mix Vegetable), Uttapam are popular throughout the region.





DIVERSITY :





There is great diversity in Indian traditions, manners, habits, tastes and customs, languages but unity remains the distinctive feature throughout this subcontinent including south India. The south Indian culture is unique and so widely famous because people from different castes and customs reside here amiably. The unity of oneness makes them stand out in. The heritage of the states of south India deals mainly with high architectural designed temples that are considered as the pride of India.

About the Author:

Dr. Minhaj Alam has completed his Ph.D from Aligarh University



rajasthan tourism At present, he is working as Web Content Writer in Culture Holidays Delhi,Visit India click on Make



My Trip for more detail.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/what-is-culture-of-south-india-390139.html

Author: Manoj

Sulumits Retsambew

How To Combine Decorating Styles With Your Spouse

There are a lot of things you discuss and learn about your spouse in the weeks and months before you get married. You discuss how many kids you each want to have, whether you prefer city or country living, dog person or cat person, vanilla ice cream or chocolate. But one thing that is rarely discussed when you're planning your wedded bliss is how you'd like to decorate your home.

When you're first married, most of your furniture and other home decorating items are either given to you by friends and relatives or bought at deep discount sales. Your style is driven more by your budget than your preferences.



Then somewhere along the way, when you're more secure financially, you start noticing little things start creeping into the house. Maybe your wife has been buying little Victorian accessories, and they're now adorning every flat surface in your house. You're starting to panic, wondering how on earth all of those frilly and flowered little tchotchkes are going to fit in with the Asian-inspired design you had envisioned.



Well, don't panic. It may not seem like it now, but even styles this diverse this can work together. Here's one way to use your imagination to bring two very different styles together.



Imagine that long ago an Asian furniture merchant traveled to Victorian-era London and opened a furniture store. While living there, he fell in love and married a beautiful and refined young lady. How do you imagine they decorated their house?



Interesting, isn't it? You're probably already imagining all sorts of ways to combine these styles in an elegant and charming way. An ornate lacquerware cabinet with a proper Victorian tea set placed on a hand-embroidered cloth. A Victorian chair accessorized with a batik pillow. One room may have slightly more of an Asian feel, than the next a slightly more Victorian feel, but they are all within a comfortable range of each other. Each style within the design reflects a mutual admiration and respect for the other.



There are dozens of ways to combine these or any styles, but how do you keep one style from overburdening the other? You start with a neutral base. Choose your primary pieces of furniture with this in mind. Contemporary furniture is an excellent choice as a neutral starting point between two diverse styles. You can then use accessories and small furniture pieces to bring any two styles together into a contemporary fusion of what may have originally seemed like an impossible mix.



When bringing two design styles together, sit down with your spouse and talk about the different elements that each of you like about your favorite styles. Get a sketchpad and brainstorm some ways that you can combine accessories within your home. Write or sketch out everything that occurs to you.



By having a neutral furniture base and a book of ideas as your common ground, rather than fighting for control over every design decision, you and your spouse will have an overall vision of how your home will come together.

About the Author:
Decorating your home? Need designer furniture that is as unique as it is stylish? Have a look at the Beyond Furniture range and I am sure you will have a hard time choosing which piece of furniture you like the most.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-combine-decorating-styles-with-your-spouse-410668.html

Author: B. Williams

Sulumits Retsambew

How To Combine Decorating Styles With Your Spouse

There are a lot of things you discuss and learn about your spouse in the weeks and months before you get married. You discuss how many kids you each want to have, whether you prefer city or country living, dog person or cat person, vanilla ice cream or chocolate. But one thing that is rarely discussed when you're planning your wedded bliss is how you'd like to decorate your home.

When you're first married, most of your furniture and other home decorating items are either given to you by friends and relatives or bought at deep discount sales. Your style is driven more by your budget than your preferences.



Then somewhere along the way, when you're more secure financially, you start noticing little things start creeping into the house. Maybe your wife has been buying little Victorian accessories, and they're now adorning every flat surface in your house. You're starting to panic, wondering how on earth all of those frilly and flowered little tchotchkes are going to fit in with the Asian-inspired design you had envisioned.



Well, don't panic. It may not seem like it now, but even styles this diverse this can work together. Here's one way to use your imagination to bring two very different styles together.



Imagine that long ago an Asian furniture merchant traveled to Victorian-era London and opened a furniture store. While living there, he fell in love and married a beautiful and refined young lady. How do you imagine they decorated their house?



Interesting, isn't it? You're probably already imagining all sorts of ways to combine these styles in an elegant and charming way. An ornate lacquerware cabinet with a proper Victorian tea set placed on a hand-embroidered cloth. A Victorian chair accessorized with a batik pillow. One room may have slightly more of an Asian feel, than the next a slightly more Victorian feel, but they are all within a comfortable range of each other. Each style within the design reflects a mutual admiration and respect for the other.



There are dozens of ways to combine these or any styles, but how do you keep one style from overburdening the other? You start with a neutral base. Choose your primary pieces of furniture with this in mind. Contemporary furniture is an excellent choice as a neutral starting point between two diverse styles. You can then use accessories and small furniture pieces to bring any two styles together into a contemporary fusion of what may have originally seemed like an impossible mix.



When bringing two design styles together, sit down with your spouse and talk about the different elements that each of you like about your favorite styles. Get a sketchpad and brainstorm some ways that you can combine accessories within your home. Write or sketch out everything that occurs to you.



By having a neutral furniture base and a book of ideas as your common ground, rather than fighting for control over every design decision, you and your spouse will have an overall vision of how your home will come together.

About the Author:
Decorating your home? Need designer furniture that is as unique as it is stylish? Have a look at the Beyond Furniture range and I am sure you will have a hard time choosing which piece of furniture you like the most.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-combine-decorating-styles-with-your-spouse-410668.html

Author: B. Williams

Sulumits Retsambew

How To Combine Decorating Styles With Your Spouse

There are a lot of things you discuss and learn about your spouse in the weeks and months before you get married. You discuss how many kids you each want to have, whether you prefer city or country living, dog person or cat person, vanilla ice cream or chocolate. But one thing that is rarely discussed when you're planning your wedded bliss is how you'd like to decorate your home.

When you're first married, most of your furniture and other home decorating items are either given to you by friends and relatives or bought at deep discount sales. Your style is driven more by your budget than your preferences.



Then somewhere along the way, when you're more secure financially, you start noticing little things start creeping into the house. Maybe your wife has been buying little Victorian accessories, and they're now adorning every flat surface in your house. You're starting to panic, wondering how on earth all of those frilly and flowered little tchotchkes are going to fit in with the Asian-inspired design you had envisioned.



Well, don't panic. It may not seem like it now, but even styles this diverse this can work together. Here's one way to use your imagination to bring two very different styles together.



Imagine that long ago an Asian furniture merchant traveled to Victorian-era London and opened a furniture store. While living there, he fell in love and married a beautiful and refined young lady. How do you imagine they decorated their house?



Interesting, isn't it? You're probably already imagining all sorts of ways to combine these styles in an elegant and charming way. An ornate lacquerware cabinet with a proper Victorian tea set placed on a hand-embroidered cloth. A Victorian chair accessorized with a batik pillow. One room may have slightly more of an Asian feel, than the next a slightly more Victorian feel, but they are all within a comfortable range of each other. Each style within the design reflects a mutual admiration and respect for the other.



There are dozens of ways to combine these or any styles, but how do you keep one style from overburdening the other? You start with a neutral base. Choose your primary pieces of furniture with this in mind. Contemporary furniture is an excellent choice as a neutral starting point between two diverse styles. You can then use accessories and small furniture pieces to bring any two styles together into a contemporary fusion of what may have originally seemed like an impossible mix.



When bringing two design styles together, sit down with your spouse and talk about the different elements that each of you like about your favorite styles. Get a sketchpad and brainstorm some ways that you can combine accessories within your home. Write or sketch out everything that occurs to you.



By having a neutral furniture base and a book of ideas as your common ground, rather than fighting for control over every design decision, you and your spouse will have an overall vision of how your home will come together.

About the Author:
Decorating your home? Need designer furniture that is as unique as it is stylish? Have a look at the Beyond Furniture range and I am sure you will have a hard time choosing which piece of furniture you like the most.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-combine-decorating-styles-with-your-spouse-410668.html

Author: B. Williams

Sulumits Retsambew