Love Island Travel

Siti Dayak Dancer - photo by David Metcalf

Siti is extraordinarily beautiful and determined young woman. His story is one of courage and determination and a desire to represent their culture through the spirit of dance. And she has a dream.

This talented dancer was born there twenty-five years in a small village, Mungku Baru, about a boat trip of two hours of Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan where she lives now. His father is Javanese and moved to Palangkaraya under the transmigration program. Siti's mother is Ngaju Language. His village is very traditional and has shared some of his beliefs with me, "My village is full of many minds, some good, some bad. The Shaman in my village hunting evil spirits and we feel safe in our traditional beliefs. "

Siti started dancing when she was just five years and never really stopped. In 2012, after leaving college, she decided to make a career of teaching of traditional dance and Dayak in January this year, opened his own dance studio called Darung Tingang This means big bird.

A typical day starts at 6:30 am and Siti often teaches or practices until 7.00 in the evening, sometimes sleeping in his studio, which is a reflection of how determined she is to make the studio a success. Most of his students are children aged four to 12 years and it does teach some older children in the school. Siti said, "I believe that every child who wants to dance Dayak should be allowed this opportunity, if they come from poor families and can not afford Rp.0,000 per month, then I'll teach them for free."

This woman's heart sometimes to survive Rp.500,000 a month, but is determined to make a success Darung Tingang. She is able to supplement his income by performing at weddings and functions of government and occasionally for tour groups, although few foreigners visiting Palangkaraya, but Siti has a dream.

"I want to play in other places in Indonesia and abroad. When I dance I try and evokes the spirits of the past and I feel strongly connected to my culture. However, I want to learn other cultures too. It seems that there are other people like us, like the American Indians and I would like to dance with them one day. My mother is afraid that our culture is losing its way and we are increasingly disconnected from the earth like most Dayaks leave the forests and rivers and move to the cities, as I did. Dance is a very important way to teach the younger generation to value our history and ancient beliefs, "Siti said.

Watch Siti dance, it is clear that this beautiful young woman like that it did. There is such an expression in her dance that embraces joy and happiness. It is obvious to me that she was born to dance and it would be a great shame if the public around the world do not see . this beauty and grace with a traditional Dayak dance, culture is beautifully illustrated and must be shared both locally and abroad

FOOTNOTE:.?

Voulez- Siti help realize his dream

Contact David Metcalf supporting dance academy Siti. the dance school is in need of traditional musical instruments and financial support to achieve in other countries.

David arranged for Siti and her group to go to Jakarta to perform at his book launch at the National Museum, which took place on March 6. The book hidden from the Indonesian Heritage - Cultural tours of Discovery is a showcase of Indonesian culture. Siti and her band are featured in the book and it seems that his dream began to be realized.

Mackenzie (In Blue) with friends and family in Madura, the location for the library project.

inspired adults looking to make a difference in their communities are there. Inspirational teenagers, however, are not as easy to find, and a special 14 years in Jakarta has created a project that would make any proud parent, regardless of age. This young woman is doing everything possible to bring books to the island of Madura for children who would otherwise have no access to reading material. The name of the Girl Scout Winton is Mackenzie and Girl Scout, she is, through and through.

When you hear the term Girl Scout, you often think of girls selling cookies for charity, but it is much more than that. Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place and the Girl Scouts have been in Indonesia for 50 years. For 10 years, Mackenzie was passionately girl scouting, meet other scouts from all over the world - is being practiced this tradition in the United States, Nigeria and now in Jakarta. After seeing first hand the lack of educational resources in these countries, this student of the school Jakarta International began working on his Scout Gold Award Girl, the highest honor available in the US Scouting, which involves a process in seven steps leading to solving a community problem and make a lasting and sustainable change.

Mackenzie's behavior is quiet yet collected full enthusiasm. "I know I want to be a teacher when I grow since the age of three years," Mackenzie told me we chat after the end of school. "Before choosing Girl Scout Gold Award, I participated in service trips to remote communities - Sumatra, Kalimantan and Laos - and assisted Global Issues Network (GIN) Conferences I realized I wanted to make a difference. a remote community in Indonesia. "

boxes of donated books

And make a difference, it is. Mackenzie was running for book readers through his school, and with the help of other schools has so far collected 3,700 books, 1,000 are in Indonesia . Nearly 100 Girl Scouts participated in read-thons, bake sales and coin collections to further support the library project. Its purpose is to collect many more books in Bahasa for children Lombang the community, near the town of Sumenep on the east side of Madura. Mackenzie wants to fill its interesting library and educational bed for the children of the village and its surroundings, to give them a window on the world and a chance at a better future. Currently, all the books are cataloged in the home of Mackenzie - a huge task in itself -. Before storage and the opening of the library, which is scheduled for early June this year

The Madura Library project is run in conjunction with, and supported by, Leksmono Santoso remote locations, a company travel specializes in showing guests the remotest parts of Indonesia. Mackenzie also had massive support from his mentor, Linda Hahn Santoso, Ed.D of Destiny Learning, an initiative that helps children's educational needs. Funds were raised to build the library through monetary donations from individuals and families and Mackenzie was overwhelmed by the response and the generosity of its supporters.

Mackenzie traveled to Madura to meet the families of the villagers where the library now stands. Surabaya, the drive to the village in Madura takes six hours and Mackenzie and some of his friends and family were able to meet the children and symbolize the start of construction by laying the first stone of the new library. "The kids were really excited when we visited -. I do not think they had seen a white person before he was really nice to see their enthusiasm" Since their visit, the structure grew, new bricks laid and a roof now complete the finished building.

The most recent photo of Mackenzie library Madura

When asked what his future plans were, Mackenzie responded with, "I would build more libraries, which would be incredible!" was the root of Madura Library project is Mackenzie's passion in life, education, she feels extremely fortunate to have had in his education and wants to share with others who are less fortunate. It aims for its library to be a place for students and the community in Madura to discover something new and different. "reading opens a different possibility," Mackenzie adds, and I agree.

for those wishing to donate books, please send an email Mackenzie Winton on 32173@jisedu.or.id. Mackenzie is mainly looking for children's books in Bahasa, but all the books will be graciously accepted.

Airline Trends 2014

Voyage of the airline could be about to experience a transformation of the passengers on board. Although it looks like progress in a sense, certain global realities continue to foster a sense of anxiety for the traveling public. In this edition of Indonesia Expat , we take a look at how the airline industry is constantly changing -. And cope with the climate of the fragile global aviation

Customization and empowerment crew
Recently, the major airlines have begun to realize the value to customize the passenger experience. The likes of Delta, Emirates, British Airways, Iberia, KLM and Alaska have already reinforced their cabin crew with tablets and other portable devices so that they are informed preferences of passengers and equipped to push the sales assistant . Mobile transforms the way companies face their passengers. Expect to see a number of other airlines are adopting tablets to empower staff and offer a more personal service to their customers over the next 12 months.

WEI spread short- and medium-haul flights

Traditionally, in-flight entertainment (IFE) was the field of long-haul travel, but with the growth of wireless connectivity wire and flight mobile infotainment laid the foundation for a revolution in this space. Some airlines already offer wireless IFE; Qantas offers on its 767s iPads travelers, Lufthansa will adopt a new IFE solution this summer Finnair plans to introduce Samsung Tab 3 tablets loaded with content to rent, and Southwest has added an iPad library service on shorter flights. Expect to see more airlines to evaluate and capitalize on this evolvingtrend.

better broadband edge
With JetBlue providing satellite connectivity to broadband service for free until June 2014, this could be a catalyst for improvement the industry in connectivity.The industry on board knows to flight Wi-Fia proposal viable in the long term, we must invest in increasing both the speed and capacity of the service. JetBlue says its service is eight times faster than any competition and healthy numbers of positive comments on social media this confirmation. During the last months of 2013, significant progress has taken place. One such milestone was Inmarsat successfully launched the first of its Global Xpress satellite in December, with the company claiming that it is an important milestone in the delivery of the first available in the world, broadband service mobile high speed world . With complete global coverage planned to be achieved by the end of 2014, and setting the benchmark JetBlue, the airline offering the best connectivity in flight is sure to be a significant point of purchase for passengers in search of more, better quality broadband flight this year.

slimline seats

the airplane seat slimline is a relatively new phenomenon, but a number of airlines, particularly the US, have already decided to install on their new plane. While airlines say the slight reduction in seat height will not make a difference to the comfort of passengers (due to space savings made elsewhere, such as small plates), the directors of the passenger experience should pay particular attention to what passengers actually say the changes, because if they do notice a difference, they may show their displeasure by taking their business elsewhere.

do-it-yourself luggage tags
Being able to print and attach labels to your own bags at home, eliminating another step in the airport is now available, and the international trade group of airlines (IATA) argues for the widespread acceptance. Already being experimented with a number of airlines, there are still concerns in the United States on the security of baggage.

Self check-in continues to grow
The installation of check-in auto express airports is proving very popular. Security checks are still needed and the service is still considered a work in progress, but it is part of the flying experience that helps both the passenger and the airline through fewer lines of waiting and simplified processing of passengers.

We pay more fees
The costs will continue to grow in 2014, especially as airlines will roll over other products that consumers might be willing to to pay for. But airlines could hit a wall with increases in outright prices. More competition from low-cost airlines is likely to help put the brakes on excessive prices

An opportunity to put the passenger first

The challenges of the airline industry faces -. Struggling to make a real profit - are well documented and, of course, to find a cure for this is among the boardroom priorities. However, continuing to increase revenue and seeking ways to get more pedantic at the expense of the passenger could turn against; $ 5.00 to rent a pillow to send the message to the airline is firmly squeezing the passenger. If the industry puts passengers first and not to look at every conceivable way to siphon money from the wallet, the public will undoubtedly cast a more favorable opinion on the industry.

Street Children

When Fanta, a four year old girl who lives with her family in the toll road in West Jakarta was molested, Jakarta police wanted to help find the perpetrator and bring him in justice; they could not do it.

It sounds crazy, but Fanta simply does not exist, at least not on paper and certainly not in the eyes of the law. It has no birth certificate or any real form of identification. This means that when volunteers Sahabat Anak, a local organization set up to help protect children from the street, took her to the police station to file a complaint, the investigation came to a crashing halt when authorities discovered Fanta technically did not exist.

"his parents did not have the means to go through all the steps necessary to obtain a certificate of birth," explained Frisca Hutagalung. "His family lived in the village, but her father all the world in Jakarta and he tried to find work. In addition, there was a penalty that you had to pay to get a birth certificate if the child was over 60 days. But the old sanction was lifted. Not everyone knows. We need to spread the word. "

To date, she has not a birth certificate. It does not yet exist.

" You need five pieces of ID to start the process obtaining a birth certificate, "says Frisca, who sits on the board of Sahabat Anak. "Many parents of these children do not have marriage certificates or identity card (KTP), so it is impossible to obtain a birth certificate."

These children are punish deny a fundamental right to human something they can not control.

the numbers are staggering. one study found that nearly 60 percent of Indonesian children aged under five has no a birth certificate, perhaps as much as two million children. without a birth certificate, these children have difficulty obtaining medical treatment, enrollment in school, not to mention possibly get a decent job. no children's birth certificate are not eligible for free public school, unable to obtain a KTP or even apply for a job.

If the figures are accurate, this fundamental human right was denied to Indonesia some 50 million across the country. This means that the actual population is somewhere around 298 million. To put things in perspective, there are 50 million people living in South Korea, the entire population of Spain is still about 46 million.

"It is actually very complicated. We have to go to this office, and that office to take the process forward," says Frisca. "There must be a one stop shop for parents to obtain certificates birth to their children. And the government needs to equip the public with the policy. We must learn the new rules. Nobody knows politics. We would like to have a dialogue with the government so that we can learn politics and spread the word. "

More generally, the lack of a birth certificate is equivalent to a life sentence to be stuck in the cycle of poverty. Parents who do not have birth certificates are three times more likely having children who do not have birth certificates, showing that the lack of legal identity is passed from generation to generation A mixture of circumstances make it impossible for most of these families to provide these documents -.. the lack of resources and awareness for the documents in the first place and documents lost due to no access to secure place to store documents

This is when Scott Hanna and Mustika Harpsono decided to rally their friends and come up with a great way to raise awareness on the issue of birth certificates. Hanna owns and operates CrossFit Bengkel, home to some of the most driven and focused gym rats in Jakarta. Scott called fitness enthusiasts across Jakarta to sweat for a good cause come June 14.

Meanwhile, Mustika, a passionate volunteer and university graduate convinced Hanna and CrossFit team to hold an event parallel on the same day for people who are not exactly inclined to join a workout. Mustika was smart enough to jump to the other side of the spectrum when it came to his campaign, #BakeADifference, held in the basement Bengkel the same day as the tribute workout.

"Why #BakeADifference? Why treats birthday? "Mustika request, which recruited more than 20 birthday cake and amateur cup." I want people to think of the 50 million young people without birth certificates are denied their identity, their fundamental rights. many of us forget how "lucky" we are not to be born in poverty. what these children done to deserve such inequality? They were just born. "

with Local food writer, chef and author of "Papaya Flower," Petty Elliot opens the door, renowned institutions such Turkuaz, Astrid Suryatenggara, Passionee Bread & Pastry, 5sis Bakes and Twelve Cupcakes have stepped up and offered to make product donation bakery to be sold to Bengkel the day of the workout.

Everything culminates Saturday, June 14 to raise funds and awareness to help these children obtain birth certificates. There will be two activities that day to raise funds: a charity workout fundraising and baking bazaar. Whether you are looking for the best cupcake in town or to get rid of your muffin tops, the day has something for everyone and for a good cause.

"We know that we will not solve this problem in a day," said Scott Hanna, one of the organizers of the event. "But we want to build momentum to spread awareness and generate resources to support the process of moving toward a solution. These children deserve a chance to go to school and work for a better life. "

As explained Frisca, the key now is to convince the public by giving money to street children and convince parents to go to their local Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil (office population and Vital) and get birth certificates for their children. the funds raised at June 14 events will be used to educate parents and provide birth certificates for children in emergency situations .

the event begins at 14 am on Saturday 14 June ^e to Bengkel Crossfit, the Fairgrounds building, SCBD Lot 14, Jendral Sudirman Kav 52-53, Jakarta, Indonesia 1210. Sponsors and partners are still being sought, please email: scott.hanna@gmail.com if you are interested in participating

for more information, help spread the word and keep updated, visit these links:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/702081479849979/

"Dylan" Tribute Workout: angkat to help Anaks Indonesia
https: //www.facebook .com / events / 646158595467130 /? ref = br_tf

First light as seen from the top of Gunung Tambora - photo by Daniel Quinn

With about 127 active volcanoes spread across the country, it can be difficult to know where to start if you have not climbed before. Many major Indonesian volcanoes are actually not too far from main stations or provincial airports of Java and southern Sumatra, and can be explored in one weekend. The remotest mountains, especially Maluku, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara are generally better liked than the strengths of a route a week through a remote area. Individually, the following five hikes represent different volcanically active regions of Indonesia. In all cases, it is important to return the same way you ascended unless other options are specified.

Although the behavior of these gunung-gunung api (fire mountains) can be predicted a reasonable level, it is essential to check with the Volcanological Survey website Indonesia ( http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/) for updated status and also to reflect what local people in the nearest town of volcanoes tell you. When East Java Gunung Kelud erupted in February this year, local people knew it was imminent that local animals started fleeing the forest 48 hours in advance. If you follow the advice and in general, it is more dangerous to cross a road in Jakarta than climbing a volcano.

Gunung Kaba, Sumatra (1,952m)

Known to many locals as "Bukit Kaba" (Kaba Hill), despite being nearly 00 meters tall, this attraction volcano is one of the most accessible of Sumatra. As is the case with highs in most parts of the archipelago, the best time to enjoy the view and take photos from the edge of the crater is the first light. From the front door, you can either spend two hours of walking up to the rim or cheat by taking ojek (motorcycle taxi)! The volcano is actually made up of several craters, active and inactive. A circuit of the largest craters takes approximately two and a half hours and is technically difficult. One of Eastern craters is probably something of Star Wars - a deep belching smoke pit with a blue-green lake at the bottom of it. Plant lovers should be sure to ask local on issues Rafflesia blooming in the area because they can be found wild very close to the main road in the region increasingly

Getting there :. Either fly in Bengkulu and take place in a "Voyage" (car sharing) to Lubuklinggau or make your way up the Night Lubuklinggau Palembang train before boarding a bus (or "Trip") from to Curup. Ask for 'Simpang Bukit Kaba' (junction) or Villa Hijau, which is one of the closest hotels on the main road

Papandayan Mountain -. Photo by Daniel Quinn

Gunung Papandayan, Java (2,675m)

despite the bumpy road to the crater Papandayan made for a better days throughout Java. If you live in Bandung, you can do it as a day trip. There is a car park, a guide post and several warungs (small shops) next to the main active crater and the parking area is a bit oddly known as Camp David locally! The place can be quite busy during the weekend. How you explore the range is entirely up to you. You could take the family there for the one-hour walk around the main crater with many fumaroles and hot bubbling mud, or make a day or weekend of it continuing to Pondok Salada and many mysterious Edelweiss meadows covered above. For the more adventurous hikers can follow the wide paved trail on the saddle between the main beach and the outskirts of Gunung Puntang, before the remains of the Ghober Hut (no more standing on my last visit) right the way on the beach . and down the other side towards the vast and remote tea plantations near Cileuleuy

Getting there: Jakarta, Bandung and head to continue until the end of the toll road, follow signs to Garut. The best place to stay is Cipanas ( "hot water", not to be confused with the city of the same name in the Puncak area) just outside Garut itself and about 45 minutes from the parking crater above Cisurupan.

Gunung Tambora, West Nusa Tenggara (2,722m)

This world class volcano is a challenging proposition, both in terms of the hike itself and Directions to starting point on the island of Sumbawa. The crater is Indonesia's largest about 7 km in diameter and several hundred meters deep, and was formed in April 1815 to 0 cubic kilometers of material was ejected into the atmosphere. This disrupted global temperatures and caused the failure of the major crops of the Year Without a Summer "of 1816 in the northern hemisphere. The eruption of Tambora was much more devastating both locally and globally as the most famous Krakatau (Krakatoa) eruption that came later the same century in 1883.

Fortunately, not in Tambora now poses a serious threat, and interest hike to the rim is increasingly in the period before the bicentennial next year. You need at least one night of camping on the mountain, although most would be more comfortable to spend two nights there. All walkers must register near the trail in the village of Pancasila which guides and local porters can be found. It's a long eight or nine hours to the edge of the crater, which could be better divided in two stages. Camping on the rim is a spectacular experience, but not easy because of the volcanic black sand, which is difficult to keep the stakes attached to. The view from the top is among the best of Indonesia, with the vast "volcanic canyon" below you on one side and a sunset on Lombok Rinjani on the other

How get there:. Fly to Denpasar via Bima, then spend the better part of a day to get to Pancasila on the peninsula of Tambora. Alternatively, major groups could fly in Sumbawa Besar and rent a boat from the port of Badas to Calabai

The view of Gunung Lewotolo -. Photo by Daniel Quinn

Gunung Lewotolo, East Nusa Tenggara (1,449m)

Also known as Ile Api 'by locals, this smoking volcano still sitting on its own peninsula on the island of Lembata. It is best to make a strenuous hike Lama day Desa Desa Jontana above, you should try to find a guide like Desa Lama is often deserted. If you visit in October, you can attend the pre-Christian Bean special festival in Desa Lama and the surrounding villages, which honors the local bean that has played an important role as a source of protein in local cuisine while on many centuries.

The climb is a steep climb of about four hours until a vague trail and unsignposted and is undertaken only a handful of times a year. Suddenly, as the rise seems to be too steep for comfort, you are looking over the other side into the shallow crater, which is easily one of the most photogenic places in east Indonesia. From the top of the north, especially on a clear day, you should be able to see Ile Boleng on the island of Adonara, and remote control, smoking Batu Tara volcano island in the ocean. The south peak is more gassy, ​​smoky if it would be very unwise to try to climb to the top

Getting there :. There is a daily direct flight Lewoleba to Kupang, West Timor. Alternatively, take a boat to Lewoleba Larantuka on the eastern tip of Flores. The foot of the volcano is about an hour from the town of Lewoleba where there are several basic hotels.

Gunung Gamkonora, North Maluku (1,571m)

Gamkonora is the highest peak of the island of Halmahera, and is something of a hidden gem being much less famous - and also less dangerous - than its neighbor to fire Gunung Gamalama on Ternate island. Very few tourists are here. It can be mounted as a long day hike if you are able to start climbing early in the morning, which is especially important to enjoy the view. Ask nearby Desa Baru for a guide or two

The trail begins near sea level -. So you will need several bottles of drinking water - and leads through coconut plantations, nutmeg and cloves. A small collection of coins in an area of ​​the long cane grass that marks the point where the mountain is sacred to the villagers, so that your guide may wish to briefly stop and say a prayer here. Shortly after this, you will be above the vegetation line, wandering over small rocks and admire the breathtaking view of the U-shaped crater

Getting there: . Fly to Ternate Jailolo take a boat bound from Dufa-Dufa ferry terminal. The cars can be rented at the shop next to Camar Hall Jailolo for the two-hour journey on the path, which is on the main road in front of Volcanology station.

The mention of Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, raises a variety of feelings gut to a variety of people. Ask an expatriate what they think and they react with crazy comments like "Oh, I went there, beautiful," and "been there, done that." Ask an Indonesian and you can get some heart wrenching comments that border on fear, ancestral spirits and a devout wound fed natural event around a sense of just let it be. Nobody wants to remember the tragic event in 1883 that 36,000 people died, triggering a tsunami of 50 meters and spewing enough ash into the atmosphere to around the world three times.

Krakatau certainly has its mystique. Just getting there is a journey of mental patience and kidney dysfunction. In recent years, I have done this trip three times; All oaths be the last. So be it, just last weekend, I carried my wife, two children and one of Canada unsuspecting coworker at the place I swore was now history. We stayed at some bungalows Anyer Beach, which are still the same today as in 1992. The beach is a beautiful form of cupid with a good boogie boarding and body surfing. Evenings can be so peaceful with a starlight consolation and gentle sea breezes. I did not think of not banyak AC bed bugs, fly broken windows, lack of hot water and dead geckos in the bedrooms. We could forget the loneliness that night due to the karaoke 100db local hotspot and firecrackers some friendly neighbors who were leaving at 2am. Then came the mosque at 4am.

As you can imagine, my crew woke up pretty grumpy the next morning as I had still planned to meet the boat at 7am. The morning was true to form our boat pickup location was different from the one agreed to the night before. After transporting 80 kg of material through the winding kampung path with no sign of a boat, I made a call to find the boat (and crew) we expected a marina six kilometers. The captain quickly realized his mistake and soon arrived on a motorcycle as the boat met us at the beach.

The trip to Krakatau was uneventful, although very stoic. My youngest son wore a perpetual scowl look on his face as he was second in space for 10 bottles of scuba floor high filling pressure. My eldest son was smarter by rightly bow to absorb radiation. The sea was relatively quiet with large cumulus clouds swelled on the horizon. The trip seemed to turn into eternity for the 40 km. Finally, we became close enough to see the volcano was shrouded in dark clouds of rain-looking sinister.

All I could think was Jurassic Park. The seas have become even oppress and humidity. Anak Krakatau throbbed pyroclastic steam and small toxic, acting as my home percolator on a bad morning. It was then the captain told us to "foreign tax" local climbing Anak Krakatau is now 4 million Rupiah! This is a new form of corruption at its best and was designed by local chiefdoms, as Krakatoa is actually a national park! Whatever. We did not want to set foot on this baby blowing anyway. I wanted to get as quickly as possible with water.

The two dives were nice, but seriously lacked the appropriate number of reef fish. Cascading house size boulders littered the seabed slope down to at least 40 meters. Gorgonians gargantuan monster inhabited depth and appropriately large green moray. After the first dive, I was too scared to retrieve my SLR camera from its housing underwater to change in the wide-angle lens because of our "uncontrolled conditions." This proved to be a critical stupid gesture because the second dive against an outcrop in the sea was spectacular big country landscape.

twelve o'clock came and we pulled into a small sandy cove on the east side of Pulau Verlaten. We are not only the crew started a fire to cook our gourmet meal. One, two, then three very curious, large monitor lizards came for the picking. Before I realized it, our Canadian friend was back on the boat. I have not had the courage to tell him that they are avid swimmers. Lunch was amazing and beautifully prepared, since the only utensils were a spoon, a dull knife, a broken burner and a house fire. Saying goodbye with a stick to fend off pesky our monitors, we head to sea for a short dive in a jacuzzi submarine near the coast at Anak Krakatau and the power port. Return by Cilegon was an understatement to four lanes on a two-lane road. Only in Indonesia!

What I always liked about Krakatau is its landscape and activity in progress. In more than a dozen visits, dating from 1992, it never ceases to amaze me about the greatness and power it has accumulated volcano. There are years I was there for a tragedy involving a number of teachers in which a young woman died. It is not easy to forget such things in life and it certainly gave me a healthy respect for the volcano from that point.

Geologically, most of the original three volcanoes are currently submerged, as the last eruption blew apart the entire complex, the formation of a massive series of calderas. Thereafter, the caldera still submerged due to shrinkage of the crust during the cooling phase. Only part of one of the pre-1883 volcanoes remain (Pulau Rakata) of this latest explosion. What most people do not realize is that the other two islands, Pulau Vertalen and Pulau Lang are collapsed ancestral Krakatau of remains dating from 416 AD! Krakatau emerged in 1927 and has since continued to grow

In summary :.

Location (province): is Carita in Banten Province. Krakatau complex is located in Kabupaten Serang

Getting there by car :. Drive West Jakarta on Jl. Toll Tangerang-Merak to Ciligong output. Take Jl. Selatan Lingkar in the western coastal road (Jl. Brigadir Jeneral Katamso). . Travel south for about 47 km from Carita Beach

Where to sleep : On Carita Beach: Sambolo Beach Bungalows www.sambolo.co.id/ From here you can take excursions a day Krakatau. You can also rent a liveaboard as Cecilia Ann and sail around the Sunda Strait. Diving facilities available: http://javaseacharters.com

Things to do: Visit the lighthouse at Anyer Cikoneng. This lighthouse was built in 1885, two years after the original has been deleted by the 1883 tsunami Other fun activities include mountain biking through rice fields and countryside (bring your bikes), beach activities with massages and banana boat rides. Fantastic sunsets facing west Krakatau threat in the Sunda Strait defines the end of a perfect day.

Pariaman is a small town on the west coast of West Sumatra of only 73.36 square kilometers. Since the early 20th century, the city saw no ship more merchants to the absence of appropriate port. With its port and trading now only a nostalgic history, the city administration has focused on tourism.

One of the strengths of the tourism festival is the city Parimana Tabuik the central event of the tourist calendar of West Sumatra, which celebrates the Muslim Asyura 10 Muharram (first month of the Islamic calendar), and held annually since 1831. this year, it began on November 1. Although the Pariaman people do not follow the Shiite school of Islam, this celebration commemorates the death of the hero Shiite Hasan and Hussain, descendants of the prophet Muhammad. Despite its origin, a Tabuik rite is not only a religious ceremony, but also the main tourist attraction in Pariaman.

A Tabuik is a statue of a burak , or a horse with broad wings and a human head, with the heads of the girls smiling, wings and large tail . It is made from bamboo, rattan and paper. On the back of the coffins with beautiful decorations and umbrellas on top. On both sides, the statues are decorated with eight paper flowers.

In the days before the festival, scores of fraud and some tasa drums are collected from shops outside the city and made to two houses of Tabuik to be adjusted and repaired if necessary. Meanwhile, materials and tools to make Daraga (funeral sanctuary) and the funeral bier burak developed and high will be brought to a shed outside the houses of Tabuik. For each of the ten days of the festival, a series of ritual requirements must be satisfied. Any departure from the rules could spell disaster.

The first day, the men build the first stage of Daraga on a clay mold in a neighboring yard and build a bamboo fence around it. Women's groups in each house Tabuik begin to decorate umbrellas with white paper flowers for scores to be placed on the Daraga and to decorate the high burak is the tenth day. The afternoon of the first day, two villages in charge of organizing the festival Tabuik hold their first main procession: maambiak tanah (take a dirt cloud), which symbolizes the body of Hasan dan Husain, dust to dust.

the second to fourth days are to be silent days for "the calm before the storm", while changes craftsmen working around the clock to complete the construction and decoration of two burak. The main ritual must take place on the fifth day. Turun panja (outspread hand returns) ritual will take place. Panja , also known as jari-jari (fingers), is made of gold, silver or zinc, symbolizing the dismembered hand of Hasan. It came down to this ritual every fifth of Muharram and considering its annual washing purification in the lemon water. Late in the afternoon, the ceremony called batang pisang mamancang (cut the stem of bananas) will be conducted simultaneously in the two villages.

The intensely emotional experiences of the fifth day will be followed by light entertainment on the next. In the afternoon of the sixth day, the Tabuik Lenong (small Tabuik) procession takes place around the city. A tower decorated about a meter and a half high will reach above the head of one participant from each side and will be swung from side to side as the swing of the great Tabuik the tenth day. At noon on the seventh day maarak jari-jari (procession of hands) takes place and the returns of the passionate atmosphere. In the mournful processions around the streets on either side scrolls its panja and sings phrases like " Hasan, Husain, Kasihan Hasan Kasihan Husain" (Hasan, Husain, Poor Hasan, Husain Poor). in the evening, the tragic sense of excitement reached its climax, and beruji and mandara simulated war scenes begin, symbolizing perang jihad (holy war) in Karbala.

the eighth night, maarak saroban (turban procession) is held to celebrate the heroism of Husain, with turban models Husain and severed hand carried by the members of each side to commemorate the beheading of Husain by the soldiers of Yazid, who are said to have shouted.! "We won Behold the head (turban) of Husain" Tabuik of families stay up all night on the ninth night to finish making the Cenotaph Tabuik.

The morning of the tenth day, about sixteen men on each side mounting cenotaphs Tabuik high on their shoulders and paraded through the streets. The buildings will be shaken- dihoyak -in elegant movement to symbolize the battle of Karbala. The crowds that come are supposed to scream phrases like mahoyak Husain (Long Live Husain) and other antagonists cries against the other side. Both Tabuik go to the parade and came to opposite ends of the main street and start to move on their last trip to the sea. The two Tabuik giant move silently across the beach, where an exciting perang Pasir (battle beach) occurs. A Maghrib (prayer just after sunset), the Tabuik will be thrown into the sea, symbolizing the ascent to heaven Hasan and Husain

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daily flights from Jakarta to Padang are available with Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air and Lion. Pariaman City can also be reached by taxi or bus from the airport Minangkabau

Where to sleep

Hotels :.

Hotel Nan Tongga on Jl. Tugu Perjuangan no.45

Homestays:

Cindua Mato on Jl Diponegoro no.16

Atami on Jl no.6 A.Yani

Puti Bungsu on Jl. Pahlawan No.57