Monday, April 18, 2016

Ujung Kulon National Park

Ujung Kulon National Park


The Ujung Kulon National Park is located on the south-western tip of Java on the Sunda shelf. It is in the Banten province, formerly West Java. This lush jungle park is connected to the mainland by a narrow, swampy isthmus. The lowland forested national park covers an area of 1206 km2 and includes the volcanic islands of Krakatau volcano, and the islands of Panaitan, Handeuleum and Peucang. Ujung Kulon National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Park protects the last remaining lowland rainforest in Java and is important for the conservation of seriously threatened plants and animals. It is of particular geological interest for the study of volcanic activity.


This ‘Garden of the East’ as it has been described, was Indonesia’s first national park. It includes a peninsula in the Sunda Straits between Java and Sumatra and the offshore islands of Peucang and Handeuleum. The island of Pulau Panaitan is 10km northwest across the Panaitan Strait and the Krakatau Nature Reserve is 60km to the north, across the Sunda Straits. It is a 120,551 hectare low-lying forested area of unspoilt wilderness, marine area and jungle. The land accounts for 76,214 hectares and the marine zone accounts for 44,337 hectares. It is mostly low-lying but at the western end of the peninsula it rises to a height of 240m before plunging into the Indian Ocean. Gunung Honje is 620m high and Rakata on the Krakatau Islands in 813m above sea level. The coastline is diverse with formations including some raised coral islands and their fringing reefs which lie off the northern coast of the peninsula and includes Pulau Handeuleum. To the south there are sand dunes and raised coral reefs and further west is a long stretch of undermined and shattered sandstone slabs. Extensive coral reefs and spectacular volcanic formations can be explored along the west coast.

The climate is tropical maritime with temperatures ranging from 25-30C throughout the year.  It is very wet and has 3,250mm of rainfall each year. Most rain falls during the northwest monsoon months from October through April. The best months to visit are between July and the end of October. From May to September around 100mm of rain falls each month during the southeast monsoon season. Humidity ranges from 65% to 100%.

The park has 132 employees, most of whom are rangers. They are available on the islands and the mainland to take visitors on guided tours. The park has semi-evergreen rainforest and is dominated by Arenga palms, wild sugar cane and rattan. As well as lowland rain forest there are areas of beach forest, mangrove forest on the north side of the isthmus and swamp. Closed-canopy primary forest grows on Gunung Payung with an understorey of low palms and herbs.

The national park has a range of wildlife including Rusa deer, Javan Mouse-deer, banteng, silvery gibbon, crab-eating macaques, Javan Lutung, wild boar, leopards, civets, wild dogs, turtles, frogs, lizards, snakes, fish and coral. It is the last bastion of crocodiles and is home to the very rare Javan rhinoceros, of which only about 50 remain. The 240 species of birds include green peafowl and small bee-eaters as well as sea-eagles, frigate birds, herons, milky storks, lesser adjutants, Brahminy kites, ruddy kingfishers and 16 species of cuckoo. The park also contains 57 rare species of plants, 35 species of mammals and 72 species of reptiles and amphibians. There are two species of python, false gharial and estuarine crocodiles and hawksbill turtles in the national park.


Thursday, April 14, 2016

Tropical Rainforests of Sumatra

Tropical Rainforests of Sumatra


The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is actually three Indonesian National Parks on the Island of Sumatra. There are individually known as the Gunung Leuser National Park, the Kerinci Seblat National Park and the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and together they cover 25,000 km2 of rainforest. The area of the rainforest is known as the Andes of Sumatra and it has magnificent mountain views. The rainforest area includes Lake Gunung Tujuh, the highest lake in Southeast Asia and the Giant Mount Kerinci Volcano along with many smaller volcanic, coastal and glacial lakes in their natural forested settings. The parks encompass 50% of the known plant species in Sumatra.

Guide
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site under several criteria: for its outstanding scenic beauty; as an outstanding example of on-going ecological and biological processes; and because it contains important, significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation. The area represents a significant area of forest on the island of Sumatra, with a rich biodiversity of both lowland and mountain forest. It was also deemed important to protect the area as this was once a vast area of tropical rainforest which has been reduced to secluded areas in the last 50 years.

The area has high temperatures, high humidity and high rainfall for most of the year with temperatures between 21C and 28C and 60-90% humidity, especially high above 1700m in Gunung Leuser. The monsoon rains fall from November to May and are particularly heavy on the western side of Sumatra.


The details of each of the three parks which make up the Tropical Rainforest heritage of Sumatra are:


Gunung Leuser National Park is in the north of the island and is 150km long and 100km wide. It covers 862,975 hectares. Much of the area is steep mountain, running down to the coast. It has 11 peaks all over 2700m (8856 feet). The highest point is Gunung Leuser Mountain which is 3466 metres high. It has 174 species of mammals, 3 of which are endemic and 21 are listed as threatened. There are 380 species of birds of which 13 are endemic and 52 are threatened, including the Rueck’s Blue Flycatcher and the White Winged Wood Duck. Other important species found here are the orangutan, the Sumatran Rhinoceros and the Pig-tailed Monkey. Gunung Leuser is one of the last places in the world to see orangutan in the world. This National Park serves as one of the two remaining natural habitats for the Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii).The small village of Bukit Lawang is most famous for its Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. A jungle trek with a guide is a must at this national park.


In 1971, Herman Rijksen established the Ketambe Research Station, a specially designated research area for the orangutan. At the orangutan rehabilitation stations in Gunung Leuser National Park there is also the opportunity for jungle trekking and river rafting. Visitation has fluctuated with the political situation but the national park has averaged 15,490 visitors a year during the past five years, over half being foreigners. Threats come from illegal logging, agriculture, poaching and roads, along with mining and natural disasters. Fire is a serious problem as fires are set for land clearance. 1.5 million hectares was burnt in 1997.


Kerinci Seblat National Park runs for 350km along the Bukit Barisan, averaging 45 km wide and 2000 m above sea level. It covers an area of 1,375,349 hectares and is by far the largest part of the National Park. Most of the area is very steep and the high point is the volcano, Mount Kerinci, at 3805m (12,480 feet). It is the highest mountain in Indonesia. This important national park has 85 mammal species including the Bornean Clouded Leopard and the Asian Tapir. Of the 370 species of birds, 13 are endemic and 58 are threatened, including the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo and the Malay Sun Bear. The park has averaged 3,799 visitors a year between 1993 and 2001. The park has hot springs, caves, rivers with rapids and scenic waterfalls.


Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is a similar strip of rainforest, 350km long and 45kmwide on average. It covers a total of 356,800 hectares in the south of the island. Part of the area is rocky and some is coastal cape. It has many lakes, hot springs and rivers which run down to the sea. It has 98 mammals, the most important being the Sumatran elephant which has declined 75% in number. It is also home to 60-85 Sumatran rhinos and 40 Sumatran tigers. It has 59 reptile and amphibian species including leatherback turtles. From 1995 to 2001 this park had an average of just 331 visitors a year.

Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park


The Komodo National Park lies 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali in Indonesia. It is between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands. This is a unique biosphere which was created from a huge volcanic uplift. It is the only area where the Komodo Dragon can be found, the largest lizard species in the world. These amazing creatures only exist on Komodo, Rintja, Padar and Flores islands. They can grow up to 3m in length and weigh up to 126kg. These agile reptiles are swift runners and climbers. They can easily take deer and wild boar as food. They are a type of monitor lizard and there are only an estimated 5000 left in existence. The area was nominated as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World for its unique beauty and wildlife.

History
The islands in this area were created in a huge volcanic uplift which also formed Sumatra, Java, Bali and the islands to the east of Papua New Guinea. In 1915 the Raja of Biwa in neighbouring Sumbawa conferred the status of Nature Reserve on the island, which was only formalized by the Dutch colonial government in 1928. An American expedition was led by Douglas Burden in 1926. In 1938 Padar and the areas to the south and west of Rinca were declared as a wildlife sanctuary but it was only in 1965 that Komodo was formally included. Indonesia decreed it to be a National Park in 1980 and in 1991 Komodo was declared a World Heritage Site.


Since 1995 the national park has been supported by the American environmental organization called the Nature Conservancy. It is addressing the problems of exploitation of the natural resources, particularly from fishing and commercial enterprises. Around 4000 people live within the national park and are dependant upon it to make a living. Development of sustainable ecotourism is envisaged to generate sufficient revenue to cover management and operational costs. Currently there is conflict between park management, the Nature Conservancy and local communities which have resulted in the deaths of several local fishermen.



Guide
The best time to visit the Komodo National Park is from early March to the end of June. Komodo National Park has the lowest annual rainfall in Indonesia with a short rainy season in January. For most of the year it is hot and dry, with arid winds blowing from the Australian desert from April to October. Minimum temperatures are in August when they are around 17C and maximum temperatures of 43C from October to March.

The National Park covers a total of 112,500 hectares which includes Komodo Island, the largest at 34,000 hectares. Rinca covers a further 20,000 hectares and the remainder of the park is the islands of Padar, Nusa Kode, Motang, Wea Wuul sanctuary of Flores and the surrounding waters.

Komodo Island is 35km long and 15km wide and is quite mountainous, reaching an altitude of 735m at Satalibo in the north. The south coast is extremely rugged from volcanic activity. Nusa Kode can be seen nestling in a typical crater bay.  The islands have brilliant white sandy beaches and clear blue waters surging over the coral. Higher elevations have remnants of rainforest and bamboo forest but lower levels are savannah.

This is the recognized habitat of the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). There are an estimated 5000 of these giant lizards left, and some estimates put the number as low as 1000. Their huge size, growing to 3m or 10 feet in length, and their aggressive behaviour led to their name ‘Komodo Dragon’. As they exist nowhere else on earth they are of great interest to scientists and those studying the theory of evolution. They are suited to survival in the dry savannah of the islands, which have sparse thorny vegetation. The islands are so remote that it was only in 1911 that the Komodo dragon species was confirmed to the world to be a fact not a mythical creature. Despite its status and value to the scientific community, Komodo continues to suffer irreparable damage by man’s activities. It is feared that the wonders of this national park may disappear forever before the world can properly appreciate the natural beauty here and the wonders of the Komodo Dragon species.



This islands offer great opportunities for scuba diving, sailing and trekking. Along with the indigenous Komodo dragons, visitors may see geckos, limbless lizards, monitor lizards, bullfrogs, oreophyne Jeffersoniana. Snakes include cobra, Russel’s Pit Vipers and green tree vipers. Timor and Sunda deer, wild horses, water buffalo, wild boar, long-tailed macaque monkeys, palm civets, rats and fruit bats all make their home on these islands. Beneath the water level the seas are teeming with over 1000 species of fish and mammals. Most of the larger mammals have been introduced to the islands by man, but the frogs, lizards and snakes are indigenous. The only endemic species is the Komodo rat. The Komodo National Park also has over 150 species of birds, many of which are migratory and are more typical of Australian species than Asian. Some of the most distinctive are the sulphur crested cockatoos, imperial pigeons, white breasted sea eagles and maleos.



Komodo has two distinct marine habitats, tropical and temperate as the warm tropical waters of the Flores Sea to the north meet the colder waters from the Indian Ocean to the south. Upwelling collides with the volcanic shelf and produce fierce currents which supports an amazing multitude of fish and marine life. They include grouper, Napoleon wrasse, sea cucumber, dugong, manta rays, dolphins, whales, mollusks, worms, crustaceans and sponges.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple



    As the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, the beautiful and graceful temple of Prambanan is a magnificent spectacle and an icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. 

Located not far from the Buddhist Borobudur temple, the proximity of the two temples tells us that on Java, Buddhism and Hinduism lived peacefully next to one another. 

Prambanan is known locally as Roro Jonggrang, coming from the legend of the ‘slender virgin’. According to the legend once upon a time, there was a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso.  He wanted to marry a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang. Her father, the king, agreed and forced her to marry Bandung Bondowoso. Butm Sita did not love him yet could not refuse him.



After careful consideration, she thought of a way to refuse Bondowoso, whose magical power was well-known.  She decided she would agree but only if Bondowoso built 1,000 temples in one night before the break of dawn. 

She insisted that the work must be completed before the rooster crowed, something she believed was impossible. But with the help of genies and his own magical powers, Bondowoso managed to complete 999 temples. Panicked, Jonggrang told the women of her village to start pounding rice so that the rooster would wake up and begin to crow.  When Bondowoso heard this he was deeply disappointed and wildly enraged. When he found out that Roro Jonggrang had made the roosters crow, he turned her into stone, The statue of a slender virgin graces the main Prambanan temple, while a group of temples nearby is called the Candi Sewu or the Thousand Temples. 




The  temples at Prambanan were built in the 9th century. The biggest temple is dedicated to Shiva – the destroyer, and the two smaller ones which sit on its right and left are dedicated to Brahma -¬ the creator and Wisnhu – the sustainer.  The tallest temple of Prambanan is a staggering 47 meters high. Its peak visible from far away and rises high above the ruins of the other temples. 



After hundreds of years of neglect, the Prambanan temple was rediscovered by CA Lons, a Dutchman, in 1733. Since then, this temple has been revitalized and today is widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia.

The grandeur, complexity, and integrated architectural concept of Prambanan makes this a truly amazing structure. As a unique cultural and architectural marvel, Prambanan was declared a World Heritage site in 1991 by UNESCO.
Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple

   
   
   The magnificent Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. This awe inspiring monument is truly a marvel. After a visit here you will understand why it is Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and a famous icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

   Located on the island of Java, the temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. It covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.




   The temple has remained strong even through ten centuries of neglect. It was rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures.

   The temple is decorated with stone carvings in bas-relief representing images from the life of Buddha. Commentators claim that this is the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit.




   This monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The ten levels of the temple symbolize the three divisions of the religion’s cosmic system. As visitors begin their journey at the base of the temple, they make their way to the top of the monument through the three levels of Budhist cosmology, Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). As visitors walk to the top the monument guides the pilgrims past 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

   The whole monument itself resembles a giant stupa, but seen from above it forms a mandala. The great stupa at the top of the temple sits 40 meters above the ground. This main dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

   Historians suggest that the name of Borobudur comes from the Sanskrit ‘Vihara Buddha Uhr’ or the ‘Buddhist monastery on the hill'



Saturday, March 5, 2016

Top 10 Indonesian Food You Must Eat

Top 10 Indonesian Food You Must Eat

There is actually more to Indonesian food than Nasi Goreng. And hera are the list of top 10 Indonesian Food You Must Eat

1. Nasi Goreng
Literally means fried rice, it is actually the usual famous Southeast Asian style of stir-frying cooked rice, but with it’s very own Indonesian spices and mix


2. Soto Betawi
There are a few Soto here in Indonesia that you must try, first is the Soto Betawi, which the soup is made of beef or beef offal with cow milk, it is a unique variation in itself with a distinct taste.



3. Rendang
Literally means dry curry, rendang is a really popular dish in Indonesia that is actually a dry beef stew. It is originated from Minangkabau (or also known as Padang) in West Sumatra. That is why it is either called Rendang Padang or Rendang Minangkabau. Rendang is basically meat, normally beef but sometimes liver, chicken, goat or other meats, would be cooked in coconut milk and spices until dry resulting in an intense concoction of taste and texture. It is one of the best food in the world, try it to believe it!



4. Soto Mie / Soto Mee
Sotomie (or Mee Soto) which is one of the most popular soto for its own right, it is either made of chicken or beef for soup and served with noodles and sliced risoles spring rolls. Of of the best Sotomie in Jakarta can be found at a stall inside Mangga Dua.



5. Sate Ayam
Sate (satay in other parts of Southeast Asia) Ayam (chicken), is skewered and grilled (BBQ) chicken served with flavourful peanut sauce. It is also known as national dish of Java, Indonesia, making it a strong contender to our Nasi Goreng.



6. Rawon
Rawon is a black beef soup, made with beef and keluak (black nuts) as the main spice giving it a strong nutty taste and dark in colour, along with other spices and normally served with rice.



7. Gudeg
A traditional food hail from Yogayakarta in Central Java, gudeg is a stew made from young jack fruit (nangka) with palm sugar, coconut milk, meat, garlic, and lots of spices. It is one of the most flavourful food in the world, melding everything from taste to textures.


8. Bakso
Bakso or Baso in Indonesia, is a meatball made from beef surimi (meat paste, normally beef, with some tapioca flour). It is usually serve in a bowl of beef broth with noodles, bihun (rice vermicelli), vegetables, tofu and eggs.



9. Nasi Kuning
Nasi Kuning (yellow rice) or sometimes known as Nasi Kunyit (turmeric rice) is a famous Indonesian breakfast rice cooked in coconut milk and turmeric. It is usuall serve with some omelette, grated coconut and spices and fried anchovy and kacang (peanuts).



10. Gado-gado
Gado-gado (or also known as Lotek) is an Indonesian salad, a combination of boiled vegetables doused generously with peanut sauce dressing. There are other similar dishes like pecel and atah or karedok.


Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Top 10 Tourist Destination in Indonesia

Top 10 Tourist Destination in Indonesia



Indonesia is a huge country, in both population and land area, with significant cultural and geological diversity. With 18,110 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, it is the largest archipelago in the world. The population of around 240 million people is derived from 300 ethnic groups who speak over 250 different languages. While Bali is usually the destination most familiar to foreign visitors, there is a wealth of other top tourist attractions in Indonesia to discover in this vast and varied country.

10. Lake Toba
Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra is an immense volcanic lake about 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Genetic estimates suggests that there were only a few thousand humans that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle – Pulau Samosir – is the largest island within an island and contains two lakes. Besides visiting “a lake on an island within a lake on an island” tourist also come here to kick back and relax and swim in the volcanically warmed waters.


9. Tanjung Puting
The Tanjung Puting National Park is located on the island of Borneo in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centers. Wildlife include gibbons, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears, pythons, crocodiles and – most famously – orangutans. Unfortunately the park is heavily threatened by illegal logging and forest clearing for agricultural uses.


8. Baliem Valley
The Baliem Valley in the highlands of Western New Guinea offers a glimpse into what was recently a stone-age world. The valley was not known to the outside world until 1938 when an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) discovered a large agricultural population. Wamena is the starting point for most visitors who come nowadays to marvel at the mountain views, roaring rivers, tribal villages and at the tough but sweet spirit of the warm Dani people.


7. Mount Bromo
Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.


6. Bunaken
Located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Bunaken is one of Indonesia’s most famous dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the Bunaken Marine Park where you can see more than 70% of all fish species that live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for diving in Bunaken is between the months of April and November.


5. Torajaland

Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a highland region of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people. Torajans are famous for their massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and spectacular but gruesome funeral rites. After a person’s death, the body is kept – often for several years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The deceased is then finally buried in a small cave or in a hollow tree.


4. Gili Islands
Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. Note that the name “Gili Islands” is rather redundant as gili simply means “small island” in Sasak and there are many other islands around the coast of Lombok with Gili in their names.


3. Komodo National Park
The Komodo National Park is a national park located within the Lesser Sunda Islands that includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones. The park is named after the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest living reptile that can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carcass of dead animals, they are formidable predators and will also hunt prey including birds, and mammals. Attacks against humans are very rare.


2. Borobudur
Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.


1. Ubud
Perched among stunning terraced rice fields, Ubud is considered the cultural heart of Bali and one of the top tourist attractions in Indonesia. There are dance and music performances every day throughout the city as well as numerous art galleries and craft shops to explore. Although Ubud has long been valued as a great place to learn about Balinese culture, tourism in Ubud boomed exponentially in the last decades. Fortunately, it only takes a short walk or bicycle ride to escape from the crowds and commercialism.



Monday, February 29, 2016

Top 10 Beautiful Beaches in Indonesia

Top 10 Beautiful Beaches in Indonesia

Being one of the best tourist destinations to experience various adventures, Indonesia is known to have many splendid and beautiful beaches as well. These places will provide you with the best time to relax and also to spend a cool holiday. Below mentioned are some information on the top 10 the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia, which are the best tourist attractions as well.

1.  Nihiwatu Beach, Sumba




Nihiwatu Beach at number 17 on CNN World’s 100 best beaches. In some ways, the perfect beach. It’s remote (an hour’s flight from Bali then a 90-minute drive) with fine, clean sand, clear water, almost no people and amazing sunsets. It is home to the impressive Nihiwatu resort and is best outside wet season.
Highlight: For surfers, the incredible left-hand break. For everyone else, as dusk approaches, a chance to join local villagers as they scour a section of a nearby reef at low tide for octopus, crabs and seaweed.

2. Canggu Beach, Bali Island




Canggu beach at number 39 on CNN World’s 100 best beaches. This surf-perfect coastline has everything from easy waves to serious breaks. The scene is unpretentious and the mood laid-back. The crowd is heavy with adventurous people who know Asia well.
Worth knowing: There’s little nightlife here; instead, travelers kick back with themselves and locals

3. Derawan Beach, East Kalimantan




Pulau Derawan at number 63 on CNN World’s 100 best beaches. Tourist accommodations are no-frills here, and that’s what makes the place special. Most visitors will be able to spot turtles wading about on the island’s spotless silvery beaches.
Highlight: The waters surrounding Derawan are known to be a home to manta rays and green turtles.

4.  Tanjung Bira, South Sulawesi



Tanjung Bira is popular for its flour-like white sands. It is located about 5 hours from city of Makassar. This place is known to be the best for flour-like white sands. This place is located in Bulukumba and is a part of the Sulawesi Island.
Location: Bulukumba, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

5. Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno Islands, West Nusa Tenggara




Many people doubt this spot, but that’s good because it keeps the crowds down. This area has a super laid back vibe and the locals are so welcoming, it’s not unusual to be offered a hammock to rest your head indefinitely.

6. Kanawa Beach, Flores




If your definition of a perfect romantic getaway haven is a white-sand winding beach, this little island in Komodo National Park has even more than that. It is a paradise, above and below the surface. Just a few steps away from the fine sands is an incredible variety of underwater life. You don’t have to dive to see a school of barracuda, lion fish, sea turtles, bat fish, napoleon fish or even reef sharks. Simply go for a snorkel in the shallow water and find yourself in another world. The corals are  healthy and the visibility is amazing. Swim a little further to the other side of the island to find a secluded spot perfect for romance.

7. Jimbaran Beach, Bali




The coast of Jimbaran bay comprises several beach areas interrupted by cliffs, instead of being one long stretch of sand like Kuta Beach.With the coast facing the west, Jimbaran beach boasts a beautiful sunset view. Its most popular spot is the long beach just south of Ngurah Rai airport.

8. Belitung Island, Bangka Belitung Province




Belitung or Belitong is an island off the east coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, flanked by the Gaspar Strait and Karimata Strait. Although the island is famous with white pepper and mineral mining type-C such as lead white, quartz sand, white clay (kaolin), and granite rocks, actually Belitung Island is a special island with beautiful granite rocky, greenish blue sea, and white sandy beach which is not found anywhere.

9. Peucang Beach, Banten




Ujung Kulon is a conservation area for the endangered Java Rhino. But, tourists are allowed to visit Peucang Island which has amaing white sands beach. Located in Ujung Kulon, Banten Province, Indonesia.

10. Dreamland Beach, Bali Island



Dreamland Beach is a beach located on the Bukit peninsula, on the island of Bali. The beach provides basic accommodation and cafes for surfers and day-trippers. It is also renowned for its dangerous shorebreak.
These some beautiful beaches in Indonesia. Don’t hesitate to visit Indonesia. It’s Amazing!