Java People & Culture

Well what can I say. Was an interesting place didn't really go the narrow streets etc. Was quite a dirty place. However if anyone ever heads that way the tours were excellent especially the Kintamani volcano Tour and the Monkey Forest and Temples Tour. Be wary if offered a friendship bracelet or the like as my friend and I were ripped off $280AUD each the first day we were there if you do find yourself in this situation and not knowing the value of their Money all you need to do is say the word police and they back right off. Great weather, really hot. We stayed in Kuta at cheap accommodation but if you go there i would recommend going for something around the 3.5 - 4 star mark as the accommodation we had was only 2.5 star and the sheets were washed daily but they were kinda brown and blood on the walls of our unit. Kuta Beach was lovely but they have a lot of people selling stuff that tend to hound you. lol. The shopping absolutely amazing and very cheap. We were offered drugs by some guys .............no we didn't take them neither of us were into that but however if you are game to purchase off of them do be warned that as soon as you buy it they go to cops and report you then you have the balinese police on your back. Overall was a great place especially the tours, kids ride moped thingees to school and the balinese drive crazy.........yes there were times we thought we weren't goin to make it back to NZ. Was a real eye opener for us. These people work so hard for so little.

Jepara is a small town in the province of Central Java, Indonesia. Jepara is on the north coast of Java, north-east of Semarang, not far from Mount Muria.

In the sixteenth century, Jepara was an important port; in early 1513, The Son of The King of Demak Sultanate, Pati Unus led an attack against Portuguese Malacca.

His force is said to have been made up of one hundred ships and 5000 men from Jepara and Palembang but was defeated.
Between 1518 and 1521 he apparently ruled over Demak. The rule of Ratu ('Queen') Kalinyamat in the latter sixteenth century was, however, Jepara's most influential.

Jepara again attacked Malacca in 1551 this time with Johor but was defeated, and in 1574 besieged Malacca for three months.

Jepara also known as a birthplace of Indonesian national heroine Kartini.

At the moment the town is renowned its furniture industry.
The production of teak furniture, employs approximately 80,000 people in the town, working in a large number of mainly small workshops.

The trade has brought considerable prosperity to Jepara, well above the average for Central Java. Since there is a large export trade, the fall in the value of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar and other currencies has probably led to an increase in income for the furniture makers.

Bali is a safe, good value for money entry level Asian destination. While the people may be poor, they aren't stupid so don't treat them as such. Pay them what is fair for what they offer (it's not that hard to work it out!) and you'll be treated with respect and more than you asked for in return. Almost everyone here speaks English, the food is good and there are unlimited good value resorts. It's a paradise for lazy westerners....

Labuhan is located in Banten province, Indonesia not so far from Carita beach.

It is known as a entrance point for travelers willing to go to Ujung Kulon National Park where they're usually renting a boat for up to 3 nights, but most people prefer using a tour operator service that serve them from Jakarta.

As a town, not much we can say about Labuhan since it's quite far from Jakarta (4 hours).

Tumpang is a small village about 20kms east of Malang, East Java.

It's known as a transit point for people willing to trek up to Mt Semeru where they can rent a 4WD Jeep and drive up to Ranu Pani village (ranger station).

Hot steamy, humid and exotic! Jakarta is awesome! I know the U.S. Consulate doesnt recommend U.S. Citizens travel to Indonesia, but what the heck. I loved it there. It is very very humid and muggy, the city is beautiful though. A very Islamic type of culture. All the talk you hear from the Western Media is all the Islamic Insurgencies and the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist group in Indonesia, etc...and granted there have been problems in the past with bombings but I saw none of this when I was there. The people are a little cold but overall it was a great experience.

Indonesia is a great place, where you as a european get a sight of a total different culture.

If you're looking for a great driver to take you anywhere on Bali, contact Putu Eddy Sukratha (home phone: (0362) 27804 mobile: 081805456266). He was really friendly and shared lots of information about the sites as well as cultural and personal experiences. When we were moving on to Lombok, he tried to help us buy Ferry tickets the day before. When he learned they would be closed, he drew us a map and went through instructions to make sure we could get there on our own. I'd highly recommend him!

Bandung is the capital of West Java ; the very homeland of the native Sundanese people, arts, and cultures. At the lowest point 700M above sea level it has a cool and comfortable climate, and since long time ago attracts many people from all over Indonesia - and from abroad - seeking funs, fashions, delicacy, and higher education. Bandung's most notable entry in the history book was as host of the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955 which placed Bandung in the world spotlight.

I stayed in Mastika Hotel while I was in Tuban. I loved this place. It is by the sea though it was not as blue as you might have wanted it. There was this restaurant I went, I can't remember, it has a blind old man that can play the organ very well and performs music as we enjoyed Indonesian food.

It is in Tuban where you get to visit Sunan Bonang.

Anyer is a town in West Java, Indonesia, fifteen kilometres south of Merak. It is home of a forty metre lighthouse built by Queen Wilhelmina of Holland in 1885 as a memorial for the townspeople killed by the eruption of Krakatau, which destroyed the town. The original lighthouse was destroyed by a tsunami created by the eruption of Krakatua. It is thought that a large coral rock was picked up by the 30m wave, impacting the lighthouse causing its collapse. After the wave had subsided the lighthouse keeper, whose wife and child were killed, patrolled the beach with a lantern warning shipping of the hazards. The foundations of the original lighthouse can still be seen.

It is also the starting point of the Great Post Road, built by the Dutch in the nineteenth century, which ran 1,000 kilometres to the eastern tip of Java. Off the coast of Anyer is the island Pulau Sangeang, an unihabited island with vast areas of untouched jungle. The area is also known for coral formations swarming with tropical fish.

Pulau Peutjang (Peucang) is part of Ujung Kulon National Park (also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) which includes the islands Pulau Peucang, Pulau Panaitan and the Mt Krakatau archipelago.

In Peucang Island, you might amaze with it calm sea, crystal blue water and white soft sand.

But not much visitor realize the beauty of the sea floor which you can see just only snorkeling along the beach. Beauty and amaze for it coral reef and the inhabitans, that is the sea floor. And if you get up from the sea there is something else waiting, it is the green mountain and hill flourish with the rain forest tree which will make you eyes and you mind to full relaxation.

You might also try to catch the fish by fishing around the Peucang. Just for the information you might get The Giant Travelly with recorded max. 45kgs.

Jakarta is my hometown, and as a capital city of vast Indonesia, it's just not for the faint-hearted. It might be the most modern city in the country, and also the most polluted with the most depressingly long traffic jams, but it's also the most vibrant with ideas and attitudes of its 12 million inhabitants coming from elsewhere in the archipelago country and worldwide. Dodging traffic and enjoying radio banters while sitting in traffic are favorite sports, and eating is just as much fun as finding inexpensive gems be it a pair of shoes, a batik shirt, a gadget, or a piece of furniture in your shopping sprees. Just by being there surviving the daily physical abuse the traffic posed is a perfect excuse to be pampered - and Jakarta boasted the best hair/body salons and spas offering full-body, half-day treatment for about $40! Try the 'cream bath' if you don't have that much time... Banks and money changers are ubiquitous - you can buy pre-paid cellphones, and taxicabs are the best way to go around - or if you are indeed a braveheart, you can try the 'ojek' or motorcycles for hire, or the bajaj, the motorized tuktuks.

Jakarta (J-town) The sumpek (crowded) city ever (from my point a view of course) even sumpek this city offer lots of fun and variation of view. For you who like a photography, you can get lots of funtastic lunatic outrages view here in J-town. Here the placed that I mostly visit for hunting a Fatahilah Museum, Sunda Kelapa Harbour, Monument of Monas, Bunderan HI, Catedral Catholic Church, Gold Dome Mosque, Ragunan Zoo, Sudirman Street, Suropaty Park, Indonesian Miniatur Park (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah) , and lots of Monument building. For you who like take a fashion picture just go to mall or Kemang Street or you go to the office area in sudirman-thamrin or kuningan you will get a perfect street fashion ever... ;b or you like take some artistic picture like me visit the traditional market like Senen or Kramat Jati. Outrages picture you can have it in Taman Lawang, Jatinegara, Bantar Gebang or Ciliwung and so on. "Where should I stay then?" dont worry, if you rich enough J-town have a lotta of 5 star hotel like Ritz, Shangrila, Mariott, or Four Seassons. Oh, low budget... thousands of hotel for the low budget tourist ;) Party goers? perfect J-town have lot of place for party Embassy, Centro, Vertigo, Bliss sometimes we have Sundaze in Pantai Marina Ancol and other of cool party. Just wanna hangout not partying, Kemang is the perfect place... they have food festival sometimes garage sale. "What should I bring?" MONEY... Did the locals were nice? some of them yeah, some of them no... if you lost in direction just find a police station go there and ask. For women Travelers, use guide from your hotel or trusted travel agent its better rather than you have travel alone ;) "Am hungry!!" we have thousand of restorant and cafe, you can find it in Mall or Hotel, from europe food to asian food, indonesia food in everywhere, love spicy got to Rumah Makan Padang or Daeng Tata in casablanca for the Makasar taste uuuuhhhmm yummy... Well... bon voyage... ;) avoid trouble and keep smiling

One of the best spot of Depok is University of Indonesia campus. Located in Margonda Raya street, right on the border between Jakarta and Depok, this campus offers a nice eco-friendly environment. It is a perfect place for biking, walking or just sit and enjoy reading books in the beautiful mini-lake there.

Well what can I say. Was an interesting place didn't really go the narrow streets etc. Was quite a dirty place. However if anyone ever heads that way the tours were excellent especially the Kintamani volcano Tour and the Monkey Forest and Temples Tour. Be wary if offered a friendship bracelet or the like as my friend and I were ripped off $280AUD each the first day we were there if you do find yourself in this situation and not knowing the value of their Money all you need to do is say the word police and they back right off. Great weather, really hot. We stayed in Kuta at cheap accommodation but if you go there i would recommend going for something around the 3.5 - 4 star mark as the accommodation we had was only 2.5 star and the sheets were washed daily but they were kinda brown and blood on the walls of our unit. Kuta Beach was lovely but they have a lot of people selling stuff that tend to hound you. lol. The shopping absolutely amazing and very cheap. We were offered drugs by some guys .............no we didn't take them neither of us were into that but however if you are game to purchase off of them do be warned that as soon as you buy it they go to cops and report you then you have the balinese police on your back. Overall was a great place especially the tours, kids ride moped thingees to school and the balinese drive crazy.........yes there were times we thought we weren't goin to make it back to NZ. Was a real eye opener for us. These people work so hard for so little.

your passport needs to have more than 6 months left until the expiary date otherwise they wont let you into the country.
however all personell do take bribes.

Ngadisari is a small town in Probolinggo regency, East Java which also the closest town to Mt Bromo.

It also serve as a base camp for travelers willing to climb up to Mt Bromo.

Even it's not as popular as Cemorolawang village as a base camp, actually Cemorolawang village is located under Ngadisari sub-district.

Wonosari is located on Lawang town, East Java. It's wellknown for its beautiful landscape of tea plantation and serve as a tourist attraction as well.

In the beginning, more than 600 hectares of forest was cleared and planted with tea bushes. That was early last century, and a few of the original trees are still alive until now.

During first president Sukarno’s purge of the Dutch in the 1950s the plantation was one of the many foreign businesses confiscated and nationalized.

Wonosari is already packed with constructive and recreational activities. On the fun side there’s a big warm-water pool, mini zoo, playground, tennis courts and many other pastimes. For those who hate being out of the city there’s a karaoke lounge.

Beside sort of facilities, Wonosari tea plantation also provide tea plantation guided tour for visitors with certain interest to tea plantation.

In the end it’s a great place to relax and enjoy the Javanese countryside, feel the cool and watch thousands of swiftlets darting across the tea bushes, feeding on insects.

Sukabumi is a city and regency in the highlands of West Java, Indonesia, about 80 km (50 miles) south of the national capital, Jakarta.

At an altitude of approximately 600 meters (2000 feet), the city is a minor hill station resort, with a cooler climate than the surrounding lowlands. Sukabumi is also a destination for whitewater rafting. Rubber production is a major industry in the area.

In Dutch colonial times, Sukabumi was the site of the colonial police academy.

Bandung [1] is a city in West Java , Indonesia . Bandung is a highland city (altitude 768m) known for its many universities, textile industry and many roadside cafes. Called Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch, its high altitude location makes the weather pleasantly cool. Bandung has been nicknamed kota kembang , literally meaning the flower city , since the colonial era. However this nickname is a misinterpreted by many, as the flower actually refers to females, because of the city's reputation for having beautiful girls. The food in Bandung is also well known for its wide varieties and taste. Many tourists from Jakarta visit Bandung during weekends and national holidays, when it can get quite crowded. The head of government in the city of Bandung is a mayor ("walikota"). The city has 26 districts. ' Bandung Regency" /"Kabupaten Bandung" is the suburbs of Bandung. The head of government in Bandung Regency is a regent ("Bupati"). There are 45 districts in Bandung Regency. Bandung's population in 2005 is 2,771,138 people. The area is 168 square kilometres and the population density is 16,494 people/sq. km.