Bali Island

Bali Island, the perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone. Bali offers not just various customs but also various "adrenalin pump" parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali is small island, just 140 Km by 80 Km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.

The culture of Bali is unique. People say that the Balinese people have reached self-content. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in days to day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and other metals. The Balinese are noted for their traditional dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth of gold and silver threads, Songket, as well as for embroidering silk and cotton clothing. Stone and woodcarvings, traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily available in shops and galleries throughout the island.

As for recreation, there is no shortage of options. Nature walks, horseback riding, diving, surfing - even bungy jumping and white water rafting - await the adventurous here.

Geographically
Bali is volcanically active and extravagantly fertile. Bali has an area of 5620 sq km, measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and is just 8 degrees south of the equator. Mount Agung known as the 'mother mountain' is over 3000 meters. South and north of the central mountains are Bali's fertile agricultural lands. The southern region is a wide, gently sloping area where most of Bali's abundant rice crop is grown. The south-central area is the true rice basket of the Island. The northern coastal strip is narrower, rising more rapidly into the foothills of the central range, but the main export crops, coffee, copra and rice, are grown here. Cattle are also raised in this area.

Climate
Bali has a climate that is tropical all year. The average temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. There are dry and wet seasons -dry from April to September and wet from October to March- but it can rain at any time of year and even during the wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. In general May to August are the best months in Bali. At that time of year the climate is likely to be cooler and the rains lightest. Around the coast, sea breezes temper the heat and as we move inland we also move up so the altitude works to keep things cool. It can get very cool up in the highlands and a warm sweater can be a good idea in mountain villages like Kintamani or Bedugul.

Population
With 2.5 million people, Bali is a very densely populated island. The population is almost all Indonesian, with the usual small Chinese contingent in the big towns, a sprinkling of Indian merchants, plus a number of more or less permanent visitors amongst the Westerners in Bali.

Culture
Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich, varied and active life the average Balinese leads. There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last cremation ceremony is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral. There are a lot more than a body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial ground (or from the deceased's home if it's an 'immediate' cremation) to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything else bright and colorful we can think of. The tower is carried on the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower. The funeral of a former rajah high priest may require hundreds of men to tote the tower.

YOGYAKARTA - JOGJAKARTA

Yogyakarta Special Region (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, DIY) is officially one of Indonesia's 32 provinces. Yogyakarta is one of the foremost cultural centers of Java. This region is located at the foot of the active Merapi volcano, Yogyakarta was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram from which present day Yogyakarta has the best inherited of traditions. The city itself has a special charm, which seldom fails to captivate the visitor.

This province is one of the most densely populated areas of Indonesia. The city came into being in 1755, after the Mataram division into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Gamelan, classical and contemporary Javanese dances, wayang kulit (leather puppet), theater and other expressions of traditional art will keep the visitor spellbound. Local craftsmen excel in arts such batiks, silver and leather works. Next to the traditional, contemporary art has found fertile soil in Yogya's culture oriented society. ASRI, the Academy of Fine Arts is the center of arts and Yogyakarta itself has given its name to an important school of modern painting in Indonesia, perhaps best personified by the famed Indonesian impressionist, the late Affandi.

Yogyakarta is often called the main gateway to the Central Java as where it is geographically located. It stretches from Mount Merapi to the Indian Ocean. There is daily air service to Yogya from Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali as well as regular train service and easy accessibility by road. Yogyakarta is commonly considered as the modern cultural of Central Java. Although some may prefer Solo as a good runner up, Yogyakarta remains the clear front-runner for traditional dance, Wayang (traditional puppetry) and music.

Yogyakarta has more than just culture though. It is a very lively city and a shopper's delight. The main road, Malioboro Street, is always crowded and famous for its night street food-culture and street vendors. Many tourist shops and cheap hotels are concentrated along this street or in the adjoining tourist area such Sosrowijayan Street.

The key attraction of Yogyakarta is 'Kraton' (the Sultan's Palace). The Sultan's palace is the centre of Yogya's traditional life and despite the advance of modernity; it still emanates the spirit of refinement, which has been the hallmark of Yogya's art for centuries. This vast complex of decaying buildings was built in the 18th century, and is actually a walled city within the city with luxurious pavilions and in which the current Sultan still resides. Yogyakarta is also the only major city, which still has traditional 'Becak' (rickshaw-style) transport.

Geographically
Yogyakarta Special Region is geographically located almost equidistant from Indonesia's two most important international gateways, about 600 km from Jakarta and 1000 km from Bali. Yogyakarta also has excellent transport connections by bus, train or plane to the rest of Java, Sumatra, Bali and Lombok. Yogyakarta's Adisucipto Airport is in the process of changing its status in order to receive not only domestics' flights from Bali and Jakarta, but also direct charter and scheduled flights from other countries.

Geographically, Yogyakarta Special Province is situated in the Southern part of Central Java and lies between 7 degree 33' and 8 degree 12', South altitude between 110 degree and 50' East longitude. Some regencies of central Java Province surround the administrative boundaries of this region:
Southern East: Wonogiri Regency
Eastern: Klaten Regency
Northwestern: Magelang Regency
Western: Purworejo Regency
The Indonesian Ocean borders the Southern part of Yogyakarta. The borderline of the seashore stretches from West to East of which the length is around 100 km, started from Congot Beach in Kulon Progo Regency and ended at Sadeng Beach in Gunung Kidul Regency.

Because of its location, Yogyakarta is strategically positioned for the economic activity network in Java as well as for the tourist destination area. The special region of Yogyakarta lies midway on the axis of several main tourist destination areas, Jakarta and West Java westward, Central Java northward, East Java and Bali eastward. It is linked by regular rail, road and air services to other parts of Indonesian archipelago.

Climate and Weather in Yogyakarta
The average daily temperature range between 26 degree and 28 degree Celsius with its minimum 18 degree C and maximum 35 degree C respectively. Average humidity is 74% with its minimum of 65% and maximum 84% respectively. The Yogyakarta Special Region lays approximately 7 South of the equator line and is bathed in tropical; sunshine along the year. This region has a tropic climate the daily atmosphere feels a little bit hot and humid. These are only two seasons along the year, the wet or rainy seasons and dry monsoon. Usually the wet seasons begin at September and lasts about August. Generally there is no rainfalls from may to August and there fore the atmosphere feels hot and humid on the day and cool in the night and early morning. The monthly rain falling Yogyakarta varies between 3mm and 496mm in which those above 300mm take place during the month of January up to April. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs in February while the lowest commonly happens between May and October Average annually rainfall is about 1,900mm.

Populations of Yogyakarta
Based on 2000, the total population of Yogyakarta special Region amounted to 3.311.812. Yogyakarta Municipality that has 461,800 inhabitants spread over 32,50 kilometers or the average population density is thus over 14,200 persons per square kilometer. The least densely populated districts is in Gunung Kidul regency which has 720.643 inhabitants and cover 1,485 square kilometers or the density rate is 485 persons per square kilometer. Since a very long time ago the Provincial territory of Yogyakarta Special Region and its surrounding has been decently populated.
The majority residents of Yogyakarta Special Region are Javanese whose language derives from ancient Sanskrit. However, as Yogyakarta is considered to be "Indonesia's academic city" due to the numerous centers for higher learning, many of the inhabitants are student who come from all over Indonesia to study.

Culture of Yogyakarta
The culture Yogyakarta province with its status as a special region lies in the Southern part of Central Java, in the heartland of Javanese culture. As the former capital and the center of several kingdoms in the past, this region and its people are very rich in a variety of cultures. It is widely known from to historical records that the civilization, art and culture had developed well in the center of those kingdoms respectively in the Ancient Mataram Kingdom (8th - 10th Century) era, the second Mataram Kingdom (17th - 18th Century) and Sultanate Ngayogyokarto from the mid of 18th Century up today.

It should be noted that the cultural heritage from the past includes the magnificent temples, the ruins of palaces and monasteries, the various kind of traditions, cultural events, traditional folk and performing arts, architecture and other traditional activities. It is important to note that this is all part of the living culture of Yogyakarta, color of daily activities of live and the local inhabitants behavior, particularly the Javanese community with its traditional way of life and customs. Therefore, because of its culture richness and heritage, Yogyakarta has long been known as the cradle of Javanese culture.

The other legendary name for Yogyakarta City, among the elders as well as the youth generation that is the City of Art and Culture. Traditional and modern exhibition are held almost every day and night about the art of theater, pantomime, music, classic and contemporary dances, poems, etc. Those are flow in the heart of the city. Even more, there are abundant of cultural ceremony, such as Sekaten, Gunungan, Labuhan, Malioboro Fair, etc, which make the city has high value of tradition, art, and culture.

History Of South Kalimantan

South Kalimantan is full of colourful and distinctive traditional arts and cultures which can be seen in its people's ways of life, art, dance, music, ancestral dress, games and ceremonies. Exquisite traditional and commercial handicrafts are all made from local raw materials which include a variety of precious and semiprecious stones, gold, silver, brass, iron and a wide variety of wood including bamboo and rattan. South Kalimantan, is one of the largest wood producers in Indonesia. Extensive forests with a wide variety of trees such as iron wood, meranti, pinus and rubber have helped to make the province a unique and rich natural resource.

The southern section of the province, however, is much flatter and is characterized by large and powerful rivers, meandering through lowlands and depositing enormous of silt, at vast mangrove swamps all along the coast helping to make South Kalimantan an exceptionally fertile land. Many villages and settlements hove been built along these rivers, particularly the Barito river, by the indigenous majority, the Banjar.

The Meratus mountains stride through the center of the province, effectively dividing South Kalimantan into two distinct regions. the eastern part of the province is mountainous and lush with dense tropical rain forests and is home to the "Orang Gunung" or Mountain People. Collectively called Dayak, they form the minority of the region's population.

Art shop & souvenir Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA

Sabda Art Shop Achmad Jazuli Street Phone: (0274) 561775 Nartis Silver Tegal Gendu Street 22 Phone: (0274) 374890 Men Galery Cendana Street 13 Phone: (0274) 517996 Mahadewa Art Shop Laksda Adisucipto Street Km 8,5 Phone: (0274) 488360 Koong Gallery Nyai A Dahlan Street 12 Phone: (0274) 376271 Kendedes Furniture Art & Curio Kusumanegara Street 115 Phone: (0274) 586090 Jedok Stone Works Imogiri Barat Jl 124 Phone: (0274) 411648 Java Dan Madura Art Antique Monumen Yogya Kembali Street 7 Phone: (0274) 582088 Irtani Asri Collection Solo Karangploso Street Phone: (0274) 517793 Imam Gallery Dagen Street 70 Phone: (0274) 515037 Dirix Art Gallery Laksda Adisucipto Street Km 8 Phone: (0274) 563526

Yuni Tom Leather Gedongkuning Street IX Phone: (0274) 383362 Tulus Warsito Gallery Jogokaryan Street 69-B Phone: (0274) 386204 Tritama Gallery Jend Sudirman Street Phone: (0274) 547479 Tiffa Art Shop Sosrowijayan Wetan Street Block GT-1/122 RT 014/02 Phone: (0274) 512841 Sibayak Art Shop Tirtodipuran Street 47 Phone: (0274) 372749 Sanggar Sawo Puppet Alley Suripto Mantrijeron Block MJ-3/911 Phone: (0274) 386168 Sanggar Mataram Pramuka Street Phone: (0274) 389728 ASH Gallery Imogiri Street 19-A Phone: (0274) 384404 Art Gallery Sapto Hudoyo Solo Street Km 9 Phone: (0274) 488443 Amri Gallery Gampingan Street 4 Phone: (0274) 564525 The Gaza Style Tanjung Street Phone: (0274) 367028

History of West Java

The earliest written records of Javanese history make mention of the land of Sunda, that is, West Java. Somewhere on the banks of a river east of Jakarta was the capital of the kingdom called Tarumanagara, and in the 5th century A.D. King Purnawarman was its ruler. He apparently initiated the construction of an irrigation canal for rice fields and left stone inscriptions for later generations. One of these inscriptions was discovered on a boulder in a riverbed near Bogor; a replica of it is on display in the West Java Provincial Museum in Bandung. Chinese and Indian sources indicate that there were commercial relations between Tarumanagara and China at that time.

Evidence of this is in records about Java and its kingdoms compiled by the Buddhist monk Fa Xian, who traveled from Sri Lanka to China in 413 A.D. Also, a number of envoys traveled between China and a Javanese kingdom called He Luo Dan, which may have been identical with Tarumanagara. Like many other Southeast Asian kingdoms of that era, Tarumanagara drew heavily upon Indian elements of culture, literature, and philosophy, blending them with local elements into a unique synthesis. We do not know what finally happened to Tarumanagara kingdom, only that within the next three centuries it disappeared, perhaps because of the rise of Sriwijaya Empire in south Sumatra. Among the smaller kingdoms that succeeded it were those of Kuningan, northeast of Bandung; Galuh, whose capital was southeast of Bandung near Ciamis; and Pajajaran, whose capital was near Bogor. These kingdoms eventually united under the banner of Pajajaran.

Two stone inscriptions found near Cibadak, near Sukabumi (west of Bandung), mention the name of King Jaya Bhupati as the king of Sunda. He reigned from 1030 A.D. to 1108 A.D. and resided in Pakuan Pajajaran, near Bogor. The only building left from that apparently glorious era is the small stone of Cangkuang temple in north of Garut.

The 16th century brought two great turning points in the history of Java, including the land of Sunda: the rapid spread of Islam starting from the port cities on the north coast, and the arrival of the Dutch just before 1600, following the earlier voyages of the Portuguese and Spanish. The arrival of the Dutch was likewise to change irrevocably Java face, though in quite a different way. Following Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route from Europe around Africa to India and Magellan's voyage across the Pacific Ocean to the Spice Islands from the east, in 1596 four Dutch vessels arrived in Banten after a stormy voyage around Cape of Good Hope, thus ushering in 350 years of Dutch hegemony. Six years after their arrival, the East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC) was founded in order to create a spice monopoly, which benefited Dutch traders to the detriment of local producers. The VOC established itself at Banten and developed the Sunda Kelapa port, which became Batavia. .
In the First Javanese War of Succession in the early 18th century, the VOC helped Pakubuwana to ascend to the throne, and he in turn ceded the whole Parahyangan region to the VOC. This was the first major territorial acquisition of the Dutch in Indonesia. In 1799, the VOC shamefully collapsed due to mismanagement and corruption, was declared bankrupt and dissolved. The Dutch government took over the administration of the East Indies, whereupon one of its first major undertakings was the construction of a trunk road through the whole length of Java from 1808 to 1810. Its incredible 1,000-km route took it from Anyer at its westernmost point to Pamanukan in the east. Tragically, an estimated 30.000 Javanese coolies died in forced labor during its construction. Though it was called the Groote Postweg (Great Post Road), its primary significance was military. The Dutchman who managed the project was Governor General Marshal Daendels, who overcame considerable physical and political obstacles to complete the project. A particularly memorable stretch of road is just northeast of Bandung where a dramatic historical confrontation took place between Daendels and the local ruler, Prince Kornel.

Prior to 1810 the local Sundanese ruler of Tatar Ukur (the Bandung area) resided just south of the city in Karapyak, now Dayeuh Kolot, a small settlement on the banks of the Citarum River, (All traces of the former residence there have vanished). General Daendels, however, persuaded the ruler to relocate to the Groote Postweg between Cikapundung and Cibadak Rivers, a spot that today is Bandung 's city square, or Alun-alun. Thus, Bandung owes its birth on 25 May 1810 to the Groote Postweg. The main streets of present-day Bandung Sudirman Street, Asia Afrika Street, and A. Yani Street were aligned with the Groote Postweg. In a short intermezzo from 1811 to 1815, while the French under Napoleon dominated the Netherlands, the British ruled Java under Governor Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. This is the man also known for having brought Borobudur to the attention of the Western world and for founding the city of Singapore. The Dutch, however, came back after Napoleon's defeat, and in this second colonial period the city of Bandung was to rise and flourish to an unprecedented degree.

Art shop & souvenir West Java

BANDUNG	BOGOR	TASIKMALAYA	GARUT
The Summit Boutique Outlet Riau Street 61 Bandung Phone: (022) 4221001 Parijs Van Java Gallery Braga Street 48-V Phone: (022) 4212525 Pigura Modern Galeria Ir H Juanda Street 62 Phone: (022) 4205195 Risera Gallery Souvenir Lengkong Besar Street 64-B Wisma Taruna Phone: (022) 4237343 Tassel Gallery Rereng Wulung Street 29 Phone: (022) 2508600 TS 90 Galeri Taman Sari Street 90 Phone: (022) 2513434 Yayasan Bhakti Budaya Papanggungan Street 72 Phone: (022) 7310992	Batu Gading Baru Street Phone: (0251) 242972 Boneka Kain A.Yani II Street 12 Phone: (0251) 378585 Frame Wayang Paledang Bogor Street Gong Home Pancasan Street 17 Kenari Pulo Empang Street Phone: (0251) 316129 Perak dan Kuningan Bondongan Street Produk Bordir Raya Tajur Street Phone: (0251) 240235 Sepatu Sandal Raya Ciapus Street Tas Imitasi/Kulit Raya Tajur Street	Arda Kelom & Craft Galunggung Street Phone: (0265) 310533 Meka Handicraft Kb Tiwu III Street 28 Phone: (0265) 334655 Kadoku Gift Shop & Accesories KHZ Mustofa Street 345 Tasik Indah Plaza 10 Phone: (0265) 345037 ooo0ooo BEKASI Galish Art Ruko Dukuh Zamrud Block S-2/63 Phone: (021) 82602521	Wafina Jend A Yani Street 371 Phone: (0262) 243569 Wumels Leather Jacket Lebak Agung Village Phone: (0262) 241531 Zocha Graha Kriya Jend A Yani Street 85 Phone: (0262) 232695 ooo0ooo DEPOK Hanafi Studio Raya Cinere Street Phone: (021) 77882771 Reza Art Shop Tole Iskandar Street 7 Phone: (021) 7716347 Anya Design Tebu Street 179 Phone: (021) 77210569 Lili Toko Arif Rahman Hakim Street 54 Phone: (021) 7761649

History of Bali

Bali has been inhabited for a long time. Sembiran, a village in northern Bali, was believed to have been home to the people of the Ice Age, proven by the discovery of stone axes and adzes. Further discoveries of more sophisticated stone tools, agricultural techniques and basic pottery at Cekik in Bali's far west, point to the people of the Neolithic era. At Cekik, there is evidence of a settlement together with burial sites of around a hundred people thought to be from the Neolithic through to the Bronze Age. The massive drums of the Bronze Age, together with their stone moulds have been discovered throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including the most famous and largest drum in Southeast Asia, the Moon of Pejeng, nearly two meters wide, now housed in a temple in east Ubud. In East Java and Bali, there has also been a concentration of carved stone sarcophagi, which we can see in the Bali Museum in Denpasar and Purbakala Museum in Pejeng.

Bali was busy with trade from as early as 200 BC. The prasasti, or metal inscriptions, Bali's earliest written records from the ninth century AD, show a significant Buddhist and Hindu influence; especially in the statues, bronzes and rock-cut caves around Mount Kawi and Gajah Cave. Balinese society was pretty sophisticated by about 900 AD. Their marriage portrait of the Balinese King Udayana to East Java's Princess Mahendratta is captured in a stone carving in the Pura Korah Tegipan in the Batur area. Their son, Erlangga, born around 991 AD, later succeeded to the throne of the Javanese kingdom and brought Java and Bali together until his death in 1049.

In 1284, Bali was conquered by Kertanegara, the ruler of the Singasari; until the turn of the century, saw Bali under its own rule under the hands of King Bedaulu of Pejeng, east of Ubud. 1343 AD, is an important date in Bali's history. It was then that the whole island was conquered by East Java under the mighty Hindu Majapahit kingdom. This resulted in massive changes in Balinese society, including the introduction of the caste system.

Balinese who did not embrace the changes fled to the isolated and remote mountainous areas and hill areas. Their descendants are known today as Bali Aga or Bali Mula that means the "original Balinese". They still live separately in villages like Tenganan near Dasa Temple and Trunyan on the shores of Batur Lake, and maintain their ancient laws and traditional ways. When Majapahit in East Java fell in 1515, the many small Islamic kingdoms in the island merged into the Islamic Mataram empire, Majapahit's most dedicated Hindu priests, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles and artists fled east to Bali, and flooded the island with Javanese culture and Hindu practices. Considering the huge influence and power of Islam at the time, it is worth pondering why and how Bali still remained strongly Hindu and Buddhist.

Batu Renggong, also known as Dewa Agung, means great god, became king in 1550, and this title became hereditary through the succeeding generations of the kingdom of Gelgel, and later Klungkung, until the twentieth century. Bali reached the pinnacle of its Golden Era under the reign of the Batu Renggong, the great god ruler. Bali's decline started when Batu Renggong's grandson, Di Made Bekung, lost Blambangan, Lombok and Sumbawa. DI Made Bekung's chief minister, Gusti Agung Maruti, eventually rebelled and reigned from 1650 till 1686, when he in turn was killed by DI Made Bekung's son, Dewa Agung Jambe, who then moved the court to Klungkung, and named his new palace the Semarapura, Abode of the God of Love.

Artshop in South Kalimantan

Mitra Plaza Pangeran Antasari Street Junjung Buih Pangeran Samudera Street Cempaka Indah Niaga Street Siolatama Supermarket Jend. A. Yani Street	Hero Supermarket Kol. Soegiono Street Sarikaya Prima Pasar Baru Street Lima Cahaya Pangeran Samudera Street Arjuna Plaza Lambung Mangkurat Street

Art shop & souvenir Bali

DENPASAR
Wayans Art Shop Raya Celuk Street Phone: (0361) 298012 Versace Art Legian Street 133 C Phone: (0361) 761065 Maroon Gift Shop Dewi Sartika Street 69 Phone: (0361) 751565 Legong Art Shop WR Supratman Street 14 Phone: (0361) 461547 Krisanti Gallery D Tamblingan Street 186 Phone: (0361) 288262 Keraton Bagus Handicraft & Furniture Danau Poso Street 89 Phone: (0361) 282669 Handayani House Of Art Gianyar Street Phone: (0361) 226662 Bali Shop Sahadewa Street 8-G Phone: (0361) 759919 Bali Island Art Legian Street 27 Phone: (0361) 761392 Bali Bunga Art Shop Tunjung Mekar Street 50-X Phone: (0361) 755448	Putri Bali Art Shop Kertanegara Peguyangan Street Phone: (0361) 421056 Pusat Antik By Pass Ngurah Rai Street 5 Phone: (0361) 701471 Puri Agung Meregepati Palace Raya Batubulan Street Phone: (0361) 298051 Pasar Seni Merthanadi Melasti Pasar Seni Street Phone: (0361) 761161 Mutiara Art Bali P Ambon Street 18 Phone: (0361) 249411 Mentari Karya Dewata Shop Raya Legian Kuta Street Phone: (0361) 767266 MC 2 Art Shop Arjuna Street 70 Phone: (0361) 732501 Craft Plus Art Shop Raya Ketewel Street Phone: (0361) 288343 Balibo Art Legian Street 295 Phone: (0361) 758424 Bali & Co Art Shop Melasti Street 18 Phone: (0361) 756249	Srimpi Collection Raya Kuta Street Phone: (0361) 750719 Sonia Art Shop Legian Street 204 Phone: (0361) 751519 Simon Gift Shop Pantai Kuta Street 42 A Phone: (0361) 765076 Seni Bali Art Shop Pratama Tanjung Benoa Nusa Dua Street 89 Phone: (0361) 773520 Sasak Art Raya Celuk Street Phone: (0361) 295124 Samarkanda Gallery Legian Street 363 Phone: (0361) 767362 Putu Art Shop Cemara Street 24 Phone: (0361) 285030 Emi Arts & Souvenirs Sultan Hasanuddin Street 53 Phone: (0361) 483215 Duyung Art shop Denpasar Street Phone: (0361) 281211 Dharma Semadi Art Shop Banjar Celuk Street Phone: (0361) 298031	Trigunt Art Shop Legian Kuta Street Phone: (0361) 767347 Tiquz Lamp Shade & Leather Handicraft Raya Kuta Street 115 Phone: (0361) 762658' Teko Art Shop Taman Mertanadi Street 17 E Phone: (0361) 739354 Swin Art Shop Danau Tamblingan Street 72 Phone: (0361) 289272 Sukaya Art Shop Banjar Celuk Street Phone: (0361) 298090 Sukaya Art Shop Banjar Celuk Street Phone: (0361) 298090 Sriwijaya Art Shop Tangkuban Perahu Street Phone: (0361) 734971 Grace Art Shop Legian Tengah Street 435 Phone: (0361) 750826 Ganni Art Shop Lebak Bene Street 6-X Phone: (0361) 750731 Ganesa Art Sriwijaya Street Phone: (0361) 764855
TABANAN
Taman Nirwana Gallery Phone: (0362) 810840	Candra Mangu Dwijendra Street 2 Phone: (0362) 880484	Baliyoni Art shop Tanah Lot Street Phone: (0362) 880373	Tanah Lot Gallery Baru Tanah Lot Phone: (0362) 880383
GIANYAR
Balinas Art Gallery Raya Mas Street Phone: (0366) 977457 Asia Style Gallery Raya Sayan Street Phone: (0366) 970056 Prada Milano Art Monkey Forest Ubud Street Phone: (0366) 973247 Patung Art Shop Goa Gajah Street Phone: (0366) 978314 Excellent Ceking Tegallalang Street Phone: (0366) 981052	Pandawa Art Monkey Forest Street Phone: (0366) 971060 Orient Art Shop Raya Mas Baru Batanancak Street Phone: (0366) 974589 Monalisa Art Monkey Forest Street Phone: (0366) 973244 Merta Art Shop Raya Goa Gajah Teges Street Phone: (0366) 974267 Jegeg Art Shop Hanoman Street 20 Phone: (0366) 978385	Smiley Art shop Raya Tegallalang Ubud Street Phone: (0366) 980995 Shini Art Gallery Sanggingan Ubud Street Phone: (0366) 974239 Puri Mas Art Gallery Raya Mas Street Phone: (0366) 975274 Puisari Art Shop Pujung Tampak Siring Street Phone: (0366) 901135 Buddhas & Silk Raya Pengosekan Street Phone: (0366) 973336	Wintara Bali Art Shop Raya Andong Street Phone: (0366) 978784 Vanessa Fine Art Gallery Raya Sanggingan Street Phone: (0366) 976744 Ubud Ayu Gallery Raya Peliatan Street Phone: (0366) 96194 Treasures Gallery Raya Ubud Street Phone: (0366) 976697 Tegun Folk Art Gallery Hanoman Street 44 Phone: (0366) 970581
AMLAPURA	BANGLI	NEGARA	SINGARAJA
Suasti Art Shop Tenganan Pegringsingan Village Phone: (0363) 41170 Putri Duyung Art Shop Beach BungalowCandidasa II Street Phone: (0363) 41261 Mia Shop Tenganan Dauh Tukad Village Phone: (0363) 41017	Kanaka Art Shop Sekardadi Kintamani Street Phone: (0366) 51720 Jepun Papat Putrayudha Street 999 X Phone: (0366) 91999 Dewi Kembar Merdeka Street 45-A Phone: (0366) 92795 Buah Bali Art Shop Raya Kayuambua Street Phone: (0366) 51390 Ardana Art Shop Kayuambua Street Phone: (0366) 51497	Waru Kembang Shop I Gusti Ngurah Rai Street 134 Phone: (0365) 41572	Rio Silver Art Shop Lovina Street Phone: (0368) 41103 Miranda Art Shop Jend A Yani Street 31 Phone: (0368) 21938 Kioski Gallery Banjar Village Phone: (0368) 93169 Kecak Shop Seririt-Singaraja Street Phone: (0368) 41206 Biyu Nasak Gallery Raya Lovina Kaliasem Street Phone: (0368) 41176

History Of South Sulawesi

Before the Republic of Indonesia has it proclamation, South Sulawesi is include of a number of independent kingdoms and dwelt by four etnic, that is: Bugis, Makassar, Mandar and Torajans. There three big empires that have big influence, those are Luwu, Gowa, and Bone, which at XVI century and XVII century reach their glorious, and has trade relation with Europeans, India, China, Malay, and Arab.

After the independence, there is the constitution number 21 in 1950, which stated that South Sulawesi become an autonomous Sulawesi Province. In 1960 become an autonomous South Sulawesi and Southeast based on the constitution number 13 in 1960. The separation of South Sulawesi from the autonomous area of South Sulawesi and Southeast was declared by the constitution number 13 in 1964, so that it become the South Sulawesi Autonomous area of South Sulawesi.

Ujung Pandang is the main city on Sulawesi, originally known as Makassar. The court of the kings of Gowa was nearby. The people here are called Makassarese. The Bugis people are famous as sailors, and founded trade empires of their own. The most famous Bugis leaders were kings of Bone, which is called Watampone today. Bugis settlements have scattered as far as Kalimantan and Riau. The kings of Gowa and Bone did much to spread Islam through the area. The island of Butung or Buton did not submit to the Dutch until 1908. The Toraja people are the original inhabitants of the central part of Sulawesi. They are known for their unusual customs; today most are Christians. The Toraja also resisted the Dutch until the first decade of the 20th Century.

THE SYMBOL MEANING
The arms were adopted in 1972. The arms consist of seven parts with each senses described as below:

1. Five pointed star and its reflection: as a light to create the symbol for The One Supreme God.
2. The circle of "unhealed rice and cottons". It consists of 17 unhooked rice-ears, 8 cottons with 4 toots on calyxes and 5 toots on cotton, which describes the 17th of August 1945 as proclamation day of Indonesia's independence.
3. The vision of fort of Somba Opu from the air. The fort symbolizes the heroism of the South Sulawesi people. There are three halls of the fort and each load of:
   • A Phinisi boat symbolizing the spirit of seaman tenacity, full-militancy and capable to popularize the aim of the 17th of August 1945 struggle. The boat is directing western appropriated the capital of Indonesia.
   • The hoe symbolizes the agrarian community as basis and machine tooth symbolizes industries as principal supports.
   • The coconut symbolizes the natural wealth of South Sulawesi.
4. An unsheathed small dagger between rice and cotton with pattern inherent five curves, which symbolizes spirit of heroism and alert in protecting the nation. The five curves are sacred numerals of each principle in philosophy of Pancasila
5. Mountain, village, and pieces of rice-field for fertility, strive for justice and welfare community. The 23 pieces of rice-field is appropriate total of regencies in South Sulawesi as one of the rice-barns in Indonesia
6. The motto in Lontara local characters means "Toddo'puli", which means firm in conviction.
7. A ribbon inscribes Sulawesi Selatan "South Sulawesi as a province of Indonesia. The ribbon is in silk designed, which describes special characteristic and precious of culture since long time ago.

The Beaches Of Bali

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it. Sanur. On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past. Kuta and Legian Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca. Jimbaran Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor. Nusa Dua Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity. Soka Beach Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach. Medewi Beach Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach. Lovina Beach Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.

INDONESIA Street Food Try it

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority does not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority do not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Street food is a quick meal sold by a vendor with a push cart, basket, at a stall, or possibly at a store where customers can see the preparation of food clearly. It provides a close connection between the customer and the street food, unlike having a plate of food in a restaurant.

The types of food offered vary from a simple fried tofu to a much more complicated dish like gudeg (raw jackfruit cooked in a Javanese traditional way that originated from Yogyakarta). In big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Medan, the street vendors offer many a traditional food from various regions in the archipelago. But in smaller cities, they are usually of the local cuisine.

The most commonly found street food is bakso or meatballs that are usually served in a bowl, like soup, with noodles, bean curds (tofu), eggs, and/or fried meat.

Another popular soup-like street food is soto. It is mainly comprised of broth and vegetables. The meats most commonly used are beef and chicken, but there are also sotos with mutton and pork. It is usually accompanied by rice or compressed rice. Sotos are differentiated by the ingredients in them, such as soto ayam (chicken) and soto kambing (mutton).

There are many sotos in Indonesia, as different regions and ethnicities have their own ways of preparing the cuisine, such as soto Madura (from East Java), soto Betawi (from Jakarta), soto Padang (from West Sumatra), so to Bandung (from West Java), soto Banjar (from South Kalimantan), and coto Makassar (from South Sulawesi).

The other popular delicacy often sold by street vendors is satay. It is a dish consisting of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef, pork, or fish) on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings, mostly made of ground nuts. Satay may have originated in Java or Sumatra, but is very popular outside Indonesia too. Similar to soto bakso and soto, there are many types of satay from sate Madura to Padang, sate Iilit, sate susu, kulit, sate Ponorogo and many more.

Nasi goreng (steamed rice stir-fried with eggs, meatballs, chicken/beef/shrimp, assorted vegetables and often with sweet soy sauce seasoning) is also very popular along with nasi rawon (rice served with dark beef soup) originally from East Java. The dark colour comes from the meaty seeds of kluwak nuts. Usually served with uncooked mung bean sprouts and salty duck eggs, pecel (a mixture of vegetables and traditional crackers with spicy peanut paste). Madiun and Blitar in East Java are popular for their pecel and gado-gado (a mixture of vegetables, crackers and rice with peanut flavoured sauce). The taste is sweet in Eastern Java and salty in Western Java.

Visit Borneo

VisitBorneo.com is a global Borneo portal, providing information, news and travel and holiday information on Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo, Kalimantan on the Indonesian part of Borneo, and Brunei Darussalam. Borneo is famous for its wildlife and jungles, in particular Orang Utans, its diverse colourful cultures, marine life, national parks, as well as Sabah's famous Mount Kinabalu.

	Wildlife and Nature Borneo is also the home of many national parks and an abundance of tropical wildlife and nature. Two of the most popular parks are Mulu National Park in Sarawak and Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	Culture Sabah and Sarawak are multi-cultural states. Brunei Darussalam is an independent country. Kalimantan, which is part of the Republic of Indonesia forms the largest part of Borneo. Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan are inhabited by several different ethnic groups. Many interesting cultural festivals and celebrations are taking place throughout the year. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	Travel Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan are easily reachable by plane from abroad. More distant travel within Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, or Brunei mostly takes place by plane or boat. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	The Sea Borneo's coasts offer some great diving opportunities, particularly off East Sarawak and off the islands of Sabah, with some unique marine life, corals and turtles species. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	Borneo Protected Areas Borneo has several protected areas, which are extremely difficult to reach and where exciting new wildlife has been discovered recently. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	Sports Borneo offers great opportunities for diving, mountain climbing, golf, fishing, and rafting. Most tour operators may be able to help in arranging a trip or adventure trek of your choice. Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
	Jobs, Internships, Work Placements, Volunteer Work Find Jobs, and Education and Training Opportunities in Borneo or dealing with Borneo.
	Borneo Travel Resources and Travel Offers Hotels, Resorts, Books, Diving, Orang Utan, Turtles, Photography Borneo is also very popular destination for Christmas or Easter Holidays.

Sanur Bali Beach

Sanur Beach Bali beutiful Beach ever seen

Bali: Tourist magnet unused to violence

The unspoilt beaches of Bali prove a lure for millions

Every year millions of tourists flock to the Indonesian island of Bali, lured by its lush green forests and unspoilt white sandy beaches.

Known as The Island of the Gods, it sits off the most easterly point of Java island and is home to a predominantly Hindu culture that has flourished in what is the world's most populous Muslim nation.

The Sari Club has long been one of the popular places in Kuta

Tourism is the backbone of the island's economy, with Kuta, where the blast occurred, a holidaymaker's playground crammed with bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Until now the island has been a peaceful haven that has been spared the bloody inter-ethnic and religious conflict that has wracked other provinces in the archipelago since the downfall of former President Suharto in 1998.

'Safe place'

Government officials have always insisted that Bali is a safe place to visit and in 2001 about 1.5 million tourists entered Indonesia at Bali's international airport, with many more travelling to the island from other parts of the country.

Bali

Indonesia's number one tourist spot Population of 3m 95% Hindu About 1.4m tourists visited in 2001

The majority of overseas visitors come from nearby Australia, with Kuta itself, home to the island's largest public beach, a popular haunt for surfers.

The Sari Club, which was at the centre of the blast is one of the most frequented clubs on the town's main street and is jam-packed with partying tourists on any given night.

Indonesia is 85% Muslim and while the vast majority of the population are moderates the country is home to a number of Muslim extremist groups.

In the past Indonesian officials have insisted that Bali was immune to attack by such Muslim radicals, citing the Hindu culture there.

But whoever is to blame for Saturday's devastating blast the fear that it will engender seems certain to spark a tourist exodus from what had been a holiday paradise.

Visit - Central Java

CANDIREJO – BOROBUDUR : A World Heritage Site
Borobudur temple is located in the district of Magelang, Central Java. It isconsidered one of the world’s wonders and has the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist relief in the world. UNESCO has listed the temple as World Heritage Site. more

Sampit
Sampit. Sampit is the biggest timber port in Kalimantan. The Orchid Park of Pembuangan Hulu is home to a number of rare and beatiful orchid varieties. Hunters can engage in their favorite pastime in hunting park of West Kotawaringin.

Tlogo Plantation
Tlogo Plantation has cool air and beautiful view with various plantation such as coffee, rubber, nutmeg and cloves. It is located 6 kms or only 10 minutes drive from The Ambarawa Railway Museum. (www.tlogoagro.net)

Baturraden
Baturraden. Central Java’s most outstanding resort, approximately 14 kms north of Purwokerto, an administrative town in the southern of Java island. It is occupies a fine site on the slopes of Mount Slamet, 650 m above sea level, feel the coolness air, nice gardens, pines forest, hot springs, ponds and bungalow-style hotels.

Tawangmangu
Tawangmangu. Located 40 kms east of Solo, this recreational resort offers fresh weather, scenic views, swimming pools, bungalow style hotels and restaurants. It lies on the slopes of Mt. Lawu, at an elevation of 1,300 m above sea level. Other features include nearby temples, a national park and the 40 m high waterfall of Grojogan Sewu.

Kemuning Tea Plantation
Kemuning Tea Plantation. Between Sukuh and Ceto Temple, there is a 300 hectares rug of green tea plantation.

Gong Cave Gong Cave
Gong Cave Gong Cave, has incredible ornament which is about 256 m underground with 12 rooms 7 spring and one natural both, located about 7 km from Punung Market, on the way to Pacitan (70 km southern of Solo city). The people believed that on the certain day of Friday there is a sound o traditional drum instrument called “Gong” come from this cave until now.