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Indonesia |
Capital: Jakarta
Official Language: Bahasa Indonesia
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Indonesia or the island nation in the Southeast Asia is the largest archipelago in the world. The name Indonesia was derived from "indos nesos" that means islands near India. Indonesia consists of about 17,508 islands with five main islands namely Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. Fabled isles of sunshine and spices, Indonesia is renowned for its spice trades since the early times. Tribes of diverse religion, culture and languages inhabit the islands of Indonesia, making a true sense of the country's motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika that is Unity in Diversity. The climate is tropical and the landscape varies, ranging from high islands, mountains, plateau, dramatic volcanic ranges and coastal lowlands. Pristine beaches, lush rainforests, enchanting fragrances of spices and flowers, teeming wildlife, magnificent architectural treasures, the immaculate Sarong clad people and variety of religious and cultural traditions have made Indonesia one of the greatest tourist destinations of the world.
Major Cities
Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang are other major cities. Jakarta replete with colonial-style boulevards reminds of the
Colonial rule. The National Monument above the Merdeka Square is a popular sight seeing famous for its crowned flame made of pure gold. A visit to the Central Museum offers a great vista of rarefied collection of statues of the pre-Hindu era. Worth visiting are the Portuguese Church, The modern Istiqlal Mosque and Antiques market on Jalan Surabaya. Surabya situated on the northern shore of eastern Java at side of Madura Strait is one of the busiest ports in the country. Surabaya Zoo is the abode of vibrant orangutans. Other places of interest in Surabya are Grand Mosque of Surabaya, Cheng Ho Mosque and Jales Veva Jaya Mahe Monument. Bandung located in the middle of the West Java province boasts of ring of mountains and largest river basin. Hiking to the top of Mount Tangkuban Perahu or camping around the lake of Patenggang can be a cherished experience. Bandung also offers astounding food and shopping options for the fashion crazy and food loving tourists. Medan the largest city of North Sumatra is famous for its old buildings carving out Dutch architecture. These include the old City Hall, the central Post Office, the Water Tower, Titi Gantung Bridge, Maimun Palace and the Great Mosque of Medan. Semarang on the north coast of Java is famous for Chinese temples. These include Sam Po Kong, built in honour of the Chinese Great Admiral Zheng and Tay Kak Sie Temple.
Tourist Attractions
Indonesia abounds in numerous tourist attractions. To recount a few among them can suffice. Various islands offer paradisiacal beauty with spectacular beaches, mountain sceneries and diverse flora and fauna. One of the major islands Java possesses the capital city Jakarta. Nestled on a hill to the west of Yogyakarta is Borobudur the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world with splendid relief carvings. The Royal Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta has been transformed do a museum with displays of royal ornaments, jewelry and 19th-century carriages. A horseback treks to the Mount Bromo from nearby Surabaya can be an enriching experience. Sumatra the second-largest island is a tropical paradise replete with hot springs, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs and a wealth of Asian fauna. Various reserves like Bengkulu, Gedung Wani and Mount Loeser Reserve have been established to protect the wild life from extinction. A safari to these reserves opportune the adventurous tourist to meet tigers, elephants, tapirs and rhinos at close hand and take snaps. Lingga village near Medan offers picturesque views of the countryside with stilted wooden huts and the friendly natives. Bali traditionally known as the Island of Gods is in a short distance from the eastern coast of Java, across the Strait of Bali. The chief tourist spots are concentrated in the south, around Sanur Beach and at Kuta. Some breathtaking sights seeing of Bali are 'Holy Temple' at Besakih, Konservatori Kerawitan Museum, Sea Temple of Tanah Lot, Goa Gajah Elephant Cave near Bedulu and the Holy Springs of Tampasiring . Colorful beach festivals, elaborate ceremonies and distinctive crafts including miniature paintings, woodcarvings, masks and handmade quilts make Bali a fascinating tourist site.
Accommodation
Major gateways to Indonesia are Jakarta and Bali. Ngurah Rai Airport of Bali and Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta are two major airports of Indonesia. International Visa is required to roll up at the border crossing. Most of the sea connections are between Malaysia and Sumatra with comfortable high-speed ferry from Penang to Medan. There are speedboats from east coast Kalimantan to Sabah in Malaysia. Roads are well-built and express bus; luxury air-con buses can be used for traveling distant spots. Some typical Indonesian transport systems are bemo or pick-up trucks with rows of seats, becak or bicycle rickshaws and dokar or horse-drawn carts. Major cities of Indonesia are dotted with European style resorts, art-deco style hotels and restaurants. So accommodation is not a problem in this country.
Precautions
On December 26th 2004, a massive earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale rushed over the west coast of Indonesia. The quake created a tsunami - a series of huge sea waves that led to huge flooding and damaged the country's tourism infrastructure. Aftermath of the disaster gave birth to several health problems like cholera, typhoid and viral fever. Moreover instances of internal disturbances and lack of security in various remote areas have also been reported. So those wishing to travel to Indonesia should check with a relevant tour operator, for the latest information prior to travel.
For further details and information on Indonesia and its tourist destinations flip through the pages of Allwonderscountries
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