Australia's Great Natural Wonder : Great Barrier Reef

 source : static5.businessinsider.com

One of Australia’s most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world’s largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the worlds most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches.

source : gbrmpa.gov.au

Because of its natural beauty, the Great Barrier Reef has become one of the worlds most sought after tourist destinations. A visitor to the Great Barrier Reef can enjoy many experiences including snorkelling, scuba diving, aircraft or helicopter tours, bare boats (self-sail), glass-bottomed boat viewing, semi-submersibles and educational trips, cruise ship tours, whale watching and swimming with dolphins.

 source : qualia.com.au

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, and pulling away from it, and viewing it from a greater distance, you can understand why. It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space. Article source : here

 source : great-barrier-reef.com

Amazing Sanur Beach - BALI INDONESIA

 source : footrips.com

Sanur is Bali's oldest upscale resort area and is a mature beach-side town. Despite the abundance of restaurants and accommodation, it has a quiet and relaxed feel to it. In general terms, it is more expensive than Kuta but cheaper than Seminyak. Sanur tends to appeal most to middle-aged and older families, especially Europeans.

 source : static.asiawebdirect.com

The Sanur area is sandwiched between the main Jalan Ngurah Rai bypass and the beach. One main route called Jalan Danau Tamblingan runs north to south through the town and it is easy to orient yourself with reference to this road.

Sanur Beach, Bali's earliest beach resort, features a relaxed coastal ambiance. Located on the eastern side of the island's isthmus, it is the opposite of Kuta, both in characteristics and nuance. The former fishing village maintains most of its charm and continues to attract repeat visitors, mostly from Europe.

 source : vilondo.com

Among Bali’s first hotels and beachfront retreats, together with an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and bars and an assortment of innovative and modern entertainment venues share the Sanur Beach coastline. Known for its laidback atmosphere, Sanur Beach maintains its wealth in arts and culture, making it an ideal destination to enjoy the best of both eras, classic and contemporary. Article source : here here

 source : wyndhamap.com

Senggigi - Lombok Island Indonesia

The Senggigi region is the main tourist destination on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. The main town is Senggigi itself, and the whole area is well known for its beautiful west facing beaches. The Senggigi region is formed by several adjacent yet subtly different areas all lying along the same 2 lane coastal road. The exact boundaries of each area can seem rather ill-defined. While pockets of development can be found in some areas, long stretches of open undeveloped land lie in between.

source : gilitransfers.com

source : kileetravels.com

Nightlife and major restaurants are concentrated in the central township of Senggigi. The first time visitor should be aware of these distinct regional differences. Simply booking a hotel in Senggigi could mean a relatively remote location where the town centre can only be reached by taxi or public transport.

source : media-cdn.tripadvisor.com

source : media-cdn.tripadvisor.com

Mangsit — a little to the north of Senggigi township it has a well established hotel strip running along a long tranquil sweeping beach with traditional outrigger boats resting on the sand. Mangsit is the gateway to the northern area of activities at Gili Islands, Tanjung and Mount Rinjani. It has well established resort hotel choices but few other tourist activities, such as shopping and nightlife. Mangsit can be quickly and conveniently reached from the centre of Senggigi by taxi or public bemo.

 source : beachresort.purimas-lombok.com

Kerangdangan — in a large quiet bay to the immediate north of the Senggigi township with some rental villa's in the valley behind the beach.

Senggigi (centre) — not a typical tourist resort town, such as may be found in Bali where a day can be spent shopping and socialising at the local bars and restaurants. However there are enough bars, pool tables, TV screens with sports broadcasts, relaxing lounge areas and beach side restaurants to keep people occupied should that be their focus. Many visitors use Senggigi as a home base and take day trips to the waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or just go exploring the still authentic villages, temples, and forest habitat found within a couple of hours drive.

Batu Bolong — is to the immediate south of Senggigi and has a sparsely spread out collection of hotels, cafes, restaurants, several karaoke style establishments and a large barn like nightclub all situated along the coast road. A smaller restaurant and hotel strip is concentrated at the Senggigi end. It feels in the most part like a southern satellite extension of the Senggigi township. In the valley behind Batu Bolong is a large housing complex catering to both Indonesian and expatriate long term residents and visitors. Taxis, or bemo if during daylight hours, give very quick access the centre of Senggigi.

 source : lombokvilla.net

Both Mangsit and Batu Bolong are more focussed on the hotels situated along their respective beachfronts where at night the centre of Senggigi has a more lively street feel to it with live music playing and people moving about from one venue to another. Lombok's tourism sector has had a difficult past decade and tourism activity in Senggigi went through a very subdued period with many developments halted and businesses closed. Recently things have been starting to improve again, with new villas and hotels going up and new shops and tourism ventures opening. Senggigi is now becoming increasingly popular with visitors seeking out the stunning scenery and unique culture and flavours of Lombok. Article source : here 

source : quncivillas.com

Sentosa Island - Singapura

 source : sentosacoveguru.com

Sentosa  is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some twenty million people a year. Attractions include a 2 km (1.2 mi) long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses, the Merlion, 14 hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.

 source : lifetomyfullest.files.wordpress.com

 source : sentosacoveguru.com

The name Sentosa translates as "peace and tranquility" in Malay, which was in turn derived from संतोष (Santosha) in Sanskrit. Sentosa was once known as Pulau Belakang Mati (Chinese: 绝后岛), which in Malay means the "Island (pulau) of Death (mati) from Behind (belakang)". The island has an area of close to 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi). It lies just half a kilometre (a quarter of a mile) away from the southern coast of the main island of Singapore. It is Singapore's fourth largest island (excluding the main island). 70% of the island is covered by secondary rainforest, the habitat of monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots as well as other native fauna and flora, also, when the construction of Resorts World Sentosa commenced, environmental impact was kept at a minimum when over two hundred trees in the designated area were replanted elsewhere on the island. The island also has 3.2 km (2.0 mi) stretch of white sand beach. Significantly large portions of land are currently being added to Sentosa due to land reclamation.

 source : rahlat.com

Sentosa has a stretch of sheltered beach of more than 2 km (1.2 mi) on its southern coast, divided into three portions: Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach and Tanjong Beach. These beaches are artificial, reclaimed using sand bought from Indonesia and Malaysia. They are manned by a beach patrol lifeguard team who are easily identified by their red and yellow uniforms.

Palawan Beach lies in the centre of the southern coast of Sentosa. There is a suspension bridge that leads to a small islet off the coast which is said to be the southernmost point of continental Asia, or Asia's closest point to the Equator. There are several bars along the beach offering food and beverage options to visitors as well as Beach Station of the Sentosa Express. Palawan Beach was once served by Central Beach Monorail Station, but this station closed in 2005.

Siloso Beach lies on the west portion of the southern coast and it is known as the place for beach volleyball and other outdoor activities such as canoeing, skimboarding, mountain biking and rollerblading. There are also dining and shopping outlets along the beach. The beach underwent a SGD$3 million facelift in December 2012. The Rasa Sentosa Resort is located at the western end of Siloso Beach.

Tanjong Beach is located on the relatively more secluded eastern part of the coast. The crescent-shaped beach is sometimes used for special events or parties. The beach bar 'KM8' used to be located here, but it closed down on 28 March 2009. The Tanjong Beach Club is now the main draw on Tanjong Beach. Article source : here 

 source : http://gatotravel.com

MacRitchie Reservoir Park - Singapura

 A gateway to Singapore’s nature reserves, the MacRitchie Reservoir Park is a popular spot for nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts. With hiking trails, a newly improved pontoon for kayakers and an upgraded canoe shed, it is also a great place for recreational activities, both on land and in water.

A 12-hectare green haven bordering the country’s first reservoir and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the MacRitichie Reservoir Park is highly visited by nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. As a gateway to our pristine forest and waters, the park is a popular venue for schools and organisations to hold cross-country events, allowing participants to run through designated trails while embracing the wonders of our native biodiversity. The iconic MacRitchie bandstand continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many Singaporeans, and is often used to host performing arts presentations and solemnisation ceremonies. Take a morning or evening walk and stroll along the water’s edge to admire the beauty and serenity of the reservoir. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely paddle through the calm waters or explore the forest and discover its inhabitants on the many trails. For those looking for an adrenaline rush, hike over to the TreeTop Walk.

 Featuring an amenities centre equipped with washrooms, showering facilities, lockers, drinking fountains and food kiosks, the reservoir deck is an ideal venue for warm-ups and cross-country events. Under the Active, Beautiful and Clean programme initiated by the Public Utilities Board, a landscape highlight in the park is a near 100-metre vegetated gravel swale, which is complemented by a 40-metre submerged boardwalk. These features are primarily designed to sieve out coarse sediments and pollutants from surface water runoffs, which eventually enhance the nation’s water quality in the reservoir. The furnishing of these features with plants and vegetation has further enriched biodiversity. Visitors can stay captivated by nature while taking a leisure stroll along the reservoir edge. The park also features a green two-storey car park with 300 parking lots, with an upper deck which collects rainwater and channels them into a bioswale. The MacRitchie Reservoir is one of the four reservoirs that bound Singapore’s nature reserves. Other reservoirs include the Lower Peirce Reservoir, the Upper Peirce Reservoir and the Upper Seletar Reservoir. Serving as water catchment areas, forests surrounding these reservoirs are protected from agricultural activities in order to ensure the quality of the water. Article Source : here

Beautiful Hindu Temple in Java Indonesia - PRAMBANAN TEMPLE

source : static.thousandwonders.net

Prambanan Temple Compounds consist of Prambanan Temple (also called Loro Jonggrang), Sewu Temple, Bubrah Temple and Lumbung Temple. Prambanan Temple itself is a complex consisting of 240 temples. All the mentioned temples form the Prambanan Archaeological Park and were built during the heyday of Sailendra’s powerful dynasty in Java in the 8th century AD.

source : segarratour.com

These compounds are located on the border between the two provinces of Yogyakarta and Central Java on Java Island. While Loro Jonggrang, dating from the 9th century, is a brilliant example of Hindu religious bas-reliefs, Sewu, with its four pairs of Dwarapala giant statues, is Indonesia’s largest Buddhist complex including the temples of Lumbung, Bubrah and Asu (Gana temple). The Hindu temples are decorated with reliefs illustrating the Indonesian version of the Ramayana epic which are masterpieces of stone carvings. These are surrounded by hundreds of shrines that have been arranged in three parts showing high levels of stone building technology and architecture from the 8th century AD in Java. With over 500 temples, Prambanan Temple Compounds represents not only an architectural and cultural treasure, but also a standing proof of past religious peaceful cohabitation. Criterion (i): Prambanan Temple Compounds presents the grandiose culture of Siva art as a masterpiece of the classical period in Indonesia, and the region. Criterion (iv): The property is an outstanding religious complex, characteristic of Siva expression of the 10th century.
Prambanan Temple Compounds comprises of two groups of buildings which includes Loro Jonggrang, Sewu complexes, Lumbung, Bubrah and Asu (Gana). The 508 stone temples of various shapes and sizes are either in a complete and preserved condition or have been retained as ruins. This site includes all elements necessary to express its exceptional significance and is well maintained. There are no threats of development or neglect; however the area is prone to natural threats such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Prambanan Temple Compounds contains the original structures that were built in the 9th century AD. The temples collapsed due to earthquake, volcanic eruption and a shift of political power in the early 11th century, and they were rediscovered in the 17th century. These compounds have never been displaced or changed. Restoration works have been conducted since 1918, both in original traditional method of interlocking stone and modern methods using concrete to strengthen the temple structure. Even though extensive restoration works have been done in the past and as recently as after the 2006 earthquake, great care has been taken to retain the authenticity of the structures. Article source : here

  source : livingif.com

The Largest Buddhist Temple in the World - BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

  source : worldheritage.routes.travel

 The Borobudur Temple Compounds is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, and was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD during the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty. The monument is located in the Kedu Valley, in the southern part of Central Java, at the centre of the island of Java, Indonesia.

  source : besttravelpictures.com

The main temple is a stupa built in three tiers around a hill which was a natural centre: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,520 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The vertical division of Borobudur Temple into base, body, and superstructure perfectly accords with the conception of the Universe in Buddhist cosmology. It is believed that the universe is divided into three superimposing spheres, kamadhatu, rupadhatu, and arupadhatu, representing respectively the sphere of desires where we are bound to our desires, the sphere of forms where we abandon our desires but are still bound to name and form, and the sphere of formlessness where there is no longer either name or form. At Borobudur Temple, the kamadhatu is represented by the base, the rupadhatu by the five square terraces, and the arupadhatu by the three circular platforms as well as the big stupa. The whole structure shows a unique blending of the very central ideas of ancestor worship, related to the idea of a terraced mountain, combined with the Buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana. The Temple should also be seen as an outstanding dynastic monument of the Syailendra Dynasty that ruled Java for around five centuries until the 10th century. The Borobudur Temple Compounds consists of three monuments: namely the Borobudur Temple and two smaller temples situatued to the east on a straight axis to Borobudur. The two temples are Mendut Temple, whose depiction of Buddha is represented by a formidable monolith accompanied by two Bodhisattvas, and Pawon Temple, a smaller temple whose inner space does not reveal which deity might have been the object of worship. Those three monuments represent phases in the attainment of Nirvana. The temple was used as a Buddhist temple from its construction until sometime between the 10th and 15th centuries when it was abandoned. Since its re-discovery in the 19th century and restoration in the 20th century, it has been brought back into a Buddhist archaeological site. Article Source : here

  source : cdn1-e.production.liputan6.com

  source : media.viva.co.id

NEXT >>> PRAMBANAN TEMPLE : HINDU'S TEMPLE IN JAVA

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MALAYSIA - CAMERON HIGHLAND 3

Brinchang

 source : momoc.sumasu.com

Brinchang which is a bustling township in Cameron Highlands is located five km from Tanah Rata. It is the highest and second largest township of Cameron Highlands, attracting a large number of local tourists on weekends and public holidays. Brinchang has a popular night market during weekends and public holidays which attracts local tourists with its highland produce, local street food, soft toys and fruits.The town has a numerous restaurants serving Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine and a range of budget and medium ranged hotels. Being located higher, the place is frequently blanketed by heavy mist, while on clear days, the air is crisp and the surrounding mountain view is magnificent. Many vegetable farms, flower nurseries and fruit orchards are located close to this town and some popular tourist spots here include Cactus Valley and the Big Red Strawberry Farm.

Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla & Kampung Raja 
Beyond Brinchang, the road leads to all the way to Blue Valley. Most of the tourist spots are located around this route. This is where you will find the markets, vegetable farms, flower gardens, bee gardens and butterfly gardens. The road also branches out to the Sungai Palas tea plantation from here where you can visit the factory or have a cup of tea while enjoying the breathtaking view of the plantation. If you continue on the main road heading north, it will be downhill from Kea Farm onwards. You will see vegetables farms all the way from here to Tringkap and beyond. Tringkap is a small farming community where you can find stalls along the road selling local produce. Fifteen minutes away is Kuala Terla, another small farming community. Kampung Raja is the last town on the map. Since the opening of the Simpang Pulai road, this town has become the gateway to the highlands from the north. From here, you can head west to Ipoh or east to Gua Musang in Kelantan. Source : here

 

 source : kuanju.files.wordpress.com

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MALAYSIA - CAMERON HIGHLAND 2

 CAMERON HIGHLAND - RINGLET AND TANAH RATA

Ringlet 

source : cameronhighlandsinfo.com

If you’re taking the old road via Tapah, this is the first town you will reach after after the 1 hour drive through the rainforest. Located at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea-level, Ringlet is one of the main agricultural hub for the highlands.

There is nothing much to do here for the typical tourist besides stopping for fuel as this is one of of the towns with petrol stations. Bertam Valley which is located about 5km away is one of the main flower and vegetable producers in Cameron Highlands. The nearest hotel is the LakeHouse which is less then 5 minutes drive from here.

Tanah Rata 

  source : photos.worldwanderings.net

The heart of Cameron Highlands is indeed its administrative township called Tanah Rata which is highly popular among local and foreign tourists. Nestled at an elevation of 1,440 metres (4,720 ft) with a daily temperature range from 16 to 24 degrees Celsius, the air here is fresh and crisp and the surrounding land is ideal for a wide range of temperate and sub tropical flowers that thrive here in abundance. The name “tanah rata” actually means flat ground in Malay and it refers to the relatively flat valley on which the town is located amidst the surrounding hills and mountain peaks. Being a popular place among tourists, there are many hotels, resorts, holiday apartments, backpacker inns and lodges located within the town and also at its surrounding countryside. Tanah Rata has banks, bars, money changers, sundry shops, cyber cafes, tour counters, restaurants, fast food outlets and even a Starbucks cafe. Tourists often choose to explore the surrounding sub-mountain forest here as there are numerous jungle trails with varying lengths and difficulties conveniently accessed from town. Some trails that are popular include the Trail Number 4 from Parit Falls among others leading to mountain peaks such as Gunung Beremban (1,812m), Gunung Mentigi (1,535m), Gunung Perdah (1,551m) and Gunung Jasar (1,670m). All jungle walks here are numbered and can be easily referenced from tourist maps available from shops, cafes and hotels around town. Source : here

source : s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

NEXT >>> CAMERON HIGHLANDS 3

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MALAYSIA - CAMERON HIGHLAND

source : cameronhighlands.com

Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in Pahang which is located in the north-western corner of the state. One of the most popular hill resort in the country, this highland paradise still retains much of the charm of an English village. Although massive development in the last decade has changed the landscape of the highlands, it remains a popular destination for those who wanting to to escape the hot weather of the lowlands.pano bharat tea 1 Being a primarily agricultural domain, you will find an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms dotted all over the highlands

 source : joyloh.com

Cameron Highlands is also the leading producer of flowers and tea in Malaysia. Be prepared for a lovely sight of tea plantations and beautiful flowers you won’t see flourishing elsewhere in Malaysia. Located on the Titiwangsa Range at about 1500 metres above sea-level, the temperature here can drop to 16 ˚C or lower at certain times. The weather here remains at the lower 20′s most of the time. Cameron Highlands is made up of 4 main townships followed by smaller settlements at different elevations. The first town from the south is Ringlet, followed by Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. Source : here

source : cdn.kiwicollection.com

NEXT >>>  READ MORE CAMERON HIGHLAND 

5 BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN INDONESIA - BUNAKEN

BUNAKEN

source : suwandichandra.com

writer : Agus Hermanto
Bunaken Marine Park is considered as one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. Located just offshore the North Sulawesi capital of Manado, Bunaken offers untouched beauty of nature.

source : gongsol.com

It was first established as a national marine park in 1991 and it covers an area of 89,605 hectares. It is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited in my lives. There are a couple of ways to enjoy the diving experience at Bunaken. * First option, you can stay in Manado and take a boat in the morning to the nearby islands to start your diving trip. * Your second option is to actually stay in one the five islands around Manado and enjoy the ultimate diving experience as soon as you get up from your bed. It does not matter which options you choose, you will be inspired by the beauty of Bunaken.

During my visit, I decided to stay in Manado because I wanted to explore the other attractions of North Sulawesi. I stayed at Ritzy hotel, located 10 minutes walk from the harbor. The hotel is one of the upscale hotels in Manado. As soon as I arrived, I visited the mainland attractions, such as Lake Tondano, located in the Minahasa highland. Lake Tondano offers a serene environment deep in the mountains. I had the luxury of hiring a guide for all of our trips. A guide is highly recommended for various reasons, especially comfort. A guide will cost you from USD$ 40 to USD$ 60, depending on where you are going. This price usually includes the car rental, gas, and all the information that you want to know from the guide. The next day, I went for my first bunaken diving experience. Important to remember: Make sure you already have your diving certificate. You can also complete your diving certificate here if you want to do so. I went to Bastianos diving resort to arrange my diving itinerary. I can only say one thing of my diving experience: It was marvelous. Clear visibility up to 30 meters, warm refreshing water temperature, 3,000 types of fish and 300 types of coral. It was nothing like I had ever seen before. Diving price here usually varies from resort to resort. One thing for certain is that you need to pay for admission to enter the marine park, whether you are diving or not. Daily admission is USD$ 5 or USD$ 15 for a full year admission. As I have mentioned before, diving package usually varies from resort to resort. There are five main islands that you can choose to visit: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Montehagen, Nain and Siladen. Each island offers different ecosystem, thus different diving experience. If you are an experienced diver, you can go for more challenging dives near Siladen Island. Article Source: here

source : monyetnyengir.com

 

source : gambarwisata.com

NEXT >>> BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN MALAYSIA

5 BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN INDONESIA - WAKATOBI

WAKATOBI

 source : diveadventures.com.au

It is a good news for everyone who love undersea tourism. You do not need to make every effort and waste your time any more to go to Wakatobi Marine National Park, South East Sulawesi Indonesia, a great place to explore amazing undersea scenery. From now on, it is easier and faster to get there than before, because many direct flights is scheduled from and to Wakatobi.

source : bookyourdive.com

source : diveadventures.com.au

Some time ago, to reach Wakatobi, traveler must first traveled to Makassar or Kendari (province capital of South East Sulawesi) by planes or ferries from Jakarta or Bali (to the present time, there is no direct international flights to Makassar). Then, they must connected their travel by plane or boat/local ferries to go to Bau-Bau (transit town) before they got the point of Wakatobi. And the good news is, Usman Syafei Jamal as Minister of Transportation of Indonesian Government, made Matahora Airport official at the end of June 2009.

source : indonesiawow.com

The airport had been developed since 2007, located in Wangi-Wangi, a regional capital of Wakatobi. Matahora's runway are 1400 m and 30 m of its length and width. Next, it will be added to become 2100 m in 2010 in order that runway can be landed by plane as Boeing 737. Thus, there are two airports operated in Wakatobi. The first one is Maranggo Airport that operated by Wakatobi Dive Resort who serves direct flight occasionally from Bali to Tomia (exclusive tourist package/air charter). The second one is the airport that we have just talked above, Matahora Airport. By now, there is only SusiAir who operates ten flights per week (Kendari-Wakatobi-Kendari) and it just takes about 45 minutes in one trip. Article Source: here

source : media-cdn.tripadvisor.com

 

source : blog.wakatobi.com

NEXT >>> BUNAKEN