Komodo National Park: Into The Heart of The Dragons
by admin
Real dragons spurt no fire, have no need to fly and cast no magic spells. And still, one look from them might render you speechless.
These komodos, the real life dragons, are a sight indeed.
Gigantic, the lizard-like creatures are about two or three meters in length. They can easily weigh about 165 kilograms. Despite of their sheer size and appearance, they are not active hunters. What makes them intimidating is the fact that they are a patient predator. In the wild, they stalk a victim, usually a weak or injured one. One bite and that’s what it usually takes. After following the victim for a while, sometimes up to several days’ time, the komodos will devour the dying prey.
The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is an endangered species which can only be found in the Komodo National Park (KNP) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Because of the unique and rare nature of this animal, its habitat – KNP – was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.
The park includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2.
(more…)
Tags: Bima, Indonesia Air Transport, Komodo Dragon, Komodo Island, Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo, PELNI, Reptiles, Rinca Island, Trans Nusa Airlines, World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Posted in Travel | 1 Comment »
Raja Ampat: Divers’ Paradise
by admin
If you really like diving, after you’ve seen Raja Ampat, you might not want to return home.
Raja Ampat archipelago covers an area of 43,000 km2. It has more than 610 islands, located at the west side of Papua Island. Here, you can find more than 540 types of reefs, 1000 types of reef’s fish, and 750 types of mollusks. Raja Ampat offers 75% of the world’s reef!
You can also witness other unique species such as pigmy seahorse, webbegong, manta ray and endemic fish called eviota raja (king eviota).
One of the best spots is Chicken Reef, where you’ll be surrounded by thousands of fish, bamboo sharks and snappers. There are just too many species in Raja Ampat, so unless you’re a scientist, it’s best to enjoy watching them rather than naming every one of them!
(more…)
Tags: Asmat, Chicken Reef, Distrik Waigeo Selatan, Fishing, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesian Visa, Kampung Waisai, Kayaking, Merpati, Pelita Air, Raja Ampat archipelago, Sailing, Salawati, Silk Air, snorkeling, Wreck diving
Posted in Travel | 2 Comments »
Kutai National Park
by admin
Kutai National Park (KNP) is a lowland tropical forest in East Kalimantan. KNP has an area width of 198,629 hectares.
Its bio-diversity and vegetation makes it a great destination for local as well as foreign nature lovers and researchers. Iron-meranti-kapur (Dryobalanops Spp.) woods, mixed dipterocarpaceae, mangroves and kerangsa are types of vegetations found in KNP.
At present, about 900 types of vegetations in the park have been identified. For local students in its surrounding areas e.g., Bontang and Sangatta, KNP is a facility to learn about the nature. Two locations of KNP frequently visited by tourists are Sangkima and Prevab resorts. Visitors are charged with an entry fee of Rp1,500 for local visitors or Rp15,000 for foreign visitors.
(more…)
Tags: bio-diversity, Bontang, East Kalimantan, Entry Permit to Conservation Area (SIMAKSI), Kartanegara districts, Kutai National Park, License to Enter Conservation Area (SIMAKSI)., Orang utan, restoration, Sangatta, Sangkima resor, trekking
Posted in Travel | No Comments »
Senggigi Beach: Lombok’s Most Famous Resort Area
by admin
Senggigi is Lombok’s oldest and most famous resort area.
A perfect place to relax, Senggigi boasts a series of white sandy beaches and safe swimming areas.
The point at central Senggigi has good waves for surfers. This place has a colourful reef which provides shelter to a variety of marine life and exquisitely shapped coral and makes it a perfect place to snorkle.
In the dry season, there is an interesting variety of boats moored in the bay. The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, the port for the Gili Islands.
(more…)
Tags: colourful reef, Gili Islands, resort area, Senggigi Beach, snorkeling, white sandy beaches
Posted in Travel | No Comments »
Mount Leuser National Park
by admin
Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the biggest and the most diversed national parks in Indonesia (950,000 hectare), covering 7,927 km² area in northern Sumatera, Indonesia. The national park, named after its highest peak, Mount Leuser (3,381 m), protects a wide range of ecosystems. Basically it’s a collection of various nature reserves and forests:
Nature Reserve Gunung Leuser, Nature Reserve Kappi, Nature Reserve Kluet, Sikundur Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Singkil Barat and Dolok Sembilin.
Most parts of the national park lie in the region Aceh Tenggara (SE Aceh). Other parts are situated in the region east Aceh, south Aceh, and Langkat (a part of North Sumatra).
Generally this park may represent each of this character of beach and swamp forest, lowland rainfores , montane or moss fores up to subalpine forest.
(more…)
Tags: Aceh Tenggara (SE Aceh), Belawan ferry terminal, Bukit Barisan Selatan, Bukit Lawang, jungle trek, Kerinci Seblat national parks, Lembaga Pariwisata Tangkahan - LPT (Tangkahan Tourism Institution), Mount Leuser National Park, Orang Utan Rehabilitation Station, Sumatran elephants, Sumatran rhinocheros, Sumatran tigers, Yoga Car Rentals
Posted in Travel | No Comments »
