Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Cuisine: South Kalimantan


  • Main Dish
    1. Soto Banjar

One of Indonesia's many types of soto (soup), it is the one of the province's specialties. Soto Banjar is composed of shredded chicken and soup spiced with ginger, nutmeg and cloves. It is served with ketupat (Indonesia traditional rica cake), perkedel (potato croquette with beef), boiled egg and white rice. Fried onion is used as garnish.


Soto Banjar

    2. Sate Banjar


Another specialty of the Banjarese people, it is made of chicken or beef marinated with sauce made of chili, garlic and palm sugar and sweet soybean sauce. It is then skewered and grilled on a traditional charcoal fire. Served with rice or lontong (traditional tube-shaped rice cake).


Sate Banjar


   3. Ketupat Kandangan


This dish uses ketupat (traditional diamond-shaped rice cake) and unlike other ketupat-based dishes, ketupat Kandangan is served with haruan fish soup. The fish is first marinated with tamarind, lime and salt, then grilled. After that it is boiled in a mixture of coconut milk and spices such as onion and garlic. The soup is then poured on top of the ketupat


Ketupat Kandangan


  • Beverages
    1. Es Kelapa Muda Jahe

Just like its name, the drink is made of es kelapa muda (ice coconut) and jahe (ginger). It served just like normal es kelapa muda in big glasses, however mixture of ginger, honey and sugar palm is added. Beside the fact that it is refreshing, it is also a great cure for diseases such as cold, cholesterol, high blood pressure and many others. 

Es Kelapa Muda Jahe

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Cuisine: Aceh


  • Main Dish
    1. Keumamah

Made of ikan tongkol (tuna) or ikan kayu as the locals call it, Keumamah is one of Aceh's many specialties. The tuna used for this recipe is different because it is thinly sliced and dried before cooking. Sliced tuna is first boiled in water and then is mixed with spices such as chili, curry leaves and turmeric. Served together with white rice.

Keumamah

    2. Mie Aceh

This noodle dish is another specialty of the Acehnese people. Mie Aceh is a noodle dish that is spicy and is served either with beef, mutton or seafood. What is great about this dish is that you can have it either fried or boiled (served with spicy soup). Vegetables inside are beansprouts, cucumbers and tomatoes. Best served with emping (crackers) or acar (Indonesian pickles).

Mie Aceh

    3. Kari Aceh

Kari Aceh is one of Indonesia's many delicious curry. Kari Aceh is usually beef, mutton or chicken cut into small pieces that is marinated with tamarind and key lime. The meat is later mixed with coconut milk and spices such as cloves and chili that have been stirred. Best served with white rice.

Kari Aceh
  • Pastry
    1.Timphan

Traditional pastry from Aceh, Timphan is one of the province's specialties. Made from steamed  mixture of jackfruit and banana sprinkled with grated coconut. It is served with banana leaf as it wrapper.

Timphan



Cuisine: Central Java



  • Main Dish
  1. Bakso Solo
Bakso literally means meatballs, made of beef boiled in hot soup with mung bean-thread noodles, green vegetables, shredded cabbage and tomato sauce or chili sauce. Different with the others, bakso solo has the bigger size of tennis ball. and because of this, it also known as bakso tennis.

Bakso Tennis

      2. Soto Kudus

Soto is a common Indonesian soup with turmeric as its main flavor, and the meat are usually chicken, beef or mutton depending on the region. In Kudus, one of Central Java's towns, Soto is usually served with shredded chicken and hard-boiled eggs, beansprout and fried shallots. Krupuk or Emping (crackers) is a common topping for Soto.

Soto Kudus

      3. Ayam Goreng Kalasan

Ayam goreng Kalasan has a unique taste: it is salty and also sweet. Ayam goreng Kalasan is  chicken stewed in spices such as coriander, garlic, candlenut and coconut water. It is then fried until it is crispy and is served with sambal (chili) sauce and raw vegetables.

Ayam Goreng Kalasan

       4.   Nasi Liwet


As we know, rice is usually cooked in water, but nasi liwet is different. It is cooked in coconut milk. Traditionally it is served on banana leaves or teak wood leaves. Nasi Liwet is usually served with opor ayam (chicken boiled in a mild white coconut milk sauce), telur pindang (eggs boiled slowly with spices) and labu siam (chayote) as the vegetable. Nasi Liwet is usually served for breakfast and lunch in Solo.


Nasi Liwet


  • Side Dish
   1. Srabi Solo

A pancake made of coconut milk mixed with rice flour. Srabi Solo can be served plain or with toppings such as sliced banana, chopped jackfruit, chocolate sprinkle or cheese.

Srabi Solo

     2.  Lumpia Semarang

Known in other parts of the world as spring rolls. The filling varies, but consists mainly of meats and bamboo shoots. Lumpia Semarang is usually served with kecap manis (sweet fermented soybean sauce) or sweet garlic sauce. It can also be served with acar (Indonesian style of sweet and sour cucumber pickle and chili). 

Lumpia Semarang

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Destination: Sulawesi --> South Sulawesi


  • Culture & Heritage:
  1. Fort Rotterdam

Fort Roterdam or also called Benteng Ujung Pandang is one of the relics built by the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom in 1545. It is situated in the city of Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, facing the sea. The fort has a unique shape, it resembles a turtle heading out to sea. The fort also received the title "the most well-preserved Dutch fort in Asia".



Fort Rotterdam

The people of Gowa-Tallo called this fort Benteng Panyua, probably because of its shape (panyua = penyu = sea turtle), and used it as a marine base. After the fort was taken by the Dutch during the Dutch Colonialization era, Cornelis Speelman, the Dutchman who commandeered the conquest of the fort renamed it Fort Rotterdam after his hometown.

La Galigo Museum
Inside the fort, a museum called Celebes Museum was established by the Dutch in 1938. It was the first museum to be built in the province and during the Dutch occupation it exhibited various articfacts such as ceramics and jewelries. Thirty years after Indonesia gained its independence, in 1970 the museum was re-established and the name was changed to La Galigo after the prince of the Sulu Kingdom. The name La Galigo also refers to I La Galigo, the world's longest epic poem. In addition to the early artifacts, the museum now exhibits artifacts from other kingdoms such as Sawito and Luwu.

The Fort is open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., but La Galigo Museum only opens from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The entrance fee is around 10,000 rupiah.


  • Eco-tourism: 

     2. Taka Bone Rate National Park


Taka Bone Rate is home to the world's biggest atoll in the world after Kwajifein in Marshall Island and Suvadiva in Moldiva Isles with an area of 530,765 hectares. Taka Bone Rate is   has the meaning of "Coral piled up on sand" and it has become a major marine reserve and is rich in wildlife, both terrestrial and marine.

To get there, first take a local flight from Makassar (Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport) to Selayar Island that is operated by Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. After reaching Selayar Island you can take a boat to Taka Bone Rate National Park.

Taka Bone Rate National Park

Taka Bone Rate National Park consists of 21 islands, 19 of which are great dive sites . This  national park is also home to 261 species of coral, 295 species of coral fish and 244 species of mollusk, Dive its pristine waters and you might be lucky enough to encounter Hawksbill Turtles, Green Turtles and Pacific Ridley Turtles.

Hawksbill Turtle


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Airports: Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport

Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport is the main gateway to the eastern part of Indonesia. The airport was named after The Sultan of the Gowa Sultanate.

Location: 17 km northeast of Makassar

Terminal:

  • Old Terminal: This terminal no longer used due to overcapacity. Since 20 August 2008 all operational flights moved to the new terminal. Now this terminal used by the Indonesian Air Force
  • New Terminal: Located in the southern side of the old terminal, this terminal is implementing the concept of eco-airport and its shape resembles the traditional house of South Sulawesi.


Airlines:






Facilities:
  • Shopping area
  • Internet hotspot in waiting room
  • Banks and ATMs
  • Airport shuttle bus
  • Taxi service



Airports: Halim Perdanakusumah International Airport

This airport is located in Jakarta, the capital city of D.K.I Jakarta province.


Location: Jakarta, D.K.I Jakarta


Distance from city: inside the city of Jakarta


Airlines:




Facilities: 
  • Shops
  • Restaurants
  • ATMs
  • Taxi service


Airports: Bali International Airport (Ngurah Rai Airport)

Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Bali International Airport, is named after I Gusti Ngurah Rai, an Indonesian National Hero.

Location: 13 km South of Denpasar

Terminal: 

The international terminal is located in the "L" shaped terminal while the domestic terminal is located south east of the international terminal. The two terminals are seperated by Festival Plaza. Ngurah Rai International Airport has 14 gates for International Terminal and 3 gates for Domestic Terminal.

Airlines: 





Facilities:

  • Taxi Service
  • Rental Car service
  • Charter Buse service
  • Post office and public telephones
  • Drug store
  • Banks and money changers
  • Duty free shops, private lounges, restaurants, and cafes
  • Prayer rooms and mosque



Airports: Adi Sumarmo International Airport

This airport is located in Solo, Central Java.

Location: Solo, Central Java

Distance from city: 14 kilometers from Solo

Airlines:




Facilities:

  • Shops
  • Restaurants
  • ATMs
  • Taxi service



Airports: Adisucipto International Airport

This airport is located in Yogyakarta, the capital city of D.I Yogyakarta province.

Location: Yogyakarta, D.I Yogyakarta

Distance from city: 6 kilometers from Yogyakarta

Airlines:




Facilities:
  • Restaurants
  • Shops
  • ATMs
  • Shuttle bus service
  • Taxi service


Airports: Juanda International Airport

This airport is located in Surabaya, the capital city of East Java province.

Location: Surabaya, East Java

Distance from city: 20 kilometers from Surabaya

Airlines:







Facilities:


  • Two terminals, each for international and domestic flights respectively. Another terminal is under construction.
  • Restaurants
  • Souvenir shops
  • Taxi service
  • Bus service
  • Rental car service
  • Mother's care room
  • Toilet for disabled people



Airports: Husein Sastranegara International Airport

This airport is located in the city of Bandung, the capital city of West Java province.


Husein Sastranegara International Airport

Location: Bandung

Distance from city: 5 kilometers

Airlines:



Facilities: 

  • A terminal for both domestic and international flights. A terminal exclusive for international flights is scheduled for construction.
  • Two executive lounges 
  • Internet access
  • Restaurants
  • Shops
  • ATMs
  • Taxi service
  • Rental car
  • Direct transport to hotels in Bandung




Saturday, October 15, 2011

Airports: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport


Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is the main airport serving the Jakarta area. The airport itself was named after the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno and the first Vice President, Mohammad Hatta. The airport often called "Soetta" by the locals.

Location: Tangerang, Banten

Terminals: 
  • Terminal 1: This terminal operates domestic flights except for Garuda Indonesia Airlines and Merpati Nusantara Airlines (operate in Terminal 2). 
  • Terminal 2: This terminal operates international flights as well as domestic flights of Garuda Indonesia Airlines and Merpati Nusantara Airlines. 
  • Terminal 3: Terminal 3 was opened on April 15, 2009. This terminal currently houses Indonesia AirAsia, the low cost carrier for its domestic flights. This Terminal has 30 check-in counters, 6 baggage carousels and 3 gates.

Airlines:







Facilities: 
  • Airport Hotel in "Soetta" is managed by Sheraton Airport Hotel and Jakarta Airport Hotel. The Sheraton Airport Hotel located on the left side of the main exit road from the airport has 220 guest rooms. The Jakarta Airport Hotel is located on the upper floor of Terminal 2; the hotel entrance is located at the meeting point of terminal 2E which has 82 guest rooms.
  • Golf Area is located on the left side of the airport's main gate after Sheraton Airport Hotel. There are 18 holes in this golf area
  • There are four First and Business Lounges at the Transit Lounge in the departure area.
  • Shopping areas consisting of duty free shops, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafetarias are available in all terminals at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.  .
  • Inter-terminal Shuttle Bus which connects Terminal 1, 2 and 3
  • Taxi Service
  • Rental car service

Destination: Sulawesi --> Central Sulawesi


  • Eco-tourism, Outdoor Recreation, Culture & Heritage:
  1. Lore Lindu National Park
Lore Lindu National Park is definitely the perfect place to spend your time in Central Sulawesi. The park has many things to offer you since its geography is very unique. It consists of many ecosystems including lowland tropical forest and sub-montane forest, which are inhabited by many kinds of animals, great for forest trekkers and animal lovers. Inside its border also lies mountains, making it a great place for adventurous people to do some hiking and mountain climbing, and a great lake which presents great views and chance for travelers to row boats and observe birds. In addition to its natural beauty, Lore Lindu National Park is also home to some of the most impressive megaliths in Indonesia, making it another great place for people who are interested in ancient cultures.

Lore Lindu National Park

Rainbow Eucalyptus
With an area of 2,180 km square, which is mostly covered by forests, the park provides habitat for many animal and plant species, including endangered species. In both its lowland tropical and sub-montane forests lives many plant species such as the rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) and Gnetum gnemon, a species of the Gnetum plant native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands. The park also has a high animal biodiversity rate: 117 species of mammals, 88 species of birds, 29 species of reptiles and 19 species of amphibian. These numbers include endemic species such as the Tonkean macaque, Maleo fowl and Sulawesi frog.

Sulawesi Frog
Maleo Fowl

Tonkean Macaque
For mountain climbers and hikers, the park's Mount Nokilalaki would be a great destination. With a height of 2,355 meters, this mountain will surely be a challenge to climbers. When climbers reach the mountain top, climbers can enjoy the view of nearby lake Lindu with boats on its waters.

Megalith
For travelers who want to just relax on a boat while enjoying the quiet water can row boats in lake Lindu. You can also observe birds from your boat or maybe find another endemic animal species, a fish named Xenopoecilus sarasinorum.

The last thing that you would want to check is the granite megaliths that are scattered inside the park. There are over 400 of them there, 30 of which resemble humans. A great place to see them is the Besoa valley.

This place is recommended  when you are in the province of Central Sulawesi.