Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Sikulikap fall, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Sikulikap fall by @rubenmk

This waterfall is located in North Sumatra, Indonesia. People call it Sikulikap. Sikulikap waterfall is around 30 meters high and take 20 minutes from Berastagi. To get there catch any bus from Berastagi going to Medan and ask to be dropped off at Sikulikap. It should cost about Rp 5000 for this trip. On the main road there are a series of basic food stalls with great views out over the gorge where the waterfall located but you are unable to see the falls from there. At the bottom of the hill near the road bridge, on the right there is a path that leads through the rain forest to the falls. Should take about 15 - 20 minutes to walk to the falls. There is a good chance you will see monkeys within the rain forest. Take attention when you step there as many rock that may hurt you when you slip.

Si Piso Piso fall, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Si Piso Piso fall by @alfansai
Some of the tallest waterfalls in South East Asia can be found in Sumatra. Some are found along the Asahan River.One of them is Sipiso-piso waterfall with 120m high is 45 Kilometers from Berastagi at the northern end of Lake Toba. The water fall is formed by a small underground river of the Karo Plateau and flows out into the Lake Toba caldera. To get to Sipiso-Piso falls catch a local mini-bus from Berastagi to Kabanjahe Rp 5000. At the bus terminal in Kabanjahe you just need to catch any buses going to Siantar and ask to get off at Sipiso-Piso. From the main road to the falls is about  2.5km. There are pedicab drivers waiting at the turnoff and will cost Rp 8000 to go to the falls. The entrance ticket is about Rp 3000.
 
Sipiso-piso waterfall is also an excellent location for paragliding. This must be a stop place while you are traveling Medan. WWhen you get a photo of this place, it looks like a postcard

Batee island, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

Batee island by @teuku_chaidil

Batee is taken from local language means stone. This island belongs to someone personally and there is no people living there. This island is also surrounded by some island like Nasi and Bunta island. You need around 30-50 minutes to reach this island from Ule Lheue harbor. You can rent the boar from the local fishermen there.

Top 3 popular islands in Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

Pulau Pusong (Gosong) by @alfajaroza_20

1. This island is surrounded by white sand all along the beach. This island becomes one of the destination in Aceh province. It is located at Sangkalan village, Susoh, south west Aceh. We can do snorkeling here as it offers very beautiful underwater view. It has variety of fish and corals. Now, this island is being proposed as national conservation site in Aceh.

Reusam island by @aerial_indonesia

2. This island is now more and more popular as many people visit and local government also give support. This island is located in the sea, Darul Hikmah village, Aceh Jaya regency. To get to this island we should rent a boat from local fishermen.

Batee island by @teuku_chaidil

3. Batee is taken from local language means stone. This island belongs to someone personally and there is no people living there. This island is also surrounded by some island like Nasi and Bunta island. You need around 30-50 minutes to reach this island from Ule Lheue harbor. You can rent the boar from the local fishermen there.

Diving and Snorkeling at Olele sea water park, Gorontalo, Sulawei, Indonesia

Olele sea water park
For you who like diving, Gorontalo has special spot where you can see the bauty of Gorontalo undewater. It is located at south of Gorontalo. It is in Bone Bolango regency about 25 kilometers from Gorontalo city. This spot is like a huge aquarium. There are so many kinds of fish you can meet there. There is also a cave with 50 meters depth where become a place for some species to live. If you don't have any snorkeling equipment, you can rent it there. Or if you can not swim you see the underwater by renting a special boat (glass bottom boat) which has glass under the boat so that we can see the underwater. When you travel through the southern coast of Gorontalo, be ready that you will see stunning scenery, the calm blue sea by being in Tomini bay area rich with fish, with views of white sand beaches and fishing boats are lined up beautifully.

If you stop at the beach Olele, and do a dive, then you will see underwater views of the park which is said to have its own peculiarities as compared with other marine parks in areas that have been known, such as Bunaken Marine Park or Marine Park in Central Sulawesi Islands Togean. Even in the Marine Park Olele Annunciation that is more natural in comparison with the marine park on top. 

In Tomini Bay and Olele Beach, you can find dolphin (torsiops trancatus), Giant Reef (Petrosia Sp.), School of Gobi Fish (Bryaninops erythrops), Salvador Dali reef (Petrosia lignose), Acanthogorgia Sp., Anemon Koralimorf (Discosoma Sp.), plectorhinchus chaetodonoides, Blenni (Escenius Caeruliventris), Cardinal Fish, damsel, platax pinnatus, scorpaenopsis, oxycephala, goropa fish, butterfly fish, pusillus, cockatoo fish, Randal fish, parapterois hetururus, Bothus Sp ” half face fish, frog fish, Nudibrancia, Seahorse and pigmy seahorse.

There are more than 8 dive sites spread along the West and East coast of  Olele beach such as shadow land, sentinel, honeycomb, traffic circle, traffic jam, jinn caves, helicopter bay and silver tip ground. Olele is also known as Gorontalo water park.

Great 4 reasons to visit Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Limboto lake (by @serlinvjtaib)
1. This lake is one of the biggest lake in Gorontalo. Gorontalo is a new province in Indonesia but they have discovered many beautiful spots. You can see some eagles hunting the fish in the lake and see beautiful sunset during the evening. Many photographers captured this moment in Limboto lake. There is a harbor where you can see the surrounding of the lake.

Floating village (by @sassozhy_fs)

2. Floating village named Torosiaje is located at Tomini bay which becomes good spot for you to visit. Some of the work as fishermen and some of the work as a local seller. They also rent some small sottages for the visitors who want to enjoy the situation in this floating lake.

Olele diving spot (by @begitulho)
3. For you who like diving, Gorontalo has special spot where you can see the bauty of Gorontalo underater. It is located at south of Gorontalo. It is in Bone Bolango regency about 25 kilometers from Gorontalo city. This spot is like a huge aquarium. There are so many kinds of fish you can meet there. There is also a cave with 50 meters depth where become a place for some species to live. If you don't have any snorkeling equipment, you can rent it there. Or if you can not swim you see the underwater by renting a special boat (glass bottom boat) which has glass under the boat so that we can see the underwater.


Nantu forest (by kakigatalgtlo.blogspot.com)
4. It is like a national park where you can se many species of animal and birds. During the evening you can see some animals are drnking water and eating mud near the river. To get to this place you should have a permition.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Top 5 Island trips in Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia

Pisang island in West Lampung, Lampung

1. This island is so beautiful with white sand around the island. We can see sun set at the evening. This island has some families living there and working as fishermen. There is a harbor where you can enjoy the moment in this island. Pisang is taken from local word means banana as it has many banana trees long time ago.
How to get there: Bandar Lampung - Krui (West Lampung) - Koala bay -  Pisang island.


Kelapa Island, Pesawaran, Lampung, Indonesia

2. Kelapa island is located at Pesawaran regency, Lampung, Indonesia. It is also located at Kiluan bay which is popular nationally. So when you visit Kiluan bay, you must visit this island as well. Kelapa is taken from Indonesia language which means coconut as it has many coconut trees there.
How to get there: Bandar Lampung - Ketapang - Punduh Pidada - Bawang village - Kiluan bay - Kelapa island.


Pahawang island
3. Recently, this island is the most popular island in Lampung as it is close from the city central and its beauty for sure. You can do snorkeling and see beautiful underwater scenery there. 
How to get there: Bandar Lampung - Ketapang - Pahawang island

Balak island
4. If you a person who likes a place which is quiet and cozy so visit this island. In this island, you can do snorkeling, fishing and more. There are so many coconut trees along the shore and you can take the young coconut if you can climb it. Note it that the young coconut is for free as long as you take it by yourself. In front of the cottage, there is an old harbor where we can sit and enjoy the sunset at the evening. Because of the distance, this island is rarely visited by people but this thing that makes this place special!
Unique and awesome are words for this island. This island is about 200 hectares and has two different types of shore. At west you can see corals dominates the shore and in another side you will find white sand beach as long as you see. The white sand seems like a long mat that invites you to lay down on it. 
Build your tent!
To reach this island is so easy but it takes a bit your time. From Bandar Lampung, you need two hours to go to Ketapang harbor, then you go to Balak island by renting a boat. You will around 2 hours on the boat sp prepare some drink and snacks with you. During this time, you can see the views of  Lampung bay and pass some popular spots. They are Mahitam island, Kelagian island, Pahawang islang and Tanjung Putus island.
Having reached the island, its better to sleep in a tent to "feel" the nature there. Balak is a word from Lampung language means big. Yes, it is because the island is quite big. If you like trekking, you can try to climb a hill which is located in the center of the island. You may see some monkeys there. When you want to enjoy the sunset, just sit on the harbor and the sunset will greet you for sure. So, enjoy the nature there guys! see this island
 
 
Tegal island
 
5. This island is very close from Bandar lampung. It takes only 30 minutes by motorbike and 45 minutes by car. You just need to go to Sari Ringgung beach then rent a boat to go to Tegal island. You can rent the boat for whole day and visit many spots for snorkeling there. In some spots, we can see some different types of coral and clown fish. If you are lucky, you also can meet dragon fish, turtle and small shark. In the west part of the island, we also can see a sand island which sometime come up and disappear at certain time. Around this sand island, we also can do snorkeling because the corals are beautiful in this spot.

This island is located at Gebang village, Pesawaran regency, Lampung, Indonesia with population about 20 families living in this island.  They work as a fisherman and the children take study at a temporary school in this island. In west part, we can see white sand along the shore and at east part is dominated by coral.This island is not as popular as Pahawang island but they beauty of the under water is similar. Many local community come to visit this island as this island is easy to be reached.
For you are beginner is snorkeling,  you can swim in 1 or 2 meters dept area as this island has many different level for snorkeling. You also can do fishing when you do not like swimming because many people do fishing in this island. check also this

If you like trekking, you can try to climb a hill in the center of this island. Sometimes it is headt the screaming of monkeys there.