Festival Krakatau 2011 Promosikan Wisata Lampung

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Provinsi Lampung akan kembali menggelar Festival Krakatau untuk yang ke-21 kalinya tahun ini. Penyelenggaraan festival akan dilaksanakan bersamaan dengan acara Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo (TIME) mulai 12 Oktober 2011.

Festival Krakatau awalnya dilaksanakan setiap 27 Agustus untuk memperingati bencana meletusnya Gunung Krakatau sekaligus mempromosikan budaya, tarian, dan sejarah khas Lampung. Festival ini merupakan program unggulan yang diadakan Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Provinsi Lampung setiap tahunnya.


“Festival Krakatau 2011 ini diselenggarakan bersamaan dengan rangkaian acara TIME 2011 untuk mempromosikan sektor wisata di Provinsi Lampung,” kata Wakil Gubernur Provinsi Lampung Joko Umar Said saat konferensi pers di Jakarta, Senin (3/10/2011).

Staf Dinas Kebudayaan dan Periwisata Provinsi Lampung, Yaman Azis, menjelaskan jadwal kegiatan Festival Krakatau ini. “Festival akan dibuka bersamaan dengan acara TIME 2011 pada 12 Oktober 2011, kemudian pada 13 Oktober 2011 akan ada Parade Budaya Nusantara berupa pawai tarian, karnaval tapis, dan topeng. Pada 15 Oktober 2011 akan diadakan acara Krakatau Night dan Tapis Carnival,” kata Yaman.

Yaman menambahkan, festival ini akan ditutup dengan Tour Krakatau. Para peserta akan diajak mendekat ke Pulau Krakatau dengan kapal feri untuk melihat dari dekat letusan Anak Krakatau. Hanya saja, Tour Krakatau ini akan dilaksanakan jika aktivitas seismik Gunung Anak Krakatau tidak meningkat.
Selain acara utama Festival Krakatau yang telah disebutkan, ada beberapa acara pendukung seperti lomba dan pameran foto, pameran lukisan, festival musik, festival layang-layang, Rally Wisata Motor, Ethnic Graffity Art Contest, Elephant Show, dan juga Lampung Culinary Bazaar.

Festival Jakarta 2011

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com- Hari kedua penyelenggaraan Festival Monas 2011, Sabtu (17/9/2011), lokasi kegiatan di lapangan futsal Monas masih sepi. Tidak banyak pengunjung Monas yang mampir ke area festival yang sudah disiapkan Pemkot Jakarta Pusat. Lokasi ini terdiri dari sejumlah stan pameran, panggung, dan area permainan. Peserta pameran terdiri dari berbagai institusi museum, pemda sejumlah daerah, serta stan makanan-minuman. Sedangkan panggung festival dipakai untuk beberapa kegiatan seperti pembacaan puisi anak. Di lapangan hanya ada beberapa anak yang berpartisipasi dalam permainan tradisional yang disediakan panitia. Acara yang sedianya dimulai pukul 10.00, ternyata baru berlangsung setelah lewat 15 menit. Itupun belum terlalu ramai. Malam nanti, festival rencananya diresmikan oleh Gubernur DKI Fauzi Bowo. Sejumlah kegiatan disiapkan seperti tari kreasi.


Hari ini, Festival Monas 2011 digelar di Lapangan Futsal Monas dari tanggal 16-18 September. Terdapat stan pameran museum, parade band dari berbagai kelompok dan atraksi permainan tradisional anak Betawi."Ajang ini merupakan suatu wadah dalam mempromosikan kebudayaan. Selain itu, kegiatan ini juga dalam rangka memeriahkan HUT ke-50 Monas," kata Pelaksana Tugas Kepala Suku Dinas Kebudayaan Jakarta Pusat Dewi Susanti di Jakarta, Jumat (16/9/2011).Tidak hanya itu, ada 11 stan yang berisi promosi budaya dari luar Jakarta seperti Bekasi, Pontianak, Garut, Bandung, dan Surabaya. Acara sudah tiga kali digelar, menawarkan suatu yang berbeda pada tahun ini.


Menurut Kasi Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Sudin Kebudayaan Jakarta Pusat, Rusli Agus, tahun ini Festival Monas diikuti juga oleh Komunitas Korea. 


Atraksi permainan tradisional anak juga merupakan sesuatu yang baru dari Festival Monas ini.Meski pameran sudah mulai hari ini, peresmian yang akan dihadiri oleh Gubernur DKI  Fauzi Bowo, baru dilakukan Sabtu (17/9/2011) besok pada pukul 19.00 WIB. Dia mengungkapkan, biasanya pengunjung Monas pada malam Minggu lebih banyak daripada hari biasa. "Ini dimaksudkan juga agar dapat menjadi hiburan bagi masyarakat Jakarta yang kerap datang ke Monas pada malam Minggu," ujar Rusli

Persyaratan Pembuatan Paspor

Persyaratan Pembuatan Paspor/Passport

Persyaratan Pembuatan Paspor/Passport:
(dokumen asli dan fotokopi dibawa)

1. KTP
2. KK (Kartu Keluarga)
3. Akte Lahir / Surat Nikah /Ijasah / Surat Tardidi (Baptis)
4. Kalau di KTP tertulis Karyawan, minta surat sponsor, kalau sudah di PHK minta surat pernyataan tdk bekerja.
5. Paspor lama di bawa untuk ditukar dengan yang baru

The Puppet Museum

The Puppet Museum in Jakarta is very famous and displays one of the best assortments of Wayang Puppets in Java. It has a huge store of wonderful characters that were once upon a time used for live shows. The museum has articles mainly from Indonesia, and also other countries like China, Malaysia, India, and Cambodia.

The museum building is quite old, going back to 1912, and was previously known as the Museum of Old Batavia. It also has on display the memorabilia related to Dutch Governor Generals. They include Jan Pieterszoon Coen, (he was the founder of Batavia). The site of the museum has many historical landmarks related to it, like colonial occupations, and natural calamities. The original occupant of the museum was a Dutch Reformed Church that got destroyed by an earthquake in 1808, followed by a warehouse up till 1912. There is a cemetery on the backyards of the museum where a few Dutch ruling officials were buried.

The Puppet Museum has a huge collection of puppets, thousands of them, ranging puppets from every corner of Indonesia. Two puppets are particularly famous: the Wayang Kulit, and the Wayang Golek. These are shadow puppets and are used for recreation and entertainment with live shows, scheduled usually around 10 am on Sundays. You can also get to see free puppet shows on Sunday afternoons. There are many guides who will show you around the museums and also arrange puppet shows for you. In case you think of purchasing a puppet be sure to inquire the correct prices beforehand, as these guides at times expect extraordinary amounts.

Overlooking the Fatahillah Square and the Old City Hall (Dutch-colonial make), is located the Café Batavia, a famous and popular restaurant. Here, museum visitors can relax, hang around and enjoy some typical Indonesian delicacies for lunch, dinner or as snacks.

When you visit Jakarta as a tourist or businessmen, keep a day to go visit the Puppet Museum, as you'll have a great time there, regardless of your age. Stay at a nearby Jakarta hotel to ensure you have easy and quick access to the museum and other attractions worthwhile to be paid a visit. You can select accommodations from any hotel in Jakarta during off-peak season, but it's advisable to book ahead during the tourist season.

Calendar Visit Indonesia 2008

To get the calendar click here.

Persyaratan Pembuatan Paspor/Passport

Persyaratan Pembuatan Paspor/Passport:
(dokumen asli dan fotokopi dibawa)

1. KTP
2. KK (Kartu Keluarga)
3. Akte Lahir / Surat Nikah /Ijasah / Surat Tardidi (Baptis)
4. Kalau di KTP tertulis Karyawan, minta surat sponsor, kalau sudah di PHK minta surat pernyataan tdk bekerja.
5. Paspor lama di bawa untuk ditukar dengan yang baru.

Untuk keterangan lebih lanjut hubungi:
http://gandatraveldantour.com/paspor.aspx
(021) 5890-4869
(021) 9302-9360
(0813) 1019-1149 SMS booking
Jl. Hos Cokroaminoto No 56
Ciledug-Tangerang 15157

atau

(021) 732-2751
(021) 9137-6737
Jl. Sultan Agung Tirtayasa No 15
Ciledug - Tangerang

Factory Outlet in Bandung

It was originally meant for export garment (textile) factories that open a store directly in their area so that they can sell with bargain prices. Since it was a big success, many factory outlets without the factory itself were opening in many places in the city, also with bargain price tags. To attract people, they decorated the store with many styles: the colonial style, an old Chinese dynasty, etc. Some stores even have a small food court.

Most of factory outlets are concentrated in Jl. Riau, Jl. Dago (Jl. Ir. H. Juanda) and around Jl.Sukajadi-Jl.Setiabudi area. Some of them are listed below:
Factory outlets in Jl. Riau: Heritage (inside an old historical building, nice to see also the building), China Emporium (with an old Chinese dynasty setting), Summit, Oasis, Metropolitan, Renarity, Emirates, Terminal Tas, Edward Forrer.
Factory outlets in Jl. Dago: Rich & Famous, Coconel, Glamour, Blossom, Uptown (with a small kiosk selling a strawberry juice), Dago Stock Centre, M&M, Justine.
Around Jl.Sukajadi-Jl.Setiabudi: Mooi (Jl. Cemara 83), FOS Clothing Gallery (Jl. Setiabudi 73), XO (Jl. Sukajadi 212), Rumah Mode (Jl. Setiabudi 41F), Otten One (Jl. Otten 1), BOS (Jl. Otten), Diaz (Jl. Sederhana mostly shoes), Cat 17 (Jl. Eijkman).
Other places: Batian (Jl. Otto Iskandardinata 535, you can find used and new items)

Distros (Distribution Outlets)

Distros are a new phenomenon in Bandung where a shop sells stylish products that were made by local designers. They are served as a distribution store, because these local designers do not have their own marketing label yet. The products that are sold are books, indie label records, magazines and also other fashion products and accessories. After their products receive large attention, then they make their own clothing company. Now, there are more than 200 local brand names in Bandung. One thing that makes distros stand out from factory outlet is that distros come from individual designers and young entrepeneurs, while factory outlet products come from a garment factory.

Note that now distros are getting famous in Indonesia. The local branded name with free and independent motivation has been shifted. Be careful when buying in distros as the prices are increasing to a level almost the same as at boutique shops.

Some of Bandung distros: UNKL347, Jl. Trunojoyo 4, Invictus,Jl.Pager gunung 13 and Jl.Trunojoyo 6 also you can check their website www.invcts.com Ouval Research, Jl. Buah Batu 64, No Label, Jl. Sumatra 24, etc.
from:http://wikitravel.org/en/Bandung#See

Lake Toba 2

Lake Toba is on most itineraries of travellers going to Sumatra. The lake is set in the caldera of a giant volcano and it's the largest lake of South East Asia. Right in the middle there is an island Pulau Samosir, which is about the size of Singapore. The climate is pleasant and the setting is cool as well. This makes Lake Toba a favourite get away for people living in less-than-appealing city of Medan. Medan is less than 200 km away and many buses make the trip every day. The unique thing from Lake Toba is about a small lake within the lake itself. The lake so called Danau Sidohoni [Lake Sidohoni] and situated in Pulau Samosir [Samosir island]. And Pulau Samosir itself is connected to Sumatra mainland by a bridge named Jembatan Diponggol, situated at Pangururan.

The main concentration for tourists [for spots and accommodation] are on Tuk Tuk and Ambarita. Tuk Tuk is about the old cemetery of the King Sidabutar, stone chairs and Ambarita is place to stay whenever you find Tuk Tuk quite hectic.The enroute from Medan as the capital city of north Sumatra as follows: Medan, Pematangsiantar, Parapat and Lake Toba. Take a ferry to visit Pulau Samosir, takes about 30 minutes. [from world66.com by Ukirsari and Srdjan]

Lake Toba

Sumatra, the westernmost of the main islands of Indonesia, is 1,800 km long and 400 km wide and has an extraordinary wealth of natural resources. 196 mammal, 194 reptile, 62 amphibian, 272 fish and 456 bird species live on the island. Of these animals 9 mammal species, 30 fish species and 19 bird species are endemic. Major destinations are Medan, Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba, Bukittinggi and the steamy coastal city of Padang.

Most people do not travel to Aceh, the northern tip of the island. Its capital Banda Aceh is a rather interesting town, but make sure that the situation allows safe travelling. Aceh is one of the provinces fighting for independence. Other interesting spots are the islands Pulau Samosir and Pulau Nias, 125 km west off Sumatra. Nias is no longer off the beaten track as the surfers have learnt about the beautiful beaches and good surfing possibilities. However, Sumatra is still an island full of natural beauty. Until the end of the 19th century the only thing you could find on the island was forest. Nowadays only 30% of Sumatra's former jungle remains. This doesn't mean that Sumatra has changed into a deforested island. There are vast areas of untouched lowland rainforest and sub-mountainous and mountain forests. Alpine vegetation occurs at the higher altitudes.[from world66.com by Giorgio]

Menado, Celebes island (North Sulawesi)

In picturesque Wori bay, Manado North Sulawesi is a dynamic new beach resort, Cocotinos in the heard of Kima Bajo, a fishing village, overlooking Bunaken National Marine Park.
Just a 25 minuts ride from Sam Ratulangie International Airport, the resort is situated on a chocolate-coloured beach, in full view of majestic Manado Tua, a dormant volcano across th Sulawesi Sea.

You will be treated to many spectacular sunsets while you enjoy a drink at the bar, to the shooting sound of the waves lapping the shore. When night falls you can dine under the stars on delicious food, prepared with fresh local ingredients, some times to the sound of wonderful music from the staff

Cocotinos is all about having fun, and being a small beach resort, you will have the opportunity to meet others who share your passion about scuba diving, under water photography, water sport and other outdoor activities.

You can choose to stay in one of the Villa Rooms or you may wish to treat your self to our beautiful appointed Posi-Posi & Cano-Cano Suites. Single, Twin-sharing, Triple-sharing options are available to cater to groups of all sizes.

North Sulawesi is renowned for its spectacular wall and muck diving. While scuba diving is the main activity in the Island, a lot more awaits the traveler. You can also climb to the top of Mt Mahawu, raft down a river or have lunch by the side of Lake Tondano, a crater lake in the highlands, just to name a view. However if all you want to do is unwind, you can simply relax by the swimming pool with one of our exotic cocktails, or pamper yourself to a traditional Indonesian massage in the spa under a 50-years-old sea hisbiscus tree.

Pantouw, F. (2008, May 16). Cocotinos Hotel & Resort, Manado North Sulawesi. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Cocotinos-Hotel-and-Resort,-Manado-North-Sulawesi&id=1180130

Java-101, a Trip Through Central Java Coffee Growing Areas

The drive from Jakarta to Semarang on the north coast of Central Java takes around 10 hours. The trip takes you up out of Jakarta and then through the small towns of Indramayu, Brebes, Tegal, Cirebon and Pemalang before you arrive in Semarang. At this time of year the drive is slow- the rainy season has started and in many places outside the cities the road is still only a two way highway with no median barrier separating on coming traffic. Typical Indonesian moments are frequent…where can you go when a bus is hurtling head on towards you at 100km/h and not slowing down? What to do when your car is mobbed by villagers voting for a new mayor...or passing the crushes carcasses of trucks, vans, minibuses and container trucks, you just have to wonder how long your luck will hold!

The route from Jakarta through to Cirebon follows the fertile coastal plain. This area is known as the “Pantura”, from the Indonesian “Pantai Utara” or “northern beaches”. Lust rice fields line both sides of the road. The encroachment of commercial development is unfortunately eating into the greenery. Large malls, Ruko (shop) complexes and industrial parks are being built everywhere. In between these however is still some of the prettiest rice land in Asia. The farms are still worked traditionally and the effort that goes into the management of these pieces of agricultural land is impressive. Where the road follows the coast mangroves and other shoreline vegetation are interspersed between rough wooden shacks selling Crab, fish and shrimp. The Indramayu area is famous for its mango’s- so many varieties and so sweet they melt in your mouth.

After passing through the tea town of Tegal (Old Dutch buildings mixed in with new development) and skirting Cirebon- the road leaves the coast and climbs up through the foothills. Teak forests and rubber plantation replace the rice paddies. The going on this section is slow- especially if the rain is falling, but the scenery is well worth it. The road climbs through the towns of Subuh and Batang. Roadside stalls sell a variety of tropical fruits-including the exotic Jackfruit and spiky, smelly Durian. This is not coffee country but I did take the opportunity to stop at a warung and try a local Kopi. The coffee was mixed with nutmeg ad red sugar- sweet and bitter at the same time. It was wok roasted robusta- ground up using a traditional sandstone bowl and pestle.

Semarang itself is a port city- located on a narrow strip of land between the coast and a divide of large volcanoes. During Dutch times this was a major trading port- serving as a feed for the hundreds of plantations located in the narrow strip between the north and south coasts of Central Java. The Dutch built an impressive rail system that carried the coffee, sugar, rubber, cloves and tobacco from the hinterland to the warehouses located along the port cities canals. The city is still the provincial capital for Central Java and is a very pleasant place. The hills above the city give fantastic views across the city to the big blue Java Sea. From this cooler altitude the volcanic peaks behind are also majestic- towering and dominating- dark, heavily forested and quite threatening.

Semarang has perhaps the best preserved examples of both Dutch architecture and Dutch town planning in Indonesia. The downtown area is filled with examples of Dutch colonial buildings. There are numerous old warehouses, offices, hotels and churches that are still now in use. Old ornate lamps line the wide streets. In this part of the city the traffic flows in an orderly fashion. As one moves into to newer areas of any Indonesian city the lack of recent town planning becomes increasingly evident. One such place is Toko “Oen”, a self proclaimed ice cream palace and patisserie; it has been operating for 67 years. The took (shop) is located on Jl.Pemuda (number 52- phone 3541683) in an old Dutch building. The interior of the shop is truly exquisite- high ceilings, stained glass windows, big shuttered windows opening onto the street. Lots of teak- the window frames, ceiling panels and of course the furniture. The ice cream is good as well, although the instant Nescafe coffee was out of place in such a setting.

After a brief walk around the city area we ventured out to the new warehousing area located behind the bus station and near Port Semarang. The area was hot and dusty, with evidence that during the wet season roads in this part of town flood. Holes are deep as a motor scooter had been carved through the asphalt and into the alluvial mud below by countless container trucks passing through. We negotiated the mud and holes and slowly made our way to one of the region coffee broker’s warehouses. The warehouse complex was made up of 4 large buildings. When we arrived there were several 20’ containers awaiting loading and we came just in time to see the workers finishing stuffing another container. The warehouse was filled with 60kg sacks of Central Java Arabica and Robusta. I guess I would estimate there were 20,000 bags stacked neatly in the warehouses (although as the broker exported over 11,000 metric or 611 x 20’ containers last year, I may be under estimating!). Machinery sorting beans using the gravity sort method were working away furiously at one end of the place- sorting the grade 1 beans from the rest. Drying units, sortex machines and of course the workers themselves all contributing to grading the best beans for export. I was impressed with how well the place was run and the good natured attitude of the workers. I was also mightily impressed with the sacks and sacks of green beans and the wonderful aroma of the greens…a smell I truly love!

A short while later we were on the road out of Semarang- hustling with the container trucks and buses for right of way. After crawling up out of the city we made our way to our first stop- a government owned estate about an hour outside the city. The estate grows both robusta and Arabica. The Arabica is a smaller bean, softer and very flavorsome. With the production of this estate being only around 50 metric ton of Arabica, most of the coffee is brought up by one European specialty roaster. The plantation was quiet- in between seasons the workforce required drops markedly. In the colonial days the private owners compensated for the lack of revenue at this time of year by diversifying their crops. This estate has hectares of rubber trees as well as some tea and cinnamon plantings. Even though we arrived on Friday at about the time Sholat Jumat (Friday prayers) begins, we were meet with typical Javanese hospitality and shown around the plantation.

Next stop was the city of Wonosobo and the famous Dieng Plateau. The Plateua is 120km inland from Semarang at an altitude of over 2000 meters. This area is cold, wet and apart from an uncanny resemblance to the New Zealand town of Taihape, is famous for its agricultural output of potatoes, carrots, onions and tobacco. It also has a well known temple complex called Candi Pendawa lima and (by the way) is the gateway to some very interesting and unique Indonesian Arabica coffees. It is very rare that I complain of the cold in Indonesia- but on the drive to Wonosobo I was really feeling it. The rain was bucketing down and even with the cars AC off I was shivering. Opening the window made things worse as the cool air mixed with the rain almost formed ice as it blew through onto my face.

It was dark when we arrived in the town (it was 15.30!) and nothing seemed to be open. To make things worse the rain had become persistent, carrying with it a dampness that is unusual for tropical climates. We checked into the wonderful colonial era Krisno Hotel- a fabulous place of 115 rooms which had occupancy of 0% before our arrival. The hotel is located on the way out of town and was a Dutch resort in the days before World War 2 and independence. Today it has been fully restored and probably deserves to have more guests. It’s a pity that the weather does not play its part here and help out. Walking around the empty lobby I had the chance to admire the stained glass, the teak fittings and later had the pleasant experience of enjoying a beer in the empty bar. It may sound strange, by sitting in an empty bar in the middle of Java listening to Jazz and the soft clicking of the ceiling fans overhead IS actually an experience to be savored.

Far from the literally maddening crowds of Jakarta….a feeling of real relaxation at last!
Wonosobo regency and the area between the town and Dieng Plateau did indeed have both Arabica and robusta plantings. The majority of the trees we found were in small hold plantations in and around settlement areas. Altitude is an important factor in growing quality hard Arabica greens. Certainly the altitude in this area of Java seemed ideal for coffee- although sometimes the high rainfall may affect the quality of the cherries. Being out of season it was difficult to tell. The coffee grows at this altitude well. The trees cling to the side of the hills in some places- some shaded with bigger tropical trees. A lot of the small villages up here grow Arabica for the buyers based in Semarang. The coffee is dried and processed up in the Wonosobo highlands. A lot of the location processing is done using dry processing, although with the availability of water in this area not being a problem wet processing is becoming more widespread. Once processed the coffee is sent to Semarang for finishing- sorting, drying and polishing using modern machinery. I did have the opportunity to try some Arabica from one of these small village growers- I have the greens with me and will test roast and cup them.

The drive down from the plateau through to the royal city of Yogyakarta is a drive past volcanic cones, rice fields and teak and cocoa plantations. Along the way coffee grows wild at the side of the road. Some of the robusta trees reach as high as 30 feet- untended they develop a sprawling, scraggly canopy. Through the change in altitude we actually did come across some trees with ripe cherries. Again these were mainly robusta trees. The Central Java Southern region also has some very good lower altitude Arabica plantations. With a different microclimate and soil conditions the beans cup very differently from those grown around Wonosobo.

Back at the roastery today- tired but satisfied. We are around 500 meters above sea level ourselves and up in the hills. At this time of year it rains religiously at around 15.00. As I type It is bucketing down outside…thankfully I have the San Marino up to heat and pressure and am onto my 4th double. Cheers everyone.

Alun Evans is a specialty coffee roaster based in West Java, Indonesia. He works primarily with small hold growers, farmers and villagers to help them to improve their way of life by growing excellent arabica coffee. Alun is a New Zealander, but has lived in Indonesia since 1998.

Evans, A. (2005, October 4). Java-101, a Trip Through Central Java Coffee Growing Areas. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Java-101,-a-Trip-Through-Central-Java-Coffee-Growing-Areas&id=79283

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and the largest city of Indonesia, situated on the northwest coast of the Java Island. The city attracts large numbers of travelers all throughout the year for its scenic beauty and lovely tourist sites. Once in Jakarta, visitors will get to see the famous Jakarta Old Town, National Monument, museums and the miniature park, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Staying in Jakarta is not a problem. There are lots of good hotels in Jakarta for tourists to stay in comfort. The Jakarta hotels offer top-notch facilities and services to its guests.

Majority of hotels and resorts in Jakarta lie close to the Soekarno Hatta International Airport. You will also get an easy access to the train station and business and commercial centers from most of the Jakarta accommodation options. There are hotels for every kind of traveler, be it business or leisure. For those who intend to stay long, there are many serviced apartments in Jakarta. These apartments offer quality facilities and services to its guests.
One of the popular hotels in Jakarta is the Allson Residence Hotel Jakarta. The hotel is located at a very short distance from the central business district and Soekarno Hatta International Airport. You will get to experience warm hospitality and unsurpassed services once you come to stay at Allson Residence Hotel Jakarta.

To enjoy excellent services and amenities, visitors should come to Ambhara Hotel. Located near the airport, this hotel is one of the most famous luxury hotels in Jakarta. The hotel features first-class accommodation and quality services for a peaceful stay in the city. The banquet and dining facilities in Ambhara Hotel are simply great.
One of the top-class business hotels in Jakarta is Crowne Plaza. The hotel truly understands and fulfils the requirements of both business and leisure travelers. The hotel is located close to the famous Golden Triangle business district and lies next to entertainment and shopping complexes of Jakarta. Crowne Plaza is also known for its supreme dining and recreational facilities.
There are numerous Jakarta accommodation options that are specially made keeping in mind the budget-conscious travelers. Visitors will find several budget hotels located at various corners of the city. Alpine Hotel, Jakarta provides comfortable accommodation at a reasonable rate. The hotel includes clean rooms and comes with a wide array of hotel and security services and facilities.

Josephine Guest House is another known budget hotel to stay when in South Jakarta. From the Guest House, travelers can easily visit Blok M, a shopping district and to the range of local restaurants, bars and cafes of South Jakarta. The place provides a homely ambiance and friendly services to stay in comfort and tranquility. Casa 34 is a bed and breakfast hotel that offers a wide assortment of quality facilities and services to its guests. You will find peace and calmness ruling the place.

Albert, Alexs "Hotels In Jakarta - Setting Standards." Hotels In Jakarta - Setting Standards. 20 May. 2008. EzineArticles.com. 1 Jul 2008 <http://ezinearticles.com/?Hotels-In-Jakarta---Setting-Standards&id=1188573>.

Carrefour Hadir di Ciledug, Tangerang

Diangkat dari: http://www.propertynbank.com/

Mulai Juni 2007, Hypermarket Carrefour di CBD Ciledug sudah harus serah terima unit dan mulai beroperasi sebelum akhir tahun 2007. Kehadiran Carrefour ini semakin memperkuat image CBD Ciledug sebagai ikon baru di kawasan tersebut. Melongok ke bagian barat Jakarta, daerah Tangerang merupakan salah satu wilayah paling menggeliat saat ini. Tingkat aktivitas bisnis di kawasan tersebut super sibuk. Pertandanya gampang, dapat terbaca dari tingginya tingkat kemacetan di wilayah itu. Merujuk pada survey Sitramp, daerah dengan aktivitas lalu lintas tersibuk di ibukota ini terkonsentrasi pada wilayah dengan tingkat aktivitas ekonomi paling tinggi.

Nah, salah satu daerah dengan tipikal seperti itu di wilayah Tangerang adalah kawasan Ciledug. Ciledug merupakan wilayah perlintasan kaum komuter (warga dipinggiran ibukota yang sehari-harinya bekerja di Jakarta). Padatnya arus kaum komuter itu berbuah kepada kemacetan, terutama pada jam-jam sibuk. Belum lagi ditambah populasi penduduk yang juga terbilang padat. Dengan tingkat populasi yang mencapai 105.000 jiwa, maka kepadatan Ciledug mencapai 11,700 jiwa per kilometer perseginya. Belum lagi kawasan sekitarnya yang juga tak kalah padatnya. Dengan tingkat kepadatan seperti itu tak heran jika puluhan pengembang perumahan menyerbu kawasan ini. Belum lagi kemunculan supermarket, toko swalayan dan pusat belanja kecil yang ikut mengadu keberuntungan.

Ciledug pun berubah menjadi sebuah kawasan sentra bisnisnya Tangerang. Namun, semakin padatnya kawasan ini juga memunculkan problema baru yaitu kemacetan disepanjang jalan HOS Cokroaminoto, yang merupakan jalan utama di Ciledug. Makanya, sebagai solusi kemacetan tersebut pemerintah kota (Pemkot) Tangerang akan membangun underpass sepanjang 350 meter di simpang Ciledug, mulai dari jalan Hasyim Ashari, Cipondoh menuju jalan HOS Cokroaminoto. Sejak awal tahun 2007 ini pembangunan konstruksi underpass itu sudah dimulai. Pemkot mentargetkan pada 2008, Underpass ini sudah mulai beroperasi untuk mengurangi kemacetan diwilayah tersebut. Meski kawasan Ciledug tergolong crowded arus lalu-lintasnya, namun geliat properti, bisnis dan perdagangan di kawasan ini seakan tidak pernah berhenti bertumbuh. Pembangunan properti terutama pusat bisnis seperti ruko atau mal seperti tidak pernah berhenti. Fenomena Ciledug, mematahkan argumen bahwa daerah macet dan crowded tidak begitu diminati atau dilirik konsumen. Sentra bisnis ini justru menyimpan segudang potensi bisnis. Buktinya tingkat acupancy ruko dan mal diwilayah ini mencapai 75 persen. Bisa jadi, pengembang dan konsumen memandang kemacetan ini sebagai problema sementara saja.

Jika underpass sudah mulai beroperasi, akses kawasan ini akan semakin ciamik, dan potensi propertinya akan makin melambung. Bagi mereka yang jeli, Ciledug tak ubahnya ceruk pasar yang punya segudang peluang emas untuk dikembangkan. Tak heran jika puluhan pengembang antusias menyerbu kawasan ini. Salah satu pengembang yang terjun di sentra bisnis Ciledug adalah PT Sari Indah Lestari. Tak tanggung-tanggung, PT Sari Indah Lestari membangun megaproyek dengan Central Business District (CBD) Ciledug diatas lahan seluas 10 hektar. Lokasinya sangat strategis di jantung bisnisnya Ciledug di jalan HOS Cokroaminoto. CBD Ciledug merupakan pusat perdagangan komersial dengan fasilitas terpadu.

Pusat niaga ini dikembangkan dengan kondep one stop shopping service. Boleh dibilang semua kebutuhan harian, keperluan usaha, perlengkapan bisnis dapat diperoleh disini. Dari total area seluas 10 hektar tersebut, sekitar tiga hektar dikembangkan menjadi kawasan perdagangan ritel yang terdiri dari mal dengan konsep trade centre dan hypermarket. Sedangkan sisa lahannya akan dibangun fasilitas pendukung serta rumah kantor dan rumah toko. Kehadiran CBD Ciledug mempunyai nilai strategis tersendiri. Pengembangnya, jeli betul menangkap peluang dan potensi kawasan yang belum dugarap pengembang lain. Semua tahu, Ciledug dan sekitarnya adalah kawasan yang padat penduduk. Tapi, sayangnya belum ada pusat perbelanjaan besar yang menopang kebutuhan masyarakat di kawasan itu. Penduduk yang tinggal didaerah tersebut harus berjalan jauh untuk mencapai pusat belanja. Mal yang ada jaraknya paling dekat dengan kawasan itu ada di daerah Kebon Jeruk. Hal inilah yang menambah nilai strategis kehadiran CBD Ciledug. Dengan adanya Mal CBD Ciledug tidak perlu pergi jauh lagi untuk berbelanja kebutuhan harian, keperluan usaha maupun perlengkapan bisnis. Tinggal ke CBD Ciledug saja, semua tersedia. Apalagi dengan hadirnya pebisnis ritel kelas kakap asal Perancis, Carrefour.

Kehadiran Hypermarket Carrefour ini semakin mengukuhkan brand CBD Ciledug sebagai ikon baru bagi kawasan Ciledug, Tangerang dan sekitarnya. Bicara pembangunannya, pengembang saat ini tengah mengejar tenggat sesuai deadline mereka. ”Pembangunan berjalan cepat dan sesuai rencana,” kata Gustamira Bahar Direktur PT. Sari Indah Lestari. Mal CBD Ciledug yang terdiri dari empat lantai termasuk parkir ini nantinya akan diisi oleh 1.536 unit kios. Lower ground floor diperuntukkan untuk kios yang menjual emas, perhiasan, pakaian dan aksesoris. Harga yang ditawarkan mulai dari Rp.300 jutaan hingga Rp.650 jutaan. Sedangkan, ground floor diperuntukkan bagi produk fashion, babyshop, sepatu, optik dan tekstil. Harga unit disini ditawarkan mulai dari Rp.226 juta hingga Rp.500 jutaan. Sedangkan unit kios pada first floor diperuntukkan bagi produk elektronik, handphone, house hole, dan photo. Harga unit disini berkisar Rp.100 juta hingga Rp 350 jutaan. Sementara itu untuk second floor yang diperuntukkan bagi food court, entertaiment, bookstore dan salon per unit ditawarkan berkisar Rp.150 juta hingga Rp.260 jutaan. Sementara itu, hypermarket Carrefour akan menempati lahan seluas 10.856 m2 di lantai satu dan dua. ”Dari keseluruhan kios yang kami pasarkan ini sudah 60 persen sudah terjual,” papar Gustamira.

Pengembang membagi pembangunan mal ini dalam dua tahap. Lahan seluas 20.000 m2 pada tahap pertama sekarang tengah digarap. Rencananya, pada September 2007, pembangunan sudah selesai dan akan dillakukan soft opening. Sedangkan pembangunan mal tahap kedua, sudah dimulai sejak Desember 2006. pembangunan tahap kedua saat ini difokuskan untuk merampungkan area dua lantai buat tenant terbesar mereka, Carrefour. Ditargetkan soft opening-nya berbarengan dengan mal tahap satu. Selain area perdagangan ritel, di CBD Ciledug juga akan dibangun 368 unit ruko. Dari jumlah itu, pengembang sudah merampungkan 100 unit dimana 60 persennya sudah terjual. Bukan itu saja, nantinya di CBD Ciledug ini juga akan dilengkapi dengan hotel berbintang, town houses dan apartemen. Melihat cetak biru pembangunan CBD Ciledug, akan menjadi pusat perbelanjaan yang mudah diakses.

Saat ini CBD Ciledug telah didukung oleh jalan tembus baru yang menghubungkan jalan Ciledug Raya dan jalan Karang Tengah. Malah, jalan ini membelah area CBD Ciledug. Melihat lebar jalannya yang mencapai 27 meter, jalan ini mampu mendukung perkembangan Ciledug puluhan tahun ke depan. Sebagai kawasan dengan tingkat pertumbuhan yang sangat pesat dan dengan dukungan infrastruktur seperti ini tak salah jika banyak pihak menilai CBD Ciledug akan menjadi ikon baru sekaligus pendorong pertumbuhan perdagangan bagi kawasan Ciledug, Tangerang dan sekitarnya.

Promosinya Hotel Le Grandeur

Hotel ini dekat dengan Grosiran Mangga Dua dan Kota. Bagi anda yang suka belanja mungkin sekali sebulan atau sekali setahun dari kota-kota luar pulau jawa, hotel ini dekat dengan pusat perbelanjaan grosiran. Selamat belanja !

The Dharmawangsa Hotel, Jakarta

The Dharmawangsa Hotel, Jakarta was born out of the dream to create a hotel property that would complement the residential area of Kebayoran Baru in terms of architecture, scale and utility. It needed to fit in style and philosophy to its environment; to be uniquely Indonesian in character. This property would exemplify the Indonesian aspiration to be thoroughly modern but very Indonesian at the same time. Key elements guided every aspect: Luxury expressed by understated elegance, grandness expressed by humility of the spirit and, the carefully thought out facets of scale and balance. The result is in the freshness that blossoms spontaneously and a thorough absence of pretensions.

The architecture was thus conceived as a new and contemporary interpretation of 1950s Kebayoran Baru, which in turn was, at that period, an interpretation of 1920s Jakarta. Here, is a matched set of buildings that are indigenous to the site. Together they form a tropical oasis of green and alabaster; a far cry from the chaos of commercial and westernized Jakarta yet only 10 minutes away from its financial hub. The scale employed throughout is of residential proportion, not at all like a city hotel, the organization of spaces totally domestic.

Dharmawangsa was an 11th century Hindu King from East Java. It was he who laid the foundations of the great empire of Majapahit, credited with ushering in the Golden Age of Java. This was when the country gloried in political prowess, civilization, art and culture.

The interior design of The Dharmawangsa is a tribute to the extraordinary artistic achievements of Majapahit culture. The designers in the decorative wall lights and ceiling fixtures reinterpret Surya Majapahit, a recurring theme used by virtually all tribes throughout the Indonesian archipelago. It reappears in the shape of the successive yellow marble disks inserted in the floor to reflect the progress of the Surya (a Sanskrit word for the sun) across the sky and more subtly in the design of carpets, furnishings and decorations.

Against the grand scale of the Lounges of The Dharmawangsa emphasized by the designers with cornice designs of ethnic patterns, silk panels of subdued colors in one room and rich vibrant hues in another, are ordinary domestic artifacts. Contrasting in context but all equally important and equally grand in their ordinariness.

The choice of the name was not by serendipity although the hotel happens to be located near Dharmawangsa Street. For just as King Dharmawangsa laid the foundation to the great Empire of Majapahit, so too is The Dharmawangsa designed by all who were involved in this project, to highlight the great future of Indonesia and perhaps the beginning of a new Golden Period.

From the very moment of its conception, The Dharmawangsa is designed to allow the artful mixture of business and pleasure at the highest standard of Indonesian hospitality. This design concept is a reflection of the developers interpretation in addressing the needs of the most discerning and discriminating business traveler.

Active interaction between owners Bina Puri Lestari, represented by Reni Dahlan and Zulfitri, and a young Malaysian architect named Cheong Yew Kuan, produced the design criteria and a solid conceptual product. Bina Puri Lestari then engaged Don Sandy from Sandy Babcock International of San Francisco and Miami to transform the concept into a master plan and basic architectural design.

Jasin Tedjasukmana an expert in Dutch Colonial style architecture was then engaged to create the final product. For the hotel, he opted for a design both distinguished and breathtakingly beautiful in terms of art and space. Jaya Ibrahim, a prominent interior designer, was next appointed to deliver a contemporary product of traditional design in the spirit of Indonesia: sequence, shape, color and space, intertwined with art, and set amidst the fragrance of the tropical gardens and sounds of flowing water, the ultimate symbol of prosperity.

The most important objective of the development was to deliver a residential feel within the property. The whole atmosphere and setting needed to be consistent with how Indonesians live and work today: the unique quality of life, comfort and expectations. As in traditional houses, there is a distinctive sequence in the design of the hotel interior, starting from the composition of linked spaces: a front verandah, a central room and a back verandah. Each possessing its own specific volume and special character. All three formed as a complete singular entity.

So, You Want To Visit Jakarta?

Jakarta has been in the news quite often lately, but certainly not for the tourist sights. When political chaos reigns the streets can be packed with protestors and idealists fighting the corrupt political system. Once things cool down, expats can show their faces again. To most travelers, Jakarta as a starting or ending point of their trip. However, Jakarta is one of the most exciting night-life cities in the world. Although Jakarta itself doesn't have many "sights" to offer, it is the lively commercial centre of Java. In addition to several museums, the heart of the old Dutch town at 'Taman Fatahillah'. National Monument or known by locals at Monumen Nasional [Monas] and National Museum or Museum gajah nearby Merdeka Square. Sunda Kelapa, is the old harbour from which merchantmen from all over the world come and go. Take a weekend charter to Anak Krakatoa, and compare it to Captain Cook's 1773 description. The night-time southern sky is not something you will soon forget. Indonesia is a wonderful country with beautiful, friendly people. It is a wonderful mixture of beauty and chaos that you will either love, or hate. The rice paddies, volcanos, small villages and ocean beaches are incomparable in this world.
[from world66.com, ukirsari)

For many travellers, Jakarta is just a 'pass through' city. Either you arrive here to take a boat to one of the other islands or you wait for your departure from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport. It is true indeed that Jakarta does not have to offer that many 'sights'. However, still enough to make a few days' stay in Jakarta more interesting than only a visit to the touristy Jalan Jaksa area. There are a few museums you can explore on a monsoon day. When you see 'Taman Fatillah', you might feel the beat of the old Dutch colonial heart again....
[from world66.com]

Cathedral Church

Across the road from the Mesjid Istiqlal Mosque you’ll find the St Mary’s Cathedral, known today by the locals as “Kathedral”. The nice thing about the presence of the Cathedral here is that it really is within a stones-throw of the Istiqlal Mosque as a symbol of religious unity within the country. The Cathedral was originally built in 1810 at this spot but had to be rebuilt after it was burnt to the ground in 1826. The second Cathedral was then finished in 1830 and in 1882 the two towers were added to the front before it was again reduced to ruin in 1890. The following year the rebuilding started again, but faltered several times before it was finally completed in its current form in 1901. [from realdestination.com]

7 Keajaiban Dunia, Pilih Indonesia dong

Pilih Indonesia Dong ada 3 pilihan neeeeeh
> > Ayo buktikan Nasionalisme kita sekalian menyambut tahun kebangkitan nasional.
> >
> > Pemilihan 7 keajaiban milik dunia kembali digelar, berbeda dengan kriteria sebelumnya dengan keajaiban yang dibuat secara sengaja oleh manusia dalam bentuk bangunan,
> >
> > kali ini panitia mengajak dunia untuk memilih 7 keajaibanbaru milik dunia yang bukan dari buatan manusia.
> >
> > Sudah terpilih sebanyak 77 tempat di seluruh dunia dari berbagai kategori,dan Indonesia mengajukan atau setidaknya sudah terpilih sebanyak 3 tempateksotik, antara lain:
> >
> > 1. Komodo National Park
> > 2. Krakatau, Volcanic Island
> > 3. Lake Toba Voting
> >
> > dilakukan melalui internet, dengan batas waktu sampai akhir 2008!
> >
> > VOTE for INDONESIA : http://www.new7wonders.com atau http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote_on_nominees/
> >
> > Catatan:
> >
> > Indonesia mungkin akan kalah dari negara lain, bahkan negara kecil yangmengajukan tempat yang tidak terlalu menarik, hanya karena negara tersebutlebih melek internet ( Singapore contohnya, yang mengajukan Bukit TimahNature Reserve).
> >
> > Dan yg lebih menyedihkan lagi, pulau Sipadan juga termasukdlm nominee yg diajukan oleh Malaysia.
> >
> > Brazil misalnya, pemerintahnya menyediakan fasilitas gratis untukmasyarakatnya yang tidak punya akses internet agar bisa ikut memilih untuknegaranya.
> >
> > Karena itu, ayo bantu sebarkan informasi dan ajakan ini