The Green and Lush Puncak Pass - WEST JAVA

Puncak Pass area has long been the foremost weekend retreat for residents of Indonesias capital city. The cool, fresh air, and the magnificent view offers you a calm, fresh and peaceful feeling. In the afternoon, sunsets from the top of the pass can be quite spectacular. This area also surrounded by many attractions, such as Taman Safari Park or known as Taman Safari park at Cisarua, Flower Park or Taman Bunga Nusantara at Cipanas, Cibodas Botanical Gardens, the Gede and Pangrango national park and other tourist attractions nearby Puncak Pass Area.

Getting There

Located only one or two hours drive from Jakarta. You can visit this area by using taxi, private or rent a car.

Where to Stay

Along Puncak Pass road, you will find many hotels and villas with varied price and facilities.

Dining Guide

Good varieties of restaurants are situated on or close to the city. Many of them provide local dishes. There are also warungs or food stalls that provide light meals such as toast, roasted corn and traditional drinks which can make your body warm at night, like bajigur and bandrek.

Moving Around

You can move around Puncak Pass area by car.

Other Things to See or Do

Halfway between Taman Safari and Puncak, lays Gunung Mas tea plantation area and tea factory. Here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of green velvet tea plantation covering over the hills and see tea processing. The site also offers a refreshing overnight stay at cool mountain breeze. The stunning mountain scenery and picturesque tea plantations also make this an ideal spot for hiking or simply a stroll through the tea plantations.

Souvenir Tips

Since Puncak Pass Area known as an agriculture producer, along the road side of Puncak, you can find many
local stalls are selling agriculture crops like fruits, vegetables, various tubers like sweet potatoes and others. But, you may also find local stalls are selling other souvenirs.

Travel Tips

• At night it can be pretty cold up there, so you better equipped yourself with warm clothes.
  
• If youre planned to rent some villas, it is suggested to bargain the price at the beginning.

Source:

• www.visitbandung.net
  
• www.okeaja.com
  

Bukittinggi, The Most Relaxed Town in All Sumatra

Bukittinggi is one of the loveliest, friendliest, most relaxed town in all Sumatra. This town is situated more or less 930 meters above sea level. Bukittinggi, formerly named Fort De Cock by the Dutch, has a cool climate and is surrounded by three volcanoes: Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. In the outskirts of the town is the Ngarai Sianok canyon, a canyon separating Bukittinggi from Kota Gadang, 12 km away overland. Kota Gadang is renowned for its fine silver filigree and hand embroidery. A center of attraction is the town's clock-tower, topped with a horn- shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. It overlooks the market square and the city's magnificent surroundings.

Also worth visiting is the Museum which is a Rumah Gadang, a traditional extended family house built in the 19th century. There are dance performances at the museum's open stage every Sunday and on public holidays. Night dance performances are at Sliguri. It is also worth seeing the bullfights at Padang Lawas (6 km south of Bukittinggi) every Tuesday at 5.00 p.m.

Getting There

From Jakarta International Airport to Minangkabau International Airport in Ketaping it will take about 2 hours, after you arrive you can use Taxi or Bus to Bukittinggi.

Where to Stay

There are various Inns and Hotels in Bukittinggi, If you are looking for a star hotel, theres Novotel Coralia
Bukittinggi with a grand view of the beautiful Anai valley, while Lima's Hotel, Hotel Asia and Hotel Denai are classified locally as 'superior hotels'.

Dining Guide

Good varieties of restaurants are situated on or close to the city. But, since youre in West Sumatra who is known with the spicy foods, we suggested you to try some Padang dishes like Rendang and Soto Padang. Here are some of restaurants around the city:

• Simpang Raya, Jl Muka Jam Gadang. This large, popular restaurant has good-quality Padang food plus a basic Indonesian menu with soup, rice or noodle dishes.
  
  
• Under the Bridge Restaurant, Jl A Yani. This is a slightly up market travelers' restaurant serving steaks, pasta, pizza, apple pie and chocolate cake.
  

Moving Around

You can move around the city by Taxi, Bus or rent a car. Theres also a horse carriage or sado provide a colorful charming transportation to move around through the town.

Other Things to See or Do

• Watching one of the landmarks of the city, the Bukittinggi Big Ben or known as Jam Gadang. Also.
  
  
• Make nice trips in the environment like to the Harau nature reserve, the Pagaruyung Minangkabau palace and Lake Singkarak.
  

Souvenir Tips

As a tourist center, Bukittinggi boasts a multitude of craft,souvenir, jewelry, and antique shops. Many craft village lie within an hour ride from Bukittinggi.

Shopping

• Lively Pasar Atas (Upper Market), just south of the clock tower, is lined with stalls and shops selling everyday goods and souvenirs. Nearby, Sumatera,
  
  
• Jl Minangkabau 19, has a huge range of textiles from Sumba and Irian Jaya and king sticks from North Sumatra.
  

Travel Tips

• Though the horse carriage is far more expensive than the 'ojek', it is very popular with the locals, especially since it can carry whole families.
  
• The tourist office is at Jl Syech Bantam 1 (Mon-Thurs 8am-2pm, Fri 8-11am, Sat 8am-12.30pm; tel 0752/22403), near the clock tower.
  
• Tours: Many places offer one-day local tours to traditional villages, the Pagaruyung palace and the Harau Canyon.

Enchanting Toba Lake in Parapat

Viewing this vast lake might make you believe that you're actually visiting an ocean instead of a lake. The atmosphere is so cool and refreshing, the view magnificent and breath-taking, for you can see mountains circling this area. Samosir Island is located proudly in the middle of the lake. Another lake inside Samosir Island makes this place more unique and interesting.

This lake is about 1,700 m2 in size with the depth of approximately 450 meters. About 906 above sea level, this lake hosts various interesting plants. Some people, viewing the sunrise and sunset around this area, claim that Toba manages to help them forget their problems--even though only for a while.

Getting There

By renting a car from Medan to Parapat. Parapat is 185 kilometers away from Medan. It will take about 4 hours to reach this place. You can also ride a bus or join a tour to visit Toba Lake.

Where to Stay

Numerous inns and hotels are available in Parapat. Some hotels even have their own swimming pools and jacuzzi.

Moving Around

You can ride a motorboat / ferry to reach Samosir Island.

Dining Guide

This place has several restaurants, where you can eat. You can also eat in the hotels/inns.

Souvenir Tips

Classic souvenirs such as T Shirts, hats, keychains, are available in Medan and Parapat. In Tuk Tuk, you can buy traditional Batak crafts such as Batak traditional calendar, traditional musical instruments, elaborate carvings, ulos, and so on.

Other Things to See or Do

You can swim in the lake or ride a boat circling this lake. You can also visit Samosir Island to see traditional houses of Batak kings in the past also royal tombs in Tomok area. For those of you who are into golf, a golf course is also available in Parapat.

Travel Tips

• Bring your own bathing suit and sports equipment.
  
• Bring a hat and a jacket. This place can be quite cold.