Cheng Ho Mosque or Masjid Cheng Ho of Surabaya is located Jalan Gading No. 2,
Kelurahan Ketabang,Kecamatan Genteng. It was built by PITI an Association of Indonesian Chinese Moslem in October 2001 and finished in Oct 2002.

This mosque lies in the middle of 3.070 m2 complex, and the outset design was inspired by Masjid Niu Jie in Beijing that was built in 996. This mosque was designed without doors, as a symbol or openness for anyone, regardless the races, anyone can enter to pray here. Cheng Ho Mosque is expected to bridge pluralism, diversities among Indonesian community. Continue reading Cheng Ho Mosque Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia →

Borobudur Temple is well known as the world biggest Buddhist Temple. This temple is the single attraction that draws most tourists in Indonesia. This wonderful temple stands on the plain of Kedu, round 40 km northwest of Jogja and on the Java Island.

Borobudur name derives from Hhumtcambharabudara that means the mountain of the accumulation of virtue in the ten stages of Bodhisatva. Built by Syailendra Dynasty in the 9^th century. Nestled on a 150 foot hill, this sacred buildings is a masterpiece religious architecture. This temple was built 300 years before many of the great Christian cathedrals of western Europe and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, some of whose temples are deemed to have been influenced by it.
Continue reading Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia →

After the eruption, there was an erosion at road conected Cemoro Lawang to view point at Mt Penanjakan where usually tourists awaiting for sunrise. This caused jeep can not acces this road and sunrise trip by jeep from Cemoro Lawang replaced to other view point. Travelers can be a little bit confuse about this because there is other common gate to enter Mt Bromo, from Pasuruan.
Option 1 : Via Cemara Lawang, Probolinggo
If you enter via Cemoro Lawang and stay overnight there, you can just walk from your hotel (or get Jeep) to foot of Mt Penanjakan. And then trekk to the view point 1. For month like July and August, sunrise from this view point is not very good, because sun is blocked by a hill. To get to the best view point for sunrise, you need to go further up the mountain from the view point 1. It will take round 40 minutes until you reach to a bitumen road where jeeps from Nongkojajar Pasuruan can still access. From there then return to Cemoro Lawang and proceed to Sea of Sand and Bromo Crater. Or else, you can go to Mt Bromo by motorbike taxi that is available at the view point 1. The benefit if you stay in Cemoro Lawang is that you can enjoy the Bromo Tengger caldera from in front of your hotel or else you can trek in the afternoon for nice shots of other various angles of Mt Bromo or local Tenggerese village and farmlands.

Option 2 : Via Nongkojajar, Tosari, Pasuruan
If you stay overnight in Nongkojajar, you can access Mt Penanjakan view point 1 and also the Mt Bromo. Only the hotel location here do not offer good landscape at all, asBromo Tengger Caldera is few km ahead.

Option 3 : Cemoro Lawang Sunrise Option
Other view point where you can see sunrise from here without hill distract your sight is location close to Vulcanology Monitoring Office. Sunrise here is pretty without rough trekking the hill and after that you can go to Mt Bromo to see its crater.

Well, those are few options, you can choose one of them on your next visit to MT Bromo.

After erupting on November 2010 until March 2011, Mt Bromo and the surrounding were covered by volcanic ash. Until now, Mt Bromo still send down ashes that will be a trouble for visitors.

Visiting Mt Bromo in the morning can be less wind and its on its best time to visit though sometimes on July and August, peak season period, can be very crowded because of less space on the crater rim after the eruption. Visiting Mt Bromo at noon can be more convenient because of less crowded, and but can be very windy and the ashes will fly over the air and make your skin, face, socks and cloth dirty. Therefore, if you climb mt Bromo at noon, make sure you wear your dirty cloth, non white socks, sunglasses and mask. Volcanic ashes of of Bromo crater consist of lapili and silica can be harmful for your respiratory. If you don’t equipped with mask then you can buy from itinerant seller in Cemoro Lawang or at the sea  of sand. If someone has breathing problem asthma, bringing the sprayer is a must.

Watch out you camera from dusts, it can harm your lens. Do not wear flip flops or sandals, sneakers are the best for climbing.

Dieng Plateau is located in Wonosobo Central Java, Indonesia. To get to the plateau it will take 26 km drive to from Wonosobo City.
This plateau is lied on 2093 m asl with beautiful surrounding of green mountains with height ranges from 2000 to 2500 m asl. The core attraction of this plateau is 5 small hindu temples that are known as the oldest hindu temples in Indonesia build from date back 8th century to 14th century. This group of 5 hindu temples are known as Pandawa Temples or Arjuna Temples, and they were build there because of the altitude, the beautiful surrounding that it might be their belief that Dieng Plateau was the representative of heaven. The temples were found in 1814 by Mr HC Cornelius, when they were burried by mud caused by years of erosion after the abandonment of the temples. Hindu people lived in this area considered to leave the area because of the volcano activities. Now the inhabitants of Dieng are moslem community.
Continue reading Dieng Plateau: The Land of gods, Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia →

When u travel through indonesia, i would suggest to visit the safari tour i did with my family, nearby mt Bromo. After 4 hrs driving we finally visit the safari. The entrance is very beautiful and the people are very kind to welcome you. The driver could drive with his car through the safari, while we are looking in the habitat of the wild animals who live there. I have seen the beautiful and dangerous lions and tigers. While driving slowly through their territory, i could see very well how they live. Every species has their own territory and they are sepperated by big fence. There are many animals from all over the world. I have seen the panther, nepalese bears, crocediles, beautiful birds and more. What i love to see was the deers and llama’s because they were so curious too, and i could touch them, because they are not dangerous. Seeing the elephants was a special experience, because i never seen elephants in reall, so i got my oppertunity to see them very close. Some people bought peanuts for the elephants so they could feed them. The driver was really giving me the time to observe the wild animals very well, i ghuess he enjoyed the ride too.
Continue reading Traveler’s Experience in Safari Park Prigen, East Java →

Trowulan is located just 1 hour drive from Surabaya, and administratively located in Mojokerto Regency. Trowulan was first mentioned literature in 1814 by Thomas Stamford Raffles’ book, History of Java, derives from Trang and Wulan which means full moon light.Scientists coincide that Trowulan was the capital city on Majapahit Empire that reigned almost all over Indonesia from XII century until XV century.

As Hindu Kingdom, Majapahit built gates, temples or other ancient plant with Hindu characteristic though Buddhist influence in few remains can be seen also. Continue reading Trowulan (Majapahit) Temple Site : The Remains of The Great Majapahit Empire, East Java, Indonesia →

Alas Purwo National Park is located on the eastern tip Java, administratively located in Banyuwangi Regency. This National Park consists of land, ocean and swamp range from 0 to 322 m asl with the highest peak in this area is Mt Lingga Manis. Alas Purwo has carst structure that according to a survey, found 44 caves in this area.

Alas Purwo derives from Javanese Alas mean forest or jungle and purwo means beginning, so Alas Purwo means the ancient forest or forest that appear earliest among others. Local people believe that Alas Purwo is the first land that emerged out of the ocean and that this supernatural power or entities reside there. No wonder if people from Java and beyond visit there to meditate in Istana or Padepokan Cave.

Savanna, monsoon forest, coral reef, and mangroves span in this national park. More than 300 vegetation grow inside and it has complete vegetation formations. Alas Purwo is known as the home of Banteng  (Bos Javanicus) , panther, aves species and many more.
Continue reading Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia →

Baluran National Park is lied at the tip on East Java, administratively located in  Banyuputih Village in Situbondo Regency. It is accessible from Bali, and 6 hours drive from Surabaya. Baluran is appointed as National Park in on May 23rd 1997 with its area width 25.000 Ha.

Baluran has vary various type of forests and known as the miniature of Indonesian types of forest as we can find forest of coastal, mangroves, swamp, savanna, rain forest to reefs. Coral reefs can be found fron 0,5 m to 40 m depth with wide spectrum of vegetation such as Acropora Branching, Acropora Encrusting, Acropora Tubulate and mushroom coral.

Baluran has collections of mammals such as Javanese Bull (Bos javanicus), Wild Bull (Bubalus bubalis), pig (Sus scrofa), Dhole (Cuon alpinus) and panther  (Panthera pardus). The amount of mammals in this national gradually decrease due to the less rain, increasing predators, human activities, and the invasion of Acacia nilotica.
Continue reading Baluran: The Africa of East Java, Indonesia →