Grief Travel Info – Indonesia

•July 3, 2009 • Leave a Comment

National Holiday

2010

1 Jan New Year’s Day.
14 Feb Chinese New Year.
26 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
16 Mar Nyepi (Hindu New Year).
2 Apr Good Friday.
28 Apr Waisak Day (Buddha’s Birthday).
13 May Ascension.
17 Aug Indonesian Independence Day.
9 Jul Lailat al Miraj (Ascension of the Prophet).
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
7 Dec Islamic New Year.
25/26 Dec Christmas Day/Boxing Day.

Note

(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and so if dates are given above, they are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.
(b) Buddhist festivals are also timed according to phases of the moon and variations may occur.

Currency

Rupiah (IDR; symbol Rp). Notes are in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and1,000 . Coins are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 25.

Currency Exchange

Although there should be no difficulty exchanging major currencies in the main tourist centres, problems may occur elsewhere. The easiest currency to exchange is the US Dollar.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and Eurocard are widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. In more remote areas, it is best to carry cash in small denominations. ATMs are available in towns.

Traveller’s Cheques

Limited merchant acceptance but can be easily exchanged at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. American Express are more widely accepted.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0830-1400/1500; Sat 0930-1230 (some branches).

Exchange Rate Indicators

Date Apr 09
£1.00= Rp16,787.31
$1.00= Rp11,264.07
€1.00= Rp14,957.50

Duty Free

The following goods may be imported into Indonesia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100g of tobacco.
• 1l of liquor.
• A reasonable quantity of perfume.
• Gifts up to a value of US$250 per person or US$1,000 per family.

Note: Cameras must be declared on arrival. Video cameras, portable radios, tape recorders, binoculars and sport equipment may be imported provided exported on departure. Films, tapes, CD/DVDs, records and computer software must be screened by the censor board. There are also restrictions on fruits and animal, fish and plant products.
Prohibited Imports
Cordless telephones, Chinese medicines or printings, pornography, and non-prescription drugs.

Food and Drink

The staple diet for most Indonesians is nasi (rice), which is replaced on some islands with corn, sago, cassava and sweet potatoes. Indonesia’s spices make its local cuisine unique. Indonesians like their food highly spiced – look out for the tiny and fiery hot red and green peppers often included in salads and vegetable dishes. Seafood features highly on menus (with salt and freshwater fish, lobsters, oysters, prawns, shrimp, squid, shark and crab all available). Coconuts are often used for cooking. A feature of Jakarta is the many warungs (street stalls); each specialises in its own dish or drink.

National specialities:

Rijsttafel (a Dutch-invented smorgasbord of 12 various meat, fish, vegetable and curry dishes, sometimes served by 12 ‘maidens’).
Sate (chunks of beef, fish, pork, chicken or lamb cooked on hot coals and dipped in peanut sauce).
Rendang (west Sumatra; buffalo coconut curry).
Gado-gado (Java; a salad of raw and cooked vegetables with peanut and coconut milk sauce).
Babi guling (Bali; roast suckling pig).

National drinks:

Es (ice drinks with syrups, fruits and jellies).
Brem (Bali; rice wine).
Tuak (palm-sap wine, a famously potent local brew).
Arak (rice or palm-sap wine).
Kelapa muda (young coconut juice).

Things To Do

Surfing
The best surf spots are in Bali, Flores, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumba and Sumbawa. Some well-known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu on Bali, tend to get overcrowded, and are for very experienced surfers, but organised trips to isolated areas are widely available.

Diving
Indonesia’s coastline is reputed to contain 15% of the world’s coral reefs. Bunaken National Park and Lembeh Strait, both in North Sulawesi, are magnificent. Beginners can even go wreck-diving to Tulamben Wreck off east Bali.

Ujong
Kulon National Park
Trek or paddle in a dugout canoe through Ujong Kulon National Park at the extreme south western tip of Java in search of the elusive Java rhino.

Mahakam
River
Take a tour up the great Mahakam River in Kalimantan, Borneo (www.visitborneo.com), which is dissected by a network of rivers running from the mountainous interior to the coasts. Starting from the port city Samarinda, such tours continue deep into the upper jungle reaches, where tribal communities have largely preserved their traditions.

Volcanoes

Trek up an active volcano: on Java island, hike Mount Bromo, (the most visited of Indonesia’s volcanoes) and Kawah Ijen crater lake (www.central-java-tourism.com). Take a boat trip to view Krakatoa located between Java and Sumatra.

More volcanoes
Dormant volcanoes include Gunung Agung in Bali, Gunung Rinjani on Lombok island (www.lomboksumbawa.com) and Keli Mutu on Nusa Tenggara Barat (www.ntb.go.id), which has lakes with different coloured waters.

Rainforest
Jungle trek through the Indonesian rainforest – Irian Jaya, Kalimantan and Sumatra offer the most remote and untouched terrain. The best trails include trips to Bukit Barisan National Park, a remote and beautiful peninsula in Sumatra and the Muller Mountain in Kalimantan.

Komodo and Rinca islands

Take a boat to Komodo and Rinca islands in search of the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon. But don’t get too close as their bite can be fatal.

Orang-utans
Visit and give your support to the rehabilitation centres on Sumatra and Kalimantan that rescue orphaned, injured and captive orang-utans and return them to their habitat.

Tsunami
Museum
This museum, in the province of Aceh (one of the areas worst hit by the 2004 tsunami), is an educational centre that will also be able to serve as an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is hit by a tsunami again.

Istiqlal Mosque
The modern Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Java (www.jakarta-tourism.go.id) is one of the largest in the world.

Puppet shows
Puppet shows are staged throughout Java, in which traditional wayang golak and wayang kulit marionettes act out stories based on well-known legends; performances can sometimes last all night.

Prambanan temple complex
The Prambanan temple complex was built in honour of the Hindu gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Do not miss Borobudur (www.borobudurpark.com), probably the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world, which contains more than 5km (3 miles) of relief carvings.

Places To Visit

Sulawesi
The beautiful Sulawesi (www.north-sulawesi.org) is a land of high mountains, misty valleys and lakes. In the south is Bantimurung Nature Reserve, which has thousands of exotic butterflies and a waterfall. The island has geysers and hot springs at Lahendong and Leilem.

Torajaland

Visit Torajaland, known as the ‘Land of the Heavenly Kings’, on Sulawesi, and note the inhabitants’ buffalo horn-shaped houses and custom of burying the dead in vertical cliffside tombs.

Samosir

An inhabited island in the middle of Lake Toba, Samosir was once a volcanic crater, 900m (3,000ft) above sea level in Sumatra. The island is home to the Batak people, an ancient tribe who preserve many of their traditions.

Sultan’s Palace

Don’t miss the Sultan’s Palace in Yogyakarta, a masterpiece of understated Javanese architecture, and still home to the sultan and his family.

Bali

A chain of volcanic mountains stretches from east to west on Bali, dominated by the mighty Gunung Agung (Holy Mountain), whose conical peak soars more than 3,170m (10,400ft) into the sky.

Tanah Lot
Travel to the Sea Temple of Tanah Lot on the west coast (a short drive from Kediri), one of the most breathtaking sights of Bali.

Pura Besakih

Do not miss Bali’s Pura Besakih, a temple that dates back originally to the 10th century and stands high on the volcanic slopes of Gunung Agung. Nowadays, it is a massive complex of more than 30 temples, and the setting for great ceremonial splendour on festival days.

Getting Around

Getting Around by Rail

The train operator in Indonesia is PT Kereta Api (tel: 424 1370; www.infoka.kereta-api.com). There are three classes of travel, Eksecutif (Executive), Bisnis (Business) and Ekonomi (Economy), but first-class exists only on principal expresses. There is some air-conditioned accommodation. Children under three travel free in economy and business without taking a seat, and pay 10% of adult fare in executive class; children aged three to ten pay half fare in economy and business and full rate in executive.

In Sumatra, trains connect Belawan, Medan and Tanjong Balai/Rantu Prapet (two or three trains daily) in the north, and Palembang and Panjang (three trains daily) in the south, but are unreliable. An extensive rail network runs throughout Java. The modern, air-conditioned Argo Bromo Anggrek service, which is Eksecutif class only, with refreshments included, links Jakarta and Surabaya; it departs daily and nightly. There are also other express services. Between Jakarta and Bandung there is a train every one to two hours, Eksecutif class (journey time – about 3 hours) and then twice-daily trains on to Surabaya.

Getting Around by Air

Indonesia has a good internal air system linking most of the larger towns to Jakarta. Domestic operators include Garuda Indonesia (GA) (www.garuda-indonesia.com), AirAsia (QZ) (www.airasia.com), and Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) (www.merpati.co.id).

Departure Tax

Rp12,000-20,000 depending on airport of departure.

Travel Advice

Travellers are advised against all travel to Central Sulawesi Province and Maluku Province, especially Ambon. Both provinces have been subject to outbreaks of internal violence and the security situation continues to remain unsettled.

Travellers are advised to exercise caution when travelling to Aceh, which is emerging from a long-running internal conflict. Visitors should exercise particular caution when travelling to remote areas, and should also monitor all available information on the local situation.

There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. Foreigners and locations and buildings frequented by foreigners are particularly attractive potential targets to terrorists. Terrorists have shown in previous, recent attacks that they have the means and the motivation to carry out successful attacks.

Travellers should take sensible precautions for their personal safety and avoid large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations.

Those visiting or resident in Indonesia should exercise caution at all times. Travellers are strongly advised to ensure that they are comfortable with, and regularly review their own and their family’s security arrangements.

Developments in Iraq and on the Middle East Peace Process do affect Indonesia. Travellers should follow news reports and be alert to developments, which might trigger public disturbances. Travellers should take sensible precautions for their personal safety and avoid large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations.

Indonesia is located in an active earthquake zone, and major earthquakes can occur at any time. In 2007 there have been a number of major earthquakes, most recently on 12 and 13 September 2007.

Travellers should be aware of concerns about the safety of Indonesian airlines. The EU announced that all Indonesian airlines, including the national carrier Garuda are banned from entering the EU. Travellers should use other airlines if possible.

Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Indonesia have led to over 90 reported human fatalities. The last fatality was in 2008. As a precaution, travellers should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where they may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

Poor sanitation and eating contaminated food can increase the risk of cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other diseases. Travellers should not drink tap water or water that is not bottled and sealed. Wherever possible, bottled water should be bought from reputable sources.

Anthrax is endemic in East Nusa Tengarra province in Indonesia. It is an acute infection that usually only affects livestock, but it can be transmitted to humans who handle or eat infected animals. On 30 October 2007, three villages in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, were closed to outsiders after a number of people fell ill from eating anthrax-infected buffalo meat.

On 28 October 2007, an outbreak of leprosy was reported in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Health officials said that poor sanitation, malnutrition and the water shortage in the area caused the disease.

Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include the death penalty.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice.

Indonesia – the largest archipelago in the world

•June 30, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Indonesia is the sleeping giant of Southeast Asia. With 18,110 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, it is the largest archipelago in the world. With well over 230 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world — after China, India and the USA — and by far the largest in Southeast Asia. Indonesia also has the largest Muslim population in the world.

Indonesia Map

Indonesia Map

Cities

Other Places

Visa-Free Entry

Nationals of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Hong Kong, Macao, Chile, Morocco, Peru, and Vietnam are given visa-free entry facility for maximum of 30 days. They cannot extend their stay and cannot convert their visa-free status to any other visa status.

Visa-free entries are only permitted via the following ports of entry:

  • Airports: Juanda (Surabaya, East Java), Adi Sumarno (Solo, Central Java), El Tari (Kupang, West Timor), Hang Nadim (Batam, Riau Islands), Hasanuddin (Makasar, South Sulawesi), Husein Sastranegara (Bandung, West Java), Ngurah Rai (Denpasar, Bali), Polonia (Medan, North Sumatra), Sam Ratulangi (Manado, North Sulawesi), Selaparang (Mataram, Lombok), Sepinggan (Balikpapan, East Kalimantan), Soekarno Hatta (Jakarta), Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (Palembang, South Sumatera), Sultan Syarif Kasim II or Simpang Tiga (Pekanbaru, Riau), Supadio (Pontianak, West Kalimantan) and Minangkabau International Airport (Padang, West Sumatera).
  • Seaports: Bandar Seri Udana Lobam (Batam, Riau Islands), Belawan (Medan, North Sumatra), Bitung (Manado, North Sumatra), Lembar (Mataram, Lombok), Nongsa Terminal Bahari (Batam, Riau Islands), Sekupang (Batam, Riau Islands), Sri Bayintan (Tanjung Pinang, Bintan, Riau Islands), Tanjung Balai Karimun (Karimun, Riau Islands), Tanjung Perak (Surabaya, East Java), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi (Bintan, Riau Islands), Batu Ampar (Batam, Riau Islands), Benoa (Bali), Dumai (Riau), Lhokseumawe (North Sumatra), Marina Teluk Senimba (Batam, Riau Islands), Padang Bai (Bali), Selat Kijang (Bintan, Riau Islands), Tanjung Mas (Semarang, Central Java), Tanjung Pinang (Bintan, Riau Islands) and Tenau (Kupang, West Timor).

There are so many places in Indonesia to visit and explore.
How many days should I spend here? I am not a real big fan of beach, ocean, or stuffs like that.
However, I do not mind to try new water games like scuba :) 

Brunei : Bandar Seri Begawan

•June 28, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Bandar Seri Begawan, also known as BSB or just Bandar, is the capital of Brunei.

By plane

Brunei International Airport is the main airport in Brunei.

Getting there/away: A taxi from the airport to the city centre takes 20 minutes and costs around B$25. Some hotels (like Grand City Hotel) may provide complimentary transport between airport and hotel. A covered walk down to the end of the car park away from the Terminal (turn right when exiting from Arrivals) leads to a bus stop for Purple buses to the city centre (B$1).

By road

All main roads in Brunei (save for those in isolated Temburong Districts) lead to Bandar Seri Begawan. The main road into/out of Bandar connects to the coastal road to/from the Sarawak border via Tutong, Seria and Kuala Belait. Other main roads lead to Muara and Kuala Lurah where there is a border crossing into the Limbang division of Sarawak. Take this road if you are driving to Temburong but you will have to go through two sets of immigration checkpoints – at Kuala Lurah (Tedungan on the Sarawak side) and Puni (Pandaruan on the Sarawak side) – before you reach the district administrative center, Bangar.

By bus

The main bus terminal where all long-distance and local buses leave from and arrive is at Jalan Cator in the city center. It occupies the ground level of a multistory carpark.

  • To/from Seria: Regular buses leave for Seria (where you can change buses to Kuala Belait and onward to Miri) that leave from the main bus terminal. They usually display the departure time on the windscreen. Journey time is about one hour and the fare is B$6 one way. If you want to go all the way to Miri, make sure you start early. The Miri Belait Transportation Company runs buses between Kuala Belait in Brunei and Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia. The journey requires a bus change at the Sungei Tujoh border checkpoint. Through tickets are however available at RM12.20 from Miri. Note that there have been reports that buses from Miri occasionally refuse to go all the way to the border and stop just before the Asean Bridge at Kuala Baram because of the high toll charge of the bridge. You may have to use taxis to complete the final 5km between the border and the bridge. From Kuala Belait, there are buses to Seria (B$1) where you can change to another bus for Bandar Seri Begawan (B$6). The entire journey takes about 5 hours and there are only a few buses each day operating on each part of the journey, so start early if you are travelling from Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan or vice-versa.
  • To/from Kuala Lurah: Local purple buses run from the bus terminal right up to the Kuala Lurah checkpoint throughout the day. Journey is about half hour and fare is B$1 one way. At Kuala Lurah, walk across the border and either catch a bus or taxi into Limbang.
  • To/from Muara: Regular buses depart from the bus terminal, including some direct non-stop buses, to Muara. Not all Muara buses go to the Serasa Ferry Terminal so check before boarding.

See Places

  • Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is open to visitors when it is not being used for prayers. (Opening times are posted by the gate). The Mosque is very welcoming and you will be given a robe upon entry. Remove your shoes before entering and be respectfully quiet inside as there may be some people there meditating and praying. Consider visiting other mosques too.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei by http://dummidumbwit.wordpress.com

From: http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

Visitors may enter the mosque but are asked to remove their shoes before entering and to exercise due consideration for people praying. Women are should cover their heads and dress conservatively.
Visiting Hours:
Sunday to Wednesday: 8am to 12noon, 2pm to 3pm & 5pm to 6pm
The mosque is closed to non-Muslims on Thursdays. It is opened on Saturday provided that there is no official function the following day.

  • Kampong Ayer (the water village). Best visited by taxi boat. It’s a beautiful sight to see hundreds of houses seemingly floating on water. The water village people are very friendly and many open up their homes to visitors year-round. Water taxis can be found by walking along the Brunei river or the main market in Bandar Seri Begawan and waving one down. Try to negotiate the price down. You shouldn’t pay more than B$30 for an hour-long tour (B$15 for half an hour) of Kampong Ayer. If you’d rather not shell out the dough for a water-taxi tour, consider wandering around the villages yourself. You can start from behind the Sultan’s Mosque or from the other side in towns like Batu Satu.
Kampong Ayer, Brunei by http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

Kampong Ayer, Brunei by http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

From: http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

Kampong Ayer is equally famous for the armada of water taxis which speed around the village transporting people and goods.
Hiring a boat and driver is very easy and costs around B$10 – 15 for half an hour or so. Just appear at the top of the steps across from the Yayasan complex and there will soon be someone there touting for your business.

  • Royal Regalia museum near the city center displays gifts received by the Sultan. Definitely worth checking out.
The Royal Regalia Museum (Bangunan Alat Kebesaran Diraja)

The Royal Regalia Museum (Bangunan Alat Kebesaran Diraja)

From: http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

The museum is open to the general public and entrance is free.
Visiting hours:
Saturday to Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm
Friday: 9am – 11:30am & 2:30pm – 5pm

  • Brunei Museum on the Kota Batu road has an excellent display in the Islamic Art Gallery. It is highly recommended.
Brunie Museum

Brunie Museum

From: http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com

Getting there: Take Jalan Residency out of Bandar Seri Begawan keeping the Brunei river on your right. The name changes to Jalan Kota Batu and after four Kilometres the road rises past the acient tomb of Sultan Bolkiah and Sultan Sharif Ali The Museum is on the right on top of the hill. Public busses (Central and Eastern line 11 and 39), leaving from the central bus station, stop at the museum.

Opens daily from :900h till 1700hr except Tuesday, Friday 900h to 1130h and 1430hr to 1700hr

After visiting the Brunei Museum, walk along the road toward BSB to visit two tombs: the first is the Tomb of Sharif Ali, the third sultan of Brunei. The green sign by the road is written entirely in Arabic lettering. Further down the road is the Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, the fifth sultan of Brunei. Both tombs are in easy walking distance from the Museum.

Sultan Bolkiahs Tomb

Sultan Bolkiah's Tomb

Budget

  • Pusat Belia (on Jalan Sungai Kianggeh) is Brunei’s only youth hostel, designed more for school groups than for backpackers. Dorm beds are B$10/night, making it the cheapest sleep in town. There’s also a swimming pool. Male and female sleeping quarters are separated, so this can be an inconvenience for couples. The location, however, is quite convenient as it is close to downtown BSB. It is best to arrange a bed in advance. Tel: 222-2900; 876-5515.
Pusat Belia - Officious Youth Hostel in Bandar Seri Begawan, Capital of Brunei

Pusat Belia - Officious Youth Hostel in Bandar Seri Begawan, Capital of Brunei

  • APEK Utama Hotel is another budget option at B$30/night. On the Kota Batu road towards the Brunei Museum. Cozy and a great deal. The only disadvantage is that it’s 2km from downtown BSB, but Bus 39 or water taxis can solve this problem. Tel: 222-0808.
  • Le Gallery Hotel tel. 673 222 1228. In the Seri Complex – B$48/night. A boutique hotel located in the heart of the Seri Complex. Offers friendly and artistic ambience with reasonable rates.
  • KH Soon Resthouse, 140 Jalan Pemancha (near bus station), tel. 222-2052. Email: khsoon_resthouse_brunei@hotmail.com. Its major advantage is its excellent location, right downtown near the bus terminal, with an ATM on the corner and an Internet cafe in the adjacent alley. The staff are friendly and helpful, though the rooms are somewhat Spartan. An air-conditioned double room with attached bathroom is B$39/night; other options are available for less. 24 hour reception and good security.

I collected them on-line and copied them on my blog for my SE Asia trip next year :)

Brunei Darussalam, Abode of Peace

•June 27, 2009 • 1 Comment

Brunie Map
Brunie Map

General Info

The Sultanate of Brunei (Full name: Negara Brunei Darussalam) is a small but – thanks to natural gas and petroleum resources – very rich country located in Southeast Asia. It is surrounded by Malaysia and has two parts physically separated by Malaysia, almost being an enclave. Strategically located on the South China Sea, close to vital sea lanes linking Indian and Pacific Oceans, it has an exclusive economic fishing zone that extends as far as Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands although it makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs.

Places

Brunei has four districts (Malay: daerah)

  • Brunei/Muara – heart of the country where the capital Bandar Seri Begawan is located. Muara – main port of Brunei with passenger ferries to Labuan and Sarawak.
  • Tutong-lies under the coverage of the virgin forest, scattered small scale plantations. Seria – oil capital of Brunei, also known as “Shelltown”.
  • Belait – Western-most district, also the centre of the country’s petroleum industry. Kuala Belait – town to catch transport to or from Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
  • Temburong – isolated eastern district, separated from the rest of country by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Bangar – the tiny district capital of Temburong district.

Do / Travel

There are many eco-tours which typically go to the Temburong district by boat then to a native “longhouse”. It is then followed by a powered boat (by the natives) up the river to the Belalong National Park, a reserve in the Borneo rainforest. There is a canopy walk and research centre at the park headquarters.

Jerudong Park was once a decent theme park with a multitude of rides. Sadly, a downward cycle of neglect, declining admission and unaffordable maintenance costs led to the closure and sale of most of the big-ticket rides, including the three rollercoasters. This has given the park a sad “circus left town last week” air about it. Most people who visit only go at night to avoid the heat during the day. Outside the park, but very close, is a small complex of restaurants which is open at night, though only a few of the stalls are still operational. The local papers have reported plans to renovate the park with a new selection of attractions, but as of March 07 it remains to be seen what these attractions will be and when they will be operational.

Eat Food

There is also the local nasi katok, a simple combination of rice and curried beef or chicken, which can be quite spicy. It is relatively inexpensive when compared to other food that you can buy, for example local food such as chicken rice. However, it is not a healthy option, with few vegetables and too much fat.

The Original Nasi katok packaging

The Original Nasi katok packaging by http://barunaiku.blogspot.com

The inside of Nasi Katok

The inside of Nasi Katok by http://barunaiku.blogspot.com

Another choice is ambuyat, a culinary experience unique to Borneo. It is a starchy and gooey paste made from sago that can be dipped into a savoury sauce.

Ambuyat by 1pic4all.blogspot.com

Ambuyat by 1pic4all.blogspot.com

Visa Stuff

Short/ Social Visit Visa: valid in 3 months for maximum and B$30 (~367.000VND – today rate) for multiple Entry Visa

South East Asia Outline

•June 26, 2009 • Leave a Comment

South East Asia Map

South East Asia Map

Some information I got

Geography

Southeast Asia consists of two geographic regions: the Asian mainland, and island arcs and archipelagoes to the east and southeast.

The mainland section consists of Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia (or to be more precise, Peninsular Malaysia).

The maritime section consists of Brunei, East Timor,[1] Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Political

Definitions of “Southeast Asia” vary, but most definitions include the area represented by the countries:

Travel

  • Indonesia – the giant, the largest archipelagic country in the world, with more than 18,000 islands
  • Laos – the forgotten, but growing, country of South-East Asia, landlocked by Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
  • Malaysia – multicultural country covering the skyscrapers of KL and the jungle headhunters of Borneo
  • Myanmar (Burma) – military dictatorship open to the adventurous traveller
  • Philippines – freewheeling former Spanish and American colony with over 7,100 islands and beautiful tropical beaches
  • Singapore – clean and orderly island-city state
  • Thailand – the most popular destination in the region
  • Vietnam – firmly marching down the long road to capitalism

Let’s check them out!