DIVING IS BUNAKEN

Diving Bunaken means diving North Sulawesi, one of the most pristine nature areas in the world. Relax and unwind on our tropical island beach while you enjoy a refreshing drink and soak up an amazing orange sunset, or experience the fine seafood cuisine an friendly nature of the Bunaken Island villagers.

Every Bunaken dive is a great experience. For sheer exhilaration, join us for some blue-water drift dives down with the really BIG critters, as you drift effortlessly along the world-renowned vertical walls of the Bunaken Island and Manado Tua Marine Park. A time you will never forget, diving in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water.

The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.

The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high.

Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae.

This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies.

Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying.

Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management.

The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization.

If successful, Bunaken Marine Park will stand as an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

KECAK DANCE

The Kecak dance is one of the most famous of Balinese dances. It is unusual because it has no musical accompaniment like many other Indonesian dances do, the rhythm of the dance is produced by the chanting 'monkey' chorus.

Instead, a troupe of over 150 bare-chested men serve as the chorus, making a wondrous cacophony of synchronized "chak-achak-achak" clicking sounds while swaying their bodies and waving their hands .From that chanting noise of "Cak-cak-cak", then it gave the dance its name Kecak.

What makes the Kecak such a fascinating dance to watch are the fifty or so men in the checkered pants. They are both the choir and the props, providing the music for the story in a series of constant vocal chants that change with the mood of the actors.

They don't sit still, either, they wave their arms to simulate fire, and reposition themselves around the stage to represent wind and fire, prison cells, and unseen hand of protection from the gods.

The dance is played in five acts and lasts roughly 45 minutes. It taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka, Rahwana and somehow with the help of the white monkey army, Rama rescues his wife and defeats the evil Rahwana.

Attending a Kecak recital is a must for any visitor to Bali. It is a wondrous experience, and a window into the musical and artistic culture that make the Balinese a special people.

BEDOYO KETAWANG DANCE

The most famous of all Javanese court dances is the bedoyo ketawang, performed in the Surakarta palace on the anniversary of the Susuhunan's coronation.

This is a sacred and private ritual dance said to have been instituted by Sultan Agung in the early 1600s, the greatest of the Mataram kings.

It celebrates a reunion between the descendant of the dynasty's founder, Panembahan Senapati, and the powerful goddess of the South Seas, Kyai Loro Kidul.

Nine female palace guards perform the stately bedoyo ketawang, attired in royal wedding dress, and so sacred is it that they may rehearse only once every five weeks on a given day.

Until recently, no outsiders were permitted to witness the performance, for it is claimed that Loro Kidul herself attends and afterwards "weds" the king.

The other important Javanese court dance, Serimpi, was traditionally performed only by princesses or daughters of the ruling family.

It portrays one or two duelling pairs of Amazons who move in unison, fighting with dainty daggers and tiny bows and arrows. Following the of dance schools in the early 1900s, it became the standard taught to all young women.

The reliefs at Borobudur, depicting popular dances and musical entertainment, suggest that dance once figured prominently in Javanese life. However, outside of the courts, very little dancing remains in the area today.

KOMODO AND KOMODO ISLAND

The biggest lizard in this world, it's sometimes called komodo dragon. There is nothing dragon like about the komodo, though. Admittedly a komodo (Varanus komodoensis) is huge an adult can grow to be 3 meters high with approximately 70 kgs in weight, but it is not as fierce as many people thought.

For instance, komodo dragons do not pursue their preys actively or show vicious streak in their coup de grace. Checking on a komodo dragon's mouth and teeth must be every dentist's nightmare, for they are incredibly smelly and full of germs. A komodo dragon usually eats the youngs/wounded animals. But bigger komodo dragons are known to attack bigger livestocks.

A bite from a komodo dragon is enough. Then the komodo dragon will follow its prey for days, if necessary. The germs are bound to take effect. When the prey dies, the komodo dragon feasts.

Located between Sumbawa and Flores island, Komodo National Park was founded as a conservation for komodo dragons. Six years after the establishment in 1980, UNESCO declared that this park is a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve. Komodo

National Park consists of three main islands, i.e. Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, also other smaller islands. One of the richest marine environments, this park is also the home for at least 1,000 species of fish, hundreds of species of reef-building, coral, and 70 types of sponges. You can also find sharks, manta rays, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and dugongs in this park.

Getting There
You can go to Lombok or Flores island first, then embark on a boat/ship to this island.

Where to Stay
You can contact the above tour operators for more information. You can also plan to stay in Bali, and spend a whole day for visiting Komodo Island.

Moving Around
On foot. If you join a tour, the tour will see to everything, including the transportation.

Dining Guide
Traditional restaurants and small cafes.

Souvenir Tips
Wooden carving resembling komodo and other animals.

Other things to See or Do

See komodo dragons live even in action, if you're lucky enough to watch their feeding time (officers of this park supply food like fresh chicken to komodo dragons).

Marvel at the diversity of the plants and animals.
Swim on the pristine beaches.
Snorkel to glimpse the diversity of the marine life. Dont forget to Visit a traditional village in order to observe their way of life.

RAJA AMPAT (THE FOUR KINGS)

The Raja Ampat, or “Four Kings,” archipelago encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land

and sea off the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province. Located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in the world.

The area’s massive coral colonies show that its reefs are resistant to threats like coral bleaching and disease —threats that now jeopardize the survival of corals around the world. In addition, Raja Ampat’s strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat’s coral diversity, resilience to threats, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global priority for marine protection.

Apart from the reefs, this area also has some of the most stunning top-side views in the world; lime stone islands that reminds you of, but are even more dramatic than, the famous Rock Islands of Palau; big cathedral-like caves inside the islands; quiet lagoons with crystal white sand and water in every shade of blue and green; bird life such as the Birds of Paradise that brought Alfred Russel Wallace to this region over a century ago; the most stunning sunsets you'll ever see; and - almost no tourists...

One reason why I decided to prepare this site was that you won't find any information on this area in standard Indonesian travel guide books such as Lonely Planet. The Raja Ampats, located west of the Birds Head Peninsula, are administratively part of Papua Barat/Iran Jaya, but they are very different from the rest of west Papua, which the travel guides are focused on. Geographically and when it comes to nature, history and culture, the Ampats are in many ways closer to Moluku.


Raja Ampat* means "the four 'kings'", a name dating back to the 15th century, when the Sultanate of Tidore - one of the muslim sultanates in the original Maluku west of Halmahera - appointed four local "rajas" in Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

Even earlier, Seramese traders from small islands off the eastern tip of Seram had established trade settlements, sosolot, throughout the region, exchanging cloth, beads, and other products from western Indonesia for trepang, plumes, forest products and slaves from Papua. There where also a strong ties to the island of Biak east of the Bird's Head Peninsula.

Rock paintings found in caves in Misool and in on the west coast of the Birds Head, as well as bronze artifacts, show that trade with other parts of Asia was already established 2 - 3 000 years ago.

Going further back, it should be noted that just 10 000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, most of what is currently sea in this area was still land, roughly corresponding to the lighter blue parts in the Raja Ampat Map. This means that most of the early coastal settlements in this area are now submerged, and will require underwater archeology to be found and explored.

CHICKEN SOTO

CHICKEN SOTO (Soto Ayam )

Ingredients :

* 1.5 liter water
* 1 tea spoon salt
* 2 Indian bay leaf
* 1 Laos
* 1/2 (500 g) Chicken
* 3 tea spoon Blueband margarine


Grind these following items:

* 1 tea spoon Black pepper
* 5 pieces Garlic
* 5 Candle Nuts

* Prepare the chili sauce (Sambal): 15 pcs red chili - boiled and grinded them.
* 2 tea spoon of Roasted peanut - grinded them.
* 2 tea spoon of Bango Sweet Soy Sauce
* 1 tea spoon of lemon juice
* Side Items: 150 g bean sprouts.

* 75 g vermicelli, wash it in the warm water to make it soft.
* 2 chicken eggs, boiled, cut into small pieces
* 2 tea spoon of Roasted peanut
* 75 g Cassava chips
* 2 tea spoon of Fried onion
* 1 green onion leaves cut into small pieces
* 1 Chinese celery cut into small pieces

How to cook :

Boil the water with salt, indian bay leaves and galangga. Put the chicken meat, boiled them until it's tender.
Lift the chicken out,and then fry it until its color become yellow brown and dry it.
Shredded the chicken meat into small slices.
Stir the Blue band margarine in the frying pan and fry the spices until it smells delicious. Added the spices to the chicken broth water.
Reduce the heat to low and wait until it boils.

How to prepare:

Put the shredded chicken into small bowl and add the bean sprouts, vermicelli, and the boiled egg.
Pour the hot chicken broth into the bowl. Add the roasted peanuts, cassava chips, fried onion, green onion leaves, and chinese celery

YOUNG COCONUT ICED DRINK

Es Kelapa Muda (Young Coconut Iced Drink)

Ingredients :
* 2-3 young coconuts in the can
* 1 litre coconut water
* ice cubes
* Cocopandan/Strawberry syrup
* 500cc water

Method:

* Mix coconut flesh, coconut water and syrup.
* Serve in glasses and add ice cubes.

MADURA CHICKEN SATAY

Ingredients:

* 7 Shallots
* 10 Candle nuts
* 8 Garlic cloves
* Bamboo skewers (as needed)
* 7 lbs. (3.5kg) Chicken (cut into 1" cubes)
* 1 cup (250ml) Water
* 1/4 cup (62ml) Oil
* Salt (as needed)
* 2 cups (500ml) Sweet soy sauce
* 2 Red peppers
* 16 Birdseye chili's (optional)
* 2 lbs. (1kg) Roasted Peanuts (ground to a paste)
* 1/4 cup (62ml) Lime juice

Instructions

1. Ground shallot, garlic, candle nut, Holland red pepper, and birdseye chilis to a fine paste.
2. Heat oil in a saucepan then saute the paste until fragrant.
3. Add ground peanuts, 1 cup sweet soy sauce, salt and water.
4. Mix well and slowly bring to a boil.
5. Remove saucepan from heat and add lime juice. Cool to room temperature.
6. Impale chicken pieces on bamboo skewers until 3/4 full.
7. Marinate chicken satay for at least 2 hours with a quarter of the sauce and 1 cup of sweet soy sauce.
8. Sprinkle salt to satay before grilling.
9. Grill satay for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally.


Tip: Soak bamboo skewers in water for at least 1/2 hour so they don't burn. Use chicken thighs for best flavor and texture.

Serve satay with sauce and rice.

Condiments: sliced onions or shallots, birdseye chilis, limes.