Bunaken & Derawan Underwater Paradise

Ever fancy yourself being a mermaid? Being able to swim along with other creatures of the sea , moving to the rhythm of the waves? In the Bunaken Marine Park, you will encounter a real “mermaid”, and you can also get a glimpse of sea life here.

Bunaken is an 8.08 km² island in the Bay of Manado, situated in the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bunaken forms part of the administrative city of Manado , capital of North Sulawesi. The marine Park around Bunaken is part of the  National Park that also includes the ocean around the island of  Manado Tua – or Old Manado, Siladen and Mantehage. 

Bunaken is a legend and its come-back is even more tantalizing. Conservation is underway and caring divers would love to reminiscence the old times underwater. Fukui still leaves you awesome memories and worth the plunge. Derawan, a few nautical miles to the west, is a conservation area for marine life. It consists of small islands, namely Kakaban, Sangalaki, Maratua, and Derawan itself. Adventurers will not be disappointed when visiting Derawan marine conservation area. The meandering wooden boat through a picturesque river in Berau jungle, or a speeding boat slicing waves of Borneo Sea is an adrenalin-pumping access to Derawan. The underwater scenery there doubles the doze of the thrills of getting there. 

Get There
The island of Bunaken is easily reached from Manado by motorized boat, departing from Manado harbor, Molas, Kalasey and Tasik Ria beach. Ferries from Manado to Bunaken leave daily around 2 p.m (depending on the tide), except on Sundays, when they leave from Pasar Jengki near the Manado harbor. The return journey from Bunaken to Manado usually leaves early in the morning, at around 7-8 a.m
There are also charter boats that depart in the morning and return in the late afternoon. These are usually reserved for travel packages organized by agents or hotels.

Tips
Entrance tags and tickets can be purchased through marine tourism operators based in Manado and in the Bunaken National Park, or can be purchased from one of three ticket counters in Bunaken and Liang villages on the islands of Bunaken and Siladen .
You should be aware that during the absolute peak season months of July and August it usually gets VERY crowded. Many of the better resorts and dive operators will not be able to accept walk-ins during that time since they are already fully booked. Better make a reservation beforehand.
Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these are more reliable, but remember: the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately with yourself.
If you're the more adventurous type, you can try diving in Raja Ampat and Wayag Island. In Papua.

To Do
Most diving takes place near Bunaken and Manado Tua, because of the many excellent sites. The following are representative of  dive spots in the area.

1.Lekuan Walls (I, II, III)

This long wall at Bunaken is divided into three sites: the Lekuan I, II and III. Together they are the park's best. Steep walls are marked with deep crevices, sea fans and giant sponges. The shallows are filled with fishes. The wall, often protected from stronger currents, is frequented by bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon wrasses.

2.Mandolin

Mandolin has a knockout reef crest and a wall that attracts thousands of fishes like schooling fusiliers, surgeonfish, unicornfish, and bannerfish. They are used to divers and are easily approachable.

3.Bunaken Timor

There are strong currents and lots of fish on this long wall. The shallow reef isn't as spectacular as some but there are turtles, sharks, eagle rays, and other big fish in the blue. Overhangs and small caves mark the wall.

4.Tanjung Kopi

Tanjung Kopi is a nice wall with a small school of barracuda and lots of sweetlips. Visibility in the shallows is not terrific but the numbers of fishes make up for it. Nudibranches and fire gobies are easy to spot here.

5.Siladen Island

Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that bloom when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of fishes and schooling snappers.

6.Muka Gereja

Muka Gereja is a pretty site with thousands of fishes in the shallows and deeper canyons that lead to the wall.

7.Barracuda Point

Barracuda Point, on northwest Montehage, is one of the furthest sites. A school of giant barracuda are regulars along with jacks and tuna.

8.Manado Wreck

This 60m (200ft) long German merchant ship sank near Molas Beach in 1942. It sits upright with the bow at 23m (78ft). The ship is split near amidships back to the stern, exposing the wheelhouse and cargo holds. Dives finish up on a nearby shallow reef. Expect 10-15m (30-50ft) visibility.

Ground in a cloud of mountain country semeru Indonesia

Mahameru is the top of Mount Semeru, the volcano highest in Java Island that lies between Malang and Lumajang, East Java, Inonesian. With the height 3,676 m dpl (above the sea), The top Mahameru get the nickname the Sky of Java. The volcano was until now there are still active always offers unique story for the mountaineer. Even though mountaineer have to go through the path that is quite rugged
and extreme cold weather (Around 15-21 degrees Celsius in early afternoon day) to reach the top of the mountain, Mahameru is still a mountaineer top favorite choice Indonesian. Hearing stories about the beauty along the roads climbing mount makes me are tempted to to dig through.

Ranu Pane

With a jeep from the village Tumpang, Mountaineer to the village Ranu Pane that as a starting point ascent. Over 1.5 hours beginning toward registration posts in Ranu Pane, Mountaineer eyes have been spoiled with fresh scenery that is able to eliminate fatigue. Right and left side can be seen plantation them apples and sugar cane for the community. Fresh air really mountaineer enjoy. Cluster mount Bromo with mountain hill teletubbies also could not escape out of sight. In the far post registration, Ranu Pane (Ranu means Lake) that is surrounded by plantation potatoes, hill, friendliness of its people who are farming, welcome the arrival of mountain climbers.

Ranu Kumbolo, In the morning garden

The first 2 hours of climbing lane mountaineer passed fairly gentle. Typical scenery of tropical forests dominate the passing lanes. Cold temperatures because the air is not only silent, but also the strong wind gusts. An hour later a little bit of climbing lanes, but not steep. In front of plastered freshwater lake soothing sight. Reflection 2 hills on the right and left visible on the surface of the lake area of ​​14 acres. It's lake Ranu Kumbolo.

Kalimati

next destination is Kalimati post, last post before mountaineer reach the Sky of Java. Four hours of travel, with more stunning scenery. Rise Passing Love, seen panoramic Ranu Kumbolo blue, calm and soothing. On the flip side, look savanna as broad as the eye could see. That savanna called Oro-Oro Ombo. Dried reeds as high as the body lined up neatly forming a small footpath. Contact with the body mountaineer when mountaineer passed. Edelweiss flower and Lavender grows wild and form their own colonies, giving a different color luminescence in the vast savannah gold. Occasionally mountaineer smell the Lavender flowers. A distinctive odor that will never be forgotten.

Mountaintop Mahameru
mountaineer offered a superb view. From the eastern horizon, the color orange with orange color appears stacked to form a straight line on the base of the blue sky. Followed by the appearance of sun gold spheres. Superb view it just happens no more 2 minutes. It was a bonus to us before reaching the peak. Array Mount Bromo, Mount Slamet, Mount Sundoro, Mount Sumbing, all emblazoned proudly on the front of the eye.3 hours of Kalimati climbing to the top of the mountain.

The cloud is now not above mountaineer, but beneath mountaineer. If at that time mountaineer were in the movie Doraemon, the scene must have been jumping into the cloud mountaineer've done. The clouds that seemed so close to the foot, covering numerous angles hills and mountains on the island of Java.

Natural shades reflection of the morning sun shine so perfectly. Moss green, turquoise, light green, bright blue, orange, golden, white marching, soothing color combination of nature's most perfect painting

Beautiful coral reefs in Karimun Jawa (Indonesian)

karimunjava or Karimun Jawa is an archipelago of 27 islands in the Java Sea, Indonesia, approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Jepara. The islands' name means 'a stone's throw from Java' in Javanese . They have a total land area of 78 km². The main island is known as Karimun (2,700 ha), while the second-largest island is Kemujan (1,400 ha). The Karimunjava islands are a subdistrict made up of five villages (Karimun, Kamagin, Kemujan, Digimon, and Parang) which is s part of theJepara district (kabupaten) of Central Java province. The island of Bawean lies east of this group, as part of Gresik district, East Java province. like this.

The archipelago consists predominantly of pre-Tertiary continental islands primarily of quartzites and shales covered by basaltic lava. Geologically, the islands are part of Sundaland. The islands have extensive fringing and patchy reefs coral reefs.

The best time to visit the islands is during the dry season, generally from April to October. The islands are influenced by the northwest monsoon during which winds from the west-northwest predominate and ocean currents are in an easterly direction. During the monsoon, rainfall averages 40 mm/day. During the southeast monsoon, dry winds from the east-southeast predominate and the ocean currents are in a westerly direction bringing water masses from the Flores Sea. Upwelled water masses during the southeast monsoon from the Flores and Banda Seas provides lower sea surface temperatures than during the northeast monsoon. The shallow slopes (5° to 15°) of the island shelves in the Java Sea (which rarely exceeds a depth of 55 m), provide environments for extensive reef development. Climate Tropical, It is hot here in the dry season (approximately April to October) and wet and humid in the rainy season (December to March).

The island beaches and beautiful coral reefs. Island - island in karimun jawa most sandy white, And hence it is ideal for the activity sunbathe, diving and fishing

Tour activity that is appropriate will be done in karimun Java :

A beautiful place to traveling in Indonesian ( Raja Ampat)

Raja Ampat casts a spell on all who visit – scientists, photographers, novice divers and crusty sea-salts alike. This group of majestic islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s Papuan “Bird’s Head Seascape,” lies in the heart of the coral triangle, the most bio-diverse marine region on earth.

As stunningly beautiful above water as it is below, Raja Ampat (which literally translates as “The Four Kings”) has a startling diversity of habitats to explore. Each of these – from the stark wave-pounded slopes that drop away beneath the karst cliffs of Wayag and Uranie to the deep, nutrient-rich bays of Mayalibit, Kabui and Aljui to the “blue watermangrove” channels of Kofiau and Gam to the plankton-rich upwelling areas of Misool and the Dampier Strait – are home to unique assemblages of species that, when taken together, add to produce the most impressive species lists ever compiled for a coral reef system of this size. 

Marine tourism, as a sustainable alternative to overfishing, mining, and logging, has the potential to play a key role in the conservation of Raja Ampat’s spectacular underwater realm, while also creating real benefits for the local communities. 

It's Indonesian

Guide to Wise Buying in the Supermarket

When shopping at the Supermarket there are two issues that are always on our minds. Those issues are saving money, and eating healthily. Both of these issues are equally as important and we can always use some tips to keep us on track. Hopefully these tips will help you stay ahead of the game when perusing the Supermarket.

When making up your grocery lists you should always check your local flyers for sales. Most Supermarkets will have new flyers each week, and often have sales that recur every few weeks for key items like meats, and household items. Different seasons will of course attract different sales but there are always some good savings on at least some items you will want to purchase. A wise consumer will also check newspapers, circulars and online for valuable coupons that they can use on their favorite products. Sometimes sales and coupons can be combined for double the savings!

Make sure to peruse the store while you are there to check for extra sales that are not advertised in the flyer. Often there will be two for the price of one sales or a bulk discount for certain items (ex. 2 items for $5.00 when an item is normally $3.00 each). Also don’t be afraid to try no name, or off brand products. These products help you save money and are often just as good if not better than their brand name counterparts.

When taking your health into consideration (as we all should whenever we shop for food to fuel our bodies) you should do your best to stay to the perimeter of the Supermarket. This area of the Supermarket is where all the fresh meats and produce are kept. The isles are usually for processed food stuffs which are much less good for our bodies. By sticking to the perimeter of the store we can make sure that we are eating well for our bodies and health. As money is often tight for everyone a good alternative to fresh fruit and vegetables is to consider buying frozen. These vegetables are healthier for you than canned which are salted to extend expiry dates- which is not good for you at all. Lastly if you are looking for a specific cut of meat, don't hesitate to ask your Supermarkets butcher to prepare a specific cut for you. That is what they are there for and they will not be upset to fulfill your request. I hope that these tips will help you to keep both your budget, and health in line when shopping for your next meal!