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| SPOTLIGHT | | Sand,
surf, adventure and more - Asia is the place for beach fun and island atmosphere.
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Indonesia currently has 33 provinces, of which
three have special status and one is a special capital region. The provinces are
subdivided into regencies and cities, which are further subdivided into sub-districts.
The
provinces are: Aceh*, Bali, Bangka-Belitung, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, West
Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat), Jakarta*, Jambi, West Java (Jawa Barat), Central
Java (Jawa Tengah), East Java (Jawa Timur), West Kalimantan (Kalimantan Barat),
South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan), East Kalimantan (Kalimantan Timur), Central
Kalimantan (Kalimantan Tengah), Riau Islands (Kepulauan Riau), Lampung, Maluku,
North Maluku (Maluku Utara), West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat), East Nusa
Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur), Papua*, Riau, West Sulawesi (Sulawesi Barat),
South Sulawesi (Sulawesi Selatan), Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah), South East
Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggara), North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara), West Sumatra (Sumatera
Barat), South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan), North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara), Yogyakarta*.
(*)
The provinces which have special status. The special territories have more
autonomy from the central government than other provinces, and so have unique
legislative privileges: the Acehnese government has the right to create an independent
legal system, and instituted a form of sharia (Islamic Law) in 2003; Yogyakarta
remains a sultanate whose sultan (currently the widely popular Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono
X) is the territory's de facto governor for life. Papua (formerly called Irian
Jaya) has had special status since 2001. The special capital region is Jakarta.
Though Jakarta is a single city, it is administered much as any other Indonesian
province. For example, Jakarta has a governor (instead of a mayor), and is divided
into several sub-regions with their own administrative systems. Indonesia
Luxury Tours
This immense Indonesian archipelago comprises a tremendous
range of unique features that will appeal to all travelers: glorious beaches,
verdant rainforests, dynamically varied cultures, World Heritage archaeological
sites, and intriguing architecture and rituals. Whether you are seeking relaxation,
stimulation, natural wonders, or cultural diversity, Indonesia is sure to include
whatever you are looking for. Our programs focus on particular themes such as
wildlife, textiles, and architecture; we have also created programs that concentrate
on specific regions, such as Borneo, Sulawesi, and the eastern islands of Nusa
Tenggara. Absolute Asia can also plan a customized itinerary to suit your own
schedule and travel interests. | |
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Top Beaches |  |
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 Pasir
Putih beach |
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Pasir Putih beach is located
near to the Samudra Pulau Baii harbor. The distance is about 19 km away from the
center of Bengkulu city. The road condition in this area is good. This place could
be reached by any kind of four-wheel vehicles. The beach condition is clean with
its white sand and, spruce-fir grows along the coast. |
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| Bira
Beach |
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Shallow water off the beach
is safe for swimming, ending in a coral wall dropping into the depths about 150m
from shore. Snorkellers can see turtles and manta rays here, with exciting diving
deeper down featuring strong currents, cold water and big sharks. |
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| Bali Beach |
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With its fine beaches,
pounding surf, emerald-green rice terraces and exceptionally artistic culture,
the small volcanic island of Bali - the only Hindu society in Southeast Asia -
has long been Indonesia's premier tourist destination. |
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| Pantai Panjang Beach |
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Pantai Panjang
beach is only 3 km from the center of Bengkulu City. The Beach is seven kilimeters
in length with the width of 500 meters in hotmix street. Many public transportation
to and from the beach are available. There are spruce-fir grows along the beach.
The restaurants and hotel facilities are also available. |
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| Padang Bai Beach |
| Several places in
Padang Bai rent out snorkelling equipment: there's good snorkelling at Blue Lagoon,
just around the headland in Amuk Bay, but it's even better to charter a boat;
ask at Celagi restaurant or your guesthouse. The dive operation, Geko Dive, is
a large set-up on Jalan Silayukti with a lot of experience. |
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| Pulau Bintan Beach |
| - Situated less
than 10km from Batam at the closest point, Pulau Bintan is about two and a half
times the size of Singapore, which seems to have left plenty of room for traditional
culture to survive alongside the plush tourist development. Not only is it more
attractive than other nearby islands, but there's much more of an Indonesian feel
about the place and things are reasonably priced. |
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| Lovina Beach |
| Lovina stretches along
8km of black-sand beach, the largest resort in Bali outside the Kuta-Legian-Seminyak
conurbation. Beginning 6km west of Singaraja, the resort encompasses six villages:
Pemaron, Anturan, Tukad Mungga, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. Kalibukbuk is
generally accepted as the centre of Lovina and it's here you'll find most tourist
facilities. |
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| Nusa Lembongan Beach |
The Perama office
serves as the tourist information service and is in Jungutbatu between Pondok
Baruna and Nusa Indah bungalows; you can book tickets here to destinations on
Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. There are at least daily departures, but all destinations
apart from Ubud, Kuta and Sanur require a stop-over on the way.
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| Kuta and Legian Beach |
| The beach is
quite possibly the most beautiful in Bali, with its gentle curve of golden sand
stretching for 8km, lashed by huge breakers. These waves make Kuta a great beach
for surfers, but less pleasant for swimming, with a strong undertow: always swim
between the red- and yellow-striped flags. |
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| Lampu'uk Beach |
Lampu'uk beach is a
glorious sandy arc that's both a popular day-trip and a pleasant alternative base
for travellers, chiefly because of the excellent Aceh Bungalows on the beach here.
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| Grajagan Beach |
The beach, Pantai
Coko, is signed from the village: it's 300m to the gate and then another 2km through
the forest to the black-sand beach.
Due to the surf, take local advice from
the forestry office about safe swimming spots, and never swim near the rocks.
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| Candi Dasa Beach |
| The tourist developments
have spread 8km west around the bay, through the villages of Senkidu, Buitan and
Manggis, where the beach is still a respectable size.
To get to a decent
beach from Candi itself, follow the road past Bunga Putri at the end of Forest
Road up onto the headland and then down onto the black sand on the other side. |
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| Pulau Weh Beach |
| Pulau Weh is yet
another gorgeous Indonesian paradise, with excellent diving and snorkelling possibilities
and white sandy beaches. The main attraction here is the excellent snorkelling
- gear can be rented from Stingray's office in Ibioh. |
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| Rapang Beach |
| Rapang is an attractive,
horseshoe-shaped beach, 2km south of Ibioh, with its own family of five hawksbill
turtles. There is a small selection of bungalows here, with prices similar to
those at Ibioh. . |
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| Lhong
Angen Beach |
| Lhong Angen , lies on
the western side of the island. It's one of the best, although for six months
of the year it completely disappears - swept away by the sea in November, returning
again in May. |
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| Sumbawa |
| Sumbawa is often perceived
as an inconvenient but necessary bridge between Lombok and Komodo, but it does
hold some fine west-coast beaches, as well as spectacular coral just offshore
at Pulau Moyo. |
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| Sanur |
| Sanur is an appealing, more
peaceful alternative to Kuta, with a long, fairly decent white-sand beach, plenty
of attractive accommodation in all price brackets and a distinct village atmosphere. |
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| Ende Beach |
| Situated on a narrow peninsula
with flat-topped Gunung Meja and the active volcano Gunung Ipi at the sea end,
the port of Ende is the largest town on Flores and provides access for Keli Mutu
and Moni. |
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| Kuta Beach |
| The simply glorious beaches
of Seger and Tanjung Aan are easily accessible from Kuta and, at a push, walkable,
though bicycles are a good idea. Seger is closest to Kuta (1km east) and is now
the location of the luxury Novotel. To reach Tanjung Aan (5km), follow the road
east out of the resort and take the first sealed turning to the right. |
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