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Te Anau, New Zealand

Te Anau provides a base for exploring parts of the Fiordland National Park one of New Zealand's greatest wilderness zones. From here it is an easy 2½ hour drive to Milford Sound and 20 minutes by coach to Lake Manapouri and the start of a Doubtful Sound excursion.

If it is serenity you are after, then the Doubtful Sound can provide the perfect place for quiet reflection amongst the fiord's rich flora and fauna. Milford Sound is spectacular regardless of the weather - the many waterfalls are in full force when raining, and on a clear day the reflections of Mitre Peak against the fiord's waters are outstanding.

Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau are ideal holiday locations for all seasons. During summer the lakes cater for all water activities and during the winter these houses are retreats from which to admire views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

(Source: http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz)

Stewart Island, New Zealand

If you are interested in visiting one of New Zealand's most remote locations, then Stewart Island should be on your must do list. Its distance from anywhere means this untouched paradise has a very small population, making it perfect for those wanting a holiday away from civilisation. Stewart Island is accessed either by plane from Invercargill or by ferry from Bluff.

New Zealand's third largest island is almost totally made up of national park. Rakiura National Park covers 85% of the island leaving little space for habitation by human. Instead Stewart Island has become a haven for the kiwi and other native birds. One really special place to visit is Ulva Island, not too far from Oban, which is the main settlement of Stewart Island. Here you will see many types of New Zealand native birds - watch out for the cheeky weka.

Other than bird watching, other popular activities on the island include day walks - there are plenty of tracks accessible from Oban or go on a kayaking tour to explore the many coves and bays. Find a holiday house tucked into the bush to listen to the native bird song and make the most of being away from it all.

(Source: http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz)

Invercargill and Riverton

Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost and westernmost city and it is full of character. Its distance from other parts of the country has given the city its own distinct flavour that is hard to describe.

Finding a holiday home close to Bluff or in Invercargill is suggested for the opening of the oyster season or alternatively for the Bluff Oyster Festival each April. This annual event attracts oyster lovers from afar - here they can eat oysters to their heart's content along with indulging in great Otago wines and other tasty seafood dishes.

Just to the south of Bluff, a significant part of New Zealand is marked - the end (or beginning) of State Highway One at Stirling Point. Here a signpost shows the distance and direction to various major cities and locations around the world so it's a cool place to stop for a perspective on just where you are standing.

Riverton, a picturesque fishing village set on a small port, provides a small selection of houses ideal for a holiday by the sea.

Invercargill also has Burt Munro that well known as the fastest man from New Zealand. Herbert (Burt) James Munro (25 March 1899–6 January 1978) was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1000cc world record, 183.586 mph (295.453 km/h), at Bonneville, 26 August 1967. This record still stands today. Burt Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year old machine when he set his last record.

Working from his home in Invercargill, he worked for 20 years to highly modify the 1920 Indian motorcycle which he had bought in 1920. Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938 and later set seven more. He travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands today. His efforts, and success, are the basis of the motion picture The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed– both directed by Roger Donaldson.

(Source: http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz)

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Website (blog) owner:

My name is Andoyo. I am student in Wellington, New Zealand. I was born in Blora, 22 February 1983. Blora is small town in Central Java, it is about 125 kilometers from Semarang. Eflita Meiyetriani is my lovely wife. Now we live in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.

I like New Zealand because this country has beautiful places, clear country and nice people every where. This is a combination of farmland and vast wilderness, modern city and old building, and delicious food we can find everywhere.

You would able to contact my self by email, please send the email or contact us at:

4/19 Drummond Street
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Email: andoyoandoyo@gmail.com.

Southland and Fiordland

Here lie New Zealand's southernmost lands - a combination of farmland and vast wilderness. Te Anau is the base from which you can explore Doubtful and Milford Sounds or find a lake side holiday house on the edge of Lake Manapouri. Alternatively Stewart Island, which is home to New Zealand's newest national park - Rakiura - is a perfect place for nature lovers.

Riverton, Bluff and Invercargill all provide intriguing places to stay on holiday - you are guaranteed a warm southern welcoming when staying here. With surrounding farms teeming with sheep and the seas with blue cod, a night out in a local restaurant is highly recommended.

(Source: http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz)

Southland, South Island New Zealand

Southland is the part of South Island New Zealand, at the bottom of the island and close to Dunedin and Otago Peninsula.

More than one quarter of Southland is protected within the Fiordland and Rakiura National Parks, and numerous smaller parks and reserves. The rest of Southland is lush, green farmland with small and medium-sized towns scattered around. The southern coastline is a continuous parade of dramatic views, sandy beaches, rocky headlands and an incredible variety of marine and bird life.

Some of Southland’s more popular destinations have their own very informative websites. Click on these links to learn more specific information about Invercargill, Stewart Island, the Catlins, the Southern Scenic Route, Northern Southland, Fiordland and Western Southland.

Southland has experienced remarkable growth and development in recent years and boasts a range of world-class facilities, many initiatives of regional benefit and an expanding range of visitor attractions that feature some of the most distinctive landscapes in the country.

Farming, forestry and horticulture form the region's economic base, but Southland also has a diversity of manufacturing for export. It is one of the fastest growing tourist regions in New Zealand due to its unspoilt nature and wide recognition of it being a place to restore the soul. Southlanders are friendly, honest, hard-working and hospitable people - so come and find out about our many secrets that we would love to share with you.

The Karori Sanctuary, Wellington

The Karori Sanctuary offer an opportunity to see New Zealand's rarest animal dan wildlife in its natural environment. Tucked away in a forrest-clad valley just ten minutes from Central Wellington. We can go there by hire a car or by cable car.

By bus is the cheapest choice, we can buy the day tripper ticket with five dollars New Zealand. Day tripper ticket is designed to give us freedom to go around Wellington by using one ticket. In every bus station we will able to get off and caught bus anywhere that we want by show the ticket to the driver.

The Karori Sanctuary is the place to protect original New Zealand wildlife. Kiwi is one of them. Tour provide us encounters with birds and reptiles normally just found on offshore island, and a chance to learn about unique vision to turn back the clock to the time before humans arrived.

Walking track is include a cruise accros the lower lake and change to look New Zealand's living dinosaur the Tuatara. The best time to running the tour is when darkness has settled, if we lucky we can see the New Zealand's national mascot, that is Kiwi. Over 100 Kiwi live in this park, so there is a good change of spotting one.

There are differences of price between day and night tours. We can go there in day time and the ticket to enter there only NZ$ 14, but in the night we have to pay more, Nz$ 60 to see Kiwi birds.

The Kiwi Bird, New Zealand's Native Bird

Kiwi are the New Zealand's native bird, they are the national bird of New Zealand. Because of the name of the bird, New Zealanders or the people who live in New Zealand are well known as Kiwis.

The kiwi as a symbol first appeared in the late 19th century in New Zealand regimental badges. It was later featured in the badges of the South Canterbury Battalion in 1886 and the Hastings Rifle Volunteers in 1887. Soon after, kiwis appeared in many military badges, and in 1906 when Kiwi Shoe Polish was widely sold in the UK and the USA the symbol became more widely known.

During the First World War, the name "kiwi" for New Zealand soldiers came into general use, and a giant kiwi, (now known as th The Bulford Kiwi), was carved on the chalk hill above Sling Camp in England. Use has now spread so that now all New Zealanders overseas and at home are commonly referred to as "kiwis".

The kiwi has since become the most well-known national symbol for New Zealand, and kiwis are prominent in the coat of arms, crests and badges of many New Zealand cities, clubs and organizations. The New Zealand dollar is often offered to as The Kiwi.

Actually, Kiwi is the nocturnal bird. They get out from their nest and feed in the night. The national bird is a threatened species. Most New Zealanders probably have never seen a live kiwi, and if so it was likely in a kiwi house.

These bird is flightless, it was the main reason why they become rare easily. They are the endangered species in the world. To protect the endangered Kiwi, a number of trusts and protection program have been set up. These including in Karori Sanctuary, The National Park that was set up in Wellington. We can see them in The Karori Sanctuary at the night. The price to enter the park are NZ$ 60, not too expensive to see the endangered bird. The map explain about the habitat of Kiwi.

The Wellington Cable Car Museum

The Cable Car is another of a series of sculptures crowning sculptural signs in the city. All the signs feature Wellington street maps and show the way to nearby attractions.

The Cable Car provides a unique form of transport to the city to the suburb of Kelburn and the top of the Botanic Garden. We are situated at the end of the Cable Car Lane off Lambton Quay in the heart of Wellington's Central Business District.

There are three intermediate stops. Clifton, leading to the Terrace and the Student Accommodation at Everton Hall. Talavera, the mid point of the track, where the cars pass each other. Salamanca, linking to the Victoria University and more student accommodation at Weir House.

The Wellington Cable Car Museum is located just a few metres from the cable car's upper terminus and from a lookout with spectacular views over Wellington, this museum tells the story of the country's only remaining public cable car system.

Visit us to catch up on the service's colourful history, marvel at the machinery in the old winding room or climb aboard one of the old grip cars.

The museum shop stocks a great selection of Wellington and New Zealand gifts and souvenirs as well as a range of specialist transport books, DVDs and models.

The Wellington Cable Car Museum has Qualmark endorsed visitor activity status and was the 2006 Tourism Industry award winner for visitor activities and attractions: culture and heritage tourism.

Source http://blandforddailyphoto.blogspot.com

The Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington

The Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington is well known in Wellington as being the location of "the beeping game", in which motorists sound their horns as they go through the tunnel, often in response to the tooting of other drivers. This is particularly popular after 5pm on Friday nights. The white building above the tunnel is Wellington East Girls’ College..

The tunnel is 623 metres (slightly more than a third of a mile) long and 5 metres (16.4 ft) in height, connecting Hataitai to the centre of Wellington and the suburb of Mount Victoria, under the mount of the same name. It is part of State Highway 1.

The tunnel was built in 15 months by the Hansford and Mills Construction Company. The project cost around £132,000 and greatly reduced travel time between the Eastern Suburbs and the central business district of Wellington. Construction employed a standard tunnel-excavation technique in which two teams of diggers begin on either side of the obstacle to be tunnelled through, eventually meeting in the centre.

The initial breakthrough, when the two separate teams of diggers met, occurred at 2.30pm on 31 May 1930, and the first people to pass through the breakthrough were tunnellers Philip Gilbert and Alfred Graham. The tunnel was opened officially by the mayor of Wellington, Thomas Charles Hislop, on 12 October 1931.

Although the tunnel has been eclipsed in terms of features and amenities by more recent tunnels around the country, such as the Terrace Motorway Tunnel, the Mount Victoria Tunnel was the first road tunnel in New Zealand to be mechanically ventilated. Around 32,000 vehicles pass through it each day. The tunnel also accommodates pedestrians and cyclists, who use an elevated ramp on the north side of the roadway. In the late 1970s, a number of crime incidents resulted in an alarm system being installed based on buttons spaced along the length of the pedestrian ramp - the system was removed several years later, as it proved ineffective. Recent additions include new lighting, CCTV cameras, brighter cleanable side panels and pollution control. These have significantly improved safety in the tunnel.

There has been a long standing designation for a second parallel tunnel to the north, in order to relieve peak period congestion resulting from lane merges at both ends of the tunnel. A pilot tunnel was bored through in 1974 to investigate the technical feasibility and still exists, although the eastern end has been bricked up and the western end lies on private property. Plans to build the second tunnel paralleled the original plan to complete the Wellington Urban Motorway to the tunnel to provide a motorway bypass of the whole of central Wellington. The second tunnel component was shelved indefinitely in 1981 when budget cuts meant that a scaled-down motorway extension was proposed that would terminate at the existing tunnel.

The tunnel currently is a traffic bottleneck in the morning peak from around 7.30 to 9.00am on the Hataitai side with traffic sometimes backing up over 1 km and in the afternoon peak between 5 and 6pm on the city side with queuing back around 0.5 km. Buses to the eastern suburbs bypass this congestion by using the much older single-lane Hataitai bus tunnel.

Some interesting stuff

During World War II, the government planned to use the tunnel as an air raid shelter if Wellington were attacked. However, the plan was scrapped as the tunnel was thought to be too vulnerable to assault from either side by hostile troops.

A murder occurred during the construction of the tunnel. A young woman named Phylis Simons was murdered by her lover, who buried her in the fill from the tunnel. Police ordered workers to excavate the fill in order to find the victim's body.

Source http://blandforddailyphoto.blogspot.com

Wellington, Four Seasons in One Day

Wellington is very unique city. It is known as "Windy City", because the wind blows strongly and every time. The weather also terrible, four seasons can happen in one day, winter, summer, spring and autumn. Very cold at the night, little bit cold in the morning, hot and sunny at noon and very shower or heavy rain in the evening.

We have to read the weather forecast every day that is published in newspapers, website and telephone. The forecast usually is provided for two or three days. We can use the forecast if we want to arrange activities.

In spring season, summer and autumn are the most interesting season in Wellington. Most of the restaurants, cafes, accommodation agents also offered open space to service the customers. The Cuba Street and and The Courtenay Place are the busy places in summer. There are many tourists and citizens spend much money in both of the places.

In winter, open spaces are not too busy. Many people do not like spend their time outside the restaurants and cafes. They will choose inside them to enjoy their lunch or dinner inside because it is warmer and more comfortable than outside.

However, some restaurants and cafes provide heaters outside in the open space. They install heater outside to service the customer if inside very full and busy. Wearing warm clothes and jackets are the most important thing to eat our dinner outside the restaurant or cafe.

The Weta Cave and Lord of The Ring

Wellington was Production Central for the making of The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Weta Cave is one of the place that was used as Wellington City film location and spellbound by the creative genius at the Weta Cafe.

Stunning views of the harbour and Wellington city from the top of Mount Victoria and the first filming location site used in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Visit Weta Cave in Miramar and take a video tour of Weta. Weta workshop and Weta digital created special effect for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and many other movies.

Sources: www.lordoftheringstour.co.nz

Otago Peninsula, South Island New Zealand

The Otago Peninsula (19.000 ha), stretching along the southern edge of the Otago harbour is an easy drive from central Dunedin. A wonderfully scenic trip will see you passing lush green pastures, small bays and inlets, sandy beaches, rugged hills and volcanic landforms. So near to major city centre, yet so far removed from the hectic pace of city living.

The Otago Peninsula is arguably New Zealand's most renowned eco tourism areas. There are unique opportunities to view a remarkable range of wildlife including Royal Albatros, blue penguins, and rare yellow-eyed penguins a variety of seals, water and wading birds.

Explore the Peninsula's well preserved, colourful history. Larnach Castle, Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens, Disappearing Gun and New Zealand Marine Studies Centre Aquarium are just some of the highlight of any visit.

Discover the talents of current resident when you visit the galleries, studio and craft shops that do the small township and bays.

Otago Peninsula's cafes and restaurants offer the great selection of fine cousine at reasonable prices and the opportunity to sample some of New Zealand's award winning Central Otago wines.

A variety of accomodation styles to suit all budgets is available on Otago Peninsula. Stay a little longer and enjoy the hospitality found at our bed and breakfasts, Farmstays, Homestays, Motels and self-contained units, Cottages, Backpakers, Lodges, and Camping Grounds.

A round tour of the peninsula is approximately 64 kilometers. You may choose to travel the harbourside road out to Taiaroa Heads and Return to Dunedin via high road. Highcliff Road offers magnificent coastal and city view as well as nummerous photo opportunites.

Sources: atoZ Visitor Guide 2009

The Waitaki Valley, South Island New Zealand

The South Island of New Zealand always offers the interesting experience, one of the beautiful place is The Waitaki Valleys. Lets visit there and enjoy the natural place.

The Waitaki Valley is home to the Mighty Waitaki River and its tributaries. The river drives a hydro power scheme featuring a serius of dams and lakes. The Valley offers and array of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, camping, skiing, hunting, hiking, golf and gliding.

We also have opportunity to simply relax and enjoy the ambience at various villages. The Districts unique geological features are showcased at the Vanished World Centre and Trail at Duntroon which is also the gateway to the iconic Elephant Rocks and Dansey Pass.

Sources: atoZ Visitor Guide 2009

Indosiar Television Tower, The Tallest Tower in Indonesia

The Indosiar Television Tower is a 395 m (1,300 ft) guyed mast used for FM- and TV-broadcasting in West Jakarta Indonesia, completed in 2006.

It is currently the tallest structure in Indonesia and the 8th tallest building in the world. It consists of a 375 metre tall lattice structure with a side length of 6.3 m (20.7 ft), which carries on its top a 20 m (65.6 ft) high TV-broadcasting antena.

The upper parts of the mast are guyed to a 120 m (390 ft) triangular lattice steel structure with a side length of 56 m (183.7 ft), which was built around the mast. This special design, which gives the tower a unique shape, was chosen because of the lack of space available on the site. Broadcasting is run by the local television station, Indosiar.

Source http://www.wikipedia.org

The Petronas Towers, Great Building in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

The Petronas Towers also known Petronas Twin Tower are the great building, their height reached 451.90 meters. This towers were the world's tallest building before being surpassed by Taipei 101 and The Burj Dubai.

The towers were built by Hazama Corpotation, Kukdong Engineering and Construction, and Samsung Engineering and Construction. It was designed by Caesar Pelli, the Argentine-American architect and completed in 1998 and become the tallest building in the world on the date of completion.
This skyscrapers is uniq because this buildings is connected by sky bridge between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floors, which is the highest 2-story bridge in the world. The sky bridge is 170 meters above the ground and the lenght of the sky bridge is 58 meters. Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest building in South-East Asia, there are no building equal with the towers in the regional.

Burj Dubai, The Talles Building in the World

Did you know Burj Dubai?

Burj Dubai will become the tallest building in the world. The building is under construction at the moment, started in 2004 and it is expected will finish in 2009.

Located in Dubai, the capital city of Uni Emirate Arab, Burj Dubai has built by Emaar Properties. Burj Dubai is now taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which at 508 meters (1,667 ft) has held the tallest-building-in-the-world title since it opened in 2004. Burj Dubai has now reached 141 storeys - more storeys than any other building in the world.

During its construction, Burj Dubai has left behind the skyscrapers that previously defined tall tower architecture around the world, such as Petronas Towers in Malaysia (452 meters, 1,483 ft); Sears Tower, Chicago (442 metres, 1,451 ft); Jin Mao Building, Shanghai (421 meters, 1,381 ft) and Empire State Building, New York (381 meters, 1,250 ft).

The Burj Dubai story is only beginning. The final height and number of storeys, a topic of enthusiastic debate among media and experts alike, has not yet been revealed. But from now on, the tower will set new records for its technical and architectural ingenuity.

When completed, Burj Dubai will have consumed 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, 39,000 metric tons of steel rebar and 142,000 sq m of glass – and 22 million man hours. The tower will have 56 elevators traveling at 1.75 to 10 meters/sec and double-Decker observatory elevators that can carry 42 people at a time.

More than 313,700 cubic meters of reinforced concrete and 62,200 tonnes of reinforcing steel have been used in the tower’s construction so far. Burj Dubai has already set a new world record for vertical concrete pumping for a building by pumping to over 460 meters (1,509 ft). The previous record of 448 meters (1,470 ft) was held by Taipei 101.

Reflecting a no-compromise approach to safety, Burj Dubai has been designed to manage the effect of wind and seismic movements. High-strength concrete makes up the tower’s super-structure, which is supported by large reinforced concrete mats and piles. The 80,000 sq ft foundation slab and 50-meters deep piling are waterproofed and feature cathodic protection.

Burj Dubai became the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days; excavation work started in January, 2004. More than 5,000 consultants and skilled construction workers are employed on site, and the world’s fastest high-capacity construction hoists, with a speed of up to 2 m/sec (120 meters/min), move men and materials.

Anzac Day, 2.721 New Zealand and 8.000 Australian Soldiers Were Killed at Gallipoli

25 April is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) at Gallipoli in 1915. Over 8.000 New Zealand soldiers were wounded at Gallipoli and 2.721 were killed by Turk soldiers. The Australian army also suffered heavy casualties: 26.111 were injured and 8.141 were killed.

The first Anzac Day took place on 25 April 1916. As time went on, the ceremony of remembrance was extended to the soldiers of the Second World War. It honours all New Zealanders and Austarlians who served in a military campaign.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a Federal Commonwealth for only thirteen years. In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture The Gallipoli Peninsula, under a plan by Winston Churcill to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The objective was to capture Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Empire nd an ally of Germany. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

What had been planned as a bold strike to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stale-mate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian and more than 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Istanbul and knocking Turkey out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand troops' actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an "Anzac Legend" became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This shaped the ways their citizens viewed both their past and their future.

Jalan Malioboro (Malioboro Street), Yogyakarta Indonesia

Jalan Malioboro (Malioboro Street) is a major shopping street in Yogyakarta, Indonesia; the name is also used more generally for the neighborhood around the street. It runs north from the Yogyakarta kraton (palace) towards the roads that lead to either Surakarta to the east, or Magelang to the north, as well as Mount Merapi.

This is in itself is significant to many of the local population, the north south orientation between the palace and the volcano being of importance. The street is the centre of Yogyakarta's largest tourist district; many hotels and restaurants are located nearby. Sidewalks on both sides of the street are crowded with small stalls selling a variety of goods. In the evening several open-air streetside restaurants, called lesehan, operate along the street. Less obvious to the tourist, but more for the local population, side streets, lanes and structures that lead on to Malioboro are as important as the street itself. The street was for many years two-way, but by the 1980s had become one way only, from the railway line (where it starts) to the south - to Beringharjo markets, where it ends.

The largest, oldest Dutch era hotel, Hotel Garuda, is located on the street's northern end, on the eastern side adjacent to the railway line. It has the former Dutch era Prime Minister's complex, the kepatihan, on the eastern side.

For many years in the 1980s and later, a cigarette advertisement was placed on the first building south of the railway line - or effectively the last building on Malioboro, which advertised Marlboro cigarettes, no doubt appealing to locals and foreigners who would see a pun with name of the street with a foreign product being advertised.

It does not reach the walls or grounds of the Yogyakarta palace, as Malioboro ceases in name adjacent to the very large market Beringharjo (on the eastern side as well). From this point the street changes name and has on the western side the former Governors residence, and on the eastern side the old Dutch Fort Vredenburg.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org

Kasimbar Beach, Central Sulawesi

Kasimbar is the little village in Parigi Moutong regency. It is beautiful village, mainly the beach and the coast line along the village. We have not to pay to visit there, it is free. The taste of the fish baked/roasted is one of the culinary experience that we have to try, very spicy and tasty.

Palu is the capital city of Central Sulawesi. The distance between Palu and Kasimbar are about 154 kilometers, it will take about two hours trip by renting a car in Palu. In Durian season, we can buy, eat and take away durian from the local farmers around Kasimbar.

Bunaken Island, 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. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken.

The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.

On the island you have the choice amongst a number of homestays, with rates starting at around Rp. 80 000 per day and person incl. fullboard. If you only go for the cheapest option don't complain afterwards if the water in your mandi (bathroom) doesn't get filled up regularly, or food isn't quite as nice as you had hoped for. Life in North Sulawesi in general isn't as cheap as in other regions of Indonesia, and most things on Bunaken have to be brought in from Manado. Depending on the season even fish can be pretty expensive. Better think twice before you try to bargain down prices which are already cheap; for the locals it could mean the difference between being able to eat 3 or only 2 meals a day, or buying school books for the children or not.
Some of the dive operations on Bunaken are offering more upmarket accommodation, even hot showers (Living Colours, Cha Cha Nature Resort).

Original sources: Please visit this website if you like to go to Bunaken Island, http://www.sulawesi-info.com.

Mount Ungaran, Central Java Indonesia

Mount Ungaran (Gunung Ungaran) is one of the most famous interesting mount in Semarang area. Located in Distric of Ungaran, very close to Semarang city. From Semarang, the trip to go to Mount Ungaran is about two hours by car. We also can go there by bus.

Gedong Songo Temple is the reason made Mount Ungaran become famous. The temple was built at the midle of the mount.

There are nine interesting temples that was built in Midle Ages. Accomodation surrounding this mount also provided, cheap and very close with the temples.

Riding the horse is the interesting experience that we can find around the temple. For this service, we only pay about US $ 10 perhours. Spent one or two night and sleep inside the tent is the best experience that we can do here.

Gunung Merapi (Mount Merapi), Java Island - Indonesia

Mount Merapi (Gunung Merapi) is the most active volcano in the world, the meaning of the name is fire. This mountain located on the border between Central Java and Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. It has erupted regularly since 1548.

Although smoke can be seen emerging from the mountain top at least 300 days a year, several eruptions have caused fatalities. Hot gas from a large explosion killed 43 people in 1994, mostly in the town of Muntilan, west of the volcano.

Another large eruption occurred in 2006, shortly before the Yogyakarta Earthquake. In light of the hazards that Merapi poses to populated areas, it has been designated as one of the Decade Volcanos.

Around the mountain there are many interesting places. Kali Kuning and Kaliurang is one of the most places that visited by many people from Indonesia, but if the mountain cough and smoke come out from the peak of the mountain, this places will be closed.

Mount Taranaki, Taranaki New Zealand

Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont is an active, but equiescent stratovolcano in Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The height of this mountain is 2518 meters. This mountain in one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world. There is a secondary cone, Fanthams Peak, on the south side. Because of its rsemblance to Mount Fuji, Taranaki provided the backdrop for the Movie The Last Samurai.

Taranaki is geologically young, having commenced activity approximately 135,000 years ago. The most recent volcanic activity was a moderate ash eruption, of the size of Ruapehu's activity in 1995/1996, that occurred about 1755 and possibly in the early 1800s, and the last major eruption occurred around 1655.

Recent research has shown that over the last 9000 years minor eruptions have occurred roughly every 90 years on average, with major eruptions every 500 years.

Source: www.wikipedia.com

Wellington Mosque, Kilbirnie New Zealand

Wellington Mosque is the central of moeslem activities in Wellington, New Zealand. This mosque located at 7-11 Queens Drive, Kilbirnie, Wellington. If we live or stay in Wellington, we can go there by bus about 20 minutes trip from Wellington City.

Every Friday there are many nationalities doing Friday Prayer in this mosque such as Arab, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and many nationalities that have Islam as religion. We can connect each other with many nationalities differences.

After Friday Prayer, most of the moeslem buy what they needed in Pake n Save, Woolworth, and some of the department store around the mosque.

Goa Terawang (Terawang Cave), Blora - Central Java Indonesia

It is a set of caves that consist of 6 caves in one area. The whole area has a 13ha in size with 1 (one) main cave, 1 (one) lake, and 5 (five) smaller caves as the attractions.

These caves are located 32km to the west of Blora downtown or 107km from Semarang. The road access going there is smooth and well asphalted. It can be reached from Semarang-Purwodadi-Wirosari to Kunduran and right in the intersection of Puskesmas (Health Clinic Operated by Government) Kunduran take a left turn for another 8km.

Another way to reach this caves are taking a minibus Blora-Todanan route (easy to find during day time) Terawang Cave has a cool, fresh air and beautiful forest scenery. During the dry season its temperature are 21 celcius degree while most part in Java is already climbed up for exceeding 35.

This cave diameter is range from 3 to 18 meters. It is quite a long cave and the length even almost 600 meters long.

Sources: www.javatourism.com

Botanical Garden, Wellington NZ