Rinjani: Towards to The World’s Geopark

 EcoDestination, Ecotourism, Environment  No Responses »
Nov 142011
 

Photo: Courtesy of Gunung Rinjani National Park

The Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara and four districts in Central Lombok island are in the middle of completing the proposed filing requirements Gunung Rinjani National Park (GRNP) to be defined as the world’s geopark.

“It’s attempted to be completed later this year in order to be forwarded to the National Committee on the Proposed Geopark Submission, in the beginning of 2012 to be followed up according to procedure and mechanism proposal,” said the Head of Planning and Development (Bappeda) province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Rosiady Sayuti, in Mataram on Saturday. Continue reading »

Reaching Sumatra’s Mountain Paradise

 EcoDestination, Ecotourism  No Responses »
Jun 172011
 

A view of the sunrise over Sumatra from Mount Dempo’s slopes. (JG Photo/Tim Hannigan)

Daylight is peeking over Sumatra. I am just three degrees south of the equator, but high on the slopes of Mount Dempo, it is bitterly cold.

A sharp breeze is cutting through a sky streaked with clouds. Far below, the city of Pagaralam and the rest of the Pasemah Highlands are a creamy haze, while the dark hulk of Mount Patah looms over the tiger-haunted forests to the south.

It has been almost four hours since we started our climb, struggling upward through a tangle of roots and creepers, but now we have broken free of the tropical forest. Stunted bushes strewn with the gray-green lichen known as jengot angin, or “beard of the wind,” dot these stony slopes. We pause for a moment to watch the sun slip swiftly over a vast cloudscape. Continue reading »

Surya Kencana, A Home For Trekkers

 EcoDestination  1 Response »
May 042011
 

Edelweis, At The Eastern of Surya Kencana (Photo: Zachri B. Kumoring)

Have you ever imagine standing in the middle of a vast prairie, cold and foggy, with towering mountains surround you and beautiful perennial flower beds scattered everywhere? As far as the eye could see, you will see only blue skies and breath-taking scenery, far from the city bustle and noise vehicles sounds.

Continue reading »

Orangutan Trekking in Sumatra

 EcoDestination, Ecotourism  1 Response »
Apr 222011
 

Orangutan, Sumatra

The name Orangutan is made up of two words in the Malay language, “orang” and “hutan.”  Together they make up a phrase that translates to “forest man.”  This reddish long haired creature is the great Asian ape, presently only located on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Unlike Mountain Gorillas that move on the ground, the remarkable aspect of Orangutans is that they are one of the heaviest animals in the world that lives and transports themselves through tips of the trees. The biggest males can weigh over 100 kilos and still have the ability to swing through the branches of the jungle and rest in nests built in the tree tops. Continue reading »

Trekking Active Volcanoes in Indonesia

 EcoDestination, Ecotourism  3 Responses »
Apr 222011
 
indonesia volcano Trekking Active Volcanoes in IndonesiaOver 120 of the world’s active volcanoes can be found dotted around Indonesia, often with settlements clinging precariously close to the smoldering rims.

With frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, Indonesia has the daunting honor of being the world’s most geologically tumultuous country. Indonesia’s position between the Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates has resulted in scores of volcanoes – both active and dormant – that dominate the horizon.

Visitors to Indonesia have many opportunities to climb active volcanoes. While often challenging, the views from the summit and the thrill of knowing what is going on beneath the surface will have you falling in love with every menacing, foul-smelling caldera. Continue reading »

 Older Entries