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- Semarang
- In size
and inhabitants, Semarang falls under
the five major cities in the nation. It
is situated on Java's normally flat northern
coast and appropriately called the capital
of Central Java as it lies just about
halfway between the two extreme east and
west coasts of the island. Indeed, few
cities in the country have got hills and
mountains so clearly visible from their
seaports. In fact, mostly residential,
Candi is a hill within Semarang's
perimeter from where breathtaking panoramas
on all directions can be witnessed: the
port, the lowlands and green paddy fields,
the city itself and the numerous mountains.
The proximity of all this beauty promises
adventurous car trips out of Semarang
offering you memorable experiences and
to be back in the city before dark.
There is an older part of the city, close
to its ocean harbour, where you can still
find an interesting collection of odd-looking
buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial
era and further back still, to the time
of the Dutch East Indies Company. And
finally the city's zoo, may also be worth
while visiting.
More up to date, the city offers evening
performances of Wayang drama played by
live actors, actresses and dancers at
Ngesti Pandowo Theatre. For sport fans
there are tennis courts in all major hotels
and 2 golf courses located in the town's
suburbs.
For short trips out of Semarang within
a radius of about 60 km, the following
places are recommended:
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Ambarawa
Railway Museum
-
Fifty
kms, south of Semarang, Ambarawa is the
home of Java'` antique locomotive, Established
into a museum, it has locomotives of various
types and ages, and it is still possible
to ride or a cog railway between Ambarawa
and Bedono, a village nearby Prior arrangements
should be made for groups.
Also of interest are a collection of antique
telephones and other instruments used
for railway communication.
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Solo
-
A
medium size city with a lively character,
Solo is also called the city that never
sleeps. From the evening throughout the
whole night one can always find something
to eat or buy, as vendors of all kinds
as well as small foodstalls remain active
and open 24 hours. Home of two royal houses
with centuries of power and influence
over the city, Solo today remains distinctly
Central Javanese with an elegance of its
own. It is one of the major centres of
batik cloths and other Javanese fabrics,
whereas souvenir hunters may find exquisite
"objects d'art" and very ornate trinkets
and other decorative items. Those interested
in old Javanese culture and art should
not miss Solo on their itinerary, as the
royal palaces including relics of all
sorts will be all yours to witness. Once
in Solo which offers excellent accommodation,
short trips to its surrounding areas can
easily be made by car or coach. Most hotels
should have a stock of pamphlets and booklets
on all interesting sport and items available.
Some of the places of interest are for
instance Tawangmangu, a mountain resort
at an elevation of almost 1 km above sea
level which promises you a cool escape
from the city's heat. Not far from here
is the Sukuh Temple with wayang stone
carvings of Hindu origin and which is
the only sample of an erotic temple in
Java having the shape of a stepped pyramid
like the ones in South America of the
Maya culture. There are also a two-century
old palace of King Pakubuwono, art Gallery
exhibiting Royal heirlooms, various Javanese
weapons, antiques and other invaluable
items.
Another palace is the royal residence
of Prince Mangkunegoro, featuring typical
Javanese architecture, a complete collection
of masks, heirlooms, wayang golek, handicrafts,
Javanese musical instruments and superb
antiques are axhibited here.
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Tawangmangu
-
Located
40 kms east of Solo. It lies on the slope
of mount Lawu, at an elevation of 1300
m above sea level. It is a recreational
resort offering fiesh weather, scenic
views, swimming pools, bungalow style
hotels and restaurants.
Other features include nearby temples
in ruin, a national park and the 40 m
high waterfall of Grojogan Sewu.
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Kasunanan
Palace
-
A
17th century palace, the royal residence
of King Pakubuwono. Attached to the palace
is an art gallery exhibiting royal heirlooms,
antiques and other invaluable objects.
A genuine royal Javanese atmosphere can
be felt and enjoyed here.
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Mangkunegaran Palace or Pura Mangkunegaran
-
Another
palace built 1757, with a typical Javanese
architecture consisting of "Pendopo" (an
open front hall to receive guests), "Pringgitan"
(an porch to hold leather puppet shadow
play) and private apartments. Two sets
of 17th century Javanese gamelan instruments
are exhibited and played every Wednesdays
in the pendopo. The palace also exhibits
complete collection of masks, wayang orang
costumes, leather and wooden puppets,
religious articles, jewelries, etc.
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Sangiran,
The Land of Mystery
-
Located
15 kms from Surakarta. It is a fossilizes
land of prehistoric living things.
In 1891, Eugene Dubois, a French anthropologist
discovered fossils of Phitecantropus Erectus,
the oldest Java man known. Again in 1930
and 1931, Ngandong Village, Trinil-Mojokerto,
was marked with the discovery of fossils
of a man that belonged to the Pleistocene
Period. It revealed human history from
many centuries ago.
Prof. Dr. Van Koenigswald in 1936 found
more evidence about human evolution. He
discovered some fossils that support the
theory of human growth from an apeman
to be man as we are now.
Other fossils, which include those of
mammoths (pre historic elephant) are now
preserved in Bandung Geological Museum.
In mid 1980, scientists were started by
the finding of a complete 4 m tall elephant.
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Bandungan
and Gedong Songo Temple
-
This
is a holiday resort on the slope of Mt.
Ungaran, about 900 meters above sea level.
Gedong Songo (nine buildings!, a group
of small 8th century Hindu Javanese temples,
can be reached either by car or on horseback
from the town. Built at about the same
time as the temples of the Dieng complex,
Gedong Songo is one of the most beautifully
sited temple complexes in Central Java
and the views alone are worth the trip.
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Taman Kyai Langgeng
-
Kyai
Langgeng Park located at the western part
of Magelang and occupying land of about
19 hectares functions not only as a means.
The park with the tranquility of rural
atmosphere is easily accessible
as it lies only about 1 km from the centre
of the town. Convenient public transports
bring you there, leaving the business
of town life to go back to nature.
Built by the Local Government of Magelang
Municipality and opened its gate to the
public in 1987, Kyai Langgeng Park is
now providing you with,:
Collection of many kinds of rare plants
from all over Indonesia, collection of
dinosaurs statues, fishing pond, traffic
gardens, aquariums green house, swimming
pool, open air theatre, large cages of
various kinds of tropical birds, various
kinds of animals from the bigger to the
smaller ones, arena for go carting, a
river for canoing and wild water surfing,
restaurants, souvenir shops, tropical
fruit market, indoor tennis court, hotel
and many other things to see, to do and
to en joy.
This park is named after the name of one
of the followers of Prince Diponegoro,
one of the Indonesian heroes who fought
bravely againts the Dutch Colonialist
during Diponegoro's war (1825-1830). The
late Kyai Langgeng was buried in this
area and his burial can still be found
here.
For now and the future the Local Government
of Magelang Municipality will keep on
the move to invest new things in the frame
of providing recreational facilities for
all levels of the community.
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Borobudur
Temple
-
The
name "Borobudur" is believed to have been
derived from the Sanskrit words "Vihara
Buddha Uhr" the Buddhist Monastery on
the hill. The Borobudur Temple was built
in the eighth century by the Cailendra
dynasty and is located at Magelang 90
km southeast of Semarang or 42 km northwest
of Yogyakarta. Visitor have the option
of going by taxi or public bus to reach
this temple. One of the world's most famous
temples, it stand majestically on a hillock
overlooking lush green field and distant
hills.
Borobudur is built of grey andesite stone.
It rises to seven terraces, each smaller
than the one below it. The top is the
Great Stupa, standing 40 meters above
the ground. The walls of the Borobudur
are sculptured in bas-relief extending
over a total length of six kilometres.
It has been hailed as the largest and
most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs
in the world, unsurpassed in artistic
merit, each scene an individual masterpiece.
The monument has been completely restored
and was officially opened by the President
on 23 February 1983. The restoration took
eight years to complete, funded by the
Government of Indonesia with aid from
UNESCO and donations from private citizens
as well as from foreign governments.
The Borobudur was in danger of collapsing
its stone statues and bas-relichs affected
by stone cancer, moss and lichen. A large
parking area is available not far from
the monument, so private cars and buses
have to be parked in this area. During
the Buddhist festival of Waisak in May,
processions start from Mendut temple.
Public transportation is available the
bus terminal. From that point visitors
can hire becaks or horse carts, or walk
the rest of the way to the monument.
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Mendut
Temple
-
Located
only three kilometers from Borobudur,
Mendut is said to face toward Benares,
India, where Buddha Gautama taught his
five disclipes the very first time. The
smaller temples of Mendut, which houses
the great statue of Buddha and the Pawon
temple, form an integral part of the Borobudur
complex. The three-metre tall Buddha together
with the two Bodhisatva figures of Lokesvara
and Vajrapani are in the view of some
experts, among the greatest manifestations
of Buddhist thought and art. Through these
smaller temple complexes the pilgrim must
pass before ascending the great Borobudur
monument.
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Jatijajar
Cave
-
Jatijajar
Cave is about 49 km west of Kebumen, or
20 km from Gombong. It is the most interesting
cave in Central Java with its stalactite
and stalagmite. Inside, there is Kamandaka
statue which has its own legend. Krakal
hot water-springs is located 13 km north-east
of Kebumen. Bathing rooms are available.
Like many other hot water-springs, it
is an effective remedy for skin diseases.
3 km north of Gombong, is the Sempor Dam
surrounded by hills forming a nice mountain
scenery. Recreational facilities are also
provided here.
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Goa Lawa
-
Goa
Lawa is cave on the foot of Mt. Slamet,
27 km to the north of Purbolinggo. Located
900 metre above sea level, the air
is naturally cool and it offers panoramic,
mountain view.
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Baturaden
-
Central
Java's outstanding resort, approximately
1 4 kms north of Purwokerto. It occupies
a fine site on the slope of Mount Slamet,
at an elevation of 650 m above sea level.
It has remarkable weather with a cool
mountain breeze. The temperature ranges
from 18_C to 25_C. The resort area is
surrounded by nice gardens, hot springs,
ponds and bungalow-style hotels abound.
Other features included 200 ha pine forest,
a nearby market and marvelous views.
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Dieng Plateau
-
Four
hours from Semarang is the Dieng Plateau.
Here are found some of the oldest Hindu
temples of Java.
These small monuments which are not more
than 50 feet high stand on a crater floor
amidst sulphurous fumes and a shrugged
majesty, underlined by the presence of
a few of the starkest Shivaite temples
at an elevation of more than 6.000 feet,
is impressive. The road to the Dieng Plateau
passes through tobacco plantations and
beautiful mountain scenery.
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Karimunjawa's
Marine Life
-
The
archipelagic Karimunjawa, thought not
as known the Marine reserves near Ambon
and Manado, has unexpectedly good beaches,
reefs and lovely sea scapes. Corals seem
to blossom in to gardens, with an Amazing
variety of form and colour fishers and
marine plants. Karimunjawa consist of
27 island and only a few of which are
inhabited. It lies 90 kms away from Jepara
and can reached by "KM. Adison I &
KM Kota Ukir" boat, the only ferryboat
connecting Karimunjawa and Jepara.
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Curug Sewu
-
It
is situated at Patean sub district Sukorejo
about 41 km from Kendall To visit it,
visitors can take public buses on route
Semarang - Kendal - Weleri - Sukorejo.
It can also be reached from the southern
part of the province, via Wonosobo / Temanggung
on route to Parakan - Ngadirejo - Candroto
- Patean. It is the highest waterfall
in the province with three levels. The
highs are 45 metres, 15 metres and 20
metres. Visitors can en joy walking along
the forest near the waterfall and also
enjoying the forest near the waterfall
and also enjoying the mountainous part
of the forest called "Lintas Hutan Indah".
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Guci Hot
Water Spring
-
It
is about 19 kilometres away from Tegal
southward. Guci is a mountain resort at
the height of 1,050 metres above sea level
with the temperature ranging from 12.8_
to 21.9_. The main point of interest is
the hot water spring. You can take a bath
in either indoor and outdoor bathing place
or the swimming pool. The water contains
chemical compound such as zinc, sulphure,
iodine. Therefore, it can cure various
kinds of skin deceases.
The Guci Hot Water Spring is also provided
with facilities to meet the tourists requirement
such as hotel, restaurants, conference
room, children play ground, camping site,
parking lot, ect.
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Place of Interest