BALIEM VALLEY FESTIVAL

In the central mountain of Irian Jaya, lies a grand valley with 72 km long and 16 - 31 km wide, inhabited by Neolithic warrior and farmer, the Dani Tribes and other sub tribes of Yali and Lani with their complex and primitive cultures, which looks more like "stone age" cultures.


Welcome to the beautiful Baliem Valley.

We will take you to experience an exciting adventure by exploring the Baliem Valley and the unique, primitive traditions and way of live of the tribes who live in the valley.Baliem valley it self is located in Wamena regency in Irian Jaya, West Papua which is well known as the home of the Dani tribes.To reach this area, you have to fly from Jakarta or Bali to Jayapura (the capital province of Irian Jaya / Papua), and then fly from Jayapura to Wamena. We can fly from Jakarta to Jayapura and then from Jayapura to Wamena in the same day.This valley has been the most visited part of the island, especially in recent years. The Dani Tribe speak related Papuan, or non - Austronesian language and live in the high central range of Papua Island, the most eastern province of Indonesia.Until the last decades the Dani tribes were some of the most isolated populations by swamps and mountains. They grew root crops, raised pig and used polished stone axes and adzes. They didn't make pottery (which means "sign of the modernity"), but otherwise their technology was very much like that of the Neolithic of the Old and New Worlds.

There may be 250,000 Dani Tribe living in the central mountains, many live scattered among the steep mountain slopes. The Baliem Valley has one of the highest densities of population in Papua Province. The Dani Tribe build their huts in a compound nicely express both environmental adaptation and Dani's character. The men's and women's huts have thick thatched roofs which keep rain, yet retain the heat from the earth, along with just enough smoke to discourage the mosquito.

The temperatures of the highland are ranged from 26 degrees Celsius at the day time and 12 degrees at night.The highlights of sightseeing are Dani Market in WAMENA Town, WAUMA Village and, which can be easily reach on foot or by car from Wamena. Farther out are AIKIMA, with its 250 years old mummy, SUROBA, JIWIKA and neighboring villages.With 2 hours climbing, you can see the salt spring where the Dani Tribe women make salt in primitive way fashion for centuries. Outer adventures are southward to KURIMA area, where the Dani and Yali Tribes' way of life mixed into a unique combination.

From: adventureindonesia.com

pictured by: flickr.com

10 Air Terjun Indonesia

10. Srambang

Srambang Waterfall, constitutes the pearl of tourism which is concealed in the forest of Lawu mountain. It is a pity that-a11 these year, the beauty of this placer is only enjoyed by the animals, trees and stones in the forest. Once in a while a collector of forest product comes to visit it, but then they leaves it to the silence of the forest. This place had always been like that till one sunset in early April 1995, a miraculous thing happened. In a place about 1.500 meter from Srambang Waterfall, a ditch with the width of 20 meters, the depth of 10 meters and the length of 2.000 meters was formed, because the layer of the earth under it cracked.

Since then it has invited thousands of people to come and see the “Kali Tiban” (a river coming from nowhere). Consequently; Srambang Waterfall, which is only 25 kilometers from Ngawi, begins to get visitors, too.


9. Sedudo

Sedudo Waterfall located at Ngliman, Sawahan district. Reachable from Nganjuk about 30 km. The air is fresh and cool. This location is often visited by many of people especially during Suro, one of months of the Javanese year. An impressive waterfall of more than 100 metres high, Sedudo Falls - like many other falls, springs, and wells in Java is believed to be something of a fountain of youth. The district goverment and the public around, always held a traditional ceremony every Suro. According to them, Sedudo Waterfall was used to bath statue in Parna Prahista ceremony, then the water spattered to the body in order to get a safety and eternal youth. The traditional ceremony of taking up Sedudo sacral water as the sign to begin the public bathing is done by 12 girls with long hair and boys. The form this procession is taking a bath together in the pool under Sedudo waterfall, and held every Suro (the first Javanese month). This procession is led by the Regent of Nganjuk and followed by the local visitors, and the tourist who come from the whole Java. After taking a bath, still on the Sedudo area, the visitors are entertained with the traditional art named Jedor.

8. Coban Rondo

The Coban Rondo waterfall ( we called The Wana Wisata Air Terjun Coban Rondo ) is a beautiful waterfall and gives peacefull impression. The experiences never forget is The way to the waterfall, on the right and left side you can see the beautiful of aligment cypress and pine trees . The coban rondo waterfall was located 12 km from the Batu City, or to be precise in the Pandansari Village. Pujon. In the coban rondo you will be experienced by a waterfall with the height 60 m.
The Wana Wisata Air Terjun Coban Rondo region was the region that most was easy to be followed. The road to enter towards the location has been asphalted, so as really facilitated tourists if wanting to visit this waterfall. Around the waterfall of Coban Rondo, was filled pine trees and the mountain casuarina, made the atmosphere in this tourist attraction feel like cool. From this area , you can see also the panorama of Batu town .

7. Cibeureum

Avoiding the weekend walkers to the three beautifull waterfalls at Cibeureum a short way up the track leading to the summits of the Gede Pangrango, he took a less well-trodden route first along a scraggly golf course and then upwards. Behind it rose the sharp-angled, steep foothills of the legendary mountains. Lovely vegetable gardens spilling down to various rocky streams, and the ever present forests stretching widely upwards. Did he write: less well-trodden? more accurately: not much of a path at all. And quite a climb, espesially coming downwards again. sheltered by enormous tree ferns, palm trees, great giants of the jungle. Everywhere the purpleand white delights of impatiens platypetala.Not much sweat for the day was pleasantly cool and the narrow, sheer canyon sheltered from the hot sun. on the way down there was suddenly this pretty waterfalls emptying into a nice pool. yes! Throwing off his clothes he bathed, and stretched out under a fern tree splashed by warm sun rays. and dreamed...

6. Batanta

Batanta waterfall is one of the objects in Papua and the excellent tourism at Raja Ampat Islands.

After spending the time to dive into oceans, expedition team intends to see the beauty of nature in the various islands in the Raja Ampat. One aim is to visit waterfalls Batanta. After breakfast, the team entered the direct speed boat that will deliver to the destination. After about 30 minutes across the sea, speed boat arrived in a village near the estuary Arefi in the coastal area of Pulau Batanta. James, our guide, the boat slowly entered the river to the hinterland. On the left and right along the river is only visible through mangroves. Suddenly, a crocodile hiding behind the root of mangroves along the river.

5. Bantimurung

Bantimurung means a place for getting rid of sadness (membanting kemurungan). The spectacular waterfall is located at the valley of the steep limestone hill with its fertile tropical vegetation which makes this area an ideal habitat fir the types of butterflies and birds that are famous for their small number.
Before entering the waterfall location, visitors can see a statue of a kind of monkey, about 6 cm tall. This kind of animal can only be found in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
From the waterfall, visitors can go up to see the lake on top, but there are many sharp corals on the way there. The lake is so blue with many flying butterflies around it.
The waterfall and surrounding areas is a popular picnic area and it is a pleasant area for roaming around, swimming and enjoying the attractive sceneries.

4. Sendang Gila

Which attracts many thousands of Indonesian and foreign visitors annually, is Mt. Rinjani national pasrk's best known attraction. Located at about 600 meters above sea level, the waterfall is an easy 20 minute walk down a graded trail and steps from Senaru Village, which is the main access to Mt. Rinjani National Park. A pleasant alternative return route winds along the edge of the steep valley, following the irrigation canal. For the more adventurous, the "second waterfall" Tiu Kelep, is another hour's walk upriver from Sendang Gila. The scramble over rocks through the tropical forest is rewarded by the beauty of the waterfall of Tiu Kelep you become a year younger! With access from the main road, the "third waterfall" Betara Lenjang is a true rainforest adventure strictly for rock climbers with local guide and equipment.

3. Grojogan Sewu

Located at Karanganyar Regency, Grojogan sewu is one of tourist program that called "INTANPARI" (Industri Pertanian Pariwisata) it means Industry Botani and Tourism. Grojogan sewu is located at Mt. Lawu (2636 meters), the location are 27 kilometers from Karanganyar Regency. Grojogan sewu means thousand waterfall. Although there is no thousand waterfal there.
You still can enjoy some waterfalls there. The highest waterfall at Grojogan sewu have 81 meters high from bottom to the top, the forrest sight make this waterfall have atractive power for tourist.

2. Sipisopiso

The Sipisopiso is a plunge waterfall in the Batak highlans of Sumatra. It is formed by a small underground river of the Karo plateau that hurls itself from a cave in the side of the lake Toba caldera some 120 meters (360 ft) down to lake level. This fact earns it the title for the highest waterfall in Indonesia.
Sipisopiso is a well-known tourist attraction and a nearby vantage point offers great vistas of the fall and the lake. Sipisopiso waterfall is located in the Tanah Karo regency, at the northernmost tip of the Lake Toba caldera, near the fishing village of Tongging. The closest municipality, about 25 kilometers away, is the town of Kabanjahe.

1. Madakaripura

Madakaripura Waterfall located in Sapih village, Lombang district, East Java, Indonesia. Not far from Mt. Bromo area. Madakaripura is a sacred visiting area comprising lines of waterfalls. its reaches a height of 200 meters from the bottom. this waterfall have related history with a great Prime Ministry, Gajah Mada, who strongly strunggled to unify the whole territory of Indonesia under span of control of Majapahit, and said as "the last residence for Gajah Mada". This spectacular waterfall lies hidden at the end of a deep valley in the foothills of the Tengger range. The water has cascades from the dense forest above. The primary attraction is its natural environment that is encircled by 7 waterfalls and caves. The available facilities are include: parking lot, food stalls, resting place and security post. The fatigue and exhaustion one undergoes from climbing the peak of Bromo, would immediately gone after getting a bathe with the holy Tirta Sewana so to continue the travel to other visiting points in Probolinggo area.



from:
www.petra.ac.id
www.kaskus.us
www.info4indonesia.com
www.eastjava.com
en.wikipedia.org
pictured by:
flickr.com
eastjava.com

from: Graeme Wheller (Dr)
Consultant Geologist
Volcanex International Pty Ltd (Hobart, Australia)
www.vulcan.wr.usgs.gov

DEATH TOLL 31 AFTER VOLCANO BLOWS ITS TOP

The death toll from the eruption of Mt. Merapi, overlooking the city of Yogyakarta in densely populated Central Java, hit 31 as local authorities evacuated more than 5000 villagers from the slopes of the mountain.

Yogyakarta's main public hospital reported 17 people admitted there had died and 32 were on the injured list.
Another seven people were confirmed dead and 12 injured at a Catholic-run hospital.
Officer in charge of the command post coordinating relief operations, Lieutenant Colonel Suyatno, said another seven people died in Turgo village on the slopes of the mountain.
A further seven people with severe burns had also been admitted to a private hospital.
Unconfirmed local media reports said the death toll was as high as 34, with authorities saying five people were still unaccounted for.
Suyatno said 5681 people had been evacuated from seven village on the slopes of Merapi.
The evacuees were sent to five temporary camps, the largest in the village of Pakembinangun, where 2705 people were being sheltered. The conical 2911-metre volcano spewed heat clouds more than 20 times, some spraying out as six kilometers down the slope, along the Krasak and Boyong Rivers.
An official from the vulcanological office in Jakarta said most of the people killed lived on Boyong River. Merapi's last major eruption was in November, 1976, killing 28 people and leaving 1176 people homeless.