Tanjung Bira Beachl

Tanjung bira beach famous for its beautiful white sand and fun. The water is clear, both for the swimming and sunbathing. Here we can enjoy the sunrise and sunset with a gleaming light nenbersit on the white sand along tens of kilometers.

Bira beach which is well known to foreign tourists, has now been nicely arranged into a tourist resort in patutu rely on. Various facilities are available, such as hotels, restaurants, and telecommunications facilities, bira beach is located about 41 km towards the east of the city Bulukumba. fery crossings with the port that connects the mainland with the island of South Sulawesi Selayar.

tanjung bira

Tanjung Bira is a white sand beach that is popular in South Sulawesi. These include coastal beaches clean, neat, and clear seawater. The beauty and comfort of this famous beach to foreign countries. Foreign tourists from many countries who visited this place for a vacation.

Pantai Tanjung Bira very beautiful and stunning with white sand as soft as flour. On location, where visitors can swim, sunbathing, diving and snorkeling. The visitors can also witness the sunrise and sunset in a similar position, and can enjoy the beauty of two islands in front of this beach, which LIUKANG Island and Goat Island.

Tanjung Bira located in the southernmost tip of South Sulawesi province, precisely in the District Bonto Bahari, Bulukumba District.

Tanjung Bira is located about 40 km from the City of Feather Water Bearer, or 200 km from Makassar City. The journey from the city of Makassar City Bulukumba can be reached by using public transportation in the form Kijang, Panther or Innova a rate of Rp. 35.000, -. Furthermore, from the City of Cape Bira Bulukumba to be pursued by using the car pete-pete (microbus) with rates ranging from Rp. 8000, - until - Rp. 10.000, -. Total travel time of Makassar to Bira Cape approximately 3 to 3.5 hours.

When visitors depart from Hasanuddin airport, straight to the terminal Malengkeri (Makassar) by using the taxi tariff of Rp. 40.000, -. In this terminal and then take a bus or a Bulukumba goals directly to Tanjung Bira.

In the tourist area of Tanjung Bira, public transport operates only until the afternoon. If visitors have to go back to Makassar city that same evening, there is a car chartered (leased) with tariff Rp. 500.000, -.

Admission costs to the location of Tanjung Bira Beach Rp. 5000, -.

Tourist area of Tanjung Bira beach is equipped with various facilities, such as restaurants, lodging, villas, bungalows, and hotels with rates starting from Rp. 100.000, - to Rp. 600.000, - per day. In this place there are also rental diving and snorkeling equipment at a rate Rp. 30.000, -. For visitors who completed a swim at the beach, provided the public bathrooms and fresh water to clean the sand and sea water are still stuck in the body. For visitors who want to tour around the beach, bike rentals are available with tariff Rp. 65.000, -. In coastal areas there are also ferry ports are ready to take visitors who want to travel to the island Selayar submarine.

Source: www.sulsel.go.id

The Exotic of Mentawai

Some foam bed or stored in uma custom homes in the Mentawai Butui, District of South Siberut, Mentawai Islands regency, West Sumatra. The existence of manufactured goods is very striking compared with other uma content, such as animal skulls and cooking equipment are all made the Mentawai people.

"The bed was for the tourists. They also bought, as well as other items such as bags, "said Aman Jazali, sikerei inhabiting these custom homes. Sikerei ceremonial leader.

According Jazali, almost every week there were foreign tourists, usually from the United States and Europe, who spend the night at 1-2 uma. There are two attractions there: own experience the life of the exotic Mentawai tribes and enjoy the river flow clear and Butui nan and rocks surrounded by white sand in front of the uma.

Mentawai beach

Exotic style is still added Butui wonderful way to achieve it, that is up-pompong wooden boat with outboard engine, for about 4 hours from Muara Siberut, the capital district of South Siberut, toward the village of Madobag. From Madobag, walking about 1.5 hours through the jungle to get to the uma. While the Muara Siberut can be reached by motor boat for 10-12 hours from Padang, West Sumatra.

Exotic Mentawai

The presence of these foreign tourists make Jazali considerable revenue for each group used to give him money before leaving. It also made him able to speak a little Indonesian, English, and arithmetic.

"We stay here, tour guide and foreign tourists are often taught me and also the family," said Jazali who never received his high school. While her three children now study in schools managed forests are a monk because formal schools are far away from umanya.

The presence of foreign tourists also make a number of places in the Mentawai overgrown luxury resort, especially in coastal areas that have good waves for surfing. In the resorts, moneyed tourists enjoy the exotic Mentawai consisting of 213 islands and to surf.

Waves in the Mentawai islands, by various organizations surf-universal is the third best after Hawaii and Tahiti.

Surf Mentawai

In Mentawai, surf is usually done in Nyangnyang Island, Coral Majat, Masilok, Botik, and Mainuk. Peak tourist visit there in July and August. At that height of waves in the Mentawai reaches 7 meters.

"The island is beautiful. I'll come back here again, "said Andrea, tourists from Italy, about the Mentawai visited for a week.

Biosphere reserve

In addition to beautiful, Mentawai also play an important role for conservation. Since 1981, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural (UNESCO) set Siberut in the Mentawai Islands as one of the biosphere reserve, so its existence must be protected and kept away from exploitation.

Siberut Keeksotisan plus the four endemic Mentawai primates, namely simakobu pigs or monkeys (Simias concolor), Kloss's Gibbon or dwarf siamang (Hylobates klosii), joja or leaf monkey Mentawai (Presbytis potenziani), and monkey Mentawai (Macaca pagensis).

To examine the wealth of this Mentawai primates, Primate Center University of Gottingen, Germany, in cooperation with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture founded the Siberut Conservation Project.

Neglected

However, the advantage was as yet unable to make the country to look more seriously Mentawai. Public facilities such as health and education in wealthy areas are still largely neglected. Electricity and roads is very limited.

"Tourism has never come here. If there are tourists who come, so be it, we handle alone, "said Secretary Sabaggalek Matheu Madobag Village.

Mentawai islandAkibatnya further, people not only do not have clear guidelines for managing the area. A number of assets in the region also started to run a stranger, like a luxury resort in the number of surfing locations. "Land of the resort is still owned by the Mentawai. However, because they do not know and do not have the capital to manage it, and then leased out to foreigners, "Matheu said.

Matheu also told, there have been Canadian tourist who had offered to provide capital Kulu organize Kubuk waterfalls in the region. "The tourist had offered USD 25 million as capital, and its management remains handed over to us. However, residents who have still not allow the land, "Matheu said.

Countries need to manage natural resources do not let it fall into foreign hands, including the ability to equip local communities to manage their area. If not, the natural wealth of this pretty Mentawai is possible given the management to foreign hands. If so, what the meaning of the state's presence in the Mentawai Indonesia?

(Agnes Rita Sulistyawaty and M Hernowo)
Source: Kompas.com
Pasirpantai.com

Cubadak Island - Paradise in Sumatra

Regions Cubadak at the beginning was the former crater with an area of about 40 km square. The island is uninhabited, except for only a handful of fishermen's homes as a haven during late sea, and filled with dense forests. A number of birds and wild animals like monkeys, deer, pigs live here. Cubadak is one of dozens of small islands off the coast of West Sumatra.

Actually there are many small islands that has big potential in this area. Among the Mentawai, Sipagang, Sikuai, Pasumpahan, Sirandah, Turtles, and others. Unfortunately new Cubadak and Mentawai already cultivated and promoted properly.

Cubadak island whose name has become an icon worldwide and the South Coastal District has an area of 5749 square kilometers and is 0-1000 feet above sea level. By positioning extends from north to south in the western part of West Sumatra, Coastal has 218 km long coast it has potential in the field of tourism.

Cubadak-islandKawasan Cubadak at the beginning was the former crater with an area of about 40 km square. The island is uninhabited, except for only a handful of fishermen's homes as a haven during late sea, and filled with dense forests. A number of birds and wild animals like monkeys, deer, pigs live here.
The length of more beach and 1.5 km-controlled land Cubadak manager is about seven hectares. If the Mentawai is the surfers paradise, it is a paradise Cubadak divers because the seabed surrounding the island is overgrown with coral-reef fish are beautiful and colorful ornamental.

Among the other European tourists, including the German people enthusiastic enough to visit the island is called Paradiso Village. All that did not escape the incessant promotion of a number of media in Germany seven years ago. At that time, one team came to the Bavarian TV Cubadak to working on a documentary film. They make taking pictures from different angles to describe the beauty Cubadak.

After playing in Germany, 30-minute movie that is widely acclaimed and able to be magnets for the Germans to come to Cubadak. Hundreds of phone went into the TV station. They usually ask how the trip to West Sumatra, Indonesia. Because so far they only know Bali or Lombok.
In addition, several print media was also written long articles about the island "paradise" is. Women's magazine Bild de Rau for example, contains writings titled "Tersenyap Island in the World" and the newspaper Münchener Abendpost write "How to Achieve Cubadak Island".

According to Tom Plummer, manager of an Australian cruise ship that has long lived in Padang, many foreign tourists who initially did not expect privileges Cubadak Island. Often not even the tourists who come to West Sumatra complained initially travel from airport to Carocok Tabing a fairly exhausting for winding path and a lot of corners. "But when I got on the island of Cubadak, they will be surprised how beautiful this island and have no regrets at all been there," says Tom.

Tom is now also runs a sports shop in Jalan Padang Hiligoo even dare to say that people who come to Cubadak would be impressed. Paired water sports while enjoying the silence of this island would lead to a longing that will make visitors want to come back here. So to prove it you should go there alone.

Toue in Kepulauan Seribu

Pulau Kelor nan Eksotis
Every trip to the Thousand Islands, surely will find this island. Not far from Angel Island. Every ship that crossed the waters of the island of Java Lucky can definitely be able to see this island. From a distance just like a round of short chimney in the middle of the ocean. But a strange shape that is the appeal of this island. It is not visible land on the island. There are only white sand that seemed to swell from the sea surface. Surely that's the land of the island Kelor.

Abrasion, sea water eroded, that's a picture of this small island. It's shape is not large. Even in photographs silamnya period, when the Dutch were still entrenched in the earth earth, this island remained small. If there is not concrete-retaining concrete wave, the island may have drowned. Lucky Martello fort that stood firm that makes the island worth protecting. Remains of silamnya should make an effort and we do not let Island sank Kelor sea swallowed.

Kelor Island, that's the name of this island. Like the old saying, "The world is not as wide as the leaf kelor" is synonymous with this island. Kelor leaf shape is small. Naming Kelor Island is perfect for this island. Small, individually and as emerged from the sea surface.

Formerly Kelor Island is one of the Dutch East Indies stronghold that focuses its activities on the island of Onrust. There are at least three Martello fort in the three group of islands is itself Kelor Island, Angel Island and the island of Onrust. Only two are still left in his footsteps as a fortress on the island of Onrust had lost trace of him due to massive looting in the sixties. What remains is a hole with a signpost indicating a fortress and there he was standing round.

Angel Island fortress in half Martellonya only. Half-damaged by a tidal wave crashing when Krakatoa erupted. While Kelor Island, the fort Martellonya tend to be intact. Windows holes intact form. Even the deck / floor of the castle, which at that time using wood, the marks look even for a cradle-shaped holes the size of a block of wood.

Kelor island has no jetty, so difficult to ship / boat docked on the island. The remains dock there but the lack of maintenance make ninety-five percent damaged. As a result, the dock can not be used at all. If want to close to this island, must be early morning or at least before noon. The news I ever got was a position does not allow landed beach when a big wave. The ship could hit the island containing rocks or hit the breakwater pier damaged. Can also ship plunged because of the waves does not allow the front of the boat touched the sandy beach on the mainland island.

Sideways position as a ship's waves could be swayed by it. That is why after the wave came, there would be no ship that docked at this island. Tour guide on the island of Onrust also advised like that. "If the wave does not exist, mendaratlah Kelor Island. When it comes a wave, do not have to stop at the island Kelor because it is dangerous. "

There were stories about the mysterious Kelor Island. Either because the island is empty so that people associate ngaitkan with the supernatural. This concerns the existence of many cats who are in this island. Out of nowhere these cats came from. I just think if the cats were removed by residents around the island. These cats are associated with things that are mysterious.

There are those who warn me not to disturb the cats or close the holes .. The cats were numerous in Kelor Island. The cats usually located in their respective holes in the castle. This hole was originally a lot of ventilation holes around the castle there. The hole is then made where the cat shelter and hiding. Scars are also a lot of food around the castle there. The possibility of visitors to feed the cat with food scraps. Or by the fishermen who stopped at the island.

Apart from the above stories, Kelor Island remains a small island eksostis. Island from a distance that shows the splendor Martellonya fort darik power was kept separate for a visit. Hopefully in the coming voyage, I will have time to set foot on the island this interesting little (07/01/2008).

Bunaken National Park

Basic Facts of Bunaken National Park

Where is Bunaken National Park situated?

Bunaken National Park is located in the Province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Geographically,
the Park consists of a northern and southern section (see Map 1). The northern section includes
five islands, and the coastal area between Molas to Tiwoho called the “Molas-Wori Coast”. The
southern section consists entirely of coastal area between Poopoh and Popareng villages, called
the “Arakan-Wawontulap Coast”.
The Park is located close to Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi. Travelling time between
Manado and Bunaken Island is about 35 minutes by boat.

How big is Bunaken National Park?

The total area of the Park is 79,056 hectares of land and marine area. The northern section
consists of 62,150 Ha and the southern section consists of 16,906 Ha. The area of each island
inside the Park is shown in Table 1 below.

What are the general seasons in Bunaken National Park?

There are 2 major seasons in the area of Bunaken National Park: Wet season and Dry season.
In the Wet season, cool northwesterly winds occur from November until April and bring heavy
rains and occasionally very rough seas. In the dry season, southwestly winds occur between
May until October and bring drier winds and relatively calm seas.
Average air temperature in the Park is 270C with a monthly fluctuation range of 10C to 20C.
Minimum average monthly air temperature is 190C, whereas maximum monthly air temperature
is 340C.
Sea surface temperature around the Park ranges between 270C and 290C throughout the year.
However, sea temperatures over reef flats can be higher than 300C at low tide.

What is the rainfall rate in Bunaken National Park?

Average rainfall in the northern section of the Park is 3,001 - 3,500 mm per year, and in the
southern section average rainful is 2,501 -3,000 mm per year.

Spesies in Bunaken

COELACANTH

What is a coelacanth?
Coelacanths are an ancient group of large, lobe-finned fish . They were thought to be extinct for the last 70 million years until a living coelacanth was caught off of South Africa in 1938. How long have coelacanths existed? Fossil records show that coelacanths have existed for about 400 million years, which makes them one of the oldest living animals lineages on earth.


Where in the world are coelacanths found?
Millions of years ago, coelacanths lived in waters all over the world but now they are only known to exist in two small areas of the world: Comoro Islands near Africa and in Manado Tua, North Sulawesi.

What is special about coelacanths?
Many people are interested in coelacanths because they are rare and they are a living fossil. A living fossil is an organism that has not changed in millions of years. For example, if dinosaurs were still alive today, they would be a living fossil too.

What are some unique features of the coelacanths’ appearance?
Coelacanths have seven thick, fleshy, lobbed fins that move in the water in the same manner as a four-legged animal, such as a trotting horse. They also have an extra tail on the end of their body called an “epicaudal” lobe, which no other fishes have. Coelacanths also have a joint on their skull, which is thought
to allow them to open their upper jaw upward when
capturing prey.

How many coelacanths exist today?
The coelacanth population around the Comoro Islands is estimated to be less than 500 individuals. The population at Manado Tua is not yet known. Other populations may exist in other part of Indonesia, or even in the rest of the world but they have not yet been.

Raja Emapat Under water

About Raja Ampat Diving:
Raja Ampat in all The best Place to Under water Diving

Water Temp : The water temperature is 1mm neoprene or polartec diving, usual temperature is 84-86F with an occasional "chilly" 82F spot. We've had no problem with cold when diving 4 -7 long dives per day.

Liveaboard Travel: These islands are very close together. We plan not to make long journeys, but to keep the boat in an area for several days and dive the sites surrounding that area as conditions (current, angle of the sun, time of day) provide the best photo ops on a site. We aren't into crossing oceans, we're here to see the marine life and get those images.

Conditions: We choose the best season for diving the area. In fact, the liveaboard organized the rest of their schedule around our trips. The seas are typically flat.. like glass in some areas. Through the surface, split images and surface reflection shots are often possible.

Wide Angle Photography: There are VERY unique formations and unusually large schools of fish that make this an excellent area for wide angle photography. Again the trick is getting into the right spot at the right time. Sometimes this means you must be able to descend quickly to get down and out of the current. The same reef can be amazing or boring depending on the current & light. Sometimes the sites are shallow and you need to look near the surface for the best photo ops. We'll tell you what is special about each dive site during the pre-dive briefing.

Macro Photography: Can be done on nearly every site.. if you just ignore all the fish... We have several sites that we particularly like for macro. The silty bays, although not "clean" have abundant and unusual macro life. No pollution though.. only clean dirt out here. We always see pygs (pygmy seahorses), nudibranchs.. there are unusual small fish, a newly discovered species of epaulette shark, the "Walking Shark".. the ever present anemone fish, sometimes blue-ring octopus or flamboyant cuttlefish.... we've seen a lot of the allied cowries on the soft corals.. really just too much to name.. please ask about macro.

Current: While there is a lot of current on certain sites, we do NOT want or plan to drift and try to take photos (with one exception). We do NOT want guests to be struggling with camera gear in strong currents. If you don't know how to dive in current, let us teach you.. that is the #1 specialty that doesn't get taught. We've noticed that many divers are afraid of current simply because they do not know how to deal with it. (note.. we can drop divers who don't like the current behind the reefs in protected areas.. they won't see the best diving, but whatever makes them happy.. we'll do it).