New Zealand is the youngest country on earth - the last plateau was found. Maori tribe was the first to move to New Zealand in a thousand years ago. Since then, people came from all over the world to settle here.
New Zealand has a rich and fascinating history, reflecting both Maori and European heritage.
 |
| Amazing Rotorua |
Rotorua is located on the North Island is a magnet for tourists, who come to see the volcanic phenomena and study the Maori culture in New Zealand. Rotorua will captivate you with geothermal wonders and unique cultural experiences - from geysers and hot mud pools to shelter marae, hangi feast, a village pre-European indigenous Maori. Rotorua has a cultural adventure that has been well developed, from skydiving to zorbing.
Drowning In History and Culture
More than a third of Rotorua are Maori, so the area is the best place to throw themselves in the indigenous culture of New Zealand. Rotorua has a remarkable history, who will be happy to local Maori population is divided so that enrich your experience. Their stories are very captivating.
Go back to the Tamaki Maori Village. In the depths of the forest, you will get a clear picture of how the lifestyle and traditions of Maori, from pre-European times to the present. See and learn about traditional Maori art is preserved in the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. You can talk to an expert carving and weaving and learn the history and process involved in every form of art.
Do not forget the hot spa bath in the clear at the Blue Baths, which displays the building's colorful past. Then, enjoy a meal on the upper floor and enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Government Gardens.
Also Visit excavation site at Te Wairoa, a village buried by the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. Enjoy a hangi meal and a Maori concert on Mokoia Island or at a hotel in the city.
Natural beauty
Lake Rotorua, though looks beautiful and peaceful, has a cruel history. Large volcano erupted in the region about 200 thousand years ago, creating a caldera 16 km in diameter. Caldera was then filled with water and become the second largest lake in the North Island. Rotorua and 15 other lakes in the area that connect with caldera Rotorua and Mount Tarawera.
According to legend, the Europeans found the geysers and mud pools of Rotorua in the 1880s, which is now the city's largest decoy. Pohutu geyser famous, as well as other geysers located elsewhere in the region, is the attraction to be seen. Pohutu hot springs, in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, erupted several times a day, spraying hot water up to 30 m into the air.
That is not to be missed also is spring spa therapy, and soak in thermal pools. You can also mud bath, which will make your skin feel smooth as silk.
Rotorua is one of the best health spas in New Zealand. Hell's Gate is a waterfall of hot water only in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy the experience of bathing as a family at Polynesian Spa.
Maximum Tension
Rotorua promises satisfaction for the adrenaline junkie - even that level is even worse. Many adventure that will spur the thrill and adrenalin, with typical New Zealand's best scenery.
Overcome your fears and feel a tandem parachute jump from a height of 4500 meters. Jumped from the plane is once in a lifetime experience that you should try. Gliding down from 4,500 meters to give you the opportunity look at the Rotorua lakes and forests that is unrivaled.
You can also glide over the scree - full of steep gravel slope - on Mount Tarawera or Mount Ngongotaha, and listen to the screams of other gliders in the air.
You are in the perfect place for whitewater rafting in New Zealand. This is a popular activity throughout the year. You can challenge the currents in the Kaituna River (level five), Wairoa (level five) and the Rangitaiki (level four). Kaituna River you will encounter a waterfall as high as 7 m Tutea - the highest waterfall commercially forded.
Family Entertainment
Rotorua is the place of family fun vacation adventure. There is always something for everyone, whatever their age. For example, driving by car ferry and shaving the sheep, to spinning with a jet boat.
Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tour, which is based on the original location of Hobbiton in the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings". You will be guided to explore the sites of 4 hectares and told interesting details about the making of the film.
Activities on the farm is not less exciting, such as shaving and feeding sheep or milking cows. There is also a demonstration of sheep herding and sheep auction. When visiting the organic kiwi fruit garden, you can stop for wine tasting kiwi fruit and honey.
Want to see lions, fish, giant eels, waterfowl, deer and other? Paradise Valley Springs place.
For some sensation derivatives, zorbing is another crazy adventure that found by the Kiwis. "Zorbonauts" spin down a steep hillside in a big rubber ball filled with air.
Get on the boat jet to down the Waikato River through the spectacular gorge Tutukau. Discover the flora and fauna native and one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand is geothermal thermal Riverjet in safari.
For an unforgettable dining experience, follow the adventures of Indigenous Food Trail. This is a food trail in the forest which aims to educate visitors about the native cuisine Maori and indigenous herbs and plants used, and led by a local expert Charles Royal. Charles, to create this tour exclusively for Treetops Lodge and Wilderness Estate, who has had experience of more than 20 years of Maori food.
New Zealand has four seasons: autumn (March to May), winter (June to August) and spring (September-November), summer (December-February).
Manta rays are the species most large-sized stingrays in the world. Type the largest can grow up to 7 meters with a weight of more than 2 tons.
Kingdom manta in Indonesia which lies in waters around the island of Charitable, Derawan Islands, Berau, East Kalimantan.
 |
| Manta Kingdom Derawan Islands |
Fish with the Latin name of this birostris Manta will manifest themselves at high tide. Tide brings with plankton, which is his favorite food. The sign, which was originally sea water began to clear blue colored turbid due to plankton.
Charitable Island can be reached within an hour away by motor boat from the island Derawan. Shortly after arriving, we saw manta began to arrive and swim just below the water surface. We plunge into the sea, a few hundred feet from the manta. Speedboat should not be too close because it could frighten the animal tame.
Dark and sinister figure, and his form is very large with a wide mouth reminds me of the sharp-tailed rays that can kill humans. In fact, the manta which is not dangerous. His movements were so graceful like a dancer.
This beast is also known to jump into the water. If lucky, manta can appear clustered in large quantities. This place is also a favorite spot of divers because of its beauty.
Manta is only one of hundreds of fish that live in these waters. There are at least 872 kinds of reef fish that inhabit this region with six different species of dolphins and three types of whales.
 |
| Manta Kingdom Derawan Islands |
In fact, Derawan islands are areas with coral reefs second richest in the world. Extensive coral reefs no less than 66 thousand hectares. Diversity of coral reefs in this region amounted to more than 507 species, can only be defeated by the diversity in Raja Ampat Islands, Papua.
The islands also became the center of the green turtle nesting Chelonia mydas alias. Almost every night there are green turtles in a dark corner of the beach There is also a hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata or very rare.
Ancient Lake Kakaban
Once satisfied playing with manta, we continued our journey to the waters around Kakaban. The island is special because there is adjoining ancient lakes contain salty water. The lake was originally the lagoon has changed shape due to the removal of millions of mainland last year. Sea water and all its contents are caught in the middle to form a unique ecosystem.
Kakaban inhabited four types of jellyfish which has lost its sting. Jellyfish sting not only exists at two places in the world. Besides Kakaban they can be found in the Republic of Palau, one of the countries in the Pacific Islands.
Jellyfish meets the lake like cendol. Aurelia aurita wide saucer-shaped nodes. Cassiopeia ornata swim upside down with tentacles on top. Papua Martigias brown with a total at most. We raced to find Tripedalia cystophora, jellyfish tip of a nail the most rarely found.
The lake has its own system to balance the population in the bottom of the lake there is an anemone jellyfish predator. The size of a finger, white, transparent with tendrils. Just try to hold the jellyfish tendrils, he ate jellyfish with smoked it.
To go to the lake we have to go through dense forest to the timber docks. Stairs continued into the woods, climbed the hill. The lake is behind the small hill. After walking a few hundred yards, up the hill efforts paid off already. The sky and sea so blue. The fresh air blowing from the island green.
The temple became the first visit is the temple of Prambanan. Geographically, the Prambanan temple is located on the border between the districts of Sleman and Klaten, precisely in the hamlet of Karangasem, Bokoharjo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman District, Yogyakarta Special Region. Prambanan temple is divided into 3 pages concentric (centered), associated with the gate located on each side. While surrounded by a fence outside the page size of 390 x 390 m, the central courtyard surrounded by a fence wall measuring 220 x 220 m.
In the center of the page there are 16 buildings of the temple. which became the parent of the other temples. For safety and convenience, visitors will be accompanied by a friendly staff and loyal.
The architectural, building Kalasan have a distinctive style, which is wide and protrudes out. In each of the viewer, there are several chambers of the four cardinal directions (west, east, south and north). In addition to adorning the four chambers of the outer side, there are also booths containing a throne made? of stone and has a pedestal, while the rest are on either side that there is a lion statue which stands on an elephant.
Sambisari discovered in 1966, by a farmer who was hoeing Karyowinangun property, then, the spade hit on the stone ukirang which is the cornerstone of the temple ruins.
If entered into the temple area then you can see a Lingga and Yoni. Lingga is itself a manifestation of Shiva, while Yoni is a manifestation of Sakti (wife) of Shiva. As for the exterior, you'll find some of the Hindu pantheon, namely Durga Mahisasuramardhini (north), Ganesh (east), Agastya (south), Mahakala and Nandiswara as a doorman. From these signs it can be seen that the religious background Sambisari is "Çiwaistis."
Of the three temples that we visit it can be seen that these temples is the pattern of Hindu-Buddhist-influenced by the socio-cultural context, especially in the Indian classical.
Ancient heritage has many benefits, one can know what faith is embraced by the public long ago, and hopefully useful.
Temple complex surrounding the small town of Siem Reap is now no longer hidden. Now, all people have friends who've never climbed the towers of Angkor Wat. De facto, become the main temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Towers visible in the middle of the Cambodian flag and the national beer labels, Angkor Beer. But there are hundreds of temples in Siem Reap, either already damaged or that are still maintained. Unless you are visiting for several weeks, no way you can see all the temples. Here are the three most favorite temple that I recommend to you visit. I did not include Angkor Wat for two reasons: 1) It's not my favorite, and 2) That a large temple complex with a complex history and significant, so you can not miss it.
Bayon
Bayon Temple is known as the Front (Temple of Faces). When you visit it, will very easily find out the reason behind the name - while climbing the steep stone steps toward the holy temple, hundreds of faces will look in your direction.
Although they seem to smile, I feel there is a little dangerous weather, as if waiting for makers of stone statues were to walk back from the forest. Although many temples were destroyed, it is still easy to imagine the incredible sight when the complex was first built - the house really worth the earth for the gods.
Banteay Srei
During the first ten minutes at Banteay Srei, you will continue to stare amazed intricate carvings on every inch the rock, wondering what exactly is it made of wood. Even with today's technology, almost unbelievable that the intricate patterns and details on the statue could be made in stone. This temple, unlike the others, made of red sandstone that is more easily carved and give reddish gold hue on the complex.
Most of the entrance and the tower of the temple are still preserved and intact condition (be careful of your head because the doors are quite short!), but some sculpture at the side of the staircase is actually a replica. Original statue is stolen or has been stored in museums. If there is an art contest, Banteay Srei will win easily because of the originality and attention to detail.
Ta Prohm
If you ever watch Tomb Raider, some movie scenes that take place in the temple of Ta Prohm, do not need special effects to give the impression of sinister and surreal. Temple complex is located in a state of near-collapse. For centuries, rooted tree on the temple walls. The conservationists temple let the trees because, so it has its roots, strengthen the construction of the temple tree. If omitted, then the remaining temple will collapse.
Siem Reap, the former army headquarters city of the country controlled by bloodthirsty ruler of the Khmer Rouge, now developed wonderfully into an international tourist destination. Even Siem Reap obtain status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
Though only 20 years ago this area off limits to tourists, local residents were terrorized and dominated by the fear of one of the most brutal regimes in the world.
Amazing Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat temple is the largest, most well maintained, has the most intricate designs and most admirable in Indochina, a jewel in the crown of a vast kingdom of Angkor.
The temple is a source of national pride and international recognition, encased reliefs of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Like most Hindu temples in Asia, Angkor Wat looks more beautiful at dawn or before sunset, when the sky filled with colors that highlight the five towers.
Nine Figures
For the first Asian to know you have to understand the trust on the continent, and this is seen clearly in the environment of Angkor Thom, a temple that was glued to the number nine. Saying "nine" is similar to the word "development", and almost everything on the temple can be compared to this figure - 54 towers carved, 216 faces in the tower, 54 gods to the left of the entrance, and 54 demons on his right - all these figures can be added up to a point 9.
Other Temples
Another Angkor temple is also famous Ta Prohm, roots of trees surrounded by hundreds of years old. The root of the tree makes Ta Prohm interesting photo so that the objects of successful reaching tourists.
Bayon is also known as "Temple's face", and when you are there, easy to understand why the name was girded. Once you climb the stone steps to the shrine inside the temple, when looking up will appear hundreds of stone carving faces looking at you. There is also Banteay Srei, a temple filled with amazing carvings fulfill every inch of stone there. Even with current technology, almost impossible to make the patterns as precisely and as complex as it is in stone sculpture.
River Revitalization
About 50 km northeast of Siem Reap, there is the Thousand Linga River flows into the river in Siem Reap are essentially filled with carvings Linga - the symbol of phallus which is very common in Cambodia. Estimates, carvings were made between 1100-1300 to symbolize fertility. Now the river is a perfect place to enjoy the tropical beauty of Siem Reap.
Tonle Sap
Siem Reap not only has a world famous archaeological sites, but also has one of the largest and most colorful lakes in Southeast Asia.
UNESCO has set the Tonle Sap as a biosphere reserve, nature reserve is a habitat for wildlife water several rare birds and became the only river in the world that the water flow changed two times a year.
Contemporary Art
Fine art in Siem Reap is in progress, you can find everything from cheap souvenirs to expensive art work. Some noteworthy places art lovers, among others: the McDermott Gallery, where world-class photography will Angkor and the surrounding area display; The Red Gallery, which has the most diverse collection of contemporary art from Cambodia, and The Asia Craft Center, where various kinds of traditional crafts in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.
Colonial Architecture
Siem Reap has colonial era buildings of the French heritage that is now converted properly. Located at the intersection and roundabout calm, the buildings became hotels, restaurants and the best gallery in Siem Reap, such as the Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor, the most luxurious hotels in the city was founded in 1932. The hotel was once visited by many VIP guests, including King Norodom Sihanouk, Charlie Chaplin, the Sultan of Johor and even Jacqueline Kennedy.
You are never on vacation to the island of Phuket, Thailand, probably never visited this place. Promthep Cape or Cape Promthep located at the southern tip of the island and is renowned as the perfect place to watch the sunset.
When I visited him in the daytime, this place looks great. Just like a rocky hill, similar to existing substations, substations in the area of tourism. The stalls selling drinks and souvenirs cash Thailand lined along the parking area. Some restaurants became a favorite haven for tourists who do not want to sting the sun.
The view toward the ocean blue, with green hills in the distance, looks beautiful though it is not different from the scenery in Phuket in general. Everyone awaits the moment of sunset.
More and more tourists coming in line with the turn of the sun into the western horizon. Each people jockeyed for position, looking for the most perfect place watch the sunset. The day was bright blue sky.
At 06 PM, the sun is increasingly losing heat, causing orange tinge. This is the right time to start taking a picture. Currently, the entire periphery view post has been filled with tourists. Maybe it's because on Sunday, local tourists also very numerous.
 |
| Heaven The sun chaser - Phuket |
The orange sun sank, creating an atmosphere that made?? everyone pause to enjoy. Reflections on the golden color of the sea surface creates a perfect blend with the natural surroundings.
To Cape Promthep from Phuket Town to Patong
Cape Promthep can be reached from the direction of Phuket Town, Wat Chalong through. You can along the main road to Chalong intersection, then take the coast road through Rawai Beach. Very easy to find this place because in Phuket there are quite a lot of directions.
If you depart from the coast, Patong Beach, for example, you live along the coast road through Karon and Kata beaches. Cape Promthep and Patong is about 18 kilometers.
To reach this place, and around Phuket in general, you can use a taxi or rent a Tuktuk (an alternative transportation in phuket). However, the most convenient and cheapest is to rent a motorcycle. In addition to more flexible time, also much easier to enjoy the scenery because it can quit at any time. Although the winding and up and down, the streets in this island are all paved smooth.
Survived chasing the sun!
