Who Loves Travel
Everyone loves travel, and this is for all of you Who Loves Travel...
Amazing places that you should go.
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert
Dreamland beach, Bali, Indonesia
Raja Ampat
Photograph by Daniela Dirscherl, Getty Images
An emerging island Eden in Indonesia
Raja Ampat has been dubbed the Amazon of the Oceans. Is that hyperbole? Not really. There are single reefs here containing more species than the entireCaribbean. A mini-archipelago of rain-forest-clad islands, cays, mangroves, and pearlescent beaches off the coast of West Papua, Indonesia, this marine frontier brims with life. Expect close encounters with recent discoveries such as Raja Ampat’s walking shark and pygmy seahorse, along with more familiar creatures—manta rays, leatherback turtles, and bumphead parrotfish. Not to mention three-quarters of all known coral species.
The scenery proves just as spectacular above the surface. On Wayag, steep limestone karsts drenched in jungle bisect a cobalt lagoon. Tree canopies filled with rare birds offer lofty theater. It’s well worth rising at 3 a.m. to witness the amorous, flamenco-like mating dance of the endemic red bird of paradise.
Remote doesn’t mean rough here. Cruise the region aboard an upscale conversion of a traditional phinisi schooner or stay at a hideaway such as Misool Eco Resort, with its swanky overwater bungalows. Diving is the draw, but kayaking and trekking are picking up. This is nature at its most vivid, above and below the water. —Johnny Langenheim
Krakal Beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Coral Reef, Sulawesi
Photograph by Tim Laman
Scuba divers explore a coral reef off Manado Tua Island. The island nations of the tropical western Pacific cradle the richest coral life on the planet. The development of reefs owes much to oceanic volcanoes such as Manado Tua, near the northeastern tip of Sulawesi. The submerged slopes of the volcanoes give corals a toehold on which to grow.
Must-Do Trip: Surfing the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Surfer
A collection of islets off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, the Mentawai Islands bear the brunt of the Indian Ocean’s fury, which means one thing to surfers: a tantalizing abundance of waves.
“Every surfer, regardless of their ability, needs to do a surf trip to the Mentawai Islands,” says Layne Beachley. “There’s an enormous variety of conditions, from barrels to deep-bottomed playful waves, complemented by accommodations for all budgets and creature comforts. It is a dream adventure.”
Some surfers charter boats and cruise between surf breaks, and others stay at a resort and boat to waves daily. For either approach, simply getting to this remote archipelago is the hard part. The rest is simple: Catch waves all day, sip cocktails on the beach, eat, sleep, repeat.
Mount Semeru and Mount Bromo
Photograph by John Stanmeyer/National Geographic Stock
Some Indonesians believe that belching volcanoes such as Mount Semeru (in background) and Mount Bromo (in foreground) are portals to a subterranean world that has shaped not only Indonesia’s landscape but also its beliefs and culture. A long exposure time captured stars in this photo—and the brief balanced light from both a fading moon and a brightening eastern sky.
Pura Ulun Danu Temple, Bali, Indonesia
Borobudur - Buddhist temple, Indonesia
Sumur Tiga Beach, Sabang, Aceh, Indonesia
(Photo by yoeozar)
(via novahana)
