Kuta Beach

Once a lonely little village on the road from Denpasar to Bukit Peninsula, Kuta is now the tourist Mecca of Bali, popular mainly among the young and adventurous. Kuta beach is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. Coconut trees line the sand beach as far as the eyes can see towards the north stopped by the runway of Denpasar's airport far in the west.

The sunset in Kuta is most breathtaking. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport's runway, which gives the visitors a breathtaking landing experience. Kuta Beach bustles with tourists' vendors and locals. It's the most popular beach in Bali and the island's number one party zone. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, the waves will invite to surfing. Rapid development and an influx of visitors haven't kept the surfers away and Kuta still remains one of Bali's best surfing beaches and a great place to enjoy a beach lifestyle.

The text taken from www.indonesia-tourism.com

Lake Toba

Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1707 sq km (1,000 sq km bigger than Singapore) with an island in the center. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is probably the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Some studies say it might have been associated with causing previous ice age/climate change and the largest human population bottleneck ever. Genetic estimates suggests that there where only a few thousand individuals that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle - Pulau Samosir - was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. Samosir island is the cultural centre of Batak tribe who are mostly Christians in the modern days.
Most visitors fly to Medan and then travel by land to Parapat, the town by Lake Toba. Parapat is about 4 hours by car from Medan (4-6 hours by public bus). Public Bus fee is 22,000 IDR. A scheduled and shared 7 passenger minivan costs 60,000 IDR and can be arranged by most hotels in Medan (Feb 08). Raja Taxi +62 (0)617 366-555 operates a shared cab service leaving from Medan airport at scheduled times that costs 75,000 IDR per person (Dec 08). Alternatively, you can book the whole taxi, a Toyota Avanza which seats seven, for 450,000 IDR. Parapat is a nice little town with reasonable hotels/guest houses, good food options and so on. However its on the island itself that you get the real feeling of Danau Toba.
here are hot springs on the western side of the island just across the causeway from Pangururan. The water is hot. Locals usually use their hands to get some water out of the pool, standing in the pool is possible, but you probably won't be able to swim. The fee to enter to the surroundings is Rp. 2'000. The pools are free, there's some special foreigner pool for Rp 10'000.

Tikus Temple

Tikus Temple (the 'rat temple') is located about 500 meters south east of Bajang Ratu Temple. Precisely located in Temon village, Trowulan district, Mojokerto regency, sized 16 m length, 16 m width, and 3,5 m height. Restored to its present condition between the years 1985 and 1989, the site comprises the remains of an ancient ritual bathing place (petirtaan) dating from Majapahit period.

The principal building originally consisted of two terraces, upon which a concentric arrangement of 'turrets' surrounded the highest part of the structure, located in the centre. This form may be seen to reflect that of the holy Mt Mahameru of Hindu mythology, from which is believed to spring the elixir of immortality. The unusual name of this temple is connected with the circumstances of its discovery in 1914. At that time, apparently, the neighborhood was experiencing a plague of rats. Each time efforts were made to exterminate them, however, the creatures would disappear down a hole in a small hillock. On the order of the old regent of Mojokerto, Kromojoyo Adinegoro, the mound was consequently excavated with the purpose of destroying the rats' nest. The result was the discovery of one of Trowulan's most important archaeological sites.

the text taken from www.eastjava.com

Welcome To Trowulan

WELCOME TO TROWULAN TOURISM

Trowulan site is supposed to be the center of Majapahit Kingdom years ago that has 11 km x 9 km width. This site covers Mojokerto and Jombang regency region. In this region, there are a lot of archaeological heritage for example, temple (Bajangratu, Gentong, Wringinlawang, etc), pool (Segaran Pool, Tikus), gateway, foundation of building, and artifact like statue, relief, some equipment of ceremony, and household.

These ancient heritage amounts make the researcher interesting. First research noted in 1815 by Wardenaar as Raffles command, booked in "History of Java" (published 1817, Raffles masterpiece). The next researchers are WR Van Hovell (1849), JFG BRUMUND (1854), and Jonathan Rigg, which published as "Jurnal of The Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia". Hereinafter, there were many researches to this site, include Mojokerto regent RAA Kramadjaja Adinegara, Tikus temple inventor in 1914. During his leadership it also built museum Mojokerto that save many Majapahit Kingdom objects that being found in this site.

The famous ancient researcher in this site is Henri Maclaine Port. This Dutch Architect had built special research office of Trowulan site. The dig result (1924 - 1926) matched with description in Kitab Negarakertagama and resulted reconstruct sketch of Majapahit city. Majapahit city tight depicted in roads network form and circumference wall formed foursquare blocks. Through air photograph (1981), there is canals and dam around this site. This thing can be made one of evidence that Majapahit Kingdom was agrarian kingdom with adequate fertile soil and irrigation.

After Maclaine Pont research, since 1953 the research in this site done by Dinas Purbakala dan Peninggalan Nasional Seksi Bangunan (Department of Archeology And National Heritage of Building Section) in Trowulan. Since 1970 presents Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional (Center of National Archeology Research) to dig and check exhaustively in this site.

Eastern Javanese history usually divided into three dynasti periods. The first was the period when the kings of Kadiri ruled over Java (10th - 1222 AD) they ware succeeded by the dynasty of Singasari (1222 - 1293 AD), which in turn was replaced by the kings of Majapahit (1293 - early 16th century).

Majapahit’s Power reached its summit under the rule of King Hayam Wuruk. Gajah Mada was again prime minister until his death in 1365 AD. After Hayam Wuruk died in 1389 AD. The country was split up by fraternal conflicts. Hayam Wuruk had been succeeded by the crown princess Kusumawarddhani, who had married with a relative, Prince Wikramawarddhana.

The text takan from www.eastjava.com