Bledug Kuwu (Grobogan.co.id)

While thousands of people living in Sidoarjo consider mud volcano as disaster, villagers Kuwu regards it a gift from nature. Kuwu of Kradenan, Grobogan regency, Central Java  is the location of the earliest mud burst known to Indonesians.

Bledug Kuwu, the local name for the mud flow, is an example of such volcanic activity that lasts for hundred years and is still continuing. To witness this natural phenomenon, one will need an hour drive from Purwodadi, the capital town of Grobogan regency.

Bledug Kuwu is the most prominent natural attraction on the regency. Entering the area, one will easily notice the drastic change compared to the forest surrounding it. The barren dried mud has no vegetation and infertile. In contrast to the nearby villages, the surroundings of Bledug Kuwu is much hotter; on midday the temperature could reach 31 Celsius degree or more.

The ground zero is mainly a hole always filled with hot volcanic mud. On its 650 sq m epicenter, hot liquid mud is still flooding the area and explosion from geothermal activity is still heard continuously. The blast is the result of flammable gas coming out from the earth blocked by the mud.

More pressure of the gas from geothermal activity creates larger explosion. Average explosion occured consecutively once every two or three minutes could lift the mud and water up to 5 meters into the air. Locals say that a big burst could even create small quakes that quivers the area.

The eruption spots shift positions from time to time. According to the myth, locals named the main spot to the east Mbah Jokotuo and one to the west Mbah Rodenok. Today, the mud covers some 40 acres of field with the highest altitude reaching 53 m above sea level.

The existence of salt and a grass species called Suket Grinting are likely the source of the myth about Bledug Kuwu having a channel connected to the South Sea. Taking the mythical Medang Kamolan kingdom as its setting, it tells that Joko Linglung, the main character, made the channel when heading to Indian Ocean to the south to defeat his enemy and back.

According to several written records, the phenomenon of Bledug Kuwu has existed long before the establishment of Old Mataram Kingdom (732M-928M). The name itself came from local interpretation of the phenomenon. Bledug means explosion or explode and Kuwu, derived from the word Kuwur, means burst or scattered on the air.

For locals living on the villages nearby, Bledug Kuwu has long been considered as an important source for their income. This area has been famous for its  indigenous salt called Garam Bleng. Scientific research revealed that the salt from the area, unlike that of sea water, naturally contains high amount of iodine.

Karimunjawa (Wikipedia)

Karimunjawa is one of only a few island cluster to the north sea of Java. The 111.625 Ha island cluster is situated 45 nautical miles from the main land. The islands belong to Jepara regency is inhibited by around 8.800 people.

Karimunjawa consists of 22 small islands. Most of the inhabitant live in 5 main islands of Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Parang, Nyamuk, and Genting. In 1986, Karimunjawa was officially appointed a Marine Natural Preserve.

The protection status of Karimunjawa was increased to National Park in 1999 and then Marine Natural Conservation area in 2001. Simultaneously to this, Karimunjawa gets more attention from scientific community. They often make scientific research related to marine life on the island.

Fringing reef, barrier reef, and patch reef are constituting reef cluster lying to the bottom of Karimunjawa sea. Its marine biodiversity consists of more than 90 kinds of hard coral and 242 fish species.

Karimunjawa protects mainly 2 species of sea plant, locally called akar bahar (Antiphates spp.) and karang merah (Tubipora musica). Among preserved sea animals are Cassis cornuta, triton (Charonia tritonis), nautilus (Nautilus pompillius), Turbo marmoratus, dan 6 species of Kima.

Above ground, Karimunjawa National Park also protect some species of mammals and birds. The population of deer (Cervus timorensis subspec) and Kemujan Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis karimondjawae) are deprived from irresponsible hunting activities. To make the task easier, the organizer of the National Park permits only people with a license to enter certain islands.

Burung and Geleang islands are home for 40 bird species, including a rare species of White-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), green imperial pigeon (Ducula aenea), yellow vented bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier). On the floor of its coast, hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) occasionally lay their eggs.

There are many interesting activities can be done on a trip to this enchanting islands. The color-rich underwater life provides great places for diving and snorkeling. These spots are spread on the islands of Menjangan Besar, Menjangan Kecil, Geleang, Bengkoang, Parang, Kembar, Katang, Krakal Kecil, dan pulau Kumbang.

A family will safely take their children to sail on a glass bottom boat. Without plunging into water, children can see the colorful underwater live. At Menjangan Besar island there is a salt water aquarium for visitors who have phobia to sea.

Away from the sea, you can climb the 600 m tall Gandero, the islands’ tallest peak situated on Karimun island. Wildlife observation activity can be done throughout Burung and Geleang islands with a prior notice to National Park guards.

Today, Karimunjawa is developed as eco-tourism village. Its inhabitant are urged to run businesses related to tourism, such as opening homestays, floating houses, hotels, and souvenir shops. Forty homestays and motels with the room price ranging from IDR100,000.00-300,000.00 are already available throughout the islands. The island’s souvenir centers are Al Badri in Legon Cikmas village and Labiki on Kapuran Street.

Borobudur (Wikipedia)

There is no doubt that Borobudur is still the major object of interest in Central Java and Yogyakarta areas. Being a great Buddhist temple makes Borobudur unstoppable in inviting curiosity and applause from people around the world. Borobudur is factually situated on Central Java, however, it becomes the major tourist attraction for Yogyakarta.

Borobudur temple is atop of a hill in Boro village of Magelang Regency. Its easier to reach the temple from 40-kilometer-away Yogyakarta than from any other major cities. Similar to Solo, Semarang is around 100 km away from Borobudur.

Borobudur was built by Mahayana Buddhist follower when Syailandra Dynasty ruled the area around 800. Borobudur is now still the largest  single Buddhist temple in the world. Its base is a 123 x 123 meter square with 1460 reliefs and 72 stupas atop of it. After several renovations, the total height of the temple was decreased into only 34,5 meters from previously 42 meters.

As many other religious buildings, Borobudur takes a pyramidal shape as its basic form. Divided into 10 levels, the first 6 levels are horizontally square while the next four are round. According to Buddhist, every level of the temple represents each sequence of human life and death with a stupa on top representing the complete isolation from the world.

The lowest 2 levels are Kamadhatu, representing human that bound to desire. Their surfaced are carved with relief telling the worldly life. The next 4 levels are Rupadhatu, representing human that is able to control his desire but still trapped in physical, rotten body. These levels are decorated with open stupas.

The next three levels are Arupadhatu, representing human that is able to get away from his own worldly desire and body. This part of the temple is filled with incompletely closed stupas. The peak of the temple is Arupa, representing the nirvana. Arupa is the largest and the only fully closed stupa on the temple.

Borobudur is one of UNESCO-sponsored international heritage situated in Indonesia. Tourism in this temple is organized by PT. Taman Wisata Candi (TWC), the organized that also develops tourism in Prambanan and Ratu Boko temples.

After admiring the temple, visitors can walk their way into traditional villages not far from the temple complex. An alternative for enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of traditional villages is by riding horse chart. If you want to stay, there are some villages where you can easily find yourself a nice room in a home stay.

Candirejo is one of villages developed as tourism village near Borobudur temple. It has a handful of homestays. To maintain its traditional atmosphere, the villagers agreed to limit the use of electronical devices. Tourism information center is already available on its Co-operation office.

Some traditional art performances are scheduled annually. Wanurejo Cultural Fest and Aksobya dance performance were held on the streets and open space around the temple. Some activities during the fest were cultural parade, exhibition, and cultural night.

To add more attraction on Borobudur temple complex, Borobudur gallery of unique and art will soon be built to replace Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) building that was closed last January. This gallery will be on the slope of Dagi Hill around 100 meters to the west of the temple, but still within the complex.

From the city of Purwokerto, Baturaden is easily reached using land transportation. There are plenty of mass transportation serves the route from Purwokerto to Baturaden. The trip will takes only 15-20 minutes. Visitors who drive their own vehicels must be careful as this route is plenty with winding roads with the elevation up to 30 degrees.

Baturaden is on the altitude of 640 meters above sea level. It has a handful of natural beauty potential for tourism. Situated some 1.5 km from the main entrance of Baturaden, Baturaden Botanical Garden lies in Kemutuk Lor village. This Botanical Garden is equipped with a camping ground wide enough for around 1000 small tents. Baturaden Botanical Garden is the original habitat of several species of mammal and reservation area to some trees.

Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) the scientific board running all the botanical garden in Indonesia is successful in identifying flora species of this region. Kauri or Dammar(Agathis borneensis), Schima (Schima wallichii), Altingia excelsa, Mahogany (Switenia macrophylla), kaliandra (Callyandra sp), epiphyt, Nepanthes sp. and various kinds of orchid are the identified species.

Not only with plenty species of flora, Baturaden Botanical Garden is also enriched with some animal species, such as warthog, wild chicken, monkey, ferret, and several species of snake. The population of wild deer and Java eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi) is decreasing fast during the last two decades resulting from logging activities. One species endangered by extinction but still believed to be exist in the forest around Baturaden and Mount Slamet is Leopard (Phantera pardus).

The best selling point of Baturaden Botanical Garden is the existence of Kaloka Widya Mandala Park. Also called Wanasuka Educational Tourism, the park that is open for public in 1995 is a zoo for educational tourism. It has some rare collections including a fife-legged cow, three-legged goat, Elephant, Salt water crocks from papua, Phytons, Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Orangutan, and Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

A year after open for public, Baturaden’s Kaloka Widya Mandala Park wins a competition as one of the best tourism sites in Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta. This park is also equipped with a Rare Animal Museum which keep the colloctions including Sumatrans Tiger, Honey Bear, and Leopard.

As normally a plateu, Baturaden has plenty of places using water as the main interest. Among them are Pancuran Telu, Pancuran Pitu, Sarabadak Cave, and Telaga Sunyi. Pancuran Telu and Pancuran Pitu are natural hot springs believed for having virtue in curing skin and bone disease. The water from these hot springs contains a high level of sulfur.

Situated near to Pancuran Pitu, Sarabadak Cave is also a natural hot springs located inside a shallow cave which decorated by beautiful yellow stone. Telaga Sunyi is a small lake situated around 3 km east of Baturaden. Visitors of this lake can watch butterflies and dragonflies roaming the beautiful scenery of the surroundings during a certain season.

Visitors do not have to worry about the lodging. There are plenty of villas and rooms to rent at some motels on the center of Baturaden sub-district. The cool air will make you fresh and hard to get away from this mountain resort. There are also supporting facilities available in the area, such as restaurant, inormation center, and souvenir kiosks. If visitors wants to keep in touch with city life, Purwokerto offers some star hotels and motels that will comfort visitors and their family

Benteng Pendem (Cilacap.go.id)

Nusakambangan is probably one of the most familiar terms for Indonesian regarding law enforcement. It is the Indonesian Alcatraz situated on Cilacap regency of Central Java, where most dangerous criminals are jailed or executed. Facing this island on the mainland, there is a building that marks how important Cilacap was during colonial era. It is Benteng Pendem.

Benteng Pendem was a Dutch fort name Kusbatterij od de Lantong te Tjilatjap. During VOC era, it is the main defence for Cilacap harbour, the final destination for spice trafic along the south coast of Java before taken straight to Netherland. It is so-called Benteng Pendem for it was buried 4 meters under the surface of the hill nearby when the first time locals discovered it.

Excavated since 1987, the fort was reveled in relatively intact condition. Benteng Pendem was built between 1861-1879 on 10 acres of beach wall. Today, it covers only 6 acres land. The lack of historical record and information causes some the rest of its area to the north taken and functioned as part of the area coverage of Pertamina (Indonesian Mining and Oil Company).

Sitting only on a slightly higher level than the sea, Benteng Pendem was buried in purpose since its first construction as an undercover defence. The special experience of the Dutch damming up the beach can be seen from the fort’s construction. Instead of flooding the fort, sea water enters the compound during the flood tide and fills the moat for extra protection.

Upon entering Benteng Pendem, thick and bare stack of brick on the mason wall welcome everyone with eerie atmosphere. Haughty, you can feel the harsh time of colonial era from the fort. Its main entrance is a wide curved gate. This half circle opening and ceilling can be found in major parts of Benteng Pendem.

Inside the fort, darkness is blinding for a while as your eyes previously adapting the brightly shining sun outside. Eerie atmosphere is getting even thicker when your skin feel the moist but dry air on the interior. Dark corridors inter-relates a chamber from the others. Bringing flashlight is advisable during the tour.

It takes about an hour to explore entire part of the fort. It has 60 chambers totally, with fourteen as barracks, thirteen as cannon storages, seven for defense fort, and the rest for headquarters, weaponry storage, surveillance, prison, ammunition storage, aid station, and kitchen. Due to bad condition from aging, some parts of the fort were left buried.

Overall, Benteng Pendem is among only a few Dutch buildings that remain architecturally and physically intact. There is a vent on each room of cannon storage section. The holes are facing the sea as the cannons placed inside them as the sea defense. Right across them is a chamber previously the fort’s former aid station.

Each visitor should pay IDR2.500,00 for admission ticket, a very cheap price comparing with the knowledge we get. There are gazebo and a children playground for visitors taking after enjoying the fort compound. Apart from its gloomy atmosphere, Benteng Pendem is a good alternative for an adventurous trip the area.