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10 GreatEscape DestinationsTake a break from your routine and make

a go to these must-visit places around the globe. By Tyara Putri

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| 33MAY - june 2011 EXPRESSION

Raja Ampat, Papua

The Raja Ampat (Four Kings) archipelago encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province. Located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in the world. As the Raja Ampat Islands have four mountainous main islands and hundreds of small islands in their vicinity, you may want to take this opportunity to explore. In addition, the Karst area is a beautiful and original natural phenomenon, as it has various unique flora and fauna as its attractions like Bird of Paradise (Cenderawasih) Botak, Red Cenderawasih, Maleo Waigeo, Kus-kus, orchids, palm, etc. You can also trek around the islands to find hidden beauties, like waterfalls and ancient caves.

If you are flying from Jakarta, you can take a six hour flight to Sorong with a stopover in Manado. Alternatively, you can join a diving tour in Bali and fly from there. You will find Sorong just like any other city where you can get almost everything, although prices are higher due to its remote location. Usually only divers come to Raja Ampat, so you will not find many other tourists around. Joining a tour is the most common practice when visiting Raja Ampat. You do not have to be a professional diver to join a tour, as tour operators sell tours ranging for both for divers and non-divers.

LOCAL

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Weh Island, SabangWeh is a beautiful island located at the north western tip of

Sumatra. It presents the western most part of the Indonesian archipelago - the world’s largest, stretching some 4.000 km to the east. The great attraction of this small island is its scenic beauty. Weh’s rugged terrain, rocky caves, harbour views, hillside lookouts, marvellous beaches, and sleepy traditional villages all attest to these. The island of Weh is surrounded by other smaller islands including Klah, Rubiah, Seulako, and Rondo. Together, all these islands cover an area of 154 square kilometers with the population concentrated on the main island of Weh.

Some popular destination one can see in Weh Island are Sabang, a small town which grown since the Era of colonisation when Portuguese Trader, British Trader and Dutch Trader come to Indonesia for Spices, Coffee and other Agriculture business. Then some tourist spots Gapang, Iboih and Rubiah Island, Water Front Resort where we can find a diversified of marine life and Indonesia Zero Kilometer. Situated at the convergence of the Indian and Pacific oceans, the coral reefs around Weh teem with a great diversity of fish species. The island’s beaches are a haven for nesting sea turtles, and its waters are full of healthy populations of whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and reef sharks.

Bunaken, ManadoThe Bunaken National Marine Park was formally

established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia’s growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.

The thing to do in Bunaken is dive, dive and dive! However, the steep walls and occasionally strong, rapidly changing currents mean that many sites cater more to the intermediate or advanced diver, although there are beginner-friendly sites too and all dive shops can arrange intro dives and Open Water Diver courses. The North Sulawesi Water Sports Association offers oodles of detail on diving in the park. The park also offers outstanding snorkelling. The snorkelling is fantastic just in front of many of the resorts that surround the island, with an incredible amount of marine life living in the shallows and also on the outer walls. Remember not to snorkel without fins as the currents can sometimes be strong, and change quickly even when they are not. Pick a reference point on the island and do not stray too far unless you are a confident swimmer.

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| 35MAY - june 2011 EXPRESSION

Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan

Located on the island of Borneo in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan, Tanjung Puting National Park is the largest and most diverse protected example of coastal tropical heat and peat swamp forest. It covers roughly 3,040 square kilometres and has low lying swampy terrain through which flow black water rivers. Towards the north, Tanjung Puting is characterized by gentle hills and gold-bearing alluvial plains. The area was originally declared as a game reserve in 1935 and a National Park in 1982.

Today Tanjung Puting National Park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centers. The best known animals in Tanjung Puting National Park are the orang-utans, although proboscis monkeys as well as seven other primate species are also present in the park. Tanjung Puting is also listed as a Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Reserve. It occupies most of the peninsula between Teluk Kumai and the Seruyan River. There are three orang-utan rehabilitation stations in the park which work to return orang-utans to the wild.

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Komodo Island, FloresKomodo National Park is located in the center of the

Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park’s biological importance.

As you stroll along the island filled by the savannas you will meet giant lizard, The Komodo Dragon lived as they are never disturbed by the existence of people. Even more amazing, when you stay at the ranger lodge, you will be amazed by the presence of the Komodo dragons around the lodge. In order to provide more security, houses in this area are constructed uniquely and leave a spacious area below thus Komodo dragon cannot enter their house. It must be challenging yet astonishing experience and great adventure for being close with this Komodo dragon in the wild life.

All these Komodo highlights don’t mean that you can do anything else in this island. With a great variety of hard and soft corals, plenty of fish life and other marine creatures, here you can find many dive sites for your underwater unforgettable experience.

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Gold Coast, AustraliaGold Coast is among Australia’s most popular family-friendly

destinations, thanks to the variety of attractions and activities on offer for kids of all ages. Whether you have toddlers or teens in tow, there is plenty to keep them amused. A day or three out at any of the city’s theme park is an easy win for most families. There are oodles to choose from, including the big five –Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, White Water World and Movie World – as well as several smaller ones.

If it’s all about rides then Dreamworld leads the way with their Big Size adrenalin rush rides. On a smaller scale, Adrenaline Park in Surfers Paradies boasts bungee trampolines, a giant slingshot, fly roller coaseter, and more. For animal lovers, try Sea World where you can watch polar bears at play, swim with dolphins and even pat a sting ray. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to get up close and personal with all kinds of Aussie wildlife. For dinner with a difference, the Australian Outback Spectacular offers top family fun with an action-packed glimpse into life in an outback cattle station featuring live animals and super-flexible stunt riders over a bush-themed feed. Movie buffs can see how their favourite films come together at Warner Bros Movie World.

INTERNATIONAL

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Las Vegas, USAIt is safe to say that as the most populous city in Nevada,

Las Vegas is also one of the most exciting and entertaining city in the world. Internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining, Las Vegas offers luxurious casino hotels as well as wonderful live entertainment and state of the art convention and trade show facilities.

If you are looking to enjoy the great outdoor recreation beyond the glamour and glitter, Vegas have plenty to see. There are enchanting panoramas in the Red Rock National Conservation area, Lake Mead National Recreation area and at Mount Charleston; all are only minutes away from Las Vegas Strip hotels and casinos. Care to try new high end experience? You got to try their helicopter tours.

If you happen to be in Vegas on the first Friday of the month, there is a celebration which exhibits the works of local artist and musicians in the Arts District. The Thursday prior to that First Friday is known as ‘Preview Thursday’ where new gallery exhibitions just opening throughout the district.

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Ibiza, SpainIf you are true party-goers then Ibiza should really be on your

‘must-visit’ list. Its reputation as club paradise has earned it the title of party capital of Europe. Clubbing-wise, it just doesn’t get bigger or better than Ibiza where the most grandiose and spectacular range of clubs anywhere in the world, every serious DJ and promoter around and a relentless summer clubbing agenda. Add in the hundreds of charming, scenic and intimate bars across the island and you have one of the world’s iconic destinations for donning those dancing shoes and letting the good times roll.

20 minutes drive from Ibiza Town there is San Antonio that happens to be one of the most popular places on the island of Ibiza. The pre-season months of May and June, and the later months of September and October are the times for couples to enjoy the new promenade, the safe, shallow waters of the bay and the fantastic beaches, just a short ferry ride away, while during the high season months of July, August and the beginning of September are the best time to come if you are looking for buzzing nightlife.

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Santorini, GreeceSantorini is actually a complex of five

islands where Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Karmeni and Nea Kameni. Santorini’s famous beaches are spread out mainly along the eastern and the south-eastern side of the island. Each beach has special characteristics, which make it unique and outstanding. The black shining pebbles, the unique land formations, the black, white and red sand, make up unforgettable scenery. Most beaches are well organized offering the choice of lounging chairs, umbrellas, and various water sports.

Santorini is also well-known as one of the most ideal wedding destination worldwide. You can choose the location depending on the type of ceremony you prefer, be it civil wedding, Catholic wedding or Orthodox wedding. Besides, the romantic and famous island of Santorini provides such a great variety of choices to satisfy all kinds of tastes. Here you can find quite a few wedding organizers on the islands who can take care of every detail concerning the wedding of your dream.

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| 41MAY - june 2011 EXPRESSION

Maldives, Maldives

Stands in the Laccadive Sea, about seven hundred kilometers (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and (250 mi) south-west of India, Maldives is definitely a holiday destination highly regarded by many holidaymakers. Out from the city life and back to the nature, Maldives is suitable for honeymoon, diving and underwater adventures, or high end spa experience. Maldives Islands, which constitute a group of over thousand islands, are an idyllic private retreat from the rigors of everyday life.

The Maldives consist of 26 natural atolls, approximately 1190 islands in all and most of them uninhabited. Most of the resorts are to be found in Malé (Kaafu) Atoll. A few are found in Vaavu, Baa and Lhaviyani. All resorts offer night-fishing trips, superb snorkelling and windsurfing, and most have facilities for scuba diving, catamaran sailing, para-sailing, banana-boating, water-skiing and volleyball. Some offer other sporting facilities, including badminton and tennis.

For a truly blissful experience on an island paradise, there is a lot of spa destination you can head to. With views of the peaceful underwater sea life or looking out onto the turquoise Indian Ocean, top spas like Jive Grande Spa (Taj Hotel) or Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat (Four Seasons Resorts) have indulgent treatments in awe-inspiring surroundings unlike anywhere else.