scuba diving in north sulawesi

North Sulawesi is known as The Land of Smiling People and lies in the very epicentre of the world’s marine biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It offers more than 100 different dive sites, all rich with tropical marine life, with diving all year round. It is also very easy to get to, with direct flights from Singapore 3-4 times a week, depending on the season.

There are three dive areas to choose from. The first area is the clear waters of the Bunaken National Marine Park which was voted the global winner of British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award in 2003. The amazing walls of the park teams with thousands of different fish species, with huge sponges and beautiful hard corals, and countless number of fascinating critters.

The second area on the other side of the mainland is Lembeh Strait, and it is known as the world’s best ‘muck-diving’. These waters are full of extraordinary marine critters, many of which are the masters of camouflage.

In the northern tip of the mainland between Bunaken and Lembeh you can find a group of tropical islands with white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs. This is the third diving area of Bangka Island with amazing soft corals and even more critters.

There is something for every diver in North Sulawesi. Whether you prefer to admire the steep coral walls of Bunaken National Marine Park, explore the reefs in Bangka area or dive in the enchanting world of nature’s little wonders in Lembeh Strait, we can guarantee that you will leave North Sulawesi rich with memorable experiences.

Between the diving you can visit the area’s other attractions. These include the bustling city of Manado, the lush vegetable gardens of the Minahasa highlands and the tropical jungles in Tangkoko Nature Reserve.

from : www.divenorthsulawesi.com

toba lake

Lake Toba is said to have been created by the massive Toba eruption that happened about 71500 years ago. It is said to be the largest volcanic eruption to have occured in the last two million years. It threw up 2800 cubic km of volcanic material (a volume equal to over ten times all the water within Lake Toba today). In comparison, the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helen emitted just 1 cubic km of material. More recent movement of the magma chamber pushed Samosir Island and Uluan Peninsula above the surface of the lake. This is due to the upward pressure exerted by the unerupted magma.

Just like at Tonle Sap, a whole civilisation developed on the shores of Lake Toba in the form of the Toba Batak people who inhabits the lake and Samosir Island.

Prapat is a major town on the east shore of Lake Toba. It is located on a peninsula that juts into the lake. On Samosir Island, major villages include Tuk Tuk, Tomok, Simanindo and Ambarita. A scenic mountain road skirts Lake Toba on its eastern shore affording scenic views of the lake. One of the best viewpoints of the lake is located just out of the village of Tongging, close to the Sipisopiso Waterfall.

Getting to Lake Toba
There are ferry boats from Prapat that will take you to Tomok on Samosir Island. In addition, many of the guesthouses on Samosir Island has direct ferry connection. You may also hire a boat from Prapat to take you to anywhere on Samosir Island, or simply for a joy ride on Lake Toba.

from : Lake Toba is approximately 90 km long and 900 m above sea level. The catchment area for Lake Toba includes peaks over 2000 m high. Being in the highlands, Lake Toba enjoys a cool temperature that averages 20ºC. 

Lake Toba is said to have been created by the massive Toba eruption that happened about 71500 years ago. It is said to be the largest volcanic eruption to have occured in the last two million years. It threw up 2800 cubic km of volcanic material (a volume equal to over ten times all the water within Lake Toba today). In comparison, the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helen emitted just 1 cubic km of material. More recent movement of the magma chamber pushed Samosir Island and Uluan Peninsula above the surface of the lake. This is due to the upward pressure exerted by the unerupted magma. 

Just like at Tonle Sap, a whole civilisation developed on the shores of Lake Toba in the form of the Toba Batak people who inhabits the lake and Samosir Island.

Prapat is a major town on the east shore of Lake Toba. It is located on a peninsula that juts into the lake. On Samosir Island, major villages include Tuk Tuk, Tomok, Simanindo and Ambarita. A scenic mountain road skirts Lake Toba on its eastern shore affording scenic views of the lake. One of the best viewpoints of the lake is located just out of the village of Tongging, close to the Sipisopiso Waterfall. 

Getting to Lake Toba
There are ferry boats from Prapat that will take you to Tomok on Samosir Island. In addition, many of the guesthouses on Samosir Island has direct ferry connection. You may also hire a boat from Prapat to take you to anywhere on Samosir Island, or simply for a joy ride on Lake Toba. 

from : Lake Toba is approximately 90 km long and 900 m above sea level. The catchment area for Lake Toba includes peaks over 2000 m high. Being in the highlands, Lake Toba enjoys a cool temperature that averages 20ºC. 

Lake Toba is said to have been created by the massive Toba eruption that happened about 71500 years ago. It is said to be the largest volcanic eruption to have occured in the last two million years. It threw up 2800 cubic km of volcanic material (a volume equal to over ten times all the water within Lake Toba today). In comparison, the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helen emitted just 1 cubic km of material. More recent movement of the magma chamber pushed Samosir Island and Uluan Peninsula above the surface of the lake. This is due to the upward pressure exerted by the unerupted magma. 

Just like at Tonle Sap, a whole civilisation developed on the shores of Lake Toba in the form of the Toba Batak people who inhabits the lake and Samosir Island.

Prapat is a major town on the east shore of Lake Toba. It is located on a peninsula that juts into the lake. On Samosir Island, major villages include Tuk Tuk, Tomok, Simanindo and Ambarita. A scenic mountain road skirts Lake Toba on its eastern shore affording scenic views of the lake. One of the best viewpoints of the lake is located just out of the village of Tongging, close to the Sipisopiso Waterfall. 

Getting to Lake Toba
There are ferry boats from Prapat that will take you to Tomok on Samosir Island. In addition, many of the guesthouses on Samosir Island has direct ferry connection. You may also hire a boat from Prapat to take you to anywhere on Samosir Island, or simply for a joy ride on Lake Toba. 

from : www.asiaexplorers.com

mount bromo

One of the most actively promoted attractions in East Java today is the excursion to Mount Bromo, situated in Tengger. It is a vast mountain, an eruption of massive proportions blew off its top leaving a huge caldera in which two peaks are located. One is the active volcano of Bromo and the other is the non-active of Mount Batok. 

The uniqueness of the area's characteristic is a reminiscent of a moonscape rather than anything related to the earth offers such breathtaking experiences, like observing sunrises and gazing into the volcano's crater.                                               Mt. Bromo is about 2,382 meters above sea level. Time has filled the caldera with grey sand and this expanse, which you walk across en route to Bromo itself, is known as the Sand Sea. It is about 10 km. 

Across the Sand Sea is Mount Batok with its almost perfect cone. To the south, Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Java provides a fining backdrop for this unearthly scene. While crossing the Sand Sea, low-lying fog which often envelops the caldera's floor, adds to the mystery of the surroundings. As the temperature drops several degrees, the combination of cold air and the strange echoing of horse's hoofs creates a fantastic sensation of walking across a huge frozen lake. Temperatures at the top of Mt. Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celsius.

In the south, there is a rolling upland plateau dissected by valleys and dotted with several small scenic lakes extending to the foot of Mt. Semeru, a towering grey forest-skirted cone dominating the southern landscape. The offering ceremony of Kasodo is held each year by Tenggerese on the 14th day of full moon Kesodo (Tenggerese Calendar). Inhabitants of Tengger Mountain gather at the rim of Mt. Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, livestock, and other local products to the God of the mountain. As adherents of religion combining elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, they ask for blessing from the supreme God Hyang Widi Wasa.

Tourists are driven to the small town of Ngadisari, about six km north-east of Bromo. It is the base camp of the expedition. Necessities for the trip include a torch, warm clothing and some alcoholic drinks as a protection against the freezing temperature which hovers between zero to five degrees Celsius (33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). From Ngadisari, the ascent to the crater takes about two hours on foot. On horse-back (ponies can be hired) the excursion takes about an hour and a half. Excursions normally start around midnight. 

Ngadisari also has hotel facilities. This enables trippers to stay the night and get up somewhat later than midnight for the trek to Bromo. The last stage of the trip is the flight of steps leading to the rim of Bromo's crater, and, finally, the incomparable view of the rising in the east.

from : www.petra.ac.id

borobudur temple

The expression of experts who had been studying Borobudur Temple varied someway. Bernet Kempers' expression was: "Borobudur is Borobudur", meaning that Borobudur Temple is very unique in her own way. Nieuwenkamp (an artist) imaginated Borobudur as "a big lotus flower bud ready to bloom" which was "floating" on a lake. Nieuwenkamp’s imagination was supported by N. Rangkuti (1987) that from the air, the Borobudur Temple looks floating. From the geological studies, experts were able to prove that Borobudur area was one time a big lake. Most of the villages around Borobudur Temple were at the same altitude, 235 meters above the sea-level. The same altitude included the Pawon and Mendut temples. Thus the area under 235 meter altitude was below the lake water level. 

LOCATION
This temple is located at Borobudur District, South of Magelang, Central Java. 

HISTORY
Based on the inscription dated 842 AD, Casparis suggested that Borobudur was one time a place for praying. The inscription stated a phrase such as: “Kawulan i Bhumi Sambhara”. Kawulan means the origin of holiness, "bhumi sambhara" is a name of a place in Borobudur. Paul Mus stated that Borobudur Temple had the structure of stupa (conical form) with double expression. As a whole, the Borobudur Temple was an open-flat stupa, but on the other hand, the temple expressed the idea of a “closed world”. The latter expression could be felt when one is already inside the temple. Whenever person is inside the temple, his or her view will be limited to high walls full on relieves, the verandah is always squared in such a way that one could not see other parts of the temple, even in a same floor. The same feeling happened if one stood on arupadhatu round platform, he or she will have a wider view only on that level, but are not able to see the lower level nor the upper level like the one on rupadhatu and kamandhatu. It could be said that Borobudur is a symbol of cosmic mountain covered by the sky roof, a specific world that could be reached through isolated alleys as stages. The closed structural design of the temple expressed the concept of a closed world, not just a technical reasons as had been suggested by other experts ( Daud AT, 1987) 

Borobudur was built by Sanmaratungga in the 8th century, and belongs to Buddha Mahayana. Borobudur was revealed by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1814. The temple was found in ruined condition and was buried. 

DESCRIPTION
The overall height was 42 meters, but was only 34.5 meters after restoration, and had the dimension of 123 x 123 meters (15,129 square meters). There were 10 floors. The first floor up to the sixth floor was square form, the seventh to the tenth floor were round form. 

Borobudur is facing to the East with a total of 1460 panels (2 meters wide each). Total size of the temple walls was 2500 square meters, full of relief. The total number of panels with relief was 1212. According to investigations, the total number of Buddha statue was 504 including the intact and damaged statues. The temple undergone restoration from 1905 to 1910, and the last restoration was done in 1973 to 1983. 

Ever since the first excavation, most experts speculated on the exact shape of the temple. Hoenig, in his book "Das form problem des Borobudur" speculate that the original form of Borobudur Temple had four gates and nine floors. The form of Borobudur Temple is similar to temples found in Cambodia. According to Parmenteir, the huge single stupa on top of the temple made the smaller stupas in the lower part looked drowned. Stutterheim who had been studying stupas in India and other parts of Asia concluded that the stupa structure was an Indian origin. The original purpose of stupa building was as storage of Buddha Gautama and other holy priests cremation ash. 

According to Stutterheim, the overall form of Borobudur Temple is a combination of zigurat (middle Asian Pyramid) and Indian stupa. Stutterheim opinion was supported by the existence of this type of form in Ancient Javanese literature. 

The relief of Borobudur temple started from the base of the temple up to the fourth platform. The relieves at the base contained the story of Karmawibhangga. Under the main panel and above the Karmawibhangga relief, a wide-sized relief was inscripted at the wall. From this point along the alley, the relief did not show story in the sequence, but as a repeating part of the story with the same motives which expressed the world of spiritual beings such as half demonic body (Gandharwa, giants or Yataka, dragon, Sidha or angels and their ladies friends, Apsara and Nagi, all of them are heavenly beings who are tender and beautiful. 

Division of panels are: the first panel expressed a heavenly being in sitting position, on both side of this panel are small panel with a small standing statue. This figures are repeated 26 times for each side of the wall. Between the panels is carved three bodies, a male flanked by two women.

from : WonderClub.com

First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350

It can get 30-plus mpg or dash to 60 mph in 6.5 sec. Its Agility Control suspension corners racetrack flat, yet its undercarriage can be armored for ramming over rough stuff. It's targeted at Sex-in-the-City women, but it wears sharp, angular styling that apes the butch GL-class. Does this fuel-crisis trucklet suffer multiple-personality disorder?

Globally, yes, but there will be some exorcisms before the GLK arrives in January. The off-road package is out due to lack of interest on our shores (similar packages are dropped on ML and GL too). Officials claim the package bestows Land-Rover LR2-equivalent capability, from a combination of a Downhill-Speed Regulation system that uses engine braking and the ABS gear to creep down hills at any programmed speed from 2-11 mph. An off-road switch changes the transmission, ABS, stability control, and engine control maps to better suit loose surfaces, and underbody armor made of fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastics provide protection and keep the hangy-downy bits from snagging on rocks. The COMAND system display shows steering angle, altimeter and compass info in this mode. Sad to say, the two diesel engines are also banished-the 34-mpg 2.1L twin-turbo four and the 30-mpg 3.0L variable-nozzle turbo V-6. That'll leave us with a 22-mpg 3.5L gas V-6 spinning a seven-speed and 4Matic all-wheel drive (rear drive follows a few months later) wearing the fanciest walnut trim, standard dual sunroofs, and 19- or 20-in. wheels.


We may not miss the off-road gear-4Matic's fixed 45/55 front/rear torque split, traction control, and 7.9-in. of ground clearance will get us where we're going, and the big wheels, fat tires, and taut suspenders are antithetical to billy-goating. We will miss the diesels unless brisk demand for BlueTec MLs and GLs earn one of them a reprieve. Cross your fingers for the teched-out four, featuring piezoelectric injectors squirting fuel at over 29,000 psi, dual overhead camshafts driven by gears from the back of the block, and sequential turbos-a small one that spools up quickly at low revs, and a big one for higher speeds. The GLK220 CDI only trails the GLK350 by only 2.0 sec to 60 mph, and by achieving 50-percent-better fuel consumption its owners could recover their $1000-$2000 option price during a typical lease, even if today's diesel-fuel pricing persists.

By Frank Markus

from : www.motortrend.com

BMW6

BMW's X6, the German automaker's curiously styled four-seat "sports-activity-coupe" crossover, is more than just a new vehicle in a segment made up by BMW's marketing department. The X6 is also a launch pad of sorts for a number of advanced technologies that'll undoubtedly be diffused throughout the rest of the automaker's lineup.

The X6 will come in two variants. The xDrive35i is powered by the now familiar 300-horse, 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six. But the big stuff what's under the xDrive50i's hood -- a new to the BMW lineup 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. Both engine variants are mated to a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and as the names imply, come standard with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system that sends 40 percent of the power to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear under normal driving conditions.

The new V-8 is rated at 400 horses and 450 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful engine ever available in a BMW sport/ute, easily topping the X5's 350-horsepower, 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Engine torque reaches its peak at 1800 rpm and stays there until 4500 rpm, which makes the M3's rev-happy V-8 -- with its 295 lb-ft of torque -- seem puny by comparison. BMW says the engine will propel the X6 from 0 to 60 in just 5.3 seconds -- an impressive number for a vehicle likely to weigh well over two tons and just 0.4 second slower than the 500-horsepower Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph on 20-inch-wheel-equipped models

Like the twin-turbo inline-six, the new V-8 uses direction fuel injection and two small turbochargers, one for each cylinder bank. The turbo units are innovatively packaged along with catalytic converters in the center of the block between the two cylinder banks. This packaging means reduced pressure losses due to shorter intake and exhaust manifolds, improving engine efficiency. And as with the twin-turbo six, BMW has worked hard to use the setup to help eliminate turbo lag, which will be especially helpful on a vehicle as heavy as the X6.

by :By Kirill Ougarov

from : www.motortrend.com

Hyundai Santa Fe Review

One of the fastest growing vehicle segments is midsize crossover SUVs, and it's easy to see why. These vehicles offer the style and functionality of a traditional SUV while providing the sporty ride quality, handling and fuel economy of a car. For much of this decade, Hyundai's offering has been the midsize Santa Fe.

There was a time when the only reasons to favor a Santa Fe over its competition were its low price, lengthy standard features list and Hyundai's generous warranty. Introduced for the 2001 model year, the first-generation model was affordable but failed to perform to the levels of its competition in most other areas. Thankfully, the all-new second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is a big step up in terms of styling and performance. Highlighted by its contemporary appearance and upscale and roomy interior design, the current model is one of the better values in the $20,000-$30,000 price bracket of the midsize crossover SUV class.


It takes only one glance at the second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, which bowed in 2007, to see that Hyundai has made a strong effort to move upmarket. The midsize SUV comes in three trim levels -- GLS, SE and Limited. The base GLS model is powered by a revamped version of the previous model's 2.7-liter V6, which now makes a respectable 185 horsepower with the help of variable valve timing. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is available as an option. The base drive configuration is front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional across all trim levels.

For many consumers, the SE trim is going to be appealing because of its more potent 3.3-liter V6. The 242-hp engine is available exclusively with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Limited trim is equipped with the same drivetrain and adds leather seats, a power driving seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Limited can also be had with an optional 605-watt Infinity sound system with 10 speakers (made standard, along with a sunroof, for '08) and a rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones.

Inside the Santa Fe, there is definitely a new contemporary feel and a higher level of comfort. The dash lights, gauges and displays glow blue, and the center stack controls are positioned neatly. An optional third-row seat, which bumps the vehicle's passenger capacity from five to seven, is optional. All trim levels are well-stocked with standard convenience and safety features and come with a generous powertrain warranty.

In our Hyundai Santa Fe reviews, we've found it to be an engaging SUV to drive. It's not as athletic as some competing crossover SUVs, but it is a solid-performing and practical SUV for city driving. The larger V6 engine is smooth and has plenty of power. Hyundai has clearly tuned the Santa Fe for family friendliness, so it's not exactly a thrill ride. Despite its hefty weight, the Santa Fe is easy to control and handles admirably. Complaints typically mention its average handling and braking capabilities. SE and Limited models are let down by an overly firm ride quality (due to their 18-inch wheels) and sluggish transmission downshifts.

Past Hyundai Santa Fe Models

The original Hyundai Santa Fe was launched in 2001 as Hyundai's first foray into the SUV market. It was a solid effort. Sold until 2006, the initial model was notable for its pleasant ride and roominess. There were two engine options -- a 149-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 177-hp 2.7-liter V6. The Santa Fe was available in three trim levels (GL, GLS and LX) and with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

In road tests, we found that the original Hyundai Santa Fe handled well in most situations, both on pavement and during light-duty off-roading. However, the interior was still a work in progress, as the switchgear looked and felt cheap and plasticky. Another annoyance was the awkward placement of the spare tire underneath the vehicle. We didn't find its exterior styling to be particularly engaging either.

When new, this Santa Fe was outclassed by other top crossover SUVs, but it still represents a decent used-vehicle purchase. There are a few changes to be aware of when deciding what model year to purchase. The first real improvements came for 2003 when Hyundai added a 195-hp, 3.5-liter V6 to the engine lineup. It gives the SUV peppy acceleration, but fuel mileage with this engine is poor. In 2005, Hyundai discontinued the four-cylinder engine, gave the Santa Fe an interior and exterior styling refresh and made antilock brakes standard across the line. In its final year of 2006, a Limited trim level with leather seating and automatic climate control debuted.

from : www.edmunds.com