The Orangutans of Tanjung Puting National Park
4 December 2012
Categories : Adventure - Hiking, Trekking, and Eco - Travelings
Looking deep into their eyes, knowing you as a homo sapien share 97% of the same genetic code as them, it’s hard not to feel a kinship with orangutans. The endangered orangutans in Borneo first entered my consciousness when I met Gela, my Dutch trekking partner in Nepal. I remember seeing a photo of her sitting next to one of the large, orange-haired primates, and knowing then that I wanted to see them too. Borneo, the commonly known name of the Asian...
Tag : Tanjung Puting National Park : Re-introducing Orang Utans to the Wild
Face to Face with the Komodo Dragon
3 December 2012
Categories : Travelings - Adventure - Hiking, Trekking, and Eco - Sightseeing
Without a doubt, the Orangutan along with the Komodo dragon represents the wildlife highlights of Indonesia. They are unique to this geography. If you want to see them in their native habitat, you have to get on a plane (or boat) and travel here. That’s part of what makes a trip to Indonesia so rewarding. On paper, the Komodo dragon wowed me with its impressive traits. In real life, the Komodo captivated, entranced, and even frightened me. Basic Facts about...
Tag : Komodo National Park, The romantic Pink Beach of the Komodo Islands , The Underwater Paradise at Komodo National Park
Mount Bromo and the Sand Sea
3 December 2012
Categories : Travelings - Adventure - Hiking, Trekking, and Eco - Sightseeing
There aren’t many reasons tourists take the road south from Surabaya. But there's certainly a very good one. It's because the city is the staging point for the 120 kilometre journey down East Java to one of Indonesia’s most beautiful natural attractions. I’m talking about Mount Bromo, the active volcano that lies in the middle of a large valley. With its top blown off, it appears more crater than mountain, while putrid sulphurous gas and smoke...
Tag : Mount Bromo
Close encounters with the dragons of Komodo
3 December 2012
Categories : Adventure - Hiking, Trekking, and Eco
Some people will tell you, sincerely, that the movie King Kong was inspired by an expedition to Komodo Island. Others will tell you, with as much conviction, that the island was the basis for Jurassic Park. Neither is necessarily wrong, neither is necessarily right. Regardless, stepping off the boat, walking down the small wooden pier and into the forest feels like a trip back in time – to a land where the lost animals of history rule supreme. The Komodo...
Tag : Komodo National Park
Cooking up a storm in Yogyakarta
1 December 2012
Categories : Cuisine
Who amongst us really like to think about where our food comes from? As long as it appears clean and tasty on our table, that’s all that matters. And sometimes – like in the restaurants of South East Asia – it’s often not worth the mental anguish of wondering what’s going on in the kitchen. It will be delicious – tick. It won’t make you sick – tick. So who cares about anything else, right? Well… in this case,...
