BOGOR

Preciously known as "Beuitenzorg" (Sans soucis or Without worries) during the Dutch colonial era, Bogor actually lies closer to Jakarta (50km) than it does to Bandung (120 km) . Approximately named by the Dutch as a town "without worries", they chose Bogor to be the site for constructing the first palace of the Dutch Governor General way back in 1745. Later restored in 1832, the palace still stands solid and elegant today with its stretched out gardens where deer room freely on the grass under majestically tall old trees.
However, Bogor is famous because of its Botanical Garden which borders the palace Grounds, covering an area of 87 hectares with thousands of species of plantlife from all over the world, including towering age old trees and the rarest kinds of orchids. See the original "Havea Brazilliensis" rubber tree formerly imported from Brazil, and stemless as well as leafless plant. When visiting this Garden, arrange for a permit to visit the neighboring Presidential Place which belonged to the Dutch Governor General before Indonesia's independence. Doing this may be day-long visit by leaving Jakarta in the morning and spend the night in the Puncak mountainous region on your way to Bandung the next day. Here again, the whole car trip will be memorable as scenic tropical beauty all around is really astonishing. You will also pass bay another smaller presidential Palace at Cipanas, the seting of whish is in a colourful and flowery vast garden around this wooden by stylish palace.

MARIBAYA

Since long known for its hot water springs, Maribaya lies north of Bandung which be reached within 30 minutes. The trip itself is worthwhile making, as you will pas through a picturesque road dated with flowery hills and lovely villas all the way. The mountain air is cool and the sulphur-laden water just comfortably hot for swimming as well as for just seaking in. Part of the scenery is a 25 m high waterfall set against a steep mountain cliff.

KRAKATOA VOLCANO
With devastating effects this volcano erupted just over a century ago in 1883, bringing its fine ashes with the windstreams as far away as over New York City, whereas the eruption's tidal waves reached the American West Coast. At that very instant, Krakatoa vanished as if devoured by the sea, cousing formidable tidal waves which in the turn swept off just about everything alive from the surrounding coastal areas. However, the dissapereance of the gigantic Krakatoa also meant the birth of small islands in its palace, one of which called "Anak Krakatoa" or Krakatoa's Child which is at present an extremely active young volcano. From both West Java's West Coast and from Sumatra's Lampung Provinces, this young and active volcano is clearly visible. A boattrip to this place may be worth making.

PANGANDARAN KARANG NINI and BATU HIU

This is the second beach resort area on the Indian Ocean after Pelabuhan Ratu. It certainly equals the latters's awe-inspring natural beauty, however, it has the disadvantage of being so far off from Bandung (233 km) and event more so from Jakarta (400 km). Road conditions are good, thus making the trip by car or bus recommendable. However, if you prefer to take the train, get into the Bandung Yogyakarta Espress train and get off at the Banjar railroad station about 4 hour later. From here it will be another 50 km by bus to Pangandaran. The beach is called Penanjung, where most of the cottagges and hotels are located, however, of modest ratings. Nothing luxurious should be expected.
Pangandaran is specially of interst to nature lovers, as there is a wildlife reserve in the vicinity where wild birds and another indigneous animals live about freely to be enjoyed by visitors. Here too, the white beaches are fine, the ocean ever so blue and the seafood superb. Twelve kilometres before arriving at Pangandaran you will sea a huge rock on the beach which is called Karang Nini. A forest Conservation Park is located right here, which is another place of special interest to nature lovers. Neearby is camping ground which has basic facilities suitbale for the younger set. Somewhat further out, west of Pangandaran, diving 23 km on the way perigi, lies Batu

Hiu, meaning Shark's Rock, which is a coastoal rock having the shape of a shark. Closebya recreation park is found where you can have an andless open ocean view and enjoy nature at its best.

PELABUHAN RATU BEACH

Formerly just a plain fishing village it has now grown in to a lovely holiday resort, more and more visited by holiday makers from Jakarta and Bandung, a mere three-hour drive from either city through cool mountain village with picturesque sceneries. Gradually but surely this area will catch up with the pace of development as is the case with Carita on the extreme West coast of Java. Pelabuhan Ratu-Cisolok is a 15 km stretch of breathtaking beauty with hills, mountains and very wide sandy beaches everywhere around you, set against the deep blue Indian Ocean. Truly rare is the fact that thick tropical forests on rolling hills are found right next to stretches of white beaches. Taking walks uphil unable the visitor to look down on the horseshoe shape of the boy's coastline, whereas at night hundreds of fishermen's boatlamps are seemingly competing and romantic. There is one four-star hotel, the Samudera beach, about 6 km from Pelabuhan Ratu, but several other smaller hotels and cottages are available at moderate rates

BADUY CULTURAL CONSERVATION

The Baduy community in Banten is an utterly unique and closed society which can be reached via a 10 km village road from either Cibolegar village or Cibungur village in the Leuwidamar district. The 50 km road from Rangkasbitung is steep. In April and May, the Baduy Community is closed to outsiders, as during this time it commemorates certain ceremonies among ceremony, called Seba, is the offering of port of their agricultural products to the Head of the District, Sub-Regent and the Chief resident. During this ceremony the "Puun of Baduy" sends out a group of representatives of Baduy Dalem people as well as Baduy Luar to act as the community's spokesmen. When conducting this Seba ceremony the Baduy Dalam members refuse to ride any vehicle, instead, the distance of 150 km is traveled on food as proof of their perseverance. To enter this very special Baduy area, one should obtain written permission from the Rangkasbitung District Office stating the purpose of the visit which my take on whole week process.

UJUNG KULON

On the southern tip of West Java is a wildlife reserve of 51.000 hectares covering the Ujung Kulon peninsula and the nearby islands of Panaitan and Peucang. The reserve is a dense forest and is the home of the last surviving one-horned rhinoceros of which only 50 remain. Ujung Kulon is accessible by boat and the closest departure point is Labuan on the west coast.
An entry permit is needed, issued by the Forestry Service (Perlindungan Hutan dan Pelestarian Alam) at Labuan. The dense forest provides a natural habitat for many species of rhinoceros, wild ox, deer, wild boar, phanters, crocodiles, snakes and birds. Visitors are only allowed to the buffer zone where rustic accommodation is available on Peucang island where towers are erected to be able to observe the animals undisturbed.
Marine life in the surrounding seas is a kaleidoscope of colours. Beautiful sea gardens are found off Peucang and Panaitan islands and the south coast just below Tanjung Layar offer spectacular deepdiving for scuba facilities in Ujung Kulon. On the western tip of the peninsula is a lighthouse built by the Dutch which stands near the site of the ruins of old one.
A stay at least two days on the reserve is recommended where food provisions should be taken along.