Old Train Awakens West Sumatra Tourism

It was really an amazing start of operation of an old coal steam-generated tourist train in West Sumatra, one of the only two of its kind in the world, when it resumed function to meet the people`s demand.

The black locomotive train which locally called "Mak Itam" (Back Uncle) due to its black colour, resumed serving the Padang Panjang-Sawahlunto route in West Sumatra province only recently, after several years hiatus.

The "Mak Itam" locomotive identified with the serial number E1060 which was the last product of Germany`s Esseligent in 1966, which formerly carried coal from Sawah Lunto coal mining area, draws three comfortable coaches for tourists.

The coal steam-generated train in the province now remained one of the only two of its kind in the world with the other one in Switzerland, said a state-owned railway company PT KAI president director, Rony Wahyudi.

Serving its route, the old tourist train passed through attractive scenaries among other things beside Danau (lake) Singkarak. Danau Singkarak with 11,200 hectares wide is the second largest lake in Sumatra Island after Lake Toba in North Sumatra province.
Some 6,420 hectares of the Danau Singkarak is situated in Tanah Datar district and the rest in Solok district.

The "Mak Itam" train route from the town of Padang Panjang passed through the Lubang Kalam (dark railway tunnel) measuring 840 meters long (constructed in 1894) after the Singkarak lake before reaching Sawah Lunto district`s rail-way station.

The tourist train ran from Padang Panjang to Sawah Lunto 80 km for about three hours. The train passes by the Singkarak Lake of about 19 km long on cogged railway before reaching Muaro Kalaban railway station towards the high land of Sawah Lunto.
It was reported that the old coal steam-generated locomotive stop operating after the closure of open coal mine more than several years ago.

"The presence of cold steam-generated locomotive would bring us to an olden era of Sawah Lunto town," Indra Yosep, member of railway loving community said at the moment, adding that the tourist train locomotive was brought from Ambarawa (Central Java) to West Sumatra on December 13, 2008.

One of three coaches of the tourist train is for VVIP which is only equipped with ten super executive seats. The remaining two coaches were equipped with 70 seats respectively.

The commuter tourist train regular fare rate for one way trip per person in rupiah was set as follows.

* Padang Panjang - Sawah Lunto : Rp60,000
* Padang Panjang - Solok : Rp40,000
* Solok - Sawah Lunto : Rp30,000
* Sawah Lunto - Muaro Kalaban: Rp20,000

Java Jazz opens with style, surprises

Grammy Award nominee Jason Mraz kicked off the three-day Java Jazz Festival with an enthusiastic and stylish performance at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday.

Mraz began his world-class performance by singing the host's national anthem, Indonesia Raya, along with 2005 Indonesian Idol winner Mike Mohede.

“Apa kabar [how are you] Jakarta?” Mraz shouted in the middle of his romantic number Make It Mine.

“Hug those beside you!” he said, as he was cheered on by laughter from the audience, comprised of mostly young people.

The fans began packing the venue from 5 p.m. and many wore T-shirts with Mraz's image.

Another world class performance was given by four-time Grammy Award winner Diane Reeves an hour later.

“[Dianne Reeves] is a must see show for jazz lovers,” Citra Prastita, one of Reeves' fans, said.

BULGARI BALI in the Top 10 List of World's Best Cliffside Hotels

from LuxuryTravelMagazine.com:

Experience spectacular views from these dramatic cliffside locations around the world, from Europe's famed Amalfi Coast and Cote d'Azur to the jagged coast of California and to the Far East and the beautiful island of Bali.

BULGARI BALI - INDONESIA
Blending the traditional Balinese style with contemporary Italian design, the Bulgari Resort in Bali is located near the village of Pecatu and the stunning clifftop site of the Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, on the island's far southwestern tip. Uniquely positioned at more than 150 metres above the sea shore, the resort offers unrivalled views across the Indian Ocean. Nestled between the cliff and the ocean, a 1.5 kilometer long beach is accessible only through the resort's inclined elevator.
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ASITA Asks for Cheaper Flight Fares to Lombok

Thirty Seven entrepreneurs who are members of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (ASITA) in Jakarta have asked the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Government and the Culture and Tourism Minister to arrange cheaper air tickets from Jakarta to Mataram.

The current fare that can reach Rp1.2 million for one way trip is considered expensive.

As a comparison, the air fare from Jakarta to Denpasar is only Rp400,000.

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos offer special package for affordable holidays to their countries.

ASITA's deputy for Jakarta, Rudiana, who led the visit of 37 ASITA members to Jakarta, said the tourism package from Jakarta to Lombok was still expensive.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand will launch a joint tourism package

The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) yesterday declared an "IMT-GT Celebration Year" for the package.

It was inspired by the success of 2008's "Visit IMT-GT Year". The three countries will jointly promote tourism, said PM's Office Minister Virachai Virameteekul.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva discussed the plan with Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi at an IMT-GT summit.

One idea is a joint promotion of medical tourism, Virachai told reporters, without detailing the plan.

Set up in 1993, the IMT-GT aims to strengthen sub-regional cooperation and economic growth.

It has a five-year road map covering infrastructure, halal food, trade and tourism running till 2011.

The IMT-GT scheme covers 10 Indonesian provinces, eight Malaysian states and 14 southern Thai provinces.

Historic Indonesia hotel packed with local flavour

Bed-and-breakfast won't be mistaken for modern hotel chain.

Few travellers choose to stay in Kampung Bali, one of Jakarta's oldest and little-known districts, but for guests seeking a taste of traditional Javanese culture and a little less luxury, there's Wisma Garminah.

The family-run bed-and-breakfast hostel is barely 10 minutes from central Jakarta's modern and glitzy centre with its luxury multinational hotel chains.

Soemarno Sosroatmodjo, Jakarta's first governor and a close friend of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, could not have foreseen that the home where he once entertained top officials and dignitaries would one day become a bed-and-breakfast.

"One day, my father's friends asked if they could pay him something for his hospitality as they frequently visited Jakarta, and that is how the business started," said Karma Widjaja Sosroatjmodjo, the son of the first governor who now owns and runs the homestay with his wife Heri.

The hotel is filled with old Javanese furniture, from wooden carved gates in lieu of entrance doors, to Madurese bridal beds and coffee chests, placed around the two-storey colonial house.

Traditional instruments are everywhere; there are Dayak tribal costumes, daggers and shields from Borneo and old pictures of the family and their visitors adorning many walls.