5 Scariest Places in Indonesia

Scariest Places in Indonesia

Indonesians seem to have a preoccupation with the supernatural. Starting from the traditional folklores and elaborate burial rites to the current urban legends of haunted places and horror films, the Indonesian obsession for the otherworld seeps into many aspects of Indonesian life. Here’s our Top 5 picks for haunted travel destinations in Indonesia:

Walking Mummies, Tana Toraja

Performed every August to celebrate the harvest in Rindingallo or Baruppu, Toraja Utara, Ma’nene is an annual Torajan ritual for dressing and walking the mummies. Legend has it centuries ago, Pong Rumasek found a body of bones while hunting in the forests of Balla. To honor the body, Pong Rumasek dressed the body and housed it in a proper cave. In return, the spirits of the ancestors visit Pong Rumasek every time he hunts and guides him to good animals.

In the olden days, Torajans conquered the mountains of their homeland on foot. Sometimes someone in the band dies, and to honor the deceased, the living walks the body home so it can be laid in its final resting place in a catacomb that emits preservative substances. Today, the Ma’nene reenacts this phenomenon in honor of deceased relatives. While most people would not think of Toraja as a haunted place in Indonesia, the Torajan heritage of honoring the deceased make it a beautiful destination worth visiting.

Kampung Beting, Pontianak

Sultan Syarif Abdurrahman Al-Qadri, after whom the Masjid Jami in Kampung Beting is named, was the 18th century founder of the Pontianak Sultanate. While evangelizing Islam in his new territory, the Sultan and his disciples navigated the Sungai Kapuas to a haunted place called Pulau Batu Layang in 1771.

Legend has it the Sultan was attacked by an apparition of the puan mati beranak (woman who died in childbirth) while performing dawn prayers. In response, the band fired the island with canons to cleanse it from evil spirits. The band then navigated downstream to the delta where Sungai Kapuas meets Sungai Landak, built the Masjid Jami and a palace for the Sultan, and established a settlement around it called Pontianak. Today, the area is known as Kampung Beting, a floating tropical village where the sacred and the profane coexist side by side.

Lawang Sewu, Semarang

Originally opened in 1907 as the Semarang office of the Dutch Railways, the Lawang Sewu was home to a bloodbath between Japanese troops and the Indonesian army and police. Designed by Dutch architects JF Klinkhamer and BJ Ouendag, this L-shaped art deco building with many tall windows was restored between 2009-2011 after years of neglect.

Today, Lawang Sewu is considered an architectural jewel in the heart Semarang, standing stately in the Komplek Tugu Muda downtown. Sometimes night photo hunts are organised in this haunted place, where ghosts of the deceased are reported to roam around the halls and be caught on camera.

Waruga Sawangan, Minahasa

Located in Sawangan, Airmadidi (about 20 kilometres southeast of Manado), the waruga is the traditional grave of the Minahasa people. The roofed stone monuments house up to five deceased bodies in fetal position, and are decorated with the family emblem as well as images of the deceased’s profession.

Some waruga date well from the 1600s, but the practice was banned from around 1860 by the Dutch government due to a typhoid and cholera plague. Lack of government funding makes it difficult to maintain the otherwise beautiful gardens, grounds, and monuments, giving it the appearance of a haunted place. There is also a small museum within the complex, displaying objects that used to be buried along in the waruga.

Aikima Mummy, Baliem Valley

Deep in the veins of the Jayawijaya is the home of the Dani people’s centuries-old mummies. Situated about 5 kilometres northwest of Wamena, the Baliem Valley is surrounded by majestic mountains where the ancestral spirits are believed to eternally rest, and enchanted natural landmarks believed to be haunted places

According to tradition, only people considered as heroes by the local community may be mummified everyone else gets cremated in a 40-day ceremony and has their ashes stored in gourds as tokens for guardian spirits. There are seven mummies in Wamena, most which are open for visits and one which is guarded by its descendants as a sacred heritage.

Beautiful Places on South Sulawesi

South Sulawesi

South Sulawesi is an Indonesian province located in eastern part of this country. The capital of this province is Makassar which is the 4th biggest city in Indonesia. South Sulawesi has so many tourism objects, but only some of them are known worldwide. The diversity of its culture and nature is the unique attraction for your holiday. Here is the review of some tourism objects in South Sulawesi.

1. Losari Beach Makassar

In Indonesia, there is only one beach where you can see both sunrise and sunset. That beach is Losari Beach located in Makassar. Besides that, Losari Beach is clean and well organized. The ideal time of visiting this beach is in the afternoon between 3 until 9 pm. Many people come here to enjoy the beach atmosphere, jog along the clean pedestrian, or eat in the restaurants. This beach is getting crowded when the sun rise in the morning or sun set in the afternoon. If you love jogging this place is the ideal place. Fresh air, gentle breeze, red-gold sun, and romantic atmosphere; this beach is a favorite place to spend your holiday in Makassar.

2. Bantimurung National Park

The official name of this national park is Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park South Sulawesi. This tourism object is located in Maros Town which could be reaching in 1 hour drive. Indeed, this place is a favorite tourist destination in South Sulawesi. In 1856-1857 a famous naturalist from England, Alfred Russel Wallace spent his joyful days catching and researching various kinds of butterflies, birds, and rare insects. Among those butterflies, there were the species of Papillo Androcles, one of the rarest and the biggest butterfly in the word which has long tail like swallows. The natural life of these animals has been tourist attraction for years.

3. Samalona Island

Samalona Island is an island in South Sulawesi with 2.34 hectare size. This island is one of the marine attractions which has a lot of visitors from both local area and foreign country. This island’s area is an ideal place for diving, because around the island there are some reefs which are inhabited by various species of tropical fish and other sea biota. Samalona Island is about 6.8 km from Makassar City which could be reached in 20-30 minutes using speed boat. In this location, there are also some simple lodges in form of “rumah panggung,” Sulawesi’s traditional house which could accommodate around 20 persons. Besides that, there are also some local restaurants serving various kind of fresh seafood.

4. Somba Opu Fortress

Somba Opu Fortress was built in 1525 by Sultan Gowa IX. This fortress was the center of spices trading and port, which was crowded by merchants from Asia until Europe. In 1669, this fortress was taken by VOC, and then destroyed until it was submerged by tidal wave. Around 1980, this fortress was found back by some scientists and in 1990 it was reconstructed until this fortress stood firm once again. Now, Somba Opu Fortresshas become a historical tourism object in Makassar. Inside this fortress, there are some traditional buildings of South Sulawesi representing Bugis, Makassar, Mandar, and Toraja ethnics. Besides that, there are also 9 meter cannon with 9.500 kg weight displayed here, and a museum containing historical remains of Gowa Sultanate.

5. Fort Rotterdam

Fort Rotterdam (Benteng Ujung Pandang as it is now called) is an old Dutch colonial fort in Makassar, overlooking the harbor. It is one of the top attractions in Makassar. The current fort was build by the Dutch around the year 1667 but the first defensive structures consisting of a simple dirt wall where built here a century before in 1545 by Raja Tunipalangga. The Dutch Admiral Cornelis Speelman concurred the fort in 1667 and renamed it after his birthplace, Rotterdam. Soon the fort was rebuilt with 6 meter high and 2 meters thick walls. In the inside arose Dutch houses and a church. The fort became the center of Dutch colonial power on the island of Sulawesi.

6. Tana Toraja

Tana Toraja is a tourism object which is widely known for its unique culture. This regency is located approximately 320 km north from Makassar and very famous with its wooden traditional house. That traditional house is called TONGKONAN. Its roof is made from sliced bamboos which are stacked as a roof. However, some of tongkonan now use zinc roof, so it will be more durable. Tongkonan also has strata based on the degree of its owner nobility, like gold, bronze, steel, and brass strata.

This is the review of some tourism objects in South Sulawesi. And you can visit "20 Beautiful Places in Indonesia must be Visited" to know where another place in Indonesia.

Lets Visit Singapore

Singapore may be small, but there are still many places in Singapore you can go, be it cultural, entertainment or excitement purposes. If you are spending limited time in Singapore, this is the list for you. Now I will share with you the Top 10 must go places in Singapore.

1. The Merlion

The body symbolises Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, meaning 'sea town' in Old Javanese. Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, or ‘lion city’ in Malay.

2. Marina Bay Sand Park

Get a taste of the high life at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark by viewing Singapore from above. This large wooden decked area on top of iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel at the edge of the city’s harbour offers a 360-degree panorama, with nothing but a sheet of glass and a few wires between you and the view.

3. Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay, Singapore's choice dining and entertainment destination, is a colourful kaleidoscope of buildings housing antiques, restaurants, hip cafes, jazz clubs and more. At night, the entire zone is a sight to behold with all five blocks of restored warehouses lit up and beamed with an array of quirky alternative to mainstream clubs. With an international presence in terms of partying options, this is a convergence point for people around the world to celebrate.

4. Chinatown

Chinatown is now made up of exotic pre-war shop houses, home to merchants who have been hawking the same wares for years – bales of fine silk, traditional handicrafts, and gold and jade jewellery. Make a visit to the large Chinese emporium Yue Hwa, conveniently located at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street. It stocks a wide array of authentic Chinese products such as tea, medicinal herbs, foods, household items, antiques and traditional Chinese costumes such as the cheongsam.
The best time to visit Chinatown is during Chinese New Year, when the Chinatown Food Market is abuzz with activity, from lion dances to Chinese opera performances. This much-anticipated festival enlivens the market even more, and is when you can find a dazzling array of stalls touting paper lanterns, Chinese calligraphy, opera masks, contemporary fashion and festive food. On most days, these stalls begin spilling onto Pagoda, Smith, Terengganu and Sago Streets by late morning.

5. Singapore Flyer

Standing at 165m – the h
eight of a 42-storey building – the Singapore Flyer is the world's largest giant observation wheel. Its 28 fully air-conditioned capsules can accommodate up to 28 passengers each. On a clear day, the Flyer offers passengers a 45 km panoramic view stretching from Singapore's Marina Bay waterfront across to Malaysia and Indonesia. A complete 'flight' lasts around 30 minutes.

6. Little India

Little India is an ethnic neighbourhood found in Singapore that has Tamil cultural elements and aspects of other cultures. Little India lies to east of the Singapore River—across from Chinatown, located west of the river and north of Kampong Glam. Little India is more commonly known as Tekka in the local Tamil community. This is a great place. You can find lots of new things here. Start of stalls selling fresh fruit and sweets to India with unique stalls selling clothes and shoes with prices so cheap, you'll be dizzy with the choices available.

7. Universal Studio Singapore

Universal Studio singapore become the top tourist attractions of Singapore. Universal Studios Singapore is located in the Resort World Sentosa, which includes the Integrated Resort has just opened officially in April of 2010. Each set foot in the various zones, you will experience a different feel. Universal Studios Singapore is divided into 7 zones, Madagascar, the Palace of Far Far Away from the world of Shrek was the first in the world, The Lost World where you can find a world of dinosaurs and Waterworld, Ancient Egypt - a world full of ancient Egyptian mummies, Sci-fi - a futuristic city and the last two zones of the theme of a famous city in America that is Hollywood and New York.  Universal Studios Singapore has over 30 restaurants and food carts, together with 20 unique retail stores and carts located around the park.

8. Singapore Science Center

With more than a thousand interactive exhibits spanning 14 galleries, Science Centre Singapore is an ideal space to inspire the next generation of Newton's and Einstein's.
Trek to the centre of the earth through a crack in the surface to discover the different layers that lay beneath. Or power an engine just using the heat from your palm!
These are just some of the fun activities that can be found at 20 permanent exhibitions such as the Eco Garden, which showcases a variety of plants, all growing naturally and receiving no special care. Defending Science exhibits the latest in surveillance, flight, armour and radar used in the battlefield, while Quirky illustrates how fun science can be with displays of unique innovations.

9. National Museum of Singapore

National Museum of Singapore is Singapore's oldest museum with the spirit of innovation of the youngest and most innovative. Designed to be a public museum, the National Museum of Singapore prides itself with a sophisticated and diverse museum introduces ways of presenting history to redefine conventional museum experience. More than just a room for exhibitions and artefacts, the Museum will also distinguish itself through a challenging and vibrant festivals and events that will enhance creative power in the culture and heritage. National Museum was designed in Neo-Palladian and Renaissance style and consists of two rectangular parallel blocks, with a dome at the front of the building.

10. Underwater World Singapore

Underwater World Singapore is an oceanarium located at 80 Siloso Road on the island of Sentosa. Its key features include the Dolphin Lagoon housing endangered pink Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, as well as an 83m moving walkway enclosed by an observation tunnel with surrounding views of the oceanarium collection of marine creatures and corals. Considered Asia’s largest tropical oceanarium when it opened in 1991, Underwater World is one of Singapore’s most popular tourist attractions

20 Beautiful Places in Indonesia must be Visited

Welcome to Indonesia! 

Indonesia is best place to spend your holiday, there are so many beautiful places to be visited. Here is the list of 20 Beautiful Places in Indonesia that might you interest.

1. Maluk Beach (Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Barat/NTB)

Along the west coast to the southern island of Sumbawa, Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), it was amusing, because the scenery on the coast of West Sumbawa Regency is still beautiful. One of the beaches began to be known at this time is Maluk Beach. This beach is so beautiful and enchanting anyone eager to swim and sunbathe when the weather was sunny, the sun radiates its rays and the waves roll in, one after another to the coastline.

2. Mount Rinjani (Nusa Tenggara Barat/NTB)

Rinjani has Panaroma that could be considered the best among the mountains in Indonesia. Temperatures average around 20 ° C; the lowest 12 ° C. Strong winds are common at peak in August. Each year (June-August) are frequently visited by lovers of nature ranging from local residents, until the student nature lovers. 

3. Komodo Island (Nusa Tenggara Timur/NTT)

Komodo island is located is located between the island of Sumbawa and Flores at the western tip of the Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and is best known as the habitat of giant Monitor lizards know as Komodo Dragons.  Komodo Island is part of the Komodo National Park and Marine reserve, a professionally managed world class nature park and diving destination  - what more could an adventure traveler ask for than prehistoric dragons & excellent diving, all at the one destination - whatever you do, don't miss this!

4. Raja Ampat Islands (West Papua)

The Raja Ampat islands are a truly natural phenomenon with enormous biological diversity. The amazing marine landscape means that underwater photography should be on the top your list during your stay. However with Raja Ampat natural conditions, high endemic level of land, sea biodiversity, coastal ecology, and local culture & tradition the islands offer more than just amazing landscapes to photograph.

5. Ijen Volcano (East Java)

Ijen volcano in East Java contains the world's largest acidic volcanic crater lake, called Kawah Ijen, famous for its turquoise color. The active crater measuring 950 x 600 meters is known for its rich sulphur deposits which are being quarried. The volcano is one of several active stratovolcanoes constructed over the 20 km wide Ijen caldera, the largest caldera in Java. Eruptions from Ijen are very hazardous because of the risk of the lake draining to form catastrophic lahars.

6. Carstensz Park and Jayawijaya (Papua)

Jayawijaya Mountains were located in the Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia. If you supposed that in the tropical area will not find mountains that were covered snow, you could correct this view after visiting to Jayawijaya Peak, the highest peak in Sudirman Mountains (Sudirman Range) in the Papua Province. The Jayawijaya peak or that was shorter was mentioned Puncak Jaya, had the height reached 4.884 meters above sea level, so as to enable this area was covered by eternal snow.

7. Mount Anak Krakatau (Sunda Strait)

Krakatau, a small island group in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java is one of the world's most famous volcanoes. It is a mostly submerged caldera with 3 outer islands belonging to the rim and a new cone, Anak Krakatau, that has been forming a new island since 1927 and remains highly active. 

Krakatau exploded spectacularly in a devastating Plinian eruption 1883 that killed more than 30,000 people (mostly by the huge tsunamis triggered by the eruption). The eruption was one of the first global news events after telegraph lines had connected the different continents.

8. Mount Bromo (East Java)

Bromo have known by all of visitor of the worlds. They come to Bromo to watch the sunrise. The visitor also can look down to the crater that full of its smoke, and feel the cold of the air, is probably could only be done in Bromo. Our eyes will also completed by the sea of sand that the way to reach Bromo's peak. The main gate to the sea of sand and mount Bromo is through Cemoro Lawang. This is the most crowded visiting area, especially on holidays. There are many kinds activities that could be carried on this area such as; Camping, watching the scenery, horse riding to sea of sand or walking.

9. Kelimutu Lake (Nusa Tenggara Timur/NTT)

Kelimutu is a small, but well-known volcano in central Flores Island of Indonesia, close to the small town of Moni about 50 km to the east of Ende. At the summit of the volcano there are three crater lakes of varying colors. Although they share the crest of the same volcano and are practically side-by-side, the lakes periodically change colors from red and brown to turquoise and green, independent of each other.

10. Bunaken Marine Park (North Sulawesi)

The park encompasses the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Siladen and Nain. Each island is surrounded by mangrove and white sand beaches with coral reef flats dropping off to steep walls. The park has a wide range of corals and fish and Bunaken is regarded as being one of the richest and most diverse coral ecosystems in the world. Among the more spectacular marine life are barracuda, dolphins, sea snakes, killer whales and Hawksbill turtles.

11. Lake Toba (North Sumatra)

Lake Toba is a volcanic lake with a length of 100 kilometers and 30 kilometers wide (the largest volcanic lake in the world). In the middle of this lake there is a volcanic island called Samosir Island.

Lake Toba has long been an important tourist destination in addition to Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra and Riau, attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

12. Baluran (East Java)

This park is a forest preservation area that extends about 25.000 ha on the north coast of East Java. The location is in Sumberwaru village, Banyuwangi district, Situbondo (on the east border of Java Island). You can enjoy the panorama of savannah and mount Baluran (inactive volcano) in the center of area that becomes habitat of many exotic animals such as wild pigs, deer, peacocks, wild chicken, some species of monkeys and also bulls as the protected animals in the area.

13. Dreamland Beach (Bali)

Dreamland Beach is a beautiful beach with white sand stretch 100 meters and leaned on a steep of white stone cliff overlooking to the amazing view of Indian Ocean. This beach is very attractive for tourist including the surfers offering the elegant, tranquility and spectacular sunset view that create the romantic nuance that make it as one of the place many visited by tourist every day. Dreamland Beach is located in strategic area of Pecatu Graha, the huge area of luxurious residences, hotels, villas, world-class golf course (New Kuta Golf), water fun game and more that finally make this beach is increasingly popular. The advantages of this beach are big and powerful wave that make it as one of the most demanded surfing points in Bali Island by the experience until professional surfers. You will be very easy to locate the public facilities at this surfing point like restaurant and accommodations. This beach is also suitable for family holidays where you can do relax at the beach while enjoying the warm tropical atmosphere.

14. Lake of Seven Mountains (Jambi)

If you want to spend the weekend in County Kerinci, Lake Gunung Tujuh, could be one option tourist attraction. Located in the Village Pelompek, District Kayu Aro, Kerinci, this lake presents a panorama of nature is still virgin
The lake lies at an altitude of 1950 meters from the sea surface (sea level) was recorded as the highest lake in Southeast Asia. Natural atmosphere in this lake is very beautiful, so soothing.

15. Green Canyon (West Java)

Do you like to travel with sensation of river adventure? if your answer is yes, let's try to visiting Green Canyon which is located in Pangandaran, West Java. Green Canyon Nature tourism is most favored place by tourists lovers of trekking, canoeing, or a challenging of adrenaline tour. This place is a cave with a bunch of greenish crystal clear waters with decorated by stalactite and stalagmite that is hidden behind the rocky cliffs - perhaps that's why these place called Green Canyon.

16. Lake Sentani (Papua)

Sentani Lake below the slopes of Mount Cycloops which extends between Jayapura and Jayapura regency, Papua. Sentani Lake Landscape with a group of islands in the middle is the prettiest one in Indonesia.

17. Goa Gong (East Java)

Goa Gong claimed to be the most beautiful caves in Southeast Asia. Inside this cave you can see various kinds of rock ridge (stalactite / stalagmite) are very interesting and the occurrence of a natural process.

18. Bantimurung Karst Mountains (South Sulawesi)

Bantimurung National Park has the most beautiful natural scenery. Because in this park, there are sources of water that never dry. So that various types of plants can survive in the long dry season.

19. Belitung Island (Bangka Belitung)

Island beautiful, unique scenery and white sand beaches decorated with original granite stones which artistic and crystal-clear sea water, surrounded by hundreds of small islands.

20. Derawan Island (East Kalimantan)

In the surrounding waters have marine park and is renowned as a tourist submarine (diving) with a depth of about five meters. On a rock at a depth of ten meters, there is now known as “Trigger Blue Wall”.