Tag Archives: Southeast Asia

Why You Must Stop What You Are Doing And Visit Bogor

visit bogor
Located in the shadow of the beautiful Mount Salak, Bogor is one Java’s must see cities. Located just 90 kilometers south of Jakarta, Bogor’s relaxed vibe couldn’t be more different than the capitol city, Jakarta. This beautiful city is one of the jewels of Indonesia and should be on everybody’s travel plan. Indonesia is among the most exciting locations in Southeast Asia. Here is why you must stop what you are doing and visit Bogor Indonesia.

Botanical Gardens
Bogor is home to some of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Formed 200 years ago for scientific experiments in botany, the Bogor Botanical Gardens are now one of the regions primary tourist draws. Botanical research is still on going at the gardens but today you will see many more tourists than scientists. The botanical gardens are massive and can take all day to explore. Many visitors will choose to enjoy lunch in the garden’s lovely cafe. The gardens are also home of the prime minister’s summer estate so you can imagine what it would like to wake up to views of this garden every morning. A whiff of the flowers and fresh air and you would never believe you are so close to Jakarta.

visit bogor
Gunung Salak
Gazing up at the massive peak of Gunung Salak is a once in a lifetime experience. This volcano erupted approximately 80 years ago but given that it has only erupted a few times ever (as far as scientists can tell) this makes it one of the safest (allegedly) on Java. If you want to get up close and personal with the volcano, it is also home to a lovely national park. You can arrange several guided hikes of varying difficult to view some of the wonders of this natural wonder.

Puppet Workshop
Bogor houses an incredible puppet museum that features traditional hand made Indonesian puppets known as Wayang golek.  This is not your average museum as it also doubles as a workshop for the puppet maker, which triples as his home! The gentlemen who runs the museum will gladly show you how the puppets are made, give you a history of them, and sell you one as well. These puppets are an important part of Indonesian and Javanese culture and are unique to this region of the world. Talk about a one of a kind souvenir! So if you are interested in arts and crafts and one of a kind experiences, the Wayang Golek puppet museum is a one of the best reasons to visit Bogor. The hospitality doesn’t stop at the museum, if you are looking for a great place to stay with incredible customer service, try the R Hotel Rancamaya.

So whether you are doing a tour of Java, Indonesia as whole, or just looking for a weekend getaway from Jakarta; Bogor is a one of a kind city with a relaxed and fun atmosphere. If the thought of being so close to a volcano doesn’t make you queasy, we recommend you visit Bogor soon and prepare for a truly once in a lifetime experience.

Southeast Asia’s Great Enigma: Top Reasons To Visit Burma

Burma's many pagoda's count toward the top reasons to visit Burma.

In spite the many top reasons to visit Burma, the country remains unexplored by many travelers. Burma (also known as Myanmar) has a lot of fascinating tourist spots that you should consider experiencing, as they are situated in a territory filled with magnificent beauty and unrivalled charisma. Burma is an autonomous country in Southeast Asia, bounded by India to its west, China to its north, Laos and Thailand to its east, in addition to having the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to its south.

One of the best top reasons to visit Burma relates to its popular beaches, the most unforgettable of them being Ngapali Beach. Ngapali Beach is situated in Rakhine State, stretching elegantly along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The beach is considered as one of Burma’s premier beaches considering its unspoilt natural ambience, clean blue waters and white sand that is surrounded by coconut trees.

Also, there are prearranged leisure activities offered to its visitors which might tickle their fancy, such as beach wandering, beach volleyball, snorkelling and a lot more. There also some fishing towns close to the beach which can be visited through tours. Fundamentally, the best time to explore the place is through the months of May and October.

Mrauk U is a prehistoric city also lying in Rakhine State, which is included in the top reasons to visit Burma. Mrauk U has caught the attention of many tourists owing to its rich archaeological heritage. It was established by King Narameikhla in the year 1404 A.D. If you tour the area, you can witness many of its antique artifacts and ancient stunning architecture of its shrines, pagodas and palaces. To access the city, travellers should ride a boat that takes about 4 to 5 hours from Sittwe, heading towards Rakhine Yoma.

Another tourist destination to explore is Mount Popa. It is positioned in Kyaukpadaung town about 50 kilometres from Bagan. Primarily this attraction is recognized as a dead volcano which is an abode to many spirits. Furthermore, Mount Popa is also considered to be one of the top reasons to visit Burma owing to its fine-looking forests, which are nestled on its slopes, which serves as a sanctuary to many wildlife species. Apart from that, there are many outdoor activities tourists can enjoy at the Pegu Range of Mount Popa such as trekking, biking and hiking. There are also eye-catching structures that can be viewed here, such as a Buddhist temple and the Taung Kalat.