Yogyakarta Tourism

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Yogyakarta (some people call it Jogja, Jogjakarta, or Yogya) is a city with outstanding historical and cultural heritage. Yogyakarta was the centre of the Mataram Dynasty (1575-1640), and until now the kraton (the sultan's palace) exists in its real functions. Also, Yogyakarta has numerous thousand-year-old temples as inheritances of the great ancient kingdoms, such as Borobudur temple established in the ninth century by the dynasty of Syailendra.

More than the cultural heritages, Yogyakarta has beautiful natural panorama. The green rice fields cover the suburban areas with a background of the Merapi Mountain. The natural beaches can be easily found to the south of Yogyakarta.

Here the society lives in peace and has typical Javanese hospitality. Just try to go around the city by bike, pedicab, or horse cart; and you will find sincere smiles and warm greeting in every corner of the city.

An artistic atmosphere is deeply felt in Yogyakarta. Malioboro, as the center of Yogyakarta, is overwhelmed by handicraft from all around the city. Street musicians always ready entertain the visitors of the lesehan food stalls.

Those who have visited Yogyakarta reveal that this city makes them long for it. Just visit here, then you will understand what this means.

Transportations to Yogyakarta:

Train - You may reach Yogyakarta by train from Jakarta, Bandung, or Surabaya
Bus - Yogyakarta is reachable by bus from Sumatra Island, Bali Island, and most cities of Java Island.
Plane - Recently, international direct flights from Kuala Lumpur are established to Yogyakarta. In addition, domestic flights to Yogyakarta from Jakarta, Denpasar, Balikpapan, and many others, are available now.

By: Dini Retnowati


Holiday health: The flying doctor’s casebook

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

What will you bring back from holiday? Nothing but a few souvenirs and a
healthy glow if you follow the advice of Dr Richard Dawood.


Hewer on the highway: Mongol Rally, day 12

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Nick Hewer, Sir Alan Sugar’s colleague on The Apprentice, stops in Poland on
his 10,000-mile overland trip to Asia on the Mongol Rally - and is lectured
on the folly of heading through Russia alone.


Affordable spas: 10 top-value breaks

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Adriaane Pielou selects 10 top-value summer pampering breaks at home and
abroad that won’t make your eyes water when it comes to paying the bill.


Hewer on the highway: Mongol Rally, day 7

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Nick Hewer, Sir Alan Sugar’s colleague on The Apprentice, heads for Poland on
his 10,000-mile overland trip to Asia on the Mongol Rally - and finds time
to stop off in Germany for a singalong to a girl band from the Philippines.


Altai Mountains: The navel of the world

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

In the Russian and Mongolian Altai, meat and no veg becomes the diet for Chris
Moss on a back-to-basics tour.


Hewer on the highway: Mongol Rally, day five

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Nick Hewer, Sir Alan Sugar’s sidekick from The Apprentice, hears some ominous
talk during the French leg of his 10,000-mile overland trip to Asia on the
Mongol Rally.


Dame Joan Bakewell’s heaven on earth

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Writer and broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell on the endlessly fascinating Indian
city of Jaipur.


The Inner Sanctum

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Chiang Mai locals like to tell visitors, "If you have not tasted the Kao Soi (Chiang Mai-style curry noodles) or visited Doi Suthep, you have not been to Chiang Mai." Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is Northern Thailand’s most sacred temple, as it is home to a holy relic of the Buddha himself. This article tells you how to get there, what to expect when you arrive, and how to make the most out of your visit.


Meaningful Staples

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

What’s the best part of being in Penang for Chinese New Year? It’s the food: a rich spread of traditional "Peranakan" (Straits Chinese) cuisine. The streets come alive with hawkers selling bak kwa, and the shops bustle with "aunties" picking up the last of the oranges and jars of kuih bangkit. Penang-based food blogger Lingzie sampled numerous New Year foods, and she graciously provided us with descriptions and pictures of the glorious feast she shared with her family.


What to Pack

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Packing advice for the first-time traveler to Southeast Asia. How to pack for the weather, what to bring, and what you can afford to leave behind.


About - Southeast Asia Travel Buyer's Guide

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

Find Guide reviews, top picks, and advice you can use before you buy.


sgbudgethotels

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

A rundown of Singapore’s best bargains in hotels - each one chosen for its adequate facilities, good value, and great local atmosphere.


India says peace process with Pakistan under stress (Reuters)

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

A Kashmiri money changer Nissar Ahmad displays newer Indian rupee notes in Srinagar July 21, 2008. Ahmad offers his customers a chance to  exchange damaged currency notes for new notes for a small fee. REUTERS/Fayaz KabliReuters - India’s foreign secretary said on
Monday the peace process with Pakistan was strained because its
nuclear-armed foe was “inciting terror” inside India and trying
to hit its interests abroad.



Tamil rebels: Peace talks ‘impossible’ (AP)

Posted by World on Jul 21, 2008

In this undated photo provided by Sri Lankan Tamil Rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),  Balasingham Nadesan, the head of the rebels' political wing, is seen in Kilinochchi, about 275 kilometers, (170 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan rebels said Monday, July 21, 2008,  that a new round of peace talks on ending the country's 25-year-old civil war is impossible as long as the government presses ahead with a military offensive. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said earlier this month he was prepared to restart long-dormant talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels if the group lays down its arms and ceases bombings and other attacks across the country. Nadesan said Rajapaksa's conditions were 'naive' and 'impractical' and there was no way the two sides could negotiate while the fighting continued to rage. (AP Photo/LTTE, HO)AP - Sri Lankan rebels said Monday that a new round of peace talks on ending the country’s 25-year-old civil war is impossible as long as the government presses ahead with a military offensive.