Showing posts with label travel and leisure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel and leisure. Show all posts

November 20, 2008

TANAH TORAJA

Why do people choose Toraja land as a destination? We have spoken to many travelers, while in Sulawesi (Celebes) and they all seemed to say the same things. They had arrived in Sulawesi (Celebes) and the study of Toraja land, either because they had heard such wonderful things from friends or relatives who had been there or who had previously visited themselves. What people seem to be the best friends were the people, culture and beauty of the virgin in the majority of Sulawesi.



Toraja runs along the coast about 130 kilometers from Makasar or Ujung Pandang. After the entry of Tanah Toraja enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a distance after passing the market village of Mebali. Will form a sharp contrast with the green living in fertility, rain-fed terraces and read the rusted of tropical laterite soil. This is Tanah Toraja, one of the most beautiful areas of Indonesia.



Tanah Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony is called Rambu Solo. In Tanah Toraja, dead body is not buried, but that is put into Tongkonan several times, maybe even more than ten years until the family has enough money to held the ceremony. After the ceremony, the corpse was carried to the cave or on the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that the body is not buried but just put on the stone or earth, or put at the funeral hole.The festival season begins when the last rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July and lasts until September.
ourist who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many options as there are large number of hotels available. Or if you had an adventurous soul, you can sleep in villages along the way.

Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides chartered vehicles (jeeps and minibuses), with or without a driver. While in the village you can take a stroll to move.

Take a side trip to Rantepao Kete, a traditional village with excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a hill is a mass grave with the monitoring of LifeSize statues oldest coffins

Visit Batu Tumonga Plateu; it means stone that facing to the sky. From here can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between padi fields. And, several giant stones cave became a graveyard. The points of view is quite impressive. The huge Tanah Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and green. Like a mosaic of modulating the tone of the green



Palawan is an excellent visit to a village Tongkonan, or a place of burial pululando even with the celebrations and festivals.

Most times, you can not eat at those places, however, appear more warung and restaurants along the road. You can also bring their own food and drinks.

There is a souvenir shop where you can buy anything specific Tanah Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.

Visitor are expected to adhere to the customs and dress to keep a current mode, such as cigarettes or coffee when Tongkonan.
1. As the roads are not always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walking, even when the weather is good (between May and October).
2. Watch your head every time you go to Tongkonan inside, Toraja The traditional house.
3. Enrekang, Makala and Toraja Higland are surrounded by stunning cliffs of volcanic rock. Do not miss it, and just stop taking the picture for a while and not reg


November 8, 2008

Low-cost airlines have not been running successfully for almost two decades. However, the success of each low-cost airline, there are ten to go out of business. So how do the operators of cheap flights make their money? Low-cost airlines make their money on routes where there is little or no competition. Therefore, if you're looking for cheap flights, especially if you want to just go out and a new destination for a weekend, you would do well to check routes where there are a lot of competition among airlines.


Sometimes an airline opened a route in direct competition with another airline. When this is the case, a price war occurs when both airlines actually be losing money on the route. You can be fairly sure that you get a good deal on cheap flights, if this is the case.

Cheap flights from low-cost airline or booking agent?

Cheap flights are usually available from the websites of low cost airlines do not. Agencies often feature cheap flights as well. However, the low-cost carriers tend to discourage the outsourcing of flight data for the reserve officers, who often operate on commission. You may feel that you're getting a good dose of an agent, but the cheap flight might be even cheaper flight on the plane's own website.



Allow the Web site do the job in Search of Cheap Flights


Other sites - aggregators - holds great performance for the consumer experience. These websites trawling for special offers and good deals on flights from various airlines and other sources. These sites do not normally work on commission but rely instead on advertising and deals with hotels and car rental companies to pay for your site. The software used to collate the data and the process may not always work - even human error can result in an inability to detect a large amount of which has just been announced by an airline.

What if only "Show up at the airport?

There is nothing to stop simply show up at the airport and ask about any last-minute offers on cheap flights. But this involves a risk as the airline staff may consider that a captive audience with little choice but to take the flight. Anecdotal evidence has shown that travelers can receive a quote for cheap flights to check on the staff and cheaper tickets for the same flight over the Internet after going online and do a quick check through a computer terminal at the airport!

Reduce the costs of their cheap flight

They are not punitive measures in place to cover the cost of fuel and other surcharges incurred by the airlines. Excess baggage, therefore, cost money. If you are going into a weekend, a bag overnight to be his only luggage, if possible. Typical of luggage may include a verification office. You should carefully consider all the extra add-ons that can be performed by an airline before booking a cheap flight.

While there are no hard and fast ways to get cheap flights, exploring all its options is a sure way to get the best deal possible.

October 23, 2008


The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is one of the first Indonesian growing system of marine parks. The remaining 3% of the park is land, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen.

The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park is very deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and the port some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Choose any interest group - the corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera and species is bound to be surprisingly high.


Bunaken is the standout favorite, with the highest density of schooling fish and more likely to see the larger species, such as turtles, sharks, and Napoleon Wrasse. There are enough sites here to keep any diver happy for more than a week without going elsewhere. Bunaken The reef is a chain of more than 40 stars, five-point dive. The Marine Park is spectacular with the greatest concentration of tropical fish, coral species and world-famous diving wall. Clear, warm waters , light and the currents of the seas calm, allowing easy access to the submarine in hopes of attracting visitors to the five islands of Bunaken -Manado Tua National Marine Park that sits directly on the coast of Manado.

Most diving is done near Bunaken and Manado Tua, because of its many excellent sites. The following is the representative of diving in the area.
1. Lekuan Walls, This long wall in Bunaken is divided into three sites: Leku I, II and III. Together, they represent the best of the park. Steep walls are marked with deep cracks, sea fans and giant sponges. The shallows are full of fish. The wall, often protected by strong currents, is frequented by bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon Wrasse.

2. Mandolin. Mandolin has a knockout reef crest and a wall that attracts thousands of schooling fish such as the Fusiliers, surgeonfish, unicornfish, and bannerfish. They are acclimated to the divers and are easily approachable.

3. Tanjung Kopi. Tanjung Kopi is a great wall with a small school of barracuda and a host of sweetlips. Nudibranches and fire governments are easy to spot here.

4. Siladen Island. Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that flourish when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of schooling fish and snappers.

Bunaken island is easily accessible from Manado by motorized outrigger boat start from Manado port, Molas, Kalasey and Tasik Ria beaches. The public boats from Manado to Bunaken are leaving daily for about 2 hours (depending on the tide). Back to Bunaken in Manado usually early in the morning, around 7-8 am. You can explore the land on foot. And you can use a boat to go from one to another dive sites.

Other things to see and do in Bunaken, such: Diving, swimming, and snorkeling. Walking around the beach and sampling the tempting seafood cuisine.

Travel tips :
1. Entrance labels and tickets can be purchased through marine tourism operators based in Manado and in the Bunaken National Park, or can be purchased from one of three ticket counters in Bunaken and Liang villages on Bunaken Island and on Siladen Island;

2. You should be aware that during the absolute peak season months of July and August usually gets very busy. Many of the best resorts and dive operators can not accept walk-ins during that time, as they are fully reserved. Better make a reservation before;

3. Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these tend to be more reliable, but remember the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately yours.




Bromo, about 145 km south of Surabaya



Bromo mountain, located in Tengger. It's cover some 800 square kilometers in the center of East Java. It is the largest volcanic region in the province and is Mt. Semeru, which rises 3676 meters above sea level. At its northern end is the spectacular Tengger Caldera the largest of Java, with its 10 km barren desert-like sea of sand. In the place of the boiler deeply fissured volcanic cones of Batok and Bromo, the latter is still active with a cavernous crater blowing smoke into the sky. To the south is a plateau of rolling uplands dissected by valleys and dotted with several small scenic lakes, extending to the foot of Mount Semeru, a tower of gray skirted the southern cone forests dominate the landscape. The uniqueness of the area of the property is reminiscent of a lunar landscape, rather than anything related to the land offers impressive experiences such as observing and watching the sunrise in the crater of a volcano



Across the sands of the sea is Mount Batok with its nearly perfect cone. To the south, Mount Semeru, the highest mountain on Java provides a backdrop of fines for this scenario supernatural. While crossing the sea of sand, low-lying fog that often surrounds the boiler plant, adds to the mystery of your surroundings. As the temperature drops several degrees, the combination of cold air and echoing the strange from the horse's hoof creates a fantastic sensation of walking through a vast frozen lake. Temperatures at the summit of Mt. Bromo range of 5 to 18 degrees Celsius.



In the south, there is a plateau of rolling uplands dissected by valleys and dotted with several small lakes landscapes extend to the foot of Mt. Semeru, a tower of gray skirted the southern cone forests dominate the landscape. The offer of Kasodo ceremony is held each year by Tenggerese the 14 days of full moon Kasodo (Tenggerese Calendar). Tengger inhabitants of the mountain gather at the edge of Mt. Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, livestock and other products to the local god of the mountain. As followers of the religion that combines elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, to ask God's blessing of supreme Hyang Widi Wasa.


Bromo Tengger Semeru can be reached by private and public vehicle. There are four gates to access the place, Probolinggo, Wonokitri, Ngadas and Lumajang. Probolinggo approach is the easiest and by fat the most popular route, especially if you go by public bus from surabaya or malang, Wonokitri is the closes and the easiest one if you go by private vehicle from Surabaya (5 hours journey). To get closer to Mt. Bromo you must rent 4×4 vehicles (there are many 4×4 vehicles rental there).

The tourists are driven to the small town of Ngadisari, about six miles northeast of Bromo. It is the base camp of the expedition. Needs for the trip includes a flashlight, warm clothes and some alcoholic beverages as a protection against the freezing temperatures ranging from zero to five degrees Celsius (33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). Ngadisari of the ascent to the crater is about two hours on foot. The horse-back (ponies can be hired), the trip takes about an hour and a half. Tours usually start around midnight. Ngadisari hotel also has facilities. This allows hikers to spend the night and get up a little later than midnight for the hike to Bromo. The last stage of the trip is the flight of steps leading to the Bromo crater rim, and finally, the incomparable view of the rising in the east.

Travel Tips :

1. Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.

2. Before travelling overseas register your travel and contact details online or at the local embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so they can contact you in an emergency

3. Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travellers cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home

4. Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on travelling with medicines

5. Make sure your passport has at least six months validity and carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas

6. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas

7. As soon as you arrive in another country, you are subject to that country?s local laws

8. Necessities for the trip to Bromo include a torch, warm clothing, comfortable trekking shoes, and glove as a protection against the freezing temperature which hovers between zero to five degrees Celsius (33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit).

9. If you buy or rent something please negotiate.

10. In Bromo Sunrise starts at 4.50 am till 6.00 am (If weren't cloudy), so you may leave from your hotel or guesthouse at 3 am or even less than that.

11. Don’t forget to bring your camera.

12. Before start trekking, hiking or climbing, be sure that you already eat, or you can bring some food and drink from your places of stay.

13. Some Emergency case please dial 0335 108 ( Telkom Information Center ). When you dial 108 , you can ask the telephone number of your hotel , police or your embassy office.



Indonesia will make history from the 18th – 26th of October 2008 when it plays host to the first Asian Beach Games in the world. Bali will become the venue of this international event which will see 45 countries participating with over 10,000 athletes, officials, media and volunteers all flocking to the Island of the Gods for this world class event.

Over 50,000 people are expected to support their participating countries in the 13 sports that will compete in this first time event entrusted by the Olympic Council of Asia. The areas of Kuta, Sanur, Pulau Serangan, Tanjung Benoa and Jimbaran have all been selected to act as the venues for each of the sports. Beach Volley Ball, Surfing, Jet Skiing, Sailing, Wind Surfing, Beach Takraw, Beach Hand Ball, Beach Soccer, Para Gliding, Dragon Boat Racing, Triathlon, Marathon Swimming, and the new sport, Wood Ball are the sports to be competed in.

The Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event held every two years among athletes representing countries from Asia. The games are regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia. The Asian Beach Games celebrate cooperation and unity despite differences. Athletes from a wide variety of nations are able to travel, meet new people, and bring back memories about the rest of the world to their home nations. The Asian Beach Games forge unity and friendship between their member nations by joining athletes, trainers, and officials together.



The logo of the 1st Beach Games in Bali Asia 2008 represents the element of water that embodies the sporting event.

The brilliant Sunday comes from the emblem of the Olympic Council of Asia and represents its vital role in Asia's sport development and diffusion of energy created by the solidarity of the OCA.

The selection of light and deep blue color represents the effects of the Balinese waters.

The two vertical lines represent two "Pure" (Balinese Hindu temple), a picture of the door of a Balinese house of worship that is, ultimately, it means the hospitality of the society of Bali and in compliance with welcoming people throughout Asia.

The two big waves represent the commitment and enthusiasm of the host city to celebrate the 1st Beach Games in Asia.

The letters "BALI 2008" are colored red to show the spirit of sportsmanship and the type of selection emphasizes the pride of all athletes competing in Bali.


The Opening Ceremony of the 1st Beach Games in Bali Asia 2008 will be held on October 18, 2008 at Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bukit in Jimbaran. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana comprises 239 acres . Wisnu or Vishnu is the Hindu God who is the protector of the Hindu trinity, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preservation and Shiva the destroyer. The only statue of half man half-bird a day to be a national monument. On the front of the head of the Garuda bird, which has already been completed is an outdoor stage and Amphi-theater for various events and ceremonies. The Closing Ceremony of the Games was also held at the Place Garuda Wisnu Kencana.


October 14, 2008

The presence of quandaries during any travel is undoubtedly part of any travel to an unfamiliar place and you could almost agree with that line of thought. However, if you follow little policies and guidelines there is a good way for quandary consequences to be reduced to little. Something is bound to happen whether good or bad. If they are meant to happen, they will whether or not you like it. The distressing thought however is that you would be left thinking that the travel should have been an affable one should the quandary remained where it should remain in the first place.


It should be a very good experience to be able to travel and see places once in a while. However, we are not in control all the time. Bad memories ensue and you can do nothing about it other than just to let it be. The shoddy thing that could happen is when you could not let go and you find yourself in your room shaking in fear or spending time downtown at police stations. Your perception of things as simple as they are will gauge your safety when you go traveling to an unfamiliar place.

There will be times when we have nothing but our hunches and gut feeling that there is something off and smells fishy. If this is so then do not just leave it alone, as much as possible do something about it. Always make sure that all the items that are important are safely tucked away including your IDs, files and documents, passports, credit cards and all the likes that are likely the most common things that can be lost.

Expensive items should be included in the list of no-no when you are packing for a certain travel time especially when you are really not familiar with the place at all. If you are going to lose something, make sure that they are the ones least important to you if you come to this point of time. Do not carry around too much cash around if you are only going to go out on stroll or to see some scenic beauties in the place.

During your travel especially with your spouse, do not only use one reputed credit account. This is part of the safety little guidelines being designed to protect travelers because if one happens to be lost, there is always the presence of another thing. You should be prepared for possible perils on your trip and not slack off with security because then you would only wind up regretting at the end of your travel stay. Keep important things always in the line of your sight. You will be better off enjoying the rest of the travel if you know everything is safe.

If you decide to hike out, always make sure that you are not walking along the area where motorcycles and cars would be able to drive through. You have to know that criminals nowadays are becoming good at what they do. They do not just enter any room blind. It is more likely you are going to be a victim if you do not take heeds any little precaution.

October 9, 2008

Luggage sets are the items that not only carry your belongings but carry them with more organization, style and security. Luggage sets not only assure you that your belongings are safe but also are in perfect sync with your personality. That is why you will find a huge range available in the market that suit different packing needs, budgets and personalities. No matter what your idea for it is but it is for sure that you will find one that fits your bill. This article aims in guiding you to different types of luggage sets available in the market and will assist you in making a wise choice.



These are broadly classified into two categories i.e. large luggage sets and small luggage sets.

Large Luggage sets: mainly consist of suitcases and Pullmans. The difference is the type of material used.

Hard-sided Suitcases: are the most durable types and are generally made from plastic, metal and other molded materials. They are built for heavy and rugged use and can sustain abusive handling during travel.

Semi Soft-sided Suitcases: are also made from plastic and other molded materials and offer more space compared to the hard sided suitcases making your belongings more secure.

Soft-sided suitcases: are lightweight and generally expandable with no internal framework allowing more room for clothes.

Small Luggage Sets: are compact and used for a variety of purposes. They include

Business cases: that can hold your laptop, important papers, and in some cases a pair of clothes for an overnight trip.

Totes and Casual Bags: feature pockets and shoulder straps but the ideal tote bag is the one which is small and can be used for casual outings.

Duffle Bags: are typically soft sided bags with more room to carry lots of clothes and accessories but do not guarantee resistance to rough use.

Backpacks: are usually designed for more casual traveling and outdoor trips but are more spacious and organized with multiple pockets and shoulder straps for ease of carrying around.

Carry on sets: are small and can be easily carried under airplane seat. Come handy during short overnight trips.

There are some important aspects to you need to consider if you want to buy the best one. While buying, you need to make proper choices about the material used in its construction, type of hardware used in it, and the organizational features which makes it more versatile. It is also important that the set you want to buy should be able to accommodate all your belongings with proper organization. Also consider new design features, for instance transformer bags that begin as one bag and with the help of zips and other mechanism end up as another. Also the piggyback bags where one bag is attached to another by a zipper. You can also consider special luggage packing systems those are designed to organize clothes and keep them wrinkle-free. Consider both hard sided and the soft sided luggage before making your choice. Most of the models equipped with wheels should be considered as it reduces efforts to carry the heavy luggage. When considering wheeled models, look for wheels that have a wide track, have a bearing system and recessed into the actual frame of the bag.

Instead of staying in a hotel during your vacation, you may want to consider renting a vacation home on your next trip. There are a lot of benefits to renting a home instead. Besides the fact that homes are almost inevitably larger, they offer many of the conveniences of your own home, such as the ability to cook, large areas to hang out, enough bedrooms for your entire family instead of all sharing one from the same large room, and probably 2-4 bathrooms to avoid those uncomfortable family bottleneck situations when everyone is trying to get out at the same time.



Vacation homes are just as cost effective as well because hotels tend to be expensive anyway, so renting a home doesn't cost much more than staying in a hotel for a week - sometimes it's even less! Plus you get the benefit of being able to cook in a home rather than go out to eat every day. (Though you can certainly find hotels with in-room kitchenettes, the additional cost may not offset the benefits you can find in a home.)

Finding a vacation rental home is actually easier than you may realize. The Internet is packed with web sites dedicated just to renting out houses. First, plan your destination, and then look for available rental homes in that area. It is as simple as that. You also many want to talk to friends who have visited the same area in which you are headed. If they rented a home and had a great experience, a first-hand recommendation is usually a reliable referral.

Many homeowners rent their homes, specifically in high tourist areas, simply because of the income they are able to generate. So, it is highly likely you will find a lengthy selection. If you can’t find anything to your satisfaction on the Internet, you can place a call to a realtor who deals in home rentals in that area.

Before renting a home, make sure you know the price. Additionally, ask what is included in the price, such as telephone use, pool use, and any amenities on the property. Verify the safety of the general area, and ask for references. In a vacation spot, homeowners usually have rented their houses in the past and are more than happy to provide phone numbers of previous guests who have enjoyed their stay and offered their willingness to receive such calls.

Usually if you are renting a home that is arranged through a realtor, the realtor will have already done a lot of the legwork for you, so you can rest assured you are getting a great home to rent. It will also normally be in a little safer area because the realtor has completed background checks to ensure the homeowners are reputable.

Lastly, there is a certain level of cleanliness that you must maintain while vacationing there. Ask about the clean up work required of you before your departure; and by all means leave the house in at least the same shape as when you arrived.

With the rash of reports from travelers around the world getting stung by bedbugs and bringing them home it is no wonder people are in fear every time they leave home. Whether you are hiking in a remote area staying in a flophouse or traveling first class staying at a five star resort you are in danger of an attack of these blood thirsty vermin. Here are a few things you can do to dramatically reduce your chance of bed bug bites though.



• First, never put your bags or clothes on the bed. This common mistake is a virtual invitation for the bugs to hitch a ride home with you. Never leave your clothes or bags on the hotel floor.

• Look behind the headboard and pull the bed out a foot or so look all around the bed for black specks. These creatures are very small if you see anything suspicious call the front desk. Leave the bed out from the wall during your stay. Bed bugs can not fly so if they have been coming from the nightstand they will have to get to you some other way.

• Take a roll of clear packing tape with you while you travel. Wrap the legs of the bed sticky side out to trap the bed bugs trying to get to you. I know this seems extreme but you would rather feel weird than get stung.

• Pull all of the bedding off the sides of the bed and look under the seams of the mattress. You are looking for something that looks like dirt smudges. This is the trail of blood and feces left by the bed bugs. If you find this leave the hotel once you find an infestation you should leave as fast as possible.

• If you are an avid traveler I suggest taking two new king-size sheets and sewing them together on the bottom and sides. Use this at night like a big sleeping bag. Make sure and inspect and fold in the morning. Place this in a garbage bag and seal it while returning home. Unpack this before anything else and wash with the hottest water you have before using again.

• Before leaving the hotel carefully inspect you luggage. Look under all the seams, the bugs you are looking for are sometimes small as a pinhead. Any discoloration, red marks, or stains are tell-tale signs of bed bugs.

• Upon arriving home do not unpack your luggage in your bedroom. Unpack your luggage in your garage. Immediately wash your clothes in the hottest setting your fabrics will stand. Bag up any dry cleaning and take it there ASAP. Leave your luggage in the garage or place a bag around the luggage before returning to your room.

I know this seems like overkill but if you ever get bedbugs you will gladly apply these helpful tips the next time you travel, trust me..

In my next article I will explain how to handle finding bed bugs after you have stayed at a hotel. Even if you find them you do not have to bring them home.



Jet lag is an awkward side effect of jet travel when you cross too many time zones for your body's liking. Face it, most of us have enough problems when we shift just an hour to daylight savings. Follow these tips on avoiding jet lag to help reduce the effects.

Not all these tips are relevant for every trip, especially if you're traveling on business at short notice, but at least some of them should be useful for you.

1. Adjust your sleep time

Start helping your body clock to adjust to the new time zone by changing the times that you go to sleep at night and awaken in the morning. You'll start to become accustomed to the new times. Make the adjustment about an hour each night.

2. Set your watch

As soon as you board your flight, set your watch to the new time. We look at our watches an amazingly high amount of times, so adjusting the time as soon as possible will help your mind realize that it's changing clocks.

3. Drink water. Lots of it

Sure, you can ask the stewardess for water but they have hundreds of other passengers to look after as well. Buy a bottle of water once you've passed through airport control and drink plenty of water during your flight.

4. Say no to coffee and alcohol

They both act as dehydrators. So they'll help to dry up your body even more than the flight already does. Soft drinks or water are to be preferred.

5. Get some rest on the flight

Depending on how enthusiastic the cabin staff are, this may be easier said than done. And if that child behind you rocks your seat once more, then that's another story. If you get the option, a window seat or one in the center of a block of seats will minimize the number of people who need to ask you to move out of their way. Noise canceling headphones aren't standard issue on many flights, so if you are a regular traveler then treat yourself to a set. They really do cut down the disturbance of engine noise.

6. Go walkabout occasionally

OK, this is at odds with getting rest. But sitting down for hours on end isn't a good idea either. Walk up and down the aisles a few times. Not so much that you're pacing them but certainly go for this exercise a few times on a long flight. Just be certain not to time your expedition for meal or drinks or duty free services.

7. Adjust to your new time zone on the plane

If it's daytime at your destination, stay awake. If it's night where you are going, get some sleep. You can catch up on the in flight entertainment when you've got a bigger screen and better sound. Start adjusting as soon as you can.

8. Keep adjusting at your destination

Even if you've been on a plane for hours and hours. The sooner you start adjusting, the better. So if you arrive in the dead of night, get to sleep. A dose of melatonin may help here - it's a natural sleeping aid that's already produced by your body.

If you travel a lot or you haven't traveled before, you may still be familiar with the term "flying standby". Flying standby is a term the airline industry uses when a traveler wants to fly on a flight with an open seat. Travelers that usually purchase a ticket the day of will usually have to fly standby if there a limit number of tickets available.



If you find yourself flying standby in the future, there are a few tips you can follow in order to make the trip at the airport a lot easier.

Don't check your luggage

If you're flying standby, don't check in your luggage. A lot of the times an airline will look for people that have carry on only. If you have checked in luggage, it's just going to be a bigger hassle for the airliner to find your luggage and throw it on the plane. If you just bring carry on luggage, you're going to increase your chances of getting on the flight.

Early flights work

If you can get to the airport early, you'll find that earlier flights are usually easier to get on since many people technically don't travel early in the morning. If you find yourself traveling in the afternoon, this is peak traveling time and you may find that the flights are going to busier compared to the mornings.

Try calling the airline's customer service department

Before you make the trip to the airport, check with the airline before hand and see if there are flights available that you can possibly standby for. Most of the times, the airline will be friendly and give you some flights that you can possibly fly standby on. If you do find that airline you call doesn't have a standby flight available, try and call other airlines to see if they have possible solutions.

Stay at the gate

It's important that you stay near the gate when you're on the standby list. If you tend to walk away during the time when the flight is about to be boarded, you may find that the employee tried to call your name. Sometimes, you're not the only one on the list. This is why it's important that you stay nearby so that if your name is called, you can be there to get on the flight as soon as possible.

You may find that most of these tips will help you in your standby success. If you find that the situation is too stressful, always remember that it's best to be patient. When flights generally board, you will find that most employees are pretty stressful during this time. Always remember to treat others as you want to be treated. Trust me, the employees will keep note of this and will treat you a little nicer than the other customer is furious with the staff. If you keep your head on your shoulders and have a lot of patience, flying standby should be a piece of pie

September 23, 2008

Prambanan Temple is extraordinarily beautiful building built in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Prambanan is the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world.The foundation of this temple has fulfilled the wish of the founder to show Hindu triumph on the island of Java.



There is a legend that the Javanese people always say about this temple. As tells the story, there was a man called Bandung Bondowoso who loved RoRo Jonggrang. To reject his love, Jonggrang question Bondowoso to his temple with statues of 1000 only in a night-time. The application was almost completed when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and set a fire in order to look in the morning as had been broken. Feeling of being cheated, that only Bondowoso completed 999 statues Jonggrang cursed to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the main courtyard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva temples. The three temples are symbols of the Trimurti in the Hindu beliefs. All of them face east.

Very attractive accompanying Garuda temple is the temple which is located near the temple of Vishnu. This temple keeps a history of half-bird man named Garuda. Garuda is a mythical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings of the eagle-like. It is assumed that the figure is the adaptation of Hindu Bennu (meaning 'rising' or 'shining') that is associated with the god of the sun. Garuda managed to save his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's brother disabled) for stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods). Their ability to save her mother made many people admire the present time and is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as a symbol of the country. Another country using the same symbol is Thailand with the same reason, but another form of adaptation and appearance.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. If you feel tired to enjoy the relief, you can take a break in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since the September 18, 2006, you can enter the zone 1 zone Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on May 27, 2006 is being rebuilt.