Meru Betiri

Meru Betiri National Park covers 580 square kilometres (58,000 hectares) of eastern Java. It receives few tourists as accessibility is very difficult and the drive is a long bumpy trip, even by 4WD. The 30 kilometre trip crosses half a dozen rivers as it winds its way through dense forest and a runner plantation. As visitors near the park the potholes just get larger and the ride more unpleasant. It is perhaps unnecessary to point out how beneficial this is for the wildlife of the area.

Named after the highest mountain in the area, Gunung Betiri, the park consists of one of the last large areas of lowland rainforest on Java. Amongst this are mangroves, lowland swamp forest and beach formations.

It is from this reserve that continued reports of Javan tigers persist. These claims come from park staff and locals, but some experts suspect they are erroneous leopard sightings. In 1972 only seven Javan tigers were known to be Meru Betiri, and even as it was declared a reserve, (that very year), the area was under attack by agricultural development. A 1979 census located the tracks of only three tigers. Since that time all reports have been unable to be substantiated. It took until 1997 for the government to declare the area a National Park. These actions were far too late for the Javan tiger.

Experiments are to be carried out using infrared remote cameras as this would seem to be the only likely method of locating any tigers. Authorities are prepared to move several thousand natives from the local area if required. For these people the park provides honey, bamboo, rattan, wood, grass, food and 300 different types of medicinal plants.

Barking deer, wild boar, Banteng, sambar, Javan leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, pangolin, black giant squirrels, large flying foxes, reticulated pythons, Javanese eagles and water monitors all occupy the area. Felids at Meru Betiri include the leopard and the small leopard cat.

Conservation efforts are primarily concentrated on the nearby turtle nesting beaches, particularly at Sukamade, where the turtles are monitored and protected during egg laying. Green, leatherback, hawksbill, Olive Ridley and loggerhead turtles uses the same beaches.

Tagging of turtles has been taking place for some years. Together with the use of hatcheries, this has seen the populations stabilize and increase. Arriving between 9 p.m. and midnight, the turtles crawl determinedly up the beach, deposit up to 100 eggs beneath half a metre of sand and then return to the water; this takes some hours. Turtle Wardens collect the eggs and bury them where they will be secure from poachers and leopards. These big cats wait patiently in the hope of an opportunity to grab an easy meal.

Hatching takes two months, and if the hatchling survives the precarious 25 years to adulthood it may live to see 150. To increase the chance of survival the newborn turtles are collected and kept in tanks until they are stronger.

Meru Betiri National Park now faces ravaging by, not one, but by three separate mining companies. 80,000 tons of gold deposits have been found located within the area of east Java and three, possibly four, companies have joined forces for an application to mine the area. This has already been approved by local government officials who described the land as a local asset to be exploited by third parties. Before making their decision officials enquired about employment opportunities, data on the findings, and what income there would be for the region. There was no recorded mention of wildlife conservation.

Until recent times, the primary focus at Meru Betiri has been that of conservation. This has changed with the mining opportunity and increased promotion of tourism for this area. With ever increasing demands for 'Adventure Tourism', and thrill-seeking, efforts are being made to attract more visitors. This will inevitably be at the expense of the wildlife in the area.

Ijen volcano and Kawah Ijen sulphur lake

		Crater of Ijen volcano, containing the most acid volcanic lake in the world.
Deeply eroded and altered crater wall of Ijen volcano.

Webcams

One of the most incredible inventions I've ever come across is the web cam and its process of video conferencing. This is just so futuristic I can't believe they really exist and are readily available to anyone with the Internet, speakers, and the right software. I'm not absolutely sure but doesn't this spell the end of telephones? Now we can have conversations with people on the other side of the world, and see their face moving as we hear them speaking live.

Security Recommendations

Trojan Horse Attacks...
Counterfeit websites may also attempt to trick Users into downloading a Trojan horse with the objective of gaining control of victim's computer.

The email attachment in fraudulent e-mails usually is a Trojan horse. Again, the objective of a Trojan horse may be to gain control of victim's computer.

Keep your operating system and applications updated
Use Windows Update to make sure you have the latest security patches installed. Also check for updates to your application programs, especially Microsoft Office.

Use a hardware and/or software firewall
A firewall can protect your computer from malicious traffic. A hardware firewall/router (such as the many offerings of companies like Linksys, D-Link, SMC, and others) acts as a barrier between the outside world and your computer. A software firewall, such as ZoneAlarm, performs that function to a lesser degree but can also block malicious programs on your computer from sending data out to the Internet. Windows XP includes a simple firewall, but it is disabled by default. The free version of ZoneAlarm does a very nice job.

Do not run untrusted applications
Running any program that arrives via email or that was downloaded from the Internet can be dangerous. Only run applications that you wish to grant complete access to your computer and the data contained on it.

Use an Anti-Virus program
If you follow all of the above recommendations a virus will have difficulty infecting your computer. However, since a computer virus can be a vehicle for a criminal to gain total control of your computer and thereby any information stored on, sent by, or received by your computer, it is prudent to install antivirus software from a reputable source and run it regularly. Since new viruses are discovered daily, it is important to keep antivirus software and the virus definitions it uses for detection up to date at all times.

Educate yourself
Become a smarter computer user with regard to security issues. Here are a few places to start:

www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html CERT Home Network Security www.microsoft.com/security/home/ Microsoft Security Basics for Home Users www.isalliance.org/resources Common Sense Guide for Home and Individual Users www.nsa.gov/snac/ NSA Security Recommendation Guides grc.com/default.htm Gibson Research. Info on Spyware , Shields-UP/port scan. www.antiphishing.org/ Anti- Phishing Working Group www.securityfocus.com/ Security Focus community homepage pcvirus2000.web.cern.ch/pcvirus2000/ CERN antivirus support website security.web.cern.ch/security/passwords/ Password Recommendations at CERN security.web.cern.ch/security/Recommendations CERN Computer Security Recommendations

SUKAMADE TURTLE - BEACH

97 km from Banyuwangi

Situated on the south coast, Sukamade beach is the site where turtles appear between about 9 p.m. to midnight to lay eggs, which they bury under about half a meter of sand. The egg-laying is subject to seasons, and at times the beach can be awash with turtles, especially during the full moon. Beach guards collect the eggs shortly after they have been laid and rebury them elsewhere where they are safe from poachers and such animals as leopards. The eggs hatch in about two months after which the young turtles are tended in special tanks at Sukamade until they are strong enough to survive in the ocean. Today, more than 2,500 turtles have been tagged and recorded since the beach became a protected area in 1972. The huge creatures which struggle from the moonlight surf are not without problems, as predators on and off the shore will devour most of their eggs and offsprings, but at least they are spared the human poacher. If homosapiens does lurk in the shadows, it is only the curious. Sukamade is still very isolated. To get there requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and above all perseverence. Main access is through a 50 km stretch of extremely rough road, passing rubber, coffee, and cocoa plantations. As yet there are no bridges crossing the the rivers, which, though negotiable during the dry season, can become very difficult to cross during the rainy season. Despite the discomfort, however, the trip may be rewarding. Two full days are needed for the 2-way journey with an overnight stop in Sukamade where limited accommodafon is available

How to reach Sukamade:

Surabaya - Probolinggo (99 km) : bus/train
Probolinggo - Jember (99 km) : bus/train
Jember - Jajag (74 km) : bus/train
Jajag - Sukamade (62 km) : taxi

A conservation effort has been underway for some years at Sukamade Beach, where four types of sea turtle come regularly to nest. Stability of the turtle population has been helped by a careful system of tagging and monitoring, as well as the use of special hatcheries. Watching these giant creatures emerge from the surf and struggle-up the beach to lay their eggs on a moonlit night is a unique and unforgettable experience, and one which is certain to ensure Sukamade's ever growing popularity.

Hotel in Surabaya

Garden Palace Hotel Kom L Yos Sudarso Street 11 Phone: (031) 5321001 JW Marriott Hotel Embong Malang Street 85-89 Phone: (031) 5458888 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Majapahit Tunjungan Street 65 Phone: (031) 5454333 Novotel SurabayaHotel & Suites Raya Ngagel Street 173-175 Phone: (031) 5018900 Hyatt Regency Surabaya Jend Basuki Rachmad Street 106-128 Phone: (031) 5311234 Pacific Hotel Perak Timur Street 404 Phone: (031) 3286788 Patra Surabaya Hilton International Hotel Gunungsari Golf Street Phone: (031) 5614420

The Centre of Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun

Since 19th century, Surabaya had a famous downtown every where which call Kembang Jepun. That time Kembang Jepun had two functions, as a business centre and downtown. In the next century Kembang Jepun as "Wall Street" doesn't change, but Kembang Jepun as downtown already change with Tunjungan. In 21st century the role of Tunjungan change by modern malls at side cities.

Situation always changes. Sometimes really change, sometimes just roll like wheels. “The Sinking” of Kembang Jepun and Tunjungan, make Surabaya as city had lost the important icons.

That’s why, recreated Kembang Jepun as new icons Surabaya city. So, if other big cities in the world always have a unique part of town as Kya-Kya (walk street), Surabaya with a new Kembang Jepun will be exist. This icon named with “The Centre Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun” (PKKJ Surabaya).

Kya-Kya is Chinese language that’s mean Walk Street. The chosen this name because Government of Surabaya hopes the Jepun area can live at night. The chosen name of Kya-Kya because the Kembang Jepun area known a famous China Town area. Even though, in the history, Jepun already as most busy area since Dutch colonial. Not far from Kembang Jepun, there is Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) the famous historical icon.

Mount Bromo

One of the most actively promoted attractions in East Java today is the excursion to Mount Bromo, situated in Tengger. It is a vast mountain, an eruption of massive proportions blew off its top leaving a huge caldera in which two peaks are located. One is the active volcano of Bromo and the other is the non-active of Mount Batok.

The uniqueness of the area's characteristic is a reminiscent of a moonscape rather than anything related to the earth offers such breathtaking experiences, like observing sunrises and gazing into the volcano's crater

Mt. Bromo is about 2,382 meters above sea level. Time has filled the caldera with grey sand and this expanse, which you walk across en route to Bromo itself, is known as the Sand Sea. It is about 10 km.

Across the Sand Sea is Mount Batok with its almost perfect cone. To the south, Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Java provides a fining backdrop for this unearthly scene. While crossing the Sand Sea, low-lying fog which often envelops the caldera's floor, adds to the mystery of the surroundings. As the temperature drops several degrees, the combination of cold air and the strange echoing of horse's hoofs creates a fantastic sensation of walking across a huge frozen lake. Temperatures at the top of Mt. Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celsius.

In the south, there is a rolling upland plateau dissected by valleys and dotted with several small scenic lakes extending to the foot of Mt. Semeru, a towering grey forest-skirted cone dominating the southern landscape. The offering ceremony of Kasodo is held each year by Tenggerese on the 14th day of full moon Kesodo (Tenggerese Calendar). Inhabitants of Tengger Mountain gather at the rim of Mt. Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, livestock, and other local products to the God of the mountain. As adherents of religion combining elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, they ask for blessing from the supreme God Hyang Widi Wasa.

Tourists are driven to the small town of Ngadisari, about six km north-east of Bromo. It is the base camp of the expedition. Necessities for the trip include a torch, warm clothing and some alcoholic drinks as a protection against the freezing temperature which hovers between zero to five degrees Celsius (33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). From Ngadisari, the ascent to the crater takes about two hours on foot. On horse-back (ponies can be hired) the excursion takes about an hour and a half. Excursions normally start around midnight.

Ngadisari also has hotel facilities. This enables trippers to stay the night and get up somewhat later than midnight for the trek to Bromo. The last stage of the trip is the flight of steps leading to the rim of Bromo's crater, and, finally, the incomparable view of the rising in the east.

Surfing at plengkung Beach, east Java

For You was like surfing and wishing a experience cleansing adrenalin, you can visit to a beach in East Java.

A moment forget concerning Bali, momentary forget inviting wave in Kuta the crowdedness with all foreign and local surfer. Visit and try Pelengkung plengkung, Banyuwangi, East Java.

Recognized Area by the name of this G-Land is possible do not as beautiful as beach in Bali, but if You envision ferocious and big wave, hence this is precise choice to be packed into list of is target of Your vacation.

Beach of Plengkung located 87km from Banyuwangi, to reach him even also do not too difficult. Of Banyuwangi, you earn to use motor vehicle go to countryside of Trianggulasi with time went through 2,5 hour.

Afterwards, drawing up your foot/feet to go through journey as far as 12km ( 4 hour journey), considering motor vehicle do not be permitted to pass this area for the shake of the taking care of of him. For which wish to Plengkung without straining after, You earn used boat speed of Town Isn'T it or from Benoa Denpasar. Travelled distance very depend on natural factor, that is wave and weather.