Harga Tanah Anyer-Bakaheuni Naik Karena Jembatan Selat Sunda

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto Friday, April 30, 2010 0 comments for Anyer

Jakarta - Proyek Jembatan Selat Sunda (JSS) hingga kini belum direalisasikan namun para spekulan tanah rupanya sudah mengincar kawasan dibangunnya JSS di Anyer dan Bakeheuni.

Semenjak diumumkannya hasil pre feasibility study (Pre FS) program pembangunan JSS beberapa bulan lalu, harga tanah di dua lokasi itu melonjak tajam.

Hal ini disampaikan oleh Presiden Direktur Wiratman & Associates Multidiciplinary Consultants Wiratman Wangsadinata saat ditemui detikFinance di sela-sela acara Pameran Konstruksi Indonesia 2009 di JCC, Jakarta, Kamis (3/12/2009).

"Sekarang saja sudah naik harga tanah, kenaikannya 10-20% terutama setelah pengumuman Pre FS," kata Wiratman tersenyum.

Hal ini ia ketahui karena sejak ia ditunjuk sebagai perancang JSS oleh konsorsium Pemda Banten-Lampung dan Artha Graha, ia banyak melakukan studi lapangan di dua lokasi tersebut.

Namun kata dia Pemda Banten dan Lampung telah sigap mengantisipasi hal tersebut dengan melarang jual beli tanah di kawasan yang akan dilintasi JSS.

"Sekarang pemerintah daerah sudah mengambil langkah, sudah tidak boleh jual beli (tanah) di kawasan tersebut," katanya.

Padahal kata dia sebagai perancang desain awal JSS, ia berencana akan membuat pintu masuk dan keluar JSS jauh dari bibir pantai. Sehingga jika ada spekulan yang telah membeli tanah di kawasan bibir pantai meski masuk dalam jalur JSS akan percuma saja.

Dikatakan Wiratman, pintu masuk JSS untuk wilayah Banten Jawa Barat akan melewati wilayah Anyer sebelah barat, dengan pertimbangan wilayah Merak relatif sudah berkembang.

Sedangkan untuk wilayah Bakaheuni Lampung jalur JSS akan dibangun sebelah barat dari pelabuhan Bakaheuni.

Seperti diketahui proyek JSS diperkirakan akan menelan dana hingga Rp 100 triliun, jembatan sepanjang 29 Km yang akan melintasi Selat Sunda (Anyer-Bakaheuni) membutuhkan waktu pengerjaan hingga 10 tahun.

Rencana pembangunan akan dilakukan pada tahun 2012 yang akan selesai dan beroperasi pada 2022.

(hen/dnl)

Sumber: detikcom



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Indigenous record on Krakatau blast discovered - Anyer Banten

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An Indonesian researcher has found a native record of the Krakatau volcanic eruption that took place between Aug. 26 and 28, 1883.

Suryadi, a philologist and researcher at Leiden University, said he discovered the documentation, probably the only native record of the event, after two years of research.

Suryadi said the author of the record, Muhammad Saleh, printed and published four stories about the eruption in Singapore in stone-prints (lithographs) in 1883 and 1884.

"Muhammad Saleh claimed that he was in Tanjung Karang, Lampung, when the natural disaster happened. It is probable that he was among the victims of the eruption who fled to Singapore, taking the catastrophic memories with him," Suryadi said, as quoted by Kompas.com on Sunday.

According to Suryadi, the stories, written in Malay using Malay- Arabic letters, describe the aftermath of the disaster, the damage in the area and the people who survived.

The stories were titled "Poems of the Lampung Land that went under Water and Dust Rain", "These are the Poems of the Lampung Land that went under Seawater", "Poems of the Submerged Anyer Land" and "These are the Poems of the Submerged Anyer Land".

The Krakatau blast was a major eruption culminating in a series of massive explosions and was among the most violent volcanic events in modern times. The remains of Krakatau formed a group of volcanic islands in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

The eruption produced a 70-kilometer high cloud of burning dust and a 40-meter high tsunami, killing around 36,000 people. (dre)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

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Hotel Mambruk Anyer

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto Thursday, April 29, 2010 0 comments for Anyer

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Hotel Mambruk Anyer
HOTEL MAMBRUK ANYER is the perfect location for both business and pleasure. It is located approximately 2 hours from Jakarta, on the beach and in lush, lanscaped gardens. Mambruk's facilities include bungalow style units with a capacity of 6 guests, meeting accommodation for up to 200 persons and resort facilities that include swimming pools, tennis courts, lighthouse bar and karaoke. Tours and sport activities can be organized for Mambruk Anyer hotel guests

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Banten: An attraction for history buffs

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The tropical heat may put off people going to this province, but if you are a history or architecture buff, it would mean missing out on getting a closer look at the region's rich array of historical architecture.

Just 100 kilometers away, or a two-hour drive, west of Jakarta via the toll road, the province is home to 87 archaeological sites, 44 historical buildings and 42 devotional visit sites.

So, Banten is definitely the place to go for those with a passion for Islamic ruins or for the beauty of colonial buildings.

Banten -- or Bantam according to ancient European texts -- was one of the most important shipping ports in the region between the 16th and 17th centuries, because of its hold on the pepper trade and as an international entrept and supply port along the main sea trade route.

According to experts, before falling to Muslim influence from an attack by Sunan Gunung Jati of the Demak kingdom at the end of 1526, Banten was under the control of the Hindu Sunda Kingdom. The king of Banten was then known as Prabu Pucuk Umun, with the capital at Banten Girang, approximately five kilometers south of modern-day Serang.

In the 1530s Gunung Jati's son, Maulana Hasanuddin, was ordered to move nearer to the port, on the mouth of the Banten River -- now known as Old Banten -- and established Keraton (palace) Surosowan as his capital. Hasanuddin became the new kingdom's sultan between 1552 and 1570.

His son and successor, Maulana Yusuf, expanded further the territory of the Banten sultanate, by incorporating the lands formerly owned by the Pajajaran kingdom -- whose capital, Pakuwan (now Bogor), he captured in 1579.

The first Dutch group to enter Banten was led by Cornelis de Houtman in 1596. Today's description of old Banten during this time was largely thanks to the literary work of some of de Houtman's passengers.

One of them, Willem Lodewijcks, described the busy port of Banten thus: ""East of the town (Karang Antu) are many foreign tradesmen, such as Portuguese, Arabs, Chinese, Turks, Kelings, Pegunese, Malays, Benggalis, Gujaratis and people from the Malabar and Abessina,"" according to Hasan Muarif Ambary in the No. 11, 1977, edition of Bulletin of the Research Center of Archaeology of Indonesia.

The Dutch capture of Jayakarta, which it renamed Batavia, in 1619, gradually shifted the majority of trade from Banten. Battles of supremacy with the growing power of the Dutch in Batavia weakened Banten further.

A rift in 1680 between Banten ruler Sultan Agung and his son, Prince Haji, precipitated the collapse of Bantenese hegemony in West Java and resulted in the establishment of full Dutch protection there in 1684.

When the Netherlands formerly took over the overseas possessions of the VOC, a good part of the sultanate of Banten was brought under direct control of Herman Willem Daendels, who, in 1807, was appointed governor general of the Netherlands East Indies in Batavia (nowadays Jakarta).

Daendels ruled with an iron hand, and one of his achievements was construction of a road spanning almost the entire length of Java, from Anyer on the western tip of Java to Panarukan, near its easternmost point.

Public works projects had a heavy toll on human lives. The Bantenese revolted under the burden.

""Daendel's messenger, Komandeur Philip Pieter du Puy, was killed in front of Surosowan Palace, giving Daendels the perfect excuse to obliterate the kingdom in 1808,"" head of the Banten Archaeological Office Endjat Djaenuderadjat said.

Keraton Surosowan was destroyed and its building material was used to build Daendel's new city in Serang -- modern-day Banten's provincial capital -- including that of the State Building.

""In 1814 he created a new capital in Serang, with a city plan resembling that of traditional Muslim cities in Java, but he put all the government offices into buildings surrounding the town square,"" Endjat said, explaining that a traditional Muslim city had a keraton to the south of the town square, and a mosque to the west.

Afterwards, Banten lost its competitive edge to Batavia. The old city center, once busy with the traffic of multinational traders, has now become quiet.

The hustle and bustle revived only briefly just before Ramadhan -- the Muslim fasting month -- when thousands of devotees come to visit the many devotional sites in the area, including that of Sunan Gunung Jati, one of the nine leaders responsible for the spread of Islam in Java.

During Chinese New Year, hundreds of Chinese -- both Chinese-Indonesians and those from other countries -- pay their respects to the Kwan Im goddess at the Kelenteng (Chinese temple) Avalokitesvara.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta


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Anyer Carita Tourist Destinations

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto Wednesday, April 28, 2010 0 comments for Anyer
Banten Province is one of the youngest province in Indonesia, located adjacent to the capital of Jakarta to Banten Province developed rapidly, there are many emerging industrial area in Banten Province. Not only the rich industrial area, Banten Province is also rich in tourism areas that have not been known by the public.
Carita Beach Anyer beach and tourist area which is most famous enough in Banten Province. Anyer Beach and Coastal Caria is one tourist area adjacent to Mount Krakatau and Ujung Kulon National Park, therefore the area of Anyer Beach Carita Beach and visited by many foreigners who want to recreation to Mount Krakatau and Ujung Kulon.
Anyer Beach Carita Beach and there are many inns that you can visit, ranging from Hotels to Hotel class jasmine can be found along the tour route until Carita Anyer, diverse facilities and architecture of the hotel you'll want to indulge in a vacation and make your vacation Carita Anyer or impression on all Hotels and Lodging in Beach Anyer and Carita Beach rely on a clean beach, white sand, which of course I am safe in use for swimming.
Carita Beach. The beach is located in the Sunda Strait coast is a popular tourist destination in the province of Banten, in addition to Anyer Beach, Beach and Beach Tanjung Karang Bolong Lesung.
Strategic location, being at the edge of the highway Carita-Labuan which is one of the main route linking the tourist attractions in the area of the west coast of Banten, making it easier for tourists to access it. The distance is not too far from Jakarta to make this beach is popular, so much visited by domestic and foreign tourists, especially on weekends and other holidays.
Karang Bolong beach is one of the attractions of the famous beach in Serang, Banten Province Unlike other beaches in Banten province, such as the Beach Anyer, Carita Beach, and Cape Coast Lesung popular for its beautiful beaches and charm of panoramic underwater, power Karang Bolong Beach attraction lies precisely on a large rock holes located on the seashore.
At first, the beach is located at the main road Anyer-Carita was known as Karang Suraga or Suraga Reef. The name is taken from Suryadilaga, names of people in ancient times sacred mandraguna who meditated at this place until the end of his life. Although Suryadilaga been long dead, the people around this coast believe that he is still alive and living on the beach.
In subsequent developments, slowly fading Suraga Reef name and changed its name to Karang Bolong. This was caused by a large rock in the middle hole (holes) and form an arch. One end of the reef on the edge of the beach, while another end of the reef facing the open sea. According to estimates by experts, there are holes in this rock because it eroded by sea water over a long time. But there is also an opinion, the hole in the rocks resulting from massive eruption of Mount Krakatoa on August 27, 1883 M

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Karang Bolong presents unusual natural wonder

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Karang Bolong,Anyer - Every once in a while it is nice, if at all possible, to get away from the metropolis that is Jakarta, with all its traffic congestion and choking pollution, and head for the coast to get some sun, sand and reviving sea air.

Although Jakarta does have coastal areas at its northernmost edges, it is hard to feel that one is really ""away from it all"" at these narrow little beaches.

Instead, many will travel to the furthest western reaches of Java and to the coastal areas of Anyer and Carita. To get to this part of the island, it is possible to take the Jakarta-Merak toll road for most of the journey.

This road is principally intended to serve as a link to the port town of Merak and the ferries there that depart to Sumatra, but a turn heads to the western coast of Java. Thanks to the toll road, travelers can arrive at the western Java from Jakarta within two hours.

Traveling along the coastal road here, one is confronted by giant industrial complexes that do not suggest that scenic seashores lie ahead. The massive Krakatau steelworks bring heavy traffic to these parts, but perseverance and patience are rewarded.

Traveling beyond the heavy industrial development, one soon passes through the small town of Cilegon and on to the coastal road that hugs the seashore.

Soon, the lineal town of Anyer is reached but there is little here that really constitutes a town. Mostly all that is on offer are cottages and villas offering sandy accommodation.

Probably the most distinguished and literally outstanding aspect of Anyer is its slender and regal white lighthouse, which was erected after the 19th century volcanic explosion of Krakatau that devastated this coastal region.

Passing through Anyer the road continues to hug the shoreline, and gates along the way offer entry to public beaches that give glimpses of the blue sea and distant islands. The road continues to wind toward Carita, but just before it some 12 kilometers from Anyer, one reaches the destination of Karang Bolong.

Care is necessary when approaching this natural wonder, as the entrance gate is narrow and rather hidden on a bend in the road. It would indeed be a shame to miss this site, as it is simultaneously unusual and attractive.

A small fee is charged by the local people to enter this ""tourist location"" but this should not put anyone off.

Karang Bolong can be translated as a rock or cliff that is ""perforated"" or ""drilled through"", and this is an accurate description. But perhaps some reference to the stone archway here would be a more attractive name, as is this archway that is the site's most outstanding feature.

The archway is remarkably even and rounded on its underside, but above the cliff face it rises up as an angular and jagged edge. The cliff can be climbed via some steep and heavily moss-covered steps. But the climb is indeed challenging, as trees grow all over the cliff and seem to maraud over the walkway with their branches.

Similarly, the tree roots creep down the sheer rock faces of the cliff, seeking out sustenance. The trees seem precarious dwellers on this cliff, which itself seems to be precariously poised.

At its base, cavernous holes run right through it and the surf washes up against them, striking fears that the whole cliff could crumble and fall into the sea.

Rocky outcrops dot the area, and pagoda-like shelters have been built on some of them, providing shade and a fun place to take a break from the heat of the day. The tide washes in and out around these outcrops, so it is possible, sitting on a huge rock, to be ""stranded"" momentarily on a tiny island just meters off the shoreline.

Climbing to the top of the cliff allows for excellent views both inland and out to sea.

Looking inland, the small but attractive beach at Karang Bolong can be seen, as can the surrounding hills. Gazing seaward offers a panorama of deep blue waters, and distant cloud-topped islands can be discerned far off in these waters, shimmering in the hot sun.

It is suggested that the Krakatau eruption could have been responsible for carving out the rocks of Karang Bolong into their unusual shapes and sizes. But whatever formed this site, it is clear that the mighty powers of nature were at work.

Just across the coastal road from Karang Bolong, nature is for sale. Surrounding a circular parking lot is a small market where inexpensive seafood can be bought. Also for sale here are many different shells and corals, some of which have been shaped into desk-top ornaments or other decorative affairs.

These, however, give rise to concerns for the local ecosystems. That is, with so many shells and pieces of coral for sale, it may be surmised that much of nature is ruthlessly taken from the sea and exploited for the benefit of tourism.

If so, this would be a shame, for these parts surely need to be protected.

Karang Bolong is a scenic and highly unusual site, and it really ought to be enough to come and take in this sight and appreciate it. It is a popular site at weekends and on national holidays, so take heed that it may get quite crowded.

Even so, Karang Bolong is well worth a visit, as it does illustrate simultaneously the great power and remarkable beauty of nature.

The sea here is clean, clear and blue while the sea air is both fresh and invigorating, thus offering a natural getaway from the hustle, bustle and clutter of the big city.

Simon Marcus Gower, Contributor, Karang Bolong, Anyer W. Java

TheJakartaPost


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Indigenous record on Krakatau blast discovered

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 0 comments for Anyer
An Indonesian researcher has found a native record of the Krakatau volcanic eruption that took place between Aug. 26 and 28, 1883.

Suryadi, a philologist and researcher at Leiden University, said he discovered the documentation, probably the only native record of the event, after two years of research.

Suryadi said the author of the record, Muhammad Saleh, printed and published four stories about the eruption in Singapore in stone-prints (lithographs) in 1883 and 1884.

"Muhammad Saleh claimed that he was in Tanjung Karang, Lampung, when the natural disaster happened. It is probable that he was among the victims of the eruption who fled to Singapore, taking the catastrophic memories with him," Suryadi said, as quoted by Kompas.com on Sunday.

According to Suryadi, the stories, written in Malay using Malay- Arabic letters, describe the aftermath of the disaster, the damage in the area and the people who survived.

The stories were titled "Poems of the Lampung Land that went under Water and Dust Rain", "These are the Poems of the Lampung Land that went under Seawater", "Poems of the Submerged Anyer Land" and "These are the Poems of the Submerged Anyer Land".

The Krakatau blast was a major eruption culminating in a series of massive explosions and was among the most violent volcanic events in modern times. The remains of Krakatau formed a group of volcanic islands in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

The eruption produced a 70-kilometer high cloud of burning dust and a 40-meter high tsunami, killing around 36,000 people. (dre)
 
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

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By the way: Dog days for down-and-out Anyer

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto Tuesday, April 27, 2010 0 comments for Anyer

A trip to Anyer from Jakarta is not for the fainthearted. To reach the beach you must first joust bumper to bumper with the articulated trucks plying the Tangerang-Merak toll road, still the only route for all Sumatra-bound freight from Jakarta.

And once you've exited the highway, this strip of West Java's coastline, weekend destination number one for thousands of jaded Jakartans, still lies beyond a vast industrial hinterland upon which Anyer's steelworks sprawl.

The sea, when it does finally come into view, momentarily compensates for the three-hour journey. But unless you're totally used to the Anyer experience and have developed a hard-shell to its near derelict state, the beach and its down-and-out resorts strike a near fatal blow to the heart of the first-time visitor.

As Anyer is a weekend getaway, come Monday it sags on its ungainly hinges in exhaustion: weather beaten, salt-shrivelled and reeling from the departed weekend hordes. With the tourists gone, Anyer looks scabrous and hang-dog.

Its piece de resistance, the huge, 580 room behemoth Marbella Anyer Hotel, resembles a great beached leviathan despite its best efforts to cast itself as a Spanish or exotically Moorish resort.

During weekends, when the party's on, the crowds must go a long way to convincing a visitor Anyer is the place to be, despite its blatant lack of charm. Go at any other time, when Sol Elite plays the role of the abandoned orphan, and the hotel's vast interior, hemmed in by low ceilings as if imitating an underground car park, looks not just unloved, but unlovable.

On the Monday my family visited, almost every visible employee was hooked up to a piece of industrial cleaning equipment as the hotel, after the adrenaline-high of the weekend, began its week-long process of sprucing up.

But the festering wound in Anyer's side is not the hotels but, lamentably, the beach itself: ironically the very thing for which the visitor comes. Neglected by every single resort along a strip of what could be beautiful coastline, the beach wears a coastline necklace of garish trash.

I spoke to the charming, English-speaking manager at the Hotel Jayakarta about the unkempt state of the beach and he told me that, although only two months into his job, he had worn himself out talking to local government officials about how to keep the beach clean.

I'm no hotelier, but if I were in the shoes of any hapless manager of a hotel along the coast, I'd make that beach my pride and joy. Every morning, before putting on my tie and sitting in an office and feeling managerial, I'd announce to myself that the beach is no one's responsibility but my own. I would defer to no committee. I would make no announcement about our stewardship of the natural environment. I would, rather, get a rake – I'd buy it myself - and have my strip of beach pristine by 7 a.m.

The sense of neglect is worse down the Marbella Anyer end, where wind-stricken bamboo structures festooned with ugly blue tarpaulins stoop seaward in sorry disarray as if they are all that's left of a suddenly abandoned shanty.

It's this general derelict state that makes me wonder how we find it in us to despoil our very own backyard, even when the backyard is a kilometer-long stretch of beach fronting the Java Sea.

It's as if we have come to regard litter as a natural occurrence, like driftwood, that we do not need to pay any attention to.  

We will however go back to Anyer, for two reasons. One is because when eating in the dingy, cavernously empty Valentine Del Mar restaurant, opposite the Marbella Anyer, we were served fried fish by a girl whose guileless smile revealed to me that Anyer's cause was not yet lost. If a waitress can find the resilience to be personable and good-natured whilst serving a hearty meal, even on a Monday, when every right-minded tourist should have been heading home, then there is still hope for Anyer.

Also, I must also go back because the hotel manager told me he was going to deal with the dirty beach. I want to see how it looks swept clean.

— Adrian Thirkell

http://www.thejakartapost.com


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Anyer's lighthouse, a vulnerable landmark

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto Monday, April 26, 2010 0 comments for Anyer

Anyer Lighthouse: The Anyer lighthouse stands tall over the small 
park found at its base, which has a picnic area for visitors to relax 
in.    (JP/Simon Marcus Gower)

Beacon of Light: The Anyer lighthouse stands tall over the small park found at its base, which has a picnic area for visitors to relax in. (JP/Simon Marcus Gower)

Heading out to the west coast of Java from Jakarta is, for the most part, a relatively easy journey.

The toll road that buses and huge trucks take to the port of Merak runs most of the way but then a smaller road needs to be negotiated heading in the direction of Cilegon and the small coastal town of Anyer.

It is this road that proves more of a problem. The heavy industrial plants that initially line the coast here mean that there are many large container trucks to contend with. Recent rains and these heavy trucks have combined to do a lot of damage to the road. So much damage in fact that in parts the journey feels like an off-road adventure.

However, once the sign over the road welcoming travelers to the town of Anyer has been reached, the roadway improves and the industrial plants no longer dominate the surroundings.

The town center of Anyer is little more than a single street with shops, a market area and a mosque. There is not really much to be seen here; better instead to continue through to the coast.

Soon the surroundings become predominantly resorts and hotels along with seafood restaurants that all cater to visitors. Public beaches can be accessed through bamboo gates for a small fee, payments being made to sleepy attendants.

The beaches and the coastline are definite attractions but further ahead is an outstanding and elegant lighthouse some 120 years old.

The road winds and bends, running perhaps 100 to 200 meters from the coast. Coming around one of the bends, the lighthouse at Anyer is almost suddenly revealed. Standing tall and slender, its white color makes it shimmer and shine in the sun. It seems to be a sentinel both for this coastal region and some of the history here.

The lighthouse was erected a relatively short while after the massive explosion of Krakatua in 1883. When Krakatua exploded with such incredible power, it unleashed a huge tsunami which wreaked havoc on Java's west coast. At the time of the explosion there was already a lighthouse in this area, which was then known as Fourth Point.

It seems that that original lighthouse was one of a series of lighthouses that ran along the coast here to ward ships off as they passed through the Sunda Strait. That lighthouse, like so much else in the area, was wiped out by the force of the tsunami that struck following Krakatau's explosion.

Three years later in 1885, a new lighthouse -- the stylish one we still see today -- was completed and opened. It was erected by the Dutch, seemingly at the behest of Dutch Queen Wilhelmina; a plaque above the ground floor entrance doorway notes this.

What we see today is, however, somewhat showing its age. After more than 120 years of standing guard on this coastline, it is perhaps no great surprise that the lighthouse is looking a bit worn and worse for wear. There are patches of rust visible on the exterior walls and within the lighthouse itself there is quite considerable rusting.

As the visitor makes the climb to the top of the lighthouse, there are whole floors that look to be severely rusted. Indeed, one floor has rusted through to its edges, which has left it looking particularly dangerous. However, if one is willing to brave these rusty dangers and has a head for heights, the climb is well worth it.

There are 17 flights of stairs to be climbed each with about 15 steps. Each floor has a window in it that allows for views out as the climb proceeds, but it is the view from the top that is most important.

At the top there is a narrow doorway that leads out to an external gallery. It is here that stunning views can be had.

On the external gallery there is more evidence of rusting; a hole in the floor that allows for a view straight down certainly gets the pulse racing.

Walking around this external gallery it is possible to gain a 360-degree view of the green fields inland, the ins and outs of the coastline, the bending coastal road, the vastness of the sea and distant islands.

The gallery sits just below the lighthouse's large rotating lamp, so visitors are not quite at the pinnacle of the lighthouse. But the view is spectacle and, combined with the climb, amounts to a definite statement that this lighthouse is an important and pleasing part of the Anyer coastline.

The rusting that is evident throughout the lighthouse hopefully will not be left to become so severe that it undermines its very existence or prevents visitors from climbing to its top.

One of the attendants at the foot of the lighthouse suggested that some of the rusting was caused by gunfire. He claimed that during the Japanese occupation in World War II, the Japanese army would take prisoners into the lighthouse to be shot. It is hard to tell whether this is what actually happened, but the rust damage is there for all to see.

The same attendant said that repairs were difficult because of problems "matching the metals" with those that are locally available.

It is clear that the many numbered plates that are joined together throughout to form the lighthouse are massive and quite solid, but floors are under rust attack and patches on the walls show the spread of rust.

For now, though, the lighthouse does continue to stand tall. The massive metal plates that are bolted together to form it make a large cylindrical echo chamber. The foot falls and voices of visitors echo through it and the echoes of time and history also reside here.

Cars entering the small park adjacent to the lighthouse need to pay an entrance fee of Rp 20,000. A small gratuity may also be paid to the attendant that unlocks the lighthouse for visitors.

http://www.thejakartapost.com

 


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Finding a place to stay along the road through Banten

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Transparent water the color of brilliant turquoise ripples and catches the sun on a clear day outside bungalows overlooking a quiet white sandy beach dotted with swaying palms. No one is around, except the occasional waiter quietly refilling your drink. This has got to be the ultimate escape, and it's hard to believe this is only two hours away from Jakarta.

Banten is the most western part of Java and it offers many retreats alongits coastline which cater to a vast range of tastes, guaranteeing that much-needed rest or adventure you are looking for.

Here's a brief sampling of where you can stay and spend your hard-earned leisure time.

A major first on the road along the West Java coastline is Hotel Mambruk Anyer, a four-star hotel located on seven landscaped hectares of land righton the beach near the landmark Mercu Suar lighthouse, which was built by the Dutch.

Privacy is a main feature here, whether your trip is for pleasure or business. Mambruk, one of the best established hotel resorts in the area, is owned by a famous model of the 1970s and 1980s, Enny Soekamto, and boasts a private white sandy beach surrounded by nature, two swimming pools-- one near the beach and another more private one near the garden area -- and outdoor facilities for beach volleyball, tennis, billiards and table tennis.

This hotel caters to everyone in your entourage. Children are well-accommodated and welcome with a playground to romp in, various activities and an around-the-clock child care service.

One could simply partake in lounging around and drinking one's favorite cocktail or beer at the outdoor bar, but being in one of the world's best deep-sea fishing areas, casting a line at least once in these waters shouldnot be missed. The staff says the Sunda Strait is far from overfished and includes a healthy population of marlin.

The hotel hires out 12-seater speed boats and guides are recommended for swift delivery to prime fishing spots.

A ""squid hunt"" places you and two other friends in a traditional four-seater boat with a guide. The trip, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. costs only Rp 25,000 a head and whatever you catch is yours.

Activities on the water are not limited to great fishing. Visitors can arrange jetskiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. After a U.S. navy diver dived in waters off the coast of Ujung Kulon National Park in 1987, he concluded the area was ""of world-class standard equivalent to Bunaken in North Sulawesi in terms of sea life"".

All dive equipment and a dive master are on hand; however, diving experience is necessary as an instructor is not available for first-timers.It is recommended to organize diving expeditions through one of the numerous dive operators in Jakarta prior to your trip down.

Back on the surface, why not take in a climb on Mt. Krakatau which looms majestically across the strait. A boat can be arranged to take you and yourparty on a one-hour trip there, when it is advised safe by the Meteorology and Geophysics Center. Or, if wildlife, jungles and explorations are on your itinerary, turn left and head for the amazing Ujung Kulon National Park, which can be toured within a day, or with an overnight stay included if you wish. All can be arranged through the hotel.

After a hard day playing, nighttimes turn social and are just as busy with a new outdoor disco recently opened at the resort's marina. The Rocks plays a mix of older rock and new pop songs, and should be visited just forthe interior's theme alone. Everything from the furniture to the bar is made from stone, evoking never-ending comments from patrons of the connection to the Flintstones cartoon characters.

On Saturday nights, a special cultural performance along with a beach barbecue is a must. A traditional Sundanese Rampak Bedug involves costumed drummers whose rhythmic playing and dancing is an unforgettable show to capture on film.

Mambruk is ideal for families venturing away together as sea or garden view bungalows are available which can accommodate four adults and four children. The bungalows also have a dining room, living room and kitchenette and are good value at Rp 700,000 for a sea-view bungalow and Rp630,000 for a garden view, plus tax.

If you don't have your own transportation, the hotel is more than happy to pick you up from Jakarta or the airport, either by car or bus at a minimal charge. You'll miss the traffic by starting out on Friday night, and, upon your return home, it's recommended you either head out by noon orwait until after 4 p.m. Late checkout is easily arranged to 6 p.m or 7 p.m., so you can avoid the peak hours from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

The Marbella Anyer Hotel, also in Anyer, caters to the energetic, and that includes children, for whom it has put together a full schedule, which starts in the morning and goes well into the early evening. Painting, pillow fights, swimming lessons, shuffle board, sand castle building, watching cartoons and children's pool games are just some of the activitieson offer for children of all ages. Also, children up to 12 years of age canstay free of charge when sharing their parents' room.

Adults can choose from a full array of daily activities, which include archery, minigolf and water volleyball at the hotel, or head out to the 600-meter-long sandy beach or one of the three lagoon pools, especially foradults. There's a Jacuzzi, four tennis courts and beach volleyball to roundout your choices. All water activities from sailing, fishing, waterskiing snorkeling, diving and boating are available on request.

Marbella Anyer Hotel, the only five-star hotel facility along this stretch of beach,is relatively new and designed with a Spanish atmosphere, and is busy during the week as a popular venue for conferences and corporate meetings.

Further down the coast from Anyer is Carita Beach and Clarion Suites, which has larger accommodation than what other hotels offer. The luxury condos, which all include a private balcony overlooking the sea, are just one part of the resort, which is under the Lippo Group and the international franchise of Choice Hotels International. Holiday apartments are also available for purchase.

The property is ideal for families as it is next to the ocean, which is more inviting than Anyer with its cleaner water for swimming and better beaches. A Balinese swimming pool is located in front of the beach as well.Having this kind of beach makes it a sin not to take part in the jetskiing,parasailing, banana boats and scuba diving on offer. Snorkeling is highly recommended at nearby Putri Gundul Island.

The marina is a draw for keen fishermen who want to take advantage of thefull range of boats available. From small local boats to ones suitable for deep-sea fishing are of various quality and can be rented short-term. Trawlers are available if booked in advance. You can hire one of the captains who know the area and can find the best fish, or rely on a sonar to locate schools of fish. Once you catch your fish, it can be cooked on board or taken home.

Repeat visitors say there are few places in the world where people can godeep-sea fishing that is so accessible to a major metropolitan area and offers great value at the same time. Another visitor said the activities were astoundingly economical compared to other places around the world. Right now is the optimum season to go fishing. Premium fishing is limited from May to October; authorities say that at other times of the year it isunadvisable for unseasoned fisherman due to rough seas brought on by the wet season.

The golf enthusiast has easy access to an on-site mini golf course or thebeautiful 18-hole golf course at Permata Krakatau Golf Course, which is just an hour's drive away. Tennis court facilities are in the works.

Nature lovers as well as tourists will want to head straight to the newest resort of Tanjung Lesung, located further down the coast close to Ujung Kulon. It is unique from others in Anyer and Carita in that it has a natural unexplored environment and is close to the national park, making ita prime destination for many escaping Jakarta for the weekend. At 1,500 hectares, it dwarfs Nusa Dua in Bali by about six or seven times. Management attributes the unlimited privacy and tranquility of the place aswhat makes it so popular and in high demand. One visitor said there was no other development in the area so it was great for bike riding. All the cottages are four-star rated.

Also situated right on the beach, this hotel is the most similar to accommodations in Bali in terms of design. There is a beach club with wateractivities of all kinds, ranging from kayaking, jetskiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, diving and sailing.

Children are not overlooked at the hotel. They have their own kids club with plenty of activities to ensure an early bedtime. Adult activities are on almost every hour, and everyone is welcome to join in the water polo, Ping-Pong or volleyball.

The Tanjung Lesung Sailing Club, a 10-minute drive from the hotel, is open to everyone and is in full operation for the experienced and the first-time sailor. Boat rentals for nonmembers range from Rp 25,000 to Rp 100,000 an hour. The sailing club is a separate facility from the hotel andalso offers cottages. Occupancy is mainly concentrated on the weekends and nonmembers should call in advance before coming down. The one-and two-bedroom cottages available are basic and natural and start from Rp 150,000 per night.

The resort is a great base to use for your tours of Ujung Kulon, Mt. Krakatau and the interior, where the indigenous tribe, the Baduy, who have retained their ancient Javanese beliefs, still live in the old way. If you want to step back a few centuries, here's your chance. A guide is highly recommended for trips to the isolated community, and it is advised to go through a reputable travel agency who will provide one. Roads leading to the remote community are not good, and delays are to be expected, but the sights and experience are well worth the time and patience it takes to get there. A certain amount of walking is required, but it is not strenuous.

Two groups make up the Baduy tribe, the inner group and outer group. Forget about being able to see the inner group, they have resisted all influences and contact with the outside world.

But it is possible to visit and stay overnight with the outer group to experience insights into their way of life. However, one should realize thecomfort level is basic, such as toilet facilities, which comprise a bridge and a stream below.

Visitors wanting to see the remaining rain forest and protected wildlife,including wild oxen, hornbills, and the rare Javan Rhino, clamor for the chance to go to Ujung Kulon.

And although one can do the trip in a day, after a two-hour boat ride to Ujung Kulon, a minimum of one night's stay is recommended on a nearby island in order to take in a trip up river to see more the next day.

Tanjung Lesung resort can arrange trips to Ujung Kulon easily, but if your plan is to stay for more than a few days it is better to book in advance.

Due to it being the most popular retreat on the coast presently, visitorsplanning a trip here are well advised to call and book at least one week ahead of time. Management promises to minimize the groups in order to give more opportunities to individual travelers but, basically, the more notice one can give, the better. In compensation, the management is offering a 20 percent discount for those who stay from Monday to Thursday and for an at least two-night twin share stay.

Tanjung Lesung has major plans for the area. A world-class marina is under construction, and several hotels will be added as well as a university, holiday housing estates and a marina village. (Maria Kegel)

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta


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