Bonjol, Sumatra

Bonjol, Sumatra (where the equator crosses) - West Sumatra has three regions passed by equatorial line; there are Kinali located at the bordering of west Sumatra and north Sumatra and Koto Alam located at the border of west Sumatra and Riau. Bonjol equator is the most famous equator in west Sumatra and near the village, you can find the Imam Bonjol Museum completed with souvenir and food stalls. There is a signified monument where the equator crosses the Border Boulevard, 56 km from Bukit Tinggi. The location will become “Equator Park”.

The signified monument
(where the equator crosses)

Another monument erected in the area

Dr Mala smiling away - on the equator

Halmi, Dr Mala and Linda

Halmi with the "supir's" daughter

Not many visitors to this deserted place

No crowds, even a significant area

Buildings and the area not maintained

Vendors an abundance - dealings 'on' the equator

Reasonable prices, but negotiate downward more

Tosari, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia

Tosari (town nearest to Mt Bromo) is located within Kabupaten Pasuruan. From Pasuruan town centre, the journey, normally by a jeep or 4WD takes about 1 hour, covering a distance of about 35km through steep mountain road and spectacular sceneries. Tosari is a typical Tengger village located just in the outskirt of Mt Bromo (Bromo-Tengger-Semeru) National Park. At an altitude of about 1,700m above sea level, the climate is cool all year round. The village's main town centre is rather basic, with a number of local shops and eateries, as well as small inns and motels. The view throughout the village is breathtaking, especially in the early morning when the sky is clear and blue. The combination of village and hillside vegetable farming adds to the beauty.

View over looking the valley

Vegetables grown on the steep hill slopes

A cottage, at the edge of the mountain

On a clear day, you can see for ever ever ever

Vegetables grown everywhere

The rooms of the hotel are on different levels

The view on the verandah is magnificient

On the stairs going down to the room
(Dr Mala and Dr Rose)

The view over looking the deep valley

Amel & Ang - cool whether and lovely sceneries

Flowers and plants bloom and healthy

At the edge of the hotel verandah

Bakheng Hill, Siem Reap (Sunset over Angkor Wat)

Phnom Bakheng is located 4,265 feet north of Angkor Wat and 1,312 feet south of Angkor Thom. Enter and leave by climbing a long steep path with some steps on the east side of the monument (height 67 meters, 220 feet). In the 1960 this summit was approached by elephant and, according to a French visitor, the ascent was "a promenade classic and very agreeable". It is a testimony to the love of symmetry and balance which evolved its style ... in pure simplicity of rectangles its beauty is achieved. It is a pyramid mounting in terraces, five of them ... Below Bakheng lays all the world of mystery, the world of the Khmer, more mysterious ever under its cover of impenetrable verdure.

Bakheng Hill from a far

The sunset worth climbing for

Steep and small stairs - be careful

On the hill, loads of tourists

Sunset over Phnom Bakheng

The top temple at Phnom Bakheng

The sun sets among the pillars

When the sun sets, the cameras clicks

View over Angkor Wat

After we descended from Phnom Bakheng

Face the traders at the bottom of the hill

Makam Sunan Ampel, Surabaya

Raden Rahmatullah (Sunan Ampel), Surabaya; built this oldest mosque in Indonesia in 1421; It have a special story with ‘Sunan Ampel’, one of ‘Wali Songo’ who have an effect in broad Islam in Java. Sunan Ampel Mausoleum is located in the building west of the Ampel Mosque. When its firstly built, This fairish mosque 45 m x 45 m with number of pillars which made from teak wooden 16 each fruits is length 17 m without extension. During that moment there are not heavy equipments yet and few number of men, how to do the Mosque building. Every day around two thousands paid a visit. The pilgrim arrival or the visitor will be greeted by the merchants who sell various supplies to pray and also souvenir like godly clothes, prayer beads, cowl, cap and perfume.

The sign board on the walls of the Mosque

The entrance to the Mosque and Mausoleum

Traders lined the walkway to the mosque

There are also many beggars along the way

Be careful of pickpockets and snatchers

Ang and Dr Mama in front of Mbah Soleh's tomb
(the man with 9 lives)

Water from the well is sacred and drinkable

A walk back from the mosque - Ang and Sujai Asmed

Endless stream of people going to the mosque

Sign in many languages for various races of visitors

Traders along the walkway

Amel among the drinking water storage

Tretes, East Java, Indonesia

Tretes is a small town about an hour's drive from the second largest city in Indonesia - Surabaya, in East Java. It's on the slopes of Mt. Welirang. It's possible to take a day trip to Tretes from either Malang or Surabaya. But the traffic jams usually make the trip longer - especially on Sunday afternoons when everybody wants to go home to the cities at the same time from the mountain town of Tretes. Tretes has several small hotels, some with swimming pools, (heated or not). Besides staying in a hotel, you can also or rent a small bungalow for a visit.
Tretes has a much cooler climate, when compared to Surabaya. You can sleep without air conditioning and still be comfortable.