10 Pemimpin Dunia yang Paling Kontroversial

     Dunia selalu dilanda kontroversi yang tak jarang melibatkan para pemimpin dari berbagai negara. Semua itu tak luput dari dunia politik yang dipenuhi tipu muslihat dan kelicikan. Berikut adalah 10 pemimpin negara paling kontroversial yang pernah ada dalam sejarah.

1. Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh

     Dr. Manmohan Singh adalah Perdana Menteri India yang menjabat sejak 22 Mei 2004. Ia adalah tokoh dari reformasi ekonomi India, yang membuat India lahir menjadi salah satu kekuatan ekonomi di Asia dan dunia. Pria yang lahir di British Raj (sekarang Pakistan) ini adalah salah satu orang kuat India yang disegani di mata dunia. Banyak orang berpendapat Singh adalah 'pemimpin dari segala pemimpin' yang perlu dicontoh pemimpin dari negara lain. Salah satu kehebatan Singh yang beragama Sikh adalah ia berhasil membawa India menjadi negara dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi tercepat setelah Republik Rakyat Cina. Yang kontroversial dari Singh adalah, laki-laki ini begitu dipuja di luar negeri. Namun kenyataannya, Singh justru banyak dikecam, dikritik, dan diolok di negerinya sendiri. Apakah ini karena politik? Itu bukan pertanyaan di sebuah negeri bernama India.

Singh begitu dipuja di luar, tetapi dicaci di dalam negeri

2. Moammar Khadafy

Moammar Khadafy

     Moammar Khadafy adalah pemimpin Libya yang sudah menjabat selama 42 tahun. Salah satu diktator yang paling lama berkuasa di dunia ini disebut-sebut sebagai pemimpin dunia yang paling kontroversial. Bagaimana tidak? Khadafy menghapus pangkat di atas kolonel setelah ia berhasil menggulingkan Raja Idris pada 2 Maret 1979. Itu karena kolonel adalah pangkatnya ketika ia berhasil mengambil alih Libya. Selain itu, Khadafy juga terlibat membiayai aksi terorisme di Skotlandia. Khadafy juga terkenal kontroversial dalam berpakaian. Ketika pemimpin negara memakai pakaian formal berjas dan berdasi, ia justru memakai pakaian khas Arab dengan kacamata hitam seperti rockstar. Baru-baru ini, yang membuat dirinya semakin dicap kontroversial adalah, ia dengan mudahnya membantai rakyat sendiri yang menentang kekuasaannya. Ia bahkan mengatakan revolusioner itu sebagai 'tikus' dan 'kecoa' yang harus disingkirkan dari Libya.

Pakaian Khadafy adalah yang paling kontroversial di antara pemimpin negara lainnya

3. Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il

     Kim Jong-il adalah pemimpin tertinggi Republik Demokratik Rakyat Korea (Korea Utara) yang terkenal bengis dan kejam. Laki-laki yang mulai menjabat sebagai pemimpin sejak 8 Juli 1994 ini menjaga ketat arus informasi yang masuk ke Korea Utara. Sebagai negara komunis ekstrim yang sama sekali tidak mengenal demokrasi, Kim Jong-il benar-benar tegas pada setiap aksi yang dianggap membahayakan kekuasaannya. Dia gagal dalam rancangan ekonomi Korea Utara yang membuat negara ini semakin terpuruk. Yang menarik dari pemerintahannya adalah, setiap ulang tahun Kim Jong-il, yaitu pada 16 Februari, seluruh jalanan di Pyongyang dipenuhi hadiah-hadiah dan pesta besar layaknya Natal di Eropa. Tradisi 'Ulang Tahun Ayah Kita' ini selalu digelar meski ekonomi di Korea Utara semakin hancur.

Kim Jong-il dan keluarganya begitu dibenci di Korea Selatan

4. Soeharto

Soeharto

    Presiden otoriter Indonesia ini meraih tampuk kekuasaan setelah berhasil melengserkan Presiden Soekarno pada 1966 melalui kudeta rahasia Partai Komunis. Soeharto adalah pemimpin Indonesia yang paling condong ke Barat, yang menjauhi Timur dengan cara memberantas rakyat yang dianggap anggota Partai Komunis Indonesia. Presiden Soeharto adalah salah satu yang paling kontroversial di dunia. Sebagai pemimpin pro-Barat, yang selalu meributkan HAM dan demokrasi, ia harusnya menjunjung tinggi dua hal tersebut. Tapi kenyataannya, ia justru menjadi pemimpin otoriter yang menutup pintu pers dan demokrasi. Lucunya, setiap tindakan tidak demokratis yang ia lakukan, seperti membiarkan korupsi merajalela, selalu mengatasnamakan demokrasi. Presiden Soeharto akhirnya dijatuhkan melalui aksi demonstrasi besar-besaran pada 1998 setelah berkuasa selama 32 tahun.

Demonstrasi anti-Soeharto di Jakarta

5. Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

     Laki-laki yang menjabat sebagai Presiden Amerika Serikat yang ke-37 ini termasuk salah satu pemimpin yang paling kontroversial di dunia. Ia adalah salah satu presiden yang menjabat ketika Amerika Serikat tengah berada dalam konflik rivalitas melawan Uni Soviet. Semasa ia menjabat dari 1969 hingga 1974, banyak sekali skandal dalam pemerintahannya. Bahkan pemerintahannya adalah yang paling penuh skandal jika dibandingkan dengan pemerintahan presiden Amerika Serikat lainnya. Skandal yang paling parah adalah Skandal Watergates, yaitu skandal pencurian dokumen rahasia yang ternyata dilakukan oleh orang-orangnya. Skandal politik yang ruwet ini bahkan belum berakhir ketika Nixon memutuskan mengundurkan diri dari jabatannya. Dia adalah satu-satunya 'Presiden Dunia' yang mengundurkan diri akibat skandal politik, yang membuat citra Amerika Serikat, sebagai negara yang selalu meributkan demokrasi, jatuh di era Perang Dingin. Tentu saja ini menjadi kehebohan konstitusi pada tahun 70-an di Amerika Serikat. Selain itu, Nixon jugalah yang memutuskan menarik pasukan dari Vietnam. Secara tidak langsung, ia telah mengakui kekalahan sebuah negara adidaya di kancah pertempuran Asia Tenggara.

Richard Nixon disindir akibat keterlibatannya dalam skandal Watergates

6. Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel

     Dr. Angela Dorothea Merkel menjabat Kanselir Jerman sejak 22 November 2005. Merkel adalah anggota Partai Uni Demokratik Kristen yang dianggap kontroversial. Wanita pertama yang menjabat sebagai kenselir Jerman sekaligus kanselir Jerman pertama yang berasal dari Jerman Timur ini mendapat tantangan dari banyak pihak, terutama dari luar negeri. Kebijakan-kebijakan politik Merkel dianggap lemah oleh sekutu-sekutunya. Ini terbukti ketika Merkel menolak bergabung dengan aksi militer NATO di Libya. Jerman bahkan adalah satu dari lima negara yang tidak memberi komentar dalam penjatuhan Resolusi 1973 dan Zona Larangan Terbang di Libya. Akibat kebijakannya ini, banyak orang dari Amerika Serikat dan Inggris mengkritik dirinya yang cinta damai. Bahkan tak sedikit pula warga Amerika Serikat yang mengecam dan mengumpatnya dengan kata-kata buruk karena tidak mau ikut menghukum Libya. Ini membuat perolehan suara atas Merkel berkurang drastis di dalam negeri. Meski begitu, Merkel tetap enggan ikut serta dalam Operasi Fajar Odyssey di Libya dan dirinya didukung oleh segenap anggota partai yang bersatu.

Opera yang menggambarkan Merkel tengah memberi hukuman pada Amerika Serikat yang suka perang

7. Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin

     Pria dengan nama lengkap Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin ini adalah Perdana Menteri Federasi Rusia sejak 7 Mei 2008. Sebelumnya, ia menjabat sebagai Presiden Federasi Rusia dari 1999 sampai 2008 hingga Presiden Dmitry Medvedev menggantikan posisinya melalui pemilu. Putin adalah salah satu pemimpin yang paling dibenci Barat dan Amerika Serikat. Putin sendiri adalah seorang yang keras dan mantan pejabat teras KGB dan FSB, agen intelijen Rusia yang bersaing dengan CIA Amerika Serikat. Putin dianggap sebagai salah satu orang yang berharap Uni Soviet dapat berdiri kembali suatu saat nanti. Ini terbukti dengan setiap kebijakan politik yang ia ambil. Putin ingin mengembalikan kejayaan Rusia pada masa Soviet yang masih dirindukan tumpah darah Rusia. Ia mengatakan pada publik bahwa jatuhnya Uni Soviet merupakan tragedi nasional dan perlahan-lahan ia mulai memusatkan kekuasaan ke Kremlin sebagaimana Uni Soviet dulu. Ia bahkan mengganti lagu kebangsaan Rusia menjadi lagu kebangsaan Uni Soviet yang hanya diubah liriknya. Inilah yang membuat Barat cemas dan berupaya mencegah ia menjadi presiden pada pemilu tahun ini.

Demonstrasi di Rusia menentang pencalonan Putin untuk yang ketiga kalinya

8. Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein

     Saddam Hussein, namanya selalu menggetarkan hati setiap bangsa yang pernah mengenal dirinya. Saddam Hussein adalah mantan diktator Irak dan salah satu pemimpin negara yang paling keras, terutama pada Amerika Serikat dan Israel. Ia memutuskan untuk menyerbu tetangganya, Iran, setelah Revolusi Islam di bawah pimpinan Ayatullah Khomeini berhasil menggulingkan kekuasaan Shah Iran. Militer Saddam mulai lemah ketika tentaranya berhasil dibantai dan diusir keluar dari Iran oleh tentara Muslim Syiah Iran. Dengan ceroboh, ia memutuskan menduduki Kuwait yang membuat Arab Saudi meminta Amerika Serikat ikut campur dalam Perang Teluk. Saddam adalah pemimpin Timur Tengah dan rival Moammar Khadafy dalam meraih pengaruh atas Dunia Arab. Namun, Saddam harus kandas ketika ia tertangkap di sebuah bunker kotor yang tak layak huni dan dieksekusi mati pada 30 Desember 2006. Saddam terbukti membantai kaum Kurdi di utara Irak yang melanggar demokrasi. Namun, alasan Amerika Serikat untuk menyerang Irak, yaitu memiliki senjata pemusnah massal, tidak terbukti. Ini membuat citra Amerika Serikat hancur di mata dunia. Lain cerita, Saddam diperkirakan terlibat dalam perampokan Bank Sentral Irak sehari sebelum invasi Amerika Serikat ke Baghdad.

Proses eksekusi Saddam

9. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

     Presiden Republik Islam Iran ini dianggap kontroversial akibat pendapatnya yang konservatif dan selalu tidak sepaham dengan Amerika Serikat. Pria yang menjabat sebagai Presiden Iran sejak 24 JUni 2005 ini beragama muslim syiah yang kebal terhadap semua hasutan Amerika Serikat dan Israel. Ahmadinejad menolak menghentikan program nuklir Iran meski Barat menawarkan banyak bantuan sebagai pengganti PLTN. Ahmadinejad bahkan dikritik tidak demokratis oleh pejabat teras Amerika Serikat, Inggris, Australia, dan Perancis. Ahmadinejad memang mengaku keras pada oposisi yang dianggap pembangkang dan mendapat sokongan Barat. Yang kontroversial dari pria ini adalah kesederhanaannya. Ia pernah tertangkap basah kamera hanya mengenakan kemeja bolong sementara pemimpin negara lain terlihat rapi dan berwibawa. Ahmadinejad beralasan ia tak ingin dianggap lebih makmur daripada rakyat Iran. Satu lagi yang kontroversial. Dengan persetujuan Imam Khomeini, ia menanamkan Doktrin anti-Barat ke segenap rakyat Iran. Ahmadinejad lalu menghentikan semua produk Amerika yang masuk ke Iran atau akan dikirim ke Amerika Serikat. Ia bahkan melarang adanya facebook, jejaring sosial buatan Barat yang tengah digemari dunia.

Sindiran kasar selalu diberikan masyarakat Barat pada Ahmadinejad yang anti-Amerika dan Israel

10. George Walker Bush

George Walker Bush

      Inilah pemimpin negara paling kontroversial sepanjang sejarah abad 20. Presiden Amerika Serikat yang lebih sering disebut Bush junior (untuk membedakan dia dan ayahnya) ini adalah pemimpin negara paling kontroversial di abad 20. Ia terpilih sebagai Presiden Amerika Serikat sebanyak dua kali melalui pemilu. Orang yang memandang dirinya sebagai 'Presiden Perang' ini adalah pemimpin yang menyatakan perang terhadap terorisme sejak Peristiwa 9/11. Ia juga yang memerintahkan pasukannya untuk menyerbu Afganistan dan Irak, yang membuat kedua negara itu semakin tidak stabil hingga kini. Bush sangat kontroversial karena setiap kebijakannya selalu berpihak pada Barat dan, terutama, Israel. Ia adalah pemimpin pertama yang menginginkan demokrasi di Timur Tengah. Pria ini dianggap kontroversial akibat beberapa keganjalan dalam kebijakannya yang berat sebelah. Ia menginvasi Irak dengan alasan Irak telah melanggar Resolusi PBB nomor 1441 tentang senjata pemusnah massal, yang sampai sekarang tidak terbukti kebenarannya. Banyak orang berpendapat alasan itu dipakai sebagai tameng Amerika Serikat yang ingin menguasai minyak Irak. Di lain pihak Bush juga menyuplai senjata untuk Israel yang melanggar Hak Asasi Manusia di Lebanon dan Palestina secara besar-besaran, yang dicap sebagai 'Holocaust Abad 20'. Yang paling mengejutkan adalah ketika Israel mengebom sebuah bangunan yang berisi empat orang anggota kemanusiaan PBB di Lebanon. Keempat orang tersebut tewas, dan ini membuat Rusia, Perancis, dan Republik Rakyat Cina, selaku anggota tetap Dewan Keamanan PBB, berdiskusi untuk menjatuhkan sanksi pada Israel. Namun, semua itu di-veto oleh Bush yang menganggap Israel 'hanya salah sasaran'. Di akhir masa jabatannya pada 2008, ia dihadiri lemparan sepatu oleh seorang wartawan Irak yang dendam padanya.

Banyak rakyat Amerika Serikat memprotes Bush yang menyerang Irak dan menyebabkan citra bangsa Amerika Serikat jatuh di mata dunia

10 Most Famous Place In Indonesia

     Good Afternoon, Indonesians, and all of the foreigners! It's almost holiday and now it's a nice time for us to think where should us spend our holiday. For the Indonesians (that want to spend your holiday in our native land), don't worry. We are living in a pretty land. For you the foreigners, ah! Maybe you want to travel Europe, enjoy Eastern Asia, visit Australia, or somewhere others. But, remember. Here, just in Indonesia, our beloved country, always there are fantastic life. From the natural to the artificial. Come here, and get fun!

    First, before travel this country, you should know more about us. Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia. Consists of more than 18,000 islands, Indonesia provides you beautiful views, cultures, and tourist resort. The capital of Indonesia and the largest city is Jakarta, located in Java Island. Our currency is rupiah, one of the strongest currency in Asia. It's a republic, and we've democracy in our country. Absolutely, Indonesia also have a lot of tribes with different languages and religion. But it's not problem for us to unite. Indonesia got the freedom from the Netherlands in 1942, and Japan in 1945. If I should tell you all of the histories from A to Z, it'll be so long.

     The borders of Indonesia is Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and South China Sea in north, Papua New Guinea in east, and Indian Ocean in west and south. Timor Leste is also the border of Indonesia in southeast since 1999. As an active, strong, independent, and great country, Indonesia also the member of some international organizations like UNO, ASEAN, APEC, etc. Indonesia is the leader of ASEAN in 2010. God bless our land with invincible unite, natural resources, wealth, and faithful young generations. Although the leader (old generations) of Indonesia is bad, corrupt, stodgy, and hypocritical, but we, as the new generations, swear to God that we'll change this nation into the better day.

       Okay, I think that's enough for the introduction. As a great country, we have a lot of tourist resort that you can visit here. I'm sure, its really WONDERFUL! Better than the others! Here the 10 most famous tourist resort in Indonesia!

1. Bali Island, Bali

Welcome to Denpasar

     Just geekies who don't know about this one. Bali Island is a beautiful island in east Java Island, in the Province of Bali. With Denpasar as the capital of the province, Bali provides beautiful views of beach, cultures, and unique handicrafts. The majority religion of Bali is Hindu. The tourists here enjoy traditional dance of Bali, especially Kecak and Pendet. It's the most famous religious dances in the world. Bedugul is a mountain lake resort area which situated near Lake Bratan, on the read between Singaraja and Denpasar. It's about 48 kilometres north of the city of Denpasar. Bedugul is an enjoyable place that must be visited in your life.

Bedugul Temple, Bali

      Bored? Impossible. Bali is full of tourist resorts and makes you fun everytime there. You can visit Kuta Beach, the most famous beach there. Kuta Beach is suitable for surfing, diving, swimming, or sunbathing. If it's too crowded, you can move to Nusa Dua Beach or Sanur Beach. It's really amazing! Uncountable tourists visit Bali every year. Most of them come from Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Eastern Asia, India, Turkey, and Europe. Still remember the movie titled 'Eat, Pray, Love' which starring Julia Roberts? They were filming here! Don't miss it, Guys!

Kuta Beach

Pendet, traditional dance of Bali

Surfing in Sanur Beach

'Eat, Pray, Love' took film in Bali

2. Jakarta, DKI Jakarta

         Jakarta is the central government and the largest city of Indonesia. It's located in west Java Island, in the north of the Province of West Java, or mainly in the Province of Jakarta Special Administration Region. Jakarta is a metropolitan city and the capital of ASEAN. Not only that, it's also the largest city in Southeast Asia together with Bangkok and Singapore. It's the heart of commerce, investation, and one of the most populous city in the world. In international views, Jakarta is the gold of Asia. Although some people live under poverty line, the citizens of Jakarta have high purchase power parity. Most residents of Jakarta have purchasing power three times more than Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. Indonesians are including to consumptive people, that's why a lot investors compete to plant their modals in this city.

Jakarta skylines

        Jakarta is often flooded and stalled. But, it's not a problem to enjoy this capital. Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World) is the modern playground in Indonesia. There also national museum that called Museum Gadjah. If you want to know how was the condition of Indonesia (especially Jakarta) in the colonial era, you should visit Fatahillah Museum. It's really horrible, when the Netherlanders captured our nation and ruled it as long as 350 years. You can also see the miniature and complete cultures of Indonesia in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Jakarta also known as 'the heaven for the shoppers'. Do you know? Jakarta is the city with the largest mall in the world. If Luxembourg have more than 40 Banks, we've more than 80 malls in Jakarta! It's just in Jakarta! Not around Indonesia! Indonesia have more than a thousand malls from Sabang (Aceh) to Merauke (West Papua). So great!

The Miniature of Indonesia in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

      More info, Jakarta is the central fashion of Asia. People around the world buy our beautiful and cool fashion in Tanah Abang, the greatest wholesale fashion in Asia. Batik is the traditional fashion of Indonesia. I'm sure, you'll love it! It's really unique! Different with others, but COOL!

Fatahillah Museum, the museum of Jakarta

Dunia Fantasi, Jakarta

3. Comodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara

     Comodo Island located in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia's territory near Timor Leste. Comodo Island is the best place to be visited. Comodo Dragon is the animal that natives to Indonesia. It's the largest lizard and the last dinosaur which still alive in the world. Comodo have grey hard-scaly skin, poisonous saliva, and sharp claws. It can growth until maximum of length 3 metres (9.8 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to around 70 kilograms (150 lb). They live in tropical forest in Nusa Tenggara Timur in groups. Comodo is a carnivore and sometimes can be a cannibal if there's no food. Comodo just live in Indonesia, no others. It's really big and calm, but suddenly can be a horrible creature. They bite the preys first and let them alive for short times. They'll die cause of the poison from the saliva.

Comodo Dragon, native fauna of Indonesia

     Comodo Island is one of the world heritages and protected site in Indonesia. The government of Indonesia protects them form the hunters (hunters = shit humans). You can visit this island with some confirmations to the local government. Domestic tourists come here every year like waves. Not only domestic. All around the world, especially from Eastern Asia, Australia, NZ, Northern America, and Europe.

Comodos can swim to the other islands in East Nusa Tenggara

It's truly wiild, truly adventures!

Comodo

Comodo Island, start your adventure here!

4. Bandung, West Java

     Bandung is a cool city located in West Java, also the capital of it. It's really a nice place to be visited. For the scenery lovers, you can enjoy this city with smiling. The green city provides you amazing views to be seen or taken by camera. The Netherlanders love this city very much. When they still ruled the Netherlands Indies, a lot of them lived here, not in Batavia (now Jakarta). For you the culinary connoisseurs, it's really like a heaven! Every kind of foods can be found here, start from warm to cool. Sop buah (Fruit Soup), karedok, siomay, batagor, and fried oncom are delicious foods here. Not only that, they're just some of them. Visit here, and you'll know all. When you taste it, you'll say 'Wowh! It's better than the other foods I've eaten!"

Siomay, truly Sundanese food

Pamper your tongue with this fresh fruit soup

      Bandung, like Jakarta, is a commercial city of Indonesia. The real fashion can be found here, and beautiful women of course. The traditional music of Sunda often be played here. Angklung is the traditional music instrument of Sunda. The voice is so calm and make your mind fresh. You know? The Dutch said Bandung is 'Paris van Java', or the Paris of Java.

Angklung, traditional music instrument of West Java made from bamboo

One of the shopping area in Bandung, the city of Paris van Java

5. Raja Ampat, Papua

      Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's West Papua Province, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, also the smaller one is Kofiau. Raja Ampat new regency which separated from Sorong regency at 2004. It encompasses more than 40,000 km² of land and sea, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park of Indonesia. It's the part of the newly named West Papua Province of Indonesia which was formerly Irian Jaya. The islands are the most northern pieces of land in the Australian continent.

Visit Raja Ampat

Enjoy yourself here, we're waiting for you...

      According to Conservation International, marine surveys suggest that the marine life diversity in the Raja Ampat area is the highest recorded on Earth. Diversity is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the Coral Triangle composed of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, making Raja Ampat quite possibly the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world.The area's massive coral colonies along with relatively high sea surface temperatures, also suggest that its reefs may be relatively resistant to threats like coral bleaching and coral disease, which now jeopardize the survival of other coral ecosystems around the world. The Raja Ampat islands are remote and relatively undisturbed by humans.

So quiet here, it's like heaven on the earth

         1,309 fish species, 537 coral species (a remarkable 96% of all scleractinia recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands), and 699 mollusk species, the variety of marine life is staggering. Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. Raja Ampat is the heaven for the divers in Papua. Although the price is high enough to visit this resort, it'll be so challanging and fun. Just prepare your diving equipment and you'll get the greatest adventure ever!

Raja Ampat, Papua

The Biodiversity of Raja Ampat

Let's go here, guys!

6. Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara

       Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, with Mataram as the capital and the largest city of the province. It is somewhat similar in size and density with neighboring Bali and shares some cultural heritage, but is administratively part of NTB along with sparsely populated Sumbawa. It is surrounded by a number of smaller islands locally called Gili.

Sunset in Gili

Sunset in Gili, Lombok

       Lombok's most important industry is tourism. The most developed of tourism area in Lombok is on the west coast of the island and centered about the township of Senggigi. Senggigi and it's immediate surrounds contain the most developed tourism facilities in the coastal tourism strip that is spread along a 30-kilometer strip of the coastal road north from Mataram. and the nearby current airport at Ampenan. A large number of hotels and resorts offer accommodations ranging from budget to luxurious. Approximately 1–5 kilometers offshore from the mainland lie the three highly popular Gili Islands. These are most commonly accessed by boat from Bangsal near Pemenang, or from Senggigi. Recently direct fast boat services have been running from Bali making a direct connection to the Gili Islands. Although rapidly changing in character, the Gili's still provide both a lay-back backpacker's retreat and a high class resort destination.

Truly Indonesia

Lombok resort provides a lot of enjoyable hotels

      Other tourist destinations include Mount Rinjani and Kuta Beach (different with Kuta Beach in Bali) in south Lombok where surfing is considered some of the best in the world by leading surfing magazines. The Kuta area is also famous for its beautiful, largely deserted, white sand beaches. Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is popular for its numerous and diverse scuba diving locations. The northern west coast near Tanjung has many new upmarket hotel and villa developments centered about the Sire and Medana peninsular nearby to the Gili Islands and a new boating marina at Medana Bay. These new developments complement the already existing 5 star resorts and a large golf course already established there.

The Magic Land of Lombok

Beautiful Beach

7. Bunaken Beach, North Sulawesi

       Bunaken Beach is one of the best diving place in Indonesia and also the world. It's really amazing. When you open your eyes underwater, you'll see the most beautiful views there. The water is so clear and fresh, with flora and fauna inside. You'll find yourself in a fairy tale! So far from the skycrapers, populous city, and a noisy street. You'll forget to the time and enyoy your trip very well.

Paradise of the Divers

Natural scenery in Sulawesi, North Sulawesi

        A very rich coral system covers most of Bunaken National Park, dominated by fringing reef and barrier reef corals. There are about 390 species of coral recorded in the waters of the Park. A distinct feature is a 25-50 metre vertical coral wall which is inhabited by 13 coral genus. The seaweeds that can be found here include caulerpa, halimeda, and padina species, while the dominant seagrasses, in particular in the island of Montehage and Nain, are Thalassia hemprichii, Enhallus acoroides, and Thalassodendron ciliatum. The park is also abundant in different species of fish, marine mammals and reptiles, birds, molluscs and mangrove species.

Start your new life!

You can enjoy this, just in Indonesia!

        About 90 species of fish live in the waters of the park, among them being the Emperor Angelfish, Almaco Jack, Spotted Seahorse. Bluestripe Snapper, Pinkish Basslet, and Two-lined monocle bream. The species of mollusc include the Giant Clam, Horned Helmet Shell, Chambered Nautilus, and ascidians. It is claimed that this park has seven times more genera of coral than Hawaii, and more than 70% of all the known fish species of the Indo - Western Pacific. On land, the islands are rich in species of palm, sago, woka, silar, and coconut. Among the animal species that live on the land and the beaches are Celebes Crested Macaque, Timor Deer, and Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. The mangrove forest of the Park contains, among others Rhizopora and Sonneratiaspecies. This forest is also rich in species of crab, lobster, mollusc, and sea birds such as gulls, herons, sea doves, and storks.

8. Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi

     Tana Toraja is the name of a regency in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Toraja is the name of ethnic group in Sulawesi, while 'tana' is the local language for 'land'. The majority of Toraja are Christians. The villages in Tana Toraja have special form. It's so sharp in both of the sides, like the traditional house of West Sumatera. Toraja have unique tradition in funeral. When someone passed away, they local magician will control his/her dead body. The dead body will walk his/herself to a stone mountain. When the dead body is walking, we must not call his/her name. If we do it, the magic power will lose and the dead body will return into an ordinary corpse that lie the ground and can't walk. This is the magic tradition of Toraja, the greatest tourist resort in Sulawesi after Bunaken.

Green Scenery in Tana Toraja

Traditional Houses in Tana Toraja

Come back to nature

       Not only the funeral, the place for the corpses is unbelievable too. It's a stone cave, with nothing grave there. It's just an ordinary stone cave, but special! After the dead body arrive to this place, they will look for their own place. Later, when they've found it, the magic will lose and they will return to an ordinary corpses. Although they aren't buried, their body won't issue a foul odor. It's a secret, but the local people believe that there's a mysterious tree inside that can eliminate the stench of the dead bodies. It's according to the myth, but no one can explain it in science. Not only that, Tana Toraja provides you a lot of traditional dances and cultural life. It'll be so interesting. Don't forget to visit the stone mountain which full of skulls and bodies which have become bones. And I tell you, remember, when you out from the stone cave, don't look back. The people said so, and as a layman, please don't break it...

The Grave Cave

Horror Cave in South Sulawesi

Local Funeral

Cave of Clothing Statues in Tana Toraja

9. Borobudur Temple and Yogyakarta, Central Java and Special Administration of Yogyakarta
        Borobudur Temple located in Central Java Province, Indonesia. It's near Magelang, the nearby largest city. Borobudur Temple is one of the seven world wonders. It's so great, and one of the largest Buddhist Temple in the world. Although Angkor Wat in Cambodia is larger, but Borobudur still better. It proved as Borobudur is ne of the seven world wonders while Angkor Wat not. Borobudur Temple was built in Syailendra Dynasty, one of the famous Buddhist Dynasty in Nusantara. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statue. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles. , then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO. , following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction. A secret, if you touch the buddha's hand in the stupa, the petitions will be granted.

Top of the Borobudur Temple

The Great Temple

The Temple from above

One of the reliefs in Borobudur

Buddha

       After Borobudur Temple, continue your trip to Yogyakarta, one of the most famous tourist resort in Indonesia. Yogyakarta is the last region in Indonesia which still formed a Sultanate. The Sultan of Yogyakarta now is Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. It's really unique because there's a kingdom in a republic. Now, the monarch of Yogyakarta still discussed in parliament. It'll be continued, or end after Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X abdicate. Yogyakarta is famous with the transportation like becak and andhong, traditional transportation that still used horse as the energy. Malioboro also the heaven of shoppers, with a lot of fashion like batik and another Indonesian tarditional foods and handicrafts. The favourite food of Yogyakarta is gudeg. Taste it, really good! And after that, don't forget to visit Keraton Yogya. It's the name of monarch palace of Yogyakarta. Inside, there are a lot of historical collections like weapons, handicrafts, pictures, wall carving, and so on. Enjoy it, guys!

Gudeg, typical food of Yogyakarta

Royal Palace, Yogyakarta

History of Yogyakarta

Yogya Kembali Monument

Becak, typical transportation of Yogya

Prambanan Temple, one of the greatest Hindu Temple in the world

10. Surabaya, East Java

Welcome To Surabaya

       Surabaya is the largest city and the capital of East Java Province. Surabaya also including to the most important commercial city of Indonesia. Surabaya is the second largest city in our country, after Jakarta. The third largest is located in North Sumatera, Medan. Surabaya is a modern city that looser than Jakarta. The city is crowded, but not as crowded as Jakarta. The weather is very hot because the city is situated in the shore. For the investors, Surabaya is a right choice. It's full of shopping area and everything you find can be found here. For the foreigners, don't forget to bring your summer clothes if you want to visit this city.

Mall in Surabaya

Surabaya at night

        Surabaya, not only large, but also full of history. Name 'Surabaya' comes from the name of two animals. Sura (a kind of shark) and crocodile (the Indonesian of crocodile is 'buaya'). They killed each other to capture this territory. Until now, this story is very famous to the children of Indonesia. In colonial era, Surabaya was the place where Bung Tomo, the hero of Indonesia, burnt the spirit of the Indonesians to fight the Dutch and the British. It's the greatest history of our country. Now, Surabaya is the central of the Indonesian Marines. Once again, if Malaysia have the highest building in ASEAN, we've the longest bridge in ASEAN. The name is Suramadu Bridge, connecting Surabaya with Madura Island. The cable-stayed portion has three spans with lengths 192 m, 434 m and 192 m.

Enjoy Surabaya

Suramadu Bridge, the longest bridge in ASEAN

     That's all, guys. But remember, Indonesia is a very large country. We always have everything that can make you fun and surprise. With our culture and wealth, the tourist resorts in Indonesia are one of the most famous resorts in the world. People from everywhere visit to our country every year. So, what are you waiting for? Let's pack your holiday things, buy a ticket, and we're waiting for you here.

Welcome To Indonesia !!!