Wonder Turquette

Wonderful Bali Hidden Beach

2012-01-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

1.Balangan Beach

Hang loose with Bali's surf community at Balangan Beach.

Whenthe neighboring Dreamland beach got taken over by bulldozers and chain resorts,the surfers drifted over to Balangan.

The long stretch ofwhite sand is flanked by rocky cliffs while the shore is lined by an assortmentof warungs (local cafes) serving plates of instants noodles and ice-cold Beers, andcheap non-air conditioned huts.

The agenda at Balanganis simple: surf (if you can), go swimming when it is high tide, build intricatesandcastles -- the sand here is exceptional for doing so -- and laze about in ahammock watching the surfers, young and old, catch the waves.

Reef shoes are highlyrecommended as the beach has a sharp rocky base and some of it covered in slipperygreen moss.

For the virginsurfers, there are surf schools and numerous freelance instructors who’ll bewilling to take you out for a price.

2.Geger Beach

You won't get pounded by the waves at Geger Beach.

Forsun seekers dismayed by some of Bali’s rougher waters, this is a beach you canactually swim in. Situated close to theNusa Dua golf course, the sparkling green-blue water here remains relativelycalm with gentle rolling waves. The sand is thick and soft, packed hard so youcan play a game of volleyball or go for a leisurely beach run.

A string ofrestaurants make this a popular Sunday brunch spot, especially with the localexpats and their young ones. There are touts hawking their wares but they’rerelatively tame compared to other beaches and deck chairs can be rented fromabout 20,000 rupiah (US$2) a day. Go at the right time of the day and you’llsee seaweed farmers working between the area from Geger Cafe to Geger Temple.

Another big plus? Thisis one of the few beaches where topless sunbathing is allowed

3.Bias Tugal

Bias Tugal: Good luck tracking this spot down... here's a hint, it'sclose to Padang Bai.

Referredto as Pantai Kecil (Little Beach), this spot is often deserted, except for theodd adventurous tourist and a couple of the warung vendors.

Tucked away nearPadang Bai, the beauty of this beach is that it is hidden, accessible onlyafter a 500 meter trek down a rocky path.

What greets you at theend of your mini-hike is a glorious body of water in varying shades of blue andturquoise fringed by a strip of fine white sand and swaying coconut trees.

The current here canbe strong, for the non-experienced swimmers, make do with playing in the wavesand soaking up the sun in relative solitude as you watch the boats entering andleaving Padang Bai for Lombok and the Gili Islands.

4.Ungasan

Ungasan: Some of the best things in life aren't free.

Thisstrip of beach situated on the southern most point of Bali is quite possiblythe island’s prettiest.

The only catch is thatit'll cost you to enjoy this little slice of paradise.

If you’re not stayingat either the Karma Kandara resort or the neighboring Banyan Tree resort, thebest way to access it is to spend a day at the popular Nammos Beach Club.

The entry fee of250,000 rupiah (US$27) (fully redeemable for food and beverage) is a littlecheeky, but the view from the inclinator that brings you 150 meters down thecliff-face to the beach is almost worth the fee alone.

Here, the sand is fineand delicate, the water, an intense azure color -- not too dissimilar from theMediterranean -- and the waves roll in hard and evenly, forming pretty whitepatterns on the shoreline.

The best time to swimis before lunch when it is low tide and you can frolic at ease.

Later in the day, thewaves become stronger, and the currents will sweep you across to the otherbeach, should you prefer a little more privacy and don’t mind the lack of deckchairs.

Warning: do not laughoff the yellow Wet Floor signs placed on the rocks, they’re placed there forgood reason.

Go on a Monday whenNammos Beach Club screens a movie from 6:15 p.m., and if you really want tosplurge, the Karma Kandara spa has a on-site beach sala.

5.Amed

Amed: A quieter, less touristy bit of Bali.

Situatedabout two hours drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport is Amed, where thesand is of the coarse black volcanic variety.

Instead of surfers andsurf boards ott on the water, the beach is lined with traditional outriggerfishing boats.

Those who venture upto Amed are usually keen to get in some quality diving as there are a number ofwrecks located at nearby Lipah Beach and Tulamben.

For snorkelers, thecoral and underwater life in Amed is abundant.

While the prettiestbays are found at Jemeluk and Lipah, the whole stretch of coastline presents adifferent, more natural image of Bali where the locals' primary source ofincome lies in salt mining and fishing.

7 Wonders of Indonesia

2012-01-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

7 Wonders of Indonesia

Indonesia is an exotic purpose withattractive scenery and remarkable culture. It is located in Southeast Asia, on theMalay Archipelago among the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is also the countrywith the fourth largest population in the world. Indonesia is an incredible andexotic world in which it has collected impressive volcanoes, thick equatorialforests and various cultures.

The country extends over 17,508 islands andhas 128 active volcanoes, more than anywhere in the world. Between the islandsof Sumatra and Java, Island Krakatau is located on the same name which raisesthe volcano, whose eruption in 1883 is considered one of the worst naturaldisasters in human history. Indonesia is one of the countries with greatestbiodiversity in the world as it is located around the equator in the zone ofequatorial rain forests and the 2 bio geographical areas, Asian andAustralian-Papuan Language. as a result, in the western islands are foundplants and animals typical of Asia and the eastern and those also typical forAustralia and New Guinea.

See the biggestattractions of this exotic country, which may be called the "7 Wonders of Indonesia" though the list of amazing places does not end with them.

1. Toba Lake

Toba Lake is the largest volcanic lake in theworld, measuring 100 kilometers. 30 km in length and holds a depth of 505 m. Itwas formed by the eruption of a giant ancient volcano 75 000 years ago. Toba islocated on the island of Sumatra and is located 900 meters above sea level andis surrounded by high mountains. Strangely is that despite the lakes enormoussize, the entire area is located in the crater of an ancient giant mega volcanowhose power, on eruption would be ten thousand times greater than that of Etna.

2. Raja Ampat Islands

Located in northwestern peninsula Bards Headis part of the island of New Guinea, shared between Papua New Guinea andIndonesia, Raja Ampat. These islands are an archipelago consisting of over1,500 small islands, coral reefs and shoals that surround the four main islands- Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Archipelago is known for its vastbiological diversity, its waters are inhabited by over 1000 species of fish,537 coral species and 699 types of mollusks. Raja Ampat islands are part ofthe reserve Bards Head, which covers about 183 thousand sq. km.

3. Mount Krakatau (Krakatoa)

Asalready mentioned, the island of Krakatoa has presented it in a volcano locatedin the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands. It was formed one millionyears ago, and its eruption on August 26, 1883 is considered one of the worstnatural disasters in human history. Tatenat was heard only in Madagascar andfar less remote in Australia, while two thirds of the island disappeared. In1927 the region started with new volcanic eruptions, as a result of whichappeared. Anak Krakatau, the child of Krakatau, which each year grows by fivemeters.

4. Komodo Island

Komodois part of the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands (East Nusa Tengara). The island hasan area of 390 square meters and a population of around 2,000 people and it isone of five sites (five Indonesian islands), which occurs the Komodo dragon.Residents of the island are descendants of former convicts sent here in exile,which were later mixed with the representatives of the people, boogie on thenearby island of Sulawesi. The island is part of Komodo National Park,including 3 large islands, Komodo, Padar and Rinko. There are numerous smallerislands with a total area of 1817 square km.

5. Jaya Peak (Jaya Wijaya Mountains)

JayaPeak, also known as Puncak Jaya and the Carstensz Pyramid, is the highest peakin Oceania. According to the most common data, it stands at a height of 4884 m.The tropical island of New Guinea is shared by two countries - Indonesia andPapua New Guinea.

6. Borneo Tropical Rainforest

Borneois the third largest island in the world as it is bordered by the Java Sea andSouth China and Sulu and Celebes Seas. Nearly three-quarters of the island fellof the Indonesian Kalimantan provinces, the vast majority of its remainingterritory is occupied by the Malaysian and Sabah states Sarauak, while lessthan 1% is the domain of Brunei. On the island it extends dense tropicalforests, which support over 15,000 species of humanity, known plants andanimals (some of them unique), which makes them one of the places in the worldwith the greatest biodiversity. Because of intensive logging in the areacurrently only half of Borneo is still covered with forests, but they are largeenough to provide homes and livelihood of a significant population ofendangered species.

7. Bromo Mountains

BromoMountains is an active volcanic mountain, which offers a wonderful variety ofnatural treasures and landmarks. It is located in the eastern part of the JavaIsland and is over 2000 meters high. The mountain is located in a spaciousplateau called Sand Sea and is best known for its beautiful views of thesunrise when the sun seems to rise from the crater of the volcano to the sky.

Digital Photography Camera

2011-12-19T19:31:00.000-08:00

Digital Photography Camera

The problem with buying a digital camera is not only that there are hundreds of models for sale at any given point in time, but you also need to figure out which type of camera is right for you. The good news is that we review of cameras.

Do you want a small camera that requires minimal effort, but takes great pictures? A pocket point and shoot is probably your best bet. Need to get close to the action without carrying a huge camera with a big lens? A compact super zoom model is likely for you. Or do you want a lightning-fast shooter that lets you swap out lenses and play with settings? Then you want a D-SLR or a compact interchangeable-lens camera. Plan on shooting on the beach or the slopes? You need a rugged waterproof model.

We've reviewed in each of the five aforementioned categories. Remember, though, the digital camera market is a robust one; manufacturers release new products throughout the year, and we're continually testing and reviewing cameras. Before you buy, be sure to view for the latest reviews