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Fort
At the far west of the island are the ruins of an impressive stone fort, built by the sultan Raja Haji in the 18th century to fend off Dutch attacks. Ironically, the cannons you see here are Dutch made. Raja Haji, incidentally, was the author of the first Malay grammar book, a remi
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Villa Isola
Around 7km north of the centre Villa Isola is a landmark art deco building, a four-storey villa built by a Dutch media baron in the 1930s as a private residence. Its now the University of Educations administrative offices. This curvaceous architectural masterpiece is in excellent c
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Tjong A Fie Mansion
The former house of a famous Chinese merchant who died in 1921 – formerly the wealthiest resident of Medan – mixes Victorian and Chinese style. The original hand-painted ceilings, Tjong’s huge bedroom, imported dark-wood furniture inlaid with marble and mother-of-pearl, interesting
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Turtle Sanctuary
Menos turtle sanctuary consists of an assortment of little pools and bathtubs on the beach, bubbling with filters and teeming with baby green and loggerhead turtles. Theyre nurtured here until theyre around eight months old, and then released. The impact of the hatchery on turtle p
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Sacred Tomb
This quiet old town Kota Gede, which is now a suburb of Yogyakarta, was the first capital of the Mataram kingdom, founded by Panembahan Senopati in 1582. Senopati is buried in the small mossy graveyard of an old mosque located to the south of the town’s central market. You can visi
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Air Garam
At Iluwe, 1½ hours up a steep path from Jiwika, is Air Garam, a group of saltwater wells. Villagers soak sections of banana trunk in the water, then dry and burn them and use the resulting ashes as salt. Village boys will show you the way for around 30,000Rp, but to see the process
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Gunung Singgalang
Dormant Gunung Singgalang (2877m) is a more adventurous undertaking than Gunung Merapi, and it’s very difficult to find someone in Bukittinggi to guide you up. Highly recommended English-speaking guide Dedi (0813 7425 1312), based in Pandai Sikat – the best starting point for the c
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Gunung Lokon
Vulcanic Gunung Lokon (1580m) contains a simmering crater lake of varying hues. You can hike to it from Tomohon in about three hours, with another hour to reach the peak. However, its highly active, and its essential to check out its current status; ask at your hotel. You should al
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Pura Dalem Penunggekan
The exterior wall of this fascinating temple of the dead features vivid relief carvings of evil-doers getting their just deserts in the afterlife. One panel addresses the lurid fate of adulterers (men in particular may find the viewing uncomfortable). Other panels portray sinners a
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Eel Traps
Tentena’s pretty covered 210m bridge marks where Danau Poso (Lake Poso) ends and Sungai Poso (Poso River) begins its journey to the coast. V-shaped eel traps north of the bridge snare the 2m monsters for which Tentena is famous. Live specimens are available for inspection and consu
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Sedahan Village
Known for its high-quality rice, this verdant farming village at the foot of Gunung Palung has a unique attitude and aesthetic due to the Balinese transmigrants, whose culture blends with the local flavour. A nascent ecotourism initiative, including a community homestay (single 150
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Pantai Lepang
Worth visiting just for the little slice of rural Bali you pass through on the 600m drive from the main road. Rice and corn grow in profusion. Down at the carbon-coloured sand youll find small dunes, no shade, a couple of vendors and a lot of reasons to snap some pics. A sign expla
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Telaga Warna
Exquisitely beautiful and ringed by highland forest, the lake has turquoise and cobalt hues from the bubbling sulphur deposits around its shores. To lose the crowds, follow the trail counterclockwise to the adjoining lake, Telaga Pengilon, and past holy Gua Semar, a meditation cave
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Kawah Sikidang
Kawah Sikidang is a volcanic crater with steaming vents and frantically bubbling mud ponds. Exercise extreme caution here – there are no guard rails to keep you from slipping off the sometimes muddy trails into the scalding-hot waters. At research time, however, they were building
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Hilimaetaniha
A 2km walk or ride from Lagundri along a steep, partially paved road, this traditional village is one of the quietest. Friendly locals sit by their traditional houses, some of them brightly tiled or painted, and children fly kites along the only street. The lompat batu pylon can st
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Buntu Pune
Buntu Pune village has two fine tongkonan houses and six rice barns. According to local legend, one of the two houses was built by a nobleman named Pong Marambaq at the beginning of the 20th century. During Dutch rule he was appointed head of the local district, but planned to rebe
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Betang Buana Tengah
Built in 1864, this betang is home to Tamambaloh Apalin Dayak. Debate over whether it is the oldest longhouse in the region (if not Kalimantan) abruptly ended in 2014, when neighbouring contender Betang Uluk Palin tragically burned to the ground.The floor looms 4.5m above the earth
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Hatta’s House
Of three early-20th-century ‘exile houses’, Mohammed Hatta’s House is the most appealing. It’s partly furnished and photos of the dissident, his typewriter, distinctive spectacles and neatly folded suit are all on display. In the courtyard, where there are vintage clay cisterns and
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Museum Asi Mbojo
The old Sultan’s Palace, former home of Bima’s rulers, still reflects the colonial style of a 1927 renovation. Past the large verandahs, the interior is home to a grab bag of dusty curios, including a royal crown, battle flags and weapons. A modest wooden building next to the palac
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Pantai Klotek
The lovely 800m drive along the hilly road off the coast road is but a prelude to this very interesting beach. The quiet at the temple, Pura Batu Klotek , belies its great significance: sacred statues are brought here from Pura Besakih for ritual cleansing. Look for a bakso ayam (c
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