Yegenaga Travel & Tours Guide

Drizzle still whack when the car I was riding into the bridge Fisabilillah. The bridge is the main gateway to  Galang. Construction of steel and like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, with a length of 700 m and a height of 350 m. From there, we can see the panorama scattered small islands amazing.

Drizzle did not dampen her desire for people to stand on either side of the bridge. Just stopped taking his eyes, or was deliberately coming tour. Most visitors hang out in the tent stalls that lined both ends, enjoy roasted corn.

I am with three old friends who now go abroad in Batam, almost tempted to stop by. But Hijratul, car owners as well as a driver, a reminder that the trip to Galang Island is still quite far away.

True. We passed the bridge again in four islands the acronym of Batam, Rempang, and Galang. All three main islands put together a solid steel bridges and artistic, plus the small islands, namely, the island of Tonton, Nipah, and Sekikir. Total general there are six bridges connecting the islands was completed in 1992 it.

At that time, B.J. Habibie, the Batam Authority’s project was obviously want to keep Singapore in the strategic region. By bringing together a number of islands, Batam at least larger than mainland Tumasik Raffles pocus results from the colonial era. But what meretricious, dream Habibie seems to run aground: excellent infrastructure is still not able to make Batam perform brilliantly. Read the rest of this entry »

Not many of us who have visited Vietnam and recognize the new country to war in 1975 over this. Our knowledge of Uncle Ho’s country may be limited to the films made in Hollywood Vietnam War, starring Chuck Norris or Sylvester Stalone. The thought of entering a sensible country of socialism that was it scary.

That’s what I imagine during the trip from Jakarta-Singapore-Ho Chi Minh City, following the first flight with Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-300 owned by Garuda Indonesia. The shadow seemed close to reality as we landed on the runway International Airport, Tan Son Nhat, part of the building relics of the past still visible here and there.
But the shadow was dispersed, when he saw the airport rooms neat, clean and cool. The immigration officer greeted us warmly. “No visa, no visa for Indonesia,” the officer said with a friendly smile, the Vietnamese government in December and had just applied for visa-free policy of ASEAN. It takes time to check our passports, and they enter data into the computer.
Exit the immigration hall, on the set of goods, there is only one of the exchange would only accept exchange of foreign currencies, primarily the U.S. dollar, the dong (Vietnamese currency) and not vice versa. Outside the airport, bustling atmosphere and similar Polonia airport in Medan. However, that was exactly it safe until we could not worried one bit. International airport Tan Son Nhat now receive flights from various parts of the world, especially from Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
On the way to town, we see that the streets are relatively clean, here and there is still installed signs former SEA Games. Even before Christmas, when it was, the city government put shelves fir tree-shaped pots containing ornamental plants. The scenery was beautiful and interesting, especially when considering a new city outside the war 25 years ago.
Ho Chi Minh City is very dense population of approximately 6 million inhabitants. Walking the streets of this city that feels it smells capitalists. Just imagine, outside advertising space seem big along the way that promotes all things-from consumer products such as beer until the state propaganda.
Our event on arrival in Ho Chi Minh City are having lunch at a restaurant in District No. 1, center of town and tourist area. This region is highly nuanced French accent. Old buildings of European architectural style is still very well preserved. Even the iconic is the number of buildings like the Cathedral of Nortedram the red brick (is said to imitate the original cathedral in Paris) or the post office building, and city hall. In some areas even found the parks with a large mahogany tree-large. Jakarta residents for us or the big cities in Indonesia, jealous to see the areas that are still intact. Compare this with the city area in Jakarta that have been destroyed and the helter-skelter is not maintained, so that its authenticity has not looked back. Read the rest of this entry »

War Tour In addition to selling the beautiful natural scenery, the Vietnamese government offers to the tourist attractions of war Cu Chi Tunnels in Cu Chi district, which is about 60 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the destinations visited by many people want to see evidence of persistence of the communist Vietnamese against foreign troops, especially during the French, during the independence war and U.S. troops invaded the country.
Entering the Cu Chi Province, which was a peaceful village atmosphere and shade. Unlike true with the atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City is busy and frenetic. Invisible traces showing this area as the battleground of the most all-out bombardment of U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. Unlike Ho Chi Minh City, there are not many old buildings visible on either side of the road. The houses are still relatively young age. Similarly, the existing plant. Not looking trees with large diameter as in other areas. This area at the height of the ground war by incessant bombing. In fact, the trees are all gone either due bombed, napalm or die due to flushing agent so toxic orange and story at Cu Chi tunnels was not initiated in the Vietnam War.
The tunnel was built by local people as a form of resistance against French colonialism. At that, the colonial develop rubber plantations in the region. For workers, the managers of the garden wearing men from villages around to work camps. This is what ultimately generate resistance and hatred of the Vietnamese people against the French. Finally, while doing resistance, residents build tunnels near their homes to hide when the French soldiers came to search for the men. This underground tunnel that led to French colonialism ended. 200 Km length of forest resorts in this war, for the first visitors will be brought into the living diorama that illustrates how to form an underground tunnel whose length is about 200 kilometers, are interrelated and can accommodate 10,000 people.
Having finished an explanation of the visitors and around forest areas witnessed the tunnel, a dead tanks, dioramas depicting the activities of the guerrillas, such as weapons workshops, kitchens, hospitals, mines, and others. Everything is under ground. For the visitor to enter along 40 meters, which was enlarged, with lighting lamps.
It was great, maybe it’s the words that we will say, knee feels weak, struggling breath, sweating profusely. Imagine, they can survive so for over 20 years, while fighting. Even the visitors, who want, can come with trying to shoot with an AK-47 rifles or machine guns by paying 1 dollar for a single bullet. Over at the Cu Chi complex guide (dressed in green uniforms similar to Civil Defense uniform, complete with sandals from old tires) will how the tunnel is made so difficult to be tracked, how to keep the smoke so as not detected, how to make a disguised air holes. The guide also demonstrates the pitfalls of simple but very deadly and painful. As a tourist, Cu Chi Tunnel was worth a goal. You will find the atmosphere of romantic war there, without realizing that in that location tens of thousands of people slaughtered in battle.

Nha Thrang is a city in northern Vietnam. From Jakarta, we must go down first to Saigon (now called Ho Chi Min City) and spent the night there. In the morning we had a connecting flight to the city with travel time of about an hour.

The atmosphere was bustling town by people who go home or go to work. The people are eagerly looking at the bikes and their bikes. Most of them wear a mask because it’s dusty streets are steaming.

Beyond that, the obvious Nha Trang is Vietnam’s leading satellite cities that have potential to beautiful beaches and the sea. The Vietnamese government seems to design the city as the equivalent of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu and promote it heavily.

That we can see from the layout of the coconut tree, gazebo, white sand, its supporting facilities. Moreover, the exotic atmosphere of the beach really can we get there, especially at dusk and at night. As the sun dimmed and smoke began billowing steam along the coast road.

Nha Thrang can also enjoy the variety of typical servings of ocean. Shellfish boiled, grilled fish, seafood fried rice, mixed with roasted duck and fried grasshoppers, and various insects to cobra. Hmm, must have a sensational and somewhat bizarre by our tastes, but interesting to try.

What is important to note, life of a city tour will provide a means of life for residents. Along Nha Trang beach grow and small restaurants offering seafood variety of diverse types and creation according to the size of the pockets of the visitors. Lesehan to start from the big restaurants alongside cohesive and harmonious.

What about price? Self-worth and bought both by tourists and local communities. There is no excessive profit taking)because they realized that the visitors are loyal buyers and would come back if dissatisfied with their service.

As a result, the economy was not only hung on the tourists who come, but local people also enjoy the products offered. This climate is conducive for tourism are able to integrate and involve local communities in the habit of tourism development. That’s what tips might not have our tourism community. In Nha Trang, there are tourists or not, the economic wheel fixed and can not walk.

Vietnam is rich in marine products to be proud to tourists, from a wet to dry. Perhaps we already know some products are so masculine male icons of myth. Call it the blood and flesh of cobra snakes, baby deer, scorpions, or super gecko. The materials were put into the jar and dicencem or soaked in wine is said to increase male potency.

Such goods sold in the market many Trang Thuong Thum (read: Cak Dom), in the town of Nha Trang. Uniquely, the drug was powerful in the market are made from marine products like sea horses, crustaceans (either of what type of species), and many others.

Clearly, a sea-way as a typical product that we can enjoy in Vietnam. See it, dry food from the sea looking to decorate all the stalls and baskets, small baskets (push or hip) such as dried squid, grilled squid, salted fish, ebi, and others. Indeed they have the creative ability of marine product processing very well.

Moreover, Vietnamese people are very fond of eating seafood. So, they have realized that the sea is the main resource buffer their food (food security). Naturally, if they were serious about maintaining marine resources they have. Read the rest of this entry »

My-Son [read: mi-son] is a complex of worship of Shiva temple built by the Kingdom of Champa. In contrast to Indonesia, Hindu culture in Vietnam no longer continue after the entry of the Buddhist religion. We use a taxi for 1.5 hours to arrive at the temple complex. We chose to use a taxi to reach the My-Son before the tourists arrived and can see the atmosphere of the temple before it was too crowded.
Because a sales clerk looked puzzled admission and could not speak english, I chose to go into the garden area to search for more information. Apparently road with a beautiful woman who was carrying a laptop and paper work out of the office building to the artifact storage. From him I knew where I bought a ticket is correct. The answer is given with an Italian accent is very thick. Italy is providing assistance for the preservation of My Son, the architect of the energy for the reconstruction and archaeologists.
After paying the ticket, we finally agreed to pretend to stray into the warehouse building where Italiano’d been working. From the door looking boxes containing new terracotta saved through the excavation and is under investigation. Silvia, later we know is an archaeologist from the University of Rome. Previously he had worked on excavating the Roman Coliseum. Long-sleeved shirt folded khaki elbow and trousers dusty blue makes me like looking in the mirror himself. Duh, if the situation is slightly different … it is said to have an archaeologist couple very pleasant. Because the older, more cherished.
In an effort to be much longer at Silvia, we began to lecture on the history of Java, which has a special affinity with Champa. Moreover, Silvia admitted that he is an expert India, but not an expert in Southeast Asia. Silvia told me that he was research for four months at My Son. He memillih My Son because he found a lot of symbols that comes from India but has experienced assimilation in My Son. “Gee, you should come to Indonesia then. We’ll take care of you there …. “
Silvia, do you know that the epics of Ramayana in Indonesia has different plot than in India? In Indonesia, Ravana never kidnapped Sinta. Rama is too cold for him, so Sinta choose to briefly with Ravana. Although Sprott has resigned to Ravana, Ravana said: “Sprott’s … do not touch you tip. Until you fall in love with me “. (which was not my time to tell the Silvia. original idea of an interview with a TV station Sujiwo Tedjo. Thanks for making Ravana was such a gentleman)
We offer to tell me more about the history of Hinduism and Indian influence in Indonesia over dinner later in Hoi An. Unfortunately ya wannabe Indiana Jones admits his research is very solid schedule. Well already ….
We went further into the temple garden. It turned out to reduce activities that may disturb the authenticity of the temple, the distance between the door of the temple and the temple complex built far enough. And for the manager to provide inter-shuttle vehicles that have been included in the ticket price. And since we are only three of us, so we delivered using a car shuttle Ford F-151 Utility Mutt (Military Utility Tactical Truck). In Vietnam, up Ford Utility remaining vietnam war. What a boy’s dream!
The temples at My Son, some made of brick and partly from a rock. Seeing the ornaments on the temple did not seem strange to those who had seen the Elephant Museum, Gedong Songo, complex or complex Prambanan Temple in Dieng Plateau. Statue of Shiva dancing, Nandini – Holy Cow is a vehicle of Shiva, the yoni phallus &. My-Son is one of the recording temple Indian influence in Southeast Asia and a scale equivalent to Angkor in Cambodia, Pagan in Myanmar, Ayuthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Java.
We returned to Hoi An, with a stop at the church located on top of a small hill in the village of Tra Kieu. The archaeologists estimate that it is the former didesa Champa Simhapura center. But there is no heritage buildings can be seen of this area.