Info Indonesia

In the previous part of this article we counted down numbers ten to six of the top places you can take your holidays in 2008, the list continues now with the top five new locations that are set to be a big hit with tourists for ’08.

5. Pula, Croatia – Pula is steeped in Greek and Roman history with stories of the Argonauts involved in Pula’s long history dating back over three thousand years ago. As such there is a lot of Ancient Roman and Greek remains including one of the most impressive roman gladiator arenas outside of Rome, it is still used to this day for open air concerts with musicians from the late Luciano Pavarotti to Sting playing in the coliseum to thousands.

4. Los Suenos, Costa Rica – If you like your seafood then Costa Rica will appeal to you with plentiful supplies of Marlin and Sailfish amongst the many fish types available with December to May being the better time of year to visit. You can not only eat fish there but you can reel in your own catch of the day with a marina full of boats you can hire and a wonderful harbour you can enjoy the fishing community as well as enjoy their plentiful beaches.

3. Bali, Indonesia – Bali is situated 8 degrees south of the Equator and if that wasn’t hot enough the mountainous region of Bali is populated by both Dormant and active volcanoes! The national park to the west of the island is completely undisturbed and amazing to behold. The Balinese people are well known for their hospitality and keep to their traditions and rituals despite the growing tourist trade, with lush forests, endless beaches Bali is the perfect place for your island holidays in the Far East.

2. Breaux Bridge, Louisiana – Breaux Bridge is the Crawfish capital of the world and is the perfect place to experience the authentic Cajun cooking and lifestyle. The gastronomy of the area covers all manner of wonderful culinary delights such as seafood gumbo and gateau syrup cakes, if you’re felling particularly daring then there are Alligator steaks on offer too. An old Cajun dance hall called “La Poussiere”, translated into English means “the dust” as the floor was comprised of dirt and used to get pretty dusty when people danced there. A welcome break from typical American tourist hotspots Louisiana can provide a different side of American life.

And the number one spot this year for the emerging tourist hotspots is…

1. Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic – Las Terrenas provides the ultimate beach getaway, located on the north-eastern coast of the Samana peninsular is home to miles of protected beaches and palm trees, the balmy weather is maintained by trade winds and the warm sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean make sure that the temperature never strays from 77o Fahrenheit throughout the year. You can be sure that holidays here will be the ones that are never forgotten in this slice of paradise.

So there you have it, the top ten emerging holiday hotspots for 2008, this is no definitive list by any stretch of the imagination, as with many countries becoming more popular with tourists there are plenty of new, weird and wonderful locations to take your holidays this year, and with many locations such as those mentioned in this article the prices will be coming down for these and other locations as tourism boards the world over are enticing people with cheap holidays to their holiday resorts.

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is one of the leading travel and business destinations of South East Asia. Although the city might not have the same level of appeal as Singapore or Bangkok, there are certainly plenty of interesting attractions and wonderful places which travelers can visit in the Indonesian capital.

I have been to Jakarta a number of times and I have compiled a list of my favorite tourist attractions.

Ancol Dreamland

The place to stay if for travelers with kids is definitely Ancol Dreamland which is a rather large amusement park and which is located next to the water. There are plenty of shops, rides, various other types of entertainment, resorts and food and beverage outlets. The theme park is open 24 hours per day although some of the rides and other venues might have more specific times of business.

Museum Fatahillah

This is also known as the Jakarta History Museum and is off course a great place to visit for those of you that would like to learn more about the history and culture of this outstanding city as well as about the former Dutch East India Company. It is located inside of the former Batavian city hall which was built in 1710 by the former Dutch colonists.

Planetarium

The Planetarium is popular with both local residents as well as foreign visitors and first opened its doors in 1969. English tours of the premises can be organized Tuesday through Sunday.

Glodok

This part of town is also known as Chinatown and is a wonderful area of the city to walk around and explore the small streets, shops and excellent restaurants.  If you would like to do some shopping for IT products then be sure to visit the excellent Glodok market which is well known for its cheap prices. Business hours are Monday through Sunday from 09:00 until 15:00.

Gereja Kathedral

One of the most important Catholic structures in the entire country is the Gereja Kathedral which opened its doors nearly 110 years ago. It is designed in a neo-gothic style and is definitely worth visiting. There is also a museum located inside the cathedral and the opening hours of the attraction are daily from 05:30 until 12:00 and from 16:00 until 19:00.

Istana Merdeka

The Istana Merdeka was called the Koningsplein Paleis when the Dutch ruled the nation and is currently the presidential palace. This beautiful building was build towards the end of the 18th century and is one of the most impressive sights you will find in the Indonesian capital.