We invite you to explore.

Visit Indonesia Year 2008
A Grand Invitation to the World

Minister of Culture and Tourism Republic of Indonesia, Jero Wacik, is delighted to announce Visit Indonesia Year 2008. Mr Wacik advises ‘the year 2008 is an especially good time to visit or return to Indonesia. It has been designated as “Visit Indonesia Year” representing a year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Indonesia’s Awakening Day and to capitalize on its awakening spirit as momentum for the revival of Indonesia’s tourism sector.’

Indonesia feels that the “Visit Indonesia Year 2008” program can promote the varied attractions of throughout this beautiful archipelago after the country has experienced numerous natural and man-made crises in previous years. As a result of this campaign, and other increased promotional activities overseas, the Ministry is aiming to reach their target of seven million international visitors to Indonesia by the end of 2008.

A series of attractive special events are being put together for 2008 featuring a celebration of music, culture, arts, festivals and sports competitions to be held nationwide and throughout the year. Indeed, it will be a great opportunity for even seasoned visitors to come back to Indonesia in 2008 as they will have the chance of a lifetime to witness spectacular events and enjoy an extraordinary experience.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands. The country stretches 5,100 km along the equator between Australia and Asia and is bordered by the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the Equator. Few countries in the world could match Indonesia’s diversity of population with some 490 different ethnics living together. With a fascinating, colourful and sometimes tumultuous past, Indonesia is a place of rich and diverse culture. Indonesia is “Ultimate in Diversity”.

Visit Indonesia is delighted to make available to download the full colour 24 page Invitation to Indonesia brochure series.

To download click on the title name listed below:

Ultimate in Adventure

Ultimate in Culture & Heritage

Ultimate in Diving & Cruising

Ultimate in Golf

Ultimate in Shopping

Ultimate in Spa

NB: These are PDF files and may take some time to download.

Country Facts

“Ultimate in Diversity”
To better understand our new slogan, here are a few facts about one of the most diverse and fascinating countries in the world: Indonesia…

Indonesia stretches 5,100 km along the equator (one-sixth of the circumference of the earth!) between Australia and Asia and is bordered by the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the Equator. The country is divided into three different time zones. Flying from Banda Aceh on the Western tip of Sumatra Island to Jayapura in Eastern Papua would take approximately six hours, a time comparable to a flight from Tokyo to Hawaii…

Indonesian landscapes are among the most diverse in the world. Visitors will not only see some spectacular beaches and coral reefs but also discover waterfalls, paddy fields, rice terraces, Southeast Asian largest lakes and even snowy mountains tops in Irian Jaya.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands (no one knows the exact figure!). However, only 9,000 are inhabited.
Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world with a population of 238 million inhabitants (2005) living on an area of 1,904,443 km2. The most important islands in terms of population are (figures for 2003):

Indonesia is divided into 32 provinces, 268 regencies and 73 metropolitan areas.

Indonesia has 10 cities with at least one million inhabitants and another eight cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants (figures for 2005). The largest are:

Indonesia has over 491 ethnic groups, who speak 567 different languages or dialects. The largest ethnic group are the Javanese with approximately 100 million people, and is itself subdivided in various sub-groups. Large other ethnic groups adding to the richness of Indonesian history and culture include the Sundanese, Madurese, Malay, Minahasa, Chinese, Melanesian, Bugis, Minang, Batak and Toraja. Dayaks from Kalimantan (Borneo), Asmat, Dani in Papua, Kubu in Sumatra and Badui around Jakarta belong to the most well-known Indonesian minority groups.

Eighty-seven per cent of the Indonesian population follows the principles of Islam. But the Indonesian constitution guarantees the freedom of worship and recognises not only Islam but also Christians (11%), Buddhism (1%) and Hinduism (less than 1%) as official State religions whose major holidays are celebrated by everyone and are on the official calendar.

Indonesia’s economy is booming again after years of stagnation following the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. Indonesia’s GDP grew by over 4 per cent in 2003 and gained strength in 2004 with a rate of 5 per cent. This year, the GDP is further expected to grow by 5.5 per cent with inflation hovering around 6 per cent.

With a fascinating, colourful and sometimes tumultuous past, Indonesia is a place of rich and diverse culture. In the seventh century, the Buddhist empire and the Hindu empire were struggling for supremacy. In the thirteenth century, the Hindus faced a strong challenge from Muslim forces south of the Malay Peninsula. The Hindus slowly lost ground and eventually retreated to Bali, where they remain today. The remaining islands became Muslim, and several sultanates were established.

The first Europeans to arrive in Indonesia were the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, who broke the Islamic hold on Indonesia. However the Portuguese were eventually displaced by the Dutch who continued to rule until World War II and the invasion by the Japanese. Sukarno, who saw Japan as a possible force of liberation, led the Indonesian revolutionary nationalist movement into a four year war of independence from 1945 to 1949 that ended in victory.

Indonesian independence was in a state of turmoil until Sukarno unified power in 1957. In 1965 an attempted coup against Sukarno again saw Indonesia move into turmoil. General Suharto led the army to restore order and initiate a purge of communists. Suharto eventually replaced Sukarno as Presidency bringing in a time of economic development and stability.

In May 1998, Suharto stepped down from presidency and B. J. Habibie assumed this position. In the parliamentary elections held in June 1999, Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Sukarno, received the highest percentage of votes. Subsequently, in the October 1999 presidential elections Megawati failed to win, and Abdurrahman Wahid, from the National Awakening party, became the country’s first democratically elected president. In July 2001, Wahib was removed from office and Megawati became president. September 2004 was the first time that Indonesians were able to elect a president directly and Megawati lost the presidency to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the candidate for the Democrat party.

Although most Indonesians are either of a Polynesian or Malay descent, the country comprises over 300 ethnicities with minority populations from countries such as India, China, Persia, Arabia, Holland, Portugal, England and Spain.

Although Indonesia is primarily a Muslim nation, Hinduism (particularly in Bali) and Christianity also have a significant presence. The most common language spoken is Bahasa Indonesia, however there are a number of other languages and dialects spoken, including English and Dutch.

To download the 24 page colour Invitation to Indonesia Ultimate in Culture & Heritage brochure, click here.

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With a country as big and diverse as Indonesia, it would be impossible to summarize in one or two pages all its attractions. However, if a list could be set up of the twelve “must-see places” in Indonesia, here are suggested attractions that should be part of a trip:

Sumatra
1 Lake Toba is Southeast Asia’s largest lake surrounded by amazing landscapes composed of cliffs, hills and waterfalls. Batak people live in wooden houses richly painted and shaped like boats.

2 Bukittinggi and the Minangkabau Highlands are home to one of the most intriguing Indonesian ethnics in West Sumatra. In lush landscapes, visitors can admire finely sculpted wooden houses crowned by buffalo-shaped roofs, some of them over 300 years old. Minangkabau people is a devoted Muslim society, where women play however a pivotal role in daily life…

Java
3 Jakarta’s old town is one of the best preserved in Indonesia around Fatahillah Square, where the first house of the Dutch governor has been converted into the Jakarta History Museum. On the west side of the square, the Wayang Museum displays a fine collection of puppets from Indonesia and the rest of the world. Do not miss in Jakarta the National Museum for its outstanding art collections, Jalan Surabaya for its antique dealers shops, the great view from the top of the National Monument (Monas) and Taman Mini Indonesia, a theme park presenting all the various Indonesian islands.

4 Bandung, the capital city of West Java is either dubbed the “Parijs van Java” or an Asian “Miami Beach” because of its impressive collection of Art Deco buildings. Promised to be the new capital city of Dutch-ruled Indonesia, Bandung has striking examples of western inspired architecture. Not to be missed, the Asia-Africa Street with its fine 1930s-style hotels and the building which hosted the famous summit in 1955 as well as the “Gedung Sate”, an imposing structure in pure Art Deco style. Do not miss the view on Bandung from the top of the tower !

5 Yogyakarta is considered as the cultural cradle of Java. The city still has within its premises the Royal Palace( Keraton), an old town with small traditional Javanese houses which host numerous batik workshops as well as the magnificent Taman Sari (Water Castle) complex, a century old royal spa. It also has easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko. There is magnificent natural beauty nearby as well in the mountains and sea.

The ancient city of Yogyakarta has been able to preserve centuries-old traditions under the rule of its Sultan. Today, it increasingly becomes a primary tourist destination with a sophisticated offer as well as a gateway to Central and East Java.

Yogyakarta is a “must” for any visitors to Indonesia and especially to Java. This city – with almost a million inhabitants- is located in the centre of Java island, half-way between Jakarta and Bandung in the west and Surabaya in the east. Considered by all Indonesians as one of their most historical cities, Yogyakarta is indeed the cradle of the Javanese culture. The town still today bears the testimony of the refined art and handicraft skills of Javanese people. Batik workshops, puppeteers, interpreters of Javanese classical dances, wood carvers, the people of Yogyakarta continue to maintain centuries-old traditions alive.

Yogyakarta’s symbol of its everlasting traditions is certainly the magnificent Keraton, the Sultan’s palace in the heart of the city. the. In contrary to other Indonesian Sultans, who mostly play an honorific role today, Hamengku Buwono X, ruling Sultan of Yogyakarta is still a well-known figure of Indonesia’s political life. The Sultan presides in fact over the destiny of Yogyakarta as the elected Governor of the Province. As such, he has large powers to implement economic, social and tourism reforms in his city. His residence, the Royal Keraton, belongs to the favourite attractions among visitors, who can learn more about the life and customs of Yogyakarta. Classical dance shows are regularly performed within the Keraton compound.

Yogyakarta has many other wonderful sites to discover: the bird market, old Javanese mansions, batik factories and the Water Palace (Taman Sari), a unique architectural “spa” ensemble from the XVIII° century and part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Yogyakarta is also the gateway to two of the most magnificent temple complexes of Southeast Asia : Borobodur and Prambanan -both on the UNESCO World Heritage List- tell about a time where Hinduism and Buddhism were dominant in the Javanese kingdoms. Even today, the unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist and Islam religions continues to impregnate Yogyakarta’s way of life. For the visitors, the Yogyakarta Tourism Development Board proposes special meditations tours during the sunrise at Borobodur temple or spectacular Ramayana performances in front of Prambanan temple.

Tourism seen as an important economic factor
Yogyakarta is today one of Java largest city with a population of some 900,000 inhabitants is an important economic and education centre. However, priority has been given by the current Sultan to the development of tourism and infrastructures. Over the last five years, the city opened the Jogja Expo Centre (JEC) and currently works on its expansion with a new five-stars hotel as well as a conference centre. New hotels of major international chains, the upgrading of the airport with the construction of a new terminal are some of the initiatives fostered by the Sultan of Yogyakarta.

In 2004, the city recorded 103,000 international visitors in hotel accommodation and some 600,000 from domestic visitors. The target is to welcome a million international visitors by 2010 and a similar number of domestic travellers. In terms of hotel capacity, Yogyakarta has today a total 9,500 rooms of which 3,500 are classified from two to five stars.

The city is confident to become with Bali and Jakarta one of Indonesia’s major tourism hub. The opening of the airport to international flights last year already makes the city easily accessible. Today, Yogyakarta is directly served from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and more international destinations should be added once the new terminal completed and the runway extended for long haul flights in 2006.

Yogyakarta’s commitment to be a new gateway to Indonesia is more than ever true as the city has hosted in 2004 and 2005 TIME at the Jogja Expo Centre, the country’s largest inbound travel show. The event has been organized for 11 years by the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) with the support from the entire tourism industry in Indonesia attracting each time over 100 buyers from all over the world and some 150 sellers from all Indonesia.

Information on Yogyakarta under:
www.indonesiatourism.go.id
www.visit-java.com

6 Borobudur and Prambanan, the two magnificent temples are both listed on Unesco’s World Heritage List. Borobudur, built between 778 and 856 is the world’s largest Buddhist monument and is surrounded by volcanoes. It is worth a visit at any time but particularly at sunrise. Prambanan dates from 856 and is Southeast Asia’s largest Hinduism temple with outstanding bas-reliefs. Ramayana performances are hosted for visitors at dawn.
Non-stop domestic and limited international flights from Yogyakarta and Solo (Central Java)

7 Mount Bromo. Two hours away from Malang in East Java stands the majestic Bromo mountain surrounded by paddy fields and fruit plantations in East Java. Visitors will enjoy a magical sunrise at the volcano with its various shades of colours. Accessing the crater is possible with small mountain horses. Nearby, Malang is a delightful Art Deco city with old bakeries and an interesting birds market.
Non-stop domestic and international flights from/to Surabaya (East Java)

Bali
8 Ubud. This village is known as a retreat for artists since the 30’s and is now a famed resort destination. Old houses and palaces, temples stand next to discreet boutique hotels, all bearing a distinctive Balinese style and surrounding by paddy fields.
Non-stop domestic and international flights from Denpasar (Bali)

9 Tanah Lot. Bali most famous Hindu temple is a delicate structure built on a top of a large rock facing the sea. At high tide, the temple is surrounded by the sea but at other times, visitors have an access to this sacred site. It is best to view in the sunset.
Non-stop domestic and international flights from Denpasar (Bali)

East Indonesia
10 The Mount Kelimutu is located a few hours from Ende, Flores island main city. It is the most visited natural wonder in the island as the mountain is topped by three crater lakes, separated by thin ridges and showing each a different colour. The largest lake is turquoise, the next one olive green and the third black. The colours vary over the time.
Direct flights Bali-Maumere and Surabaya-Maumere (Flores)

11 The Toraja Highland in South Sulawesi (Celebes) has some of Indonesia’s most spectacular landscapes. Elaborated houses with long roofs form typical villages nestled in valleys and surrounded by paddy fields. Strange tombs with sculpted wooden effigies representing deceased people can be observed.
Non-stop domestic flights from/to Makassar (South Sulawesi)

12 Bunaken National Park in North Sulawesi (Celebes) is one of the most spectacular snorkelling and diving area in the world with large coral reef populated by a rich maritime life.
Non-stop domestic and limited international flights from Manado (North Sulawesi)

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Nowadays, it has never been easier than to come to Indonesia. Numerous international airlines have direct flights from all over the world to Indonesia or via a big hub such as Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong in Asia. The recent emergence of low cost budget airlines within Southeast Asia and especially in Indonesia gives even a greater choice of flights and more affordable prices for all budgets.

Indonesia has more than 100 airports spread all over the country, the largest being Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar (Bali), Medan, Makassar and Yogyakarta. The following airports have international connections:
Balikpapan, Bandung, Batam, Denpasar, Jakarta, Kupang, Makassar, Manado, Mataram (Lombok), Medan, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Pontianak, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Yogyakarta.

It is possible to arrive by boat to Indonesia, with most visitors crossing by fast ferry (30 minutes) from Singapore to Batam in Riau Province. They are 17 International entry seaports in the country. As an example, they are 5 international seaports just on Batam island, across from Singapore. The rest of Sumatra has 8 international seaports, Sulawesi 3 ports, Java and Bali 2 ports, Flores 1, West Timor 1 and Papua 1.

Domestically, they are today over 30 airlines offering flights to all regions of the country. Among the newest carriers in the country are Adam Air, Awair, Batavia Airlines, Jatayu, Srivijaya Air and Star Air among others. The competition is intense which guarantees very low prices for consumers! As an example, a flight from Jakarta to Bali can cost as little as 21 US$ one-way and from Jakarta to Medan as little as 25 US$ one-way. To find the best deals, consult a travel agency, airline offices or airline websites.

For travellers with more time, Indonesia has also an extensive train network linking cities on Java Island and a small rail network in Sumatra. Buses assure road services between all cities throughout the country as well as boats and ferries for inter-island services. When in Indonesia, ask a travel agent or your hotel for more details regarding types of train and bus services available, schedules, and costs. It is a great way to see the country first-hand!

Health and safety are today top concerns for tourists when travelling abroad. Here are a few tips on the way to have a perfectly relaxing holiday in Indonesia.

Money
Monetary unit: Rupiah

It is possible to exchange money at bank counters upon arrival at international airports or seaports. In town, most of the foreign currencies can easily be exchanged at banks and authorised money exchange counters. ATM’s are widely available everywhere for cash operations, even in smaller cities.

Health
The areas that most visitors want to go to are safe for travel for health conscious tourists. Malaria today is eradicated in all urban areas and most of the large tourist areas. Malaria transmission can occur after dark in rural, forested areas not usually frequented by tourists, except in Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya), where risk is widespread.

However, over the past few years, malaria cases have been observed in Central Java Province. Insect protection measures (anti-mosquitoes cream or lotions) are advised against mosquito-borne diseases like malaria or dengue fever. They are available in any pharmacy or drugstore in Indonesia. The country also has a large number of well-equipped hospitals to international standards, especially in the largest cities and tourist areas.

Safety
Indonesia is an exceedingly safe country for foreign tourists and Indonesians will take pride and happiness to help and give their best to a traveller. However, as in any country in the world, in big cities such Jakarta, Surabaya or very popular tourist areas like Bali or Yogyakarta, it is advisable not to go out carrying too much cash or flashing expensive jewellery. To travel within a city, use only taxis with the name of the company. They are all equipped with meters.

Which destinations to visit?
Indonesia and is fully open to foreign visitors. The regions receiving the most tourists are currently Bali, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sulawesi and the islands of Batam and Bintan across Singapore.

As Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, events happening in one specific part of the country do not mean that the whole Indonesia is affected. For example, the tsunami disaster affected only the Northwestern tip of Sumatra island in Aceh. In Bali, Yogyakarta, Jakarta or even in the rest of Sumatra, life continued normally.

In case of any event, the Indonesian embassy will be able to present detailed information on the affected zone. Media will also be able to contact the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to get the most updated information as well as a map of the affected areas. A list of the regions which might pose a threat to the safety of visitors is available from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Visas
All travellers are warmly welcome to Indonesia. However, in most cases, travellers must obtain a tourist visa to enter a country, and for many countries these can be issued at the airport on arrival upon payment of a small administrative fee.

Visitors range into three categories: a few countries (mostly ASEAN) where visas are not necessary; countries whose citizens can obtain with visas on arrival (VOA); and remaining countries where it is necessary to first obtain a tourist visa from the nearest Indonesia embassy.

Countries which do not need a visa for a stay not exceeding 30 consecutive days: Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Countries which are entitled to a Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) facility: The list was recently extended and include since August 1st, 2005, 36 countries whose citizens can directly obtain their visas on arrival at all major international airports as well as international seaports.

The cost for a single visa is fixed at US$ 10 for a maximum period of seven days/six nights or US$ 25 for a maximum period of 30 days. A charge of US$ 20 per day will be imposed for overstaying. It is easiest to bring in some US dollars in cash with you and use them to pay the visa administrative fee directly upon arrival in the country.

These countries whose citizens can obtain VOA include the following, including Australia, China (PRC) and Japan:

The passport must have a validity of minimum six months.

Citizens of all other countries not listed above in categories 1 or 2 must apply for a visa at their nearest Indonesian Embassy before departure.

Climate
Indonesia’s climate is tropical. There is no Autumn or Winter and distinctive “dry” and “wet” seasons share the year. The East Monsoon, from June to September, brings dry weather while the West Monsoon, from December to March is moisture laden, bringing rain. Temperatures range from 21 degrees to 33 degrees celcious except at higher altitudes which can be much cooler. Heaviest rainfalls are usually recorded in December and January and humidity is generally between 75% and 100%.

Languages
Bahasa Indonesia (official), English, Dutch, Javanese, and more than 580 other languages and dialects.

Religions
Islam 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1%

I was met at the Magnetic Island dock by Ken, the friendly proprietor of Centaur House. His small comfortable hostel had a casual charm that reflected his easy going attitude and lifestyle. The place lacked pretense and its laid back atmosphere made you feel like you were staying at the summer home of an old friend.

Of all the islands I visited in Australia, Magnetic was my favorite. It had the distinctive character of an individual island community. Even the terrain and topography was unique. Huge boulders and strange rock formations defined the island’s interior landscape. Much of the island was a protected national park dotted with small private bays and harbors that sheltered little villages and enclaves along the shore.

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I went on an excursion out to the Great Barrier Reef on a vessel that resembled a Klingon warship. We boarded a huge catamaran that looked like it had just dropped out of a Star Trek episode and headed out to Kelso Reef, one of the many small coral reefs that form the 1200 mile long Great Barrier. The giant Australian aquatic park contains more than 600 islands and 900 different species of fish.

A few hours beyond Magnetic Island the dark water fell away and turned a clear blue green. We dropped anchored and I donned a snorkel, mask, and fins. I swam a few dozen meters over to the reef outcropping and snorkeled around in the coral.

The shallow coral reef resembled an underwater forest filled with an amazing variety of sea life in an ever changing kaleidoscope of colors. I swam amidst scores of brilliantly colored parrot fish, odd slender trumpet fish, eerie blue starfish, and giant clams anchored to the coral bottom. Under a w arm sun I spent hours snorkeling the reef, diving down through the coral canyons. I was lost in the natural rapture of a most incredible underwater hallucination.

A rare rainy day at Uluru, or Ayers Rock, in the desolate Australian Outback. Traces of waterfalls can be seen on the sides of the massive desert rock which is sacred to the Aboriginal people. >>>

The weather in the Australian Outback had turned strange. The usually hot, dry, sun scorching climate had turned uncommonly wet and cool. I could make out the rising shape of Ayers Rock in the distance. A thick cloud cover obscured the upper third of the massive rock, giving it the appearance of a flat plateau.

The sacred Aboriginal sight is called Uluru by the native people. Under cloudy skies it looked nothing at all like the familiar image of a glowing red rock contrasted against a bright blue desert sky. The rain had dropped off to an occasional thick drizzle. Tourists were al ready climbing the rock by the time we had arrived. The steep lower section is outfitted with a long chain used as a handhold assist for climbers. There is a small plaque near the rock base that lists the names of people who have fallen or suffered heart attacks while attempting the climb.

Aboriginals don’t climb Uluru, although they allow tourists the opportunity. They call them “white ants” and I laughed when I saw the climbers. That is exactly what they looked like as they scrambled up the massive mound of stone.

Clouds rolled and tumbled off the rock. It glistened and darkened in the rain, taking on a dark mercurial presence. The mist and clouds animated the face of the rock, giving it an ever changing eeriness. Like a giant natural sculpture, Uluru changes color, texture, and shape at every angle. It rises up majestically from the desert floor, carved by wind, sand, and water. The rock is sacred to every Aboriginal tribe on the Australian continent.

Before I left, the sporadic rain cascaded down the sides of Uluru in narrow waterfalls, a rare occurrence in the dry arid Outback desert. The weird weather brought even more magic and mystery to a place that is strangely unreal and timeless even in the hot bright light of day.

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Sydney is a modern metropolis of 3 million people that bustles with the busy pulse of urban energy and life. It’s Australia’s showcase, the largest and most cosmopolitan city on an island continent of 18 million people.

I took the city bus down to Circular Quay for a relaxed boat tour of Sydney Harbour. The ferry meandered past the Opera House on a beautiful sunny May day. We passed the remainder of the day cruising up quiet inlets past historic old structures, modern harbour houses, and sprawling Sydneysider mansions.

The cruise returned us to the Quay where I enjoyed the dockside carnival atmosphere of didgerydoo buskers and street entertainers. I walked along the Quay to the Opera House for a closer look at Sydney’s distinctive architectural landmark.

That night I rode the subway from the Central Rail Station to Kings Cross. The few narrow blocks that defined the Cross are lined with rock and roll night clubs, strip joints, budget restaurants, and tourist shops. Kings Cross is where Disneyland meets Hollywood Boulevard. International backpackers seek accommodation at the Cross’s numerous budget hostels. Tourists wander the gaudy streets in search of entertainment, excitement, and a glimpse of the tawdriness. Sad eyed junkies loiter around the lighted fountain at the far end of the street smoking cigarettes and panhandling spare change. The Cross glitters like a cheap bright jewel in the misty night rain.

A chartered catamaran lies anchored in the azure waters of the Whitsunday Islands off the eastern Australia coast. >>>

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A view of the coastal point that juts out into the Tasman Sea just beyond the Byron Bay lighthouse. >>>

Byron Bay is a curious alternative enclave, new age tourist village, and laid back beach haven, all jumbled into one. Cape Byron was named by Captain James Cook in May, 1770 for John Byron, the grandfather of poet Lord Byron.

Migrating whales off the coast regularly attract binocular-toting whale watchers along its shore. Pods of dolphins also played in the water along the nearby public beach as oblivious surfers stoically waited for their next wave.

The prominent white lighthouse above the town dramatically marks the rugged coastline. Located at the country’s eastern-most point, it’s the most powerful lighthouse in Australia, radiating 3 million candle power of light out to sea.

More about Australia – As a service to you, if you click on the linked items below, a window will open to Amazon.com for more information and the opportunity to purchase these and other selections.

Books:
Lonely Planet Australia – a Travel Guide by Hugh Finlay Paperback – 9th edition (September 1998)
The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin Paperback – Rep edition (June 1988)
One For The Road : Hitchhiking Through the Australian Outback by Tony Horwitz
The Fatal Shore : The Epic of Australia’s Founding by Robert Hughes (February 1988)

Films:
The Last Wave (1977) Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Director: Peter Weir
Mad Max Starring: Mel Gibson, Director: George Miller
Road Warrior - The Road Warrior (1982) Starring: Mel Gibson, Director: George Miller
Crocodile Dundee (1986) Starring: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Director: Peter Faiman
Ned Kelly Ned Kelly (1970) Starring: Mick Jagger, Director: Tony Richardson
Bliss (1997) Starring: Craig Sheffer, Sheryl Lee, Director: Lance Young
Walkabout (1971) Starring: Jenny Agutter, Director: Nicolas Roeg
My Brilliant Career
Incident at Hanging Rock
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

Music:
Midnight Oil – “Redneck Wonderland” Audio CD (November 3, 1998)
INXS – “Greatest Hits” Audio CD (November 1, 1994)
Crowded House – “Crowded House” Audio CD (October 11, 1988)
Paul Kelly “Words & Music” (Rock) Audio CD (May 19, 1998)

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Created by a single volcano, the island of Kauai is well know for its photogenic stretches of breathtaking coastline. Often called “The Garden Isle”, the original islanders believed Kauai to be the eldest of the dozen children born to Wakea, the Sky God, the Papa, the Earth Mother. >>>

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The volcanic crater of Haleakala rises more than 10,000 feet above “The Valley Isle” of Maui. Named for an ancient folk hero, the island of Maui was created by two volcanoes, Puu Kukui and Haleakala. “The House of the Sun” encompasses one of the world’s largest dormant craters, measuring 21 miles in circumference. >>>

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Sunset off the Napali coast near the town of Princeville on the island of Kauai. The famous English explorer Captain James Cook made his first landfall in the Hawaiian Islands on Kauai in January 1778. >>>

My family and I were just outside Sackets Harbor, NY for a Vacation/Family Reunion and discovered that we were only about 4 hours from Niagara Falls. So we decided to spend our last day in NY driving to and enjoying Niagara Falls. This photo is taken from the American side looking at horseshoe falls toward Canada. We arrived about 1:30 pm on a Saturday. It was a little cloudy.

We walked down the steps to the crest of the falls. The roar of the water drowned out all sounds around us except for the people that were speaking very loud to each other to be heard. The mist would occasionally blow toward the crowd in a cooling breeze.

Looking beyond the crest the mist gets very heavy. The water is moving about 22 miles per hour at the crest of the falls. Here you can barely see the visitors center on the Canadian side.
Here you can see a Maid of the Mist boat ride that gets you very close to the bottom of the falls and in “a lot of cool water” (mist).
A little closer view of the Maid of the Mist boat. The boat is all blue because all the passengers are dressed in blue rain (mist) gear. If you go to the page with larger photos you can see them better.

Looking from the same vantage point on the American side, we look toward the “American Falls”. If you were on an aircraft looking down on the falls, you would see that there is an island of land in the middle of the Niagara River. The water splits and forms the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. We are on that island viewing both of the falls.

A short walk , still on the island, takes us to a better vantage point of the American Falls. From here we can walk down to the observation lookout in the foreground of this photo.

We have crossed over into Canada and are now standing again at the Horseshoe Falls. If you go to the falls in the summer, be prepared to wait in long lines ­ as much as 30-45 minutes ­ to clear customs when going from the US into Canada. As you can see, we lost some of our light and it is now almost entirely overcast. In fact, right after I took this picture, we had about a 30 second shower.

Another look at the Maid of the Mist boat close to the falls.

Here is a better idea of just how close to the bottom of the falls the boats actually get. Even though you can get mush closer to the crest of the Horseshoe Falls from the American side, the view of both of the falls is much better from the Canadian side.

From here you can see the full horseshoe of the falls. That little dark thing at the base of the falls in the mist is the Maid of the Mist boat. Right under where this photo is taken is the outlet for the Hydroelectric plant that is here at the falls.

From the same vantage point as the above photo, I turn to take this photo of the American Falls ­ looking back toward the US. To the left of the falls you can see the Rainbow Bridge that crosses into Canada.

As the Maid of the Mist boat travels back from the Horseshoe Falls, it passes the American falls. It can not get as close to this falls as the other due to the rocks and debris at the base of the falls.

If you look closely at this photo, and at the larger set of photos (click on any photo), to the right of the falls down close to the river, there are rows of yellow. These are people in yellow rain (mist) gear. On the U.S. side at the American Falls and on the Canadian side at the Horseshoe Falls, you can get all geared up and take an elevator ride to the base of each falls. There you get the most close up experience of the falls from any vantage point.

I regret to say that we did not have enough time to do much more than visit both sides and enjoy the spectacular views of the falls. There are very many things to do while at Niagara Falls. This is a photo of Skylon Tower and a little cafe/restaurant. We went to see if we could get a bite to eat before rushing off to Syracuse to catch a plane in the morning.

When I get back in that area again, I will make sure that I have at least a full day to enjoy and experience all the slender of the falls and the surrounding area and stay in the evening to see the light and laser show of the falls at night.

If you would like more information, visit www.niagaraparks.com

The main street is lined with colorful craft stalls, and wandering indigenia vendors who are both streetwise and persistent. There are a lot of vegetarian and open air restaurants, new age shops, and even a DHL overnight express shipping store. Pana is an odd blend of funky counter culture commerce and upscale tourist ambiance.

>>> A volcano, seen from the village of Panajachel, dwarfs local fishing boats on Lago Atitlan in the Solala district of Guatemala. A trio of 3000 meter volcanoes, one of which is still active, rise above the lake that surrounds them.

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>>> These brightly painted former U.S. school buses have been retrofitted and recycled for daily use as public transportation throughout Guatemala.

Next to the crowded public market, which is a labyrinth of shops and vendors, buses come and go in the massive dirt lot that serves as the bus station. The old U.S. school buses, some painted in bright primary colors, others still institutional yellow, are filled with passengers and stacked with luggage and goods on the roof.

The buses are an amazing experience. People crowd the narrow aisles that run between small seats which hold three or more passengers. On many occasions I had difficulty just getting out of my seat, moving past the people in the aisles and making my way to the bus door.

Each bus driver has a helper who collects fares by deftly moving through the mass of humanity. I’ve observed them crawl out the window in the front of the bus as it races along. They crawl along the side using the roof rack as a handhold and the window frames as footholds, as they make their way to the back door and reenter the bus.

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I boarded a small twenty passenger plane at the Guatemala national airport to Santa Elena in the Peten jungle. The one hour flight saved me a 15 hour bus ride over some of the roughest roads in the country.

An airport collectivo, a small passenger van, carried me across the narrow dirt and rock causeway that connected Santa Elena to the nearby island village of Flores. I checked into the Hotel Tucan, a lazy little restaurant and hotel fronting Lake Peten.

I caught another shuttle to the National Park in Tikal. There I spent five hours wandering around the ruins of Tikal, climbing the pyramids and watching the tropical birds and monkeys in the tree canopy.

Crowds of people wandered around the ruins in the blazing tropical sun. I slipped away from the crowds after seeing the major sites and explored the less traveled jungle paths and sites. For a short while I shared a remote set of ruins with a vulture who remained on the top steps until other tourists arrived and it flew off.

More about Mexico:

Books: Lonely Planet Guatemala Travel Guide Lonely Planet Ruta Maya Guide Lonely Planet Central America Guide I, Rigoberta Menchu – Rigoberta Menchu Time Among The Maya – Ronald Wright

Posted in Travell ]]> http://radhiant08.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/guatemala/feed/ 0 radhiant08 http://radhiant08.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/north-to-alaska/ http://radhiant08.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/north-to-alaska/#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:20:41 +0000 eko radianto http://radhiant08.wordpress.com/?p=28 ]]> California

We started our trip in San Diego, north through Oregon, Washington, Canada and then 3 weeks in Alaska. We stayed in Anchorage with a friend – and we took trips from there to Seward, etc. When we left Anchorage we drove up to Fairbanks and then across the Top of the World Highway. We then went across Canada and down through Jasper, Lake Louise & Banff, then on to Wyoming & Montana (Yellowstone). We drove 12,000 miles and were gone for 3 months. It was quite a trip. I have about 200 pictures in albums in the order in which we took the trip. I will try to tell a story with these pictures.

Every week, my best friend and traveling buddy kept calling me and reminding me that we hadn’t gone on a vacation for a long time. He had been out on disability and was itching to go on the road. But unfortunately, I was bogged down with a 50 hr work week and a leased condo.

One day I was called into the office and my boss told me that they were downsizing and I was laid off. The next morning my landlord told me that my condo had been sold. In less than 24 hours I was jobless & homeless. I called my buddy and we decided to put all our stuff in storage and take off.

We had a friend living in Anchorage, Alaska and when we called her she told us to come on up for a visit. We called our family and friends and told them we were headed North to Alaska. We literally threw a few things in the back of my friends Jeep and headed out on the highway looking for adventure.

Although we left from Southern California, we didn’t really feel like our vacation started until we got to the most beautiful spot in California, the Monterey Peninsula. We stayed with some friends for a few days and toured all around Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove.

This is Pacific Grove

This is Steinbeck country and a lot of history to explore down on Cannery Row. After filling up on some great seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf we were anxious to get on our way.

We drove from Monterey to Yosemite, but because we were footloose and had no itinerary, we wound up at the park on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. When I asked the Park Ranger if they had any room for a 7X7 tent, she just laughed and laughed. Most people make reservations at Yosemite YEARS in advance.

We did a halfday tour and enjoyed all that we could see of the park in a few hours. Even though it was the end of May, there was still a lot of snow in the mountains.


Yosemite Falls, Yosemite

From Yosemite we drove through many California Gold Rush towns on our way to Lake Tahoe.

Our first night in Tahoe was the first time we camped out. All the camping we did was in a 7X7 tent that got very small after three months on the road. I didn’t mind that we had snow that first night – but I did mind when the forest ranger posted a sign on a tree near our tent “WATCH OUT FOR BEARS”. Oh, my, god – the only bears I had ever seen were behind bars at the zoo!!!

Oregon

We left Lake Tahoe, without meeting up with any bears, and went on our way to Crater Lake, Oregon, the second deepest lake (589 m/1,932 ft) in North America. Crater Lake, which has an area of 20 sq. mi., is known for its intense blue color, a result of its great depth and clarity. Being from Southern California – we didn’t realize that we would hit this much snow in early June. But, as we drove to the top to see the lake – this is the road we traveled. It is hard to tell from the picture, but the drifts were over 9 feet high.


The drive to the top – even through snow, was worth the trip. In fact – the blue of the lake was quite a startling contrast against the white snow.

We didn’t stay too long, because after a short time it started to snow. So we headed back down.


As we zig zagged through Oregon, the days passed, the snow stopped and as we neared the coast the wildflowers were blooming. Lilacs everywhere – along with California poppies.

We were heading for Salem,OR to visit some friends. We looked forward to our visit and especially warm, dry beds. We had been on the road for a week and we were getting tired of campgrounds and motels. I had brought along my lap top and once in awhile we stayed at a motel – to wash clothes, take hot showers and plug in my laptop to e-mail home. We also used the laptop to find out what was waiting ahead of us. Our friends gave us the grand tour of Silver Falls which was just a short distance from Salem. There are seven falls in this park and each one more beautiful. Walking through this rain forest, a dozen shades of green, ferns growing wild and the sound of the falls – breathtaking.


Our friends encouraged us to stay longer – but we had itchy feet. Another friend was waiting for us in Astoria. What a charming seaport town filled with historic homes. We toured a few Victorians, had some great seafood and our friend gave us a grand tour of Astoria. This picture is a view of the town from the highest point.

Washington

Bidding farewell to our friend in Astoria – we drove on to take the Columbia River scenic drive. There are 10 waterfalls along the way and you have to keep crossing back and forth across the river to see them all. In one day we traveled back and forth between Oregon and Washington. Two beautiful states in one day.

This is HorseTail waterfall.

Close-up of Horsetail waterfall.

Just when we thought that it was safe to leave the Columbia River – we heard a rustle in the trees above us. When we looked up – a huge boulder was rolling down the hill. My brave traveling companion ran over and held the rock so I could pass. (tee hee) My superman.

Many people ask us how we plan our trips. We really just knew we were going North and visiting some friends along the way to Alaska. A few times, at a crossroads, we actually flipped a coin to decide which direction to take. When we get tired of driving – we stop along the way to investigate antique stores, museums, old mansions and sometimes just to smell the flowers.

Antiques along the way.

Although we were anxious to get to Alaska – we never got tired of stopping to smell the flowers. Here you see lilacs & poppies.

Canada

We turned a curve in the road – saw a gas station & decided to stop for “last gas”. We were very excited when we saw this sign. North – to Alaska!!

People told us not to take this road – over 200 miles of gravel. But, it was too late – we were here.

We don’t recommend you take Hwy. 37 – it is a long and brutal road. Many trucks ahead leaving clouds of dust so thick we could not see the road. We only stopped one night at a beautiful log cabin bed & breakfast. We were going to camp, but the ranger said there was a mean bear on the prowl.

Alaska

Our first sights of Alaska let us know that we were truly in wilderness and the last great frontier.

We had agreed, before we started this trip – to stop each night to sleep. However, we were now in the land of the midnight sun. As we drew closer to Anchorage – we were driving until 11:30 pm – and the sun was still shining.


We arrived at our friend’s house a few days early. We were tired, hungry and needed a few nights rest. And we especially did not want to drive for awhile!! However, after a few days – we were ready to see the sights. Our friend first took us to Portage. We went on a 3 hr cruise to view the glaciers and blue ice.

I think this cruise was where we first felt that we really were in Alaska. The ice is really blue & beautiful. Since this was mid June, some of the ice bergs were melting and every once in awhile they would break off and crash into the water.

It was truly an awesome sight. The weather at this point was mid 60′s.

We toured beautiful downtown Anchorage. This is a picture of the tourist information center. We were a little disappointed in Anchorage, only because I guess we expected the snow and mountains would be closer, however they were off in the distance.

This is the view from downtown Anchorage.

We went on a picnic one day – up in the hills above Anchorage.

When you take the road less traveled – you may have to settle for less than flushing toilets!!


One day we decided to take a short drive from Anchorage to Seward. Seward is a charming fishing town. As you can see by this picture – the cruise ships stop here.

We sat for awhile and watched the fishing boats come in and unload their catch of the day. For all you fishermen out there – they catch a lot of Halibut & Salmon here – some are 200 to 300 lbs. I made my friend stand next to this Halibut to show the size comparison. Oh, yeah, the fish is the one on the right!!

After a week or so traveling around Anchorage on day trips, we decided to venture out on our on for a few days camp out. We headed south to Homer. We stopped to take pictures of this beautiful mirror lake along the way.

Our friend told us that we should have come to visit in the winter. She said the scenery is even more spectacular – Everything is pure white against the cobalt blue skies. This lake looked great to me and I doubt if I could have handled the cold of the winter. Mid-June was 60-70 degrees.

We fell in love with Homer,AK at first sight. Homer was our very favorite place in Alaska. It is a charming fishing village. At the visitor’s center we found that the hotels were expensive – so we chose to camp out at a real live “Real working Hippy Farm”.

The Hippy farm had real live horses and boasted it had the best view of Homer.

Our “campground” was a mess of tall weeds. In this pictures you can see our next door neighbor. I took this picture from inside our tent. The horse you see woke us up by munching on our tent!!


We really loved our home away from home away from home….The view was great and the people that lived there were right out of the 60′s. Sitting around the campfire at night with the hippies was a real trip.

All the comforts of home? Not! But, you have to admit our outhouse was both colorful and a “room with a view.”

As we rode out of town – we stopped once to take this “good-bye” picture of Homer – we really did enjoy our stay there.

One day Kevin mentioned to our friend that he was disappointed that we had not seen any bears so far on our trip. So Liz took us for a drive and Oh My god….Kevin almost got bit. I thought the bear was pretty friendly, considering that he posed for me and my camera.


We had been in Anchorage and visited the surrounding areas for about 3 weeks. We were ready to move on. Our friend suggested that we go to Denali for the weekend and she would join us. We found a great campsite and off we went to see this awesome, wilderness park.

This is another one of my favorite photos. We spent 3 days in Denali – saw many wild animals – at a distance thank god!! We also went white water rafting, however you cant bring a camera on board – so no pictures. But, it was great fun and we both recommend taking a wet ride, while in Denali. We never did see much of Mt. McKinley, the guides say it is fogged in 80% of the time.

As you drive Alaskan highways, you see many Caribou walking along the side of the road. They are awkward, funny-looking, animals.


We bid Denali and our friend good-bye After 3 weeks of being pampered by a real bed & hot showers – we were off again on the open road for parts unknown. The beauty of traveling like this – with no itinerary is that you can stop wherever you please. Who could resist turning down a side road that led to the town of “Chicken” boasting a population of 65.

The “town” of Chicken consisted of what you see in this picture. A couple in there 40′s bought the whole town a few years ago. They only stay open in the summer and then fly to Mexico in the winter. When I asked to use the rest room, this pictures is where they sent me. But, I was too “chicken” to use it.

After leaving Chicken we headed for the North Pole. Actually, it was Fairbanks and it looked pretty much like Anchorage. So we didn’t stay long, just stopped to say hello to Santa Claus and then crossed the border into the Yukon. We drove the “Top of the World” Highway to Dawson City. It was so exciting being on top of the world and the scenery was magnificent.

After stopping at a rest stop for a few minutes – we got back to our car to find that we had acquired a hitch hiker. This would be a good ad for Cherokee, don’t you think?

We loved Dawson City! It wasn’t nearly as touristy as all of the California Gold Rush towns that we had driven through. Dawson still looks pretty much the same. We found an excellent campground across the river and we had to take the small ferry across each time we went into town.

If you are going to Dawson City, you have to stop in to see Diamond Lil and her CanCan dancers.

These leaning buildings are a result of permafrost – perennially frozen ground. Vast tracts of permafrost lie across Canada, Alaska, northern Europe and Asia, and Antarctica.

A history lesson. A century ago, Dawson City was a gold rush boomtown. Today the community of Dawson City is still a gold mining center. However, the main economic activity is tourism, based on the community’s colorful past and historical importance. Dawson is located about 536 kilometers northwest of Whitehorse, at the end of the Klondike Highway. The town of Dawson City lies within the traditional lands of the Han people, the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation. The Han used the site where the town now stands, at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers, as a seasonal fishing camp. The discovery of gold in the Klondike valley in 1896 led to the establishment of a tiny community where the Klondike flows into the Yukon. By the summer of 1898 Dawson City was the largest city in Canada west of Winnipeg, with a population of 40,000 in the immediate area. Within months, Dawson boasted telephones, running water, steam heat, steamboat services, and a wide range of elaborate hotels, theatres, and dance halls. A year later the Gold Rush was over and 8,000 people left town in a single summer. By 1902 Dawson City’s population had dropped to 5,000, declining further in the early part of this century. In the early 1960s Dawson City was declared a National Historic Site. Preservation of buildings and historic areas, an assortment of activities related to the Klondike Gold Rush, and other tourism initiatives, draw some 60,000 visitors each year.

The Royal Canadian Mounties – still on duty.

We were lucky to be in Dawson for their July holiday which is much like our Fourth of July. The whole town came out for picnics while the dancers entertained on the banks of the river.

Leaving Dawson City, we started back to Whitehorse and took the Klondike Highway to Skagway. This scenic highway is a feast for the eyes and the camera. There is a train ride that you can also take via this route.

The lake water here is not crystal clear because of the silt.

We were welcomed by this beautiful waterfall, right before entering Skagway.


We arrived in Skagway in time to celebrate our 4th of July holiday. If you look real close – you can see a cruise ship at the end of the block. Most all of the cruise ships stop here. Out of all of the small towns we visited – Skagway was the most friendly to tourists. As usual we had no reservations – and arrival on the 4th of July. But, the natives were friendly and found us a place to pitch our tent for a few days.


We had to take at least one picture of the Totem Poles. Notice the one wearing the blue shorts. How come I’m not in any of these pictures – I’m the one holding the camera..

This is the marina at Skagway and where the cruise ships come in. The photo looks foggy, but it was a misty day. The water here is also filled with silt.

This was the 4th of July and later in the day we saw the fireworks display over this scene. We saw the reflection of the fireworks, along with the mountains and boats, in the water. Unfortunately, my camera is not good enough to take evening pictures. So you only get to see the day shot.

We really hated to leave Skagway, but our feet were itching to find out what was further down the road. We stopped a few times take a dip in the hot springs we found along the way. This place actually had to pipe cold water into the springs, because the water that came up out of the ground was boiling!!

We said good-bye to Alaska and the Yukon and raced along the highway to the Canadian Rockies.

Wyoming/Montana

Our last two significant stops were in Yellowstone and Cody. We drove through Wyoming and Montana – enjoying the beauty of the Big Sky and the miles and miles of ranches. We wanted to stop in Glacier National Park – but we got rained out. Our first sight of Yellowstone was very disappointing. Much of the beautiful park was burned out, over 10 years ago, and it looked dismal. We did find some nice areas and we camped there for a few days.

Sulphur Falls in Yellowstone.

Sulphur Paint Pots. Pretty, but smelly.

We waited for about 45 minutes in 95 degree sun – with NO shade – for Old Faithful to blow his top. The show lasted about 2 minutes!!!! Almost like waiting in line at Disneyland for a 2 minute ride.

After spending a few days seeing Yellowstone, we decided to venture out to what lay beyond the park. Another traveler told us to take the Beartooth Hwy – rated one of the top scenic roads – and it led to Cody.

The Beartooth Highway is a beautiful sight. We stopped once at this lake to take a few pictures. We were only out of the car a few minutes and both of us got eaten up by the biggest mosquitoes we had ever seen. We didn’t stay long.

We stopped in at the Bill Cody museum for a few hours and then had lunch. I mentioned to the waiter that I was disappointed that the town of Cody didn’t look anything like I had imagined. The streets were filled with K-Marts and McDonalds. He laughed and told us how to get to the real Cody – they had transported the entire town – log by log – and reconstructed it on the outskirts of town. This photo is of the real Cody.

This is the saloon where Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid hung out with their old “Hole in the Wall Gang.” It was easy to imagine the spirits of the old west in this room.

We got to peek inside some of the cabins, where the cowboys hung their hats for a night or two. They were only big enough for a cot, a chair and a small table. We stayed a little too long in Cody and didn’t get back to Yellowstone in time. The gates are locked at 9:00 pm and we got there at 9:15 pm They would not let us in. All of the surrounding campsites were taken – so it was the one and only night we had to sleep in the car. It was warm enough to sleep on the ground – but not with bear warning signs everywhere. After a night in the car – we were more than ready to head home.


We stopped for a few days at the Grand Titans. Kevin got to do some fishing and I got to do laundry!! He asked me to go with him, but I said, “the water is too cold.” He told me we would be fishing, not swimming. He came back 1/2 hour later – all wet. He said that the small rowboat he rented overturned, and that I was right, the water was cold!! haha

We packed it in and decided it was time to get out of Dodge. We had traveled almost 12,000 miles and had been on the road for almost 3 months. We were hot, tired, hungry and running out of money. We were going to go home via Utah but decided to make our last stop Las Vegas. We stayed in Mesquite for a few nights because we got a great room for only $ 18.00 a night. It was the best and cheapest place we stayed on our whole trip. We swam in the pool & soaked in the hot tub and slept on nice clean sheets.

From Mesquite we went to Las Vegas and stayed a few more days. After being on the road all this time and eating lots of junk food, the Vegas buffets were paradise. We had our fill of great food and then we drove home. We thank you for taking this virtual trip with us. I’d like to mention that I did have a laptop with me and it was the only way we could stay in touch with our families while on the road. We were also able to access what was ahead of us, tourists sights, motels, campsites, etc. However, we could only plug in when we stayed in a motel – which wasn’t often. The main things you need while on the road is a camera – the one I used was a 35 mm Canon. But, it’s only a point & click. I’m an artist and do well with color and composition – but I’m not a photographer and I don’t have an expensive camera. I took over 500 photos and put 250 in albums. Some I will enlarge and frame. You also need a good traveling companion. Kevin and I have taken many trips together. We have known each other for over 20 years. We enjoy traveling together because we are both laid back and enjoy the scenery, the driving and the people we meet, more than shopping for souvenirs. We love to take the road less traveled. People asked us what we did for 12,000 miles. We talked, we laughed, we took a lot of scenic tours. Sometimes we were just quiet together – just soaking up the scenery.. We also played trivial pursuit when we got bored. And after all those miles, we are still the best of friends!! If you have any questions about our trip – please don’t hesitate to e-mail me. Happy traveling, Kevin & Rosanne.

“It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is an annual and national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the country. The Labor Day holiday is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
According to the US Department of Labor (DOL), the concept of a day to honor US laborers was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor.

Many others believe that a machinist named Matthew Maguire founded the holiday. Matthew Maguire, who would later become the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
While exactly who first proposed or created the holiday is still debated, what is clear is that the Central Labor Union was the first to adopt a Labor Day proposal. The Central Labor Union’s first celebration of the Labor Day holiday was Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. And a year later the Central Labor Union held its second holiday observance on September 5, l883.
By the following year (l884) it was decided that the first Monday in September would become the day to celebrate this “workingmen’s holiday.” The Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow New York’s example and celebrate on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and by l885 Labor Day was celebrated in many of the industrial centers of the country.
Initial governmental recognition of the holiday would came through municipal ordinances. The first to become law was passed by Oregon in l887. By the end of the year four more state legislatures – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York – had passed similar laws. In 1894, with 23 other states having had adopted the holiday, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday. Today, Labor Day is observed not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, and many other industrialized nations. (While the US and Canada celebrate Labor Day in September, much of Europe and Russia celebrates the day on May 01st.)
Labor Day is generally observed with parades, speeches, barbecues, and picnics. The day has also become the unofficial end of the summer season with many colleges, secondary and elementary schools beginning classes immediately after the Labor Day weekend.