Java

Mount Bromo is located in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, so-called after Mount Bromo itself, Mount Semeru and the local Tengger people who inhabit the area. Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain of volcanic sand called 'the Sea of Sand' which is a protected nature reserve. Mount Bromo is easily recognisable because the entire top has been blown off and it is constantly spewing forth white suplhurous smoke. The mountain is best seen from neighbouring Mount Penankajan for sunrise over the caldera.

Krakatoa is a name known to most for the devestating explosion which killed 1000's of people and destroyed great swathes of the island of Java and the existing islands of Krakatoa surrounds. The explosion itself was considered the loudest sound ever heard in modern history. From the remains of Krakatoa has grown 'Anak Krakatoa' or 'Child of Krakatoa' which lies in the ocean in a bay formed after the explosion of Krakatoa mountain which is thought to be growing by over 5 metres every year. Day or overnight trips from Jakarta to the volcano can be arranged.

Prambanan is a collection of large Hindu temples thought to have been built by the Mataram Kingdom around 850 AD. Like it's more famous neighbour Borobudur, Prambanan is also UNESCO registered but tends to command fewer visitors. The two sites are quite different in style with Hindu Prambanan being a collection of over 200 sharp, jaggedly sculpted temples and towers in contrast to the vast horizontal bulk of Buddhist Borobudur. Most of the main temples collapsed during a major earthquake in the 16th century and the huge complex lay largely forgotten in the jungle until stumbled upon by a surveyor working for Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. In order to do the site justice you should really allow a full day to explore Prambanan; try and get there when the site opens at 0600am to give yourself time to explore the site before the visitors arrive in number.

Borobudur is a 9th century Mahayana-Buddhist monument which is both a shrine to Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The magnificent temple is a three-dimensional mandala (diagram of the universe) and a visual representation of Buddhist teachings. For centuries the site lay deserted and half hidden under volcanic ash and jungle growth until, in the early 1800's, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then ruler of Java, was advised of its location by resident Indonesians. In 1835 the site was cleared and some efforts were made to restore it. Significant restoration in the late 70's returned the site to most of its former glory and the monument is now a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site attracting large numbers of visitors every year. The site is best seen at sunset and especially sunrise when, on a clear day, you can sometimes see steaming Mount Merapi in the distance.

Jakarta is the capital and by far the largest city on Java and the whole of Indonesia and is the tenth largest city in the world. It is primarily a city of government and business which is well known throughout Asia for cheap but fair quality shopping, especially textiles and fashion products. The most popular visitor site is Jakarta Old Town where you can find some insights into the capital's history including the Jakarta History Museum, Sunda Kelapa (the old port of Jakarta) and the Maritime Museum. From here, you can also head west and visit the site of the worlds most notorious volcanic explosion at Krakatoa.

Yogyakarta, also known as Jogjakarta or Yogya for short, is the capital city of the province of Yogyakarta Special Region located in the southern part of Central Java province. Yogyakarta is probably the most popular visitor destination on Java; not only is it a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture, it is also in close proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. While the rest of Java moves relentlessy forward, Yogyakarta maintains a slower, more conservative way of life.

The Karimunjawa Islands are a national marine park consisting of 27 small islands in the Java sea, with the main ones being Karimunjawa island, Kemujan island, Menjangan Besar island and Menjangan Kecil island. Only 7 of the islands are inhabited. Located a short distance from the coast of Java, the island chain is an idyllic beach paradise offering excellent snorkelling and diving to see the flourishing coral gardens and even a couple of wreck dive sites.