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Things to Do in Indonesia

Erin — Sat, 23 May 2020 07:34:03 +0000

Looking for things to do on your next trip to Indonesia? Check out the activities recommended by travel bloggers for the best things to do in Indonesia. #TBIN

The post Things to Do in Indonesia first appeared on Traveling Thru History.

3 Amazing Activities To Do In Banff

Erin — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:56:23 +0000

Banff is one of the most beautiful national parks in Canada. Here are the best ways to take in the scenery and enjoy the park's natural beauty. #TBIN

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Kaniakapupu Ruins

Erin — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 07:04:13 +0000

Not far from the center of Honolulu lies the ruins known as Kaniakapupu (Singing of the Land Shells). Not much is known about the ruins or why the site was abandoned. Once the summer palace of King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama, now all that’s left are broken walls and piles of stones. Further down in my post you can read all about what is known about this beautiful and sacred spot. But first, I have some bad news. ***Due to the recent vandalism of this sacred site, visitors are strictly prohibited. Anyone seen inside the watershed perimeter or attempting to enter the area will be arrested.*** When I visited the site, I’d been told by a local that it was okay for small groups to visit to pay their respects. The site is located on a restricted watershed, but he said officials were okay with the trespass because most visitors were Hawaiians paying respects or visitors who were interested in the culture of the site. I’d been nervous about going since it was a restricted area, but he assured me that since it was just me going there, that it would be okay. I saw some city workers nearby and they watched me walk in to the area, so I didn’t worry at all about being there. Now, though, due to the vandalism, anyone seen inside the perimeter of the watershed will be arrested. A Hawaii state official emailed me to ask that I remove all directions to the site in order to prevent further desecration. This is one of the roads I drove down to get to the site. It’s such a pretty drive. I wish I could tell you where it was, but it would tell you where the ruins are. As I’m going through this post and removing all directions for where to park, where the site is, how to access the site, and the pictures that clearly mark the entrance, tears are streaming down my face. The thoughtless, selfish, and ignorant act of one or two people has irreparably damaged this Hawaiian treasure and made it so locals cannot even go in to pay their respects to a site sacred to their culture. Whether it was a local or a tourist who defaced the ruins of Kaniakapupu, they’ve violated King Kamehameha III’s former summer home and destroyed the sanctity of the site where King Kamehameha I rested his forces during the Battle of Nu’uanu Pali. This site may not hold the importance for everyone that it does for the Hawaiian people, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to deface it. This is part of the path that leads to the ruins. The area is so serene and the wind through the bamboo provides a calming serenade as you walk the few short minutes to the site. It’s so sad that this beautiful and peaceful area is now being closed off to the public. It’s such a wonderful place to visit. The spirit there is strong and you can feel the sanctity of the area. I sat in the trees off to the side of Kaniakapupu for about an hour, just soaking it all in and absorbing the feeling that is there. It’s palpable, the sacredness of the ground and the trees. It brings about a feeling of humility and awe. Great things once happened there. You can just barely see the ruins through the trees here. I was so excited when I got my first glimpse. The pathway splits and I wasn’t sure which way to go, but another couple who came down the path said either one would take me to the ruins. The first time I went I took the path to the right. The second, to the left. Please, when you visit ancient sites, please show respect. Do not climb on the structures, no matter how crumbled and ‘ruined’ they already seem. Do not move things around. Do not dig things up. And, for heaven’s sake, do not EVER carve on them. Please be respectful. This beautiful site is now so very damaged and may never be free of the defilement that has been inflicted upon it. These marks may just seem like scratches on stone, but they are, in reality, the destruction and violation of the sanctity of a significant cultural treasure. My first real glimpse of the site. Kaniakapupu was originally named Luakaha (Place of Relaxation) and built sometime during the early 1840s. Nobody knows when, exactly, the palace was started or why it was abandoned, but it is known that the palace was completed in 1845 and once entertained royalty, celebrities and nobility. Even commoners were allowed to visit the summer palace on occasion. As for why or when the name what changed, there are no records. It is believed the site was chosen because it was already sacred due to it being one of the places King Kamehameha I rested his forces during the Battle of Nu’uanu Pali in 1795. This battle is one of, if not THE, most important battles in Hawaii’s history as it was key in King Kamehameha I’s efforts to unify all of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule. While there are no written records that indicate what land the Summer Palace encompassed, an archaeological survey done in 1999 shows the estimated extent of the grounds based on the remaining structures. The theory is that Kaniakapupu once covered 10 acres. [supsystic-gallery id=2 position=center] Records also indicate that on July 31, 1847, an estimated 10,000 people attended a luau to commemorate Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Restoration Day), a holiday celebrating Hawaii’s liberation from a 5-month British occupation in 1843. It is surmised that the luau was entirely outdoors and probably took place between the palace ruins and the heiau. After 1847, there are no other mentions of this summer palace until 1874 when a drawn map of the area indicates ‘old ruin’ where the summer palace is. It is a complete mystery why the palace as abandoned so soon after it was built. With the few parts of the palace that are remaining, historians and archaeologists are working to piece together the lost history of this sacred site. This is the stone walk that leads to the entrance of the main house, called a heiau. Upper class and royal families had stone walkways put in front of their homes as a sign of status. These stones would have made a smooth walkway right up to the steps of a porch, had there been one. If Kaniakapupu followed Hawaiian tradition, it would have been a one-room structure with an elevated wrap-around porch that people would sit on in the evenings. The stone you see all around the structure is basalt, volcanic rock formed from rapidly cooling lava. Hawaiian royalty, called Ali’i, had their homes built upon a layer of basalt to denote the royal status of the residence. Along with elevating the residence above that of ‘common’ homes, this material was considered sacred and only royalty could use it. The placard you see in front of the entrance reads: Kaniakapupu Summer Palace of King Kamehameha III and his Queen Kalama Completed in 1845 it was the scene of entertainment of foreign celebrities the feasting of chiefs and commoners. The greatest of these occasions was a luau attended by an estimated ten thousand people celebrating Hawaiian Restoration Day in 1847. For the luau, records indicate there were two long lanais, or open-sided verandas, set on the edges of an open area. The floors were covered with rushes and they were divided into numerous booths. Before dinner, the guests were entertained with ancient games including spear-throwing, lua (the art of bone-breaking), and hakoko (wrestling). According to records, the meal was quite an event itself. Guests were treated to a lavish feast of 271 hogs, 482 large calabashes of poi, 602 chickens, 3 whole oxen, 2 barrels of salt pork, 2 barrels of biscuit, 3,125 salt fish, 1,820 fresh fish, 12 barrels of cabbage, 2 barrels of onions, 80 bunches of bananas, 55 pineapples, 10 barrels of potatoes, 55 ducks, 82 turkeys, 2,245 coconuts, 4,000 heads of taro, 180 squid, oranges, limes, grapes and various other fruits. Seriously, thinking about eating all that food is making me feel like I’m gaining 50lbs. I can’t imagine eating all of that. But considering there were over 10,000 people, it almost doesn’t sound like there was enough. During the feast a group of older women sat near King Kamehameha III and chanted songs in honor of him and his ancestors. Their chants included the traditional storytelling gestures of swaying arms. Once the feast was over and many of the guests had left, younger women performed traditional hula dances for the king and his remaining guests. Wandering the grounds, it was hard to imagine where all that would have gone. But I’m guess most of the trees that are there now weren’t there at the time. This is the left side of the heiau. According to the archaeological survey, this door would have led to a stone path that went to a detached kitchen. This is all that’s left of the detached kitchen site. Only one kitchen to cook a meal for 10,000 people. I’ve cooked for 30 people before in my decent-sized kitchen, which is bigger than this kitchen area. What a feat to produce that large meal from this small area. Major props to those who prepared that feast. This is the doorway at the back of the heiau. Traditional Hawaiian homes were built in a way to allow maximum air flow. This meant doors on all sides to let breezes carry the hot summer air out of the house, though Hawaiians spent most of their time outside since it was usually cooler out than in. These are a few different angles of the inside. For being a one-room home, this place is pretty big. I think it’s bigger than the apartment I currently live in. Looking out the front door. I wonder what the view would have been in 1845. It’s sad that this is all that’s left of the summer palace of Kaniakapupu. It may not have been excessively grand by our standards today when it was built, but I bet it was beautiful. Along with the main heiau, archaeologists belive there was another heiau, but it is not known who for. Perhaps it was for all the people who looked after the royal family? The stones seen below are believed to have been part of the foundation of the unknown heiau. To the right is where archaeologists have determined a garden would have been. This is looking at the far side of the palace heiau from the unknown heiau. Somewhere around the area between the two heiaus, or perhaps behind them both, 10,000 people sat for a luau in 1847. Can you imagine that many people fitting in this area? It’s sad to me that this is all that’s left of a place that was once so important to the Hawaiian people. It’s still a sacred site, but many have forgotten about it. There are a few who still come to pay respects and leave tokens of respect at the site, but not as many as once did. I wish there were more records so we could find out what the entire site looked like and why it was abandoned. Do you have any theories as to why it was abandoned?

The post Kaniakapupu Ruins first appeared on Traveling Thru History.

30 Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur

Erin — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 23:28:34 +0000

Kuala Lumpur is a great city to visit. I absolutely love it there and think everyone should visit at least once in their lives. There is a lot of history in KL and quite a lot of unique things to see, though it’s not always easy to figure out what those things are. When we first moved to KL and were looking for things to do, the most common things found were KL Tower, Petronas Tower and Batu Caves. While these things are fun and worth doing, there is sooooooooooooooooo much more to do there. So, to help you have a full experience of the neat things in Kuala Lumpur, I’ve compiled a list of things to do in six different categories. Whether you are visiting for a week or two or there for a quick weekend layover, here are some interesting things to spend your time on. WILDLIFE & OUTDOORS BUKIT LAGONG RESERVE RAINFOREST AND CANOPY WALK This place is was started as a plant research center back in 1992 and is now a famous preserve that spans 3,775 acres. There are easy paths to wander around with four jungle treks for those looking for more of a challenge. In the forest are rivers, waterfalls, the remnants of an old Orang Asli settlement as well as a plethora of trees, bamboo, plants and wildlife. You can walk, jog, picnic, bicycle, bird-watch and visit an insect house and herbal botanic garden. If heights don’t bother you, there is also a canopy walk that takes you 98 feet above the forest floor. For preservation reasons, only 250 people are allowed on the canopy per day, 200 advance tickets and 50 walk-in. To reserve your canopy tickets, email FRIM One Step Centre at frim_enquiry@frim.gov.my. As a side note, Malaysia gets pretty hazy at certain times during the year, which results in the reserve closing. Please check here for the daily API readings (posted at 7am) before heading to the reserve. If the API readings are above 150 for Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur, the reserve will be closed. HOURS – 9:30am-1:30pm, closed Monday and Friday – advanced booking required PRICE – RM10 Adults, RM1 Children. There are also camera fees for professional equipment. LOCATION – The reserve is located NW of Batu Caves in Northern KL. If you want to take a taxi, I’d recommend going to KL Sentral and purchasing a taxi coupon. This ensures that the driver cannot overcharge you. If you want to hail a taxi, be sure the drive turns the meter on. You can also take the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral to Kepong Sentaral Station. Kepong Sentral Station is AFTER Kepong Station. From there you can get a taxi for about RM 7. Just be sure the driver uses the meter. KUALA GANDAH ELEPHANT SANCTUARY We really enjoyed our trip to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary. This place is an elephant rescue where elephants who are injured in the wild or are damaging farmlands can stay until they’ve either healed or a new home can be found for them. They have a video where you can learn more about what they do, an exhibit about elephants and the history of elephants in Malaysia along with beautiful grounds to wander around. Oh, and a small restaurant where you can get ice cream, snacks and drinks. As for the actual elephants on site, you cannot ride them, but you can feed them and watch them play in the water before the handlers do a small demonstration (maybe about 5-7 min). Then you can feed them again. Be sure to bring a snack for the elephants as the provided fruit gets snatched up quickly. I would allow at least half a day for this destination. HOURS – 9:00am-4:45pm PRICE – Donation LOCATION – The sanctuary is located by Lanchang, Pahang, and is about a 2 hour drive. To get there, drive on the Karak Highway towards the east coast and exit at Lanchang. There are signs that will show you which way to go. These are the GPS coordinates if you’d like to use those: 3˚ 35’34.4”N and 102˚ 08’37.7”E. You also can reach the center by train if you stop at Bandar Jengka or Termeloh and take a taxi from there. if you choose the train and taxi route, add an extra hour each way to your travel time. LAKE GARDENS PARK This park is also known as Taman Tasik Perdana or Perdana Botanical Garden. I really love Lake Gardens Park and went there several times while living nearby. There is a beautiful lake with walking trains, bike paths, covered pavilions to sit under, picnic tables, benches, pavilions in trees, meticulously sculptured gardens, several play areas with large toys for kids and there are several animal exhibits, though those cost to get in. BUT, you can still see the deer through the fence and can feed them if they come near. There is also a cafe, public restrooms (pay to use), bike rentals (RM3 for 30 min) and a trolley tour of the park (RM2 for adults, RM1 for children). Duration of your visit depends on what all you want to do. For a quick tour, 1-2 hours. For a leisurely visit, 3-4 hours. HOURS – 7:00am-8:00pm PRICE – Free for the park, entrance fees for extraneous attractions. LOCATION – 10-minute walk from KL Sentral, minutes from the Bird Park and the National Museum, right next door to Tun Abdul Razak Memorial House. Taxi is the best way to get there if you don’t want to walk from KL Sentral. KL BIRD PARK While a bit on the pricier side, this is a nice place to visit. There is a lot of wildlife around the park along with lovely landscaping and beautiful plants. There are a number of bird feeding demonstrations throughout the day along with a full-on bird show. We didn’t get to see the bird show, but I’ve heard it is quite entertaining. If you want to get up close and personal with some of the birds, you can purchase a ticket to get a photograph with birds perched on your shoulders and head. And for the learning part, there is an indoor informational section that teaches about the different bird species and the area. Plan to spend 1-2 hours. HOURS – 9:00am-6:00pm PRICE – RM48/25 Adults, RM38/12 Children (lower prices are for those with a MyKad ID card) LOCATION – 15-minute walk from KL Sentral, minutes from the Lake Gardens Park and the National Museum, just up the street from Tun Abdul Razak Memorial House. Taxi is the best way to get there if you don’t want to walk from KL Sentral. CHILLING FALLS We had a lot of fun at Chiling Falls. The hike isn’t too strenuous, but the water does get waist-deep on a 6′ adult and can be a little fast at times, so if you’re not steady on your feet, you may just want to hike the first little bit. If you’re ready for a muddy hike through lots of foliage and crossing rivers, you won’t be disappointed. This hike is beautiful and very worth it. The pool under the lower waterfall is deep enough to swim in and there are monkeys that hang out there sometimes. Wear sturdy shoes, bring bug spray and a small backpack with water and snacks. The drive is about 1.5 hours each way and the hike takes about 3 hours roundtrip (excluding stops), so plan on this taking at least 6 hours. HOURS – 8:00am-6:00pm, Friday-Sunday PRICE – RM1 per person LOCATION – This hike is located inside the Sungai Chiling Fish Sanctuary. If you go to Kuala Kubu Bharu (do NOT go to Kuala Kubu Baru) and then continue on to Fraser’s Hill (Bukit Fraser), you will pass Selangor Dam and reservoir. Shortly after passing Selangor Dam you will cross a small steel bridge. There is a parking area on your left just after the bridge and the entrance to the park is on the right side of the road. Back to Top MUSEUMS ISLAMIC ARTS CENTER The Islamic Arts Center is pretty great. It is currently the largest Islamic museum in SE Asia and houses over 7,000 artifacts. They have a revolving exhibition in one section and a static exhibition in the rest of the complex. The revolving exhibit when we were there was about the history of Malaysia’s independence from Great Britain. The static exhibits showcase ancient Islamic seals, miniature replicas of Islamic buildings from around the world, beautiful Arabic manuscripts, wall carvings, mosaics, metalwork, qur’ans, prayer books, room replicas from the ancient Ottoman empire, portraits, ancient trinkets, swords, jewelry, armor, glassware, chess boards and clothing. There are so many amazing things to look at there. And there’s a cafe as well as a gift shop, so you can rest a bit before buying something to bring home to remind you of your visit. 🙂 The time you spend depends on whether you want to go for the experience or to learn about the culture. If you just want to make a cursory tour of the place, plan about 1.5-2. If you want to REALLY look at the stuff and read about it, I’d plan maybe 3-4 hours. HOURS – 10:00am-6:00pm PRICE – RM14 for adults, children 6 & under are free LOCATION – The Islamic Arts Museum is about a two-minute walk from the National Mosque, about 10 minutes from Lake Garden Park and about 5 minutes from the Bird Park. To get there, you can take a taxi from anywhere or you can take the KTM Kmuter to the Kuala Lumpur stop and then either walk or take a taxi. It’s about a 5 minute walk from the station. TUN ABDUL RAZAK HOUSE They completely remodeled this place while we were there and I have to say that it looks really nice. All the rooms are set up with authentic period furniture with interactive touch screens that give quite a bit of information. There are also signboards with pictures and additional information. It’s really quite well put-together and is worth a short visit. Plan to spend about 30-45 minutes there. HOURS – Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun: 10:00am-5.30pm, Fri: 10:00am – 12:00pm, 3:00pm – 5.30pm, Closed on Mondays PRICE – Free LOCATION – Adjacent to Lake Garden Park. 1-2 minutes from the Bird Park. To get there, you can take a taxi from anywhere or you can take the KTM Komuter to the Kuala Lumpur stop and then either walk or take a taxi. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk from the station. NATIONAL MUSEUM This museum is pretty fun. It has a lot of neat cultural items and an entire building dedicated to replicas of ancient houses, tools, weapons and daily use items. The museum is a decent size and has exhibits dedicated to early Malaysian civilizations, the development of the Malay kingdoms, what life was like during the Colonial era and important events since Malaysia became independent in 1957 along with an outdoor exhibit of various modes of transportation from throughout Malaysia’s history. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria on-site. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here. HOURS – 9:00am-6:00pm PRICE – RM5 Adults, RM2 Children 6-10, Free Children under 6 LOCATION – Short walk from KL Sentral. To get there you can walk over a freeway overpass (not as dangerous as it sounds, I did it several times) or you can take a taxi or RapidKL bus No.115 (RM2 per day). This is also a stop on the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, so you can get there that way as well. KUALA LUMPUR CITY GALLERY This place is pretty neat. It may be small, but it’s worth a quick stop if you’re in the area. There is a small exhibit on the history of the city as well as information about important historic places around town. There are some really old maps of the city, scale-model buildings, a seasonal exhibit corner and a scale-model light-up city that has a short demo reel along with some other really interesting things. The demo reel with the light-up city lasts about 2 minutes and...

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