The national park is named after its two mountains, Mount Semeru (the highest in Java at 3,676 metres), Mount Bromo (the most popular) and the Tengger people who inhabit the area.

Mount Semeru also known as Mahameru (“Great Mountain”), is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. What stands out most about this mountain is the fact that it erupts periodically (and very reliably so). Every 20 minutes or so, the volcano belches out a huge cloud of steam and smoke, sometimes interspersed with ash and stones. Climbing Mount Semeru requires some planning and a permit from the national park authority. The mountain is often closed due to its highly active nature.

Mount Bromo (2,329 metres) is easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. It sits inside the massive Tengger caldera (diameter approximately 10 km), surrounded by the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.

The area around the mountain is inhabited by the Tenggerese, one of the few significant Hindu communities left on the island of Java. The local religion is a remnant from the Majapahit era and therefore quite similar to that on Bali. It is though quite low key with the only visible manifestations of faith being a few rather basic temples. Still, for many visitors, the sight of angular-faced, sunburned, moustachioed Tenggerese wrapped in poncho-like blankets, trotting about on ponies with craggy mountains as the backdrop more resembles Peru than Indonesia!

The major access point is Cemoro Lawang at the northeast edge, but there are also trails from Tosari (northwest) and Ngadas (west). The village of Ngadisari, on the road from Probolinggo about 5.5 km before Cemoro Lawang, marks the entrance to the national park. Both Cemoro Lawang and Ngadisari are rather picturesque, with brightly-painted houses and flower beds outside.

The nearest airport to get there is Juanda Airport of Surabaya. Frequent services are available from other large cities in the country including Jakarta and Bali as well as a few regional hubs.

The nearest larger town is Probolinggo, on the north coast of Java. It is about one hour from Probolinggo to Ngadisari and another half hour all the way to Cemoro Lawang, and it is possible to visit on a day trip, although most visitors prefer to climb overnight and see the sunrise. Public transport to Probolinggo is easy. There is a shuttle service from the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya to the main bus station where you can take an air-conditioned bus for a 2-3 hours ride to Probolinggo. (more…)

Adventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of Southeast Asia’s spicy melange simmers tantalisingly. Heady scents, vivid colours, dramatic vistas and diverse cultures spin and multiply to the point of exhaustion, their potent brew leaving your senses reeling.

Rippling across the equator for nearly 5000km, Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands, two-thirds of which are inhabited and richly layered with character. On Sulawesi, the elaborate funeral ceremonies and timeless traditions of Tana Toraja are light years from the surfing culture of Lombok. But so too are the mighty saddle-backed Batak mansions of Danua Toba and the volcanic lakes of Sumatra from the mummies and deeply etched gorges of Papua’s Baliem Valley. The resorts and restaurants of Bali pamper precocious style cats, while at the same moment threadbare backpackers are adopted by homestays in Kalimantan.

Indonesia’s cities are in a constant state of urban evolution, where dense populations, technology and construction live in hectic symbiosis. But most of the archipelago’s territory remains unexplored, concealing a wealth of cultures and a myriad of landscapes. Oceanic rice fields and ancient sultanates in Java are humbled by haunting volcanic cones. Maluku’s alabaster beaches and desert islands remain pristine while the tourist trail heads elsewhere. The jungles of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua are zoological wonders, revealing impish monkeys, stoic sun bears, leopards, orang-utans and remarkable marsupials.

And then there are the micromoments, equally exquisite but entirely unexpected; impromptu English lessons with school children, instant friendships in crammed bemos, lending an ear to your becak rider… In Indonesia there is plenty of cause to pause, except when dodging hurtling traffic – but that’s all part of the adventure.

If you are looking in to going on a Luxury holidays there are a few elements that we all want during our time away, hot weather is definitely top of the list and if you live in a country like Britain where the weather can be a little cold for much of the year and the summers far from special then good weather on your holiday is almost an essential. May of us will like to have a swimming pool if staying in a villa or other rented accommodation or if staying in a hotel then facilities such as a spa and health suite will almost certainly feature in the list so as you can experience a little luxury during your holiday.

A holidays to Australia is one of those locations where you are almost guaranteed good weather and as such it is a popular destination for luxury holidays and all inclusive holidays, the east coast of Australia and the area known as the gold coast is a popular destination in Australia with people looking for a luxury holiday option with many sandy beaches and luxury hotels along the coast line offering opulence and extravagant living. Australia id home to some of the worlds most famous sights such as the Sydney opera house and the Sydney harbor bridge and if youre feeling a little more adventurous you can also travel up the Gold Coast to go scuba diving along the Great Barrier Reef.

If Australia isn’t your thing or you have been there before then a holidays to New Zealand could be just what you are looking for, New Zealand offers more of an adventurous outlook to luxury however the country is also famed for its wine industry and a luxury holiday taking in wine tours could be just what you’re looking for. New Zealand also offers the perfect launch pad for exploration to the islands in the south Pacific such as Tonga and New Caledonia where warm weather, secluded beaches and luxury boutique resorts can be found to while away a week or two.

Fiestas can be lively and fun.  The food is delicious and the atmosphere is vibrant. They are also the perfect place to use your Mexican dinnerware. These plates, bowls and cups all have a specific look to them. They reflect the culture and ambiance of Mexico.

When choosing a style for any of your dishes, it is important to choose colors and patterns that fit your personality. When it comes to Mexican dinnerware in particular, you should choose what you like and not colors and patterns that someone else suggests just because they may look “more Mexican”. If you are not happy with your choice, then chances are you won’t use them a lot and the money you spent on them would be for nothing. If you are unsure as to whether a particular set is actually Mexican dinnerware, you would be best off just going to a store that specializes in Mexican products.

By doing so, you will guarantee its authenticity, not something that not only looks great at a Dallas Dinner Party, but offers a nice topic of conversation which can help to lighten the mood and get the party going. You don’t need to be having a fiesta to use them as they work well regardless of what you are serving.

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You can also find beautiful pieces of this stoneware through websites on the Internet, offering pieces you probably will not find in any local stores in your area. Get it on Dallas Mexican restaurant. Because you can find unique Mexican dinnerware on the Internet, it may be the best route to go. Expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars for good pieces, and expect them to last you a lifetime. If the pricing is questioningly low, then it is probably not genuine or it may have product quality issues. Either way, stay away from the items that simply seem too good to be true.

If you have problems finding dinnerware at websites that you are familiar with, it is alright to shop at less known websites. Just make sure you do your homework and verify that the company is legitimate before purchasing products from them. Make sure their contact information is easy to find on the website and they have a physical address that you are able to obtain. Get party caterer Dallas here. You may want to check for product reviews within their company, and consumer reviews about the company themselves. By doing this, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle, make sure you are getting what you pay for, and obtaining the most beautiful Mexican dinnerware you will probably ever own. Mexican dinnerware is something every Dallas Dinner Party lover should own, so don’t wait to long to get these pieces added to your collection!