Merapi tour to be held in 4 regencies

YOGYAKARTA: The governments of four regencies, Sleman, Yogyakarta; and Magelang, Klaten and Boyolali, Central Java, are offering a one-day tour by motorcycle on Sept. 26, 2004, covering a distance of some 200 kilometers and passing various tourist attractions around Mt. Merapi.

According to head of Sleman's public relations department Sudarningsih, the tour, titled Tour de Merapi 2004, is being held in conjunction with World Tourism Day, which falls on Sept. 27 and the Fourth Keraton Nusantara Festival, to be held here this month.

Following the success of the same program initiated for the first time last year, this year's tour is offered at Rp 75,000 per participant, each of which will each receive a pack comprising a jacket, T-Shirt, snacks, water, lunch, life insurance and a guide book.

Prizes are also available for winners of the tour, including two motorcycles, two color TV sets, two VCD players, two mobile phones, five electric fans, two mountain bikes and hundreds of door prizes.

The participants will be judged on accuracy of biking time, quiz scores and their friendliness during the trip.

The four best participants will each be awarded Rp 500,000 and a trophy from the four regents. "We're expecting some 2,000 motorbikes, or 4,000 participants, to show up for the tour," Sudarningsing said. -- JP