Mountains or beaches? Pleasure is only hours away

Mountains or beaches? Pleasure is only hours away

Feeling tired and in need of some rest and relaxation? Get out
of the oppressive heat of Jakarta and refresh your body and mind
at resorts close to the capital.

For Jakarta residents, there are several excellent options for
weekends and holidays: mountain resorts, beach side hotels and
island retreats.

If you want to spend your holiday at a nearby mountain resort,
a villa in Puncak is serene.

Although the road to Puncak is often clogged on weekends, many
people still choose to spend their weekend in this stress-free
environment.

Puncak, south of Bogor, offers spectacular views of dense
rainforest and manicured tea plantations and cool fresh air.

Normally it's a two hour drive, but on weekends it will take
you around four hours. To avoid the traffic, many leave the
capital for Puncak at night.

'Things to do" in Puncak include trekking and horseback
riding. South of Puncak are the resorts of Cibodas and a branch
of Cibodas Botanical Gardens and Cipanas, where you'll find hot
mineral springs and the President's Summer Palace.

If you want to escape to a beach close to Jakarta, then you
can stay at a villa or a cottage in Anyer beach resort in Banten,
about 160 kilometer south west of Jakarta.

Banten is blessed with many beaches, but the relaxed and
friendly atmosphere of Anyer make it the most popular sea side
destination.

The shores in Anyer are perfect for taking it extra easy but
it's also possible to try paragliding, jet-skiing, tubing,
traditional boating or other water sports. In Anyer tourists can
choose from simple to five star hotels.

Further along the coast are Carita beach, Tanjung Lesung and
Bagedur. Carita beach is just a two-hour drive west of the
capital. The resort is accessible from Jakarta by a fair road,
one third of which is a toll road that is being extended to the
extreme western part of Java in Merak.

Carita and the surroundings have more hotels and accommodation
than Pelabuhan Ratu. It is easy to stay here as many cottages,
hotels and camping grounds are available, along with excellent
seafood.

The white sandy beaches that stretch out behind hundreds of
swaying coconut trees provide excellent views as does the
infamous Krakatau Volcano, visible from Carita. It rises above
the horizon in the Sunda Straits between Java and Sumatra. From
here, you can reach the exotic wildlife of Ujung Kulon National
Park within an hour.

Another remote resort on Java, offering cottage hotels, is
Tanjung Lesung. The peninsula is an exciting new holiday resort
that has sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

The resort is an ideal place for relaxed activities such as
snorkeling and fishing, and for adventures like wind surfing,
canoeing, and jet skiing.

When the afternoon comes you can spend your leisure time
cycling or just sitting and watching the sunset. A boat trip to
Krakatau or Ujung Kulon is another option for those up for an
adventure.

Tanjung Lesung Resort Hotel is ready to help you enjoy your
holiday. It offers a comfortable and private vacation. The hotel
faces the Sunda Straits with views of Krakatau, Panaitan Island
in Ujung Kulon National Park and north Carita.

Driving south west from the capital, resorts can also be found
in Sukabumi, West Java, and the 'Jewel of West Java', Pelabuhan
Ratu facing the Indian Ocean.

But if you are a real lover of the ocean, sand and sun, then
staying at a cottage in Kepulauan Seribu or the Thousands Island
will be just what you want. The Thousand Islands are located
north of Jakarta, a two hour trip by speedboat from the Jaya
Ancol Marina.

Set in a clean blue sea full of tropical fish and ringed by
colorful corral reefs, the Thousand Islands are a tempting place
to spend your vacation.

But before going to the Thousand Islands, you have to decide
on which island you wish to stay as they are scattered across the
Java Sea. Most of the developed islands have their own resorts,
like Pulau Seribu Marine (Pantara Island), Kulkul Kotok Island
Resort, Mentari Resort and Sepa Island Resort, where cottages
featuring a 'back to nature' theme are readily available.

At the resorts, blending into nature is a priority, so the
buildings are made of bamboo and wood instead of cement. Some
cottages go for the 'natural theme' by using oil lamps, instead
of electric lights, to create a romantic atmosphere.

Surrounded by the Java Sea, the Thousand Islands offer
exciting water sports, including wind surfing, pedal boats, jet-
skiing, swimming, sailing or boating, snorkeling and diving.
Almost all resorts in the Thousand Islands provide water sport
equipment.

Although all resorts offer comfortable facilities and
services, each has its own special appeal. At Pulau Seribu Marine
Resort, for instance, the natural atmosphere is highlighted in a
'back to nature' theme. There is no television or radio. The only
sound you will here are the crashing waves, singing insects and
the sounds of nature you never hear in a busy city.

Pulau Seribu Marine Resort is located about 35 kilometers from
Jakarta, about a one and a half hour by motor boat. The resort
boasts clean and un-polluted water, and is an ideal site for
diving and other marine sports.

For those wishing for something out of the ordinary, and want
to be close to nature, Sepa Island is the right choice. The
resort is admired for its white sandy beaches and its crystal
clear water that are teeming with marine life. Sepa Island has
outstanding white sandy beaches ideal for suntanning, turquoise
water, and coral reefs teeming with marine life. If you want to
dive, Sepa Dive Shop rents equipment. Inexpensive boat dives near
Sepa Island are also available.

Room rates at the resorts vary, depending on where you stay
and what kind of room you want. Prices in the Thousand Islands
are commonly listed per package, not per room. The package will
usually include round trip transportation, a welcome drink,
accommodation based on double occupancy, a breakfast, two
lunches, one dinner and 21 percent TAX and Service Charge.

At Tanjung Lesung Cottage Hotel, one cottage with two bedrooms
are set at Rp 1.3 million per night for weekday and at Rp 2.5
million per night for a weekend. A studio room at Sol Elite
Marbella Anyer is set at Rp 465,000 per night for weekday and
Rp565,000 per night for a weekend.
The Standard Package at Alam Kotok Island Resort, for instance,
is Rp 600,000 (twin bed) for weekday and Rp 650,000 for a
weekend. The superior room is set at Rp 700,000 (twin bed, first
night) for weekday and Rp 750,000 for a weekend.