Raja Laut Bunaken, a Special Place at North Sulawesi

Raja Laut is a small eco-resort experience that comes from my passion for sea and scuba diving. After years of travelling and diving, I decided to stop in a special place: Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Bunaken Marine Park, Says Roberto Miotto. 

Raja Laut in indonesian language means "Sea King". In this case we refer to a fish, a special one, indeeed. The Coelacanth were believed to have been extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period. There are two different coelacanth species: latimeria chalumnae and latimeria menadoensis.

Latimeria chalumnae was discovered in South Africa in 1938, when Mayore Courtenay Latimer working for East London Museum, found a coelacanth between some fishes that were caught from a fishing boat on the river Chalumna. Latimeria menadoensis, was discovered more recently, in 1997 in Indonesia, when two tourists, spouses Erdmann, discovered in a market on the island of Manado Tua what seemed a Gombessa fish, a species they called "The Sea King". Then with some research on DNA,, was discovered that the species is also different from Latimeria chalumnae and was called Latimeria menadoensis.

The coelacanth is now living in the Indian Ocean, including the Comores and Madascar, South Africa and Indonesia. It 'a big fish and can be up to two meters long and 80 kg in weight. Live on average 60 years, prefers to swim deep and hunt at night. It feeds on eels, stingrays, small sharks and squid. Swimming is particular, as the fins move in pairs, or the two in front, pectoral fins or the rear ones, pelvis. We decided to call our Resort RAJA LAUT to don't forget the great privilege we enjoy to dive daily in this SPECIAL sea.

For more informations about this beautiful place, you can follow this link or at our sponsors at the top of this page. 

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World Famous Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Villas

Bali is an island constantly voted as one of the top 5 dram vacation escapes in the macrocosm. It is one of the most famous and favorite destinations of honeymooners and casual tourists, who come from all the corners of the globe to enjoy their vacations in Bali. In truth, Bali is even called the "The Paradise Island". The tropical climate, the clean symmetry, and the traditional hospitality of Bali are the main reasons for this captivation and fascination of the travelers. Bali hotels are reputed for offering comfortable, exclusive and compared to more top dream islands affordable stay to visitors. Both ration hotels as well as ruler - rated hotels are plenty in Bali. For sheer variety in accommodation, Bali Island is not modern to any additional tourist spot in the universe. You would find beach hotels, famous beach resorts, boutique hotels, bungalows, villa - only resorts, hotels with only cottages, luxury hotels, elevation resorts, and control hotels in Bali. You could moreover choose from beachfront villas, golf villas, comrade villa compounds, sea view villas and luxury resort villas. Bali circus is pure fun and occurrence.

Converse Bali hotels with rates underneath $50 are Nirwana Resort in the village of Candi Dasa in Bali, Lavender Hotel & Spa in Kuta, Medewi Beach Cottage situated on the Medewi Beach in Jembrana, Saranam Eco Resort approaching the Pacung valley in Bedugul, Alit's Beach Bungalows on the sandy bay of Sanur, Legian Village Hotel in Legian, Febri's Hotel on the South Kuta Beach called as Tuban, Palm Beach Hotel & Resort in Tuban, Puri Dajuma in Jembrana, or Puri Bening Hayato in Kintamani.

If you posses a larger converse and crave fresh comfort inclusive an service with urgency to fact, the radius of Bali hotels and resorts are available in the $50 - $200 price scale cater to that. Bali Mirage Resort in Tanjung Benoa, Mercure Resort Sanur in Sanur, Annora Villas in Seminyak or Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa in Nusa Dua are some in this category.

If you are a sweetheart of 5 - queen hotel comforts, then you could choose from the Bali hotels that charge anywhere between $200 and $400 for a day's and night's stay. Grand Avenue Boutique Villas in Kerobokan, The Ayana Resort in Jimbaran, Grand Akhyati Villas & Spa in Canggu, Puri Kamandalu Resort & Spa in Ubud, Conrad Bali Resort & Spa and Grand Hyatt Bali in Nusa Dua are in the above price radius.

You could even find fellow villas asking anything from $500 and over $1,000 per night, if you desire to own absolute privacy and some exclusive twists like normal wilds views or direct ocean views and so rampart. These villas vary from a single bedroom villa to six or seven bedroom villas. You could select one or other of them depending on the size of your group or family. Enjoy your Bali carnival by booking the Bali hotels well in advance, because Bali is a year - round destination. Acceptance on the spot accommodation to indictment your limit might not be always manageable. Usually the typical Asian, European and US vacation summer months and also the December and January weeks are booked out months in advance, unless you hire a special room - sourcing agent and are willing to pay retail or above retail prices to get the exact room you want.

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Wakatobi Marine National Park, Dive Resort - Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia

The Wakatobi is a Marine National Park comprising an archipelago of four large islands located in south east Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Wakatobi, at 1.39 million hectares is the second largest marine protected area in Indonesia. The park encompasses stunning coral reefs, white sand beaches and an amazing wealth of whales and dolphins. Positioned at the heart of the Indo Pacific area where marine biodiversity is at its greatest, diving is truly fantastic.

Over 90,000 people live within the national park, many of whom rely on the reefs and inter-tidal habitats for their livelihoods. These peoples include many interesting cultures and histories. The objective of the marine park management is to balance the needs of the local communities whilst protecting biodiversity.



The aim of this website is to act as an independent source of information for tourists, conservationists, NGO's and anyone keen to visit this beautiful and remote setting. It is the intention of this site to remain up to date with information about the park utilising contributions from individuals, government bodies, and NGOs living and working within the locality.

ACCOMMODATION AND RESORTS

WANGI-WANGI

Transit Hotels

As Wangi is now the administrative capital of the Kapen Wakatobi district a number of small hotels of reasonable standard are available for travellers in transit. These are not marketed for tourists but are readily available (so don't expect much western language spoken). Travellers can also stay in Lossmens (staying in a locals house). Hotels cost between 50,000-rp200,000.

• Hotel Nita Sari
• Hotel Gaja Mada
• Hotel Yustia

Resturants in Wangi-Wangi

Warung Wisata
Surabaya Selera Kita


Other information about Wangi-Wangi

Ojeks (motor bike taxi) from Wanci Harbour to hotels / restaurants = rp5,000

The Nature Conservancy / World Wildlife Fund Office

Wakatobi Marine Park Rangers Office (Taman Nasinal Wakatobi) Park fee = rp 20,000 per pax per trip.

Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata)
Jl. Pangulubelo. No1 Kelurahan Mandate 1, Kec Wangi Wangi, Selatan Wakatobi

KALDEDUPA AND HOGA

Tukang Besi Diving (Hoga Cottages) - Ibu Guerje's
www.tukangbesidiving.com

Hoga cottages is a small back-packers resort that runs a basic dive operation around the reefs of Hoga. The resort is run by a Dutch woman who can provide basic bungalow accommodation and good food.

Traditional Home-Stays
As a result of the large groups of students brought to the Wakatobi by Operation Wallacea there now exists an abundance of small home-stay accommodation (wooden bungalows) throughout Ambeua (the capital of Kaledupa) and on Hoga Island. Although these are not tourist businesses in their own right they can be readily rented at most times of the year from local people. In most villages the local head-man (the Kepala Desa) will usually be happy to arrange food and accomodation.

Hoga Island Research Centre
www.opwall.com

The research centre is operated by Operation Wallacea in cooperation with a management team. The centre can accommodate and feed over 100 visitors in basic accommodation with extensive diving and research facilities available. It is not generally frequented by travellers however private group bookings are encouraged but not during the summer months (April to September) when student groups from Operation Wallacea are numerous.

Island Garden - Pak Kasims
home.arcor.de/islandgarden

Pak Kasim runs a wonderful small resort on the island. The accommodation is in traditional wooden houses on stilts overlooking the ocean. There are two double houses and three single houses, with comfortable beds. These houses are wonderful, you can just hang in your hammock during the day by the ocean after a dive, read your book (there is a little library), listen to the bird melodies, watch the sunset, or the moon rising, the unpolluted clear view of the stars and the fireflies in the trees.

TOMIA

Wakatobi Divers
www.wakatobi.com

Swiss-founded with an international management team, the resort is a high-end diving operation offering all the usual western amenities; hot and cold fresh water throughout the property, 24-hour electricity, satellite communications, in-room LAN ports with 24 hour internet access, and more. They have a team of gourmet chefs creating wonderful local and international cuisine. Access is by air direct from Bali International airport.


Park Fees

Park fees are to be paid at the Wakatobi Marine Park Rangers Office (Taman Nasinal Wakatobi) in Wangi-Wangi.

It is advisable that for extended trips, travellers introduce themselves to the local police showing passport and proof of park fee.

Fee = rp 20,000 per person per trip.

Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata): Jl. Pangulubelo. No1 Kelurahan Mandate 1, Kec Wangi Wangi, Selatan Wakatobi

Amenities

Hospital (Rumah Sakit): there is currently no hospitals in the Wakatobi, however a number of small clinics (very very basic) do exist within some of the villages. When Operation Wallacea has students at their base on Hoga a doctor and and reasoanable medical facilities are available.

There is no doctor (Dokter) or dentist available on the Islands, the nearest is in Bau-bau (Dokter Gigi)

Source : http://www.wakatobi.org

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