kintante
sad

kintante
As far as I understand it is just Komodo Island and not the park, so you should still be able to visit by going to Rinca.

I just went through the whole Indonesia Tentative List in detail for the TWHS project. Currently, Indonesia has 9 WHS - which I find a very low number for a country of this size and (island) diversity. So what could be added from the T List?

Its 19 entries can be clustered into a couple of recurring themes:
- A number of Hindu archaeological sites which do not seem to stand out on a SEA scale.
- Several archipelagos with a large marine component, lots of coral and good for diving. Raja Ampat is the best known among them and seems to have the right superlatives to make it a WHS. But I couldn't say whether others like Taka Bonerate are as good as so little is known about them.
- Dutch colonial heritage in Semarang and Old Jakarta. Semarang seems to be the best preserved of the two. It also has a full thumbs up rating from our visitors.
- The more traditional city of Yogyakarta has a chance as well.
- Vernacular architecture and cultural landscapes of various ethnic groups. Tana Toraja is the best known, but I also liked Bawomataluo with its megaliths and Minangkabau society at Nagari Sijunjung. This is the category where the best potential for future WHS may lie.
- In the cultural landscape category, focusing on the spice trade, also the nutmeg production on the Banda Islands is of interest (if they can limit the scope of the nomination and not broaden it too much by including coral reefs etc).
- There are 2 rock art sites, of which Sangkulirang may be the most interesting to visit. But the ones in Maros-Pangkep are the oldest (this is proposed as a natural site, but relies on archeological sites and rock paintings in those caves for OUV).

So as a conclusion I'd see easily 5+ sites that could make it.

For our first post covid European break out we are going to Sumatra. Our last visit was in 1989! We are intending to do an extended trek of perhaps 3 days in Gunung Leuser National Park. Does anyone have experience of arranging a trip in Bukit Lawang or do you recommend pre-booking on the internet? Normally we would prefer to book locally both because of cost and to get an idea of the people, but we would not like to arrive and find it not possible because everything is full.

Thanks!

Muaro Jambi

With the success to inscribe Merangin Geopark this year, the Governor of Jambi announced plan that their next plan is to inscribe Candi Mauro Jambi Temple and Mount Kerinci!

https://m.antaranews.com/berita/3569733/gunung-kerinci-dan-candi-muaro-jambi-diproyeksikan-jadi-warisan-dunia

Good to hear update on this tentative list but I understand that Mount Kerinci is already part of WHS Sumatra Tropical Forest?

Hi, I'm new in this community. I would like to share some good and bad news from Indonesia. For the good news comes from Muara Jambi.

Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, mentioned that the proposal file or dossier for the Muara Jambi Temple Compound to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site is currently being prepared. Hilmar acknowledged that the Muara Jambi Temple Compound has so far been listed as a tentative list.
"We think because this is ongoing and we are still conducting excavations, the dossier will be added with new information," he said.
"When the revitalization is completed, we dare to confirm the first stage, let's say it's final, we dare to list it because the Muara Jambi Temple Compound has an area of 4,000 hectares, the northern part has not been touched."

https://jambi.tribunnews.com/amp/2024/06/06/kcbn-muara-jambi-menuju-warisan-dunia-hilmar-farid-sebut-tunggu-giliran-pembahasan-di-unesco

The Muaro Jambi Temple compound has been standing since the 6th to the 12th century AD, and is referred to as the oldest Buddhist educational complex in Indonesia and the largest in Southeast Asia. Based on the decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 259/M/2013, the area, which covers an area of 3,981 hectares, consists of 88 brick-structured buildings, some of which have been restored, such as the Kotomahligai Temple, Kedaton Temple, Gedong I, Gedong II, Gumpung, Tinggi, Telago Rajo, Kembar Batu, and Astano.
https://tekno.tempo.co/read/1829922/didorong-jadi-situs-warisan-dunia-unesco-candi-muarojambi-direvitalisasi

The central government through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is currently undertaking a massive revitalization of the Muaro Jambi Temple Compound, with an approximate budget of Rp1.5 trillion. Specifically, this Rp1.5 trillion budget is allocated for two fiscal years, namely Rp600 billion in 2023 and Rp850 billion in 2024.
https://www.liputan6.com/regional/read/5613194/kawasan-candi-muaro-jambi-bisa-lebih-hebat-dari-angkor-wat

Hilmar stated that the revitalization of the Muaro Jambi Temple Compound covers an area of approximately 4,000 hectares. This revitalization effort becomes the second largest in Indonesia after the restoration of Borobudur Temple in Central Java in 1973. "This is the largest effort since Borobudur Temple 50 years ago. We hope Muaro Jambi will also have great status in the future. However, there are still challenges ahead, and this will not be completed in 1-2 years. There must be continuity," he said.
https://www.kompas.id/baca/humaniora/2024/03/07/revitalisasi-kawasan-muaro-jambi-prioritaskan-pelestarian-budaya

The construction of the museum is part of the Muara Jambi Temple Compound revitalization project. The revitalization, carried out by the Directorate General of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, is expected to support cultural advancement and community development in Jambi. The nearly 4,000-hectare Muarajambi Temple Compound has 115 temple sites and more than 3,000 collections.
As part of the revitalization project, restoration work is being conducted on four temple sites: Kotomahligai Temple, Parit Duku Temple, Menapo Alun-alun, and Sialang Temple. Restoration work began in March, involving local community workers. "The progress is about 45 percent. It is targeted to be completed by October 2024," said Agus (Head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Agency (BPK) Region V Jambi and Bangka Belitung).
https://www.kompas.id/baca/humaniora/2024/06/04/membangun-museum-kcbn-muarajambi-sebagai-jendela-budaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gHgrLldqGY

And the bad news come from Ujung Kulon National Park. Here's the news link.
https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2024/06/13/en-dua-kelompok-pemburu-terungkap-telah-membunuh-26-badak-jawa-di-ujung-kulon?open_from=English_Page
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2024/06/19/wildlife/javan-rhino-indonesia-poaching/

Dwikusuma
Thanks and welcome! It's good to have an Indonesian correspondent!

P.S.: you can just copy-paste the url's of the links into the forum message, you don't have to add/do anything extra

Jalur Rempah : Spice Route

Currently Indonesia is very active to promote Spice Route as WHS, they even invite many countries in Southeast Asia to join hand on this WHS idea.
More information can be found in this website

https://jalurrempah.kemdikbud.go.id/

I love the idea of this. Will be very curious to see what the nomination looks like when submitted.

Hitherto this has always been subsumed by UNESCO under the "Silk Roads Program" with the title "Maritime Silk Roads" - "The Spice Routes, also known as Maritime Silk Roads, is the name given to the network of sea routes that link the East with the West. They stretch from the west coast of Japan, through the islands of Indonesia, around India to the lands of the Middle East - and from there, across the Mediterranean to Europe."

Perhaps it is time for the countries of S East Asia to "escape" the "Sinocentric" domination of this subject - "All under Heaven" and all roads lead to and from CHINA!

For fellow travelers who previously visited Bali. Would it be so bad to skip the 2 Northernmost components: Lake Batur and the Supreme Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Batur? I see mixed reviews and a general negativity surrounding both sites regarding over-tourism and visitor experience. I was pondering only visiting the Pekerisan Watershed, Catur Angga Batukaru, and the Royal Water Temple Pura Taman Ayun components thoroughly.

Bali Subak system: Supreme Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Batur
Bali Subak system: Lake Batur
Bali Subak system: Subak Landscape of Pekerisan Watershed
Bali Subak system: Subak Landscape of Catur Angga Batukaru
Bali Subak system: Royal Water Temple Pura Taman Ayun

We will be in Bali in late June, arriving on a Sunday, departing the following Saturday, so pretty much all weekdays. I definitely want to avoid some of the crowds by starting early or taking Clyde's advice to visit some temples right around lunch. Another factor I was considering when skipping the Northernmost components was the long drive.

Frederick's comment here made me question making the trip this far North.

"I felt that visiting Lake Batur was a bit of tourist trap because of every tour had to go there for buffet lunch" - Frederik Dawson

I found this comment from Clyde interesting, I understood this as staying nearer to Subak Landscape of Catur Angga Batukaru? (North of Ubud)

"If I were to revisit, I'd surely base myself here instead of Ubud." - Clyde

I'm glad my reviews are still somewhat useful :) Personally, I think you wouldn't miss much by skipping the 2 Northernmost components and you will have more time to visit the other components. Most will be using Ubud as their base or lunch stop so staying closer to the Subak would help to skip the heavy traffic around sunrise/sunset. Obviously, visiting around lunch will mean enduring the heat, but personally I tend to feel the heat much more when the sites are more crowded.

Muara Jambi

Many news reports on Muara Jambi readiness to be WHS. Possible that within few years this site will be Indonesia's next nomination

https://news.republika.co.id/berita/swlaex484/pemerintah-yakin-candi-muaro-jambi-bisa-masuk-warisan-dunia-unesco
https://jambi.antaranews.com/berita/615285/kemenbud-dukung-kcbn-muarajambi-diakui-unesco-sebagai-warisan-dunia

Just saw the updated Tentative List from Indonesia.
I notice that the spice trade is no longer as ambitious as it used to be (which I'm glad about), and with the new government administration, the Tentative List doesn't seem as strong as before when it comes to proposing new World Heritage nominations.

Muarajambi appears to be Indonesia's most likely next nomination, based on widespread media coverage and strong statements of support from government officials. However, progress may be delayed due to the preliminary assessment required by the advisory body and ongoing budget cuts from the central government.
https://www.kompas.id/artikel/efisiensi-anggaran-apa-dampaknya-pada-proyek-revitalisasi-kcbn-muarajambi

An interesting development is happening at Maros-Pangkep, which has become a hub of new research activity by BRIN (the National Research and Innovation Agency). BRIN recently partnered with Google Arts to showcase the region's rock art, and the increasing media coverage and enthusiasm from the arts and heritage community have brought new life to this Tentative Site.

Personally, I'm very happy to see Lore Lindu back on the Tentative List. I hope it will be inscribed someday. The site is quite unique—a kind of mix between the Plain of Jars and Rapa Nui. It's somewhat ironic that Indonesia, maybe the only country with a living megalithic culture, doesn't yet have a single megalithic site recognized on the World Heritage List.
If you're interested in Lore Lindu, this publication is worth checking out:
https://repositori.kemendikdasmen.go.id/24178/