Silverbird Travel - The Far East travel Specialists

Scattered like stardust across the southern Indian Ocean are the seventeen thousand islands and atolls of the Indonesian archipelago, steeped in mystery and intrigue, at once wild and rugged, lush and green.

From the island of Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east, the people of Indonesia are a mixture of many different religions, cultures and customs. Heavily influenced by Arabic, Indian, Malay, European and Chinese cultures during Indonesia's time as an important trading nation - the spice trade was especially valuable during the 16th century.

The string of islands straddles both sides of the Equator and edges the Pacific, Eurasian and Australian tectonic plates. And this means? Numerous volcanoes and frequent earthquakes! Not all bad as the volcanic ash helps to keep the soil fertile which in turn leads to the lush vegetation you see as you journey across the islands.

A lot of the archipelago remains relatively unexplored with some amazing birds and animals and with over 50,000 miles of coastline fantastic sea life. One of the few places to see Orang-utans in the wild is in Sumatra and the place to do any “dragon” spotting is the island of Komodo. Why not include a cruise section to your Far East holiday? Our clients tend to avoid “big ship” cruising in favour of smaller craft such as the Pandaw vessels which travel the great rivers of South East Asia. However, for the next couple of months, one of the finest small ships in the world, the MS Island Sky, will be voyaging around the Indonesian islands of the Indian Ocean. This cruise visits the more off-the-beaten track islands - Sumbawa, Moyo, Flores and Komodo are just some of them and where you have to be able to hop on and off Zodiac landing craft! This is an ideal opportunity for those who enjoy this natural world with its beautiful sights and unusual experiences and one that you will probably never forget.

Currently it is one of the cheaper destinations in the Far East, especially when eating out. And if you watched the recent Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey television programme you will have seen him eat and cook some traditional Indonesian dishes - such as gado-gado, nasi goreng and the hot and salty sambals with rice the main staple served with coconut milk, fish and chicken side dishes.

Indonesia has a tropical climate with two seasons. The best time to visit is between April to October with more rain falling from November through to February/March and it can get chillier up in the more mountainous areas.

Read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's official travel advice for Indonesia.

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	Bali & Lombok Once visited, never forgotten. The mystical Island of the Gods captures the heart as much as the eye, its people carrying on century’s old rituals or religious rites with remarkable equanimity both despite and because of the onslaught of tourism and 21st century commerce. Born of deep spiritualism, dexterity and good karma amid towering volcanoes and sweeping rice terraces strewn with colourful temples and shrines, Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia. Rich in arts, crafts, music, dance, curiosities and the supernatural, it is also unique in its ability to absorb visitors of all tastes and pockets with equal grace and charm, welcoming everyone to the colourful festivals or processions that are part of daily life. You’ll find the world’s finest hotels and spas here, in sleek beach retreats or mountain havens equipped with the last word in villas, many with private pools, immaculate service and every conceivable luxury. At the same time, together with every type of holiday activity, restaurant, bar, pub and night club, you’ll find countless mid-priced hotels and inexpensive beach bungalows. Linked by 20-minute flight with Bali, LOMBOK is distinctly different from its neighbour. Notably less developed and less crowded, laid-back Lombok is also less outwardly spiritual and less effervescent. There is also less to see or do here beyond scenic touring by private car, visiting local markets for spices and handicrafts or hiking up the spectacular Mt. Rinjani, topped by a volcanic lake and, at 3,726 metres, one of Indonesia’s highest peaks. Dont miss: traditional Monkey Dance performances; Mt. Agung (the mother mountain); Ubud artists’ colony; exploring the fertile north and east coast; golfing on pristine courses and above the clouds near Lake Batur; early morning visit to the spice markets.


	Central & East Java Yogyakarta, main city of Central Java is the starting point for a truly memorable tour and one of the most scenic. Sights to see include the Kraton (Sultan’s Palace) built in classical Javanese style and the centre for gamelan performances and classical dance, the Prambanan, the greatest of many Hindu temples in the area and like Borobudur has undergone restoration is some 20kms east of the city and originally constructed in 850 A.D. Fascinating by day, stunning by night between May and September 2 days either side of the full moon there is an evening dance performances from the Hindu epic - the Ramayana. Performed in an open-air theatre using the temples as a floodlit backdrop it is breathtaking. 40kms to the northwest and about an hours’ drive from Yogyakarta is the site of Borobudur, one of the most important Buddhist monuments. It was built in the 8th and 9th centuries using stone from the nearby mountains. Once half hidden by the overgrown vegetation it was restored with the help of UNESCO and today ranks as one of the must see sights of the region. Located in the midst of Karimunjawa Archipelago and offering one of the largest lagoons of the area, Menjawakan is a very green, private tropical island and occupied exclusively by KURA KURA RESORT. A bit of a journey to get here and only open from May to October each year. Is this your idea of a Robinson Crusoe Island? The highlight of East Java is the volcano, Mount Bromo. After arriving at your hotel rest until around midnight, depart for the volcano area by car, continue by horse or walk across the sea of sand (the Caldera). Climb the steps in the volcano to its smoking crater. As the sun comes up through the mist – breathtaking! Continue to Surabaya airport for onward flight to Bali, Lombok or Singapore. Dont miss: Mt. Bromo; the temple of Borobudur


	Komodo A must visit but don't go wandering off. Its some years since the Komodo dragons - giant lizards growing up to nine feet long - have snapped up a stray tourist for lunch. But they're still on the loose, seemingly docile most of the time but moving like lightning and highly dangerous when they're hungry. You can stay overnight or longer here, in a protected camp. Safer to join a short cruise from Bali which also calls at surrounding islands. Join a 6 night cruise from Bali aboard the MV Baruna. The Baruna is not luxurious cruising in the modern sense of the word. It is the places visited that are the highlights, such as Lombok, Bima and Komodo and Sumbawa, Dont miss: heeding the advice of your guide


	Abu Dhabi This island city is the commercial capital of the UAE with wide tree-lined boulevards, good beaches and duty free shopping, but this isn't all it has to offer. For nature lovers there are some 3500 indigenous plants, mangroves, coral reefs and the Sir Bani Yas Island nature reserve. The renovated Corniche esplanade, with its spectacular new public beach, is one of the city’s highlights. Another one is the Heritage Village which gives an insight into ancient Bedouin life. Just a seven hour flight away Abu Dhabi has decided not to embrace the brasher tourist developments making it a much more relaxed place to visit than other destinations. Yes, it is a tax-free shopper's paradise but there are also 200 offshore islands and beaches with a large desert famous for its spectacular dunes. So head out of the city to explore the mountain scenery, the wreck and reefs dive sites and the desert in the Empty Quarter, visit Al Ain where you can wander around and experience the charms of old Abu Dhabi. Today's Abu Dhabi is a mix of historical culture and modern comforts with future plans including the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Guggenheim Museum. If you are interested in F1 racing - visit Abu Dhabi during 12-14 November 2010. The first links golf course, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, is an 18-hole championship golf course with all 18 holes having view of the seashore. INTRODUCING ETIHAD AIRWAYS - the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in Abu Dhabi. Flights depart from Heathrow and Manchester and, in addition to flights to the U.A.E.; Etihad offers very good connections to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. With one of the youngest fleets around, Etihad Airways offer a superb up-to-date service. In “Coral Economy”, there is a 10.4” personal TV screen and video- on demand in every seat. In “Pearl Business Class” there is a fully flatbed seat in a 1-2-1 layout and a 15” personal video screen. Plus chauffeur- driven car transfers are included in UK and on arrival in the U.A.E and Bangkok (mileage limitations apply) The “Diamond First Class” features 12 seats in a 1-2-1 layout. The fully flat beds, when in the upright position, swivel 180 degrees to enable face to face meals. A 23” personal video screen, privacy shell and minibar complete the comfortable amenities. As a “Diamond First Class” traveller you also have the chauffeur-drive car transfers included. They also operate a scheduled bus service between Abu Dhabi Airport and Dubai, a journey of about one hour. With year-round sunshine and a flying time of just seven hours why not visit for a long weekend?? Dont miss: Top-class hotels, first rate golf courses, the atmospheric Central Souk for spices, pashminas and carpets and dine out on the Al Safina Dhow