Tenggerese
Woman, Wonokitri
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Children
from a Pesantren, or Islamic school, Malang
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For the tourist, East Java has much to offer. The landscape is one of great variety and natural beauty and includes, aside from its impressive volcanic peaks and sparkling rivers, large areas of natural rain forest, waterfalls, picturesque lakes, mysterious caves and secluded beaches. There are eight large national parks, preserving a wide selection of native animals and plants. Then there are the unusual phenomena caused by volcanic activity, such as hot mineral pools and springs, craters of steaming sulphur, boiling mud, as well as red hot rocks which glow in the dark, called api abadi, or 'eternal fire'. The farmlands and plantations are also interesting, colourful and varied, from the flat, green and golden expanses of the padi fields on the plains, to the patchwork of irrigated rice terraces and hillside crops which, apart from being very beautiful to look at, are remarkable feats of agricultural ingenuity.
There is also history to be found in East Java, beginning with the fossilized remains of prehistoric animals and early ancestors of man at sites such as Trinil. Evidence of ancient megalithic culture can be seen in the regions of Situbondo and Mt Argopuro
in the eastern part of the province, as well as on Mt Lawu. And
then there are the famous temple ruins from the Hindu/Buddhist
period (7th - 15th C.), as well as the historical sites dating
from the early days of Islam and the Dutch colonial times. More
recent history, concerning Indonesia's struggle for independence
and the birth of the modern nation can be seen in several well
arranged museum displays and in the many monuments which stand
in cities and towns throughout the province. Arts, crafts and
cottage industries are plentiful in East Java and each region
has its own speciality. Tuban, Sidoarjo and Madura, for instance,
are well known production centres of batik, the cloth for which
Java is especial!, famous. At Tulungagung there is a marble industry,
at Pacitan agate, at Situbondo shell handicrafts and at Nganjuk
the speciality is onyx a' brassware. 'Adventure touring' is still
in its infancy in East Java, yet there is enormous potent) in
this area. Mt Bromo, of course, is already well known destination,
but other remote an exciting places to visit, such as the crater
lakes Ijen and Kelud, or the summits of Lawu a Semeru, receive
comparatively few visitor There are also many small islands lying
off the coasts of East Java and Madura. Two of the Ketapang near
Probolinggo and Bawean Island with its unique species of deer,
to the north Gresik, are beginning to become popular. Finally,
if one is tired of all the activity, then there; many places
to find peace and relaxation. Beach resorts like Prigi or Pasir
Putih, or Slopeng Madura, the cool hill resorts of Batu, Tretes
Sarangan, as well as lake areas such Karangkates and Selorejo,
are excellent places for recreation and sport, whether one's
taste swimming, sailing, horse riding, water skid hiking, fishing,
or just enjoying beautiful
Lawa
Cave, Trenggalek
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Ranu
Bedali, Klakah
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