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MOUNT TAMBORA
When MOUNT TAMBORA erupted in 1815, the explosion was even bigger thanworld-famous
Krakatau. Blasts from the eruption were heard in Batavia (1.250 km )
and Ternate ( 1,400 km away ) . More than 100 cubic kilometresof volcanic
ash and dust blew into the sky, circling the globe andcausing temperatures
to drop by two degress for a whole year. The dustthat reached the stratosphere
caused spetacular orange sunsets and havebeen credited as the inspiration
killed over 90,000 people, reducing themassive 4,000 metre mountain
to 2,821 metres. Today, Tambora is theworld's largest volcanic cone.[ Go
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BIMA CITY
The main east-west highway offers beautiful panoramas throughforested
hills and palm strewn beaches. It skirts Mount Tambora to the south
and passes through Dompu, once an ancient sultanate.
South from Dompu is a mecca for adventurous surfers. Hu'u Beach and
Peninsula Point have an Australian managed surf camp and a magnificentbeach
where the waves rank with the in other world class Indonesian surfing points
that stretch from Nias to Java, Bali and Lombok.
The eastern capital of Bima is Sumbawa's chief port and the centerof
a devout Islamic region. A visit to the restored Sultan Palace, now
a museum filled with interesting artifacts revealing past glories,is a
must. Bima is also home to the strong little ponies that are sentall over
Indonesia to pull carts or to transport visitors around MountBromo.[ Go
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KOMODO ISLAND
Famous around the world for its grisly Komodo Dragon and excellentdiving,
Komodo lies just to the east of Sumbawa.
The legendary reputation of the Komodo dragons, coupled with dangerouscurrents
and deep waters around the island, have kept the population andvisitors
to aminimum. This has helped preserve the islands natural flora,fauna and
coral formations. The neighbouring island of Rinca and Padamarethe only
places where the dragons are kept in the wild habitat. Most touristsvisit
Komodo through organized tours from Bali or Lombok.[ GoTop
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MOYO ISLAND
A huge animal reserve where sighting of animals such as wild boar anddeer
is common and where spectacular coral and crystal clear waters offerspectacular
diving possibilities. It's very undeveloped. Stay in simpleaccommodation
in Tanjung Pasir, a four hour boat ride from the mainland,or in the very
up-market Amanwana resort with its super-luxury tents. [GoTop
]
BUNGIN ISLAND
Take a small boat from Alas, near the Labuan Tano ferry arrival point,to
what is jokingly referred to as the most densely populated island inthe
world. Roughly two and a half thousand people live on this 'heap ofwhite
sand in the middle of the ocean' as they call it. The island hasgrown to
its present size of 15 hectares by the importing of coral rubblewhenever
anyone wishes to build a house.[ Go Top]
Hu'u
Some of the waves in the world are to be had in the vicinity of Taliwangand
Malok beach on the west coast and at Hu'u on the south coast, southof Dompu.
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