This becomes a common refrain as they rhapsodise about making pilgrimages to the Japanese capital almost every year, its teeming streets a paradise of shopping, food, technology and efficiency. Everyone seems to have his own list of “must- dos” – a ramen list, a sushi list, a museum list. I am soon completely worn out by lists.

So my husband and I, together with another couple who are good friends of ours, decide to go on a different sort of pilgrimage: a four- day, three-night self-guided walk on the Nakasendo in central Japan. It is an ancient 533km trail established in the Edo period (1603 to 1868) that connected Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto, the imperial capital.

We are walking only a tiny section of the Nakasendo, literally “central mountain route”, about 35km of walking plus a few bus and train transfers between the Kiso Valley towns of Magome and Kiso Hirasawa, but the route offered by tour operator Oku Japan (www.okujapan.com) promises a challenging, invigorating walk through low mountain passes and lush bamboo forests.

We decide to book a trip during the first week of April, traditionally the peak of the cherry blossom season in Japan. I press my face against the glass as we take the train from Narita Airport into the city. Neon lights wink beguilingly from every crowded street corner. But we are in Tokyo for less than a day before we are on board the shinkansen (bullet train) heading south-west. The long, smooth snout of the train slices through the city, quickly shedding it for vast expanses of countryside.

Our starting point in Magome is a bustling tourist pitstop. Shopkeepers selling gohei-mochi, rice balls served with a special miso sauce, beckon to us from open windows. As we ascend the cobblestone path through the village, dodging clutches of tourists with selfie sticks, I question myself: Is this what our walk will be like over the next four days?

But in about half an hour, just about every tourist seems to have vanished. We see the opening to a bamboo grove and a gleaming bell on a wooden post, one of hundreds of bear bells on the well-marked route. Small brown bears live in the forests and in the mountains, and even though we do not see any, hikers are encouraged to ring these bells – all sharp and sonorous – to warn the animals of their presence.

A group of half a dozen local walkers beams at us, greeting us with a warm “konnichiwa” (good afternoon) as they head back towards Magome, and they are the last large group of people we will see on our entire walk.

We have lunch at a tiny 15-seat soba restaurant run by the wife of the village postman, who plies us with endless dishes, including horse meat, and is tickled by our attempts at speaking Japanese.

Our walk takes us through small farms, past family shrines and perfectly manicured little gardens. We’ve been talking and laughing, then one of our friends suggests: “Let’s spend the next half an hour just walking and see what that’s like.” We agree to spend the next half-hour in meditative silence.

We pause to drink in the sight of thousands of tall, narrow pines standing guard over our dirt path, their leaves whispering in the light breeze. Our shoes make soft, snuffling noises on a carpet of fallen leaves. I feel an odd welling up in my heart as I look at the canopy, a tapestry of branches silhouetted against sunlight. I am no longer a hiker; I am a character in some sort of enchanted forest, where a crafty tanuki (the shapeshifting Japanese raccoon dog of local folklore) might emerge from the shadows.

The four of us have not spoken a word, but we are – simultaneously – profoundly and utterly moved.

We soon see O-Tsumago, the small hamlet where we will spend the night. Tanuki statues beckon from the doors of each ryokan. We stay at the Maruya Minshuku (tel: +81-264-57-3117), a cosy family-run inn housed in a 230-year-old wooden building. It has two shared baths with bathtubs made of cypress wood from the Kiso Valley and filled with hot, fragrant water, a delicious mix of bath salts that make me feel like a brand new person after a soak.

The walk on the second day is the longest at 18.4km; our guidebook indicates an elevation gain of about 723m. It takes us through a stunning, dense bamboo forest. Small rabbit-like animals skitter through the trees, too quick for us to identify. An eagle circling overhead pauses to rest on a tall post, observing us as we trudge through the drizzle. As we walk through one of the quiet hamlets, at least five Shiba Inus, one of Japan’s most well-loved dog breeds, bark at the disturbance, tails wagging cautiously.

The ascent is beautiful, taking us over bubbling streams, through rich farmland and picturesque little villages, where we greet lone farmers at work. However, the long, winding descent on tarmac takes us past swathes of charred and felled forest, leaving us wondering what might have happened.

We arrive at the Nojiri train station, ravenous after about seven hours of walking and in time to catch the train departing for Kiso- Fukushima, where a staff member from the Komanoyu Ryokan (tel: +81-264-23-2288) immediately bundles us off in a van to the gorgeous inn, which offers indoor and outdoor baths for guests.

Once we are dressed in yukata robes provided by the hotel, we are plied with sake and a 10-course dinner featuring ingredients sourced mostly from the area, including grilled salmon and tender beef.

We take the train to nearby Yabuhara the next morning, embarking on one of the loveliest walks of the trip, a climb up a forested trail to the Torii-touge Pass. It is a crisp, sunny day and the weather is perfect for a good hike, offering sweeping views of the valley below, including Narai, “the town of 1,000 inns”, where we will spend the night.

Perched atop the mountain pass, nearly 1,200m high, is a beautiful shrine built in the 15th century by a prominent samurai warrior to thank the mountain spirit for helping him win a significant battle.

We have passed several small jizo (stone bodhisattvas) on our trip so far. While most of us are not religious, we stop at each one to thank any mountain spirit that might be nearby and sometimes leave a small stack of rocks next to the statues as a little traveller’s prayer.

In Narai, we stay at Iseya inn (tel: +81-264-34-3051), which was established in 1818. During the Edo period, it served as one of the town’s two porter-service offices. Its private baths are made of Kiso umbrella pine and there are only 10 guestrooms. Narai’s historic buildings are well- preserved and travellers throughout the years have rested at its inns after climbing the Torii-touge.

Our journey ends the next day with a short but pleasant walk alongside a burbling river to Kiso- Hirasawa. We stop to buy some pieces of lacquerware, which the town is known for, and strike up a halting conversation in English with the storekeeper, who says he much prefers the peace of village living to that of the city.

I do not give that conversation much thought until we are back in Tokyo navigating the labyrinthine Shinjuku station, hemmed in by thousands of commuters as they make their way from one train to the next.

The city, I suppose, has its own pulse, a rapid palpitation of schedules to follow and trains to catch. We stay in a capsule hotel for a night just for the fun of it, but the isolation of urban living soon catches up with me.

Those four days of walking, slowly, from village to village, where time becomes elastic and stretches out, languorously, ahead of us – I think that slowness is something to be savoured in a world where we constantly race ahead, but leave so much behind.

Statistics from the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department show that in 2014 some 187,240 people visited Oudomxay including 102,050 from overseas. Last year’s total of 215,448 visitors included 127,065 from overseas. Revenue earned from tourism amounted to more than US$12 million in 2015, compared to just US$3.7 million earned in 2005.

The provincial authorities have continued to develop infrastructure and facilities at tourist sites, hoping to provide better services. The province has 106 tourist sites including 54 of natural beauty. Another 85 sites are waiting to be surveyed while only 21 sites have been completely surveyed. A total of 33 sites are already offering full services to visitors.

According to the Oudomxay Tourist Information Centre, the provincial authorities are now gearing up to improve the road link from the town centre to Chom Ong cave and also the facilities around the site. The improvement project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of more than US$14 million and is slated for completion in 2019.

The hidden gem of Chom Ong cave is a recently rediscovered natural attraction located about 45km from Xay district centre near a Khmu village called Chom Ong.

An official from the Oudomxay provincial tourism promotion unit, Vilaiphet Ounaphone, told Vientiane Times on Friday “Chom Ong cave is recognised as being one of the largest caves in Southeast Asia. It is nearly 16km long and is ranked at the sixth longest in the world. The longest cave in the world is 44km, according to a European survey team.”

“Near the cave is a home-stay for visitors that can accommodate about 20 people. If there are more they can stay with people in Chom Ong village. Besides exploring the cave, visitors can enjoy trekking, swimming in the river by the cave, and take part in the traditional dances and lifestyle of the Khmu ethnic group,” he said.

The Oudomxay tourism website reports that the cave system stretches along a 4km long mountain ridge and has a parallel running and interconnecting fossil and river passage. It’s been explored to a length of 15,827km (preliminary) with several wide open side passages remaining. The exploration was done by the Lao-European Cave project.

Oudomxay province now has 19 hotels, 68 guesthouses, four resorts and 188 restaurants.

How to get Chom Ong cave: You can book a tour at the Tourist Information Centre in Oudomxay province or if you want to do it on your own, a car or motorbike can be rented in Xay town. There are two ways to get to the cave, either from the south or the north. The south route starts from Nasao village (on the way to Luang Prabang) and runs for about 45km, while the northern approach is on the way to Luang Namtha province. When you get to the KM24 marker at Nambortakai village, take the road on the left which is just after the village and with the sign “18km from the main road to the cave”.

If you are already planning to go to Bali this long weekend, consider these tips below to ensure that you have a memorable island getaway.

Choose late-night or early-morning flights

Traffic from the airport can be at its worst during this long weekend. So if you haven’t got your ticket yet, it’s better to choose a late-night flight, or better yet, very early-morning trip.

It’s best to arrange your airport pick up with your hotel, since the airport taxis can be very expensive and hard to find.

Stay in one area

Traffic in Bali can be very challenging during long weekends so traveling around the island in your own vehicle is not recommended. Not only will it be more costly to hire a car, you will also contribute to making the traffic even worse.

But, then again, why not choose to stay in one area and explore it by foot? Staying in Canggu or Sanur can be a good idea since they have distinct characteristics.

Canggu is the next hip place in Bali, where you can explore boutique shops, rustic restaurants, gorgeous black sandy beaches and thriving mixed communities. While Sanur is still a charming village that will stun you with its long stretches of white beach, tranquil neighborhood and beautiful seaside cafes.

Avoid mainstream places

It’s better to avoid Pandawa beach, downtown Seminyak, Ubud’s Monkey Forest and Kuta Beach during this long weekend.

Why not explore East Bali or Nusa Lembongan instead? The former is famous for its fantastic marine life and bold culture. You can visit its stunning Lempuyangan temple and learn more about Balinese architecture or perhaps head to the Nusa islands ( Penida and Lembongan ) to check out their amazing landscape, both on land and underwater.

Do more activities

Instead of going here and there and getting stuck in traffic, you can try to do more activities instead.

If you’re an avid diver or love snorkeling, this long weekend can be your best chance to explore your relationship with the ocean by staying close to diving points. East Bali is arguably the best area to stay in since you can easily hop from Tulamben, Amed and Padang Bai without having to worry about traffic.

You can also explore other interesting things like trying Bali’s best spas, signing up for a cooking class, renting a bicycle and strolling around Sanur, kayaking in a mangrove forest and many more.

Avoid Bukit area

Unless you plan to stay in Uluwatu, going to Bukit or the Uluwatu area is a bad idea as you will get stuck in traffic and miss a lot of things.

If you do love the beach, we recommend you stay there, then you can go beach hopping to Bali’s most gorgeous beaches such as Suluban, Padang Padang, Dreamland and many more.

Draw up a reasonable itinerary

Planning to go from Single Fin in Uluwatu then to La Laguna in Canggu makes no sense. If you really want to visit popular destinations, make a reasonable itinerary by visiting nearby places. Plan which main destination you desire and see other places nearby, instead of going farther afield.

For example, if you are eager to explore the beaches in Nusa Dua, you can opt to do exciting water sports in Tanjung Benoa or challenge yourself with paragliding, then head to Jimbaran for a sunset and candle-lit seafood dinner by the beach.

Organised by Kedah And Perlis Rice Millers Association, the festival aims to tell the story of the heritage of Kedah’s paddy farmers through storytelling sessions, music, traditional rice planting sessions, photographs and documents.

As part of the programme, the Kedah paddy farmers led festival visitors into the paddy field to plant rice the traditional way. A pair of buffaloes were also used to plough the field.

The festival kicked off with The Art of paddy Heritage Workshop from April 22-25. Some 150 students from Keat Hwa High School in Alor Setar took part in this art, music and drama workshop. They learnt how to make a scarecrow and create artworks inspired by paddy planting.

On April 29, the Tradition of paddy Seedling, a public talk (and paddy seedling rehearsal) was held. Three paddy farmers of Thai, Chinese and Malay origin shared their knowledge on old farming traditions. Kedah And Perlis Rice Millers Association’s chairman Ong Soon Thye and paddy researcher Ong Ching Zhong talked about the rice mill, types of rice as well as tradition and modern farming techniques.

Festival director Chong Keat Aun says the festival was the first of its kind in Malaysia.

“There are plans to rotate the event venue to other rice mills in Kedah and Perlis,” says Chong, an Alor Setar-born arts practitioner.

The festival’s slogan is Sesuap Nasi, Warisan paddy (A Mouthful Of Rice, paddy Heritage). From April 30 to May 1, there was be a free concert involving 150 performers. Shows included manora dance, paddy field drum performance (a combination of gendang silat drums and Chinese drums), Chinese opera, and wayang kulit.

A highlight of the festival was Rumah paddy (paddy House) which was erected at edge of a paddy field at the festival site.

“Two modified steel containers, timber and bamboo structures are used to set up this temporary structure which will remain until Sept 17,” says Alan Teh, curator of the art exhibition.

Visitors were taken on a tour of the artworks by 15 local artists. Teh says the goal of the festival is to raise awareness to the hardships of paddy farmers, especially to the younger generation.

“At the same time, it is also to bring attention to the rapid urbanisation of Alor Setar, where many tracts of agriculture lands are being converted for housing and commercial purposes. This is quite alarming as Kedah is the rice bowl of Malaysia,” says Teh.

The closing ceremony will be the Harvest Festival from Sept 15-17 at the same venue.

Dubbed the biggest kite festival in the north, the four-day event has attracted 100 kite artisans flyers from across Vietnam and teams from other nations, including Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

“I think this is a meaningful entertainment activity during the long holiday,” Tran Quyet Chien, an audience member, told Viet Nam News. “There have not been many festivals of this kind organised in Hanoi that offer children a chance to see folk art and play with kites.”

“It’s even more appealing to adults with many prize-winning artists flyers from the country and overseas participating in the event,” he said. “The shows are spectacular and use modern equipment. It feels like I am reliving my childhood with kites soaring in the wind and the melodious sound of flutes attached to the kites reverberating through the skies.”

Dao Duy Ha, from the HCM City Kite Club, said he had advised the organising board to invite only those artists flyers that flew the most unique kinds of kites.

“On this Reunification Day [April 30], we would like to entertain the capital’s audience with the most unique kinds of kites that people have never even heard about,” he said. “We will try to organise such events more often and turn Ecopark into a playground for city dwellers, making them an ideal destination.”

Ha said the 12 kite artists flyers from overseas include the world-famous Hoac Gia Lam, a Hanoi-born artist man residing in Canada, who has won various prizes for his kite performances and designs and is considered one of the world’s top 10 kite performance artist performers.

The others include Prince Ida Bagus Ugrasena Narendra and Princess Helmi Ginanti from Indonesia, Teo Joo Lye Peter from Singapore, and Leong Chee Wan from Malaysia.

“The best domestic kite teams are also participating,” he said. “Among them is artist Pham Quang Tam of the Sao Vang kite team who can make three kites fly together with music in the background,” he said.

Lam revealed he loved flying kites in Hanoi when he was a child. When he settled down in Canada, he saw some locals flying kites and began to indulge in the sport again in 1985.

“I learned a lot from other experienced artists,flyers,” he said. “At first, I had to learn kite-flying skills, and then, I started competing in contests. Gradually, I accumulated several achievements. In the past, one needed favourable windy conditions to fly kites. Nowadays, many modern kites don’t need the wind at all. They can fly in all conditions except during thunderstorms.”

“The kite I fly requires a wind velocity of only 3km per hour,” he said. “Flying a kite makes a person feel relaxed, happy, excited and proud, especially when flying a kite they designed.”

He said he now mostly designs kites for others to fly.

Talking about his performance, Lam said he wants better control over his kites, hoping to make them dance in time to the music to make the performance more interesting and attractive to the audience.

“Today’s youth have countless options for entertainment compared with the past,” he said. “Young people should play the sport because when they master it, they will be invited to perform at events all over the world. Making something ourselves gives us a sense of pride. It’s better than just sitting at home, watching TV and playing with an iPad.”

Together with Lam’s kite display, performances by the Airnergy Group from Singapore wowed the audience the most, with their four-line kites controlled by four members, with music playing in the background.

“They must have spent lots of time practising,” viewer Nguyen Thu Hien said. “After seeing their performance, I fully believe that nothing is impossible for people who have a strong team spirit. They can even make kites dance in the sky like real dancers.”

“The wind is good here, and the people are friendly,” Zulkifli Said from Singapore’s Airnergy Group said. “We hope to return to Hanoi.

“Our kites are made from long-lasting nylonpolyester. They can last for some 10 years. We don’t have to make new kites too often,” he said. “Our performance is based on faith. We need to be faithful (in our duty) to one another and be kind to all humankind.”

He said the group practises twice a month. Its members have been together for four years and have travelled throughout the world to perform.

The group has performed in Viet Nam seven times, while this is their second visit to Hanoi.

In addition to getting the chance to witness 100m-long kites flying in the sky, festival-goers can create their own kites under the guidance of kite making artisans.

“The free-visa entry for foreigners from 159 countries has been opened at LIA. Hopefully it can widen access for foreign tourists traveling to Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara in general,” said the region’s Tourism and Culture Agency head Mohammad Faozal to thejakartapost.com on Monday.

There are currently 29 airports, 88 seaports and 7 border checkpoint posts in Indonesia where certain foreign citizens can obtain a free visa upon arrival.

Faozal said the free-visa regulation could be enjoyed by foreigners who were traveling as a tourist, coming to visit their family, conducting social activities, attending art and culture seminars or participating in international exhibitions or meetings held by their office’s headquarters/representatives in Indonesia.

He was hopeful that the regulation would help boost the number of foreign tourists to West Nusa Tenggara as they would be able to head straight to Lombok without having to transit at another airport. Business-wise, airlines will be more encouraged to open direct flights to the region.

Silk Air Lombok branch head Sufit Arif Barata told thejakartapost.com that the regulation would encouraged tourists from Asia or other parts of the world to visit Lombok via Singapore.

The airline currently has four direct flights per week from Singapore to Lombok with most passengers coming from Germany, the Netherlands, UK and Norway in addition to Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and China.

Close on the heels of Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan were awarded fifth and sixth best in Asia, respectively. Maui in Hawaii was awarded the top world rank.

“Indonesia is an archipelago blessed with thousands of wonderful islands that offer spectacular scenery, unique ambiance and vast marine biodiversity,” a representative of the Tourism Ministry commented.

“Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan are island destinations that are not merely great to visit, but places that serve as enchanting sanctuaries that perpetuate harmony between the people, culture and nature of Indonesia. […] we look forward to more visitors from around the world coming to further explore the beauty of these islands,” the Tourism Ministry representative further added.

TripAdvisor used an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions on islands worldwide over a 12-month period, as well as traveler booking interest, resulting in its list of award winners. ( kes )

Top 10 islands in Asia

1. Bali, Indonesia

2. Phuket, Thailand

3. Ko Samui, Thailand

4. Koh Tao, Thailand

5. Lombok, Indonesia

6. Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

7. Boracay, Philippines

8. Langkawi, Malaysia

9. Havelock Island, India

10. Taketomicho Iriomote-jima, Japan

Top 10 islands in the world

1. Maui, Hawaii

2. Santorini, Greece

3. Jamaica, Caribbean

4. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

5. Bali, Indonesia

6. Majorca, Spain

7. Mauritius, Africa

8. Phuket, Thailand

9. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

10. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

An enchanting place to begin our natural journey is with the fireflies of Selangor, one of the most eye-catching and enriching sights of Malaysia’s natural world. A visit to Kuala Selangor, to the north-west of Kuala Lumpur, allows visitors to appreciate the evening air above the Selangor River with the beauty of Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park. Watch the night come alive, illuminated by the flicker of these beautiful insects. The fireflies cluster around mangrove trees at the edge of the river, and are best viewed from the row boats which can be hired with friendly local guides. They may be small, but the beauty of the flickering fireflies flitting through the darkness above the water is not to be understated.

Moving from the miniscule to the ginormous, the beautiful elephants of the Asean region have long been a draw for tourists. Exposure in recent years has highlighted some of the less sustainable practices in elephant tourism, but that shouldn’t put you off your own experiences in gaining an understanding of these beautiful creatures. The Elephant Nature Park in the Mae Taeng District ofChiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, offers an award-winning, sustainable alternative to the tourism elephant rides often found elsewhere.

In rehabilitating and supporting rescued elephants, you will come to know these beautiful animals more closely, while enjoying an adventure that at the same time supports a worthy cause. The Elephant Nature Park is the most famous of several sustainable elephant sanctuaries throughout the region, each of which offers you the chance to learn the simple pleasures of feeding, herding and cleaning these beautiful creatures.

Elephants offer an iconic image of animal tourism, but the wild nature of South-East Asia is perhaps no better depicted than in the majestic orangutan, our very own “man of the forest”. These beautiful creatures have faced significant challenges in recent years, with the loss of much of their natural habitat. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabi­litation Centre, located on a 43sqkm reserve in Sabah, offers visitors a chance to view these awesome creatures while supporting an organisation that seeks to highlight and address the challenges to their survival.

Visitors to the centre are treated to educational videos about these beautiful creatures, and the opportunity to view them appropriately in their natural surroundings. There are five bus trips there a day from nearby Sandakan and the centre is open from 9am to 4pm. Visit at feeding time around 10am and 3pm for the best chance of seeing one of these great creatures.

The drive to protect wildlife, while revealing the wonders of the natural world, is at the very heart of Cambodia’s Wildlife Alliance. This organisation works closely with government and wildlife organisations to nurture and protect the wonderful creatures and their habitat throughout Cambodia. Their mandate is not only to protect, but to educate, and as such they offer some wonderful opportunities for sustainable tourism that at the same time supports their fantastic cause.

The Wildlife Alliance tours at their Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre provide the opportunity to get up close and personal with rescued animals, hand-feed elephants, appreciate the beauty of their rescued big cats as well as visit the cutest in all nature – the baby animals! A day’s tour costs US$150 (RM580), with a pickup at 8am from Phnom Penh. The payment for these tours goes directly to funding the organisation’s work in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals.

On top of this great day out, the Wildlife Alliance has a variety of alternative experiences. This includes being part of the awe-inspiring moment of release, as rehabilitated animals are let free into the wilds of the Cardamom Mountains, near Chi Phat in the south-west of Cambodia, to eco-tours of the region around Chi Phat.

For a full-on immersive eco-adventure, you can even take part in their “Be a Ranger” experience, also based in the Cardamom Mountains area. Experience the intense and challenging life of a wildlife ranger – from patrolling the forests to keeping wildlife safe. The Wildlife Alliance offers a truly unique opportunity for sustainable travel and enjoying the wonders of the natural world, all while playing your part in helping to maintain them.

Finally, if we’re to maintain the beauty of nature for the next generation, then educating them about its wonders should start at an early age. The aptly named “Farm in the City” in Seri Kemban­gan, Selangor, is a wonderful example of this important opportunity, and it’s right here at our doorstep.

By combining its role as a nature conservation park with that of an immersive and interactive zoo, Farm in the City means the next generation can get a sense of the natural world far removed from their often urban lifestyles.

With a variety of family-friendly attractions, such as a petting zoo, alongside various educational programmes and conservation projects, you’re bound to inspire a love of the natural world in the younger generation, while enjoying the wonders on show too.

Now go talk to the animals.

The Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival (BEC) on the eastern tip of Java, Indonesia, is a celebration which presents both local and foreign tourists with a fantastic cultural show.

The carnival has a different theme each year, and the one that our group of journalists was privy to was inspired by the Usingnese Royal Wedding (the Using are the indigenous people of the Kabupaten region).

The show, held at Blambangan Park in Banyuwangi, was eagerly attended by locals and tourists. Although Banyuwangi is a lesser-known destination, compared to the highly popular Bali, Bandung and Jakarta, it has a charm all its own.

Travel options to Banyuwangi include a ferry service from Bali, or a flight from Surabaya (a bus ride takes six hours). Spurring tourism through a cultural event like the BEC, which harnesses the local community’s creativity and tenacity, seems like the perfect business model to attract visitors from all over the world.

At the festival, many visitors weathered the hot sun by trying to cool down with hand fans, as well as caps and sunglasses, standing beneath the provided tents while trying to catch a glimpse of the amazing traditional show on display.

And they were definitely not disappointed, as the parade had participants donning different wedding apparels and dancing their way along a 70m runway, right down to a designated spot where photographers could snap away to their hearts’ content.

The carnival had three presentations; the Sembur Kemuning, Mupus Braen Blambangan and Sekar Kedaton Wetan. The costumes of the Sembur Kemuning, the wedding ritual of the coastal people there, were dominated by yellow, orange and purple colours, forming a striking picture for the audience.

The Mupus Braen Blambangan, the middle class people’s ritual, displayed red, black and gold hues, while the Sekar Kedaton Wetan, the wedding ritual of the nobles, had its models bathed in glittery green and silver. Unsurprisingly, yet amazingly, all the wedding apparels were designed by local designers.

On the fringes of the BEC site, there were many kiosks which sold local products, such as batik and accessories, including handicrafts. One of the proprietors, Ibu Hani, the owner of SriKandi Batik art shop, said she has been in the trade for over a decade, adding that the Gajah Oleng Khas Batik clothes and materials that she sells, are made in Banyuwangi, inspired by the culture there.

Scent of an attraction

Hikers will be pleased to know that the cultural fix in Banyuwangi can be swapped for natural treats, with Mount Ijen promising an unforgettable experience. The swirling wind, which blows fine sand, as well as the scent of rotten eggs spewed by the sulfur lake at the Ijen crater, could be discouraging, though.

The pathway to the crater, which was paved with dust and volcanic particles, made it almost impossible for one to gain enough traction to hike. Still, our troop adhered to the “no pain, no gain” mantra to have us trudging along.

The Ijen crater, which is a quiet, but active volcano, offers a breathtaking view from its peak, which could easily send shutterbugs into a frenzy. High quality sulfur is mined here, with many workers walking up and down the path; some with wheelbarrows, others with shoulder baskets. The pure sulfur is delivered to a nearby town.

This isn’t a vocation for the faint-hearted, and stuck with a meager wage, the enterprising miners try to supplement their income by selling pure sulphur stones carved into flowers and other designs, to tourists. The miners were quite friendly, waving to and greeting us when they passed us along the steep pathway.

Apparently, Java’s sulfur is a high-grade natural resource for sulfuric acid, which is in great demand in the oil-refining business and in the production of fertilizers. Sadly for the miners though, it is also back-breaking work.

We stopped by the Candi Ngrimbi, a resting point at Paltuding, which is 1,850m above sea level. We enjoyed cups of coffee and instant noodles to recharge ourselves before getting back on track to tackle the peak, which stands at 2,386m (above the sea level).

As expected, Ijen did not disappoint – the magnificent view, coupled with the buffeting wind, made the experience extremely thrilling; one wrong move could send a person tumbling straight into the belly of the crater lake. The 200m deep turquoise lake, was mesmerizing, with plumes of smokes rolling above its 600 x 960m surface.

Some in our party, went a step further by getting down to the mining site. The sulfuric air is so overwhelming that breathing masks are required for a person to get down there, lest they risk inhaling toxic fumes.

The Yellow River, located at the foot of Mount Ijen, earns its name because of the sulfur content which flows down with it from the mountain. The rocks there are also yellow, no thanks to the sulfur in the water. However, it formed a picturesque and unique sight.

Kemiren village

We stopped by a coffee plantation right after coming down from the Ijen Crater. Madurese women, young and old, could be seen indulging in casual conversation while filling their sacks. They were all busy collecting and segregating the Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, dumping them into sacks.

The beans are used to make the Using Coffee (Kopai Using) at Kemiren Village, which has been gazetted by the government as Using Tribe Cultural Village.

A village in the Glagah district, is home to the Genjah Arum studio, a traditionally-designed museum run by coffee planter Setiawan Subekti, who was present on the day of our visit. Setiawan, or Pak Iwan, as he is fondly referred to, is also a world-class coffee maestro who specializes in the production of Luwak Coffee, the most expensive coffee in the world.

He showed us the raw beans (acquired from civets excreting beans they consume) which are used to make the coffee powder. We were lucky enough to take turns to roast the beans on a traditional stove while a group of old ladies (who did not look their age) entertained us with music played by traditional rice pounding apparatus, which clearly served two purposes.

Naturally, the lingering taste of the coffee had each of us snapping up a bag of the fragrant Kopai Using. Besides, the price of Kopai Using was at least affordable. At Rp75,000 ($1,125), it made for a more practical souvenir than the exotic Luwak, which costs around Rp500,000.

Apart from being a coffee master, Pak Iwan also salvaged some of the near 100-year-old traditional houses of the Using tribe for conservation. The wooden houses, in the middle of the village, have now become art centers, where locals practice their dances and other communal activities. We had the chance to watch the Jejer Gandrung, the tribe’s unique dance. The dancers even invited some of us to join them, raising the bar in entertainment value.

There’s fun and culture to be had, in equally huge doses, so, what are you waiting for?