Bunaken National Marine Park

Bunaken National Marine Park ranks amongst the best snorkeling destinations in the world. Here you have a rare combination of marine bio-diversity and crystal clear water with visibility up to 40 metes. Naturally, the first tourists to Bunaken were keen divers on the look out for a new destination.
Now days Snorkelers from all over the world are traveling to Bunaken to see what all the "Fuss" is about.
Once here the call of the ocean becomes irresistible.

Bunaken National Park is located in the Province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Geographically, the Park consists of a northern and southern section (see Map 1). The northern section includes five islands, and the coastal area between Molas to Tiwoho called the “Molas-Wori Coast”. The southern section consists entirely of coastal area between Poopoh and Popareng villages, called the “Arakan-Wawontulap Coast”. The Park is located close to Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi. Travelling time between Manado and Bunaken Island is about 35 minutes by boat.

Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.

Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.

Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. If successful, Bunaken Marine Park will stand as an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

The Dive Sites :
Most diving takes place near Bunaken and Manado Tua, because of their many excellent sites. The following is representative of the diving in the area.

Lekuan Walls (I, II, III)
This long wall on Bunaken is divided into three sites: Lekuan I, II and III. Together they represent the park's best. Steep walls are marked with deep crevices, sea fans and giant sponges. The shallows are filled with fishes. The wall, often protected from stronger currents, is frequented by bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon wrasses.
Mandolin
Mandolin has a knockout reef crest and a wall that attracts thousands of fishes like schooling fusiliers, surgeonfish, unicornfish, and bannerfish. They are acclimated to divers and are easily approachable.
Bunaken Timor
There are strong currents and lots of fishes on this long wall. The shallow reef isn't as spectacular as some but there are turtles, sharks, eagle rays, and other big fishes in the blue. Overhangs and small caves mark the wall.
Tanjung Kopi
Tanjung Kopi is a nice wall with a small school of barracuda and lots of sweetlips. Visibility in the shallows is not terrific but the numbers of fishes make up for it. Nudibranches and fire gobies are easy to spot here.
Siladen Island
Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that bloom when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of fishes and schooling snappers.
Muka Gereja
Muka Gereja is a pretty site with thousands of fishes in the shallows and deeper canyons that lead to the wall.
Barracuda Point
Barracuda Point, on northwest Montehage, is one of the furthest sites. A school of giant barracuda are regulars along with jacks and tuna.
Manado Wreck
This 60m (200ft) long German merchant ship sank near Molas Beach in 1942. It sits upright with the bow at 23m (78ft). The ship is split near amidships back to the stern, exposing the wheelhouse and cargo holds. Dives finish up on a nearby shallow reef. Expect 10-15m (30-50ft) visibility.

another pic!










ref.visitindonesia.

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Grand Canyon Move to Indonesia ???

No, isnt like the title,America has its Grand Canyon, and Indonesia has it’s own version of a different hue. Green Canyon is a site comprising a river, a cave system, and waterfall in West Java. Located some 31 km south of Pangandaran Beach. Although locally known as Cukang Taneuh, the name Green Canyon was used by French travelers when they first discovered it in 1993. And the much user-friendly name has stuck ever since. And thanks to these intrepid Frenchmen, West Java now has a pretty spectacular adventure destination.

Green Canyon is part of Cijulang River that goes subterranean as it enters a cave full of beautiful formation of stalactites and stalagmites. These caves are flanked by two big imposing green hills. Hence, the name! Green Canyon is only accessible by boat, which can be rented at the Ciseureuh dock.

At the entrance of the cave, you will be greeted by the Palatar waterfall, drenching all who enter, marking the beginning of an exciting adventure. And as you venture forward you’ll find a natural pool nearby, with its fresh and cool water, inviting a dip anytime.

And if you’re up to test your nerves, and are really into extreme activity, you could opt to go inside the cave. What’s the big deal, you might ask? Well, the entrance to the cave is through a very narrow opening, and in the only way in is by crawling. Fun as it may sound, however, it’s advisable to explore the caves with a local guide. But it’s worth the trouble of getting there. Sure makes West Java really different from only the picturesque manicured tea plantations. As that’s the sight most travelers are most impressed with.

another pics!

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Borobudur Temple

The magnificent Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. This awe inspiring monument is truly a marvel. After a visit here you will understand why it is Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and a famous icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

Located on the island of Java, the temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. It covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.

The temple has remained strong even through ten centuries of neglect. It was rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures.

The temple is decorated with stone carvings in bas-relief representing images from the life of Buddha. Commentators claim that this is the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit.

This monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The ten levels of the temple symbolize the three divisions of the religion’s cosmic system. As visitors begin their journey at the base of the temple, they make their way to the top of the monument through the three levels of Budhist cosmology, Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). As visitors walk to the top the monument guides the pilgrims past 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.



The whole monument itself resembles a giant stupa, but seen from above it forms a mandala. The great stupa at the top of the temple sits 40 meters above the ground. This main dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

Historians suggest that the name of Borobudur comes from the Sanskrit ‘Vihara Buddha Uhr’ or the ‘Buddhist monastery on the hill’.

ref.indonesia.travel

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Blogging and Watching World Cup Match

Alhamdulilah,, thanks God for give me a chance to live n loving my life.hihi..
im indonesian, especially Central Java people. Thanks to all of you to read my blog, even i copied from another site. its no problem, the important things are the information, right?!

Because of im indonesian , so i can NGOMONG JOWO...hehehhe..^^ iso lah..kan wong jowo..rapopo kan di campur ngomonge..hehe

tapi capek juga pake bahasa inggris. Kenapa kok capek? lah..baru belajar euy, ora iso-iso ngomonge..TOEFL juga berapa sih scorenya, sitik, alias ga banyak.Kalo ada yang salah-salah dikit (tapi kayaknya banyak deh), ya mohon dikoreksi..hihi..

Lah kok judulnya "Blogging and Watching World Cup Match" ? Yaiyalah, org gw nulis blog ini sambil nonton pertandingan World Cup kok...Yah, itung-itung sambil menyelam minum air..

Its England VS Slovenia, the match is not over yet, bener ga tuh bahasa inggrisnya?hihi..dikoreksi saja pakde,bude..Banyak banget peluang England, tapi kok ya ga bisa jebol-jebol gawang Slovenia...hiks, (maklumlah England fans gitu loh!)

Uwislah dipublish wae postingannya, enjoy it.

For who read my blog, please be my friends, hope we'll make the better world together.

regards,
Big Fish

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Blood Test Detects Breast Cancer Before Any Sign of a Lump

A blood test that detects breast cancer more than a year before any symptoms appear could dramatically improve survival rates.

The test looks for raised levels of a certain protein that is already known to increase once cancer has developed. But in a new study, researchers found levels of the protein, called epidermal growth factor receptor, were already high up to 17 months before women were diagnosed with breast cancer.

The test, announced at the recent annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington DC, could herald a breakthrough in the search for a so-called 'biomarker' that indicates the presence of cancer before the patient or doctors suspect anything is wrong.

Numerous research teams around the world are searching for such biomarkers for a range of different cancers. This is because the earlier patients begin taking anti-cancer treatment, such as tumour-shrinking drugs, the better their chances of making a full recovery.

The search for a breast cancer biomarker that can detect the presence of minute amounts of malignant cells is seen as a major priority.
Screening in the UK relies on mammography, where an X-ray image of breast tissue is taken and then analysed visually by trained technicians.
Between the ages of 50 and 70, all women are called for routine screening every three years on the NHS.

Those with a strong family history of the disease at a young age may be screened from their 20s or 30s. But there have been concerns over the accuracy of some mammography scans.

In 2008, for example, thousands of women in the Manchester area were affected when health chiefs were alerted to errors by one technician.
They then ordered a review of scans dating back to April 2003. The other problem is that X-rays do not easily penetrate dense breast tissue found in younger women, reducing the chances of finding small tumours.

Women also complain that the actual procedure can be extremely uncomfortable, as the breast has to be compressed between plates for an image to be taken.
The latest development came from a study of more than 400 breast cancer victims by scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle.
The volunteers were all taking part in a major, long-running U.S. study, called the Women's Health Initiative, a 15-year investigation that began in 1991 and involved more than 100,000 volunteers.

Every volunteer donated blood samples to the study for routine testing. When researchers identified women who later developed breast cancer, they analysed the blood samples they had given up to 17 months before their diagnosis.
These were then compared with another group of cancer-free women from the same study.
The results showed those with the highest levels of epidermal growth factor receptor were nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later date.
It's not clear yet whether the test can predict cancer even further into the future, as 17 months was the nominated cut-off point.

Epidermal growth factor receptor is a protein on the surface of all cells. But in excess quantities, it can trigger uncontrolled growth of cancerous tissue.
Dr Christopher Li, who led the research, said it was too early for the biomarker test to be used on its own as a cancer diagnosis. But it could form part of the screening process if further trials confirm the early findings.
'No prior studies have validated a single breast cancer early detection biomarker to the degree that we have here,' he said.
Dr Claire Knight, Cancer Research UK's health information officer, said: 'This work is still at an early stage, and it's not yet possible to tell if this research could be developed into an effective test.

'However, biomarkers are an exciting area of research because they could flag the early stages of certain cancers, making diagnosis much quicker and easier in future.'

ref.dailymail.

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The CR-Z: Honda's fun little hybrid

Honda may have come up with the first fun hybrid car. The Insight, Prius, Camry, and Fusion are all very practical hybrids, and Lexus makes a few comfortable cruisers. But the 2011 Honda CR-Z made us want to drive fast. We wanted to find the most winding road around and torture the car through the corners.

Honda obliged during our preview drive, prescribing a twisty route north of San Francisco we've previously used to test the BMW M3, Porsche 911, and Audi R8. Those cars had it all over the CR-Z for power and speed, but the plucky little CR-Z showed its stuff in the turns. Honda also set out an autocross course so we could really thrash the CR-Z, a test that we haven't previously seen a hybrid put through.
The CR-Z certainly has its quirks. In other markets it is produced with 2+2 seating, but Honda removed the rear seats for the U.S., launching it as a two-seater. We assume Honda thinks Americans are too fat to use the tiny rear seats. We're not going to argue the point.
The CR-Z's hatchback design means it offers decent cargo space in back; removing the rear seats adds an oddly formed cargo area immediately behind the front seats, the two spaces divided by the former rear seat back rest.
Two things stood out for us when we got into the car. We groaned a little when we saw the navigation unit, Honda's original system launched with its first generation of navigation-equipped cars. Needless to say, this system is badly in need of an update. It looks very rough compared with the latest nav units coming out from competitors.

Honda has fitted a Bluetooth phone system and iPod connector into the cabin to round out the electronics. The audio system consisted of six speakers, a subwoofer, and a 360-watt amp. We didn't get a lot of time to listen to the stereo, but what we heard came through with good clarity.
But we were also pleased to see a six-speed manual shifter. This six speed, similar to that used in the Civic Si, is a good one. This transmission makes the intent of the CR-Z clear. However, Honda representatives said they expect about 25 percent of CR-Z purchasers to opt for the manual transmission.
The other transmission available for the CR-Z is continuously variable, like that used in the Insight. After driving the manual version, we can't see why anyone would take the CVT. Honda includes a hill start function with the manual, making it practical in a hilly city like San Francisco.
Our preview drive began in the City by the Bay, and the car gave us three choices for its drive mode: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Setting out in Normal mode, the CR-Z showed its hybrid nature at the first traffic light, shutting down the engine as we stopped. On the green, we lifted off the brake, but the engine didn't start. We pushed the clutch in, and the engine still didn't start. But flicking the shifter into first, something it does with a nice precision, caused the engine to crank over with enough power to get us moving as we let the clutch out.

In fact, the manual transmission encouraged some fast starts off at the light, something the hybrid power train was all too happy to do. The power train consists of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine mated to Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, producing a combined 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. With the CVT, shave 5 pound-feet off that torque number. Those numbers don't sound like much, but the electric motor makes a lot of torque available immediately for a satisfying launch.
On rough pavement, the ride quality suffered from the car's firm suspension, but the electric power steering seemed well-tuned for precise handling. The CR-Z's small size made urban maneuvering easy, letting us slip in between cars from one lane to another.

ref.cnet

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66 Years Old Woman Has Triplets

Barely able to sit up due to intense pain, first-time mother Bhateri Devi steadies herself with the help of a family member. She has had a Cesarean section, an experience many women have endured.
But Devi is different: She gave birth to triplets in May this year and is 66 years old. It was her very first delivery.

The couple tried for decades but had been unable to conceive until they discovered a fertility clinic that would treat Devi. The clinic was near their village in the Indian state of Haryana.
Doctor Bishnoi Anurag has become known in the area for using fertility treatments on older patients.

The science behind it is seemingly simple and has been around for more than 20 years. Bhateri Devi is post-menopausal and has no more eggs. In her case Dr. Bishnoi says he fertilized a young woman's egg with sperm from Devi's husband in a Petri dish and then injected the fetus into his 66-year-old patient's uterus.

Before the procedure, patients have to take a few months of hormone treatment to prepare the body. This is known as in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a technique being used all over the world.
In India there is no legal upper age limit for those who want to have children using fertility treatments. The same is true in Britain and the United States.
But as we live longer the question is how old is too old to have a baby?
Dr. Bishnoi says as long as a woman is proven to be medically fit, age should not matter. He says he has successfully impregnated a 70-year-old woman as well.

cnn.com

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