Places of Interest in Java

Surabaya 
A booming city over 3 million people, Surabaya offers many good hotels, shopping centers and plentiful sources of entertainment. Its well stocked zoological garden includes several pieces of Indonesian fauna: orang utans, komodo dragons and a collection of nocturnal animals. Kalimas is an old traditional harbor for the world famous schooner s, which can still be seen in all their former glory. Across the Madura Strait, half, an hour by ferry from Surabaya is the island of Madura, famous for its unique bull races.  

Trowulan, Pandaan, and Tretes 
Trowulan village and the surrouding area believed to be the site of the acient capital of Majapahit. Archaelogical excavations inthe area have recovered many terracota ornaments, statues, pottery and stone carvings which are displayed at the Trowulan Museum. The map in the museum is a guide to nearby sites of historical interest. The Candra Wilwatika open-air theatre in Pandaan, 45 km south of Surabaya presents clasical East Javanese ballet performances on each full moon night from June to November. The performances are based either on the Ramayana stories or east Java’s Legends and floklore . The backdropof Mt. Pananggungan makes the performances an enchanting experience. 10 km from Chandra Wilwatika is Tretes, one of the most beautiful mountain resort of Java. 

Malang 
Ninety kilometers south of Surabay lays malang, one of the most attractive hill towns of Java. A strong sense of civic pride is evident from the well maintained and elaborately painted pedicabs, the groomed main square, and cleanbuilding and streets. The cool climateis a welcome respite from Surabaya. Twenty kilometers from Malang on the southern flank of Mt. Arjuna, are selecta and Songgoriti, popular hill resorts with hot springs. Nearby Batu is famous for its apples and flowers.Sports facilities at Selecta include include horse riding, swimming and tennis. 

Mount Bromo
Many Local and foreign travelers make the trek for the mystical experience of watching the sunrise from the crest of the Bromo volcano. A pony from the village of Ngadisari takes you over a sea of sand to the foot of the volcan. Ascend the 50 steps to reach the rim. On the vast expanse of sand, formely a caldera, there are two volcanoes; the extincth Batok is a perfect cone and Bromo. Volcanic sulfur fumesand smoke still emanate from the depths, and the God of Bromo begins to rumble, the surrounding population quickly brings their offerings. The annual offering ceremony of Kasada is held on the 14th day of Kasada, the twelfth month in the Tenggerese calender year. It is a dazzling event where villagers from the surrounding areas bring their humble offerings to the holy volcano. 

The East Java Tourist Information center (2002)