Surabaya Zoo - South Asia's Largest Habitat of Wild Animals

By Naveen Marasinghe

Surabaya, one of the biggest cities in Asia is the second largest city in Indonesia while being the capital of East Java. When considering the main attractions in the area, "Surabaya zoo" takes a leading position as one of the most visited attractions. It is the largest zoo in Southeast Asia occupying a width of over 15 hectares and has been divided into several fractions for aquarium and brine, Bird watching, night animals and for a large variety of mammals.

The zoo was opened to public on the 31st August 1916 by a group of animal lovers. Now it is estimated that over 3,500 animals representing more than 400 species are housed in the zoo including Indonesia's rare and other endangered animals in the world. The tower in the zoo is a fantastic way to enjoy an all-inclusive panoramic view of the entire zoo. Visitors who would love to get on the back of the biggest mammal on earth will have the chance to have an exhilarating elephant back ride and also a camel ride.

Some of the interesting animal species include the Komodo which is a gigantic lizard natively from Komodo Island, the bekantan monkey, some tigers from Sumatra, five flamingoes of South America and the Jalak, a parrot from Bali can be mentioned as only few that drag the attention immediately once entered to the zoo.

The zoo has become a mode of getting spellbound by its mesmerizing aquarium that contains thousands of diverse sea animals and reefs. With the increasing number of its species and tourists the aquarium has been modifies several times from its opening. The skyscrapers of the zoo happen to be nothing else but its gigantic trees that have grown so high that they hide the sky of one's view from the ground. The zoo offers some other additional services such as dining facilities, children's playground and even insurance for and accidents.

Outside the zoo visitors can find a number of restaurants and some recreational areas which are close by. Furthermore for tourists spending a long vacation, a variety of Surabaya serviced apartments such as Somerset serviced apartments could be found within close proximity of the zoo.

Naveen Marasinghe is an e-marketing executive at eMarketingEye(Private) Ltd. eMarketingeEye is an search engine marketing company offering integrated Internet marketing solutions, specializing in serving the online travel and hospitality industry. (http://www.emarketingeye.com)

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Destination Surabaya - An Indonesian Potpourri of Nature, Ethnicity, and Urbanity

By Kevin Delbert

The dynamic Indonesia welcomes all tourists and travel freaks to its awe-inspiring, scintillating "city of heroes", Surabaya, the second-largest metropolitan of the nation and the capital city of the East Java provincial reigns. Since its days of exaltation in 1293, when the city's first king Raden Wijaya emerged victorious against the paramount power of Chinese troops, Surabaya has remained a landmark name in the history of Indonesia. Loaded with attractions galore, Surabaya is a mélange of history, customs and modish urban culture, while being lauded simultaneously for its spectacular natural beauty and bounty.

On your trip to this breathtaking, histrionic capital city of Indonesia, you are sure to go spellbound by the opulence and magnanimity that Surabaya bestows on its tourists and citizens alike. Splendid sandy beaches with shimmering white sands, all along the coastal areas of this Port City uplifts the aesthetical self in you, while the oodles of daring activities that one can indulge in appeals to all adventure aficionados all over the globe. The major beach, Kenjeran Beach is one of the most marvelous attractions of the city, enticing travelers to its picturesque beauty and countless water sports namely, surfing, sailing, swimming, and fishing. In addition, if you wish to pamper yourself amidst the dazzling sunny ambience, indulge in some sunbathing, while not missing out on the innumerable roadside gourmet options and restaurants lined up along the coastline.

If you go vacationing in the Heroic City, where the Battle of Surabaya is extolled till date, you cannot afford to miss out on the legion of monuments, mosques and historical edifices, that augments its ethnic culture and endows Surabaya with a distinctive aura of its own. One such unsurpassable memorabilia is the Tugu Pahlawan or the Heroic Monument, standing high at 50 meters with its unique colossal upturned nail structure to honor those valiant soldiers who became martyrs at the gory war. If you wish to enlighten yourself more about this war, the exhibition held in close proximity will transform you to those days of the imbrued battle.

Bring your kids along to one of the most delightful sites in the city and the largest of its kind in the whole of South-East Asia- the Surabaya Zoo, famously called the Kebun Bonbin. The zoo which is open to the public every day from 7 in the morning to 5 in the evening is an enthralling experience to undergo. The diverse array of animals- orangutans, elephants, giraffes, tigers, crocodiles, bears, camels and the bizarre Komodo Dragons are sure to make your day out with family a fun-filled one.

The staunch religious aspect of Surabaya get reflected in its zillions of mosques and relics that stand out in their unique charisma. In fact, Surabaya is home to the one and only synagogue in the whole of the country. The Grand Mosque and the Cheng H Mosque are two landmark names in the religious history of the city. At the cultural side, the outstanding museums and monuments hold up to its rich tradition, customs and festivity. Be it the Jales Veva Jaya Mahe Monument glorifying the Indonesian Navy, the Monkasel or the Submarine Monument or the Heroic Monument, you will get to witness a completely different aspect of the city's culture with each edifice.

Gourmands and connoisseurs of food should never forget to visit the famous Food Street of the city- the G-Walk on your trip. Located in the Citraland, the G-Walk is just the place for foodies with all sorts of Asian, Western and Chinese delicacies at the restaurants and food stalls filling the surroundings with their divine aromas. Moreover, if you get to stay back for the night, you will definitely not wish to leave the vivacious nightlife and vibrant ambience that the youthful G-Walk dons on.

Before you go overseas, you may want to check out trip cancellation insurance. We can also help with travel insurance over 65.

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