NIAS ISLAND

Nias Island (Tano Niha, in Nias language) lies about 125 km of west Sumatra Island on the Indian Ocean. It is part of North Sumatra Province. The capital city of Nias is Gunungsitoli. However, now Nias is contained part resort, they are: Nias Regency, South Nias Regency, North Nias Regency, West Nias Regency, Middle Nias Regency and Gunungsitoly City. The water surround the island is great for sea activities, such as surfing and scuba diving. The people also have curious culture, which will enrich visitor's heart. The island has some prehistoric remains, which built on megalithic Stone Age, and considered came from the oldest megalithic culture in Indonesia.

The local call their land as Tano Niha or "land of the People", while the people calls them selves as Ono Niha. Ethnically, the Niasers are involved in to the Ptoto-Malay ethnic who once ever get with the Asian Proto-mongoloid world. Niasers speak a kind of language related to Malagasy. Because of the similarity in languages, custom, body size of the Niasers with the Bataks on Sumatra mainland, it is possible that the Niasers have derived from the Bataks.

Surfers will call this island "Paradise on Earth". Together with its beautiful white sandy beach, Lagundri Bay challenge surfers with spectacular waves. In the high season, the waves told to be as high as 3.5 meters. The waves of Sorake Beach on Lagundri Bay have ranked to be within the best ten waves of the world. It is true if some surfers referred of Sorake Beach waves as "the most notorious right-band reef breaks". There are events held for surfers, including the World Professionals Qualifying Series. Surfers are better being ready when your heart cannot leave this island after a visit.

Enormous breakers pummel of Nias Island attracting the best surfers in the world to Lagundri Beach. The unforgiving power attacking the shore seems to have bred the same qualities in the people, whose militaristic culture has fascinated anthropologists for decades. This island lies off West Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. Bawomataluo and Hilisimaetano villages are curious places to visit, where visitors can see performances of traditional war dances and thrilling high- jump sports, i.e. people making dangerous leaps over 2 meter-high stones. Typical scenes are dancers clad in traditional costumes with bird feathers on their heads, a hall for the Chief-of Tribe built on wooden logs with stone chairs weighing up to 18 tons. There are daily flights from Medan to Nias Island.

To reach this place, there is weekly ship from Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia) to Gunungsitoli; There are Ferries from Sibolga to Gunung Sitoli, Teluk Dalam, or Lahewa every day; Before the crisis hit Indonesia, there is daily flight from Medan to Gunung Sitoli, however it is less frequent nowadays. Gunungsitoli is the capital city of Nias and it is the center of administration and business affairs of regency. There are several travel agencies hotels, public busses and rental cars to support tourism here. There are also some government and private banks available.

Geographically
Nias Island lies on 10 30' north latitude and 970 98' east longitudes. It covers of 5,625 km2 areas, which is mostly lowland area of ± 800 m above sea level.

Population
It is the biggest in a group of islands on Sumatra side that is part of North Sumatra province. This area consists of 131 islands and Nias Island is the biggest. The population in this area is about 639,675 people (including Malay, Batak, and Chinese). Nias has a very unique culture and nature, which is far different from other areas in North Sumatra. This is because of its separate and remote location from the rest of Sumatra.

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Traveling Through Recession

After everything was said and done in 2008, the outlook for the coming financial quarters was very bleak. With companies going bankrupt left and right and employees getting laid off in the hundreds of thousands, it's no surprise that analysts expect spending to slow down in the coming year.

Spending on unnecessary goods and services is still expected to decline even further. This trend has so far driven even big companies like General Motors into dire financial straits. The travel and airline industry has also so taken a very big hit of late, as made apparent by the numerous cost-cutting measures companies are using. But just because the economy isn't doing so well doesn't mean that you have to cancel all your plans to travel.

Questions at the Starting Line

Yes, it is possible to have something as seemingly unnecessary and frivolous as travel in this ailing economy. After all, just because the stock markets crashed and the banking system is in a tizzy doesn't mean that you're left completely penniless. It's just that you now have to face additional financial realities, and then somehow get around each one. Here are some questions you may want to address before finalizing your travel plans.

Do you have debts? This is a very important question, especially if you joined in the nationwide, credit card-fueled spending spree of the last several years. Pay your debts before booking your flights. Traveling with an already considerable debt to the banks will just add to that debt and increase your interest payments. Isn't paying for that debt already hard enough as it is?

Do you have financial security? Addressing this question means you'll have to look at your balance in the bank and assess your current employment. Do you have enough to support yourself for a month, if need be? Do you have the security that your job will remain yours, at least for the next few years? You need to be able to answer affirmatively to both questions before traveling becomes a sensible option for you.

Never, ever travel without first having a financial safety net like insurance or funds in the bank stored up. Not only is traveling a costly pastime, but it's downright dangerous to find yourself in a compromising situation in a foreign land without a cent to your name.

The Power of Planning

Don't ever underestimate the power of planning and acting ahead. While many other travelers pooh-pooh at or underestimate the process of planning trips, it's actually the best and surest way for you to reduce expenses and optimize your cash. Planning and booking ahead, for example, will get you much lower rates for airfare than if you were to get a ticket tonight for a plane that leaves tomorrow.

Hotels and other accommodations typically work the same way. Reserving and making arrangements several weeks beforehand could get you bigger discounts or better amenities, especially if you negotiated with the management. Early action will save you oodles of money at every step of the way and in every leg of the trip.

An economy going through a recession doesn't necessarily make travel impossible. If anything, it only makes travel a little more difficult. But if you're confident about your finances and meticulous about your travel preparations, then the downward economy shouldn't stop you from taking to the sky.

Huzaili Aris loves to travel and has more tips on how to travel during recession over at his website. You can even find fun vacation ideas and vacation tours for you and the whole family.

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