U.S. issues travel alert on Indonesia

AMERICANS in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and its surrounding areas were urged to leave last week after a magnitude-6.3 earthquake on May 27 that struck central Java, one of the main islands of the Indonesian archipelago. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta also advised Americans “to defer all nonessential travel to Yogyakarta and the surrounding area.”

More than 6,200 people had been reported dead as of the Travel section’s deadline Friday.

The Adi Sutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta was damaged, but reopened Tuesday, said Riaz J.P. Saehu, a spokeswoman for the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

At the five-story Jayakarta hotel in Yogyakarta, part of the back wing and roof collapsed, said Ellies Halim, an executive for the Jayakarta Hotels & Resorts chain, in a report on the Pacific Asia Travel Assn. website.

But the 269-room Hyatt Regency reported no damage. “We are in good condition,” said Aidi Sarwo, assistant manager.

Some heritage sites in the city, including the Sultan’s Palace and Prambanan Hindu temple, sustained extensive damage, said Laretna Adishakti of the Jogja Heritage Society in a report to the World Monuments Fund in New York.

But the 8th and 9th century Buddhist monument at Borobudur “was saved with very little damage,” said Hima Singh, president of Asian Pacific Adventures, (www.asianpacificadventures.com), a Tarzana-based company that offers tours to Indonesia and other Asian nations.

Besides the earthquake, Java residents are also watching Mt. Merapi, a volcano 15 miles north of the city, which has been more active in recent weeks. Residents living on the slopes have been evacuated.

The U.S. State Department has a long-standing warning on Indonesia because of the possibility of terrorism, at www.travel.state.gov.

St. Regis luxury

in Bora-Bora

THE ever-growing St. Regis chain is set to open another of its luxury accommodations, this time in French Polynesia.

The St. Regis Bora-Bora, set on 44 acres, has 91 villas (including five over water that have swimming pools that also are over water).

The one-bedroom units are 1,550 square feet and start at $950 a night.

Guests have their choice of three restaurants, a spa and two pools (one with swim-up bar). And each villa comes with a butler, of course.

Info: (877) 787-3447, www.stregis.com.

Highway 140 into Yosemite closes

STATE Highway 140 into Yosemite National Park is closed because of a rockslide about 12 miles west of the park boundary.

The slide began April 29 and “has continued to fall pretty steadily,” said Adrienne Freeman, a park ranger. Caltrans officials are assessing the situation, but it may take six months or more before the road is reopened, she said.

Visitors can enter the park from highways 41 and 120. Park officials have added more staff to handle the extra traffic at those entrances, Freeman said. “Come as early as you can,” she advised.

The Tioga Pass road also is closed because of snow. “Tioga hopefully will be open by the end of June,” Freeman said.

A World Cup camping trip

WORLD CUP soccer fans looking for inexpensive last-minute lodging in Germany might consider one of three tent cities being set up in Leizip, Dortmund and Schwabisch Hall/Ilshofen.

Campers can sleep in their own tents or buy or rent one. An overnight stay costs about $23. Info: www.fanproject2006.com.

-- Compiled by

Times staff