Labuan Bajo : No Strom, No Tornado, No Earthquake, and No Flood (Paradise Island)

 

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The regency of West Manggarai is subdivided into 7 districts and 121 sub-districts. Labuan Bajo is the regional capital of West Manggarai.

West Manggarai is the regency covering the westernmost area of West Flores, located within the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. In 2003, West Manggarai was elevated to the status of a regency in recognition of its role as an important gateway to Flores,

With the established of the regional administration in Labuan Bajo, transportation access to Labuan Bajo, by land, sea and air continue to be enhanced. Numerous economic and tourism developments are now in an advanced planning stage or under construction in West Manggarai.

Labuanbajo, also spelled Labuhanbajo, is a city at the tip of Flores Island in Indonesia. It is the launching point for trips to Komodo Island and Rinca Island to see Komodo dragons and the surrounding sea is idyllic for diving and snorkeling. Nearby Seraya Island is a great opportunity to do some diving and snorkeling and every evening at Kalong Island thousands of flying fox bats put on an amazing display.

Get There:

Labuanbajo can be accessed by ferry from Sumbawa or by public bus from Ende and Maumere. There are also daily flights between Labuanbajo and Denpasar.

A number of companies organise 4 day sailing trips between Lombok or Bali and Flores for around Rp1,000,000 passengers should be aware that these trips can cross open waters and are on boats with no navigation or safety equipment other than some lifejackets (ie. no radio, flairs or life rafts).

 

What to Do:

Komodo National Park encompasses a lot of water and islands west of Labuanbajo. If you want to go to Rinca or Komodo islands, or dive in the park you will have to buy a 3 day park pass for 15 $USD. Money from such user fees goes into conservation efforts (including armed patrols) that are apparently overseen by the WWF.

Rinca Island (Indonesian: Rinca Kecil or Rinca Pulau) is a more convenient place to see Komodo Dragons than Komodo island. Some dive operators might be convinced to combine a stop at the island with a days diving. There are big dragons that are often right in front of the pier when people arrive.

Scuba Diving within the park is excellent. There are three main dive operators that offer day dives as well as live aboard opportunities: Bajo Dive Club, Dive Komodo, and Reef Seekers. The Komodo Diving dive master is a true enthusiast of manta rays (clearly evident by the tattoo on his back), who often spots manta rays from the boat between dives. He has been known to join divers in jumping into the water with snorkel gear to have a look at them.

 

Seraya Island (Indonesian: Seraya Kecil or Seraya Pulau) is an idyllic island and a great opportunity to get away from civilization and do some snorkeling and diving. Seraya is little more than a small, arid island outside of the Komodo National Park with a few bamboo huts for tourist lodging, a restaurant, and some villagers who let their goats graze on vegetation. The island’s cove is protected from the sea providing calm and clear water for snorkeling. At low tide the coral is exposed and local fishermen walk on the reef in search of prey. Rowboats can be rented and taken to nearby islands for snorkeling and diving. Make sure to run up to the top of the hill behind the resorts and check out the sunset. The lodges on the island do have showers, but running water is only available a few hours a day. The resort on Seraya is operated by Gardena hotel in Labuanbajo and a stay on the island can be booked at Gardena’s front desk.

One of the more spectacular displays of nature in the area is at Kalong Island (Indonesian: Pulau Kalong; also spelt Kalung), which literally means "Flying Fox Island." The name is quit appropriate as the island is home to thousands of Kalong, or giant flying fox bats. Boats to Kalong can be chartered from Labuanbajo for around $30 for a return ride, including a snorkeling stop at a nearby island before you reach Pulau Kalong. Your boat will situate itself next to the mangrove island and at dusk literally tens of thousands of flying foxes emerge from the mangrove island and move over your boat towards Rinca Island. For the entire colony to emerge will take roughly twenty minutes of continuous waves of bats passing over your boat. The boat ride to/from Labuanbajo will take roughly one hour.

Get out

Ferries to Sumbawa Island to the west (towards Bali) leave daily and very crowded public buses leave for Ende and Maumere. For those going on to points in the east of Flores another more expensive option is to hire a car.

The “Komodo dragons” which are indigenous to the regency are a tourism icon of West Manggarai. Komodo was named a World Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in1977 and added to the list of World Natural Heritage Sites by in 1991. The Government of Indonesia proclaimed a National Park in 1990. The Park’s land area is 603 km2 while the total size of the park, including sea areas, is 1,817 km2.

West Manggarai occupies an area of 9,450,000 km2 (land and sea).162 islands are contained within the boundaries of West Manggarai, 84 of which are part of the Komodo National Park. Only 17 of West Manggarai islands are inhabited. Because of the world renowned reputation of Komodo, the rich local marine environment and the natural beauty the region - both the regional and national governments of Indonesia have acknowledged the strong tourism potential development of West Manggarai

 

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Quran be burned, angry Muslims around the world (bilingual)

Gerakan Hari Pembakaran Al Quran Sedunia dipelopori oleh Dove World Outreach Center di Florida, Amerika Serikat. Rencana pembakaran Al Quran yang dilangsungkan bertepatan dengan sembilan tahun tragedi 11 September 2001 itu dipimpin oleh Dr. Terry dan Sylvia Jones dengan mengatasnamakan umat Kristen dan mengajak seluruh umat berpartisipasi melalui akun Facebook-nya. Tak kurang dari sekitar 1.500 orang yang mengklik tombol ‘Like’ di statusnya tersebut. Terry Jones, sesuai yang dilansir news.au, menyatakan bahwa Islam dan hukum syariah yang bertanggung jawab atas kejadian WTC 11/9 tersebut.

Dari dalam negeri sendiri, pada hari ini, Rabu (4/8) sejumlah tokoh pluralis dan organisasi di Indonesia berkumpul untuk menentang Gerakan Hari Pembakaran Al Quran Sedunia di AS tersebut. “Kami menyerukan agar umat manusia, termasuk umat beragama di Indonesia, tak terjebak dalam perbuatan-perbuatan anarki seperti ini yang justru tidak memperlihatkan sikap keberadaban,” ujar Gerakan Peduli Pluralisme pada pernyataan pers bersama di Gedung Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia (PGI), Jakarta.

Gerakan ini juga mengatakan bahwa pembakaran Al Quran tersebut merupakan pelecehan terhadap agama Islam dan pelanggaran terhadap kebebasan beragama. “Kami mengecam keras rencana aksi pembakaran Al Quran oleh Dove World Outreach Center. Kami minta mereka menarik pernyataannya dan menghentikan rencana aksi yang tidak terpuji dan melecehkan keyakinan iman agama lain,” ujar Gerakan Peduli Pluralisme tersebut.

Adapun kelompok yang menyatakan dukungan terhadap Gerakan Peduli Pluralisme adalah PGI, Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia, Majelis Tinggi Agama Konghucu Indonesia, Ma’arif Institute, Moderate Muslim Society, Forum Kerukunan Antarumat Beragama, Masyarakat Dialog Antaragama, Pengurus Pusat Gerakan Mahasiswa Kristen Indonesia, dan Forum Lintas Agama.

Meskipun sebanyak 1.500 orang yang mengklik ‘Like’ pada akun FB Terry Jones, bukan berarti tidak ada yang tidak suka. Buktinya di Indonesia sendiri, dari seluruh umat beragama bersatu menyatakan penolakannya. Tindakan ekstrim yang dilakukan oleh Gerakan Hari Pembakaran Al Quran Sedunia dikuatirkan akan mendatangkan perselisihan yang lebih lagi dalam umat beragama di dunia khususnya antara pemeluk agama Kristen dan Islam. Doakan jangan sampai hal ini terjadi.

TRANSLATE

Burning Day movement spearheaded by the World Quran Dove World Outreach Center in Florida, United States. Plan burning Koran, held to coincide with the nine-year September 11, 2001 was led by Dr. Terry and Sylvia Jones on behalf of Christians and invites all people to participate via his Facebook account. No less than approximately 1,500 people who clicked the 'Like' in such status. Terry Jones, as quoted by news.au, stating that Islam and sharia law is responsible for the WTC event 11 / 9 is.

From within their own country, on this day, Wednesday (4 / 8) a number of prominent pluralist and organizations in Indonesia gathered to oppose the Movement Day Burning the Quran in the U.S. Worldwide. "We appeal to the human race, including religious communities in Indonesia, was caught in acts of lawlessness like this that just does not show the attitude of civility," said Movement Concern Pluralism in a joint press statement in the House Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Jakarta.

This movement also said that the burning of the Koran is the Islamic religion and the abuse of violation of religious freedom. "We strongly condemn the action plan the burning of Al Quran by Dove World Outreach Center. We ask them to stop pulling his statement and action plan that is not commendable and harassing religious beliefs of other faith, "said the Movement of Concerned Pluralism.

The group expressed support for the Movement of Concerned Pluralism is the PGI, Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia, the Indonesian Confucian High Council, Ma'arif Institute, Moderate Muslim Society, the Harmony Forum among religious believers, Community Dialogue, the executives of the Indonesian Christian Students Movement Center, and Forums Religious Cross.

Although as many as 1,500 people who click 'Like' in Terry Jones's FB account, does not mean there is nothing like it. The proof is in Indonesia itself, from all religious communities united states refusal. Extreme actions undertaken by the Movement of the World Quran Day Burning feared would bring in even more strife in the world's religious faiths, especially between Christianity and Islam. Pray do not let this happen.



Source : kompas/lh3

New skuter Matic- Honda Revo

Honda Revo Techno AT, Harga dan Spesifikasi. Akhirnya meluncur juga Handa Bebek Matik pertama di tanah air ini, tak lain dan tak bukan adalah Honda Revo Techno AT. Kalau dulu hanya ada Skutik sekarang ada Betik alias bebek matik, hehe. Harga Honda Revo AT ini adalah sekitar Rp 15.800.000 alias 15,8 Juta Rupiah OTR Jakarta.

Honda Revo Techno AT ini dirilis dengan tiga pilhan wana techno black, techno red, dan techno violet. menggunakan sistem bahan bakan Injeksi PGM Fi, dengan dapur pacu tetap menggunakan mesin yang sama dengan varian Absolute Revo yakni mesin 4 tak 110cc dengan teknologi EFC ( Efficient & Low Friction Technology) plus sudah Lulus Euro II. Tampila Fisik sealu menjadi perhatian Utama. Bodynya mirip varian Abs Revo DX, Honda menawarkan gaya elegan pada Revo techno AT ini, gak ada terlihat grafis-grafis striping yang mencolok, hanya warna solid pada tubuhnya dipadu dengan decals nama 3 Dimensi pada body kiri dan kanan.

Spesifikasi Honda Revo AT:

Tipe mesin : 4 langkah, SOHC
Sistem pendinginan : Pendinginan udara
Diameter x langkah : 50 x 55,6 mm
Volume langkah : 109,1 cc
Perbandingan kompresi : 9,0 : 1
Daya maksimum : 7,68 PS / 8.000 rpm
Torsi maksimum : 0,81 kgf.m / 5.000 rpm
Kopling : Otomatis Sentrifugal, tipe basah
Starter: Pedal dan elektrik
Busi: ND U20EPR9S, NGK CPR6EA-9S

Nias ( Nort Sumatra , Indonesia )

Dalam budaya Ono Niha terdapat cita-cita atau tujuan rohani hidup bersama yang termakna dalam salam “Ya’ahowu” (dalam terjemahan bebas bahasa Indonesia “semoga diberkati”). Dari arti Ya’ahowu tersebut terkandung makna: memperhatikan kebahagiaan orang lain dan diharapkan diberkati oleh Yang Lebih Kuasa. Dengan kata lain Ya’ahowu menampilkan sikap-sikap: perhatian, tanggungjawab, rasa hormat, dan pengetahuan. Jika seseorang bersikap demikian, berarti orang tersebut memperhatikan perkembangan dan kebahagiaan orang lain : tidak hanya menonton, tanggap, dan bertanggungjawab akan kebutuhan orang lain (yang diucapkan : Selamat – Ya’ahowu), termasuk yang tidak terungkap, serta menghormatinya sebagai sesama manusia sebagaimana adanya. Jadi makna yang terkandung dalam “Ya’ahowu” tidak lain adalah persaudaraan (dalam damai) yang sungguh dibutuhkan sebagai wahana kebersamaan dalam pembangunan untuk pengembangan hidup bersama.

TRANSLATE

In a culture there Ono Niha ideals or spiritual purpose in life with which termakna greetings "Ya'ahowu" (in free translation Indonesian "blessed hope"). From these meanings contained Ya'ahowu meaning: pay attention to other people's happiness and is expected to be blessed by A More Powerful. In other words Ya'ahowu displaying attitudes: caring, responsibility, respect, and knowledge. If someone being so, it means the person is considering the development and happiness of others: not only watching, responsive, and responsible to the needs of other people (who pronounced: Congratulations - Ya'ahowu), including those that are not revealed, and honor as a fellow human being as such . So the meaning contained in the "Ya'ahowu" none other than the brotherhood (in peace) are really needed as a vehicle for the development of togetherness in the development of living together.

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Indonesia's Mt Merapi Spews Superheated Flows

VIVAnews - The most volatile volcano in Indonesia, Mount Merapi, spewed pyroclastic flows yesterday starting from 5 pm.

According to Surono, head of volcanology and geological disaster mitigation center, the superheated clouds, known by the locals as "wedhus gembel" (literally "shaggy goat") had been on sight since noon.

"There was a loud sound up there. The explosion moved toward the predicted directions," said Andi Arief, presidential adviser on disaster.

Andi said that the seismic data from Mount Merapi until 5 pm showed that avalanches occurred 317 times, multi-phase tremors 371 times, volcanic tremors 227 times and tectonic tremors 3 times.

Surono stated, "Within a day, around 50 times of explosions can be heard. The avalanches poured down on almost all directions."

Dozens of people were killed during the incident including a VIVAnews journalist, Yuniawan Wahyu Nugroho, who was there under official duty.

"Our team carried nine bodies," said Iman Surahman, a volunteer at the Disaster Management Center (DMC) of Dompet Dhuafa last night. "The other team also found some more bodies," he said.

Iman believed other victims were still around the village. The are trapped inside their homes.

Most of the deceased have been transferred to Dr Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta. Meanwhile, those suffering from either burn injuries or respiratory distress are admitted to Panti Nugroho, Pakem, Sleman.

 

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MYTH but it is TRUE – The Twin Banyan Tree , Yogyakarta ( Translate English-Indonesia )

 

Pohon beringin yang besar dapat memberikan tempat yang teduh dan sejuk bagi orang-orang dibawahnya yang sedang istirahat. Apakah Anda pernah tahu pohon beringin yang menjadi obyek wisata yang paling sering dikunjungi banyak orang? Di Alun-alun kidul Yogyakarta yang masih satu kompleks dengan wilayah Kraton Ngayogyakarto, tiap akhir pekan selalu ramai dikunjungi para wisatawan lokal maupun domestik.
Alun-alun kidul Yogyakarta selain terdapat obyek wisata seperti dua ekor gajah milik Kraton Ngayogyakarto, juga terdapat 2 buah pohon beringin besar yang umurnya sekitar ratusan tahun yang terletak di tengah-tengah alun-alun. Dua pohon beringin ini oleh kebanyakan orang sering disebut beringin kembar. Tempat ini berjarak 1 km dari Malioboro yang dapat ditempuh sekitar 20 menit.
Yang menjadi daya tarik wisatawan pada beringin kembar ini adalah masangin (masuk di antara dua beringin). Konon katanya apabila seseorang dapat dengan mudah masuk daerah antara pohon beringin kembar, salah satu keinginannya bakal terwujud. Hmm…kelihatannya mudah bukan? Eits…tunggu dulu, jarang-jarang sekali ada orang bisa melewati tantangan ini, yang ada malah berjalan beda arah dengan beringin kembar ini. Waktu yang paling ramai dikunjungi oleh para pengunjung adalah sore hari hingga malam hari. Tata cara melakukan masangin , yaitu :

1.  berdiri lurus ke depan sekitar 25 meter dari beringin kembar tepatnya dekat dengan gedung Sasana Hinggil arah utara dari pohon beringin kembar.
2.  mata dalam keadaan tertutup, ditutup dengan kain slayer, sapu tangan atau apa aja yang penting dapat menutup penglihatan.
3.  badan harus diputar lebih dahulu 360 derajat berkali-kali.
4.  setelah serasa cukup diputar-putar, arahkan posisi badan lurus ke depan dengan jalan tengah beringin kembar.
5.  kemudian silahkan berjalan menurut feeling/perasaan tanpa bantuan orang lain.
Jika Anda sedang beruntung dapat melalui dengan baik dan dapat berada di tengah-tengah beringin kembar, Insya Allah keinginan Anda terkabul. Jika Anda sedang tidak beruntung, mungkin akan jadi bahan tertawaan teman Anda karena bisa-bisa salah arah, menabrak orang, menabrak pedagang kaki lima dan sebagainya. Apakah Anda tertarik?

 

TRANSLATE

A large BANYAN tree can provide shade and cool for people who were resting underneath. Did you ever know a banyan tree that became tourist attraction most visited many people? In the square south of Yogyakarta which is still a complex with the Kraton area Ngayogyakarto, every weekend is always crowded visited local and domestic tourists.
The plaza south of Yogyakarta in addition there are attractions such as two elephants belonging Ngayogyakarto Palace, there are also two large banyan tree about a hundred years old and located in the middle of the square. Two banyan tree is by most people is often called a banyan twins. This place is located 1 km from the Malioboro which is within about 20 minutes.
The tourist attraction is the twin banyan Masangin (entrance between two banyan). It was said that if a person can easily enter the region between the twin banyan tree, one wish would come true. Hmm ... seems easy right? Eits ... wait a minute, rarely, if ever, people can get through this challenge, that there is even running different directions with this twin banyan. The most crowded time to visit by the visitor in the afternoon till night. the way of doing MASANGIN, is :

@ Standing straight ahead about 25 feet from the twin banyan rather close to the building north of the Sasana Hinggil twin banyan tree.
Eye is closed, covered with a cloth headkerchief, handkerchiefs or anything important it can close vision.
@ Agencies should be rotated 360 degrees ahead of times.
Seemed enough after playing in circles, point straight ahead position of the body with twin banyan middle road.
@ And Then just walk by feeling or feeling without the aid of others.
If you're lucky to be through with both and can be in the midst of a BANYAN twins, God willing, your wishes come true. If you're not lucky, it might be a laughingstock because your friend might wrong direction, bumping into people, knocking over street vendors and so forth. Are you interested?

 

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Toraja ( Nort Sumatra , Indonesia )

Suku Toraja adalah suku yang menetap di pegunungan bagian utara Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. Populasinya diperkirakan sekitar 650.000 jiwa, dengan 450.000 diantaranya masih tinggal di kabupaten Tana Toraja. Mayoritas suku Toraja memeluk agama Kristen, sementara sebagian menganut Islam dan kepercayaan animisme yang dikenal sebagai Aluk To Dolo. Pemerintah Indonesia telah mengakui kepercayaan ini sebagai bagian dari Agama Hindu Dharma.

Kata toraja berasal dari bahasa Bugis, to riaja, yang berarti "orang yang berdiam di negeri atas". Pemerintah kolonial Belanda menamai suku ini Toraja pada tahun 1909. Suku Toraja terkenal akan ritual pemakaman, rumah adat tongkonan dan ukiran kayunya. Ritual pemakaman Toraja merupakan peristiwa sosial yang penting, biasanya dihadiri oleh ratusan orang dan berlangsung selama beberapa hari.

Sebelum abad ke-20, suku Toraja tinggal di desa-desa otonom. Mereka masih menganut animisme dan belum tersentuh oleh dunia luar. Pada awal tahun 1900-an, misionaris Belanda datang dan menyebarkan agama Kristen. Setelah semakin terbuka kepada dunia luar pada tahun 1970-an, kabupaten Tana Toraja menjadi lambang pariwisata Indonesia. Tana Toraja dimanfaatkan oleh pengembang pariwisata dan dipelajari oleh antropolog. Masyarakat Toraja sejak tahun 1990-an telah banyak berubah, dari masyarakat berkepercayaan tradisional dan agraris, menjadi masyarakat yang mayoritas beragama Kristen dan mengandalkan sektor pariwisata yang terus meningkat.

TRANSLATE

Toraja Tribe is a tribe that settled in the mountainous northern part of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Population, estimated at around 650,000 people, with 450 000 of them are still living in districts of Tana Toraja. The majority of the Toraja tribe embraced Christianity, while some embraced Islam and animist beliefs known as Aluk To Dolo. The Indonesian government has acknowledged this belief as part of Hindu Dharma.

The word comes from the Bugis Toraja, to Riaja, which means "one who dwells in the land above." The Dutch colonial government named the Toraja tribe in 1909. Toraja tribe famous for funeral rituals, customs house tongkonan and carving wood. Toraja funeral rituals are important social events, usually attended by hundreds of people and lasted for several days.

Before the 20th century, the Toraja tribe lived in autonomous villages. They still embrace animism and untouched by the outside world. In the early 1900s, Dutch missionaries came and spread Christianity. After more open to the outside world in the 1970s, Tana Toraja district became a symbol of Indonesian tourism. Tana Toraja exploited by tourism developers and studied by anthropologists. Toraja society since the 1990s has changed much, from traditional berkepercayaan and agrarian society, became the majority Christian communities and relies on a growing tourism sector.

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Chocolate mix with Dodol ( Chocodot )

Awalnya saya sempat pesimis waktu melihat cokelat edisi baru ini sekaligus cukup senang karena ada inovasi baru dari Garut. Chocodot! Cokelat dicampur dodol garut!

Rasa cokelatnya yang tidak terlalu pahit maupun terlalu manis ternyata memberikan sensasi yag beda dan menyenangkan. Dodol garut menggeliat ketika kita mulai menguyah praline menarik ini. Mantap! Saya SUKA !

Chocodot memiliki kemasan luar yang menarik dengan besek kecilnya yang berwarna cokelat seksi, sayang kemasan pralinenya yang dibungkus kertas perak tampak terlalu biasa.

Chocodot dihargai Rp 14.000 untuk satu kotak mininya, berisi sekitar hmm mungkin 10 (maaf saya ga sempat hitung dan cokelatnya sudah keburu habis he he). Entah di supermarket Jakarta sudah ada atau belum, yang pasti Chocodot ini dibeli Ibu saya langsung di pabriknya di Garut.

 

TRANSLATE

At first I could pessimistic when I saw this new brown edition is quite happy at the same time because there is a new innovation from Garut. Chocodot! Dodol arrowroot mixed with chocolate!

Chocolate flavor that is not too bitter nor too sweet in fact gave the sensation yag different and fun. Dodo arrowroot squirm when we begin this exciting menguyah praline. Steady! I LIKE this!

Chocodot has an attractive outer packaging with a little brown besek sexy, babe wrapped in paper packaging pralinenya silver seems too ordinary.

Chocodot appreciated 14 000 (fourteen thousand rupiah) for a mini box, containing about 10 (sorry I not had time to count and the chocolate was already out he he). Whether in a supermarket in Jakarta already exists or not, that surely this Chocodot My mother purchased directly at its plant in Garut

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Primitive collection- wood bamboo (Bali, Indonesia)

 

Bamboo carving art was first developed during the Han Dynasty (206-220 B.C.) The earliest bamboo craft is a piece of colored lacquer bamboo spoon with a dragon vein carving,unearthed from Hunan Province. It demonstrates that the art of bamboo carving had achieved quite a high level at that time. Later, the special techniques of carving art were gardually accumulated. By record, in Jin Dynasty(A.D.420-465), calligrapher Wang X.Z had a very exquisite Phyllostachys bambusoides pen container; he named it "Qiuzhong". During the Six Dynasties, Qi G.Z.presented a shoot sheath crown made of bamboo root to Ming Z.S., it is thus evident that root carving art already appeared at that time.

When it came to the Tang and Song dynasties(A.D.618-1279) the carving art became more mature and fine. According to Guo R.X. during the Song Dynasty, a high ranking official's family kept a writing brush, on its bamboo tube were carved line drawing with a poem. The people and horses were expressed very clearly and vividly. Various types of carving also emerged at this time.

The Ming Dynasty(A.D.1368-1644) was a golden age for bamboo carving. Due to different art styles, a variety of schools were formed in different areas. Among them, the most famous work was from the Jiading and Jinling schools. The founder of the Jiading school, Zhu Songling and his son Zhu Xiaosong and grandson Zhu Sansong, created many masterpieces at that time. They were called "Jiading Three Zhu" by people. Zhu Songling was also good at poetry and painting. He is famous for Buddha carving. Many of his art works were kept in Beijing's Imperial Palace Museum. The bamboo carvings by the Zhu family were regarded as valuable as those made of jewels at that time. Pu Zhong qian of the Jinling school was good at carving pen containers. His kettle carved with pine made by bamboo root is kept in the Palace Museum.

In the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, WuZhifan was the most famous artist for bamboo carving. His work "Old man under the pine" is kept in the Shanghai Museum.There were several carving producing places in bamboo concentrated area.

After the Qing Dynasty, bamboo carving skills were almost lost for some time. It was only twenty years ago that some talented peasants in Zhejiang Province began to study this old art in their spare time and started to rejuvonate this art. Now this art begins to shine again. Those peasants create some very special bamboo carvings combined with old Chinese tradition and their own creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

Process of Relief Sculpture :

The operations are as follows:

1. Design

Design the picture on the object.

2. Raw Material Selection

Excellent 6-7 year old Phyllostachys pubescens (a type of big bamboo) culms should be chosen as raw material. Culm quality affects the final goods directly. While selecting, attention should be paid to the age, size and shape of the culms. The selected culm should be free of damage and be cut from November to January when the moisture content of the bamboo is low.

3. Raw Material Treatment

The quality of final goods is directly affected by the water content of the raw material. Culms are dried vertically in shade with ventilation, avoiding direct sunshine. Remove the green cuticle from the surface, then treat with chemicals to prevent damage from fungus and boring insects.

4. Carving

Polish the surface of bamboo, reprint the carving pattern on the surface with a piece of duplicating paper. Use a 2H pencil to draw clearly. After the pattern is on the surface, use a sharp knife to make the contour of the pattern. Then use a carving knife to express the relief of the carving. See picture in right.

5. Finishing

Finish with the right color on it, usually in dark-red or coffee-like color.

 

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Tarsiers ( Tarsius – Central Sulawesi , Indonesia )

 

Pygmy tarsiers are small primates with dense gray to dark brown silky fur to keep warm in a damp, chilly habitat, weighing about 2 ounces (50 grams). They’re typically about 4 to 6 inches long with elongated hind limbs and a thin, tufted tail of about 8 to 12 inches that provides balance and support.

These shy primates are the epitome of cute — cuddly, huge-eyed creatures that protrude out of their eye sockets with large ears to match. Their eyes cannot move, so they turn their head to hunt, rotating it as much as 180 degrees like an owl. Babies are born with their eyes open and well-furred.

They’re nocturnal insectivores that eat live moving prey, including small vertebrates. Unlike most other primates, they have long spindly fingers with claws instead of nails that allow them to grip trees easily in a mossy environment, and disk-like adhesive pads on the digit tips.

The adorable little tarsiers cling vertically to trees and leap from trunk to trunk, capable of jumping almost 10 feet (3 meters).

Also known as the Mountain Tarsier or the Lesser Spectral Tarsier, the pygmy tarsier is found on central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

 

 

“They always look like they have a perpetual smile on their face, which adds to the attraction.” says physical anthropologist Sharon Gursky-Doyen, a Texas A&M university professor who found the presumed lost species.

The last one spotted alive was in 1921 when they were last collected for a museum before the species went into hiding.

They were rediscovered when 2 Indonesian scientists trapping rats accidentally trapped and killed one in 2000.

Sharon traveled into the mountains of Sulawesi Island to confirm that the pygmy tarsier was unequivocally extinct, but ended up becoming the first person in more than 80 years to spot a live one.

“It was very, very euphoric, but I was shaking like a leaf.” said Sharon. “I was shaking so much that I could barely handle him.”

The university team trapped 2 males and a female using mist nets on Mount Rore Katimbo in Lore Lindu National Park over a 2-month period, and placed radio collars on the furry little creatures for tracking. A fourth one was spotted but got away.

“Until that time, everyone really didn’t believe that they existed because people had been going out looking for them for decades and nobody had seen them or heard them.” Sharon said.

“I have the dubious honor of being the only person in the world to have been bitten by (a pygmy tarsier).” she added.

“My field assistant was trying to hold him still while I was attaching a radio collar around its neck. It’s very hard to hold them because they can turn their heads around 180 degrees. As I’m trying to close the radio collar, he turned his head and nipped my finger.”

Her team observed the first live pygmy tarsier in August at an elevation of about 6,900 feet.

The climb was treacherous — Sharon broke her fibula or calf bone, and her field assistants were slipping and falling as much as she was.

“Everything was covered in moss and the clouds are right at the top of that mountain. It’s always very, very foggy, very, very dense. It’s cold up there. When you’re one degree from the equator, you expect to be hot. You don’t expect to be shivering most of the time. That’s what we were doing.” she said.

“Finding them on this mountaintop really clarified for me at least that they are a distinct species and they’re not extinct. But they are threatened.” said Sharon, adding that other primates still may be discovered.

It’s not known how many pygmy tarsiers live in the mountains, but the professor explains that finding the pygmy tarsier means that other animals on the island may have smaller ranges than previously believed, making them more vulnerable to extinction.

The researchers say they hope that the Indonesian government will protect them from the encroaching development occurring in the animals’ home range. While the pygmy tarsier lives in a national park, about 60 villages of local Indonesians are also inside park boundaries.

“The villages are getting closer and closer to this area, and they’re going up the mountaintop. That is going to cause severe problems, if it hasn’t already.” the professor said.

“My hope is now that the Indonesian government recognizes where they are, that they’re actually on this mountaintop, that they actually exist, will prohibit the locals from going up farther on this mountain, and that they will actually have certain areas within the park that they will cut off from human exploitation.”

The mammalian group of primates includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and people. The handful of tarsier species live on various Asian islands.

 

VISIT TO INDONESIA

 

from: http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/bug-eyed-pygmy-tarsier-primate-rediscovered-in-indonesia/weird-science

Unique of Instrument-Sasando ( Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia )

 

 

Sasando adalah sebuah alat instrumen petik musik. Instumen musik ini berasal dari pulau Rote, Nusa Tenggara Timur. Secara harfiah nama Sasando menurut asal katanya dalam bahasa Rote, sasandu, yang artinya alat yang bergetar atau berbunyi. Konon sasando digunakan di kalangan masyarakat Rote sejak abad ke-7. Bentuk sasando ada miripnya dengan instrumen petik lainnya seperti gitar, biola dan kecapi.

Bagian utama sasando berbentuk tabung panjang yang biasa terbuat dari bambu. Lalu pada bagian tengah, melingkar dari atas ke bawah diberi ganjalan-ganjalan di mana senar-senar (dawai-dawai) yang direntangkan di tabung, dari atas kebawah bertumpu. Ganjalan-ganjalan ini memberikan nada yang berbeda-beda kepada setiap petikan senar. Lalu tabung sasando ini ditaruh dalam sebuah wadah yang terbuat dari semacam anyaman daun lontar yang dibuat seperti kipas. Wadah ini merupakan tempat resonansi sasando

 

TRANSLATE

Sasando is a stringed musical instrument. Musical instruments is derived from the island of Rote, East Nusa Tenggara. Literally Sasando name by origin he said in the language of Rote, sasandu, which means equipment that vibrates or rings. Sasando allegedly used in the community Rote since the 7th century. Sasando there are similar forms with other stringed instruments like guitar, violin and harp.

The main part of the long tubular sasando usually made of bamboo. Then in the middle, a circle from top to bottom are given lump-lump where the strings (the strings) that stretched across the tube, from top to the bottom rests. Lump-lump gives a different tone to each chord passages. Then this sasando tube placed in a container made from a kind of woven palm leaves made out like a fan. This is where the resonance container sasando

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New Scooter Matic – Honda Scoopy ( Motor Matic Kalangan Anak Muda )

Honda Scoopy motor terbaru Honda keluaran  PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM). Honda Scoopy ini seperti halnya skutik lain dari Honda, dilengkapi dengan kunci pengaman bermagnet otomatis (auto secure keys shutter), tuas pengunci rem (brake lock), dan standar samping otomatis (side stand switch), dan choke otomatis.

Dengan 3 warna body, Honda Scoopy menjadi alternatif yang mendukung gaya hidup anak muda. Classic White, Retro Pink dan Vintage Violet memberikan tampilan yang mewah, klasik, ceria dengan gaya retro dan ekslusif dengan gaya vintage. Harga Honda Scoopy Rp. 13.500.000,- (on the road DKI Jakarta)

Spesifikasi Honda Scoopy

 

Panjang x lebar x tinggi    : 1.844 x 699 x 1.070 mm.
Jarak sumbu roda    : 1.240 mm.
Jarak terendah ke tanah    : 150 mm.
Berat kosong    : 94 kg. (tipe CW)
Tipe rangka    : Tulang punggung
Tipe suspensi depan    : Teleskopik
Tipe suspensi belakang    : Lengan ayun dengan sokbreker tunggal
Ukuran ban depan    : 80/90 – 14 M/C 40P
Ukuran ban belakang    : 90/90 – 14 M/C 46P
Rem Depan    : Cakram hidrolik, dengan piston tunggal
Rem Belakang    : Tromol
Kapasitas tangki bahan bakar    : 3,5 liter.
Tipe mesin    : 4 langkah, SOHC
Sistem pendinginan    : Pendinginan udara dengan kipas
Diameter x langkah    : 50 x 55 mm.
Volume langkah    : 108 cc.
Perbandingan kompresi    : 9,2 : 1
Daya maksimum    : 6,09 kW (8.28 PS) / 8.000 rpm.
Torsi maksimum    : 8,32 N.m (0.85 kgf.m) / 5.500 rpm.
Kapasitas minyak pelumas mesin    : 0,7 liter pada penggantian periodik
Kopling    : Otomatis, sentrifugal, tipe kering
Transmisi    : Otomatis, V-Matic
Starter    : Electric starter & kick starter
Aki    : MF battery, 12 V –  3 A.h
Busi    : ND U24EPR9, NGK CPR8EA-9
Sistem pengapian    : DC – CDI, Battery
Karburator    : VK22×1
Lampu depan    : 12V 32 W x 1
Lampu senja    : 12V 5 W x 1

VISIT TO INDONESIA

Bengawan solo is never die

Bengawan Solo is a famous Indonesian song about the Solo River, which flows through central and eastern Java, Indonesia and is that island's longest river.

The song describes the legendary river in a poetic and nostalgic way, that it is surrounded by mountains, its sources are near the city of Surakarta, that it ends in the sea, and that the merchants make use of it.

Written in 1940 by Gesang Martohartono, it is in the local kroncong style, a popular folk style with influences from Portuguese. The Japanese, who occupied the country during World War II, brought the song with them to Japan after returning from the war. There, and also in the rest of Asia and later worldwide, the song became very famous.

The song's widespread popularity began soon after its composition, and locally it is strongly associated with the period of war occupation and the society of the times. In 1940 Gesang, then a young, destitute and untrained musician, composed the song on a bamboo flute and began to sing it at local functions and gatherings in his hometown of Surakarta. It soon became well-known and liked among the local Javanese community; the song then achieved national acclaim after it was broadcast to a wider audience by various radio stations.

The melodies of the song also appealed to both the occupying Japanese soldiers, and the non-Indonesian prisoners (mainly Dutch civilians) in the internment camps. The song was taken back to Japan by the returning soldiers, where it (with the lyrics translated to Japanese) gained great popularity after various singers such as Toshi Matsuda released recorded versions of it which became best-sellers. The song has become almost synonymous with the perception of Indonesian music in Japan.

In 1991, a group of appreciative Japanese war veterans arranged for a statue of Martohartono to be erected in a park in Surakarta. Gesang himself was still resident in the city, now a nationally renowned figure[1].

Various artistes have recorded the song, among whom are Waldjinah, Toshi Matsuda, Anneke Grönloh, Rebecca Pan and Frances Yip.

"Bengawan Solo" is a popular name given to restaurants and businesses, in reminiscence of the song[citation needed].


Trivia
Bengawan Solo is the name of a popular chain of cake and pastry shops in Singapore.
The tune became a big hit among Chinese communities after Malaysian singer Ms Poon Sow Keng sang to the tune with Mandarin Chinese lyrics for Hongkong Pathe in 1957. The popularity of the tune was further boosted by Ms Koo Mei, who made her rendition for Philips Records shortly thereafter. Incidentally, Pathe and Philips were major competitors at that time. Since then, many Chinese language singers have written their own lyrics for the tune, making the tune a well-known tune in Chinese oldies music.
"By the River of Love", dating from early 1960s Hong Kong, is a song in English lyrics written to the tune. The lyrics of that song describe a romantic evening beneath twinkling stars and swaying palms. The period recording by Rebecca Pan can be heard on the soundtrack to the 2000 movie "In the Mood for Love" by director Wong Kar Wai. Ms. Pan also has a role in the movie, playing Mrs. Suen.

LyricsIndonesian lyrics English translation
Bengawan Solo
Solo River
Riwayatmu ini Thus your chronicles
Sedari dulu jadi Have been since earliest times
Perhatian insani Of sentient attention

Musim kemarau In the dry season
Tak seb'rapa airmu Your water is not much
Di musim hujan, air In the rainy season, water
Meluap sampai jauh Spills reaching far distances

Chorus:
Mata airmu dari Solo Your water springs forth from Solo
Terkurung Gunung Seribu Surrounded by a thousand mountains
Air mengalir sampai jauh Water flows to reach far distances
Akhirnya ke laut Eventually to the sea

Itu perahu That boat
Riwayatmu dulu In your past chronicles
Kaum pedagang s'lalu The merchant folks had always
Naik itu perahu Sailed in such boats





From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengawan_Solo_(song)

mystery - jenglot ( human dwarf )

A jenglot is a type of mysterious creature or vampire in Indonesian culture and mythology. It is described as looking much like a tiny, living human doll. It is usually depicted as a mythical creature, sometimes seen in cryptozoology, and occasionally purported to have actually been a human body.

Whereabouts

Jenglot is believed to be found in Indonesia, especially in Java. They are mostly found by native psychics after they have performed a supernatural ceremony. Jenglots are said to be found anywhere, from under the ground, on a wrecked house roof, and even in the trunk of a huge tree.

Feeding Jenglot

Jenglot 'keepers' feed their creature with blood, either animal blood (goat) or human blood. Those who feed the creature with human blood buy it legally from the Indonesian Red Cross. The jenglot is said to not drink the blood directly. The person places the jenglot near the blood, but the jenglot doesn't even move or touch the blood. It is said that the jenglot will get the nutrients of the blood in their own way. Some say it comes alive and consumes the blood when it is alone.
Exhibition

In Indonesia there has been several "exhibitions" of jenglot specimens found and showcased. Most being found on the islands of Java and Sumatra, and are held as private collections of supernatural researchers and fans. Many were found to be hoaxes, being masterful taxidermist fixings of monkeys and fish, however, not all specimens were examined, and the jenglot is an actively believed myth that many natives believe to be real. People who have caught the jenglot usually bring their creature all over Indonesia to exhibit them in order to gain some money.
Becoming a Jenglot

According to an Indonesian legend, Jenglot was a ascetic who wanted to learn the "Ilmu Bethara Karang" or the way to eternal life. It also said to be a hermit whose worship demons and gain a certain power and ability. They say if a person with great supernatural power meditates in a certain cave, they'll become jenglot.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenglot

JAMU (TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE) and TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

JAMU

'Back to nature' is not merely a slogan in Java and Indonesia. The visible proof is the use of traditional herbal medicine of various type of 'medical plants', either from the leaves, the fruits, the roots, the flowers or the barks, etc.

These herbal medicine had been used since the ancient time up to now, it is largely consumed by people of different level; lower, middle and upper, in the villages and in the big cities.

The study of jamu had been conducted by Rumphius, a botanist as early as the year 1775 AD by publishing a book 'Herbaria Amboinesis'. A scientific research for jamu by the research center of herbal medicine in Bogor Botanical Garden, resulting a publication of a book 'Medical Book for Children and Adults', composed by E. Van Bent.

The first seminar about jamu has been held in Solo in 1940, followed by a Formation of Indonesia's Jamu Committee in 1944. In the 1966, a seminar on jamu was held again. In 1981, a book by title of 'The use of Medical Plants' was established to support the jamu industry in the country.

The method of using the jamu remains the same as the ancestors did. Some are consumed by drinking it and some are for outside application.

At present one could buy easily ready made jamu packed modernly in the form of powder, pills, capsules, drinking liquid and ointments. Of course there are still jamu shops, which sell only ingredients or prepare the jamu on spot as required by buyers. Some women are roaming the street to sell jamu, is a common view across the country.



The traditional methods of making jamu such as by boiling the prepared herbal ingredients (jamu godok) still prevail in Javanese society. The popular traditional tools of making jamu are still available in many Javanese houses such as; Lumpang (small iron Mortar), pipisan, parut (grater), kuali (clay pot), etc.

What kind of disease could jamu cure?
The reply is almost every disease, jamu could cure. There are various kinds of jamu to combat different kind of illness. In Principle there are two types of jamu; the first is jamu to maintain physical fitness and health, the locally popular are Galian Singset (to keep women body fit and slim) and Sehat Lelaki (to keep men body healthy). The second is jamu to cure various kinds of illness. Except the above, there are special jamu created with the purpose to maintain a loving family harmony. The popular products among other are Sari Rapet, which makes a women sexual organ in a good condition, as for the man the matched product is jamu Kuat Lekaki (strong man). The Javanese are also taking a great care to pregnant women during pre and postnatal period by producing the related jamu. There are also jamu for the babies.

The Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions, among other are:

Spices
Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Lempuyang (Zingiber Oronaticum)
Temu Lawak/ Wild Ginger (Curcuma Cautkeridza)
Kunyit/ Tumeric (Curcuma Domestica)
Kencur/ Greater Galingale (Kaemferi Galanga)
Lengkuas/ Ginger Plant (Elpina Galanga)
Bengle (Zingiber Bevifalium)

Leaves
Secang (Caesalpinia Sappan Hinn)
Sambang Dara (Rexco Ecaria Bicolar Hassk)
Brotowali (Tiospora Rumpii Boerl)
Adas (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill)

Fruits
Jeruk Nipis/ Calamondin (Citrae Aurantifalia Sivingle)
Ceplukan (Physalic Angulata Him)
Nyamplung (Calophylum Inaphyllu)

Barks
Kayu Manis/ Cinamon (Gijeyzahyza Glabra)

Flowers
Melati/ Yasmin (Jataninum Sunbac Ait)
Rumput Alang-alang (Gramineae)

It is worth to note that some jamu factories in Java are exporting its products. Besides the export of ready made jamu, 25 kinds of herbal plants and ingredients are also in the list of export to Europe, Australia, USA, Japan, etc.

No Side Effects
The people like to consume jamu due to :
Availability in many places
Comparatively cheap price
No side effects



TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

The Natural Beauty of Woman
A Javanese woman is very much concern for her physical appearance to be always slim, beautiful with an alluring bright smiling face.

As a Javanese idiom says "Ngadi Sarira" to maintain the body to be always in perfect condition is of prime important. The way of life of a Javanese is greatly influenced by the royal culture. Not surprisingly that the art of "Keeping Beauty' is originated from the court palaces.

The Secret of a Princess Beauty
The Ladies of the Royal Families have a reputation to inherit the beauty of goddesses from paradise.

As told in the story of wayang (leather puppet) by the dalang (puppet master) , all parts of a princess body is always perfect and alluring: the beautiful black thick hair, a smooth skin, bright eyes, charming eye brows, eye lids and nose, bright reddish lips, white nicely teeth, wonderful built neck and shoulder, beautiful hands and arms, a waist like the one of a bee meanings slim and perfectly built.

The dalang with a clear deep voice, like in the poem reading adores the beauty of a princess with a thousands of words. It seems that all words of a complete dictionary are not enough to express of what a wonderful beauty a princess has.

The use of Traditional Jamu and Cosmetics
Nowadays, some secrets of this Karaton (Palaces) culture of "Ngadi Sarira" are known by many women from outside the Karaton walls. The Jamu is widely used to give an inner beauty, due to a good physical health.

Some of the products are consumed directly by eating it, for instance Kepel Fruit (a brown fruit of a chicken egg size), it's a natural deodorant. By eating it that would fragrant the odor of the body even the urine smells the fragrance of that fruit.

Jambu Mawar ( a kind of rose apple, mawar means a flower of rose) gives a fresh smell of breath. Some cosmetics are for outside application such as bedak dingin (cool powder) and lulur (scrubbing powder).

Beauty Care
Every woman is always proud of her hair – thick and shining, color and style. For natural shampooing, the ash of rice stalks work as a shampoo to clean the hair. After being washed by water, ingredients consist of
coconut milk, jeruk purut (a kind of citrus fruit smells like a lime ) and pandanus leaves are to be applied. It functions as a conditioner to clean the dandruff. The hair then washed by water again, to be dried while vaporizing with ratus fragrance.

Finally, a hair oil by the name of cemceman, made of coconut oil with pandanus , kenanga flower, jeruk purut etc. is applied.

Skin Care
For face caring, bedak dingin (cool powder) is applied. It's made from tendered rice with special ingredients, such as pandanus, kenanga flower etc.

For other parts of the body, lulur is applied, popularly known as mandi lulur (lulur bathing).

Lulur is also made from tendered rice, pandanus, some leaves of kemuning (with yellow color) and some medicinal roots. The lulur should stimulate the body to throw out the dead cells, replace it with new ones, stimulate blood circulation under the skin, smooth the skin and at the same time scents it.

Steaming the body
Steams of several boiled herbs are applied to ensure body freshness, including the woman organ. The steaming took about a ½ hour.

Producers
Besides the traditional cosmetics made by hand, in the country there are some big and well known manufactures of cosmetics, using modern machinery. These products are used widely across the country, even this cosmetics have been exported to many countries of the world.

http://www.joglosemar.co.id/jamu.html