TravelStream™ news feed for member ardhan on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ardhan en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:44:56 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ardhan/1/1251599300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ardhan/1/1251599300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ardhan/1/1251599300/tpod.html Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:44:56 -0400 Visit Indonesia Year 2009

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Pontianak, Borneo, Indonesia

Pontianak regency is one of the widest regency areas that reside in West Kalimantan Province. Its region wide is 18171,20 km2 and number of residents is 845000 men. The Capital Of Pontianak Regency is Mempawah that parting 67 km from Pontianak city. Pontianak regency has high potency in tourism sector, they are:

1. Melanggar Waterfall
   This Waterfall that has 50 m highest and 75 m widest is the breaking of Landak River. Located in Sungai Besar District about 230 km from Pontianak City or 197 km from Mempawah city. To reach this location can be applied by four-wheel vehicle until Serimbu village, hereinafter with water motor till 2 hours.
2. Remabo Waterfall
   The waterfall that has seven levels is resided in Air Besar district, which can be gone through with of four-wheel vehicle. Between levels 1 with other can be gone through by walking during 15-30 minutes.
3. Long house
   It is also called Betang House, 310 m length and 18 m wide, now is dwelt about 34 family heads, which still have family relation. Located in Saham village, Sengah Temila district it is not far from International road Pontianak - Kuching. Be the only omission of the Dayak Kanayatn long house in Pontianak regency.
4. Juang Mandor Grave
   It is said that in this grave location had murdered 21037 best Indonesian in West Kalimantan; the kings, intellectual, elite figure or magnate. Here there are 10 mass graves and one-massacre locations in esplanade. Located about 88 km from Pontianak city, in the side of International road Pontianak - Kuching.
5. Amantubillah Palace
   This omission building history of Mempawah empire is ever have combustible, and built again in 1922 by Mohammad Taufik Akamaddin. Here is filed the patrimony objects like small cannon and 'keris' patrimony.
6. Opu Daeng Manambon Grave
   The founder of Mempawah Empire Grave is located to hill, Suap village, Mempawah Hilir district. There is also Habib Husein Grave (the first Islam spreader in Mempawah), which located in Sejegi village, Mempawah Hilir district.
7. Kijing Beach
   This beach is sloping beach, in km 84 Sungai Kunyit villages, Sungai Kunyit district.
8. Temajo Island
   This Island that faced to Natuna Sea have beautiful nature scenery and clear seawater, hardly suited for athletics dive. Its situation is nearby with Kijing beach, about 1 hour with water motor from Sungai Kunyit village.
9. Naik Dango Custom Ceremony
   It is the custom public Dayak Kanayatn presentation of thanks feel to Sang Jubata (God) for the paddy crop successful. It is done every 27 Aprils every year with location by rotation in 10 hinterland Districts tribe resident, which majority by Dayak Kanayatn. This ceremony is started with ' Arakan Panompo ' from each district courier, caught up dance 'Candle Paddy' by Dayak Kanayatn girls, and its top moment is pray read ritual by one of the Leader in Pontianak regency. West Kalimantan regency functionaries, Pontianak District functionaries and the invitations always attend this ceremony.

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Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Site
Monday: Kecak
Kecak dance is very unique, there is no musical instrument used in this dance. The background music is coming from troupe of bare-chested male vocals serve the chorus making the sound of “chak-chak-chak” surrounding the dancers. The dance it self is taken from Ramayana and divided into some episodes; Rama, Shinta and Golden deer. Shinta ask Rama to catch a golden deer, Rama leaves Shinta under Laksamana protection. Shinta and Rahwana. Rahwana appears to kidnap Shinta and takes her to his Kingdom – Alengka. Shinta, Trijata and Hanoman. Shinta walked at the Garden of Alengka under guard of Trijata. Hanoman (white monkey) appears and tell Shinta that he is Rama’s envoy, Shinta give
Hanoman her hairpin and ask him to tell Rama to rescue her. Rama, Meganada and Garuda. This is the battle of Rama against Meganada – Rahwana’s son. Meganada shot Rama with magic arrow which turns into a dragon and ties
Rama. Garuda – Rama’s ally comes to rescue and release Rama from the dragon. Finally Rama succeeded to rescue Shinta.

Sunday & Tuesday: Legong
This beautiful performing art is inspired by the dancing angels. In early 19th century, a prince in Sukawati was in coma caused by his illness. In his coma he saw nymphs dancing delicate dances in grace accompanied by beautiful
sound of music. Later after his health revival, together with some artist of the village he transformed this dance into reality.
In Bali, not everyone have same understanding of the word “Legong”. This is partly because of fact that it is a series of dances that combines into it. Up to now, at least there are 18 forms of Legong have been recorded. Legong is a classical Balinese dance, the dancers starts dancing from the very young age, traditionally selected among little girls in the village for their suppleness and beauty. They will go on dancing Legong until the age of puberty, before start learning other dances.

Wednesday & Saturday: Ramayana
Bharata, the third son of King Dasaratha was Crowned as King of Ayodhia to fulfill his fathers wish. Rama the eldest son and the crown prince, left his father’s palace followed by his wife Shinta and his younger brother Laksamana to the Forest. Rahwana, the King of Alengka intend to kidnap Shinta, he ordered his Prime Minister Maricha to transform himself as a golden deer to allure Shinta. With this trick, Rahwana succeeded to kidnap Shinta and brought her to his Kingdom. On the way back to Alengka, they were attacked by the big eagle Jatayu – friend of Rama in attempt to rescue Shinta but Rahwana is too strong and Jatayu was defeated. Before his death, Jatayu manage to inform Rama
and Laksamana of the Shinta’s whereabouts. Hanoman, the sacred white monkey met Shinta in the garden of Alengka. After knowing from Shinta that she was kidnapped by Rahwana, he destroyed the garden of Alengka. Accompanied by all monkey troops, Rama and Laksamana attacked Alengka and successfully bring Shinta back to Ayodhia.

Friday: Jegog
Jegog is musical orchestra using bamboo music instrument, this orchestra is very rare and only available in Jembrana regency – west Bali except one in Japan and another one in USA. The History of Jegog is dated back to year 1928, during that time Jegog was used to be played during festivals and any other social activities.

Thursday: Nusantara dance
Angklung is a traditional Sundanese bamboo musical instruments, it is made up of several bamboo pipes and can produce various melodic sound. To play, you don’t have to hit it. All you have to is to shake it with your hand to produce the tone. Here you will see the traditional Sundanese bamboo musical concert that is performed by a small group. See their dynamic performance and natural expression.

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Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Pendet is the presentation of an offering in theform of a ritual dance. Unlike the exhibition dances that demand arduous training, Pendet may be danced by everyone: male and female pemangkus, women and girls of the village. It is taught simply by imitation and is seldom practiced in the banjars. Younger girls follow the movements of the elder women who recognize their responsibility in setting a good example. Proficiency comes with age, and often, it is the grandmothers who possess the most Man of the grouli. As a religious dance, Pendet is usually performed during temple ceremonies.

All dancers carry in their right hand a small offering of incense, cakes, water vessels, or flower formations set in palm leaf With these they dance from shrine to shrine within the temple. Pendet, thus, may be performed as a serial and continue intermittently throughoin,the day and late into the night during temple feasts.

In 1968, a huge religious procession in Tabanan produced many versions of Pendet. One was danced by a member of the household, who presented the family's offerings in a slow Pendet before the approaching wave of thousands of people. In larger villages, a selected group of young girls, bare-shouldered and formally dressed in wraps of gold cloth, carried silver bowls of flowers as they danced a more elaborate Pendet, choreographed in interweaving rows and files. When the procession settled before a small temple, old women dressed in ordinary clothes began to dance still another form of Pendet. They carried no offerings but moved feverishly as if possessed by the music.

Recently, Pendet was introduced to open the Legong. Here, the young girls are accomplished members of a dance troupe, and their movements are coordinated and exact. Toward the finish of the dance, the girls make praying gestures and throw flowers to the audience-a welcome and blessing to the public.
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Berastagi, Sumatra, Indonesia

Berastagi, a tourist town, is another lovely town located in Karo highlands. The town is known for its plantations and various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit, most famous which is Marquisa passion fruit. It's 66 km southwest of Medan and is 4.594 feet above sea level. There is a pleasant colonial-style hotel with a golf course. Other new hotels can also be found. From Gundaling Hill a clear view of Mt. Sibayak and Mt. Sinabung volcanoes can be seen.

From this city, the visitors will enjoy charming scenery to the active mountainside, which are Sibayak Mountain and Sinabung Mountain. To climb Sibayak Mountain require at least 3 hours trip and we could enjoy pretty scenery in these mountains or 3 to 4 hours trip in the forest to see the nature wealth inside, for both the flora and the fauna around this forest.

The atmosphere of green nature from the reflection of the trees from the slope of Rangkap Sibayak Mountain (well known as Sibayak mountain) made the Berastagi city had flooded by tourists. The hill line along with the agricultural field, are always ready to refresh its visitor's eyes. Berastagi which rich with agro-industries became the appropriate choice for recreation spot other than Toba Lake and Samosir Island, which has become a trademark of North Sumatra.Berastagi has the strategic location to become the stopping place, not just because several tourist attractions are easy to be accessed from here, but also the hotels are well provided. Hotels can be easily found with varying price, by offering the design typical to the locals. However the visitor still have the choice to choose the hotels and villas that historically were the legacy of colonial period.


Sibayak and Sinabung MountainBerastagi to Sibayak Mountain distance are only 7 Km, this is why the hikers choose this City, as the closest alternative to reach the mountain peak (2.094 meters from sea level). With the currently available infrastructure, the vehicles could reach close to the mountain peak that was known with its beauty nature. On the Peak of Sibayak Mountain, we could see a sulfuric crater lake with wide around 200 x 200 meters, with temperature 119.6 Celsius and the temperature of surrounding air is 21 Celsius. The other scenery of Sibayak mountain peak is Sinabung mountain peak (2.451 meters from sea level), located in the west.
Lau Debuk-Debuk
Not just that, near Berastagi, on the side of Sibayak mountain peak we could find Lau Debuk-Debuk Hot Water Springs. Located in Daulu and Semangat Gunung village, this hot water springs flowed with the temperature of 35 Celsius emerged through the lava cracks in the volcano slope that afterwards was accommodated in the bathing place ponds. The climbers usually use this hot water reservoir to release their fatigue from the trip. Now, there are also an electrical generator (power plant) on the hot spring upstream that had the temperature above 150 ° Celsius. The visitors could see a power plant, which produces electricity from geothermal vapors.

Gundaling HillBerastagi also had Gundaling Hill which located only 3 Km from Berastagi. This hill offered a beautiful garden that was suitable as a spot to relax or to do some sports. From the hill peak, we could enjoy Mount Sibayak and Mount Sinabung panorama.

Tongging
Tongging was located 112 km from Medan City. This area is located near to Sipiso-piso Waterfall with 360-foot height. From this place, we could enjoy picturesque scenery of Toba Lake. In the intersection of Merek we could turn to Sipiso-piso in Mount Tandukbenua slope (1.947 m. from sea level). The surrounding panorama indeed is very much enchanting. From the balcony of the two leveled guesthouse that was located in the south of this plateau, the visitor could see the calm and beautiful nature of Toba Lake.
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Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia

This building is dominated by yellow colors. However, do not connect it with the color of a political party. Yellow was the typical color of the Malay. There are family photographs, furnishings, and old weapons inside the building. The Maimoon Palace was the legacy of Deli Sultanate. Maimoon palace was located in Brigjen Katamso Street, Medan. Sultan Deli, Sultan Makmun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alamsyah, had established this palace. The designer was an Italia architect, and finished in 1888. Built on a land measuring 2.772 m2 wide the palace building is facing to east, and become the centre of the Deli kingdom. This palace consisted of two floors that were divided into three parts, which is the main building, the left wing, and the right wing. In front, around 100 meters, stood Al-Maksum mosque that are well known as Medan's Great mosque. In the guest room (balairung) we will encounter the throne that was dominated by yellow color. Crystal lights lighted the throne, a form of influence of European culture. The same influences are appeared in the palace furnishings like the seat, the table, toilet and the cupboard and the door, headed to balairung. The room measuring 412 m2 was used for the coronation agenda of Sultan Deli or the other traditional agenda. Balairung was also used as the place where the Sultan received praised from his relatives and family in Islam holidays.Further more, the number of the rooms was 40, 20 rooms in the upper floor, the Sultan's throne and 20 rooms underneath, not include 4 bathrooms, the warehouse, the kitchen, and the prison in the basement. Interesting if we observe this palace architectural design. The blend between the Islam tradition and European culture was boldly implemented. Apart from the balairung, the building base also showed Europe influence. Some of the building material was imported from Europe, like floor tiles, marble, and terrazzo.The pattern of Dutch architecture with the door and wide and tall windows, as well as Spanish stylish doors became a part of the Maimoon Palace. The Dutch influenced was also seen in the marble inscription in front of the marble ladder that was written with Latin letter in Netherlands language.The Islam influence was seen in the form of the curve or arcade in several parts of the palace roof. The curve that had the shape of the overturn boat that was known with Persian Curve was often met on the buildings in the Middle East, Turkey, and India region. The Maimoon palace was one of the most beautiful buildings in Medan. His location is easy to be reach, both from Polonia Airport (about 10 km) and Belawan Port (about 28 km). This historic building was open public every day from 08.00 until 17.00.
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Papua Barat, Indonesia

The Raja Ampat, or "Four Kings," archipelago encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of Indonesia's West Papua Province. Located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in the world. The area's massive coral colonies show that its reefs are resistant to threats like coral bleaching and disease -threats that now jeopardize the survival of corals around the world. In addition, Raja Ampat's strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat's coral diversity, resilience to threats, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global priority for marine protection.

Survey Confirms Highest Marine Biodiversity on EarthIn 2002, The Nature Conservancy and its partners conducted a scientific survey of the Raja Ampat Islands to collect information on its marine ecosystems, mangroves, and forests. The survey brought Raja Ampat's total number of confirmed corals to 537 species- an incredible 75% of all known coral species. In addition, 899 fish species were recorded, raising the known total for Raja Ampat to an amazing 1,074. On land, the survey found lush forests, rare plants, limestone outcroppings, and nesting beachesfor thousands of sea turtles. Though human impacts here are less severe than elsewhere in Indonesia, Raja Ampat's natural resources are endangered by over fishing and destructive fishing, turtle poaching, and unsustainable logging. The Indonesian government recently established Raja Ampat as a separate administrative unit, which will give communities a greater say in managing the natural resources upon which their livelihoods depend. This structure also offers an important opportunity to include conservation in the spatial planning of the newly formed local government.
Ensuring Conservation through PartnershipsTo address these issues, the Conservancy launched a new project to protect Raja Ampat, working in close partnership with the government and communities to: 1) contribute to a comprehensive conservation action plan to protect Raja Ampat's reefs and forests; 2) help incorporate marine protected area management into long-term planning and policy; and, 3) establish a network of marine protected areas for Raja Ampat. The Conservancy's ultimate goal is to protect Raja Ampat's magnificent reefs while sustaining the livelihoods of local people. Raja Ampat includes the four large islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, plus hundreds of smaller islands. The archipelago is part of an area known as the Bird's Head functional seascape, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia.
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Parapat, Sumatra, Indonesia

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. At 100 km long and 30 km wide, measuring 505 m at its deepest point, it is situated in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle.
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Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

History
The history of Jakarta dates back to at least the 14th Century with the development of a small port of Hindu Pajajaran Kingdom at the mouth of Ciliwung River. Searching for the fabled "Spice Island", the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive and establish a fortreess on the site in the early 16th Century.

The old port was attacked by a neighoring sultanate under leadership of Prince Fatahillah. After the assault, the Portuguise navy fleet was destroyed. Fatahillah changed the name of the Sunda Kelapa port to Jayakarta, meaning "Total Victory", commemorating the defeat of the local Hindu Kingdom and their European allies. According to some historians, this event took place on June 22, 1527, a date which later was officially recognized as the birth of the city of Jakarta.

It was to this town that Dutch spice merchants came in the late 16th Century and began a trading association with Europe that was to dictate the history of Jakarta, and Indonesia as a nation, for nearly 350 years. Under the aggresive leadership of Jan Pieterzoon Coen, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) proceeded forcibly to take possession of the town of Jayakarta, renaming it Batavia in 1619; from here they ruled Indonesia for more than three centuries. Following the Japanese invasion and rule of the country from 1942-45, on August 17, 1945, Indonesia's first President Soekarno proclaimed Indonesia Independence and Jakarta became the accepted nation's capital.

Geographic Location
Jakarta is located on a wide, flat alluvial plain on the north coast of western Java. It covers 650 square kilometers of land which rises from five to 50 meters above sea level. Thirteen major waterways flow through it and empty into Jakarta Bay. Time is GMT plus 7 hours.

The city is bound to the north by the Java Sea, to the east by Bekasi district, to the south by Bogor district (these districts lie within the province of West Java) and to the west by Tangerang district (lie by the province of Banten). The city boundaries blend imperceptibly into the neighboring districts, when much of the city's industry is being developed and large numbers of the workforce are located. These greater Jakarta conurbation is known by the acronym Jabotabek (Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi).

Climate
Lying near the equator, Jakarta is hot and humid year-round. The long rainy season falls between late October and early May though rain occurs throughout the year, averaging 1791 mm. Rain tends to come in short heavy bursts, but even during the rainy season it doesn't rain every day. It rains on only a handfull of days during the dry season from July to September.

Afternoon humidity averages around 70 %, but is higher during the morning. Temperatures are fairly even throughout the year, averaging nearly 30°C maximum and 25°C minimum. Jakarta gets a steady supply of 12 hours daylight throughout the year, in the dry season the skies are clearer. Mornings are sunnier than the afternoons.

People and Culture
The city's dominant populations come from the surrounding areas of Java, many parts of Sumatera, Bali, and Sulawesi. Also making themselves known are those hailing from Papua, Indonesia's most eastern province, and Kalimantan, home of the Dayaks and one of the largest rainforests in the world. Over the centuries, these groups have kept their cultural roots, yet some have also inter-mixed, including with non-Indonesians, to form a special group of their own known as Orang Betawi.

Jakarta has its own special Betawi culture, which suggests the string of influences that reached the city's shores over the centuries. A long process of selectively borrowing and uniquely blending Chinesse, Arab, Portuguese and Dutch elements with native ingenuity has produces the colorful, composite Betawi culture. The word "Betawi" is derived from Batavia, the old name of the capital during the Dutch administration.

Pockets of Betawi life are still culturally alive throughout Jakarta with celebrations of wedding and the rhythms of a distinctive style of music. From the Betawi wedding dress alone one gets a glimpse of the many influences that passed through the gateway of the nation. The Betawi bride wears a gown inspired by the Chinesse ceremonial dress. Although there are many variations of the wedding costume, all feature tassels covering the face and a red dress. The bridegroom - in striking contrast - dons a costume derived from Arab and Indian Sources.

Government
Due to its very extensive size and population, Jakarta has been given the status of province, similiar to the other 33 provinces throughout Indonesia. As a province, Jakarta is headed by governor who is directly responsible to the President of Republic via the Minister of the Home Affair. Holding the dual position of city province and capital city, Jakarta is considered a Special Region (Daerah Khusus Ibukota - DKI).

Jakarta is further broken into five municipalities (kotamadya) and one regency (kabupaten) : Jakarta Pusat (central), Jakarta Utara (north), Jakarta Timur (east), Jakarta Selatan (south), Jakarta Barat (west ) and Kepulauan Seribu district administration (kabupaten). Each of these is headed by a mayor (walikota) and for regency is headed by regent (bupati). Each municipality is comprised of a number of kecamatan, headed by a camat, and each kecamatan is divided into kelurahan or 'village' level.

In many ways Jakarta is still just a collection of villages, with neighbourhoods providing the basic services such as garbage collection and security. This is organised by the Rukun Tetangga (RT - Neighborhood Head), who is an unpaid, elected official and carries out a number of duties. A neighborhood usually consist of around 20 households, and the RT is the head of this neighborhood watch system, carrying out registrations for residents and visitors, and keeping records of births, deaths and marriages for the government. A group of RT neighborhoods form a Rukun Warga (RW), wich is the next level below kelurahan.

Business Hours
Government offices are open from 8 am to 4 pm from Monday to Thursday; from 8 am to 2 pm on Friday and close on Saturday, Monday and holidays. Business offices are usually open from 9 am to 5 pm, and are generally closed on Saturdays. Banks are usually open from 8:30 am to 4 pm and close on Saturdays. Moneychangers are open longer hours.

Shops open around 9 am and shopping complexes, supermarkets and department stores stay open until 9 pm, though smaller shops may close at 5 pm. Sunday is a public holiday but many shops and airline offices open for least part of the day.
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Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

This stately national mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, is positioned on the northeast corner of Merdeka Square. About 90 percent of the Indonesian people are Muslims. Amplified chanting from the Istiqlal minaret, echoed by the hundreds of other smaller mosques throughout the city, call Jakarta's Muslims to prayer five times a day.
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Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Puppet can originate from the idea of Sunan Kudus who spread Islam to Java Island, but current forms of puppet are not just based on the ones developed by the pioneer. Wayang klithik, for example, is a kind of puppet made from wood that was developed late after Sunan Kudus time.
Since 1970s, Krebet village becomes one of the pioneers that developed wooden handicrafts by adopting the form of wayang klithik. Not long after the time, around the year 1992, existed new innovation combining the puppet handicraft with classic batik pattern in the village. The surface of the puppet is not plain anymore, but is decorated a la Yogyakarta Kingdom.
Now, after more than ten years this batik puppet was developed in Krebet Village, the production can be learned. You can reserve tour ticket to visit the village that includes the package of learning the batik puppet making. Of course, you will learn the process of the batik making only, since it takes longer time to produce the puppet.
The process of batik making can be seen and learned in other places, but making batik on puppet will give you different sensation. The process of batik making on this medium requires carefulness since the pattern is made manually instead of printed like making batik on other media.
Other sensation, the patterns you learn while making batik in this village are classic Kingdom patterns such as parangrusak, parangbarong, kawung, garuda, sidomukti, sidorahayu and tens other patterns. Thanks to those patterns, the batik puppet handicraft in this village is famous in foreign markets.
In fact, the facilities of batik learning in this village are simple and no instructors who can speak foreign languages. Nonetheless, by observing the craftsmen who make puppet and batik will give you sufficient knowledge to start making batik. You can also choose the batik pattern you are going to make.
In order to enjoy the learning of puppet batik making, you should spend around IDR 200,000. Apparently, it seems expensive, but you enjoy other things in addition to puppet making. During your tour, you will stay a night in local people's house without additional charge.
To reach Krebet village, please take Jalan Bantul. There are some alternatives to take, for instance by passing Kasongan village or turn right after the Great Mosque of Bantul. You have to prepare your personal vehicle or contact your travel agent since there is no public transportation to reach this place.
In addition to learning making batik puppet, you can learn climbing coconut tree and taking the nira or the substance to make palm sugar. You will also enjoy a package of going around teakwood forest on a jeep. When you get tired, you can enjoy special menu of the village, namely lodeh (mixed vegetable curry), gudeg manggar (flowers of coconut trees cooked sweet), tempe garit (salt, fried soybean), peyek (crackers with peanuts on it) and wedang legen (beverage made from the substance of coconut flowers as main material to make palm sugar).
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