Discover Indonesia

Solo Steam Loco "Sepur Kluthuk Jaladara"

2011-03-16T20:13:00.004+07:00

History of railways in Indonesia has been started since the 19th century in 1864, exactly on the island of Java. Since then the railway growing rapidly in Indonesia, in addition to public transport facilities as well as commodity freight in the future considering that many estates that opened in Indonesia.

Railroad steam locomotive that is displayed is a train with locomotive C1218. C1218 locomotive was made in the Netherlands by a locomotive factory Hartmann Chemnitz in 1986 and operated in the same year in Indonesia. Companies that operate are Staatspoorwegen or SS, the Dutch government-owned railway company.

C1218-fueled locomotives reject this teak-numbered SS 457 when used by the SS. This locomotive is one of 43 SS's C12 series locomotive is not handed over to the Japanese government, while the other 40 locomotives were taken by the Japanese.

In 1927 the boiler C1218-made Hartmann Chemnitz boiler was replaced by artificial Hohenzollern AG Dusseldorf, Germany. After ending his service period, C1218 placed on Depo Cepu, Blora regency, Central Java and used as a series of railway and yard locomotive to pull a series of passenger or goods trains on the track branch-Blora Cepu-Purwodadi.

After it, it is placed in the Ambarawa Railway Museum. And on 10 September 2009 this locomotive arrived at Solo to be enabled to serve the tourist route from Purwosari Station to Sangkrah Station.

Tour Package and Ticketing

Regular/Personal Package Price
Rp 150.000,00/pax
children max 5 years old
Rp 75.000,00/pax

Start from Purwosari Train Station: 09.00. Finished at Purwosari Station: 11.30
Ticket available at:

Purwosari Station,
Best Western Hotel
Novotel & Ibis Hotel
Lor in Hotel
Sahid Kusuma & Sahid Raya Hotel
Train Café @ Solo Balapan Station
Mandira Travel
Nusantara Travel

Include:

welcome drink - jamu
guide
art performance @ loji gandrung
solo kota/sangkrah
local snack
kampoeng batik kauman visit – museum
shopping & workshop
sinden on train
train steward
samir as souvenir

Group Package Price
Starting from Rp 2.300.000 – Rp 3.500.000/pax

Term:

min. 30 pax
3 days 2 nights
depart using Nusantara/Bali/Toraja train from Jakarta
return ticket to Jakarta by plane
Hotel **** (Best Western, Novotel, Lor In, Sunan, Sahid)
Includes Bus, Eat, Art attraction at Gedhong Putih hermitage

For more details: http://www.solosteamloco.com/

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Traditional & Modern Public Transport in Jakarta

2010-10-14T14:57:00.002+07:00

TransJakarta - Busway

TransJakarta is a bus rapid transit system in Jakarta, Indonesia. TransJakarta started on January 15, 2004 and currently has 8 corridors (or lines) in operation, 2 corridors at inactive status, and 5 corridors currently in active status. TransJakarta was designed to provide the citizens of Jakarta a fast public transportation system to help reduce rush hour traffic and currently has a weekday ridership of approximately 250,000. The Indonesian Government provided TransJakarta buses with their own private lanes nd Transjakarta's ticket prices are subsidized by the state government. Click here for TransJakarta live Cam.
This system has been highly criticized and opposed by road users as the TransJakarta bus-only lane reduces road space in already narrow streets of Jakarta. The system's goal of increasing traffic efficiency in Jakarta's key road sectors has failed for the most part as the majority of Jakarta's roads are too narrow to accommodate the extra lane. Consequently, there is increased traffic congestion in all parts of the TransJakarta routes

Bajaj

Bright orange and noisy ... easily describes a bajaj. These traditional transportation vehicles became popular in India where they were developed with Vespa and later imported to and built in Indonesia. Similar vehicles are known as rickshaw in Africa, Tuk-Tuk in Thailand and MotoTaxi in Peru. With an estimated 20,000 bajaj in Jakarta, it is evident they are very popular here too!
Bajaj seat two passengers comfortably and up to five passengers - depending on the size of the passenger of course. Their areas of operation are limited to one mayoralty in the city. On the side of the driver's doors you'll see a big circle in which the area is designated ... Jakarta Barat, Jakarta Pusat, etc., with a different color for each mayoralty. The drivers are not allowed to go out of their area and aren't allowed onto many main roads, so routes may be a bit circuitous.
Fare determination is by bargaining. It's always best to ask an Indonesian what they would pay for a trip to a particular destination from your point of departure, and then bargain and pay accordingly.
A ride in a bajaj is hot, utilizing AC alam - or nature's air conditioning. The ride will also be noisy, smelly (car and bus fumes), bumpy, harrowing, and a grand adventure. My favorite maneuver is
when the bajaj driver decides to flip a u-turn in the middle of the road.
There is some protection from the rain, unless it's blowing hard. You'd think you'd have to be careful about robbery since the vehicle is so open - but it's not as common as robberies in buses. Having said all that ... bajaj are extremely convenient in many areas of Jakarta for a short drive.
In April 2001 the government announced that they are going to replace bajaj with kancil, a new 4-wheel transportation. It will be interesting to see if they are any improvement!

Becak

Becak were banned within the Jakarta city limits in 1994 due to their propensity to cause traffic jams. Former President Soeharto (and others) also wanted to eradicate becak from the city streets because they felt the work to be degrading to the drivers. Becak are widely missed by people who live in housing complexes off the main roads and small roads which are not serviced by bus routes - as their sheer numbers in the city prior to the crackdown attests to how widely they were used. It used to be a common site in Jakarta to see becak drivers taking children to school each morning, and women home from the pasar (traditional market).
However, you can still find a few becak drivers ignoring the ban in certain locations within the city limits - like behind the luxurious Plaza Indonesia. Outside city limits becak are still found at the junctions of main roads and smaller country lanes that don't have smaller bus routes. Models of becak are different in each city they are found in across Indonesia.
Becak fit two passengers comfortably and possibly even more, depending on the size of the passenger. There is some protection from the sun ... and a plastic sheet that comes down over the front helps protect passengers during rainstorms. Bargain before you get in ... ! And don't expect the driver to have change for large bills.

Bemo

Another noisy little neighborhood vehicle is the bemo, which is used for local transportation in limited areas in Jakarta. Originally brought to Indonesia by the Japanese government as part of a disaster relief package in 1962, the vehicles were never manufactured in Indonesia in as great a number as bajaj or becak. Bemo are found in and near Benhil, Tanjung Priok, Kramat Jati and other areas outside Jakarta.

Bis

There are a large number bus (bis) companies servicing routes in Jakarta. Many of the larger buses seat 25-40 people (depending on type of bus). The buses have set prices (which should be posted on the bus). Bus companies include the government-owned PPD and Damri, which provides service to the airport. Private companies include Metro Mini. Some buses are air conditioned like Mayasari and Patas AC; they are more expensive. Other bus lines are run by cooperatives like Kopaja and Kopami.
All buses have set routes and set fares, but not set schedules. Students in uniform pay a lower rate of Rp 300 - no matter the distance. If you're not sure of the fare, ask other passengers what it is. Pay the “conductor”, who is usually hanging out the back door. He won't have change for big bills.
Buses are the most common transport of the masses. As we near the fourth year of the monetary crisis, they are almost universally in bad condition. There are less buses on the road as the price of spare parts has caused companies to vandalize other buses in their fleet and up to half of many of the fleets may not be roadworthy.
Bus passengers are often the target for robberies, street singers, and beggars - both on the buses and in the major bus terminals. Many bus drivers are notoriously dangerous as they race against each other to try and pick up passengers before the other buses plying the same route. Metro Mini has the worst reputation for poor drivers.
Buses do not necessarily stop at bus stops ... they stop wherever they can pick up a passenger be it in the middle of the road or on a busy intersection. Buses do not necessarily come to a complete stop for passengers to get off and on. So be careful as to which foot you step off the bus with!
The beginning and end points of each bus route are found on the front and back of each bus, along with a route number. If you don't know which bus to take, just ask the people at the bus stop and they'll tell you (helps if you speak Indonesian, of course).
Inter-city buses to other cities in Java and Sumatra (bis antar kota) can be found at the biggest bus stations - Pulau Gadung, Kampung Rambutan, Lebak Bulus, Blok M, and Kota.

Delman

Perhaps the only truly traditional transportation left in Jakarta, delman (horse-drawn carriages) are getting harder to spot in Jakarta nowadays. They are most commonly used to transport goods from major markets. Delman can often be found around Pasar Palmerah, Kemanggisan, Cipulir, around big pasar run by PD Pasar Jaya (the city market authority).
On Sundays you can rent a delman in the roads surrounding Monas (the national monument). The locals usually pile in the kids and have the delman driver take them for a fun ride around the Monas park.
Delman are often rented by a Betawi family to transport kids around the neighborhood to celebrate a sunatan ceremony (circumcision). When rented for parties such as this, the delman are often decorated with traditional Betawi ornamentation which lends a very festive air.
Delman have been used by the expatriate community in Permata Hijau for years to carry their kids around the housing complex to the participating homes for trick-or-treat fun. They provide great fun for a expat child's birthday party as well.
Bargain ahead of time to settle on a price as the price varies depending on the distance. Delman pictured above is from Cibadak, near Sukabumi.

Kereta Api

A commuter train (kereta api) runs several times daily from Bogor to Jakarta. These trains are quite simply furnished and often quite dirty. Scores of passengers brave the dangers and seat themselves atop the trains to avoid paying the fares.
Trains to other major cities on Java leave Jakarta from train stations at Gambir, Tanah Abang and Senin. Different classes of service are available, with the first class or executive class being quite comfortable. Some trains are bookable in advance. Trains are a good transportation option for inter-city travel on a budget. Information on train schedules can be found on the Commuter Railways web site and National Railways web site.

Mikrolet/Angkot

Mikrolet and angkot (these vehicles go by other names as well) are smaller vans/mini-buses that serve set routes on smaller main roads. They seat 9-12 people, depending on the type. Fares run from Rp 2,000 to 4,000, depending on the distance. Students pay Rp 1,000 if in uniform - for any distance.
The beginning and end points of the routes are visible on the front and back of each bus, along with a route number. For example, Tanah Abang - Meruya M11.

Ojek

Ojek “motorcycle taxis” began appearing in Jakarta after becak were banned in 1994. Ojek service began as a people's initiative to provide a transportation options for people who used to use becak from main roads into housing complexes. There is no government licensing for or control over ojek.
By law all motorcycle passengers should wear helmets, so ojek drivers should have a spare for you to wear. Ojek tend to congregate at t-junctions on main roads and near smaller roads that are not serviced by bus routes. Ladies have a careful balancing act if wearing a dress and must sit sidewise on the back of the vehicle.
Bargain before you get on - ask a local what the price should be first.

Ojek Sepeda

Rarely seen in areas of Jakarta outside Kota and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. Ojek Sepeda “bicycle taxis” operate much like ojek, except for shorter distances.

Taksi

Please read our separate article on Taking Taxis in Indonesia.

River Taxi

Back in time, long before taxis, bajaj and becak ... Jakarta's residents traveled the many canals and rivers and canals in a variety of boats. Today there are still places in Jakarta where you can find perahu penyeberangan (boats used to cross). These boatmen take people across a river often from a major road to the kampung on the other side/so that they don't have to travel way out of their way.

Panoramic photographs for this Traditional Transportation article are the work of Martin Bennett of Gambar Panjang ... we appreciate his generous and unique contribution to the site.

From: http://www.expat.or.id/info/traditionaltransport.html and http://en.wikipedia.org with some changes

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List of International Schools in Jakarta

2010-10-14T14:14:00.000+07:00

International Schools in Jakarta

ACG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Jl. Warung Jati Barat No.19
(Taman Margasatwa)
Ragunan, South Jakarta
Tel. (62-21)780-5636 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21)780-5636 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 781-4827
Email jude.soper@acgedu.com
Website www.acgedu.com

Curriculum: International/British and New Zealand, Kindergarten (3 years old) to grade 13
Ms. Jude Soper, Principal
Enrollment: 135
Over 3,000 students are currently being educated in Academic Colleges Group (ACG) Schools, both in New Zealand and overseas. The vision that drives us is clear. We aim to create a unique and dynamic learning environment, providing students from all over the world with an internationally – recognized education of the highest quality, and equipping them to make a successful contribution to the global community. ACG International School is a place where young people are encouraged and challenged to meet both their academic and personal potential. Learning and enjoyment go hand in hand, and each students needs are carefully considered. We offer a safe, caring environment with a superior standard of service and excellent facilities.

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - JAKARTA

Pejaten Campus - Secondary
Jl. Pejaten Barat No. 69
South Jakrta
Tel. (62-21) 782-1141 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 782-1141 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 782-4024
Fax (62-21) 782-7871
Email pejaten@ais.or.id
Brenton Hall – Head of School
Principal: Mr. Bruce Ferres
Enrollment - 400 Kemang Campus - Primary
Jl. Kemang Timur No. 81
South Jakarta
Tel. (62-21) 719-8856 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 719-8856 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 7179-0437
Fax (62-21) 7179-0937
Email kemang@ais-indonesia.com
Ms. Lyn O’Meara - Head of School
Principal – Bruce Ferres
Enrollment – 700
Curriculum - Australian, Levels - Kindergarten through Year 12
Email enquiries@ais-indonesia.com
Website www.ais-indonesia.com
Our Success Story: The Australian International School Indonesia (AIS) provides a world-class education for Kindergarten to Year 12 students with four well-resourced campuses in Jakarta, Bali, and Balikpapan. You are invited to discover the AIS success story which features:
A friendly and vibrant community where every student is nurtured and encouraged to achieve their personal best
A world-class Australian curriculum complemented by highly qualified teachers with international experience
A commitment to providing innovative and challenging individual learning programs
A values-based education experience which provides a solid foundation for future academic success and personal growth
A safe and caring environment
At AIS, it’s all about “Empowering Minds and Uniting Communities”. To find out more about successful learning at AIS and our four campuses, we invite you to explore our website or contact us for a tour. of one of our campuses.

El SHADDAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

(Accelerated Christian Education/School of Tomorrow)
Kompleks Permata Mediterania,
Jl. Pos Pengumben Raya No. 40, Jakarta Barat
Tel. (62-21) 589-07193 – 4
Fax (62-21) 589-07195
Email elshaddaischool@gmail.com
Website www.elshaddaischool.com
Over 7000 Christian schools in 131 countries worldwide are educated in the Accelerated Christian Education/School of Tomorrow (ACE/SOT) system which has been established for 35 years form the U.S. Graduates are attending world-renown universities such as Liberty U., Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Oxford, Murdoch, etc. El Shaddai International School is the first ACE/SOT Christian school in Indonesia. El Shaddai International School (ESIS) vision is to provide a quality education that integrates Godly wisdom, biblical principles and characters; producing outstanding unique leaders with a spirit of excellence that will lead them to be successful in their God-given life purpose in the 7 mountains of society – church, family, education, government, media, entertainment, and business (Rick Joyner). “Wisdom precedes success, it prepares the life for success when you build on it.”
ESIS is a daughter school of King’s College, W. Australia and associated with world-renown Christian universities such as Liberty University, the world’s largest Christian university. Our success stories are that many of our 16-year-old high school graduates are outstanding as they have received scholarships from international and national renown universities such as Liberty University, U.S.A. in Business, President University in Business, University of Pelita Harapan in Law. Our 16-year-old graduate was one of the youngest student attending the Singapore Management University associated with Wharton University, U.S.A. Our 15-year-old was the youngest student attending the University of Indonesia & Queensland University double degree program in Psychology. “We are meant to soar high!”

HOPE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

The Bellezza Permata Hijau
3rd floor, 34 Arteri Permata Hijau
Jakarta 12210
Phone (62-21) 5366-4888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 5366-4888 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 5366-48499
Email info@hopeinternational.sch.id
Admissions Office admission@hopeinternational.sch.id
Website www.hopeinternational.sch.id

Curriculum: Primary: Cambridge International Primary Programme (P1- P6), Secondary: IGCSE Programme (Y7 – Y10), AS and A level Programme (Y11 – Y12).
Highly qualified teachers with international experience, English and Mandarin native speakers, strong focus in Character Building and Religion, Remedial and Tutorial Programme, highly competitive and attractive fees structure, a friendly and welcoming community, scholarship available for high achievers.

ISMILE

International School of Multiple Intelligences Learning & Enrichment (ISMILE)
GP Tower 5th Floor
The Bellezza Permata Hijau
Jl. Let. Jend. Soepeno No. 34
Jakarta Selatan 12210, Indonesia
Tel. (62-21) 5366-4777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 5366-4777 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 5366-4795
Email enquiry@ismile.sch.id
Website www.ismile.sch.id
Principal -
Enrollment -

Curriculum - Multiple Intelligences (M.I.) based curriculum from Singapore's largest pre-school, incorporating bi-lingual (English & Mandarin) instruction, Reggio Emilia approach, MATAL science, and CharacterFirst syllabus.
At ISMILE, every child is progressively profiled using the Multiple Intelligences (M.I.) approach by Professor Howard Gardner of Harvard University. A team of experienced international teachers lead ISMILE's M.I. programs (6 months till 6 years old) which bring the confidence out of every child. Students enjoy learning within the Reggio Emilia-inspired environment, outdoor nature garden and sand/water play areas.

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL

Jalan Pisangan Raya No. 99
(next to the Taman Wisata Situ Gintung)
Cirendeu, Ciputat Timur, Jakarta
Tel. (62-21) 744-4864 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 744-4864 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 7471-2706
Email info@jimsch.org
Website www.jimsch.org
Curriculum - JIMS is a fully registered Cambridge International Centre with the University of Cambridge International Examinations offering education for children aged 12 to 17 years old and a candidate school for the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization for children from 3 to 12 years old. The nursery program serves children 1.5 years to 3 years old.
JIMS was founded in 1995 under the name of the Jakarta International Montessori School. In 2007, the school changed its name to Jakarta International Multicultural School. JIMS is located on a 1.5 hectare campus in the green Situ Gintung area. The school area and building are owned by JIMS with modern facilities, including a baseball field, baseball pitching area, large library with extensive book collection, football field, semi indoor basketball court and two swimming pools. The school truly lives up to its multicultural name. JIMS is fortunate to have a school community which consists of representatives from five continents. The number of students has increased in recent years and we now have 130 students.

JAYAKARTA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Jl. Kemang Selatan 1, Blok L-1
Kemang, South Jakarta 12730
Tel. (62-21) 719-4907 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62-21) 719-4907 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 719-4908
Fax (62-21) 719-3110
Email admin@jktmontessori.com
Website www.jktmontessori.com
Principal - Siti Rohmatun
Curriculum: Montessori Method for preschool, Elementary levels use a hybrid of Singapore/British/American system taking the best of each, within a Montessori setting.
Toddlers (2 years) to Grade/Primary school (11 years).
Give your child the Montessori Advantage! Our developmentally appropriate programs foster creativity, self confidence and a natural love of learning. Guided by skilled, Montessori trained expatriate teachers; we promote your child's physical, social, emotional and mental development, thus providing an excellent foundation for life in larger schools. Please visit us anytime, we also offer free trial classes.

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Kemang Selatan No. 1 (Primary Campus)
Kemang, Jakarta Selatan 12730
Tel. (62 21) 718-3222 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62 21) 718-3222 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62 21) 719-8074
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 70 (Secondary Campus)
Kemang, Jakarta Selatan 12730
Tel. (62 21) 718-3111 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (62 21) 718-3111 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Fax (62 21) 719 6525
Email principal@nzis.net
Website www.nzis.net
School Enrollment - under 300
Principal - Mrs Linda Holdaway-Howard.
A cosy, friendly, co-educational day school open to students of all nationalities aged 2 to 18 years old.
We follow the Southern Hemishpere school year, but are open for enrollments throughout the year. We follow the New Zealand Curriculum at Pre-school and Primary level, and offer Cambridge International Examinations at High School Level. (IGCSE and A Levels)

Small class sizes and native English-speaking expatriate teachers result in a high degree of teacher attention and pastoral care.

SEKOLAH TIARA BANGSA ACS (INTERNATIONAL) JAKARTA

Jl. Bantar Jati, Kelurahan Setu, Jakarta Timur 13880
Tel. (62-21) 8459-7175/76
Fax (62-21) 8459-7180
Email info@acsjakarta.sch.id, admissions@acsjakarta.sch.id
Website www.acsjakarta.sch.id
Executive Principal -Mr. Ng Eng Chin
Current numbers of students: 550 pupils
Curriculum: CIPP, IGCSE, IBDP/CP
Sekolah Tiara Bangsa ACS (International) Jakarta is a selective K-12 school for academically promising students. We cater for a multinational student population with English as the language of instruction. Bahasa Indonesia and Chinese Language are offered. We prepare our students for continued academic success and for their future. Whilst with us, students learn to think, work and play. We want our students while learning diligently to also savor their young years of life.
We recognize that each student is unique and that individual abilities differ but we believe that everyone can benefit by being encouraged and challenged. Our classes are kept small (max. of 25 per class) so that our teachers can cater to each student’s individual needs. Students have fulfilling and meaningful school years with us as they are placed in a nurturing environment shaped by a caring and congenial community of staff, parents and peers.
We are committed to the highest standards as we deliver an ACS education encompassing academic excellence to all our students. An ACS education stands for the total development of a child so as to maximize his or her potential for the greater good and service to others. Anchoring it is the strong belief that in addition to the mind, body and spirit, there is also a need to enrich the soul, which touches the heart and gives character to the being. Every facet of our education develops openness, respect, consideration and compassion.
We adopt internationally accredited programmes of learning from the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Board, with curriculum developed from best practices in Singapore, the UK, the US and elsewhere internationally. Students are nurtured to be independent and empowered learners, thereby acquiring discipline, self confidence and self-esteem.
The School offers a wide range of sporting, musical and dramatic opportunities and co-curricular activities. Through this they can develop a breadth of interests and learn to play and work co-operatively across different age levels. The different Level camps held within Indonesia and overseas bring students’ learning beyond the confines of the classroom and help in the cultivation of global perspectives.
Our teaching faculty is dedicated to helping our students achieve their potential. Nurturing and supportive, we are committed to bringing out the best in every student. We have teachers from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, the UK and the US. Their diverse backgrounds help enrich the teaching environment and give students a wider perspective in their learning.

SINAR MAS WORLD ACADEMY

JL. TM Pahlawan Seribu CBD Lot XV
BSD City, Tangerang 15322
Tel. (021) 5316-1400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (021) 5316-1400 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (021) 5316-1401
Email info@swa-jkt.com or admissions@swa-jkt.com
Website www.swa-jkt.com
Bruce Ashton, Elementary Principal
Paul Sebastian, Secondary Principal Thamrin Nine Podium, Level 8 & 9
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 10
Jakarta Pusat
Tel. (021) 2993-7234 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (021) 2993-7234 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 2993-7235
Email info@jwa-jkt.com
Website www.jwa-jkt.com
Lynn Taylor, Principal
Curriculum - Kindergarden elementary, junior and senior high school
Enrollment - 300
Sinarmas World Academy (SWA) is a 21st century school providing education for international and Indonesian students living in the Jakarta area. The school’s outstanding facilities are conveniently located near the BSD exit of the Pondok Indah toll road. SWA is an authorized IB World School and offers the IB Diploma, Middle Years and Primary Years Programmes in a welcoming and supportive environment where students really enjoy learning.
Opened in July 2008, SWA currently has 300 students from 16 nationalities and is designed to grow to an enrolment of 1000. In addition to a strong academic program, which includes the opportunity to study three languages – English, Indonesian and Chinese, SWA provides extensive extra-curricular, leadership and community service opportunities that support development of well balanced young people. Sinarmas World Academy is a member of the Council of International Schools.

TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Talavera Office Park 28th Floor
Jl. T. B. Simatupang Kav. 22-26
Jakarta 12430
Tel. +62 21 7599 9930 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62 21 7599 9930 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax +62 21 7599 9888
Email info@technologyhigh.net
Website www.technologyhigh.net
Technology International School (TIS) is the first of the quickly multiplying 21st Century online secondary schools to establish an office in Indonesia. Providing a complete Grade 6-12 program that can be completed from anywhere in the world, we specialise in promoting strong and healthy online peer interaction as well as opportunities for field trips, retreats and live seminars here in Jakarta. Mentors make daily email and IM contact with students to monitor and support their learning and fully qualified expatriate subject teachers lead discussions, answer questions and assess assignments (with detailed feedback) from wherever they are in the world.
Founded by two experienced principals, TIS can help prepare able students for Cambridge International Examinations to access universities worldwide. Examinations can be sat by arrangement with a Cambridge International Centre near you. Whether you are a struggling student, a creative student or an academic high-flyer, TIS provides a personalised program designed to help you ACHIEVE MORE at YOUR time and in YOUR place.

TUTOR TIME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN

Email info@ttimeid.com
Website www.tutortime.co.id
Jakarta Selatan
Jl. Kemang Utara Raya no. 56, Tel. (021) 7179-3139 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (021) 7179-3139      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 718-2087
Jl. Arteri Pondok Indah no. 1, Tel. (021) 7279-8185 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (021) 7279-8185      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 7279-8223
Jakarta Utara
Jl. Raya Janur Elok QC 14/12, Kelapa Gading, Tel. (021) 451-6269 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (021) 451-6269      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 451-6913
Komp. Ruko Gading Bukit Indah Blok O 15-16, Kelapa Gading, Tel. (021) 4584-2794 - 95
Jl. Pluit Utara Raya No. 72, Tel. (021) 669-2513 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (021) 669-2513      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 661-9860
Jakarta Barat
Perumahan Taman Kebon Jeruk Blok C2/19, Tel. (021) 586-8544 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (021) 586-8544      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 5890-8012
Bandung
Jl. Dipati Ukur No. 7, Tel. (022) 250-0031 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (022) 250-0031      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 250-1145
Surabaya
JL. Raya Darmo Permai II / 20, Tel. (031) 731-6736 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (031) 731-6736      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 732-9785
Curriculum: Tutor Time is an international franchise school from US. Its unique curriculum is designed by the US Early Childhood Education Specialist to encourage children ages 6 months - 6 years to discover their own strengths, learn to value uniqueness in themselves and in others. Along with Reading, Writing and Mathematics, children learn to love learning.

AL-HARAMAIN AL-SAUDIAH ACADEMY
Jl. Cipinang Cempedak No. 25
Jakarta Timur
Phone (62-21) 819-1254 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 819-1254      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 851-5154
Email saschool@centrin.net.id

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Bintaro Main Campus (Pre-School to Year 13, ages 3-18)
Bintaro Jaya Sektor 9
Jl Raya Jombang
Ciledug, Pondok Aren
Tangerang 15227
Phone (62 21) 745 1670 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62 21) 745 1670      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62 21) 745 1671
Email Enquiries@bis.or.id

DEUTSCHE INTERNATIONALE SCHULE
(German International School)
Jl. Puspa Widya No. 8
Bumi Serpong Damai
Tangerang 15322, Indonesia
Phone (62-21) 537-8080 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 537-8080      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 537-5102
Email mail@dis.or.id
Dr. Peter Schaefer, Principal
Enrollment - 250

GANDHI MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
PRJ Kompleks Kemayoran Blok D Kav. No.1
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Phone No. (62-21) 658-65667 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 658-65667      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 658-65668, 658-65669
Fax No. (62-21) 658-65677
Email headmaster@gandhijkt.org

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECIAL CARE IN EDUCATION (ICSCE)
Jl. Jati Padang Utara No. 8 B
Pejaten - Jakarta 12540
Tel.(62-21) 780-7313
Fax. (62-21) 7884-4313
Email special_care@cbn.net.id
Principal - Paulus Sulu

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL KOREAN SCHOOL
Jl. Bina Marga No. 24
Ceger, Jakarta Timur
Phone (62-21) 844-4958 - 844-4961
Fax (62-21) 844-4927
Email jiks@jiks.com

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Admissions Office
P.O. Box 1078 JKS
Jakarta 12010
Phone (62-21) 769-2555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 769-2555      end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 16566
Fax (62-21) 750-7650
Email admissions@jisedu.or.id

JAKARTA JAPANESE SCHOOL
Jl. Elang
Bintaro Jaya Sektor 9
Perigi Lama, Tangerang Banten
Phone (62-21) 745-4130 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 745-4130      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 745-4140
Email jakarta@jjs.or.id

LYCÉE INTERNATIONAL FRANÇAIS
Jl. Cipete Dalam No. 32
Cipete, Jakarta Selatan 12410
Phone (62-21) 750-3062 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 750-3062      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 750-3624
Website www.lifdejakarta.org

NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Jl. Jeruk Purut
RT 003/RW 03
Cilandak Timur, Jakarta Selatan 12560
Phone (62-21) 782-3930 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 782-3930      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (7 am-16.00 pm)
Fax (62-21) 782-3929
Email info@nis.or.id

NORTH JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Jl. Raya Kelapa Nias
Kelapa Gading Permai QC #1
Jakarta Utara 14250
(P.O. Box 6759/JKUKP, Jakarta 14240)
Phone (62-21) 450-0683 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 450-0683      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 450-0682
Email info@njis.or.id

PAKISTAN EMBASSY SCHOOL
Jl. Dempo Matraman Dalam II No.1
Matraman, Jakarta Pusat
Phone (62-21) 390-4138 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 390-4138      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21)
Email pesjak@cbn.net.id

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Bona Vista Complex
Jl. Bona Vista Raya
Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan 12440
Phone (62-21) 7591-4414 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (62-21) 7591-4414      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax (62-21) 7591-4418
Email info@sisschools.org

From: http://www.expat.or.id/orgs/schools.html

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Lorentz National Park

2010-05-18T19:18:00.000+07:00

Lorentz National Park is located in the Indonesian province of Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya (western New Guinea). With an area of 25,056 km² (9,674 mi²), it is the largest national park in South-East Asia. In 1999 Lorentz was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
An outstanding example of the biodiversity of New Guinea, Lorentz is one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in the world. It is the only nature reserve in the Asia-Pacific region to contain a full altitudial array of ecosystems spanning from marine areas, mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamp forest, lowland and montane rainforest, alpine areas, and equatorial glaciers. At 4884 meters, Puncak Jaya (formerly Carstensz Pyramid) is the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and the Andes.

Birdlife International has called Lorentz Park “probably the single most important reserve in New Guinea”.It contains five of World Wildlife Fund's "Global 200" ecoregions: Southern New Guinea Lowland Forests; New Guinea Montane Forests; New Guinea Central Range Subalpine Grasslands; New Guinea Mangroves; and New Guinea Rivers and Streams.

Lorentz Park contains many unmapped and unexplored areas, and is certain to contain many species of plants and animals as yet unknown to Western science. Local communities' ethnobotanical and ethnozoological knowledge of the Lorentz biota is also very poorly documented.
The park is named for Hendrikus Albertus Lorentz, a Dutch explorer who passed through the area on his 1909–1910 expedition.

The mammal species include the Long-beaked echidna, Short-beaked Echidna, and four species of cuscus as well as wallabies, wildcats and tree-kangaroos. Endemic to the Sudirman Range is the Dingiso, a tree-kangaroo species only discovered in 1995.

Source: wikipedia
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Ratu Boko Palace

2010-03-31T12:54:00.000+07:00

The history of Ratu Boko, begin with Prambanan

The original architectural layout and design is not fully known, within the 19.6 Ha of land on top of the hill, there remain the stone basements of pendopo hall (on which stood wooden building) and other palace building, a structure that was presumably a water tank or a bathing place man-made flat terrace and ruins of stone walls.

The history of Ratu Boko, begin with Prambanan are a large number of inscription dating from the second half of the eight century to the middle of ninth century have been found on Ratu Boko hill and at the Kalasan, Loro Jonggrang, Sewu, Plaosan and other candi. In particular, the Sanskrit inscription dated in 856 AD is important. From them it can be summarized that the Buddhist Shailendra dynasty and the Hindu Mataram often cooperated with one another but that in the middle of the ninth century the later defeated the former.

When we heard the word Kraton (Palace), our imagination will automatically think about Rakai, Palace and the Royal facilities. But those that we imagine can't be found at Ratu Boko Kraton, when it was found, and who gave the name. According to the ancient inscription that was made by Rakai Panangkaran in 746-784 AD, at the beginning the building around Ratu Boko heritage site is called Abhayagiri Wihara. Abhaya means no danger or peace.

Abhayagiri means the Buddhist monks dormitory/wihara that is located at the peaceful area on top of the hill. In the next period between 856-863 AD, Abhayagiri Wihara changed its name became Walaing Kraton that is proclaimed by Vasal Rakai named Rakai Walaing Pu Kumbayoni. Mandyasih inscription, which was built in 898-908 AD by Rakai Watukara Dyah Balitung, still mentioned Walaing as the pedigree of Punta Tarka who made Mantyasih inscription. From the beginning of 10th century until the end of 16th century, there is no news about Kraton Walaing.

The Shailendra stronghold at that time was Ratu Boko hill, and three kinds of “lingga” were erected to commemorate the Mataram victory. Prior to that, “candi Siwa” probably meaning candi Loro Jonggrang, was built.
Much still unknown, but more and more of the history of that time will no doubt come to light in time with the discovery of more such inscription if they are carefully preserved.

For those who love, within the mind’s eye to reconstruct history, Ratu Boko is a dream.
The main site is on a small plateau. The trek is best done at dawn or in the late afternoon when the views from the plateau’s ridge are most beautiful. Ratu Boko was probably a fortified palace built by the Buddhist Sailendra and later taken over y Hindu Mataram.

Little remains apart from a huge, sparsely ornamented gateway and a series of foundations and bathing places, but the atmosphere are enchanting. A few hundred meters to the south on another small plateau (linked with the first, but difficult to find) is a large stone platform with decorated waterspouts and staircases surrounded by an empty moat; a little below the platform, through kala-head gateway, is a group of tranquil green pools, one of which is still used by the villages.

According to HJ. DeGraff, in 17th century there were many European travelers who came to Indonesia. Those travelers said that there was also a heritage site which mentioned about Prabu Boko who came from Bali. Ninety years later, in 1790. Van Boeckholtz found the heritage ruin above Ratu Boko heritage sites.

The Publishing of this founding attracted scientists like Makenzic, Junghun and Brumun who came to visit and made recording about the heritage site at Ratu Boko Hill in 1814. One hundred years later, FDK Bosch made a research and reported it which entitled "Kraton Van Ratoe Boko". According to FDK Bosch, the site at Ratu Boko Hill is known as Kraton Ratu Boko.

People who live around Ratu Boko Hill usually call it as Dawun, temple just like the name of their village. That is why in some literatures and old maps, Ratu Boko Hill is written in 2 (two) name: Dawung Temple and Kraton Ratu Boko van Ratoe Boko.

The name of Kraton Ratu Boko comes from the word Kraton van, Ratu Boko. Kraton is from Ka-da-tu-an that means King's or Rakai’s Place. Ratu Boko comes from the word Ratu which has the meaning as King and Boko is heron. This understanding comes up with question whether the King of Heron is the ruler himself or the real bird. Therefore, people say that Ratu Boko keeps a mystery up to now.

[Source: Borobudur Prambanan, National Archeological Park, JICA: 1979]

Source: http://www.borobudurpark.co.id/en-boko.html

For more information and details about getting there, etc. Please visit: Borobudur Park

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The legend of Ramayana When History Comes to Life

2010-03-31T09:42:00.001+07:00

On Prime Site the World Heritage Archeological Park Prambanan : The legend of Ramayana When History Comes to Life
120 minutes show, with 15 minutes intermission

Prambanan Theatre on the next site of the world heritage archeological park of Prambanan temple is one of the world class arts centers, officially opened on 1990. This architectural icon with its distinctive Prambanan view is sited within Yogyakarta’s civic district, just about 15-30 minutes of down townYogyakarta. Prambanan Theatre aims to be a performing arts centre for everyone, and its programmes cater to its diverse audiences. Ramayana Ballet and its programmed line-up span all genres to encompass music, dance, theatre and visual arts, with a special emphasis on Asian culture.

Prambanan Theatre houses world-class performance spaces, supported by a comprehensive range of professional support facilities and services. Its two main venues are the 1000-seat open space concert hall (Ramayana) and about 360-seat closed theatre (Trimurti), designed with the best acoustics in mind, it hosts a diverse range of music performances, equipped with highly adaptable staging, lighting and sound systems, and it is able to accommodate different staging demand.
In the past year, Prambanan Theater has welcomed over one million audiences and presented more than 200 performances.

Enjoy Ramayana Ballet, the legend of Prambanan when history comes to life

Presented by more than 250 artists at its original place: Ramayana Open Air Theater & Trimurti Theater Prambanan Temple complex - Yogyakarta - Indonesia.

Ramayana Ballet at present time being the most popular performance in Yogyakarta. It is held at an outdoor theater (episodic and full story) and Trimurti indoor theater (full story) in Prambanan, 16 km east of Yogyakarta, with the magnificent Prambanan Temple as a scenic background. Ramayana Ballet presents the finest dancers from the region.

The entire Ramayana epic consists of four episodes and full story, each night one episode, presented from 07.30 to 09.30 p.m. in four clear nights on and around the full moon, each month from May through October. The full story is held at Trimurti Theater every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; presented by more than 50 professional dancers. The large outdoor amphitheater, more than 250 assorted dancers and gamelan musicians, four clear tropical nights on the full moon, a thousand-year-old temple of inspiring beauty as part of the scenery; Ramayana, the story of gods, mortals, giants, monkeys and beautiful women based on the epic of Hindu found in the relief’s of Prambanan Temple, are the reasons for its popularity, reputation and appeal with every performance.

Calendar of Event 2010

Venue : Outdoor Theater, PRAMBANAN
Time : 7:30 - 9:30 PM

MONTH	DATE OF SHOW PERFORMANCES
MAY	1	4	6	8	11	13	15	18	20	22	25	27	28	29	30	31
JUNE	1	2	3	5	8	9	10	12	15	16	17	19	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
JULY	1	3	6	7	8	10	13	14	15	17	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	31
AUGUST	2	4	5	7	10	11	12	14	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	28	31
SEPTEMBER	2	4	7	9	11	14	16	18	21	23	24	25	26	27	28	30
OCTOBER	2	5	7	9	12	14	16	19	21	22	23	24	25	26	28	30

Episodic Story

Full Story

Venue : Closed Theater Trimurti, PRAMBANAN
Time : 7:30 - 9:30 PM

MONTH	DATE OF SHOW PERFORMANCES
JANUARY	2	5	7	9	12	14	16	19	21	23	26	28	30
FEBRUARY	2	4	6	9	11	13	16	18	20	23	25	27
MARCH	2	4	6	9	11	13	16	18	20	23	25	27	30
APRIL	2	3	6	8	10	13	15	17	20	22	24	27	29
NOVEMBER	2	4	6	9	11	13	16	18	20	23	25	27	30
DECEMBER	2	4	7	9	11	14	16	18	21	23	25	28	30

General Information on Ramayana Ballet Show Performance
Dress Code
Prambanan Theatre has no formal dress code; however we do advise you to dress warmly when attending performances in the indoor venues.

Children
As form of courtesy to other audience member, infant-in arms and children below six year old will not be admitted unless stated otherwise. Any child attending a performance should be able to sit quietly throughout. All children regardless of age are required to have a ticket.
Latecomers
For the enjoyment of all audience members, all event start promptly at the time printed in the ticket. Please be seated 15 minutes before the performance is due to begin. Entry for the latecomers and readmission will not be permitted (closed theatre) until the first appropriate pause in the programmed or the intermission, if any

Camera or video camera to the venue
Please note that any audio or video recording equipment are mostly welcome unless stated otherwise not allowed in the venue. The venue holders or the promoter reserves the right to temporary withheld your equipment. Once the event is over, they will return them to you.

Flowers and gifts for artists
To ensure the audience safely and security, flowers or gift from external parties intended for performing artist will not be accepted in unless stated otherwise. Audience approaching the venue with flowers or gift will be required to deposit them at the entrance of the venue. Presentation of flowers or gift is subject to discussion first with the performance programme committees

Food and beverages
A variety of Food and beverages is available in the Prambanan theatre foyer bars. Food and beverages are permitted in the foyer area only.

Lost and found
To report or to retrieve lost or found item, please go the information at the entrance.

Photography and filming

Prambanan Theatre welcome audience to our premises to photograph, film or take video images of the public area of the building or visual arts solely for personal use only. However, the commercial use or public exhibition of this material is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Prambanan Theatre office. Photography, Videography or any form of recording including that by mobile phone cameras is strictly prohibited within our performance venue at all times. We kindly request audience not to use such devices while in our performance venue. Should you enter with such devices, you may be required to deposit facility outside.

Wheelchair Users
Wheelchair Users are required to inform Prambanan Theatre office of their requirements when booking tickets so arrangement can be made.

Ticket Information for Ramayana Ballet Show Performance

Admission
To gain admission to the venue, please produce tickets at the entrance. All audiences are required to have ticket.

CLASS	OUTDOOR THEATRE	CLOSED THEATRE
VIP	IDR 250.000
Preferred Seat	IDR 175.000	IDR 175.000
Premium Seat	IDR 150.000	IDR 150.000
Standard Seat	IDR 75.000	IDR 75.000

The fee must be paid in Indonesia Rupiah. Credit cards are not accepted for payment (December, 2008)

Changes
Program and ticket prices are subject to changes, cancellation, and postponement without notice. Please check your ticket upon purchased

Lost Tickets
Please note that an administrative fee of 75% of the ticket price/ticket is payable for all replacement tickets issued.
Terms & conditions of issue:
• Replacement tickets will be issued for performances with reserved seating only
• No replacement ticket will be issued for general admission or 'free seating/standing’' performances
• Replacement tickets are issued subject to presentation of identification for verification
• Prambanan Theatre reserves the right to withhold issue of replacement tickets if identification details do
not match transaction records

Cancelled Performance
Refunds are granted for cancelled performances only, subject to return of ticket and authenticity of purchase. Refunds will only be granted to the original purchaser of the ticket.

Upgrade or downgrade the existing ticket(s) or seats
Apologize that downgrade of tickets or seats are strictly NOT allowed. You may upgrade to a higher price as long as there is no change to the performance date and time.

Concessions & Packages
For most Ramayana Ballet performance concessions may be available for:
• Full time student with valid student identity
• Group bookings do not qualify for concession prices.
• Senior Citizens aged 60 years and above are to present proof of their eligibility at the point of purchase

Please note that random checks on concession tickets will be conducted at the point of entry. Audiences unable to present proof of eligibility are required to upgrade their concession tickets to full price tickets.

School Group Booking Benefits
Schools receive a certain benefits when they book tickets for Ramayana Ballet Show Performance, subject to availability. Please consult with Ramayana Ballet Admission Office.

Restricted View Seats
Restricted view seats will be made available when the need arises. Sightlines of such seats are deemed less favorable than seats at other price categories.

Guidelines
• Minimum number of 20 tickets - Adjustments in group size may be made prior to final payment, subject to
availability.
• Once tickets are paid for, there will be NO REFUND, EXCHANGE OR CANCELLATION

	Prambanan Theatre Office at
	Jalan Raya Yogya - Solo Km 16 Prambanan, Yogyakarta 55571, Indonesia

	Phone : +62 274 496408, Fax : +62 274 496408
	Email : teater@borobudurpark.co.id, Website : www.borobudurpark.co.id

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Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 3

2010-03-25T19:17:00.001+07:00

Source: http://vod.kompas.com/read/2010/02/15/203710/Dalang.Cilik...Sang.Duta.Budaya..bagian.3

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Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 2

2010-03-25T19:16:00.001+07:00

Source: http://vod.kompas.com/read/2010/02/15/203456/Dalang.Cilik...Sang.Duta.Budaya..bagian.2

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Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 1

2010-03-24T17:17:00.002+07:00

Source: http://vod.kompas.com/read/2010/02/15/203313/Dalang.Cilik...Sang.Duta.Budaya..bagian.1

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The Unique and Exotic Batik of Jambi

2010-03-17T17:04:00.008+07:00

Besides its rich flora and fauna, Jambi has the distinction of being the only province in Sumatra to have developed a batik industry. Right in the heart of the city of Jambi, beyond the Batang Hari River, a few craftsmen and women have resurrected one of the great sources of pride from the ancient era of Jambi’s Melayu Empire - their production of batik.

My trip along the Batang Hari River took me to a neighbourhood called Seberang Kota Jambi which is named after its location alongside and “on the other side” of Jambi’s river. Here we can still find many dwellings built in the traditional Jambi style. Furthermore, living in some of those old houses are craftsmen and women who produce Jambi’s batik.

Getting to Seberang Kota Jambi from the city is pretty easy. From Angso Duo Market, which is not far from the Governor’s residence, Seberang Kota Jambi can be reached by crossing the Batang Hari River on a ketek (a type of boat used by local people) which takes 10 minutes. Alternatively you can follow the river by motor vehicle for 45 minutes and then cross it using the 1,000 metre long Aurduri No.1 bridge. Then you turn right and head for the Mudung Laut district, directly opposite the city of Jambi.

One of the traditional houses, characteristically raised on stilts had an interesting name plate that caught our eye. Pengrajin Batik Jambi-Dua Putri (makers of Jambi Batik-Two Daughters) is located in the Jelmu neighbourhood of Mudung Laut, next to the main road, Jl. K.H. A. Madjid Rofar. Nafisah, a young 27 year old mother, gave us a warm welcome.

Together with her sister Saodah and her mother Nursiyah, she was busy making batik on the floor of their house. The room seemed to be filled with pieces of batik, still at the colouring stage, hanging up to dry.

According to Nafisah, every Melayu woman must have a skill such as embroidery, weaving or making batik. The skill she has for making batik was not handed down to her by her ancestors but instead started out as a hobby. She has been crafting batik for only 10 years after receiving help to set herself up from the Department of Industry.

Most of the batik she produces is sold to the people who come to visit her house or is ordered by businesses in Jambi or even further afield.

Right now there are around 50 batik makers working under her guidance. Unlike Javanese batik, which uses long pieces of cloth, Jambi batik usually comes in the form of a loose robe called a sarong or as a shawl or scarf. The distinctive Jambi colour scheme is red, blue and yellow. The time it takes to work on it, though, is not different: a sarong or shawl takes between 15 days to a month to finish, depending on the complexity of the motif.

Jambi batik in the colouring processI was invited to take a walk and have a look at the traditional raised houses in the vicinity of Nafisah’s place. There are around 100 households in the Jelmu neighbourhood in Mudung Laut. From time to time the Batang Hari River overflows and this kampung is inundated with floodwater.

These raised houses in Jelmu are over a hundred years old and have been lived in for more than four generations. The architecture exhibits a fusion of Melayu, Dutch and Chinese styles which can be seen in the structure of the roof, the columns and the doors and windows. Unfortunately, several of these houses are now tilting and their doors have been damaged due to the earthquake that struck Padang not so long ago. I could see women in some of the houses drying out fish crackers they had made or working on batik.

Jambi is also renowned for being a safe and friendly city. Some women invited us into their homes. Indeed, one even suggested we visit when there was a flood. Being inside of one of these house-on-stilts is like being on the river. When the floods come, the local people usually use small wodden boats to go about their daily business and it become an interesting part of the scenery.

Nafisah is one of the young leaders in the place where she lives. In 2005-2006, she was Runner-Up in the National Youth Pioneer competition. Apart from crafting her batik, she actively seeks out innovations to improve the quality of her batik as well such as experimenting with natural colourings including using the bark from a jengkol fruit - a discovery that earned her the national award.

“I want the youth in this area to stand on their own two feet and not become slaves to people in the city. So they need to make money for themselves,” she said.

Although the batik has become increasingly popular, there is not so much interest in becoming batik makers among Jambi’s youth. Nafisah has on several occasions tried to recruit young local people to take up the craft like she has but, typically, only one out of every ten youths she works with sticks with it. For this reason, every time there is an batik related event in the city, including training, Nafisah always brings young people along with her. Her hope is that when they see the development of batik, and the economic rewards that can be associated with it, they will become interested and want to promote Jambi batik.

Nafisah is not afraid of competition.

Nafisah is one of the young pioneers who promote Jambi batik; The bark from jengkol fruit - one of the natural colouring materials for batik; a woman colouring Jambi batik.

“Every person is different. The handiwork of two people is never the same. And the same goes for their livelihoods. If we are scared of people competing with us then we cannot progress,” she said.

Much like Nafisah, Edi Sunarto, from Olak Kemang, Danau Teluk Jambi, is a batik maker who uses natural colouring such as indigo for his craft including those from types of wood such as marelang, lombato, tinggi, sepang and bulian.

Aside from the traditional motifs of Jambi, such as kapal sanggat, duren pecah, Batang Hari, Angso Duo, the motifs created by Edi and his 30 craftsmen and women always include new ones. He is always trying to make original ones that can become trendy and popular in the marketplace, like ones depicting the marshes and forests that are so typical of the land around Jambi. In order to give batik lovers other alternatives, he also blends Jambi and Javanese motifs.

The History of Batik in Jambi
Historically, there was a limited amount of batik production and trade during the era of the Sultans. Jambi batik was a kind of handicraft that could not be owned by just anyone. It was exclusively for members of the community with social standing such as aristocrats and royalty. With the end of the Jambi Sultanate came the dramatic decline in batik production.

Whatever batik making that might have been going on was only being carried out by a few elderly cratsmen and women.

During the era of Dutch colonial rule, the buzz surrounding Jambi’s batik was revived thanks to various articles written by Dutch commentators, one of whom was B.M. Goslings. In his article he talked about getting permission from Prof. Vam Eerde to approach Jambi resident H.E.K. Ezermann and asking him to research the local batik craft. In October 1928, Ezermann reported back that in Dusun Tengah at that time there was batik production and its results were very beautiful. (B.M. Goslings, 1928, p.141)

Accordingly, it can once again be said that, since the era of sultans in Jambi, through the colonial period, the Japanese occupation, and even the war of independence, the craft of batik was never one of mass production.

Since the establishment of the New Order, the founding and development of batik production in Jambi was intensive and on a large scale. In the 1980s Jambi’s traditional colours were in the ascendency whereas in the 1990s the brighter colour schemes of Pekalongan and Cirebonan were used more. Nowadays, they have reverted back to Jambi’s original batik colours.

Handmade batik from Jambi has unique and exotic characteristics, from the point of view of colour and also motifs. Most colourings are made with natural ingredients which are mixed with the various kinds of wood mentioned above and substances from other plants, like palm leaves, all of which are available locally. In addition, there are mixtures using ingredients not available in Jambi, such as seeds from the tinggi tree and indigo leaves, which are usually obtained from Yogyakarta.

Aside from the colouring agents used, Jambi’s handmade batik has an abundance of motifs with bright colours that symbolize the bright and cheerful community of Jambi. There are 31 recorded handmade batik motifs to be found such as Candi Muaro Jambi, Kaca Piring, Puncung Rebung, Angso Duo Bersayap Mahkota, Bulan Sabit, Pauh (mangga), Antlas (tanaman), Awan Berarak, and Riang-riang.

Kuluk/Tengkuluk
Berzikir is used after haversting rice as a sign of gratitude to the Almighty.Kuluk or Tengkuluk
One of Jambi’s cultural assets is the local women’s habit of wearing a kind of headdress known as kuluk or tengkuluk. Each part of Jambi has its own unique style of headdress which is not only beautiful but meaningful too. Although the tide of modernisation cannot be resisted, we can still find tengkuluk both as a daily fashion choice and also during special events.

To prevent tengkuluk from being wiped out by modern fashions, the Museum of Jambi Province, in cooperation with Jambi’s Dewan Kerajinan Nasional Daerah (the local office of the National Crafts Agency or ‘Dekranasda’), works hard to promote their use at various opportunities. The Provincial Government of Jambi is also currently encouraging women to wear tengkuluk on Wednesdays.

The traditional tengkuluk headdress is made by folding a piece of batik cloth or sarong - truly unique and exotic.

Getting to Jambi:
Garuda Indonesia has flights making the Jakarta-Jambi-Jakarta trip 14 times a week.
Seberang Kota Jambi can be reached by ketek (small boat) which takes 10 minutes from Angso Duo Market or by motor vehicle, which takes 45 minutes, and involves following the Batang Hari River to Aurduri No.1 bridge, crossing its 1 km span, and then turning right and heading for Mudung Laut.

Source: http://garudamagazine.com/coverstory.php with some changes

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The Ambarawa Rack Railway

2010-01-21T06:39:00.011+07:00

One of the less well known tourist attractions of Java might be the Ambarawa Railway Museum, in the small town of Ambarawa, about 50 kilometres south of the Central Java capital city of Semarang.
Ambarawa, which was previously known as Willem I, was the site of a major colonial army barracks. The first railway line to Ambarawa, from Semarang, was built for this strategic reason, which was the same reason for the building of line from Yogyakarta to Ambarawa, which required construction of the short (7 km) rack section, the only such example in Java.
Although the Yogyakarta-Ambarawa line has been closed in 1970, part of the line between Ambarawa and Bedono was maintained for tourist trains since then.
There are three rack locomotives kept in serviceable condition in the Ambarawa loco shed. Two of the locomotives are members of the B25 class, the B2502 and B2503. This class was built by Esslingen in Germany in 1902 and 1906. These are the original locomotives built for the rack line.

The other locomotive, E1060, is a thoroughly modern steam locomotive, built in 1966, also by Esslingen, for the West Sumatra rack line. It was among the last steam locomotives built in the world, outside China and India.
All three locomotives are in excellent condition, with most of the original parts intact. It is an interesting fact to know that only several years ago, B2502 was seen rusting in the shed, and the E1060 was actually brought dead from Padang to Ambarawa, but now both are in fully serviceable condition!
Currently all three locomotives can be hired with a consist of equally ancient passenger coaches, to Jambu and Bedono, though E1060 is not allowed on the rack section west of Jambu. There is a plan to resurrect the line east of Ambarawa to Tuntang, and to modify the rack gear of the E10 so it can be used on the whole line.
A typical trip will have a B25 at the head of two or three passenger coaches, all original, on the south side of the Ambarawa station (vintage 1907). Passengers, or tourists, will board here, or more typically, wait just west of the station, with their cameras and camcorders, and wait until the train chugs past them, later to reverse to pick up the passengers.
Everywhere on the relatively flat section between Ambarawa and Jambu, the train can be stopped for photo run-bys. The scenery here is beautiful, especially in the afternoon, when the sun's angle allows the train to be pictured against a backdrop of the backbone mountains and hills of Java, with a foreground of green paddy fields and coconut trees.
At Jambu, 4.5 kilometres west of Ambarawa, the train halts, and the locomotive is switched to the rear of the train, for the climb to Bedono. Rack locomotives are always located on the valley side of the train, for safety reasons. The equipment used on the line has always had hand brakes, so on each coach there is a trainman ready on the brakes.
Just west of Jambu station is a small creek with a small steel bridge, which is a favorite site with photographers. This is also as far as the E10 goes, at least for now.
The train, assuming it is hauled by a B25, will continue slowly over the stiff 6.5% grade to Bedono. Here, tourists can either stay inside the train and enjoy the trip, or make a chase by motor vehicle, which is quite easy, since the railway parallels the roadway on several sections, and never goes too far. It is not allowed to have photo run-bys on the rack section.
It is a 4.3 km trip from Jambu to Bedono, altitude 711 meters, the highest railway spot in Central Java. Bedono station is no longer used by normal passengers, but is in good condition, just as it looked like in the early twentieth century, when it was built.
Here the locomotive will take a "drink" at the water tower just east of the station, similarly the passengers can also buy some refreshments from the vendors in the station. Soon, they will reboard the train back to Ambarawa station, yet they can opt for more photo run-bys (on the flat sections) to satisfaction.
A real railway wonder of the world, isn't it?
Created by Indra Krishnamurti
Last updated June 24, 2000
from: http://keretapi.tripod.com/ambarawa.html

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Vote Komodo Island for New 7 Wonders!

2010-01-05T16:23:00.006+07:00

KOMODO ISLAND

Location:

Komodo National Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands, at a distance of 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. It has a total land area of 75,000 hectares and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which are Komodo (34,000 hectares), Rinca (20,000 hectares), Padar, Nusa Kode, Motang, numerous smaller islands, and the Wae Wuul sanctuary on Flores. A total of 112,500 hectares of the surrounding waters are also under the jurisdiction of the park rangers.

History:

In 1938 Padar and the south and west of Rinca were declared a Wildlife Sanctuary, but it was only in 1965 that the island of Komodo was formally included in the sanctuary. Komodo National Park was established by government decree in 1980 followed by the designation of Komodo National Park as a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Climate:

Komodo National Park has the lowest annual rainfall in all of Indonesia, with an abbreviated rainy season in the month of January. For most of the year Komodo is dry and hot, parched by arid winds from the Australian desert that blow from April through October. Maximum temperatures reach 43 C, with minimums of 17 C in August.

Topography:

Most of the Park is dry, rugged and hilly, a combination of ancient volcanic eruptions and more recent tectonic uplift of sedimentary seabeds. The irregular coastline is indented with rocky headlands and sandy bays, many framed by soaring volcanic cliffs.

Komodo island is 35km long and 15km wide, and is mountainous on a north to south axis, with an average altitude of 500-600m. The highest peak is Satalibo (735m) in the north. Most of the island is lontar palm savannah with remnates of rainforest and bamboo forest at higher elevations. On Rinca the land rises gradually from the north coast to a plateau that ends at Mount Dora (667m) in the south. The rugged south coast is very sheer as a result of volcanic activity in the distant past, as evidenced by the crater bay in which Nusa Kode nestles.

Fauna:

The Park encompasses most of the recognized habitat of the largest known lizard, the world famous Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The Park is also home to Sunda deer (Cervus timorensis), wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar ((Sus scrofa), the macaque monkey (Macaca fascicularis), and wild horse (Equus qaballus). All the large mammals have been introduced by man, but indigenous frogs, snakes and lizards abound on the island. The sole endemic species found on Komodo is the aptly named Komodo rat. Over 150 species of birds have been identified in Komodo National Park, many of which are migratory and more representative of Australasian than Asiatic species. Distinctive species include sulphur-crested cockatoos, imperial pigeons, white-breasted sea eagles and maleos. The seas surrounding the park teem with over 1000 species of fish and marine mammals.

VOTE IT NOW ON: www.new7wonders.com and vote Komodo Island for the next 7 Wonders of Nature....

For more information about accomodation, how to get there, etc. Please visit http://www.komodo-gateway.org/

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Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century

2009-12-12T07:21:00.010+07:00

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Millions of people are eager to visit this building as one of the World Wonder Heritages. It is not surprising since architecturally and functionally, as the place for Buddhists to say their prayer, Borobudur is attractive.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those life stages.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human being that are still bound by lust. The upper four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.
Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in Bergotta (Semarang).
All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES suggests that you walk through each narrow passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.
Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having supply of Buddha teaching script from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to improve Buddha's teachings after his return to India and he built a religion institution, Vikramasila Buddhism. Later he became the leader of Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six scripts from Serlingpa were then summarized as the core of the teaching called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or well known as Bodhipathapradipa.
A question about Borobudur that is still unanswered by far is how the condition around the temple was at the beginning of its foundation and why at the time of it's finding the temple was buried. Some hypotheses claim that Borobudur in its initial foundation was surrounded by swamps and it was buried because of Merapi explosion. It was based on Kalkutta inscription with the writing 'Amawa' that means sea of milk. The Sanskrit word was used to describe the occurrence of disaster. The sea of milk was then translated into Merapi lava. Some others say that Borobudur was buried by cold lava of Merapi Mountain.
With the existing greatness and mystery, it makes sense if many people put Borobudur in their agenda as a place worth visiting in their lives. Besides enjoying the temple, you may take a walk around the surrounding villages such as Karanganyar and Wanurejo. You can also get to the top of Kendil stone where you can enjoy Borobudur and the surrounding scenery. Please visit Borobudur temple right away...

Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Photo: PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu-Boko
Map & Artistic: Sutrisno
from: yogyes.com

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Mount Bromo part 7

2009-11-26T07:44:00.001+07:00

Stay healthy

Temperatures on Mount Bromo are refreshingly cool during the day (although sunburn is still a real danger), but outright cold at night, as temperatures can drop to zero in the summer and are rarely much above 5°C in winter. Some of the cheaper places to stay may not provide adequate blankets or heating, so come prepared. If needed, you can rent jackets and hats at Cemoro Lawang and at the Penanjakan viewpoint for about Rp 10,000.
There are cases of Malaria each year in the lower foothills of the park and any visitor planning a long stay or to camp in this area should take necessary precautions. This is not though a problem for those visiting Mount Bromo or the high plateau only.

Mount Semuru erupting in 2004

Stay safe

The "path" at the top of the steps up to Mount Bromo is only about 1 metre wide and in places the drop into the crater is sheer and considerable. Be careful, make sure you have a flashlight for any pre-dawn climb and always have your wits about you.
Bromo is an active volcano, and Semeru is a very active volcano. In June 2004, two tourists were killed at Bromo by rocks flung from a sudden explosion. The Smithsonian Institute's Volcanic Activity Report keeps an eye on both, and is worth checking.
It gets very cold up on the high tops at night, probably colder than anywhere in Indonesia outside of the glacial highlands of Papua. Be suitably prepared for nightime temperatures not far above zero.
From: wikitravel.org

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Mount Bromo part 6

2009-11-26T07:41:00.003+07:00

Buy

The most popular local product, at least based on the number of hawkers selling them, appears to be the Bromo hat, a colorful wooly hat with BROMO embroidered on it.
Scarfs and extra warm clothing are also popular and useful if you are not prepared for the cold mountain air.

Semeru Hiking Guide. Specialist Guide for organize trip to climb Mount semeru posible from Malang or Cemoro Lawang edit

Eat

Every lodge and hotel has an attached restaurant and there are few independent eateries of any note.
There are simple roadside warungs though selling the regular basic Indonesian dishes and Rp 2,000 mugs of hot Javanese coffee (kopi panas). There is no nightlife in the usual sense of the word but all restaurants are open at 3AM as that is when everybody wakes to see the sun rise.

Bromo Corner Cafe, (in Cemoro Lawang right next to the park office). Decent cafe serving the usual Indonesian staples and excellent local coffee.

Waroeng Basuki. Nice eatery at Cemoro Lawang serving many traditional Indonesian dishes such as tahu tek (tofu/beancurd), rujak cingur (salad with a sweet and spicy sauce and garnished with ox-nose). Also serves Chinese food. Reasonably priced.

Drink

Evenings in the park are quiet. A few beers with fellow travellers are in order.
The mulled wine served at some places in the evening seems to be heated Tuak (a palm wine) with soem local spices added. Only those with the strongest constitution should even consider this and frankly, it is not very nice.
Make sure you always have enough water with you during the day as it is deceptively easy to de-hydrate here, despite the fresh climate.

Sleep

Lodging

Colourful Tenggerese farm house, Cemoro Lawang

There are plenty of accommodation options around the park. Facilities at Cemoro Lawang and elsewhere close to the caldera are quite basic though and those visitors looking for more comfortable accommodation should stay in Sukapura or Tosari.

Cemoro Lawang

Cafe Lava, Cemoro Lawang (very close to the park entrance). This is a good budget option and it does have a rather wonderful name. Famous for its cheery attitude to visitors and notoriously bad food! From Rp 120,000 for an economy room. edit

Cemara Indah, Cemoro Lawang, ☎ +62 335 541019 (info@bromotrail.com). Bad reputation: hard sell of tours and transport, thefts reported, overpriced. Nice views of Mount Bromo and all 15 rooms have hot water. You can sit in the restaurant and view Mount Bromo directly. From Rp 200,00 to 600,000. edit

Hotel Bromo Permai, Jl Raya Cemoro Lawang, Ngadisari, ☎ +62 335 23459. It is right on top in a fabulous location but it is not cheap compared to the other options. Also reports of the hot water and heating not working. edit

Lava View Lodge, Cemoro Lawang, ☎ +62 335 541009. The most upmarket option in Cemoro Lawang, located at the caldera edge some 500m west of the village and the price is a bit higher than other options here. Looks better from outside than in, but the rooms are clean and have hot water. From Rp 375,000. edit

Yoschi's, ☎ +62 335 541018. This German-run place is a bit of a legend on the backpacker circuit. It is located about 3 km down from Cemero Lawang. Probably the best value option anywhere near the park and serves notably good food. Has 24 rooms and two x 2 bedroom family cottages. From Rp 104,000. edit

Sukapura

Java Banana Bromo Lodge, Jl Raya Bromo, Wonotoro, Sukapura, Probolinggo, East Java, ☎ +62 335 541193 (booking@java-banana.com), A cozy boutique hotel with beautiful views. It is a lodge, cafe and gallery. Also offer mountain bike rental. Prices from Rp 650,000 which includes a 4 x 4 trip to Mount Bromo. edit.

Grand Bromo Hotel (formerly Hotel Raya Bromo), Desa Sukapura, Probolinggo, East Java, ☎ +62 335 581103 (info@grandbromo.com), Formerly this was clearly the grandest place to stay near the park but Java Banana may now hold that accolade. Located in Sukapura about one hour down the hill from Cemoro Lawang. Internet rates from US$55 and frequently included on package tours. edit

Tosari/Wonokitri

Bromo Cottages, Tosari, Pasuaran, ☎ +62 335 515253 (info@bromocottages.com), . Despite the name, it is actually a fairly upmarket hotel with 100 rooms. Has a good Chinese restaurant attached and can arrange car hire. Offer a full compliment of organised tours in and around the park as well as catering for the independent traveller. From Rp 600,000. edit

Bromo Surya Indah Homestay, Wonokitri village, ☎ +62 343 571049. Simple place to stay in an excellent location. Popular with budget travellers. About Rp 120,000. edit

Camping

Camping is certainly possible in the park but you must register at the Cemoro Lawang gate (where there is an adjacent campsite). There are many sources of safe, fresh water in the park - ask locally.
Potential campers should be very aware of how cold it gets here though and be thoroughly prepared for that. Heavy duty sleeping bags are essential.
From: wikitravel.org

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Mount Bromo part 5

2009-11-26T07:38:00.003+07:00

Do

Sunrise at the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

When timing any activities in the area, bear in mind that sunset is soon after 5 PM and sunrise is correspondingly early at around 5:30 AM. This means you will usually need to get up by 3:30 AM or so to get to a watchpoint in time for dawn.
For the keen hiker, this park is a dream come true and you can make your own schedule. There are so many possibilities once you are away from the obvious well known area at Mount Bromo.

Mount Bromo edges tinged with sulphur and always bubbling, is the main sight here and sadly, for some tourists it is the only sight. To reach it on foot, pick the left fork at Cemoro Lawang's solitary crossing, then head down the ramp into the caldera and then across the caldera to the Hindu temple (Poten) at the foot of the mountain. From the temple a steep path of 250 concrete steps leads to the edge of the crater and a precarious meter-wide ledge from where you can gaze into the steaming crater. Local jeep-hirers will often try to persuade tourists that the journey to the mountain is not within walking distance in order to hire them jeeps or ponies, but the walk from the tourist centre to the top of the mountain should take no longer than 90 minutes and is about 3km.

Mount Penanjakan (2,770m), located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from Tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses. Most of the crowd comes to see the dawn at 5 AM and you will likely have the large concrete observation post to yourself if you arrive later in the day. A steady hike from Bromo to Batok and then around the rim to Penanjakan will take about three hours and the last ascent of about 500 metres is very stiff indeed but truly worthwhile. Ancient Javanese Hindu texts tell of how Bromo-Penanjakan-Semeru (or Mahameru as it was then) was the spiritual axis of the universe and the point of all creation. The view from Penanjakan will explain why - it is truly breathtaking. This is where most of those iconic picture postcard views are taken from. After you have had your fill of the views, a hike back across the sea of sand to Cemoro Lawang will take about two hours.

Mount Semeru can be climbed over two days but it is a venture for serious trekkers only and requires a high level of physical fitness. A permit must obtained in advance and would be climbers should be very aware that the mountain will be off-limits during periods of eruptive activity. This is a very active volcano. If you do decide you are up for this you should be able to find a guide to go at least part of the way with you at the park office in Ranupani. That office is also the best source of information for an assessment of the current state of the mountain and for hooking up with serious climbers from around the world.

Viewpoint #2, along the trail from Cemoro Lawang to Mount Penanjakan, is an excellent way to get a stunning view of the caldera without the crowds. To reach it, head west from Cemoro Lawang (past the Cemoro Indah hotel) for 6 km, passing Tenngerese farms and fields. The paved road eventually turns into a twisty mountain trail that ends with a flight of stairs on the right, and the viewpoint (with concrete shelter) is at the top. Allow 90 minutes hours for the climb up at a steady pace and bring along a flashlight if attempting this at night. From here, you can continue onto Mount Penanjakan by following the trail upwards, after which the trail merges onto the paved road to the viewpoint (total time about 60 minutes one way). If planning to return the same way, mark the spot where the trail emerges onto the road (if you pass a stone lantern on the way down you have gone too far!), and note that descending on this section can get slippery due to loose sand and rocks. As of September 2008, the direct route from Cemoro Lawang up to Penanjakan and Viewpoint #2 is severely damaged because of landslides. The path is still passable, but it can be tricky to spot the dangerous parts in the dark — each vistor should have their own flashlight.

From: wikitravel.org

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Mount Bromo part 4

2009-11-26T07:33:00.002+07:00

Get around

From the village of Cemoro Lawang, you can easily hike up Mount Bromo and Mount Penanjakan and the best time to do this is pre-dawn. Villagers offer horseback rides to the top of Mount Bromo and you can also hire a jeep to take you around the area. The whole area is a hiker's dream though - walk if you possibly can.

See

By far the most common activity in the park is visiting the collapsed but still smouldering Mount Bromo, located in the huge, unearthly moonscape of a caldera known as the Sea of Sand (Pasir Lautan). The much photographed view of steaming Mount Bromo surrounded by the Sea of Sand, its rather serene neighbour Mount Batok and mighty Mount Semeru as the southern backdrop, is one of the great iconic images of Indonesia.

Mount Batok (2,440m) is a brown volcano at the north centre of the caldera. Unlike the other nearby peaks it is no longer active and actually has some vegetation growing on it, mostly casuarina (cemara) trees that somehow manage to survive even on volcanic ash.

The wonderfully coloured and immaculately tidy Tenggerese houses. The Tenggerese culture is unique and an effort to understand these fine people, where they have come from and how they live in this sometimes difficult environment, will be rewarded.

The Upacara Kasodo (also Kasada) is held every year at the full moon of the 12th month of the Tenggerese calendar and it is the most demonstrable Tenggerese religious ceremony. The Tenggerese invoke the approval of the gods to ensure a successful harvest, to be spared from any natural calamities and to be cured of disease. Selected Tenggerese men climb down to precarious ledges on the Bromo crater wall and catch the offerings thrown down by their excited neighbours above. A scramble ensues for possession of the offerings and whole thing is both exciting and rather terrifying as it is not unknown in all the mayhem for a "catcher" to slip off his ledge and fall. You can check the date of the next Upacara Kasodo at the East Java Tourism Office in Surabaya (+62 31 567 7219).

Madakaripura Waterfall - a good example of the lush nature of the park at lower elevations

Madakaripura Waterfall. These spectacular falls in the foothills of the park are easily reached by anyone visiting with their own transport. From Sukapura take the north-heading road towards Tongas and after about 6 km close to the village of Sapih the turning to the falls is signposted on your left. Continue down this small road to reach the car park for the falls. There are often lots of hawkers in the car park waiting to hire or sell you umbrellas to protect from the spray. There are actually seven waterfalls here some of which drop over the access path during the wet season, so an umbrella is not as silly as it sounds. Legend abounds here: bathing in the chill waters is said to be an elixir of life, the water is regarded as holy by the Tenggerese and is used in their important ceremonies, and the great Majapahit prime minister Gajah Madah is reputed to have meditated here. A very attractive and relaxing spot.

The Poten. This is the Tenggerese Hindu temple that sits looking eerily beautiful in the sea of sand close to Mount Bromo. There is something quite magical about this place and the frugality of its decoration and austere design seems very appropriate for the location. Easily found, you really cannot miss it.

Lakes Ranupani and Ranu Regulo. These small, serene and always misty lakes are adjacent to the village of Ranupani on the south side of the crater. The village is the usual start point for ascending Mount Semeru and there is a park office here. Most visitors to this side of the crater will be happy though to take in the beauty of the small highland lakes and leave climbing Mount Semeru to the professionals. Ranupani is an extremely mystical village even by East Javanese standards and the rather ghostly lakes only add to the feelings of spirituality here. If this side of the crater appeals to you, it should be possible to arrange some simple homestay accommodation in Ranupani - ask at the park office.

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Mount Bromo part 3

2009-11-26T07:26:00.003+07:00

Get in

Mount Bromo is the perhaps most accessible of Java's active volcanoes and for that reason it does get a lot of domestic tourists, often in package groups. It is also a popular destination for high school groups who camp in the area. For that reason, those visitors seeking a quiet appreciation of the park should avoid major domestic holiday periods. That being said, this is a large park and providing you get away from the main watchpoint areas, quiet enjoyment is possible at any time.

By plane

The nearest major airport is in Surabaya, three to four hours away by car (and more by bus). Surabaya is well served by regular domestic flights from Jakarta and Bal i and some other countries in Asia.

There is a small regional airport at Malang with flights from Jakarta only and access from here makes sense if you intend to enter the park via the Tumpang/Ngadas route.

By road

There are three established routes into the park.

The Probolinggo -> Ngadisari Route

The nearest larger town is Probolinggo, on the north coast of Java about 45 km as the crow flies from the park (but it feels a lot further). This is by far the commonest route used to access the park as it is the most straightforward (but not necessarily the most interesting). About 6 km west of Probolinggo on the main coastal highway, turn south at the village of Ketapang. From there the road snakes up for 40 km through Sukapura (not a bad idea to stay the night here as the hotels are good) to Ngadisari and finally Cemaro Lawang on the edge of the caldera. Total journey time about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
To get to Probolinggo from Surabaya, take a Damri shuttle bus from the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya to the Bungurasih bus terminal (also called Purabaya) in the city. Then take an express Patas air-conditioned bus for the 2 to 3 hour journey from Surabaya to Probolinggo.

The Pasuruan -> Tosari Route

This route is only a little harder than the Probolinggo option and Pasuruan has the benefit of being closer to Surabaya. From Pasuruan on the main north coast road between Surabaya and Probolinggo, take the road 45 km south to Tosari via Pastepan. Irregular buses ply this route or you can drive it in a regular car. From Tosari to Wonokitri it is another 3 km via a local bemo or on the back of a truck. From Wonokotri up to Bromo it is a really nice three hour 14 km trek, so you do need to start very early if you want sunrise. Alternatively you should be able to hire a 4 x 4 with a driver for that journey. There is accommodation in both Tosari and Wonokitri.

The Malang -> Tumpang Route

This route approaches from the south east and is seldom used due to the lack of facilities. Certainly the most off-the-beaten-path way to approach the park. Take a microbus from Ardosari bus station in Malang to Tumpang and then a 4WD vehicle or a heavy truck from Tumpang to Ngadas. There are no facilities to speak of at Ngadas but you will find informal accommodation in family homes in the village. At Ranupani up on the top there is very simple homestay accommodation avaiable - ask at the park office there. The route from Ngadas on to the caldera is interesting because it transverses the Sea of Sand and directly passes Mount Bromo. A dirt road leads across the flat bottom of the caldera, up to Jemplang on the southern rim and on to Ranupani where you should check in at the park office. You have to take a 4WD vehicle (unless you prefer to walk).

Fees/Permits

To enter the park an official Rp 50,000 permit must be purchased at one of the four entrance gates.
If you intend to climb Mount Semeru (only for serious trekkers and often closed due to eruptive activity) you will need to apply for a permit in advance to:

Office of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Jl. Raden Intan No6, PO Box 54, Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Tel: +62 341 41828

From: wikitravel.org

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Mount Bromo part 2

2009-11-26T07:22:00.003+07:00

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

Clockwise from lower left: the Poten Hindu temple, the steaming crater of Mount Bromo, erupting Mount Semeru, stately Mount Batok

Understand

The national park is named after its two mountains, Mount Semeru (the highest in Java at 3,676 metres), Mount Bromo (the most popular) and the Tengger people who inhabit the area.
Mount Semeru also known as Mahameru ("Great Mountain"), is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. What stands out most about this mountain is the fact that it erupts periodically (and very reliably so). Every 20 minutes or so, the volcano belches out a huge cloud of steam and smoke, sometimes interspersed with ash and stones. Climbing Mount Semeru requires some planning and a permit from the national park authority. The mountain is often closed due to its highly active nature.

Mount Bromo (2,329 metres) is easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. It sits inside the massive Tengger caldera (diameter approximately 10 km), surrounded by the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.
The major access point is Cemoro Lawang (also Cemara Lawang or Cemora Lawang - blame the East Javanese accent!) at the northeastern edge of the caldera, but there are also trails from Tosari (northwest) and Ngadas (southwest). The village of Ngadisari, on the road from Probolinggo about 5.5 km before Cemoro Lawang, marks the entrance to the national park. Both Cemoro Lawang and Ngadisari are rather picturesque, with brightly-painted houses and flower beds outside.

The Tenggerese

Roro Anteng and Joko Seger
Javanese folklore has it that during the 15th century, Princess Roro Anteng (daughter of the Majapahit King Brawijaya) and her husband Joko Seger fled marauding Islamic forces and ended up in safety at Mount Bromo. Here they developed a new kingdom and named it Teng-ger using parts of their respective surnames.
The Kingdom of Tengger prospered and their religion flourished but the royal couple were unable to produce an heir to the throne. In desperation they prayed and meditated on Bromo for many days before the crater opened and the almighty god Hyang Widi Wasa announced that they would be given children with the condition that the last borne was to be sacrifcied back to the mountain.
No less than 25 children were produced but many years later Roro and Joko broke the condition and refused to sacrifice their last borne, Prince Kesuma. A dreadful eruption of Bromo followed and swallowed Kesuma into the crater. To appease the great God, Kesuma's brothers and sisters held an offering ceremony at the crater once every year and this still happens today - the Upacara Kasada held on the full moon of the 12th month (Kasada) of the Tenggerese calendar.

The area in and around the park is inhabited by the Tenggerese, one of the few significant Hindu communities left on the island of Java. The local religion is a remnant from the Majapahit era and therefore quite similar to that on Bali but with even more animist elements. The Tenggerese are believed to be descendents of the Majapahit prices and were driven into the hills after mass arrivals in the area of devoutly Muslim Madurese in the 19th century. These Madurese immigrants were labourers working for Dutch coffee plantation owners and the native Hindu people of the region soon found themselves outnumbered and either converted to Islam or fled to the inhospitable high mountain tops where they remain today.
The religion is quite low key though (certainly when compared to Bali) with the most visible manifestation of faith being the rather austere Poten temple in the sea of sand. The Tenggerese number about 600,000 and they reside in 30 villages scattered in and around the park with smaller communities elsewhere in East Java.
For many visitors, the sight of the angular-faced, sunburned, moustachioed Tenggerese wrapped in poncho-like blankets, trotting about on ponies with craggy mountains as the backdrop, more resembles Peru than Indonesia!

Landscape

If ever a landscape were need to demonstrate the meaning of the phrase desolate beauty, then this is surely it. Rugged, barren volcanic peaks, gravel plains and that sea of sand. Truly unworldly.
The park also includes large areas which are very lush and green fed by rivers from the high tops. The medium elevations are clad with much thinner forest before this gives way to the barren plateau and peaks.

Flora and fauna

In the parts of the park which most interest visitors (the caldera and mountain tops) flora and fauna is limited - a general lack of vegetation. At lower elevations and away from the sea of sand there are though lush green valleys with a typical tropical forest flora. The higher elevations before the tree line ends are largely clad with casuarina (cemara) forest.
Down in the valleys, a few leopard cats are present but rarely seen. Java rusa deer, muntjac, marbled cat and wild pig are amongst the mammals more likely to be glimpsed by casual visitors. This park is not so renowned for birdwatching as others in Java but up on the plateau you often see hawks and eagles soaring over the valleys below.

Climate

Temperatures are refreshingly cool during the day but outright cold at night as temperatures can drop close to zero in the summer and are rarely much above 5°C in winter. Daytime temperatures anywhere in the park never exceed 20°C with low teens being normal.
It can rain at anytime and the mean average rainfall is 6,600 mm. Most of that comes in the wet season though - November to March. During periods of heavy rain in January and February especially, many parts of the park are inaccessible due to flooding. Landslips are also a real issue at these times.

Official Tourism Offices

East Java Tourism Office, Jalan Wisata Menanggal, Surabaya, East Java, ☎ +62 31 8531815 or 8531820 (eastjava@indosat.net.id). edit

East Java Tourism Office, Jl Jendral Basuki Rachmat 6, Malang, East Java, ☎ +62 341 323966. edit

Office of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Jl Raden Intan No6, Malang, East Java, ☎ +62 341 491828 (tn-bromo@malang.wasan-tara.net.id

From: wikitravel.org

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Mount Bromo part 1

2009-11-26T07:11:00.004+07:00

Mount Bromo (Indonesian: Gunung Bromo), is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia.

View into the Mount Bromo crater

Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain called the Sand Sea (Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of
Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,270 meters) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The best views from Mount Bromo to the Sand Sea below and the surrounding volcanoes are at sunrise. The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours. From inside the caldera, Sulfur is collected by workers.
from: wikipedia.org

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Things to do in Jambi-Sumatera

2009-11-21T22:07:00.007+07:00

A lot of travellers seem to bypass the province of Jambi and even the city itself much preferring to travel on to Medan and other places. Such is their loss because the province has so much to offer in terms of beauty, culture and history. With total area of about 5,343,700 hectares Jambi consists of 9 regencies and its terrain varies from low land areas in the east and hills and mountainous in the west. Most of the mountainous areas are to be found in the regency of Kerinci. Jambi has a wealth biodiversity as you will find in the four national parks; Kerinci Seblat National Park, Berbak National Park, Bukit Dua Belas National Park, and Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park. The province of Jambi is located on the east coast of Central Sumatra faces to Malaka Straits sharing borders with four other provinces in Sumatra and has long been a melting pot of different ethnic groups.

The earliest inhabitants were the Kubus, who were among the first wave of Malays to migrate to Sumatra. The ancient kingdom of Melayu developed and grew in Jambi and maintained relations with the mighty kingdoms of Sriwijaya, Majapahit and Singasari. The Buddhist Empire of Sriwijaya, prospered and grew along the Musi River bank in South Sumatra well over a thousand years ago. The city of Jambi is steeped in history and it is well worth staying here for a week and utilise it as a base to explore the rest of the region as well as the city itself.

Places of Interest:

Batik & Handicraft Atelier: Located about 2 klms from the centre of the town of Jambi, this place is a centre for the Jambi-style Batik, plait work and agate handicraft. Surprisingly the centre is run by women!

Lake Kerinci

The lake is located 20 km from Sungai Penuh. This is a popular tourist spot with beautiful panoramas and a cool place to chill-out. Accommodation is available on the side of the lake.

Kerinci Seblat National Park

Kerinci Seblat National Park is located in the Bukit Barisan Mountains and occupies a total area of 1,484,650 hectares. Here you will find a great variety of animal species; elephants, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran rhino, tapirs, panthers, deer, wild goats, primates, crocodiles, birds and reptiles amongst others. There is great hiking in this park.

Mount Kerinci

Mount Kerinci is the highest mountain on the island of Sumatra and it is popular with mountain climbers. The nearest village and climber’s base is Kersik Tuo, near Kayu Aro, Kerinci. The route is marked by signs, posted at half kilometre intervals. The best season to visit is January to October. The best way to get there is to fly to Padang and then go to the town of Sungai Penuh in the district of Kerinci in Jambi Province which is 7 - 8 hours drive from Padang or 278 km. Otherwise, you can go to the village of Kersik Tuo with a distance of 211 km from Padang or approximately 5 - 6 hours drive.

Muara Jambi Temple

The temple is 30 km northeast of Jambi, along the Batanghari River. The site is considered one of the richest archaeological sites on the island of Sumatra. The eight temple-like Bhuddist structures were probably built around the 14th century. In 1982, a 32 centimetre tall female bronze statue was found at Koto Kandis, in Muara Sabak. It was believed to be the goddess Laksmi, holding a lotus bud in her right hand and an oil lamp in her left.

Bukit Duabelas Nature Reserve

Bukit Duabelas Nature Reserve is located in the Pauh subdistrict, 60 km from Bangko in the Sarolangun Bangko regency. It covers 28,703 hectares andis home to deer, monkeys, bears, wild pigs, elephants, snakes, iguanas and many species of birds. Small lakes are found in its surroundings and many small streams discharge into the Batanghari River. This nature reserve is also home to 1,000 people of the Kubu (Anak Dalam) tribe.

Tourist Office:
Jl. KH. Agus Salim, Kota Baru, Jambi Phone. (0741) 36127, 445056
Fax. (0741) 445054
Kerinci Seblat National Park:
Jl. Basuki Rahmat 1
Phone. (0748) 21095, 22300

Photo Credit: www.fortunatur.com

(from: http://www.indonesialogue.com/featured-articles/things-to-do-in-jambi-sumatra.html)

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Visit Lombok 2012

2009-11-19T19:30:00.009+07:00

Lombok (population 2,950,105 in 2005) is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram

Geography and demographics

The Lombok Strait marks the passage of the biogeographical division between the fauna of the Indomalayan ecozone and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia that is known as the Wallace Line, for Alfred Russel Wallace, who first remarked upon the distinction between these two major biomes.

The island's topography is dominated by the centrally-located stratovolcano Mount Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the third-highest in Indonesia. The most recent eruption of Rinjani was in May-June, 2009, which was a small oozing eruption of 'Gunung Baru' (New Mountain). The volcano, and its crater lake, 'Segara Anak' (child of the sea), are protected by a National Park established in 1997. The southern part of the island is a fertile plain where corn, rice, coffee, tobacco, and cotton are grown.
The island's inhabitants are 85% Sasak whose origins are thought to have migrated from Java in the first millennium BC. Other residents include 10-15% Balinese, with the small remainder being Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and Sumbawanese. Since the Sasak population typically practice Islam, the landscape is punctuated with mosques and minarets. Islamic traditions and holidays influence the Island's daily activities.

Tourism
Following the fall of Suharto regime in 1998, Indonesia experienced a period of domestic unrest. At the same time terrorism in Indonesia further aggravated domestic unrest across the archipelago. In early 2000, religious and ethnic violence (Jemaah Islamiyah Islamist agitators) flared up in the
Ampenan area of Mataram and the southern area of Senggigi. Many foreign embassies issued Travel Warnings advising of the potential danger of traveling to Indonesia.

This period of unrest dramatically impacted tourism to Lombok. Tourism has been slow to return to Lombok, provoked in part by a worldwide reluctance to travel because of global tensions. Only since 2008, when most countries lifted their Travel Warnings has tourism recovered to the pre-2000 levels.
Both the local government and many residents recognize that tourism and services related to tourism can potentially be a major source of income to the Island. The island's natural beauty and the customary hospitality of its residents make it an obvious tourist destination.
Emaar, Emirati property company planned to build a new town sprawled in 1,200 hectares in Central Lombok. It costs estimated at US$600 million. It will have a 7 km natural waterfront, which will support a marina, apart from luxury residences and five-star resorts by Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton will also have a world class golf course and retail amenities. The homes will employ tropical designs and low-rise architecture in tune with the surroundings.
Lombok now appears to be on the verge of a tourist boom. With the commercialization of Bali over the past few years, and with it the accompanying traffic and reduction in open, natural spaces, many tourists are discovering the charm of 'Undiscovered' Lombok. With this new interest comes the development of a number of posh boutique resorts on the island serving quality food and drinks, but just a stones throw away from rural, unspoiled countryside — much as Bali was decades ago.

Garuda Indonesia, The Airline of Indonesia

2009-11-18T19:07:00.003+07:00

PT (Persero) Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. It is named after the Mythical bird Garuda. It is headquartered at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang.

In Indian Vedic tradition, Garuda is the carrier of the Hindu god Vishnu; a representation of Garuda appears in the coat of arms of Indonesia. The airline is based in Jakarta at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with hubs at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, Polonia International Airport, Medan, Sepinggan International Airport, Balikpapan, and Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore. [Citation needed] The airline flies to a number of destinations in South-East, East Asia, the Middle East and Australia. It also previously flew to several destinations in Europe and North America. From June 2007 to July 2009, Garuda, along with all Indonesian airlines, was banned from flying to the EU. However, this ban has been lifted since July 2009.

Garuda Indonesia is listed as a 3-star airline by Skytrax, and is also listed among Skytrax's Quality Approved Airlines. It is wholly owned by the Indonesian Government and employs 6.285 staff (at March 2007).

Destinations
Garuda currently operates flights to a total of 45 destinations (28 domestic, 17 international) Throughout East Asia, South Asia, and South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, with Australia and Japan being the vital tourism markets.

On 13 October 2009, Garuda Indonesia announced they will be resuming flights to Europe for the first time after removal from the EU blacklist. The flight will be to Amsterdam, Netherlands with a stop over at Dubai, United Arab Emirates operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Garuda Indonesia have announced the details of their new daily service Amsterdam to Jakarta.
From 1st June 2010, Garuda Indonesia will re-open its Jakarta-Amsterdam service, with a new flight which operate via Dubai. Garuda Indonesia will fly from Jakarta (CGK) at 21:00 Local and arrive in Dubai (DXB) at 02.09 Local. Departing again at 03.15 and arriving in Amsterdam (AMS) at 08.00 Local Time. From Amsterdam (AMS), 89 GA Local departs at 10:00, arriving in Dubai (DXB) at 18:30 Local, and Departing again at 19:45 and arriving in Jakarta (CGK) at 07.10 Local Time.

INTERNATIONAL	DOMESTIC
Garuda Indonesia Flies to 18 International Destinations Asia : Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Canton), Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City Japan :Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka South West Pacific : Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney Middle East : Jeddah, Riyadh	Garuda Indonesia Domestic Destinations : 21 Destinations Ampenan, Banda Aceh, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Batam, Biak, Denpasar, Jakarta, Jayapura, Manado, Medan, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Timika, Ujung Pandang, Yogyakarta

More Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda_Indonesia

Yogya, more than gudeg and bakpia

2009-11-15T11:14:00.001+07:00

More than Gudeg and Bakpia Pathok 

Yogya (often referred to as Yogyakarta, Jogja or Jogjakarta) famous for its historical and cultural heritage. This special area has become the center of Mataram Kingdom (1575-1640), the capital of the Republic of Indonesia, and until now has court (royal) are still functioning in the real sense.
In addition, many tourists who love this university town because of the value of peace and friendliness of its people are sincere.
For those of you who enjoy a culinary tour, Yogyakarta can also be one culinary paradise. If you had to know the extent Yogya gudeg and bakpia, Yogya now have more distinctive and delicious dishes that various kinds, taste, until the price.
Starting from the traditional menus of decades-old from brongkos, satay, soup, noodles, so foods that have been modified as provided food places Oseng firecrackers, Sego Njirak Abang, and Gule Balung Jodog.

Gudeg is a plate of warm rice served with young jackfruit cut in small pieces and a variety of dishes including chicken, boiled egg, tofu, and tempe cooked in thick, slightly spicy coconut sauce, very sweet and slightly spicy.. For added flavour, try having it with Sambel Goreng Krecek (buffalo skin). for add on spicy flavour. Ask any local and they will proclaim proudly that Nasi Gudeg is originated originally from Yogyakarta

You should know when go to Yogya
-Do not be shy to ask the price before you order food
-Wear clothing that makes you free to move because the style is very popular -lesehan food- in Yogyakarta, especially in the area of Malioboro
-Be careful, though food Yogya sweeter than other regions, sauce usually served with a spicy chili taste
-In the city of Yogyakarta, buses and public transportation only operate until six o'clock. The rest, you can use a pedicab, horse cart, and taxi

Alternative Yogya Tourism

Tour to Yogyakarta visit Borobudur temple, palace, or shopping at Malioboro? Ah, too ordinary! Try the unique experience of cultural know Yogyakarta with:

-Batik Learning
Some places in Yogyakarta offers learning facilities include batik batik, batik cap, batik painting. Most study programs conducted in one day, composed of the motifs making process, dye cloth, the process nglorot night, and drying.

- Learn to make silver jewelry
Kotagede widely known as a center producing silver jewelry. Now, a studio located in the middle of Kotagede offers learning programs to make silver jewelry in just 3 hours.

-Wooden batik Learning
Since 1992, the Hamlet of integrating cultural Krebet based wood puppet (wayang klithik) with classic batik motifs. Puppets are not smooth surface, but decorated with motifs Keraton Yogya style. Now not only can be bought, batik puppet can also be studied.

Incredible Reog Ponorogo

2009-11-05T06:39:00.007+07:00

Reog is one of the cultural arts from East Java and northwest of the town of Ponorogo regarded as the true origin Reog. Ponorogo
city gate was decorated by warok and gemblak figure, two figures who had appeared at the time reog displayed. Reog is one of the regional culture in Indonesia is still very strong with things mystical and powerful mystic.

Basically there are five versions of the popular story that developed in the community about the origin and Warok Reog, but one of the most famous story is the story of the rebellion Ki Ageng Kutu, a royal servant during Bhre Kertabhumi, the last king of Majapahit in power in the 15th century. Ki Ageng Kutu wrath will strongly influence from the Chinese partner in the government and the king, the king of a corrupt behavior, he saw that the power of the Majapahit kingdom will end. He then left the king and established the university where he taught young children martial arts, science self immunity, and the science of perfection in the hope that young children will become the seed of the resurrection of the Majapahit kingdom again later. Realizing that his army is too small to fight the royal troops Ki Ageng political message conveyed by fleas Reog performing arts, which is a "hint" to the king and his kingdom Kertabumi Bra. Cultural Reog a way Ki Ageng Kutu local communities to build resistance using Reog popularity.

Reog performance shown in the shape of lion-head masks, known as the 'Lion Barong ", the king of the forest, which became the symbol for Kertabumi, and above attached peacock feathers to resemble a giant fan that symbolize the strong influence of his Chinese colleagues who set up all the motion - bearing. Jatilan, played by groups of dancers who gemblak horse riding became a symbol of the strength of troops into the kingdom of Majapahit contrast ratio warok strength, which is behind the red clown mask that became the symbol for Ki Ageng Lice, alone and support the weight of the mask reaches more singabarong of 50kg using only his teeth. Ki Ageng Reog popularity eventually led Kertabumi Lice take action and attack the school, the rebellion by warok quickly resolved, and universities to continue teaching prohibited to warok. But the students remained Ki Ageng Kutu continue secretly. Even so, Reog own art is still allowed to be staged because the show has become popular among the people, but the story has a new line where the added characters from folklore Kelono Sewondono Ponorogo ie, Goddess Songgolangit, and Sri Genthayu.

Official version Reog Ponorogo storyline now is the story of King Ponorogo daughter who intend applying for Kediri, Dewi Ragil Yellow, but amid the journey he was intercepted by King Singabarong from Kediri. Singabarong king's army consists of peacocks and lions, while the part of the kingdom of King Ponorogo Kelono and deputy Bujanganom, escorted by warok (men dressed in black in the dance), and warok has a deadly black magic. The whole dance is a dance of war between the kingdom and the kingdom of Kediri Ponorogo, and pitted black magic between them, the dancers in a state of 'trance' while performing the dance.

Until now people Ponorogo only follow what their ancestral heritage as a cultural inheritance which is very rich. In the experience of art is the copyright Reog human creations that form the existing faiths were hereditary and awake. The ceremony also use terms that are not easy for lay people to meet without a clear lineage. they embrace Parental lineage and customary law which is still valid.

Performance Art of Reog Ponorogo

Modern Reog usually performed in several events such as weddings, circumcision and the days of the National. Art Reog Ponorogo consists of a series of 2 to 3 dances opening. The first dance is usually performed by brave men 6-8 with black clothes, with faces painted red. These dancers represent the brave lion figure. Next is a dance performed by a 6-8 girl horse. In traditional reog, dancers are usually played by male dancers who dressed woman. This dance is called dance lesson braids, which should be distinguished from other dances are lumping horse dance. Other opening dance if there is usually a dance by a little boy who brought the funny scenes.

After the opening dance finished, the new core scenes show the contents of which depend on the conditions under which art is displayed reog. If marriage is associated with the display is love scene. For celebration circumcision or circumcision, is usually a story warrior,

The scene in the art reog usually do not follow a neat scenario. Here there is always interaction between the player and the puppeteer (usually the leader of the group) and sometimes with the audience. Sometimes a player's performances can be replaced by another player when the player is tired. The more overlooked in the performance reog art is to give satisfaction to the audience.

The final scene is a lion barong, where the actors wore masks shaped head of a lion with a crown made of peacock feathers. Weight mask can reach 50-60 kg. This heavy mask carried by the dancers with their teeth. The ability to bring this mask than obtained with heavy exercise, is also believed with spiritual exercises such as fasting and asceticism.

9 Unique Places To Visit In Jakarta

2009-11-03T19:19:00.011+07:00

9 UNIQUE PLACES TO VISIT IN JAKARTA

As the effects of the global fi nancial crisis continue to reverberate around the world, you may be thinking twice about blowing a huge wedge of cash on a foreign holiday this festive season. If you’re really looking to economise however, take comfort in the fact that it is not even necessary to leave the confi nes of this packed and polluted city in order to have some Christmas fun. In fact, the capital has plenty of unique attractions on hand to keep you and the family amused and entertained. From theatres to fl ower markets, fun is never far away if you’re a true Jakarta explorer.

1.SALIHARA

Jakarta has plenty of theatrical performances to take in for the budding thespians among you. Alas, the poor condition of many of the city’s theatre buildings is a let down. Smelly carpets, rusty chairs and dirty toilets tend make a trip to the theatre in Jakarta to take in a performance something of a performance itself. Salihara, however, is a cut above the other theatres in town. The toilets are clean, the chairs are comfortable, and the building and stage have been skillfully designed, all good reasons for you to visit this theatre and enjoy a remarkable performance. Designed by three famous Indonesian architects, Marco Kusumawijaya, Adi Purnomo and Andra Matin, Salihara features a modern minimalist design and an uncluttered ambience that helps audiences to focus on the performances. Offi cially opened in 2008, the theatre has become a favourite hang out for the city’s bohemian art lovers and also puts on art exhibitions itself. Salihara’s theatrical performances are concentrated in its Black Box Studio. As its name suggests, the Black Box Studio is square in shape and entirely black. 216 comfortable seats complete the BB Studio, which has been designed to an international standard. Many well known international artists, such as Milan Sladek, the Argento Chamber Ensemble from New York, and the Lenny Baso Dance group, have already turned in spellbinding performances inside the Black Box studio. In addition to the Black Box, Salihara also features its own painting gallery, library and gift shop, and even has a rooftop bar! (Jl.Salihara No.16, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, Tel: 789 1202, www.salihara.org)

2.SDN MENTENG O1

Since Barack Obama first became a US presidential candidate in 2008, this humble elementary school building has become something of a tourist destination. Barack Obama attended SDN Menteng O1 from 1969 until 1971, where he was affectionately known as Barry. Since Mr. Obama ascended to the most powerful offi ce in the world, the U-shaped school has become known as Obama School. Obama studied here under the Indonesian name of Barry Soetoro and if you head down to Menteng, it’s possible to take a sneak peek at the two class rooms in which the current American president once sat and did his sums. On the school’s gate a plaque has been installed bearing the inscription “Barack Hussein Obama II, the 44th President of the United States of America attended this school from 1969 – 1971”. At the bottom we learn that: “Plaque donated by Friends of Obama, Ron Mullers, Dalton Tanonaka, January 20th, 2009 Jakarta, Indonesia”. The school was built in 1934 as a CAS (Carpentier Alting Stichting Nassau School). It has subsequently become one of Jakarta’s elite houses of learning. There is no offi cial Obama tour programme but if you are keen to visit, you’ll fi nd the school to be accommodating and a look around can easily be arranged. (Jl.Basuki No 4, Central Jakarta, Tel: 319 262 28, www.sdnmenteng01.com)

3.TIDUNG ISLAND

Located in the Thousand Islands chain, Tidung is the perfect place for members of the capital’s Bike to Work community to unwind. This beautiful island can be reached via a three hour boat journey from Jakarta’s northern port of Muara Angke. Cycling is by far the best way to explore the island, however there’s no need to bring your machine as many places on the island will rent you a metal steed. In fact, bikes can be hired for a mere Rp.10,000 per day. The island stretches only 5 kilometres from east to west and a small path runs through the island’s forest. Get your two wheels rolling and an unforgettable experience of island exploration is guaranteed. After a tiring day in the saddle, a nice coconut ice should restore your energy. Pulau Tidung consists of two islands which are connected by a two-kilometre long wooden bridge. Crossing the bridge is the most interesting part of any ride because coral, fi shes and seaweed can clearly be seen in the crystal clear waters below. People also like to fi sh from the bridge. Tidung isn’t nearly as crowded some of the other islands in the chain and this mini break makes a great choice if you’re after a little peace and quiet.

4.SETU BABAKAN: THE ORIGINAL BETAWI

In this ever changing metropolitan jungle, it can be hard to locate original Betawi neighbourhoods, even though the Betawi are the original residents of this urban city. A visit to Setu Babakan however, will allow you to experience an original Betawi community. Located in the south of town, Setu Babakan lies a 45 minute drive from Ragunan Zoo. When you arrive, you’ll fi nd an organised Betawi kampong consisting of original Betawi houses. The Betawi’s cultural traditions have been preserved here and you’ll likely observe locals practicing Indonesia’s traditional martial art, silat. Located near a lake, you will also fi nd many warungs selling traditional Betawi food. This rather special village has been run by its residents since 1962, long before the city government offi cially designated this area a heritage site. Besides original houses, there are also gift shops and a stage on which traditional Betawi arts are often performed, including lenong, gambus, and marawis. (Jl. Moch. Kahfi II, Setu Babakan Kelurahan Srengseng Sawah, Kecamatan Jagakarsa, Jakarta Selatan, Tel: 786 2861)

5.SEGO KUCING FATMAWATI

This place has become a popular and well known little street eatery recently. Sego Kucing will evoke memories of visits to Yogyakarta, the famous city of its origin, and serves up some lovely Javanese dishes for your delectation. Sego Kucing can be found on South Jakarta’s Jl. Fatmawati, nestling on a stretch of pavement in front of some of this busy street’s stores. It opens from 8pm, usually until well past midnight, and offers steamed rice and a wide array of classic Javanese food, including the famous nasi gudeg, a sweet combination of chicken and jackfruit that’ll make you think that you have been transported to one of the sit down lesehan food stalls of Yogyakarta’s Jl. Malioboro itself. Beverages include hot milk, ginger milk and secang (a tasty blend of Javanese herbs). Prices here are very cheap and a Rp.50,000 outlay will see you eating like a king. (Jl. Fatmawati, directly opposite the Piaggio showroom, approximately 300 metres from ITC Fatmawati)

6.MORNING CAKE MARKET

You may wonder where the luscious, traditional cakes found in the food courts or food stalls near your offi ce come from. Well, here’s your answer. The Morning Cake Market in the Senen area of town is the bustling centre of the city’s traditional cake industry. Stall owners here sell literally hundreds of different kinds of traditional cakes. In fact, a list would be far too long to print here, you’ll just have to take a look yourself! If you want to visit the market, we suggest the Jl. Krama Bunder entrance for better access. This side of the market is also cleaner and better organised than the area abutting its other entrance. Step inside, and you will fi nd hundreds of sellers sitting behind tables of brightly coloured cakes. This unique market opens everyday from midnight until 7am. (Jl. Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta)

7.TANJUNG PRIOK TRAIN STATION

Built in 1914, this building has become one of Jakarta’s most celebrated heritage sites. You can easily recognise the structure by its magnifi cent Dutch architecture. After years of neglect, Tanjung Priok station has fi nally received a spruce up from the city administration and came back online in April of this year. The charm of the colonial era is refl ected throughout every inch of this palpably old and yet beautiful train station. Step onto the main concourse and you’ll marvel at the huge colonial roof that shelters no less than eight train tracks below it. Before it closed in 2001, the station served routes to Jakarta Kota, Central Java and Surabaya. Now it’s back in business and currently houses trains running to Bekasi, Cikampek and Surabaya.

8.RAWA BELONG FLOWER MARKET

This green fi ngered little corner of a grey city is a heaven for all fl ower lovers and refl ects the beauty of the Javanese countryside that lies beyond the city limits. A huge variety of fresh, cut fl owers can be bought here at very reasonable prices, just be prepared to bargain. The blooms here come mainly from Jakarta, Bandung, Sukabumi, Ambarawa, Malang and Magelang. The Rawa Belong market is open 24 hours per day, however morning is the busiest time because that’s when fresh supplies arrive. The two storey building is packed with thousands upon thousands of fl owers and is both clean and modern, with each kiosk sporting a hand painted sign board. Prices start from Rp.1000 and a bunch of 40 red roses can be bought for the knock down price of only Rp.50,000, a hell of a lot cheaper than any of the fl orists that you’ll fi nd in the city’s malls. (Jl. H. Sulaeman No. 50, West Jakarta).

9.SUROPATI PARK

It’s not necessary to head all the way over to Europe in order to enjoy performances of street art, as similar things can be found in Jakarta. Pay a visit to Suropati Park, near to the American Embassy, on Sunday afternoon and you’ll fi nd various artistic types playing cellos, violins and guitars, as well as performance artists and painters all engrossed in their craft. The art community here also holds music courses whose participants are of all age groups and even nationalities! The ambience may indeed be very relaxed, however this does not mean that the students here don’t take their work seriously. The main rule is that budding musicians should bring their own musical instruments. Many people currently seem interested in joining this community as the thrill of going to a mall on a Sunday is perhaps starting to pall. You can join a music course at Taman Suropati for only Rp.100,000 a month.

(http://www.jakartajavakini.com/index.php?id=53)

Unique Bali, Unique Indonesia

2009-10-31T20:33:00.005+07:00

Bali is an island in Indonesia, but it's also one of the provinces of Indonesia. Bali lies between Java and Lombok Island. Denpasar is the capital of his province, which is located in the south of the island. The majority of Balinese are Hindu. In the world famous Bali as a tourist destination with a unique variety of art-culture results, especially for the Japanese and Australian tourists. Bali is also known as Island of the Gods.

Bali, one tourist destination that was never bored for a visit. In addition to its beautiful natural scenery, Bali is also famous for its unique culture and customs are not istiadatnya can be found in any other tourist destination.

However, there is still a lot of potential tourists who have difficulty getting information about the holiday to Bali. The limited information the media creates the impression as if the information about the holiday to Bali can be obtained only after coming to Bali.

Dance
Balinese dance in general may categorized into three groups, ie, guardian or performing sacred dances, or bebali dance performances for ceremonies and also for visitors, and balih-balihan or the art of dance for the entertainment of visitors.

Balinese dance expert I Made Bandem in the early 1980s never classify Balinese dances are; among other things belonging to the guardian for example Berutuk, Sang Hyang Dedari, Rejang and Baris Gede, among others, is bebali Gambuh, Masks Pajegan, and Wayang Wong, whereas balih-balihan among others is the Legong, Parwa, Arja, Prembon and Joged, and various other modern dance choreography.

One of the most popular dance for tourists is the Kecak. Around the 1930s, Wayan modulus worked with German painter Walter Spies to create this dance based on tradition Trance and parts of the Ramayana story. Wayan modulus at popularizing this dance around the world in the entourage of his Balinese dancers.

Oh yeah... Bali and Lombok is a great place for honeymoon, spa, surfing, and holidays.

More about Indonesia

2009-10-31T20:05:00.003+07:00

Indonesia Republic of Indonesia or the Indonesian abbreviation is a country in Southeast Asia, is located on the equator and located between Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Because it lies between two continents and two oceans, he also called Nusantara (Archipelago Between). Consists of 17,508 islands, Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world. With a population of 222 million people in 2006, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and the country's largest Muslim population in the world, although officially it is not an Islamic state. Form of government of Indonesia is a republic, the House of Representatives and the president directly elected. Jakarta is the capital city. Indonesia is bordered by Malaysia on Borneo island, with Papua New Guinea on the island of Papua and East Timor on the island of Timor. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India.

Indonesian history has been influenced by other nations. Indonesian archipelago became an important trade region since at least since the 7th century, when the Srivijaya Kingdom religious relations and trade with China and India. Kingdoms of Hinduism and Buddhism have developed in the early centuries AD, followed by
the traders who brought Islam, and various European powers fought one another to monopolize the spice trade in the Moluccas during the era of ocean exploration. After about 350 years of Dutch rule, Indonesia declared its independence at the end of World War II. Indonesia next challenged by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, the process of democratization and the period of rapid economic change.

From Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia consists of various ethnic, linguistic and religious differences. The Javanese are the largest ethnic group and most politically dominant. Indonesia's national motto, "Diversity single ika" ( "Diversity remains one"), means the diversity that shapes the country. Besides having a large population and a dense region, Indonesia has a natural area that supports the level of biodiversity in the world's second largest.

Kakaban Island, Only two in the world!

2009-10-31T19:34:00.009+07:00

The lake is located in the middle Kakaban Kakaban contained various marine biota including jellyfish
Lake Kakaban in Kakaban
Marine biota in Lake Kakaban, Kakaban Island, is the sea water trapped in Kakaban, plus the water from the soil and rain water from 2 million years ago. Lake Kakaban a prehistoric lake that is Holosin transitional period. The extent of approximately 5 km ², the cliff walls as high as 50 meters, which resulted in sea water is trapped no longer get out, into the lake. Administratively, Lake Kakaban including Berau Regency, East Kalimantan.

Biota in Lake

Because of the changes and evolution long enough by rain water and ground water, lake water became more fresh than the sea around him. These changes also affect the adaptation of existing marine fauna in the lake. Jellyfish for example, because of the limited food, eventually adapt to doing simbiose mutualistis with algae. Algae is a producer of food and to cook food with the help of sunlight.

For thousands of years the lake in the middle of this sea, of course, creates an ecosystem that is very unique individual.

This unique lake has four types of jellyfish, one of which is the jellyfish Cassiopea species.

The story is very interesting symbiosis. Jellyfish Kakaban, placing his foot on the algae, because algae are concerned to get the sun as a means of doing fotosistesa, the jellyfish eventually went upside down, with legs up and head down. Unique way of walking which is what attracts scientists and divers to see the evolution of marine fauna that eventually behave strangely for their survival. Note the divers also gives a picture, the animals in this lake has a more colorful light when it was getting dark. Allegedly, at this lake will be found many new kinds.

Jellyfish Cassiopea species residing in Lake Kakaban,
In the world, a place like this was only found in Palau, Micronesia Islands in the South East Pacific region and Kakaban Island. Thus Kakaban is the only island in Indonesia which has a lake in the middle.

Also on the outskirts of the beach is also growing mangrove forests, which is inhabited by many kinds of crabs, sea cucumber and sea snakes. Lots of animal species that have not been identified in this region. Dr. Thomas Tomascik, a Canadian oceanographer, said Kakaban a wealth of biological paradise in Indonesia. Mystery of how animals and plants are isolated in this lake is one of the most popular objects by scientists to uncover. Therefore, this sea is deservedly the object of nature conservation should be protected and preserved.

One of the interesting phrase, how such a marine animals that still survive today whereas water hardness in it had changed completely.

Kakaban in the local language is an island that "hug" '. So Kakaban means "an island that embraces the lake", including the flora and fauna that filled the uniqueness.

Discover Indonesia

Solo Steam Loco "Sepur Kluthuk Jaladara"

Traditional & Modern Public Transport in Jakarta

Bajaj

Becak

Bemo

Bis

Delman

Kereta Api

Mikrolet/Angkot

Ojek

Ojek Sepeda

Taksi

River Taxi

List of International Schools in Jakarta

International Schools in Jakarta

ACG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - JAKARTA

El SHADDAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HOPE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

ISMILE

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL

JAYAKARTA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SEKOLAH TIARA BANGSA ACS (INTERNATIONAL) JAKARTA

TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

TUTOR TIME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN

Lorentz National Park

Ratu Boko Palace

The legend of Ramayana When History Comes to Life

Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 3

Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 2

Dalang Cilik (Young Dhalang) part 1

The Unique and Exotic Batik of Jambi

The Ambarawa Rack Railway

Vote Komodo Island for New 7 Wonders!

Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century

Mount Bromo part 7

Stay healthy

Stay safe

Mount Bromo part 6

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Cemoro Lawang

Sukapura

Tosari/Wonokitri

Camping

Mount Bromo part 5

Do

Mount Bromo part 4

Get around

See

Mount Bromo part 3

Get in

By plane

By road

The Probolinggo -> Ngadisari Route

The Pasuruan -> Tosari Route

The Malang -> Tumpang Route

Fees/Permits

Mount Bromo part 2

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

The Tenggerese

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Official Tourism Offices

Mount Bromo part 1

Things to do in Jambi-Sumatera

Visit Lombok 2012

Geography and demographics

Garuda Indonesia, The Airline of Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia Flies to 18 International Destinations

Garuda Indonesia Domestic Destinations : 21 Destinations

Yogya, more than gudeg and bakpia

Incredible Reog Ponorogo

9 Unique Places To Visit In Jakarta