Saturday, June 25, 2011

The beauty of Mount Bromo



Mount Bromo is one tourist destination in East Java. Natural attractions are located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in the eastern city of Malang, East Java.
 
The crowd was not only local tourists, even many who come from abroad. With a typical scene makes Bromo worthy of being a tourist destination. What are the privileges of Mount Bromo? Cold, so you'll feel when you first get out of the car. The temperature here reached 10 degrees to 0 degrees Celsius even during the morning. So, you should prepare for cool clothes, hats skullcaps, gloves, socks, scarves to cope. But, if you forget about the equipment, there are many vendors offering wares in the form of hats, gloves, or scarves.  
Regular visitors visiting this area since the early days with the purpose of viewing the sunrise. To view them, you have to climb Mount Pananjakan which is the highest mountain in the region. Terrain that must be traversed to get to Mount Pananjakan a heavy field. To reach the foot of Mount Pananjakan, you have to go through desert-like area that can make you get lost. When the need to climb Mount Pananjakan, narrow streets and lots of sharp turns would require a high driving skill. For that, many visitors choose to rent a hardtop car (jeep type) driven by the surrounding community. The community is derived from the Tengger tribe is friendly with the visitors.
 
Up above, there are many shops serving coffee or tea and a fire to warm the body while waiting to be tebitnya sun. There are also stores that rent out warm clothing. Watching the sunrise is an interesting event. The proof, the visitors are willing to wait since 5 o'clock in the morning facing east so as not to lose this moment. You also do not always able to see this event, because if the cloudy sky, the appearance of the sun is not seen clearly. However, when the sky is clear, you can see the roundness of the sun in the first place only as small as a pin matches, slowly enlarge and eventually form a complete circle and enlighten so that we can see the view of the mountains in this region. Among others, Mount Bromo, Mount Batok, or Mount Semeru is the highest mountain in Java. Finished watching the sunrise, you can go back down the mountain and to Mount Bromo Pananjakan. Sunlight can make you see the scenery around. Apparently you go through the sea of ​​sand which covers 10 km ². Arid regions filled sand and just a little overgrown grasses that dry out. A gust of wind, making the sand fly and can be difficult for you to breathe.
 
To reach the foot of Mount Bromo, you can not use the vehicle. Instead, you must rent a horse at a price of IDR 70,000, - or if you feel strong, you can choose to walk. However, it should be noted that the walk is not easy, because of the scorching sun, the distance, the flying dust can make the journey harder.
Now, you have to climb the stairs that amounted to 250 stairs to see the crater of Mount Bromo. Arriving at the peak of Mount Bromo whose height 2392 m above sea level, you can see the crater of Mount Bromo smoke. You can also cast your gaze down, and saw the sea of ​​sand to the temple in its midst. Really incredibly rare and unusual that we enjoy.

Tips: Visit this in the dry season, not the rainy season, so you'll get a scene perfect moment. Prepare cold protective clothing, such as the guard house, slayer, scarves, gloves, jackets, and do not forget the shoes because the weather is quite cold here. Bring sunglasses also for protection from dust during the Segoro wedi sand. Do not be dikawah Bromo above the 9 o'clock to avoid the risk of poisoning. The most appropriate timing depart from Surabaya or Malang is about 12-1 at night.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Indonesia's Tourism Potential Spread Through Digital Technology



KOMPAS.com - Indonesia, with tens of thousands of islands stretching from Sabang to Merauke, has a million beauty that attracts many people to visit and explore. Natural beauty and great cultural diversity of Indonesia has made tremendous tourism potential. This potential can bring in huge foreign exchange for the country. This potential is also supported by the easier and less costly facilities and infrastructure to support tourism, which in turn encourages more people interested in traveling.
 

However, this potential must be supported by a great promotion to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. Promotion of effective and efficient can be done via the internet. In this digital age, when everyone is connected online, the information most easily spread through the Internet.
One statistic states, most sought-after keywords on Google is a "travel". This is because, before deciding to travel, people feel the need to find as much information about where they wish to go.
 

For example, the island of Komodo. As one of the candidates of The New 7 Wonders Of The World, Komodo Island is a tourist spot is the most exciting and most talked about today. In addition to being the only island in the world to be a reptile habitat called scientific Varanus komodoensis, the island also offers a variety of beautiful beaches and underwater. The beauty of Komodo Island to be helped and supported through a wide distribution of information to promote this place to a large audience.
 

Indonesian government has implemented a variety of ways to promote local tourism. One is through the portal www.indonesia.travel. This site is completely provide all the information about the destination country.
For those who have never heard of Raja Ampat, the snorkler new heaven, nor the beauty of the coral reef at Wakatobi and the history of the Equator Monument in Pontianak, the official website of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it really gives complete information for those wishing to explore the beauty of the archipelago.
 

IDBYTE cooperation with www.indonesia.travel provide five tour packages for 3 days and 2 nights to the island of Komodo. Simply by answering questions about Indonesia's tourism, we had occasion to visit one of the most unique tourist attraction in Indonesia.
Now is the time to explore and spread the beauty of Indonesia throughout Indonesia. Take advantage of the ease of digital technology to share with close friends and family about the beauty of this country.
 

Writer: Yansen Kamto, Executive Director IDBYTE, against the background of the digital advertising industry; currently also running a business in the field of digital gaming and football.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Bali : Simply the World's Best Island

 Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.
Travel & Leisure Magazine has awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions.

Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life.  For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately carved temples.

For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this world.  Indeed, this relatively small island holds many   surprises.

This is a miraculous island indeed, for after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and international visitors alike.  Here gather a variety of visitors from around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and lakes at  Batur, Kintamani, or  Lake Beratan at  Bedugul, to those who merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach.

On the Edge of A Volcano at Mount Merapi

Living in the shadows of an active volcano is like sitting on a time bomb, especially when one of them is called the Fire Mountain or Gunung Merapi, the volcano that dominates the center of the island of Java.  Mt Merapi, located near Yogyakarta, is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. It is one of some 500 volcanoes in Indonesia, from which at least 129 are active, aptly giving this archipelago the name: the Ring of Fire.
Despite its frequent eruptions, Mt. Merapi is very central to the lives of the Javanese people and kings. For through its eruptions Merapi spews lava, ash and minerals to the surrounding areas. These provide nutrients for the soil, making this one of the most fertile areas in the world, and consequently the most densely populated. This majestic, perfectly cone-shaped volcano, with its peak at 2,911 meters above sea level, has also determined the lives of kings and realms. In the early 11th Century, the once mighty ancient empire of Mataram mysteriously disappeared, and power suddenly shifted to East Java.  Scientists surmise that a violent eruption of Merapi in 1006 AD was the ruin of the empire.

This massive eruption also buried the nearby Borobudur temple in ash. More recently in the 20th century, a destructive eruption in 1930 claimed 1300 lives. Today Merapi still erupts intermittently, but the people here have befriended the mountain and accept its rumblings and coughs as part of normal natural phenomena.

The Merapi volcano plays an important part in the accepted cosmos of the Javanese sultans. The Keraton of Yogyakarta faces the mountain in one direct line. Merapi is also guarded by spiritual “guards” who give offerings to the mountain.

Local people respect the awesome power of this volcano. Annually, on the anniversary of the Sultan’s coronation, offerings (labuhan) are brought from the keraton of Yogya  to Mt. Merapi ,  together with similar offerings carried to the Indian Ocean to the south, to appease the spirits of the mountain and the sea, in order to bring welfare to the inhabitants of Java.
Merapi is continuously monitored by a number of earthquake posts, who warn inhabitants of impending eruptions.  Despite frequently giving out smoke, the mountain still attracts hikers and climbers.   

The Kraton : Palace Fit For A Javanese King

The palace of Yogyakarta, known as the Keraton (also spelled kraton or karaton), is a grand complex that was meticulously planned to reflect  the Javanese cosmos. This splendid example of traditional Javanese architecture has no equal. Designed and built in stages, the Keraton was completed in 1790.

This elegant complex of pavilions was constructed entirely on ancient beliefs and each feature of the complex, from the courtyards to the trees, has a special symbolic meaning related to sophisticated Javanese philosophy.

The Keraton is built facing directly north towards the majestic Mt. Merapi with to its south backing the Indian Ocean which is believed to be the abode of Nyi Loro Kidul, the Queen of the South Seas and the mystical consort of the Sultan. Malioboro road was originally used as the ceremonial route, not unlike London’s Pall Mall, and forms a straight line drawn from the Sultan’s palace to the Merapi volcano.

A green square called alun-alun  fronting the palace, has a large banyan tree in its center, while behind the palace is another similar square. When a sultan dies, the cortege leaves by the southern gate on its way to the cemetery of kings at Imogiri.

This palace was designed to be more than just a royal residence. It was built to be a focal point of the Sultan’s entire kingdom. Today, the Keraton is a piece of living history and tradition. It continues to be used, both as a home of the Sultan as well as for other important ceremonial and cultural  functions of the Yogya court. 

The present Sultan Hamengku Buwono X of Yogyakarta retains the title of Sultan although Yogya has become one of the provinces of the Republic of Indonesia. The Sultan of Yogya,is also the governor of the province, and is still considered the cultural head of this region, and is greatly loved by his subjects. 

Even with Yogya’s modernization, the Keraton of Yogya continues to be respected by the people of Yogya, steeped as it is in mysticism and philosophy. In the afternoons, after the palace is closed to visitors, women in traditional costume can be seen respectfully sprinkling water and flowers on the pillars, lighting incense to “cleanse” the keraton from evil spirits.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Ondel-ondel No Longer Expel Evil Spirit

Mon, June 13 6:47 PM CDT



Liputan6.com, New York: Ondel-ondel inseparable from the Betawi people since hundreds of years ago. Any procession, like a bride or bride adult circumcision, ondel-ondel almost always displayed. Initially ondel-ondel called Barongan to the sound of musical instruments are used to ward off evil spirits. They believed evil spirits would be scared by a noisy sound.

One of the crafters ondel-ondel are Bakhtiar, a resident of Rawa Belong, Jakarta Barat. To Coverage 6 SCTV, on Sunday (12 / 6), he said, ondel-ondel now environmentally friendly, not like before. "Then, ondel-ondel bercaling because of the belief that he (ondel-ondel) to ward off evil spirits," said Bakhtiar. "Now (ondel-ondel) was cute, nothing like Luna Maya, like Ariel, and cool-cool."

To make ondel-ondel two meters and centimeters wide, six colleagues helped Bakhtiar first create a framework of bamboo. To headdress, made ​​from coconut flower stem color stick and crepe paper glued with glue wani. This ornament affixed to the head made ​​of fiberglass or wood.

To ondel-ondel man, his face painted red sertaberkumis. While ondel-ondel woman painted her face white. Once completed, the skeleton and the head of the merged and given clothes. Ondel-ondel ready for use.

Barongan first mentioned ondel-ondel by the late Benjamin Sueb who sang Ondel-ondel. Now, ondel-ondel no longer used to ward off evil spirits, but became part of the Betawi culture. (Bog)

Respect for the God of War Against

Wed, June 15 10:59 PM CDT


Liputan6.com, Karangasem: Create hone the courage of the youth in the traditional village Tenganan, Karangasem, Bali, Bali every fifth month calendar, has always held tradition mekare pandanus-kare or war. Pandan chosen as the weapon is a giant pandanus, has sharp spines and is usually found in forests.

After the weapon is prepared, the sound of gamelan selodang marks the beginning of pandanus war. One by one youth, whether youth or children, met in the middle of the arena to do battle pandanus. They scraped into the body of his opponent's weapon pandanus, causing scratches, not even uncommon to bleed. Although quite terrible, the youth should not be angry or hold grudges.

I Wayan Yasa, local traditional village leader, said this tradition has always held as a tribute to the god Indra or the God of War as well as the God of Prosperity. Moreover, villagers believe themselves Tenganan derived from ancestral warriors [read: Pandan War, Ancient Traditions of the god Indra].

This unique tradition also invite domestic and foreign tourists. They seem eager to perpetuate the tradition that was held every year on the island. (ANS)