From Indonesia With Love

Milk Campaign in Indonesia

2008-11-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Around 200 mothers, members of the Family Welfare Movement from all over Jakarta, attended an educational seminar on nutrition held in Jakarta on Thursday, November 20, 2008.

The event was held as part of the 2008 milk campaign, a joint effort of Tetra Pak Indonesia, the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry to boost milk consumption.

"Milk consumption in Indonesia is still very low, an average of 9 liters per person per year," a director general at the Agriculture Ministry Chairul Rachman said.

"But milk is more accessible for people; we rarely see people who are allergic to milk compared with other kinds of food allergy," Chairul said.

Although milk consumption in Indonesia is still very low, new efforts have been made to grow this healthy habit, both by government and NGO in the education and health sectors.

Average annual milk consumption in Indonesia was only seven liters per person by the end of 2003, compared to Malaysia's 20 and Thailand's 21.

Indonesia's annual average milk consumption level increased slightly from only 5.10 liters per person in l998 (when the country was being hit hard by the economic crisis) to seven liters by the end of 2003.

Indonesia lagged behind other nations in terms of consumption of milk and nutritious foods such as meat, eggs and other protein-rich items.

The people's nutritional status has been low, if not poor, over the last four decades.

In l970, average annual milk consumption was only 1.82 liters per capita. Ten years later, it had increased to 4.36 liters, and soared to 6.99 in 1995. It dropped back sharply to 5.10 liters in l998.

During the economic crisis in 1997 and l998, Indonesians consumed on average half a glass of milk per week, one egg and two slices of meat.

This illustrates how poor our people's nutrition is. We cannot expect to excel as a well-fed nation when our consumption of protein-rich food and beverages is so low.

Nutrition programs in developed countries have always included milk as part of food supplement programs. School students in the United States receive free milk as part of the country's Special Milk program.

Infants, toddlers and pregnant women, especially those from low-income families, received 15 liters of milk a month.

In Indonesia, the United States Department of Agriculture has supported Indonesia's milk program by distributing free milk and soybean milk to 465,673 school students across the country between l999 and 2000.

Indonesian Music Legend, Chrisye

2008-11-20T22:25:00.001-08:00

Chrisye (born Chrismansyah Rahadi) was a popular Indonesian pop singer, of mixed Chinese-Indonesian descent. He was born in Jakarta, September 16 1949, and died there on March 30, 2007 following a long battle with lung cancer. He recorded 28 albums in his lifetime. He married in 1982 to G.F. Damayanti Noor; they had four children.

Chrisye started recording in the band Gipsy in 1969. The band covered music including Procol Harum, King Crimson, ELP, Genesis and Blood, Sweat and Tears, and ventured to the USA to play in New York. The band in 1977 collaborated with Guruh Soekarno Putra, one of the sons of former Indonesian President Soekarno, and brother of Megawati Soekarno Putri, subsequnet Indonesian President, on Guruh Gipsy, a prog rock album that combined prog rack with Balinese gamelan.

His music and art works loved by all generations, young and old. He embraced traditional Indonesian music and blended them with his own music, and made a special Indonesian pop music that is so unique and loved even till this moment. That is what make him so special and deserved to have a title as a true Indonesian music legend.

We love you Chrisye!
Discography:
o 1977 Guruh Gipsy
o 1977 Jurang Pemisah
o 1977 Badai Pasti Berlalu
o 1978 Sabda Alam
o 1979 Percik Pesona
o 1979 Puspa Indah Taman Hati
o 1981 Pantulan Cita
o 1983 R e s e s i
o 1984 Metropolitan
o 1984 N o n a
o 1984 Sendiri
o 1985 Aku Cinta Dia
o 1985 Hip Hip Hura
o 1986 Nona Lisa
o 1987 Chrisye Terbaik
o 1988 Jumpa Pertama
o 1989 Pergilah Kasih
o 1989 Album Slow Cinta Chrisye
o 1993 Sendiri Lagi
o 1993 Best Of Chrisye
o 1996 AkustiChrisye
o 1997 Kala Cinta Menggoda
o 1999 Best Of Chrisye Vol. II
o 1999 Badai Pasti Berlalu (Re-recorded)
o 2000 Best Cinta
o 2001 Konser Tur Legendary
o 2002 D e k a d e
o 2004 S e n y a w a
o 2005 Chrisye By Request
o 2006 Duet By Request

Semusim by Chrisye and Waljinah

Topat War

2008-11-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

This is an event that already passed, held on November 1, 2008, Lombok Island, Indonesia.

War between people of different faiths is not generally something looked forward to with excitement, unless one is a participant in the annual Perang Topat festival in Lingsar village, West Lombok.

Muslim and Hindu villagers annually celebrate the colorful ritual at the Pura Lingsar temple on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Sasak calendar.

This is an event where the farmers and other community members in Pura Lingsar about 10 km from the town of Mataram throw "Ketupat" (steamed rice wrapped in palm leaves) at each other in ceremony in hopes that they will be prosperous. The ceremony is held in the late afternoon. Pujawali ceremony should be held three days before the Ketupat War which fall in December on a full moon. This event is held at Pura Lindsar, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

At first glance, Pura Lingsar resembles most other Hindu temples -- what makes it unique is the presence of Kemaliq shrine inside the complex, a site revered as sacred by the many of the Sasak Muslim community on Lombok.

Pura Lingsar is located in Lingsar village, some nine kilometers east of the West Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Mataram. In the temple, two structures stand side by side, only separated by a jabe, or courtyard. On one side is the Gaduh temple, a place of worship for the Hindu community, while on the other is the Kemaliq.

According to history, Pura Lingsar was built in 1759 during the reign of Raja Anak Agung Gede Ngurah, a royal descent of the Karang Asem kingdom in Bali, which ruled West Lombok at the time.

The Perang Topat "war" is part of an ancient agrarian ceremony. Before the planting season and after the harvest, the community carries out a series of rituals to express their gratitude to God.

There is a spring (in Lombok) that never dries up called Langser, from which the name Lingsar originated. The people express their gratitude for this blessing from God.

The Sasak community believes that the spring was inherited from Raden Mas Sumilir, their ancestor and also the founder of Kemaliq. To show their gratitude, they place offerings there.

Lingsar residents are not the only people who benefit from the Langser spring -- it flows and irrigates the farms throughout West and Central Lombok, which mean many people participate in the Perang Topat.

At the same time, residents from the Hindu faith living in Lombok perform the Pujawali ritual in conjunction with the temple's anniversary, by holding a series of rites in what is known as the Usaba.

The Perang Topat, or war of ketupat (rice cooked in coconut leaves), marks the peak of this celebration, in which ketupat, prepared by villagers is paraded around the temple complex in a procession involving people from the two faiths.

Breeding Crabs In The Mangrove

2008-11-19T01:15:00.000-08:00

Sukardi, who heads a community group tasked with managing the crab breeding site in Gunung Kijang village, Bintan regency, holds two bred crabs (Scylla serrata) from the top of a bamboo bridge. Underneath him is a pond where 400 crabs are raised amonga the mangrove.

As many as 2,000 crabs are being bred in the middle of a mangrove forest in Gunung Kijang village, Bintan regency, as part of an alternative livelihoods project conducted under the Coral Rehabilitation and Management Program, known as Coremap.

Coremap's coral reef conservation institution (LPSTK) set up the special breeding site, in which Scylla serrata crabs live and breed, with little destruction to the mangrove forest.

To reach the site, visitors can take a 3-minute boat ride from the village and then cross a 50-meter-long bamboo bridge.

The site is divided into five ponds; two 225-square-meter ponds and three 144-square-meter ponds. There are around 400 crabs in each pond, crawling around the mangroves' trunks.

Pathways have been built above the ponds so that visitors can see the crabs underneath.

Coremap's coordinator for the alternative livelihood project of Bintan regency, Zul Iskandar, said that his team wanted to build the breeding site while preserving the mangroves.

"We have tried such this method of crab breeding in several areas in eastern Indonesia, but it did not work," he said.

Community group head Sukardi, who manages the breeding site, said crabs were usually harvested once they had reached 400 grams each, or about three months after the baby crabs had been placed in the ponds.

"We can earn Rp 60,000 per kilogram," he said.

He said he collected the baby crabs from Tanjung Pinang. Each kilogram consisted of between 10 and 12 baby crabs and was worth Rp 25,000.

Since the breeding site commenced operation last year, he said, the community had been able to harvest the crabs twice.

Zul said the Coremap team and local residents were planning to convert the whole mangrove forest into a crab breeding site.

"As we succeed in building this site, we are also planning to develop it to become a tourist site to familiarize people with seashore species, such as this mangrove crab," he said.

Indonesia Launch Tsunami Early Warning System

2008-11-11T20:59:00.000-08:00

I still remember it well, the worst nightmare when the earth shaked and the tsunami attacked so many beaches in Indonesia. And today I just read a very scary news about the beach in my country.

Some 57 percent of Indonesia's coastline, or 46,170 km, of the total length of 81,000 km, are prone to a tsunami attack.

The data came from the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency during the inaguration of a Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) at the BMG office here Tuesday.

After an earthquake followed by a tsunami in Aceh on December 26, 2004, the need for an early warning system had become increasingly urgent.

A tsunami early warning system developed and funded by five donor countries began operations Tuesday in Indonesia, nearly four years after the Asian tsunami of December 2004, which claimed 230,000 lives.

The system makes use of sensors placed on the seabed that relay details of changes in water pressure to buoys on the surface. The information is then transmitted via satellite to a tsunami early warning centre in Indonesia.

By the end of 2008, the observation network would operate 116 broadband seismographs, 90 tide gauges and two buoys.

Indonesia is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.

It sits atop the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.

The 2004 quake and tsunami, which struck off Aceh, killed more than 170,000 people in that province alone.

Other tsunami early warning systems have been installed in other countries hit by the 2004 tsunami, including Thailand and India.

PS. I don't put any pics here, cos all the pics I could find are too horrible and it brings back such a horrible memory to me.

North Sulawesi History

2008-11-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

North Sulawesi is a land of magnificent coral reefs protecting virginwhite beaches, mountains and active volcanos, reminding the islanders and the world of the potential power of one of the earth's most awesome forces. It is a land of vast coconut plantations fringed along the coastline, which is why the area is also known as "Bumi Nyiur Melambai" or "The Land of Waving Coconut Palms."

The origins of both the names Sulawesi, which has only become common after the Indonesian Independence, and the island's original name Celebes are not clear. Celebes is said to come from the Portuguese, who landed as the first Europeans on the island. When they sailed around it they called it Ponto dos Celebres which means point of the notorious/ill-famed/ill-reputed. This might refer to the many pirates that were sailing in Sulawesi (and Indonesian) waters those days, or to the strong Monsoon winds which caused many ships to sink.

A local myth says that when the Portuguese first landed on the island, the captain of the ship met a man who was busy working as a blacksmith. The captain asked the man - in Portuguese - what the name of the island was. The blacksmith, not understanding, thought the captain had asked him what he was doing, and answered "sele besi", which means "heat iron" or "work with iron". The captain was satisfied with the answer and registered Selebesi as name of the island in his logbook.

The modern name Sulawesi is said to be derived from the two words sula (island) and besi (iron), referring to the rich sources of iron on the island.

North Sulawesi has an abundance and variety of accommodation and facilities available to meet the needs of travelers from backpackers and budget class to four-star resorts. The natural wonders of North Sulawesi make it well suited to both organized and adventure travel. The full spectrum of scuba diving activities is available in North Sulawesi. The diving ranges from the magnificent coral gardens of Bunaken Marine Park and Bangka Strait to the walls of fishes and underwater volcanoes of the Sangihe Islands to the unusual and rarely seen critters of Lembeh Strait. Land-based activities focus on rain forest hiking in Tangkoko Nature Reserve (home to the largest concentration of black crested macaques and the world's smallest primate, the tarsier) and Dumoga Bone National Park (home to the fabled babirusa pig deer), along with viewing scenic waterfalls, volcano climbing and river rafting and even golf. Exploring the Tomohon/Tondano highlands area, rice paddies, coconut plantations and flower gardens rounds out the activities.

First contacts with European traders came in the 16th century with the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese and with them they brought Christianity. It wasn't until the arrival of the Dutch, however, that Christianity became the predominant religion of the area with the western parts of the province of Bolaang Mongondow and Gorontalo remaining as small Muslim principalities until the turn of the century.The people of North Sulawesi can be classified into four groups; Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Gorontalo and the SangirTalaud. The Minahasans are centered around the Provincial capital of Manado, but the entire province has a strong tradition of trade and contact with the outside world. The Sangir-Talaud islands, to the north of the mainland, form a natural bridge to the Philippines providing a convenient route for peoples and cultures to easily move between Indonesia and the Philippines, and many traces of Filipino culture can still be found here.

Magnificent coral gardens and a multitude of Tropical marine life defend coastlines of virgin-white beaches in the north of the or chid shaped island of Sulawesi. Mountains and volcanoes dominate the landscape with over 50 summits, some of which are still active, reminding the islanders and the world of the potential power of one of the earth's most awesome forces.

North Sulawesi and the Minahasa people there never developed any large empire. In 670 AD the leaders of the different tribes, who all spoke different languages, met by a stone known as Watu Pinabetengan. There they founded a community of independent states, who should stay together and fight any outside enemies if they were attacked.

In their search for spices, the Portuguese arrived in Indonesia in 1511, after their conquest of the Islamic Empire of Malacca. They were followed by the Spaniards. Both began to propagate Christianity and were most successful in Minahasa/North Sulawesi and Maluku, also known as the Moluccas. However, it wasn't until the arrival of the Dutch that Christianity became the predominant religion of North Sulawesi.
The abundance of natural resources in Minahasa made Manado a strategic port for European traders sailing to and from the spice island of Maluku. At the time of the first contact with Europeans the sultanate of Ternate held some sway over North Sulawesi, and the area was often visited by seafaring Bugis traders from South Sulawesi. The Spanish and the Portuguese, the first Europeans to arrive, came to North Sulawesi via the port of Makassar, but also landed at Sulu island (off the north coast of Borneo) and at the port of Manado. Spain established a fort at Manado. However, the Spanish and Portuguese influence was limited by the power of Ternate.

The Portuguese left reminders of their presence in the north in subtle ways. Portuguese surnames and various Portuguese words not found elsewhere in Indonesia, like garrida for an enticing woman and buraco for a bad man, can still be found in Minahasa. In the 1560's the Portuguese Franciscan missionaries made some converts in Minahasa.

By the early 17th century the Dutch had toppled the Ternate sultanate, and then set about eclipsing the Spanish and Portuguese. They colluded with Minahasan rulers to throw out their European competitors. In 1677 the Dutch occupied Pulau Sangir and, two years later, the Dutch governor of Maluku, Robert Padtbrugge, visited Manado. Out of this visit came a treaty with the local Minahasan chiefs, which led to domination by the Dutch for the next 300 years.

J.S.C. Dumont D'Urville: "Baie de Manado"

The Dutch helped unite the linguistically diverse Minahasa confederacy, and in 1693 the Minahasa scored a decisive military victory against the Bolaang to the south, which by that time, like its neighbour Gorontalo, was a Moslem principality. The Dutch influence flourished as the Minahasans embraced the European goods and Christian religion. Portuguese activity apart, Christianity became a force in the early 1820s when a Calvinist group, the Netherlands Missionary Society, turned from an almost exclusive interest in Maluku to the Minahasa area. The wholesale conversion of the Minahasans was almost complete by 1860. With the missionaries came mission schools, which meant that, as in Ambon and Roti, Western education in Minahasa started much earlier than in other parts of Indonesia. The Dutch government eventually took over some of these schools and also set up others. Because the schools taught in Dutch, the Minahasans had an early advantage in the competition for government jobs and places in the colonial army.

The Minahasans fought alongside the Dutch to subdue rebellions in other parts of the archipelago, notably in the Java War of 1825-30. They seemed to gain a special role in the Dutch scheme of things and their loyalty to the Dutch as soldiers, their Christian religion and their geographic isolation from the rest of Indonesia all led to a sense of being 'different' from the other ethnic groups of the archipelago. Well-educated in mission and government schools, Minahasans were among the first colonists to seek employment and prestige abroad.

By the mid 1800s compulsory cultivation schemes were producing huge crops of cheap coffee for a Dutch-run monopoly. Minahasans suffered from this 'progress', yet economic, religious and social ties with the colonists continued to intensify.

The Japanese occupation of 1942-45 was a period of deprivation. It shattered the myth of Dutch superiority, as Batavia gave up its empire without a fight. Though initially welcomed as liberators in most parts of the archipelago, the Japanese gradually established themselves as harsh overlords.

In 1945 the allies bombed Manado heavily. During the war of independence against the returning Dutch that followed, there was bitter division between pro-Indonesian Unitarians and those favoring Dutch-sponsored federalism. The appointment of a Manadonese Christian, Sam Ratulangi, as the first republican governor of eastern Indonesia was decisive in winning Minahasan support for the republic.

With the conclusion of Indonesia's long and arduous struggle for independence most of its people believed there would be a rapid improvement of social and economic conditions. During the early years of independence some progress was made in this direction, most prominently in education, and for the time being at least Indonesian society did become somewhat more egalitarian than in the colonial period. But the degree of improvment fell far short of expectations, and disillusionment and frustration led increasingly to an understandable tendency to blame the central government in Jakarta for the inadequate measures taken to meet the expectations that had been aroused during the revolution.

As the young republic lurched from crisis to crisis, Jakarta's monopoly over the copra trade seriously weakened North Sulawesi's economy. Illegal exports flourished and in June 1956 Jakarta ordered the closure of Manado port, the busiest smuggling port in the republic. Local leaders refused and Jakarta backed down. As in Sumatra there was a general feeling that the central government was inefficient, development was stagnating and money was being plugged into Java.

In March 1957 the military leaders of both southern and northern Sulawesi launched a confrontation with the central government, with demands for greater regional autonomy. They demanded more local development, a fairer share of revenue, help in suppressing the Kahar Muzakar rebellion in Southern Sulawesi, and a cabinet of the central government led jointly by Soekarno and Hatta. At least initially the "Permesta" (Piagam Perjuangan Semesta Alam) rebellion was a reformist rather than a separatist movement.

Negotiations between the central government and the Sulawesi military leaders prevented violence in southern Sulawesi, but the North Sulawesi leaders were dissatisfied with the agreements and the movement split. Inspired, perhaps, by fears of domination by the south, the leaders declared their own autonomous state of North Sulawesi in June 1957. By this time the central government had the situation in southern Sulawesi pretty much under control but in the north they had no strong local figure to rely upon and there were rumors that the USA, suspected of supplying arms to rebels in Sumatra, was also in contact with the North Sulawesi leaders.

The possibility of foreign intervention finally drove the central government to seek military support from southern Sulawesi. Permesta forces were driven out of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, the Sangihe Islands and from Morotai in Maluku (from whose airfield the rebels had hoped to fly bombing raids on Jakarta). The rebels' few planes (supplied by the USA and flown by Filipino, Taiwanese and US pilots) were destroyed. US policy shifted, favoring Jakarta, and in June 1958 central government troops landed in North Sulawesi. The Permesta rebellion was finally put down in mid-1961.

The effect of both the Sumatran and Sulawesi rebellions was to strengthen exactly those trends the rebels had hoped to weaken. Central authority was enhanced at the expense of local autonomy, radical nationalism gained over pragmatic moderation, the power of the communists and Soekarno increased while that of Hatta waned, and Soekarno was able to establish his "Guided Democracy" in 1959.

North Sulawesi prospered under the New Order Government of President Soeharto, which took office in 1967. Many of the economic reports (but few of the political reforms) sought by the Permesta rebels were implemented. The province has a tolerant, outward-looking culture and it will be interesting to see what the future holds after the recent implementation of Regional Autonomy, the very idea that Permesta fought for.

Save Orangutans From Illegal Tradings

2008-11-09T04:05:00.000-08:00

Will the first great ape species to become extinct happen in Indonesia?

We are learning that the number of the magnificent Sumatran orangutan is now in such serious decline that it is going to take extraordinary efforts to save the species from total annihilation.

Experts estimate that orangutans could become extinct in the wild within 25 years. At present, there are an estimated 54,000 Kalimantan orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Kalimantan, and approximately 6,600 Sumateran orangutans (Pongo Abelii) in Sumatra.

Numbers are getting smaller though, due to illegal animal trading and Indonesia's dwindling forests; a direct result of illegal logging and "slash and burn" agriculture.

In some pet markets in Jakarta, certain traders secretly sell orangutans at expensive prices. The purchase of such animals is not easy; a lot of money is required to bribe authorities and pay for the issuance of documentation to avoid arrest by police.

Profauna Indonesia regularly conducts investigations into illegal orangutan trading. The organization has found that around 1,000 Kalimantan orangutans are smuggled into Java and overseas every year; 95 percent of them are very young.

The smugglers deliver them by passenger or cargo ships from Kalimantan that dock in Semarang, Central Java, or Surabaya in East Java before being transported to Jakarta or overseas.

The traders have also been known to transport orangutans overseas on planes departing the international airports of Soekarno-Hatta, in Jakarta, and Sam Ratulangi, in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Even though it is widely known that orangutans are a protected species, ownership of the animal, in some circles, is considered prestigious. According to one orangutan trader, most of his customers are wealthy people with certain political power.

When Profauna discovers orangutans living outside their natural habitat, the organization coordinates with the Animal Rescue center (PPS) from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency.

Since November 2007, PPS Tegal Alur in Jakarta has rescued seven Kalimantan orangutans.

A worker at the Animal Rescue center checks on juvenile orangutans that have been confiscated from illegal traders and pet owners. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)

The orangutans PPS rescues receive an intensive examination; many of them are found to be infected by tuberculosis and hepatitis, therefore require serious treatment before the center can send them to a conservation center.

Orangutans that have lived with humans for a long time also take on human behaviors, Irma said. The group have encountered many orangutans that smoke cigarettes, drink beer and even act like human beings.

Besides working together with NGOs, PPS deploys some of its members to work undercover to find people who keep orangutans in their homes or who trade them at the pet markets.

Indonesia Executed Bali Bombers

2008-11-09T01:13:00.000-08:00

Indonesia executed three Islamic militants by firing squad for the 2002 Bali bombings that left 202 people dead, many of them foreign tourists, authorities said Sunday as they braced for possible revenge attacks by hard-liners.

The bodies of Imam Samudra, 38, and brothers Amrozi Nurhasyim, 47, and Ali Ghufron, 48, were brought by helicopter from the prison island of Nusakambangan to their villages in east and west Java, ending years of uncertainty about their fate.

The executions, sensitive for both political and security reasons, had been postponed many times, often without explanation, frustrating relatives of victims and enabling the bombers to rally supporters from behind bars.

Thousands of sympathizers turned out in the towns of Tenggulun and Serang early Sunday to welcome home their bodies. Some radicals lined the streets, chanting "God is great!" and calling the men martyrs as helicopters carrying the caskets touched down.

Dozens clashed briefly with police on a small road in Tenggulun, home to the two brothers, slightly injuring one officer, but there were no other reports of violence.

The Oct. 12, 2002 attacks - allegedly funded by al-Qaida and carried out by members of the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah - were the first of several suicide bombings that thrust the world's most populous Muslim nation onto the front lines in the war on terror.
The three never expressed remorse, saying the bombings were meant to punish the U.S. and its Western allies for alleged atrocities in Afghanistan and elsewhere. They even taunted relatives of victims - 88 of whom were Australian - at their trials five years ago and regularly gloated to reporters.

In recent months, the men had publicly expressed hope their executions would trigger revenge attacks in Indonesia, a nation of 235 million people, where support for the bombers is limited to a small minority.

Security forces were placed on high alert ahead of the midnight executions with extra police deployed in their hometowns and at embassies, shopping malls and offices in the capital, Jakarta.

The executions were considered politically sensitive, with general elections less than six months away. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono risks losing the votes of conservative Muslims. The government is also worried about a security backlash

The three men were among more than 30 people convicted in connection with the twin nightclub blasts.

Jemaah Islamiyah was blamed for at least three other suicide bombings in Indonesia. But the 2002 attack was by far the bloodiest.

One of the attackers walked into Paddy's nightclub on a busy Saturay night, setting off a bomb attached to his vest. Minutes later, a larger car bomb exploded outside the nearby Sari Club.

The dead included 38 Indonesians, 28 Britons and eight Americans - most revelers fleeing the first blast.

Dozens of victims and tourists gathered at "ground zero" of the bombings Sunday to pray and pay their respects to the dead.

The three convicts convicted of masterminding the 2002 Bali Bombings were executed at 23.10 Jakarta-time, Antara news agency reported early Sanday morning.

Amrozi, Mukhlas a.k.a. ALi Ghufron, and Imam Samudra, were reportedly rounded up from their cells at 23.00 and taken to a location known as the "Nirbaya" hills, located 6 kilometers from Batu Penitentiary.

Nirbaya, a former prison during the Dutch colonial era, is now used as a place for executing death-row convicts.

According to Antara, Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra were shot dead in the presence of three Central Java Regional Police shooting squads.

The procession begun at 23.10 with a sermon by a religious scholar, advising the convicts to accept their fate.

Officials of the Attorney General's Regional Office then read out an execution order, signalling the execution to proceed at 23.20.

The three Bali bombers were subsequently shot and confirmed dead by Central Java Police forensic officers at 23.30.

Rihanna To Perform In Jakarta

2008-11-06T03:31:00.000-08:00

Who doesn’t know the singer of Umbrella. She is Rihanna, a young African-American singer whose star is rising. The Barbados-born pop star won a Grammy Award for her exotic performance and unique voice.

On November 14, 2008, Rihanna will perform at Senayan Stadium in Jakarta, in a show titled "Rihanna Live in Concert".

Rihanna will perform for 90 minutes, a show guaranteed to be full of surprises. Her hit songs, like Umbrella, Shut Up and Drive, Take A Bow, and Don't Stop the Music, will definitely be much anticipated at the concert.

Willy Hidayat from Showmaster Music Promotor said Rihanna will bring 80 percent of their own property for the performance, “Like musical instruments, dancers and band, stage property and a crew of 40,” Willy told the press last week.

According to Willy, Rihanna will be mostly singing accompanied by her back-up dancers. As such, the young talent has asked for special lighting and stage design for her show.

Questions were raised as to why a world-class singer like Rihanna will be performing at the Senayan Stadium. “The most suitable venue would be the Jakarta Convention Center,” Willy admitted. However, no other venue was available on November 14, except the Senayan Stadium. “She herself set the date for the concert," Willy said.

Tickets for sale range from Rp 750.000 to Rp 2,5 million, for the VIP class.

Bekam

2008-10-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ani feels bekam is the best treatment ever for her gastritis. The 35-year-old mother says she has tried conventional allopathic medicines, but to no effect. After trying bekam, a popular alternative health treatment which uses the "cupping" method, she feels good.

Four months after beginning the therapy, her stomach problems are almost cured.

She neither groaned nor complained of pain during the 40-minute procedure, even though the skin of her upper back was being forced into cups through suction, and blood released via tiny incisions made in the folds of skin.

After the therapy was over, she said she only felt ant-bite-like-sensations but was definitely relieved of her stomach pain as if she had burped out the gas. She also claimed she felt much lighter than before the cupping.

Ani says she recommends the bekam procedure to her teenage children for treating the flu as well as for general well-being.

She and other patients queuing at a South Jakarta Bekam Clinic said many mothers also take chilren as young as six years for bekam to recover from the flu, a cough, bronchitis and asthma.

Another patient, Idham, said bekam was "effective". The 70-year-old is being treated for prostrate hypertrophy, and says he gladly recommends the treatment to his wife, children and friends. He feels better and relieved of pain after the therapy.

To those unfamiliar with the practice of bekam, questions undoubtedly arise surrounding its method of healing.

Bekam might be a popular alternative medical treatment across the country but many people still know little about it. Below are some facts about the treatment from a number of sources:

What does bekam mean?

Bekam is a Malay word that means "cupping" when translated literally into English. It is also referred to as "Al Hijama" in Arabic cultures. The "cupping" term refers to the process of attaching cups onto the skin at points requiring treatment, using the "suction effect". This is induced by a vacuum pump or by burning alcohol or eucalyptus oil.

What are the history and origins of bekam?

The origins of bekam date back to China about 2,000 years ago. Historically, treatment has evolved from early acupuncture practices based on the vital pressure points of the Human Anatomy.

Bekam is widely believed throughout the Islamic cultures of Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia to be part of the "Prophetic Medicine" -- part of the holistic medical treatments advocated by the Prophet Muhammad for both preventive and rehabilitative purposes. Bekam is often popular as "Sehat Alami dan Islami" (naturally healthy and Islamic).

How different is bekam from acupuncture and other forms of physiotherapy?

Bekam differs from acupuncture in its "cupping" process, although it follows the same pressure pattern on the vital energy points of the human anatomy.

Wet cupping specialists regard it as better than acupuncture, as it helps draw out the "bad" or "damaged" blood cells and hence clears the body of toxins.

Bekam is considered very different from physiotherapy as the procedures focus on chi or energy flow and reenergized blood circulation, whereas physiotherapy focuses on muscle and tissue repair and the flexibility of joint movement.

Is bekam suitable for anyone who wants to try alternative medical treatments or therapy for general well-being, the Islamic and holistic way?

Clinically, bekam has been proven not suitable for those diagnosed with malnutrition, severe anemia, Hb <>

It is also not recommended for children under five years, pregnant women, psychotic patients, epileptics, patients in critical health conditions, patients with contagious diseases such as HIV or leprosy and those with severe skin problems.

What specific diseases can bekam help cure?

Private interviews with doctors and patients reveal that bekam can "aid", in a natural sense, thyroid problems, early stages of cancer (such as lymphoma, leukemia), gall bladder problems, gastritis, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, impotence, premature ejaculation, arthritis, gout, malaria, asthma, bronchitis, fatty liver and several types of allergies.

However, there is very little information available on bekam in published medical research journals, although there are plenty of websites on the topic.

Three broad types of bekam treatment are currently being practiced at various clinics, with or without the direct supervision of a qualified general practitioner or bekam medical professional.

A visit to Rumah Sehat Afiat clinic, as recommended by Persahabatan hospital, turned out to be very informative and thought provoking.

The three are dry cupping, wet cupping and aggressive cupping. There is no blood burst or blood flowing in the dry method. But in the other two types of bekam, the infected or diseased blood is drained out.

A patient undergoes bekam, an alternative health treatment that uses a "cupping" method in a clinic in south Jakarta. Many claim to feel revitalized after the treatment despite the absence of standardized training in its theory and practice. (JP/Vennilla)

Among the three, the most effective is wet cupping who only treats his patients by wet cupping.

All three types involve transparent plastic cups or bio magnetic cups being attached to the skin of an affected area of the body.

The diameter of these cups varies from 2 centimeter for facial cupping to 5.8 centimeter for back or belly cupping. The person administering the cups on the body is generally called a tukang, which is translated by the doctor as a "therapist".

Standards of administering the "cupping" vary within these three methods of practice and depend on the therapists' training and knowledge of the human anatomy.

The "suction effect" of the cups on the skin can be induced either by using a vacuum pump or by burning alcohol or eucalyptus oil in the cups. Once the cups are attached, they are left in position on the affected area of the body for between five and 20 minutes.

The wet cupping procedure usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes and in some chronic cases much longer due to the number of acupuncture pricks and incisions being made and the time allowed for blood to flow out.

The blood flooding into the cups is widely believed to be "bad", "dirty" or "infected" blood.

The darker or browner the blood, the longer it is allowed to flow out until the therapist can detect fresh red blood entering the cup. Ascertaining when fresh blood is entering the cup before becoming mixed in with the brown blood can be a tricky task.

Once the bright red blood can be seen, the cups are removed and the bruised skin wiped dry with an antiseptic such as Betadine.

The visible reddish or blue-black marks take about two weeks to fade. Bekam is usually performed on patients every two weeks, so the marks normally remain as long as the therapy continues.

There is of course a danger to health, such as the possibility of constricted blood flow in sensitive tissue areas, muscle trauma (contrary to the expected re-energized blood circulation), high risk of skin lesion and infection, possible addiction to the procedure, or confusing bekam as a popular fashion statement or alternative to temporary tattoos.

When administered correctly, the cupping method aligned to the acupuncture points of the anatomy will bring healing, according to doctors and patients.

Bekam is more than faith healing. Historically, it evolved as a systematic offshoot of acupuncture and today is practiced as a therapeutic treatment. What needs to be determined is how "effective" bekam is for each patient.

Despite the widespread belief in bekam across Indonesia, there is no accredited academic course or academy offering training in bekam practices.

This lack of standardized training in bekam theory and practice raises many questions, such as how reliable local clinics are and how scientific and accurate their procedures are. Perhaps there are some bekam patients who suffer more from the treatment than they did their original ailment.

Answering the above questions is indeed the subject of a much required survey.

1St Asian Beach Game, Bali

2008-10-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Bali makes history as it hosts the 1st Asian Beach Games from 18 to 26 October 2008.

The opening ceremony will be held in monumental park Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Nusa Dua. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will officially open the games when the torch reaches Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

The opening ceremony will highlight Indonesia's diverse culture and arts, and will feature international performers such as Anggun from Indonesia (now based in France), Christian Bautista from the Philippines, and Indonesian musical talents like Gita Gutawa and Erwin Gutawa.

Anggun will sing the games anthem "Together We Inspire the World."

About 41 heads-of-state and several very important figures including British royal family and Qatari royal family members have confirmed their presence at the opening ceremony.

The 2008 Asian Beach Games will be closed by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

There are 45 Asian countries confirmed to participate in the games with Bhutan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan being the latest addition. Thailand will send the most number of athletes while the host country, Indonesia, will have the second largest delegation. Indonesia and Thailand are the only countries that will participate in all 19 sporting events.

1st Asian Beach Games logo

Paticipating Countries

Bangladesh
Bhutan
Bahrain
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
Indonesia
India
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Korea
Kuwait
Lao PDR
Lebanon
Macau, China
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Palestine
DPR Korea
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Thailand
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Timor-Leste
Chinese Taipei 1
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen

Bali

Venues and Sporting Events

Kuta Beach
Bodybuilding, Dragon Boat Racing, Surfing

Nusa Dua - Benoa
Beach Basketball, Beach Kabaddi, Beach Pencak Silat, Water Polo, Beach Wrestling, Jetski, Paragliding, Woodball

Sanur Beach
Beach Handball, Beach Sepaktakraw, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Marathon Swimming, Triathlon

Serangan Island
Sailing, Windsurfing

Jakarta Soulnation Festival

2008-10-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

PT Java Festival Production - the organizer of Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2005 - 2008 - is ready to present a 2-day music festival, the SOULNATION FESTIVAL, 17-18 October 2008, at ISTORA Senayan Jakarta. The success of Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JJF) for the fourth time this year strongly indicate that a world-class music event can help enhance the country's image and demonstrate to the world that Indonesia is a safe place to visit, promote music and tourism industry, and provide Jakarta with an event that strengthens its identity as a metropolitan city.
SOULNATION is a music festival concept offering youth-characterized music (R & B, hip hop, rap and soul) combined with a range of fun attractions and activities, such as fire dancers, body painting and temporary tattoo, fortune teller and a variety of games, while presenting well known artists, both Indonesian and international. The festival fosters cross-cultural cooperation to allow wider opportunity especially for the younger generation to enjoy world-quality entertainment.

Participating Artist:

International Artists

· AKON

· ASHANTI

· BLACKALICIOUS

· BLACKSTREET

· CHE'NELLE

· DJ C-BU

· IZ & THE NUFIRM

· RAHSAAN PATTERSON

· THAITANIUM

· TONY TONI TONE

Indonesian Artists:

· BATIK TRIBE

· CRONIK

· D'ESSENTIALS OF SOUL feat.: Maliq n D'Essential, Guest Star : ELLO, CINDY, SANIA

· DJ CREAM

· DJ ETHNIC

· FARO

· HIPHOPROCKS! feat.THE FLOWERS, FARO, SOUL ID, YACKO, FADE TO BLACK,DJ FLAME*

· J-FLOW

· JAMIE ADITYA GRAHAM

· MISTA D

· NEO

· PANDJI

· RAN

· SAYKOJI

· SONIC SQUAD

· SOUL ID

· SOULVIBE

· YACKO

Pulau Rambut, A Bird Sanctuary in North Jakarta

2008-09-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Not all of us know about the bird sanctuary in North Jakarta. Well, it is not exactly in Jakarta, but off the mainland on Pulau Rambut, an island to the north. You can get there in less than half an hour by fishing boat from Tanjung Pasir, Tangerang.

One of the closer in-shore “thousand Islands” of Jakarta Bay, the 45-ha Pulau Rambut is home to a large waterbird colony including Milky Stork, Herons, Egrets and Ibises. Well maintained trails enter the forest and a tall watchtower provides memorable viewing.

However, because it is a wildlife reserve, the island is not open to the general public. Its use is restricted to conservation, scientific research, education, and guided tourism.
Visitors who want to visit this island should request a permit from the Jakarta Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Center.

A permit is required and may be obtained from SBKSDA, Jl Salemba Raya 16, Central Jakarta, phone/fax 3904402. to save waiting, fax them your permit request with your name and passport number the day before you want to collect it. This is a full-day excursion.
Researchers are allowed to stay on the island with a permit but there are no facilities on the island for visitors, so take all your own food and drink with you. PHPA has a guest house on nearby Untung Jawa Island ($7/IDR 65,000).

Forty-nine bird species have been identified as inhabitants of Pulau Rambut whose total bird population numbers about 40,000. Most are cormorants, egrets, and herons. Some species are classified as rare or endangered and are protected by law.

In addition to birds as its main attraction, visitors can also observed other wild animals, including fruit bats (Pteropus vampyrus), hanging upside down in the trees and monitor lizards — called biawak — moving sluggishly along the forest floor.

Supervolcano Mountaineering Challenge (ISVMC) 2008

2008-09-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik launched a maiden activity of the Indonesian Supervolcano Mountaineering Challenge (ISVMC) of 2008 in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept 11).

To be held in the mountainous areas of Tambora and Rinjani volcanoes in West Nusatenggara (NTB) province on October 14-28, 2008, the ISVMC event poses an alternative of mountaineering activity-based eco-tourism for foreign and domestic mount climbers in a bid to make the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) program to a success.

Mount Tambora

Mount Tambora is located on Sumbawa Island, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands . It is a segment of the Sunda Arc, a string of volcanic islands that form the southern chain of the Indonesian archipelago. Tambora forms its own peninsula on Sumbawa, known as the Sanggar peninsula. At the north of the peninsula is the Flores Sea, and at the south is the 86 km (53.5 mi) long and 36 km (22 mi) wide Saleh Bay. At the mouth of Saleh Bay there is an islet called Mojo.

Mount Rinjani

Mount Rinjani or Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok. It rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia. The first historical eruption occurred in September of 1847. The most recent eruption of Mount Rinjani was on 1 October 2004.

The 6 km by 8.5 km oval-shaped caldera is filled partially by a crater lake known as Segara Anak ('Child of the Sea') and is approximately 2000m above sea level and estimated at being around 200m deep); the caldera also contains hot springs. The eruptions of 1994, 1995, and 1996 have formed a small cone, Gunung Baru (or 'New Mountain' - approximately 2300m above sea level) in the center of the caldera and lava flows from these eruptions have entered the lake.

As a result of the ministry’s cooperation with the Indonesian Mountaineering Federation (FMI), administration offices of West Lombok, Dompu and Bima districts, the event was expected to be a preliminary step to develop mountaineering activity-based ecotourism to promote, socialize, improve human resources and empower local people living in the mountainenous areas, the ISVMC organizing committeee said.

The event also aims to lure more foreign and domestic tourists, thus introducing the beauty of Indonesian nature and culture.

The participants are teams which consist of three members (women, men and mixed) which has a standard of mountaineering skill.

The competition is to be devided into two series – Tambora and Rinjani which will respectively last for three days.

The organizing committee will apply some points of the skill such as navigation, cordage (rope technique), obstacles, speed and safety procedure in which each element will appear as criteria of assessment and evaluation for the champion and runners up.

The ISVMC activity of 2008 is more dominated by mount climbers throughout Indonesia, most of whom are grouped in natural lovers and community who have certain interest to mountaineering activity.

The committee will provide certain prize like money, trophy and charter from the culture and tourism minister, governor and district heads. The trophy of culture and tourism ministry will be handed over to the first champion of Tambora and Rinjani Series and over all champion of the 2008 ISVMC event.

Minister Jero Wacik said that the event can function as a facility to encouraging the development of tourism especially mountaineering activity during which its implementation will involve more local people, so that the activity will bring better impact on the welfare of the local people.

Indonesia’s Secret Island Retreat

2008-09-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

For years it has lived in the shadow of its more famous neighbour Bali. Now Indonesia’s pristine Lombok Island is making a concerted effort to build itself up as the next Bali, while trying to maintain its natural charm.

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 administrative capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.

Lombok is a still undiscovered paradise with lush tropical greenery, which will attract every heart with fascination. Fastly becoming one of the popular places of Indonesia. The half a million people which visit Lombok every year is only a very small amount compared with Bali, by their number will certainly increase, since hotels have been built over the recent years. All good places along the beach, even those which can only be reached by jeep, are already bought by contractors from Jakarta.

Lombok’s principal beach resort of Sengiggi is situated in the western part, closer to the capital Mataram, the current airport and Lembar, the main port for ferries. Work has started on a new $72 million international airport, close to the town of Praya and about 30 km south of the existing Salaparang airport.

Authorities believe the opening of the new airport, expected in 2010, will make Lombok a primary tourist destination, rather than just an add-on to Bali. International travellers will be able to fly direct to Lombok. And the new airport will be able to handle 2.4 million visitors, compared to Salaparang airport’s 800,000 passenger capacity.

Tourists from the Middle East are expected to be drawn by Emaar’s planned development of a 1,175-hectare site in south Lombok. The development will be set along a seven-kilometre natural waterfront complete with five-star resorts, luxury residences, a marina, golf course and shops.

The Bali Tourism Development Corporation signed off on the Lombok mega-tourism project in March, with master planning for the development beginning in April. The first five-star hotels are expected to open to guests in a few years time and further development will take place over a number of years.

Emaar says its project, set on the Kuta and Tanjung beaches, will be environmentally friendly, integrating natural elements into a residential, leisure and hospitality zone.

Unveiling the project in April last year, Emaar chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar described Lombok as one of the most promising tourism destinations in Indonesia, adding it had the potential to be a magnet for world travellers.

Visit Lombok today and you’re certainly not met with a carbon copy of Bali. It’s more laid back and less touristy, even though tourism is the island’s largest source of income. It’s sometimes described as being like Bali 20 years ago, although at least one Lombok travel company says that’s incorrect if you consider the landscapes and cultures that are uniquely Lombok.

History of Bandung

2008-09-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Bandung, the capital of West Java province, located about 180 km (112 miles) southeast of Jakarta, is the fourth largest city in Indonesia with over 2.6 million population in 2006 and over 6.7 million people on the greater Bandung regency & metropolitan area. Bandung is also famously known as Paris Van Java, Paris of Java.

Bandung is surrounded by mountains and located in the middle of prehistoric lake.

Pajajaran Era

In 1488, the area now named Bandung was the capital of the Kingdom of Padjajaran. But from ancient archeological finds, we know the city was home to Australopithecus, Java Man. These people lived on the banks of the Cikapundung in north Bandung, and on the shores of the Great Lake of Bandung. Flint artifacts can still be found in the Upper Dago area and the Geological Museum has displays and fragments of skeletal remains and artifacts.

The Sundanese were a pastoral people farming the fertile regions of Bandung. They developed a lively oral tradition which includes the still practiced Wayang Golek puppet theatre, and many musical forms. "There is a city called Bandung, comprising 25 to 30 houses," wrote Juliaen de Silva in 1614.

Ducth Colonial Era

The achievements of European adventurers to try their luck in the fertile and prosperous Bandung area, led eventually to 1786 when a road was built connecting Jakarta, Bogor, Cianjur and Bandung. This flow was increased when in 1809 Louis Napoleon, the ruler of the Netherlands, ordered Governor General H.W. Daendels, to increase defences in Java against English. The vision was a chain of military defense units and a supply road between Batavia and Cirebon. But this coastal area was marsh and swamp, and it was easier to construct the road further south, across the Priangan highlands.

The Groote Postweg (Great Post Road) was built 11 miles north of the then capital of Bandung. With his usual terseness, Daendels ordered the capital to be relocated to the road. Bupati Wiranatakusumah II chose a site south of the road on the western bank of the Cikapundung, near a pair of holy wells, Sumur Bandung, supposedly protected by the ancient goddess Nyi Kentring Manik. On this site he built his dalem (palace) and the alun-alun (city square). Following traditional orientations, Mesjid Agung (The Grand Mosque) was placed on the western side, and the public market on the east. His residence and Pendopo (meeting place) was on the south facing the mystical mountain of Tangkuban Perahu. Thus was The Flower City born.

Around the middle of the l9th Century, South American cinchona (quinine), Assam tea, and coffee was introduced to the highlands. By the end of the century Priangan was registered as the most prosperous plantation area of the province. In 1880 the rail line connecting Jakarta and Bandung was completed, and promised a 2 1/2 hour trip from the blistering capital in Jakarta to Bandung.

With this life changed in Bandung, hotels, cafes, shops sprouted up to serve the planters who either came down from their highland plantations or up from the capital to frolic in Bandung. The Concordia Society was formed and with its large ballroom was the social magnet for weekend activities in the city. The Preanger Hotel and the Savoy Homann were the hotels of choice. The Braga became the promenade, lined with exclusive Europeans shops.

With the railroad, light industry flourished. Once raw plantation crops were sent directly to Jakarta for shipment to Europe, now primary processing could be done efficiently in Bandung. The Chinese who had never lived in Bandung in any number came to help run the facilities and vendor machines and services to the new industries. Chinatown dates from this period.

In the first years of the present century, Pax Neerlandica was proclaimed, resulting in the passing of military government to a civilian one. With this came the policy of decentralization to lighten the administrative burden of the central government. And so Bandung became a municipality in 1906.

This turn of events left a great impact on the city. City Hall was built at the north end of Braga to accommodate the new government, separate from the original native system. This was soon followed by a larger scale development when the military headquarters was moved from Batavia to Bandung around 1920. The chosen site was east of City Hall, and consisted of a residence for the Commander in Chief, offices, barracks and military housing.

By the early 20's the need for skilled professionals drove the establishment of the technical high school that was sponsored by the citizens of Bandung. At the same time the plan to move the capital of the Netherlands Indies from Batavia to Bandung was already mature, the city was to be extended to the north. The capital district was placed in the northeast, an area that had formerly been rice fields, and a grand avenue was planned to run for about 2.5 kilometers facing the fabled Tangkuban Perahu volcano with Gedung Sate at the south end, and a colossal monument at the other. on both sides of this grand boulevard buildings would house the various offices of the massive colonial government.

Along the east bank of the Cikapundung River amidst natural scenery was the campus of the Technische Hoogeschool, dormitories and staff housing. The old campus buildings and its original landscaping reflect the genius of its architect Henri Maclain Pont. The southwestern section was reserved for the municipal hospital and the Pasteur Institute, in the neighborhood of the old quinine factory. These developments were carefully planned down to the architectural and maintenance details. These years shortly before World War II were the golden ones in Bandung and those alluded to today as Bandung Tempoe Doeloe.

Post-Independence Era

After Indonesian independence, Bandung was named as the provincial capital of West Java (Jawa Barat). Bandung was the site of the Bandung Conference which met April 18-April 24, 1955 with the aim of promoting economic and cultural cooperation among the African and Asian countries, and to counter the threat of colonialism or neocolonialism by the United States, the Soviet Union, or other imperialistic nations.

The city experienced a rapid development and urbanization that has transformed Bandung from idyllic town into a dense 15,000 people/km² metropolitan area, a living space for over 2 million people. Natural resources have been exploited excessively, particularly in the conversions of protected upland area into highland villa and real estates. Although the city has encountered many problems, ranging from waste disposal, floods to chaotic traffic system, Bandung however still has its charm to attract people flocking into the city, either as weekend travellers or living in.

Nusa Penida Marine Conservation

2008-09-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Klungkung regency administration is drawing up a blueprint for a marine conservation zone around Nusa Penida, an island south of Bali, to help tackle illegal fishing and prevent the destruction of coral reefs in the area.

Preparation of the blueprint was discussed Wednesday in a workshop attended by a number of stakeholders, including activists from the Nature Conservancy and officials from the Klungkung Environment Office and Klungkung Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and Nusa Penida district.

Nusa Penida is an island outheast of Bali island, Indonesia. Administratively, the island is a subdistrict of Klungkung regency. There are two small islands nearby: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. The Badung Strait separates the island and Bali.

Diving Sites in Nusa Penida:

Toyopakeh

Located on the island's north-west point, in Ceningan Channel, Toyapakeh is Nusa Penida's most popular dive site. This popularity is deserved and not only because it is partially protected from the current flowing through the strait between Penida and Ceningan, but also due to the good visibility and rich coral. In addition to the coral reef, there are some very attractive coral formations, with big gorgonians, that provide excellent places to find fish and other marine life.

Malibu Point

Malibu Point is a diving site with gray reefs, reef white tips, silver-tips and numerous sharks. While Penida Bay is another anchorage, and the rocky islands have an interesting forms; something like an old resting elephant. The bay is vulnerable to swell, creating-up-and-down-currents. Then, Manta Point is a limestone rock off Pandan cafe. The swell is relatively strong.

Nusa Penida/Lembongan

Nusa Penida/Lembongan is a diving site with vast spread of coral reefs and good visibility. Big fishes are frequently observed at the area. Manta rays or sunfishes appear in the certain season.

The site is also known of the very strong currents requiring divers some skills.

Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is calmer than outer shore. There are schools of Anthias. A school of batfish comes around periodically. A bat cave is located nearby.

The marine conservation zone in Nusa Penida is expected to function as an effective tool to protect biodiversity and to enable sustainable management, especially for fishery and tourism purposes.

The conservation zone is expected to consist of various levels of protection, including the introduction of a no-fishing area to protect existing breeding grounds for fish to supply nearby areas where fishing activities are allowed.

Another zone will allow the use of existing marine resources but only through the use of equipment which causes no damage to the marine habitat.

The planned introduction of a marine conservation zone in Nusa Penida waters is considered unique and appropriate in that it is located on the southwest border of the world's Coral Triangle.

Much of coastal Nusa Penida waters are used for seaweed cultivation, the main source of livelihood for many local residents.

Now, however, Nusa Penida has rapidly changed into a center for marine tourism and beach attractions in Bali.

However, despite an increase in visitor numbers, Nusa Penida is still classified as a poor area. Agriculture there is fully dependent on the rains, with many residents abandoning this sector altogether.

Marawis, Islamic Percussion Group, Famous During Ramadhan

2008-09-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

The name marawis — referring to a family of percussion-based music originally from Yemen — comes from one of its component instruments; notably, a small drum.

This music has penetrated many parts of Indonesia, including East Java, South Sumatra and North Sulawesi.

In Indonesia, marawis has mixed with local musical tastes and developed distinctive sounds in each area. In Jakarta, for example, marawis blended with Betawi culture forming a musical ensemble of percussion and lute.

A marawis band often consists of at least 10 musicians, each playing while singing. Usually, all band members are male and wear Muslim clothes with long pants and a peci (skull cap).

Marawis songs are traditionally in the form of hymns praising the Prophet Muhammad. However, more recently marawis songs have also been used to exchange poems or for entertainment at wedding parties.

Marawis music produces three types of tunes; Zafin, Sarah and Zaife.

Zafin has a slower and more flowing rhythm suitable for hymns about the Prophet and Malay songs, whereas Sarah and Zaife are more upbeat and are often played energetically. Sometimes, people dance to these tunes to lift the mood at gatherings.

During Ramadan, marawis is very popular when it comes time to break the fast. However, numbers of marawis groups are diminishing in Indonesia and are only preserved in a few regions, including Jakarta.

Golden and Silver Sunrise at Dieng Plateu

2008-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Dieng Plateau, is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Active Volcano Complex, and is located near Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia.

It is the site for eight small Hindu temples from the 7th and 8th centuries, the oldest Hindu temples in Central Java, and the first known standing stone structures in Java. They are originally thought to have numbered 400 but only 8 remain. The Dieng structures were small and relatively plain, but stone architecture developed substantially in only a matter of decades resulting in masterpieces such as the Prambanan complex and Borobudur. The name "Dieng" comes from Di Hyang which means "Abode of the Gods".Its misty location almost 2000 m above sea level, and its mists, poisonous effusions and sulphur-coloured lakes make it a particularly auspicious place for religious tribute. The temples are small shrines built as monuments to the god-ancestors, rather than as a convenience to man.

Volcanic cones at Dieng include the following - Bismo, Srojo, Binem, Pangonan, Merdodo, Pagerkandang, Nogosari, Petarangan, Telogo Dringo, Pakuwaja,Kendil, Kunir and Prambanan.

Fumarole areas - Kawah Sikidang, Kawah Sigajah, Kawah Kumbang, Kawah Sibanteng, Kawah Upas,Telogo Terus, Kawah Pagerkandang, Kawah Sipandu, Kawah Siglagah and Kawah Sileri.

Dieng plateu holds thousands of natural charms and has a rich ancient heritage. One of the many activities that tourists usually participate in on the plateu, other than indulging in the splendor of ancient temples, is watching the sun rise.

If lucky, in one day you can see the "golden sunrise" and the "silver sunrise". Tremendously beautiful.

Although administratively it is part of Wonosobo regency, the plateu is located at the crossroads between Wonosobo, Banjarnegara regency, Temanggung regency, Kendal regency and Batang regency.

To be able to watch sunrise, you have to be at the Sceneries Shelter at Tieng village, some five kilometers from downtown Wonosobo. It takes less than 30 minutes to get there. If leaving the town early at around two or three in the morning, the morning chill and the thick air will be another challenge to beat for the post sits at 1,700 meter above sea level.

However, the biting air will be compensated for with the scenic view. As we descend to the post, dots of light from Wonosobo and its nearby cities form a dramatic panorama.

Nearest villages like Kejajar and Rowojali look like they are standing behind a curtain of morning mist which is slowly falling from the dark sky. The color of life changes every second. Gradually, Sindoro mountain and Kendeng mountain will also be seen afar.

But don't get too absorbed in this rare beauty for we have another sunrise to chase at the Dieng temple compound, around ten minutes from the Sceneries Shelter.

The moment may not be as spectacular as the first, but it has an entirely different flavor. The sun rises from behind clusters of temples, which sit 2,093 above sea level. From behind the Hindu temples, if, again, the sky is clear, the sun shines only one ray. It is silvery -- that's why it's called silver sunrise -- and penetrates through the old stones of the temples.

This list is of all identified candi found within the immediate area of the main plateau.

Candi Abiyasa
Candi Arjuna
Candi Bima
Candi Darawati
Candi Dvaravati
Candi Gatotkaca
Candi Pandu
Candi Parikesit

Candi Puntadewa
Candi Magersari
Candi Nakula
Candi Sadewa
Candi Sembadra
Candi Senjaka
Candi Semai
Candi Srikandi
Candi Wachthamer

Nyadran, Welcoming The Holy Month of Ramadhan

2008-09-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

It is fasting time again. One to two weeks prior to the arrival of this Islamic holy month, we can easily find in the rural areas of Java a sadranan rite, which is locally known as nyadran or ruwahan (a visit to a holy place) as it is carried out in the month of Ruwah according to the Javanese calendar.

For communities living in hamlets on the slope of Mount Merapi in Central Java the advent of the holy month of Ramadan means congregating around graveyards, performing the nyadran rite for respecting ancestors and celebrating life.

The nyadran (a visit to holy place) or ruwahan, that lasts for two days and two nights before the end of the Javanese calendar's month of Ruwah -- on Aug. 25 and 26 this year -- begin with the tenong sepindah (the first tray) ritual with hundreds of villagers carrying tenong (a tray) containing offerings of yellow-color rice cone, fruit and snacks from the house of the village elder to the graves of their ancestors.

This tradition, which is still observed by the rural people, symbolizes the relationship between a Javanese and his ancestors as well as between human beings and their fellow beings and, of course, between human beings and God. The nyadran tradition, which is essentially a visit to a graveyard in the month of Syaban (in the Arabic calendar) or Ruwah in the Javanese calendar, has become almost an obligation for the Javanese.

Visiting the graveyards of ancestors while at the same time cleaning them and praying, asking for forgiveness, is a symbol of devotion and an expression of respect as well as gratitude to the ancestors. This tradition's significance in preparation for fasting during Ramadan is to ensure you will receive God's blessing and also that God accepts your religious devotion.

To the Javanese, nyadran is a means of self-purification. They visit the graves of their ancestors, remove weeds from the gravestones and hold a ritual feast.

Although nyadran and a visit to the grave both entail visiting a cemetery, the former is different in meaning from the latter. For instance, the time for a nyadran rite is determined by the party who has authority over the area where the rite is practised. In nearly all the villages, it is the caretaker of a cemetery/sacred place -- a village elder or someone considered most senior in the community.

Also, unlike a visit to the graveyard, the nyadran rite is conducted collectively and involves all village members.

A nyadran rite usually takes place at two rural centers, a graveyard and a mosque. After the grave is cleaned, a ritual feast is then held in a mosque or in a rural cemetery. As is a ritual feast in general, the feast in the context of a nyadran rite consists of prayer and eating ceremonial rice, namely the yellow-colored rice cone with ingkung (roasted) chicken, urapan (vegetables mixed with grated coconut and spices) plus fruit and snacks.

In villages with a strong nyadran tradition, the locals will place various offerings on a tenong (a round tray made of plaited bamboo, covered with banana or teak leaves). A tenong is intended for several people. When the prayer is over, it is a communal meal.

The nyadran rite is performed not only in the rural cemetery where the ancestors are buried but also at the graves of eminent Muslims who have made significant contributions to the spread of Islam, or in locations which in the past served as Islamic centers.

Protecting Sea Turtles is Not An Easy Thing

2008-08-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

The fifth meeting on the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA) Marine Turtle memorandum of understanding ended with member countries emphasizing the need to tighten cooperation among them.

The network is essential in promoting the use of Turtles Excluder Device (TED) and circle hook in fishing to reduce sea turtle deaths caused by conventional fishing techniques.

According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) data, some 7,700 sea turtles are trapped by fishermen's nets and hooks every year. Almost half of that number are badly injured because turtles swallow regular hooks, which have sharp ends. This kind of wound is usually fatal for the turtles.

The three-day meeting, which ended Saturday, also welcomed Yemen as a new member of IOSEA, which already has 27 member countries.

To mark the end of the annual meeting, dozens of participants gathered at Serangan beach, southern Denpasar, to release thousands of sea turtles' hatchlings into the sea.

Tarnished image

The turtle industry has long tarnished Bali's image abroad. The local government and law enforcement agents have essentially turned a blind eye to exploitation of the animal, fearing that enforcing the law might cause a backlash from the hundreds of turtle poachers and dealers.

Turtle dealers have for years justified the island's high turtle consumption rate -- sometimes reaching more than 20,000 turtles per year -- by claiming that turtle meat was traditionally part of religious rituals and traditional festivals. Bali-based NGOs, most notably the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Wallacea Bioregion, with the help of few Hindu high priests, launched campaigns refuting the argument.

Hindu religious rituals, by and large, only need 500 turtles per year. The fact is most of the turtles are slaughtered only to feed Balinese's need for turtle-based traditional delicacies, served at traditional parties.

And with growing support from local NGOs and the Hindu clerical council of Parisada, and bolstered by increasing international pressure -- including the threat of a tourist boycott -- the Bali Administration and Bali Police have no choice but to face up to the poachers.

Initial efforts have been made by WWF Wallacea Bioregion to approach local tourism industry's executives in implementing turtle-based ecotourism. Meanwhile, the people of Tanjung Benoa, a village some 30 kilometers south of here, where hundreds of turtle poachers reside, have also come up with a plan to build a turtle park and hatchery.

A recent survey by Institute for Information and Development Studies shows the turtle industry is the main source of income for at least 300 households in Tanjung Benoa alone. An earlier survey by Malang-based NGO Animal Conservation for Life (KSBK) showed that in Denpasar and Badung regencies there were 11 big slaughterhouses and 32 turtle meat vendors.

WWF Indonesia's marine affairs communication and campaign coordinator, Dewi Satriani, acknowledged that important measures had been taken by the government, but then it was not followed by continued effort.

"Even though regulations prohibiting trade on rare species have been issued, but illegal trading of sea turtle eggs is still taking place in parts of West Java and Kalimantan," she said.

"This happens in front of security officers and they turn a blind eye to such activities."

The Celebration of Freedom

2008-08-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

OH, THE SEA:

Meru Betiri National Park employees release 1,015 tukik (sea turtle hatchlings) on sea turtle beach in Sukamade in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Sunday. The national park claims more hatchlings are released at the annual event than at any other in the world. (JP/Iman D. Nugroho)

The Meru Betiri National Park southeast of Jember or northeast of Banyuwangi, occupies mountainous area. To the south is the Indian Ocean. Forests surround the park on the three other sides. The reserve is inhabited by a great variety of wildlife, including tigers, monkeys, muncak, panthers and civet cats. In the surroundings are rubber and coffee plantations. There are watchtowers, paths and small boats for rent. Meru Bay is found not far from here.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Rare leopards found in Indonesian Borneo forest

2008-08-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

A new population of rare leopard has been found living in thick forests on the Indonesian half of Borneo island, a researcher said Thursday.

Camera traps in Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan province have snapped pictures of two adult male Bornean clouded leopards in an area once decimated by logging, British zoologist Susan Cheyne told AFP.

Surprising new research reveals the existence of two completely separate species of clouded leopards. In a study comparing differences in clouded leopard coat patterns and coloration throughout the cat's range, researchers concluded that individuals found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra are markedly different from animals found on the Southeast Asian mainland. These observations have been supported by genetic testing that determined the two populations of clouded leopards are so distinct as to warrant classifying them as different species. Researchers estimate that the two species diverged approximately 1.5 million years ago due to geographical isolation.

The Borneo clouded leopard has small cloud markings, many distinct spots within the cloud markings, grey fur and a double dorsal stripe. It is darker than the mainland species.

Clouded leopards from the mainland have large clouds on their skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings. They are lighter in colour, with a tendency toward tawny-coloured fur and a partial double dorsal stripe.

Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi) is a medium-sized wild cat found on Borneo, Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the Malay Archipelago and publicised under that name by the World Wide Fun for Nature (WWF) on March 14, 2007. Despite its name, the Bornean Clouded Leopard is not closely related to the leopard. Because the Bornean Clouded Leopard's habits make it difficult to study, exact figures of its population do not exist. However, recent studies estimate the population to be between 5,000 and 11,000 great cats left on Borneo, and 3,000 to 7,000 on Sumatra. In the countries of its native range, hunting of the Clouded Leopard is prohibited. However, these bans are very poorly enforced.

The discovery by researchers from Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Indonesia's Pangkalan Raya University is the first confirmation the clouded leopard, which is classified as vulnerable, lives in the park.

The discovery holds out new hope for the little-understood species, which numbers less than 10,000 individuals and is the top predator on Borneo island.

However, the discovery still only provides a small amount of information about the behaviour and distribution of the big cats.

Visitors banned from hiking on Anak Krakatau

2008-08-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Visitors have been banned from hiking on Mt Anak Krakatau (GAK) in the Sunda Strait because the volcano is spewing red-hot and hazardous materials.

"The Vulcanological and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center only recommends visitors to visit within a radius of one kilometer from the eruption center," Jumono, a staffer monitoring the volcano`s activity in Pasauran village, Cinangka subdistrict, Serang regency, said Saturday.

He said the Vulcanological and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center had declared the vulcano and its surroundings to be in a level-2 alert status as GAK was still producing volcanic quakes.

Should the spewing of red-hot materials with 1,500 celcius degrees hit someone it will likely kill the person, Jumono said, adding that this had happened to a Frenchman in 2001.

At present the eruption only happened in the southern part of Mt Anak Krakatau, he said, adding that it had 120 eruptions and quakes throughout Monday, prompting the Volcanological and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center to declare the volcano and its surroundings in a level-2 alert status.

What independence means for a young Indonesian

2008-08-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Let's see the meaning of independence from the eyes of a young Indonesia. This post is dedicated to the 63rd anniversary of Indonesia Independence day.

I'm a proud young Indonesian who spent almost 16 years in Indonesia's education system. I studied Indonesian history, its values and Pancasila. But if you ask me what Indonesia's 63rd anniversary of independence means my answer will probably be, "I don't know."

I'm not proud of having such a notion but I don't think I should feel guilty because many of my young friends have the same impression of this celebration. Some even say, "I don't know and I don't care." Yes, they don't care.

For many young Indonesians, including me when I was in school, the anniversary of our country's independence only means another boring flag ceremony. Some may like the ceremony but that's only because they can skip class.

Have we really lost the true meaning behind the most important celebration of our country? Can we blame the older generation for not encouraging the younger generation to love our country more?

What does it really mean to be 63 years old, anyway? What should the government do to energize the people and make them appreciate their country a little bit more?

There are so many questions to answer. But we don't have much time to answer them because while we are puzzling over these questions, other nations are racing to improve.

Those of you who watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games know exactly what I mean. I'm sure you were as amazed as I was to witness the best opening ceremony in the history of the Games from a country whose primary mode of transportation 20 years ago was the bicycle.

It was, without any doubt, China's moment to show the world how great they have become. It may have been coincidental that China's opening ceremony was less than two weeks from our national independence celebration but it certainly makes our celebration seem less important. It probably struck all of us while watching China's drummers' magnificent performance: "What do we have to celebrate on the anniversary of our national independence?"

My teachers in school used to tell me that our independence was fought and won with blood and tears by our grandfathers and grandmothers. And I know exactly what that means because I have two examples from my family.

It's a remarkable coincidence that both my grandfathers served in the Army and fought the occupying forces. Both received Bintang Gerilya which is one of the highest awards the Indonesian government gives its citizens. Amazingly, they both passed away on Aug. 17 and now rest peacefully at Makam Taman Pahlawan (National Heroes Cemetery).

It's unfortunate that I never met my paternal grandfather; he died when my father was still young. But I was very close to my maternal grandfather. In fact, he was the first person to teach me English. He was a humble and a very loving person who just wanted simple things in his life. Sometimes he would tell me stories of how he fought in the jungle during the war. He said making his family happy and giving them freedom had been his ultimate reasons to join the war.

The lesson from today's trend and my grandfather is that we have a different enemy but we have the same purpose. We don't need to fight a war against an occupying force but we do have another kind of enemy we need to fight. We have to fight against the problems in our economy and education and health systems. But we still have the same purpose that was once used by our grandfathers and grandmothers -- to enable our families to have a better place to live.

Indonesia's 63rd anniversary should be a reminder to all young Indonesians that our time is getting closer and closer. In less than 10 years some of us will have the chance to lead this country and its people.

It's very painful for me as a young Indonesian to see how other nations can be so great and advanced. It's painful to know people in other countries can live so prosperously while we see beggars at every traffic light in Jakarta.

After 63 years of independence, it is not a comfortable fact that we can't smile big yet. The statistics show we are still left behind. But that should not be our excuse to stop trying to make this country a better place for all of us.

The world is moving into a knowledge-based society, and the challenges we face in the future will be greater. To be the best, our natural resources will no longer give us the ultimate advantage. What we need is to be smarter and have more knowledge. The question now is, "Are we ready to capture it?"

What we can learn from new emerging countries such as China and India is no matter how poor and inexperienced you are, there is always a chance to be better if you have a strong motivation to work hard and make your dreams come true.

And to all those young pessimistic Indonesians I tell you this: "If those countries can do it, of course we can do it better!"

The writer is a postgraduate student in Washington D.C. His personal blog is http://guebukanmonyet.com