Dreamer

My Dream

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:06:00 +0000

I was a boy who was born in a small country of the world. but I have a big dream, I want to stand on my own feet and fight for my country. I realized it was not easy and trivial. but I still believe in this dream, I will never give up until the end of breath even later.

now, my age has got 21 years, I've turned into a man who is strong enough to fight the world. I would never want to lose the life, life is one, and one is eternal, I will be conserved if later I have run all the commands God and away from all prohibitions. I will keep praying and trying to realize all the dreams that have me thinking.

maybe someone there will laugh at me about all this, but I remain steadfast and would not care about the ribbing. because I know they are not necessarily all know. every man is given a different capacity, we have the benefits and drawbacks of each, so we must remain respectful to each other.

I hope dream does not interfere with the crowds there, because I'm only human here, I'm a nobody and do not have anything. I just had my heart god.

Borobudur

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:33:00 +0000

One of the seven wonders of the world

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades. Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Etimologi

In Indonesian, ancient temples are known as candi; thus "Borobudur Temple" is locally known as Candi Borobudur. The term candi is also used more loosely to describe any ancient structure, for example gates and bathing structures. The origins of the name Borobudur however are unclear, although the original names of most ancient Indonesian temples are no longer known. The name Borobudur was first written in Sir Thomas Raffles' book on Javan history. The only old Javanese manuscript that hints at the monument as a holy Buddhist sanctuary is Nagarakretagama, written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365.

The name 'Bore-Budur', and thus 'BoroBudur', is thought to have been written by Raffles in English grammar to mean the nearby village of Bore; most candi are named after a nearby village. If it followed Javanese language, the monument should have been named 'BudurBoro'. Raffles also suggested that 'Budur' might correspond to the modern Javanese word Buda ('ancient') – i.e., 'ancient Boro'. However, another archaeologist suggests the second component of the name ('Budur') comes from Javanese term bhudhara (mountain). Kamūlān itself from the word mula which means 'the place of origin', a sacred building to honor the ancestors, probably the ancestors of the Sailendras. Casparis suggested that Bhūmi Sambhāra Bhudhāra which in sanskirt means "The mountain of combined virtues of the ten stages of Boddhisattvahood", was the original name of Borobudur.

Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Raffles wrote about a monument called borobudur, but there are no older documents suggesting the same name. Karangtengah inscription dated 824 mentioned about the sima (tax free) lands awarded by Çrī Kahulunan (Pramodhawardhani) to ensure the funding and maintenance of a Kamūlān called Bhūmisambhāra.

Pride

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:20:00 +0000

Indonesia in the eyes of the World

Indonesia in the eyes of the world have achievements that may not be assessed costs. Besides increasing Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism, but the name of Indonesia in the eyes of the world more familiar with the record of 24 until now there belom able to counter the record, but one of the record without public awareness of Indonesia will lose even destroyed. For that, let us keep 24 record of achievement for the progress of Indonesia is our country.

Here's a list of 24 world record by Indonesia.

1. State of the Republic of Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago consisting of 17,504 islands (including the 9634 islands that have not been given the name and the 6000 islands are uninhabited).

2. Here are 3 of the 6 largest island in the world, namely: Borneo (the third largest island in the world with an area of 539.460 km2), Sumatra (473,606 km2) and Papua (421.981 km2).

3. Indonesia is the largest maritime countries in the world with a water area of 93 thousand km2 and the length of the beach around 81 thousand km2, or almost 25% long beach in the world.

4. Java Island is the world's most populous island, where about 60% is almost the population of Indonesia (about 130 jt people) live on the island that the width is only 7% of the entire territory of Indonesia.

5. Indonesia is a country with the largest tribes in the world. There are more than 740 tribes / ethnic, which in Papua alone there were 270 tribes.

6. Countries with the largest regional languages, namely, 583 languages and dialects of the 67 main languages used by various tribes in Indonesia. National language is Indonesian, although local language with the most number of users in Indonesia is the Javanese language.

7. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. The number of adherents of Islam in Indonesia around 216 million people or 88% of the population of Indonesia. Also has the largest mosque and pilgrims Origin of the world's largest.

8. Buddhist monument (temple) is the world's largest Borobudur temple in Central Java with a height 42 meters (10 levels) and long-relief more than 1 km. Estimated to be over 40 years by Sailendra Dynasty during the ancient Mataram kingdom (750-850).

9. Place early humans discovered the oldest in the world, namely: Pithecanthropus Erectus' ¬ estimated from 1.8 million years ago.

10. Republic of Indonesia is the country's first born after World War II in 1945. RI is the 70th oldest state in the world.

11. Indonesia is the first country (until now the only one) that ever came out of the United Nations (UN) on January 7, 1965 date. RI to join back to the United Nations in 1966.

12. Indonesian badminton team is the most won badminton men symbol of supremacy, Thomas Cup, which is as many as 13 x (the first time last years 1958 & 2002).

13. Indonesia is a producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world (20% of world supply) is also the second largest tin producer.

14. Indonesia is ranked 1st in agricultural products, namely: Clove (cloves) & nutmeg (nutmeg), and No. 2 in the natural rubber (Natural Rubber) and crude palm oil (Crude Palm Oil).

15. Indonesia is the largest exporter of plywood (plywood), which is about 80% in world markets.

16. Coral Reef (Coral Reef) Indonesia is the richest (18% of the total world).

17. Indonesia has the most shark species are 150 species in the world.

18. Biodiversity Orchid terbeser world: 6 thousand species of orchids, ranging from the largest (or Tiger Orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum) to the smallest (Taeniophyllum, which leaves no), including the rare Black Orchid, and only occurred in Papua.

19. Has the largest mangrove forest in the world. This plant is useful lo prevent sea water erosion / abrasion.

20. Ancient animal alive: Komodo dragons are found only on Komodo island, East Nusa Tenggara is the largest lizard in the world. Length bias reaches 3 meters and weighs 90 kg.

21. Rafflesia arnoldi growing in Sumatra is the largest flower in the world. When the flowers bloomed, reaching 1 meter in diameter.

22. Having the world's smallest primate, the Pygmy Tarsier (Tarsius pumilus) or Mount Tarsier also called the length is only 10 cm. Monkey-like animal that lives on trees and have in Sulawesi.

23. Found a place in the world's longest snake is, Python Reticulates along 10 meters in Sulawesi.

24. The world's smallest fish found recently in the muddy swamps of Sumatra. 7.9 mm long as adults, or approximately mosquitoes. Fish's body is transparent and does not have a bone head.

Bali

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Wonderfull Land

Bali is an Indonesian island located at Coordinates: 8°25′23″S 115°14′55″E / 8.42306°S 115.24861°E / -8.42306; 115.24861the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country's 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island.

With a population recorded as 3,551,000 in 2009, the island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. About 93.18% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, while most of the remainder follow Islam. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music.

Religion

Unlike most of Muslim-majority Indonesia, about 93.18% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, formed as a combination of existing local beliefs Hindu influences from mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia. Minority religions include Islam (4.79%), Christianity (1.38%), and Buddhism (0.64%). These figures do not include immigrants from other parts of Indonesia.

When Islam triumphed over Hinduism in Java (16th century), Bali became a refuge for many Hindus. Balinese Hinduism is an amalgam in which gods and demigods are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and sacred places. Religion as it is practiced in Bali is a composite belief system that embraces not only theology, philosophy, and mythology, but ancestor worship, animism and magic. It pervades nearly every aspect of traditional life. Caste is observed, though less strictly than in India. With an estimated 20,000 temples and shrines, Bali is known as the "Island of the Gods".

Balinese Hinduism has roots in Indian Hinduism and in Buddhism, and adopted the animistic traditions of the indigenous people. This influence strengthened the belief that the gods and goddesses are present in all things. Every element of nature, therefore, possesses its own power, which reflects the power of the gods. A rock, tree, dagger, or woven cloth is a potential home for spirits whose energy can be directed for good or evil. Balinese Hinduism is deeply interwoven with art and ritual, and is less preoccupied with scripture, law, and belief than Islam in Indonesia. Ritualizing states of self-control are a notable feature of religious expression among the people, who for this reason have become famous for their graceful and decorous behavior.

Apart from the majority of Balinese Hindus, there also exist Chinese immigrants whose traditions have melded with that of the locals. As a result, these Sino-Balinese not only embrace their original religion, which is a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, but also find a way to harmonise it with the local traditions. Hence, it is not uncommon to find local Sino-Balinese during the local temple's odalan. Moreover, Balinese Hindu priests are invited to perform rites alongside a Chinese priest in the event of the death of a Sino-Balinese. Nevertheless, the Sino-Balinese claim to embrace Buddhism for administrative purposes, such as their Identity Cards.

Culture

Bali is renowned for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handcrafts, and performing arts. Balinese percussion orchestra music, known as gamelan, is highly developed and varied. Balinese performing arts often portray stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana pendet, legong, baris, topeng, barong, gong keybar, and kecak (the monkey dance). Bali boasts one of the most diverse and innovative performing arts cultures in the world, with paid performances at thousands of temple festivals, private ceremonies, or public shows.

The Hindu New Year, Nyepi, is celebrated in the spring by a day of silence. On this day everyone stays at home and tourists are encouraged to remain in their hotels. But the day before that large, colourful sculptures of ogoh-ogoh monsters are paraded and finally burned in the evening to drive away evil spirits. Other festivals throughout the year are specified by the Balinese pawukon calendrical

Celebrations are held for many occasions such as a tooth-filing (coming-of-age ritual), cremation or odalan (temple festival). One of the most important concepts that Balinese ceremonies have in common is that of désa kala patra, which refers to how ritual performances must be appropriate in both the specific and general social context. Many of the ceremonial art forms such as wayang kulit and topeng are highly improvisatory, providing flexibility for the performer to adapt the performance to the current situation. Many celebrations call for a loud, boisterous atmosphere with lots of activity and the resulting aesthetic, ramé, is distinctively Balinese. Oftentimes two or more gamelan ensembles will be performing well within earshot, and sometimes compete with each other in order to be heard. Likewise, the audience members talk amongst themselves, get up and walk around, or even cheer on the performance, which adds to the many layers of activity and the liveliness typical of ramé.

Kaja and kelod are the Balinese equivalents of North and South, which refer to ones orientation between the island’s largest mountain Gunung Agung (kaja), and the sea (kelod). In addition to spatial orientation, kaja and kelod have the connotation of good and evil; gods and ancestors are believed to live on the mountain whereas demons live in the sea. Buildings such as temples and residential homes are spatially oriented by having the most sacred spaces closest to the mountain and the unclean places nearest to the sea.

Most temples have an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard which are arranged with the inner courtyard furthest kaja. These spaces serve as performance venues since most Balinese rituals are accompanied by any combination of music, dance and drama. The performances that take place in the inner courtyard are classified as wali, the most sacred rituals which are offerings exclusively for the gods, while the outer courtyard is where bebali ceremonies are held, which are intended for gods and people. Lastly, performances meant solely for the entertainment of humans take place outside the walls of the temple and are called bali-balihan. This three-tiered system of classification was standardized in 1971 by a committee of Balinese officials and artists in order to better protect the sanctity of the oldest and most sacred Balinese rituals from being performed for a paying audience.

Balinese dancers wearing elaborate headgear, photographed in 1929. Digitally restored.

Tourism, Bali’s chief industry, has provided the island with a foreign audience that is eager to pay for entertainment, thus creating new performance opportunities and more demand for performers. The impact of tourism is controversial since before it became integrated into the economy, the Balinese performing arts did not exist as a capitalist venture, and were not performed for entertainment outside of their respective ritual context. Since the 1930s sacred rituals such as the barong dance have been performed both in their original contexts, as well as exclusively for paying tourists. This has led to new versions of many of these performances which have developed according to the preferences of foreign audiences; some villages have a barong mask specifically for non-ritual performances as well as an older mask which is only used for sacred performances.

The Balinese eat with their right hand, as the left is impure, a common belief throughout Indonesia. The Balinese do not hand or receive things with their left hand and would not wave at anyone with their left hand. and but with heavy Balinese influence. Famous Balinese dances include system.

My Country

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Indonesia

Republic of Indonesia is a country in the world's largest archipelago consisting of 17,504 islands (including the 9634 islands that have not been given the name and the 6000 islands are uninhabited). Here are 3 of the 6 largest island in the world, namely: Borneo (the third largest island in the world with an area of 539.460 km2), Sumatra (473,606 km2) and Papua (421.981 km2).

Indonesia is the largest maritime countries in the world with a water area of 93 thousand km2 and the length of the beach around 81 thousand km2, or almost 25% long beach in the world.

Java is the world's most populous island, where about 60% almost the population of Indonesia (about 130 jt people) live on the island that the width is only 7% of the entire territory of Indonesia. Indonesia is a country with the largest tribes in the world. There are more than 740 tribes / ethnic, which in Papua alone there were 270 tribes. Countries with the largest regional languages, namely, 583 languages and dialects of the 67 main languages used by various tribes in Indonesia. National language is Indonesian, although local language with the most number of users in Indonesia is the Javanese language.
Buddhist monument (temple) is the world's largest Borobudur temple in Central Java with a height 42 meters (10 levels) and long-relief more than 1 km. Estimated to be over 40 years by Sailendra Dynasty during the ancient Mataram kingdom (750-850). The oldest ancient human found in the world, namely: Pithecanthropus Erectusâ €?? estimated from 1.8 million years ago.

Republic of Indonesia is the country's first born after World War II in 1945. RI is the 70th oldest state in the world. Indonesia is the first country (until now the only one) that ever came out of the United Nations (UN) on January 7, 1965 date. RI to join back to the United Nations in 1966. Indonesian badminton team is the most won badminton men supremacy symbol, Thomas Cup, which is as many as 13 x (the first time last years 1958 & 2002). Indonesia is a producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world (20% of world supply) is also the second largest tin producer.

Indonesia is ranked 1st in agricultural products, namely: Clove (cloves) & nutmeg (nutmeg), and No. 2 in the natural rubber (Natural Rubber) and crude palm oil (Crude Palm Oil). Indonesia is the largest exporter of plywood (plywood), which is about 80% in world markets. Coral Reef (Coral Reef) Indonesia is the richest (18% of the total world). Indonesia has the most shark species are 150 species in the world. Biodiversity Orchid terbeser world: 6 thousand species of orchids, ranging from the largest (or Tiger Orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum) to the smallest (Taeniophyllum, which leaves no), including the rare Black Orchid, and only occurred in Papua.
Having the largest mangrove forest in the world. This plant is useful lo prevent sea water erosion / abrasion. Animals surviving ancient: Komodo dragons are found only on Komodo island, East Nusa Tenggara is the largest lizard in the world. Length bias reaches 3 meters and weighs 90 kg. Rafflesia arnoldi growing in Sumatra is the largest flower in the world. When the flowers bloomed, reaching 1 meter in diameter. Having the world's smallest primate, the Pygmy Tarsier (Tarsius pumilus) or Mount Tarsier also called the length is only 10 cm. Monkey-like animal that lives on trees and have in Sulawesi.
The discovery of the world's longest snake is, Python Reticulates along 10 meters in Sulawesi. The world's smallest fish found recently in the muddy swamps of Sumatra. 7.9 mm long as adults, or approximately mosquitoes.

History
Fossilized remains of Homo erectus, popularly known as the "Java Man", suggest that the Indonesian archipelago was inhabited two million to 500,000 years ago.

Austronesian people, who form the majority of the modern population, migrated to South East Asia from Taiwan. They arrived in Indonesia around 2000 BCE, and as they spread through the archipelago, confined the native Melanesian peoples to the far eastern regions. Ideal agricultural conditions, and the mastering of wet-field rice cultivation as early as the eighth century BCE, allowed villages, towns, and small kingdoms to flourish by the first century CE. Indonesia's strategic sea-lane position fostered inter-island and international trade. For example, trade links with both Indian kingdoms and China were established several centuries BCE. Trade has since fundamentally shaped Indonesian history.

The nutmeg plant is native to Indonesia's Banda Islands. Once one of the world's most valuable commodities, it drew the first European colonial powers to Indonesia.

From the seventh century CE, the powerful Srivijaya naval kingdom flourished as a result of trade and the influences of Hinduism and Buddhism that were imported with it. Between the eighth and 10th centuries CE, the agricultural Buddhist Sailendra and Hindu Mataram dynasties thrived and declined in inland Java, leaving grand religious monuments such as Sailendra's Borobudur and Mataram's Prambanan. The Hindu Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern Java in the late 13th century, and under Gajah Mada, its influence stretched over much of Indonesia; this period is often referred to as a "Golden Age" in Indonesian history.

Although Muslim traders first traveled through South East Asia early in the Islamic era, the earliest evidence of Islamized populations in Indonesia dates to the 13th century in northern Sumatra. Other Indonesian areas gradually adopted Islam, and it was the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century. For the most part, Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences, which shaped the predominant form of Islam in Indonesia, particularly in Java. The first Europeans arrived in Indonesia in 1512, when Portuguese traders, led by Francisco Serrão, sought to monopolize the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.[22]Dutch East India Company (VOC) and became the dominant European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC was formally dissolved in 1800, and the government of the Netherlands established the Dutch East Indies as a nationalized colony.

For most of the colonial period, Dutch control over the archipelago was tenuous outside of coastal strongholds; only in the early 20th century did Dutch dominance extend to what was to become Indonesia's current boundaries. Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation during World War II and encouraged the previously suppressed Indonesian independence movement. Two days after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Sukarno, an influential nationalist leader, declared independence and was appointed president. The Netherlands tried to reestablish their rule, and an armed and diplomatic struggle ended in December 1949, when in the face of international pressure, the Dutch formally recognized Indonesian independence (with the exception of The Dutch territory of West New Guinea, which was incorporated following the 1962 New York Agreement, and UN-mandated Act of Free Choice).

Sukarno, Indonesia's founding president

Sukarno moved from democracy towards authoritarianism, and maintained his power base by balancing the opposing forces of the Military and the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). An attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was countered by the army, who led a violent anti-communist purge, during which the PKI was blamed for the coup and effectively destroyed. Between 500,000 and one million people were killed. The head of the military, General Suharto, out-maneuvered the politically weakened Sukarno, and was formally appointed president in March 1968. His New Order administration [33] was supported by the US government, and encouraged foreign direct investment [35] However, the authoritarian "New Order" was widely accused of corruption and suppression of political opposition. In 1997 and 1998, Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the Asian Financial Crisis. This increased popular discontent with the New Order and led to popular protests. Suharto resigned on 21 May 1998. In 1999, East Timor voted to secede from Indonesia, after a twenty-five-year military occupation that was marked by international condemnation of often brutal repression of the East Timorese. Since Suharto's resignation, a strengthening of democratic processes has included a regional autonomy program, and the first direct presidential election in 2004. Political and economic instability, social unrest, corruption, and terrorism have slowed progress. Although relations among different religious and ethnic groups are largely harmonious, acute sectarian discontent and violence remain problems in some areas. A political settlement to an armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in 2005 Dutch and British traders followed. In 1602 the Dutch established the The ended Dutch rule, in Indonesia, which was a major factor in the subsequent three decades of substantial economic growth.

Government and politics

Indonesia is a republic with a presidential system. As a unitary state, power is concentrated in the central government. Following the resignation of President Suharto in 1998, Indonesian political and governmental structures have undergone major reforms. Four amendments to the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia have revamped the executive, judicial, and legislative The president of Indonesia is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the director of domestic governance, policy-making, and foreign affairs. The president appoints a council of ministers, who are not required to be elected members of the legislature. The 2004 presidential election was the first in which the people directly elected the president and vice president. The president may serve a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms.

A session of the People's Representative Council in Jakarta

The highest representative body at national level is the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Its main functions are supporting and amending the constitution, inaugurating the president, and formalizing broad outlines of state policy. It has the power to impeach the president. The MPR comprises two houses; the People's Representative Council (DPR), with 560 members, and the Regional Representative Council (DPD), with 132 members. The DPR passes legislation and monitors the executive branch; party-aligned members are elected for five-year terms by proportional representation. Reforms since 1998 have markedly increased the DPR's role in national governance. The DPD is a new chamber for matters of regional management.

Most civil disputes appear before a State Court; appeals are heard before the High Court. The Supreme Court is the country's highest court, and hears final cassation appeals and conducts case reviews. Other courts include the Commercial Court, which handles bankruptcy and insolvency; a State Administrative Court to hear administrative law cases against the government; a Constitutional Court to hear disputes concerning legality of law, general elections, dissolution of political parties, and the scope of authority of state institutions; and a Religious Court to deal with specific religious cases.branches.

Culture

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:08:00 +0000

Culture in Indonesia

As a country that has more than 17,000 islands and 731 ethnic, Indonesia has a very rich culture. Almost every region has a dance, music, traditional ceremonies, food, clothing and language of their own country. We're introduced to you some of them.

Gamelan

The word "gamelan" is used in Indonesia to explain the types of music in Indonesia and used musical instruments. The word is derived from the Javanese language "gamel" which means to hit or use.

Gamelan group consists of 4 musical instruments:

1. Musical instruments played nucleus (balungan). Included in this category is metallophone (metal bar placed in a row and sounds like a bell), which has 3 different sizes and has a height interval of 1 octave, and Slenthem, which has discs that jingle. Resonator for musical instruments are made from bamboo or aluminum and sounds 1 octave lower.

2. Instrument that describe a particular segment of a song and determine the structure of the song. Large hanging gong (Gong ageng) mark the beginning and end of a song and the segments are longer. Kenong, gongs have resonator made of wood, played a sub-segment is shorter.

3. Musical instruments decorating the core melody. Among these are: Bonang (gong with 2 sizes), Gender (metallophone with 2 sizes), xylophone, flute, fiddle and sitar. Solo (pesidhen) and group chorister (Gerong) are also included in this category.

4. Percussion players who led the group in an acoustic way, where he gave signs previously agreed to end the song and its parts and to change the tempo.

In a complete gamelan can be up to 40 musicians taking part. Gamelan usually played at religious events or to accompany the puppets.

Source: Wikipedia.de

Puppet

Puppet comes from Javanese language and means "shadow". It can also be interpreted as "spirit". Puppet becomes a spectacle because of the cultural traditions of Indonesia has a very close relationship with the ancestors. According to animism, ancestor gods can act as a guard or human punishment. Therefore, humans attempt to please the gods or ask for their help with a ritual ceremonies. One way is to play the puppet.

Wayang is a variety (puppet show, shadow puppet, puppet people, ludruk, ketoprak, etc.) and played differently but have more or less the same rules. Puppet always played in the days associated with the mythology. Some of them described animismus festivals of indigenous and worship in local spirits. Others describe a dramatic episodes from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata story (ancient history of Hindu religion).

Plays a puppeteer who worked in the art of puppet plays a very regular basis, in which it allows to show the actual solo without interference. Each hero has a set of 3 with 3 keys of music played by the gamelan group. Standard episodes appear in the standard sequence. For example: "The listener who is open" to introduce conflict in the play, "the Palace in" describes the king met the queen (-queen) and his "Listeners outside" released soldiers to fight.

Dalang choose from a selection of about 150 songs, matching them with type episode, character, mood or behavior. Wayang puppets carved in order to resemble the character and status of play and in accordance with the predetermined pattern to the eyes, nose, way of looking, posture, body shape and costumes. Puppeteer can choose between 1 or the other dolls that play the same character, color or black gold, or a star or bermimik calm, to indicate the mood of the figures in certain episodes. Although the mastermind only work on the basic scenario, he can improvise each performance, adding contemporary jokes, and formed the performance to suit the occasion and the audience. Puppeteer and pemisuk aides and male singers to improvise in artistic conventions, although complex and unpredictable, but very popular.

Source: Network Indonesia

Batik

Batik originates from the Javanese language "amba", meaning to write and "tick" which means the point. The technique is estimated to have lived more than a thousand years. Although there was no definite information where batik was first invented, many observers believe that batik was brought to america by tourists from the island of India.

Batik, usually practiced exclusively in Java, requires anti-wax process is comprehensive, where every part of the material should not be wrapped in wax color on both sides before the material is dipped in dye. By using a wax-like pen called a canting, a model which can be complicated and difficult to make. Batik process takes a long time and batik are made entirely by hand requires several weeks to complete. Many modern batik is made by using copper for melapiskan seal wax, which becomes very rapid process and reduce costs.

Indonesia is a country filled with a variety of differences and showed a lot of Indonesian batik patterns. Some still carry the traditional model that influenced mystical motifs, other models illustrate the plants, animals and humans, and several other models have a very difficult style. Traditional batik model (usually using the colors of the earth and very complex) has been booked exclusively by Javanese court family. Modern batik models usually have a lighter color than the model of traditional batik.

Source: Network Indonesia, Wikipedia.de

My City

noreply@blogger.com (dreamer) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Parijs van Java

I was born here, in such a beautiful city. I am very happy to stay and raised in the city of bandung. there is no city in Indonesia bandung beautiful in my opinion. maybe you all want to know about bandung, I'll explain it here.

Bandung (pronounced Indonesian: Kota Bandung) is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's fourth largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area, with 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 m (2,520 ft) above sea level, Bandung has relatively year-around cooler temperature than most other Indonesian cities. The city lies on a river basin and surrounded by volcanic mountains. This topography provides the city with a good natural defense system, which was the primary reason of Dutch East Indies

It has an area of 167.27 km² and 2,290,464 people in 2005, with a density of 13,693 people/km². For the Hasil Survei Sosial Ekonomi Daerah 2007, 2,364,312 was the population, making it the fourth most populous city in Indonesia, after Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan.

The Dutch colonials first opened tea plantations around the mountains in the eighteenth century, followed by a road construction connecting the plantation area to the capital (180 km or 112 miles to the northwest). The European inhabitants of the city demanded the establishment of a municipality (gemeente), which was granted in 1906 and Bandung gradually developed itself into a resort city for the plantation owners. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, cafes and European boutiques were opened of which the city was dubbed as Parijs van Java (Dutch: "The Paris of Java").

After Indonesian independence on 1945 onwards, 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, etc), Bandung however still has its charm to attract people flocking into the city, either as weekend travellers or living in. government's plan to move the colony capital from Batavia to Bandung.

Geography

Mount Tangkuban Perahu

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 2.9 million population in 2007 and over 7.2 million people on the greater Bandung regency and metropolitan area, it's one of the most densely populated cities in Asia. It's rated the fastest-growing major city or urban region in Indonesia. Its elevation is 768 metres (2,520 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by up to 2,400 m (7,874 ft) high Late Tertiary and Quarternary volcanic terrain. The 400 km² flat of central Bandung plain is situated in the middle of 2,340.88 km² wide of the Bandung Basin; the basin comprises Bandung, the Cimahi city, part of Bandung Regency, part of West Bandung Regency, and part of Sumedang Regency. The basin's main river is the Citarum; one of its branches, the Cikapundung, divides Bandung from north to south before it merges with Citarum again in Dayeuhkolot. The Bandung Basin is an important source of water for drinking water, irrigation and fisheries, and its 6,147 million m³ of groundwater is a major reservoir for the city.

The northern part of the city is hillier than the rest; the distinguished truncated flat-peak shape of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (Tangkuban Perahu literally means 'up-turned boat') can be seen from the city to the north. Long-term volcanic activity has created fertile andisol soil in the north, suitable for intensive rice, fruit, tea, tobacco and coffee plantations. In the south and east, alluvial soils deposited by the Cikapundung river are mostly found.

Geological data shows that the Bandung Basin is located on an ancient volcano, known as Mount Sunda, erected up to 3,000–4,000 metres (9,850–13,100 ft) during the Pleistocene age. Two large scale eruptions took place; the first formed the basin and the other (est. 55,000 Before Present) blocked the Citarum river, turning the basin into a lake known as "the Great Lake of Bandung". The lake drained away; the reason for which is the subject of ongoing debate among geologists.

Due to its elevation, the climate in Bandung is cooler than most Indonesian cities and can be classified as humid; the average temperature is 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) throughout the year. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 millimetres in the central and southeast regions to 3,500 millimetres in the north of the city. The wet season conforms with other Indonesian regions, around November to April.

History
Main article: History of Bandung

The Dutch-built Gedung Sate

The Historical Asia-Afrika Street, Bandung

The earliest reference to the city dates back to 1488, but archaeological findings suggest a type of Homo erectus species had lived on the banks of the Cikapundung River and around the old lake of Bandung. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) opened plantations in the Bandung area. A supply road connecting Batavia (now Jakarta), Bogor, Cianjur, Bandung, Sumedang and Cirebon was built in 1786. In 1809, Napoleon I, the Emperor of the French and conqueror of much of Europe including the Netherlands and its colonies,(before his ultimate downfall at Waterloo in 1815) ordered the Dutch Indies Governor H.W. Daendels to increase the defensive systems of Java against the British from India. Daendels built a road, stretching approximately 1,000 km (621 miles) from the west to the east coast of Java, and passing through Bandung. In 1810, the road was laid down in Bandung and was named De Groote Postweg (or the 'main post road'), the present-day site of Asia-Afrika Street. Under Daendels' orders, R.A. Wiranatakusumah II, the chief administration of the Bandung regency at that time, moved its office from Krapyak, in the south, to a place near a pair of holy city wells (sumur Bandung), the present-day site of the city square (alun-alun). He built his dalem (palace), masjid agung (the grand mosque) and pendopo (public-official meeting place) in the classical orientation. The pendopo faces Tangkuban Perahu mountain, which was believed to have a mystical ambience.

In 1880, the first major railroad between Batavia and Bandung was built, Chinese workers from outside the city flocked in, to help run facilities, services and selling vendor machines. The old Chinatown district in Bandung is still recognisable in the railroad station vicinity. In 1906, Bandung was given the status of gemeente (municipality) and then later as stadsgemeente (city municipality) in 1926.

In the beginning of the 1920s, the Dutch East Indies government made plans to move the capital of Dutch East Indies from Batavia to Bandung. Accordingly, during this decade, the Dutch colonial government started building military barracks, the central government building (Gouvernments Bedrijven, the present-day Gedung Sate) and other government buildings. This plan, however, was cut short by World War II after which the Dutch were not able to re-established their colony.

The fertile area of the Parahyangan Mountains surrounding Bandung supports productive tea plantations. In the nineteenth century, Franz Junghuhn cinchona (kina) plant. With its cooler elevated landscape, surrounded by major plantations, Bandung became an exclusive European resort area. Rich plantation owners visited the city on weekends, attracting girls and businessmen from the capital, Batavia. Braga Street grew into a promenade street with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Two art-deco style hotels, Savoy Homann and Preanger, were built in the vicinity of the Concordia Society, a club house for the wealthy with a large ballroom and a theatre. The nickname "Parijs van Java" was given to the city.

Gedung Merdeka during the Asian-African Conference in 1955

After the Indonesian Independence in 1945, Bandung was determined as the capital of West Java province. During the 1945–1949 independence struggle

In 1955, the first Asian-African Conference -- also known as the Bandung Conference -- was held in Bandung, attended by head of states representing twenty-nine countries and colonies from Asia and Africa. The conference venue was at the Gedung Merdeka, the former Concordia Society building. The conference announced 10 points of declaration on world peace promotion and oppositions against colonialism, known as the Declaration of Bandung, which followed by wave of nationalism movements around the globe and remapped the world politics. The conference was also the first international conference of people of color in the history of mankind. Richard Wright in his book, The Color Curtain, captured the epic meanings of the conference for people of color around the world.

In 1987, the city boundary was expanded with the Greater Bandung (Bandung Raya) plan; a relocation of higher concentration development outside the city in an attempt to dilute some of population in the old city. During its development, however, the city core is often uprooted, old faces are torn down, lot sizes regrouped, and what was idyllic residence is bustling chain supermarkets and rich banks. boosting light industry in Bandung. introduced the against the Dutch when they wanted to reclaim their colonies, Bandung was one of the heaviest battle places. The Dutch military commander set an ultimatum for the Indonesian combatants in Bandung to leave the city. In response, on 24 March 1946, much of the southern part of Bandung was deliberately set alight as the combatants left; an event known as the Bandung Lautan Api or 'Bandung Sea of Flame'.