English is spoken and written in all tourists’ destination area whole of Indonesia. Dutch is spoken by the older generation and there still exist more than 300 ethnic groups who speak more than 200 district languages. Diversity also extends to customs, cuisine or culinary and dress. Indonesia is a kaleidoscopic of cultures and traditions. It is the only one country in the whole world, which is consisted of thousands of islands with population owning various cultures and ethnics. Geographically it is a land stunning contrast. Alpine ranger capped with snow tower over the rainforest and coastal marshes of Papua, the eastern most province of the country.
From Aceh to Sumatera, Java, Bali’s northern tip,
blue volcanoes slope down toward lush paddies, dotted with hamlets snoozing
under the shelter of trees. From the cool mountain resorts of Java. Bali and
Sumatera to the Arids open savanas of the eastern Island from the Pulush hotels
and shopping arcades of the big cities, the cacophony of modern traffic, to the
eerle silence of the wondrous submarine world of corals and fish of North
Sulawesi and Maluku. Indonesia is a meddly of sights and experiences, each
compelling enough to justify it’s own information book.
Perched on the
southwestern rim of the so-called Ring of Five that surrounds the Pacipic
basin. Indonesia’s one of the most volcanically active regions of the world from the west side to the east
side. On the chain of mountains which stretch as
from Banda in Maluku through the islands of East and West Nusa Tenggara to Java
and Sumatera, and further toward Burma, there are 149 volcanoes, 70 to 80 of
which are active.
The Indonesia’s Government
The proclamation was short and to the point which reads as:
Proclamation
We, the
Indonesian people herewith proclaim the independence of Indonesia. All matters
pertaining to the transfer of power etc. Will be
carried out correctly and in the shortest possible time.
Jakarta, August 17, 1945
On
behalf of the Indonesian people
Sgd.
Soekarno – Hatta.
The State
philosophy is contained in the five principles of “Pancasila and Bhineka
Tunggal Ika” as it’s first principles, namely:
Belief in the One Supreme God, Just and
Civilized Humanitarianism, The Unity of Indonesia, Sovereignty People Democracy
Led by the Wisdom of Deliberations among Representatives, Social Justice for
the Whole ofthe People of Indonesia.
National anthem is
a patriotic song “Indonesia The Great” (Indonesia Raya) praise the natural
beauty of a country or express the hopes of it’s people, was composed in 1928
during the Dutch colonial period, introduced by it’s composer ; Wage Rudolf
Soepratman at the All Indonesian Youth Congress held on 28th October
1928 at the time when Indonesia’s youth originating, pledged:
1.
Belonging to one nation, the Indonesian
nation;
2.
Having one native country, Indonesia;
3.
Having
one language of unity, the Indonesia language.
Indonesia is a
democratic Unitarian Republic with
“33 provinces” and a constitution which provides for a strong
executive, more or less along the lines of the American Presidential system. Every five years, the People’s
Consultative Assembly elects a national president and vice president and also
sets out the broad outlines of state policy. Democracy as practiced in
Indonesia, stresses the desirability of rule by consensus through
consultations, rather than simple majority rule.
The Indonesian Peoples
The history of
setting of these islands reaches back some 500,000 years whene “Java Man”
(Pithecanthropus erectus) roamed Java’s plains. Migrations from the Sourth East
Asian main land now part of China and
Tonkin occuring from 3.000 to 500 BC by peoples of Proto-Malay and Mongoloid stock ushered first the Stone
Age, then the Bronze and Iron Ages into these islands.
Over the many
centuries that followed, there has been an influx of peoples from all parts of
the world mainly from Arabia, India, China, and Europe. As a result,
Indonesia’s population pattern today is a rich tapestry of races and cultures
who live together in harmony.Indonesia is still an agrarian country despite a
gradual shift toward modern industry. Java, where 7,5 % of the country’s population inhabits 7 % of it’s
land area, is one the most densely areas in the world.
Indonesians
are a polite people and very tolerant towards foreigners and their manners.
Handshaking is customary for men and women alike on introduction and greeting,
accompanied with the usual smile.
The Economy
About 75 percent of the people still live from agricultural. More
than two decades of planned development is giving industry an ever bigger share
in the national economy. The chemical, automotive, textile, food processing and
aviation industries are among the sectors that have been rapid development in
the past decades. Indonesia, exports
cars and aircraft to a number of countries, besides such traditional products
as oil and estate crops.
The constitution
dictates that the exploitation of the nation’s waters, the land and all the
products they contain be controlled by the state and used for the good of all.
Since 1967, the country has welcomed foreign capital to be invested in
Indonesia to help the nation in it’s development efforts. Indonesia is one of
the world’s major producers of oil industry in cooperation with foreign companies.
The Art
and Culture
The oldest
foundations of the traditional art forms and cultural expressions surviving
among the majority of peoples living in Indonesia are a legacy of the so-called
Dong-son civilization. This is the civilization which the early migrants
brought from the Asian mainland many centuries ago. This
shared legacy explains the similarities that often exist in the ornamental
patterns, beliefes and other aspects of culture prevailing in regions as far
apart as Sumatera and Sulawesi, or Java and Kalimantan. Even the highly
sophisticated gamelan(a
traditional Javanese percussion orchestra) ensembles of Java and Bali are believed to be derived
from the very ancient kettledrum one of the products of the Dong-son culture.
Contact with other
parts of the world in later centuries, have left deep imprints of influences
from Arabia, China, India, Europe and elswhere to establish an ornate and offer
most refined mosaic of artistic and cultural expressions. Other traditions,
through, exist and are by no means less artistic. For instance, the renewed
“Primitive” art of the Asmats in Papua-Irian Jaya, one of Indonesia’s most
touristically spectacular provinces, or that of the people of the Tanimbar
Islands at the eastern tip of Maluku.
The culture of Java
and Bali are examples of the profound Indian influence in the early centuries.
Sumatera’s art and culture on the other hand show the staunch Moslem hold. This
background has made Indonesia not anly a gigantic stage for some of Asia’s and
the world’s most fascinating performing arts, but also a paradise for souvenir
hunters and also for
culinary.
The Religion
The Climate
Stabled on the
equator between Asia and Australia, Indonesia’s climate is typically tropical.
A generous rainfall, soft winds, high temperatures and a high humidity
generally characterize the lawlands climate, but marked deviations may occur
due to factors of geography. Average daily temperatures range from 210
Celcius (700 F) to 330 Celcius (900 F), but
are lower in high mountain areas.Due to the proximity of the Asian and
Australian land masses, the country is heavily influenced by the monsoons, with
a dry season lasting for most areas from roughly June to September and a rainy
season from December to March. The wettest month is usually February.
And Indonesia is divided into three time
zone, that are :
Western Indonesia Time ;
Sumatera, Java, West and Central Kalimantan,
are 7 hours ahead of GMT.
Central Indonesia Time :
East and South Kalimantan, Bali, Sulawesi,
Nusa Tenggara, are 8 hours ahead of GMT.
Eastern Indonesia Time :
Maluku and Irian Jaya (Papua), are 9 hours ahead of GMT.
Object of Interest are
Batik; Indonesian Cultural Heritage
Batik is one of the
ingredients clothier. But different from the usual cloth. Batik is a craft that
has high artistic value and has become part of Indonesian culture (especially
Java) since long. Batik is a cloth that traditionally made by uses a manual wax-resist
dyeing technique. Level of difficulty of making batik is very difficult for
ordinary people who did not make it, because it takes a special skill, and details creativity, and also to create new patterns. Batik
material can be made into dresses, shirts, gloves, bags, hats, table cloths,
napkins, painting and decorative items, etc., with the traditional colors
chocolate, indigo and blue or a more colorful.
The
Symbolic Meaning of Batik's Motifs
The Batik motifs, especially with old pattern, as in other field of
Javanese tradition are symbolizing something. Some of the motifs are :
1.
Sido
Mulyo :Sido (you should be ), mulyo (happy). Symbolizing 'you should be happy
and rich man'.
2.
Sido
Dadi : Symbolizing 'you should be a man/woman as you
wish (prosperous, high ranking position, wealthy, etc)'.
3.
Satrio
Wibowo :Symbolizing 'Man with dignity'.
4.
Tikel
Asmorodono :Tikel (more), Asmoro (love), Dono (gift).
It is meant the one who wears this batik, should be loved more and more by others.
It is meant the one who wears this batik, should be loved more and more by others.
Reog Ponorogo
Reog is one of the
Indonesia cultural arts. Reog is a traditional dance that become the main
identity for Ponorogo regency. Ponorogo regarded as the true origin Reog.
Because of this, Ponorogo is also known as Reog city. This culture is still
very strong with things mystical and powerful mystic. Ponorogo is most well
known for the reog mask dance, which is said to have been created by one of the
kings of Kediri in the 12th century. Reog usually consists of the principal
characters; Singa Barong, wearing an enormous tiger head and peacock feather
mask, and his adversary Pujangga Anom. They are accompanied by one or more
masked clowns.
One of the unique
features of the reog dance is that the hobby horse (In Java language called
Jaran kepang) dancers are invariably young boys dressed as women. Known as
gemblak, they accompany the warok, who are forbidden close association with
females, in their travelling performances. Until now people Ponorogo only
follow what their ancestral heritage as a cultural inheritance which is very
rich. In the experience of art is the copyright Reog human creations that form
the existing faiths were hereditary and awake. Ponorogo city gate was decorated
by warok and gemblak figure, two figures who had appeared at the time reog
displayed.
Reog, existence only emerged in religious ceremony
and a celebration day. ponorogo identical with reog. reog beginnings were
historically created by ki ageng kertabumi ticks to satirize the king, the king
majapahit. are afraid and are subject to the concubines. There are also
connecting origin connected with the story banner, the marriage between the
sons of the kingdom and the daughter of kendiri Jenggala. so finally reog
become a traditional art that still survive until today in ponorogo. even been
extended to foreign countries. Reog development of this very day have also
developed mainly in order to music and dance. kenong first example used only
one thing but now wear two kenong. gamelan accompaniment even to survive. and
thus named as reog style potrojayan style.
Warok ponorogo can not escape from reog ponorogo because
that makes reog ponorogo former is warok. what you guys know what it warok?
warok is someone who has much knowledge of psychotherapy. and reog can not
escape from warok. both are closely related to each other. and to become a
warok very heavy because the conditions were very heavy. and a warok must be
able to give benefits to anyone. Reog usual festival is always visited by
foreign tourists. and that surprised a lot more to make a record for the
recalled memories because it was memorable. for people may see reog
ponorogo usual but when the show actually begins nearly 80% reog ponorogo
people streaming into the town square flock to see the annual event.
The
Indonesia’s Flora and Fauna
Indonesia’s wealth
in plant and animal life has since long attracted the interest of laymen and
sholars alike. The renowned naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel
Wallace were among those who made some of their most important studies in this
archipilago. The latter is especially remembered in this country for his
observation of the intriuing differences that exist between the flora and fauna
of Kalimantan. Bali and the other islands to the west on the one side, and
those of Lombok and Sulawesi and the eastern islands on the other. Those of the
first were related to plaints and animals found on the Asian mainland, while
those of the latter were related to the Australian flora and fauna. The
imaginary demarcation line is known to this day as the “Wallace Line”. Among
the roughly 15,000 plants species found in Indonesia, some are extremely rare
like for example the giant Rafflesia of Sumatera and the Black Orchid of
Kalimantan.
The
archipilago is also extremely rich in tropical hardwoods and rare endemic plant
species which grow in the rain forests. The country has 320 nature reserves and
national parks, occupying a total area of just under 13 million hectares (33.8
million acres) and more are expected to be added in the years to come. Among
the protected species are the Giant Lizard-Komodo Dragon of East Nusa Tenggara,
the orang utan (Pongo pygmazus) of Sumatera and Kalimantan, and a veriety of
biros and other animals.
For waterfall lover, we have some
of them, those are;
Cikaso Waterfall, in Sukabumi, West Java. Madakaripura
Waterfall in Lumbang, Probolinggo in the area of Bromo Tengger Semeru National
Park, East Java. Moramo
Waterfall in Southeast
Sulawesi. Harau Valley, in West
Sumatera. Cinulang Waterfall. Tumpuk waterfall, in Ponorogo,
East Java. Pletuk Waterfall,
in Ponorogo, East java. Sedudo Waterfall, in Nganjuk,
East java. Cigangsa
Waterfall. Ujung Genteng, West Java. Soom Waterfalls, Teluk Sumbang, Kalimantan. Gitgit Waterfalls. Tinoor
Waterfalls. Sewu Waterfalls, Patean, Kendal, Central Java. “Mini Niagara” Temam Waterfall, Lubuk Linggau in South Sumatera. Pancaro
Rayo Waterfall, Kerinci,in Jambi. Tegenungan
Waterfall, in Sukawati, Bali. Bantimurung Waterfalls, in Maros, South Sulawesi. Jantur
Inar Waterfall, in West Kutai, East Kalimantan. Candidasa, in Karangasem,
Bali. Luhur Waterfall, in Bojong Koneng, Bogor. Benang
Kelambu Waterfall, in Lombok. Tangsi
Ampek Waterfall, in Solok, West Sumatera. Munduk Waterfall, North Bali. Sekumpul Waterfall Bali. Tegenungan Waterfall, in Kemenuh Village,
District of Sukawati, Gianyar Regency. Sipiso-piso
Waterfall, in Berastagi, Medan, North Sumatera. Ijen Waterfall. Jumping Waterfallin Nusa Dua, Bali. Coban Rondo Waterfall, in Batu, East Java. Tenang waterfall, in South Sumatera.Saluopa
waterfall, in Sulawesi. Maribaya waterfall, in Lembang, Bandung, West Java. Malela Waterfall, West Java. Ogi
Waterfalls, in Bajawa, Flores. Wafsarak Waterfall, in Papua. Tinoor Waterfall, in North
Sulawesi. Oehala Waterfall, in East Nusa Tenggara. Taraje,
in Banten. Bantimurung
Waterfall and National Park in Maros, Sourthern Sulawesi. Matajitu Waterfall, in Moyo Island, West Nusa Tenggara. Sawarna. Jembatan Batu Waterfalls
in Northern Halmahera, Northern Maluku. Koeang Waterfall, in Maribaya Hot Spring, Cibodas District, Lembang, Bandung, etc.
=====o0o=====
