Indonesia About Indonesia
News Week Ending 07/09/08
Let’s start the week with a bit of election news. Love them or hate, celebrities often get involved in campaign rallies and so it’s no surprise that some of them might fancy themselves as a politician. The rise of celebrities in the political arena has created a mixed message. While many are against it, mainly because of their lack of political experience, others are willing to give these actors an opportunity to prove themselves. Perhaps they will curry favour on the island of Bali but will have to be careful because the latest report from there has a bad STD crisis. A specialist on sexually transmitted diseases (STD) recently warned that the number of STD cases among the island’s male population had reached an alarming level. I like reading good news and this is it. In a move to help preserve the region’s coral reefs, the six member countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative have agreed on a draft protocol on protecting coral reefs from the effects of climate change. The six countries, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.
Date: September 6th, 2008 |
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The Faces of Yogyakarta: Central Java
Yogyakarta is often referred to as the cultural heart of Indonesia, and its people, the friendliest. A beautiful city, Yogyakarta boasts such amazing attractions as the mighty Borobudur Temple, the Hindu Temple complex of Prambanan, and the Kraton to mention a few. It is a city that leads the way in Batik production, the arts and music. Besides being all the aforementioned, Yogyakarta is one of those places that seems to alluringly mystify visitors ensuring they return again and again. It is a city that is close to my heart and often, as I walk around its streets and gangs, I have always found the people to be accommodating in their hospitality and warmth.
Date: August 31st, 2008 |
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Fifteen Great Reasons to Visit Malang: East Java
When you travel across Java there are many beautiful cities and large towns but none are as cool and delightful to walk around as the second largest city in East Java, Malang. Famous for its cool air and the surrounding country regions, the city was commonly referred to as ‘Paris Van East Java’ because of its quaintness and magnificent colonial buildings dating from the era of Dutch colonization and was very popular with European residents during this time. The streets are wide with an airy feeling, the people of Malang accommodating and friendly, however, it is less visited by foreign travellers there days. It is one place that, in my opinion every traveller should put on his ‘must visit’ list as the array of attractions, excellent restaurants and delicious food is quite simply, beyond reproach as far as what a Javanese city has to offer. There is so much to see and do and especially in the countryside where places like Tumpang, Turen, Batu and Singosari offer nature at its best. Then there are the beautiful beaches such as Sendang Biru Beach, Ngliyep Beach, and Balekambang Beach.
Date: August 29th, 2008 |
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News Week Ending 24/08/08
Sumatra is having its fair share of woes lately. The train crash last week has certainly been a sad one. The incident occurred after the Limex Sriwijaya passenger train, traveling from Kertapati station in Palembang, South Sumatra, to Lampung’s Tanjung Karang station, moved onto the wrong tracks, crashing into a Babaranjang coal train waiting for the passenger train to pass. Let us hope that those who were severely injured heal quickly. Add to this the suspension bridge that collapsed in West Sumatra killing three people and injuring 11 others happening on Sunday afternoon in Pakandangan village, it will no doubt have the people of Sumatra wondering what’s going to happen next. Nothing I hope. Here’s an odd one. A foodstuff consortium from Middle-East countries planning to investment some Rp14 trillion through Bin Laden Group in South-East Sulawesi province according to a senior adviser. No, it’s not the dude that is No.1 on Bush’s hit-list.
Date: August 23rd, 2008 |
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Some Good Reasons to Visit Pekanbaru: Riau, Sumatra
There are some stunning and interesting places in Sumatra and none more so than Pekanbaru in the Riau Islands. It is the capital city of the Riau province and has an estimated population of around 800,000 people. Pekanbaru was once a small city port located on the Siak River and now, it is a bustling trade centre with its proximity to Singapore and Malaysia. The city is divided into two by this magnificent river with the shops, hotels and banks located on the north side and on the south, most of the government buildings and offices. It is here you will also find the main bus terminal. Because Pekanbaru is a major gateway into Indonesia from Singapore, the city has become a favourite stop for travellers go further inland in Sumatra and of course the rest of Indonesia. Pekanbaru is one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia and noted for its wide streets, which are in the city’s main centre. The city is connected by road to an oil refining and exporting port at Dumai and there are numerous facilities including an airport, three stadiums and a swimming pool.
Date: August 21st, 2008 |
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Getting Around in a Becak
Last night I was at a get-together of University colleagues and during a conversation about Java one man said “I’m going there next month. It will be my first time. I want to try a bisak” I mulled this over in my thought and eventually had to ask what he meant by ‘bisak’. Of course I laughed when I realised he in fact meant ‘becak’, the very popular and cheap form of transport on a lot of the islands in the archipelago. Becaks are a three-wheeled bicycle, two wheels in the front and one at the rear, and you sit quite uncomfortably on the padded wooden seats in the front. This form of transport is literally king-of-the-road and all other manner of transport is obliged to give way to them on the roads. Becak drivers are usually lean in stature with strong-muscled legs and area mine of information should you decide to use them to get around the city you are visiting, but, ensure you bargain the price for the journey well beforehand.
Date: September 4th, 2008 |
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News Week Ending 31/08/08
Being on a quake zone is no laughing matter as many residents in West java found out early in the week. The Indonesia government issued a tsunami warning on Tuesday after the earthquake struck off West Java on Tuesday, but it was later lifted and there were no reports of damage or casualties. According to the meteorological agency, the epicentre of the undersea quake was put at 6.6 on the Richter scale and occurred north- west of Ujung Kulon National Park. And, there was another one. A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook Saumlaki, Maluku Province, on Thursday. Personally, I blame all of these and other disasters on global warming. But, there is good news this week and to begin with the Indonesian man dubbed the “tree man” because of gnarled growths on his body has returned from hospital after six kilograms (13 pounds) of warts were surgically removed from his body, on Tuesday. Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, first noticed the warts on his body after cutting his knee as a teenager.
Date: August 30th, 2008 |
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The Fasting Month of Ramadhan
In just under a week’s time the holy fasting month of Ramadhan begins in Indonesia. This month precedes the Idul Fitri celebration that marks the end of the fasting month and is an exciting time to be in Indonesia for the culinary delights available on the streets and the gaiety of it all. But first, Muslims must participate in the fast and this includes children albeit allowances are made by some families. During the month of Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day and in addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur’an. The Islamic religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is believed to be the month in which the Qur’an began to be revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. For Muslims this is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. In the Islamic month of fasting Muslims don’t eat or drink anything from sunrise ’till sunset. This also includes abstaining from sexual activity, smoking, partying and any other form of entertainment.
Date: August 26th, 2008 |
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Dragon Fruit
Most fruits in Indonesia are seasonal and one of my favourites is Dragon Fruit. It is easily recognised with its round shape, often red coloured with prominent scales. The thin rind encloses the large mass of sweetly flavoured white or red pulp and small black seeds. Some varieties are pinkish or yellow. The good news is that this fruit is good for your body as it is rich in vitamins, especially Vitamin C. The flesh is eaten raw and is mildly sweet and low in calories. Some people have likened it to the Kiwi Fruit mainly because of the prevalence of sesame seed-sized black crunchy seeds found in the flesh. Just don’t eat the skin or the seeds as they are both indigestible. Interestingly, this fruit can be converted into a juice or wine and it flowers make great tea once steeped.
Date: August 21st, 2008 |
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It’s Hard in a Woman’s World
Everywhere I travel in the archipelago of Indonesia there is one thing that stands out in the workplace – the women. It seems to be the norm in most Asian countries that the women do all the hard work. They work the hardest in the padi fields, look after most of the farm animals in villages, and in the cities labour the hardest on building sites and any other place of construction. It is a well known fact that women do what is referred to as the dirty tasks in daily life. And yet, it is the female of our gender that deserves the most praise for their resilience, zeal and fortitude in any endeavour they undertake.
Date: August 18th, 2008 |
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