Indonesia The People
Kampong Jamu: Kiringan, Central Java
Kampong Jamu, or the village of medicinal herbs, is the name people refer to when they are talking about the village of Kiringan, in Bantul, Yogyakarta. For the past century or so, Kiringan residents have been making a living from the manufacture and sale of jamu gendong — medicinal herbs that are carried in a basket on a woman’s shoulder using a sling and sold from door to door. Today, 102 of the 200 households in the village depend on the medicinal herb industry for their livelihoods. What makes Kiringan medicinal herbs characteristically different is the fact they are produced using a traditional method. The ingredients used to make the herbal remedies include extracts of Javanese plants with health-improving properties.
Date: March 6th, 2008 |
3 comments
Sundanese Writing System
Many ethnic groups across the country, including the Sundanese, are facing the threat of the declining use of their language or writing system. Sundanese leaders are particularly concerned by the fact that while few youngsters use Sundanese at home, fewer still are able to use the Sundanese script.
Date: February 15th, 2008 |
No Comments
Krui People Preserve Environment: West Lampung, Sumatra
The sun was just beginning to set when a man in his 30s climbed a Damar pine, carrying a rattan basket on his shoulder. He climbed quickly, with a rattan rope, while carefully checking every cut on the tree for sap. On finding the thickened, dried sap, he would collect it and put pieces into his basket. Such sights are common in Pahmungan village, Krui, Lampung.
Date: February 14th, 2008 |
No Comments
Pineapple in Indonesia
There is nothing more delightful for breakfast than a nice bowl of mixed and sliced fruit. Pineapple (Nanas) slices put into a blender also makes an ideal drink on a hot day. Just add ice!. Pineapple sliced and put on a BBQ is just as delightful. You can buy sliced pineapple from the kaki lima in most towns and cities for a cheap price. Great to slake the thirst when you are out walking and sightseeing.
Date: February 5th, 2008 |
No Comments
Tooth Filing Ceremony: Bali
Tooth Filing is an important rite of passage for Balinese Hindus that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. Metatah or “tooth filing” is a common ritual which typically takes place during the months of July and August. In the Balinese belief system, the ceremony helps people rid themselves of the invisible forces of evil - teeth are the symbol of lust, greed, anger, insobriety, confusion and jealousy. Long teeth are seen as these signs and the filing of teeth is believed to cleanse the body and soul of unseen malignant forces. The teeth filing is performed by a professional known as a “sangging” who is traditionally of the Brahmana caste. Filing the teeth therefore renders someone both more physically and more spiritually beautiful, as well as symbolising the rite of passage for an adolescent into adulthood.
Date: January 31st, 2008 |
No Comments
Glodok – Chinatown: Jakarta, West Java
Being married to an Indonesian-born Chinese Bhuddist it’s only natural that I have a deep interest in Chinese culture and those parts of Indonesia where the persons of Chinese descent reside. In every major city in the Archipelago there is a Chinatown (pecinan) and one of my favourites is in Semarang even though I am entranced by the Chinatown in Yogyakarta where I lived. But it is in Jakarta where there s probably the most interesting of these areas – Glodok in West Jakarta.
Date: February 18th, 2008 |
No Comments
Perang Topat Celebration: Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
Hindus and Muslims celebrate the Perang Topat ritual at the Lingsar temple in Lingsar village, West Lombok. The people perform the traditional ritual as an expression of their gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest. The ritual also demonstrates the harmonious relationship between Hindus and Muslims in the region. The site of the ritual itself is a monument of interfaith harmony.
Date: February 15th, 2008 |
No Comments
Burial Site of Pamona Ancestors: Latea Cave, Central Sulawesi
Latea Cave is more than 30 million years old. This natural cave is located in the limestone of Parere Hill. It is the place where the Pamona people, the indigenous residents of Poso, traditionally buried their ancestors. The Pamona people have lived in the hills of Central Sulawesi for generations; particularly in the Wawolembo area. Their practice of putting the dead in caves did not stop until the 19th century.
Date: February 12th, 2008 |
No Comments
Stone Jumping and Surfing: Nias Island, North Sumatra
Stone jumping (hombo batu) and surfing are the two most well-known attractions for tourists coming to the island of Nias, 75 miles west of Sumatera, which only take place in Teluk Dalam on Nias’ south coast. Young Nias men jump over 2-meters stone walls for Rp 50,000, in the village of Bawomatoluo. Meanwhile, surfing was introduced and developed by foreign tourists on the beach of Sorake.
Date: February 2nd, 2008 |
No Comments
Who are Indonesia’s Ethnic Chinese?
The mention of “Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese” invites curious reactions. In Australia alone, there are a number of popular images portraying them, the most common being, “rich but corrupt and unscrupulous in robbing the country by colluding with equally corrupt officials”, and “despised and always brutally victimized, psychologically and physically”, Dewi Anggraeni writes.Unless you are interested enough to read specialist books and scholarly papers on the issues, those popular images, and little else, are what you see.
Date: January 30th, 2008 |
No Comments
