Articles tagged ‘Central Java’
Places to Visit in Semarang: Central Java
By Barrie | June 23rd, 2008 |
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I can still recall the very first time I visited Semarang, the northern coastal in Central Java. It was in the middle of the hot season, the winds blew even hotter and the dust was annoying to the eyes. But, I loved it. It was refreshing to visit and experience a city of such historical [...]
Indonesians in Focus: Didik Nini Thowok
By Barrie | May 23rd, 2008 | Add a Comment »
People usually look down on buskers or roadside performers, assuming they are too lazy to work and are content earning a few pennies on the street. But not Didik Nini Thowok, who believes busking can actually serve as a way to preserve cultural traditions and even attract tourists. Born in Temanggung, Central Java, the 54-year-old [...]
Indonesians in Focus: Sofiah Peni Carito
By Barrie | May 15th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
These days, women can take on roles that were once thought to be the domain of men — be it as the country’s president, a political head, a minister or the leader of a musical group. But in the art of shadow puppetry, women still usually only feature only as a pesinden; a singer who [...]
Serambi Merapi Community: Pakembinangun, Central Java
By Barrie | April 17th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Young activists say their concern over an education system that shows little interest in teaching ethical values, traditional lifestyles or a love of nature inspired them to set up an alternative school for children. The activists set up Serambi Merapi Community in Pakembinangun village, Sleman regency in Yogyakarta, and now manage a two-hectare organic agricultural [...]
Indonesians in Focus: Habiburrahman El Shirazy
By Barrie | April 8th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Islam is an easy target for misrepresentation. It has been misunderstood and misused for centuries by its ignorant followers as well as its “enemies”. It is no surprise then that questions about the nature of the religion have been reiterated over the past three decades. Does the faith recognize human rights? Is it compatible with [...]
Snakes in Indonesia
By Barrie | March 20th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Mention the word ‘snake’, and generally 95% of people run for the hills!. This is probably the worst thing you could do as you will arouse the snake’s attention. As most bushwalkers will tell you, it’s better to stand still and let the reptile get on with his business and go past you. Of course [...]
Merapi and the Demise of the Mataram Kingdom: Central Java, Indonesia
By Barrie | March 13th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Mount Merapi’s eruption in 1006 was also regarded as the cause of the demise of the Mataram-Hindu Kingdom and the shift to East Java. Experts continue to propound their own theories and reasons for the demise of the kingdom. There are four possible theories proposed by archaeologists. In the first hypothesis, N.J. Krom says that [...]
Indonesia to Build Four Nuclear Plants
By Barrie | March 12th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
I have opposed it, I have marched in rallies against it, and I deplore it. I am talking about Nuclear Energy. The idea of building nuclear plants in a volatile volcanic zone is totally absurd. There are a multitude of alternative energy sources that could be looked at as sources, and, prove to be cheaper [...]
Acehnese Cuisine in Yogyakarta: Central Java
By Barrie | March 11th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Bungong Jeumpa is the name of a restaurant in Yogyakarta on Jl. R.W. Monginsidi, near the traffic light on the corner with Jl. Magelang. Local residents have dubbed it the “Borobudur Plaza T-junction eatery”. Bungong jeumpa is Acehnese for bunga jumpa, a type of flower that resembles jasmine, with yellowish-white petals that taper into a [...]
Bali Treetop Adventure Park
By Barrie | March 10th, 2008 | Add a Comment »
Last time I visited the Eka Karya Botanical Garden in Candikuning it was peaceful and most of all, very quiet and, it still is. The botanical garden is the sister to the
Bogor Botanical Gardens in West Java. Actually, I passed by the botanical gardens on my last visit to Bali but didn’t have the time [...]
