Cendol, Popular Cold Desert

This is the most popular cold dessert in Indonesia. They called it "es cendol" or "Cendol ice". Try this one.

Ingredients: (6 servings)
------------
One pack (12 oz.) of frozen "BANH LOT" (available at oriental store)
One can of coconut milk, preferrably one made for dessert
1/4 lb. of Coconut sugar or "Gula Jawa" (brownish colored)
Ice cubes
Cold Water

Instructions:
-------------
1. Thaw the 'Banh Lot' in cold water, rinse once or twice afterwards

2. Boil the coconut milk with coconut sugar until they are completely
mixed together

3. In an individual serving glass (or dessert bowl), put in:
- 3 to 4 tbs. of Banh Lot
- 4-5 tbs of the mixing of coconut milk and coconut sugar
- add cold water (1 tbs) and ice cubes (can be crushed, if wanted)

4. Serve immediately, more of the ingredients can be added to taste.

High Pass of Ketep

The Ketep Volcano Centre is located on Ketep Hill or Ketep pass at has elevation of 1,200 m above sea level. It is 21 km from Mungkid, 17 km to the east of Blabak Village, 30 km from Magelang, about 35 km farom Boyolali and 25 km from Salatiga City via Kopeng. And Kaponan Viallage.With some luck and good weather conditions, the out-door panorama area of the center offers each visitor a spectacular view on Central Java's big five mountains: Mount Merapi, Mount Merbabu, and Mount Sindoro, Mount Sumbing and Mount Selamet.

Here, visitor can visit Volcano Theatre which presents the film about Mount Merapi with various volcanic activities. For people who are interested in the fascinating world of volcanoes, the center is a must-see. A Volcano museum exhibits samples of stones from volcanic eruptions. Pictures, maps, photos and multimedia provide all geological information. Visitors can enjoys the mysticism of volcanic eruptions and are allowed to operate some volcanic monitoring equipment.

Baluran National Park

This park is a forest preservation area that extends about 25.000 square meters on the north coast of East Java. Located at Situbondo (on the east border of Java Island). This park also protected some endangered plant and animal species such as: Tamarindus Indica, Bos Javanicus, coun alpinus etc.

Beside that, you can enjoy the panorama of savannah and mount Baluran (inactive volcano) in the center of area that becomes habitat of many exotic animals such as wild pigs, deer, peacocks, wild chicken, some species of monkeys and also bulls as the protected animals in the area.

Peacock in Baluran

Wild monkey in Baluran

In Baluran National Park, you can see a historical place called “Gua Jepang” (Japan Cave). Gua Jepang is one of historical witness that in this place (Baluran National Park) was happened battle between Indonesia army against Japanese army. Because unequal power, there are a lot of Indonesia army who died in that battle, so this place also called Batangan. Gua Jepang has wide about 12 km that contains in 2 chambers. The north chamber was used to save the weapon, while the south chamber was used as a fissure to see an enemy.

Beside Gua Jepang, in the Baluran National Park, you also can see Bekol savannah. It's about 12 km from the entrance Baluran National park. You will see a flock of deer, bulls, etc, in the morning and in the afternoon (when the sun goes down) to do their activity. You also can see their activity and behavior of those animals from the height.

Bama beach is located in the east of Baluran National Park. You can see the original beach and the fantastic panorama in here. Beside that you can see the mangrove forest, Bama source and Mantingan source. One of special moment here is that you can see monkey with the long tail (Macaca fascicularis) that fishing crabs with their long tail. If you like go on food, you can pass the truck and you can see the beautiful panorama of Bama Beach on the height. Just with 15,000 Rupiahs per person you can spend the night in Bama Beach to enjoy the beautiful panorama at night here.

The Sound From Bamboo.

Angklung, is a traditional music instrument made out of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved so that they have a resonant pitch when struck. The two tubes are tuned to octaves. The base of the frame is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. This causes a rapidly repeating note to sound. Thus each of three or more Angklung performers in an ensemble will play just one note and together complete melodies are produced. This traditional music originally from Sunda, West Sumatra, Indonesia, but now very popular in South East of Asia. Even the Sundanese people used this music since ancient times.

In the time of Padjajaran Kingdom (Hindu period), the people used the Angklung for sign of prayer time. When the Padjajaran Kingdom had conflict with the greatest Kingdom in Indonesian ancient times, Majapahit, the angklung used for the corps music in the wartimes. When the time of Dutch imperialism, the Dutch government forbid this music, because this angklung can be the spirit and symbol for the anti imperialism.

Indonesian children playing Angklung

The Angklung got more international attention when Daeng Soetigna, from Bandung, West Java, expanded the angklung notations not only to play traditional pelog or slendro scales, but also diatonic scale in 1938. Since then, angklung is often played together with other western music instruments in an orchestra. One of the first well-known performances of angklung in an orchestra was during the Bandung conference in 1955. A few years later, Udjo Ngalegena, a student of Daeng Soetigna, opened his "Saung Angklung" (House of Angklung) in 1966 as centre of its development.

Angklung is going International now

There are many video of Angklung which you can see in youtube, but this is very interesting.



This is Angklung Performance by Keluarga Paduan Angklung (KPA) Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia, with Song, "Mission Impossible". Taken from: ivankurniawanooze

Another site : saung angklung udjo

Mixed Food

One of Indonesian traditional food is called gado-gado. Made from many vegetables, rice, snack, potatoes, etc............no wonder if Indonesian people called for mix or jumble things are gado-gado.

Gado-gado roundsman sales

With good taste and delicious and cheap price, gado-gado is one of favorite and popular food for Indonesian people. From "high-class" restaurant until roundsman sale. You can see it in Indonesia. Gado-gado also have many variations in its receipts which result many variations and combinations in taste too.

Here one of gado-gado receipt:

Coconut-Peanut Dressing
1 cup bean sprouts
1 cup shredded cabbage
4 ounces bean curd (tofu), drained and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
1 cup sliced cooked potatoes
1 cup cooked cut green beans
1 cup cooked sliced carrots
1 medium cucumber, sliced
2 hardboiled eggs, peeled and slice

Prepare Coconut-Peanut Dressing. Pour enough boiling water over bean sprouts and cabbage to cover; let stand 2 minutes. Drain.

Cook bean cured in oil in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, turning pieces gently, until light brown. Remove with slotted spoon; drain. Cook potatoes in same skillet until light brown; drain. Arrange bean sprouts, cabbage, bean curd, potatoes and remaining ingredients on platter. Pour dressing over salad. Yields 6 to 8 servings.

Coconut-Peanut Dressing

1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 cup hot water
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ghee or peanut oil
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Place coconut in blender container; add 1 cup water. Cover and blend on high speed about 30 seconds. Cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in 2-quart saucepan about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy.........

Gado-Gado Galleries:

Marine "Paradise" Park

Wakatobi, a marine national park in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This national park is comprising four large island which has very high marine resource potential, in terms of both species and uniqueness with enchanting submarine landscapes.

This national park has more than 25 chains of coral reefs and the total circumference of the coral island is 600 square meters. This large area results an abundant of coral species and fish.

This island contains two major ethnic group, the Pulau (islanders, Indonesian ethnic) and the Bajau. These peoples include many interesting cultures and histories. The Bajau mention is made in the writings of ancient Chinese and European explorers of these legendary sailors who had managed to reach the distant shores of Merqui, Johor, Singapore and Sulawesi. They also have held on their way of life. Local spears-fishing on the sea bed without the aid of diving equipment are still a common sight.

Wakatobi's galleries:




























The video:


Others video : click here

Others info:
Travel
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Soto Madura

From : Picasaweb album.com

Indonesian food, i think some of the most delicious food in the world. Not only for its taste, but its many sort of. Subtlety the tastes, the forms and the combination are really awakening for your tastes.

Soto is some kind of Indonesian traditional food. Many kind of Soto. Some with chicken meat: Soto Banjar (Kalimantan) and Soto Lamongan (East Java) and with beef meat:Madura (East Java) and Makassar (Sulawesi). All of that Soto have its own taste and flavours, which can not deny that. Many variations for Soto, but still the cooks usually keep the traditions for it taste.

This is some of that recipes, and its for Soto Madura from Madura Island.

Ingredients:
500 gr beef or internals,
100 gr bean sprouts,
80 gr rice noodles,
60 gr Indonesian parsley,
60 gr scallions,
60 gr ginger,
1 lime, salt and pepper,
Boiled chicken egg (depending your taste)

Directions:

• Boil meat until done. Drain and cut into bite-sized slices.
• Remove the tails of bean sprouts, boil until half done
• Boil rice noodles separately
• Keep these in separate plates
• Cut Indonesian parsley and scallions
• Grind shallots, and brown it for a little bit
• Skin and cut ginger
• Make beef stock using beef bones boiled in water for about an hour. Remove bones, and put in salt, pepper, ginger, and shallots.
• Serve the soto by putting the beef, bean sprouts, noodles into a bowl. Pour soup into it.
• Sprinkle with Indonesian parsley and scallions.

For best, for the drink is ice tea....
Enjoy it.

Keep The Traditions

Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam or usually called Aceh, have a very long period of history. The origin kingdom is called Samudra Pasai (13th-15th century) until the Sultanate of Aceh (15th -18th century) and now become one of Indonesian's province. It is a very long time period.

Samudra pasai and Kingdom of Aceh, known as the first establishment of Islam in south east Asia. Even, Aceh Kingdom has a relationship with Ottoman Empire in 16th century. With this relation, no wonder that Aceh called itself "Seramoe Mecca" or gate of Mecca. The most sacred place for muslim people. Aceh people also have a culture that very close to the middle east. This including the dance.

The traditional dance from Aceh is always remind to us about middle east cultures. The singer using Arabic and Aceh words, accompanying the dancers. The music is also has the spirit of Islam. To keep this long great histories and cultures, Mr Rizal and Mr. De Gam, choreographed a new creations dance, called Kipah Sikarang.

Enjoy this new creations.

Tari/Dance Kipah Sikarang

The Biggest Park in South East

Lorent National Park, which was named after the Dutch explore Hendrikus Albert Lorentz, is located in Papua island. With area of almost 10,000 square meters, make this National park is the biggest one in South East. It is also declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is also known as the most ecologically diverse national park in the world.

This park containing full array of ecosystems spanning from marine areas, mangrove, tidal, freshwater swamp, lowland and montane rainforest, alpine areas and equatorial glaciers. The International of Birdlife called this park "one of the most important natural reserve for bird in the world". The Indonesian government had been classified the plants and animals such are :

Plants :
Nipah plants (Nypa fruticans), Bakau/Mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata), Pandanus julianettii, Colocasia esculenta, Avicennia marina, Podocarpus pilgeri, dan Nauclea coadunata.

Animals:
Contains 70% of Papua birds and 123 species of mammals.

Beside that, still this large areas contains unmapped and unexplored areas, that might be unknown species of plants and animals.


Animals of Lorentz' park




Travel to there :
Jl. Raya Abepura Kotaraja PO Box 1217
Jayapura 99351, Papua Barat
Telp. (0967) 581596; Fax (0967) 585529

The New Creations

Indonesia have a many numerous traditional arts and cultures. This including its dance. There are many Indonesian people whose are look after, mount guard and conserving these very great cultural. With innovation which adopted from the old and traditional dance, there are many a new creation dance.

Below are some of the new creation's dance from Kalimantan or Borneo.

1. Dance/Tari Belian Sentiu

This dance is from East Kalimantan - Indonesia. Belian Sentiu, basically was a ritual dance to medical treatment and was aimed as the request spell to God. This quatrain was expressed by the dancers when they are dancing or finished. The basic Belian Sentiu is almost like traditional Dance/Tari Giring-Giring.
.......and from the traditional dance, we will see a great new creation dance.

Dance Belian Sentiu


2. Dance/Tari Kayau.

This dance is from Center of Kalimantan - Indonesia. Kayau in Dayak (origin tribes in Kalimantan/Borneo) meaning - "cut the enemies head off". This horrible tradition is the rites of Dayak for some test to the Boys before they recognized as Adults. The Government of Indonesia prohibit, ban, inhibit this rites. With "all out" help from Muslim cleric, Kayau finally disappear and none of Dayak tribes doing such rites.

Kayau was mean "heroic" things too for Dayak. To commemorate about Kayau rites, a new creation dance has been made. See this beautiful dance:

Tari Kayau/Kayau Dance

Tari Piring

Piring or piriang (in Minangkabau languages), mean plate. This dance originally from Minangkabau, Province of West Sumatera, Indonesia. In Minangkabau cultures, plates symbolize for prosper or affluence. The dance symbolize for "Gotong-Royong" or helping each other, which is Indonesian people life-style. During the implanting of paddy in the paddy field, all the people are helping each other from the start until the harvesting time. When it comes, the harvesting party begin and the dance appearences for celebration.

This dance represents for implanting the paddy activities. Planting, irrigated the paddy and of course the harvesting time. The dance also represent for Silat style. With the traditional music of Minangkabau, this dance is very attractive and adorable.

See the dance below:

Taken from: mfadls

See also:
1. West Sumatera
2. Tourism Object
3. Fact Book

Legacy from Paleolithic Age

Nias Island, part of North Sumatera, had a very unique culture. According to Medan Archeology, Nias has its cultures from 12 thousand years ago, in the time of Paleolithic age. This age period had the same period with Hoabinh (Vietnam) paleolithic age. The greatest thing from Nias people, they keep its cultures persistently. This makes Nias cultures keep favorable until now.

One of this legacy is JUMPING STONE:

Taken from : sgenome

But, Nias not only had the stones. The beach of this island is a very good to surf. Maybe as good as Bali Beaches. So....see and enjoy the Legacy from the ancient time.

From : Surfersvillage.com

From : lineup.com.au

Nias Island Travel Guide :
1. virtualtourist
2. world 66
3. indonesiatrekking

Smart Packing Tips :
AmazingIndonesia. Net

The Largest Flower In The World

It is a member of genus Rafflesia, parasitic flowering plants. The genus named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the expansion from British Empire. The genus Rafflesia including approximately 26 species (including 4 incomplete species, recognized by Willem Meijer, the botanist and plant collector from Dutch).

The Rafflesia genus were discovered by Dr. Joseph Arnold who was exploring the rainforest of Sumatra and Borneo (Kalimantan) of Indonesia Archipelago at 1818.

Rafflesia Arnoldi was named after those two men, Sir Raffles and Dr. Arnold. This plants has no stems, leaves or true-roots, only flowers. Its weighs 12 kg. The petals grows almost 3 meter long and 2,5 cm thick. This is makes this flower is the largest flower in world.

This flowers lives like parasites, on the vine plants as it host. It also grows only in rainforest such as forest in Sumatera and Kalimantan. Only one species grows in Java Island, Rafflesia Patma.

The Flowers looks very beautiful, but it is very reeks. This reeks use for attract the flies for pollination. This flower seemingly a strong flower, but its only have 1 week long age. No wonder if this flowers are very rare and very hard to locate. It is especially difficult to find the flower in forests as the buds take many months to develop and the flower lasts for just a few days. The flowers are unisexual and thus proximity of male and female flowers is vital for successful pollination. These factors make successful pollination a rare event.

The Jungle Man From Indonesia

In this world, there are four great apes species; gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans. Only orang utans are from Indonesia, Asia. The others are from Africa. Live at the rainforest of Indonesia, orangutans known with two species, Borneo and Sumatra. Both of them are the last surviving of Pongo Genus and the subfamily Ponginae (including the extinct Gigantopithecus and Sivapithecus).

Sivapithecus known as the ancestors of modern orangutans, but some hypothesis says it originated from Lufengpithecus. Both of these ancestors were live about more than 300 thousand years ago and now extinct.

Whose ever the orangutans are, these species are unique. When one thinks of an orangutan what usually comes to mind is the uniquely wonderful rusty-orange hair, some said bright reddish, that covers their bodies and their arms. In general its coat which is sparse, long and coarse, will range anywhere from bright orange in youngsters to a chocolate mahogany in some adults. Orangutan also known as arboreal (primarily tree dwelling), while other apes are primarily terrestrial (spending their lives on the ground).

The Sumatran species has a thinner, paler coat than that of the Bornean. It is the largest tree dwelling mammal in the world; males at 220 pounds and standing 5 feet tall are twice the size of females.

Their legs are about 30% shorter than their long arms which can grow, up to 6.6ft. (2m). They use both legs and arms to move from tree to tree in the forest canopy, swinging and moving elegantly. Makes them graceful and swift while swinging through the trees but it makes walking on the ground very slow and awkward. That is why the orangutan is at a great disadvantage on the ground, and why the orangutan rarely comes down from the treetops. Their feet are designed like hands and their both hands and feet are long, narrow and strong and used in a hook like fashion when grasping branches. The thumb is fully opposable.

The etymology said that the words orangutan derived from Indonesian Malay language. Orang mean Man, utan for Hutan mean forest or jungle, thus “the people of forest”.

Let me say that orangutan is the jungle man, and let the jungle man traveling the great forest of Kalimantan (Borneo) and Sumatra forever.

The Dwarf Buffalo

Anoa. It is the wild buffalo with only 150kg-300kg and only 76cm hight, make Anoa the smallest buffalo in the world. Anoa only found at Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Even, Anoa looks like a deer but this wild is a subgenus of Buffalo and basically miniature from water buffalo.

There is two types of this small buffalo; Lowland Anoa (Bubalus Depressicornis) and Mountain Anoa (Bubalus Quarlesy). Both of them have been classified as endangered species by the Indonesian Government since 1961 but, the populations are decreasing continuosly. Anoa hunted oftenly by human because of their meat, skin and horns. The Anoa's horns believed has a saviour.

Since many still unknown from this species, the experts still unsure about Anoa completely. About their sex life and territorial. Males have been seen marking the trees in jungle with their horns and scratching the soil after urinate. But, no one sure for what they doing like this, for their territories or for the females.

With their mistery life and their hight, it is very difficult to see the Anoa in the wild. Almost like the dwarf.

See for more complete information :
indonesiafauna.com
wikipedia

The Indonesia Beauties

The Republic of Indonesia, comprising almost 20,000 islands, is the largest archipelagic country in the world. The Big five islands are, Java, Sumatera (Andalas), Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes) and Papua. With this exciting geographic, Indonesia consist of many ethnic, linguistic, cultures and of course the flora and fauna. However, with the national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), the Indonesian people united.

This country is richly endowed with natural resources, located between Australia and Asia make Indonesia have numerous site of volcanic mountain. This is condition makes Indonesia having a very beautiful landscapes view, such are the mountain, lake, sea, river and many others of it.

Lying across the equator line, Indonesia having a very large tropical forest (covering almost 70% of Indonesia) that support the biodiversity of the Earth. This tropical forest also resulting the very unique and exciting flora and fauna.

The history said, ancient Indonesia (Nusantara) was lying on the strategic position among the ancient international trading, Indian, Chinese and Arabic. This is making the influenced for Indonesian cultures until present day.

This blog, will invite you to INDONESIA BEAUTIES. About it culture, landscape view, flora and the fauna. Enjoy it.