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
Acommodation

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