"Toraja Fashion" Sold in Japan

Toraja, a mountainous area of northern part of South Sulawesi, was not only famous for its funeral rites, tongkonan custom home, or a wood carving course. Female fingers Toraja tribe is also known for his skills when creating a striped fabric with distinctive colors like red, black, yellow, and white.

Unique woven the work of women from Sa'dan, a village in Toraja regency in North Sulawesi, is designed to improve the lives of the weavers and their families. The ability to weave a piece of woven cloth Toraja is not owned by everyone. Therefore, the required original Toraja people who still understand how to manufacture cloth. One of the local industries that is still actively preserving and marketing of woven fabric Toraja is "Toraja Melo".

Melo Toraja, which means "land of beautiful Toraja", the creation a wide range of woven fabrics to be used as fashion items like handbags, shoes, purses, slippers, and scarves. The products of this Toraja fabric turned out to be items that sell well in Japan.

"We think the Japanese people have a history of expertise that understands the difficulty of the weaving process. In addition, they appreciate the high quality of hand made products from Toraja. There is a term, when penetrating the Japanese market; we will be able to penetrate the market anywhere. This is due to the high quality control in Japan, "said Protus Tanuhandaru, founder of the Toraja Melo.

The stories making the complicated fabric Toraja also presented to the people of Japan, and received very good response. Colorful bags wrapped Melo Toraja from woven fabric sheet after sheet of Toraja. Each piece of fabric is the result of a woman who spent many hours, sitting rigidly for several weeks, with back straight and feet stomping.

The women weavers are more than just a handyman or craftsman. They are the creative artists of Indonesia in the true sense. They chose the yarn in various colors, membentangnya (in Toraja ma'renden) in between two pieces of wood that made sober, and then began to weave, also with a simple instrument made of wood and bamboo, wood in the house is full of holes and often dark because there is no electricity.

To get the product Toraja Melo, you do not need all the way to South Sulawesi. Just visit the store in the East Kemang, South Jakarta, or through www.torajamelo.com. Toraja Melo also present and enliven the bazaar is the meeting place for e-commerce business owners, shop fair, on 13-14 July 2012 and in Epiwalk, Brass, Jakarta.

If you are concerned with the preservation of Indonesia's cultural products, then have the original cultural products, such as cloth weaving, batik and songket, and wear as part of everyday clothing. Do not let the native culture of Indonesia by claiming other countries due to lack of repeat our concern for the nation's own fashion products.

"Toraja Melo can be networked with the stakeholders of e-commerce, and potentially increasing sales of woven fabric Toraja itself," said Protus.

Lhok Nga Beach Aceh. Beautiful Beach After Tsunami

Lhok Nga Beach, Aceh, is one of the tourist area affected by the tsunami of 2004. 

Exactly December 26, 2004, there was a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean, off the west coast of Aceh. The quake occurred at approximately 7:58 pm. The epicenter is located at approximately 160 km west of Aceh as deep as 10 kilometers. An earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale is called Biggest Tsunami in the next 40 years that hit Aceh, North Sumatra, West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, East Coast of India, and Sri Lanka, even to the East Coast of Africa. 9-meter-high tsunami waves killed approximately 230 000 residents in eight countries up called the greatest death in history.

Dozens of buildings were damaged by a major earthquake, especially in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh at the tip of Sumatra. In Banda Aceh, about 50 percent of buildings destroyed by the tsunami. However, most of the casualties is caused by the tsunami that hit the west coast of Aceh and North Sumatra.

One of the areas most affected by the tsunami disaster is Lhoknga beach. The beach is only 20 km away from the city of Banda Aceh, specifically in the area of PT. Semen Andalas Indonesia. When the tsunami occurred, this place was in ruins. Even after the renovation by the Local Government (LG) Aceh, Lhok Nga Beach do not able to return to normal. If we are to the scene, there are found only arid conditions like abandoned.

In fact, earlier this coastal area sufficient to provide a natural feel of a beach resorts. Lots of shade trees especially palm trees, growing side by side and the lush evergreen trees also provide coolness or aron trees. White sand beach with a few rocks is reflecting the blue sea like a fish aquarium as a colorful show.

A row of food vendors and drinks under the green trees and mountains adjacent to the sea, simply complete the natural coastal attractions. Many tourists, both local and foreign tourists, visiting every day or some people stop by for a quick break to continue the journey to the south-west coast.

To be able to visit the Lhok Nga beach, the trip can be reached through the Banda Aceh to Calang. If from Banda Aceh, the distance is approximately 22 kilometers and can be taken for 25 minutes. There is also public transport named Labi-Labi, which took about 45 minutes from Banda Aceh when going to the beach Lhoknga.

Zero Complain in Malioboro Yogyakarta - Indonesia

Malioboro that is still a major tourist magnet in the city of Yogyakarta is targeted as a tourist destination complains zero or none of the complaints from tourists visiting the resort. "There will be some effort made to make it happen, such as parking enforcement, maintaining cleanliness of Malioboro," said Head of Malioboro Technical Implementation Unit, Sharif Teguh in Yogyakarta on Sunday (4/15/2012).

If it later appears complaints of odor or the amount of garbage, then we will soon follow.
- Sharif Teguh

According to Sharif, an attempt to achieve zero Malioboro complaint begins by following up on complaints from the public who visited the Malioboro. Follow-up on such complaints will be conducted on a regular basis until the end of the year, at least once a week.

Malioboro revamping began on Saturday (14/04/2012) night, with a park interpreter for policing focus in recent weeks; there are many complaints from people who claim to have to pay for parking exceeds provision.

In policing, found a park interpreter who caught violating parking rates by raising it to Rp 1,500 for single units of motorcycles. Motorcycle parking policies should be Rp 1,000 per a motorcycle once parked.

"The complaint is also the image of another interpreter in the parking lot is becoming tarnished. In fact, there are many interpreters who abide by park rules, but because such complaints arise, the parking clerk else being equal," he said.

Settling Malioboro, Sharif continued, not only limited to parking enforcement only. "If it later appears complaints of odor or the amount of garbage, then we will soon follow. Order at a later date, Malioboro a tourist without a single complaint from the public," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commander of the Order of Operations Department of the city of Yogyakarta, Dedy S said, policing the park interpreter to interpreter parking bagu shock therapy. "Hopefully, these demolition operations could be a warning to other park interpreter. Also in Malioboro, enforcement will also be conducted at other locations," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Malioboro Society Parking Manager, Sigit Karsana Putra said, has routinely provided appeal to a parking clerk to comply with existing regulations. "We also will help right the situation. Because of actions like this can also impact the world for tourism," he said.

Sigit hope, there is a parking service standards agreed between governments, communities and park managers. "There needs to set service standards, including parking penalties, so the interpreter parking is not an arbitrary act and the public can watch him too," he said.

Waruga, Ancient Cemetery Minahasa Citizens

Minahasa societies have high traditions and culture. Unquestioned Waruga is one proof. Waruga location we visited is located in the village of Sawangan, Airmadidi subdistrict, Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi.

Waruga is the tomb stone shaped like a house. It has 1 meter width and height of 1 to 2 meters. The top of the lid as the bottom ridge of the house and found a box-shaped space in it. Thus, the Minahasa ancestors are not buried in the ground, but put in a stone box.

One family has at least one waruga made by a member of the family. Make waruga is starting from choosing the stone, chiseling to fit the body shape to put into it. There is even a story that the body goes into Waruganya own (!). The body should be facing North Minahasa tribe signifies ancestors who came from the North.

Use of Waruga began around the 9th century. And it is banned around the year 1860 due to outbreaks of typhoid and cholera that was allegedly derived from that waruga at the time.

The unique of waruga is in some it is found carved on the ridge one animal picture. Apparently it's carving a family than as a marker, also described the profession of people who are buried in it. For example, pictures of animals are the hunters had means of his profession.

These warugas in Sawangan village contained the relocation of several places. These tourist sites are also used as a common grave. In the entrance there is relief on the left and right. Relief is about the process of making and using Waruga.

Before visiting the Sawangan village I did lay on Waruga. I've never even heard of before. It was eyeing opening and insightful visit this attraction. The more love and proud to be the nation's taste!

3 Traditional Village in Bali

Almost all villages in Bali can be called a traditional village with strong traditional and religious rituals. Each village has a Klian adat (a kind of traditional leader). Villages such as this are still found in Bali.

However, if you mention the traditional village in Bali, the Balinese people will immediately think of these three villages. These villages are inhabited by the original Balinese or Bali Mula. Some residents of Bali sometimes called the Bali Aga. The Bali Mula is the people who first inhabited the island of Bali.

They inhabited the island long before the people migrated to the island of Java. Initially they have animist beliefs. Hindu religion which was brought from Java to Bali is expected the new entry and develop slowly in the second to the eighth century BC.

Until now, the Bali Mula still living on the island of Bali and its own will provide a wealth of Balinese culture. The most salient characteristic to distinguish the Bali Mula with the Balinese migrants are from the ceremony of his death ceremony.

Java Bali (also called Bali Arya), who are the descendants of Javanese immigrants in the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit and earlier, performing the ceremony of death by burning. While the Bali Mula performed their ceremony buried.

Do you interested more in the tradition of the Bali Mula? Here are three traditional villages that are often visited by foreign tourists to know better the original Balinese culture that is still running strong today.

Tenganan village. The village is located in the District of Karangasem. Very close to the beach of Candi Dasa. The journey to this village is very easy and can be taken approximately 1.5 hours south of Bali.

The uniqueness of this village is the tightness of the local community in protecting and preserving indigenous forests. They have awig-awig (legal or customary rules) that governs forest management, including the prohibition of cutting trees.

Tenganan Village residents are used to interact directly with visitors and explain their traditions. Visitors can enter the house to see the traditional Balinese architecture, including its philosophy.

In addition, local residents are trained artists. They used to weave their own legendary gringsing cloth and are only made in the village.

The village is famous as the cultural attractions for foreign tourists. Usually after a stop at the village, the tourists traveled to the beautiful beach of Candi Dasa.

Trunyan. If the more adventurous, visit a village Trunyan in Kintamani, Bangli district. It is located on Lake Batur. To reach this, you have to take a boat to cross Lake Batur Trunyan with.

Unique characteristic of this village is a different death ceremony elsewhere in Bali. The body is not buried in the village. But simply placed in the cemetery area, which is below the frankincense tree. Strangely, visitors can clearly see human skulls, no smell from the body.

Not surprisingly, the most coveted tourist village to recognize the unique tradition of ritual death. Typically, in addition to visiting the village Trunyan, tourists will also relax around the edge of Lake Batur, or climb Mount Batur.

Panglipuran village. This village is one less famous than Tenganan and Trunyan Village. The village is located in the Bangli district. It needs to travel about 1 hour from Ubud, Gianyar.

If you come to this village, so be prepared amazed because it is very rare domestic tourists who travel to the village of Panglipuran.

The uniqueness of this village is an ordinance of the village is so neat and pretty. Not just a typical Balinese architecture which is unique, but the houses in this village are set uniform. Visitors as if catapulted into another dimension with the same gated houses up to the same door.

The houses are arranged on either side of the main road. The road is uphill to the village and split into three parts according to the concept of Tri Hita Karana (relationships with fellow human beings, man and nature, and man to God).

As you walk on this road, look as if you were doing a spiritual journey. Yes, at the end of the road, right at the very top is Penataran as the most sacred place of prayer and the local population.

Not just the typical architecture, the Panglipuran villagers are very friendly. They did not hesitate to offer visitors to stop by and get into the house. Inside, you can take pictures and see the kitchen that still use firewood. Some houses also sell souvenirs own handiwork.

Larantuka Packed With Catholic Pilgrims

Larantuka town is located on the eastern tip of Flores Island, on Thursday (05.04.2012), from crowded Catholic pilgrims from various parts of East Nusa Tenggara to follow the Good Friday procession in the capital city of East Flores.

Portugal's Ambassador to Indonesia Carlos Manuel Leitao Frota was present with his wife Mrs. Arlinda Chanves Frota, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu also entourage had arrived in Larantuka to follow the religious traditions of the Portuguese heritage that on 6 April 2012.

Currently, local Catholics are conducting activities "tikan turo" or plant wax poles along the highway route into the Good Friday procession the next day (Friday, 06/04/2012) in the old city Larantuka located at the foot of Mandiri mountain .

While other Catholic pilgrims, on Thursday morning had crossed to the Adonara Island that is located in Larantuka shore by boat and motor boat to make a pilgrimage at Chapel Wure.

Wure Chapel, stood erect a statue of Jesus - Larantuka call “The Lord standing” - while holding a rooster in the form of statues as well. Based on the historical narrative, the beginning was the statue of a young person who buys a rooster from a grandmother in the market.

The young man had no money when buying chicken at the market, but it took the old woman went to a place to take the money. When the old woman arrived at the scene, the young man was transformed into a statue while holding the bird in his right hand. Local people believed to be the statue of Jesus which was then called in the local language "The Lord Standing".

Ahead of Thursday afternoon, Larantuka is popularly known as the City Reinha Rosary, the eerie silence because of the activities being carried out "tikan turo" by the mardomu (such small committee that has been applied much earlier to the waiter on Friday) in accordance promesanya (vulture).

When that, the activity in the Chapel of Mr. Ma (Mother Mary) begins with a ceremonial "Young Master" (opening the chest was closed for a year) by the officer conferia (an organization within the church body) that have been raised through the oath.

Arca Mr Ma then cleaned and washed and dressed in mourning comes in the form of a coat of black, purple or blue velvet. Catholic pilgrims present at the time was given the opportunity to pray, worship, prostrate please thanks and blessings, which the petition would be granted by the Lord Jesus through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

After the chapel door was opened, the local people as well as Catholic pilgrims from all over started to engage in "kiss the foot of Mr. Ma and Mr. Ana" in an atmosphere of silence and sacred. Catholics outside the diocese Larantuka, just do the ceremony on Holy Thursday Mass to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples before his death on the cross.

In this ceremony, a Catholic priest must wash the feet of 12 laymen who had been appointed, as when Jesus washed the feet of the 12 disciples. The foot washing is a symbol of genuine service to others.

Maundy Thursday is one of the Tri Holy Day for Catholics. It is called Maundy Thursday, as the liturgical color of the day was dominated by white color. Priests wearing white robes, ornate altar was all white as a symbol of glory and holiness.

The name of Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) taken from the first antiphon of the foot washing ceremony which in Latin is called "Mandatum Novum" or a new command. Celebration of Holy Thursday Mass for Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Kupang will be held at 19.00 pm. After Mass, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament is held available to be shared on Good Friday.

Aloe Vera Dawet Ice - One of Indonesian Traditional Drink

Dawet is a type of beverage that is usually served in the form of coconut milk drinks and adds brown sugar. In some areas dawet usually also called cendol. This is very typical type of beverage taste, and a lot of demand, both enjoy in the summer or rainy. Dawet usually made from corn starch or flour base of rice, but this time dawet are made based on aloe vera. How does it feel?

Aloe vera is a plant species which contain mostly leaf pulp or meat containing lymph and sticky. While the outside leaves of a chlorophyll thick skin. Quantitatively, a protein found in aloe vera role in a fairly small amount, but a qualitative protein-rich aloe vera essential amino acids, especially leucine, lysine, valine and histidine. Beside rich in essential amino acids, aloe vera gel is also rich in glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Aloe vera vitamins soluble in fat, but it also contained folic acid and kholin in small quantities (Morsy, 1991).

Nutritional substances contained in the gel (meat) Aloe vera is quite complete, among other things, vitamin A, B, C, E, choline, inositol, and folic acid. While the mineral content of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, and chromium. Combined vitamin and mineral elements in these plants serve as natural antioxidants, among others, can prevent heart attacks and premature aging to prevent DNA damage caused by free radicals. Research at Hoshi University in Japan showed that Aloe vera contains antioxidant compounds that are able to get rid of free radicals caused by radiation.

Addition of aloe vera is also used to help launch the digestive tract, difficult defecation, coughing, sore throat, diabetes mellitus increases the body's immune system, cope with worms and heal wounds.

Aloe vera is known for its full of benefits, from health to such material for medicine, for beauty as cosmetics and food as an ingredient for the manufacture of beverages or other types of snacks such as aloe vera dawet.

Want to know how to process aloe vera into the fresh dawet? The following are the steps in making dawet aloe vera.

Ingredients:

• 5 leaves of aloe vera
• 150 cc of water
• 500 cc coconut milk
• 250 g brown sugar
• 2 pieces of pandan leaves.

Tool:

• Knife
• Stove
• Pot
• Container basin

How to Make:

• Aloe vera leaves peeled, meat, washed, and cut into pieces.
• Knead with warm water several times until no mucus.
• Boil all material with water for 5 minutes.
• Put sugar and pandan leaves, and then filtered
• Combine the coconut milk that has been boiled with sugar solution and aloe vera, and then add ice cubes. Aloe vera dawet ice has been ready to serve.

Reog Ponorogo - Some of Art In Indonesia

There are several versions of the popular story that develops in the community about the origins Reog and Warok. Below is one of them.

According to the story, the birth of art Reog began in Saka 900, the background story of King Kelana Sewandana trip, King of the Kingdom Bantarangin who is looking for queen candidates. Together with horsemen they are faithful, Bujangganong. Finally he has found his idol, Dewi Sanggalangit (Princess Sanggalangit), daughter of Kadiri. But the princess set the condition that the prabu create a new art before she received the king's love. So that's where art is created Reog. Reog form was actually a satire whose meaning that the king (tiger head) have driven or heavily influenced by the queen (the peacock).

Usually one reog group in the show consists of an old Warok, some young warok, pembarong, Bujang Ganong dancers, and King Kelono Suwandono. The numbers ranged from 20 to 30-person, a central role in the hands warok and pembarong. Origin of writing itself based of “Reyog”, the letter represents a first letter of words in the song macapat Pocung which reads: sense ballad / soul ingwang adiluhung / Yang Widhi / Yang kridaning Gusti / titles roll kersaning Kang Almighty.

Replacement Reyog be Reog mentioned for "development purposes" - when it was polemical. Ponorogo regent Markum Singodimejo who sparked the name Reog (Resik, Endah, Omber, Girang gemirang) keep it as an official slogan of Ponorogo.

The Reog story line is staging by Warok, then Jatilan, Bujangganong, Kelana Sewandana, and then Barongan or sudden Merak at the end. When one of the above elements in action other elements comes to move or dance, though they are not outstanding. Modern Reog usually performed in several events such as weddings, circumcisions and the great days of national. Art Reog Ponorogo series consists of 2 to 3 opening dance. The first dance is usually performed by 6-8 valiant men dressed all in black, with red polished face. The figure depicts the lion dancers are brave. Next is a dance performed by girls who ride horses 6-8. In the traditional Reog, dancers are usually performed by male dancers dressed in women. This dance is called the Jaran Kepang dance, which should be distinguished from other dances that Kuda Lumping dance. Other opening dance if there is usually a dance by a little boy who brought the funny scenes.

After the opening dance is complete, the new core scenes whose content is displayed depends Reog condition where art is displayed. When it comes to marriage, the romance scenes are displayed. For the celebration of circumcision, is usually the story of warriors. Art scene in Reog usually does not follow a neat scenario. Here there is always interaction between players and masterminds (usually the leader of the party) and sometimes with the audience. Sometimes a player's performances can be replaced by another player when the player's fatigue. The first importance in the staging of art Reog is to give satisfaction to the audience.

The final scene is a barong lion, where the actors wear masks shaped head of a lion with a crown made of peacock feathers. Weight mask can reach 50-60 kg. Heavy mask is carried by the dancers with his teeth. The ability to bring masks are obtained in addition to weight training, is also believed with spiritual exercises such as fasting and penance.