Equator Monument at Pontianak City, West Kalimantan

A. Brief Information

The equator monument was built to mark the zero point of the equator line crossing over Pontianak City. Historically, it was built by the Dutch geographer in 1928 to mark the imaginary line of equator. Formerly, the monument was just a simple obelisk on which a metallic arrow. Silaban, an Indonesian architect, refurbished the obelisk in 1938 by adding a circle above it. Finally, in 1990, the local government decided to preserve this great monument by building a dome with a duplicate of former obelisk above it.

On March 2005, Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi – BPPT (the Center for Technological Application and Research) did a correction towards the appropriate zero point of the equator in Pontianak City. After a long-term research, the result shows that the zero point of equator crossing over Pontianak City is 117 meters of the former monument towards the Kapuas River.

B. Distinctive Features

Standing beneath the equator line precisely cleaving the earth is a memorable moment. In the location, you may see the former obelisk and its early history and all information relating to the monument as well. Withal, an information board about the statistic of visitors from either domestic or foreign countries is available for you who want to know such information. The unique of the monument is the material used. It was built of ulin wood, something that is rarely found on other monuments in the world.

Around March 21st – 23rd (vernal equinox) and September 21st – 23rd (auturnal equinox), the monument is densely visited by Pontianak residents who come to see the shadowless sun. It is the time when everything on the location around the zero point has no shadow for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Some events including traditional ceremony and painting exhibition are celebrated during these phenomena are occurred. You only need to pay IDR 10.000 for obtaining a certificate signed by Local Mayor of Pontianak stating that you have already visited the monument.

At afternoon, the location can be a right place for having leisure time with family and friend. The exoticism of the location is at night when the flickering lamps decorating the beautiful Kapuas River.

C. Location

Equator Monument is located on Khatulistiwa Street, Siantan Village, in the Sub-district of North Pontianak, Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.

D. Access
Equator Monument is five km away northern direction of Pontianak City. You can take public transportation like bus or taxi to reach the location.

E. Ticket Price

Free.

F. Accommodation and other Facilities

Around the location, you can find mosque, restaurant, food stall, souvenir shop, guesthouse, and parking area with ease.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Kampung Naga Village, Tasikmalaya District, West Java

Have you ever imagined that in the middle of modernity and global influence which corrupt local culture little by little, there is a community which maintains its traditional customs and practically resistant to any modern touch? If your answer is yes, you are absolutely not day dreaming. Indeed, there is such community which insists to maintain the traditional way of life and live in simplicity without any single sign of modernity in their daily life. The community is better known as Kampung Naga villagers.

Kampung Naga is a traditional village located near the Garut-Tasikmalaya highway. The villagers are traditional because they are loyal in maintaining their local custom, which they inherit from their ancestors. You will see that they are completely different from any community living outside their village. One of the foundation of living in Kampung Naga is simplicity. For the villagers, maintaining local custom is homage for the ancestors (karuhan). Everything from outside what the karuhan have taught them is considered as taboo, which would cause misfortune and great disaster if violated.

Total population of Kampung Naga is not more than 311. All villagers live in their peaceful and fertile land near Ciwulan river. As a village, Kampung Naga is divided into several areas such as wood, river, race fields, and houses, each of which has borders which should not be violated because the villagers believe that each border is kept by a supernatural creature. If any single person dares to violate a border, the supernatural keeper will be offended and get angry, and it will cause the disaster comes. Therefore, the villagers should not build houses in race fields area or in other area except the houses area, because if they do, it means that they are violating the tenet of karuhan.

There are 111 buildings in Kampung Naga, consist of 108 houses, 1 public hall (bale patemon), 1 mosque, and 1 rice barn. The mosque, the public hall, and the rice barn are built in a row, facing east-west. In front of those buildings is a wide yard which the vilagers usually use for traditional ceremony. Houses are also built in a row, facing north-south.

The houses in Kampung Naga are built on stilts. The main materials are wood and plaited bamboo laths. The roofs are made of thatch palm leaves, palm fibers, or tall grass. The architecture and interior are designed in such a way so that air and natural light are well circulated. In addition, the structure of buildings in Kampung Naga is earthquake proof. It was proven on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 when a 7,3 RS earthquake shook Tasikmalaya. There was no single building in Kampung Naga broke down or had a serious damage. It becomes the basic for Green Building Council of Indonesia (GBCI) to make Kampung Naga as a sequential for green and energy saving architectural design certification.

Distinctive Features

The main interest of Kampung Naga is the calm and peaceful ambience, in which local traditional customs are well maintained—in contrast to recent modern villages. To reach Kampung Naga, you should walk down through hundreds steep stairs (sengked). Therefore, you need to be careful especially on rainy season. However, your struggle will be paid off when you reach the village and see these panoramas lie right in front of your eyes: refreshing green rice fields and the winding Ciwulan river all composed in a beautiful harmony with birds‘ chirps, the sound of flowing water and the fair zephyr which will make you instantly forget the difficult way that you‘ve been through to set your feet on the village.

The rules in Kampung Naga do not have any exception, including for the visitors from outside the village. If you come to this village, you also have to obey some rules such as not saying whatever comes to your head, not annoying animals, and not breaking tree branches or twigs. For the villagers themselves, they have even many more rules and taboos they call pamali, such as they are not allowed to paint their houses except with lime, not building their houses using bricks and cement, carrying out art performances only for local arts—meaning that no arts from outside the village are allowed, and many other rules. Those rules maybe strange for us, but indeed, the villagers are succeed in maintaining their traditional tenets by obeying the pamali.

Another special characteristic of Kampung Naga, like the Badui, the villagers do not allow any single modern thing entering their village. They do not even use electricity. Therefore, it is very dark when the night comes. The villagers use teplok or lantern to light up their houses while for the paths in the village, they use torches. It makes the experience of spending a night in Kampung Naga is worth trying and will be an unforgettable moment in your life.

Near Kampung Naga, there are two waterfalls which are too beautiful to miss. In the waterfall you can enjoy the fresh water and the natural view which will make time as if stops for you. However, you must be aware to leave the waterfalls when the sun sets, because the villagers of Kampung Naga believe that whoever stays in the waterfall until evening, he or she will be possessed by a supernatural creature who keeps the waterfalls.

The villagers in Kampung Naga also held some traditional ceremonies which usually hold on the months of Maulud and Syawal (Islamic calendar). If you want to attend the ceremonies, you must obey the rules along the ceremony.

Location

Kampung Naga is located in Neglasari village, Salawu sub regency, Tasikmalaya regency, West Java province, Indonesia.

Access

Located near the Garut-Tasikmalaya highway, Kampung Naga easy to reach by personal or public transportation. The village is on the valley of Ciwulan river, about 500 meters down from the highway. It is 30 km from Tasikmalaya, 26 km from Garut, and 90 km from Bandung.

Ticketing

Visiting Kampung Naga is free. However, it is recommended not to come on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday, because on those days, the villagers of Kampung Naga are doing a ritual called menyepi or avoiding any conversation about their village and customs.

Accommodation and other facilities

Although very popular in West Java, there is no electricity in Kampung Naga. The tourists who want to spend a night or more in this village should ask for permission from kuncen (the elders of the village) several days before. Without electricity, the facilities are minimal. On the other hand, you can feel to be really close to the nature and feel the uniqueness of living among well maintained traditional customs.

Most of the villagers in Kampung Naga speak Sundanese. Therefore, it is recommended for you who don‘t speak Sundanese to hire a guide. Kampung Naga has many villagers who can be your guide with flexible tariffs.

Right on the gateway into Kampung Naga, there is a wide parking lot for your personal vehicles. Around the parking lot, there are many kiosks selling souvenirs made by the villagers of Kampung Naga and some food stalls.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Sukawati Art Market, Gianyar District, Bali

A. Overview

Everytime visiting a new place, it is a must for the visitors to go to the souvenir shops. If you have only little time, of course the souvenir shop in the hotel you are staying will do. The prices are comparably higher for sure than those outside the hotel and it will not give you a special memory like when you spend some time visiting traditional markets to hunt for unique objects.

There are of course wider array of choices for you in either traditional markets or art markets and it is more fun as well. In Yogyakarta, there are Malioboro and Beringharjo Market to shop for relatively low-priced souvenirs. Besides, there is also Gabusan Art Market that provides miscelaneous handicrafts that are unique and interesting. Not only in Jogja, however, in Bali there is also a traditional market providing various special Balinese handicrafts you can bring home as gifts for relatives. The shopping center is Sukawati Art Market.

Sukawati Art Market is a traditional market situated in Sukawati Subdistrict. The market has been operating since 1980s, but the precise date is unknown. Over the course of time, Sukawati Art Market has undergone a speedy development that today, it is the central market for special Balinese souvenirs. It has also become one of Balinese tourism icons. Most tourists visiting Bali will likely spend some time in Sukawati Art Market. When they get home, they will often say to they friends, “If you are in Bali, never miss Sukawati Market.”

B. Features

For shopper-tourists, Sukawati Art Market is heaven. It has everything you need. Keychains, barong t-shirts, accessories, paintings, bags, aromatherapeutic candles, sculptures, bed covers, or even household appliances, all you can find in Sukawati Art Market. The objects are all labelled “made in Bali”. You will have choices of objects and get what you need and like.

If you find the price is too expensive, you should never feel ashamed of bargaining. Most vendors here will not get irritated if you bargain with a very low price. The smarter you are in bargaining, the lower the price you wil get. If you are not good at bargaining, it is possible that you will buy an object at a higher price than normal.

The best time to go for shopping in Sukawati Art Market is in the morning at around 08 a.m. to 10 a.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time. This is after the vendors finish their prayer and just open their kiosks. According to their beliefs, the first object sold will bring them luck for the day. For that reason, vendors usually sell their merchandises at a low price.

In the market, there are two kinds of vendors, namely those who sell things in a kiosks or stands and those travelling salesmen, also known as “acung” vendors. There are approximately 70 acung vendors in the market. They usually sell things by approaching the buyers or tourists who just come off the cars or buses. If you do not want to get exhausted walking around the market, the acung vendors will be very helpful as it is them who approach you.

C. Location

Sukawati Art Market is situated at Desa Sukawati, Sukawati District, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia.

D. Access

Sukawati souvenir center lies about 15 kilometers north or approximately 20 minutes from Denpasar. If you come from Ngurah Rai Airport or Kuta Beach, it will take around an hour to get to the location. As the market is one of tourists’ favorite destinations, the access to the place is quite easy.

E. Ticket

You will not be charged to enter Sukawati Art Market except if you bring a private transportation vehicle. In that case, you will have to pay for parking. Sukawati Art Market opens daily from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time. However in Nyepi and Galungan religious holidays, there will be no activity in the market.

F. Accomodations and Facilities

As an icon of Bali tourism, Sukawati Art Market has been equipped with standard facilities such as wide parking lot and public convenience. There are also homestays and restaurants around the place.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Tambi Tea Plantation, Wonosobo District - Central Java Province

A. Brief Information


When hearing “Wonosobo,” a great number of people will be reminded of Mie Ongklok and Dieng Plateau. Actually, besides those two things, Wonosobo also has a tea plantation, which is often called Tambi Agro tourism. Tambi Agro tourism is the right choice for those who love escapade tour, or those who want to simply disappear from urban tumult, and to feel the fresh air around mountainous area.

Tambi Agro Tourism is a tea plantation area of 829,14 ha, which is directly controlled by PT Tambi, a company that deal with plantation and tea production. Formerly, at the Dutch colonial era (1885 A.D.), Tambi estate company was a Dutch-owned company named Bagelan Thee & kina Maatschappij with a base in the Netherlands. The Indonesian branch was managed by NV John Peet, with a base in Jakarta. When the freedom revolution of Indonesia exploded, the company was taken over by the Republic Indonesia Government. Its workers were then appointed as civil servants. After the round table conference in 1949, the company was returned back to the previous owner. Then, in 1954 the company was sold by the owner to NV Ex PPN Sindoro Sumbing, a company built by the Ex-Employees of Government‘s Estate. In 1957, NV Ex PPN Sindoro Sumbing established cooperation with the Local Government of Wonosobo to build a new company named NV Tambi. Its present name is PT. Perkebunan Tambi (www.agris-tambi.com)

Tambi Tea Plantation site stretches on the slope of Mount Sindoro. Geographically, this agro tourism site is situated at an altitude of 800 - 2,000 meters above the sea level with the rainfall average of about 2.500-3.000 mm/year. The average lowest temperature is about 15°C and the highest temperature might reach 24°C. For such natures, the place offers you slightly mild weather, and it will make you comfortable to be here for along.

B. Distinctive Feature

The major activity here is walking around the tea plantation. The place has three tea walk routes; there are short route (1-2 km), middle route (2-3 km), and long route (3-9 km). Here, you can release the tension of your daily activity. Green carpet that spread out on the mountain slope, the breezy of wind, and the mild climate will make you fresh and relax. If lucky, you will meet some tea pickers who are smiling and warm.

Wanting some more? So you can have another activity offered by Tambi Agro-tourism management. You will be taught how to choose and pick the tea leave from the trunk. Indeed, the art of picking the tea leave has special rules and methods. So, if you make a mistake in picking a leaf, do not ever wish to consume an aromatic and tasteful tea.

Tea walk and watching the process of tea picking probably had been offered by other agro tourism. Tambi Agro tourism offers something different, which is called factory tour program. In this program, tourists are guided to see the process of black tea production. Starting with tea-picking, the tour continues with observation on the tea production. At this stage, you may observe the processes how a tealeaf is processed into a cup of hot black tea with special fragrance that you can drink in the available gazebos.

In addition, this site offers you another tourism package that might pump your adrenalin up; rafting in Serayu River. For those who never try, don‘t worry. There are professional guides and instructors who will be ready to assist you and teach you patiently how to raft well. If you do not have enough bravery to wade through the rapids of Serayu River, you can have “Flying Fox.” Indeed, this site provides you various outbound arenas, ranging from the simple one to the high-risk one.

C. Location

Tambi Tea Plantation lies precisely at the west slope of Sindoro & Sumbing Mountains, 16 km north of Wonosobo. It is administratively located at Tambi Village, Kejajar Sub-district, Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia

D. Access

Located along the main road of Wonosobo-Dieng, Tambi Tea Plantation is accessible for you who want to have a leisure there. Tourists who want to visit this plantation can start their travel from Wonosobo. To reach Wonosobo City you can use two routes. For those who depart from Eastwards, you can take Temanggung-Wonosobo route because you might see the enchanting scenery of sindoro-Sumbing and Kledung. When you depart from Southwards, you should pass Banjarnegara-Wonosobo route. You will see the green rice fields spread as long as your view. Likewise, the water of the Serayu River flows along the stream to the sea. The river, indeed, might lure you to have adventurous activity through wading the stream.

To reach Tambi Agro tourism, you only need about 20 minutes from Wonosobo City. If you use public transport, you will spend more. If so, you can take microbus Wonosobo-Dieng, and then you descend in Tambi village and continue your travel by foot. The plantation is only 200 meter from Main Street.

E. Ticket Price

To enjoy the coziness of tea walk and watching the process of tea production in the factory, you should come in a group, and a group should consist of 10 people in minimum. Each person should pay IDR 20.000, but, if you want to get lunch, you should add IDR 20.000. For group who want to participate in outbound activity, they should pay IDR 80.000 per person. The number of person in a batch minimal should 20 people (July 2009).

F. Accommodation and other Facility

Tambi plantation area is completed by several supporting facilities. The available facilities are restaurants, souvenir shops, security posts, outbound areas, campfire grounds, tennis yards, fishponds, and playground areas.

If you want to spend more nights here, a comfortable homestay is available with both good facilities and green scenery around, with the views of the hills at afar. The homestay rates range from IDR 225,000/night, to the most expensive one of around IDR 1.25 million (July, 2008). For note, there is likewise a meeting hall here so you can have a business meeting amidst the enchanting green scenery of Tambi Tea Plantation.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Gedung Agung Yogyakarta

A. Overview

When Tracing back the history of Indonesian independence in Yogyakarta you cannot leave off the President’s Residence The Residence lies upon a 43.858 square meter land and is also known as Gedung Agung. The naming was thought to be related to one of the functions of the main palace as a room for receiving noble guests.


Gedung Agung is one of the six President’s Residences in Indonesia who played an important role in the struggle for Indonesian independence and life. The other are Istana Negara and Istana Merdeka (Jakarta), Istana Bogor (Bogor), Istana Cipanas (Cipanas), and Istana Tampak Siring (Bali). The construction of Gedung Agung was initiated by Anthonie Hendriks Smissaert, the 18 head of Dutch Residency in Yogyakarta (1823-1925) who wanted to own an official office as well as residence for the Dutch Recidents in Yogyakarta. In May 1824 the Indies Governor General then appointed architect A. Payen to start the construction. The construction process was delayed due to Diponegoro War outbreak (1825-1830) which was also known as the Java War (Java Oorlog). After the war ended, the construction continued and finished in 1832. When an earthquake hit Yogyakarta on June 10 1867, the building collapsed. It was reconstructed and finished in 1869.

Along with the promotion of Yogyakarta administrative status from residency into province in December 19 1927, the main building of Gedung Agung complex was used as the resident of the Dutch Governor in Yogyakarta. Some of these Governors were J.E Jesper (1926-1927), P.R.W van Gesseler Verschuur (1929-1932), H.M. Detik.com, Kock (1932-1935), J. Bijlevel (1935-1940) and L. Adam (1940-1942). During the Japanese occupation, the Residence became the official residence for Koochi Zimmukyoku Tyookan, the Japanese ruler in Yogyakarta (1934-1945).

After Indonesia gained its independence, on January 6, 1946, Gedung Agung became the President’s Residence of Indonesia, coincided with the appointing of Yogyakarta the temporary capital of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Since then, Gedung Agung became the residence of President Soekarno and his family. Vice president Mohammad Hatta, meanwhile, stayed in a building on the north side of Gedung Agung (now Military Command 072/Pamungkas). In this President’s Residence Sudirman was inaugurated Commander in Chief of Indonesian National Army on June 3, 1947 and leader of the Indonesian army on July 3, 1947.

During the Dutch Military Agression II on December 19, 1948, Yogyakarta was taken over by the Dutch army led by General Spoor. The president, vice president and the state officials were exiled out of Java, then returned to Gedung Agung in July 6, 1949. As the President moved back to Jakarta on December 28, 1949, Gedung Agung was no longer president’s residence.

When Soeharto, the second president of Indonesia, ruled since April 17, 1988, Gedung Agung was used to hold The Senja Parade (a flag-lowering ceremony) on 17 every month, acquaintanceship and parting of the Air Force cadets. Even, since August 17, 1991, the President’s Residence of Yogyakarta was officially used to commemorate the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in DIY. Nowadays, Gedung Agung serves as place for the president and vice president to stay over in Yogyakarta.

B. Features

The building complex in Gedung Agung consists of the Main Building (Gedung Utama), Negara House, Indraphrasta House, Sawojajar House, Bumiretawu House and Saptapratala House. In Gedung Utama there is the main room called Garuda Room which functions as the official room to receive state visitors or special guests.
In addition to the five houses, there is Seni Sono complex which became a part of the President’s Residence since September 20, 1995. The complex is 5.600 square meter wide and located at the south of Gedung Agung. Previously it belonged to the Department of Information. The building functions to keep the collection of art objects as well as holding exhibition and art performance. It is an old building built by the Dutch in 1911 and was last used as an office of Antara state news agency.

In the front porch of Gedung Agung there are two gigantic statues of Dwarapala (the usher) as tall as 2 meters. There is also the 3 meter Dagoba monument which Yogyakarta people call the Tugu Lilin (Candle Monument), made of andecite and always light up artificial fire. The monument symbolizes the religious harmony between Shiva Hinduism and Buddhism. Presumably, the statues come from Cupuwatu Village, as region around Prambanan Temple.

On the front right of Main Building there is Ruang Soedirman to memorize his leadership in guerrilla against the Dutch. In this room, then, Soedirman asked for Soekarno permission to leave the town in order to lead the guerrilla. On the front left of Gedung Utama there is Ruang Diponegoro to memorize Diponegoro stuggle against the Dutch. There is a painting of Diponegoro riding on a horse.

On the south part Gedung Agung there is a bedroom for president and his family, on the north part there is a bed room provided for the vice president and his family, state visitors or other prominent guests. On Gedung Agung backyard there is a big, tall and leafy trees that makes the place shady.

In general, since erected two centuries ago, the Presedent’s Residence complex has not undergone significant changes. It still has the same shape as it was first constructed in 1869. It was in this room that the Indonesian Cabinet was inaugurated when the capital was moved to Yogyakarta. On the wall of this historical building there are images of national heroes such as Diponegoro, R.A. Kartini, Wahidin Soedirohusodo and Tengku Cik Di Tiro.

C. Location

Gedung Agung is situated in the center of Yogyakarta, at Ahmad Yani Street, Ngapusan Subdistrict, Gondomanan District, DIY, Indonesia. It is on the south of Vredeburg Fort, Serangan Umum 1 Maret Monument and Taman Pintar. On the south of this building there is the building of Bank of Indonesia, the Central Post Office of Yogyakarta (Kantor Pos Besar) and Yogyakarta Palace.

D. Access

The access to Gedung Agung is easy because it is located exactly at the end of Malioboro Street. Moreover, the building is relatively close to Adi Sucipto Airport (about 8 km), Giwangan Bus Station (about 6 km), Lempuyangan Train Station (abour 3 km) and Tugu Train Station (about 1 km).

Domestic and foreign tourists who depart from Adi Sucipto Airport can take Transjogja Route 3A or 3B across Malioboro Street. The fare is Rp 3.000 (August 2008). After about 25 minutes stop at the bus shelter in front of Gedung Agung. Those who depart from Giwangan Bus Station can take the city bus lane 4 or 10 across Malioboro Street and stop in front of Gedung Agung. The fare is Rp 2.000 (August 2008). From Lempuyangan Train Station, take a taxi to Gedung Agung for approximately Rp 20.000 (August 2008). While if you depart from Tugu Train Station, take a pedicab or andong to Gedung Agung for roughly Rp 5.000 (August 2008).

E. Ticket

Visiting Gedung Agung is free off charge. It opens daily from 9 am to 3 pm and it closes on Sundays and national holidays.

F. Accommodations and Facilities

Some supporting facilities in Gedung Agung are the library, small mosque, toilet, meeting hall, performance room and a wide and shady parking area.
Tasyriq Hifzhillah (wm/06/08-08)
Translation by Apri Widiastuti (trns/21/03-10)
__________

if you want to visit this place, please contact :
Maharatu Tour and Travel
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

Source : Wisata Melayu

Taman Budaya Yogyakarta (Cultural Hall of Yogyakarta)

One of the most visited cultural tourist destination in Yogyakarta is Taman Budaya Yogyakarta (TBY). The establishment of Taman Budaya was initially built at Bulaksumur area of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) on March 11, 1977 as a complex of Center for Cultural Development of Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). The art and cultural complex was inaugurated by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX who was the vice president of Indonesia then.

It was named Purna Budaya before it became Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. It served as a media to build, maintain, and develop the culture of DIY and its surroundings. Purna Budaya was built in two concepts, namely Pundi Wurya and Langembara. Being Pundi Wurya, Purna Budaya is intended to be an art center, equipped with such facilities as stage, dance studio, library, discussion and administration rooms. Being Langembara it is aimed as a room for exhibition and workshop, canteen and inn.
In 1978, Purna Budaya was developed into a technical unit for culture under the Directorate General for Culture based on the decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia No. 0276/O/1978. In 1991, there was a reformation in the organization and work procedure of Purna Budaya based on the decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia No. 0221/O/1991.

Later in 1995, Prof. Dr. Soekanto H. Reksohadiprodjo, M.Com, the Dean of UGM (1994-1998), in his decree No. UGM/422/PL/06/IV to the Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia, requested Purna Budaya building in Bulaksumur complex to be utilized as UGM student center.

Several years later, on the agreement of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Regional Development Planning Agency of Yogyakarta, Provincial Government of Yogyakarta, the Mayor of Yogyakarta and the Directorate General of Culture of Yogyakarta, TBY was rebuilt in Vredeburg Fort cultural conservation area next to Gedung Societet Militair. At last, based on the Provincial Regulation No. 7/2002 and the decree of DIY Governor No. 161/2002 dated November 4, 2002, TBY was developed into Technical Implementing Service Unit for Culture and Tourism of Yogyakarta.

TBY then stepped into a new phase as “The Window of Yogyakarta”. TBY started to focus its activities more on fine arts, recording media (movie showing throughout the year), performing art (theater, wayang [shadow puppet], ketoprak, puppeteer and dance festivals), and educative programs (art coaching and training for children and young) and publishing (profiles of artists and cultural observers, literary anthologies and fine art criticisms.

B. Features

TBY complex consists of two buildings namely the Taman Budaya Concert Hall and Gedung Societet Militair. Inside the Concert Hall there is the main room which functions as the official room for fine art exhibition, such as painting, visual art, sculpture, and craft. In addition, Taman Budaya Concert Hall is often used for literary discussion, poetry reading and art training.

Meanwhile, Gedung Societet Militair is specialized for performing art, such as music (traditional and modern), theater, ketoprak, shadow puppet, dances and so on. As an art performance setting, Gedung Societet Militair possesses good and sufficient facilities, such as a hall for 500 audiences, performance stage, lighting and outdoor space for publication.

TBY is a busy place. This can be seen from the well-arranged schedule of professionally held events. Tourists can visit TBY office to check the events agenda scheduled on the notice board. Many of the events are related to such activities as fine art exhibition, theater performance, literary discussion, poetry reading and art festival. Among those events, Yogyakarta Art Festival (FKY) is one of the regular. It is held every July-August, involving performing arts, visual arts, art workshop, etc.

C. Location

Taman Budaya is located at the center of Yogyakarta, at Sriwedari Street No. 1, DIY, Indonesia 55122. It is on the east of Vredeburg Fort and next to the Shopping Center and Taman Pintar. On the north of Taman Budaya there are Beringharjo Market and Malioboro.

D. Access

Located at the heart of Yogyakarta, Taman Budaya is very accessible. Moreover, Taman Budaya is relatively close from Adi Sucipto Airport (about 8 km), from Giwangan Bus Station (about 6 km), from Lempuyangan Train Station (about 3 km) and from Tugu Train Station (about 1 km).

Domestic and foreign tourists who depart from Adi Sucipto Airport can take Transjogja (Route 3A or 3B) to Malioboro Street for Rp 3.000,-. After 25 minutes of journey, stop at Transjogja shelter in front of Gedung Agung, then walk to TBY for around 300 meters. Meanwhile, tourists who depart from Giwangan Bus Station can take the city bus lane 2, 4 or 15 to Malioboro Street and stop at Beringharjo Market or Taman Pintar for Rp 2.000,- (October 2008), and then walk to TBY as far as approximately 200 meters.

If tourists depart from Lempuyangan Train Station, take a taxi to TBY for around Rp 20.000,- (October 2008). And from Tugu Train Station, visitors can take a pedicab or andong (horse cart) to TBY for around Rp 10.000,- (October 2008).

E. Ticket

Unless there is an event, TBY is free off charge. Sometimes, though, TBY hold art events for free. TBY opens daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

F. Accommodations and Facilities

Some supporting facilities at TBY are the library, a small mosque, toilets, a café, and a wide and shady parking area.
(Tasyriq Hifzhillah) (wm/07/10-08)
Translation by Apri Widiastuti (trns/22/03-10)


if you want to visit this place, please contact :
Maharatu Tour and Travel
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com
Website : www.maharatu.com 


Source : Wisata Melayu

Makassar, The Beautiful City

Makassar is the capital city of Sulawesi Island. Precisely located on the South Sulawesi Province. The city was formally named Ujung Pandang. Makassar bordered with Makassar Strait in the west, Pangkajene Islands District in the north, Maros Regency in the east and Gowa in the south. Makassar city become the center of trading activity in the South Sulawesi.
Makassar is the beautiful city because it has several tourism objects that can make our dazzled. Not only tourism objects, Makassar also has many culture like traditional transportation, dance, song, food, etc.So, let read this article to more know about Makassar City.

TOURISM OBJECTS

1. Pantai Losari
Pantai Losari is one of many beach in Indonesia. Pantai Losari located on the west of Makassar City. Pantai losari is a beautiful place to spend our time in the morning, afternoon, and evening to enjoying the beautiful sunset scenery. Pantai Losari also known as Seafod World because there is many restaurant or canteen that offer many kinds of seafood like kerapu, toasty gurame, squid rice, etc.
Losari beach located in strategic position and become one with the city of Makassar, which stretched for approximately 4 kms. The beach is directly accessible by the main road. Across the street stand many hotels with a variety of classes. Among others Hotel MGM, Losari Beach Hotels, Quality Hotels, Hotel Aryadutta, and the Hotel Aston. For mid-budget traveler, can choose Hotel Losari Beach, or go a little bit into Joseph Latumahina street, there is a comfortable small hotels namely Hotel Canary.







The most ideal time to visit Pantai Losari is late afternoon. Many person who come here to sit down to enjoy clean beaches, jogging along the street as far as 500 meters, or eating seafood that have been relocated by the local government into the south area. Everybody will come here to enjoy the sunset while eat food from merchants.Merchants selling various foods ranging from just a snack just chock stomach like meatballs or fried. There are also special foods such as Coto Makassar or various seafood with the original recipe from Bugis people. . You will find the clean air and nonstop wind blows here.


2. Pelabuhan Paotere
Paotere is a boat harbor, located in Ujung Tanah District, Makassar. ± 5 km (± 30 minutes) from the center of Makassar. Pelabuhan Paotere is one of the folk harbor that still survives and become evidence of the Kingdom of Gowa-Tallo heritage.



Paotere harbor is currently used as a center of the boats like Phinisi Lambo and also became the center of commercial fishing, which can be seen along the road there are shops that sell various kinds of dried fish, fishing equipment, and several seafood restaurants.



Also many tourism objects in Makassar city, like

- Makam Diponegoro



- Pulau Samalona



- Pulau Barang Lompo



- Pulau Kayangan



update soon

by : pandu pebriatmoko / 114080014