Candi Gedong Songo is located in Ungaran with elevation of 1200-1800 m asl. Administratively situated in Ambarawa Regency and just 39 KM from Semarang. Gedong Songo means 9 temples with the highest location. Gedong is Javanese for buiding and songo means nine, so Gedong Songo means cluster of 9 temples. At the beginning was called as Gedong Pitue (seven) as Rafles only found 7 temples, and later found 2 other non-intact temples. In 1928 till 1929, Dutch administration’s office for preservation of ancient heritage restored the complex. Those temples were made of andesit stones and restoration had been done on each temples from 1972 to 1982 by Indonesia government.
Lawang Sewu is a mansion located in Semarang, Central Java, was built by Dutch 1904 to 1907 as Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij, Dutch Indies Rail Company. Local people call this building Lawang Sewu or Thousand Doors, as this building has plenty of doors, but sure less than one thousand actually. It has tall and wide windows, that local people call the window as doors. This big, beautiful yet sad building stand out in the area.
After Indonesian Independence day, this building was function as Republic of Indonesia Railway Office, now called PT KAI, after that used as Military office, Communication office. During the gaining of Independence, this building was an important site where 5 days combat from 15 October to 19 October 1945. As a dumb witness of the fight between Angkatan Muda Kereta Api (Young Generation of Railway) against Japanese Kempetai and Kidobutai. Continue reading Lawang Sewu: The Thousand Doors Mansion, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia→
Gembel or dreadlock hair is natural phenomenon in Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia, and usually experienced by children living on the slope of Mt Sindoro, Mt Sumbing and Dieng Plateau area. This phenomenon called gembel because the hair resembles to tramps hair that never shower their hairs, though in this case this gembel/ dreadlock hair grows naturally. Gembel is not a hereditary phenomenon, but it can be experienced by any child.
Gembel hair usually to start out growing when children are 1 or 2 years old, where the symptoms are initiated by fever for few days. Afterwards their hairs start to be tangled to each other and fused. There are many kind of gembel, sometimes partially, or can be the entire hair, can be small like paddy, can be big lump, depends on the hair characteristic curly or straight hair. Parents will not comb this part of hair or cut it. If the gembel lump released accidently, they will keep it until the purification ritual held. Continue reading Gembel (Dreadlock) Hair Phenomenon : Still remains mystery, Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia→
Candi Mendut is located on the most east of the line of three temples; Borobudur Temple, Pawon Temple and Mendhut Temple. This temple was built by Syailendra dynasty and typical of Buddhist Temple that was proven by 48 bell-like stupas on its heading. There was no information when this temple was erected but a Dutch archeolog mentioned inscription dated 824 , that King Indra built a sacred building called venunava. And a Budhist Priest Bhiku Sri Pannyavaro Mahathera said that the original name of the temple is Venuvana Mandira that means a palace bamboo forest. So probably the temple was built in 8th century.
In the inner part of the temple located altar where 3 Buddha statuary standing calmly, they are Bodhisattva Vajravani, Buddha Sakyamuni and Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Those three statuary are stiil in good condition, and often Buddha believers or local people put offering and incense on their feet. Continue reading Candi Mendut, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia→
Jumprit is a spring located in Ngadirejo, Temanggung, Central Java, and just 26 KM from Temanggung City. Right on the slope of Mt Sindoro, on 800 m asl make make this spring has a mild temperature and green surrounding. This spring never dry even in the driest season.
Jumprit has drawn visitors from Java especially pilgrim visitors who are into meditation or spiritual tourism. Jumprit is also the Ki Jumprit Tomb Stone site, he is the well known dukun in Majapahit era burried in this area. Usually javanese come here to mediatate or put offering on his tomb stone. Jumprit name mentioned in Centini, literature of Javanese Poet in 1815. According to Centini, Ki Jumprit beside also a fortune-teller also the son of King Brawijaya of Majapahit, the story date back when Islam started to take over Java. Continue reading Jumprit Spring : Buddhist Holy Water, Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia→
Gunung Merapi National Park administratively located in 4 regions ; Magelang, Boyolali, Klaten and Sleman a regency of Yogyakarta. Mt Merapi
height is 2.911 and slope of 30º. Mt Merapi has been the source of water for areas in Jogja and the vicinity, and Merapi is the habitat of abundant vegetation and home of animals.
Gunung Merapi National Park has ±72 vegetation with Castanopsis argentia and Schima wallichii and Panda Tricolor Orchid that grow endemically. Merapi is the home of Javan Hawk, Spiolaris bido, The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis), Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), The Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), The Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus), The Red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri), The Bar-winged Prinia (Prinia familiaris), Javan Tiger (Panthere sp), deer, monkeys, pig, and many more. Continue reading Mt Merapi : The Mount of Fire, Jogja, Indonesia→
This temple is located in Candirenggo, Singosari of Malang City. Discovered in the early 18th and was named as Candi Menara (Tower Temple) by Dutch, perhaps because of its tower-like shape. Also names as Cande Cella by European archaeologist, as it has 5 cella or window-like parts on its sides. Local people call this temple as Candi Cungkup, but now commonly people call it Candi Singosari refer to its location.
According to local people, this temple was part of a wide area with 7 temples before other temples collapse. Statues in Candi Singosari are from other collapse temple, and the original statues from Singosari temple were already carried by Dutch. Continue reading Candi Singosari, Malang, East Java, Indonesia→
PPLH Seloliman is a natural conservation reserve located in Seloliman, Trawas, Mojokerja, East Java, Indonesia. Situated in a cold hill on the slope of Mt Penanggungan with elevation of 640 m asl. This is the place where you can enjoy the sounds of water, mountain breeze and also few ancient remains in the vicinity of the area. Continue reading PPLH Seloliman: Nature Conservation Reserve, East Java, Indonesia→
Geographically, Meru Betiri 113038’38” – 113058’30” EL, and 8020’48” – 8033’48” south latitude, administratively located in Jember and Banyuwangi Regency.
Topography of Merubetiri National Park is very hilly up to 1.223 M asl that is Mt Betiri. There are few other mountains ranges from 160 m to more than 800 m asl in here. Sukamade River, Permisan River, Meru River, Sekar Pisang river that empty in Java Sea.
Surabaya is popular as city of heroes, and no wonder it has many monuments as the evidence of the Surabaya people to regain Indonesia Independence . To remind the youngsters that battle of life and death had happened in this city, that’s what monument were built.
Tugu pahlawan (Heroes Monument)
This monument was built to commemorate 10th November 1945 tragedy. Built on the previously base of Kempetai (Japan Military Police)that was destroyed in 10th November 1945. The idea of erecting this monument came from Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president. The monument is decorated with trisula, stamba and padma on bottom which has philosophic value and also as the symbol of Surabaya people struggle. Continue reading Monuments in Surabaya→
Indonesia Ecotourism and Adventure Tour : Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Toraja, Nias, Bromo, Ijen, Bali, Komodo, Flores, Orangutan Borneo, Sumatra, Lombok, Sumba Island and beyond.
Gembel or dreadlock hair is natural phenomenon in Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia, and usually experienced by children living on the slope of Mt Sindoro, Mt Sumbing and Dieng Plateau area. This phenomenon called gembel because the hair resembles to tramps hair that never shower their hairs, though in this case this gembel/ dreadlock hair grows naturally. Gembel is not a hereditary phenomenon, but it can be experienced by any child.
Jumprit is a spring located in Ngadirejo, Temanggung, Central Java, and just 26 KM from Temanggung City. Right on the slope of Mt Sindoro, on 800 m asl make make this spring has a mild temperature and green surrounding. This spring never dry even in the driest season.
