Jedong Temple is a gate temple, in the shape of Paduraksan, a type of gate which its roof merged.  The gates were made of andesite while the wall which connects both gates made of brick. And on the both upper gate are engraved with kala as the characteristic of other classical building in Java. This temple is located not far from Ngoro Industrial Area, Mojokerto and geographically nestles on the northern slope of Mount Gajah Mungkur, one of peaks of Mount Penanggungan.

Local people call the two gates as Gapura Lanang (Male’s Gate)  for Candi Jedong I and Gapura Wadon (Female’s Gate) for Candi Jedong 2. 

One of the Gate is bigger, and a date is carved at the temple wall, 1307 Saka or 1385. The smaller gate is not dated, yet there was an andesit dated 1378 Saka or1456.  The function of the temple is assumed as gate to a  free-tax area or known as Perdikan (Sima). There is an assumption that this area has existed for thousand years.

From various literature, 12 inscriptions were found here, and named as Jedong  I- XII. The inscriptions are primary source for history data as the  they contain accuracy.

Jedong I, Tulangan inscription was made on bronze and written in old Javanese script in Jedong Area, which has already been existed since 832 Saka or 910 AD and in that period the area had been a free-tax region or locally known as Perdikan (Sima) Tulangan. Tulangan is the first term of Jedong. This period, is concurrent with the reign of King Balitung (898-913 AD) who ruled Old Mataram Kingdom in Central Java.

Jedong II (Kambang Sri), is date back 848 Saka (929 AD), explaining about King Rakai Layah Dyah Tolodong who reigned Old Mataram Kingdom in Central Java 920-928 AD and in this period Jedong name altered to Kambang Sri.

Jedong III (Kambang Sri II) is made of andesite stone in old Javanese script dated back 850 Saka (928 AD) (Verbeek 1891). This period was when King Sendok reigned from 929-948 AD in Old Mataram Kingdom East Java.

The conclusion is there are 2 periods: King Tulodong reigned Old Mataram Kingdom in Central Java and King Sendok ruled Old Mataram Kingdom in East Java, and the site was still named as Kambang Sri. Since Old Mataram King, Candi Jedong had been a  Sima known as Tulangan area, and then later became Kambang Sri. Three inscriptions above are long inscriptions, while others from Jedong IIIa-XII are short inscriptions, which only written a date. The newest inscription was dated back 1378 Saka or 1456 AD.  According to those findings, Jedong as fee-tax region had been existed since Old Mataram Kingdom until Majapahit Kingdom. period.

(Various source)

This temple  is located on the eastern slope of Mt Penanggungan, overlooking lush forest and not far from a beautiful rice terraces. The temple is constructed of red brick, and andesite with the main feature is two goddesses  and Garuda Wisnu in the middle of both goddesses.  Laksmi dan Sri are the wife or Sakti of  Wisnu. And it has been a long tradition in East Java that a king is dietified for prestide and legitimacy.  In Belahan Temple, King Airlangga is deitified as Wisnu. The Garuda Wisnu is not in the temple anymore but now displayed in Trowulan Museum. The queen, is the one wearing prabha, she was the daughter of King Dharmawangsa and  the other one is king’s second wife.

Airlangga was the king of Kahuripan. When he was 16 years old, King Dharmawangsa, his father in law was overthrown, and  Airlangga and his guardian, Narotama,  could escaped to forest. In the future he could defeat his enemies and then built a kingdom, Kahuripan Kingdom.

The size of the bathing place is 6.14 M X 6,14 M, the water sprouting from the bare breast of Laksmi. Laksmi and Sri are the symbol of fertility and prosperity. Both beautiful goddess standing on a lotus, bare breasted, wearing crowns and elaborate jewellery and draped clothing.

Because of the good quality of water, locals use the water in this temple for drinking water. You can sometimes meet locals carrying water jar.

Javanese come to this place for some ritual, the water also believed to have virtue. And it is never dry or lessen in dry season,

Han Family Altar House

Surabaya is indeed has been a magnet for immigrant or traders from overseas in the past, either from Europe, Asia, India and Arab countries. Today there are some evidence can still be seen, especially at the northern part of Surabaya, as the old town of Surabaya.
One of the evidence is Han family altar house located in the Chinatown of Surabaya. This establishment was built in the 1876 by Han Sie Lok, and it was known as Han Sie lok Hian Tjok Biauw. The architecture is very interesting as it adopts Indische Empire style and Chinese style as exterior. Han family initially arrived in Lasem and in China this family was a rich merchant. The descendants moved to Surabaya and involved in business of sugar cane plantation, sugar factory, and weed. Pilars inside the house were imported from Glasgow, the floor is made of marble.

The house has never been renovated. And it is still in good state. Inside the house you can find the original chairs and table and glass. The ceiling is high and open. The doors are made of teak wood, very solid and thick, especially the main door.

Kelingking Beach is magnificent to be taken picture from above as maybe you have seen in many pictures on instagram. The blue sky, the crystal blue ocean water, the white sandy beach and also the peculiar shape of the small peninsula creating a magical beautiful vista. 

Broken Beach located in Nusa Penida Island. The beach is very unique as it is a secluded beach separated by a cliff hole. The beach itself is not accessible, however the view has is amazing that it draws visitors to visit and take a picture of this beach.  Below is the pictures of the Broken Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali , Indonesia. 

And to book trip to Broken Beach of Nusa Penida and Nusa Penida Tour or Bali Tour in general, please contact  Getaway Tours: Indonesia Tour Operator.

There are still some traditional house of Batak exist until today. Not so many left anymore in some areas in North Sumatera. The house has two kinds: Ruma and Sopo. Ruma is a dwelling while Sopo is an establishment without wall which is used as barn or as living room.

The house has 3 major section, the lower, middle and upper. The lower section is the foundation and pillar which support the house and used for livestock. The middle is used as dwelling and the upper to keep weapons.

Ruma and Sopo have steep roof made of grass. The house usually decorated with carving, known as gorga. Gorga is usually made of soft wood which is sunlight and water resistant, such as Ungil wood. The Gorga has three colors: white, red and black. White color is made out of lime stone, red color made out of a red stone and black color is made of plants.

In front of the house there is a stair as entrance. It is a pride for Batak people when the stair is worn out as it is an indication that the house has welcomed many guests and that the owner is friendly.

The door if the house is low, that when one is entering the house must bow which has meaning guest must respect the house owner.

I always love seeing the lush green forest, and river. And i think Tanjung Puting National Park is a very lovely place to visit. Not just to getaway from my mundane environment but also to understand more of the flora, fauna, wildlife and environment.

It is thrilling to enter this park, as it is one of the so called lung of the earth. Cruising through the Sikonyer river, passing nipah trees, pandan trees and some vegetation can be seen from the river. In the afternoon, those proboscis monkey or locally known as bekantan can be seen enjoying afternoon from tree branches. Not only that, macaque sometimes busy eating nipah’s fruit and birds roaming.

Orangutan which attract mainly visitors to come can be seen at feeding area. Usually the tour will include visiting the 3 feeding area, at Tanjung Harapan, Pondok Tangguy and Camp Leaky. Those orangutan can be seen there are semi wild, which once was rehabilitated and then released to the jungle. As the orang utan from rehabilitation is different and automatically could not compete with wild orangutan, feeding is still ongoing.  Beside this will make any disease that maybe will be spreaded through contact from semi-wild to the wild ones. 

The feeding station just located about 1 KM from the camp located at the river bank, which can be reached by about 30-45 minutes walk.  It is such a privilege watching this big apes in their habitat  from close distance. They swing from branch to another and especially when seeing how attached the young orangutan is very clingy to their mother.

The very informative station of Camp Leaky is very interesting. That it can take a while for me to read carefully to learn and understand more about orangutan,  other wildlife, the forest, the research. Camp Leaky was established in 1971 by Dr Birute Galdikas and her former spouse Rod Brindamour and it was named after legendary paleo-anthropologist, Louis Leaky, the mentor and inspiration for Dr. Galdikas.

Other memorable experience at Tanjung Puting National Park was the night we dock the boat nearby nipah tree was were full of fireflies. The whole night was magical with the twinkling bugs. I could not remember when was the last time i saw fireflies, maybe twenty years ago.  According to the guide, few years back, the fireflies was along the river every night. And now, only they are only in some Nipah trees, due to firest and the carbon of the fire affect the fireflies.

Sekonyer River was clear black in color all along. Now the down stream is brown, and it is said to be the effect of mining activities. But upstream is still well preserved. I love the color of the river, so clear and black. The black color was due to the acid from the leaves of the jungle.

This place of interest imitate the Great Wall of China in simple and smaller size. This was the initiative of local and government to make the stair way more interesting for visitors and for locals to refresh. 

In the past this stairs was already there, since the colonial period and then the locals and govt rebuilt it in 2013. Along the wall, the panorama is beautiful and green. It can be accessed from Panorama Park or from Koto Gadang town. Both places we can see the view of Sianok Canyon, but i think the view from Koto Gadang is more beautiful. 

If you access Great Wall of Koto Gadang via Nagari Koto Gadang, you can also visit silver home industry and weaving. Koto Gadang is also interesting place as it has many old house from the past. If you love architecture you will enjoy passing by the street seeing the houses here.

If having long free time in Bukittinggi, this can be an option to walk from Koto Gadang to Bukittinggi. 

Bukittingi is a beautiful city, rich of hilly landscapes. And the most prominent is Sianok Canyon. This canyon is a narrow valley surrounded by ravine and engraved with the river flow in the middle. The contour was created by the collapse of earth slab, which yielded as a fault of  deep ravines. 

The canyon stretchs over 15 km from the south of Nagari Koto Gadang to Nagari Sianok Enam Suku, with the depth ranges from 100 to 200 m. 

Sianok fault is part of Semangko fault which cuts across Sumatera Island in two long parts horizontally from Aceh to Teluk Semangko in Lampung. Semangko fault location which creatres Bukit Barisan mountains.  Ngarai Siano is the obvious visual of the tectonic fault movement in Sumatarea Island. The process creating a marvelous fertile land and beautiful panorama.  

There are various activities can be done here, such as trekking, walking and cycling. Visitor can also observe the view of the canyon from Panorama Park.

Bukittinggi Zoo is the oldest zoo in Indonesia. It was built by the Dutch in the 1900. It has animals from the eastern of Indonesia as it exchange with Surabaya Zoo. The official name of this zoo is Taman Margasatwa dan Budaya Kinantan. And as its name, it does not only has animals, yet also Minangkabau traditional house where visitors can see the old collections and see the architecture of the house and also take a picture in traditional  costume. 

The zoo is connected by a bridge called Limpapeh Bridge, to Fort de Kock. Fort de Kock was established in the the midst of 19th Century as defense fortress against Minangkabau attact during Paderi war.  Taking the advantage of local conflicts, the Dutch was on the side of Minangkabau aristocrats and suppressed the religious people. As it was built by  Captain Bauer, when Governor Hendrik Merkus Baron de Kock reigned and as well as the Military commander.