Semana Santa is tradition that is still well preserved until today and even bigger than previous year, more people flock to join this ritual. The ritual has close relation with the legendary Tuan Ma.

The story started many generations before, mixed of legend and myth. About 500 years ago, at Larantuka beach, the wind was silence, waves were resting and the tide was low. A boy from Resiona tribe played at the beach to fish and snails in between reefs. He found a statue on the beach and he carried it home to give to his grandmother. And afterwards, Larantuka people who adhere animism and dinamism consider the statue as holy.  This story is handed down from generation to generation.

Other myth says that the young man saw a goddess walked on water. He asked the goddess but she sais something he did not understand. He then reported what he saw to the tribe leader, yet when they arrived back to the beach, the goddess had changed into beautiful statue. And nearby the statue, there are shells arranged into symbols that they did not understand. And after the arrival of missionary, they know that the symbol means ‘Santa Maria Rainha Rosari’. And then King of Larantuka made the statue as goddess that they worship. Whenever they were in a war, they did ceremony in front of the statue and they could win. Lamaholot people who live on the coastal of Flores prayed in front of the statue when they start to farm and when they are sick. King of Larantuka considered that the statue was a gift from ‘rera wulan’ or the God. The Larantuka people call this statue as Tuan Ma, which derives Tuan  means Mister and Mama means mother. While Lamaholot call it as Rera Wulan Tanah Ekan, god of heaven and earth.  The King took the missionary to Korke, where the statue was places. When reading the symbol, he kneeled and it meant Mother Mary. He said  that Mother Mary opened the way to this land to spread her son’s religion. The king concluded that Mother Mary opened that way to spread catholic in his land. Catholic spread easiy in here due to the relation with this statue.

Afterwards the king was christened to be Catholic and also his family members and the people, and then the Portugese arrived. And then why the statue arrived first?

In 1510 Portuguese ship sailed to trade to east and then wrecked. The ship in the past usually sailed with holy goods including statues. And that was how Mother Mary statue arrived at Larantuka before the Portugese /missionary arrived.

In 1650, King of Larantuka , Ola Adobala was christened and gave his kingdom to Tuan Ma as the manifestation of Mother Mary . Since then Larantuka is called as Reinha city (Portuguese) or City of Queen, or City of Maria. Afterwards, his son, Don Gaspar I, in 1965 parade Tuan Ma statue around Larantuka

Until nowadays, this tradition has been held for generations for 5 centuries. Every Good Friday or Sesta Vera, two statues Tuan Ma and Tuan Ana are paraded around the city with millions of candles along the route.

Sesta Vera is the peak of Semana Santa ritual, the holy week of Easter, that shows the tradition of Portugesse and Lamaholot becomes one. For more than 500 years, the palace of Larantuka and Semana Tribes come together with Confreria de Rosari, of the association of Mary party, work hand in hand with church to preserve this.

As Tuan Ma and Tuan Ana statues can be seen only once a year, devotees will make time to join the rituals. They come from all over the place, not only from Flores island only. But also other regions of Indonesia as this event is the biggest Catholic event in Indonesia. The devotees believe that the face of Tuan Ma they see depends on the feeling they have, sad or happy.

Various source

The term of Dayak is generally used to refer the non-muslim indigenous people, and non-Malay inhabit the island of Kalimantan. This is especially in Malaysia, as in Indonesia there are muslim Dayak that include them in Dayak tribe even though so they are called as Banjar and Kutai Tribe.

According to Lindblad, Dayak derives from Kenyah language, “daya” . which means upstream or hinterland. King also assumed that Dayak probably derives from aja, Malay language means native people.

The native people is called as Daya in Sambas and Pontianak, which means daya people or the land people. While in Banjarmasin, they are called as Biaju (bi means from, aju means upstream). Initially Daya (land people) referred to the native of West Kalimantan, from sub-tribe Bidayuh that lately called as Dayak Darat (Dayak Land) to differs them from Dayak Laut (Iban subtribe). In Banjarmasin Dayak term used in the treaty between Sultan of Banjar with East Indies in 1826, to replace the term of Biaju Luhur (Kahayan River region) and Biaju Kecil (Kapuas Manurung river region) and each regions replaced respectively with Dayak Luhur and Dayak Kecil. Since then Dayak refers to Ngaju-Ot Danum or Barito subtribe. And recently Dayak refers to native tribe collectively especially non Muslim or non Malay. According to Departemen Pendidikan dan Norma budaya istiadat Anggota Proyek Pengkajian dan Pembinaan Nilai-Nilai Adat Kalimantan Timur, the first person to use Dayak term is a Dutch scientist, August Kaderland, in the 1895.

Some have opinion that Dayak means hiterland, Dayak means Human, so Dayak means people who inhibit the hinterland, the upriver. Iban people used Dayak to refer to human, while Tunjung and Benuaq use it to refer to upriver. They also claim that Dayak also means strong, brave, galant and hardworker. In literatre there are four terms : Daya’, Dyak, Daya and Dayak. The native themselves did not recognize this ter and yet outsiders called them “Dayak”.

Generally the inhabitants of Indonesia speaks Austronesia language. According to linguist : Peter Bellwoof and Blust, Austronesian language origin is from Taiwan. Around 4000 years ago, Austronesian migrated to the Philippines. And about 500 years ago they started to migrate southward to Indonesia archipelago, and eastward to Pacific.

Austronesian are not the first inhabitants of Borneo. Between 60,000 and 70,000 years ago, the sea surface was 120 cm to 150 cm lower and Indonesia islands was a land (some geologist called this land as Sunda). Human migrated southward from Asia to Australia, that in the past Australia was not so far away from Asia.

From mountains region stream rivers in Kalimantan. And then they spread to downstream and reach the coastland of Kalimantan. At the southern part of Kalimantan, Dayak tribe built a kingdom, which is called as Nansarunai Usak Jawa, Kingdom of Nansarunai of Dayak Maanyan that was destroyed by Majapahit Kingdom in the 1309 to 1389. And this caused Dayak Maanyan spread over. About 1520, Islam influenced arrived from Demak Kingdom and also the arrivals of Malay traders.

Dayak people in the south and east of Kalimantan that converted Islam exit the Dayak community and did not call themselves as Dayak, yet call them selves as Orang Banjar and Suku Kutai. Dayak tribe who rejected Islam, returned to hinterland through rivers and lived Katu Tangi, Margasari, Amuntai, Watang Amandit, Watang balangan and Labuan Amas. Some returned back to the jungle. Dayak Muslim usually stay in South Kalimantan and Kotawaringin. While a Banjar Hindu, Lambung Mngkurat, according to Dayak is a Dayak (Maanyan or Ot Danum). In East Kalimantan, Tonuoy-Benuaq who converted Islam called themselves Suku Kutai. Tribes from other areas also came to Kalimantan. Chinese recorded came to Kalimantan in the period of Ming Dynasty and that the first city visited was Banjarmasin and that one of a prince of Biaju was coronated as king to replace Sultan Hidayatullah I. And this new king was Sultan Mustain Billah. They visited only and did not stay , just like European traders that visited South Kalimantan has already happened in Banjar Hindu Kingdom in the 14th Century. The Chinese traders started to stay in Banjarmasin nearby coast since 1736.

The arrival of Chinese at the South Kalimantan did not affect Dayak Tribe to move, and did not have direct impact as they just trade, especially with Banjar Kingdom. They did not trade directly to Dayak people. Dayak people kept plates, and other Chinese ceramics.

Dayak Tribe is separated into about 450 sub tribe. And the subtribes have similar culture, tradition, language and custom.

Now Dayak tribes are divided into 6 families: Apokayan (Kenyah-Kayan-Bahau), Ot Danum-Ngaju, Iban, Murut, Klemantan and Punan. Punan is the oldest Dayak tribe while other Dayak are assimilation result of Dayak Punan and Proto Melayu (the ancestor of Dayak from Yunnan). And those 6 families are divided into 450 sub ethnics. Although there are 450 sub ethnics, Dayak tribe has similarity as their characteristics. They live in long house, they make earthenwares, mandau, sumpit, beliong, the way they see the world, livelihood, and dance. Ot Danum-Ngaju village generally called as Lewu/Lebu and other Dayak called as Banua.Benua/Benuo/Binua. In Kalimantan, districts of Dayak is led by Kepala Norma Budaya leading one of two different Dayak ethnics.

Various sources

Just about 1.5 hours drive from Denpasar, Sidemen can be a getaway from the crowd, traffic and all the noise. As most of the inhabitants are farmers, this village has large area of rice field and woods.

The villas and guesthouses are dotted along the village streets, with view of green hills, river and rice field. There are accommodations suitable for your budget here, from luxury like Wapa Di Ume, Samanvaya, or some small guesthouses with stunning view. Unlike Canggu or Kuta, here you can enjoy quietness, not-traffic streets. There are small restaurants and warung where visitors can try local foods.

You can read books at balcony with rice terrace view or just we-time with spouse, but you can also explore the village and do some activities here.

Yellow Bridge is situated not far from the mainstreet. This 200 meters long bridge connects east and west side of the region divided by Tukad Yeh Unda river. The bridge is narrow that 4 wheel vehicles can not pass this, only motorbike, pedestrian and bicycles can pass by this bridge.

Silver Workshop is other thing you can do here. You can join the activity for IDR 300,000 making silver jewelry for yourself. The silver workshop is situated right at one end of the yellow Bridge. If you are into traditional woven textile, you can browse Sidemen endek weaving here as well.

Cycling in Sidemen is indeed will be fun, you will be passing villages, traditional markets, farms, rice fields, river, bridges and seeing local activity. As Sidemen is hilly, some road is very steep that we must push our bicycles though. But it was fun to enjoy the village.

Cooking Class is available at some restaurants or accommodations here. You can cook Balinese menus selections for lunch or dinner time.

Gembleng Waterfall is a hidden waterfall in Sidemen situated in lush green surrounding. This waterfall has natural infinity pool which is definitely instagramable. The view from the waterfall is emerald forest, village and rice field. It does not take long walk to the waterfall, that it is also suitable for family.

Walking around the village and enjoying the fresh air of Sidemen is refreshing and rejuvenating. During sunset, sunrise or even day time is interesting. I met beautiful collared kingfisher flying while walking at the village street, and seeing local children swimming in the river.

Bukit Pandawa Golf and Country Club is spectacularly situated in a limestone cliff , overlooking the majestic Hindian Ocean. This course has 18 championship caliber par-3 golf holes, and it has one of the most stunning club house you will see, that is inspired by Balinese temples. You will find intricate greens variations, outcroppings of rocks, rustic ruins and beautiful themes of nature. The location makes it worth to play all your round.

BUKIT PANDAWA GOLF DETAIL
Opened : 2016
Designed by : Bob Moore (JMP Design Group)
Par : 54
Holes : 18 Holes
Grass : Pure Dynasty, seashore paspalum
Type : Parkland
Location ; South Peninsula

DRESS CODE:
Golf apparel : colarred polo shirts, soft spikes, tailored shorts or trousers

Package Price Play Golf at Bukit Pandawa Golf : Contact Us

Booking minimum : 2 persons

INCLUDE :
-Private Transfer
-Morning Tee off
-Green Fee , Shared Buggy, Insurance, Tax
-Compulsory Caddie with Tipping

EXCLUDE :
– Additional Tipping
– Lunch
– Club Rent

Price may change without prior notice.

 

Well, this one place can be your weekend choice if you love crystal clear water and pristine nature. Lembah Tepus is just situated about 3 hours drive from Jakarta and to reach this natural pool can walk about 10 minutes trough forest.

Lembah Tepus in Halimun Salak National Park, with altitude approximately 900 meters above sea level, and its main attraction is the mini waterfall and the natural pool. There are two pools where you can swim or just soak your feet with range of depth from 1 meters to 4 meters.

As this places is popular among young people, it is relatively crowded during weekend and holiday season. If you want to have more quiet visit, come during weekdays and non public holidays. I arrived on Wednesday, and it was quiet. Just another couple enjoying the place.

I did not carry food, there are food sellers here selling Indomie for us to have lunch.

Mount Semeru in East Java Indonesia erupted again, yester day (4/12/2022) exactly one year after eruption last year (4/12/2021). The eruption destructed Gladak Perak bridge located in Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro, Lumajang. This cuts the main route of Malang-Lumajang via south route. Therefore Pronijowo area, where Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, situated can not be accessed via Curah Koboan Route.

Volcanology and Deology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) recorded grey ash cloud from Mt Semeru crater on 02.46 AM and soared as high as 1,500 meters above the summit. The hot could was stemmed from material at the crater rim and they fell continuously until 06.00 am spread over 7 km from the summit heading Besik Kobokan. Since 00.00 till 06.00 , volcanic 8 quake activities are recorded and one quake with the hot ash.

Almost 2000 people were refuge after the eruption and government raise the alert status of Mt Semeru.

Hampir 2.000 warga mengungsi menyusul meletusnya Gunung Semeru di Jawa Timur, hari Minggu (04/12/2022), yang mengeluarkan awan panas dan lava ke kawasan-kawasan di sekitarnya. People are not allowed to do any activities within 5 KM radius from the Mt Semeru summit.

Way Kambas National Park is situated in Lampung, and lies alongside Way Kambas River. The 1,200 Km2 area has been conservation center and training center for Sumatran Elephant. This is one of the oldest National Park of Indonesia, which was founded in 1937 and officially opened in 1985 as training center. The park was design like elephant natural habitat, with forest and other vegetations and we can see other wildlife in the area such as pigs and monkeys. The national park consists of swamp forest,savannah, bush and coastal forest.

Not just elephant, some endanger animals are also being conserved here such as Sumatran Badak, Sumatran Tiger, Sepit Crocodile, honey bear, sambas deer, golden cat. Elephants caught by villagers are also to be taken care here and they can live here. The elephant then trained and visitors can enjoy riding them during day time, while during night time they are herded to elephant house.

Beside riding elephant, visitors can see smart attraction of elephant, bathing elephant, elephant football, bird watchin, jungle trekking, animal observation at Resort Way Kanan and camping.

If you visit this national park, you can also visit other places of interest located nearby,:

LAKE WAY JEPARA is situated just 15 km from Way Kambas. This lake has lush vegetation and visitors can enjoy boating around the lake or just wishing and unwind.

KERANG MAS BEACH is located about 1 hour drive from Way Kambas National Park. If you are into swimming and enjoying the sun, you can visit this beach after visiting the National Park.

If you want to stay overnight, the national parks has 6 rooms to be rented. And there are also other accommodation situated not far from the national park.

We have Way Kambas National Park Day Tour or stay overnight tour, let us know, our tour specialists are ready to send you best quotations.

As enthusiast i love trying trying local foods. And Bali has some special foods that are just too delicious to be missed. The special food can be found in small warung to fancy restaurants. Here are some of of recommendations. Below list are very subjective based on my taste. 🙂

SATE LILIT, is definitely one of my favorite. The real sate lilit is made out of mince pork. However as markets more diverse and many moslems visitors, now there are sate lilit made out of chicken, fish or beef. Unlike other satay, the meat are attached around lemon grass, not bamboo skewers. This what makes sate lilit so unique and tasty. If you are moslem looking for authentic satay lilit i recommend visit Kusamba, for fish satay lilit.

CHICKEN BETUTU was used on the old times for Balinese ritual. It was a chicken or duck carcass cooked using Balinese spices, Base Genep. It was originally from Gianyar Bali and then spread over Bali to Jembrana and Gilimanuk. In the past the carcass was wrapped in pinang leaves and then buried in rice paddy skin and then grill for 10 hours.

SAMBAL MATAH is raw sambal made out sliced tomatoes, chilly, shallot, with coconut oil, sugar, salt, lemon grass and lime. As sambal lover, i find this is perfect to be eaten with chicken, beef, or event satay.

MUJAIR NYAT NYAT is special cuisine from Kintamani area, especially around Lake Batur. The fish, Mujair fish are from Lake Batur and then cooked with Balinese spices. Other special cuisine from Kintamani is black peanut soup. Both Mujair Nyat Nyat and Black Peanut Soup can be enjoyed while relishing the panorama of Lake and Mount Batur

KAKUL SATAY is satay made out of blood clam (Anandara granosa), that can be found in Bali. This tastes super yummy and it can lower blood pressure / hypertension and also high protein and low cholesterol.

JUKUT ARES is mainly made out of young banana stem and then served with bones soup that it is delicious to be enjoyed on rainy season hen it is hot. Jukut means vegetables/ cuisine and Ares means banana stems. This menu can be found easily in warung in Bali.

JUKUT UNDIS is black peanut soup. The black peanut is black pigeon peas and the soup tastes delicious and also healthy. Locals believe that black peas also cure fever, herpes, cough and worm infections. This cuisine is Buleleng region special menu.

PLECING SATAY is special menu from Singaraja, north Bali. The meats are mixed with plecing spices, that it has taste of hot, sour, tasty, sweet.

LAWAR is mixed of some vegetables with pork or chicken cooked with Balinese special spices. Lawar can be mixed with the animal blood of chicken/ pig to make it more tasty. If the ingredient is made out of jackfruit, it is called Lawar Nangka , if it is made out of pork it is called Lawar Babi. For muslem, there is halal lawar made without pork and pork blood.

BABI GOLING is grilled pork special from Bali. You can find on the streets which offers tasty babi guling. Definitely for for muslim. Guling means rolled over, as when it was grilled it was rolled over to make the whole pig done at the same time. There is not much change in cooking babi guling for centuries in Bali. Except for the skewer, now using metal skewer. The whole pig was cleaned and then complete Balinese spices called basa gede stuffed inside the body and then started to be grilled above fire and rolled. The most popular babi guling in Bali is Babi Guling Bu Oka.

RUJAK BULUNG is Balinese salad made out of seaweed. It is mixed with fish soup, chilly pepper, grilled grated coconut, and lengkuas. Usually it is served with ketupat or tipat gulung.

This national park is not as popular as other national parks in Sulawesi, yet as one of regions passed by Wallace line, it is rich of wildlife and vegetations. Administratively Gandang Dewata National Park is situated in Mamasa Regency, Mamuju Regency, Central mamuju Regency and North mamuju Regency. Gandang Dewata Mountain is the core of the national park, the second highest mountain in Sulawesi, along Quarles mountain range. There are two routes to reach the national park, via Polewali and via Mamuju.

Gandang means tambourine, while dewata means gods. This sue to mysterious sound of tambourine from the mountain that can be heard by locals.

According to research conducted by LIPI in 2016, the national park is home to 417 birds species and 116 of them are endemic birds. The endemic birds here are similar to those of Central Sulawesi and South East Sulawesi. From the altitude of 700 till 2000 meters, the national park has 45 species and 70 percent is endemics. Anoa, hornbills, Sulawesi eagle and monkeys are easily found. Vegetations grow here are: rattan, orchids, uruh, and kalpataru

Mount Gandang Dewata Summit as two trails, via Paku and via Pongko Mamasa. Both has 10 camp and the most favorite route for hikers is via Mamasa, as the trail is easy, clear, shorter and safer. The trail is quiet extreme, with moss forest (after 2000 meters asl) that looks like ancient forest straight out of saga books.

From generations to generations, Gandang Dewata has become important to support natural resources especially water supply, and forest produce. Even there is no rain for months, springs in Mamasa never run out of water.

Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park is situated administratively in 4 renegcies : Konawe, South Konawe, Kolaka and Bombana. The area consists of mangrove forest, swamp forest, sabana, and tropical forest with the altitude of 981 meters. The National Park has a pivotal hydrology function to the environment. Waters from this area supply rivers stream in the neighborhood and supply water to Kendari city.  Peat swamp ecosystem is the largest in Sulawesi Island and covers more than 90% and becomes the controller of water condition to the neighbouring ecosystem.

The large wet land creates perfect environment for birds, especially water birds, such as white-eyes bird, the milky stork and recorded more than 20 migrant birds here. Lotus of various colors grow here.

There are two savannah which can be visited by visitors. The first savannah is situated at the road side, while the second savannah is situated about 2 hours from the first.  The second savannah looks so exotic with green hills and along the trip sometimes you will meet Maleo Bird or kakatua bird.

The National Park has 12 hectared area for tourism where visitors can oxplore, observe and learn about swamp ecosystem. And one interesting things about this area is the locals. Locals has unique way of capturing fish with bare hands called mekaroro, traditional fishing technique called molonduri and other skills handed down for generations.

TAPAK MANGROVE MUARA LANOWULU  (MANGROVE ESTUARY) is situated at the southern stretches from east to west for 24 km and more than 6000 hectares. It takes about 3 hours drive from Kendari to this pristine place or about 130 km away. Bird watching and observing migrant bird definitely an activity can be done here. The mangrove grow 6 km along the estuary and river area. Migrant Birds Asia-Australia route transit at the sediment area , and until today there is no significant shift of the migration time and the bird species, so researcher and observer or bird enthusiast can expect and plan their trip here easily.