Love Island Travel

The Business profile this is Vinod Kannan, CEO of Singapore Airlines Indonesia. Mr. Kannan was with the world-renowned airline since 01 and is a passionate player in the aviation industry.

Vinod Kannan

Singapore Airlines has been around a long time and is still a favorite of many Asian travelers. Could you give us please a brief history of the airline?
Singapore Airlines' (SIA) history dating back to May 1, 1947, when Malayan Airways (LTA) Airspeed Consul took off from Singapore Kallang Airport on the first of three regular weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur , Ipoh and Penang. The airline also began service in 1947 in Jakarta, Palembang and Medan. SIA has come a long way since then, the evolution of a regional airline to one of the most respected travel brands around the world. SIA flies one of the youngest fleets of aircraft in the world to 62 destinations on six continents, the daughter of Singapore as its internationally recognized icon providing high standards of care and service that customers have come to expect. SIA has become accustomed to lead the way, and along the way developed a reputation as an industry pioneer. The growing list of leading innovations include the first to offer free headsets, a choice of meals and free drinks in Economy Class in the 1970s, and the first to fly the A380 from Singapore to Sydney on October 25, 07 .

What's your story behind become CEO of Singapore Airlines Indonesia?
I just Bangalore in India but moved to my home in Singapore in 1996 to study. After my bachelor's degree in engineering in Singapore and a computer control of Singapore and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, I joined Singapore Airlines in 01. After working in marketing, route planning and sales, I have moved to Calcutta, India as director of the East India. This was followed by visits to Saudi Arabia and Italy. I moved to Jakarta in December 2013, as general manager and Indonesia enjoy and learn new things every day!

How many flights a day makes Singapore Airlines from Indonesia to Singapore?
SIA currently operates nine daily flights Jakarta, Denpasar and four daily flights from July 26, SIA has taken over one of the two daily flights Surabaya, which was operated by the regional subsidiary SilkAir.

What new routes did you open and you open this year in and out of Indonesia?
Last year, Indonesia, SIA introduced a ninth daily service to Jakarta, and simultaneously added its fourth daily service to Denpasar (Bali), while SilkAir (MI) a subsidiary of SIA, began services in Semarang, Makassar and Yogyakarta extending the scope of the group to 14 destinations in Indonesia. Northern Summer 2014 season, MI will work to Kalibo Philippines, Mandalay in Myanmar and Hangzhou in China this year.

SIA will make adjustments to certain markets through the network during the summer season North. A third daily flight to Tokyo's Haneda airport was added, increasing the number of daily services to Tokyo to five. A380 will serve Mumbai and New Delhi every day from 30 May 2014, taking over from two daily flights that currently serve every city with smaller aircraft. the A380 service to Shanghai from five times a week to daily, while the frequency in Istanbul will increase by one flight per week to six times a week. To meet the summer peak demand, SIA resume Athens twice weekly between June 9, 2014 and October 9, 2014, while capacity in some markets in Europe and Japan will be increased.

Is it difficult to find the manpower to support your growing company in Indonesia?
finding the right people is the key to any organization in a market. Singapore Airlines offers an attractive remuneration for carpenters in grass and I'm happy to say that we have a dedicated, talented and consistent here in Indonesia.

Why do you think that Singapore Airlines is the preferred airline for short-haul travel, particularly to Singapore, many Indonesians and expatriates in Jakarta?
We believe that the overall travel experience is one of the main motivating factors for choosing Singapore Airlines. Since its establishment, Singapore Airlines has earned a reputation as an innovative market leader, combining quality products with excellent service. Excellence in customer service has been integral to the success of Singapore Airlines. exceptional service in flight is the cornerstone of its reputation for customer service and hospitality.

With so many low-cost carriers in operation now this affect your business?
As the airline industry becomes difficult with airlines offering aggressive pricing amid capacity increasing and fuel prices remain high by historical standards, it will be natural that we face competition in the industry. While we will react and adapt to immediate challenges and short-term; we also plan well in advance and keep an eye on the opportunities and challenges that may emerge in the long term.

Does SIA have a low-cost airline that?
Yes, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, called Scoot (www.FlyScoot.com). Scoot operates medium to long-haul, the low-cost flights between Singapore and Australia, China and others. Scoot operates independently and has its own management team. Another subsidiary is Tigerair for short-haul flights.

How SIA works to be the preferred airline in the region?
Singapore Airlines is focusing on its premium positioning and the core values ​​that drive our success. Key elements of security, a zealous attention to our customers, product innovation and leadership, as well as network connectivity, are the basis of our competitive offering and will be continuously strengthened. Our products will continue to evolve, with attention to comfort, design and appearance, experience in flight, in-flight entertainment experience, and the service element, which wraps the entire package.

How many passengers do you hover over a year?
In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, SIA carried 18.6 million passengers, an increase of 2.3% compared to last year. passenger transport (in revenue passenger kilometers) rose 1.4% on the back of 1.9% growth in capacity (in available seat kilometers).

How many aircraft does Singapore Airlines have worldwide?
in May 2014, SIA has 104 passenger aircraft in its fleet.

What was your annual sales in 2013? What are your projections this year?
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the operating performance of SIA improved by $ 69 million (+ 36.9%) as an increase of $ 93 million in revenue exceeded an increase of 24 million $ expenditures.

Since the tragic disappearance of flight Malaysia Airlines MH370, do you have security measures for your airline?
Being in the airline industry, SIA will examine all incidents related to the operation of airlines. SIA scrutiny that would require us to work with other parties; aircraft manufacturers, authorities, etc. Rest assured that these things are taken very seriously. We have devoted resources to look at what we can learn and share with our friends in other airlines.

And finally, what do you believe is the key to success in your business life?
based on my experience, the key to the performance of a team is the way they can interact and gel together. People make any organization or successful business, more than anything else. The secret is to ensure that people in the business are motivated, committed and always achieve their potential. The other important aspect for personal success is the family. In my case, my wife and three year old daughter are the support mechanism that keep me grounded when things get a little crazy!

Thanks, Vinod. If you want to contact, please email vinod.kannan@gmail.com.

Gold Panning with mercury

The volcano's western foothills look rather sorry, composed largely of dry shrubland with a few stunted trees. During the wet season upland rice is grown, but the soils are eroded and poor. The few villages exude poverty, although many of their inhabitants are involved in small-scale gold mining. The mines are illegal that proof has been obtained that approval of a single environmental assessment management plan. fortune trees are dug by hand to transport the alluvial mud and the lack of appropriate reinforcements makes them extremely dangerous. The mercury is then used to merge the grains and nuggets of gold in the mud.

The miners are poorly paid for their efforts, a very familiar model in small-scale mining, such as gold most of the profits usually go to the organizers, investors, traders and suppliers of tools and other inputs. A problem in the classical world. During the gold rush in California (1848-1855) for example, the San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss benefited greatly from the sale of the canvas for tents and denim overalls to minors; it is probably here that he developed ideas for blue jeans from the popular Levi.

I came to the region by accident during a Sunday release, when I had stupidly lost my way and had stumbled on a mine shaft. An old friendly man showed the way to return to the main road. But before I went on my way, I asked if he worked in the mine. "Sometimes," he replied, "In the past, every day. Now I'm too old. It is very hot and uncomfortable there, and dangerous. Only last week the mine of my collapsed nearby, killing two inside. "
" But is it worth it? is there gold in these hills? "
" Oh yes, there are gold, enough to keep us busy. but its price has not increased for a long time. the merchant always a reason to pay more for transport and for chemicals we need. There is not much we can do here, so we must accept it. "and then he told me to wait as he wanted to show me a gold coin he had found. It was a little nugget shaped like a small crown cap. If there's gold in those hills, it should also be a bit in the river!

The following week, with two friends we went to try our luck at gold panning. After two hours and no gold, just like we wanted to give up and enjoy some fried bananas made by his wife, a little boy appeared with a wok beat-up. After some turmoil, he shouted: "Grandpa, is this gold" We all went on to have a look, and yes, there it was, a little nugget shaped like a small crown cap? someone must have taught the old man how to raise interest and promote the operation, or perhaps it was his own idea.

When I returned with my friends we got lost again and never made the tree. so I've never heard that my brilliant advice was implemented. Obviously, I can not direct you to the place, as I can not even find myself. it is west of Bogor district, north of Mt. Salak National Park Halimun Who knows, if you manage somehow to get there, the following simple instructions will help you with panoramic.

1. First, fill your pot nearly full of sand and gravel. Remove the larger stones of the pan.
2. Place the pan under water and make sure that all equipment is wet. You may have to mix the contents of the pan with your hands.
3. quickly move the pan from side to side, either under water or while it is full of water, and rotate the contents of the pan (but not spill the contents) . This action gives gold particles a chance to settle to the bottom.
4. While continuing the side to side motion, gently tilt the pan away from you. material lighter and bigger pieces that come up moves to the front of the pan. These can be skimmed or scraped over the edge of the pan with the thumb or hand.
5. Continue the movement described in steps 3 and 4, allowing water to wash lighter materials on the edge until only a small amount of material left in the pan. You will need to add water to the pan.
6. The remaining heavy material is concentrated. If you have not yet seen the gold in your pan, pour the excess water until enough is left to barely cover the concentrate. Shake the pan contents "string" or "feather" the concentrate. lighter particles are washed away as the heavier particles, leaving the gold (because it is heavier) in the "tail" of the concentrate.
7. Continue swirling water in the pan to clean more concentrated, being careful not to lose the gold. Recovery of gold by panning takes practice!

Quite a complicated process and takes time!

minors "professional" thus tend to accelerate the process using mercury to amalgamate gold grains. Rather than picking up the mud banks, they dig trees decompose or alluvial deposits with high pressure water jets. This has certainly increased their productivity, but at a high environmental cost - downstream of mining water from the river is brown silt and highly toxic mercury

mine Grasberg

This is not only the problem faced by individuals on the micro-scale of a few dollars a day, but also on a mega-scale by large mining companies such as Freeport Grasberg in Papua province, which is the largest gold mine in the world and the third largest copper mine. It consists of a large open pit mine and an underground mine. The first is visible from space as the surface its crater is more than a mile wide. And despite the costs-the very high investment mine is located between 2,500 and 4,000 meters above sea level, which requires complex technological problems to solve-the mine is a low-cost operation.

And as with small-scale mining [illegal], the environmental effects are considerable. Some 230,000 tonnes of tailings are generated each wash day in the river Aikwa affecting areas-not surprisingly plain that fish have nearly disappeared from the river. But Freeport says its emissions meet regulatory requirements. Those in favor of the transaction exit point that the Grasberg mine has 19,500 employees and is the largest taxpayer in Indonesia ($ 1.4 billion in 09).

It is interesting to note that the production of about 60 tonnes Grasberg is lower than the estimated 65 100 tonnes produced in 2013 by 1,000,000 illegal miners in Indonesia some 850 mining areas spread of Aceh in west Papua in the east.

these production volumes and revenues derived justify the environmental and social costs will depend on a view. But it is clear that those who do the hard and dangerous work are compensated the least.

Thirty-six years after his death at the age of 116, the first comprehensive presentation of the works of I Gusti Nyoman Lempad is now available. On the Arma Museum in Ubud 19 ^{June th} 2014, the book was officially launched. Edited by Ana Gasper and Antonio Casanovas with Images Publishers' of the Netherlands, it is the first significant catalog and the most famous Balinese artist biography. The 300 page volume is a comprehensive presentation of the work of Lempad; biography, social and cultural environment, all accompanied by rich illustrations. The book launch included among its guests, prominent members of the Royal Family of Ubud. Ubud palace was primarily boss Lempad. Guests were treated to one of the most influential literary icons Goenawan Mohamad of Indonesia.

The book is the result of seven years of work to produce a definitive book on this unique artist. Ana and Antonio have been fascinated by the works of Lempad when they first saw his drawings to Neka Museum two decades ago. They looked for books about him in vain. The project has taken all over the world in search of the art of the artist's most distinguished Bali whose work has been done and shown abroad as early as 1930. They collaborated with the author Jean Cocteau, an expert on Balinese art who has written several books and essays on various artists of Bali.

Born shortly after the mid-nineteenth century, Lempad began his work as Balinese Undagi (architect master builder) and Sanging (religious artist). This work integrated the encoded knowledge of the architecture, art, religion, and sacred formulations; space and the relationship of the human body in space, iconography and mythology of culture. His works are traditional sculptures of the temple statues, masks, wayang puppets, cremation towers, sarcophagi and nagas . Identify some of his creations is complicated because he never signed his works. All "signed" have been made so by family members to write the title and artist acknowledgment. The most reliable source for Lempad was his son, I Gusti Made Sumung who worked with John Darling and Lorne Blair on an award-winning documentary that tells the story of the artist at the end of his life and his cremation films. The documentary is entitled "Lempad Bali" (1980).

Lempad Bali

Lempad built most of the temples and palaces in Ubud and its villages neighbors. her exact birthday is unknown, but we know he was married when Krakatau left in 1883. when he died on 25 April ^e in 1978, he gathered his family around him and asked to bathe him, then died. the Balinese has said he chose the most opportune time to transmit saint, surrounded by his family.

He maintained close friendships with Rudolf Bonnet and Walter Spies. Lempad internationally is most famous for his drawings after 1925 after meeting Walter Spies, who provided him with paper and materials and most likely introduced her to the works of other illustrators. He continued to draw in black and white through the Great War, the struggle for Indonesian independence and after independence until his death. He never compromised its distinctive identity as a Balinese artist. It is a bridge between traditional and modern art. The art of Lempad is beyond the influence. His drawings are not limited to one style, although his "lines" are identifiable; its styles vary from traditional to surreal, to simple representations of everyday life. He drew the story, continuing its tradition as an artist, architect and sculptor for the House of Sukawati Ubud.

Lempad, Balinese Timeless Master is available in bookstores Periplus. For other locations, contact www.picturespublishers.nl.

I first met Serbian artist Mikro Kosmos (Miroslav Dukic) Borneo earlier this year. He played a didgeridoo that he himself created and ME was intrigued by this mysterious tall instantly - it does not chit chat, but spoke of the darkness and the light, and he spoke lovingly of her partner, whom he described as a goddess. I later discovered that exposure Dark and Light -. Dreaming Kosmos , held at Via Via Cafe & Alternative Art Space in Jogjakarta, displays his creations batik he had made during his one-year term in Indonesia

"When I arrived in Jogjakarta, batik welcomed me it was really a surprise, of course, I'm very interested in -. the batik process fed the next episode of my life I use painting to study not only the technical creation process. but the explanation of the fact that my being need to lift on this planet So, batik painting is the mirror image in front of me -.. It was something new to learn, to develop my being with another perception reality "

Batik by Mikro

at the beginning of his explorations, Mikro met the artist in his Indonesian Sony residence where both Elo and Progo rivers meet, on the outskirts of Borobudur temple, and Mikro asked the question: "What is the male and the female energy in everything," said Sony? "If you continue to work on this response on this place supported by all Elo magic Progo you can have all the answers. "

the use of canting (a tool in the form of pen used to apply hot wax) for drawing and colors such as indigosol and naaptol, Mikro his first steps in batik by the river and the end result was Meditation - a visionary selection, pieces of batik cotton.

Later, Mikro studied in the small village of ceramic, Bayat, outside Yogyakarta with Indoartamiks organization (which aims to infuse traditional ceramic techniques and Javanese batik with the modern art street) and director Melanie Mclintock Mikro invited to work for a month with students from a local school. At this stage, Mikro learned more about Indonesian culture, communication and batik and ceramics techniques. Finally, in South Borneo, Mikro studied traditional tattoo indigenous Dayak and these influences can be seen in its batik.

I am curious if other artists have also helped the batik process to evolve creatively and I spoke with Annissa Gultom, director of the Museum Kain (Textile Museum), which opened in Badung, Bali, in November 2013, and many houses antiques and modern batik. "Kain Museum is a dream come true for its founder, the late husband of Obin, Roni Siswandi, an archaeologist-anthropologist who became an innovative fabric with BINhouse" said Annissa. "It combines ancient weaving and methods of batik -how with new styles of form and color. Kain Museum is also an embodiment of what a modern museum should be, combining antiques with new methods of communication, interaction, discussion and giving impressions. "
The batik process are in a state of constant change as Annissa Gultom said," Let me share with you what Roni Siswandi once shared to me; gasoline batik is the use of hot melt wax. Whether using a canting pen, stamps, or computerized wax applicator, if you use hot wax melted, it's batik. Batik survived the industrial revolution in the 1700s; when mechanisms have been found to speed up production, wax buffer was founded, but it did not kill the canting pen method. He survived until today. Batik fabrics printed patterns have emerged because there are so many people who want to have expensive batik in different aspects of their lives, but they could not afford it. Still, people who can afford it choose the traditional method prepared batik. There is a different niche of all forms of batik. Everyone is always trying in any way they can have batik as an inseparable part of their life "

Before the introduction of synthetic dyes in the 1700s, batik has tended to use the colors blue , red and brown -.. and modern batik now has access to a greater range of colors Still, I'm curious to learn more about the differences between traditional and modern techniques of batik - were the reasons and philosophical symbols or were people able to capture their own personal experiences

Batik Kain Museum - Sarong Semarang

"philosophy, nature observation and social culture spiritual occurrences are among the inspirations that made batik patterns, then and now, "said Annissa. "There is one piece of Semarang, a sarong which has been passed down through five generations of the Siswandi family. The first owner was the grandmother of the grandmother Roni. On this sarong, there is a drawing (made using wax and canting) that shows the situation of the colonial city of Semarang at the time, with a Dutch walking a dog, a long-haired girl walking near him, and a car with a man and his daughter . board this piece demonstrates that batik is not always on the spiritual meanings of the symbols of the court or stage of life, but also an expression of policy makers -. this around them at the time, which was the trend or what they saw every day on the way field

"in our exhibition, you will also batik Solo with badminton grounds (Indonesia won the badminton World Cup in 1950 ); cotton flower; symbols GANEFO (Game of emerging forces, the draft Soekarno in the 60s); Peoni flower on hokokai batik (Japanese favorite flower, made during the Japanese occupation) and more. These rooms are amazing - each telling the story of the machine and their lives at the time, making batik in fact a very personal artistic expression. Those unique give us more insight from real people and life at the time. Here's how batik should be considered owned by the people "

Batik Mikro is a beautiful exploration of the cosmos -. The spectrum of light to dark he was not afraid of investigate - by describing his personal experiences he demonstrated that batik can be a very personal tool for the expression "fear is a feeling that occurs when our perception of reality receives the ability to grow rapidly.. Trust and love can transform and illuminate every part of life because we learn to allow him to lead us through the universe. - Introducing us to this incomprehensible hugeness "

Additional Information

Kampung Batik Jakarta - Jl. Pal Batu in South Jakarta

Kampung Batik Laweyan solo

Kain Museum www.museumkain.org

Indoartamiks: https://www.facebook.com/Indoartamiks

Grace always knew that respect for the dead is at the heart of the Toraja culture. But on his second visit to Tana Toraja during the holiday season, she learned some surprising perspectives on what it really means.

Skeletons in rock caverns adorned with tau-tau ancestral figurines; tongkonan traditional houses and the corresponding rice barns, decorated with horns of bulls slaughtered in the funeral feasts; baby graves in tree trunks. It seems that the Toraja people live in constant reminder of life how finished on earth is, and spend this life preparing for the next

Visit with family and friends during the Christmas season, we started our days on the buffalo market Pasar Bolu, which trades every six days. The slaughter of buffalo is an essential part of the Toraja funeral ceremony, as they are supposed to be traditionally the vehicle accompanying the deceased in eternity. ordinary black buffalo cost 20 to 70 million rupees. The most expensive race is tedong saleko , black and white mottled with yellow buffalo horns, blue eyes and white legs, prices range between $ 0 million to over one billion rupiah.

a wealthy family with a high social status can shoot up to 28 buffalo in a ceremony. That said, the success with the Toraja community has also made the competitive ceremonies - it is not uncommon to find those who sacrifice more than 100 buffaloes. This does not include pigs, which can cost between 3-7000000 rupees each. In addition to this, the family must pay for the complex tongkonan shaped coffins, building ceremonial grounds, and food for those who help with or attend the funeral.

"Why go through all these problems and financial stress for a dead person?" One might ask. According to local guide Nathan Salenna, "It is the expression of our service the absolute best to pay the last respects to our parents who gave us life. As they settle in the hereafter, can receive these offers and get there happy. "

Christmas happens to be the time of year when most Toraja diaspora return to the homeland to perform rituals. It is common for a funeral to celebrate someone who has died or even months ago . has years in Tana Toraja, a burial ceremony is more than just a demonstration of wealth and prestige. - It's time to gather with family and friends not seen very often throughout the year

Since evangelism in 1913, most Torajans today are Christians, but these funerary traditions come from their ancestral religion Aluk Todolo. Although polytheistic, Aluk Todolo also recognizes a Supreme Creator called Puang Matua and most Torajans not like the label "animism" on Aluk Todolo . Ancestral worship central to the religion - draws on Chinese influences. With the Batak of North Sumatra and Kalimantan Dayak, Toraja are descendants of the same branch of ancient Chinese migrants Yunnan.

"Islam did not penetrate Toraja successful because it does not allow us to continue our ancestral rituals and animal sacrifices, including pigs. That said, on tolerance to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Toraja, we usually set aside a buffalo in a ceremony halal slaughter, "Nathan said.

I attended a burial ceremony in Sangalla, and ceremonial grounds, a woman leader of ceremony was praying a Christian prayer in the language Toraja. The ceremonial house was richly decorated in red and gold - somehow, it felt a bit like the Chinese New Year, except that instead of knots and lanterns, he parang (daggers Toraja) and buffalo horns. barefoot men dressed in black for the most part, young and old, took their place to carry the coffin. It was covered in red fabric and gold costume, decoratively sheltered under a red buffalo horn roof characteristic of traditional Toraja houses.

A parade of chief led the singing, the mourners sing along to the canon. The parade stopped often for pallbearers to do a little dance. At first I thought they were to rest wearing such a heavy coffin, but it was always the most difficult places, with icky mud squished between their toes. As we arrived near the rice fields by the side of the main road, it became clear that my assumption was wrong.

In seconds I'm soaked in water buffalo shit in the rice fields. There was chaos all around. The pallbearers stepped harder in the pools of water to wet the mourners. The mourners responded by jumping into the rice fields and splash water with the same shit to me just a few seconds. In some flashes, buckets and bowls began to appear. Move forward coffin became a game of stop-and-go sprinkled with generous water fights, singing and laughter.

"Oh, they'll have too!" Some old women began to laugh at me. The fact that I was wearing a pink shirt quick drying sports did not help, I ran out of black and ended up wearing a dead giveaway that I was not local. "Mind your camera! Here they come again!"

I spent the remaining hours wet, cold, smelling like manure, and laughed with my family and friends. But if there is something I learned from a Toraja funeral is to spend. As Nathan said, "After the mourning comes joy. As we believe that the party arrived happy in their eternal home, we honor them with a celebration of love and laughter. If you've splashed, this is not for you to get upset with. They are just clean it from their minds mourning to make way for a new and happy start to continue with this life. He showers of blessing "

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In short

Country :. Indonesia

Province: Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi)

House: The Toraja regency - 3,205,77 km ²

Sulawesi Selatan - 46,717.48 km ²

highest altitude: Sesean - 2,100 AMSL meters

The largest city: Rantepao - now capital of Toraja Utara regency, tourist center

Makale - Tana Toraja regency capital of

population 437843 - 2010 estimate, including two regencies

Directions: flights from most major cities daily Makassar

Aviastar flights twice weekly from Makassar to Makale

or Makassar eight hours drive from Rantepao

What to bring: Hat, sunglasses, sun cream

Camera - rainproof cover or dry -bag option

black suit and change of clothes

the money for ritual offering (couple hundred thousand rupees)

The growling, battered bus 'executive' arrested in front of our hotel in Labuan Bajo, its engine eagerly pointing towards the road out of town. This thriving, chaotic port on the coast of Flores, we first shook a heavily wooded road through a corrugated roofs undeveloped countryside, woven bamboo huts in the middle of well-swept yard land with coffee, cocoa and drying the beans on mats.

on the other side of the mountain, we descended on a newly constructed road with bridges impassible, huge rocky canyons steep cliffs and across vast stretches of rice fields. The bus was crowded, the members and the boys hung windows, Javanese pop blaring volume burst ear that we headed for Bajawa Highland Capital Ngada Regency.

Welcome to Ngada people, known in Dutch literature as early Rokka, the Malay / mixed Melanesian race settled this fertile plateau around 2245 meters high Mt. Inerie the 17th century.

With great natural beauty on all sides, Flores is the Switzerland of Southeast Asia, one of the most traditional islands of Indonesia, which has many more a distinct Melanesian flavor than its neighboring island of Sumbawa it could be a foreign country.

After a grueling race all day long winding mountain roads, shivering in the dark under sarongs with the cold air pouring in through every crack in the frame, we have been filed in the rain at 10pm on Jl. A. Yani, the main street of Bajawa. The nearest hotel, Korina, was the cheapest in town. Run by three sweet teenage daughters, the rooms were small, hard brick pillows, rats running around the walls, but the place was clean, offered free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

Motorcycle Tours

Although an attraction in itself - clean, relaxing and refreshing with a wide range of accommodations and rumah makan - high altitude Bajawa is mainly used as a base for exploring the surrounding rolling countryside where indigenous animist beliefs still thriving, the volcanic landscape is spectacular and where famous sofi alcoholic beverage is made and the strong coffee earth is grown. Nobody hassles you to buy anything.

There was no problem finding a guide. They found you. As soon as we got out of Korina the next morning, a press friendly but persistent touts, moto ojek pilot-cum-guides, welcomed us offering their services. After some back and forth bickering, we hired two guides told us about a kesao house warming ceremony to be held the next day in the village of Tolelo mountain. We have reached an agreement to Rp.150,000 for one adult and two children on two motorcycles.

Dion and Hillalio were Korina at 10am the next morning. I asked them to draw a rough map and list in their hand that stops were included - Tolelo and the traditional village of Bena and soak in a hot springs along the way. The journey took us on a winding road of the city, through towering bamboo stands and in the end, a climb up a steep, muddy dirt road next to a river as he twisted his way up a mountain through a tropical deciduous forest.

Just before the village, we had a shrine to the Virgin Mary then paid our respects to the house of kepala desa (village chief) before strolling around and taking pictures. We signed the guest book and made a small donation. High stubble rows covered bamboo Ngadanese traditional dwellings and ritual houses with doors decorated with maxillary and buffalo horns stood around a central square in sharp stone.

The dancers formed around the vertical pole as ngadhu and Bhaga totemic ancestors stones that were placed between the structures. separate groups of women and children began to dance in a circle with linked arms, turning counterclockwise. In these graceful "round dance", they held a long scarf and danced with shuffling steps, hands and body gyrating while advancing, retreating and circling other dancers quivering.

Then it was the turn of the men, some with painted rawhide shields and helmets tufted with hairs that protect the face as a raised welding helmet. Assuming a warlike attitude, to the accompaniment of whistles, gongs and drums, circling each other like cats. I sat for a while next to the deep beating Florinese orchestra, the best starting point to display the hypnotic, unrehearsed performance in which the whole village participated view.

Now it was the middle of the afternoon. Wanting to return to the city before the night we said goodbye and started on the trail down. Only 30 minutes from the parking Tolelo, we made a stop at a river where all our efforts were awarded a swim in the warm water bubbling from an underwater spring.

Our tour ends in Bena, the most visited of all the old traditional villages of the region, 19 km southeast of Bajawa below Mount Inerie off. This village on three levels, with totemic figures and funeral megalithic structures as in the village square, practice their own brand of animism, as well as cultural and artistic traditions little known outside obscure missionary magazines. After taking photos of several women weaving ikat on their verandas, a boy took me a hill for a breathtaking view of the sea beyond a cascade of green hills

-.

Overview

House: square Ngada Regency total area

population (2010): Bajawa 36082

highest altitude: 1,100 meters

get Bus fare Labuan Bajo Rp.100,000-Rp.150,000. AC bus costs Rp.250,000, 8-12 hours (depending on season). All city hotel can arrange tours and bus tickets

Stay :. Edelweisse is upscale to Rp.0,000-Rp.300,000. Budget Korina Hotel is Rp.150,000. Villa Silverin is simple but pleasant. Bintang Wistata is OK for a night or two. Marselino Homestay is ideal for backpackers. Hotel Happy Happy is a small well run with an excellent breakfast hotel.

Whatever the hotel where you are, get a bucket of hot water, towels and extra thick blankets because it is cold at night!

What Beno, Langa, Bela, Luba, and Wogo Tolelo villages adat traditional houses and megalithic sculptures. Wawo Muda for volcanic lakes.

Service Guide (min. 4 people) Cost of Rp.75,000-150,000 per day, including transport and driver. Tours can be tailored to your priorities and time constraints. The guides are excellent sources of information on harvest festivals, ritual sacrifice, consecration ceremonies, weddings and other family celebrations.

East Java resident, Graeme Steel, takes us shopping for antiques in the second largest city in Indonesia, where to look and reveals its hidden jewels.

Indonesia has long been a source of antiques and reproductions. As it becomes more difficult to find a true Dutch period furniture, skilled craftsmen fill the void by producing copies really quite remarkable. Prices in Surabaya tend to be cheaper than in the capital.

with a number of shops on the city you will find genuine antiques here and some reproductions posing as the real thing. But stores near the center of Surabaya CBD, where expatriates live, are expensive.

For the adventurous hunter good business, you will discover a secret source of antiques and reproductions in Kampung Madura, a densely populated area surrounded by main roads. This, relaxed town downtown friendly can be a fun and rewarding place to buy.

The streets are narrow, but spotlessly clean. Here, spreading several "store their wares on the sidewalks. There is just enough room to park a car.

A shop offers huge wooden sculptures taken from the traditional houses of Kudus on the north coast of Java. These panels are finely carved and show both Eastern and European influence. The store owner said that foreign customers are buying these as partitions or even incorporate them in new homes entries. Further up the street, shop displays smaller goods - chairs and marble tables planter. Scattered on the furniture are numerous colonial ornaments, beautiful Chinese vases, striking wayang masks and antique bakelite telephones. I am reassured by several vendors that purchases can be shipped anywhere in the world.

Struggling to get through the clutter of furniture I make for a store on the opposite side of gang or lane . a smaller size store, I see here a number of tables and offices under renovation. A beautiful roll-top desk in mahogany, with a spot or two ancient writing ink on its surface suggesting its authenticity, is rubbed back to remove a cheap varnish layer that was added to an error of judgment by a owner later. The fine grain is once again see the light of day. Fine wooden sofa with carved back is having his slightly battered edges smoothed with a primitive tool, which is nothing more than a piece of glass, but in the skillful hand of the carpenter brings great shape to its lines.

earlier in the way is the mother of these small suppliers. This shop was the first to open here in the 70s in the early and the larger premises and stock. To call a emporium is not to overdo it. Like other stores, it is also a residence, and I tread a little embarrassed by the rooms, except for antiques can also be home to a sleeping member of the owner's extended family.

From top to bottom, the shop groaned under the weight of its contents. Dutch lamps dozens hang from the ceiling, interspersed with beautiful blue cobalt glass lamps, dark red and green. The floor is flooded with circular pastry cabinets and inlaid and carved chests Madurese. The owner told me the real ancient sources are quick short; much of its reproduction furniture is made from old hardwood reworked. This would explain the aged appearance of much of what I see anything wrong, but the trained eye. He claims always have a supply of authentic - there are always old pieces of the family to come on the market of these hard and sale outside of the legacies of the family, or of the young generations who prefer something more modern

on the second floor, an impressive number of smaller pieces are displayed. I discovered a gramophone horn complete with a selection of 78s, a trophy from the colonial era hunts deer, and a collection of Javanese dance masks with their stylized faces among the items. One wall displays 20 or so plates of the 19th century, most of which are of Maastricht in Holland; some have an Indian theme.

Another area worth exploring is along Jalan Jalan Padmo Susatro and Bodri, which leads him. About 10 shops roadside overflowing onto the sidewalk selling a fabulous array of goods - antiques from the Dutch period from phonographs, radios, nautical instruments, silverware, brassware and crystal. Sellers seem willing to negotiate and rarely let you walk away without trying to reach an agreement.

Surabaya provides an excellent opportunity to find interesting, unique items at affordable prices yet.

[1945033FAITS] FAST: Surabaya

province East Java

population 2,765,000 (2010)

Zone: 374.8 km²

Directions: This lots of flights to Surabaya throughout Indonesia and other cities in southeast Asia. Take a taxi from Surabaya to these destinations (about 60 minutes travel time) airport.

Kampung Madura Jaya Jl Gubeng II, off Jl Kertajaya

Jl.Padmo Sustrato. , off Jl. Mayjen Sungkono

Jl. Bodri alongside Gelora Pancasila

Those ready to abandon their homes or hotel desk without interest for greener pastures will be happy to know that Bali now has many co-working spaces with access to high-end office equipment.

But that's not where the story ends. A big attraction of co-working spaces is to work amid some of the most inspiring and motivated people you are ever likely to encounter on the island. Below is our selection of the first six Bali collaborative workspaces

hubud :. Ubud Coworking and community space - Ubud - www.hubud.org

hubud | Photo courtesy of Franz Navarette

With over 250 active members from nearly 30 countries, it would be hard not to be inspired by the diversity of this area of collaboration.

an impressive bamboo structure placed about 100 meters from the Monkey Forest, hubud is a space for tech-savvy that makes the most of its green surroundings. Be inspired admiring the distant volcano and the surrounding rice fields from the garden cafe of the compound. The menu here includes a muesli station and roasted organic coffee daily for an instant energy boost.

The square area of ​​400 meters has a conference room for about 20 people, a meeting room for six, Skype booths, and a fiber optic line with a 50 Mbps shared Internet connection, which hubud claims "is by far the best in town." the property also offers printers, copiers, scanners, private lockers and use the mailing address of the center.

hubud also hosts regular skills sharing sessions, refresher courses and technical training camps

Price: US $ 60 - US $ 275 per month .. Discounts between 5 to 20 percent are available for accession of more than three months. Indonesians receive instant update at the next membership

Hours :. 24/7

Kumpul Coworking Space - Sanur www .kumpul.co

Kumpul coworking space

focusing on a common ambiance down-to-earth, Kumpul, which translates gather , is a refuge for creative professionals and souls. Explore new possibilities that network, brainstorm and generally feed on the diversity of the community Kumpul.

The space of open-plan office offers high-speed Internet, a printer, a scanner, video conference equipment, a projector, private lockers, rooms and LCD TVs, as well as sharing free skills sessions, workshops and seminars. There is also a balcony with a hammock if everything becomes a little more, and coffee, tea and snacks

An added bonus :. Kumpul is in the same building as Rumah Sanur, a creative center that hosts a variety of social events and exhibitions

Price: Rp.250,000 per day (including a free drink at Kopi Kultur) - Rp .2,500,000 monthly .. for Indonesians: Rp.150,000 per day (including a free drink at Kopi Kultur) - monthly Rp.1,750,000

operating hours :. 24/7

lineup Hub - Seminyak - lineuphub.co

Hub lineup is all about motivation , positive energy and release your inner creativity. Located on Sunset Road in Seminyak, Lineup is away from the bustle of the tourist area, but not at the expense of being too far from the action.

Unlike most other coworking spaces Bali Lineup doesn "t hospitality events. Nevertheless, the place certainly delivers when it comes to international offices and a professional setting.

With work areas and chillout dedicated, Products range of large LED monitors, quality office chairs, meeting areas, a coffee machine, and one of the fastest connections Internet on the island (20Mbps dedicated line). The use of the postal address of the place, private lockers and printers are also available.

However, it is not all work and no play for those who get enough to justify taking things easy Lineup offers a comfortable lounge and game consoles

Price: Rp. .0,000 per day - per month .. Contact Rp.2,0,000 Lineup Hub for a free trial

operating hours :. 10:00 to 1:00 every day

Dojo Bali (formerly Salty Volt) - Canggu www.dojobali.org/en

a stone's throw from the swell of Eco Beach Canggu, Bali Dojo cries work-life balance. Located in an open structure, high bamboo centered around a tropical pool and cafe, this outdoor office provides quality Internet connections three cases, conference rooms for private meetings, Skype cabins, lockers, library and a hot shower. There is even a rack for your surfboard

Dojo Bali regularly organizes seminars and workshops, and provides a space for artists to exhibit their works

Price: Rp .. .50,000 schedule - monthly Rp.2,000,000. Indonesian KTP cardholders receive a 50 percent discount on all services

Hours :. 24/7

Outpost - Ubud - www .outpost-asia.com

Outpost co-work

just outside the center of Ubud in a picturesque village of Nyuh Kuning, Outpost is the new kid on the block co-workers of the city . The two-story building features a host of standard amenities such as Skype room, comfortable office chairs and private lockers, as well as offers more out-of-the-box including two pools, a coffee riverside meeting and a masseur.

bright and spacious, 500 square meters, Outpost is currently the largest space to co-work on the island. The venue can accommodate over 50 members at any given time and has a number of private offices.

Outpost also manages programs and community outreach activities to inspire members with stories of entrepreneurs or presentations on important global issues made.

Price: US $ 14 per day - $ 155 per month

hours: 08: 00 to 20:00 from Monday to Saturday (24/7 by appointment)

Bali space WAVE Co-working - Kuta - www.wavebali.com

in the heart of the action between Legian and Kuta Sunset Roads in, WAVE is a discreet, comfortable haven of co-working. He is also the co-option of working more affordable space on the island.

As with other coworking spaces WAVE provides all the basics that a digital nomad could ever ask for, including the Internet, a printer, a scanner and a photocopier. The minimalist space can be rented for events

Price :. Rp.50,000 per day - Rp.500,000 per month

hours: 10:00 to 6:00 p.m. daily

Coworking Unconference Asia

with the slogan "the future of work is here!" the second Coworking Unconference Asia (CUAsia) once again delivered an entertaining exploration -of -the-box ways to live, work and 'learn. Organized by hubud: Ubud Coworking and community space, in cooperation with Kumpul Coworking space, pre-event sessions, held from February 24 to 25 revolved around the themes of the opening of a co-working space, future co-working in Indonesia, and how co-work shapes the way we work and do business. The main event, which lasted from February 26 to 27, included speeches from some of the mentors and visionaries in the world of co-working, as well as round tables and discussion sessions on the future of work. Participants also had the opportunity to visit some coworking spaces of the island.

Rosie Olivia & Sophia 'Milne

Author of Olivia & Sophie , Rosie Milne, explores what the expatriate life was like 0 years ago.

My novel Olivia & Sophia explores the lives of two predecessors of modern joint monitoring. Olivia and Sophia both traveled from England to the east in South Asia in the early 19th century, and doing must have been like a journey to the moon today. Each was a bold and admirable woman; they were respectively the first and second wives of Sir Stamford Raffles. today is remembered as the founder of Singapore, but in his time he was the governor of Java, and later Bencoolen (Bengkulu) on Sumatra. Wherever Raffles went to the East, his current wife tagged along.

Write to Olivia and Sophia made me grateful to be an expat wife now, not 0 years ago.

First, there were the horrors of the journey out, which could take anything from six to ten months. This was before the sailing ships had stabilizers, and the passengers were often prostrate seasick for most of the trip. Imagine the lingering smell of vomit in wet clothes

Except for the very rich, the cabins were dirty miserable little holes !; dark, airless, and sometimes divided by nothing but the canvas shoulder strap, making it impossible privacy. To ensure the supply of fresh meat, milk and eggs, animals and birds must be transported on bridges, adding to the general din and stink. And then there was the risk of shipwreck and pirates. Even the most nervous flyer would surely admit that 15 hours cramped in Heathrow at Soekarno-Hatta economy must be better than the previous expatriate endured.

And what about travel in Asia? Bali-residents are probably accustomed to hopping Lombok or the Gili Islands for the weekend. If you live in Jakarta, you probably think nothing of taking houseguests to Borobudur. But 0 years ago, Europeans were mostly confined to their colonies like rabbits in the traps. domestic trips were often walk through the jungle clogging.

Olivia Mariamne Devenish, Raffles first woman

Raffles' second wife, Lady Sophia

Sophia, the first white woman to explore the interior of Sumatra, slogged mountains and down waterfalls in skirts -. no breathable hiking boots or tissues for her

How was she able to wash and go to the bathroom? What rations? She found herself living off rice and burgundy. And there was no card, so the more adventurous were constantly in danger of being lost.

It is not enough ease of travel that we take for granted today, but also the ease of communication. At the time of the house letters took ten months to wend their way to England, and the answers took up to ten months to reach the East. Imagine a woman here receiving the news of her adult daughter had died months after the event. What happened to Olivia - when she married Raffles she already had a daughter by a previous relationship. Imagine a woman who receives a letter from his mother investigate the health of a child after the death of this child. Four of the five children of Sophia died in Asia, and my novel imagines it receives such a letter. How lucky we are to have Skype, email, Facebook, and so on.

And how fortunate we are if we have five children, all five of them, in all probability survive to adulthood. Whereas, at the time of fever tore through the body as baby tigers by chickens. How do women cope with the death of their children? For its part, Sophia based on religion: a committed Christian, she considered the death of his children as a lesson of faith of his merciful Creator. Can you think like that? I could not - even if I had to pretend that I could be when I imagined Sophia

There were no children who have dropped like flies .. Europeans few years ago here 0 simply did not know how to deal with climate or tropical diseases. People got sick the morning and died in the evening. So many people connected to Olivia and Sophia died, I found myself cut many deaths, to avoid having a funeral every page. But my poor subjects had to endure the frequent bereavements. How brave they were, and how lucky we are not to have to bury a friend, a child or spouse every two weeks.

Not to mention that modern Western medicine does not actively harm us, unlike the treatment in favor Oliva and Sophia of the day: .. mercury

This drink involved salts mercury, which made the breath stench caused the constipation, and has made people drool like dogs

liver problems were particularly prevalent among Europeans here, probably because parasites, and because they all drank like fish because the water was so bad. Olivia, who loved his cherry brandy, died of a liver disease, after suffering years of mercury treatment.

And that pregnancy? Ladies, imagine having to deal with the tropical heat in your skirts and woolen underwear while you were the size of a house. And, yes, women here have thought it was healthy to wear wool next to the skin! Furthermore, there was no air conditioning, no deodorant, and no running water -. Nothing to do with living more bearable heat

And finally there was spawned. Sophia had no painkillers to the birth of his first four, but maybe she ether to the last. Her first child was born on a boat: imagine the layers of processing difficulties! Her second child was born on earth, but also happened while traveling with her husband, no nurse on hand, no friends who she could call for help, and only a botanist to help. Not that she was complaining; women should be strong, and she was.

So next time you're tempted to complain about your lot in life, just be thankful that you are an expat today, not 0 years ago.