Love Island Travel

We take a trip to the cemetery Taman Prasasti in Jakarta, where the wife of Sir Stamford Raffles and many other famous or well-known historical figures are laid to rest.

This interesting outdoor museum contains the remains of the old cemetery built by the Dutch colonial government in 1795. cemeteries of the New Dutch Church, the inner city Portuguese church, and Church Sion were filled quickly, most likely due to another epidemic - and a new one was needed urgently

the 5.9 hectares " resting place for noble Dutch " years a public cemetery was created before the best-known in other countries. for example, Père Lachaise, 1803 in Paris. This cemetery in Jakarta is located on the aptly named Kerkhoflaan (Graveyard Avenue), now Jl. Tanah Abang 1.

From the original size of 1.3 hectares remain. In 1975, the majority was used for the construction of offices Central Jakarta HALL; a fairly common procedure in Jakarta, it would seem, as South Jakarta Mayor has also built its offices on a cemetery.

Today, only 1,372 tombstones and monuments remain of the original number of over 4,000. In addition to examining historical stones, a walk in the park is the nicest. Trees provide shade and make the walk among the stones is nice and refreshing - walk among the memories of the deceased do indeed feel alive and well

falls "Olivia Mariamne Raffles

Among those buried here are Olivia Mariamne Raffles, the first wife of Thomas Stamford Raffles; British Lieutenant-General of Java and its dependencies 1811-1816; Raffles and good friend, John Casper Leyden. Other personalities include Soe Hok Gie, an Indonesian militant, and a number of generals and artists from the colonial era.

It is fascinating to see these monuments in the context of selective evolution of history memory. For example, a replica of the commemorative tablet Pieter Erberveld - accused, convicted, hanged, drawn-and-quartered, and beheaded for plotting a rebellion in 1722 - can also be found in the cemetery. At the top of the wall, his head impaled on a spike accompanied by a tablet with an ominous warning to other potential traitors -. Which would certainly not be displayed, if not for the anti-colonial tie-in

After Indonesia gained its independence, Pieter Erberveld was rehabilitated and upgraded to the status of "freedom fighter national ". The truth is more likely - because of his dispute with the VOC leaders after they confiscated his lands (probably illegally for personal gain) - he had become a mega nuisance. And they got rid of him in a way excessively heavy. Remember, then, everyone not directly employed by the Company was regarded with suspicion and relegated to the lowest rung of the social ladder, and Pieter, so rich, was not part of the club.

Olivia Mariamne Raffles, born Devenish, is certainly a noble (but not Dutch) occupying the graveyard - or rather, was a noble occupant, as the original plot is now located in the offices of the Mayor of Jakarta Central. Its vault was however moved to the park after his remains were taken to a mass grave in Tanah Kusir cemetery.

Her husband, Lieutenant Governor Raffles, made a name for himself. During the five years of his management of Java, it has not only changed many aspects of everyday life - driving on the left being one - but also the slave trade abolished (not slavery itself However, as he himself was a slave, he took with him on his return to England). When he met Olivia at the offices of the East India Company in London, he was a modest employee on a salary of £ 70 a year. Six days after marrying Olivia in 1805, he was appointed deputy secretary of the new Governor of Penang on a salary of £ 1,500. This spectacular rise has led to rumors: Olivia, it was said, was the mistress of the upper, William Ramsey Raffles, and in turn, to take his hands by marrying, Raffles has been rewarded with an increase and the post in Penang.

Fact or fiction, that Raffles biographers clearly adored his first wife. And Olivia, as Lady Governess Java, was always present with him at official occasions and gave a lot of grace and dignity to the office. It organized social events and parties for people of all walks of life, and has never been known to reject even the common man in the street - a far cry from the high society of the administration previous centered. She, however, is strongly opposed to chewing betel nut and smoking, a very common habit among the highest levels ladies, and ordered all the paraphernalia of betel chewing to be banished from the palace at Buitenzorg, today ' hui Bogor.

Olivia died November 25, 1814 and was laid to rest in Batavia. The remains of his tomb are mediocre. Much more elegant and attractive is the memorial commissioned by Sir R

tombstone of John Casper Leyden

affles, in the botanical gardens in Bogor.

John Leyden Casper, friend and mentor Raffles, is best known for its English translation Sulalatus Salatin (Genealogy of the Kings), more popularly known as the Malay Annals. They met in Penang and immediately got on well. Leyden was the catalyst following the scholarly pursuits of Raffles of history, culture and politics of the Malay world, and especially Java.

Indonesian activist Soe Hok tomb Gie

Soe Hok Gie activist had opposed the dictatorships of both Sukarno and Suharto. He was a professor of sociology at the University of Indonesia and died from inhaling toxic gases hiking on Mount Semeru.

Taman Prasasti is probably under-budgeted and also neglected enough. Statues were damaged, but fortunately, the broken-off pieces were maintained on or near their pedestal. The history of Jakarta become more vivid if the stones were organized by specific periods, said Nirwono Joga, the author of Museum Taman Prasasti: Metamorfosis Kerkhof Laan Menjadi Museum (Memorial Park Stones: Metamorphosis of Kerkhoflaan to Museum). And according to the brochure, you get to the entrance, it is expected, and a general drive to make the park more attractive.

Museum Tanah Prasasti
Jl. Tanah Abang 1, Central Jakarta
+62 (0) 21 385 4060

admission: Rp.5,000

The Indonesian government officially granted free entry to Australian tourists, bringing a total of 169 countries on the visa waiver list.

The new rule, which came into force on March 22, came the President Joko Widodo, who last week signed a decree exemption visiting rights for 79 additional countries. It was a relief for Australian travelers, as previously neighbor south of Indonesia was included among other countries to grant free entry to be excluded at the last minute because of tensions on the implementation of Member the Bali Nine.

The visa exemption policy is one of the government's plans to attract more tourists to Indonesia, as they aim to attract at least 20 million foreign visitors in the country over the next five years. Australia previously had to pay US $ 35 for a 30-day visa on arrival.

Each year more than 1 million Australians visit Indonesia, contributing approximately Rp.18 trillion Indonesian economy. As a result, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, said that the decision to add Australia to the visa exemption list to be "smart and timely," hoping it will add approximately Rp. 3.4 trillion in the Indonesian economy.

Those who are still required to apply for an Indonesian visa for Australia was the visitors who wish to stay longer than 30 days or are visiting for journalistic purposes.

in 2015, Indonesia has recorded an increase of 19 percent tourists from countries that received the visa free access. the countries included in the visa waiver policy are Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, Chile, Hong Kong, Russia, South Korea, Japan, the US, New Zealand, the Netherlands, France, Italy, the Spain and the United Arab Emirates, among many others.

Indonesians traveling in Australia, however, do not yet enjoy free visas, something that the Indonesian Institute President Ross Taylor said was "amazing" . The Australian government always requires the Indonesians pay AU $ 130 per person to apply for a tourist visa, which requires the applicant to complete about 15 pages of forms. "And we wonder why so many Indonesians choose to travel elsewhere on vacation," said Taylor.

Trekking Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra in search of orangutans endangered in another world.

Since Leonardo DiCaprio hit the headlines of local and international news with its short but sweet visit to Gunung Leuser National Park North Sumatra, I could not stop thinking about the place. It was not only the 41-year-old actor-environmentalist-cum attracted me to visit this area, but the message he transmitted through his Instagram channel :. It was a special place that should be protected

lowland forest ecosystem Leuser still home to ancient migration routes of elephants followed by some of the last wild herd of elephants from Sumatra, number less than 1,000. " But the expansion of oil palm plantations fragmenting the forest # key and cutting the elephant migration corridors ," DiCaprio said on his Instagram page, which makes it " more difficult for elephant families to find adequate sources of food and water. "the eponymous foundation DiCaprio supports the protection and conservation of the Leuser ecosystem.

Gunung Leuser National Park covers an area of ​​7.927 km2 in Sumatra, and is located on the northern border of Sumatra province of Aceh Shariah-governed. with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat national Park, Gunung Leuser form a world Heritage site known as the tropical rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. This is the only place in the world where orangutans, elephants, rhinoceros and tiger always coincide. Today the Leuser ecosystem is fragile at the cross roads, but ecotourism plays an important role in helping to conserve this glorious stretch of virgin forest which is under siege of palm oil plantations and other development projects.

Although you are unlikely to encounter a tiger or rhino in these forests unless you walk for several days deep into its depths, you will almost always get to see the orangutans on a two-day hike. These beautiful creatures can sometimes be seen from the balcony of your accommodation in Bukit Lawang.

Bukit Lawang village is the gateway to the Gunung Leuser National Park and the Bohorok river is the only thing that separates humanity from the desert

Bukit Lawang

the door of the national park entrance can be described as a hyper tourist village. Bukit Lawang is sitting on the edge of the Bahorok river, and a cemented path big enough for two bikes running through its entirety. . The river is the only thing that separates humanity from the desert

In 03, a terrible flash flood swept almost all the village - which at the time consisted of only a few chalets. Thirteen years later, Bukit Lawang has developed into a tourist center happens filled with amateurs orangutan and those looking for a simpler and fresh existence.

The drive is about 4 hours from Medan International Airport. On arrival you will be greeted in English with "Welcome to the jungle, brother!" And the rushing sounds of the river will start to relax of-travel-weary minds. The village is filled with residents cafes, bars Bob Marley and accommodation "eco".

accommodation in Bukit Lawang is simple without air conditioning or hot water. electricity is not stable, but that adds to its charm. people come here to experience the wildlife and jungle trek, not to bask in luxury five stars.

jungle fever

most accommodation can be arranged a range of trekking options for you. on our two days, a night hike in the national park, we spotted our first orangutan in the trees above us only an hour into the hike. Semi-wild and used to people, you can get very close to these endangered animals, which were given names by the locals.

An orangutan in the National Park of Gunung Leuser

Mina does not like humans and is very aggressive, often accosting tourists on their walks. It is that she had been abused by humans when she was younger, causing trust issues, of course. Other creatures you may encounter on the trail are macaques, punk rock-looking Thomas monkey leaves, pig-tailed macaques and even gibbons

The hike itself is quite painful, because the region is hilly -. Which is actually the saving grace for which it has not been exploited by oil palm plantations. It is extremely hot and humid, so not suitable for walkers or the elderly without a moderate level of fitness. Although hiking is a little hard, you can stop and rest whenever the need arises.

We trekked 6.5 kilometers through dense jungle, stopping for a fruit snack and a lunch of nasi goreng . One thing I noticed is that the track is very clean, no litter to find. The guides were taught early on that waste means no guests, which in turn means no money, so even cigarette butts are brought back to Bukit Lawang, a refreshing change from other walks in Indonesia .

glamping

We arrived at our camp from the river to 16.30; accommodation with bamboo and tarpaulin. Our guide, Ipong (we like to call Mowgli as he was so in harmony with the forest) made a fire while looking forward to a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of the river, with the virgin forest that dominates us each side.

camping in the National Park of Gunung Leuser

a team of chefs prepare a delicious dinner and dined on field under the stars. It is rare that we have the chance to live pitch-black darkness - a welcome change from the endless city lights. You will be provided with a yoga mat to sleep, and that sleeping bags are provided, an additional game and a blow-up pillow would not hurt to act as a buffer in the hard ground below you.

wake up the sights and sounds of the rainforest - and hundreds of monkeys frolicking and being their cheeky me - was simply spectacular. After breakfast, we walked upstream to swim in a small incredible waterfall that has sufficient pressure to rip off your pool equipment.

tired legs of the hard hiking the day before were relieved when we were able to "hit" back to the village on the giant inflatable tires, tied together to form a raft. Ipong made each of us a crown of leaves, donned tribal face paint made clay, and headed downstream. Tubing gives you a completely different perspective of the forest, actually allowing you to see rather than being in the heart of it.

Of all the trips I have made in Indonesia, this one takes the cake. It was really special and an experience I intend to repeat next time visit to Tangkahan elephant sanctuary and perhaps make a trek of seven days in the jungle to find my Mowgli inside. I urge other outdoor enthusiasts to visit this place from another world before it's too late

In summary :. Gunung Leuser National Park

Getting there: daily flights available with local airlines at the international airport of Medan Kualanamu. Flights also available from Singapore and neighboring Malaysia. Ask your hotel to arrange the transfer from the airport (about Rp.0,000 go) in Bukit Lawang, which takes about 3.5-4 hours

Where to sleep :. Travel Eco Cottages or Riverside Guesthouse offers clean budget accommodation with fans. Riverside has an observation deck with stunning views of Bukit Lawang and the forest. Travel Eco Cottages is located on the river

What to bring :. Sun block, mosquito repellent, projector, hiking shoes / trainers, long pants and long sleeve top for the evening, shorts and a light top for hiking, backpacking, silver (the the nearest ATM is half an hour), camera

What to do :. hiking, photography, watching orangutans, tubes, excursion elephant Tangkahan, dancing to the live band on Saturday night, relaxing

Suitable for: .. adventure junkies, lovers of animals, reggae fans

Majapahit Piggy Bank

In the west, the Piggy Bank has long been a secular rite of passage, a whimsical but educational tool to teach children the benefits of saving. While today many may consider the humble piggy bank a quaint vestige but dated from the Victorian era, few are aware of its ancient origins and profound symbology.

Although there are several alternative theories of origin, there is no doubt that the first true coin banks - banks terra cotta in the shape of a pig with a slot in the top to deposit coins - were made in Java in the 14 ^e century! So many of these boutique banks have been found in many sizes, it is clear that they were very popular at the time. If you want proof, visit the National Museum on Jalan Merdeka where many are exposed.

Truly, the animal represented is technically not a pig, but the Javanese wild boar or celeng , a small cousin swung back black skin of the European wild boar hunted by Asterix and Obelix. Wild boar is still found in the lower jungles throughout Indonesia, unfortunately however, encroaching on their natural habitat has led to conflict between farmers who consider them pests because of their habit of rooting planted crops.

This and a growing aversion to all things haram resulted in recent years in a new sport in West Sumatra - huge hunts organized in the high catering trays Jakartan Minangkabau successful traders visit their villages. In search of a gladiatorial-like day of entertainment, they use huge packs of dogs to reproduce the local equivalent of the politically incorrect English foxhunt. Unfortunately, the end is predictable and cruel - a vicious and bloody battle that dozens of dogs shred the living boar. While the boar always dies, these creatures when courageous fierce horns also have their revenge - a high number of victims and canines. Considering that many of these animals trained cost as much as $ 30 million a piece, their owners often pay mightily for their pleasure vicariously. Needless to say, the meat is never used for the manufacture of boar sausages.

A domesticated version of the wild boar Indonesia can still be seen in Bali. Although quickly replaced by European races, that they are the key ingredient in the kitchen of the signing of Bali, babi guling , probably guarantee their survival. The traditional role of wild boar in Bali also brings us back to the original subject, the direction of the bank.

Since each pig farmer knows, pigs produce prodigious litter of piglets on a regular basis. So, too, blessed with enormous appetites piglets grow rapidly to huge sizes, eat only leftovers and a variety of food of any use to humans. Until today, many Balinese households raise pigs as quick and easy, but fragrant, how to make money leading to a direct connection between pigs and prosperity.

What better way to choose a clay bank to promote small savings by great wealth. Every great fortune starts with the first penny or in the case of the population of the Majapahit Empire who made the first pig banks Kepeng round Chinese brass coins with square holes that the Balinese use yet to make offerings. As the first piggy banks in Europe, when completed, the only way to open Majapahit celeng banks was open. The large number of broken examples excavated around Truwulan, the former capital suggest much money was saved and spent perhaps to make down payments on motorcycles.

How piggy bank migrated to Europe is, of course, another story. We can only guess, but there are several possibilities. The first is that Oderico of Pordenone, an Italian Catholic monk who was the first and only western to the Majapahit court in the 14 ^e century, and a lesser-known contemporary of Marco Polo, brought the idea back with him. The idea may also have traveled to Europe via China and the Silk Road. As art history often teaches us, the visual concepts often migrate far from their point of origin in mysterious ways. The irony, of course, is not only that few know the origins of banks, but also their place of origin is now the most populous Muslim country in the world.

Photos courtesy of Scott Thompson

1250 km in 25 days, from Bali to Jakarta, running through sweltering 32 degrees equatorial heat and 75%

moisture, dodging trans-Java buses, trucks and breathing masses of carbon monoxide - makes this sound like your worst nightmare? Just in case it does not calculate the first time, an average of 50 km per day, every day for 25 days, which is the equivalent of 30 back-to-back marathons. Your legs start to feel like jelly yet? Admittedly, only a super-human could accomplish such a feat.

Enter Scott Thompson. A Scotsman blue eyes with a great mission to accomplish this new year. "I was looking for something extreme, bigger than anything I had ever done before," Scott said. "I did the Sahara Ultra Marathon, which was 250 km across the Sahara Desert and can -being thought about trying the Yukon Arctic Ultra Marathon. I called several hotels in Jakarta to ask if they have freezers with space to put a treadmill inside, but the answer was not so great ... "Then the percent bet dollars for Bali to Jakarta term was introduced to Scott in the office and from there his mind was set.

Some may call deceive the heart, but I say courage. This race does has not been done before and when Scott crosses the finish line, he will be in the Guinness Book of World Records with the time to run faster between Bali and Jakarta. This mammoth race will start at Ngurah Rai airport Denpasar, March 8, 2012 and take him north for three days to take the ferry to Gilimanuk Bali Straits to cross-Ketapang in Banyuwangi. on the ferry, it will not be enjoying the sights and sounds as the other passengers . It will be running, either on site or on the deck of the ferry, ultimately take attention away from the sights and sounds for passengers on the ferry! Banyuwangi will follow the northern route and turn west across four Javanese provinces; East Java, Central Java, West Java and Jakarta.

The pattern of this race will make you weak at the knees. Fundraising for disadvantaged children in Indonesia is the driving force of Scott and all proceeds will be donated to Cancer Kiddies Mary and Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa. "I'm trying to raise awareness for these great charities, although small, doing incredible work for children who need help the most."

This is a difficult mission physically and dangerous, but Scott will only have the best support team behind him for the entire journey. a Medic sponsored a physician with supplies, G4S provide the escort car, Adidas on board for running shoes Aqua and Mizone for hydration and more sponsors are set to participate. So far, a cumulative total of Rp.351,000,000 was raised for charities and as this is a huge race, we'll do it great gift, too. Scott and his supporters will ask you join in supporting this great cause and commit as little or as much as you can to help children.

as a Brit, admits Scott does not want to blow his own trumpet and appear as arrogant or overconfident. "I do not mean this in an unpleasant way, but that's the kind of thing Americans are good at doing."

Photos courtesy of Scott Thompson

A fair bit of self-belief has to be involved to complete this trip. Is it even physically possible? the dangers include heat exhaustion, dehydration, blisters of the feet, rubbing, pulling or straining muscles as it will be running on rough terrain, avoiding potholes and automobiles. When Scott ran the Sahara Ultra Marathon, he lost 5 kg, which was more than 4 days . it is difficult to imagine how he will lose more than 25 days in the tropics

"I know there will be a point where I ask myself:" Why am I doing this "but? once it's done, I'll relax, have a burger and a beer, and remember the good things about the experience "

for more information on the race and how to donate, please visit :. www.runningbalitojakarta.com

Balische Slavin "(Balinese Slave) by Cornelis de Bruyn, circa 1711. BARTELE GALLERY

Traders colonizers of the Coromandel coast brought Hinduism to Java. The religion was adopted by the Majapahit kingdom in eastern part of the island. Bali was a vassal state of Majapahit, and became a shelter for refugees in the kingdom where Islam became the dominant religion.

the people of Bali are the Bali Aga. Although some villages Bali Aga still today, it must be assumed that the two groups socialized and mixed freely. from here Bali and the Balinese were largely left to themselves. the Dutch, who first appeared in 1597 are not really colonizers, a colonial power, yes, but even that was a slow and cumbersome process. the process went something like this. After the brothers De Houtman had a first contact with the island, he took Compagnie (Dutch East India company, VOC), and after 1800 when the company went bankrupt and was dissolved, the Government of the Netherlands Indies, more than 300 years. becoming the administrative power and govern Bali

over the centuries, Balinese kings remained an unruly lot and annoyingly stubborn - depending of course from his point of view. All nine of them: Klungkung, the most powerful kingdom, Karangasem, Mengwi, Badung, Bangli, Tabanan, Gianjar, Buleleng and Jembrana. Many expeditions had to be sent to ensure that trade agreements have been met, the Dutch ships plundered, fines for various forms of anti-VOC and other abuses were paid - in one case, a staggering $ 75,000 Fl ... it would be millions of Euros in the conversion to this - and in general to uphold the authority of the colonial government. One wonders, however, what priority Bali was given in the colonial policy of the Dutch.

Map of regions held by VOC / colonial government

The VOC and later the main interest of the colonial government was trade, and in Bali's main product concerned were slaves. The importance of this can be seen from the fact that in 1778 the number of Balinese living in and around Batavia was 13,000. Besides slaves, the island had little to offer. He lacked the spice of Ambon and Banda, and large estates belonging abroad (eg. Coffee, tea, rubber) of Java and Sumatra. As these most interesting commercial areas have their own brand of disobedience, the Dutch supremacy over Bali was not a priority. The nine realms thus continued to govern their part of the island in their way, unencumbered by foreigners. Or almost because sometimes (indeed regularly) they had to do battle with these annoying intruders course, according to his point of view try to impose their rules and laws.

In 1815, after the British hand Dutch East Indies back in the Netherlands, the colonial government seemed to become more interested in Bali. Was it a genuine interest or do they feel offended by the attitude of the kings? When Commissioner H. A. government van den Broeck was sent to Bali to assess the state of affairs, he met with mistrust and reluctance to continue the relationship where it was left off four years earlier. Not until 1826, the Raja of Badung expresses its willingness to enter into a treaty with the Dutch and allow a representative of the colonial government to establish a residence in Badung. This will be, however, should be taken with a salt and not the representative has already been recalled in 1831.

"Isle of Baly" (Bali) by Antoine Prévost and Jacob Van der Schley, circa 1746-1770. BARTELE GALLERY.

Only in 1839 were the kings agree to recognize Dutch sovereignty, which, for example, removed the king's right to the cargo recovered from sunken ships on their shores. But whatever treaty was signed, the actual adoption was poor. The kings (all nine) remained stroppy and unruly and have shown in no uncertain way that they do not agree to the colonial power superimposed on them. The colonial government complained that the colonial government representatives have not been received from a friendly and courteous manner, a Dutch ship was looted and the raja of Buleleng has not responded to a letter from the Governor General and all this leads to a series of expeditions to punish the guilty and to exercise the right of government. Some were successful, some not.

Dutch Supremacy was not fully established until the twentieth century, when in 106, the raja of Badung, as well as members of the nobility, some of his wives and children and members of the royal family marched through the shots of Dutch troops, preferring death over a reduction of his royal power and having to bend the knee before the Dutch. This puputan was repeated two years later in Klungkung. And after a few more unruly elements were deported in Lombok, law and order was created. Again, it depends of course on one's perspective, but Dutch sources the report of day when the people were not sorry to see the Kings go, and the lack of legal certainty and the continual state of war they had brought.

That the population felt relieved might even be true. According to anthropologist Clifford Geertz's Balinese who have the entrepreneurial drive to look for opportunities and take advantage of changing conditions. One of the changes when Dutch settlers have replaced the despotic rules instead of rajas, is tourism. Although negligible by today's standards of day, the number of tourists was enough to justify the first tourist guide in Bali great. As an illustration of the spirit of enterprise, we Balinese author of the tourist guide, GH von Faber, notes that quality woodcarvings are harder to find, as carvers and traders after finding that tourists were undiscerning in their assessment of products, produce almost prefer produced low-quality mass work and improve their cash flow.

136 trucks, 264 buses and 787 car rental, part of which used the tourism industry in 1930, have grown and grown and are still growing.

Kuta Beach, 1930

Kuta, which at the time was a fishing village with a beach hut and a government to change bathing suits even exceeded. Hotels, stays at home, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and souvenir stands, beachwear, craft and about anything a tourist might need, pushed, not only in Kuta. In addition, thousands of foreigners have settled on the island, find the official documents to obtain permits and licenses fairly easy, certainly compared to other places in Indonesia. In other words, the local government also welcomes those who bring money and acts accordingly.

I can not help but wonder how much easier and less painful (for both parties) the historical process of colonization and wakefulness following the economic and political independence could have been if the VOC and later the colonial government left the kings keep their rights beachcombing, and sent tourists and cruise ships rather than fleets Navy and marines.

  [1] Peddlers and Princes, social development and economic change in two Indonesian cities, Clifford Geertz, The University of Chicago Press, 1963. A comparative study of the two Indonesian cities Modjokuto a market town in east Java, and Tabanan, a city court in southwest Bali.  

  [1] BALI, tempels Duizend het land der, GH von Faber  

  Source: Encyclopaedia van Nederlandsch-Indië, Martinus Nijhoff, 1917  

I Hug Trees. Some trees hug me. Learn the sculptures around where I live and work from my elders, I discovered that my family has always had a thing about trees. Let me tell you about a sentimental sculpture in particular, which always gladdens my heart for a day's work.

When she moved to the land that was to become our family house, my grandmother built a bamboo and thatch hut next to a jackfruit tree that gave much joy to his seven children. Today, it continues to give a sense of wonder for many in his incarnation as a sculpture that is the centerpiece of our hotel lobby.

Family lore has it that once was my grandfather, eager to show more beautiful sight for customers, suggested cutting. "Do it after my death," was his acquiescence, which is the polite Balinese way of saying, "Over my dead body."

Great-grandma passed on and became one with the earth mother as a deity in our ancestral temple. My grandfather cut the tree down. He used the wood to build. He dug roots, and commissioned a sculptor to transform the strain.

The name engraved on one of the legs of the sculpture, one of the five roots dug, is Gde Amerjaya Tjokot. According to the figures so ingenious were highlighted from the singular wood, expressing its intrinsic qualities, I would venture to assume that the sculptor is a descendant or student Modernist woodcarver Tjokot (1886-1971). When the working Tjokot tended to be roughly cut and abstract, however, this work is much more polished, reflecting post-1965 communist purge the desire to Bali for the order and the search for beauty.

There are so many figures carved into the tree, I can spend several minutes or even hours, study. It contains several scenes from the Mahabharata, an epic full of allegories for life with its many shades of gray between pure white and dark black. And black, in our book, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Black is the color of life, of Vishnu. The seeds germinate and grow best in dark black. The ninth full moon of the lunar calendar Bali, black is seen on the banners fluttering in the wind, inaugurating Barongs all around the island who come to pay homage to the spiritual source of the waters of Bali. The water that irrigates the rice fields, the field of Dewi Sri, a shakti of Vishnu.

In the cosmology of Bali, Mount Batur spatially holds the "up" position of the North, where Vishnu resides. The element of Vishnu is water, plenty filling 12 km stretch of the caldera forming the Batur lake. In local mythology, adopted and adapted from India, Vishnu the preserver of life incarnates on earth often give advice to man. He came like a fish to warn Manu of the coming of the great flood. It came as a turtle to help the gods reach the elixir of life to become immortal. In some stories, it is more active as a pygmy or man-lion head to defeat an evil king, or as the lover Rama Sita who delivered Alengka claws Rahvana. stories later identified the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, but in the Mahabharata epic, plays but a cameo role. Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, acts as advisor in the Mahabharata, and is central, but briefly in the part known as the "Bhagavad Gita" where Arjuna's faith falters and it is uncertain to enter the battle.

Krishna sculpture Performances holding the reins of a chariot with Arjuna as a passenger, riding through forests and battlefields. Life goes on in the forest, even though men are preparing to massacre each other. In the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, there is a discussion of Karma Yoga, the path to perfection by action. Krishna said, "You fight for justice, and that is your goal ... Do not be overwhelmed by the fact that you will win or lose ..."