Madura : The Bull race ( Kerapan Sapi ) of One of the Attractions of the Tour

The bull race was the typical attraction from the Madura island that was the race (the race) cattle. Probolinggo that his inhabitants's majority of the Madura ethnic group or the mixture (between Madura and Java), then the bull race also became the attraction that was conserved.

An attraction masyarakt typical Madura, that is the race or the race (the bull race) cattle. In Probolinggo with the inhabitants's majority bersu I Madura or the mixture Madura Java (Pendalungan), the bull race also became the attraction continue to. Regional Government Probolinggo in this case the Perhubungan Service and Tourism, accommodated the aspirations of this community by preparing the forum for the bull race activity 2 (two) the time in one year. That is the Ritual Kasada Ceremony that was packed in the agenda Pre- Kasada and the struggle Trophy Regent Probolinggo in the BIRTHDAY of the Probolinggo Regency.

This also attracted local tourists even foreign countries.

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Toba Lake : Lake that was Full of Astonishing Beauty

The Toba lake was a volcanic lake with the measurement of the area of 100km x 30km in North Sumatra, Sumatra, Indonesia. In the middle of this lake was gotten a volcanic island was named the Samosir Island. The Toba lake had since long before become the area of the aim of the important tour in North Sumatra apart from the Lawang Hill and Nias, attracted domestic tourists and foreign countries.

Estimated the Toba Lake happened during the explosion around 73,000-75,000 last year and was the eruption supervolcano (the volcano super) that was newest. Bill Rose and Craig Chesner from Michigan Technological University estimated that volcanic materials that were spewed out the mountain totalling 2800km3, with 800km3 the rock ignimbrit and 2000km3 volcanic ash that was estimated was blown the wind to the west for 2 weeks. Volcanic dust that was blown the wind spread to half earths, from China as far as South Africa. His eruption happened for 1 week and his dust throw reached 10 KM on sea level.

This incident caused the mass death and to several species also was followed by the extinction. According to some DNA proof, this eruption also menyusutkan the amount of humankind until approximately 60% from the number of populations of earth humankind at that time that is approximately 60 million humans. The same eruption took part in causing the occurrence of the ice time, although the experts were still debating the matter.

After this eruption, was formed the caldera that afterwards was filled by water and to that now is known as the Toba Lake. The pressure above by magma that did not yet go out caused the Samosir Island emergence.

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Derawan Island: Maritime Tour that Really Captured

When you  lover the maritime tour, visited to the Laut Conservation Area (KKL) the Derawan Island, Kabupaten Berau, East Kalimantan, ought to be made the diary. Although just was developed into the tourist attraction, the potential and beauty of his waters did not lose to the other area.

This area was the sea region and mangrove that was arranged for the need of the continuous fisheries activity, the maritime tour, the research, and the socio-economic development of the community, as well as the utilisation of other sea resources in a lasting manner. It was not yet the direct flight to head this region. The flight from Jakarta only arrived at Balikpapan, the substitute by the small aircraft to the Redeb Cape, the capital of the Berau Regency. From the Redeb Cape used speedboat headed the Derawan Island.

Needed one hour followed the river to arrive in the estuary. Don't be surprised if you saw so many charts planted. This chart property of the local inhabitants and the amount could thousands. In the Derawan Island was gotten by several cottage. Sea water in this region was clean and clear with white sand that stretched.

The Derawan island was located in the Sulawesi Sea, to the Berau Regency coast, East Kalimantan, faced the estuary mouth of the Kelai River and was known with the Berau Delta. This island consisted of six groups of the big island, that is the Derawan Island, Pulau Sangalaki, Pulau Kakaban, Maratua Island, Panjang Island, Samama Island, as well as several small islands and the group of coral. Gotten 21 islands in this island. The cluster of the Derawan Island only a small part of the hundreds of islands in the east East Kalimantan coast that was numbering 248 islands. From the number, 138 islands did not yet have the name, two islands among them Sipadan and Ligitan was lost, to belonging to Malaysia. Waters in this island were known as some diving spot or the place of diving that was best in the world.

The region and conservation of the sea tour that were developed into the tour selam this was famous with his coral reef that was very beautiful. With used snorkel you could enjoy beauty of the coral reef under sea because his water was very clear. Might not be very far to the middle of sea, around 100 metre from the coastal lip, the fish and the multicoloured coral reef could have been enjoyed with leased snorkel Rp 50.000 per the day. As for for equipment rent scuba (self containing underwater bhreating apparatus) around Rp 400,000.

The series of the Derawan Island that was opened up more than 100mil along the East Kalimantan shoreline, was one of the richest areas biologically in Indonesia. In this island water from the Berau River was mixed with water from the Sulawesi Sea created a seascape that was unique with the characteristics of a river delta that was wide headed towards the spread coral shoal, the bank coral reef and the atoll. In the Derawan Island was gotten by more than 460 coral kinds. This made the Derawan Island the area that had the diversity of highest hard coral the number of two in the world after the Island King Ampat in Indonesia the eastern part.

The Derawan island as one of the places that was most rich and unique in the world could become your destination was further. Confirm you scheduled him in the forthcoming holiday.

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Youtefa Gulf: The Very Beautiful Gulf

A gulf with the very beautiful Scenery. This gulf officially indeed very beautiful, but had the special meaning in World War II, both the aspect of the Japanese troops and the allied troops and the United States, because of the location of this gulf was very strategic.

On April 19 1942 Japanese troops entered the Yotefa Gulf and landed in PIM and Abe the coast. By being believed in by him, that the Hollanda location was very strategic, then Japan Anchored two warships togethered with his marines in the Yotefa Gulf on May 6 1942. In the gulf this still was gotten by the legacy of the World War II history took the form of Japanese ship carcasses and the Ally that sank, while in Abe  coast was built a Landing memorial of the Japanese troops. Evidently this most protected gulf made Hollandia the Japanese defence prop. So also supplies that were owned by Japan in Hollandia it was admitted the ally as the only centre of supplies that were most big and strongest by Japanese troops all over the Pacific territory

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Highest Waterfall in Indonesia

Sipiso-piso available in North Sumatra howled through to 120 metre, was crowned as the highest waterfall in Indonesia. To head this waterfall from Berastagi, aimed the trip to Para- Pat.

Was not long after passed the Kabanjahe City, paid attention to the road thoroughly and found the sign to head this waterfall. After turning to left, followed this road until finding a big lake that is the Toba Lake.

In this lake you could stop over before walking on the step rank that crossed the slope of hills in the Toba lakeside. This that was the only safe road for tourists.

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Building Asian Africa: the Place was formed by the Association and the International co-operation

The building that was located in the road Asian Africa this was established by a Dutch architect who was named Van Galenlast and C.O. Wolf Shoomaker. This building became very famous since the holding of the Conference Asian Africa in 1955, afterwards the Conference of Student Asia Africa in 1956 and the Conference Islam Asian Africa that kept the texts and legacy Asian Africa that was famous. This building was opened for the public every time work day and was easy to be reached by using the bus of the route city of Cicaheum-Cibeureum, Museum that put forward the collection and things of photographs of three dimensions that were connected with the Conference Asian Africa 1955.

Building Architecture
Building was drafted by Van Gallen Last and C.P. Wolff Schoemaker. Both of them were the Professor to Technische Hogeschool (the IT College), that is ITB now, two Dutch architectures that were famous in the period, this Building was very thick with nuances art deco and this grand building was seen from his floor that was made from artificial Italia marble that good , rooms of the place drank-drank and relaxed was made from wood cikenhout, whereas for his information was used lights of the crystal ray that depended sparkling. This building occupied the area measuring 7.500 m2.

History Building
History this building named SOCITEIT CONCORDIA was utilised as the place of recreation by a group of Dutch community that was domiciled at the Bandung city and surrounding area. They were the officials of the plantation, the officer, the dignitary, the businessman, and the other quite rich circle. On the holiday day, especially tonight, this building was filled by them to watch the performance of art, eating dinner.

In the Japanese occupation period this building was name Dai Toa Kaman with his function as the centre of culture. In the proclamation period of Republic of Indonesia independence on August 17 1945 this building was used as the Indonesian youth post in order to faces the Japanese troops that at that time reluctantly handed over his authority to Indonesia.

After the Indonesian government began to be formed (1946 - 1950) that was marked by the existence of the government of Haminte Bandung, Country Pasundan, and Recomba West Java, Gedung Concordia was utilised again as the meeting building public. here normally was held by the performance of art, the party, the restaurant, and the meeting of the other public.

With the decision of the Republic of Indonesia government (1954) that maintained the Bandung City as the place of the Conference Asian Africa, then the Concordia Building was chosen as the place of this conference. At the time the Concordia Building was the place building of the meeting that was most big and grandest in the Bandung City. And his location was then very strategic in the middle of the Bandung City as well as and close to the best hotel in this city, that is the Savoy Homann Hotel and the Preanger Hotel.

And from early 1955 this Building will be restored and matched his requirement as the place of the quality International conference, and the development him was handled by the Service of province public works West Java that command by Ir. R. Srigati Santoso, and the restoration executive him was: 1) the Bureau of the noble, under the command of R. Machdar Prawiradilaga 2) PT. Alico, under the command of M.J. Ali 3) PT. AIA, under the command of R.M. Madyono.

After being formed Konstituante Republic Of Indonesia as results of the general election in 1955, the Independent Building was made the Konstituante Building. Because Konstituante it was considered failed in carrying out the task especially, that is determining the foundation of the country and basic regulations of the country, then Konstituante was dispersed by President's Decree on July 5 1959. Further, the Independent Building was made the place of the Planning Nasional Body activity and afterwards became the Building People's Consultative Assembly Now(MPRS) that was formed in 1960. Although the function of the Independent Building kept changing from time to time in line with the change that was experienced in the struggle maintained, organised, and filled up Republic of Indonesia independence, the name of the Independent Building continue to Buried in the face part of this building.

During 1965 in the Independent a Building was held by the Conference Islam Asian Africa. During 1971 the MPRS activity in the Independent Building completely was shifted to Jakarta. After erupting the revolt of G30S/ PKI, Gedung Merdeka was in charge of by the military agency and some of the buildings this was made the place of the political prisoner G30S/ PKI. in July 1966, the maintenance of the Independent Building was handed over by the government of the centre to the Level Regional Government of I Propinsi West Java, that furthermore by the Level Regional Government of I Propinsi West Java was handed again over by his implementation to the Level Regional Government Ii Kotamadya Bandung. Three years afterwards, on July 6 1968, headed by MPRS in Jakarta changed the instruction about the Independent Building (the former MPRS Building) with the provisions that that was handed over was his parent building, whereas other buildings that were located at the back of the Independent Building were still continuing to become MPRS responsibility.

In March 1980 this Building was again entrusted to the place of the Conference warning Asian Africa that was 25th and in Puncak his warning was declared the Conference Museum Asian Africa by Soeharto President Republic Of Indonesia – 2.

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Raflesia,the Giant's Forgotten Flower

Apart from the snake plant (Amorphopalus titanum), the rare flower that was quite popular in the Indonesian community was Raflesia, the pretty flower measured the giant. However, the kind raflesia that was known to be wide only Raflesia arnoldii, in fact raflesia the other kind still enough. All of them demanded attention of the community to be on duty at him so that not extinct. Some of Raflesia that was the endemic Javanese kind were Raflesia zollingeriana koorders or Raflesia solinger. Same like the Raflesia kind other, the existence padma one this began to be worrying. His article, the local inhabitants often took this flower bud to be made the remedy. The flower bud padma was believed in could merapatkan the female vagina.

The existence of this flower was the first time known by Koorders that found him in Puger, a coastal region in south East Java, during 1902. However because of the influence of nature, this flower is no longer found in the Puger region. He currently even often is encountered in the Meru Betiri National Park conservation area (TNMB), Banyuwangi, East Java. Was based on the research of Willem Meijer, the Raflesia kind solinger was the same as the kind padma Raflesia patma that his population in West Java. The measurement of the Raflesia flower was classified as amazing. The diameter of the flower could reach 35 cm, compared with the normal flower that only had the diameter 15 cm. The flower that blossomed perfect berdiameter 20-30 cm. It was long that the earlobe perigone 13-14 cm and wide 10-14 cm. Raflesia solinger was red brownish with the whitish nodule. The diaphragm hole around five until seven centimetre. The Raflesia flower be classed as holoparasit. Meaning that, the flower was the only plants organ that could be seen by the human eyes. He had two houses, namely the male and female flower that was gotten to the different individual.

The process of the formation of the flower was preceeded with the swelling in the root of the foster-mother's plants. Further was formed the bud to the surface of this root of the foster-mother's plants. This bud from the diameter several mm afterwards grew continued to this bud measuring big, reached 17 cm. Flower pollination was carried out by the green fly (Lucilia sp. ), the blue fly (Protocalliphora sp. ), the grey fly (Sarcophaga sp. ), the green eyes fly (Tabanus sp. ) and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). A spread spell of the seed, according to the central data of Biologi Research And Development, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, the possibility was carried out by land insects, the squirrel, the porcupine, the wild boar or deer.

Generally, Rafflesia zollingeriana lived from foot the hill as far as hill castors above. With the slope of the place grew around 85 percent. The height from 1-270 m. dpl (above sea level), and the distance of the revolving shoreline nine to 1000 metre. However with raging plundering against the flower bud, the existence of this flower began to be worrying. Increased again, until this, the cultivation technique that was exact to maintain his conservation was not yet found. Therefore, legally, this flower was protected by the country was based on PP No. 7 on January 27 1999.

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Gold Kubah Mosque ( KUBAH EMAS MOSQUE ) - The Most Grand Mosque in South-East Asia

The Kubah Emas (Gold Kubah) mosque was a grand mosque that stood in the Depok City, Propinsi West Java. The typical characteristics of this mosque were located to his turret roof that was made from gold 24 rust. This mosque building had the area around 8 hectare and occupied the area of the land measuring 60 hectare. It seems, because of his glory, this mosque was often acknowledged as the grandest mosque in South-East Asia, exceeded the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta.

This mosque was declared on December 31 2006 by the name of the mosque of Dian Al Mahri. The date of this appointment coincided with the Iduladha Public Holiday 1427 of H. Material materials this mosque was at once imported from European countries and Brazil, like gold, light, and granite from Italia, as well as several material other from Spain, Norway, and Brazil. His development was then undertaken by the professional power from overseas and ate the cost billions rupiah.

The Kubah Emas (Gold Kubah) mosque was built by a businessman from Banten named Hj. The lamp of Djuriah Al Rasyid. This rich businessman bought the land in the Depok area since 1996 and began to be constructive him since 2001. Pembanguan the mosque was finished at the end of 2006 and was opened for the exact public on December 31 2006.

One of the uniqueness that could be witnessed by this mosque visitor being the middle turret the mosque. The mosque of Dian Al Mahri had the numbering turret of five, namely one main turret and four small turrets. The form of the main turret resembled the Taj Mahal building turret in India. This turret had the low diameter 16 metre, the middle diameter 20 metre, and high 25 metre. While other small turrets had the low diameter 6 metre, the middle diameter 7 metre, and high 8 metre. All this turret was covered gold with a thickness of 2 through to 3 millimetre and was illustrated by the crystal mosaic. Moreover, in corners of the mosque also stood six towers that had the shape of the hexagon (heksagonal) high around 40 metre. The six towers was wrapped by grey granite stones that were imported from Italia with the ornament coiled. To the peak of these towers also was gotten the turret that was covered by gold. Six towers symbolised the harmonious number faith, whereas five turrets symbolised harmonious Islam.

In this mosque also was gotten light was suspended that was brought directly in from Italia seriously around 8 ton. Moreover, the visitor could also witness the relief special characteristics that decorated Mihrab space that was made from gold 18 rust. This relief special characteristics could be also seen in the fence of restraint on the floor of two, the calligraphy decoration in the mosque ceiling, and the pillar crown of the numbering mosque 168 stratified the material prado or gold. Especially for the mosque ceiling was gotten the calligraphy decoration was stylish Kuffi that was made from the stratified brass plaque gold.

If being seen generally, this mosque architecture was similar to mosque buildings in the Middle East, that is with the typical characteristics of the turret, the tower, the page in, as well as the decorative ornamental feature with the geometric element and his obelisk.

As a grand building and memesona, this mosque had the building and the so wide page. The area of the mosque building around 8.000 square metre and could accommodate approximately 15,000 as far as 20,000 congregations. The room of the mosque was divided on main space, mezzanine space, the page in, selasar upper, selasar outside, and other functional spaces. The main room of the mosque was dominated by the colour monokrom with the colour of the foundation of cream. These colours appeared to give calm and comfortable nuances for the visitor that was in this mosque.

To the mosque exterior was gotten the area garden that orbited the mosque. This garden was overgrown shady trees that could show the cool and beautiful atmosphere for the visitor. The concept of this garden arrangement was collaboration between architecture of the mosque building had nuances of the Middle East and the atmosphere of the tropical Indonesian environment.

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The Kuta Coast, the Most Beautiful Coast in Indonesia

Kuta began to be known when the traders from Denmark opened delegation's office of the trade here. Trade relations that were established between delegation of this trade and the inhabitants of original indigenous people afterwards developed very fast. Just began during 1930 a pair of husband and wife from Californian America really was impressed with beauty of the Kuta coast that at that time was nowhere near touched the human interference, the alias was still natural. Kuta Beach Hotel was the first hotel that stood in this region, but love must be closed because the Japanese troops attacked the Balinese island at that time. During 1960 when many Australian tourists who must stop over in Bali for the trip to Europe, Kuta began increasingly was known again. In his development, the Kuta area was increasingly interesting the visit of the tourists not only from Australia, but also from various other parts of the world.

Quickly stood various hotels all along the Kuta coastal region. Usually hotels dikawasan this was of international standard or at least a group of the international hotel. Starting from the beginning
Quickly stood various hotels all along the Kuta coastal region. Usually hotels in area this was of international standard or at least a group of the international hotel. Started from the start of the tip of the Kuta coast was gotten Inna Kuta B each the Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Mercure Hotel, etc.. Also stood a very comfortable accommodation were in a boutique style the sub-area that is Nature of KulKul Boutique and the Sub-area. Time was busiest in kawansan the Kuta coast was in the afternoon or when the sun set (sunset). All the tourists did what to foreign countries or local gathered to one here.

Everything had special torques in the country as the school holiday, the holiday of Idul Fitri Lebaran or the New Year holiday, could be ascertained by the bustle increasingly to. In the Kuta coast the visitor could carry out surfing or surfing, played football, played the kite, just rested in his coastal sand that was warm, or washed the eyes witnessed the white person's tourists sunbathing. If being attracted by the service kuncir hair or the production tato now, same could be gotten in this coast.

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Aceh : Saman Dance : a thousand hand dance (Tari Saman : Tari Seribu Tangan)

Saman or the hands dance one thousand was the traditional dance withered that came from the area Acehinese Tenggara, to be precise in the Gayo plateau. The name “Saman” was taken from the person who created and developed this dance, Syeikh Saman, that is one of the Muslim scholars who spread the Islam religion in Aceh. The poem language or the song that was used was Arabic and Aceh that contained the preaching centipede, the hint, the advice quatrain and the love quatrain. This dance was known with several name kinds, including Saman Gayo in Acehinese Tenggara and Middle, Saman Lokop in Acehinese East and Saman West Aceh in Acehinese West. However was not yet found by the explanation that was more specific concerning the equality and the difference of the dance saman from respectively this area.

In ancient, this dance was shown in the certain traditional ceremony, among them in the ceremony commemorated the birth day of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Selain Itu, especially in the context kekinian, this dance was shown also in the agendas that were state, like guests's visit of the country, or at the time of the opening of a festival and the other diary.

The dance saman was suspected of coming from the Malay Kuno dance. This assumption emergence because of the dance saman used two elements of the movement that became the element of the foundation in the Melayu Kuno dance: applause and the chest clap. Expected, when spreading the Islam religion, Syeikh Saman studied the Melayu Kuno dance, afterwards produced came back through the movement that was accompanied with Islam preaching poems in order to facilitate his preaching. In the context kekinian, the ritual dance that was religious this still was used as the media to send the preaching centipede through performances.

In the Dutch colonisation period, the performance of the dance saman was banned because it was considered contained the magical element that could lead astray. However, this ban was not heeded by the Acehinese community, so as this dance continued to develop fast now with various dynamics that were matched with the situation and the condition. Moreover, the dance saman only was not shown in the Acehinese area, but also in the other area in Indonesia, in fact overseas, like Singapore and Malaysia.

The dance saman including one of the quite unique dances, because only put forward the movement of applause and the other movements, like the shaky movement, kirep, lingang, surang-refined and the movement lengek. The other uniqueness was seen from the position sat the dancers and the fluctuation in the body that dihentakkan to left or to right, when poems in song . Moreover, this dance did not use musical equipment, because with these movements as well as the poem that were sung created the delighted atmosphere.

Generally, the dance saman was played by belasan or dozens of men, but the amount must be odd. However, in the further development, this dance was played also by women or the mixture between the man and the woman. Moreover, the other opinion said that this dance was danced by approximately 10 people, with details 8 dancers and 2 people as the command giver while singing. To arrange various movements was pointed out a leader who was acknowledged as Syeikh. Apart from arranging the movement of the dancers, Syeikh also was assigned to sing song poems saman this.

The dancers saman wore the typical Acehinese uniform costume, with bulang the pupil in the head, the cover of the neck as well as the bracelet on the two wrists. In his implementation, the dancers sat lined up memanjang nearby with knees was folded. Syeikh sat in the middle of the other dancers. Syeikh sang the poem or the song was followed with various movements by the other dancer. The movement and the song that were sung had dynamic relations, synchronous and showed the solidarity. This dance was preceeded with a slow movement, with applause, the chest clap and the thigh, as well as lifted the hands above in a changing manner. It was increasingly old, the movement of this dance was increasingly fast until this dance ended.

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Al qur'an heaviest in the world ( Al qur'an terberat di Dunia )

Unlike usual him the holy scripture of Al-Quran that was measuring small, light and could be brought everywhere. Al-Qur'an available in the Islamic Boarding School of Al Ashiryyah Nurul Iman, that was located in Parung RT 01 RW 01, the Waru Jaya Village, Kecamatan Parung, Kabupaten Bogor this was far different, because of having the measurement of the giant seriously 1,2 ton wide 120 cm and long 150 cm.


According to the Management of the Islamic Boarding School Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Assyekh Habib Saggaf bin Mahdi bin Assyekh Abu Bakar Bin Healthy, Al-Qur'an measured the giant that currently was dipondok this, was made for five years, be begun from 1985 to 1990 and was done by nine Muslim scholars from the Javanese land.Process the execution of Al-Qur'an this needed time approximately 5 years and was done especially by 9 Muslim scholars in the Javanese land. Whereas the cost that was needed to make Al-Qur'an reach Rp 500 juta,” said Abah Pimpinan of the Islamic Boarding School of Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Moreover, according to Abah, when the execution of this Al-Qur'an was ninth the Muslim scholar, including Abah, carried out fast religious duties while five years were full.It is hoped Al Qur'an this could be useful and remain up until 500 years in the future. Because of the paint that Abah utilised to write Al-Qur'an this indeed was made from the special paint that was drafted will keep to the period that lama,” Abah words Al-Quran, said Abah, the fall heavy, everything at the time of the Prophet Muhammad SAW spread his teaching was also very difficult and was full of the challenge. “Atas the foundation so we thought and the kick at to make Alquran this was like this serupa,” he explained. Al-Qur'an the giant who is claimed as the most big and heaviest book in the world, currently still concrete sheets and was kept neat in the library's space Pound the plague of Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Parung Bogor, Al-Qur'an consisted of 30 sections, 6,666 articles, and 114 letters.

Linguage Indonesia...
TIDAK seperti lazimnya kitab suci Al-Quran yang berukuran kecil, ringan dan bisa dibawa ke mana-mana. Al-Qur'an yang ada di Pondok Pesantren Al Ashiryyah Nurul Iman, yang terletak di Parung RT 01 RW 01, Desa Waru Jaya, Kecamatan Parung, Kabupaten Bogor ini jauh berbeda, karena memiliki ukuran raksasa dengan berat 1,2 ton lebar 120 cm dan panjang 150 cm.

Menurut Pimpinan Pondok Pesantren Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Assyekh Habib Saggaf bin Mahdi bin Assyekh Abubakar bin Salim, Al-Qur'an berukuran raksasa yang kini berada dipondok ini, dibuat selama lima tahun, dimulai sejak tahun 1985 sampai 1990 dan dikerjakan oleh sembilan orang ulama dari tanah Jawa.

”Proses pengerjaan Al-Qur'an ini memerlukan waktu sekira 5 tahun dan dikerjakan khusus oleh 9 orang ulama di tanah Jawa. Sedangkan biaya yang diperlukan untuk membuat Al-Qur'an mencapai Rp 500 juta,” ujar ABAH Pimpinan Pondok Pesantren Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman 

Bahkan, menurut ABAH, pada saat pengerjaan Al-Qur'an tersebut kesembilan orang ulama, termasuk ABAH, melaksanakan ibadah puasa selama lima tahun penuh.

“Mudah- mudahan Al Qur'an ini akan bermanfaat dan mampu bertahan sampai 500 tahun ke depan. Sebab cat yang Abah pergunakan untuk menulis Al-Qur'an ini memang terbuat dari cat khusus yang dirancang akan tahan sampai jangka waktu yang lama,” kata Abah

Al-Quran itu, kata abah, turunnya saja berat, apalagi pada saat Nabi MUHAMMAD SAW menyebarkan ajarannya juga sangat berat dan penuh tantangan. “Atas dasar itulah kami berpikir dan sepak at untuk membuat Alquran ini demikian serupa,” paparnya.

Al-Qur'an raksasa yang diklaim sebagai kitab terbesar dan terberat di dunia, kini masih berwujud lembaran-lembaran dan tersimpan rapi di ruang perpustakaan Pon pes Al-Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Parung Bogor, Al-Qur'an itu terdiri dari 30 juz, 6.666 ayat, dan 114 surat.

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The mosque of Agung Demak was a mosque that was eldest in Indonesia

The mosque of Agung Demak was a mosque that was eldest in Indonesia. This mosque was located in the Kauman village, Demak, Central Java. This mosque was trusted had been the place of the gathering of the Muslim scholars (the guardian) the disseminator of the Islam religion, was acknowledged also as Walisongo, to discuss the spreading of the Islam religion in the Javanese Land especially and Indonesia generally. The founder of this mosque it was estimated was Raden Patah, that is the first king from the Demak Sultanate.

This mosque had parent buildings and the veranda. The parent building had four main poles that were acknowledged as the teacher's heritage. The veranda building was the building was open. His roof had the shape of the pyramid that was supported eight poles that were acknowledged as the Majapahit Heritage. In the location of the mosque of Agung Demak of the complex, was gotten several of the kings's graves of the Demak Sultanate and his servants. There also was gotten a museum, that contained various matters concerning the story of the mosque establishment of Agung Demak.

Language Indonesia...
Masjid Agung Demak adalah sebuah mesjid yang tertua di Indonesia. Masjid ini terletak di desa Kauman, Demak, Jawa Tengah. Masjid ini dipercayai pernah merupakan tempat berkumpulnya para ulama (wali) penyebar agama Islam, disebut juga Walisongo, untuk membahas penyebaran agama Islam di Tanah Jawa khususnya dan Indonesia pada umumnya. Pendiri masjid ini diperkirakan adalah Raden Patah, yaitu raja pertama dari Kesultanan Demak.

Masjid ini mempunyai bangunan-bangunan induk dan serambi. Bangunan induk memiliki empat tiang utama yang disebut saka guru. Bangunan serambi merupakan bangunan terbuka. Atapnya berbentuk limas yang ditopang delapan tiang yang disebut Saka Majapahit.Di dalam lokasi kompleks Masjid Agung Demak, terdapat beberapa makam raja-raja Kesultanan Demak dan para abdinya. Di sana juga terdapat sebuah museum, yang berisi berbagai hal mengenai riwayat berdirinya Masjid Agung Demak

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Padang : Malin Kundang Stone (Batu Malin Kundang)

Scholars from Oxford University finally reveals the hoax which surrounding the Indonesian famous legendary human shape stone known as 'Malin Kundang' in Minang Province-Padang as a hoax and the alleged human shape remains were actually done by local people with the help of liquid chemical name Formaline. The empty canister and bottles were found buried near the area of the legendary site. The research done to Malin Kundang stone shows that the statue was actually came from human corpse and later undergo a formaline process. Motives behind the incidents was to attract tourist to visit the place and believed that the 'formaline preserved' Malin Kundang was a real story which took place long time ago. The research also reveals that all the artifact nearby have been created using molds and cements.

Malin Kundang is a folktale about retribution on an ungrateful son. A sailor from a poor family, the protagonist voyages to seek his fortune, becoming rich and marrying a princess. On his return to his home village, he is ashamed of his humble origins and refuses to recognize his elderly mother. She curses him, and when he sets sail, he and his ship are turned to stone. Padang, has a rock formation called Batu Malin Kundang that is said to be the remains of his ship.

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Padang : Airmanis Beach ( Pantai Air Manis )

From Padang's Muara Harbour, catch a canoe across the river. There is a clear path over the hill, through the colourful Chinese cemetery, along the path are many clove trees and the scenic beauty of nature. The path over Gunung Monyet ( Mt Monkey) is cool and pleasant, take 45 minutes walk. The beach at Air Manis nice though not the best for swimming. 

The view is what makes this beach so popular for other tourists. The locals will happy to put you up and may even be able to go out night fishing. During the low tide you can walk out to Pulau Pisang Ketek (Small Banana Island ) but keep an eye on the idea. Go on walking over the next hill for a fine view over the harbour of TelukBayur, walk down then and catch a mini-bus back to downtown. The beach can be reached by bus from Pasar Raya via Mata Air Village and ride up the hills and down to the beach in twenty minutes.
 
Take a walk in five minutes and watch the sunset along the promenade. On the Westcoastv Padang Beach comes alive in early evening when the locals take a stall to watch the sunset while having the taste of special food 'Rujak' (mixed-fruit) and enjoying the impressive fishermen's motorboat lamps off-shore nearby. Without enjoying the late afternoon splendour and tasting the specific food atthe impressive Padang Beach, the
visit of yours to Padang, uncompletedly.

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Bali : Kecak Dances

Kecak dances is the most unique Balinese dance which is not accompanied by orchestra/gambelan but by choir of seventy men it has its origin in an old ritual dances, ‘ Sanghyang or trance dance. In Sanghyang dance a person in a state of trance communicate with deities and ancestors. Using the dancers as a medium the deities and ancestors convey their wishes. In 1930’s the old Ramayana was included into the dances. Briefly the story runs as follows :

Due to wise prince of Ayodya Rama the legal heir to the throne of Ayodya was exilied from the realm of his father Dasarata, accompanied by his wife and his younger brother Laksmana they went into A forest called Dandaka .While they are in the forest the demon king Rahwana found them and lusted after the beautiful Sita, accompanied by his prime minister Marica, they made a trick to steal Sita. Using his magic power Marica transform himself into golden deer. Disguised as a golden deer they succeed in luring Rama and Lasmana away from Sita. Rahwana making use of this opportunity, kidnapped Sita and took her to his palace Alengka. Discovering the deception Rama and Laksmana set out a rescue Sita from clutches of the demon king Rahwana assisted by huge army of monkeys under command of their king Hanoman. Rama succeed in getting his wife back safely.

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Komodo National Park (Comodo Island)

Komodo National Park lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP) provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2

HISTORY :
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants. 
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

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Rumah Gadang Minangkabau

Traditional House
Minangkabau Traditional house is called 'Rumah Gadang' that means big house or Rumah Adat that means customary house. It is called Rumah Gadang, because of its big size, but it refers to the big function of the house it self. Rumah Gadang in Minangkabau belongs to all members of relatives along the mother's line called 'kaum'. The function is as the place for all traditional ceremonies like wedding party or inauguration of a head of clan. The original traditional house is made of wood and bamboo for the back wall. The roof is made of palm vibe. It is about 12 to 20 meters long and 6 to 8 meters wide the position of floor is two to two and half meter above the ground.


The location of a traditional house stretch from west to east, while the numbers of the rooms are 3,5,7,9 & even though 17. The construction is expended up with a horn shape roof. The roof looks like the horn of buffalo with 4 to 6 points stretch along the house and a point in addition forward for the front door and ladder. For the expanding form of the construction, there is no any right angle connection to the pillars with the horizontal bars of the house. Both, the upper and lower horizontal bars of the building.

The inside of the house is divided into 4 parts. They are living quarters along one side of that house, which consist of five or more rooms; another side in front of the rooms is a hall for meeting. In some houses, the meeting hall made with a raised floor as the place for the household in a meeting. At both ends of the house are rooms with a higher floor called 'Anjuang'. The rooms at Anjuang are used only for a special occasion, and usually used by a newly married daughter of the family.
The Traditional House is difference based on their clan:
1. Bodi Chaniago traditional houses.
2. The house has smooth floor and doesn't have anjuang.
3. Koto Piliang traditional houses
4. The house has anjuang.

The traditional house based on their shape:
1. Rumah gadang Rajo Babanding.
 Consists of 5 rooms, 30 poles, 4 slightly horn shapes

2.Rumah Gadang Rajo Maharam.
Consists of 40 poles. It is called Gajah Maharam because the whole shapes look like elephant that sitting on the floor with the legs together and bent back beside the body.

3.Rumah Gadang Sarambi Papek
It is smaller than Rumah Gadang Rajo Babanding and consists of 3,4,5 rooms coinciding with the numbers of pole and there is no "paserek" and bedroom here.

In front of the traditional house stands rice barns used to keep food supply namely:
Sitinjau Lauik
Located on the left side with 6 poles and functioned as paddy storage to provide the common traditional need of expense.
Sibayau-bayau
Located on the right side with 6 poles and functioned as paddy storage for daily need.
Sitangka Lapa
Located on the left side with 4 poles and has function as paddy storage for disaster.

The traditional house wall and the rice barns are adorned with colorful carving, that very interesting and has a special meaning reflecting to Minang Philosophy "Alam Takambang jadi Guru" means the whole nature becomes the teachers.

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Bandung : Mt. Tangkuban Perahu

Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is Bandung's most famous tourist volcano just 28 km north of the city. This volcano offers many places to see and explore. Whether you look into the huge crater or hike down into it, stroll through the forest on its slopes, or simply enjoy the splendid panoramic view, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is an interesting destination that everyone in the Bandung area is fond of visiting. When seen from Bandung, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu has a distinctive shape, like an upside down boat. Tangkuban Perahu means, in fact, "up-turned boat" This peculiar shape has stimulated the fantasy of the Sundanese people from early times as expressed in the Legend of Sangkuriang.  

Geologically, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu has played a significant role in the development of the Parahyangan highlands. Eruptions have contributed immensely to the hills north of Bandung through lava flowing into the valleys and hardening into rock, thus forming big cliffs over which waterfalls leap. Likewise, mud flows have formed a semi-circular cone of gentle gradient (what geologists call "a fan"), which is now a mass that blocked the valley of the ancient Citarum River near present day in Padalarang (some 18 km west of Bandung), this caused a lake to form covering the whole Bandung plain. 

Though the mountain appears peaceful, mild eruptions occurred in 1969, when Kawah Ratu spewed ash and barrages 500 m high. As recently as September 1992 it was closed to the public for a few days because unusually high seismic activity lead volcanologists to fear a new eruption. On the mountain's northern flank is an area called Death Valley, so named for its frequent accumulation of poisonous gases. On a reasonably clear day, from Kawah Ratu, the main crater, you can see not only the mountain range to the east, with Mt. Bukittunggul as its highest peak (2,209 m), but also two other in a northeasterly direction. The lower and nearer one is Mt. Tampomas ( 1,684 m) just north of Sumedang some 40 km away. To the right and about 90 km away is Mt. Ciremai close to Cirebon on the north coast. At 3,078 m, Mt. Ciremai is West Java's tallest mountain. At the foot of Mt. Tangkuban Perahu you see the Ciater tea plantation covering the rolling hills. Farther to the left are the northern coastal plains of Java, and on an extremely clear day you may even be able to see the Java Sea beyond.  

Kawah Ratu, which means "Queen's Crater", is today just a big gray hole which sometimes has a pool of water at its center. Poisonous gases sometimes accumulate in Kawah Ratu, thus making it somewhat of a risk to descend to the crater floor. Beyond the saddled shaped depression on the far side of Kawah Ratu is the still active Kawah Upas, the oldest crater on the mountain. On the very far western cliff you see a spot where all vegetation has been destroyed by constantly rising sulphurous vapors. On the crater walls, note the various layers of material consisting of rock, sand, and pebbles. Overtime, new craters have formed again and again in a rather consistent shift from west to east. The most well known of these is the Domas crater, but also there are other smaller ones in jungle on the mountain's northeastern flank.

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Randai Dance (West Sumatra)

Randai is a form of theatre of the Minangkabau in West Sumatra. It involves a kind of circular dancing, called galombang. The movements of the dance are based on those of the martial art, pencak silat. Further, Randai involves a dialogue between actors. A third element of Randai is sung poetry. The dancers may sing the texts, and there may also be a male or female vocalist accompanied by a bamboo flute (saluang or bansi) or a set of gongs (talempong). During the intervals in a Randai performance popular songs may be played, a dance like tari piring may be performed, there may be a comical sketch, or a demonstration of pencak silat.

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Bukit Tinggi : Sianok Canyon

Just a few blocks from our hotel in Bukittinggi, the beautiful Sianok Canyon is a favorite spot for tourists. From a scenic overlook, one can see down the canyon for several miles in both directions. Deciding to strike out on my own for the afternoon, I hired a guide (a friend of Arman's named Ujang) to lead me on a hike through the canyon. To get down to the river from the scenic overlook, we passed through a series of tunnels (the Japanese Tunnel is a massive excavation used by the Japanese to hide troops and munitions during WW II), roads, and paths. 
After the first mile or so, there was no longer any semblance of a trail, so we waded back and forth across the river to whichever side had the best river bank. Eventually there was no river bank (just a narrow gorge) and we travelled down the center of the river, which was generally about one to three feet deep, feeling for rocks and dropoffs with our feet and bracing ourselves against the current. 
When we reached the point where there's normally a path out of the gorge to the plateau and rice paddies above, we discovered that the route was impassable because of the water depth and strength of the current. So, we backtracked to a point about a mile down the river, and scrambled up the steep canyon wall (thick bamboo, slippery mud, wet leaves). Ujang removed his sandals and had better traction barefoot than I did with my hiking boots. 
Then we had to walk back to a highway which we followed for a few miles to the rim of the canyon, with the town (and hotel) on the far side. Here there was a decent path back down to the river, with a precarious suspension footbridge to cross, and then a short walk back to the hotel. It was a fun and spectacular afternoon.

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Central Java : Borobudur Temple

The earliest mention of Borobudur in Java's recorded history came not a monk. Nor was it from a scholar. No, the first person to stumbled on Borobudur was Ki Mas Dana, a rebel, who rose against the ruler of central Java but was defeated. So he fled to the mystical mountain called Bara-Budur, where the king's troops surrounded him and had him executed. Fifty years later, the monument was again mentioned, when another visitor, this time a crown prince, paid a visit in defiance to a prophecy that royalty who visited the "mountains of a thousand statues" would surely die. The rebellious young prince wanted to see the image of a "warrior in a cage". The king sent men to bring him back, but when they found him, he vomitted blood and died.

And so was the curse of Borobudur ingrained into Javanese belief. It was a stone mountain which the Javanese know about, but avoided like a plague. And it would have remained so, to the loss of the whole world, if not for an insightful British lieutenant governor. 

The year was 1814. Sitting in a mansion in Semarang, on Java's north coast, Stamford Raffles listened with rapt curiosity of this great temple ruin deep in the jungle of Central Java. Fascinated, Raffles sent H.C. Cornelius, his Dutch military engineer, to investigate. The Javanese brought Cornelius to a huge ruin that was so big that it took 200 men a whole month and a half to cut and burn the vegetation around it, and to remove the dirt cloaking the stones. Cornelius made many drawings, 39 of which still surviving, and dispatched these to Raffles. 

The discovery of Borobudur took place 47 years before Henri Mouhot called the world's attention to another remarkable Asian ruin, Angkor of Cambodia. It was for European colonist their first glimpse of a high level of civilization flourishing in ancient Southeast Asia.

Construction of Borobudur probably took place around 760 AD, and completed around 830, making it older than the major monuments of Angkor but younger than those of Anuradhapura. Work on it probably did not progress at the same rate over that 70-year period. The construction proceeded in spurts, with many intervals when work stopped all together. Study showed that among the setbacks included a part that collapsed during construction. The plan probably changed several times, and these modifications resulted in even more work. 

Restoration work for Borobudur started quite early. A committee was formed back in 1900 to consider measures for preserving it. The government selected a 28-year-old second lieutenant called Theodore van Erp to head the project, and he proved to be an excellent choice.

The committee's initial plan was intended simply to protect Borobudur from further damage. It called for the erection of a pyramidal roof of galvanised iron over the whole structure - an idea which was fortunately rejected. Instead, the decision was taken to fix the stones that are in danger of collapse, repair the balustrades and restore the gates and stupas. Van Erp started work in 1907. Although his initial order was simply to preserve the extant monument, he found so many missing pieces that he proposed an extensive restoration of all the balustrades, niches, stairs, gates and stupas. 

Although this initial restoration did much good to Borobudur, it did not solve the problem of water percolating through the cracks between the stones down into the ground, and into the foundation. This causes the walls to sag and tilt until the whole structure threatened to collapse. So another committee was formed in 1929 to monitor Borobudur, but the onset of the Great Depression, followed by World War II prevented the colonial government from taking any further measures to deal with the problem.

It was only after Indonesia gained its independence that the new Indonesian government had a chance to take steps to preserve Borobudur. In 1955, with help from Unesco, the site was examined by a Belgian expert. Although the government earmarked funds for Borobudur restoration in 1964, work had to be suspended following a coup attempt. 

Only in 1971 efforts recommenced to preserve the monument, and restoration official began in 1973. The project required the dismantling of the whole monument so that a new, complex drainage system can be put in place. This process is called anastylosis, and was successfully carried out in the 1930's on another Southeast Asian ruins, the temple of Banteay Srei at Angkor. It was the world's biggest jigsaw puzzle, with a million or so stones that had to be removed. The outer ones were carefully numbered, cleaned, treated and replaced. All told, the project cost $25 million, and took over ten years to complete, during which time Borobudur had to be closed to the public. It was only reopened to the public by former President Suharto on 23 February, 1983. 

Borobudur was built by the Sailendra Dynasty. It is amazing to note that this dynasty appeared for only for a short period in Java history, from 778 - 856 AD. After 856 AD, the primarily Hindu dynasty was overcome by another, the Sanjaya Dynasty which is Buddhist. Some scholars believed that the Sanjaya Dynasty, which is credited with building the Prambanan temple, had appeared long before the shortlived Sailendra Dynasty, and continued after the demise of Sailendra Dynasty.

Borobudur is designed as a mandala - a geometric aid for meditation. It is in fact a model of the Buddhist cosmos. Borobudur has 10 levels, and these 10 levels are categorized into three distinct parts which correspond to the three divisions of the Mahayana Buddhist universe: khamadhatu, the low-life, so to speak; rupadhatu, the realm of "form"; and arupadhatu, or the state of detachment from worldly being. A pilgrim would circumambulate the monument in clockwise fashion, starting with the reliefs on the eastern staircase, and going around the monument before ascending to the next level, and so on, until he reaches the top. That's a journey of ten circles around Borobudur, covering a distance totalling five kilometres. As the founder of AsiaExplorers, I have fond memories of my first encounter with Borobudur. It was on a night bus. An Indonesian movie was playing, a sort of epic drama. It was shot in Borobudur, and I watched transfixed at the massive stone monument, unable to believe that such a structure do exist in real life. 

It must be close to thirty years later that the dream of visiting Borobudur come reality. Between then, the realisation that Borobudur is indeed real was reenforced by visits by relatives and friends, and my own mother, who brought back photographs she shot there. 

It was a dream come true for me to finally stand on the terraces of Borobudur and view the lush Kedu Plain, with the horizon guarded by the active volcanoes. In order to fully appreciate the monument, I visited it twice on June 21 and 22, 2004. But even then, it was impossible for me to fully appreciate all the bas-reliefs. Many appeared eroded beyond recognition, having weathered the elements for so many centuries. 

Through AsiaExplorers Borobudur page, I hope to give you a glimpse of this marvellous monument. I hope you will enjoy this online exploration and perhaps one day, have the chance to view it in person.

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Jakarta : MONAS (Monumen Nasional)

The Monumen Nasional (or Tugu Monas, the National Monument tower) is a 450 ft (137 m) tall tower in Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia's independence. Construction began in 1961 under Sukarno and was not finished until 1975 under Suharto. It is topped by a 14.5 ton bronze flame, which is plated in 35 kg (1,125 troy ounces) of gold.

Visitors can take an elevator up to a platform with a view of Medan Merdeka Park, Istiqlal Mosque, and the city. Inside the base of the monument is an exhibition on the country's Declaration of Independence and several dioramas showing the history of Indonesia.

Monument design
The design of the monument is meant to combine elements of masculine and feminine. The design based on Lingga-Yoni, the symbol of fertility in ancient Hindu-Javanese belief. The phallic shaft comes toward the ground and is engulfed by square base meant to symbolize fertility. The monument body was made of steel and concrete covered with italian white marble. On the top of the tower there's a square terrace that can be reach by visitors by elevator. From here visitors can see an aerial view of Jakarta. The monument is crowned by gold-coated flame, right on the top of the peak terrace. This golden flame is intended to symbolize the spirit of freedom and the struggle for independence of Indonesian people.

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Bukittinggi : Jam Gadang (Clock Tower)

Jam Gadang (literally "Massive Clock") is a clocktower and major landmark of the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located in the centre of the city, near the the main market, Pasar Atas, and is a tourist attraction.

History
The structure was build in 1926 during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from the Queen to city's controleur. It was designed by architects Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh. Originally a rooster figure was placed on the apex, but it was changed into a Jinja-like ornament during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. Following Indonesian independence, it was reshaped to its present form resembling traditional Minangkabaun roofs (see Rumah gadang). It is said to have cost 3,000 Guilder.

Clock structure
The clock's diameter is 80 centimeters, the base's dimension is 13 metres in length and 4 metres wide, and it stands 26 metres tall.

One unique feature of the clock is that it uses the IIII for the number 4 instead of its traditional Roman Number IV.

Tourism
Given its iconic appearance, the structure is a frequent object of local souvenirs. It is imprinted on apparels, painted, used as a sculpting model, and so forth. As of January 2008 it cost 50000 rupiahs (around US$ 5) to enter the tower.

Its plaza usually serves as the centre of New Year celebration in Bukittinggi for thousands of visitors to the city.

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