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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Adventure with a dragon on Komodo Island


Komodo Island is an island located in the Nusa Tenggara Islands. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for native animals dragons. This island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government. Komodo Island in the eastern island of Sumbawa, which are separated by the Sape Strait.

Administratively, this island including the District of Komodo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Komodo Island is the most western tip of Nusa Tenggara Timur province, bordering the province of West Nusa Tenggara.

On the island of Komodo dragons animals live and breed well. Until August 2009, on this island there are about 1,300 dragons tail. Coupled with other islands, such as Island and Rinca and Gili Motang, their numbers totaled about 2500 tails. There are also approximately 100 individuals dragons in Wae Wuul Nature Reserve on the mainland island of Flores, but not including the Komodo National Park.

Besides Komodo, the island is also store a variety of exotic flora Sepang timber which by local people used as medicine and dye clothes, this nitak tree or sterculia oblongata in the believe is useful as medicines and seeds are tasty and delicious like peas

In 1910 the Dutch named the island in the southern province of East Nusa Tenggara is the nickname of Komodo Island. This story begins with Lieutenant Steyn van Hens Broek who tries to prove statements about the presence of Dutch troops large animal resembling a dragon on the island. Steyn then killed a dragon and bring documentation to the Museum and Botanical Garden in Bogor to be investigated.

In 2009, the Park has been named a finalist in the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" newly published in 2010 by online voting at www.N7W.com

Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Legend of Mount Tangkuban Perahu


Mount Tangkuban Perahu is one of the mountain located in the province of West Java, Indonesia. About 20 km to the north of the city of Bandung, with a lush carpet of pine trees and nearby tea gardens, mountain Tangkuban Parahu have as high as 2084 meters altitude. The form of this mountain is Stratovulcano with eruptive center that moved from east to west. This type of rock that is mostly excreted in the eruption of lava and sulfur, a mineral that is issued sulfur sulfur, a mineral that was issued when the mountain is not active sulfur vapor. Tangkuban Perahu Mountain Region is managed by Perum Forestry. The average daily temperature is 17oC in the daytime and 2 ° C at night.

Tangkuban Mt have Hill dipterocarp forest, dipterocarp forest Upper Montane Forest, and Forest Ericaceous or mountain forest.

The origins of Tangkuban Mt Sangkuriang associated with the legend, which is reported to fall in love with his mother, Dayang Sumbi. To thwart his intention to marry her, Dayang Sumbi filed Sangkuriang create conditions so that the boat overnight. When his efforts failed, Sangkuriang angry and kicked the boat, so that landed upside down in a state. The boat is then formed Tangkuban Mt.

Tangkuban Mt includes an active volcano whose status is being watched by the Indonesian Directorate of Volcanology. Some of the crater is still showing signs of liveliness of this mountain. Among these signs is the emergence of volcanic sulfur gas and hot water sources at the foot of her mountain of them are in kasawan Ciater, Subang.

The existence of this mountain and the shape of the Bandung basin topography with hills and mountains on each side reinforces the theory of the existence of a lake (crater) is now a major area of Bandung. It is believed by geologists that the plateau region of Bandung with a height of approximately 709 m above sea level is a remnant of an ancient volcanic eruption known as Mount Sunda and Tangkuban Mt is the remnant of ancient Sunda Mountain which is still active. Phenomena like this can be seen on Mount Krakatau in the Sunda Strait and Ngorongoro district in Tanzania, Africa. So the legend that is the story of society Sangkuriang region is believed to be a community documentation ancient Sunda Mountain region of the incident at the time.

Pride Nation Monument Indonesia


National Monument or the popular abbreviated or Tugu Monas Monument is a monument as high as 132 meters (433 feet) which was established to commemorate the resistance and the Indonesian people's struggle for independence from the Dutch East Indies colonial administration. Construction of this monument began on August 17, 1961 under the orders of President Sukarno, and opened to the public on July 12, 1975. The monument is crowned with flame-coated gold leaf that symbolizes the spirit of the glowing struggle. National Monument is located right in the middle of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta. Monuments and museums are open every day starting at 08:00 to 15:00 West Indonesia Time. On Monday last week of each month is closed to the public.

After the central government of the Republic of Indonesia returned to Jakarta after the previous domicile in Yogyakarta in 1950 following the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia by the Dutch government in 1949, President Sukarno began thinking about building a national monument which is equivalent to the Eiffel Tower on the ground right in front of Merdeka Palace. Monas monument Development aims to commemorate and preserve the Indonesian struggle during the revolution of independence, 1945, to continue to inspire patriotism and spirit of present and future generations.

On August 17, 1954 a national committee was formed and a national monument design competition held in 1955. There are 51 works entered, but only one works made by Frederich Silaban who meet the prescribed criteria of the committee, among others, describe the character of the Indonesian nation and can last for centuries. The second contest was held in 1960 but again none of 136 participants who meet the criteria. Chairman of the jury later asked Silaban to show the design to Sukarno. However, Sukarno less like the design it and he wanted the monument was shaped phallus and yoni. Silaban then asked to design a monument with a theme like that, but the design of the proposed Silaban too extraordinary that the costs are very large and can not be borne by the state budget, especially when economic conditions were bad enough. Silaban refused to design a smaller building, and suggested that development be postponed until the Indonesian economy improves. Sukarno then asks architect R.M. Soedarsono to resume the draft. Soedarsono enter number 17, 8 and 45, represent begin August 17, 1945 proclamation of Indonesian independence, into the draft National Memorial monument was later built in the area of 80 hectares. This monument diarsiteki Silaban and R. Friedrich M. Soedarsono, began construction August 17, 1961

In the courtyard outside around the monument, at every corner there is a relief depicting the history of Indonesia arise. Relief begins at the northeast corner to perpetuate the glory of the archipelago in the past, displaying the history Singhasari and Majapahit. This relief continues in chronological order in a clockwise direction towards the southeast corner, southwest, and northwest. Chronologically depict the Dutch colonial period, the resistance of the people of Indonesia and Indonesia's national heroes, the formation of modern organizations that fight for an independent Indonesia in the early 20th century, Youth Pledge, the Japanese Occupation and World War II, Indonesia's independence proclamation followed the Revolution and War of Independence Republic Indonesia, to achieve the development of modern Indonesia. Reliefs and sculptures are made of cement or metal pipe with the frame, unfortunately some sculptures and statues began to fall out and damaged by rain and tropical weather.


An elevator on the south side of the door will bring visitors to the court of the peak size of 11 x 11 meters at an altitude of 115 meters from ground level. This elevator transport capacity of 11 people once. Court of this peak can accommodate about 50 people, and there are binoculars to see the panorama of Jakarta closer. In the elevator around the body there is an emergency staircase made of iron. From the top court of the Monas monument, visitors can enjoy views across the city. If the sunny weather conditions without the smoke haze, in the direction to the south visible from a distance of Mount Salak in Bogor regency, West Java, stretching north sea with small islands.

National Monument at the top there is the cup that sustains bronze torches weighing 14.5 tons and 35 Kilograms of gold coated. Flame or torch, measuring 14 meters high and 6 meters in diameter consisting of 77 sections that are put together. This flame as a symbol of the spirit of struggle of the Indonesian people who want to achieve independence. Initially the flame is coated sheet bronze gold weighing 35 kilograms, but to welcome the celebration of half a century (50 years) Indonesian independence in 1995, gold leaf was re-covered so as to achieve weight 50 kilograms of gold sheet. Top of monument in the form of "Fire Nan unremitting" was significant for the Indonesian nation always has a fiery spirit in the struggle and never recede or outages of all time. Court of the cup to provide views for visitors from a height of 17 meters from ground level. Court of the cup can be reached via an elevator when it fell from the top court, or through the ladder reached the bottom of the cup. High court of the cup from the bottom of 17 meters, while the high range of space history museum to the bottom of the cup is 8 m (3 feet below ground plus 5 meters of stairs to the base plate). Area of the square courtyard, measuring 45 x 45 meters, it is the preservation of sacred figures Proclamation of Independence (17-8-1945).

Thousands of Plant Species in Indonesia Bogor Botanical Gardens

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Bogor Botanical Gardens is a large botanical garden located in the city of Bogor, Indonesia. The extent of 87 hectares and has 15,000 species of trees and plant collections. Today visited the Bogor Botanical Gardens as a tourist, especially on Saturday and Sunday. In the vicinity of the Bogor Botanical Gardens are spread scientific centers namely Herbarium Bogoriense.

Bogor Botanical Garden was originally a part of the 'samida' (artificial forests or parks artificial) that most do not already exist in the government of Sri Baduga Maharaja (King Siliwangi, 1474-1513) of the Kingdom of Sunda, as stated in the inscription Batutulis. Artificial forests were designated for the purpose of preserving the environment as a place to preserve seeds of rare wood. In addition it also made samida samida similar on the border with Bogor Cianjur (Forest Ciung Vanara). The forest is then allowed after submission of Sunda Kingdom of Banten Sultanate, until the Governor-General van der Capellen build a vacation home in one corner in the middle of the 18th century.

In the early 1800s Governor-General Thomas Stamford Raffles, who inhabit the Bogor Palace and have a great interest in botany, interested in developing the Bogor Palace yard into a beautiful garden. With the help of botanists, W. Kent, who helped build Kew Gardens in London, Raffles turn the courtyard into a classic English-style garden. This is the beginning of the Bogor Botanical Gardens in shape now.
Olivia Raffles Monument

In 1814 Olivia Raffles (wife of Governor-General Thomas Stamford Raffles) died of illness and was buried in Batavia. As the preservation, monument for him was established in the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

The idea began with the establishment of the Botanical Gardens of Abner, a biologist who wrote a letter to the Governor-General GAGPh. van der Capellen. The letter expressed his desire to ask for a piece of land that would be a useful garden plants, where teacher education, and collection of plants for the development of the other gardens.

Prof. Caspar Georg Karl Reinwardt is one German who moved to Holland and became a scientist botany and chemistry. He was then appointed as minister of agriculture, arts, and science in Java and beyond. He is interested in investigating the various plants used for treatment. He decided to collect all these plants in a botanical garden in the city of Bogor, which was then called Buitenzorg (from the Dutch language, which means "do not have to worry"). Reinwardt also a pioneer in the field of making herbarium. He became known as a founder Herbarium Bogoriense.

In May 18, 1817, Governor-General Godert Alexander Gerard Philip van der Capellen was officially founded with the name of the Bogor Botanical Gardens Buitenzorg s'Lands Plantentuinte. Its establishment was initiated by putting the first spade in the earth swing Pajajaran as a sign of the construction of the vineyard development, whose implementation led by Reinwardt own, assisted by James Hooper and W. Kent (from the famous Kew Gardens in Richmond, England).

About 47 hectares of land around the former presidential palace in Bogor and samida be the first land for botanical gardens. Reinwardt became its first director from 1817 until 1822. This opportunity is used to collect plants and seeds from other parts of the archipelago. Bogor immediately became the center of agriculture and horticulture development in Indonesia. In those days life is estimated about 900 plants grown in the orchard.

Reinwardt in 1822 returned to Holland and was replaced by Dr. Carl Ludwig Blume take inventory of the collection of plants that grow in the garden. He also compiled the first catalog of the garden which were recorded as many as 912 species (species) of plants. Implementation of development of this garden was halted due to lack of funds but then started again by Johannes Elias Teysmann (1831), an expert in the palace gardens Governor-General Johannes van den Bosch. With the assistance of Karl Justus Hasskarl, he made arrangements planting collections by grouping according to the tribe (family).

Teysmann later replaced by Dr. Rudolph Herman Christiaan Carel Scheffer in 1867 became director, and followed later by Prof.. Dr. Melchior Treub.

The establishment of the Bogor Botanical Gardens can be said to initiate the development of science in Indonesia. From here was born a few other scientific institutions, such as the Bibliotheca bogoriensis (1842), Herbarium Bogoriense (1844), Cibodas Botanical Garden (1860), Laboratory Treub (1884), and the Museum and Laboratory of Zoology (1894).

On May 30, 1868 Bogor Botanical Gardens officially separate the management with the Bogor Palace pages.

At first, this garden will only be used as an experimental garden for plantation crops that will be introduced to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). But in its development is also used as a container of research scientists of that era (1880-1905).

Bogor Botanical Gardens is always experienced significant growth under the leadership of Dr. Carl Ludwig Blume (1822), JE. Teijsmann and Dr. Hasskarl (the time of Governor General Van den Bosch), J. E. Teijsmann and Simon Binnendijk, Dr. R.H.C.C. Scheffer (1867), Professor. Dr. Treub Melchior (1881), Dr. Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger (1904), Van den Hornett (1904), and Prof. Ir. Koestono Setijowirjo (1949), which is the first Indonesian who was a lead research institution with international standards.

At the time of the leadership figures that have been made cataloging activity on the Bogor Botanical Gardens, a complete listing of collection Cryptogamae plants, 25 species of gymnosperms, 51 species and 2200 species Monocotyledonae Dicotyledonae, business recognition of important economic crops in Indonesia, collecting plants useful for Indonesia (43 types, including vanilla, palm oil, quinine, gutta-percha, sugarcane, cassava, maize from America, ironwood from Palembang and Kalimantan), and develop internal institutional Botanical Garden

Beautiful Lake Toba Sumatra

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Lake Toba is a volcanic lake with a length of 100 kilometers and 30 kilometers wide, located in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This lake is the largest lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. In the middle of this lake there is a volcanic island called Pulau Samosir. Lake Toba has long become an important tourist destination in North Sumatra in addition to Bukit Lawang and Nias, attract domestic and foreign tourists.

It is estimated that Lake Toba explosion occurred at about 73000-75000 years ago and an eruption Supervolcano (super volcano) the most recent. Bill Rose and Craig Chesner from Michigan Technological University estimate that volcanic materials spewed out of the mountain as much as 2800 km ³, with 800 km ³ of rock Ignimbrite and 2,000 km ³ of volcanic ash which is expected in the wind to the west for 2 weeks. Volcanic dust in the wind has spread to half the earth, from China to South Africa. Explosion occurred during 1 week and throw the dust up to 10 km above sea level.

This incident caused mass death and the extinction of some species also followed. According to some DNA evidence, this eruption also reduced the number of people to about 60% of the total human population of the earth at that time, which is about 60 million people. The eruption was also contributed to the occurrence of ice ages, although the experts still debate.

After the eruption, the caldera formed which is then filled with water and became what is now known as Lake Toba. Pressure upward by magma that has not come out cause the emergence of Samosir Island.

International multidisciplinary research team, led by Dr. Michael Petraglia, revealed in a press conference in Oxford, the United States that has found a new archaeological site is quite spectacular by geologists in southern and northern India. On the site it was revealed how people survive, before and after volcanic eruptions (Supervolcano) Toba at 74,000 years ago, and evidence of life under the ash heap of Mount Toba. Though the source of explosion is 3,000 miles, from the distribution of ashes.

For seven years, experts from Oxford University is researching ecosystem project in India, to seek evidence of life and the lives they left behind equipment in a barren desert. Region with an area of thousands of hectares of this was just savanna (grasslands). Meanwhile, animal bones scattered. The team concluded, this vast area was covered with enough dust from ancient volcanic eruptions.

The spread of volcanic dust was extremely spacious, found almost worldwide. Derived from an ancient eruption Supervolcano, namely Mount Toba. Allegations leading to Mount Toba, because it found evidence of volcanic dust molecules in the same 2100 period. Since the caldera crater, now a lake Toba in Indonesia, 3,000 miles, from the source of the eruption. Even that is quite surprising, it turns out that the spread of dust to be recorded up to the North Pole. This is reminiscent of the experts, how powerful the super volcano Toba eruption at the time. The evidence is found, strengthening the suspicion, that the strength of the eruption and sea waves could wipe out life on Atlantis.

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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Borobudur Indonesia Triumph the 9th Century

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Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in the complex.Millions of people are yearning to visit the buildings included in this World Wonder Heritages. No wonder, for the architectural and function as a place of worship, Borobudur is attractive heart.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, Dynasty descendant dynasty.Based Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship was completed on 26 May 824, almost a hundred years from the time the construction. 
The name of Borobudur, as some people means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high ground.

Borobudur-shaped building with staircase punden consists of 10 levels. 
Height 42 meters before it was renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level is used as a drag. Six lowest level of a square and three levels on top of a circle and one of the highest levels of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each level represents the stages of human life. In accordance madhhabs Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level as the Buddha had to through every level of life is.

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by lust. Four levels above referred Rupadhatu symbolizes man who had to break free from lust but still bound manner and form. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupas are laid in holes called Arupadhatu, symbolizing man who has been free from lust, appearance, and shape. The top part is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful.Relief that will be read coherently when you walk in a clockwise direction (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. In addition, there are relief panels describing the condition of society at that time. For example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of the voyage who was based in Bergotta (Semarang).
All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect the Buddha's teachings. Hence, this temple functions as educating the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES invites you to surround each of the narrow alleys of Borobudur for to understand the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century, had visited the temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and armed with a script from Serlingpa Buddhism (one of the king of the Kingdom of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhism. He became head Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six manuscripts of Serlingpa was condensed into a core course called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or better known by the name Bodhipathapradipa.
One of the questions still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in the buried state. 
Some say Borobudur initially stood surrounded by a swamp and then buried by the eruption of Merapi. Calcutta is essentially the inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of milk. The word is then interpreted as lava of Merapi. Some other says that Borobudur buried by cold lava of Merapi.

With all the grandeur and mystery that is, only natural that many people from all world penjru include Borobudur as a place worth visiting in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, like Karanganyar and Wanurejo to view the activities of local crafts You also can go to the top of Watu Kendil to be able to view a panorama from the top of Borobudur. Why wait? No need to worry about an earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.

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