Friday, September 24, 2010

Kupatan an Islamic cultural tradition

Unique tradition in district Klaten is "Spread Ketupat" which was once centered around the location Bulus Jimbung Spring, Village District Jimbung Kalikotes, but shifted in Bukit Sidhoguro, Krakitan, Bayat.


In the 80s the past, people living Klaten especially in the two villages and two districts (Krakitan Village, District and Village Jimbung Bayat, District Kalikotes) still adhere to tradition is believed to spread diamond supposedly 'ngalap blessing' of his ancestors or his predecessors in the spring location, but since a few years ago in moved to the Mount Sidhoguro, not far from Rowo Jombor, Jimbung.



Tradition Syawalan or known in Klaten usual Kupatan held once a year around the Spring Jimbung Jimbung Village, already a few years was held at the location of Mount sidhoguro. Perhaps, he said if you get a diamond when it will get deployed diamond blessing.

To enliven the atmosphere of celebration, before the event starts special food (rice cake) Syawalan feast was dikirab toward cupola Jombor located in Bukit Sidhoguro, with a procession of carnival which involved about 100 personnel, including the villages of the two villages.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Bali Travel

Everyday there is a ceremony in Bali and particular days become special days for the Hindus in Bali. Just have a look on Saturday, 4 October 2008, for instance. According to the Balinese calendar, that day is called Tumpek Krulut. This festivity is solemnly appreciated as the creation day of mutual love and affection among human beings through gamelan instrument.
Tumpek Krulut festivity, pursuant to the guidance in the Aji Gurnita lontar manuscript, is marked with the amalgamation of gamelan arts originating in all existing gong instruments. This ritual is inaugurated by the worship to the power of taksu (divine inspiration) existing in the Balinese gamelan prior to the nightfall. Celebration of Tumpek Krulut denotes a whole-hearted tribute to God in his manifestation as the Lord Shiva.
How do the Hindus celebrate their Tumpek Krulut? Simply make a visit to villages of which inhabitants become artists of dance and music like around Ubud (Gianyar), Kerambitan (Tabanan) and other villages. For Denpasar, the celebration of Tumpek Krulut gets great support from the Deputy Mayor, Rai Mantra. “Through this celebration we could maintain the harmony of our inhabitants. I surely have confidence that the strings of gamelan tones would penetrate the heartstrings of the inhabitants,” he uttered on the celebration of Tumpek Krulut last year in Denpasar

Monday, September 20, 2010

Tips For The Right Holiday Travel Package

It is not usually wise to be traveling during holidays as these are the times when almost every other person in the world is traveling. It is of course best to plan ahead or book ahead and go to your destination early to avoid all the hassle but if you’re one of those last minute people or probably one of those who can’t really avoid it, you should follow the next few tips for a better journey and maybe a cheaper stay.

- Holiday travel packages were never made with only one person in mind; no two people are alike, keep this in mind because the agencies that packed them have kept these in mind, use this fact to haggle your way into cheaper or sometimes better deals. Even if there are ready made packages, you can ask for extra perks especially if you’re staying for more than a week.

- Be careful of travel agents. Travel agents may give you the best deal for your package, which normally include airfare, lodgings and transportation, but a really good agent can be really flexible. One example would be if you want a rental car for the first half of your trip but you want to get rid of it by the second half, a good agent can arrange this for you, sometimes for a cheaper price.

- Be sure that the package you want is available, you don’t want to get pulled into something that ends up being sold out, some people give out too-good-to-be-true packages which end up being “sold out” in the end, so before you make a deal or transfer a morsel of cash, make sure that it is still available.

- Be sure to know exactly what airline and route your taking, you won’t want those unpleasant layovers which can be a real pain, not to mention delay your schedule.

- A good sign of a good package is one that is very flexible, as said before, no two people are alike, and a good package should reflect that, it should allow you to choose between destinations, as well as brands and lodgings without changing the price. A choice in which rental car to take is also a sign of a good package.

- Finally, it’s good to ask for discounts that you might get if you do certain stuff, like stay in the hotel for more than a week, or sign up on the internet instead of by phone. Research first before you cough up the money for down-payment; make sure you’ve exhausted all possible discount generating ways before you decide on a package.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Kotagede village

Kotagede
In the 8th century, Mataram area (now called Yogyakarta) is central to the Hindu Mataram Kingdom which controlled the whole island of Java. The kingdom was to have prosperity and remarkable civilization so as to build the ancient temples with magnificent architecture, such as Prambanan and Borobudur Temple. But in the 10th century, for some reason, the kingdom's government to move the center of East Java. People flocked to the Mataram and slowly leaving the region back into dense forest.Six centuries later the island of Java under the authority of the Sultanate Pajang based in Central Java. Hadiwijaya ruling Sultan was presented Alas Mentaok (base = forest) to Ki Gede wide for its success in archery to conquer enemy kingdoms. Ki Gede archery and their families and followers then moved to Mentaok Alas, a forest that is actually the first former Hindu kingdom of Mataram.The small village founded in the forest archery Ki Gede began prosperous. After the death of Ki Gede archery, he was succeeded by his son, surnamed Senapati Ingalaga. Under the wise leadership of Senapati village grew into an increasingly crowded and the city prospered, until called Kotagede (= big city). Then build a fort in Senapati (cepuri) that surrounds the palace and citadel outside (baluwarti) surrounding the urban area of ± 200 ha. Outer side of the second fort was also equipped with a wide moat like river.Meanwhile, the Sultanate Pajang occurred after the seizure of the throne of Sultan Hadiwijaya died. Crown prince named Prince Benawa removed by Arya Pangiri. Prince Benawa then asked for assistance because the government Senapati Aryan Pangiri judged unfair and detrimental to the people Pajang. War ensued. Arya Pangiri successfully conquered but his life spared by the Senapati. Benawa Prince then offered the throne to Senapati Pajang but declined gently. A year later, Prince Benawa died but he had ordered that Pajang led by Senapati. Since then, Senapati becomes first king of Mataram Islam Panembahan title. He did not want to wear the title of Sultan in honor of Prince Sultan Hadiwijaya and Benawa. Government palace is located in Kota Gede.Furthermore Panembahan Senapati expand the Islamic Mataram Kingdom's territory up to the Pati, Madiun, Kediri and Pasuruan. Senapati Panembahan died in 1601 and was buried in Kotagede adjacent to the tomb of his father. Islamic Mataram Kingdom and then controlled almost the entire Java island (except Banten and Batavia) and reached the peak of its power under the leadership of the three kings, namely Sultan Agung (grandson Panembahan Senapati). In 1613, Sultan Agung's move to the center of the kingdom Karta (near Plered) and ended the era of Kotagede as a center of Islamic Mataram kingdom.HeritageIn subsequent developments Kotagede still bustling though it is no longer a royal capital. The historical legacies such as the tomb of the founder of the kingdom, the Mosque Kotagede, traditional houses with typical Javanese architecture, toponym settlements that still use town planning antiquity, to the ruins of the fort can be found in Kota Gede. Market KotagedeTata Javanese royal city usually puts the palace, the plaza and the market in the axis of the south - north. Book Nagarakertagama written during the Majapahit Kingdom (14th century) mentions that this pattern has been used at that time. Traditional markets have existed since the era Panembahan Senopati still active until now. Every morning legi in Javanese calendar, the sellers, buyers, and the cornucopia of merchandise in this market. The buildings had been rehabilitated, but its position has not changed. When you want to wander in Kotagede, you can start from this market and then walk south toward the tomb, the ruins of the citadel, and the banyan parentheses. Founder of Royal Tomb ComplexWalk 100 meters to the south of Market Kotagede, we will find the tombs of the founders of the Islamic Mataram kingdom surrounded by high walls and solid. Arch to the tomb complex was characterized by the Hindu architecture. Each arch has a thick wooden doors and decorated with beautiful carvings. Some dressed in traditional Javanese servants in the palace complex to maintain this 24 hours a day.We will pass the third gate until you reach the last gate that led to building the tomb. To get into the tomb, we had to wear traditional Javanese clothes (can be rented there). Visitors are only allowed into the tomb on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday at 8:00 to 16:00. To preserve the honor of the founder of the Mataram kingdom which was buried here, visitors are prohibited from shooting / carrying cameras and wearing gold jewelry in the tomb building. Important figures are buried here include: Sultan Hadiwiijaya, Ki Gede archery, Panembahan Senopati, and his family.• Mosque KotagedeWandering Kotagede would not be complete if not visited the Mosque of Kota Gede, the oldest mosque in Yogyakarta, which was still in the tomb complex. After that there's nothing wrong to walk down a narrow alley behind the walls of the tomb complex to view the full architecture and daily life Kotagede community.• Traditional HousesJust across the street from the front of the tombs, we can see a traditional Javanese house. But if you want to walk 50 meters to the south, we will see a gate cavity wall with a low and a plaque that reads "cultural heritage". Get in, there you will see the traditional houses are still well maintained Kotagede and actually serves as a dwelling house.• KedhatonWalk a little farther south, you'll see three banyan tree located right in the middle of the road. In the center was a small building that holds "watu gilang", a square-shaped black stone whose surface are arranged in a circle writing: Mundu MOVENTUR ITA S - AINSI VA Le Monde - Z00 GAAT DE WERELD - COSI VAN IL Mondo. Outside that circle Bismol AD ATERN AM INFELICS Memoriam - FORTUNA IN CONSOERTES DIGNI VALETE QUIDSTPERIS INSANI VIDETE IGNARI RIDETE ET, Vos CONTEMNITE CONSTEMTU - IGM (In Glorium Maximam). Whatever that means, perhaps you could interpret it for us?In the building there is also "watu cantheng ', three-ball made of amber colored stones. Local people suspect that the "ball" is a toy rock Panembahan son of Senapati. But it was likely that the object was actually an ancient cannon fodder.• Castle RuinsPanembahan Senopati build a castle in (cepuri) complete with a moat around the palace, the extent of approximately 400 x 400 meters. The original castle ruins still visible in the southwest and southeast corners. 4 foot thick walls are made of large stone blocks. While the rest of the moat can be seen on the east side, south, and west.Stroll along the Kotagede related historical perspectives will enrich the Islamic Mataram Kingdom which had triumphed in Java. In addition, you can also see from the close community life that hundreds of years ago was in a strong fortress.Unlike other tourist areas, local residents have a typical Javanese hospitality, courtesy, and not overly commercial