Indonesia

This Sunday, July 13 2008, a special festival will be held in Jakarta International Event and Convention Centre (JITEC), Mangga Dua Square, Jakarta. As you can read in the title, the festival name is religious art festival.

Many artists will attend this festival. We can name Iwan Fals and Cici Paramida as guest star on the festival. President and Vice President, base on the schedule, will attend this festival as well.

This event is held by Soka Gakkai Indonesia, Lembaga Seniman dan Budayawan Muslim Indonesia (Lesbumi) (en: Association Moslem Artist and Culture Practical) Nahdlatul Ulama , and DPP Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia (KNPI) (en: Indonesia Youth National Committee).

Recently, Indonesia is entering power crisis period. Some areas in Java and Bali will take turns to be extinct the power facility. This situation, direct or indirect, will affect the tourism prospect since many destinations need electricity for running their business.

Tourism and Culture Department hopes this crisis will not disturb the tourism activities, moreover to decrease Indonesian tourism like Bali tragedy couple years ago.

We deserve to worry about this crisis since the progress of incoming tourists is quite good (and makes tourism businessmen are happy), because according the data from Tourism and Culture Department, abroad tourists who came during January - May 2008 is about 2.37 millions. It means the number is increasing 12.95% (or you can say 13% to make easier) from the same period on last year.

Until the end of year, Bali is predicted will be full booked if the increasing number (13%) is coherent.

During June 29 - July 6, an event was held in Tomohon, North Celebes (Sulawesi Utara). The event, you can read from the title, it was called Tomohon Flower Festival.

This event can be compared with Pasadena Festival, in US. Well, finally, Indonesia has own flower festival, not only participate but can held the same event. Well, maybe the quality is not exactly the same, but at least it much better.

The festival needed more than 14 million flowers, not only for the decorations but also for parade. More than 46 vehicles participated, they came from any regions such as Jakarta, Banda Aceh, Mataram and others. Each vehicle needs more than 20.000-25.000 flowers.

During festival, there were many events were held as well, such as exhibition, fotografi, cuisine festival, and many more.

TFF will be arranged as permanent agenda by as local government. Using this festival, more tourists can be attracted to visit Tomohon.
*the pic was taken from here and here*

“Mahakarya Borobudur” dancing which was held on Borobudur temple kompleks, is getting popular for Borobudur night event, since on 6pm, the tourism activity is over. Main Chief of Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko temples, Wagiman Subiyarso, during this year the event will be performed for three times.

More than 300 tickets (from about 500 seats) were sold for the performance. The ticket were ordered not only from domestic area, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, but also from abroad, Japan and Malaysia.

The story of dancing is about historical of Borobodur temple, from the development and also some fragment from Syailendra kingdom on 8 century.

In the future, many artists will be involved on this performance, not only Yogya artists, but also Magelang and other city around Borobodur temple.
*the pic was taken from here*

Some youths, which joined in People’s Puppet Project For Youth, held an unique event on Sunday, July 6 2008, in Paseban Bantul. The event was called Giant Puppet Theatre which took Bantul Segaraning Asmara as theme.

Many people enjoyed the event, since they welcomed the event. Most of them are children, that their expresses were very funny when they saw those giant puppets.

This stage is a part of People’s Puppet Project For Youth 2008, sponsored by Yayasan Bagong Kussudiardja that cooperated with Bantul local government and Snuff Puppets (the puppet group from Melbourne - Australia)

*the article and pic were inspired from here*

Couple days ago, Riau Culture Council held a special event as appreciaton for Soetardji Calzoum Bachri, a poet from Riau, that celebrated his 67th anniversary. Chairboard of Riau Culture Council, Eddy Akhmad RM, said this event was held for respecting Soetardji’s all efforts, especially that related with Riau culture.

Soetardji felt lucky for this appreciation event. He also performed his rhyme and mantra, titled “Ngit” and “Himbau Batu”. His performance was entrance more than 100 audiences were attended, mostly have the same occupation as Soetardji, as artist.

Congrat for Soetardji!! Happy birthday for you!
*the pic was taken from here*

I received a shocking news couple days ago. It said, Qantas&Continental, 2 airline company from Australia & USA, will stop their route and service to Bali. The main reason is the price of oil that is getting higher and they can afford it. But there is another reason, many Indonesia airport less concern about the company of airline.

For the first reason, well, we can’t do anything, since the rising price of oil made most of country almost collaps. But for the second reason, I think our government must take action, because if this situation doesn’t change, we can’t blame the (abroad) airline company whether they stop their service.

The prove of second reason is the insentif for airline company, that serve international traffic, is very low. If we see in abroad, the airline company that provide international route will get some insentive, well you can say the amount is quite interesting. The insentif can be a discount or service or anything that can satisfy the airline company.

Continental not only close the service to Bali, but also fired their labour, about 2,000 stafs. This is the effect of oil price.

Phewww…the effect of price oil that is getting rising is very wide, huh?!

Gedungsongo is one of destination on Central Java. It’s located in Bandungan, Kabupaten Semarang.

This destination is quite famous around Central Java public, so there is no wonder this destination is quite crowded during week end. And you know what, during vacation, I mean school holiday, this destination is getting crowded.

Usually, the visitor is about 200-400 people, but recently more than 700 people came and try to enjoy the condition of this destination. Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday night, July 4 2008, finally new Abang and None Jakarta was chosen. Abang Medha Satyarengga and None Million Sekarsari were chosen as Abang and None Jakarta 2008 after they can set aside their competitors (about 34) from other region of Jakarta.

Abang Medha Satyarengga comes from Central Jakarta meanwhile None Million Sekarsari comes from West Jakarta. Read the rest of this entry »

Who doesn’t know Zainuddin MZ? He was well known as a Mufti of a million public. His preach was very famous during 80-90, we can hear his voice everywhere, not only in the side of street but also in the office environment.

This year, his popularity maybe not quite bright since his era (maybe) is over. But still, his charming is still dazzling the audiences. We can prove this by watching his perform in Batam Center Mosque. His preach could attract more than 500 tourists from Malaysia and Singapore.

The preach is a tourism package that was bundled by Culture and Educational Department. Department promote this spiritual tourism package to the neighbour country, such as Malaysia and Singapore. If the prospect is quite good, maybe the promotion will be expanded to other country.

Hmmm, spiritual tourism package for VIY…not bad.
*wink*
*the pic was taken from here*