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The Number of Cultural Conservation Areas to be Increased

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 4/30/10 0 komentar
TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta:The Yogyakarta Cultural Office will include more cultural conservation areas in addition to 13 areas already listed by the office. This is in line with the Yogyakarta Regional Regulation no. 11/2005 on the Management of Cultural Conservation Areas. "There are some areas which we must prioritize," said the office chief Djoko Dwiyanto, in a workshop titled Discussion on Recommendations for the Revision of the Cultural Conservation Law, yesterday. The regulation was seen as a step forward, considering the Law no. 5/1992 on Cultural Conservation Objects only regulate objects and sites, and not the areas themselves.

The areas to be added are Baciro in Yogyakarta, which has Dutch colonial-style homes and Mlangi in Sleman, which is a traditional area. Meanwhile, the 13 cultural conservation areas which have already been listed are Kotagede, Kota Baru, the Palace, Puro Pakualaman, Ambarbinangun, Ambarketawang, and Prambanan . "We will establish an organization to preserve the areas found in districts in Kotagede," said Kantil Foundation coordinator, Muhammad Natsir.


PITO AGUSTIN RUDIANA
Thursday, 29 April, 2010

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Student tourist raise Yogyakarta tourism

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 4/29/10 1 komentar
Tourist students are expected to become the market opportunity of handmade products, because they will be visiting as a tourist attraction as well as craft industry center in Yogyakarta.
Student tourist visits to the handicraft center, is expected to lift the lives of local artisans.
 
"The visit of thousands of students from outside the region through the course of study tours during school holidays to be hope for the artisans, because eventually they will buy handicrafts at craft centers that exist in this region," said Chairman of the Association of Craftsmen and Small Traders Mataram (Asperam) Yogyakarta, Budi Sarwono, in Yogyakarta, Wednesday (10/02/2010).
 
According to Budi, handmade products can not be separated from tourism, because tourists will be looking for local handicrafts as souvenirs.
 
With the number of tourists whose numbers tens of thousands of students, are expected to turn a small artisan passion to improve its products.
 
They are expected to be a buyer there are a variety of craft products at craft centers and displayed in a tourist attraction in this area.
 
"Thus, a student from tourist visits to the handicraft center, is expected to lift the lives of local artisans, crafters, especially small, since their product is sold," he said.
 
He said during the school holidays so that students who are interested in day trips to visit and buy craft products at the center of crafts, artisans and managers needed readiness center for local handicrafts.
 
"Craftsmen with crafts center managers should prepare ourselves to create product appeal for tourists," he said.
 
According to Budi, handicraft centers can also be directed and developed as a tourist attraction that is packaged in a package tour requests. "Thus, the tourists who come to the center of crafts can see directly in the drafting process," he said.
 
He said that although the student tourists usually buy handmade products in small amounts, but their visit could boost sales of handicraft products that support small artisans who now less than satisfactory condition.
 
"Now this little crafters to survive alone is heavy. So at least handicraft products that were sold during the school holidays could support a family of craftsmen," he said.
 
Some members Asperam Yogyakarta is a small artisan silver Kotagede center, the city of Yogyakarta, so every school holiday period arrived they were hoping their products sold in large quantities.
 
"Items in the center of silver handicrafts purchased Kotagede more among domestic tourists and local tourists, as well as tourists student," he added.
 
Source: Kompas

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Semarang revives Old City to lure tourists

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 4/28/10 0 komentar

Semarang is progressing fast and developing into a leading business city, although floods caused by heavy rain and high tides affect some parts of the city.

Semarang is the country's third largest business city after Jakarta and Surabaya. It became a business city during colonial times after the establishment of Dutch trading company Verenigde Oost-Indie Compagnie (VOC) in 1705. Previously, the Dutch business center was in Jepara, Central Java.

The Dutch built Vijhoek fort and a connecting street, called Heeren Straat, which is now Jl. Letjen Soeprapto. One of the gates of the fort is at Berok Bridge, which was formerly called De Zuider Por.

Semarang grew into a business city starting from the fort as its center point. The fort area was called Oudestad van Samarang or the Old City of Semarang and was often called Little Netherlands. The whole area was the city's administration and business center with a number of residential areas that were divided into areas and streets, particularly for Arabs (Pekojan) and Chinese (Pecinan).

After three decades, the Old City is now relatively deserted. The reason is that most of the area is often flooded. The business center gradually moved southward to higher ground. Jl. Mataram turned into one of the city's business centers. Pekojan, where Arabs used to live, is now a residential area for many Chinese-Indonesians.

Business centers in Semarang have now spread all over the city, including to Simpang Lima, which was once a quiet area. Today there are three malls here: Matahari Plaza, Ciputra Mall and Ramayana Mall.

Jl Pandanaran, which is close by, has turned into a snack center. Here modern shops sell bandeng presto (grilled milkfish), wingko babat (coconut and sugar snack), lunpia (shrimp and bamboo snack) as well as many other Indonesian snacks.

Meanwhile, Johar Market, the largest traditional market in Central Java, is a reliable business center in the heart of the city with thousands of large and small vendors.

Chinatown or Pecinan has been preserved and has 10 temples that are actively visited by worshippers. Since the reform era, Chinese culture and traditions have once again flourished. In Semarang, Chinese New Year is celebrated with a fair, namely the two-day Pasar Imlek Semawis prior to Chinese New Year. In Semarang's Chinatown, traditional Chinese drugstores are always crowded with customers.

In Pecinan is Warung Semawis, a food stall selling both Chinese and Javanese food and snacks, such as pork satay, hot mung bean soup, lunpia, fried noodles, fried rice and much more. It is open only on Friday and Saturday evenings. There is a stage where visitors can sing. Food prices here are very reasonable even by local standards.

The night fair, called Jie Kao Mee in the Chinese language, and later the Imlek Semawis Fair has been held since 2004. "The fair has been modified with a modern touch to attract the younger generation as well," said Ong Gwan Djien alias Dharmadi.

The fair sees performances of Chinese, Javanese and even Arabic culture and traditions.

The old temples are also worth a visit, such as Kwan Im Ting (established in 1476) in Gang Belakang, Sioe Hok Bio (1753) in Gang Baru, Tek Hay Bio (1756) in Gang Gambiran, Tay Kak Sie (1771) in Gang Lombok, Tong Pek Bio (1782) in Gang Pinggir, Hoo Hok Bio (1792) in Gang Mangkok, Wie Wie Kiong (1814) in Kampong Sebandaran, Kong Tik Soe (1845) in the Tay Kak Sie complex, Liong Hok Bio (1866) in Gang Besen and See Hoo Kiong (1881) in Sebandaran. Gang means alley in English.

The temple manager will gladly answer any questions related to the Khonghucu, Tao and Buddhist temples. One of the best temples is Tay Kak Sie, which is the largest in Chinatown. It has three large statues of Buddha and a number of small statuettes of Buddha, while there are numerous statues of gods in the other room.

If you want to see Southeast Asia's largest temple then visit Sam Po Kong at Gedung Batu, Simongan, Semarang, which is about five kilometers from Simpang Lima in the heart of the city. Here one can enter the temple complex, but has to pray in the main temple to see the ornamental relic of the trip taken by Adm. Cheng Ho around the world.

When you have finished your tour of Semarang's Chinatown, you can visit the Old City, which is 31 hectares in area. Here you will find 50 buildings built during Dutch times. One of the oldest buildings is the historical Immanuel Church, locally called Gereja Blenduk, which is more than two centuries old and located on Jl. Letjen Suprapto. Just opposite the church is the Murba Building. Most of the buildings are still standing strong. Some are unoccupied, while some have been turned into offices, warehouses or restaurants.

The Semarang city administration is attempting to revive the Old City and make it a tourist destination. Srigunting Park, near the church, has been renovated and the street repaved. Foreign tourists, especially from the Netherlands, often visit the Old City. It seems that Little Netherlands is quite an attraction for them.

"It is a pity that we have not been able to solve the flood problem there. However, the Old City remains one of the city's best tourist destinations, said the marketing head of the Semarang Cultural and Tourism Office.

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang


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Visitors still enjoying tourist sites

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 0 komentar

Massive waves failed to discourage tourists in Yogyakarta and Bali from flocking to popular beaches Saturday.The long weekend has contributed to an increased number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting Bandung, Bali and Yogyakarta. In Bali, thousands of tourists visited popular Kuta beach trying to get a glance at the giant waves, forcing Water Tourism Safety Agency workers to repeatedly request people to remain a safe distance from the water, Antara news agency reported.

The giant waves caused widespread panic among tourists relaxing on the island's beaches Friday, and destroyed small houses on the Kedongan and Jimbaran beaches.

Austrian tourist Manfred Jelovcan was continuing his holiday at Parangtritis beach in Yogyakarta despite reports of massive waves devastating southern coastal areas in Java, Bali and Sumatra. ""We love the sea so we take every chance we have to go to Parangtritis beach,"" Jelovcan, who lives in Semarang, said Saturday.

On Saturday more than 800 people flocked to Parangtritis beach, a large jump from the average of 500 visitors. However, according to Hadi, a ticket seller at the beach, there were not as many visitors as during other public holidays.

""If there had not been reports of massive waves, the number of visitors might have increased by four times the usual number. These massive waves are an annual phenomenon and there is no need for such fear,"" he said Saturday.

Meanwhile, due to the public holiday, most hotels in Yogyakarta are fully booked.

Melia Purosani hotel's public relations officer, Diyah Fatmawati, said 250 of the hotel's 280 rooms were in use, with the remaining rooms still being repaired following the May 27 earthquake last year.

""All of the 250 rooms were fully booked from Thursday until Sunday,"" she said.

Hyatt Yogyakarta hotel was also experiencing steady business due to the long weekend. A member of the hotel's marketing team, Christoporus Yunanto, said the hotel's 260 rooms were fully booked, with 60 percent of the guests being domestic visitors and 40 percent foreign visitors.

""Yogyakarta's tourism industry has now recovered and many foreign visitors, such as Malaysians, are spending their holidays here,"" he said.

The operator of Saptapari travel agency, Fauzan, said Yogyakarta has become a popular place to hold business meetings and family gatherings.

He said the massive waves had not affected tourism in Yogyakarta. ""Yogyakarta is immune to such things. A month after the earthquake last year and Mount Merapi's eruption, tourists started returning here. As long as there are no security or terrorism issues, people will continue to visit Yogyakarta,"" Fauzan said.

The long weekend has also resulted in train company PT Kereta Api Indonesia having an increase in business. With many tourists returning to Jakarta from Yogyakarta, all tickets for economy and executive trains are sold out until Sunday.

In Bandung, hundreds of hotel rooms were booked by guests who reserved rooms well in advance.

""Three-star hotels in our company have been fully booked since Thursday and most guests are staying until Sunday,"" Dadang, a member of the management team at a popular hotel, told Antara on Saturday, adding that most guests were visiting from Jakarta.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Yogyakarta


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Holiday is full of sweet in Yogyakarta

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 4/25/10 0 komentar

The people with ready smile, becak, the palace, and one-bite size pie bakpia flashed in my mind when I was thinking about Yogyakarta. So, I decided to spend this semester break in the laid-back atmosphere but exotic place.


Together with my parents we started the holiday by visiting my grandfather in Wonosobo, a couple of hours driving in the outskirt of Yogyakarta. The family house is at the hill top and we have to drive circling round the hill to get there.


The view out of the car window was stunning with villages, rice terraces, big trees and the mountains at a distance lining up along the road.

My father had to return to Jakarta for work, so I and my mother took the Prameks train from Kutoarjo station to Tugu station in Yogyakarta.


We stayed at a relative, a retired couple who are still busy running their own business. Pakde Gegeng drove us to place, while Bude Sri, a wonderful cook, treated us local cuisines such as the spicy tempeh plenyet and scrambled tofu.


It was a holiday, but I couldn't ignore my studies. I went to the Gadjah Mada University, the biggest and oldest one in Yogyakarta, and made some search at the Archeology's library and laboratory to get research materials for my undergraduate thesis.


The archeology students were so helpful. They were not only helping me to find some books and research reports relevant to my thesis subject, they gave me a small tour.

My new friends Wiwit, Sari and Inu showed me around the town, the art and cultures Sonobudoyo Museum, the bustling Malioboro Street, the sultanate palace Keraton and the amazing park Taman Pintar.

The museum is located in front of the Keraton. It is filled with Yogyakarta's history, dated ages back. In Malioboro, I went to the Mirota Batik where I bought some souvenirs for friends back home.


We ate lotek for lunch that looks like salad with peanut sauce. It was similar with gado-gado, a specialty in Jakarta, but with bakwan (critters of vegetables) and noodles.

Full with food we continued walking to Taman Pintar, a playground for kids to play and learn. The park is located behind the heritage Vrederburg fortress. In the entrance there was a monument with the picture of the mythical Garuda picture on top and a scripture beneath that reads: "A big nation is one that respects its leaders and heroes".

The toys are very interactive, playful, and educated. There are monuments of presidents, mazes, pulley, and satellite dish speakers for the visitors to play with.

On the next day, my mother and I visited Taman Sari that used to be part of the ancient kingdom ruling in most part of the country. It was used as a bathing place for kings and the nobles, later on as meditation or religion worship place, small batik industry, military training ground and for other purposes throughout the history.


Taman Sari nowadays is a beautiful tourism destination for both domestic and international tourists. The architecture style is an eclectic influence of Hindu, Buddha, Java, Islam, China, Portuguese and Europe, making it one of the province's most prestigious heritage sites.

I had already enough feast for the eyes, but Yogyakarta has more in store to satisfy my taste buds.


Before we left for Jakarta, my mother and I bought some of its specialty snacks, such as bakpia, peanut bars ting-ting, geplak and other sweets. Indeed, most of Yogyakarta's food is sweet. I guess that the people has sweet tooth just as their hospitality.

Prita Nur Aini Student of University of Indonesia.



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End of an era for Yogyakarta's 'blangkon'

Posted by Lambang Insiwarifianto 0 komentar

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The golden age of the traditional Javanese men's cap made out of batik fabric, which is locally known as blangkon, has almost faded away.

Now, only two families are still producing blangkon in Pronosutan, a craft center known for its Yogyakarta-style blangkon production which is located in Nanggulan district, Kulon Progo regency, some 30 km west of the city center.


Earlier, when the uniquely-shaped blangkon enjoyed its heyday prior to 1960, there were some 25 families involved in blangkon production.

The business is said to have started to decline somewhere around the 1960s, but according to veteran blangkon businessman Praptowiyono, the business really got worse in 1965 when batik clothing and the peci (men's black cap) were declared to be the national costume.


""But I will keep running my business. I'm sure that as long as the Yogyakarta palace and its Sultan (king) exist, the blangkon business will continue to survive as the cap represents Yogyakarta's special character,"" said the 64-year-old man who has been in business from 1953 until now.

When he started his business in the 1990s, Praptowiyono and his five assistants could produce an average of eight blangkon per day. The blangkon were then sold in the Beringhardjo market in Yogyakarta.


""But that is an old story. Now, I no longer produce as many blangkon as Iused to. In creating blangkon, I don't emphasize quantity anymore, but rather quality,"" Praptowiyono said.

He realizes that blangkon are losing out against competition from batik clothing and peci. And consumers prefer buying these instead of blangkon, he added.

Now, he is assisted solely by his son and wife. He is only capable of producing about one or two blangkon per day. In marketing his product, he mostly relies on word of mouth.

""Producing a blangkon needs talent, patience. One should not get easily upset because the process involves a harmonious blend of heart and mind,"" Praptowiyono said.


Since his production is now limited, customers, including foreign tourists from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, sometimes have to order the products by directly coming to Praptowiyono's house.

Sometimes, a customer may have to wait up to two or three weeks to get the desired blangkon. But the wait is worth it, as the product should last for about five years.

To date, his products have also spread as far as Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya, Solo and Semarang.


""If you watch (the traditional comedy show) Ketoprak Humor on RCTI, you'll see that they are wearing my blangkon. RCTI once placed an order with me for 200 blangkon,"" he said.

Besides being officially worn by servants when they present themselves tothe king, blangkon are also popular among artists and are one of Yogyakarta's famous souvenir items.


Farming

Although he is well-known for his blangkon, Praptowiyono is also a farmer.

For him, farming is a way to exercise and helps him not to get tired easily when creating blangkon.

However, he also admitted that his blangkon business did not earn him much money. Blangkon are sold for between Rp 50,000 and Rp 90,000 each. Most customers, however, prefer to order those priced between Rp 50,000 andRp 60,000.


The price of a blangkon depends on the material being used. The most expensive blangkon is made from a fine handmade batik fabric, which could cost one hundreds of thousands of rupiah.


Most of the time, Praptowiyono will ask his clients to bring their own material so he only has to make the blangkon. He said that if he had to buythe material on his own, his blangkon would be very expensive.

With the limited number of customers interested in purchasing blangkon, Praptowiyono is unable to do much to improve his meager income.


He quietly added that unlike the time when blangkon were still in their heyday, most people now only buy blangkon when they had to.

In 1999, Kulon Progo regency's industrial development office started a program to prevent the extinction of the blangkon business. However, the program was more concerned with the business development aspect rather thanhuman resources.

Under the program, blangkon craftsman received a Rp 450,000 cash injection to procure tools, such as sewing machines, thread, mats and plonco, a wooden object shaped like a man's head which is used to measure the blangkon.


But Praptowiyono greeted the program without much enthusiasm.

""The program will not do much to help since there are not so many young men around who can make blangkon. Let's say there are plenty of orders coming in. Who is going to fill them?


The Jakarta Post, Jakarta


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