1. Laporan bersama para anggota dan admin Group NJAWI atau Javanese Motion sejak tgl 22 Juni 2008, perihal terhapusnya Grup NJAWI di Multiply.
2. Jawaban surat dari Customer Service Multiply, tentang penegasan oleh Multiply bahwa terhapusnya Group NJAWI bukan oleh Multiply melainkan faktor human error belaka.
3. Hasil penghitungan suara dan saran para anggota dan admin Grup NJAWI dalam penentuan nama dan alamat grup pengganti yang telah dilakukan dari tgl. 22 Juni 2008 s.d. 27 Juni 2008, yang telah disebarkan ke beberapa grup rekanan I Like Discussion dan Indonesian Community.

1. Dengan sungguh-sungguh pendapat dan aspirasi serta keinginan luhur Para Anggota dan para Administrator Grup NJAWI untuk membentuk grup baru sebagai penggantinya.
2. Saran dari para Administrator Group of Indonesia agar memperhatikan dengan sungguh-sungguh dalam pengelolaan grup selanjutnya.
3. Saran dan rasa simpati dari para member Multiply lewat media pengumuman yang telah dimuat di kedua grup maupun lewat mediasi Personal Message (PM) secara intensive.

Start:	Jun 27, '08 7:00p
End:	Jun 30, '08 8:00p
Location:	http://njowo.multiply.com

Muji syukur dumateng Gusti kang murbehing sangkan paraning dumadi. Duh Gusti Kang Moho Welas lan Moho Asih

Kepada kinasih Bapak-bapak dan Ibu-ibu, adik-adik, kakak-kakak, kakek-nenek, encang-encing, enyak, babe dan semua yang baca surat ini dan yang dimuliakan oleh Tuhan segala umat, perkenankan dengan ini kami mengajak anda semua untuk berperan aktif membela diri anda sendiri dalam rangka mencari bekal di akherat nanti. Untuk itu kami mengharap kedatangan suri tauladan anda di Paseban Agung Grup baru tapi lama Grup NJOWO di sana dalam rangka menunaikan jadual pemberangkatan dan kembangkitan Grup NJAWI

Setelah disepakatinya dan disetujuinya Group NJOWO ini sebagai pengganti Grup NJAWI, maka kita akan menginjak pada langkah-langkah strategis yang harus ditempuh sebagaimana tercantum secara eksplisit dan implisit dalam Surat Keputusan Bersama (SKB) NJWO yang telah ditetapkan pada Tgl. 27 Juni 2008.

Adapun langkah-langkah krusial yang harus segera diselesaikan adalah:

• Restorasi data atau re-post postingan para anggota NJAWI yang hilang atau masih tersebar di beberapa blog dan grup NJAWI.


• Re-Design web pages atau tata letak atau lay out penampilan situs grup NJOWO.


• Penetapan ulang Tata Tertib Grup NJOWO tanpa meninggalkan aturan dasar dari Multiply yaitu Terms of Service.


• Penetapan secara gradual dan pasti jumlah Administrator atau Ki Dalang, Sinden, Wiyaga dan Waranggana Grup NJOWO ke bentuk dan jumlah yang ideal.


• Restorasi atau re-invite anggota lama untuk kembali ke pangkuan ibuu pertiwi grup NAJWI ke NJOWO.


• Translasi dan publikasi Grup NJOWO ke berbagai blog atau grup baik di Multiply maupun blog-blog lainnya.

Untuk itu bagi para pemirsa yang berkenan mencari surga di akhirat kelak kami tantang dan kami ajak tuk berlomba amal ibadah untuk segenap manusia maya dan manusia nyata. Baik GEN DREW 0 maupun GEN DREW i kami nantikan.

Untuk itu urun rembug, saran dan kritik membangun kami harapkan dari pemirsa sekalian di arena agung : JAVA MULTIPLY...silahkan klik ini.

Jawa Mayapada, 27 Juni 2008, 05:00 am GMT+08


Tabik
Adhock Admin NJOWO
JAVA MULTIPLY...silahkan klik ini.

Start:	Jun 15, '08 07:30a
Location:	Jakarta, Indonesia

SAHABAT MUSEUM dengan hati seneng presenteren:

PLESIRAN TEMPO DOELOE : TEMBOK KOTA BATAVIA

Koelilingin Kota Tua Jakarta Naek Sepeda Onthel diboncengin oleh abang ojeg sepeda (horeeee!)

Naek-naek ke Tembok Kota Kota Batavia nan jadul, sembari diceritakan riwayatnya oleh sang ahli VOC, yaitu Pak Lilie Suratminto, juga Pak Andy Alexander, yang demen bikin peta super-impose, peta jadul yg ditiban ke peta Jakarta kini, sehingga menghasilkan suatu gambaran yang nyata tentang lokasi persisnya rumah kediaman J.P.Coen, ujung-ujungnya Tembok Kota Batavia, dan yg paling asyik lagi: lukisan Iacatra (nama ini sih katanya, asal muasal dari nama: Jakarta)

Dengerin juga cerita tentang persaingan perusahaan dagang VOC (Belanda) versus EIC (punya Inggris), yang akhirnya "dimenangkan" oleh Belanda, lantas Belanda dapat menguasai Nusantara ratusan tahun lamanya. Atau juga mau denger penjelasan tentang penyerangan Tentara Mataram, lengkap dengan titik lokasi pertempuran sengit yang terjadi di tahun 1628 dan 1629, yang mengakibatkan J.P.Coen meninggal (?) (meninggal karena dibunuh atau penyakit kolera?). Nah, nantikan penuturan dua jagoan pencerita kita, Pak Lilie dan Pak Andy, juga gambara kehidupan keluarga di dalam kastil dengan baju Eropa-nya (waah oom.. iklim tropis nih, gerah kalo pake baju parlente kayak disono) serta dengerin juga penjelasan langsung dari si Meneer Nico van Horn, yang diimport langsung dari Belanda :p



Minggu, 15 Juni
jam 07.30 pagi
Rp.75.000/orang
(tujuh puluh lima)

eiiitttsss... sekarang
udah bisa ditransfer
lewat Mandiri & BNI
juga lho (cihuuuyy!)

kalo pada mau
ngedaftar, hub:

adep@cbn.net.id

yuk mari, mari...

Start:	Jun 22, '08 3:30p
End:	Jun 22, '08 8:00p
Location:	Jakarta, Indonesia

Sejak abad ke-14 pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa merupakan bandar laut yang cukup ramai di Nusantara, berbagai suku bangsa datang untuk melakukan perdagangan.

Pada tanggal 22 Juni 1527 Fatahilah menaklukan kerajaan Sunda Pajajaran serta mengusir Portugis dari pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa dan mengantinya dengan Jayakarta.

Pada tahun 1619 Jayakarta dapat dikuasai oleh VOC maka bedirilah Batavia.
Pembangunan mulai dilakukan di kota yang baru ditaklukan ini, dari mendirikan gudang rempah-rempah, membangun jalur transportasi Kali Besar hingga mendirikan sebuah bangunan yang bernama Stadhuis (Balai Kota), penelusuran perkembangan Kota Toea Jakarta dapat anda ikuti dalam kegiatan :

JELAJAH KOTA TOEA : JALAN-JALAN SORE KOTA TUA

Minggu, 22 Juni 2008
Pukul : 15.30 - 20.00 WIB
Registrasi ulang : Stand Museum Bank Mandiri & KJB
JL. Taman Fatahilah No. 1 Jakarta-Kota

Rute : Taman Fatahilah, Gudang Gandum, Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa, Jembatan Kota Intan, Roterdam Internatio dan Museum Sejarah Jakarta

Biaya : Rp. 50.000,- (Lima Puluh Ribu Rupiah)
Fasilitas : Snack, Makan Malam, Sinopsis, Id Card, Tour Guide, Nonton film tempo doeloe di taman Fatahilah dan Batavia Art Festival 2008

Pendaftaran & Registrasi

KOMUNITAS JELAJAH BUDAYA
Email : kartum_boy@yahoo. com
Milist :jelajahbudaya@ yahoogroups. com
Hp : 0817 9940173 / 021-99700131

Baduy, Berdasarkan wilayah administratif pemerintahan, perkampungan baduy termasuk ke dalam wilayah Desa Kanekes, Kecamatan Leuwidamar, Kabupaten Lebak, Provinsi Banten.

Adalah suku kenekes yaitu kelompok masyarakat yang masih memegang teguh adat istiadat di pedalaman gunung Baduy. Mereka biasa disebut juga dengan Suku Baduy. Kepercayaan yang mereka anut adalah Islam Sunda Wiwitan.

Bila kita melihat dan menginjakkan kaki di perkampungan adat ini sungguh suatu hal yang luar biasa. Keindahan alam di tanah Baduy serta keramahan masyarakatnya, menjadikan perjalanan ini sebagai pengalaman yang sarat nuansa dan suasana baru yang takkan terlupakan. Yang pasti, kita akan merasakan suasana masyarakat pedalaman dan atraksi-atraksi alam yang jarang kita temui dalam rutinitas sehari-hari.
Untuk yang ke-sekian kalinya, Kami yang berasal dari Oi Crisis Center mengajak teman-teman semua untuk menikmati keindahan unik itu dalam acara WISATA ALAM 2008.



PESERTA TERBATAS

When Indonesian decide their own fashion taste

Like most of other women, my two sisters are typical of women who always care about their look especially what they wear, but I found something unusual with them as suddenly they talk about Batik as Fashion. I thought the word “Batik” and “Fashion” are contradiction, the first one is identical with formal & old fashion style and the other one is more identical to something up to date or new style, but now those two word could be united.

Because I always curious about the roots & the past than I make a little investigation about fashion & batik. The local fashionista usually love to follow western fashion trend, they wear dresses that also worn by celebrities from the west. Surprisingly now they wear dresses with batik motifs that actually already exist especially in Java Island more than centuries.

Before the batik motifs become fashion trend, Indonesian only wear it in formal places & certain situation. Usually batik used as uniform in schools or governmental offices and also as formal dress when we went to wedding ceremony. In contrary most of us don’t wear batik when we go to the mall, café, cinema or other places for hang out. But now (2008) suddenly malls & other hang out places are “attack” by the new trend. Some boutique who usually sale western style dresses suddenly also sale dresses with batik motifs.

What is Batik?
Batik is a method of printing colored designs on cloth by waxing the part that is not to be dyed. Batik exists in the island of Java; cities that famous for its production are Solo, Yogyakarta, Pekalongan, Lasem, Cirebon etc. Each of those cities has their own batik style, if you’re an expert you could know where the batik is come from by recognizing the motifs. Actually each motif has its own meaning, philosophy & story, but most of people prefer to admire only the physical design.

From old photos we could see the batik worn only as under dress and used not just by the royal family or dancers but also by common people. It was the part of the Javanese culture until the western spread their dress style to the world including Indonesia, and the consequences is the traditional dresses replace by shirt, pants & skirt. The new modern style is accepted by the native probably because it’s simpler than the traditional one & also looks more civilized. Traditional dresses left by its own user & the batik motif became more forgetting by its people. But designers who love batik are clever, if the people didn’t wear traditional dresses as their daily dress anymore it doesn’t mean they also should forget batik. Then designers start to made modern dresses from batik & fortunately the governments choose it as the national dress.

Soekarno (The first Indonesian president 1945-1966) ask designers to use batik as national dress for women & Ali Sadikin (Jakarta’s governor in 1970’s) popularized batik as modern shirt. He uses it as uniform in the governmental institutions & schools. Now it’s more common to wear modern dress with batik motifs even though only in special occasion.

Indonesia is so lucky because some idealist designer still preserve this heritage until now. One of them is the batik maestro Iwan Tirta which is his design often use by the government to introduce the batik dress to politician or famous people who meet the President, but as fashion batik is not the favorite choose until 2008.

Other designer who cares about batik is Edward Hutabarat, two years a go (2006) he introduce his new collection with batik motifs, but many people said that it’s like a suicide if he use batik as his new collection. Now he proves that everybody was wrong because now almost every woman in big city looking for batik and other designers & boutiques follow his step.

Thanks to designers who keep their own principle to preserve batik pattern & modified it with modern style now Indonesian Fashionista has their own character, they do not always follow the western style. But the next question is: Is this pro local fashion styles will be everlasting or just a temporary trend? You never know what will happen in the future, but at least now I am one of the people who celebrate this phenomenon :-)


Ramdan Panigoro
Mei 18th 2008

the photos could be see in:
http://mypov.multiply.com/photos/album/15/The_New_Trend_is_From_The_Old_Heritage

It started a few months ago, when Fanni, a best friend of mine who is working in Guangzhou at the moment, wanted to send me some things from China. So off she went to the post office to send the package. Everything went normally up until the point where the guy who works at the post office asked her, "What is the Chinese name for this city?" to her surprise, because even though she's a Chinese Indonesian herself she doesn't know the Chinese name for any Indonesian cities except for Jakarta.

Yes, China has her own way of calling places around the world, and the name could be the Chinese pronunciation of the place, or a historical and symbolic name. Actually, Chinese is not the only country with this kind of behavior, there are other countries with the same way of thinking. For example, Vietnam refers to Indonesia as "Nam Duong", which means "Southern Country" (if I'm not mistaken). Or French which has the term "Allemagne" for Germany. Or how we Indonesians call Egypt as "Mesir", or how Malaysians call Morocco as "Maghribi".

Anyway, would you like to know the Chinese names for some Indonesian cities? I have some of them, provided that the list is not complete, but it would surely be helpful and not to mention interesting to know too. If any of you caould provide me with additional information on Chinese names of other cities and places in Indonesia, please let me know. Thank you in advance.

-Bandung = Wanlong.
-Binjai = Minli (from Hokkien pronounciation "Binle"), and Mengge (Teochew).
-Bogor = Maowu (from Hokkien pronounciation of Bobut, "Bo" from Bogor).
-Cirebon = Jingriwen.
-Jakarta. The Chinese name for Jakarta is Yajadia, which is the Chinese spelling for it. But it used to be called Pashia and Yecheng. Pashia comes from Batavia (Bashia = "Ba" City), while Yecheng refers to Sunda Kelapa (Yecheng means Coconut Port or something like that).
-Magelang = Majileng.
-Medan = Mienlan.
-Palembang = Jugang (Hokkien "Kukang"), which means "big port". Palembang as the capital of Srivijaya Empire has already been acknowledged by the Chinese since the Tang dynasty.
-Pontianak. Some of you who knows people from Pontianak, might have already know the Chinese name for it, which is Khuntien. Khun might be derived from Kuntilanak (Indonesian ghost which got something to do with the city's history), while Tien means settlement.
-Semarang = Sanbaolong. From Hokkien pronounciation of Sampolong which means "tomb of Sampo". Sampo is an honorary title for Zheng He.
-Singkawang = Samkhewjong/Samkhouwyang
-Solo = Suolo.
-Surabaya = Sishui (Hokkien Sucui, from "Su" in "Surabaya").
-Yogyakarta = Rire.

Credits: Chinese Culture and History Discussion Forum for the names and rembulanfajar at flickr for the image of Semarang's Sampokong temple.

Kendang Pencak

Di samping lapangan dan kelengkapannya, dalam permainan ngadu domba digunakan pula seperangkat tatabuhan (waditra) yang menjadi ciri khasnya. Kelengkapan tersebut berupa peralatan kesenian kendang penca untuk mengiringi permainan. Kendang Penca merupakan salah satu jenis kesenian tradisional di Jawa Barat yang hingga kini masih digemari oleh masyarakat pedesaan. Penyebarannya hampir di semua kabupaten di Jawa Barat, seperti Kabupaten Ciamis, Sumedang, Tasikmalaya, Subang, Cianjur, Sukabumi, Serang, Tanggerang, Pandeglang, Karawang, Kuningan, Majalengka, Cirebon, Bandung, Bogor, Bekasi, dan Garut. Pada mulanya, Kendang Penca berfungsi sebagai pengiring pada seni beladiri pencak silat. Pada perkembangannya, Kendang Penca digunakan pula sebagai pengiring dalam permainan rakyat ngadu domba dengan jenis-jenis pukulan kendang seperti yang berlaku dalam pencak silat. Keterlibatan jenis kesenian ini dalam penyelenggaraan permainan ngadu domba memiliki latar belakang historis, yaitu mungkin karena dahulu yang membawa dan mempertandingkan domba sebagian besar adalah para pesilat dan jawara. Dilihat dari segi lain, sifat dan isi permainan yang diiringinya tidak jauh berbeda dengan pencak silat, hanya pelakunya yang berlainan, yaitu domba. Di samping itu, pertarungan tersebut akan lebih hidup apabila diiringi Kendang Penca dan karena permainan ini merupakan hiburan, maka Kendang Penca tetap dipakai untuk menyemarakkan suasana dalam permainan. Sebenarnya, waditra dalam Kendang Penca tidak hanya kendang saja, tetapi masih terdapat yang lainnya. Mungkin karena fungsinya yang paling dominan di antara waditra lain, maka kesenian ini dinamakan Kendang Penca. Waditra selengkapnya di dalam Kendang Penca terdiri atas: dua buah kendang, dua buah kulanter (kendang kecil), sebuah tarompet, dan sebuah goong kecil (kempul atau bende).

Tentang Domba Garut

Konon menurut cerita, orang pertama yang telah berhasil mengembangkan domba-domba berkualitas baik untuk pamidangan di Garut adalah Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa dengan teman seperguruannya yang bernama H. Soleh. Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa, seorang Bupati Garut yang telah memimpin pada periode 1915-1929, mempunyai kegemaran berburu dan memelihara domba. H. Soleh yang tinggal di Cibuluh juga gemar memelihara domba. Saat itu perkampungan Cibuluh belum padat seperti sekarang ini, serta keadaan sekitarnya masih berupa hutan belantara.

Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa sering berkunjung ke sana, selain untuk berburu juga mengunjungi sahabatnya itu. Dalam tiap kunjungannya, beliau memperhatikan pula cara sahabatnya menangani domba-domba peliharaannya, mulai dari pengandangan, pemberian makanan sampai pemilihan bibit. Adapun cara pemeliharaan yang dilakukan oleh H. Soleh saat itu dinilainya kurang baik. Misalnya, domba jantan dan betina ditempatkan dalam satu kandang, pemberian makanan (rumput) hanya pada saat digembalakan, dan tidak ada seleksi dalam mengawinkan domba.

Pada suatu hari, ketika sedang mengunjungi H. Soleh, Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa melihat seekor domba betina bertanduk lebih bagus dibandingkan dengan yang lainnya. Ketika mengetahui bahwa domba yang akan meneruskan keturunannya adalah domba jantan biasa seperti pada umumnya, Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa yang kebetulan memiliki domba jantan bernama Si Dewa, mengusulkan domba H. Soleh yang dipanggil Si Lenjang dikawinkan dengan Si Dewa. Ide ini muncul mengingat Si Dewa memiliki nilai lebih daripada domba-domba Cibuluh, maka dianggap dapat meneruskan keturunan yang lebih baik. Disamping itu, dengan mengawinkannya dengan Si Dewa, kelebihan Si Lenjang dapat berkelanjutan pada keturunannya.

Selanjutnya, Kangjeng Dalem Suryakarta Logawa membawa Si Dewa ke Kampung Cibuluh untuk dikawinkan dengan Si Lenjang. Beberapa bulan kemudian, lahir domba jantan dan betina. Domba jantan diberi nama Si Toblo, sedangkan yang betina tidak diberi nama. Selain itu dengan Si Lenjang, Si Dewa dikawinkan pula dengan domba betina lain sehingga keturunannya bertambah banyak. Ketertarikan masyarakat akan kegagahan dan kelincahan domba sejak adanya Si Dewa, telah memotivasi para penggemar domba untuk mengadakan hiburan rakyat berupa pertandingan domba yang disebut Ngaben, baik di Cibuluh-Garut maupun di Sumedang.

Khusus di Cibuluh, pernah diabenkan anak Si Dewa melawan anak Si Toblo dari Sumedang yang telah dibeli oleh seorang peternak Cibuluh. Kekuatan mereka seimbang sehingga tidak ada yang menang atau kalah. Hal ini tentu saja mengundang rasa penasaran para penggemar domba adu. Di antaranya, di Bunisari ada seorang bernama Aki Intasik yang ingin memiliki domba untuk menandingi kedua domba tersebut. Caranya dengan membeli Si Toblo dari Sumedang dan mengawinkannya dengan domba betina miliknya yang dipercayakan pemeliharaannya kepada orang lain, yaitu Mang Atori di Cimanyar. Usahanya tersebut tidak sia-sia karena dari perkawinan tersebut lahir dua pejantan, yaitu Si Joki dan Si Jonas. Sebelum dibawa pulang oleh Aki Intasik, Si Jonas dipertahankan oleh Mang Atori karena merasa berhak atas domba tersebut yang telah dipeliharanya. Namun akhirnya, Si Jonas dibeli oleh Aki Intasik. Meskipun kedua domba tersebut secara fisik memenuhi syarat sebagai domba aduan, ada kelebihan lain pada Si Joki, yaitu memiliki tanduk “cerah”. Hal ini membuat Si Joki dijual ke Cikeris/Cikandang untuk dikembangbiakkan. Namun sebelum dijual, baik Si Joki maupun Si jonas, dikawinkan dengan domba-domba betina setempat (Bunisari) sampai beranak-pinak. Seperti halnya induknya, keturunan Si Joki dan Si Jonas, memiliki kehebatan luar biasa sebagai domba aduan.

Baik keturunan Si Joki dari Cikeris maupun keturunan Si Toblo dari Sumedang, semuanya diakui sebagai domba Garut karena bibitnya berasal dari Cibuluh. Mereka merupakan potensi domba adu di Kabupaten Garut yang telah turut mengangkat permainan rakyat khas Jawa Barat ini tidak saja ke tingkat provinsi, tetapi juga ke tingkat nasional melalui kontes-kontes sejak tahun 1985 di Cikeris hingga sekarang. Sebagai hewan yang dipersiapkan untuk bertanding, domba aduan memiliki kelebihan khusus dibandingkan dengan domba biasa. Hal ini berkat adanya kecakapan dalam pemeliharaan dan pemilihan bibit yang pada umumnya diperoleh secara turun-temurun. Untuk menentukan domba yang akan dijadikan sebagai hewan adu, terlebih dahulu harus mengetahui berbagai persyaratannya, meliputi keadaan fisik, pemeliharaan, dan pantangan-pantangannya.

Klik Blog: http://www.dombagarut.blogspot.com

Time after time, these are the places where the welcome is warm. Explore the world's friendliest countries as nominated by Lonely Planet in the latest edition of their Bluelist 2008 book.

Ireland
Centuries of turmoil, conquest and famine — and subsequent immigration — have certainly taken their toll on the Irish: it's left them with a deliciously dark sense of humour and a welcoming attitude towards strangers. That famous ability of the Irish — to find craic (fun times with convivial company) in boom or bust times — means you're always in for a treat. These days, after the end of the 'Troubles', a cautious optimism reigns supreme, infecting the land once again with the sense that anything's possible.

USA
Blamed for the coming of World War III, the Anti-Christ, Bon Jovi, Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, rampant street crime, and noise pollution through overloud talking, Americans just take it all in their stride — they know there's no such thing as a 'typical Yank', so you can just stuff your stereotypes in a sack, mister! Americans may be patriotic and love their country but so are all the nationals on this list — they'll invariably welcome you and help you get the best out of the US, and all they ask in return is for you to leave your shoe bomb at home.

Malawi
Whereas other African nations are beset by deadly tribal war and internecine fighting, Malawians describe themselves as 'the friendliest people in Africa' living in the 'warm heart of the continent'. Anyone who's visited will know that the rare (for Africa) cohesion of the country's ethnic groups is solid evidence for this, as is the people's propensity to welcome you into their homes as well as their nation. Malawi is small, poor and without a lot of facilities, but with a greeting like that who needs Western-style comfort?

Fiji
Fiji is one of the most coup-ridden countries on the planet, yet its citizens are generally considered to be the 'friendliest people on the planet'. And why not? They've got plenty to smile about — lush islands, kaleidoscopic reefs, cobalt sea, a wealth of marine life, world-class diving, romantic coastlines, awesome cuisine — and they love to spread the love around. Fijians have a rep for helping all travellers feel welcome, thereby allowing you to uncover the best from this sprawling group of islands. Just don't talk politics.

Indonesia
It's hard to make generalisations about a country that contains so many different cultures … still, a cliché you'll hear often is that 'Indonesian' people greet foreigners with open arms. Fact is they do, but the media limelight is stolen by the knack of their law-enforcement officers for welcoming drug dealers and bomb makers in an altogether different ritual. Word of advice: if you travel to the beautiful island of Bali, leave the ecstasy at home, otherwise diplomatic relationships with other countries will be strained, foreigners might not be so welcome anymore, and you'll make fools of us for including Indonesia on this list.

Vietnam
Vietnam's another country inextricably caught up in Western images and stereotypes: napalm death; tormented American soldiers; assassins hiding in the rice fields; the whirr of helicopter blades like the Grim Reaper's scythe. But Vietnam put all that behind it a long time ago and is now on a huge drive to become the new 'Asian' tiger economy. Not even the rampant threat of bird flu can dim the people's appetite for friendliness and hospitable greetings to travellers.

Samoa
What's this? Samoa reckons they have 'the world's friendliest people'? Hmmm, trouble is there's no ratifying body for such a claim, meaning the Samoans have to contend with the challenge of Fiji, which also self-applies the title. Okay, enough: let's settle this with a Googlefight. A Boolean search for the phrase 'Fiji world's friendliest people' garners 36,500 hits; the phrase 'Samoa world's friendliest people' reaps 21,000. Sorry, Samoa, the interweb has spoken, although readers can rest assured that your beautiful country harbours lovely and warm people who will leave a deep and lasting impression on them.

Thailand
Southeast Asia's most-visited country is bound to offer up a welter of stereotypes and clichès. Here are some of them: dazzling islands and beaches; lush and balmy weather; great shopping and great food; the 'France of Asia'; lady boys. Here's another one: 'world's friendliest people'. Gawd, not another contender (see Fiji and Samoa). But yes, the Thai people's gracious hospitality does indeed take some beating. Why bother trying to analyse why the Thais are so easygoing and incredibly quick to smile? They just are and that's all there is to it.

Scotland
Forget Begbie in the film Trainspotting — Scotland's becoming the destination for visitors to the British Isles, winning out over dog-eat-dog London. The Scots have survived English invasion, brutal weather and the pain of having the world's worst goalkeepers. This fighting spirit against insurmountable odds has left them with an extroverted, buoyant demeanour and a blackly humorous nationalism (you'd want to see the funny side after witnessing some of those goalies). Naturally, this attitude rubs off on travellers — Scots are so loyal they want you to share in the good stuff, too.

Turkey
It's a shame that for such a long time the Western world's image of Turkey revolved around the brutal drug-smuggling film Midnight Express — as an advertisement for a nation, it rates slightly below Chernobyl. Thankfully, we've all moved on from that and we can now report that the Turkish people actually have an unsurpassed reputation for hospitality. With their heavenly cuisine, dreamy coastline and spectacular historical sites, the Turks know there's no reason to be secretive.

source:
http://things.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=342222

March 7, 2008 the Hindus in Indonesia are celebrating Nyepi in tranquil atmosphere. Don't bother to try to look at Indian calendars, as it's only a national holiday in Indonesia. Hindu in our country have its own version, distinct versions which are very different from Hindu in India.

Nyepi is a day of seclusion where people meditate and remain in silence to welcome the Saka New Year, a lunar year's cycle. The island of Bali especially is in peaceful silence all day long. Not only the Hindus who are in silence, because the non-Hindus also keep to themselves out of respect, even the tourists are no exception.

Days before the actual Nyepi, people do all kinds of ritual, from cleaning, fasting, etc. At the actual day, people follow the condition of: Amati Geni (no fire), Amati Karya (not working), Amati Lelungan (not traveling), and Amati Lelanguan (no entertainment). This long chain of rituals end with the coming of Saka New Year.

For all of you who are celebrating, I'm wishing you a Solemn Nyepi and a Happy Saka New Year!

I wonder about how a country known to the world known as "Japan" proudly call their own country as "Nippon", just like Germany call their country "Deutschland", Moroccans with their own "Al Maghribiyya". What about Indonesians?

Where did the name "Indonesia" come from? In the old colonial time, there were times when the people in this territory were called as Dutch East Indians. The term somehow wasn't favored by intellectuals, some of them tried to find other terms which they thought more agreeable. In 1850, an English ethnologist came up with the name Indunesians and Melayunesians to replace that term. "Indus" means India, and "nesos" means island. Actualy he preferred the term "Melayunesians", "Melayu" which means Malay and "nesos" which means island.

Not surprisingly, academics from the Netherlands were not really fond of these terms, but they couldn't do anything as the term "Indonesia" became really popular in academic circles outside of the Netherlands. Nationalist groups from the island looking for ways to express their political standings finally adopted the name. Ki Hajar Dewantara (Suwardi Suryaningrat) was the first Indoensian scholar to use the name "Indonesia" in his press bureau Indonesisch Pers-bureau in the Netherlands (1923).

Let's put aside the fact that "Indonesia" has already been established as our official name. The name "Indian islands" is a very incorrect way to call our archipelago. Even "Malay islands" would not suffice either, as the people in the eastern part of Indonesia has got nothing to do with the Malay. What is the right way to call our beloved archipelago, then? Didn't we have any term to call our cluster of islands back then? When you ask an Indonesian what alternative names does s/he got for Indonesia, you might come up with "Tanah Air" (which means Land and Water) and Nusantara. Now, what is the meaning of Nusantara?

To find the answer, we might have to dig into the ancient feudal times of our islands, to the history of the glorious Majapahit Empire to be exact. The Majapahit Empire which had a very big power over the islands had special terms for the areas under their sphere of influence. These terms were made famous by an otah made by a prime minister of Majapahit Empire, Gajah Mada, who vowed to unite "Nusantara". The terms are:

1. Negara Agung , the grand state, the core kingdom which covered the whole East Java and its surrounding areas.

2. Manca Negara, countries surrounding Negara Agung which receive strong influences from the Javanese culture that could even be perceived even today. This includes the entire Java island, Madura, Bali, and maybe some parts of Sumatra (such as Lampung and Palembang).

3. Nusantara, "nusa" means island and "antara" means other. It referred to the areas under the influence of the empire but were not exactly under its government, kingdoms which paid tribute to the empire.

Even though areas under the term "Nusantara" consisted of almost all of the areas now parts of Indonesia (and beyond, as it included parts of what is now Malaysia and the Philippines too), it still couldn't satisfy the need of a proper term as this term had a negative expansionist nuance in it and it doesn't cover the whole Indonesia either.

Still, "Indian islands" remained an annoying term. In 1920, Ernest Francois Eugene Douwes Dekker (who preferred to be called Setiabudi) introduced a new term for the country which had no word "India" in it, the name presented was "Nusantara". But this term is not the same with the 14th century one, it has a new spirit and meaning in it. Dr Setiabudi used the term in a non-agressive way, "Nusantara" is just the way he referred to the archipelago from Sabang to Merauke, an area of extend what is now known as Indonesia.

Furthermore, his version of Nusantara has a new meaning, as it does not have the meaning of "other island" like the one in Majapahit's time. His Nusantara is derived from the Javanese word "nusa" which means island, and the new "antara" was not taken from Sanskrit "antara" (which is a foreign word), rather, it came from a Malay word which means "between".

A fusion between the Javanese word and the Malay word created the new meaning of Nusantara, "islands in between". Yes, our archipelago are islands in between, between two continents (Asia and Australia), between oceans (Pacific and Indian), between cultures....

And what a beautiful name he came up with! A name that we could and proudly and full of affection say to ourselves: our islands, our country, our beloved Nusantara :)

Ampun dibencet niki gambar photo kulo engkang paling nggatheng. Di demek angsal ning ampun diambung nggeh....yen diceklik mak jegagik aku arepe muleh ning kamarku wae....ihikhiik..hikk..isin aku......

http://njawi.multiply.com

Start:	Dec 19, '07 6:00p
End:	Dec 25, '07 11:00p
Location:	malang-probolinggo

It's time to.......................
relaxing
.....walking-walking
..........traveling
...............camping
....................beach-trekking
.........................island-treasuring
..............................mountaineering
...................................chute-splashing
........................................whitewater-rafting
.............................................city-touring
..................................................culinary-exploring
........................................................cheer-smile-laughing

long wiken
14 beloved cheerfull friends
'amazing race' itinerary
'cooking class' camping
backpacking style
'travel-warning: indonesia - dangerously beautiful' campaign support

~balekambang::kondang merak::ngliyep::sendang biru::sempu island::malang city::batu::pananjakan::bromo::madakaripura::probolinggo::pekalen::rawon setan::bakwan malang::es krim jadoel~

dear rekan-rekan semuanya....
salam dari kota kembang bandung jawa barat.......

hanya ingin mengulas tentang keadaan olahraga di indonesia...terutama baseball yang saya ketahui..
mungkin semuanya tau bagaimana olahraga ini dan bisa dibilang olahraga yang middle-hi class.
tapi kenyataan di lapangan di indonesia sangatlah berbeda, terutama yang mau saya tulis adalah tentang kesiapan tim nasional baseball yang akan berangkat ke SEA Games di Thailand.

dari awal persiapan tim ini sangat membingungkan insan baseball apalagi kejadian yang baru-baru ini terjadi diwaktu tim ini mengadakan try-out (uji coba) ke jepang.
pada waktu try out ada salah satu atlet yang mengalami cedera patah tulang, dan bukannya atlet tersebut tidak mampu tapi tidak adanya perhatian dari minimal yaaa... manager,pelatih maupun pengurus PERBASASI (Persatuan Baseball Softball Amatir Indonesia), bahkan yang ada kenyataannya skrg atlet tersebut malah dipulangkan ke daerahnya dan dibuang begitu aja tanpa adanya rasa kehilangan ataupun penyesalan.
yang lebih parahnya lagi, peralatan yang sudah dipakai selama persiapan SEA GAMES oleh atlet tersebut, diminta kembali oleh manager/pengurusnya....sungguh sangat tidak etis bukan?

ya mungkin ini menjadi cerminan olahraga di indonesia...

i love this game...

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I finally arrived in Bandung after an eight hour train ride from Yogyakarta. If Yogya is the cradle of Javanese culture, Bandung is said to be the cradle of Sundanese culture. The weather was a bit cooler since Indonesia's fourth largest city is 2,520 feet above sea level. And because it's closer to the equator, average temperatures don't vary much from a low of 22.9 C in July to a high of 24.2 C in May. The city is known for its large collection of Dutch colonial and tropical Art Deco structures. And thus, I decided to take a walk around Bandung even just for a few hours to check them out.

Kota Tua Jakarta (Jakarta Old Town) or Old Batavia is a 130-hectare special region in the province of Jakarta (contained in the cities on North Jakarta and West Jakarta) that was declared a heritage zone by Jakarta's governor in 1972. It stands today as a legacy of Indonesia's Dutch colonial past. Although a bit neglected, what's important is that the buildings were not demolished and there are concerted efforts from both government and private groups to restore the area and rejuvenate Old Jakarta. Kota was therefore on top of my places to visit in Jakarta.