BATAK

Batak is one of the ethnic groups in Indonesia. This name is a collective theme to identify some tribes who live and come from Tapanuli and East Sumatra, North Sumatra. Ethnic groups are categorized as Batak: Toba Batak, Batak Karo Batak Pakpak, Simalungun Batak, Batak Angkola, and Batak Mandailing.

Nowadays most people adhere Batak Protestant Christianity, Catholicism, and Sunni Islam. But some are embracing the belief tadisional: Malim tradition and also embracing animist beliefs (called Sipelebegu or Parbegu), although now the number of the adherents of these teachings waned.

Greetings Typical Batak

Each tribe has Batak greeting each signature. Although the Batak tribe famous for greeting “Horas” but there are still two more greetings less popular in the community and “Njuah Mejuah Juah Juah”. Horas itself still has a reference to each tribe by the use

1.    Pakpak “Njuah-juah Mo Banta Karina!”

2.    Karo “Mejuah-juah Kita Krina!”

3.    Toba “Horas Jala Gabe Ma Di Hita Saluhutna!”

4.    Simalungun “Horas banta Haganupan, Salam Habonaran Do Bona!”

5.    Mandailing dan Angkola “Horas Tondi Madingin Pir Ma Tondi Matogu, Sayur Matua Bulung!”

Kinship

Kinship is related to the legal relationship between people in social life. There are two forms of kinship to the Batak tribe, which is based on lineage (genealogy) and based on sociological, while no territorial kinship.

Forms of kinship based on lineage (genealogy) is visible from the clan genealogy ranging from Si Raja Batak, Batak tribes which all have a clan. While kinship based on sociological occur through agreement (match between a particular clan) or by marriage. In Batak traditions, the unity is the bond of blood in Indigenous clans, and clan. This means for example Harahap, unity is customary Marga Harahap vs another. Given that Indigenous Batak / Batak traditions are dynamic which is often tailored to the time and place influence the differences between the traditional style of the area.

The existence of philosophy in the parable of the Toba Batak language that reads “Jonok dongan partubu jonokan do dongan parhundul” is a philosophy that we always maintain good relations with its neighbors, because they’re the closest friends. However, in the implementation of custom, the first look is a one clan, although basically neighbors should not be overlooked in the implementation of Indigenous Peoples.

TRADITIONAL DANCES

Indonesia has many kinds of dances that spread across the provinces of Indonesia. Each dance has regional characteristics and distinctive when compared with the other dances. With a lot of dances have spread throughout the archipelago, Indonesia is a country known for its rich culture, rich in art and rich traditional dances.

Here are some examples of types of dances archipelago in the various provinces in Indonesia:

1.    Regional dances of Aceh

·     Seudati dance

Seudati dance derived from Arabic backgrounds Islam. A dance full dynamic balance with the religious atmosphere. This dance is very loved and well-known in the region of Aceh.

·     Saman dance

Saman Meuseukat dance, done in a sitting position on your side with a dynamic rhythm. A dance with a poem full of teaching virtue, especially Islam.

2.    Regional dances of Bali

·     Balinese Legong dance

Legong dance is a dance background love story of King lasem. Danced in a dynamic and captivating.

·     Kecak dance

Kecak dance is  a dance based on the Ramayana story and the book tells the story of Hanuman and Sugriwa.

·     Pendet dance

Pendet initially a worship dance that many exhibited in the temple, the place of worship of Hindus in Bali, Indonesia. This dance symbolizes the welcoming the gods fall into the natural world. Gradually, over the times, the artists transform into Pendet “welcome greeting”, but still contains elements of the sacred-religious. Creator / choreographer of modern dance forms are I Wayan Rindi.

3.    Regional dances of DKI Jakarta

·     Mask Dance, a traditional Betawi dance to welcome big guests.

·     Yopong Dance, is a dance tribute to honor guest country.

4.    Regional dances of Central Java

·     Serimpi dance

Serimpi dance is a dance palace in the past with a gentle atmosphere, great and charming.

·     Blambangan Cakil dance

Blambangan Cakil dance recounts the struggle against Buto Cakil Heroine (giant). A symbol of crushing insolence.

INDONESIAN CUISINE

Indonesian cuisine is a reflection of the diverse cultures and traditions from archipelago comprising some 6,000 islands and holds an important place in the national culture of Indonesia in general, and almost all Indonesian cuisine rich with flavor comes from spices such as pecans, chili, key retrieval, galangal, ginger, kencur, turmeric, coconut and palm sugar followed by the use of cooking techniques and ingredients according to indigenous traditions, there is also the influence of trade coming through such as India, China, the Middle East, and Europe.

Basically there is not one singular “cuisine of Indonesia” but rather the diversity of regional cuisine influenced locally by Indonesian Culture and foreign influences. For example, rice is processed into white rice, rhombus or a rice cake (steamed rice) as a staple food for the majority of Indonesia but to the east is also more commonly used corn, sago, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Shape the landscape of the presentation is generally presented in the form of mostly Indonesian food staple with side dishes of meat, fish or vegetable side dish.

REOG PONOROGO

Reog is one of the cultural arts that originated from East Java and Ponorogo regarded as the true home town. Ponorogo city gate was decorated by warok and gemblak figure, two figures who have appeared at the time reog performed.

Modern Reog usually performed in several events such as weddings, circumcisions and National holidays. Art Reog Ponorogo consists of several series of 2 to 3 dances opening. The first dance is usually performed by 6-8 brave men dressed all in black, with faces painted red. The dancers depict the figure of a brave lion. Next is a dance performed by a 6-8 girl ride a horse. In reog traditionally, dancers are usually played by male dancers who dressed women. This dance is called jaran kepang dance or jathilan, which must be distinguished from other dances that kuda lumping dance.

Other opening dance if there is usually a dance by a little boy who brought the funny scenes called Bujang Ganong or Ganongan.

After the opening dance finished, the new core scenes whose contents depend reog condition in which the art is displayed. When dealing with marriage then love scenes are shown. For the celebration of circumcision or circumcision, is usually a story of warriors.

The scene in the art Reog usually do not follow a neat scenario. Here there is always interaction between the player and the puppeteer (usually the leader of the group) and sometimes with the audience. Sometimes a player who is performing can be replaced by another player if the player fatigue. Which is more important in art staging reog is to give satisfaction to the audience.

The final scene is a lion barong, where the actors wore masks shaped head of a lion with a crown made of peacock feathers. Weight mask can reach 50-60 kg. This heavy mask carried by the dancers with their teeth. The ability to bring this mask than obtained by heavy exercise, also believed diproleh with spiritual practices like fasting and penance.

KERONCONG

Keroncong is the name of a type of musical instrument ukulele as well as the name of the type of music that uses traditional Indonesian musical instrument keroncong, flute, and a female singer.

The music blares keroncong beautiful. Drugged lover, who unfortunately dominated by the elderly. Many know, music is music keroncong Portuguese origin. But, there are many cultural experts made clear that this tasteful music native to Indonesia. keroncong very different from the music of the Portuguese. In fact, in Portugal was not found keroncong music as it is known in Indonesia. Regardless of its origin, keroncong music has the potential to grow in the middle of the onslaught of modern music that quickly changed following the trend.

KOMODO ISLAND

Komodo Island is an island located in the Nusa Tenggara islands. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for native animals dragons. The island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government. Komodo Island is located east of the island of Sumbawa, separated by Sela.

On the island of Komodo dragons animals live and breed well. Until August 2009, on the island there are about 1,300 dragons tail. Coupled with other islands, such as Island and Rinca and Gili Mota, their numbers totaled about 2500 tails.

Besides Komodo, this island also store a variety of exotic flora Sepang wood 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.

Komodo Island is also accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the Komodo National Park, along with the island of Rinca, Padar and Gili Mota.

PRAMBANAN TEMPLE

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols ofTrimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend. In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shines') that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that - in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.

If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since 18 September 2006, you can enter zone 1 area of Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on 27 May 2006 is being reconstructed.