KAMPUNG LEUIT (food reserves village): @ floating market Lembang – Bandung

Kampung Leuit (village) located in the floating market Lembang, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Leuit is Sundanese, which is meant as a place to store the backup rice or grain and other foodstuffs, which is used as a backup while certain times, for example when after rice planting season, until the advent of the next harvest. At that time, farmers have been storing food reserves. The food reserves or Leuit also be the savior of society Sundanese of West Java if had to face tough time getting food, such as crop failure, or famine.

Leuit has a building form who typical of Sundanese society. Usually this building consists of wooden poles, using the cubicle walls of bamboo, and the roof using palm fibers. Construction of the building as a cultural wisdom, which has the function as a way to regulate indoor air so that foodstuffs are not damaged. At this time has been hard to find this kind of buildings in cities in West Java, but can still be found in rural areas who still uphold the customs of Sundanese.

In Kampung Leuit, we can enjoy the village atmosphere. Houses have a unique, rustic typical Sundanese, West Java. Building a house with walled cubicles. Around the house are fields with green plants that morning, which is equipped with a straw doll midges, such as birds that like to eat rice farmers.

Tirta Empul Temple: the holy spring water for Balinese

Tirta Empul Temple is a Hindu temple in the middle of Bali Island, Indonesia, was built in 962 A.D. during the Warmadewa dynasty (from the 10th to 14th centuries). The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, a Hindu god at a site where there was a large water spring. The bubbling water of is the main source of Sungai Pakerisan river. Tirta Empul Temple (Indonesian: Pura Tirta Empul) famous for its holy water where Hindu Bali people go for purification. The temple pond has spring which gives out fresh water regulatory, which is considered as holy or amritha by local Hindu Bali people.

In Bali there is a myth written probably very late, called Usana Bali says that a Balinese arrogant king named Maya Denawa did not believe in god, and objected the people to make rituals. This situation was heard by the God and decided to punish and kick away the king from his palace. The punishment for the king came under warrior of Bhatara Indra arrived to attack Maya Denawa and put him away from the throne. The fierce war at last defeated the soldiers of Maya Denawa but Maya Denawa was so difficult to hunt, as every time he hided at certain object he was able to changed himself to look like the object, so Indra ordered his warriors to attack every object, and Maya Denawa run to current place of Tampak Siring and poisoned the spring water. When the soldiers of Indra getting tired and thirsty they drank the water causing all of them died. Realizing this situation Indra planted his cane and springing the water. This spring water was used to spray the dead soldier and they alive again. It is said by the myth that this spring water created by the cane of Indra is now Tirta Empul. Many superstitious also come regularly to this bathing place believing that by bathing here their problem of life will be solved.

The Tirta Empul is located in a inscription which is kept at Sakenan Temple, Manukaya village, Sub district of Tampak Siring, about 3 km from Tirta Empul Temple. In this inscription, the Tirta Empul is named by the Tirta Ri Air Hampul and then the name has changed into Tirta Hampul and finally become the Tirta Empul. Tirta Ri air hampul is meaning the water emerge or the holy pool (Petirthan) which is the water emerge from the land. The wellspring emerges from the land is believed that it is the infinite creation.

    

The main attraction of Tirta Empul here is a long rectangular pool carved of stone. The spring feeds various purification baths, filled with koi fish and fed by the sacred spring via 12 fountains. The pools and fish ponds surrounding the outer perimeter, which all flow to the Tukad Pakerisan River. Various sites throughout the region and many other archaeological relics relate to local myths and legends. Worshiper first make an offering at the temple, then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray. Many collect the holy water in bottles to take home.

                

Nearby there are two smaller pools fed by the spring. There is also a large open pavilion in the main courtyard, useful for relaxing in the shade.

           

In Balinese there is a myth written probably very late, called Usana Bali says that a Balinese arrogant king named Maya Denawa did not believe in god, and objected the people to make rituals. This situation was heard by the God and decided to punish and kick away the king from his palace. The punishment for the king came under warrior of Bhatara Indra arrived to attack Maya Denawa and put him away from the throne. The fierce war at last defeated the soldiers of Maya Denawa but Maya Denawa was so difficult to hunt, as every time he hided at certain object he was able to changed himself to look like the object, so Indra ordered his warriors to attack every object, and Maya Denawa run to current place of Tampak Siring and poisoned the spring water. When the soldiers of Indra getting tired and thirsty they drank the water causing all of them died. Realizing this situation Indra planted his cane and springing the water. This spring water was used to spray the dead soldier and they alive again. It is said by the myth that this spring water created by the cane of Indra is now Tirta Empul.

The cooled-air of Presidential Palace: Tampaksiring, Bali

Tampaksiring presidential palace located on the hills in Tampaksiring Village, Tampaksiring Sub District, Wisma Merdeka Gianyar Regency, Bali. The palace is the one and only palace constructed at the time when the Indonesian Government rules at 1957 untill 1960. Initiated by the first President of Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno, the palace was built by a hundred percent Indonesian architects, R.M. Soedarsono, and constructors.

    

Tampaksiring palace is supported by four main buildings. Three of them are in the form of guesthouse, consisting of Wisma Merdeka ,200 m²), Wisma Bima (2,000 m²) and Wisma Yudhistira. Another is versatile building. Main part of Wisma Negara is the same as Wisma Merdeka; they were built on hilly land and both hills sustaining the two guesthouses are separated by a deep hill gap (approximately 15 meters). Both guesthouses are connected by a bridge of 40 meters long by 1.5 meters wide.

    

The palace was used as a resting place by president and vice president with the family as well as for state’s guests. Among various state guests recorded to have visited tha palace were President Ne Win from Burma (presently Myanmar), President Tito from Yugoslavia, President Ho Chi Minh from Vietnam, Prime Minister Nehru from India, Prime Minister Khruschev from the Uni Soviet, Queen Juliana from the Netherlands and Emperor Hirohito from Japan.

The name, Tampaksiring, is taken from two Balinese words, “Tampak” means sole of foot and “siring” means slanting. According to a legend recorded on Usana Bali lontar leaf (lontar leaf was used as paper in ancient time), the name was originally rooted from the trace of feet of a king named Mayadenawa. The forest roamed through by King Mayadewa by walking with slanting feet is the area now called Tampaksiring (slanting sole). This place is a heritage monument will be very valuable; it is because his background, and also this place is used as a resting place away from the cool weather of the city, and as a stopover palace State leaders who were stopped in Bali.

Amazing FLOATING MARKET Lembang – Bandung

Floating market is a new tourist park in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia was built in the lake area Situ Umar, behind the Grand Hotel Lembang. It only takes one to two hours drive from the city of Bandung. We went towards the north to the city of Bandung, Lembang. Distance from Lembang market is not up to 500 meters. Since we go to Lembang area has many signs pointing the direction to the Floating Market.

First time entry feels very spacious and has a beautiful view. Surrounded by beautiful green hills.

At the floating markets Lembang – Bandung you can enjoy the beautiful gardens. Along the way there are ornamental flowers and ornamental plants. Ornamental plants are very beautiful. Cool eye.

Around the lake there are many buildings that are very unique and interesting. The building is home joglo antique Javanese traditional. Being here is like being in the middle of nowhere. Home “joglo” make the atmosphere becomes very antique.

At the edge of the lake serves a variety of traditional food sellers are diverse, such as siomay, batagor, tempe mendoan, bakso, rujak, lotek, ketan bakar, and a variety of beverages like bajigur, wedang ronde, bandrek, es teler, fresh juice, etc.

Prices of food and drinks are very cheap. Visitors must buy special coins on the counter, for the payment of just using the coin. If you come to Bandung, the floating market to be one of the important tourist places to be visited.

Ketep Pass @ Magelang .. beautiful mountainous scenery

Ketep pass is located at between Merapi Mountain and Merbabu Mountain at sub-district Sawangan, regency Magelang, Cental of Java. You will enjoy visiting because you can get new experiences when you visit Ketep Pass. Ketep Pass was inaugurated as tour destination in Oktober, 17 2002 by the fifth Indonesian president, named Megawati Soekarnoputri.

About the hill, Ketep pass has area about 8000 m2 andheight about 1200 meters.

Besides as a place to relax, Ketep pass also has many functions, such as:
1.Making documenter film use Ketep pass as the place then people show it at mini cinema in Indonesia.
2.Observing Merapi mountain condition
3.Doing recreation for all people and their family
4.Storing data about Merapi mountain activity using interactive computer that is located at Ketep pass
5.Getting knowledge and education from Volcano Centre and Volcano Theatre.
The mini cinema in Ketep Pass is popular as Volcano theater. All visitors can watch the history about Merapi Mountain, from the first time its formation, observation, and the eruption that is recorded at least 25 minutes. However the seats those are available only about 78 seats and always filled by visitors. Therefore, you should get the seat fast or you are curious to watch in this mini cinema.

Sakode ’80 is a group of alumni of the faculty of economics University of Jenderal Soedirman Purwokerto, in a year 1980. This group met regularly gathering to create and foster a spirit of togetherness among the member for the more advanced. One of the places visited on Sakode ’80 meeting is Ketep Pass, on 7-8 June 2014 ago.

beautiful scenery of Bumijawa, Tegal

Bumijawa is a village located in Tegal, Central Java, Indonesia. Bumijawa has a height of 800 meters above sea level, so the air in the region is relatively cool. This area produces a lot of vegetables and fruits, but it is also rich in natural products such as tea, wood and rubber. In Bumijawa there is a spring that is named “Bulakan” where the water is used for water supply purposes.

It were very beautiful natural scenery. You enjoy it along the way Bumijawa area like these pictures below:

Bumijawa has many natural attractions of interest to visit, such as hot springs, waterfalls, vast green tea plantations. A variety of traditional food as well as interesting to try like “tahu aci”, “soto Tegal” is soup with herbs “tauco”, nasi lengko.

One of the most recommended place for enjoy those special food and others is “warung soto SEDAP MALAM” in Tegal city.

Happy enjoy ..

i-City: city of digital lights @ Shah Alam, Malaysia

i-City is a technology park using over 1 million LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights. The advancement of LED technology has enabled many colourful lights with different intensity possible. It will lit the sky daily in a thematic manner. At night the i-City was beautiful with an amazing forest of man-made maple tree and pine trees brightly illuminated with LED themes of lightscape.

i-City-based urban development located beside the Federal Highway in Section 7, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Shah Alam is the capital city of Selangor, about 25km from Kuala Lumpur city. The main transport arteries which link Shah Alam to towns in Klang Valley are the Federal Highway and the North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE).

It was a very pretty sight, enjoy the thousands of LED in i-City that are used to build trees and animals.

i-City is a magnificent jewel in rapidly developing city if Shah Alam. i-City was designed as a fully integrated intelligent city, comprising corporate, leisure and residential components such as a 1.0 million sq. ft. regional shopping mall, office towers, Cybercentre office suites, hotels, apartments, data centres and innovation centre.

BOGOR NIRWANA RESIDENCE: an eco-city

In August 2008, Bogor Nirwana Residence was launched as an eco-city, the district of commercials, entertainment, and central business that highlight open space and harmony with nature. A 1200 ha land area of middle-upper residential eco-city project located in Jalan Pahlawan (Dreded), Pasirjaya Village, the center of Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

Right at the foot of Mount Salak, Bogor Nirwana Residence is built with a resort concept by maintaining 60% of the land as green areas. The residential complex is completed with an integrated commercial and edutainment waterpark consisting of Orchard Walk, The Jungle Waterpark and 4D Cinema, The Jungle Mall, Bogor Bowling Center and Aston Bogor Hotel & Resort.

As an eco-city, Bogor Nirwana Residence also develop a shopping mall with Eco-Mall concept. It was cozy environment-friendly shopping place with green concept in every step. As the first eco-mall in Indonesia, it applied energy saving technology as solar energy as the main source. The eco-mall provides 360 degrees view to green atmosphere, breezily wind of Mount Salak and Mount Halimun.

An eco-city is a city built off the principles of living within the means of the environment. Eco-Cities are places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment. They work to harmonize existing policies, regional realities, and economic and business markets with their natural resources and environmental assets.

Eco-Cities strive to engage all citizens in collaborative and transparent decision making, while being mindful of social equity concerns, as a sustainable community. A sustainable community is an environmentally, economically, and socially healthy place where people can live, work and play for decades to come:
1. Ecological sustainability ensures that all parts of the natural and built environments work together as a single ecological system.
2. Economic sustainability ensures a healthy economy that supports and sustains people and the environment in which they live over the long-term.
3. Social sustainability ensures that a community meets residents’ basic health and social needs and has the resiliency to prevent and/or address problems in the future.

The ultimate goal of eco-city is to eliminate all carbon waste, to produce energy entirely through renewable sources, and to incorporate the environment into the city; however, eco-cities also have the intentions of stimulating economic growth, reducing poverty, organizing cities to have higher population densities, and therefore higher efficiency, and improving health. The concept of the “eco-city” was born out of one of the first organizations focused on eco-city development.

The criteria of eco-city has been described as a city that fulfills the following requirements:
1. Operates on a self-contained economy, resources needed are found locally
2. Has completely carbon-neutral and renewable energy production
3. Has a well-planned city layout and public transportation system that makes the priority methods of transportation as follows possible: walking first, then cycling, and then public transportation.
4. Resource conservation—maximizing efficiency of water and energy resources, constructing a waste management system that can recycle waste and reuse it, creating a zero-waste system
5. Restores environmentally damaged urban areas
6. Ensures decent and affordable housing for all socio-economic and ethnic groups and improve jobs opportunities for disadvantaged groups, such as women, minorities, and the disabled
7. Supports local agriculture and produce
8. Promotes voluntary simplicity in lifestyle choices, decreasing material consumption, and increasing awareness of environmental and sustainability issues

Other terms of the eco-city are “urban ecology” or “sustainable city” as a city designed with consideration of environmental impact, inhabited by people dedicated to minimization of required inputs of energy, water and food, and waste output of heat, air pollution – CO2, methane, and water pollution. Generally, developmental experts agree that a sustainable city should meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A sustainable city should be able to feed itself with minimal reliance on the surrounding countryside, and power itself with renewable sources of energy.

MENARA TAMING SARI : enjoy panoramic view of Malacca town

Menara Taming Sari is the only Revolving Gyro Tower in Malaysia. There are similar rides in Singapore and Hong Kong among other places. It is a 110 metre high tower in the centre of Melaka with a revolving viewing platform providing visitors with a panoramic 360 degree view of the city within 7 minutes.

Taming Sari Tower located in the popular district of Malacca, Malaysia, at Bandar Hilir on Jalan Merdeka, opened to public in the year of 2008 April. The name is adapted from Sari Keris, a mythical weapon is said to has the possessive power belongs to the local legendary warrior Hang Tuah.

The structure design of the tower follows the shape of the Keris. Apart from that, the tower is built with advanced Swiss technology that could absorb earthquakes measuring 10 Richter scales and able to accommodate 66 people at a time.

CITY FOREST in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the most modern and developed city in the country and one of South East Asia’s most energetic and exciting cities. As the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a city with magnificent skyscrapers, world-class hotels, plush shopping centers and international cuisine. It still however, retains its culture and takes prides in the diversity of its people. The eclectic heritage of Malays, Chinese and Indians can be seen in many facets of the city such as the Islamic architecture, Indian temples, Chinatown markets and the huge array of ethnic food makes this city a food-lover’s paradise.

Another interesting thing in Kuala Lumpur, the cities still have a lot of forest. This situation makes the atmosphere of the city to be more green and pleasant. The number of new buildings do not have to eliminate the urban forest. As the elementary producer of the urban ecological system, the city forest plays important roles to the sustainable development of city. Maintaining and improving ecological service function is the basis of sustainable development of city. These ecological services for all of us are very useful. Because it will make the air around us to be cooler especially in the city or an area that is rare or absent as green trees.

The beauty view of city forest can be enjoyed in the morning from windows of my hotel room.

In these photos, it seems clear commuter rail is built on the river, so do not take the road, which can cause crowding the street.

I stayed at Quality Hotel City Centre Kuala Lumpur for a few days for attending the international conference. Quality Hotel located along Jalan Raja Laut Kuala Lumpur.

It is brilliantly located for both sightseeing and shopping: less than ten minutes away are Suria Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Maju Junction, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the PETRONAS Twin Towers, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) and more. Guests who are not keen on driving or taking a taxi, can hop on the nearby light rail transit (LRT) train at the Jalan Masjid India station, approximately two km away.

If it is connected with the atmosphere stifling especially in big cities, of course, the existence of city forest is very necessary. Where to find the forest in the middle of the city in Indonesia? To find out where it is currently very difficult. Because most of major cities now have a system of rules that favor the wealthy businessman. Happens every inch of ground in most major cities in Indonesia has changed its function and designation.