Places in Indonesia – In the Olden Testament, a man named Noah was instructed to build an ark that would save his family from an enormous flood set to cover the entire face of the earth. Centuries after, who would ever thought that there could be another incident capable of taking away millions of lives.
Before Explosion
Even years before 1883 in Krakatoa, Indonesia, tremors encountered in the island were so intense to the point of disturbing the distant region of Australia. Starting in May 20 of 1883, which was roughly three months prior to the last volcanic upsurge, venting steams were regularly seen from the northern point of Perboewatan. Ashes were also ejected at an elevation of twenty thousand feet that were heard as far as Jakarta located one hundred miles away. However, by the end of the month, the natural phenomenon stopped.
Early Eruptions
The period of 1883 in Krakatoa, Indonesia was very much historical in the island. By June 19, there was again another volcanic upsurge where the seat of explosion was deemed to have formed between Danan and Perboewatan, approximately the area of the present cone of Anak Krakatau. The environmental activity was very strong that tidal waves around the vicinity were very high. In fact, ships docked in the harbors needed tight fastening with chains. On August 11, bigger upsurge started and by August 24, a natural phenomenon with more force was witnessed.
Cataclysmic Level
By August 27 of 1883 in Krakatoa, Indonesia, there was a series of final volcanic explosion that occurred at 5:30am, 6:42am, 8:20am and 10:02am. Each of the eruptions led to a series of giant tsunamis with surfs that were as tall as one hundred feet in some places. The most distressed areas were Sundra Strait and Sumatran Coast but the environmental activity was very fierce that it also created a huge blow 3, 500 kilometers away from the island.
After Events
In October of 1883 in Krakatoa, Indonesia, explosions still went on but this time “tamer” compared to the previous months. By February of 1884, there were still some eruptions reported. The aftermath of the environmental activity was said to have washed out the island leaving only half of the south of Rakata that left behind a caldera 250 meters deep. As for the tally of casualties, it was said that out of the three thousand inhabitants of Sebesi, located thirteen kilometers away, not a single being survived. In the district of Ketimbang, one thousand people were accounted to have passed away. Dutch authorities recorded an official death toll of 36, 417 individuals.
Places in Indonesia, Bali
Home to the country’s Hindu community, this island lies between Lombok on the east and Java on the west. Bali, Indonesia is among the thirty- three provinces in the archipelago with the municipality of Denpasar as capital. All over the nation, Bali is considered to be one of the most favorite tourist destinations in Indonesia which is highly renowned for the arts such as music, painting, metalworking, sculpture and dance, among the others.
History
Archaeologists believed that Bali, Indonesia was inhabited since the primordial age where likes of the Homo Sapiens were thought to exist. The first race was said to have arrived in Bali around 3000 BC as they traveled through mainland Asia before reaching the archipelago of Indonesia. In close proximity to the village of Cekik which is located in the western part of the island, stone tools were discovered that actually dated back to the period earlier mentioned.
By 100 BC, natives from India began to establish themselves in Bali, Indonesia. Not for long, these foreigners contributed much to the agricultural system of the island. The complex irrigation method locally dubbed as “subak” was developed in order for rice to grow. Until this juncture, there are obvious traces seen around Bali which were largely influenced by the cultural traditions and religious practices brought by the Indians that settled in Indonesia many years back.
Geography
From east to west, the island is roughly 153 kilometers wide while from north to south, it is 112 kilometers wide. Bali, Indonesia has an overall land area of 5, 633 square kilometers. If you can visit Indonesia, do not miss out the highest point of Bali which is Mount Agung at 10, 308 feet. It is considered to be an active volcano that was reported to have erupted on March of 1963. There is also Mount Batur which explosion many centuries ago, is regarded to be one of the biggest catastrophic events on the planet.
Bali, Indonesia is watered by shallow seas and shaped by alluvial plains that explain its natural beauty. Surrounded by coral reefs, the island is also blessed to have beaches with white powdery sands in the south and black fine sands in the west. When you proceed to the town of Padangbai, you will see both on the blue lagoon. Pasut and Klatingdukuh are also a must for you to visit.
Make your way now to Bali, Indonesia for a memorable holiday of a lifetime.
Places in Indonesia, Banks
There are about one-hundred-thirty-one banks in Indonesia existing today, despite the many closures during the start of 1997. Originally, there were over two hundred banks in the country, the number being significantly owed to a rather low entry investment to open a bank in Indonesia; it is actually the lowest in all of South East Asia. However, since the Asian financial collapse in 1997, the a lot of banks in Indonesia have been closed and sold, including the September 5th 2006 selling of the remaining twenty-six percent stake of its eight-biggest banks by assets, the Bank Permata.
Regardless of the many closures, the country’s central bank still thinks that the existing number of banks in Indonesia is still too many, and is specifically eager on consolidating the bigger ones. So far, Indonesia has for big banks qualified as regional contenders which include Bank Mandiri, Bank Central Asia, Bank Negara, and Bank Rakyat.
Bank Mandiri
This bank is Indonesia’s largest bank by assets, deposits, and loans. It has about two-hundred-fifty trillion assets as of 2005, with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of twenty-three percent, Return on Equity of 10.5 %, and Return on Asset of 1.6%. As of March 2005, Bank Mandiri has eight-hundred-twenty-nine branches stretched across three diverse Indonesian time zones, as well as six branches outside the country. The bank also has approximately two-thousand-five-hundred ATM’s.
Bank Central Asia
This Indonesian bank was founded on the 21st of February 1957; it was not exempted from the tremendous impact that the Asian monetary crisis brought in 1997, particularly to its cash flows which even threatened the bank’s survival. The bank sought the assistance of its Indonesian government and in 1998 the Indonesian Banking Restructuring Agency took over management of the bank. That same year, full recovery of the bank was accomplished and third-party funds were brought back at a pre-crisis level. Afterwards, the Bank Central Asia made a big step by going public.
Bank Rakyat
This is among the biggest banks in Indonesia, specializing in microfinance and small scale style borrowing and lending to its about thirty million retail clientele through its more than four-thousand branches, rural service posts, and units. It is presently seventy-percent government owned.
Indonesia’s central bank has phased more precise capital requirements by 2010, to encourage mergers, as well as banning anyone from possessing more than twenty-five percent controlling stake in more than one bank. The government is also subject to this policy and so they would either have to merge or sell some of its controlled banks in Indonesia.
Capital of Indonesia
Formerly called Sunda Kelapa, Batavia, and Jayakarta, the capital of Indonesia is the biggest city of the country and more popularly known today as Jakarta; it nestles on the shores of the northwest part of the island of Java, and covers an area of about six-hundred-sixty-one square kilometers with more than eight million inhabitants.
This capital of Indonesia prides in its colonial-style structures and newly restored “old quarters” which has preserved the British and colonial Dutch periods, providing that warm, old feeling of vibrant history in its midst. The one-hundred-forty-meter towers of the National Monument that soars high above Merdeka Square, crowned with pure gold plated “flame”, brings out an astonishing “spark”.
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Gathering an excellent ethnological collection including pre-Hindu era statues can be found inside the Central Museum of Jakarta. Another attraction worth visiting in this capital of Indonesia is the Portuguese Church, which was completed in 1695 by the Dutch, and houses an immense and splendid Dutch pump organ. The city of Jakarta also takes pride in its Istiqlal Mosque found at the city’s center, and is one of the world’s largest mosques.
Travelers interested in doing a little shopping will find Jalan Surabaya a haven for antiques, as well as Karet where batik factories gather. All through the island, tourists can witness great performances of staged puppet shows that portrays the traditional wayang kulit and wayang golak marionettes act which are Indonesian stories based famous legends; these performances may sometimes last all through the night.
Being the political and economical capital of Indonesia, the city of Jakarta draws a lot of foreigners and domestic immigrants, resulting to the place having a diverse culture and cosmopolitan flavor. It is also the abode of a lot of universities providing education to the largest student number from different parts of Indonesia teaching everything like computer skills and Mandarin, as well as catering to students from primary school to high school levels.
This capital of Indonesia is served by Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and offers several of the more convenient accommodations for tourists, with the abundance of hotels to suit every budget, as well as a vast selection of shopping malls, brothels and bars, and restaurants. Its public transport is also excellently-catered by Gambir railway station and busway (north to south) that runs along Thamrin Road, as well as plentiful and cheap taxis.
Jakarta is one of the most fascinating and exciting places to visit for travelers looking to visit Southeast Asia. Not to mention that Indonesia itself is the world’s biggest archipelagic nation.
Christmas in Indonesia
Celebrating Christmas in Indonesia might not be as western and there’s never a white Christmas in this country being in a tropical climate. However, you can transform your Christmas the way indonesians’ celebrate them. Yes, they do celebrate Christmas despite the predominant Moslem culture and traditions. While advent is not observed in the mosques or Christian churches, the holiday is a time where people prepare activities for the Christmas day.
These activities are typical in the Batak region in the northern part of Sumatra:
The holiday season unites all Christians where Christmas ceremonies are observed in their respective villages whether in churches or in open stages. A reenactment of the nativity is often demonstrated together with Christmas songs, Bible reading in many languages, and savoring the delectable Christmas cakes. The cakes may be homemade or bought from stores.
Within churches, special Christmas programs are held and participated by numerous individuals like the youth, mothers, fathers, Sunday school children, and members of Church councils. These activities happen every night for a week before the 24th of December. Then, at the week’s end a party is thrown and meals (usually rice and pork called “sangsang”) are served in the churches.
Christmas in Indonesia is also a time for heightened alert by the police force in the urban areas due to the successive attacks of the Muslim extremists Jemaah Islamiyah during the Christmas season. Terroristic attacks has been waged began since December 2000 where the group greeted Christmas Eve with coordinated blasts. In 2002, two nightclub bombings shook Bali Island. The J.W. Marriot Hotel was attacked in 2003. The Australian Embassy also suffered a tragic fate when it was bombed in 2004 while the attacks in Bali returned in 2005, which hit a restaurant.
Christmas in Indonesia is celebrated in most of the islands in the archipelago, although lacking in western aspects. Still, most westerners especially the expatriates manage to pull through the season with as much delight and with less commercialization. You can still enjoy your Christmas trees using plastic versions available in major western shopping centers or opt for tropical pines.
And Christmas in Indonesia would not be complete without the turkey. That’s right. Turkeys are sold in western stores although you might need to jump to about four stores to get all the ingredients needed since it’s seldom for one store to have them all so skip the last minute shopping and get things ready ahead. It’s a great experience to spend a tropical Christmas in Indonesia. You just need to stretch you imagination and go surfing instead of skiing.
Clothing in Indonesia: What to Wear
Indonesia is located in Southeast Asian region and is the world’s largest archipelago. The nation is predominantly a Moslem country and much of the Muslim culture is well preserved especially in the rural areas. The tropical climate requires light clothing in Indonesia but it is customary for Muslim women to wear robes on their head especially when entering mosques.
Light fabrics are advised to protect visitors from the warm, humid climate. In non-formal occasions or when answering official calls, jackets or long-sleeve batik shirts may be worn for men. Clothing in Indonesia can be as diverse as its culture. While you need to be wearing light clothes in urban areas, light jackets or sweaters are recommended in mountainous areas.
Although clothing in Indonesia may be considered conservative, the beaches are an exception. Beachwears are allowed in beaches although Muslim women may still stay in their traditional clothing. Women are not allowed to flaunt their shoulders, arms, necks, and legs in mosques, temples, and other places of worship, which are considered inappropriate and disrespectful.
Traditional clothing in Indonesia consists of the sarongs paired with a “kebaya” for women (kebaya is a tight, long-sleeved blouse, which is low cut) on formal occasions. Women’s hair may be tied up to a bun or attached with a fake hairpiece. Women in rural areas often wear sarongs; rarely do they wear shorts or jeans, and go on barefoot. They carry their babies in a long cloth wrapped down from their shoulders.
Visitors, however, can simply be themselves and wear comfortable clothing so long as they are decent. Most clothing in Indonesia adopts the western style of clothing like the shirt and jeans and some from well-off families can be as glamorous.
The famous traditional clothing in Indonesia is the batik – a dyed cloth that features ethnic designs. It has become an industry over the years and is a source of income for local especially in the rural areas. The locals prepare a white cloth and sketches ethnic designs using wax. When the wax has dried, they dip the cloth in dye. The wax is then removed and print is outlined from it.
The country’s urban hubs have supermarkets, department stores, and large shopping centers where you can shop for clothing in Indonesia, however, if you want to find bigger bargains, you can browse for souvenirs and other stuffs in local markets and shops clustering in the peripheries. You must be careful not to bargain if you don’t intend to buy the item as you could end up upsetting the stall owner.
Clothing Worn in Indonesia
The fact that Indonesia is comprised of thousands of islands has greatly influenced the diverse styles and established clothing worn in Indonesia. Every regional area represents their own customs with their own traditional clothing. Generally however, the country has been modernized and most people wear clothes similar to that of the Western style of dressing.
In a lot of the country’s rural areas and on special occasions, Indonesians wear their customary dresses. Batik is considered formal clothing in Indonesia, and usually comes in magnificent colors and fabrics, some even elaborated with trimmed gold threads, depending on which part of the country it comes from.
Clothing worn in Indonesia for professionally working men, is generally suits and ties, however most men don’t wear ties and just go with regular shirts and pants, particularly jeans for informal events. For women, dress is generally the clothing worn in Indonesia, even in severe hot weathers; on festivities and special events, women wear colorful and brilliant traditional dresses complete with headscarves, as well as on particular occasions women even cover their faces with only the eyes seen through the fabric in some regions of the country.
Indonesia’s climate is normally hot, so the majority of clothing worn in Indonesia are loose, like the wrap-around sarong-style skirts matched with light-fabric shirts; the fabric is sometimes decorated with embroidery. On casual settings like Friday prayers and relaxing at home, tubular sarongs of soft cotton fabric are a favorite choice of Indonesians; soft floral patterns are often the preference of women, while men like them in plaid patterns.
Tubular sarong clothing in Indonesia is usually worn by older women, while the younger ones fancy the more gratifying fit of tightly-wrapped kain panjang (a long cloth about two to two-and-a-half meter). Central Javanese such as Yogyakarta and Solo are famous for their elaborate kain panjang in exquisite fabric, worn by women and men swathed tightly around hips and waist, with little pleats made with loose front end of the cloth that falls straight in front.
Another type of clothing worn in Places in Indonesia that is often seen on particular events is the short jacket that frequently has gold trims and buttons worn by men; the women on the other hand, wear kebaya or a cotton blouse that varies in style, some are gauze-fine with remarkable embroidery, and some are the heavier ones with its lacy cutouts.
Clothing worn in Indonesia is as historic as its country; Indonesians have represented their customs and the self-importance of its tribes through the preservation of their traditional clothing. Indonesia may have taken a grasp of the modern world in recent years, but its customary clothing has been a part of every family’s asset and pride.