Belitung is an Beautiful Island in South East Asia

Belitung is an Island in South East Asia, a part of Nation archipelago. Belitung is ruled by Indonesia since 1950 and became a district of South Sumatra province. On November 21st, 2000, Belitung and Bangka Island has been approved to become the 31st province of Indonesia separated from South Sumatra. This new province is called ‘Kepulauan Bangka Belitung’ province. This Island is placed at 107o 35' - 108o 18' Latitude and 2o 30' - 3o 15' Longitude.

The length of the diameter from East to West is about 79 km and North to South about 77 km. The total land is 480.060 hectares with 189 small islands surround Belitung. Some of them are quite big with a couple of villages. They are Mendanau Island, Seliu Island, Nadu Island and Batu Dinding Island. Most of Belitung population is come of Melayu ethnic and most of them are Moslem. There are some other ethnics likes Chinese, Javanese, Balinese and some people from Sumatra like Palembang, Minang and Batak. Belitung regency consists of 9 districts and 69 villages. The capital of Belitung is Tanjungpandan, which stay at North West of this Island. The other large towns are Manggar, Gantung, Kelapa Kampit and Sijuk. The main resources, which also become the main product of Belitung Island, are tin mining, kaolin, quartz sands, and granite rock. The plantation are mainly palm oil, pepper, coconut, coffee, natural rubber, and vegetable.

If seen from its tourism sector, Belitung is an island with beautiful beaches, the unique landscape with its purely white sand, and the crystal clear seawater. Belitung is also popular with its granite boulder white stones beach in Tanjung Tinggi, Tanjung Kelayang, Tanjung Binga dan Lengkuas Island. This beautiful nature is also accompanied by hundreds of small islands, which add the beautiful tourism area in Belitung Island. Belitung Island is one of the best and unique beaches own in Indonesia.

Geographically
North coast of the island is South China Sea, Java Sea on the South coast, Kari Mata strait on the East close to Borneo Island and Gaspar strait on the West close to Bangka island. The land is about 4833 square km, 89 km long (East to West) and 69 km wide (North to South) with diversified terrain, hilly areas and extensive tracks of marshland. The climate is tropical, temperature around 27 - 31 C degree during the day and 23 - 25 C degree during the night. There only 2 season a year, rainy season (120mm) from October to April and hot season during April to October. The highest land is Tajam Mountain, only 500m above the sea. The others are just a hill likes Burung Mandi, Kubing, Kik Karak, Peramun, Selumar, Guda, ect.
The land surface is originally tropical forest, but since the development palm oil industry in 1992 more than 40% of the surface are palm oil plantation.

Minister: 100-day program almost completely ready

The government`s first 100-day program in the economic field is running smoothly and almost 100 percent accomplished, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here on Tuesday.

"No hindrances at all in the process of the program and therefore it is almost 100 percent realized," Hatta Rajasa said after a coordination meeting at his office.

But according to Hatta, the problem was that a lot of infrastructure programs were not in accordance with the site plans and forestry regulations.

Therefore, he said, the government would try to complete the revision of two presidential decrees to overcome the problem, namely the presidential decrees on government partnership with private parties, on land provision.

"With those two decrees, development will be managed in ways that accord with the site plans and do not damage forests," Hatta said, adding that if a forest area had to be developed, there would be a good way out.

He said that based on the revised Presidential Decree on land provision, a forest area could be converted into land for other purposes if the compensation was twice as much as the amount of the forest area concerned.


source :
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1263290112/minister-100-day-program-almost-completely-ready
http://www.vhrmedia.com/2008/ngadimin/dir_upload/images/Foto%20Yudhoyono%20Pidato-Setneg.jpg

Alert Escalation of Earthquake Frequencies in Indonesia

The frequency of earthquakes across the nation is drastically increasing in the last five years. This condition could be a sign of a greater quake in the future.

"This is noticeable especially after the tsunami quake in Aceh. After 2004, the big quakes seem to be recurring," said Professor Sri Widiyantoro, seismologist from the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Sri stated that between 1664 and 2005, 30,393 earthquakes have been reported across Indonesia. In the past there were at least 1,000 quakes, whether minor, medium, or major scale in the nation. But, since 2005 the frequency has more than doubled."

"In 2005, 2,527 earthquakes have been reported. Almost everyday there is at least two to three quakes in various parts of Indonesia."

The earthquake in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam in 2004 is believed to have indirectly triggered a movement along the subduction zone of the Indoaustralia and Eurasia tectonic plates on the coast of Sumatera. The quake has also triggered movement on the active fracture segments along Sumatera.

"Although the frequency of the quakes could also have a positive sign, meaning that the energy is being released slowly. But, Sri has advises the people to beware the potential major earthquake around Mentawai. The Mentawai segment hasn't broken yet. It's been spared so far."

His statement is supported by the data from Professor Jim Mori, the seismologist from the University of Kyoto, Japan, which states that the Aceh quake in 2004 is the biggest in the last fifty years and has caused much movement in the Aceh and Mentawai subduction zone, and the movement is even spreading to the north of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.


source :
http://english.kompas.com/read/2010/01/12/20295145/Alert.Escalation.of.Earthquake.Frequencies.in.Indonesia

Free trade to affect Indonesian industries

University of Indonesia (UI) economic analyst Ninasapti Triaswasti said the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) effective January 1,2010 would affect certain industrial sectors in Indonesia.

"Certain industrial sectors such as garments and footwear industries are likely to be affected by the free trade area," she said in a discussion on the fate of local industries in the face of the ACFTA system here over the weekend.

She said available data showed that over the past five years. industrial product exports had continued to decline and the implementation of the ACFTA would affect industries and workers.

After all, garment and footwear industries were labor-intensive industries which provided jobs for and improved the welfare of a large number of workers.

With the ACFTA, Chinese products, which are cheaper, would flood Indonesia`s domestic market. "The influx of Chinese products could threaten local industries whose products are more expensive," she said.

She said the government could take precautionary steps such as delaying the implementation of the free trade for certain industrial products which were not yet ready to compete.

The economic analyst said that the Indonesian government signed the ACFTA agreement in 2002 but it had not prepared the domestic industries to face it.



Source :
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1263219156/free-trade-to-affect-indonesian-industries
http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/cartoons/new/2002-11-16%20Free%20trade%20agriculture%20subsidies%20WTO%20protest%201m.JPG

Semar: People of the Javanese Wayang

Village Chief Badranaya Kyai Semar is the name of the main character in panakawan Javanese and Sundanese wayang. This figure is reported as a caretaker and advisor of the knights in the play stories Mahabharata and Ramayana. Of course, Semar's name was not found in the original manuscript is both epic Sanskrit language, because this is a genuine character of the poet's creation of Java.

History Semar

According to the historian, Prof.. Dr. Slamet Muljana, Semar figure was first found in literary works titled Majapahit era Sudamala. In addition in the form Kakawin, Sudamala story also carved reliefs in the temple as a numbered years Sukuh 1439.

Semar is reported as a servant or servants of the story the main character, namely Sahadewa of the Pandavas. Of course, Semar role not only as followers, but also as a hurler of humor to defuse a tense atmosphere.

In the next era, when the Islamic kingdoms developed in Java, wayang was used as a propaganda medium. The stories are still performed around the Mahabharata who was already strong in the memory embedded Java community. One well-known scholars as cultural experts, such as Sunan Kalijaga. In the puppet play, a character Semar still maintained its existence, even more active role than in Sudamala story.

In a further development, increasing the degree of Semar again. Javanese poets in the literary works they told Semar is not just ordinary commoners, Batara melaikan Ismaya embodiment, brother of Guru, the king of the gods.


The Origin and Birth

Semar painting style Surakarta.Terdapat several versions of the birth or origin of Semar. But all this character called the embodiment of god.

Fiber in the script narrated Kanda, celestial ruler named Trance Nurrasa has two sons named Trance Trance singles and authorities. Because Trance Singles ugly, it also inherited the throne of heaven to Trance authorities. From Trance authorities then passed to his son named Guru Yeng. Trance singles later became caretaker of the descendants of Guru knights, with the name of Semar.

Physical form Semar

Semar has a physical form which is very unique, as if he is a symbol of the universe depictions.His round was a symbol of the earth, where humanity and other creatures.

Semar is always smiling, but the puffy-eyed. This representation as a symbol of joy and sorrow.His face was old but stylish haircut tuft like a child, as a symbol of old and young. She male pairs, but had breasts like a woman, as a symbol of men and women. He is the incarnation of a god but to live as the commoners, as a symbol of superiors and subordinates.


Privileges Semar

Semar is a character puppet creations of local poets. Despite its status only as a servant, but parallel to King keluhurannya Krishna in the Mahabharata story. If the war Baratayuda according to the original version, the adviser to the Pandavas Krishna only one, then the puppet, the number increased to two, and the other is Semar.

Semar in literature is shown only as a descendant of Resi Manumanasa caregivers, especially the Pandavas who are the main characters story of the Mahabharata. But in staging the Ramayana themed puppet, the puppeteer is also used to display the Semar as a family caregiver or Sugriwa Sri Rama. As if Semar always appear in every performance puppets, no matter what the title was told.

In wayang, Semar act as caretakers knight class, while Togog as caretakers of the giant. Can certainly foster children can overcome Semar always Togog foster care. This is actually a mere symbol. Semar is a picture of the little people mix and celestial gods. So, if the government - which is symbolized as the knight farm Semar - listening to the little people who like the voice of God, then the state would lead to superior nagara and prosperous.




source :
http://my.opera.com/ndok%20sawah/blog/semar-dalam-pewayangan-jawa

Serabi Imut from Bandung

Serabi is one of the snack or snack market from Indonesia. Similar to the pancake griddle (Pannekoek or pannenkoek) but made from rice flour (not white flour) and given a sweet liquid sauce (usually from sugar palm). pancake is also very easy to make.

In addition to easily make, pancake sold everywhere. One of Serabi Imut shop located Setiabudhi Road 194 (across the street from Uneh dinner. there are many more shops other pancake: Beta Surabi and Surabi NHI (enhai) also sells the same snacks.

Linggardjati Building

Linggardjati building is the ancient home of Dutch-style buildings in the past that was in the Village Linggarjati, Cilimus district, Kuningan District. This building became the negotiations between the Netherlands and Indonesia on 10-15 November 1946.

The building of this size Text Linggadjati 800m2, standing on a land area of 2.4 hectares. A third wall was composed of stone, and whitewashed walls remaining. This building consists of six rooms for the members of the negotiating delegation, one room for a mediator, a dining room, two reception room, three bathrooms and kitchens. In every room there are two beds, chairs, and cabinets. Almost all the furniture in the building unless it is a replica of a piano and four chairs in the dining room. Some of the pristine antiquity is the floor in the main room with several windows and doors.