Bledug Kuwu

Bledug Kuwu is one of tourist attractions in Wirosari area in Grobogan Region, Purwodadi, Central Java. Bledug Kuwu is a local name for something that burst in pool. This is rather strange pool that far from volcano. The vapor burst came from carbon dioxide release. The temperature is mild. Visitors might experience a stunning natural occurrence of small, frequent bursts from mud crate with a sound resembling a mount eruption. This natural phenomenon is resulted from geothermal motion inside the earth bed. Witness said that a big burst could even create small quakes that quiver the area.

Bledug Kuwu looks like just another muddy pond. But every one or two minutes, the placid water erupts in an explosion of mud, followed by a plume of white steam. The pond is located just off the alternative road connecting Purwodadi and Cepu in Central Java, on a site measuring some 4.5 hectares. Bledug Kuwu has become a tourist attraction in the area. The visitors can watch the geyser from a distance of between 10 meters and 20 meters. The eruptions of water and mud shift positions from time to time. But there are two spots where the geyser regularly erupts. The locals call the one in the east Mbah (Grandpa) Jokotua and the one in the west Mbah (Grandma) Rodenok. They have given the spots where the geyser erupts names, as they believe that the place is sacred.

Batik Course, Learning deeply the Culture of Hand-made Batik to Batik Painting

Visiting Yogyakarta, you may not just buy and enjoy the marvelous batik artwork, but you have the opportunity to learn the technique of its production. The valuable opportunity packed in an interesting tour package with quite short duration and affordable cost will surely be fun.

Batik patterns you can learn involve hand-made batik, printed batik and painted batik. Each place usually has its special batik pattern to teach. For one day course, it is usually divided into two sessions; you will learn all processes of batik making that generally consist of pattern making, cloth coloring, wax dying and drying.

The process of pattern making starts when all materials, especially the cloth are ready. The making of this pattern is done with wax as the main material that is used to block color. If you want to make hand-made batik, the pattern making is done by using the wax pen called canting while printed batik is made by utilizing a prepared copper stamp with certain design.

You are free to choose the pattern you are going to make. Unique patterns you can make are, for example, ceplok, cecek sawut, and semen. You can find all of the patterns in historical buildings in Indonesia. Ceplok pattern can be found in Borobudur Temple; cecek sawut in a copper drum in Copper Time while semen pattern can be found in the tomb of Kalinyamat Queen.

The process is continued by coloring the cloth. The cloth with pattern on it is dipped into a bucket filled with coloring agent. This process seems simple, but actually it is difficult, moreover if batik must be colored more than two. Many batik artisans still use natural colors made from certain natural materials, but there are many who use synthetic coloring agents.

After coloring thoroughly, the process is continued by dying the wax, or removing the wax attaching to the cloth. Initially, prepare the boiling water mixed with soda ash and finally the cloth is dipped to remove the entire wax. If there is still wax attached, it must be cleaned after the dying process.

The final step is washing. When using natural coloring agent, the washing cannot be done by using detergent that will damage the color. After being washed, the cloth is dried under indirect sun to avoid discoloring. After this drying process, you can see the difference of batik colored with natural coloring agent; the color is usually less bright.

Batik courses in Yogyakarta provide professional instructors to make you competent even though with short course only. Some places also have instructors speaking foreign languages, especially English, to ease you understand the lesson.

One of the places providing batik course is Sanggar Kalpika in Kampung Taman, at the west of Tamansari. There, you can learn painted batik. If you prefer to learn hand-made and printed batik, Balai Batik is the right place. The institution that is located on Jalan Kusumanegara provides special staff and room for you to learn batik. The cost ranges from IDR 250,000 to IDR 1,500,000 based on the course types.

In addition to learning batik, you can also enjoy the activity and the works of batik artisans in Kampung Taman that 30 years ago has been developing painted batik. You can also see various batik styles exhibited in Balai Batik.

Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Artistic: Agung Sulistiono Mabruron
Copyright © 2007 YogYES.COM

Wayang Kulit, Mahakarya Art Java

Night in Yogyakarta will feel if you live with a view melewatkannya shadowgraph. Gamelan rhythm that smart harmonize with the tuneful voice sinden will not let you fall in drowsiness. Stories that will be the mastermind bring your late entry seems to be joining one of the leaders who were in the story. You will immediately realize how agungnya Javanese culture in the past.

Wayang kulit is performance art that has been aged more than half a millennium. Have distinctive stories appear, related to the inclusion of Islamic Java. One member of the Wali Songo created adopting Wayang Beber developing heyday in the Hindu-Buddhist. Adoption was done because the puppet with the sticky terlanjur Java so that the appropriate media to be propaganda for the spread of Islam, while Islam forbids the form of art. Consequently, leather puppet created where people can only see shadows.

The shadowgraph played by a presumably be called the public reassurance in the world. How do I not, during the whole night, the mastermind actors play all the characters which is a leather puppet doll buffalo leather decorated with motifs of the painting tatah (carved skin). He must change the character voice, intonation changed, removing the guyonan and even sing. For the atmosphere, puppeteer, aided by musicians who play the gamelan and sinden who sing songs Java.

Figures in the whole amounted to hundreds of puppets. Dummy that are not played in a bar placed in the banana near the puppeteer. When played, the man will appear as shadows on the white screen on the front of the puppeteer. Shadows can be created for each puppet show using the oil lamps as lighting that helps reflection dummy that are played.

Each Pagelaran puppet story or present a different story. Variety story divided into 4 categories namely grip act, act carangan, composition and story-length story. Story has a grip of the whole story comes in the library while the puppet carangan only act on the size of the library comes to the puppet. Story composition does not come on but the story pewayangan places on the library puppet, while the full-length story of a freelance.

Puppet story brought in some old books such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, the King Library Purwa and Purwakanda. Now, there are also books that act of composition and composition for hundreds of years people have been honored Abimanyu kerem, Doraweca, Suryatmaja Maling, and so forth. Among all the old book that is used, the Book Purwakanda is the most frequently used by the puppeteer-manipulator of Sultan's Palace. The shadow play begins when the mastermind has issued gunungan. The puppet for the night a whole style of Yogyakarta is divided into 3 innings with a 7 jejeran (the scene) and 7 scenes of war. The first phase, called pathet Lasem, have a 2 and 3 jejeran scenes that accompanied the war-gending gending pathet Lasem. Pathet Sanga into the second round has 2 jejeran scenes of war and 2, while the Pathet Manura into the third round has 2 and 3 scenes jejeran war. One of the most dinanti a lot of people on every The puppet is a natural phenomenon that provides guyonan-guyonan typical Java.

Sasono Hinggil located in the north-alun Alun South is a place that most often the event staging puppet whole night, usually held every second and fourth sunday start at 21.00 pm. Other places is Bangsal Sri Maganti, located in the Sultan's Palace. Wayang Kulit in the ward are dipentaskan for 2 hours starting at 10:00 WIB every Saturday with a ticket Rp 5000.00.

Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM

Kasongan, hunt Ceramics in Kundi Settlements

In the Dutch colonial period, in an area south of Yogyakarta events that have occurred surprising even intimidating the local people with finding a horse owned by Dutch detective who died on the field of land owned by a citizen. Because of fear of punishment, release of these rights does not recognize the land and the land again. This is followed by other citizens. Land that has been removed very day finally recognized by the other villagers. As a result of the land does not have a rice field, the local people eventually choose to be of ceramics and toys to kitchen utensils until now. This is revealed in the interview Prof. Dkk Gustami with local elders in the 1980s.

Areas that we know the name Kasongan to this day. A village in Padukuhan Kajen located in the lower mountain gamping landed. Distance of 15-20 minutes drive from the city center.

Kasongan village is a residential area of the kundi, which means that the pitcher or gundi (people who make a kind of pitcher, gendi, frying pan and other kitchen items that are also decorative items).

"As the ancestor of the daily mengempal-ngempal land that was not broken when incorporated, and began to form into different shapes, functions tend to be toys or consumer goods kitchen. Finally habits revealed that up to the next generation starts now" said Pak Giman, one of the workers in the studio Blonyo Loro.

Kasongan visit to the village, tourists will be greeted with a warm welcome by local residents. Just to see Pajang space or the exhibition hall filled with a variety of ceramics. And if interested to see the making of ceramics, tourists can visit some of the ceramics gallery directly produce handicrafts typical of the place. Start from the mill, the establishment of the perbot, drying the product usually takes 2-4 days. Products that have been dried and then burned it, before eventually finishing in the paint or paint the wall tile.

Working collectively, the gallery is usually a family business from generation to generation. Although it is the making of ceramics involving residential neighborhood around the gallery owner, but the family still responsible for the selection and supervision of production.
A touch of Modern Design

Initially, this craft did not have color at all. But a legend dead horse of the Conference was to display the horse motif on many products, especially the horse transporter gerabah or eccentric with a basket placed on the horse, other than the motif frog, cock and elephant.

Along with the development, with the inclusion of the influence of modern culture and the outside through various media, after the first time introduced by the Kasongan Sapto Hudoyo around 1971-1972 with a touch of artistic and commercial and large-scale dikomersilkan Sahid Ceramics by around 1980, now tourists can see various patterns on the various ceramics. Even tourists can order the types of motifs such as the desire bird peacock, dragon, rose and many other. Type own production include many species. No longer berkutat on children's toys (musical instrument, frogs, savings) and the kitchen needs only (skillet, pengaron, kendil, cormorant, and other kekep). Entering the gate Kasongan, will be ceramics galleries along the shoulder of the road selling various decorative items. Form and function has been diverse, ranging from small cigarette ashtray or vase that reach shoulder height adults. Decorative items are not only have the function, but also goods that are only just become a display.
Sculptures Ceramics Blonyo Loro

One of the ceramic display is famous enough that a pair of statues that are sitting politely. This pair of statues known as Loro Blonyo the first created by the studio owned by Loro Blonyo Walujo pack. This statue was adopted from a pair of statues belonging to the Sultan's Palace. The implication, and Loro means a pair or two, while Blonyo means dirias procession through bathing and didandani. "However, the actual meaning of Loro Blonyo still a question of the workers in Kasongan" said Pak Giman.

There is a statue of Loro Blonyo trust will bring luck and to make life eternal home when placed in the home, according to the discussion on YogYES Pak Giman, thus bringing a positive influence on the sale of this pair of ceramic sculpture. While some foreign tourists who love the country shapes, special order with various forms such as dancers, guitarist, pragawati and others. Clothes are no longer using the grip, and in addition to adopting specific clothing some countries, most wearing motif Bali and Thailand. Some of the ceramics galleries are now selling this unique pair of statues that are still produced with some form of different.
Tourism Village

Since the end of the 20th century, after the Indonesian crisis, now in Kasongan tourists can see a variety of products than gerabah. Entry of immigrants who opened galleries in Kasongan is one of influence. Products that are sold are also included local handicrafts such as coconut wood crafts, plants, crafts or crafts that dried oysters. "The name itukan the flow of business and development, opportunities to see that there is" said Pak Giman. Akan gerabah craft but still a major milestone livelihoods of local people. "I bakatnya, does not have the ability lagian others. Lha wong our most senior secondary education level, some itupun" he added.

Ceramics with various shapes and patterns of modern and even artistic, and many other crafts as additional attraction is Kasongan at this time. A story full of tourist attractions and beautiful item of expertise of the local beat clay.

Two months after the earthquake, now in Kasongan many galleries that have been active again, although some are still in the stage of development back. So far no visible signs of more concern from the owners and workers. Local residents hope that tourists will return as the Kasongan time before the earthquake. (YogYES.COM: R. Syah)

Yogyakarta Sultan Palace

Stretching as Tugu boundary between north and Krapyak Stage boundaries in the south, between Code River in the east and the west Winongo River. Between Mount Merapi and the South Sea, Palace in the public mind, and defined as the center of the world described as the central Jagad.

History Sultan Palace
After Giyanti Agreement, Prince Mangkubumi given the Yogyakarta area. To run the government, Prince Mangkubumi build a palace in the year 1755 in the area of Forest Beringan. This land is considered good enough because diapit two rivers, so protected from the possibility of flooding. The first king is in the Sultanate of Yogyakarta Mangkubumi with the title Prince Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (HB I).

Naming and Meaning Layouts
Karaton, palace or the Palace, the word comes from the queen-ka-an, which means a place to live the queen / king. Are broader sense, explained in simple, that the entire structure and building area Palace expressive view of life associated with the Java essensial, namely Sangkan Paraning Dumadi (from which the human origin and where the man died after).

The size of the region aft Palace 5 km to the south to Krapyak and 2 km to the north end of Tugu. On this line there is a duality linier the upside, so it can be read in symbolic philosophical. From south to north, as the birth place of humans to high perishable nature, and vice versa as the return man to the side Dumadi (God in the Java). While the Palace as the king as a physical symbol of the soul that is present in the physical body.

Palace to the Tugu also meant as a way of life full of temptations. Market Beringharjo the temptations of women. While the temptations of power will be represented through the building Kepatihan. Both located on the right. Straight road itself as lambing people close to the Creator (Sankan Paraning Dumadi).

The simple, Tugu symbolism Lingga (male) and Krapyak as Yoni (women). Palace as a physical and that came from both.

Meaning Spatial Sultan Palace
Diguncang years after the earthquake in 1867, Palace were damaged heavily. HB VII during the year 1889, the building is restored. Although the administration is still lying, but the building was changed, as seen now

Tugu and Bangsal Manguntur Tangkil or Bangsal Kencana (the king's throne), located in a straight line, this means, when the Sultan singgasananya to sit in and look to the Tugu, then he will always remember the people (manunggaling subject gusti).

Palace order the same as Dynasty Mataram Palace in general. Bangsal Kencana king who ruled the place, integrates with Bangsal Prabayeksa as a place to store weapons inheritance Palace (in this room, there is a light oil Kyai Wiji, who always kept dalem servant not to go out), functioning as the center. Bangsal is dilingkupi by the Kedhaton, so to reach the center, must go through a page that flake-like series of bewa (waves) on the sea.

Order spatial Palace this constellation is very similar to the mountains and plains Cashew Dwipa, who is seen as a continent center Jagad highway.

From north to south Palace area in succession there Alun-Alun Utara, Siti Hinggil North, North Kemandhungan, Srimanganti, Kedhaton, Kemagangan, South Kemandhungan, Siti Hinggil South and South-Alun Alun (the high walls that protected).

Meanwhile, the door must pass to get to each of the nine, called Regol. From the north gate there, pangurukan, tarub agung, brajanala, srimanganti, kemagangan, gadhung Mlati, kemandhungan and ivory.

Brongtodiningrat consider this important number, as the number that describes the highest perfection. This is related to nine holes in human babahan commonly called hawa sanga.

Palace Kesakralan each building, indicated the frequency and intensity of activities on the Sultan of the place.

Alun-Alun, Pagelaran, and Siti Hinggil, in this place, only the Sultan to attend three times a year, that is, at the time Pisowan Ageng Grebeg Maulud, Sawal and Besar. And the opportunity that is a very special incidental eg penobatan at the time of Sultan and Penobatan son Crown Prince or Adipati Anom.

Sultan's Palace memanglah old building, once damaged and restored. View at a glance, such as building Kraton general. But when we go deep into Sultan's Palace, which is the largest and beautiful example of a symbolic meaning, a philosophy of life, the fact a man, how nature works and human life and the existence of various hidden symbolism in it. (YogYES.COM)

Author: R. Syah
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM

Ngasem, Bird Market in Yogyakarta

To the road to market can be Ngasem after having visited the Sultan's Palace. In addition to the location that is only 400 meters west of the Kraton, but also because this market will provide important information about what is considered prestigious in the kingdom first. After the horse as a means of transportation and the keris as a weapon, it is in third place as a measure of social status. Ngasem market offers a variety of birds with beautiful kenampakan and sound, and the activities of the pecintanya.

A form of photo evidence shows that the market Ngasem merchandise with the main form of bird has been there since 1809. Located not far from the Palace is that the noble easy access. Around 1960, the market is increasingly synonymous with birds after bird sellers from the market Beringharjo moved to this place. It is not surprising when many tourists call this market with the bird market trade area because of bird-third broad market.

Area of sale and purchase birds found with the turn to the left of the entrance. Bird turtledove the first demand of the noble purchased up to now still be one of the main commodity market. Another type of demand is Kutilang, kepodang, emprit, prenjak, jalak, and parakeet. Birds are rarely bought, but quite interesting is the owl anakannya sold Rp 35.000, -. One of the birds even kiosks selling hawk who has now sold at Rp. 350.000, -. In addition to animals, birds kiosks also provide equipment maintenance, such as pens and feed.

Ngasem markets have different nuances with another bird market. In this market, visitors can not only enjoy the beauty of birds, but also show that was held by the bird lovers. For example, performance skills dove to fly back to the pen and voice compete sonority various birds. Of performance that have generally felt that prospective buyers interested and willing to pay and how much is the price. Sometimes the seller also would like to teach in order to train birds chirp or just chat about how to keep the birds.

If you want to get around, you will also know that not only Ngasem sell birds, but also other animals. Turn to the right area of the bird sales, traders and kiosks will be found snakes. According to the retailer, which snakes arrested dijualnya directly from their habitat. The type of snake from the sale of water to the cobra snake and Python. When you want to see, the seller will take peliharaannya so that buyers can see the details. In addition to snakes, the kiosks also sell a variety of reptiles such as turtle and Iguana. Iguana a small sale with the price of Rp 75,000 while the price has reached hundreds of thousands.

Toward the western part of the market, you will find shops that offer decorative fish. Species of fish and prices vary. A small ornamental fish like berkoloni with the sale price of Rp. 1000 per head. Ornamental fish that are sold Arwana lou han and sold for hundreds of thousands. Equipment maintenance is also a lot of fish sold. Start from the aquarium with a variety of forms, writing paper, ornamental plants for the aquarium, and feed the fish. Some of the kiosks also provide services to set up maintenance fish.

In addition to fish, birds, and snakes, pets for sale is another dog, cat, civet, various types of poultry to kelici with different colors. One of the kiosks also sell mencit with a set place peliharaannya designed so that the playing arena as buyers can enjoy the circus oddity mencit the withdrawal. In the middle of the market, there are traders who sell crickets. Usually, cricket lovers bought the birds to feed and school children who want to listen to his voice.

If you are tired or hungry, as other traditional markets, Ngasem also provide jajanan market. One is a typical jajanan Gempol porridge (made from orbicular based rice flour is combined with the savory taste of coconut milk sauce and palm sugar syrup is sweet), which penjualanya be found in the front of the market. Jajanan is getuk, lupis, thiwul, and gatot. In the kiosk vendor stalls are also available bird-eating stalls selling rice and soto rames. Crawl to Ngasem Market will be a fun course.

Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM

Angkringan Lik Man, Enjoy the Night in Yogyakarta with Kopi Joss

Did you a place where students in Yogyakarta, such as cyber community chatter and bloggers, journalists, artists, cultural, carpenters pedicab, higgler love to relax can talk? If you studied in Yogyakarta, where you first berembug with friends on the theme of the school essay or assignment? Among the places that you mentioned, certainly Angkringan Lik Man, located in the north of Tugu station to be one of them. Reasonable, because the place has become a favorite of many people.

YogYES invites you to enjoy the feel of Angkringan Lik Man who once felt by many people. You can walk to the north from the Malioboro Tugu station or to find a pathway to the west, then turn. You will find Angkringan is not far from the curve, precisely on the left side of the road. Characteristics, there are two baskets that are connected with bamboo charcoal brazier with a fervent, and the row of glass styled.

Angkringan Lik Man Angkringan is legendary, as is the next generation pedagangnya early Angkringan traders in Yogyakarta which is mostly derived from Klaten. Lik Man named Siswo Raharjo is a native son Mbah Pairo, traders in Yogyakarta Angkringan first since selling the 1950s. Public berkonsep Angkringan the first called 'ting ting hik' Lik bequeathed to the Man in 1969. Since then, menjamurlah Angkringan-Angkringan others.

So until Angkringan in the open at 18:00 this, you can order a variety of drinks are offered, and cold summer. Options favorite drink is Joss Coffee, coffee is served hot with charcoal given. Excess coffee is a low degree kafeinnya because dinetralisir by charcoal. No need only worry that myth, because Joss Coffee was born out of research mahasiwa Gadjah Mada University, who happens often in nongkrong Angkringan Lik Man.

Also provided a variety of food, have sego kucing berlauk oseng and sambal tempe teri to gorengan and misbegotten (sticky rice from the food taste delicious dipadatkan) fuel. Sego kucing Angkringan Lik Man in the price of Rp 1000.00 no less delicious cuisine with the other because pulen and oseng rice and sambal tempe terinya seasoned pas. Enjoying sego cat who is always presented in a warm side dish with gorengan or eggs than delicious sate also not deplete money.

If you see food in a cold, you can ask the seller to menghangatkannya way burned. Pauk a side dish to be more delicious when it is burned mendoan (fried flour tempe), know the fringe, where bacem, endas (the chicken) and, of course, misbegotten. If not convenient to eat with rice or wrap your food in the number of lots, the seller provides Angkringan to freshen up the dishes you eat.

You can choose where to sit in two places provided. If you want to talk with merchants, you can sit near the basket or brazier. In addition to telling stories with Lik Man, sitting near the basket will be easier if you want to add food. But if you'd like more berakraban with a friend, you can sit on the mats held lengthwise in the street pavement. No need to worry that not enough space for a long walk digelari mats almost 100 meters.

While seated, you are given the freedom to speak of any kind. People who frequently come to this Angkringan discuss various issues, ranging themes such as serious demostrasi plan and themes in the magazine edition of the student up to the light, such as where to vacation or just want to laugh not clear who is often called the gojeg beggar. There are no formal restrictions, but the obvious need to maintain cultural Angkringan, namely tepo sliro (tolerance), and a willingness to share biso rumongso (keep feelings of others). Can not mean the need to fight and respect the other people who sat near.

A number of esteemed leaders have made Angkringan Lik Man as a place to enjoy the night. There Butet Kertarajasa, Djaduk Ferianto, Emha Ainun Nadjib, Bondan Nusantara to Marwoto. So, you should not spend the night atmosphere of the city without a visit to Yogyakarta Angkringan Lik Man. Enjoy feel that enjoyed by many people of Yogyakarta and several leaders called on the top.

Script: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM