fashion and creative designs

The History of Jewelry

2010-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

Throughout human history irrespective of religion race or culture jewelry has existed as an integral form of expression, wealth and social status. While the materials and techniques used to manufacture jewelry have in many ways evolved there are also a number of similarities with the very first forms of jewelry worn some 90,000 years ago. During this time bead necklaces constructed from shells were strung together with twine most likely as charms. Necklaces constructed from the same components are still available today. While new trends such as dangle earrings and promise rings dominate today's jewelry fashions, bracelets first worn in 4700BC during the reign of King Zer were constructed from gold and manufactured in a style widely available today.

The function of jewelry has evolved and varied over time from a form of currency to a fashion accessory and form of artistic expression. Numerous cultures have utilized jewelry as a form of currency and continue to do so today. Royal jewels have been used to secure the wealth of counties and for many our precious metal and gemstone jewelry rank among as our most expensive assets. For as long as precious metal and gemstones have been used to create jewelry it has existed as a sign of wealth. Many forms of jewelry have their roots in function, pins, buckles and brooches were initially created to serve a specific function but later evolved into more decorative pieces eventually considered ornamentation and jewelry. Jewelry has also played an important part of religion denoting membership and status within the religion as well as various social groups.
Many consider the period of Egyptian jewelry as the dawning period for our modern form of jewelry. It was during this time that the manufacturing of jewelry became a profession and techniques and skills evolved to create a wide variety of styles and adornments. Jewelry craftsman began to utilize artistic skill and an increasingly wide variety of materials. While artistic skill was valued the primary purpose of jewelry was to act as amulets and talismans. Gemstone and metal color was of greater importance than any other attribute. Gold was used extensively but this is primarily because it was readily available and very easy to work with. Many expensive gemstones we consider precious today like diamonds were very rarely used simply because they did not exhibit the color or symbolism of other gemstones. Egyptian beliefs stipulated that every gemstone carried certain mystical powers which would be transferred to the owner when worn as jewelry. Symbols such as the sacred Egyptian scarab also formed an important part of jewelry and were also believed to carry certain powers.
Early Greek and Roman jewelry relied heavily upon trade with neighboring cultures and is therefore quite varied in style and construction. Cultural symbolism once again played an important part of jewelry during this period. Greek and Roman jewelry was often created to symbolize legends and gods and later popular cultural beliefs. During this time metal working techniques evolved and jewelry pieces became more intricate and delicate. These techniques resulted in the increased popularity of earrings and other pieces which required more delicate construction methods. Unlike other dominant cultures the Greek and Roman cultures did not ascribe to the belief that gemstones possessed certain mystical powers. For this reason stones metals are used as the predominant construction materials. This period is renowned for the creation of the cameo. The cameo is a piece of stone carved to create a portrait of a leader or god. This form of jewelry remains popular today and has enjoyed a number of resurgences throughout history. Initially Greek jewelry craftsman created highly detailed portraits of Alexander the Great. No other portraits were permitted by law until the later part of this period.
As the majority of world adopted Christianity cultural styles began to converge. Jewelry during this time was used primarily as a form of symbolizing Christian faith. During the early part of the middle ages Christian monasteries were responsible for producing the better part of the worlds jewelry. Early monasteries were required to learn trades in order to support themselves financially with many turning the jewelry craftsmanship. During this time the first independent jewelry guilds were created to both support jewelry craftsman and the industry by implementing practices such as quality inspections. The growing demands for jewelry and a booming population resulted in increasingly sophisticated forgeries which the guild recognized a threat to their boom trade. Celtic cultures in Ireland were not yet affected by the spread of Christianity and so a number of unique styles and manufacturing methods were developed during the time. Unlike Christian cultures of the time the Celts very rarely maintained any form of records and so little is known about the symbolism of the now wildly popular Celtic designs. Precious stones and metals were once again reserved for the wealthy and were even for lower classes during certain periods.
Commonly referred to as the “Jewel Age” jewelry began during the Renaissance to adopt a newfound purpose. Prior to this time jewelry served primarily as form of symbolism and wealth, forming an integral part of expressing religious and cultural beliefs. During Renaissance period the roles of jewelry began to diverge. Increasingly jewelry served the role of body adornment, created solely for the purpose of improving personal presentation and beauty. While jewelry was already seen as sign of wealth many now began to collect it solely for the purpose of protecting ones wealth. As a form of currency it was easily protected, easy to sell and universally valuable. Due to the focus on the role of jewelry in enhancing beauty gemstones were prized for attributes such as color, luster and shine over the previously held beliefs of mystical powers. For the first time in history the use of Diamond was popularized and a number of cutting methods and shapes were developed. Discoveries of new countries resulted in massive influx of previously scarce metals and gemstones. The majority of extravagant pieces we recognize today were commission by French and English royalty during this period.
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One step ahead

2009-07-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ketut Jaya Sugita: ONE STEP AHEAD
Success belongs to those who spot and seize the opportunities: This is the mantra of Ketut Jaya Sugita, who started a business making painted leather sandals in 2003. At that time, all of Bali was grieving from the devastating bombings in Kuta. As the tourist industry and associated businesses crumbled, workers found themselves unemployed.

“Many members of my family lost their jobs and it was difficult to find a new job. I felt pressure to help them,” says Ketut, who graduated from the Udayana University economics school. “I decided to resign from my job at a garment company owned by Americans.”

With start-up capital of Rp 50 million (US$4,800), he set about opening his own business, drawing on the skills of local people – artists and carpenters.

The opportunity, as he saw it, lay in the fashion world and every stylish outfit needed accessories to complete it – including sandals. Sandals were already available in all kinds of designs, with beads being trendy at the time. But one thing he noticed was that only the strap was ever decorated. As for the insole? As plain as ever.

“I wondered how to make sandals that looked beautiful while being worn and remain attractive even when they have been taken off,” he says. “The point was that the insole shouldn’t be left undecorated.”

He hurried to get advice from his former boss, who encouragingly said the idea was interesting and that fashion would always be popular.

“The fashion world will keep developing, particularly for women, so as long as I can offer a unique product that has quality and is suitable for the times, it will definitely attract people. That was the main thrust of our discussion,” says Ketut, a father of one who had long dreamed of running his own business.

He ordered a plain leather sandal and started experimenting, mixing suitable colors, painting and adding various decorations. Most important, he says, was making sure the sandals were comfortable.

At each stage of his R&D, he consulted his former boss and others with relevant experience.

When it seemed he had worked it out, Ketut made several pairs of sandals that he placed for sale in an art shop in Ubud.

“I waited anxiously. If they didn’t sell I thought I’d open a roadside stall while I looked for another opportunity.”

When all the sandals sold out, Ketut’s spirits soared. “My product was accepted in the market, and that was a gift from God. Frankly, at first I was pessimistic, because Bali was suffering … and many businesses had collapsed.”

With customer feedback, Ketut kept improving the quality of his products, including making sandals in larger European sizes. He employed a shoemaker to improve the quality and recruited his unemployed relatives to help.

Although his business was starting to look good by 2004, Ketut knew he wasn’t there yet, and some buyers weren’t satisfied. “There wasn’t a problem with the designs, but some buyers said the sandals weren’t comfortable.”

So he went to work to fix it.

“Quality became my main concern,” he says. “When the buyers felt the design was suitable and comfortable, and added that the product lasted a long time, then certainly the sandals would be promoted by word of mouth.”

In 2006, the Denpasar city government and the Bali provincial government invited him to take part in the PPE (Export Product Exhibition), an exhibition held regularly in Jakarta. The exhibition, he says, was effective, and brought him a number of local and overseas buyers. Orders were placed for the United States, Australia and Canada, and the number of orders has since grown.

In the same year, his sandals won second prize in the annual design competition held by the Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperation Ministry, an achievement that “was priceless and was a great motivation to keep working”.

The work paid off: His sandal design won first place in the same competition the following year.
WH Shoes sandals are continuing to find favor internationally, with almost 70 percent of his production volume sold overseas before the global financial crisis hit last year, he says. The crisis flipped things the other way.

“Now it’s the local market that absorbs 70 percent of my products,” he says. “Luckily, I never put off orders from domestic buyers. When the overseas sales became listless, the domestic market came to the rescue.”

A year ago Ketut’s business expanded into making leather bags and belts with matching colored motifs. He uses the leather scraps to make key rings.

To boost appreciation of his work and thwart would-be copiers, in 2006 Ketut registered a number of his designs with related institutions. But because it is expensive and time-consuming to register his designs in Indonesia, he asked some of his overseas buyers to arrange copyright in their countries.

“Overseas the process is easier and cheaper. It isn’t being done in my name or my company’s, but between myself and the other person, who has a special agreement. But I’ve only done this with one or two designs, just to see if it works.” Ketut’s next plan is to expand his business, mainly in a hope of being able to employ many more people. “To make a work of beauty, that is easy; selling out brings satisfaction,” he says. “But when I help people, the satisfaction is priceless.”

source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/10/ketut-jaya-sugita-one-step-ahead.html
Wasti Atmodjo , CONTRIBUTOR , DENPASAR | Fri, 07/10/2009 11:42 AM | People

British fashion makes bold moves in Jakarta

2009-03-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Source:Mariani Dewi , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Sun, 03/29/2009 3:29 PM | Lifestyle

Just as we were beginning to regret missing last month's well-reviewed London Fashion Week, some labels made a bold statement in Jakarta with loud prints and big stones at the Best of British Pops fashion show, at the Hotel Mulia Senayan last Thursday.

Rising designers Mary Katrantzou and Yuchi, as well as London's more established Todd Lynn, Abirato and Paris/London-based KTZ boutique, lined up to show their stuff.

Katrantzou caught fashion lovers' eyes in London for good reason. This Greek-born designer has given a new way of defining accessories; by using them in big prints on short silk dresses. Loud necklaces and oversize earrings breeze on these dresses - no longer hanging from necks and ears.

In simple cuts and mixed bright colors with gold and black, these dresses have an air of playful maturity.

Another young designer, Yuchi, also took our breath away with an unconventional treat: Animal prints.

Instead of the normal tiger or leopard pattern, Yuchi displays the head of a tiger; lets a wolf stare straight at you; and plays with flamingoes that dance across her loose silk dresses.

These prints are arranged in such a way as to give the illusion that the wearer has a thin figure - ideal female curves - that can be further accentuated with a big belt.

French label AB-irato also offered its trademark funky style. Designer duo Alexander Miel and Benjamin Moureau provoked fashionable people with daring designs. Tight short pants with big white stripes were playfully sexy without being too revealing. These were a good match with a hoodie top with a print of a female in a compromising pose.

Even a short playsuit that seems normal enough has a naked male body on it. Another wow is the nude-color tight pants with black lines that create the illusion of underpants worn on the outside.

KTZ, which stands for Kokon To Zai, has found another way to be loud - by mixing big colorful stones with black dresses and hip-hop style crop pants and jackets. The KTZ cap with stones arranged like a crown may be an irresistible lure for younger fashion lovers.

Cary Cheng, the retail consultant of Glamour Inc, said the economic downturn had not dampened the industry.

"The crisis started last year and people have had enough of it. People want to feel good, and the clothing depicts this kind of feeling," he said.

Glamour Inc is a London-Singapore-based company that promotes British designers for fashion lovers in the Southeast Asia region.

"Many people only focus on the big labels so many *other smaller ones* do not get as much attention. But they are as important as big labels too. Watch them to see what they come out with," said Cary, who handpicked the collection from fashion week.

Source:Mariani Dewi , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Sun, 03/29/2009 3:29 PM | Lifestyle

new breed of batik

2009-03-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

Fashion show exposes a new breed of batik

In general, traditional batik patterns usually bear indigenous flora and fauna or natural phenomenon. For example, in West Java's Cirebon batik, clouds are a common feature. Unlike other Indonesian batik patterns, the ones created by this Bandung-based artist have no rules.

She does not pick traditional batik patterns such as Sidomukti or Kawung, but rather takes contemporary shapes and patterns such as triangles, rectangles and cubes. Tetet plays with lines, shapes and spaces, as well as mixed colors on the silk fabric, with colors found in nature.

She has created more than 50 patterns, all taken from her paintings, including Setangkai Bunga Patah (A Broken Flower), Senja Di Kota Tua (An Evening in The Old Town), Bulan Kemarau (Drought Moon), Cahaya Jiwa (The Light of the Soul), Rinduku (My Longing), and Di Sudut Lorong Hati (On the Corner of my Heart).

While Tetet's paintings bear two general characters: Daily objects and emotional moods, the way she puts them into paintings is different as people can not trace the form of flower or old town in the paintings.

Take the example of Cahaya Jiwa's batik pattern. Expressing lights in its widest explanation, Tetet created new colors by mixing red, blue and yellow. As a result, the hues are quite unique.

She describes the batik as a reflection of the modern, dynamic and active characteristics of Bandung. Working on batik since 2007, Tetet has already patented her designs.

"I hope that the contemporary batik will give new vitality and stimulate the batik industry. I think people will like the colors, because not only do I create the bright colored batik but also the calm colored ones," she said.

She is also optimistic that her products will be able to make their mark amid the looming global financial crisis, as consumers turn to domestic products.

She explained that the batik process involves one-day of transferring the concept from paper to fabric and two-weeks of painting it on. The patterns are painted on 1.5-by-2-meter silk fabric.

Tetet's designs are applied to all kinds of apparel, from long scarf selendangs, to sarongs, skirts, shirts and evening dresses.

Producing her batik by employing local women, Tetet said that she can manufacture between 50 and 100 pieces of batik in one month. Each batik fabric is unique as she never reproduces the pattern in the same color.

While Tetet is relatively new to the batik industry, her products have already reached neighboring countries including Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. She plans to pursue other markets in Japan, Australia, the United States and European countries.

Also present during the fashion show was Ary Sudarsono, a sports presenter, who said that he was interested in promoting Tetet's batik because, as an Indonesian product, it has a unique style.
I'm interested in wearing this batik because I know it's one of its kind. Unlike traditional batik, the contemporary batik has the air of youth
Source: Tifa Asrianti , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Sun, 03/08/2009 12:45 PM | Lifestyle

Bali's creative industry yet to use technology

2009-03-07T17:37:00.001-08:00

Bali's creative industry might be the most developed in Indonesia, but still lags behind those of countries such as China, France and Singapore for not yet applying modern technology.

Our creative industry is peanuts because it still relies on cultural arts and crafts. The creative industry here has yet to create spectacular works based on modern technology.

The development of an industry based on creativity should be supported by skilled human resources, advanced technology and capital, in addition to socio-cultural factors.

A. Deni Daruri, president director of the Center for Banking Crisis, said had managed to stage spectacular shows in the air using advanced technology such as those showcased at the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Original Balinese remain true to their own

2009-02-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

Ketut Merta is an extraordinary man in his own right. It is not the color of his skin that sets him apart from other Balinese, but his lineage, revealed in his sturdy build and facial features.

He is a member of the Bali Aga clan that for centuries has been settled in remote Tenganan village in Karangasem regency, East Bali.

The clan, which currently consists of about 2,000 families, settled here long before most Hindu Balinese had crossed over from Java.

Since the 11th century, the Bali Aga, who claim to be the "original Balinese", have lived in this ancient village, making a living as farmers, traders, government clerks or - like Ketut Merta - selling their skills making engravings on lontar (dried palmyra leaves).

Tourists who choose to spend their holiday in Candidasa and its surrounding areas will be sure not to miss the chance to visit Tenganan and buy a bundle of lontar with their etchings of wayang figures.

Ketut Merta, one of those at work with a sharp cutting tool, says, "I have been doing this work for eight years, and am familiar with the Hindu legends as I have heard them told over and over again, since I was a child."

Tourists can place an order for a particular episode that tells of the struggle to uphold a given virtue or choose one from a collection. Those who decide to commission an episode must wait about two weeks for the order to be delivered, at a price of about Rp 400,000 (US$35).

It is easy to carry a bundle of lontar for they are held, like pages in a book, between a hard cover made of two flattened pieces of bamboo.

The final step in making the illustrated book from lontar leaves is to rub candle nut over the surface, to ensure they last.

Members of the Bali Aga clan are proud of their own cultural heritage with its roots in animism. Being a hospitable and tolerant people, they are open to new trends, such as those imported by the people who crossed from Java in the 17th century.

Although they have adopted some traits of the Hindu religion, they retain the specifics of their own original culture. They allow the women in their clan to marry outsiders from the Brahma, Ksatrya and Vaisya classes - whom they regard as achievers - but strongly discourage them from marrying a member of the lowest classes. Nevertheless, they strongly defend their egalitarian burial system.

Although they show some leniency in marriage arrangements, there is a clear preference for marriage among clan members. As Ketut Merta says, with conviction, "the tradition ensures harmonious relations in the family".

While acknowledging the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, they give prominence to Shiva and worship him under the name of Isywara.

And unlike the Hindu Balinese who cremate their dead, often after a lapse of time, members of the Bali Aga clan in Tenganan insist on burial within 12 hours of death.

Tenganan is known as the oldest Bali Aga village; similar groups in Trunyan may have different burial rites.

Through their shrewd and selective adoption of new trends, their culture and religion was able to carry them into the 21st century, ensuring they could prosper along with the majority of Hindu Balinese, be it as farmers, artists or government clerks, without losing their own cultural identity

Source: Retno K. Djojo , Contributor , Tenganan, Bali | Thu, 02/19/2009 2:11 PM | Lifestyle

Bali needs to do something!

2009-02-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Letter: Bali needs to do something!

These days we often read about the chaotic traffic on streets in Bali and the problem of garbage on its beaches – the major tourist attractions on the island.

Instead of just complaining about the problems, I would like to make some positive suggestions.

First of all, have you noticed that traffic intersections run smoother when the lights do not work? Doesn’t that tell you something about the inefficiency of traffic light systems? It seems that the traffic authorities do not know how to synchronize the lights to accommodate the various traffic flows.

The intersection of Sunset Road and Iman Bonjol is an example of the problem. The changing of lights from green to red, which takes less than one minute, only allows a few, of the hundreds of waiting cars to pass through the intersections. It creates very bad traffic congestion.

The situation is getting worse, but traffic authority official do not seem to be paying any attention to the problem, or perhaps they do not know how to fix it. If they really do not know, they should hire experts to explain how the lights should work. The French worked the problem out decades ago.

Meanwhile, the beach problems are not so easily solved. The mentality of throwing garbage into rivers and letting someone else deal with the problem has to be changed.

Thousands of tons of plastic bags, rotting vegetation and food simply flow down from the rivers into the sea and have damaged the once-beautiful beaches.

The answer to the problem is to firmly enforce the existing laws as well as continuously educate on the environment at all levels in schools, because otherwise Bali will remain behind on this issue. Violators of environmental laws should face tough punishment.

Can we do it? The answer is yes, we can. Many countries, including Australia, had the same problems in the past. But they solved the problems a couple of generations ago by enforcing strict anti-pollution laws as well as educating their citizens about the issue.

Come on Bali, wake up and give your island a chance to achieve its real potential, as otherwise you will be left behind by your competitors, who have actually less to offer but have a better understanding of managing their natural resources.

Source: Tue, 01/20/2009 10:28 AM | Reader's Forum ; http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/20/letter-bali-needs-do-something.html

Restoration of historic Arizona mission advancing

2009-01-31T14:42:00.000-08:00

The White Dove of the Desert is living up to its nickname again, its west tower refurbished, resplendent in a dazzling white finish once more.

The tower at Mission San Xavier del Bac emerged just before Christmas from the scaffolding that restoration workers had being using - like a butterfly shedding its cocoon, said architect Bob Vint, who spearheaded the five-year, $2.5 million project.

Now, it's on to restoring the east tower of the 226-year-old Roman Catholic church, which is still an active parish for southern Arizona's Tohono O'odham Indians. Its towers are visible for miles, and the restoration is intended to ensure that the structure remains intact.

"The interior of the mission is what it's all about," said Vint. "All of this exterior work is being done to protect the interior."

The mission, sometimes called "the Sistine Chapel of the United States" and the "White Dove of the Desert," is considered the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the country. The walls of its Byzantine-influenced interior are ablaze with frescoes, a religious gallery of work painted directly on its walls by missionaries two centuries ago.

The watercolor portraits and statuary were restored a decade ago by a team including some of the world's top art conservators.

In all, 300 angels and more than 100 saints are represented in watercolors, sculpture or bas relief highlighted in a profusion of gold and silver leaf.

For both Vint and Danny Morales, whose family company, Morales Construction & Builders, has done work at the mission for more than half a century, San Xavier's restoration is the project of a lifetime.

"This place doesn't get tiring at all," said Morales, 47, who has spent most of his time for the past 28 years on many of those projects. "You always learn something. We've been here so long, but we still constantly learn something."

His 75-year-old father, Sonny, has been doing masonry-related work at the mission since 1947, and his son is the family's fifth generation to toil there.

Repairing San Xavier's exterior has been a painstaking task requiring the removal of concrete applied during earlier renovations - most recently in the early 1950s. Concrete trapped salt-crystallizing moisture inside the adobe brick walls over the decades, causing the brick to deteriorate.

Morales and his crew employ a technique long used by Spanish, Mexican, Italian and Egyptian artisans.

After raking out the deteriorated brick and replacing it where needed with new adobe brick, they apply layers of a lime and sand mortar, mixed with a glue made from prickly pear cactus juice.

The moisture in the slow-drying mortar must evaporate sufficiently before adding subsequent layers. A mortar whitewash is painted on at the finish.

The tower's original projections - all its cornices, balusters, balustrades and volutes - were restored, eliminating alterations. The bell tower floor was lowered several inches to its original height, removing concrete and rocks added years ago. Mesquite was used to replace soft pine wood supports, door jambs and stair edges.

"We brought it back to the way it was originally, by the use of old photos and a lot of research," Morales said.

"If you look at both towers, you can just see how the white has brought out the mission," said Margie Butler, a guidance counselor at the San Xavier Mission School and a Tohono O'odham tribal member. "It's so bright and clean, to have it look so nice again."

Visitors keep asking how long it will be before the faded, drab-looking east tower is refinished, Butler said. "I am really happy with what I see ... and how beautiful they have brought it back. The White Dove of the Desert - how it stands out."

Initial design work has begun for restoring the east tower, which is expected to take less time and cost about $1 million less because it has no roof, dome or lantern. The Patronato San Xavier, the mission's nonprofit support group, has received a $150,000 matching grant from Arizona State Parks.

Vint has said the building is the only one of its type in the United States.

Likewise, the restoration project is unique in the nation, he said. "I think there's nothing else like it."

Source: Arthur H. Rotstein , The Associated Press , Tucson, Arizona | Thu, 01/29/2009 7:59 AM | Travel

The best areas to stay on Lombok

2009-01-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/09/the-best-areas-stay-lombok.html

Lombok geographically is almost the same size as Bali and, just as there are popular tourist areas on Bali, so Lombok offers a variety of destinations to suit different holidaymakers' tastes. Following is an overview of the most popular areas to stay in Lombok.

Senggigi is the main tourist area on the mainland, with the town stretching along several fantastic bays on the west coast, and is only 20 minutes from the island's Selaparang airport. It is the ideal base from which to explore the island, and all major tourist attractions can be reached by day trips from Senggigi, including boat trips from Senggigi Bay out to the Gilis. There is a wide range of accommodations ranging from the five-star Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort to elegant private villas to comfortable small hotels and home stays. The main street in town runs parallel to the beach and is lined with restaurants, shops, banks, moneychangers and other tourist facilities. Nowhere near as developed as Kuta in Bali, Senggigi is a delightful place to stay while relaxing, dining and exploring.

Senggigi Bay is a large clean beach around which Senggigi has developed, with resorts running from the beach to the main road. The beach is a great place to hang out, sunbath and enjoy a massage, or swim and snorkel in the clear waters. The Pasar Seni (Art Market) faces onto the beach, with restaurants and bars overlooking the bay and small shops selling souvenirs, clothes and handicrafts in the market behind. The beachfront hotels and restaurants are good places to watch the magical Lombok sunsets, when the sun sinks into the ocean behind Bali, silhouetting the volcanoes against the sky.

Slightly farther north, the resort areas of Kerandangan and Mangsit offer a variety of good accommodations, including the stylish Qunci Villas, Puri Mas Boutique Resorts, Windy Beach Resort and Holiday Resort. The beaches here have white sand and clear turquoise waters and are largely deserted.

At night, there is a great range of entertainment on offer, as well as fabulous dining in some of the Senggigi restaurants. There's international fine dining, cuisines ranging from Thai, Japanese, Mexican and Korean (to name a few), or spicy local Lombok fare all on offer. A number of restaurants and bars have live entertainment with talented local bands playing popular music at night; and there are several nightclubs and discos featuring top bands, DJs and guest stars from around the nation. Senggigi caters to all types of holidaymakers - there are budget options for travelers, romantic options for couples and honeymooners, and wonderful places for families with children of all ages.

The Gili Islands are one of the most popular destinations on Lombok; every year thousands of people flock to these three small islands just off the northwest coast of Lombok. With many fast boat options such as Gili Cat and Blue Water Express providing easy transfers between the Gilis and Bali, the islands have become a popular getaway not just for overseas travelers but for those living on Bali too.

Each of the islands has a distinctively different "feel", which makes them an ideal destination for any type of traveler looking for the tropical island idyll. Gili Air is the island closest to the mainland and has a good range of accommodations, ranging from comfortable hotels to small budget home stays. The pace is very laidback, with days spent sunbathing on the clean beaches, diving in the great locations around the island and snorkeling the reefs just off shore. At night, the mood is relaxed with small warung and restaurants offering fresh seafood barbecues and local cuisine, and live music at some of the bars. Gili Meno is the middle island of the three Gilis and the quietest of the three - perfect for couples and families. The beaches are beautiful and safe for swimming, with good snorkeling just off the beach. This is the best place to see turtles in their natural environment and the dive operators on the island can help you discover the fine dive sites nearby. There are some small upmarket hotels, as well as bungalows on the beach and budget places from which to choose. If walking along a deserted beach under the stars is what you are looking for, Gili Meno has loads of atmosphere. Gili Trawangan is the most famous of the Gilis and the farthest from the mainland, although still only 10 minutes away by speedboat. Here the feel is "tropical island meets Seminyak", due to the number of upmarket eateries and villa developments that have sprung up on the island over the past couple of years. There is such a wide range of accommodation now available on Gili T (as it's known) that you can choose anything from a simple thatched bungalow on the beach to a luxury villa with private swimming pool. Dive companies abound on the island and many people come to Gili T to learn scuba diving, although the snorkeling is good and there are a number of other water activities available, including sunset cruises and glass bottom boat trips. Originally the domain of backpackers, Gili T is definitely now a place for all people - from budget travelers, to honeymooners to families. Something for everyone!

Kuta, the main tourist area on the south coast of Lombok, is not to be confused with its famous namesake in Bali. Kuta, Lombok, is a peaceful beach destination that has found fame due to the great surf locations that surround the small town. The beaches of the south coast are sublime, with sparkling white sand and clear blue oceans stretching to the horizon. Many people come to the area just to view some of the most stunning landscapes in Indonesia. Many more come to challenge the waves that roll off the peninsulas of nearby Gerupuk and Tanjung A'an.

Most of the accommodations in the area cater for the surf crowd, with lots of budget places, although there are a couple of mid-range hotels and some nice small hotels dotted along the beach toward Mandalika. The Novotel Lombok (Mandalika Resort) is located on the pristine beachfront here, and features luxurious accommodation in traditionally designed bungalows and villas.

In town are a number of good restaurants with cuisine ranging from simple local dishes to international fare, while on the hilltop overlooking the stunning coastline is the popular Ashtari Restaurant, serving delicious organic cuisine in a truly delightful setting. If you are looking for a laidback holiday location with lots of sunshine, uncrowded beaches, awe-inspiring views and plenty of accessible local culture, Kuta is the place for you!

-- Barbara Lucas Cahyadi

Palembang's brocade endures test of time

2009-01-07T14:52:00.002-08:00

The fine textures and unique designs of Palembang songket, woven designs embellished with elaborate brocade, have earned nationwide renown and become favorite souvenirs of visitors to the city.

The classy textile artifacts of historic value are widely believed to come from 35 Ilir, a subdistrict in the South Sumatra capital of Palembang.

Many people are unaware the older pieces actually originated in three villages: Limbang Jaya, Tanjung Pinang and Tanjung Laut in Tanjung Batu district, Ogan Ilir regency in South Sumatra.

In these three neighboring villages, located 60 kilometers south of Palembang, a one-and-a-half-hour bus ride from the capital, thousands of women rely on weaving and brocade for their livelihood.

In 35 Ilir subdistrict, only a few dozen artisans engage in this handwork business.

The head of Limbang Jaya village, 33-year-old Muslim, said old and young village women alike are skilled at weaving and hand finishing songket while the men work as blacksmiths.

Limbang Jaya is home to 2,020 people or 425 families.

"Our brocade and weaving artistry has been handed down through the generations, with women of all ages making their living at it," he told The Jakarta Post in his home.

"Even primary school girls can weaving and embroider our cloth."

The high dependence on handcrafted textiles and the widespread popularity of the products have helped the tradition survive the test of time.

The adorned fabrics produced by skillful hands are of high quality and much sought after in various circles not only from South Sumatra cities but also from as far away as Jakarta, Medan in North Sumatra, Riau and Lampung.

Demand for Palembang songket, which designs rely on a spectrum of motifs, is usually high just before the fasting month of Ramadan, the Idul Fitri celebration and the wedding season.

Apart from the superior items produced, the home industries also turn out reliable artisans.

Quite a number of young girls from the three villages go on to work at larger handicraft firms in other cities like Palembang where their skills can get them a higher wage.

Some families who moved to other places, such as Lubuklinggau in Musi Rawas regency, have replicated their businesses in their new homes, often recruiting workers from their original villages

Village products are usually sold to middlemen at prices ranging from Rp 1 million (US$90) to Rp 2.5 million for high quality fabrics and up to Rp 800,000 a piece for ordinary ones.

But some songket weavers choose to sell their decorated cloths directly to Palembang's handicraft shops and galleries in 35 Ilir subdistrict.

"The prices depend on the types of thread and motif textures. If the gold thread is of the crystal type, with motifs in fine textures employing silk, the price might exceed Rp 1 million," said songket maker Salnah.

The Ogan Ilir regency administration has proactively taken measures to promote product quality and marketing, such as providing training in skill and management as well as encouraging participation in various national exhibitions.

"The government will continue to assist the handicraft community in all respects like training, capital and various regional and national trade fairs," said Rahman Rasyidi, an employee at the Ogan Ilir trade office.

Hoping to avoid depending solely on the government, local artisans have also sought ways to raise their own capital.

For example, two years ago, hundreds of villagers from the three producing areas formed a group to take out a loan from a private bank.

"We hope everything goes smoothly so we can pay back the loans. The aid must in no way be used for consumption purposes," Muslim said.

It takes two weeks to finish an embroidered piece and a scarf, according to Salnah, a 50-year-old embroider who has been on the job for over 25 years.

Apart from producing their own cloth, many women also make the pieces for middlemen for certain fees. The fees range from Rp 400,000 to Rp 700,000 for high quality products and Rp 250,000 for ordinary ones.

i-box:

Origin

Palembang songket brocade has a long history spanning the entire period from the Kingdom of Sriwijaya to the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam.

Palembang veteran artist Mir Senen said embroideries constituted one of the many valuable things inherited from the glory of the Sriwijaya era.

The typical feature inherent in Palembang brocade is the glow of gold thread worked in symmetrical patterns.

The decorated pieces, locally called sewet, are usually worn by women who wrap the cloth to hang from the waist in combination with the scarf called kemban.

The fabrics are woven with silk thread. The fabric is also suitable for men who often wear traditional tops and tanjak, head coverings, to match.

In wedding ceremonies, the gilt cloth is normally worn along with head ornaments.

With their uniquely fine textures and stylish look, the motifs are also quite different from those found in other regions.

"For the people of Palembang the motifs have various meanings and historic merits. They may be seen as ancestral inheritance, as dowries, as traditional wedding attire or even as valuable collections of families," Mir Senen said.

He said Sriwijaya Kingdom, which flourished from the seventh to the 11th century, served as a cultural gateway for other countries including Portugal, India and China.

"The influence of Indian and Chinese cultures remains in the decorative motifs of Palembang brocade, particularly in the use of red and golden hues," he said.

There are several types of songket: * Sewet Songket: A hip wraparound for women, which usually goes with a scarf. Its cloth is entirely covered with brocade embellishment. This embroidered piece is normally worn in wedding ceremonies. * Sewet Tajung: Used especially by men, it is called Gebeng. The other version is Tajung Rumpak or Tajung Bumpak. For women, this cloth is referred to as Tajung Blongsong. Sewet Tajung is woven by selectively working in golden thread. * Sewet Pelangi and Jumputan: As the name implies, pelangi (rainbow) has a wide variety of gorgeous patterns. Its fabric comes from silk thread whose special dyes will not fade and is traditionally made. It has a smooth and soft surface that can be gripped as a lump.

Jumputan has flower motifs that look like being pinched in the process of boiling, so that they become beautiful and attractive in finished forms. * Sewet Peradan: It is also called Sewet Prada. The woven fabric is treated with a golden dye especially for coloring clothing. The piece subjected to golden coloring is usually one using fine material and having elegant motifs.

Source:Khairul Saleh, , The Jakarta Post, , Tanjung Batu, South Sumatra | Mon, 01/05/2009 11:05 AM | Potpourri

First foreign-born candidate to run in Bali's 2009 legislative elections

2008-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Balinese voters will find a nice surprise when they open their ballots in the upcoming 2009 legislative election: a foreign face among the more familiar Indonesian candidates on the rolls.

The face will be that of Petra Odebrecht, the first foreign-born candidate in the history of the province's legislative elections, and a member of the Renewal Democratic Party (PDP).

Petra, who calls herself an ex-foreigner, gained Indonesian citizenship in 1992 after marrying an Indonesian, now her ex. She left her home country Germany and has lived in Indonesia ever since.

"It's a time of big change in Indonesia, and by sitting still nothing changes. That's why I decided to get politically active," Petra said.

The PDP was established in December 2005 when senior leaders of the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) broke with that party, after a group led by Laksamana Sukardi lost a fight to reform PDI-P at its national congress.

The party, which has a leadership council rather than a single leader, has become the 14th new party to register since the 2004 elections.

"I joined the PDP because of its collective system; everyone there has an equal say. Also, 42 percent of the members are women. In Bali, even with the official requirement of a 30 percent quota for women, have four women running as legislative candidates and four men," Petra said.

Petra has already experienced her share of the murky reality of the country's politics.

She told of the time she went to a factory and the workers asked her how much she would pay them for their votes, rather than ask about her political views and how they would benefit the people.

"This showed me once more that I need to try to wake people up, especially the young, to engage in politics, because I believe a nation rises and falls with its politics," she says.

Last year, Rusty Ambo Dalle, one of the PDP's national leaders, asked Petra to run for the party. But Petra sais she was unsure at the time about what kind of reform people wanted and how the change might happen.

However, three months ago, she gathered all the required documents and put herself in the running as a legislative candidate.

"The strong, pluralistic direction of our party made me ask Petra to join our party. As an Indonesian citizen with foreign roots, she fits well into our party," Ambo Dalle says.

"I'm well aware my skin color and my origin are used as marketing gimmicks, but I want to transform this energy into power to contribute to a democracy that everybody, regardless of their financial background, has access to," she says.

The 41-year-old, with no former political background, is ranked fifth of the eight candidates on PDP's list of those running for seats in Bali's Legislative Council.

"I know what my chances are in the legislative elections. Even if I'm not elected, I will try to work in the background as an assistant for my party colleagues," she said.

Campaigning in Bali will run from March 16 to April 5, 2009, when Petra Odebrecht will get the first feedback on how well the Balinese might take to a foreign-born candidate.

Source: Claudia Sardi, , The Jakarta Post, , Seminyak | Sat, 12/27/2008 10:55 AM | The Archipelago

Nature School vs. School Artificial

2008-12-05T15:49:00.001-08:00

Nature appears that the school is considered better than the school of non-natural or my A-School Artificial their natural (nature) I made (artificial). Up-up, if stay in the region where there is no school Nature

According to my School of Nature is not as good a Nature. But more because:
Better quality teachers. Salary was not a small problem, the more important is the process of selection and training. Training is also not only in the beginning, but continuously. Teacher quality is worsened, immediately replaced.
Head of the school with a good lead. Create a pleasant atmosphere for teachers, students, and parents.

More optimal class size. Not always smaller (though it helps), but just happens to the good interaction between teachers and students and among students themselves.
Parents are actively involved. Send their children to school in Nature, or even to establish the School of Nature itself, shows that they want and are able to directly involved in the education of children.

If a school is run Artificial the above, I believe the result will be the same.

So, for parents who want to make their own school but can not make School of Nature, fetched only school with Artificial quality teachers possible. Surely the same.

By The Way: Batik, a symbol of Javanese domination?

2008-11-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

Sri Muljani Indrawati and Mari Elka Pangestu are the icons of Indonesian batik. The two women in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet can be seen sporting batik dresses perhaps more often than any other public figures.

The two look elegant and comfortable as they go about the business of managing the country's economy.

Batik is experiencing somewhat of a resurgent lately, with more and more people wearing the designs regularly, even to work. In the past, batik was generally reserved for special occasions, such as wedding ceremonies; most men for example would keep just two or three in their wardrobe.

Today, government agencies, state enterprises and an increasing number of private companies, make Friday "batik day" or "casual wear" day. The batik industry has responded to this by introducing more creative designs and motifs.

Short-sleeve batik shirts, long dismissed as too casual, are now in vogue even for office attire.

Personally, this is important for me. I am one of the few Indonesians who have never felt comfortable wearing batik. And if you don't feel comfortable in something, you just don't look good in it. Thankfully, a short sleeve batik shirt is not as torturous as the long ones.

I felt somewhat unpatriotic at times whenever the nation gets up in arms at Malaysia for promoting their own batik styles, and more recently at China, which has flooded malls in Jakarta with their batiks.

The resurgence in batik in Indonesiais in part a response to this growing intrusion into what Indonesians feel is our heritage. If Japan in the 1970s and 1980s had a slogan "Buy Japanese First", then Indonesians are now being told wear batik if they love their country.

I, for one, don't buy this at all.

Batik is an ancient method of dyeing fabric that was developed in Java -- so it's more correct to say that its part of Javanese heritage.

We Sumatrans have kain or songket and Baju Melayu or Teluk Belanga as traditional costumes for men. Admittedly, I'd never be seen dead in one of those.

I don't think Indonesia has the right to accuse other countries of stealing our batik. Wax printing methods have been around for centuries, which I think makes it a sort of an "open source" style. What we, or rather what the Javanese have done, is to develop the designs into a higher form of artistic expression.

The Javanese claim to batik is more a claim to specific motifs and designs. Indeed, no one can take this away from them, but if you think about it that way, there is no such thing as Indonesian batik in Indonesia, just as there is no such thing as Chinese restaurant in China or a Padang foodstall in Padang.

In Indonesia, batik aficionados recognize Yogya batiks, Solo batiks, Pekalongan batiks or Cirebon batiks for their unique designs. But there is no such thing as Indonesian batik.

The Malaysians, Indians, Chinese and Africans have every right to claim their own batiks, at least as far as motifs and designs are concerned. Incidentally, if Wikipedia is to be believed, Nelson Mandela is not wearing Indonesian batik. He may have worn a few from Iwan Tirta's collections, but apparently most of his Madiba shirts are supplied by a South African designer.

My sorry excuse for not wearing batik is that to me it is just another form of Javanese cultural domination that we other ethnic groups in Indonesia have had to endure.

They already dominate the nation through the sheer size of their numbers, especially among the ruling elite. Their culture permeates our lives, and batik is just another part of this.

But you can't win them all.

We Sumatrans won the language war back in 1928 when the Javanese, the largest cultural group in what is now Indonesia, agreed to use Malay as the root for Bahasa Indonesia, the national language. That's a huge concession on their part that no amount of "Javanization" of our local cultures can ever match.

Perhaps, I'll start wearing that batik shirt after all, if only to preserve Malay's linguistic domination.

source: http://www.thejakartapost.com
-- Eric Musa Piliang

Young designers choose modern, simpler batik

2008-11-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Batik's rising popularity as witnessed in the past few years is unlikely to see a downward trend with batik producers and fashion designers continuing to create innovative designs.

Answering the rising demand among young socialites, batik producer Parang Kencana has brought in up-and-coming young designer Ronald V. Gaghana. Parang Kencana also created a new line, Liris, with trendy designs styled by Cynthia Risjad.

Founder and art director Mariana Sutandi said she invited Ronald to design for Parang Kencana in order to cater to the younger fashion buyers.

"I've always wanted batik to be accepted by all age brackets, from young to old," she said.

Batik was formerly known as only worn for formal occasions and traditional ceremonies. "It was associated with a certain age group and certain occasions," she said.

Ronald ventured into fashion designing in 1995 with a label under his own name. He is one of the rising designers in Indonesia, with his newest label Mulla, released two years ago, growing 70 percent annually.

He said he wanted to create something different. "My designs are more modern and simpler, but with a lot of details. They are casual, and can be combined with other clothing items such as jeans."

A fashion show was held Wednesday and Thursday for the launching of Liris and Parang Kencana by Ronald. Colorful and ornate batik was seen everywhere on guests who attended the show.

Koming, senior model from the 1990s, was among the models striding down the catwalk.

Dancers carrying batik scarves put the show in motion. Next was a line of colorful loose blouses with combined batik patterns, worn with purple stockings.

The blouses had wide sleeves and puffed balloon sleeves. Models were also clad in spaghetti strap dresses, halter neck long dresses, and short skirts with low V-neck tops.

The hand-painted batik was shown in various colors of pink, purple, blue, light brown, green and yellow. The patterns were modern and always mixed and matched.

Colorful batik shirts for men were also showcased. Hues of brown, blue, purple and white were subtly combined in a diagonal batik design. A shirt of blue and dark green reflected a calm mood.

Opened in 1993, Parang Kencana's products are handmade. Other earlier lines included Parang Kencana, Parang Ayu, Soga, Tjindae and De Witte.

Except for its signature line, which is derived from traditional batik designs with vertical motifs, the other lines are categorized according to color: Parang Ayu focuses on blue and white, Soga on shades of brown, Tjindae likes the striking colors and De Witte's are white with touches of pale colors.

-- Prodita Sabarini; http://www.thejakartapost.com

Designers embrace eco-friendly fabrics

2008-11-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

Indonesian designers have started to show their concern for the environment through their collections, with stylish and sustainable clothes becoming part of the domestic fashion industry.
Five young designers -- Priyo Oktaviano, Barli Asmara Ade Sagi, Ichwan Thoha and Rusli Tjohnardi -- have outfits made from eco-friendly fabrics, like cotton, on display at Fashion First boutique in Senayan City Mall, South Jakarta.
The boutique, which cooperates with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia, decided not to run a live fashion show in order to cut down on energy use.
Instead the boutique uploaded a slide show of its collection for public viewing on YouTube.
Eco-friendly clothes and accessories are usually made of organic raw materials, such as cotton, which are grown without pesticides.
Eco-fashions do not use harmful chemicals or bleaches to color fabrics.
Four of the designers showcased their collections recently at the boutique. Each of them has his own vision of how to turn eco-friendly fabrics into garments.
The clothes on display ranged from a green T-shirt with a floral print (Ichwan) and a multifunction green, checked blouse (Ade) to a hippie-style flowery blouse (Priyo).
Newcomers Vera Abby and Inna Thomas also appeared with their collection: long chiffon dresses with flower prints in natural colors, such as greens and browns.
"We avoid several fabrics like nylon and polyester in our collections because they are not eco-friendly. We choose to use cotton, linen and chiffon instead," Ina said.
Priyo said he applied natural dying techniques and preferred to use Indonesian fabrics instead of imported ones.
"If we use imported fabrics, it means we play a part in global warming because the fabric is imported into the country by plane, wasting fuel," Priyo said.
He said, however, he still could not leave behind chemical dying.

"It is cheaper because the production process is faster compared to the natural process," he said.
"We sometimes test some colors on a cloth. The results from chemical dying are better than the natural ones.
"So far, I use natural dying for 20 percent of my collection. Hopefully, I can increase it to 40 percent in the near future," Priyo said.
Priyo said designing eco-fashion was challenging.
"I have to be creative when designing outfits and accessories made from recycled products. They have to be wearable. I cannot just put a used mineral water bottle, for instance, on a shirt. Nobody wants to wear stuff like that," he said.

He has turned a pair of old jeans into a bag, belt and bracelet. He also taken used rice plastic sacks to create shopping bags and hats.
"You can start to apply eco-fashion to your daily outfits. Don't throw away your old clothes. The key is to mix and match," he said, adding that eco-fashion was definitely something he was going to continue toying with.

Some of the boutique's icons, prominent local model Izabel Jahja and Sari Nila, also stick to an eco-friendly lifestyle, including eco-fashion.
"I often reuse my old clothes and mix and match. I can be stylish without spending a lot of money on new clothes," Izabel said.
Sari shared a similar view.
"We don't have to stage a street demonstration to urge people to go green. We can start with simple things, like bringing an eco-bag while shopping to reduce plastic," Sari said.
"We can also avoid wearing fabrics that aren't eco-friendly, such as nylon and polyester, and choose cotton."

by: Triwik Kurniasari , The Jakarta Post

Tana Toraja: A journey through Celebes Highlands

2008-11-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

The valley of the butterflies seemed a nice place to spend a Sunday. The valley is nestled in a deep limestone gorge, just an hour from the hustle and bustle of Makassar, and I was looking forward to some peace and reflective solitude with the butterflies.
However, I had forgotten that Sunday means family picnic day everywhere in Indonesia.
By 10:00 a.m., there were already loads of people spreading rugs, juggling rice cookers and playing loud music from speakers.
uckily the portable speakers (all playing different music) remained stationary and I found an escape route. I followed a small trail along the river, which led to a series of waterfalls, and to my delight I found plenty of brightly colored giant butterflies, which are attracted to this scenic valley.

My journey continued on the long highway leading north out of Makassar — the road that takes you on the timeless journey into Tana Toraja.

The Torajan culture, with its elaborate sacrificial funeral rites and sacred burial cave sites guarded by effigies, has fascinated people for centuries. The colorful hand-painted houses called Tongkonans are beautifully decorated in tribal motifs and buffalo horns from past sacrifices.

Torajan culture is said to date back to celestial time as the Torajan people believe they descended from the stars and arrived in starships. It is believed the shapes of their houses resemble those very starships.

I stayed overnight in the town of Pare Pare overlooking the magnificent Makassar Strait, in a hotel perched on top of a hill that offered fantastic views. I was up bright and early the next day for the long, slow drive into the highlands. About five hours later I arrived in Rantepao, the heartland of Toraja country.

At the summit is a place called Buntu Kabobong, which means “erotic mountain”. Why erotic mountain? Well, laid out before you, welcoming you to Toraja, are two enormous geological landmarks that resemble genitalia. To the local people they are known as “Most Holy Penis” and “Most Sacred Vagina”.

This is the place to where the Torajan people claim their first ancestors descended from the Pleiades in starships. Another belief is that the Tongkonan houses resemble a boat-shaped design to allow the soul of a dead person to be launched back to the stars.

The Tongkonans are built without nails and are slotted together with precision, making them strong enough to last a lifetime. The houses stand on stilts enabling a cooling air to circulate; the stilts double as a shelter for the family water buffalo. The slatted floors allow the animal droppings to be collected and reused for crop fertilizer.

The next day my local Indonesian (English-speaking) guide Sada called into an Internet café to check his email. He appeared five minutes later with a big smile on his face.
“We are lucky, Miss,” he said. “Even though the funeral season is usually June and July there is a funeral in progress only 30 kilometers from here.
“It is day three of the funeral and will be the most interesting day: the day of the animal sacrifice.”

Torajan funerals are held only when the families have saved enough money to host the elaborate event. It is necessary to build a complete village to house hundreds of guests over the five-day period. The temporary village is dismantled afterward. The other major cost involves buying animals for sacrifice.
One healthy buffalo can cost up to Rp 40 million (US$4,370) and a pig can cost up to Rp 3 million. It is not uncommon for more than 50 pigs and several buffalo to be sacrificed. For this reason, the dead body may end up being kept in the house for five years or more to await the accumulation of finances.

One of the traditional villages I visited actually had a five-year-old mummified body in the family lounge. The corpse was that of an elderly woman; her husband’s death preceded her own and the family was unable to pay for a second funeral even five years later.

Some of the preserved bodies are stored in ornately decorated sarcophaguses and if you are a man of royal descent, then your royal widow must stay in the same room as the body until the time of burial. It is also not uncommon for a widow to stay there for five years or more.

The widow must stay with the disintegrating corpse and sympathetically “rot” herself, living on a special diet for the entire period, excluding rice products. She must become symbolically dead and is not permitted to leave her husband’s side. Lesser widows and slaves tend to her needs.

To make sure the soul is not neglected, a bowl of food is replenished daily and palm wine poured plus an offering of betel nut or chewing tobacco is made at regular intervals. The Torajans believe it is only through this intense rich ritual that the deceased will always be “a free soul” and become richer in their next life.

It was already 35 degrees when I arrived at the funeral at 10.00 a.m. Sada escorted me along the 1 km trail to reach the temporary bamboo village, which had been erected for the sole purpose of this burial.

If foreign tourists come to a traditional Torajan funeral it is seen as a sign of good luck. In the hierarchical order of status, a foreign tourist is seen as a dignitary, and therefore treated as an honored guest. I had many offers of coffee (homegrown Torajan coffee), for which the area is well known, local cakes and other sweets.

The Torajan society is a highly structured one, with four classes of people, from the nobility down to the peasant class.

Depending on your ranking in the village, you must offer a certain number of pigs or buffalo, which are then slaughtered and the meat distributed evenly among the guests, depending on their ranking in the village society.

A government official records in triplicate every animal given for slaughter and a tax is imposed accordingly.

When a funeral is in process, family members come from all corners of Indonesia; many of the local guests spoke fluent English. In Toraja a nobleman’s son or daughter will have an assistant assigned from birth to accompany him or her throughout early childhood and into young adulthood.

The animal sacrifice had already begun when I arrived. It took place in a specially designed area where pigs and other animals were hauled in to the “circle of death” and killed with great speed and efficiency.

Blood flowed through the middle of the common area and huge chunks of meat were weighed and divided throughout the day according to the ranking and status of the recipients.
A few bamboo pipes went past me, filled with animal blood, but I didn’t dare ask what they were for, or where they were going. I checked my tea was actually tea.

I felt very privileged to attend this ceremonial funeral. In the afternoon I returned to the luxury of the Toraja Heritage Hotel, a magnificent 160-room 4-star property featuring villas designed in the shape of Tongkonan houses.

The hotel had all the finishing touches including a welcoming meet-and-greet service with cold towels and a relaxing head-and-shoulders massage.
Next on the agenda was a visit to several of the death cliffs in the area. This is another fascinating aspect of Torajan culture. The dead are placed in chiseled coffin slots in hillsides, rocks or cliffs.

Some have effigies placed in the open doorways to guard the spirit of the dead body. Others are left open, exposing the bones for all to see.

On day five I decided to take a two-hour drive to a traditional village and experience a homestay with a local family.

Sada made a couple of phone calls and organized an overnight stay in a “real” Tongkonan longhouse in a small village perched high in the mountains.

It was late afternoon when I reached the high road that would lead me to this village.
As it was a school day, a procession of children dotted the side of road. It is not unusual for children to walk between 8 and 12 km to and from school each day.

The children were friendly and inquisitive and tried out their schoolbook English with me. It was a very lively and humorous exchange, which led to a series of fantastic photos.

Though these rural people have very basic standards of living with scarce resources, they are always happy and relaxed, seemingly without a care in the world.

In terms of materialistic acquisition, which many of us in the West aspire to, the Torajans seem happy to live simply, not wanting for much. Their most important asset is a large healthy buffalo.

When I arrived at the Tongkonan house for the night, I had a choice of which attic I wanted to sleep in. I was told the room rate would be a grand total of $4 including a pancake breakfast.

Terraces of rice paddies.

The owners of the homestay cooked a delicious dinner, and I dined that night overlooking the beautiful mountains of Toraja with an exquisite view of the valley below. To enhance the scene, the full moon appeared, bathing the landscape in its light.

It was more than enough to make up for the slight discomfort of sleeping on a simple mattress on the floor and taking a traditional stand-up cold mandi (bath).

The next morning I awoke to find I was above the clouds. I descended down into the misty valley where the next adventure awaited me — white-water rafting.

It was a one-hour walk through a series of rice fields and a small village to the “put-in” on the riverbank. As we paddled downstream, I lost myself in nature.

Only the occasional swooping of eagles soaring above interrupted the quiet serenity of the deep gorge.

As the river narrowed, its energy changed as we passed by a series of large waterfalls cascading from the steep mountainous terrain. The rapids appeared in small bursts, but mostly it was a trip down a lazy river — just the remedy for finishing a spectacular seven-day trip into Torajaland.

For anyone who wants to experience a fascinating culture, set in an exquisite mountain environment, then Tana Toraja is a gem worth exploring.

by; Stephanie Brookes , Contributor ; Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Int'l, local markets demand bags

2008-11-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Colorful bags created by the island's artists are becoming more popular among foreign tourists and domestic consumers here.

And as the demand for these bags increase, producers are becoming more and more innovative with their creations.

The island's artists currently use various raw materials to create these eye-catching products, from water hyacinth fibers (known locally as eceng gondok) and bamboo strips, to fragrant roots and coconut shells.

"The foreigners are usually more interested in products that are made of natural materials, that's why we use natural materials in the production of our bags," Komang Mariani, a local bag producer, said.

Mariani owns a shop in Gianyar that sells and exports the bags. She also runs a small bag factory.

"Foreign markets are still our biggest consumers. Each month we export as many as 3,500 bags to different countries," she said.

Mariani added the biggest markets for the island's bags were Australia, Japan and Italy.

Besides using natural, raw materials, local artists have also explored the use of batik.

"Batik gives a touch of exoticism and uniqueness to the products," she said.

"We need to continuously innovate our line of products to attract market interest."

Continuous innovation, Mariani said, also had a positive impact on the pricing of such products.

Currently, the bags are priced at Rp 45,000 for a batik bag; Rp 50,000 for a coconut-shell bag; Rp 25,000 for a fragrant-root bag; and Rp 100,000 for an intricately woven bag.

Another bag maker, Swasty, agreed that innovation was the key to the future success of her products.

Swasty owns a company that specializes in bags made from pandan and palmyra leaves.

"Each month, my company comes up with five to eight new bag models," she said.

Swasty said her staff got ideas for the new models from three main sources; foreign fashion magazines, observing the current trends and from discussions with her loyal customers.

Swasty's company produces up to 5,000 bags per month. It also produces a large quantity of wallets and fashion accessories.

"The prices of our bags range from between Rp 25,000 to Rp 40,000 per piece," she said.

The trade brings Swasty a monthly net profit of Rp 15 million, and the success of her bag industry has inspired her to establish a community cooperative aimed at assisting local artisans in improving their financial conditions.

The cooperative now runs a workshop in Belega village, Bona.

"Each month we receive a delegation from other region in Indonesia that wants to learn about this industry," she said.

Separately, Mariani said the domestic market had shown an increasing interest in the bags created by Balinese artists.

"Recently, demand from the domestic market has increased. I now receive a regular monthly order of 2,500 bags for the domestic market.

"Perhaps this is a sign that Indonesian people are beginning to appreciate the products made by their own artisans," she said.

source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Celebrate Children's Work Hard!

2008-11-14T16:44:00.000-08:00

Your child may not basketball players or the best violin in the group. However, when practice every day, you must give credit to businesses because the training is done with your child, on average, regardless of whether their team wins or loses.

However, praise must be given the right conditions and must be proportionate. Donahue, said glucosamine, to give a simple example of praise to the children of everyday life.

If the child successfully put into a nest of basketball during the match and could give the defence during the game, you are entitled to praise. You praise on the party's move, while in the harsh conditions.

If your child always have students who are responsible and do routine tasks with good math, for example, you may be aware that good study habits. However, if your child learn to do anything other than normal, also gave praise.

If children learn bicycle wheel for about two weeks and then managed them, to give a compliment. When children age teenagers trying to ride the lightning or the fantasy world of roller coasters (for school-age children), said if the child has a soul and intrepid adventurers.

However, not because praise have fun, not work hard grind.

Parents can immediately see the children, praised the conduct of a company. However, experts be carefully to avoid praise that accompanied It is of vital importance is vital. For example, your son play prize of the season when scoring 10 for the retrial of English. This is not allowed. Therefore, is to establish a situation that makes children motivated by money, not by positive sentiment on the success of the week.

Instead, give parties, such as buying ice cream or food especially when the test results of children from the appearance or good music satisfactory. Celebrating the success of children is also a form of praise
from: www.gayahidupsehatonline.com

Tips Assisting Youth

2008-11-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Pattern foster youth need a special way. Although age are still children, it can not be treated as a small child. Teenagers have started to show identification. Usually, teenagers gather more pleased with peers instead of with parents.

In the future this is often tough for parents with teenagers. Especially because parents rather difficult to overcome emotional and other pressures that naturally occurs in the teens.

Sometimes parents behave permissive. This makes only a few children rely on parents as a guide. Teen parents as the only limousine service. This is not healthy.

Said Ken Mellor, members of Melbourne as quoted from the Good Health & Medicine, parents seems to become more service providers for their children who act as consumers. Parents, he continued, thinking that the duty to satisfy their children rather than enter into this world.

"Children should be managed, not only supported and served," says book author Teen Stages: How to Guide the Journey to Adulthood this.

Globally, the parents began to realize that the pattern of the foster teenagers have not been successful. A research conducted by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) revealed five important things that need to be owned by the parents so that children grow as a healthy and personal rejoice. Elizabeth GyorfiDyke, a researcher, said that the results of the research will be in a different way to see a solution to the problem, not just study it.

Yack
Mellor suggests parents not to give miserly touch on children, for example, embrace, embrace, and others. Not only up there, parents must also sit and gab with them. You can invite the teenager told the activities that day.
According to Mellor, as a family as often as possible another happy-happy. The family dinner together, at least four times a week, children teenagers, they tend to be 75 percent less involved with drugs and behavioral risk.

Keeping Watch
It is important for parents to investigate the lives of her children to know what happened to them. Mellor words, "I will not read the diary my children. However, when they are in risk, I will not hesitate to read. "
Okay just give the restrictions on private teenager, but sometimes parents have a mistaken understanding of the proportion of respect. Now, that does not happen misunderstand, there are good parents make the rules. Can by placing television and the computer only in open space or family rooms, and not in the room of children.
Parents must also create guidelines on the spectacle and games (games) that are allowed and forbidden. International Society for Research on Aggression disclose, violence in the light of the video games can cause aggressive thoughts and actions and behavior towards lower.
Mellor also remind parents not to rule by despotic. Rules need to be given a clear explanation. Tell children that what they see will establish awareness.

Going to School Life
While in school, children may get into the class, but living to be everywhere. To make it keep the focus on school, parents should help or at least the emergency when homework. Parents must also be involved in the lives of school children.
When possible, observed that teachers teach. According to the pattern of experts from Australia, Steve Biddulph, "Teen males can be less a reasonable limit ways of teaching and interpersonal abilities or character of bad teachers. And they will not learn from people who do not like them. "If it is so, the teenagers will does not matter with lessons in school.

So Volunteers
CIHI report shows nearly 75 percent of teenagers volunteer to be growing "healthy", dynamic, love challenges, and become a strong mental and spiritual. Parents should encourage children to engage in social activities. Parents should give an example because they remain a role model for children.

Many Make friends
CIHI reports from other states, Lazare teenagers who with colleagues has a shoulder prices higher self and completely healthy. On the other hand, in line with the teenagers, they, self-doubt and fear of rejection will also be present in themselves.
"The uniqueness of a person needs to be strengthened. However, the mare he friend outside shoulder, it can be a sign that must be feared by parents. You need to lead, "a Mellor. @ Diana Yunita Sari; By admin, http://www.gayahidupsehatonline.com

Italian Handbag - Winning Tips When Shopping For a Italian Handbag

2008-10-31T17:37:00.000-07:00

They're fashionable and constructed from only the finest grade of materials. You can wear with them with everyday outfits, or with your favorite work attire. The Italian handbag should be an essential apparel accessory in every woman's wardrobe, no matter your personal style. Here are some handbag brands and styles that you can pick from, as well as the best places to shop for these great items.

Prada

This name brand is an upscale Italian handbag and fashion company; shoes, clothes, and other fashion accessories are also created by Prada, and each item will unquestionably make you feel dignified and refined. Prada bags are ideal for travelers, or for women who are constantly on the go; there are also messenger bags and wallets that are available for men.

The design of each purse is elaborate yet clean and modern, and the leather and handles are long-lasting, and will give any outfit that additional boost that you want. There are also book bags wallets by Prada that you can select from, and you can buy watches and shoes from the stores or internet websites as well.

Check out the Prada internet destination to acquire information on the latest fashion collections from this Italian handbag company, or visit department stores like Macy's or Bloomingdale's in your local area to discover Prada styles that will work for you.

Versace

Versace is for the refined socialite that is looking for a purse that is eye-catching and is practical as well. The leather and gold chain accents on these bags are certainly attractive, and the metallic tones of some of the bags will decidedly make your little black dress stand out at any social occasion. These type of bags are in the higher price range -you can very easily spend more than $500 on a bag, however this Italian handbag will last you for years, so the purchase is well worth it.

If you take trips frequently, and are looking to make sure that your luggage bag is as stylish as it can be, the Camel Suede Tote Bag from Dolce and Gabana is an excellent choice. This Italian handbag is easy to carry around with you, and will help you to organize the items for your trip. You can be sure that this bag will last for a long time as well, so despite the fact that it is priced online for over $800, you will be able to carry this bag for many years to come.

You can also visit the online destination of Handbagcrew if you want to pick from the large Italian handbag selection on the site. You'll be able to see pictures of each purse, and you can also read a short description of the item so that you can determine what you want to purchase. Purchasing a bag online will also save you money in most cases, since the prices are cheaper than in retail stores. Happy shopping!

by: Korbin Newlyn

Beginner’s Guide To Free For All Sites (FFA's)

2008-10-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know what an FFA site is, it's basically a website where you can post a link/add to your website for free. Generally it is also posted to many other sites at the same time and hopefully somebody sees your link...free advertising in other words. This also creates backlinks to your website. When you post a link, you are also giving permission (whether you know it or not) to receive confirmation e-mails back from the site owner.

What seems to happen though is many people see this as free advertising and get angry when, not only do they not see a flood of sales come pouring in, but they start receiving other people's offers. I know when the first time it happened to me, I couldn't figure out what was going on and was frustrated at the results.

Let's back up a moment and look at the bigger picture of what an FFA site is and its TRUE purpose. The true purpose of an FFA site is for the owner of that site to promote his/her business. It's really not just because he's a nice guy giving people a free advertising place.

(If it were such a goldmine for pulling in sales, he would be doing it himself). That is just the bait, getting people to his site to post their links, thinking they are getting free advertising, so he can respond with "confirmation" of your link, and his business ad.

Those confirmation e-mails are NOT spam. You had to agree to receive them in order to post your link. Who are reading these ads anyway? So is posting to FFA's a total waste of time? Not necessarily, you do get an occasional sale, people do go back to post their links and sometimes take a quick look through the links to see what's there while they're at it.

So what's the answer? Get your own FFA site to promote your business. There are many excellent resources out there. I have found from personal experience however,that many of the services offering FFA's sites, offer a free version or a paid upgrade. The phrase "You get what you pay for" comes to mind with these. I've used several kinds and found that the paid upgrades more than paid for themselves in sales. Shop around however to compare between companies.

You can promote any product through this method; information products, crafts, vitamins, whatever. You could have the very best on the entire internet, but if nobody sees your offer, it's not going to get the sales you desire. It takes traffic to get sales. These sites are options for driving those numbers to your site. Free classified ads sites are also in this same category with the same purpose and can be worth pursuing.

by: Valerie Garner

Mengenal Pengharum Tubuh

2008-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Minyak wangi merupakan salah satu pelengkap penampilan kita. Tak hanya wanita, pria pun tak malu-malu lagi menggunakannya. Namun yang kerap terjadi, minyak wangi yang seharusnya menebarkan aroma semerbak, menjadi sebaliknya. Kok bisa? Bisa saja, kalau salah dalam penggunaannya.

Selama ini, dikenal tiga macam minyak wangi, yaitu:
Eau de perfume:
Meskipun kandungan alkoholnya sedikit, tapi aroma wanginya bisa tahan cukup lama dan kuat. Cocok digunakan untuk pesta atau acara malam hari.

Eau de Toilette:
Memiliki kadar alkohol yang tinggi. Aroma wewangian ini ringan, tidak terlalu tajam, dan awet. Cocok digunakan pada setiap kesempatan.

Eau de Cologne:
Jenis wewangian yang ringan dan standar. Biasa digunakan setelah habis mandi untuk menyegarkan tubuh.
Saat mencoba minyak wangi ketika hendak membelinya, sebaiknya tidak mencoba lebih dari 2 jenis dan usahakan kulit dalam keadaan kering. Tes minyak wangi langsung pada kulit pergelangan tangan. Ini lebih baik daripada sekadar mencium wangi parfum dari kertas tester, karena wangi yang timbul bisa berbeda.

Demikian juga saat memakai, sebaiknya tidak dituang ke tangan karena harumnya minyak wangi di tangan akan masuk ke dalam botol dan mempengaruhi keharumannya. Agar baunya tetap melekat di tubuh, gunakan parfum semprot. Selain irit, percikan minyaknya bisa menyebar ke sekelilingnya. Bisa juga teteskan atau semprotkan minyak wangi ke kapas, tempatkan di dada, dengan demikian aromanya bisa bertahan lama.

Tips:
1. Eau de Parfum sebaiknya tidak langsung disemprotkan ke baju karena akan menimbulkan noda dan sulit hilang. Gunakan selalu pada kulit badan. Parfum yang disemprotkan atau digunakan ke badan akan berkembang dan menjadi makin lembut nantinya.

2. Semprotkan atau oleskan minyak wangi di belakang telinga, leher, belakang lutut, dan belahan dada.

3. Sebaiknya, kemasan minyak wangi disimpan ditempat yang sejuk seperti di lemari pendingin agar bertahan lebih lama dan bau serta warnanya tidak berubah.

4. Kini minyak wangi tersedia dalam berbagai ragam aroma dan botol/kemasan aneka bentuk serta rupa. Wadah/botol yang tidak transparan akan lebih awet dibanding yang transparan, karena isinya terlindung dari sinar secara langsung.

sumber Harian Kompas

my profile

2008-10-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

my name is gladya siahaan but the right is my friend. Her name is agnes monica. She live in Bandung, her Motto "star of life is". My mail: loan709@yahoo.com