by wildcherry on Friday, January 8th, 2010 | News, Weird, World | No Comments

Below are pictures of Sungai Citarum (Citarum River), Indonesia claimed to be the “Dirtiest River in the World”
What do you think? Please share this articles to raise the global awareness for the extreme poverty in different part of the world.

A view from a distance makes it look like it’s only a poor village. But it’s worst than you’ll ever think!

The Sign Above Says: By Not Throwing Trash into the River means Loving the Nature and Your Future Generation

This is the actual river! As you can see it’s all filled up with trash. The picture shows a teenage boy looking for “treasures” by digging the trash.

It’s not a work of art.. it’s a river filled with garbage!

The daily commute: going across the river

The most popular career in the area is “Garbage Scavenger”

Finally it’s a “clear” area of the river. But if you look closely the water color is BLACK!

Thanks for reading this article. Please help clean this river by spreading this article around. With your help, perhaps a touch of miracle will happen to this river and the locals.

Tags: citarum river, dirtiest river in the world, dirty river, extreme poor, Indonesia, indonesia dirty, sungai citarum

by wildcherry on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 | Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

Bali island is a part of Indonesian archipelago. Located just east of the island of Java, it has long been the primary focus of Indonesia’s flourishing tourist industry. Bali is one of the province in Indonesia, divided into nine region from west to east, they are Jembrana, Tabanan, Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem and Buleleng region.

The Island of Bali attracts by far the most tourist attention in Indonesia and worlwide, drawing in more than a million visitors every year. As a result, the island has become very much a mainstream destination, offering all the comforts and facilities expected by tourists. Find your own desired, all you need is provided from the traditional ways to modern life.

Bali also known as “The Island of God” or “The Island of Thousand Temples” because of most people (Hindus) have a place to pray to the God in each theirs living place.

Located firmly in the tropical zone, Bali enjoy fairly constant year-round temperatures, averaging 26 degrees centigrade in the shade. Best time to visit is from april through september and november through january, i believe you wont miss those moment than freezing in your country, sun always shine during that months.

There are hundreds of tourist attractions around Bali. Kuta, Sanur, and Seminyak are among the best tourist spots in Bali. The southern areas of Bali are warmer than other areas. The sandy beaches of Bali are well-known for abundance of coral reefs and marine life. The Beaches on the island include Sanur beach, Jimbaran, Soka beach, Nusa Dua, Medewi beach, Lovina beach, Kuta, and Legian beach. Beaches in Bali are famous for their magnificent view of sunset and surfing.

Numerous hotels are available on the shores of Nusa dua beach and these hotels offers comfortable swimming experience in secluded lagoons. Delicious gourmet food is also served on site.

pic by Chris&Steve

Sanur beach has calm and secluded lagoons which are suitable for activities such as wind surfing and para-sailing. Soka beach and Mediwi beach are situated between Despansar and Gilimanuk. Jimbaran Beach is some what attractive and is a favorite place for tourists as well as natives alike.

Several seafood restaurants are available on the shores of Jimbaran. Lovina Beach is most visited by the people around the world irrespective of the season. Most of the people visit here especially to view Dolphin swimming. Kuta is the best place for those who like a warm beach atmosphere. Also known as tourist mecca, the beach has several shops, pubs, and fully equipped first class hotels. Kuta beach is best for swimming and recognized for its random underwater currents.

Situated to the east of the island of Java, Bali is the primary focus of Indonesia’s booming tourist industry. Bali, one of the provinces in Indonesia, is divided into nine regions from west to east including Jembrana, Tabanan, Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem and Buleleng region.

Bali has a lot to offer tourists, from historical places to scenic views. The main reason why many tourists keep visiting Bali is Bali’s image as a beach destination. Several accommodation facilities are available in Bali. Private Villas with different price ranges are available. Most of the villas have a large array of amenities such as swimming pools, restrooms, change rooms, golf courses and tennis courts. Luxurious private villas with standard facilities are also available within your budget.

Below is a tourist map of Bali Island:

Tags: Bali, Bali Hotels, bali island, Bali Map, Bali Travel, Bali Vacation, beaches, Destinations, Exotic Island, festivals, food, Indonesia, Kuta, Nightlife, Nusa Dua, paradise, religion, Resorts, Sanur, The Best Place To Live

by rachel_82 on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 | Entertainment, Indonesia, News | 3 Comments

I condemned the people that go ahead to do this. An update from the local government says the suspects disguised as hotel guests while bringing in the explosives materials. They then constructed the bombs inside their hotel rooms. That explains how the security couldn’t detect the bombs in the cars.

Have anyone of you been to these hotels? Anyone has personal story about this incident?

Cries and screams are heard after two bombs exploded in Jakarta. Those two bombs hit J.W. Marriot and Ritz-Carlton, Mega Kuningan, Jakarta. A young lady ran out from the hotel asked for help. From the other side of the hotel, many foreigners made calls to book the soonest airlines ticket to leave the city. Nine people reported dead and at least fifty people are injured from the incident.

Policemen and paramedics are still in the location to do further investigation. The bomber was suspected to go the underground tunnel that connects those two hotels. The tunnel was made as a shortcut for their employees that needs to go back and forth to both hotels. As of now, they’re suspecting that there are still bombs inside the hotels.

Police said the bomb at the Marriott likely came from the basement beneath the coffee shop on the ground floor, which would have been busy at breakfast time.

More news from CNN.com

Here is another video from a local TV in Indonesia:

Key attacks in Indonesia, history of Jemaah Islamiyah

Police said it was too soon to say who might have been responsible, but Islamic militant network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has been blamed for a string of suicide attacks on local and Western targets in Southeast Asia in recent years.

The bombings were the first major attack in Indonesia since a series of suicide bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2005 blamed on JI. Here is a chronology of key attacks in Indonesia since 2000, and events in JI’s history:

1993: Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar found JI while in exile in Malaysia from dictator Suharto’s regime.

December 24, 2000: Improvised bombs disguised as Christmas gifts delivered to churches and clergymen kill 19 people and injure scores more across Indonesia.

December 30, 2000: Twenty-two people killed in a series of bombings in the Philippines blamed on Al-Qaeda-trained bomb expert Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi, alias Randy Ali.

June 2001: Mohammed Iqbal bin Abdurraham, aka Abu Jibril, arrested in Malaysia. US State Department freezes his assets two years later, saying he had been JI’s “primary recruiter and second-in-command.”

January 15, 2002: Al-Ghozi arrested in the Philippines. He escapes in July 2003 and is killed in a shootout with police three months later.

October 12, 2002: Bombs at crowded nightspots in the resort island of Bali kill 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Three men - Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra - are convicted of carrying out the bombings and sentenced to death but the suspected mastermind, Malaysian Noordin Mohammad Top, is at large.

August 5, 2003: A car bomb tears through the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta, killing 12 people and wounding 149 others.

August 11, 2003: Key JI leader Hambali, accused among other things of plotting to blow up US airliners, is captured in Thailand and handed over to US custody.

September 9, 2004: A suicide car bomb kills 10 outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

March 3, 2005: Bashir is sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of a “sinister conspiracy against the state.” He is released in June 2006 and his conviction is later overturned on appeal.

May 28, 2005: Twin bomb blasts kill 22 in a market in the Central Sulawesi town of Tentena in an attack bearing the hallmarks of JI.

The bombings come as JI moves to provoke a “holy war” between Muslims and Christians amid a local sectarian conflict that claims around 1,000 lives.

October 1, 2005: Three suicide bombers detonate explosives at tourist spots on Bali, killing 20.

Police track down alleged bomb-maker Azahari Husin, a compatriot and ally of Noordin, and kill him in a volley of gunfire on November 9 on Java island.

June 9, 2007: Police arrest self-proclaimed JI leaders Zarkasi and Abu Dujana in Java. Both men are sentenced to 15 years in prison in April 2008.

June 28-July 2, 2008: Police round up 10 members of an alleged cell linked to Noordin in South Sumatra.

November 9, 2008: Bali bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are executed by firing squad.

July 17, 2009: At least nine people are killed and 41 injured, many of them foreigners, when bombs exploded in the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta. Police said it was too soon to say who might have been responsible. A third explosion was reported near a shopping complex several hours later, but police later denied that it was also caused by a bomb.

Source: asiaone.com

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by wildcherry on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 | Attraction, Travel | No Comments

Long ago, in the ancient period around 1500 years ago, the dye resist designs on the cloth were found in Egypt and the Middle East along with the two major countries, samples are also found in Turkey, India, China, Japan and West Africa around hundreds of years ago. In the present date, Batik is highly developed form of art found on the island of Java, Indonesia. In the 17th century, the fabrics were highly decorated with Dutch transcripts, by it is often believed that complicated designs in Java were possible when the finely woven imported cloth that was from India to Indonesia in 1800s and then from Europe in 1815. The similar Batik designs that were done on textiles earlier are noticed on stone statues that are beautifully sculptured on the walls of Javanese temples like Prambanan AD 800, but then it is not yet confirmed that the cloth was Batik. These designs could be produced by weaving techniques too. However, by the 19th century became greatly developed form of art in the cultural life of the Javanese.

See More Batik Handbags at Boncherry Store

There were some specific Batik designs worn by the Javanese royalty and thus it was felt that Batik was originally meant to be worn by the monarchs of the royal Sultan’s palace. The Princesses and royal women might have encouraged the finest designs of Batik that reflect the traditional patters. Well, the untidy dyeing work with consequent waxing was done by the court artisans who worked under their direction.

Known as the great fans of art, Javanese royalty supported the development of traditional art form like silver embellishment, leather puppets known as wayang kulit in java and gamelan orchestra. The Javanese dalang (puppeteer) was a major source for the Batik patterns too. Wayang puppets are made from goat skin which was treated and colored to build false impression on the puppet, were usually sold to women who could get the necessary idea of batik designs from these puppets. The used charcoal and blew it through the holes that describe the design of puppet clothing, so that they could copy complicated patterns onto the cloth.

See More Handbags at Boncherry

However, some scholars deny the fact that Batik was originally meant for royalty as they feel that it is meant for the rakyat, the people too. It was considered as a significant job for young women of the Central Java, revealing the fact that they are capable enough to handle a canting (an instrument shaped like pen to apply wax to the cloth) with enough tact and skill just like skills used in cookery or other household arts.

Tags: art of batik, Bali, bali batik, bali island, batik, batik handbag, beach handbag, history of batik, Indonesia, java, modern use of batik

by wildcherry on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | Attraction, Travel | No Comments

This event happened in Bireuen (Aceh), Indonesia. You’ve to see it for yourself but the statue is suddenly crying. The miracle happens for a whole day and when non believers try to check whether there’s a leak or any trick they couldn’t find it.
The tears come out of the eyes naturally and after a whole day crying the eyes gradually becomes red. The next day the eyes started to return to normal.

Do you need to see it in person to believe it?

Tags: aceh, Air Mata Buddha Sakyamuni, bireuen, Buddha, Buddha Sakyamuni, crying Buddha, Crying Buddha Statue, Indonesia, patung buddha menangis, Sakyamuni

by nate on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 | Attraction, Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

I used to live in Indonesia for 19 years, not far away from Bali (about 7 hours driving or an hour flight). People also nickname Bali with “Pulau Dewata” (gods & goddesses island). Most of the Balinese are Hindu followers, maybe this is the reason they call it Pulau Dewata. I used to have family trips, and Petra’s (my school name) junior-high farewell party here, and this article below has reminded me how beautiful Bali was… besides, I’m going there this Fall for my brother’s wedding, ow yeah, anybody wants to join?

article is taken from travel.yahoo.com

WRitchie, flickr

WRitchie, flickr

Hagwall, flickr

Ifindkarma,flickr

Bali has earned itself a long string of appellations, including the “Morning of the World,” “Island of the Gods” and the “Last Paradise on Earth.” Although it has undergone much development, most of the island still deserves those accolades. Its natural beauty, the colorful Balinese Hindu festivals and the friendliness of the people lure vacationers here again and again.

South Bali Arriving at the airport, most tourists head straight for the beach areas of Kuta, Sanur, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua, the latter an isolated tourism enclave with scores of hotels, shopping malls and, of course, miles of white sand. Nusa Dua draws tourists wanting a more benign vacation, with all the amenities star-rated accommodations can bring, whereas Kuta is touted for its spectacular sunsets, superb surf breaks and a vibrant nightlife. Chockablock with shops, restaurants, pubs and discotheques, Kuta forms a center for the young to congregate and dance until dawn. Jimbaran Bay, another place to watch the sun go down, prides itself for its seafood-on-the-beach eateries. The waters here are much calmer than in Kuta and therefore safer for children. Those with tamer tastes normally prefer the mild surf and quiet evenings at Sanur Beach . The capital city of Denpasar bustles with traffic and trade. Sightseers enjoy visiting the Pasar Badung (a traditional market currently under renovation), Pura Jagatnatha temple, the Bird Market and catching a glimpse of Balinese culture at Bali Provincial State Museum . Other destination spots include: Taman Werdi Budaya art center and the College of Performing Arts . One can embark on a shopping binge at Jalan Hasanuddin and Jalan Sulawesi , both lined with gold shops. The latter street also sells glorious textiles of all sorts. For clothes at rock-bottom prices, check out Ramayana or Matahari department stores or Tiara Dewata.

Central Bali Moving north out of Denpasar, one passes through several craft villages, starting with Batubulan. Previously a trove for real antiques, Batubulan now features shops that only take custom orders for good-quality reproductions. One can also witness the carving of tufa statues and watch numerous barong dances. The Bali Bird Park makes for an educational and colorful trip, with its tropical birds and komodo dragons galore. Celuk, the next settlement, packs countless silver and gold retailers, such as Melati Art Shop and Puspa Mega. Sukawati sports the Pasar Seni Sukawati art market, the ideal spot for tracking down woodcarvings, textiles, paintings and other handicrafts at bargain prices. This town is also home to most of Bali’s puppet masters, such as Wayan Nartha and Wayan Mardika. Traditional Balinese paintings prove popular in Batuan village, where artistry runs high and the ancient gambuh dance-drama often entertains. Many visitors also come here to appreciate relief woodcarvings, another art form shops like Dewata specialize in. Mas , a woodcarving enclave farther up north, showcases woodcarver Ida Bagus Tilem at the Tilem Fine Art Gallery and mask carver Ida Bagus Anom, among many others. Ubud, once a sleepy artists colony, has evolved into an upscale tourist resort. With performances every evening and at least three major museums, much awaits culture buffs here. Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women and Pura Taman Saraswati temple on Main Street are equally engaging. An excursion to Pejeng outside Ubud reveals numerous antiquities, including the fascinating reliefs of Yeh Pulu and a scattering of quaint temples: Goa Gaja , Pura Penataran Sasih , Pura Kebo Edan, Pura Samuan Tiga , Pura Pusering Jagat and Pura Agung Batan Bingin. Many roads lead up to Kintamani. When passing through Bangli, stop by and admire the Pura Kehen and the ancient banyan tree in its courtyard. Pura Ulun Danu Batur , one of Bali’s most splendid temples, overlooks Mount Batur and affords a breathtaking view of Lake Batur.

East Bali: Mount Agung and the Environs East of Ubud lies Klungkung Regency and Karangasem Regency. The market in Klungkung Town boasts some of the best textiles on the island and a few antique stores along the main road. Within Kerta Gosa , the pre-colonial hall of justice, murals fill the ceilings, depicting punishments that await wrongdoers. Some of Bali’s most remarkable terraced rice fields abound in Sidemen valley, Karangasem. The great Pura Besakih , perched on the slope of Mount Agung , offers yet more enchanting panoramas. Many tourists also pay homage to ancient villages such as Tenganan Pegringsingan , which carves a niche in the production of geringsing—the sacred double ikat cloth—and tightly woven baskets. Northward in the tiny fishing settlement of Amed , brightly colored fish dart around offshore.

West Bali In the less-developed Tabanan Regency, one can drive for kilometers and see nothing but paddy fields. Dramatic landscapes characterize Jatiluwih village, like the thriving coffee and vanilla cultivation in the lush mountainous area around Pura Batu Karu. Similarly cool due to its high elevation, the area around Lake Bratan incorporates several highlights— Pura Ulun Danu Bratan , Pasar Candi Kuning (a fruit and spice market) and the Bali Botanical Gardens . The temple projecting out into the sea at Tanah Lot makes a perfect spot for a sundowner. Pura Taman Ayun , a garden temple in Mengwi, presents another lovely spot to drop by.

North Bali North Bali lies beyond the mountain ranges, across a much drier region better known for its influx of Arab, Chinese and Dutch traders centuries ago. Singaraja, to illustrate, holds remnants of Dutch architecture, bearing witness to its colonial past. Farther westward is Lovina beach resort, where dolphins can be seen at sunrise. Pura Pulaki , one of the island’s most sacred temples, is believed to be the first one built by the great itinerant priest Danghyang Nirartha. To see a contrasting architecture, be sure to visit Pura Medawe Karang . Menjangan Island, a 30-minute boat ride from Labuhan Lalang, supports some of Bali’s best underwater life. It forms part of the 76,000 hectare West Bali National Park , which provides refuge to the rare Bali Starling. Text by Rucina Ballinger Photo by Leonardo Wisnoe Marmanto and Neezam Abdul Rahim

Tags: Bali, beach, beautiful island, exotic, Indonesia, Pulau Dewata, tropical island

by echandr on Saturday, March 28th, 2009 | Diary, Life | No Comments

Indonesia is strategically situated between two continents and two oceans. Everybody knows it. My elementary school teacher back then never stopped telling us how blessed a country we are living in. We have large population and abundance of natural resources. We have vast and all-seasons-productive landbanks. We have great waters with extreme supply of fishes and other sea-products. We have so many things that other countries could only dream of.

When I was in the States few years ago, I recalled watching Olympic games on TV with few ex-colleagues from other countries. One of them was from Germany. He asked me where I’m from and soon found out I’m from Indonesia. A country with large population, he only knew by the beautiful BALI and terrorism news on CNN, but had not had any medals yet. Then he asked me the very question which I was not able to speak up. He said, the population of Indonesia is almost 7 times the Germany’s, and how could it possible the Germans had won 7 gold medals, while Indonesia hadn’t got a single medal…even the bronze one.

This question still stuck in my head till date. I came back here a couple years ago and things have changed a lot compare to the time when I left. But things only change in forms…not in substance. My ex-boss in his auditing linggo frequently said “FORMS OVER SUBSTANCE”. Yeah…many changes since 1998 (reformation phase). But most of them only good in appearance. Substantially, we are even worse with those back in before 1998.

Executive body is now counter-balanced by the Legislative body. Autonomy and decentralization are in place. But that only transfers corruptions and manipulations to provincial and lower levels. People have to spend much more undertable money, but things are not getting done any faster.

Legislative body is supposedly to check and balance the power in Executive’s hands. Instead of doing their jobs for the sake of the people, they tend to enrich and protect the sake of their parties and their owns. They are the two-faced devils, playing angels & demons. Greedy, uncivilized, uneducated, selfish, corruptive and hypocritical…are the common natures existed with those so-called the “highly-honored people representatives”.

Judicative body is expected to be the invincible hand to bring justice and fairness to all of our people. But guess what…they are the smugs and also “the other” devils in the Three Great Pillars of our beloved country. They might be well-educated, but still have the same natures with those in the Executive and Legislative bodies. Greedy, uncivilized, selfish, corruptive, manipulative and hypocritical….or anything else…you could just name it.

Montesquee once said, if a country has this three great pillars in place properly, its people will live in peace and harmony. Welfare is just a matter of time.

So..what’s wrong with our beloved Indonesia? Everything is right in place. In fact, they are perfect. But we have three pillars mistakenly shaped up and built. Nobody and/or no other nation in the world will be able to help us. Us..and only us..can help our self. Why should we let our blessed country, cursed by its very own people?

Our late president, Ir. Soekarno, used to say…”een rimple in the ocean” (if I don’t quote it mistakenly). Yeah…I’m just a ripple in the ocean…and we need an extremely colossal wave to change the whole course…..we shouldn’t wait…we have to make it happen……

Tags: corruption in indonesia, Indonesia, indonesia ecnomy, indonesia news, indonesia wellfare, soekarno

by wildcherry on Friday, March 27th, 2009 | News, World | 2 Comments

I was born in Jakarta, so to see this disaster happened, is saddening. I do hope this event brings a wake up call to improve Jakarta infrastructure. I believe even though it will cost a lot but the cost will be justified with the amount of buildings saved from flooding in the future! This is another global warming effect that’s currently happening such as the North Dakota flooding. It’s time to change our habit!

The flooding swamped hundreds of homes in the Tangerang district

Telephone lines were toppled and cars swept along for hundreds of metres.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Heavy rains caused a dam on the outskirts of Jakarta to burst Friday morning, sending a deadly cascade of water and mud through hundreds of houses, killing at least 60 people, police said.

The dam broke at about 4 a.m., tearing through a crowded urban area in a low-lying valley, surprising residents in their sleep, witnesses said. Within minutes, several neighborhoods were engulfed in mud and water.

Residents clawed through mud Friday afternoon looking for survivors. Hundreds of residents were evacuated to a nearby university where family members were searching through bodies for loved ones. Police said the death toll rise sharply as more victims are found.

The military cleared debris to help reduce the flooding while rescue teams with long poles searched for victims in the water and the mud.

A man who was helping with the rescue effort said dozens were still missing in his neighborhood and that he had counted at least 70 bodies.

Read More:Cnn

Tags: dam breaks, Indonesia, indonesia dam breaks, indonesia earthquake, indonesia map, indonesia news, jakarta dam breaks, jakarta flood, jakarta indonesia, north dakota flood, situ gintung, situ guntung, tangerang flood, u.s. geological survey