Archive for May, 2007
A vast 900,000 hectares of water are newly protected in the Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat.
This month, Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Freddy Numberi formalized traditional community efforts to safeguard marine life when he announced the creation of a network of seven marine protected areas (MPAs) encompassing the region’s diverse coral reefs, mangrove forests, and other coastal ecosystems.
The ground-breaking declaration is built on years of collaboration among local communities and non-governmental organizations, including Conservation International (CI), to better protect Raja Ampat and the broader Bird’s Head Seascape.
The announcement brings the Indonesian government significantly closer to its goal of protecting 10 million hectares of coastal marine ecosystems by 2010, and allows CI to fully meet its own objective to help establish 20 MPAs by that same year.
Community-Led and Co-Managed Effort
Communities of Raja Ampat have long made their livings in harmony with the sea. Recently, though, fishermen using destructive fishing methods entered the region. Now fish stocks are decreasing and coral reefs increasingly show signs of damage from human impact.
In 2003, representatives of Raja Ampat’s 88 traditional communities decided to work with CI, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and others to reverse negative trends. Together, they fostered a better understanding of how restrictions on commercial and destructive fishing can improve human welfare and conserve biodiversity. In November and December 2006, these communities held a series of traditional ceremonies signifying their intent to establish large-scale MPAs. The Indonesian government officially declared those MPAs this month.
“The communities have really taken the lead in creating these new MPAs,” said Mark Erdmann, CI regional coordinator for the Bird’s Head Seascape .
“We’ve repeatedly witnessed tear-jerking speeches from older fishermen about how easy it used to be to fill a canoe with fish, and how outside fishers using commercial fishing gears and destructive practices have now greatly reduced their fishing opportunities,” he added. “They look forward to trying to return things to the way they were.”
Under the new designation, communities and local government will co-manage the MPAs. Communities also will help to patrol the area and curb practices like bomb and cyanide fishing, which kill reefs and indiscriminately strip them of fish stocks. The waters will be protected in keeping with longstanding tribal customs that call for traditional resource extraction closures known as sasi.
“We are strongly committed to working with the traditional communities to ensure that these MPAs reach their true potential,” said CI-Indonesia Marine Director Ketut Putra.
Richest Seascape on Earth
Raja Ampat and the broader Bird’s Head Seascape are among the most stunning and biologically diverse places on Earth.
Recent marine research has helped local communities prove why Raja Ampat’s waters are worth protecting. A series of biological surveys led by CI and TNC in the past four years have revealed that Bird’s Head is home to nearly 1,300 species of coral reef fishes and 600 species of hard coral – the highest marine biodiversity level recorded for an area this size anywhere on the planet. In 2006, more than 50 previously unknown species of shrimp, coral, and reef fish were discovered – including two kinds of “walking” epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium spp.).
Much of this biodiversity is believed to exist nowhere else on the planet.
“Finding new species like the ‘walking’ shark demonstrates why the Bird’s Head is so important,” says Sebastian Troëng, CI’s director of regional marine strategies. “Our surveys highlight the need to conserve priority marine areas before they are degraded by overexploitation.”
Providing Science to Inform Government Decisions
CI and partners have made a well-informed case for protecting Raja Ampat to governments and local communities. At a December 2006 meeting with the Minister of Marine Affairs, CI-Indonesia Vice President Jatna Supriatna, Marine Director Ketut Sarjana Putra, and CI Chairman and CEO Peter Seligmann urged the national and regional governments to focus on sustainable development rather than pursuing the short-term economic benefits of open-pit mining. They also emphasized the need for law enforcement in Raja Ampat’s new MPAs.
The Minister echoed these concerns during his announcement, urging the government to forego further mining activities and focus instead on sustainable fisheries and marine tourism development. Mining and logging threaten to increase erosion and sedimentation and degrade water quality, which in turn, kill coral reefs and fish populations to the detriment of traditional fishing villages.
In a series of panel discussions facilitated by CI earlier this month, the leader, or Bupati, of Raja Ampat signed two Memoranda of Understanding with neighboring regencies to jointly develop marine tourism and work cooperatively to eliminate destructive fishing practices in the region.
Kate Barrett, Staff Writer
Conservation International
May 31st, 2007
Amid all the destruction and loss of life caused by last year’s Java earthquake, one often overlooked casualty was Yogyakarta’s handicraft industry.
But a year after the May 27 quake, which devastated Yogyakarta and parts of Central Java, the industry is beginning to bounce back.
“After the quake, the wood used to make primitive-style statues was gone. And if there was any available, it was too expensive,” said Bandiyah, 45, who crafts Pucung primitive-style statues in Pendowoharjo village in Sewon district, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.
Following the quake, many handicraft makers were unable to restart production because there was no timber on the market, having all been channeled into reconstruction work.
Bandiyah said in the weeks and months after the quake, a cubic meter of teakwood branches with a diameter of about 10 cm cost Rp 800,000, a 100 percent increase from the previous price of Rp 400,000.
“Even the prices of other materials like glue and nails rose dramatically, meaning most handicraft makers could not start production.”
But in the past two months, with most reconstruction work already finished, the handicraft industry has started to bounce back.
Bandiyah said that of around 35 statue-makers in Pucung hamlet, half have restarted production. Most of their output is destined for export markets in Australia and Europe.
The owner of Ungu gallery, Aji, said that despite the rising prices of materials, he had resisted passing on the costs to his buyers from Australia, Germany, Poland and Sweden.
“This means the profit is not much …. but it’s better than doing nothing,” said Aji.
He said before the quake his gallery exported three containers of statues a month, but that is now down to one.
Prices depend on statue size, with a 15-cm statue selling for Rp 40,000, up to Rp 150,000 for a two-meter statue.
After months of idleness, there is a new buzz at many of the handicraft production centers in Yogyakarta. These include the ceramic production center in Panjangrejo village in Pundong district, a leather production center in Mading and a wooden batik handicraft center in Krebet.
“Most handicraft businesses have restarted production, even if they are only using the simplest of tools,” said Sakir, one of about 200 ceramic makers in Panjangrejo village.
The area’s handicraft businesses were also helped by sympathetic buyers who understood the situation and pushed back delivery deadlines rather than cancel orders. Some buyers even put in larger orders, to help the businesses get back on their feet.
“We have been given time to meet orders because of the quake, and some buyers even increased their orders,” said Hendro Seno, a bag maker from Gilangharjo village in Bantul.
According to data from the provincial trade, industry and cooperatives office, the earthquake affected 2,650 small and medium businesses.
The result of this can be seen in last year’s exports from the province, which amounted to US$126 million, down from $143 million in 2005.
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
May 31st, 2007
SEMARANG: The Semarang International Garment and Textile Accessories Exhibition 2007 is underway at the Central Java Recreation and Development Promotion Center in Semarang from May 23-26, featuring various sophisticated textile machines and the latest textile products from 14 countries.
The expo, with 117 participating companies representing 14 countries including China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S., is expected to generate US$20 million in business deals and transactions.
The same event held in West Java once recorded deals worth $50 million.
According to Central Java Industry and Trade Office head Abdul Sulhadi, the exhibition is part of the province’s endeavor to facilitate restructuring of the local textile industry.
Central Java is in need of updated textile machinery to enhance its competitiveness against foreign-made fabrics. Of the 74,943 textile manufacturers operating in 21 areas, including the major production centers of Solo, Semarang, Pekalongan, Tegal, Sragen, Jepara and Kudus, 70 percent still use 15- to 25-year-old equipment.
“With outdated apparatus, our productivity is falling. We won’t be able to penetrate the tight competition on the global market. Banking circles even call Central Java’s textile factories a ’sunset’ industry,” said Sulhadi.
– Jakarta Post / Suherdjoko
May 31st, 2007
The central government will support a bid to include Nias Island, in North Sumatra, as a world heritage site.
Representatives from various organizations, academics, researchers, the government and members of the general public attended a meeting Friday in Medan, North Sumatra, to discuss the bid.
The meeting was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in cooperation with the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and North Sumatra University.
Head of the World Heritage Center’s working committee, Risman Musa, said Nias had a good chance of being listed as a world heritage site, due to its unique cultural heritage.
The island boasts traditional houses which date back hundreds of years, megalithic sites and artifacts, traditional villages, a variety of local languages, special handicrafts and traditional architecture.
Risman, who is also deputy head of religious, cultural and tourism affairs at the Coordinating Ministry for People’s Welfare, said the government would submit a bid to the World Heritage Center in Paris, France, to include Nias as a world heritage site.
“Every year, the World Heritage Center offers Indonesia and other countries the chance to submit bids to have their potential natural and cultural sites listed as world heritage sites. This year, we will submit a proposal to support Nias as an Indonesian cultural heritage site,” Risman told The Jakarta Post.
He said there were a number of other potential heritage sites in the country that his office would include in the proposal, such as Bali, Tamansari in Yogyakarta and Raja Empat in Papua.
Risma said the last Indonesian site to be listed by the World Heritage Center was Bukit Barisan National Park in Sumatra, in 2005.
“Indonesians should be proud, because so far seven of the country’s heritage sites have been listed as world heritage sites,” said Risman.
UNESCO’s assessment report on Nias’ cultural heritage in 2006 recommended the Indonesian government endorse the inclusion of Nias and surrounding islands as a world heritage site.
Chairman of the national committee for UNESCO Arief Rachman said he supported the proposal and urged the government to immediately seek experts on the island’s culture and history.
“It’s ironic that we don’t have local experts on Nias yet. Those who specialize in the culture and history of Nias are from Germany and the Netherlands,” said Arief, expressing hope North Sumatra University could help train local experts.
South Nias Regent Fahuwusa Laia, who also attended the meeting, said he welcomed the idea.
“If Nias becomes a world heritage site, it will help promote both local and international tourism to Nias and nearby islands.”
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
May 30th, 2007
Profile
Introduction
Based on local tale, the word Candirejo was came from the word Candighra. Then this Candighra was moved to Candirga, and this word moved again to Candirja. And while the time walked through, this word also has its changing. Until now, the word stays for Candirejo. Now, this word stays for the village located in Magelang regency, one of regencies in Central Java province, Indonesia territory.
Candirejo is built by two words, candi and rejo. Both are Javanese. In english, candi can be meant by temple, but if we refer to Javanese, it meant rock/stone. And the word rejo can be meant by fertile. In fact, Candirejo village is located in area with many rocks around. It is understandable because the region where Candirejo village is located, is part of Menoreh mountain ground. Menoreh mountain is used to be a volcano. The existence of the word candi (stone/rock) is also strengthen by names of some regions in this village. There are regions named of Watu Kendhil, Watu Ambeng, Watu Dandang, etc., where word watu is have a meaning of stone. So, if both meaning are constucted together, the word Candirejo can have a meaning of one area with many rocks within, but it is fertile.
Another version of the tale; this village is named by Candirejo because some old temples (candi) were found in this area. In Brangkal, an old temple was found, and people called the temple as Brangkal temple (candi Brangkal).
Candirejo village is one of ten villages which part of Natural Resources Management for Local Community Empowerment (NRM-LCE) Project. This project is handled by PATRA-PALA foundation, local villagers, and the government of Magelang regency. This project is fully supported by Japan International Corporation Agency (IICA). For this area, this spesific project’s purpose is conservation of Menoreh mountain area for its function as national monument and its world inherited culture..
Local Community
Local community of Candirejo village have good motivation for developing their life. Their local culture and the nature can be exploited to be a tourism interest. They have local handicrafts, local agriculture system, and another attractions which able to attract foreigners to visit.
The living of Candirejo villagers is dominated by agriculture activities. If they have a lot of agriculture products, they will move to Borobudur or Jagalan traditional market to sell them. Delman (horse riding carriage) is transportation means which is dominantly used by the locals.
The traditional houses of the locals are called “rumah Jawa Kampung” and “rumah Jawa Limasan”, and in English, rumah Jawa means Javanese house. In this type of houses, the kitchen is separated from house. Woods are stil main material for cooking.
Tourism Facilities
Tourism Interests
As one of ten villages of NRE-LCE program, the purity of local traditions and the nature
are main marks for Candirejo village. From here, Candirejo village has some interesets which
can be attracted foreigners to visit.
The local community empowerment is main objective from NRE-LCE program. The results can
be positive for locals to increase their economy. Now, we can meet many local handicrafts
made by natural resources around teh village. These can be good souvenirs for those visiting
the village.
Traditional Ceremonies
Nyadran is a ritual for sending requiem for ancestors which held one a year, in Rawuh month (Javanese calendar), welcoming Ramadhan (fasting month in Moslem calendar). In village degree, this ritual is lead by Mijil mount key-keeper, held in Mijil mount. Otherwise, in sub-village (Javanese: dusun), this ritual is lead by sub-village chief or religious leader. Main food prepared for this ritual is called Ingkung, a chicken boiled with some oreganos. This process is called “ukep” by the locals. Ingkung is served with rices and some vegetables.
The other rituals is Saparan and Perti Desa, which is held one a year in 15th of Sapar month (Javanese calendar). The purposes of these ritual are requesting that God will gives walfare for the locals and good harvests.
Series of Perti Desa are;
a. Sedekah Bumi/Selamatan Desa (Earth Offering/Village Ceremonial Ritual)
The components are;
- Tumpeng (Java: ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape) and Ingkung.
- Golong Milan Dusun, a collection of Golong rices, the amount is fifteen, represented of fifteen sub-village in Candirejo village.
- Nine Golong rices represent the unity of people and their leader.
- Larakan (Java: sajian), which consist of crops.
- Golong Kencana.
b. Wayangan (The Puppet Show)
In wayangan, the components must be prepared are below.
- Jajan pasar, traditional foods which can be meet in Javanese traditional market. These represent request to God, in order that the local farmers can easily sell their crops to the sellers, and the sellers easily get customers.
- Toasted Ingkung.
- Two sets of coconuts.
- Little chicken (alive).
These traditional rituals represent relationship between human beings and God, the anchestors, the other human beings, and the nature.
Traditional Art
Long time ago, when Indonesia was colonized by Holland government, the Diponegoro prince (one of Indonesian heroes) followers visited Candirejo village. That moment then inspirated a traditional dance called Jathilan, describing war exercises of Dipoengoro’s riding horse troops. This art performance started developing from 1920 and now has some versions. Music accompanied this Jathilan is called karawitan.
Another traditional art performance is wayangan (the puppet show). There are three kinds of wayangan; wayang kulit (leather puppet show), wayang golek (wood puppet show), and wayang orang (performed by men and women). Wayang kulit performance is often held along with a ritual or a traditional ceremony. This wayangan was appeared when Budha cultural influence came into this area.
After Budha era, Islam (Moslem) influence came to this area. This effect brought some art performances, such as Gatholoco/Wulangsunu dance, Kubrosiswo and Shalawatan that contain Islam life guiding for humans being.
Souvenirs
Pandanus Handicrafts
Pandanus plants are easily found in Candirejo village. But, not like the others that grown in coast area, these are smaller and more tight. Because of the characteristics, pandanus plants in this village are good materials for handicrafts.
Dominantly, pandanus plants are processed into floormates. These floormates are not only directly used, but they also can be a half raw materials for bags producing, little Jathilan houses, and other products. These products can be found in village traditional market, or in Borobudur temple park.
Bamboo Handicrafts
Candirejo village has many locations which have bamboo plants a lot. There are four types of bamboo plants in this village. They are pring wulung (black bamboo), pring petung (large-diameter bamboo), pring legi (sweet bamboo), and pring ijo (green bamboo). The locals utilize bamboo to make home furnitures, kitchen tools, home fences, and others. Besides of that, we can found local handicrafts made by bamboo plants, such as bamboo painting.
Accommodations
Candirejo village is equipped with some good enough accommodations. For allowing real traditional village atmosphere, accommodations provided in this village are just home stays.
Below is a list of home stays in Candirejo village..
Name of Homestay Owner Rooms
Alamanda Mr. Utoyo 2
Amarilis Mr. Agus Sutanto 2
Bunga Bakung Mr. Suramidi 2
Bunga Matahari Mr. Endro Suwarto 2
Cempaka Mr. Suhadi 2
Ceplok Piring Mr. Handi Kuswanto 2
Edelweiss Mr. Maduk Sasono 2
Kembang Setaman Mr. Tatak Sariawan 2
Kenanga Mr. Harjiyanto 2
Lavender Mr. Murwanto 2
Lily Mrs. Susana 5
Mawar Mrs. Genduk Tusiarno 3
Melati Mr. Alpandi 3
Nusa Indah Mr. Tribianto 2
Rafflesia Mr. Budi 2
Sakura Mr. Sareh Heryanto 3
Seruni Mr. Teguh 2
Soka Mr. Darsono 2
Tapak Dara Mr. Digdo Wijono 2
Wijaya Kusuma Mr. Sumidi 2
Package Tours
1. Village Tour
Join an exploratory village tour either on foot, by bicycle or Andong (horse drawn carriage) and gain insight and knowledge of local customs and traditions, art and handicrafts, traditional health drinks and the agricultural system of intercropping.
2. Menoreh Range
This tour gives you the chance to experience the everyday life of the village community. During the walk you will also gain an appreciation and knowledge of the local bird life, medicinal plants and the agricultural system Of intercropping used in the area.
3. Agricultural Tour
This tour will increase our awareness of the importance of conservation and the management of sustainable natural resources in this area. Learn about the agricultural system of intercropping used and get direct experience in the fields of planting, preparing the ground for cultivation and picking many kinds of fresh fruits.
4. River Activities
Want to catch fish like the locals? Join them with their “nylantrang” (fishing nets) and have a go yourself to find out if it is as easy as it looks! Need to cool off? Take the chance to bathe and swim in the river accompanied by a guide.
5. Nature Education Tour
This tour will increase your family’s awareness of the importance of conservation and the anagement of sustainable natural resources for the future prosperity of mankind. Learn about organic farming, the production of organic fertilizer and traditional local forms of nature conservation such as the custom of “ilag-ilag” among others.
6. Experience Local Life
Stay a while and really experience the local way of life of the Javanese community
in Candirejo. Stay in one of the traditional home stays and find out about the daily
activities by joining the owner from dawn to dusk and beyond. See how food is prepared and
cooked, experience life in the fields, at the river or around the village. You can also
take advantage of one of the other packages on offer to add to your experience and enjoyment.
7. Traditional Arts
Visitors have the chance to enjoy many traditional arts in Candirejo village. Each type of art has its own special characteristics as well as having strong local cultural value and enjoying them ogether with the local community gives the visitor a unique experience.
Supporting Facilities
Candirejo village can be reached from some big cities in Central Java and Yogyakarta. We can find Candirejo village from Semarang (capital of Central Java province), Solo, and Yogyakarta (capital of D.I. Yogyakarta province).
The distance from Semarang to Candirejo is about 90 kilometers. If we want to get Candirejo village from Ahmad Yani airport in Semarang, we can use taxi, and travel directly to Candirejo village. We can use buses, which served route from Semarang to Magelang regency. From Magelang, we can use public transportation to reach Candirejo, such as ojek (motorcycle) and delman (horse drawn carriage).
The distance from Solo to Candirejo village is about 100 kilometers. To get Candirejo village from Solo, we can use taxi if we start to go from Adi Sumarmo airport, Solo. If we use buses, we can go to Tirtonadi terminal in Solo, and choose the bus that served Tirtonadi terminal to Umbulharjo terminal route. From Umbulharjo terminal located in Yogyakarta, we can use bus to reach Borobudur terminal. From here, there are some public transportation vehicles which served route to Candirejo village, such as ojek and delman (Java: andong).
From Semarang, Solo, and Yogyakarta, the lowest distance to go to Candirejo village is provided from Yogyakarta. The distance from Yogyakarta to Candirejo village is about 40 kilometers. Taxi can be used to travel directly from Adi Sutjipto airport to this tourism village. Buses can be used from Umbulharjo terminal to Borobudur terminal. From Borobudur terminal, some public transportation vehicles are provided, such as ojek and delman..
Tourism Information Center
Koperasi Desa Wisata Candirejo
Sangen, Candirejo, Borobudur, Magelang
Central Java - Indonesia 56553
Phone +62(293)788608
Mobile (+62)8175414855 (contact: Ian), (+62)81328808520 (contact: Tatag)
May 29th, 2007
Massive waves failed to discourage tourists in Yogyakarta and Bali from flocking to popular beaches Saturday.
The long weekend has contributed to an increased number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting Bandung, Bali and Yogyakarta.
In Bali, thousands of tourists visited popular Kuta beach trying to get a glance at the giant waves, forcing Water Tourism Safety Agency workers to repeatedly request people to remain a safe distance from the water, Antara news agency reported.
The giant waves caused widespread panic among tourists relaxing on the island’s beaches Friday, and destroyed small houses on the Kedongan and Jimbaran beaches.
Austrian tourist Manfred Jelovcan was continuing his holiday at Parangtritis beach in Yogyakarta despite reports of massive waves devastating southern coastal areas in Java, Bali and Sumatra.
“We love the sea so we take every chance we have to go to Parangtritis beach,” Jelovcan, who lives in Semarang, said Saturday.
On Saturday more than 800 people flocked to Parangtritis beach, a large jump from the average of 500 visitors.
However, according to Hadi, a ticket seller at the beach, there were not as many visitors as during other public holidays.
“If there had not been reports of massive waves, the number of visitors might have increased by four times the usual number. These massive waves are an annual phenomenon and there is no need for such fear,” he said Saturday.
Meanwhile, due to the public holiday, most hotels in Yogyakarta are fully booked.
Melia Purosani hotel’s public relations officer, Diyah Fatmawati, said 250 of the hotel’s 280 rooms were in use, with the remaining rooms still being repaired following the May 27 earthquake last year.
“All of the 250 rooms were fully booked from Thursday until Sunday,” she said.
Hyatt Yogyakarta hotel was also experiencing steady business due to the long weekend. A member of the hotel’s marketing team, Christoporus Yunanto, said the hotel’s 260 rooms were fully booked, with 60 percent of the guests being domestic visitors and 40 percent foreign visitors.
“Yogyakarta’s tourism industry has now recovered and many foreign visitors, such as Malaysians, are spending their holidays here,” he said.
The operator of Saptapari travel agency, Fauzan, said Yogyakarta has become a popular place to hold business meetings and family gatherings.
He said the massive waves had not affected tourism in Yogyakarta. “Yogyakarta is immune to such things. A month after the earthquake last year and Mount Merapi’s eruption, tourists started returning here. As long as there are no security or terrorism issues, people will continue to visit Yogyakarta,” Fauzan said.
The long weekend has also resulted in train company PT Kereta Api Indonesia having an increase in business. With many tourists returning to Jakarta from Yogyakarta, all tickets for economy and executive trains are sold out until Sunday.
In Bandung, hundreds of hotel rooms were booked by guests who reserved rooms well in advance.
“Three-star hotels in our company have been fully booked since Thursday and most guests are staying until Sunday,” Dadang, a member of the management team at a popular hotel, told Antara on Saturday, adding that most guests were visiting from Jakarta.
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Yogyakarta
May 28th, 2007
The forests of Kalimantan may be overexploited, but ecotourism is massively underdeveloped according to research by Lorna Dowson-Collins.
Malaysia now gets 10 per cent of its tourism revenue from folk in floppy hats and non-designer baggy shorts — Indonesia around five per cent. Sabah alone attracts 1.7 million visitors a year.
Those who reckon slapping on mosquito repellant is a great way to pass time are generally members of the so-called “Silent Generation”‘, couples whose kids have long flown the nest.
In the West,professionals from this 55-plus age group are usually well-heeled, want to stay active and have no interest in hedonism and shopping malls.
Then there’s the Baby Boomers, a generation younger and equally keen to get their feet wet. They also have purpose in pleasure,bringing the kids along because travel is educational.
It’s a market that has yet to get serious attention from Indonesian tourism authorities.
– Duncan Graham, The Jakarta Post
May 28th, 2007
One day in 1993, Wirda Hanim, a long-time resident of the West Sumatra provincial capital Padang, attended a traditional celebration at her village, Sumani, in Tanah Datar regency.
During the festivity, she observed some women and men wearing clay batik shawls, known locally as batik tanah liek. The shawls were already very old and worn, with patches everywhere. Local people, however, still wore the shawls with pride as a piece of traditional Minangkabau clothing.
Taking a closer look at the batik, Wirda realized the people handled the shawls with extreme care so they would not tear. Out of curiosity she asked some people about the batik and was astonished to learn that clay batik had not been made for about 70 years.
“I was worried (that clay batik would disappear forever), which moved me to produce batik tanah liek, just like the pieces they were wearing,” Wirda told The Jakarta Post recently.
Batik tanah liek is a hallmark of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra. It got its name because craftsmen use clay to dye the cloth. There is no historical record as to when clay batik first appeared in West Sumatra.
Many people believe batik tanah liek was influenced by Chinese culture and first appeared in what is now Tanah Datar regency. Clay batik suddenly disappeared during World War II, in particular during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia from 1942 to 1945
In 1993, Wirda already had an embroidery business in Padang, which she established in 1986. Her limited knowledge and experience in batik-making, particularly clay batik-making, however, did not discourage her.
Wirda consulted a batik teacher at a fine arts high school and asked him to experiment, imitating clay batik using synthetic materials. The teacher asked several students at the school to help out. Wirda provided the materials for the project, including the cloth and dye needed to make clay batik. The results were rather disappointing.
“While looking for a way out, I searched for and imitated the seahorse and phoenix motifs of old clay batik in my village. Aside from that, I also drew inspiration from Minang motifs in woodcarving and traditional cloths, and created new motifs by mixing up the old motifs,” said Wirda, who was born on May 8, 1952, in Batusangkar, also West Sumatra.
Wirda’s attempts to revive batik tanah liek seemed to have moved local officials. Six months later, the National Handicraft Council of West Sumatra organized a clay batik training course for 20 participants from Solok and Pesisir Selatan regencies.
Although Wirda was not invited to attend the training, she paid her own expenses just to participate in the program.
Still, she was disappointed with the training, and she decided to go to Yogyakarta to learn batik craft. However, after attending training in Yogyakarta for a few days she had to go back to Padang to attend to her embroidery business. Wirda then asked the Yogyakarta Batik Council to send an instructor to Padang on a three-month contract.
Before the instructor left for Padang, Wirda asked him to make copies of some old clay batik she brought along from Padang. Soon after making the copies, the instructor flew to Padang together with a young assistant, with Wirda paying all their expenses.
“Upon his arrival in Padang, he showed me the copies and I was extremely disappointed as they were not quite what I had expected. In fact, after working for two and a half months, none of the pieces they produced resembled the color of batik tanah liek that I liked,” she said.
For the experiments she spent more than Rp 20 million (US$2,300) which she borrowed from her husband Rusland Majid, a 71-year-old trader. She spent most of the money on silk, batik materials and equipment.
Still, the failures and high cost did not deter her. A week before the contract of the Yogya instructor ended, she recalled a color decorating lesson when she took a wedding cake course in Jakarta years earlier. She tested some coloring agents to find one compatible with the clay-like hue of the old batik.
“I tried them on 10 sheets of fabric, each measuring two meters long, and finally I got the tanah liek batik color, although only two pieces were comparatively good,” she said.
While experimenting, Wirda employed five batik makers. With this success, she started producing synthetic clay batik. For her marketing, she received great assistance from Zuraida Hasan Basri Durin, the wife of then West Sumatra governor Hasan Basri Durin. Zuraida championed the use of traditional batik at West Sumatra’s Darma Wanita and Bundo Kanduang women’s organizations. Wirda was even asked to offer her products to official guests from other regions in the hotels where they stayed.
“The visitors appreciated and showed interest in my batik, helping my business thrive,” she said.
In 2000 Wirda attended a training course on natural coloring techniques in Yogyakarta for a month. From then on, she tried natural materials for her clay batik. Once she collected brackish soil near her home, boiled it and mixed it with alum. And to her amazement, Wirda managed to produce batik tanah liek like the original ones she had found in Sumani village.
Now Wirda uses not only clay for her batik but also other natural materials such as gambir (betel nuts) and the skin of rambutan, jengkol nuts and red onions. In her two-story house, which also serves as her batik workshop, 15 workers produce 20 pieces of clay batik per month.
Owing to its complicated processing, the cost of batik tanah liek for shawls, sarongs and shirts range from Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million per piece. Buyers generally come from Jakarta, Malaysia and Japan, who want the unique products as souvenirs. And for her contribution to the revival of batik tanah liek the Indonesian government bestowed Wirda with the Upakarti Award of Merit in 2006.
“I want my employees to master embroidery and batik making skills so that they can stand on their own. I also hope that some of them will carry on my business and further develop batik tanah liek,” Wirda said.
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
May 25th, 2007
With about 17,508 islands, most of them still unnamed, Indonesia is among the most exotic neighbours that India has. Tito Dos Santos Baptista, Consul General Of The Republic Of Indonesia, Mumbai, speaks with Express TravelWorld about its India strategies.
What strategies are you employing to promote Indonesia here?
Our visa-on-arrival policy that started in August 2005 has made an instantaneous impact on arrivals. The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai is now planning various programmes to promote Indonesia in India like:
• Buyer-seller meets amongst the Indonesian and Indian travel agents
• Invitations to travel and tour operators from Indonesia to participate in outbound travel fairs held in India
• Road shows to be arranged through our ministry of culture & tourism and various Indonesian tourism boards in major cities of India in the form of cultural events, etc
• FAM tours to Indonesia for tour operators, MICE organisers, etc.
Any particular plans for the Indian travel agents?
On the sidelines of Expo Indonesia 2007, the ministry of culture & tourism, in co-operation with Consulate General of The Republic of Indonesia, Mumbai, had organised ‘Focus Group Discussion (FGD)’ chaired by the head of the Centre for Research & Development, Department of Culture & Tourism, whose officials interacted directly with the Indian tour operators and travel associations, outbound tour exhibition organisers and the media. Its objective was to get views and suggestions with regards to the Indonesian tourism promotion.
The consulate also wants to work in close co-operation with travel and tour associations of India like TAAI, TAFI, Indian Hotels & Restaurant Associations, operators, outbound travel mart organisers, outbound tourism marketing agencies and other related agencies.
Since every travel and tour operator has its own market characteristic, we would like to invite the Indian tour operator to observe our travel and tourism industry along with a wide range of hotel selections - from three-stars to five-stars as well as boutique and special class hotels and restaurants, so that they may experience a comprehensive spectrum of Indonesian tourism facilities. We want participants to choose the best option of tour package to fit the demand of their customers by having direct observation. We will arrange business meeting with Indonesian airlines, the local government and our tour operators during the trip to provide a direct contact for the participants.
Are you promoting any specific regions?
Our five priority regions to be promoted are West Sumatra, North and South Sulawesi, West Nusatenggara and East Nusatenggara that support the promotion of Bali and Yogyakarta. The Indonesian ministry of culture & tourism has recently formed directorate of MICE under the directorate general of tourism marketing. The new directorate is tasked to increase conventions and meetings by 50 per cent in 2007 to reach 300 this year, which was up from some 200 conventions held in 2006 in Indonesia’s main conventions destinations of Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta.
Indonesia finds substantial interest and growth in MICE business and looks at India as one of the emerging markets and we want to offer India in attractive packages at attractive prices.
What are the highlights of Indonesia as a destination?
Indonesia, a diverse nation of over 200 million people offers everything from value for money tour packages to the exotic eco-tourism, a world-class tropical underwater world, international class hotels and convention venues, and for the more adventurous a journey to the habitat of the fearsome komodo dragons. It is interesting to know that in 1970, Indonesia had 13,000 islands and in a span of 30 years, the Indonesian archipelago is now composed of 17,508 islands, most of them yet unnamed.
Bali has been confirmed as the host city for the PATA Travel Mart 2007, which will be held in Bali from September 25-28, 2007 and is expected to attract 1,500 sellers and buyers from around the world. Headquartered at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in Nusa Dua, the event on the Asia Pacific travel industry calendar moves to a new host destination each year.
Indonesia has had a long association with PATA…
Indonesia is a proud member of PATA, having hosted numerous PATA events in the past. We are honoured to host PATA Travel Mart in 2007. The event is instrumental to the ongoing recovery of the tourism industry in Bali and throughout the Indonesian archipelago. The Indonesian government assures each and every prospective delegate of a memorable and productive Pata Travel Mart 2007. The ministry has indicated its plans to promote special interest tours, including golf, community-based tourism, eco-tourism, village tours and marine tourism at the mart.
Do you have other events lined up this year?
Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo (TIME) or ‘Pasar Wisata’ will also be held in Bali this September. TIME is the premier tourism event in Indonesia, in which top industry policy makers, practitioners, sellers and buyers of Indonesian-based tourism products and services participate. With the slogan ‘Meet all of Indonesia under one roof’, TIME accommodates the interests of those who sell Indonesia’s tourism products and services to international markets. The event will feature most of Indonesia’s tourist attractions which include all popular destinations and special interests as well as top tourist facilities in the country. As Indonesia’s only international annual tourism trade show, TIME 2007 will bring together international tourism fraternity and Indonesian tourism industrial players to meet under one roof.
How would you rate the recently held Expo Indonesia 2007?
Expo Indonesia 2007 was the first ever Indonesian event, organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia during its existence in Mumbai since last 55 years. One of its main objective was to enhance relations between the two countries through trade, tourism and investment, and providing avenues to promote Indonesian business in world market, especially amongst the small and medium enterprises to the global Indian market under the accredited jurisdiction of Indonesian Consulate General, Mumbai and the Indian territory as a whole.
Express Travel World - Mumbay,India
May 25th, 2007
A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between Greece and Indonesia with Ms. Fani Petralia, the Greek Minister of Tourism Development and Mr. Sapta Nirwaydar substitute Minister of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia to give hands opening the way to a closer tourism approach of Greece with Indonesia.
“I am delighted for the cooperation between the two countries. We have many common with Indonesia. We both have many islands and both the people of the two countries are characterized for their hospitality. Greece is a popular destination and it has become a preferred destination. We respect our visitors and this is something that expresses Indonesia too. I am sure that we will have a very good and positive cooperation in tourism,” Ms Petralia stated in the Indonesian media.
“Our country is known worldwide for its cultural heritage. We must show our respect in our culture and heritage. If we lose our historic memory then there will be no future for us,” replied Ms. Petralia to a question of an Indonesian reporter regarding the importance of cultural heritage.
Michael Verikios - Greece and Indonesia strengthen tourism ties
May 24th, 2007
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