By Supriyatin
SUNDA STRAIT, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano lets out a massive roar as it blasts a gigantic cloud of smoke and flaming red rocks hundreds of metres into the night sky.
A few hours later, a river of lava and stones glowing like embers glide down the slopes of Mount Anak Krakatau as the muted light of the rising sun tries to break through thick clouds settled above the mountain.
The volcano, whose name means “Child of Krakatau”, formed in the Sunda Strait close to Java island after Mount Krakatau’s legendary eruption in 1883. It rumbled to life about two weeks ago and since then has been dazzling scientists and visitors with its amazing pyrotechnics.
Scientists monitoring the volcano say Anak Krakatau is not especially dangerous and will continue to rumble for some time, but warn people to stay out of a 3 km zone around the mountain.
“We are a little worried sometimes when we heard the big boom and we see rocks that fall from, I don’t know, half kilometre from the hole,” Chad Bouchard, one of a group of eight tourists who spent the night in a boat in the ocean to watch the volcano.
“Sometimes we see the splash inside the ocean. That’s a little scary but no, I think it might be stupid but I feel safe.”
DEVASTATING DISASTER
Anak Krakatau, which lies 42 km from the nearest observation post in Serang on the westernmost edge of Java, gradually formed after the volcanic island of Krakatau blew up in a massive eruption in 1883, triggering tsunamis and killing more than 36,000 people.
Ashes from that eruption, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history, were carried by upper level winds as far away as New York City.
Krakatau, one of dozens of volcanoes in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, last erupted in 1988, but its eruptions have never approached the ferocity of its parent.
Child of Krakatau is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, but authorities have not yet raised the alert level to the highest which would require the evacuation of people around the volcano.
A vulcanologist monitoring Anak Krakatau said the volcano was likely to rumble and roar for some time.
“It is still at the third level of alert. It is safe and there aren’t any problems. There were approximately one hundred explosions yesterday,” Saut Simatupang, head of volcano observation in Bandung, told Reuters.
“If the energy is the same as this, it is more likely it will stay at this level for quite some time as the tremors are frequent. Today only, there have been one hundred.”
Visitors who had their morning coffee in a boat in the shadow of the volcano in the Sunda Strait’s choppy waters about a one-and-a-half-hour ride from the mainland said they felt safe.
“It’s spectacular, it’s just amazing to be here,” said Patricia Anderton, a tourist from New Haven in the United States.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be able to see it.”
Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/
November 12th, 2007
Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Sydney
What’s happening in the underground world in Indonesia may one day take the international fashion world by storm.
At least that’s how Jodia Natapradja, an Australian-born clothing and accessories designer whose parents came from Bandung, perceives growing clothing scene from the city.
“There are so many happening things in Bandung for fashion design there. It’s untapped and the world has yet to see,” says the 26-year-old designer for Insight 51 label, a street and surf wear brand from Sydney.
Jodia says that creative-wise, the young designers from Bandung, who establish their own distros (independent label), have much to offer to the global urban fashion scene.
The label that he works (also known as Insight) was formed 10 years ago by an Australian surfer. Then it designed only t-shirts but has now shifted into designing more dress.
The brand is similar to other surf labels, such as Quiksilver, Billabong and Ripcurl, but has an eclectic edge to its design, apparent in its t-shirts, handbags and scarves.
Insight, which target market are people from age 16 to 25, started with only 25 personnel. Now it has more than 60 people with brand presence in 40 countries. Besides the U.S. and Europe, the label has entered the Indonesian market in which it has its own domestic designers.
“I’ve tried to tell the people in Insight Indonesia to check out the distros rather than the big name shops. The designers for those distros have the most talent. They have an international kind of flavor,” says Jodia, who visits Bandung twice a year.
Insight headquarter in Sydney supervises the blueprint from Indonesia. The Indonesian team proposes the design of apparel that they like, because “obviously they know more than we do on what will sell there,” he says.
“They send their artwork to me. If they fit within our guidelines than I will approve it or tell them to make some changes.”
For the Indonesian market, the label needs a conspicuous modification.
“Our clothes can become quite expensive. And for Indonesians, if they buy expensive clothes, they like to show the brand. Whereas here, a lot of customers don’t like to have their Insight brand shown on their clothes.”
The trend of style in Indonesia tends to be a bit slower than Australia. Sydney has a 10-week cycle. Every 10 weeks the creative artists need to come up with fresh ideas for the designs.
Despite his affection towards Bandung, Jodia reckons that Sydney is richer in inspiration for urban design rather than Indonesian cities.
“In Indonesia, there isn’t a city where you can go and walk around outside. The cities is so congested, there are so many people and everything is based around a shopping mall.”
Insight t-shirts, which are manufactured in China and a few in Indonesia, have starting retail price of about AUS$50 (Rp 400,000) and go higher for the clothing selection.
Its market so far is obviously Australia. But soon, Jodia says, Europe and the U.S should take over.
“Although I’m an Australian citizen, I still feel Indonesian,” says Jodia at his office, which is basically a warehouse cum office space.
Nonetheless, Jodia says that living outside Indonesia has its own benefit.
“When I was living (in Indonesia) it was really hard for me to express myself. Maybe it’s just the way of living. I found it hard for me to speak out or express my mind whereas here, I live in a multicultural country, your mind is already open to other things.”
Jodia, a huge hip hop fan, says that he takes much inspiration such a cooperative climate, which should be developed.
A multitude of Indonesians living here who should be more of them designing stuff and bringing their cultural distinction here, he adds. “I still feel a big connection with Indonesians. I meet many of them during Idul Fitri events or Indonesian bazaars.”
Meanwhile, a designer from Bandung’s Distro 347, Dendy Darman, says that the unique lifestyle of the inhabitants make all the difference.
“The street visual style of Bandung derives from a myriad of perspective. We are a mix of people from different backgrounds such as skateboarders and ‘indie’ musicians,” he says.
“It’s a close-knit community so we influence each other.”
Dendy, who sees himself more as having a career in the creative rather than the clothing industry, adds that compared to the style in Jakarta, Bandung’s style is generally “easier to digest”. “Visually, Jakarta is more avant-garde.”
Dendy, who is one of five main designers for the label, says that good relations between communities of two cities, such as Jakarta and Bandung, can boost a better hybrid in fashion design.
Source: The Jakarta Post
November 12th, 2007