Archive for March, 2008
March 18, 2008—There’s a reason why the Togian white-eye is so elusive—there just aren’t many of the tiny yellow-green birds left.
Since 1997, field biologists on Indonesia’s Togian Islands in Sulawesi have gotten only fleeting glimpses of the brilliantly colored creature.
So when a team led by biologist Mochamad Indrawan finally secured a specimen, they sent the dead animal to Pamela Rasmussen, a well-known ornithologist at Michigan State University.
Rasmussen and colleagues confirmed it is a new species in the March edition of The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.
(See pictures of other new species recently discovered in Indonesia.)
The white-eye is part of a group of similar birds that inhabit Indonesia’s remote tropical regions. But unlike its relatives, the newfound bird has no white coloring across its eyes and sings a higher-pitched, more lilting song.
With an extremely limited range near the coasts of three small islands, the bird likely qualifies for the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species, the experts said.
The white-eye’s scarcity is not to human threats, Rasmussen told National Geographic News in an email, but further fieldwork will reveal more about its status.
“What this discovery highlights is that in some parts of the world there are still virtually unexplored islands where few ornithologists have worked,” she said in a statement.
“The world still holds avian surprises for us.”
—Christine Dell’Amore
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
March 19th, 2008
WONOSARI (KR)- Guna mendukung tahun kunjungan wisata 2008, jajaran Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Gunungkidul sudah melakukan ancang-ancang untuk menarik jumlah wisatawan sebanyak mungkin ke daerah ini. Jika selama ini yang menjadi primadona adalah objek wisata pantai, berbagai objek lainnya akan dipersiapkan dalam bentuk paket wisata baik wisata minat khusus, wisata alam, sejarah dan budaya. Kabupaten Gunungkidul yang merupakan wilayah perbukitan dan memiliki kawasan karst Gunungsewu, di dalamnya menyimpan potensi wisata seperti gua bawah tanah, sungai bawah tanah maupun wisata alam dan hutan. Namun potensi ini belum digarap secara optimal, sehingga belum mampu mendatangkan wisatawan minat khusus. Demikian dikatakan Kepala Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Gunungkidul Drs Sudodo MM ketika ditemui KR Senin (17/3). Adapun objek wisata alam yang bisa dikembangkan di antaranya Gua Paesan Tambakromo Ponjong, Gua Grubug dan Kali Suci, Semanu, Gua Lawa Ponjong dan beberapa gua lainnya. Sedangkan untuk kawasan hutan di antaranya Hutan Wanagama, Hutan Lindung di Pantai Wediombo, juga objek lainnya seperti upacara adat, cing-cinggoling, labuhan pantai selatan, rasulan dan lainnya. “Jika potensi ini dikemas pasti akan menarik wisatawan,” kata Sudodo. Untuk objek wisata pantai mulai dari Pantai Ngrenehan, kawasan Baron sampai Sadeng yang pada 2007 lalu mampu memberikan kontribusi terhadap Pendapatan Asli Daerah sebesar Rp 900 juta, masih perlu didorong lagi agar PAD bisa lebih besar, dengan melakukan pembenahan-pembenahan maupun penambahan fasilitas yang dibutuhkan oleh para wisatawan. Di samping itu juga perlu adanya upaya untuk menekan kebocoran baik dari dalam maupun dari luar dinas. Ada beberapa pantai yang segera dikembangkan di antaranya Pantai Sepanjang sebelah timur Pantai Kukup dan Pantai Ngandong sebelah barat Pantai Sundak. Di samping itu Disparbud Gunungkidul juga tengah menginventarisasi keberadaan potensi wisata alam, hutan, sejarah dan budaya termasuk desa wisata yang sudah mulai dibangkitkan sejak beberapa tahun lalu. Dari hasil inventarisasi tersebut akan segera dibuat paket untuk bisa dikunjungi wisatawan. Namun demikian karena objek wisata tersebut masih terkendala faktor infrastruktur terutama transportasi maka perlu adanya koordinasi dari dinas dan instansi terkait seperti Dinas Pekerjaan Umum, Dinas Perhubungan dan lainnya. Salah satu kawasan yang kini sedang digodok untuk menjadi paket wisata khusus di antaranya di Desa Bleberan Kecamatan Playen. Desa ini memiliki beberapa potensi wisata yang bisa dikembangkan karena memiliki Gua Rancang Kencono, Air Terjun Si Getuk, aliran Sungai Oyo dan juga mata air yang bisa dikembangkan untuk arena kolam renang, pemancingan dan wisata kuliner.”Kami akan segera koordinasi dengan Pemerintah Desa Bleberan dan Kecamatan Playen untuk mewujudkan desa wisata di Bleberan,” kata Drs Sudodo. Sudodo berharap untuk bisa mewujudkan desa wisata, hendaknya masyarakat setempat bisa memulai dengan mempersiapkan kawasan baik dengan melakukan pembenahan kawasan, pembuatan jalan dan perlunya kebersihan lingkungan, serta penataan kawasan. Karena desa wisata tidak bisa terwujud hanya mengandalkan dari dinas terkait, tukas Sudodo yang baru menjabat sebagai kepala Disparbud setengah bulan yang lalu. (Awa)-z
Source: http://www.kr.co.id/web/
March 19th, 2008
Indonesia’s only international diving, adventure travel and water sports exhibition is set and ready on 28th to 30th March 2008 at the Jakarta Convention Center. Join us for this annual exciting weekend to get a taste of the specially designed programs just for you….
-
Seminars : Partnering with a number of government bodies and conservation groups, DEEP Indonesia 2008 will provide seminars during the three days show to communicate conservation and dive related issues to the industry, government bodies, NGOs and general public. Please check www.deepindonesia.com for seminar and stage program details.
-
SCUBEX : Operated by Planet Diving, this year’s SCUBEX will bring you lots of activities and fun contest and of course…. more prizes!
-
Children’s Painting and Coloring Competition : This is the perfect platform to nurture and educate children to “Save the Coral Reef” and “Love the Shark”. Bring your kids to have fun and get interesting prizes at the event, 30 March 2008.
-
Film Festival : Award winning UW documentary films at the Film Festival for your viewing pleasure, some contributed by Mr. Michael Aw from Ocean Geographic Society.
-
Digital Poster Design Competition : Sponsored by COREMAP II, this event is aimed for university students in Jakarta and the surrounding cities. With the theme : “Our responsibility to save the beautiful coral reef”, the 10 best results will be featured at the show and winners will be announced on 30 March 2008. Please find out how to participate at www.deepindonesia.com
-
UW Photo Competition : In association with DivephotoGuide.com and Wetpixel.com, DEEP Indonesia will feature the results of the winning categories of this international photo competition.
-
UW Exposed : A photo exhibition featuring Indonesian UW photographers showcasing their masterpiece.
-
UW Digital Photo Workshop : POSSI & Info Komputer will host this “Underwater Macro Photography” workshop on 29 March 2008, 4 – 7 pm, at Mola-Mola room. Presented by Makarios Soekojo. For registration please contact Irvan 021-5483008 ext 3773/ 3340.
-
IYOR 2008 : Get involved in the worldwide campaign for International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008! The launching of IYOR 2008 will be conducted by Mr. Freddy Numberi, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs at the inauguration of DEEP Indonesia 2008, 28 March 2008.
-
Door Prize : Win fantastic prizes in the three days show! Prizes including scuba gear, accessories and exotic trips with value over US$ 20,000 from Absolute Scuba Bali, Blue Season Bali, Nemo Wetsuit, Sea Pearl, Luminox watches and much more to come…. Prizes will be drawn everyday on stage!
-
Opening Ceremony : The show’s Opening Ceremony will be conducted by Mr. Jero Wacik, the Minister of Culture & Tourism accompanied by Mr. Freddy Numberi, Chairman of Indonesia Sub Aquatic Association who is also Indonesian Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs.
-
Meet Nadine : Visit Scuba Diver Australasia, the Official Publication of DEEP Indonesia, at booth A38 and meet photographer Windiarto Tjandra and Miss Indonesia 2005, Nadine Chandrawinata, who will be there to sign copies of his newly released books, Nadine.
-
Pre registration is already opened in www.deepindonesia.com . First 1000 walk in visitors and 500 pre registrants will receive special gifts from Nemo Wetsuit!
Click the links for more details: www.deepindonesia.com
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
March 18th, 2008
By Richard Li
CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Java conjures up steaming cups of strong coffee in the minds of many. After last week’s Java Jazz Festival, it should be jazz.
The festival is the largest gathering of jazz musicians in the world, with over 1,000 performers. This year it included artists of almost every jazz sub-genre. Jazz virtuosos like Lee Ritenour, standard jazz vocalists like Kurt Elling, R ‘n’ B/Soul legends like Incognito, smooth jazz artists like Marc Antoine and even pop stars like Babyface, all made appearances.
When we - the bandmates and friends I was traveling with - arrived at the Jakarta Convention Center, there was already a huge crowd and a plethora of souvenir vendors. It looked like a rock concert rather than a jazz festival. At the door, we saw the members of a young jazz band playing with skill beyond their years - and that was just the outdoor stage.
After entering the venue there was a problem: With 20 stages, how would we ever decide which act to watch? Luckily, we found out that legendary keyboardist Jeff Lorber was playing the opening act in the Exhibition Hall and ran to hear it like paparazzi after celebrities.
Over the three-day festival, for which we had purchased passes for US$100, we often had the same problem. We did get to see some great performances, though. Joe Sample and Steve Gadd were there. Incognito reunited with Maysa in a groovy act that had the audience up and dancing. Ex-Yellowjackets drummer William Kennedy backed up Lee Ritenour. Old comrades Melvin Davis and Patrice Rushen released a fusion of Latin and West Coast jazz. Besides these renowned international artists, there were also many Indonesian bands, most of which appeared to be quite young.
Taiwan’s presence was felt when Taiwanese band SiZhuKong (絲竹空) performed. The band’s combination of traditional Chinese ballads and modern jazz gave a fresh twist to traditional songs.
In between shows, we did some people watching. Not knowing the popularity of jazz music in Indonesia, we had thought most of the audience would be expats. In reality, the majority of participants appeared to be young, local people. We could see their enthusiasm for jazz, as many sang along with the performers. We were surprised by this passion for and acceptance of jazz music, which often takes second stage to pop idols in the hearts of the young.
The sound systems used throughout the event ensured that the music came out crystal clear. All of the audio-visual and broadcasting equipment, as well as the hardware and software, was operated by professional crews. The overall experience was like watching meticulously edited DVDs of live gigs with a 5.1 Dolby stereo. The professional staff of 1,000 ensured that everything ran smoothly.
In a cost-benefit analysis after the event, I found that this large-scale event barely turned any profit at all, but for those who went, the benefits were off the books.
This story has been viewed 432 times.
Source: http://www.taipeitimes.com/
March 18th, 2008
Beijing (ANTARA News) - A group of Chinese journalists will visit a number of tourist sites in Indonesia in March and April to give a clear picture of the Indonesian tourism industry to Chinese tourists, an official said.
“The Chinese journalists` planned visit has been approved by the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism,” Rosmalawati Chalid, head of the social and cultural unit at the Indonesian embassy in Beijing, said on Saturday.
Rosmalawati`s statement came as the embassy is to conduct tourism promotion campaigns in China. Through the campaigns, the embassy in cooperation with the ministry will among others invite a number of Chinese journalists to visit Indonesia.
She said Shantung TV journalists would visit tourist sites in Lombok Island later this month and CCTV journalists would visit Komodo Island at the end of April.
The visits would hopefully help promote the Indonesian tourism industry among Chinese tourists, she said. (*)
Source: ANTARA News
March 17th, 2008
Two field scientists from the University of Indonesia have found a new bird species, Zosterops Somadikartai or Togian white-eye, in the Togian Islands, Gulf of Tomini, Central Sulawesi province, local press reported Saturday.
The newly discovered bird is small with green plumage and a red beak. It is very active and moves in small flocks.
However, unlike its closest relatives — and despite its name –the bird’s eyes are circled by a band of red feathers, not white. Its beak is a more intense red than that of its relatives.
The species is being introduced for the first time this month in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 12 years after Indrawan and Sunarto first spotted the bird, reported English daily The JakartaPost.
The two scientists collaborated with well-known taxonomist Pamela Rasmussen of Michigan State University, who specializes in Asian birds, to conduct final research into the new species.
Based on the criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the newly discovered bird is believed to be endangered because it is found only in a few small islands in Central Sulawesi.
The species is named after Prof. Somadikarta, Indonesia’s leading taxonomist, who was recently appointed the honorary president of the International Ornithological Congress XXV in Brazil in 2010.
“I’m happy they put my name on it because it is an endangered species,” Somadikarta said.
This finding has also established the Togian Islands as an endemic bird area. According to conservation organization BirdLife International, a region can be established as an endemic bird areaif more than two bird species that do not exist in other regions are found there.
Indrawan and his team previously found a new owl species, Ninoxburhani or Togian hawk-owl, in forests in the Togian Islands. The owl was named after a local farmer, Burhan, in appreciation of the local people’s kindness.
Source:Xinhua
March 17th, 2008
London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia took part in a “Sajam Gast” tourism and culinary festival held in Split, Croatia, recently, an Indonesian diplomat based in Budapest, Hungary, reported.
“It was the first time for Indonesia to take part in the event,” First Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest, Octaviano Alimudin, told ANTARA News here on Wednesday.
Indonesia took part in the festival also to promote its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program and an Indonesia Expo to be held in Warsaw, he added.
The Sajam Gast Festival was opened by Split Dalmatia County Governor Ante Sanader representing Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.
The Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Budapest had supported Indonesia`s participation in the festival by providing information kits on Indonesian tourism and export commodities.
Some 1,000 companies from Europe and Asia were taking part in the festival which was cohosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina. (*)
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
March 14th, 2008
Garuda Indonesia has announced the appointment of Melania Rusli to the role of Tariffs & Schedules Assistant, providing support to the National Tariffs & Schedules Coordinator, Vanessa Booth.
Indonesian-born and now a New Zealand citizen, Melania has been in the tourism and travel industry since 1992 and has had extensive training in fares and ticketing, as well as in the distribution and loading of fares.
Having worked for Garuda Indonesia in Auckland for nine years, Melania is also familiar with the airline’s systems and procedures.
In August last year she emigrated to Australia and, until taking up this new position, was airfares coordinator with Pinpoint Travel Group in Sydney.
Mr. Poerwoko Soeparyono, Garuda Indonesia’s General Manager Australia/SWP says he is delighted to welcome Melania on board and has no doubt that her contribution to the pricing and scheduling department will be invaluable in enabling Garuda Indonesia to remain proactive and competitive in the market place.
Melania can be contacted on (02) 9334 9945 or mrusli@garuda.com.au
Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/
March 14th, 2008
FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Archeologists measure a tunnel-shaped mark on a stone, called Batu Vulfa, in Pasir Eurih village in Bogor, last weekend. They said the mark on the stone is a fertility symbol from the Padjadjaran kingdom.
Archeologists are worried a plan to construct new housing in Pasir Eurih village in the Tamansari district of Bogor will destroy 70 historical sites from an ancient, mysterious Sudanese kingdom.
According to research conducted by students of Pakuan University in Bogor and the University of Indonesia in Depok, 33 of the sites are worship pillars or buildings. The relics are scattered over 500 hectares of land in the village.
Archeologist Agus Arismunandar of the University of Indonesia said his team had strong evidence the historical finds dated back to the ancient Sudanese Padjajaran kingdom, that ruled over the area during the megalithic period.
“There is writing on one of the sites that is similar to those at the ruins of the Pakuan Padjajaran kingdom in Batu Tulis, Bogor,” he said.
Agus, who started his research in 2006, said the sites in Pasir Eurih were the missing link in Sundanese history for the region.
“It is interesting how archeologists, including the Dutch, missed this site. Without it, Sundanese history in the area has remained a mystery,” he said.
Agus said the most important relics in the area were Batu Tapak, Batu Dakon and Batu Vulfa, all located near Ciangsana waterfall– believed to have been an ancient bathing place.
The relic Batu Tapak consists of two human footprints set in stone, 12 centimeters apart. Each footprint is 23 centimeters long and 9 centimeters wide.
“They signify the existence of a powerful figure who once ruled over the area, but we are yet to find out who this figure was. We are still discussing it,” Agus said.
An Indian archeologist believes Batu Dakon, a collection of 24 stones with round-shaped holes, reveals the location of stars used for weather forecasting. Indonesian archeologists believe the Batu Dakon stones were used to store offerings for religious rituals.
Recognised as a fertility symbol, Batu Vulfa is 143 centimeters long and 120 centimeters wide, with a 10-centimeter tunnel attached to it. Near Ciangsana waterfall’s ancient bathing place is the worship place called Raja Resi, which is predicted to be used as a retreat for hermits at the ancient time.
But archeologists have warned building houses on the sites would bury the mysteries of the relics forever.
University of Indonesia philologist Titi Pudjiastuti said the plan should be delayed because of the large amount of archaelogical sites in the area.
“They are a part of Sundanese history. If the sites are gone, it is going to be harder to reconstruct the history of this area,” she said.
Head of Sindangbarang cultural kampung, Mikami Sumawijaya, said it would be difficult to protect the sites as the land they were found on belonged to residents.
“I can’t do anything about it as land brokers have persuaded citizens to sell their lands to housing developers,” he said.
There is speculation housing developments will be constructed in two villages, the Pasir Eurih and Sukaresmi. Batu Karut and Cikolawung waterfall would be removed under such a plan.
“So far we don’t know which developer wants to build the housing, and as for the residents, we can’t do anything if they sell their lands to make some money for themselves,” Mikami said.
He said he hoped the regency administration would do something to stop the housing project.
“We can’t afford to lose these sites. We’ve already lost the Badigul Rancamaya site, where religious ceremonies took place during the Padjajaran kingdom era,” he said.
Mikami said most of the Pasir Eurih residents, who are farmers, sold their land to brokers for Rp 15,000 per square meter.
One resident sold 8,000 square meters of his land for Rp 120 million, he said. The sales are thought to have taken place at the land notary office as there are no records of land transactions at the Tamansari district office.
Mikami called on notary offices in Bogor to refuse to validate land transactions in the area.
He said Sundanese cultural leaders had also sent letters to the Bogor regent and West Java governor, calling on them to stop the sites being removed.
Head of the culture division at the Bogor Tourism Agency, Boy Gia Warman, said the administration was aware of reports of land transactions in the area, but was yet to do anything in response.
“I personally have visited the site. Of course, we don’t want to lose these sites, but the regent is yet to make a decision about this problem,” he said.
Pasir Eurih resident Aki Husen, 76, said he did not know anything about the housing plan in his village.
“I don’t own any land and I don’t know what the writing and pictures on the stones mean,” he said.
Husen said he only knew standard Sundanese history like the great Suryakencana, and could recall his now-deceased relatives warning him as a child that Ciangsana waterfall was not a good place for naughty boys.
“My grandparents told me naughty boys would find themselves in trouble if they stayed near the waterfall long enough,” he said.
Source: The Jakarta Post
March 13th, 2008
What an unfortunate year for Indonesia’s tourism industry. Less than one month after the government declared 2008 Visit Indonesia Year, flooding crippled Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the main gateway to the country, early last month.
Last week, the second annual Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, downgraded Indonesia as a tourist destination to 80th among 130 countries surveyed. That was much worse than its position last year, which was 60th out of 124 countries.
The report showed that Indonesia scored very poorly in health and hygiene due to an inadequate supply of hospital beds, poor access to sanitation and drinking water and an acutely low number of qualified physicians.
The country also performed badly in that other pillar of the tourism industry — infrastructure. In fact, Indonesian airplanes have been banned from European airspace since last year and no progress has been made on getting this blanket ban lifted.
Indonesia scored high only in terms of natural resources, with several World Heritage natural sites and the richness of it flora and fauna, and price competitiveness. But these strengths were undermined by such major weaknesses as underdeveloped infrastructure, including air and ground transportation.
There are even great concerns related to safety, particularly the prevalence of road accidents.
No wonder Indonesia, though richly endowed with a wide variety of cultures and interesting sites, has remained among the least popular tourist destinations even in the Southeast Asian region, outranked by Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Last year, Indonesia received just around 5.5 million tourists, compared to more than 9 million arrivals in Malaysia and almost 20 million in Singapore.
The survey showed the top-ranked countries in the travel and tourism industry — Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, Canada and France — understand the importance of support businesses and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transportation and tourism infrastructure and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources.
Countries have vastly different underlying operational conditions, depending on where they fall in the tourism development spectrum. All have unique tourism products to offer, but the central goal is to encourage improvement in the underlying competitive conditions and infrastructure.
This is again where Indonesia is fundamentally weak, even in nature-based tourism, where the country should have a strong comparative advantage.
This latest travel and tourism report from the World Economic Forum should serve as a strong wake-up call for us, especially the government, to reinvigorate the tourism industry, especially now in the midst of a weakening global economy and uncertainty in the international financial market.
International tourism is known as a resilient industry, never suffering a deep and lasting recession and able to recover quickly because the need to travel, whether for business or leisure, is so deeply ingrained in our societies.
As a resource-based industry, tourism is also an ideal business for Indonesia to develop because of its multiplier effect and the labor-intensive nature of its operations. It directly benefits local communities economically. Travel businesses do their best when they use the local workforce, services, products and supplies.
The tourism industry also supports the integrity of a place. Destination-savvy travelers seek out businesses that emphasize the character of a locale. Tourism revenue in turn raises the perceived value of those assets.
Travel-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, handicrafts and cultural shows are all labor intensive, the very kind of enterprises needed to absorb the huge pool of job seekers here.
But it is precisely because of its multi-sectoral activities that the promotion of the tourism industry should involve not only the tourism ministry but all other state and private organizations that provide the basic infrastructure and public services, including immigration, customs, transportation, accommodation and security.
Source: The Jakarta Post
March 12th, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts