Archive for October, 2008
Your comments on the status of nationalism in Indonesia while the country were commemorating the 80th anniversary of Youth Pledge Day.
Indonesia is built on a solid foundation supported by the five pillars of Pancasila. These pillars are well grounded. Do not meddle with it. Do not tinker with it. Pancasila does need restructuring, amendment or addendum.
Leave Pancasila alone. Each pillar is dependent on the strength of the other four pillars. In other words, if you meddle with any one of the pillars, it is tantamount to disrupting the stability of Indonesia.
Therefore, if you wish to see a perpetuation of the slogan “Unity in Diversity”, there is only one thing to do: Live up to what those pillars stand for. WELINGTON MANULLANG
Jakarta
A former U.S. president used to say “Ask … not what your country can do for you, but ask … what you can do for your country”
This is to show the role of citizen to the country.
Nationalism can be interpreted based on each individual’s status, like citizenship; how far each of us can go for this country.
Currently we can see many people involved in corruption, disobedience against existing regulations and illegal logging.
Are those people nationalists?
As a member of society, we have our own roles based on our capacity and professions. As President, he has to lead the country into a condition which is able to improve the welfare of all societies.
As legislators, they have to play appropriate roles in the public interest, etc. etc. YOGI SUWASONO
Jakarta
I think nationalism in Indonesia is still maintained well until now. This can be seen from the spirit of the young people, who are still enthusiastic in celebrating Youth Pledge Day. LUSIANA
Metro, Lampung
Status of nationalism in Indonesia is more like little chickens that have lost their mothers.
Nationalism in Indonesia is threatened by the appearance of Sharia bylaws, which are unsuitable with our culture. AWIE
Denpasar
I think the spirit of nationalism among young people is declining. Many youths, for example, feel proud if they wear clothes made abroad, if they can speak foreign languages, or practice foreign cultures. DUMINTO
Metro, Lampung
We must unite together to build Indonesia, to make this country free from poverty, corruption and sorrow.
If our founding fathers could do something that could increase our awareness and pride as Indonesians, why can’t we?
Set aside personal interests. Let’s find the way for us to build our country. YASMIN
Tangerang, Banten
Separatism is not the main challenge of Indonesia’s nationalism now. Abuse of religious teaching is. MEGA
Jakarta
The Dutch colonization, for more than three centuries, had created suffering among the colonized population in this far east archipelago.
The common suffering created unity among the oppressed people. All of us, without exception, should share in the rise and fall of this nation.
We have to respect to all people no matter their race, ethnicity, culture, language, religion and gender. MOELJONO ADIKOESOEMO
Jakarta
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 31st, 2008
Authorities in Bali do not seem to be overly concerned by the Australian government’s latest warnings about travel to Indonesia.
Recently, the Australian government has issued a warning to its citizens against unnecessary travel to Indonesia, in light of intelligence suggesting possible attacks against foreigners following notice of the imminent execution of three men convicted of the Bali bombings.
The governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, said that he was not all that concerned about the warnings coming from the Australian government. “I think Australians understand conditions in Bali,” he noted. “We and our defence forces will do our best to safeguard Bali.”
The chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, Ngurah Wijaya, agreed, saying that Australian tourists often ignore the warnings of their government about travel to Bali. “The proof lies in the fact that the number of Australian tourists this year is still high,” he added.
Bali Immigration Office figures show that for the year up to 25 October, 226,779 Australians visited Bali, which is an increase of more than 55 per cent over the numbers for the same period in 2007.
Over the past year, airline capacity has continued to grow between Australia and Bali. This week, Jetstar launched service from Perth to Denpasar, and Virgin’s Pacific Blue will add service to Bali later this year.
Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.
www.balitourismboard.org
Source: http://news.carrentals.co.uk/
October 31st, 2008
Padang, W Sumatra, (ANTARA News) - Japanese ambassador to Indonesia Shiojiri Kojiro said that Indonesia is an important country to Japan because both nations have similarity to prioritize children`s education.
The Japanese envoy made the remarks when presenting his government citation to Bung Hatta university (UBH) in Padang, capital of West Sumatra province on Wednesday.
UBH received the citation based on the Japanese consideration over the university`s great contribution in enhancing the two countries` relations particularly in the fields of education, letters and culture.
In addition, the two countries have never caused other nations cornered.
With such similarities, Kojiro said he felt happy to become Japanese envoy to Indonesia and not to mention that Indonesia is important to Japan due to its substantial deposite of mineral and human resources.
Despite its much import of energy currently, Japan believes that Indonesia as a democratic country still has sufficient deposit of energy.
This university used the name of Bung Hatta, Indonesia`s first vice president. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
Source: ANTARA News
October 30th, 2008
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: About 300,000 people are expected to be at the town square in Yogyakarta Tuesday afternoon (28/10) to see the Pisowanan Agung, a parade of 45 kings from throughout Indonesia.
“They come from Yogyakarta as well as other cities in Indonesia,” said the parade’s coordinator Himawan Pambudi.
The parade will be started at 2pm on the north side of town square where most people gather and there be a performance of a Topeng Ireng dance.
This will be followed by a presentation from kingdom representatives including from East Nusa Tenggara, South East Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Lampung, and Papua.
They will be accompanied by traditional soldier and 440 people riding ancient-kind of bicycle (onthel bicycle).
Bernada Rurit
Source: http://www.tempointeractive.com/
October 29th, 2008
As a part of the upcoming Pesta Blogger, Indonesia’s blogger gathering committee and the Ministry of Cultural and Tourism will invite five foreign bloggers on a round trip to Yogyakarta and Bali. The trip will end up with the Pesta Blogger event in Jakarta, on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008.
The bloggers are from the United States, China/Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.
The committee offers:
We are looking for bloggers (travel bloggers) that can post their experience, photos, people they meet, basically blogging about Indonesia and Indonesian people, and join the event.
The period for this trip is between Nov 17 - Nov 22 2009 and this is the itinerary:
The blogging trip schedule is as follows:
- Denpasar, Bali (Mon, Nov 17 – Tue, Nov 18)
- Jogjakarta (Wed, Nov 19 – Thu, Nov 20)
- Jakarta (Fri, Nov 21 – Sat, Nov 22)
All expenses for this trip (transportation, accomodation, F&B, etc.) will be covered by Pesta Blogger 2008 and The Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Last year, the first Pesta Blogger, the largest national-scale bloggers’ gathering in Indonesia, attracted more than 500 bloggers and blogging enthusiasts from all across archipelago. This year, according to Wicaksono, Chairman of Pesta Blogger 2008, the Committee is expecting to double the number of participants to 1,000.
If you are a travel blogger (I guess, culinary bloggers are also encouraged to submit their applications), you have a chance to win this free trip. Yay!
Check this out for more details.
Source: http://asia.cnet.com/blogs
October 28th, 2008
Leeds, , United Kingdom (PRarticle.com) - The mystical archipelago of Indonesia lies in the Indian Ocean between Asia and Australia and is made up of thousands of beautiful islands.
If you’re looking for a more rewarding Indonesian experience then consider a volunteer vacation in Indonesia with i-to-i. Volunteer opportunities include working with disabled people, teaching English and helping out at an orphanage.
The mystical archipelago of Indonesia lies in the Indian Ocean between Asia and Australia and is made up of thousands of beautiful islands. With stunning natural beauty, ancient ruins aplenty and a culture unlike anything else you’ll find on the planet, travel in Indonesia has much to offer the independent traveler. Sights such as the Kelimutu volcano, the Lore Lindu National Park and peerless golden beaches of Bali will ensure that you will never be disappointed when you travel Indonesia.
Options for Volunteer Vacations in Indonesia with i-to-i:
Work with orphans and disabled People in Bali
Working between two worthwhile projects, volunteers will combine working in an Orphanage with helping disabled people in and around Ubud. Volunteer vacationers will work with the WINS program whose primary goal is to give the children of Bali the opportunity to obtain an education and to break the cycle of poverty.
WINS working closely together with Senang Hati a center for people with disabilities, This project started in 2002 when Ibu Putu, bound to a wheelchair herself, took disabled people in to her house to teach them life-skills and to improve their self-esteem. With the help of a benefactor, it was possible to hire housing where residents can help each other and use their creativity to produce paintings, ceramics and other art, which is sold in their gallery to fund the project. There are now 34 people living in the house and 150 members of the project.
This volunteer vacation in Indonesia costs $1050 for 2 weeks, accommodation and meals provided.
Surf and Teach English in Bali
Although Bali has a booming tourist industry, many families do not receive any benefits from it and many struggle month by month to meet the basic needs of their family. The 2002 bombing in Bali worsened this economic situation, and as a result there are now hundreds of children and adults not benefiting from the education they deserve. By volunteering as an English teacher travelers will be helping to enhance the lives of Balinese children and adults through the provision of education. You will be opening up more opportunities to them - particularly as tourism is an important industry.
This project is based in Canggu, with homestay or guesthouse accommodation within easy reach by foot (10 - 15 minutes walk) or bicycle (available for hire). After three surf lessons most volunteers will be able to surf at a beach near the homestay or guesthouse or there are many surf-spots within 1 - 1.5hour drive of the homestay and extra lessons or escorted trips to different beaches can be easily arranged. The homestay is in a quiet area, with a small shop and local restaurant nearby.
The surf and teach English volunteer vacation in Indonesia costs $1650 and lasts for 3 weeks.
To see the wide range of volunteer vacations in Indonesia now offered by i-to-i please visit: http://www.i-to-i.com/indonesia or call 800-985-4864 for more information.
Since 1994, i-to-i, has been the award-winning leader in volunteer vacations, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) training and job placement abroad. Each year, i-to-i sends approximately 5,000 volunteers to 500 projects in 35 countries and helps 15,000 people gain the certification necessary to teach English overseas. i-to-i volunteers contributed approximately one million hours of service last year.
i-to-i offers volunteer vacations in countries such as: Ecuador, Brazil, Uganda, Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar, Zambia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Honduras and Vietnam.
For more information call 800-985-4864 or visit http://www.i-to-i.com , for media inquiries please contact Alexia Nestora, alexia@lassocommunications.com
Source: http://www.prarticle.com/press-release
October 27th, 2008
THE media has played a key role in the recovery of Indonesia’s tourism sector that experienced a decline following the Bali bombings and the natural disasters that occurred in the country, its tourism minister said.
Jero Wacik, Minister for Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, reminded tourism stakeholders to maintain a good relationship with the media both in good and bad times during a session in the sixth United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa.
Wacik said the availability of sophisticated information technology enables media to disseminate news immediately.
Indonesia suffered from the bombings in Bali in 2002 and 2005, the tsunami tragedy in Pangandaran as well as a major earthquake in Yogyakarta, both in 2006.
Wacik said that media–broadcast, print and electronic–desires to protect consumers who plan to take trips and encourages tour operators to be more selective and strategic in their promotions and sales of tour packages during a crisis or a tragedy.
Wacik recalled that when Indonesia experienced the Bali bombings, the government immediately put up a media center with the help of a professional public relations company near the area of the disaster for faster and accurate channeling of information.
Precise
He advised tourism officers to provide the media with precise information that includes the exact geographical site of the blow and present other areas that were not affected.
Wacik also told them to allow high-level government officials and reliable industry sources to talk to the media frequently through the established media center, short messaging service, website or e-mail.
Other ways to protect tourism promotion efforts would be putting up a website with regular updates on the repair of infrastructure, improvement of security systems and humanitarian activities as well as a familiarization tour for the press and tour operators to show to them the recovery of the tragedy site and the unaffected attractions.
As a result, with the help of media and other stakeholders, Wacik said that the country managed to restore the image of Indonesia to the global tourist market.
From five million tourists in 2002, 4.9 million tourists in 2005, and 4.8 million tourists in 2006, the country managed to increase its international visitor arrivals by 13 percent or 5.5 million in 2007. Indonesia is targeting seven million tourists in 2008 and eight million in 2009. (NRC)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
October 27th, 2008
Tourism ministry hopes the bloggers will write about lesser-known locales in Yogyakarta and Bali
The government has invited five foreign bloggers on a round trip to Yogyakarta and Bali, in a hope that they will write about their experiences and promote Indonesia.
The bloggers were from the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia, Culture and Tourism Ministry promotions director Esthy Reko Astuty said Wednesday.
“We hope they write about lesser-known tourist spots in Yogyakarta and Bali,” she said after a press conference on Pesta Blogger 2008.
Pesta Blogger is an annual event where bloggers from across Indonesia convene to exchange ideas and engage in public seminars.
This year, the event will be held on Saturday in the BPPT II building on Jl M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. Honorary guests for the event will include Information and Communication Minister Mohammad Nuh and the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Cameron R. Hume. The foreign bloggers are also expected to attend.
According to kompas.com the bloggers arrived in Denpasar, Bali on Oct. 17, and will meet with local bloggers in Bali and Yogyakarta before heading to Jakarta.
Source: http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu
October 24th, 2008
JAKARTA: The Ninth Indonesian Language Congress will take place in Jakarta from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. The quinquennial event is held to commemorate the centenary of National Awakening and 80 years of the Youth Pledge.
The congress will see participants from different backgrounds, including language and literature experts, culture observers, teachers and students. Some ministers are expected to attend, including State Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Adhyaksa Dault and Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.
“We hope to better understand the problems we are facing with our national language. At the end of the congress, we will formulate a five-year plan to guide us in dealing with these problems,” education ministry language center head Dendy Sugiono told a press conference here Wednesday.
During the congress, the Language Center will exhibit for the first time its research, compiled over 15 years, on traditional languages in Indonesia — a sort of language map. Because the research is not yet finished, the map will only show about 420 languages from the estimated 746 traditional languages in use throughout the country. — JP
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 24th, 2008
The New7Wonders Foundation has nominated three locations in Indonesia, namely Komodo Isle National Park (East Nusa Tenggara), Lake Toba (North Sumatra), and Krakatau Isle (off sothern Sumatra) for world recognition as part of New7Wonders of Nature for the period 2008-2010, a tourism official said.
The campaign of selection New7Wonders of Nature candidates is being done through a live-vote method on www.new7wonders.com, Antara news agency reported.
“In relation with the nomination of the three places, New7Woender Foundation has sent a press release asking for the publication of the news,” Esthy Reko Astuty, director of promotion facilities at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said here on Wednesday.
The ministry hoped that at least one of the nominees could enter the final selection in early 2009, she said.
Therefore, the culture and tourism ministry urged the Indonesian people to actively participate in the selection by joining the live voting on the internet, she said.
Nestled between the large Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra is the Krakatau Volcano National Park.
In the fourth century, a single marine volcano stood at this site, but in 416 AD, the caldera of the volcano collapsed.
Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon.
– BERNAMA
Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/
October 23rd, 2008
Previous Posts