Expand your knowledge about Indonesia, the only country in Southeast Asia consisting of thousands of islands that lies between the Indian and Pacific ocean.

Saturday 15 December 2012

Enchanting musical instrument



"Sasando is a harp-like traditional music string instrument native of Rote Island of East Nusa TenggaraIndonesia.
The name ”sasando” derived from Rote dialect ”sasandu” means "vibrating" or "sounded instrument". It is believed that sasando already known to Rote people since 7th century."

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Dancing sounds

 
"The Angklung is a musical instrument made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved to have a resonant pitch when struck and are tuned to octaves. The base of the frame is held in one hand, whilst the other hand strikes the instrument. This causes a repeating note to sound. Each of three or more performers in an angklung ensemble play just one note or more, but altogether complete melodies are produced. The Angklung is popular throughout Southeast Asia, but it originated in today's Indonesia and has been played by the Sundanese for many centuries."
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angklung


Historical plateau


"Dieng Plateu is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Volcanic Complex near Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia. Referred to as "Dieng" by Indonesians, it sits at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, far from major population centres. The name "Dieng" comes from Di Hyang which means "Abode of the Gods"
The Plateau is the location eight small Hindu temples. They are the oldest known standing stone structures in Java. They are originally thought to have numbered 400 but only eight remain."
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieng_Plateau

Lovely greeting



"Pendet is a traditional dance from Bali, Indonesia, in which offerings are made to purify the temple or theater as a prelude to ceremonies or other dances. Pendet can be thought of as a dance of greeting, to welcome the audience and invite spirits to enjoy a performance."
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendet

Friday 23 November 2012

Magnificent ritual


If you have ever been in Bali, it is impossible if you don't know anything about sesajen. It's everywhere! At the pedestrian, at local store, at the temple, in the restaurant, at the beach, in your hotel room, and many more. And it comes out with various sizes. Ritual offerings or Sesajen is a magnificent ritual of Hinduism. Hindu is the most professed religion in Bali.

The most prominent




"In Indonesian, ancient temples are referred to as candi; thus locals refer to "Borobudur Temple" as Candi Borobudur. The term candi also loosely describes ancient structures, for example gates and baths. The origins of the name Borobudur however are unclear, although the original names of most ancient Indonesian temples are no longer known. The name Borobudur was first written in Sir Thomas Raffles' book on Javan history. Raffles wrote about a monument called borobudur, but there are no older documents suggesting the same name. The only old Javanese manuscript that hints at the monument as a holy Buddhist sanctuary is Nagarakretagama, written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365."
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur