If the video above does not work, you can watch it at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucCyoQ3dobA

ar·chi·tec·ture

[ahr-ki-tek-cher]

noun

(Dictionary.com)

Here are some resources for architecture in Indonesia. Feel free to add to the list by submitting a comment in the text box after the post.  Thank you / terima kasih!

• Academic Paper: “Teaching History for Architectural Students in Indonesia” and other research by Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan. This paper is presented in the International Conference on ‘Challenges and Experiences in Developing Architectural Education in Asia,’ held by the Department of Architecture Islamic University of Indonesia, June 8 – 10, 2007, in Yogyakarta.

• Asian Historical Architecture: http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/ (photographs)

• Dissertation: “Architecture and the Politics of Identity in Indonesia. A Study of the Cultural History of Aceh” by Izziah Hasan, The University of Adelaide (2009).

• E-Architect: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/indonesia_buildings.htm (architecture news, buildings, and photos)

• Lembaga Sejarah Arsitektur Indonesia (Institute of Indonesian Architectural Historians): http://www.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~fujimori/lsai/lsai.html

• Urbane Indonesia: http://www.urbane.co.id/#/projects (private architecture firm; examples of contemporary buildings & processes)

• Wikipedia Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Indonesia (covers religious, traditional, palace, colonial, post-independence, and contemporary architecture)

• Wikimedia Commons:http://commons.wikimedia.org/ (do keyword search for architectural images from Indonesia)

• WorldArchitecture.org:http://www.worldarchitecture.org/all-countries/index.asp?countries=detail&no=Indonesia (various resources and links)

If the video does not work, you can view it in another window at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6q6CZZ3DRM .

If the video does not work for some reason, you can watch it in a new window at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY3xexgtVdc .

Eating Together

By Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee, “Eating Together” from Rose. Copyright © 1986.

Source: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171757

Poet

in

profile

For the film lovers out there, here are some resources to get you started for all things related to Indonesia and film.  Feel free to add suggestions in the comments box below. Thank you / terima kasih!

Background for cinema in Indonesia:

• Historical timeline: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Indonesia
• IMDB’s list of most popular films with country of origin – Indonesia: http://www.imdb.com/country/id
• Indonesian Local Film Festivals: http://www.fipresci.org/undercurrent/issue_0609/ratna_indonesian.htm
• List of international film festivals that may screen Indonesian films: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_festivals (check each link for the latest schedules and offerings)
• Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia: http://www.budpar.go.id/budpar/asp/index.asp
• Resource portal for research, reviews, databases, photos, interviews, etc.  related to Indonesian films: http://www.rumahfilm.org (in Bahasa Indonesia)
• Social justice and environmental videos from the Asia Pacific – Indonesia: http://www.engagemedia.org/taxonomy/countries/ID

Jakarta International Film Festival, JiFFest (Indonesia):

• One of the biggest film festivals in Southeast Asia
• Started in 1999
• Held annually in Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
• Combination of free screenings and admission fees for special features (FYI…ticket sales go fast!)
• Includes additional events like speaker panels, awards, workshops, and art exhibits
• Websites: http://www.jiffest.org (though not up-to-date, it is still informative) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_International_Film_Festival

Indonesian International Fantastic Film Festival (Indonesia):

• Special genre festival of international Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Anime movies
• Started in 2007
• Held annually in Jakarta and Bandung, Java, Indonesia
• Website: http://www.inafff.com/ (different pages in English and Bahasa Indonesia)

Festival Film Indonesia or Indonesian Film Festival (Indonesia):

• Started in 1955
• Held intermittently in earlier historical periods; held annually since 2004 in Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
• Sponsors Citra Award (national film industry award) for competition winner
• Does not appear to have public screenings (???)
• Click here for a list of the 2011 Indonesian films vying for the Citra Award

Indonesian Film Festival (Australia):

• Popular film festival focusing on Indonesian films
• Started in 2006
• Held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Combination of film screenings, awards, educational programs, and social gatherings
• Various ticket sales types/options
• Website: http://www.indonesianfilmfestival.com.au

Buddhism and Hinduism have had long histories in Indonesia.  In Bahasa Indonesia, “candi” refers to ancient Hindu and/or Buddhist temples.  The term can also be applied to non-religious structures dated from the same historical periods.  “Pura” is the term used for a Balinese Hindu temple.

>>> Here is a sample of famous candi in Java:

• Borobudur (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

• Dieng Plateau

• Mendut

• Pawon

• Prambanan (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

>>> Some famous pura in Bali:

• Besakih

• Goa Lawah (Bat Cave)

• Pura Luhur

• Pura Tirtha Empul

• Taman Ayun

• Tanah Lot

• Ulun Danu

Feel free to add suggestions for more geographic areas and specific candi or pura in the comments box below.  Thank you / terima kasih!

It is not surprising to run into a debate about the pros and cons of visiting a zoo in general, let alone in Indonesia. 

The following is a list of resources to help people determine for themselves whether or not a zoo visit is in their future:

List of Popular Zoos in Indonesia (blue indicates a website link):

• Batu Secret Zoo is located in Batu, East Java, Indonesia, near Malang.

• Bonbin Surabaya is also known as Kebun Binatang Surabaya, and it is located in Surabaya in East Java.

• Gembira Loka Zoo is located in Yogyakarta on the island of Java.

• Kebun Binatang Bandung is located in the city of Bandung in West Java.

• Ragunan Zoo is located in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

• Taman Safari Indonesia, or Taman Safari for short, are safari parks located in three different locations in Indonesia: (1) Bogor in West Java, (2) Mount Arjuno in East Java, and (3) Marina Beach in Bali.

For the latest information about recent individual visits to the aforementioned zoos, check out various review sites* such as:

• LonelyPlanet.com

• TripAdvisor.com

• VirtualTourist.com

• YouTube.com

* Use keywords and phrases such as “Indonesia zoo,” “Ragunan Zoo,” “Taman Safari,” etc. in the search engines to see specific comments, images, or videos on these sites.  If you find the general keywords or phrases not generating results, then first search for the webpages about Indonesia in general and then follow the relevant travel/tourism links from there.

Examples of Contemporary Controversies:

2012: Indonesia’s ‘nightmare’ zoo in The Telegraph

2011: Orangutans Mistreated by Indonesia Zoos: Activists in The Jakarta Globe

2010: Tiger mauls child at East Java zoo, Eight animals under intensive care at Surabaya Zoo, Ragunan zoo: Not so rosy in The Jakarta Post

Do you have suggestions for additional resources?  Feel free to leave a comment in the box below. 

Thank you / terima kasih!

Bahasa Indonesia is mainly a phonetic language, which is great for new learners because pronunciation typically corresponds with how the words are spelled.

Here are some pronunciation tips regarding vowels in particular:

• a: pronounced as “ah” like in the word “father”

• aa: pronounced like a double “ah” (i.e., there is a quick glottal stop between the a’s)

• ai: pronounced as a long “i” like the word “eye”

• au: pronounced as “ow” as in the word “cow”

• e: pronounced as a very short sounding “e” like the “e” in “cafe latte” (think of French or Italian sound)

• i: pronounced as “ee” as in “see” or “pizza”

• o: pronounced as long “o” like in the words “no,” “told,” and “hold”

• u: pronounced as “oo” as “loot” or “soon”

by Yuliana Fransiska, Indonesia

Have you ever sit alone in a quiet place
Think calmly about the world around you
How it moves, how it works, how it spins
You’ll find there are a lot of activities
A lot of works, a lot of responsibilities
A lot of individualism

You’ll wonder that there’s something’s missing
Something gentle, something pure
Not selfish, not evil
Something helpful, something warm
It’s love … that you miss of …

Realizing it, have you go out and give some love
Or just go on with whatever your work is

World now is craving for love and compassion
You can be the one who start share love
It’s not that hard…
Just begin with a smile for your family
Then to others…

Source: http://www.voicesnet.org/displayonepoem.aspx?poemid=101436