Tag:south east asia
Palembang and its river The Ampera Bridge is a bridge crossing River Musi in Palembang situated on the Indonesian island Sumatra. The bridge is the main connection between North and South Sumatra. Palembang is a city in South Sumatra and the capital of this region. The city situates on both sides of the banks of River Musi. In other words, River Musi divides Palembang into two parts. Among two others, the tremendous Ampera Bridge connects both parts of the city. The […]
The Mahayana Buddhist temple Borobudur situates in Magelang close to Yogyakarta in Central Java. Yogyakarta is the centre of Javanese culture. The city has had an important influence on Javanese history. However, the area is one of the sacred places in ancient Javanese history. The Borobudur temple was built in the ninth century. That was the time of the Srivijaya Empire in Sumatra. At this time Palembang was the capital of the empire. That was almost at the same time when […]
Prambanan is a monumental Hindu temple in Central Java. The temple locates around 20 km northeast of the city of Yogyakarta. The temple has also the name Candi Rara Jonggrang. However, the area is known as the centre of Javanese art and culture. The Hindu temple Prambanan is an important highlight in the Javanese culture and history. The temple exist since the ninth century. The temple honour the Hindu divinities Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The Prambanan temple is an important milestone in […]
Yogyakarta is the centre of Javanese culture. It’s one of the most important cities in Indonesia. The city in association with Surakarta is the centre of classical Javanese art and culture. For instance, it’s the home of Batik art and Gamelan music. Arts, crafts and Wayang are other most famous Javanese arts. The city belongs geographically to Central Java. With their long history, the city dominated ancient Java’s significance for centuries. The district of Yogyakarta was also declared the “Sultanate of Yogyakarta”. […]
One of the most exciting places in Java is the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Located in East Java, the park consists of six volcanos in total. Only Mt Bromo and Mt Semeru are active stratovolcanos, all others extinct. The caldera gives a fascinating insight into the geology and the forces which shape our earth. Not only for millions of years in the past but even for today. The tremendous evolutionary processes still continue. In fact, both Bromo and Semeru […]
I knew from my friends about a free-living megabat colony (family Pteropodidae, Megachiroptera) not far from Tuban. A little village in the Javanese jungle between rice fields and banana trees that’s the place to go. A local villager guides me to a hill at the edge of the village. Giant tropical trees have overgrown the hill. How amazing, a big megabat colony occupied the trees as their home. When the villager hit the tree trunk with a piece of wood, the bats flying […]
Gamelan music is a traditional music style from Indonesia. The music is performed in an orchestra. Gamelan music, Batik and Wayang kulit are the most important things in Indonesian art and culture. The Gamelan is most common on Java and Bali islands. Sulawesi has its own kind of music called Kulintang and Bali has Rindik. Indeed there are other interesting things about Indonesia. But the traditional music and puppet theatre is Indonesian culture and part of social life. The unique atmosphere and the style of music […]
The “Goa Ngerong” cave near Tuban, East Java is the right destination for a short weekend trip. Located not more than forty minutes to drive by car from Tuban away. The cave locates in the small town of Rengel. It’s a famous place for locals. The entry to the area is directly on the road from Tuban to Bonjenogoro. You cannot miss the small gate on the road. Indeed “Goa Ngerong” the mysterious cave has something special. As in many […]