Becak

The term Becak in Indonesia means cycle rickshaws. The Becaks were banned in 1994 within the city of Jakarta as they were found to be one of the main causes of traffic jams. Almost region in Java island and Sumatera have becak. In Kalimantan, I never seen becak. Becak run efficiently in those places where you don’t find bus services. But becak can drive fastly like motorcycle or bus because the power is depend of human driver. Becak run slowly and no pollution. A becak is a three-wheeled cycle rickshaw. It is generally decorated in ornate colors, especially though colors vary with the choice of the becak owners. The becak are sometimes driven by the drivers and sometimes by the owners themselves The becaks are ideal for two passengers. You can get some protection under the hood from the glaring rays of the sun in summer, whereas in winter, they draw a plastic sheet in front of you. Becaks have flair of their own; it is a great feeling to travel in a becak. Becak in Jogjakarta and Solo I think is the best. Because the driver so polite, cheaper, and the best thing…. becak in this region is bigger than another. So I feel more safety.

Cipularang Highway connected Bandung and Jakarta

Cipularang connected between Bandung and Jakarta. Since Cipulang was operated, traffic in Bandung increase in the week end. Because traveled distance only two hours. Like Bandung residence say ,”In week end, we better stay at home. The traffic jam is increase highly. Many people come from Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, and town around Bandung. So crowded. In the week end, our city occupied by Jakarta resident.” Kuliner, Factory Outlet (sell cloth with factory price). I remember 15 years ago, Bandung is not really hot in midday. But right now, so hot like Jakarta. Sawah changed by new resident. Supermall, hotel, factory outlet, grow so quickly. Now Bandung have different face.

Batik

Batik is traditional cloth from Indonesia. Batik can made by hand or machine. Batik made by hand is more expensive. There many motif of Batik in Indonesia. Every region have different motif and pattern. The famous batik come from Yogyakarta, Solo, Tasikmalaya, Pekalongan, Palembang, etc. If you visiting Yogyakarta, you can come by to Bringharjo market (you cant ask becak, taxi, or delman driver, they must be know this place). In Indonesia, bureaucrat officer must wear batik one day in a week, usually in Friday (some region have different day. Like in Central Java, the bureaucrat officer wears it in Thursday). This obligation helps Batik industrialist or entrepreneur get survive in high competition with another cloth. Nelson Mandela from South Africa also likes Batik. He often wear Batik from Indonesia in ceremonial event. The pattern can be animal, plant, or special patern. The favorite pattern from animal is bird (like cendrawasih or eagle), dragon (Tiongkok influence), or elephant. Favorite Plant batik motif is flower and tree like Beringin. I will inform you later in my blog about the famous Batik in Indonesia.

Gado-Gado : Mix Salad From Indonesia

Gado Gado is a mixed vegetable salad served with a peanut sauce dressing and pouring kerupuk on the top. It’s a favorite traditional dish in Indonesia. Although it is to be eaten as a main meal, many Western countries describe it simply as a salad. But gado-gado is different with salad. Is widely served from hawkers carts, stalls (warung) as well as in restaurants or hotel both in Indonesia and worldwide. The exact composition of the vegetable salad varies, but usually compromises some form of mixture cabbage, string bean, carrot (sometimes), sliced boiled potatoes, slice boiled eggs (not all stalls uses this because makes price of gado-gado more expensive), slice of fried tofu, slice of fried tempe, kerupuk or emping (or both), uncooked cucumber and lettuce, plus friend onion. By the way, emping is friend cracker made from melinjo. In Indonesia usually peanut sauce mixed with chilli pepper ... so hot in your mouth when you eat that. Or you can added terasi (dried shrimp/fish paste) if you like it. Hhmmm, delicious. Gado-gado is usually served with rice or lontong (rice cake in banana leave wrapped) or ketupat (rice cake in coconut leaf). Also you just can eat only gado-gado. The price gado-gado with rice or lontong are same. The price gado-gado in stall usually only IDR 5.000. But gado-gado in hotel or restaurant of course have difference price. Today, peanut sauce for gado-gado sale in dried block to which add hot water can you buy in many store even traditional market.

Busway : Bus Rapid Transport in Jakarta

Jakarta has the most modes of transportation planned in Indonesia. The government have been planing to implement river transport like in Venesia, bus services with their own lane in the street called Busway, monorail, and subway. But at the present time, only one mode has worked: The Bus Rapid Transit system or Busway. River transport is fail because the river is fully by trash and shallow. Monorail is delayed because lack of budget. Busway has attracted strong opposition from transportation experts and observers since it was first introduced by the Jakarta administration in early 2002. Today, busway project still carry on. Sometimes this project make the traffic more crowded and jammed in business hours. The busway take one line of the road. The experts argued that the busway would not be able to resolve chronic traffic congestion in the capital and poor-quality public transportation services. The administration proposed only Rp 60 billion (US$7 million) from its 2002 budget to buy some 60 buses to be used on the 12.9-kilometer corridor from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta. A promise to operate the busway in October 2002 was broken because the administration had yet to prepare facilities, from bus shelters and pedestrian bridges to lane dividers. But the best thing from bus wat are it is cheap. For one ride you only pay IDR 3.500. You must pay it in the locket before take the busway. No like other bus transportation, in busway you can find woman driver the bus. Feeder bus services, to support the busway, will not have air-conditioned buses as promised earlier, which could discourage private car owners from using the buses.

Bali is Not A Country (2)

I think this posting only added for my posting before with the same title. Bali is an Indonesian island located at 8°25′23″S 115°14′55″E / 8.42306°S 115.24861°E / -8.42306; 115.24861, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. Capital of Bali is Denpasar towards the south of the island.But compare with another provinces, Bali is the most famous province in the world. Bali maybe more recognize than Indonesia itself. Actually, Indonesia is the biggest country number 12 in the world. I believe, many people in the world don’t know it where is Indonesia. Yes, I understand that because promotion about our country on aboard is rare because lack of budget for that. Ok, back to Bali. Bali as known as Island of God have many beautiful tourism object like Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Besakih, and so on. An offshoot of the tourism business is the growing real estate industry in Bali. Bali real estate has been rapidly developing in the main tourist districts of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Oberoi. Most recently, high end 5 star developments are taking place on the Bukit peninsula on the south side of the island. But if you don’t like stay at hotel and prefer to stay at motel or hostel, there may place can you choose. With people so polite and friendly. Religion of most local resident is Hindu. Bali have many attraction for tourism like barong, kecak, or if you lucky, you can see Ngaben ceremonial. Next time, I will explain about the attraction more detail. Bali's tourism brand is Bali Shanti Shanti Shanti. Where Shanti derived from Sanskrit "Shanti" meaning peace.

Manchester United Vs Indonesia All Star

Visiting of Manchester United to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Chinese at 18-26 July 2009 of course will be spectacular event especially when Manchester United met Indonesia. On schedule, this match will perform in Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, 20 July 2009. This tour was announced since five month ago.
This is like David Vs Goliath. But can Indonesia soccer team (Indonesia All Star) as David beaten Manchester United. I think this is like mission impossible. Manchester United who know is the best team in the whole world. For soccer fanatic, who don’t know Christiano Ronaldo as the best soccer player in the world in 2008, Wayne Roone, Van De Saar, and many more.
But tickets for this match are difficult to fine. According to tour organizer, most of tickets priority for sponsor who have relationship with Manchester United like American International Group (AIG) and his partnership in Indonesia. Tour organizer make sure that the ticket can be ordered by phone : 021-57852749 at Gate I in Gelora Bung Karno Senayan.
This is list pf price ticket to watch match Manchester United Vs Indonesia All Star :

VVIP: IDR 3.500.000
Include watch training session of Manchester United at 19 July, valet parking service at the match, food and beverage, bar and lounge area.

West VIP : IDR 1.500.000
Include watch training session of Manchester United at 19 July, free flow food and beverage.

East VIP : IDR 1.000.000
Include watch training session of Manchester United at 19 July, free flow food and beverage.

Category 1: IDR 400.000
Include watch training session of Manchester United at 19 July and food box (kotak makanan)

Category 2: IDR 250.000

Category 3: IDR 100.000

Let we see Indonesia soccer team achievement in international league or competition. In the Asia Championship, the best soccer team in Indonesia that is Sriwijaya FC (the winner Indonesia league 2008) fail in this competition and be the last place in the group with record 3 loses 1 win. By the way, that is not important right now. I cant waiting this big match. Indonesia All Star player will choose by short message service (SMS). I have plan to watch this match on television and I hope Indonesia team soccer will give the best effort when fight in the field. This match will broadcast to Asia and Europe. Good luck Indonesia All Star.

Bajaj

Bajaj is public vehicle woth three wheel. So noisy and makes pollution. For near distance is Rp. 5.000. The driver in front and the passenger in back seat. In back seat can fulfill with 2 or 3 passengger. For foreign people from Europe, US, or Arab, with body bigger than ordinary people in Indonesia, I think bajaj just can take only one passenger. This vehicle only you can see in Jakarta and you cant find it in anotjer place in Indonesia. Most bajaj have red color. Only few bajaj have green or yellow color. Bajaj is so noisy. You better speak loud if you make conversation on bajaj. But I guarantee, you will remember this vehicle if you already travelling Jakarta with it. Remember, not all area in Jakarta can use bajaj. Area for bajaj is limited. You can ask the driver first. You cant use bajaj to traveling in Sudirman area or Thamrin. Dont makes police stop you. By the way, the souvenir of bajaj can you find in souvenir shop, made it by wood or steel.

Bali is Not A Country

Yes, many people think Bali is one country. But you are wrong. Bali is the one from 33 Province in Indonesia. Indonesia is the biggest country number 12 in the world. I know people maybe knowing better Bali than Indonesia. Bali as known as Island of God to some, the Morning to the world to others, and for everyone, surely the most unique and exquisite island on Earth. The favorite place for tourist is Sanur, Kuta, Jimbaran, Ubud, Munduk, Batu Karu, Pemuteran, Amed, and many beautiful place.

Just Say Hello...

Hallo I am from Indonesia. Let me try to explain to you about my country. Indonesia is beautiful country (not city ... like our Miss Universe from Indonesia already said). From today, i will inform you anything about Indonesia. History, culture, music, and so on. I hope you enjoy it...