Jawa
Java Island
Java is most is the most densely populated island of Indonesia, situated between Sumatra and Bali. Popular tourist destinations include the city of Yogyakarta, a massive pyramid-like monument known as Borobudur, and Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple in Java. The island is divided into six provinces: DKI Jakarta (Indonesia Capital City), Banten, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, and DI Yogyakarta.
Penari Jaipong
The Verdant Land of Parahiangan
West JAva surrounds Jakarta on three sides. It is a region of sandy beaches and lush, breathtaking landscape. Around 70 KM form Jakarta is Bogor, a pleasant and cool town famous for its Botanical Garden built in 1817. The garden cover an area of 87 hectares and shelters 15.000 species of rare trees, such as a carrion-smelling, stemless and leafless plant, and plants from all over the world. As well as an extraordinary collection of 5000 orchids in its orchids gardens. It borders the Presidential Palace, home of the Dutch Governor General during the colonial period.
Baduy Village
In the highlands live some of the most isolated communities of Indonesia’s population. The Baduy in Banten live in the Kendeng highlands and still guard ancient Sundanese traditions and customs. In the highlands of Salawu, Tasikmalaya, the people of Kampung Naga form a closed community, preferring to live and work in their homeland.
West Java offers many adrenaline pumping activities. Trekkers exploring the tropical rainforests of Ujung Kulon in Banten at the southwestern tip of West Java may be lucky enough to meet its most famous inhabitant, the endangered one-horn rhinoceros.
Beneath the waters, beatiful sea gardens are found off hte nearby Peucang and Panaitan islands. In the Sunda Strait, a seascape of craked volcanic rock around Krakatau, and the caves and tunnels around Ujung Kulon provide an interesting underwater experience.
Around 50 KM south of Bogor, Pelabuhan Ratu is a popular seaside resort on the south coast. Leaving the toll expressway, the road passes through hilly country and plantations. Despite strong undertow and surf, Pelabuhan Ratu welcomes a growing number of surfers from Jakarta.
Yet, many have also come to West Java for healings int the highlands. The rainforests, natural springs and cascading waterfalls of Mount Salak provide the prefect spot for cleansing both body and mind. Treatments at Javana Spa include Indonesian traditional and aromatic massages, volcanic mud body masque, facial aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. At Sari Ater on the slopes of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, mineral and sulphure springs help you to unwind and heal most skin problems.
Angklung, Java Traditional Music Art
In Bandung, the provincial capital, visit Mang Udjo’s Angklung Workshop in the cool village of Padasuka for the soothing melody of a bamboo orchestra. Bamboo handicrafts and musical instruments of fine workmanship and exact tuning are made and sold here. Bandung is also famous for its hundreds of factory outlets, for the latest off-the-rack fashion. The Juanda park in the city’s suburb has caves from the time of the Dutch and Japanese occupation for a spooky experience.
When in West Java, hunt around for authentic items, such as hand-carved wooden statues and screen, hand-woven and painted cottons and silks, embroidery, shell-ornaments, basketry, sandstone statues and bamboo furniture. Get hand-painted Tasik umbrellas and the Wayang Golek, a three-dimensional puppet used in the traditional theater.
Cradle of Culture and Classic Tradition
Borobudur Temple
The land’s long and rich history cannot be seperated from the influences of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. The region is dotted with temples; stark Shivaite temples are found in the Dieng Plateau of Wonosobo, about 2,093 m above sea level. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and the world’s eighth wonder. The two-level pyramid symbolizes the ten stages of the Mahayana Buddhist cosmic system. The walls of Borobudur are sculptured in bas-reliefs extendinf over a total of 6 km.
Prambanan Temple
The 9th century Prambanan temple complex in the outskirts of Yogyakarta consists of three curtyards and temples that surround three main shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Ciwa, Vishnu and Brahma. The temple’s relief are beautifully carved dan depict the Hindu cosmic system and stories from Ramayana. Traditional Javanese ballets are performed on open air stages during full moon evenings. The spread of Islam in Java also left several interesting monuments, such as the 15th century Minaret Mosque in Kudus, the oldest mosque in Central Java.
Age-old culture, traditions and values of the Javanese are kept alive in the courts of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat in Yogyakarta and Pakualaman and Mangkunegaran in Surakarta. The grant and elegant Javanese architecture of the eighteenth century kratons or palace guard priceless royal heirlooms and precious antiques.
In Yogyakarta, the walled-in kraton compound is a veritable city within a city. It is home to 25,000 people and includes the Sultan’s huge palace, the Taman Sari water castle, a bird market and several craft industries.
Take a trip on a historic steam locomotion to enjoy cool highland scenery from the Ambarawa Train Museum near Semarang. At Losari, take the time ti visit a popular teahouse which has been around since the Dutch colonial period. Relax and take in the spectacular panorama of coffee plantations set against the volcanoes, Sundoro an Sumbing.
Apart from graceful classic dances and mesmerizing wayang theaters, Java offers a fantastic array of art and craft. There’s teak carvings from Jepara; leather goods, batik and masks from Yogya and Surakarta. Apart from batik, lurik is a woven textile that is made into sarongs, bed covers, upholstery and garments. Delicate and intricately-made silverworks are produces in Kota Gede, Yogyakarta. Several workshops are open to give public a first-hand experience in how silver is transformed into lovely works of art. Kota Gede also hides a secret of lovely traditional Javanese architecture, transquilty and languid pace of bygone eras when Kota Gede was the seat of the mighty Mataram Kingdom of the 16th century.
Ancient Temples and Java Performing Arts
Java’s easternmost province isn’t short of attractions either. The archeological site at Trowulan Village was the ancient capital of the Great Majapahit Empire. Kalimas, in the province’s capital, Surabaya, is an old traditional harbor for ohinisis or Bugis schooners.
For an unforgettable experience, go up the ancient caldera of Mount Bromo in East JAva on horseback to watch the sun rise over a sea of sand. Int he ancient caldera, two volcanoes are visible, the prefect coned and extinct Batok, and Bromo which still releases smoke and volcanic sulphur fumes. Once a year, the Tengger people of the mountain pay homege to the gods who dwell on Mount Bromo in a Kesada ceremony in which scarificial offerings are thrown into the crater. Another well-visited crater is Mount Ijen which 1 km in diameter, 175 m deep and has a turquoise lake in tis center.
At the easternmost end of the island, Meru Betiri National Park is the last remaining habitat of the Javanese tigers, panther and giant green turtles who come to lay hundreds of eggs on Sukamade Beach. Nearby Banyuwangi and Plengkung Bay Java are also gaining recognition as a top surfing spot in the world.
Across the Madura Straits lies the island of Madura, famous for its daring bull races called karapan sapi. Regulary held at the Pamekasan Stadium, bulls race across the grass with the jockeys standing on a wooden skid that are fastenes to a yoke placed between two bulls. The Maduranese not only show a great deal of excitement out of watching this race, they take their local sport very seriously. Jockeys and bull owners are held in great esteem by the community.
Wayang Kulit Puppet
The Wayang Kulit or classic leather puppet theater performance usually takes place all through the night until the early hours. It takes its repertoire from either the Ramayana or Mahabarata epics. The court dances of Yogyakarta are among the most refined and sublime of Javanese dances, such as the Golek and Bedoyo, performed by nine female dancers
