Valentine’s Day gifts a hit among the young

The Jakarta Post  |   Sun, 02/15/2009 8:50am  
 

L for lungs: Teen campaigners show off their hearts as they participate in Tebaran Kasih Sayang, Bukan Asap Rokok (Spread love not smoke) rally around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Jakarta on Saturday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

Giving presents on Valentine’s Day remains popular among young people in Indonesia’s big cities as they believe the day is special. 

“Despite pros and cons of giving presents on Valentine’s Day discussed among various circles, giving a gift to the loved one on the day is more special for me than on other days,” Doni, a senior high school student in Pangkalpinang, Bangka-Belitung province, said over the weekend.

He said he gave a colorful doll to his girlfriend on Saturday. 

“Love has a broad meaning, not only for the girlfriends, but for everyone including parents. But at the moment Valentine’s Day focuses just on the girlfriend,” Doni said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Doni’s sentiments were shared by Ziska, another high school student, who said he had arranged a special moment with his girl. In Banyuwangi, East Java, youth were busy preparing presents for their special ones the day before.

Ari, a vocational high student in Banyuwangi, said, “I gave my girlfriend a doll worth Rp 32,000 (US$2.9).

In Surabaya, East Java, flower sellers on Jl. Kayoon felt the windfall from Valentine’s Day.

“This week we’ve been very busy serving customers,” Ina, the owner of Inafem flower shop in Surabaya, said Saturday.

Roses are the traditional token for Valentine’s Day,  but not everyone is celebrating. In Yogyakarta 100 Gadjah Mada University students, from the  Campus Proselytism Institute Forum, staged a rally on campus Friday, opposing the celebration of Valentine’s Day, as, they said, it tainted the holiness of love.

In Bandung, West Java, a local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council issued an edict, stating celebrating Valentine’s Day was haram, or not permitted by Islamic law.

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during their vow renewal ceremony in Bali. (JP/J.B.Djwan)

RI eyes $6.4b from tourism in 2008

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government said it hopes to bring in US$ 6.4 billion in foreign exchange from an estimated seven million foreign tourists expected next year.

The government has set these targets for its 2008 visit Indonesia campaign.

"We haven't reached our target yet for the year 2007, but the number of foreign visitors arriving in the first 10 months of this year was up, compared to last year's figures," Thamrin Bhiwana Bachri, director general for marketing at the Culture and Tourism Ministry told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"Arrivals were increasing at around 14.4 percent from January to October this year, compared to the same period in 2006."

Thamrin said ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia and Singapore, had been the focus for Indonesia's tourism sector over the last 10 to 15 years.

He said these two countries remained Indonesia's major markets.

"Their proximity, the high amount of flights available and the similar customs and food are the main factors that stimulate the interest of people from these countries to visit Indonesia," he said.

But the government needed to develop tourist attractions in regions by improving facilities and access, Thamrin said.

"We have many other interesting places and cultures other than Bali," he said.

"But those places don't have good infrastructure or facilities able to accommodate tourist needs, like convenient hotels and resorts, clean public toilets, well-managed airports or easy access to tourist attractions."

Bali remains a favorite tourist destination, with foreign arrivals up 40 percent this year.

The "Visit Indonesia Year 2008" campaign, which would be launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Jan. 1, is set to stage 100 international-scale events and cultural festivals.

It has been timed to coincide with the "World Culture Forum Asia & Pacific" in New Delhi in January 2008.

Legislator Ade Daud Nasution from Crescent Star Party (PBB) is the owner of several hotels in Bali and Riau Islands and said the government must continue developing the Riau archipelago.

He said this was vital in order to win the tourism competition against Singapore and Malaysia and to attract tourists from China, the Middle East and Japan.

"We have to develop an integrated tourist resort on Bintan, Galang and Batam islands, which are located in a strategic position on the Malacca Straits," he told the Post.

"The government could invite foreign investors to take part in the integrated tourist resort project if it can not do this alone," Ade said.

The government said recently Indonesia's economic growth in the coming years could depend on the tourism sector if the Bintan Bay Treasure integrated resort was realized.

The resort is projected to compete with Singapore and Malaysia.

Ade said Malaysia's Landmarks Bhd. had confirmed its readiness to take part in the project in Bintan and many local businessmen had also shown an interest.

Hasto Kristiyanto from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the government would need to invest a serious sum if it wanted to make the Riau archipelago a viable tourist destination in Southeast Asia.

"Despite having a Muslim majority, Indonesia should not be a hypocrite," Hasto said.

"It should learn more from Malaysia and Singapore and see how they have developed their tourism industries," he said. (rff)

New children's book urges care for environment

Michele Cempaka, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Bali

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba (Turtle and Dolphin) by author Maggie Dunkle and illustrator Margiyono is a new children's book featuring a turtle, dolphin and seagull who teach us about the devastating effects plastic has on our environment, especially with regard to the mortality of marine life.

The book is one of the Clean Bali series written in three languages -- Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Bali and English -- making it accessible to virtually everyone living in Indonesia.

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba is filled with 24 beautiful color illustrations of the animals that are certain to capture the reader's imagination.

The story begins with a hungry dolphin that can't find any food. He thinks he sees a fish and ends up bumping into a sea turtle. They are both after the same fish.

"I need food. I need fish. I do not know where the fish have gone, do you? It is so long since I had enough to eat -- and I didn't see you, the water is so hard to see through these days," the dolphin says to the turtle.

The two marine creatures head off in search of food, and together they discover plastic floating on top of the water -- along with a seagull that is crying for help because she is choking on something stuck in her throat.

Turtle pokes his leg in her throat and discovers a strip of plastic.

The three friends continue their story until the end, when children begin cleaning up the beach. The animals feel hopeful that maybe things will finally change for the better.

While the story has great merit in how it teaches children about the importance of caring for their environment, some of the writing does not quite flow.

It begins as a book for younger children, but then goes into a very detailed explanation about the dangers of trash that would be better suited for teens.

Every book in the series comes with a game and a song that help to reinforce the concepts within, about not littering on our beautiful beaches. A detailed recycling diagram appears at the back that clearly explains the appropriate methods for disposing plastic items and cans.

The book will be distributed for free to hundreds of schools throughout Bali -- and later, throughout the archipelago -- with the idea that teachers can incorporate recycling and other environmental issues into their curriculum.

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba was released on Nov. 25 at Semawang Beach, Bali.

For more information, visit www.cleanbaliseries.org.

Turtle and Dolphin
Story by Maggie Dunkle
Illustrations by Margyono
Saritaksu Editions (November 2007)
52 pages, Full color, hard cover, Rp 55,000

Karimun Jawa's coral reefs, white sands lure tourists

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jepara

"Let's swim with Nemo," Budi said, enjoying the clear water of Cemara Island sea park.

Budi, a tourist from Bandung, West Java, had invited his friends to come snorkeling at Cemara, home to many decorative species of fish and beautiful coral reefs.

Within seconds, Budi's friends had jumped into the water to join him chasing "Nemo", the colorful fish belonging to the clown fish family featured in the movie Finding Nemo.

Many tourists enjoy snorkeling at Cemara, one of the 26 Karimun Jawa islands in Central Java's Jepara regency, which show relatively little environmental damage.

Most of the islands are untouched, remote and beautiful. Only four of the islands are inhabited. One island is owned privately and has been turned into a holiday retreat.

On the main island, Karimun, there are some 15 homestays, each with up to 10 rooms, which are often fully booked on weekends.

People who are not able to swim can still enjoy snorkeling in safety on one of the extensive shallow reefs there with a depth of only 1.5 meters.

"I can not swim, but I enjoy snorkling very much," a tourist from Boyolali in Central Java, Okie Setiawan, said.

He said he was happy seeing various colorful fish in the reef and he enjoyed every minute he spent snorkling.

"This is my first experience snorkling, and I will never forget it. I was really amazed when I saw beautiful yellow, pink and purple coral," he added.

Tourists who do not have their own equipment can hire snorkling gear from local residents.

"I charge Rp 35,000 for snorkling gear for a day," a local resident, Arif, told The Jakarta Post.

Diving equipment is also available for hire for those who want to experience the beauty of the deep sea, but for safety reasons they must be accompanied by an instructor.

Visitors to the Karimun Jawa islands, located some 50 miles north of Semarang, can also enjoy sunbathing or fishing. The area is famous as a haven for keen anglers because of its many fish.

To experience the Karimun islands with their white sandy beaches visitors can cruise around the islands by boat, with fares ranging from Rp 100,000 to Rp 250,000 depending on the vessel.

A boat which holds up to 10 people costs Rp 100,000, and for 20 people, Rp 250,000 a day" said Jasamni, a local resident who rents out boats.

Visitors can reach Karimun Jawa by ship, departing from Kartini harbor in Jepara or Tanjung Emas in Semarang.

The Muria boat goes from Jepara to Karimun Jawa every Wednesday and Saturday at 9 a.m. and returns every Monday and Thursday at 8 a.m. The journey takes six hours and costs Rp 24,000 for economy class or Rp 48,000 for business class.

The Kartini goes from Semarang to Karimun Jawa every Saturday and returns on Sundays at 4 p.m. The ride takes only three to four hours but it costs up to Rp 100,000.

There are many hotels on the island, with rooms from Rp 250,000 to US$500 a night.

Visitors may choose to rent a bungalow for Rp 50,000 a night, and order from the sea food menu with meals starting at Rp 15,000.

Mixed feelings about tourist surge in Bali

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, October 19, 2007

After planning a relaxing day shopping at Kuta's Discovery Mall, Intan Indahsari spent a large chunk of her morning sitting in Jakarta-like traffic.

"The traffic has never been this bad," the Sanur resident said.

Bali was visited by thousands of domestic tourists during the Idul Fitri holiday, including many who decided to bring their own vehicles with them.

While tourism industry officials were happy with the rising number of tourists visiting the resort island, local residents were frustrated with the traffic chaos they contributed to.

"It is really frustrating. I wish tourists were not allowed to bring their own vehicles to the island," Intan said.

Traffic congestion at popular tourist sites has been an annual problem in Bali during Idul Fitri. This year, with an official period of leave set by the government until Oct. 19, traffic was worse than in previous years, Intan said.

At night, airport taxi drivers refused to take passengers to Kuta in fear of being caught up in traffic jams.

"Several drivers who went to Kuta a few hours ago have not returned yet," one taxi driver said Tuesday.

On ordinary days, the drive from the airport to Kuta takes about 15 minutes.

Holidaymaker Priska Siagian, 25, said getting a taxi from the airport to take her to Denpasar was a difficult mission.

"A taxi driver at first refused to take me. He asked me to wait for an hour because he was tired after being stuck in Kuta," she said.

Bali Tourism Agency head Gede Nurjaya acknowledged the problem, saying the island was facing a unique dilemma.

"It is very good for Bali to receive a lot of visitors. However, popular tourist places cannot hold so much traffic, which in the end results in traffic jams," he said.

"We definitely cannot stop people from bringing their own cars to the island, as some tourists come here after visiting other cities," he said.

Holidaymaker Yetty Priyono, 45, and her family said bringing their own car to the island was fun, despite the fact they had to deal with traffic jams.

The family spent the holiday traveling from Jakarta to Salatiga and Semarang in Central Java, to Surabaya and Banyuwangi in East Java and to Bali after crossing the Bali Strait by ferry.

"We have more freedom with our own car. We don't really mind the traffic jams, we just joke around in the car a lot," Yetty said.

She said her family would not hesitate to take the road trip to Bali again.

"It was really fun for us," she said.

Nurjaya said the traffic problem was caused by the fact most tourists visited the same few tourist attractions.

"Domestic tourists swarm to Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Kintamani. There are a lot of other places as well," Nurjaya said.

He said his agency was endeavoring to promote other areas of interest, especially in the Karangesem and Klungkung regencies.

"There are a lot of tourist destinations in these areas that are as beautiful as the well-known places. Ujung and Candi Dasa in Karangasem are examples," he said.

Klungkung regency is home to the islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan, he added.

"If tourists were drawn away from the regular places and were spread out across the island, it would overcome traffic problems in Kuta," Nurjaya said.

Pulau Umang, a paradise next door

Leo Wahyudi S / The Jakarta Post Contributor

An outdoor banquet on the beach? It sounds wonderful. And it was the balmy night, the food, the sandy beach on a private island in Banten province, all of it.

Not only would young lovers find it romantic but so too would parents taking their family away for a weekend and enjoying dinner on a moonlit beach with the gentle sound of waves lapping the shore.

With fresh seafood as the main course served by amiable staff, every guest enjoyed the magical moment by the sea.

Most urbanites, particularly those residing in a big, crowded city like Jakarta, can only dream of having the sea right at their doorstep, but on Pulau Umang it is a reality. And everyone can enjoy this simple pleasure just by leaving behind the traffic jams of Jakarta and visiting this island on the western tip of Java island.

Pulau Umang, located in Banten's Pandeglang district, is a reasonably priced dream getaway for anyone looking for a relaxing beach experience with ambience. Situated near the UNESCO heritage site of Ujung Kulon nature reserve, Umang Island is a worthwhile destination for travelers.

Umang island resort and spa offers the same comforts as a star-rated hotel. The informal atmosphere enables guests to unwind and enjoy the laid-back pace of this relaxing island.

Pulau Umang is well protected from stormy seas, with the popular Tanjung Lesung beach to the north, Ujung Kulon to the south and Panaitan Island far west of the small island. Visitors have little to fear from large waves on their trip out to the island as it is just a five-minute speedboat ride from the shores of Sumur, Pandeglang, which takes approximately four hours to reach by car from Jakarta. The resort has free 24-hour secure parking at its parking lot in Sumur and accommodation for drivers.

Alighting from the speedboat, visitors walk along the pier to the main gate of the resort. A welcome drink awaits every guest. The natural beauty of the resort becomes apparent as soon as one heads for their cottage. Set amid five hectares of land, the resort has 60 cottages facing the sea, each with a view of either sunrise or sunset depending on individual choice. Each cottage has two large rooms with connecting door. The bedroom on the mezzanine has a distinct romantic feel to it, made all the more special by the fresh sea air and the lulling sound of breaking waves. The structures are all earthquake resistant.

Ten minutes from Umang island is the uninhabited Pulau Oar, which people visit to walk along the white sandy beach or go snorkeling, jet-skiing or for a ride on a banana boat in the crystal clear water. The islet also has many places to get a great shot of sunset or sunrise.

Over all, Pulau Umang is a paradise on earth where holiday-makers can laze around and enjoy its beauty and tranquility, far removed from the hassles of urban life.

Pulau Umang Resort & Spa

Australian tourists to Bali up by 50 percent

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The number of foreign tourists flying on Indonesia`s national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia from Australia to Bali had increased by 50 percent in the past few months compared to last year`s.

The remark was made by Garuda Indonesia`s Operations Director Capt Ari Sapari during a dinner party held to welcome 110 Australian participants of the Mega Familiarization Tour at Novotel Nusa Dua Hotel, Badung district, on Friday evening.

Without mentioning the number of the Australian tourists to Bali, Ari Sapari said their number is only second to that of the Japanese tourists. "One thing worth noting is that Garuda flew more than eight million passengers in a year and has served the route to Australia for 38 years," Ari Sapari said.

A increasing number of Australian tourists to Bali showed that the island resort was still a paradise for tourists to spend their vacation. "We are delighted with this condition because it means better prospects for the aviation business," he said.

Two other tourist destinations in the familiarization tour are Grajakan in East Java for surfing and Jakarta for golf enthusiasts.

The participants of the Garuda Indonesia-Australia mega educational tour including three journalists were led by Garuda Indonesia General Manager for Australia and the US Suranto Yitnoprawiro.

Spokesman for the delegation Ron Moro, who is also Garuda Indonesia sales manager for western Australian region, expressed words of thanks and happiness for being able to enjoy the beauty of Bali`s nature and impressive culture.

Dynamic cultural show kicks off Bali Arts Festival

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

A vibrant cultural parade showcasing more than 1,500 performers on Saturday afternoon saw the beginning of the 29th month-long Arts Festival (PKB), the biggest and most influential annual cultural gathering on the resort island.

Highlighting the rich diversity of the island's cultural heritage, the parade featured each of the island's nine regencies performing their own unique dances, musical compositions and performing arts.

Thousands of spectators including groups of Western visitors lined up along the wide Puputan street in Renon to see the procession.

The parade's main performing area was next to the Puputan Margarana square where the bell-shaped Bajra Sandhi monument provided a backdrop for artists as they performed before an elevated wooden stage that hosted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and scores of VIPs.

The parade was started after President Susilo officially opened the PKB by sounding a traditional wooden bell or kul-kul.

Earlier in his opening speech, Yudhoyono praised the island and its people as the guardian of a large number of precious and unique cultural treasures.

"Lets show the world that Bali is indeed the Island of the Gods as well as the most beautiful island of all," Yudhoyono said.

"We can achieve that by preserving the strength and uniqueness of the island, such as its arts and cultural treasures, its natural beauty and its living spirituality."

He also asked the Balinese to maintain the security of the island as well as the Balinese people's well-known hospitality.

Those things were critical in the effort to rehabilitate the island's tourism industry, he said.

Toward the end of his speech, Yudhoyono reminded the Balinese the country needed to develop a environmental-based tourism trade and a heritage-based economy.

"We must be able to develop and transform the God-given gifts -- rich cultural and historical heritage, diverse local traditions and natural beauty -- into a productive ecotourism and heritage economy," he stressed.

Students from the Denpasar's Indonesia Arts Institute (ISI) started the parade by performing the PKB's official dance of Siwa Nataraja.

The dance was a homage to Lord Siwa, who in Hindu mythology created the universe through his cosmic dance.

The dance was soon followed by various colorful performances from every regency in Bali.

Yudhoyono and first lady Kristiani Herawati were seen laughing as the Gianyar regency's Rina troupe performed a humorous take on the well-known kecak dance.

Spectators gave rousing applause to the parade's visiting participants, including troupes from China, Japan and several other provinces in Indonesia.

The warmest response was received by the East Java troupe, which performed a vivacious folkdance from Sumenep regency.

The PKB is set to run until July 14 at the Taman Budaya Bali in Denpasar.

The program is due to feature 187 events, including 110 performances, six parades and eight competitions and will involve more than 13,000 performers.

Terrorism fears shouldn't prevent Bali visit

By Dan Day, McClatchy Newspapers

KUTA, INDONESIA - Bali beckons.

In the aftermath of deadly terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, Balinese artisans and merchants are eager for the people of the world to rediscover their enchanting island.

Although the U.S. State Department warns Americans about traveling in Indonesia, I ventured to Bali for a few days in January with my brothers and my older son.

Although worries of a terrorist attack never completely left me, I quickly succumbed to the island's tropical charms.

We split our time between magnificent beaches of the southwest and the enchanting central mountains. Here are some of the highlights.

Bali, a volcanic island in the Indonesian archipelago just south of the equator, is lush and exotic.

Along the coast at a resort in Seminyak, we indulged ourselves by watching the sun set gloriously into the Indian Ocean, the sky turning from blue to orange to crimson.

In the central mountains, we passed spectacular tiered rice paddies.

In Ubud, we saw Balinese children swimming gleefully in the river running through the valley nestling our hotel.

We also toured the Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana, or sacred monkey forest sanctuary. Paved walkways took us through a jungle preserve for long-tailed macaques -- cute monkeys with a hankering for bananas and little tolerance for close-up photography.

Everywhere we went was a shopper's paradise. The exchange rate between the American dollar and the Indonesian rupiah is generous, and the number of stalls and shops was overwhelming. They sell everything from beautiful batik weavings and silver jewelry to flip-flops and other trinkets.

Although prices are fixed at larger stores, bargaining seems to be one of Bali's national pastimes. The street merchants were the most aggressive in Kuta, following us out of their stalls and pestering us to make offers on T-shirts and necklaces.

The style was much more relaxed in Ubud and surrounding villages, where we watchedbasket-makers at work in their shops.

Some of the best time I spent was wandering through the villages around Ubud, where I got a close look at the exotic architecture of public buildings and family compounds. The people are mostly Hindu, and incense offerings were placed at thresholds to most homes and shops.

One morning, I encountered scores of children walking to school, all of them in uniform and the girls seemingly all in pigtails.

We were fortunate to hear a couple of performances by gamelan orchestras, a style of Indonesian music that depends heavily on drums, gongs and other percussion instruments. We saw only part of a traditional Balinese storytelling dance and left wanting to see more.

One of our last stops was at the international memorial to the victims of the Oct. 12, 2002, terrorist bombings in Kuta that killed 202 people from several countries. Attacks in 2005 at Kuta and Jimbaran beach killed 23 people, including three bombers.

It was a sobering experience to see a monument to the victims of despicable violence in such a beautiful place.

The people of Bali are trying to overcome the bombings and bring back tourists. Although security checks at Denpasar airport actually seemed less thorough than what American airports demand, our luggage and our taxi were searched before we could pass through the gate to our resort in Seminyak. At a restaurant in Kuta, security guards ran metal-sensing wands over us before we were escorted to our table.

Many of the merchants and ``taksi'' drivers politely asked where we were from. They were glad and a bit surprised to see Americans back in their shops.

I look forward to the pleasure of returning someday, for their sake and mine.

Tourism Ministry targets 116 mln local tourists

Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The Culture and Tourism Ministry has set a target of 116 million local tourists visiting various tourist objects in the country in 2007.

"This target is higher than that of last year which was set at 114 million," Director for Domestic Tourism Promotion Titien Soekarya said here on Sunday.

She said her office was optimistic that the target would be achieved because the previous year`s target of 114 million was reached.

Titien said that Indonesia had big tourism potentials which had not yet been exploited so far. "Most of local tourists only visited the tourist objects in Java and Bali, or abroad, while Indonesia is really rich in attractive places and cultures," she said.

Quake-hit temples need years of repairs

The China Post , 2007/5/26

By Presi Mandari PRAMBANAN, Indonesia, AFP

Damage to one of Indonesia's most spectacular temple complexes caused by last year's devastating Java earthquake was so extensive that repairs will take at least five years, UNESCO says.

Some of the temples at Prambanan are threatening to topple and restoration of the entire Hindu compound, the largest in the country, will be slow and difficult, according to the UN culture agency.

"It's not just putting back the stones, like a facelift," said UNESCO's Himalchuli Gurung, adding that repair work has not yet started.

"There has been physical and structural damage, and there are a lot of internal cracks," she said.

One estimate has put the cost of rebuilding the UNESCO World Heritage site at US$5.8 million.

The extent of the damage has raised fears for the local economy as Indonesia marks one year since the May 27 quake, which destroyed villages and killed almost 6,000 on the main island of Java.

The ninth and 10th century temples -- dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma -- are located about 20 kilometers (10 miles) east of Yogyakarta, the main city in the quake zone.

Prambanan, like the nearby Borobudur temple compound which emerged unscathed, is one of the premier tourist attractions in Central Java, drawing 1.5 million visitors a year, according to the provincial tourism office.

Since the quake, an iron fence has been erected around the main group of temples and safety concerns mean visitors are barred from venturing inside.

"The problem is stones have been dislodged and some are hanging from the top. They could easily fall off," said Sutopo, an official at Prambanan.

He said cracks as wide as five centimeters (two inches) in the main temple devoted to Shiva have been plugged with candle wax to stop water seeping in and corrupting the stones.

Locals selling souvenirs said business has dwindled since the quake and some tourists leave dejected.

"Of course they are disappointed, they have already paid an entrance fee but are unable to go inside," said Eko Widianto, who has sold gifts here for about 20 years.

Titin Prihati, who sells cold drinks at the compound, said he was fearful about the future as sales have plummeted 60 percent.

"There were many more tourists coming before. The car parks were full, especially on public holidays. But now less tourists are coming and that means less income for me," said Prihati.

Repairs are expected to start later this year. Experts from UNESCO, the Indonesian government and other agencies have spent 12 months conducting extensive damage assessments, and devising an action plan.

Gurung said a big concern was the depth of cracks in the temples, which may have severely weakened their structure.

"When you look at the physical damage, falling stones, falling pinnacles, broken stones, we can place them back. But the serious part is the internal structural cracks, we don't know how deep (they are)," she said.

"Some temples have inclined, they are tilting," she added.

The Indian government is among those ready to help with restoration work, said T.S. Tirumurti, India's deputy chief of mission in Indonesia.

Professor Ostelio Remi, director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Jakarta, said "everything threatens to fall, from the base up to the top."

"It is a universal heritage, among the most beautiful in the world. It has to be saved, whatever the cost," added Remi, who has consulted with UNESCO on damage assessment.

Enjoying Borobudur -- beyond the monument

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, C. Java

There is no doubt that the beauty, glory, and magnificence of the world heritage site, Borobudur temple, is well known not just across Indonesia but also around the globe.

Yet, little may be known about the surrounding areas that are no less interesting destinations and can be enjoyed while visiting Borobudur -- the largest Buddhist temple in the world built around the 7th and 8th centuries, located some 60 kilometers north of Yogyakarta.

Among the human achievements are beautiful natural landscapes, the exoticness of traditional Javanese communities tending to their daily activities, and the uniqueness of traditional cuisines and rituals.

"Riding a horse-drawn cart through the traditional villages indeed offers a different experience of enjoying a visit to the temple, making it even more meaningful to visitors," heritage activist Laretna T. Adishakti told The Jakarta Post recently.

Laretna, also called Sita, is a lecturer and researcher at Gadjah Mada University's Center for Heritage Conservation.

Sita was in Borobudur to guide a group of visitors on the "Borobudur Fun Heritage Trail", a special tour that incorporates cultural landscape surrounding the ancient temple.

Some 70 participants had joined the tour, which was jointly organized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Jakarta, and Jogja Gallery.

The tour group comprised of journalists as well as senior and junior high school students, while the same tour was held previously for a group of senior high school teachers.

"Borobudur has been overburdened with thousands of people visiting it every year," said Sita, underlining the importance of introducing the cultural attractions around Borobudur to the greater public.

This way, according to Sita, the surrounding communities would benefit financially from tourists visiting the heritage site, and Borobudur could be preserved at the same time.

At least five sites, including the temple, were on the tour's agenda that day, which was conducted mostly via andong -- horse-drawn carts -- with three to four participants to a cart. The other sites were the villages of Tuksongo, Tanjungsari, Karanganyar and Candirejo.

Tuksongo was on the tour program for its traditional production center of pati onggok -- sago palm flour -- and glass noodles.

Tanjungsari is known for its tofu production while Karanganyar is a center of traditional earthenware.

Participants gathered at the Borobudur Tourism Information Center, a kilometer to the east of the temple, where they were divided into two smaller groups so the andong caravan would not stretch out too long en route to the scheduled sites. The two groups were assigned separate trails, and the tour was off.

The first group took a route through Tuksongo, Tanjungsari, Karanganyar, and Candirejo; the other started at Karanganyar then continued through Tanjungsari and Tuksongo, to regroup at Candirejo.

A feeling of exotic nostalgia arose once tour members boarded their andong and rolled to the clopping rhythm of the horses.

The leisurely tour revealed views of traditional kampongs with shady trees -- mostly fruit trees -- lining the village roads, with grinning children and villagers waving or nodding their heads in greeting, and traditional houses with spacious yards.

"Hellooo!" several children cried as they ran alongside the carts as the tour passed them.

"The residents here are used to having tourists visiting their villages like this," Yusuf, an andong driver, commented spontaneously.

Yusuf, 60, said he had frequently taken tourists to areas around Borobudur, adding that tourists were welcome to join the villagers in harvesting rice and vegetable crops, as well as pick fruits grown in private gardens.

"But you have to tell them prior to the visit so that they can arrange that for you," he advised.

Enjoying a panoramic view of the temple atop its hill, creating a backdrop to a green expanse of rice fields as farmers tended to the harvest, adds another level of excitement for visitors on the heritage tour.

"This is truly something that we could never enjoy at the temple," said Ratna, a journalist on the tour. "From here, the temple looks much more glorious and magnificent to me."

At strategic points where photographic opportunities were evident, participants were indeed welcome to alight from the andong to take pictures or simply to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

"I will surely come back here later and bring my family to enjoy all of this. I might even spend a night or two here," Ratna added.

Visitors can stay in the area at local accommodations for a night or more to further explore the surrounding area. Candirejo village, only some 3 kilometers to the south of Borobudur, has 50 or so home stays open to visitors.

Over the past four years, the village has been developed steadily into a tourist destination, and offers several different tour packages, including a cooking class on traditional cuisines and snacks.

Candirejo was also where that day's Borobudur Fun Heritage Trail participants stopped by for a rest and lunch.

From there, the andong journey continued to Borobudur. Upon ascending the temple's steps, tour participants were able to recognize the places they had just visited. And from the temple's many relief panels, they were able to learn about daily life in the past, which made the visit much more meaningful.

On the return trip to Yogyakarta, this time on buses, participants were taken for a short visit to a nearby river to trace the remains of a prehistoric lake believe to have once surrounded Borobudur temple.

Geologist Helmy Murwanto of the Yogyakarta-based UPN Veteran's University accompanied this part of the tour, explaining his recent scientific findings on the existence of the lake.

The findings and ongoing research on the lake has inspired heritage activists to design possible trails for special-interest groups, keeping in mind the benefits to local communities and heritage conservation.

"Heritage conservation is not romanticism of the past. In fact, it is for developing the future by sustaining the potentials of the past toward select development today," Sita said.

As regards Borobudur in terms of heritage conservation, she continued, it was not just about the monument's physical structure but also its intangible aspects, including culture, potentials and the daily life of surrounding communities.

In line with this thinking, the Borobudur Fun Heritage Trail is available to everyone who wishes to enjoy the cultural landscape of Borobudur Temple.

The five villages visited above are just a few of the tour's attraction.

Cultural landscape heritage, or pusaka saujana as it has been popularized by local heritage activists, is defined as a mix of natural and cultural heritage within a unity of place and time.

"Unfortunately, the preservation of the cultural landscape here is not yet fully understood, regardless that Indonesia possesses one of the world's largest mosaics of cultural landscapes," said Sita, and that it was time for the government to start adopting the concept as part of its development policy.

Govt promotes animation industry

Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Acknowledging a growing demand for Indonesian talent in the U.S. animation industry, an Indonesian trade mission led by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu is currently in Los Angeles, California, to promote the industry.

"Indonesian people have exported their talent in animation to globally-known animation companies such as Walt Disney. We are committed to supporting this," Mari said in Los Angeles in a statement released Saturday.

Mari said her ministry, together with the Industry Ministry and the State Ministry for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, had been preparing a road map under the Indonesian Design Power initiative in order to promote and develop the country's creative industry.

Analysts have said the country's animation industry, which to some extent has benefited from the growing illegal trade in film and animation software, began to form an outsourcing animation network with the U.S. and Europe from the late 1990s.

Animation industries in other countries have also sought the expertise of Indonesian artists. Jakarta-based Castle Production has received animation project orders from countries including Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand and England.

Aside from promoting talent in the animation industry, Mari is also investigating the possibility of U.S.-based movie firms using Indonesia as part of their production base.

"California is the center of the creative world because it is home to the Hollywood film industry.

"We are exploring the possibility of the Hollywood film industry exploiting Indonesia's beautiful and unique landscape and also working with local companies, the number of which has grown quite significantly," she said.

"Los Angeles is one of the most important cities for business. And apart from expanding export potential and attracting investors, California is also an ideal place for promoting Indonesian tourism," she said.

During her visit to L.A., Mari led a business forum that was attended by approximately 150 businesspeople from California and several Indonesian businesspeople.

According to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), in the first quarter of 2007 there were 12 investment projects taking place in Indonesia involving U.S. investors, with a total estimated value of $106 million.

During the forum, the minister also held several meetings with potential investors while several members of the Indonesian delegation, most of whom were from private firms, held meetings with U.S. business players.

Sleman to launch Trumpon Resort

The Jakarta Post

YOGYAKARTA: Amid the decreasing number of tourist arrivals in the region following the May 27 powerful earthquake and Mt. Merapi eruption, the Sleman administration is to launch Trumpon Resort as a new tourist destination in the regency.

Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto is scheduled to officially open the new resort on April 15, in a festive ceremony held at the resort. During the launch, various tourist attractions including art performances and a fishing competition will be held.

Speaking to journalists while visiting the site earlier this week, head of Sleman Tourism and Culture Office, Dwi Supriyatno, said the resort was basically a further development of the Trumpon tourist village.

Located in Merdikorejo village, Tempel subdistrict, Sleman regency, Trumpon, according to Supriyatno, has everything it needs to be developed into a tourist destination, including plantations, homestays, fishing ponds, beautiful scenery and cultural richness.

A 25-meter high, three-story observation tower has been built at the resort for visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery -- including three volcanoes and two mountain ranges at a distance.

"As a tourist object, having all of these, Trumpon is one of a kind," said Supriyatno, adding that the development of Trumpon would hopefully empower the community and boost social and economic development in the region. -- JP/Sri Wahyuni