Banana, Is Not Just a Fruit

For those who do not live in the tropics might be surprised by the way Javanese processed bananas . Banana as fruit, eaten by peeling the skin and go directly into the mouth only one from many ways people eat bananas in Java .

 

There are tens maybe hundreds of types of bananas grown here . Starting from as little as fingers or as large so it's -called 'pisang tanduk' - horns banana . The colors are green , yellow , and red . Not all types of bananas delicious to eat just after ripened , some are too hard , gummy or even have seeds . That's why bananas processed, in addition to a food variety , also for the preservation in banana-producing areas .

Pisang Tanduk - Horn Banana

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Paes Ageng Yogyakarta : Yogyanese Bridal Style

Gambar dari sini 

The ceremony of the youngest daughter of Java's Jogja's Sultan Hamengkubuwono X was held last month in such an amazing ceremony and bash.  The procession was covered by aYogya local television.

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Gayo's Saman Dance - Synchronized Headbanging

North Sumatra, South East Aceh in the Gayo highlands is an area of origin of the unique Saman dance. The dance was originally danced by 10 men, without the accompaniment of musical instruments. The musics produced by the voice of two group leaders (syekh), clappinghands and pat chests. The lyrics are about islamic preach, ethics, epic etc. Syekh tasked also to give command of motion changes. This dance reportedly discovered and developed by Sheikh Saman, a scholar Gayo, although I think this dance seems older than that.

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The Sacred Dance of Bedhaya Ketawang

Once a year at the Kings Palace of Solo performed a sacred ritual dance Bedhaya Ketawang to commemorate ascension of the sultan (Susuhunan). This dance is performed by nine female dancers who depict love of the the southern sea queen Nyi Roro Kidul to either Sultan Agung or his grandfather, Senopati.

Dance performances conducted in pendhapa, an open hall with pillars in the front of Susuhunan which sat at the throne. The dance accompanied by a chorus of women and men (sindhenan lampah sekar). Musical accompaniment is not a complete gamelan orchestra but only few instruments: kethuk, kenong, gongs and kendang only.

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Green Architecture of Kampung Naga

It turns out that Indonesia already have a green architecture concept since hundreds of years ago. And this work of local genius is still preserved by traditional means: through all sorts of restrictions / taboos / pamali.

In Kampung Naga which is located between the highway Tasik and Garut, Western Jawa, Kecamatan Salawu Neglasari, engineers with no degree that lived hundreds of years ago had lived with nature and try to defend its wisdom with all means. In the lush and humid river valley, where water is abundant with high rainfall that is continuesly preserved, one particular way is through environmentally friendly architecture and various taboos.

It is said that the origins of the name of Kampung Naga from the term 'diNA GAwir village' or 'village on the cliff', which eventually became the village of Naga alone ..

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The Temple of King Boko

About 3 kilometers south of Prambanan temple situated the area of Boko Temple in Sleman, Yogyakarta. By paying the ticket Rp 15,000 and additional Rp 7500 if you bring camera, we can start explore this 19 hectares park.

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How To Wear Sundanese Iket

Iket or fabric head coverings is part of the everyday men clothes on the island of Java, until around the beginning of the year 1900 ( click here for Javanese Old Postcards). The use of iket become imperative because it is believed to protect them from evil spirits, in addition to practical functions such as containers / wrappers, blankets, pads to carry the load on the head etc..

Iket is made of batik cloth in rectangle shape that is folded in such a way as to be typical models. There are differences iket model for West Java and Central Java. In this article we try to make the Sundanese iket styles. Iket models are given names like barangbang semplak, parekos, or porteng (source from here )

a b c d

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Wayang Golek, the Western Jawa Puppets

In the western part of Java there is a unique traditional art form of puppet show called wayang golek. Wayang show has been defined by UNESCO on November 7, 2003, as the legacy of very valuable culture and amazing work in the field of narrative story (Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity).

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Javanese Bride and Groom

gambar dari mudah menikah

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Wayang kulit, the Javanese Shadow puppet

pic from kkseema

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BATIK: Indonesian Art of Textile

pic from trulyjogja

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Madura's Magic Wand

Tongkat Madura is the secret of the Maduranese women to enhance sexual favors for both couples. This stick is made of herbs and ingredients from Madura island such as seashell powder, manjakani, rapet wood (Parameriae cortex), jati belanda leaves (Guazumae folia) and others. This secret has been spread throughout the world now but it is still surprising that Tongkat Ajimat Madura sold by mbok jamu is made ​​in China!

this Madura’s stick unfortunately made in China

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JAMU GENDONG

the jamu lady in this picture still owe me 3 kgs of temugiring and go MIA

Jamu gendong means back carried jamu. This traditional lady vendors sell various jamus such as beras kencur (for fatigue and good appetite), kunir asam (for womans health), cabe puyang (for fatigue and pain), pahitan (for 'sweet blood' or diabetes), kunci suruh (for vagina's health), kudu laos (for better blood flows), and uyup-uyup/gepyokan (for better breast milk flows).
This jamus stored in the glass bottles and served in glass portion. Today they also sell 'modern' jamus in pills and powders and other traditional beauty stuffs such as lulur and ratus. For more information about jamu gendong click here

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RICE

Rice (Oryza sativa)is the main food for Javanese and most indonesians (drier eastern indonesia have sagu and sweet potatoes). Lots of rituals and traditions here actually made for rice worshipment, so it is called that we have a rice culture.

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Javanese post-natal treatment

Javanese women have their secret for post natal body treatment. 7 days after the delivery they put tapel (tah-pehl), mixture of slaked limestone, lime juice, betel leaf and cajuput oil on their stomach. Afterwards, bengkung (behng-koong), cotton wrap of 15 cm wide and 10 meters long binded tightly around the tummy (below breast to hip area). The binder sits there all day, and take off at the afternoon with hot shower to cleanse. This treatment repeated daily for 40 days.



Pilis (peelees) is a forehead mask for relieve headache and restore vision. Parem (pah-reamp) is a water based lotion made by mixtures of rice, ginger and pepper to warm legs and arms and ease the blood circulation. With all the treatments mom’s body will back to initial shape very soon as it is before pregnancy and have a good overall health. Indonesian jamu manufacturers such Nyonya Meneer, Jamu Iboe and Simona have a complete post natal jamus package for no fuss home treatment.

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