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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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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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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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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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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Tuberose

Tuberose Polianthes tuberosa L (Sedap Malam, or Night Delicious - because the scents spread heavily at night) is native to Central America. The fragrance is strong, mysterious and seductive and Indonesians usually asociated the scents with female spirits/ghosts. It’s very popular in Indonesia as cut flowers or clustered for bride’s accessories and decoration, traditional rituals and ceremonies. Other type of tuberose flowers is edible and added to kimlo soup.

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Fresh jamu drinks at Toko You

If you want to try fresh jamu drinks while in Bandung, just go to Toko You, a cafe/diner situated at jalan Hasanuddin, Dago area, just near the Borromeus Hospital.
Beside its cozy ‘warung’ like ambience (warung is a traditional grocery stall) and their butter fried frogs, we can have fresh jamu drinks. At the jamu bar we can order jamu drinks while watching the production process. Theres a lot of fresh tubers and other jamu ingredients inside the big jars on the table.



We can order any jamu drinks including beras kencur (rice and lesser galangan), kunyit asem (turmeric and tamarind), jamu sehat (health tonic) and so on. Just sip the jamu as a refreshment drink, or after meal whatever you like. You can ask it to be hot or cold. They sell jamu in bottles also for take away, no preservatives guaranteed.

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how to read those stuff?

Just come across my mind that lots of buzz in this blog are not familiar for so many people. So i made a list of javanese and indonesian words and how to read it (I suppose)

Jamu read jah-moo
Lulur read looh-lure
Luluran read looh-looh-run
Ratus read rah-toos
Boreh read boh-reh
Temugiring read teh-moo-gee-reeng
Jahe read jah-hea
Kencur read kean-choore
Jawa read jah-wah
Bali read bah-lee
Parem read pah-remp

hope this stuff helpful

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shop for herbs and spices in bandung

if you live in bandung and looking for jamu (natural medicine) ingredients or rare spices either for food recipes or medication, baba kuya is the place. the store situated in crowded old chinese area behind pasar baru bandung, at jalan pasar selatan (or is it timur?)

i think baba kuya means mister turtle, while baba is like uncle or sir in chinese slang. and the big old turtles still there hanging on the wall. this narrow street crowded with angkot, becak and pedestrians while the sidewalk packed with all kind of stalls. so the best way to go there is to park your car at the train station parking area, and take a walk from there.
this store stocks lots of indonesian spices and herbs in powder or dried form. i think this place is a hundred years old.

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