Gunung Tangkuban Parahu ( Tangkuban Parahu Mountain )

Tangkuban Perahu, or Tangkuban Parahu in local Sundanese dialect, is an active volcano 30 km north of the city of Bandung, the provincial capital of West Java, Indonesia. It is a popular tourist attraction where tourists can hike or ride to the edge of the crater to view the hot water springs upclose, and buy eggs cooked on its hot surface. This stratovolcano is on the island of Java and last erupted in 1983.

In April 2005 the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised an alert, forbidding visitors from going up the volcano. "Sensors on the slopes of the two mountains - Anak Krakatoa on the southern tip of Sumatra Island and Tangkuban Perahu in Java - picked up an increase in volcanic activity and a build up of gases, said government volcanologist Syamsul Rizal."[2]


Local legend of the mountain
Main article: sangkuriang
The crater of Tangkuban Perahu, Bandung, West Java.

The name translates roughly to "upturning of (a) boat" or "upturned boat" in Sundanese, referring to the local legend of its creation. The story tells of "Dayang Sumbi", a beauty who lived in West Java. She cast away her son "Sangkuriang" for disobedience, and in her sadness was granted the power of eternal youth by the gods. After many years in exile, Sangkuriang decided to return to his home, long after the two had forgotten and failed to recognize each other. Sangkuriang fell in love with Dayang Sumbi and planned to marry her, only for Dayang Sumbi to recognize his birthmark just as he was about to go hunting. In order to prevent the marriage from taking place, Dayang Sumbi asked Sangkuriang to build a dam on the river Citarum and to build a large boat to cross the river, both before the sunrise. Sangkuriang meditated and summoned mythical ogre-like creatures -buta hejo or green giant(s)- to do his bidding. Dayang Sumbi saw that the tasks were almost completed and called on her workers to spread red silk cloths east of the city, to give the impression of impending sunrise. Sangkuriang was fooled, and upon believing that he had failed, kicked the dam and the unfinished boat, resulting in severe flooding and the creation of Tangkuban perahu from the hull of the boat.

Braga Street In Bandung ( Braga City Walk )

Braga Street (official name in Indonesian: Jalan Braga) is a small street in the center of Bandung, Indonesia, which was famous in the 1920s as a promenade street. Chic cafes, boutiques and restaurants with European ambiance along the street had made the city to attain the Paris of Java nickname. The street starts from a T-junction with the Asia-Afrika Street (or De Groote Postweg during the colonial times) to the north until the city council (balaikota), which was formerly a coffee warehouse.

Early history
The first grocery store in the city, De Vries, opposite Braga Street.

The first name of the street was Karreweg. The city residents dubbed it Pedatiweg, from the Indonesian language of horse-drawn carriages (pedati), because it was a narrow street (about 10 m or 30 feet wide) that only carriages could pass through. The street was built only to connect the major Great Post Road with a coffee warehouse, owned by a Dutch coffee plantation owner Andries de Wilde (the warehouse is now the seat of the city administration or balaikota). In 1856, when Bandung was the capital of Priangan Regency, some colonial houses were built along the dirt road of Braga Street with their houses thatched with reeds, alang-alang grass or other straw materials.

In 1882, a theater group established itself at the south part of the street and the Toneel Braga, the name of the drama group, became famous. Residents flocked into the street to watch the group's performance every night and therefore the road was improved by stone pavements, and oil lamps were installed. The street was at that time popularly known as the Braga street.

In 1884, a railroad connecting Batavia to Bandung was laid down and the city core grew rapidly. New buildings filled the southern end of the street while the northern end was still a rubber tree forest. The street became more famous with a grocery store named De Vries which sold daily needs for plantation owners. Hotels, banks, cafes and restaurants were opened and the street transformed into a major shopping street.

In the early twentieth century, the street was the most important European shopping street in the Dutch Indies. Several well-known Western companies opened their stores in the street, including Chrysler, Plymouth and Renault car distributors.[1] Colonial bookstores, watches and jeweleries retailers and boutique shops were common in the street for the high society.
Buildings
Aerial view of Braga Street in 1947
Gedung Merdeka during the 1955 Asian–African Conference

In the 1900s, along with the Dutch East Indies government plan to move the capital from Batavia to Bandung, the government included Braga Street into part of town planning. In 1906, the city council began replacing stone by asphalt and applying a new rule of designing new buildings at the street. Art Deco buildings began to decorate the street and about 50% of which are still present with their original architecture.

Starting from the south entrance, the Gedung Merdeka (Independence Building) stands at the corner, known as the venue of the 1955 Asian–African Conference. Built in 1895 as a clubhouse for the wealthy, the building was first named as the Concordia Society. The building was renovated twice in 1920 and 1928, the last of which was designed by two Dutch architects, Van Galen Last and C. P. Wolff Schoemaker. It is now used as a museum of the conference.

At the southeast corner of the cross-section between the Naripan Street, an eight-stories building is noticeable for its distinctive oceanwave style. Designed by Dutch architect A.F. Aalbers in 1936, the radical modern architecture building was used for the DENIS (De Eerste Nederlandsch-Indische Spaarkas or the First Dutch-Indies Savings) bank. Aalbers applied the Amsterdam School architectural style with its strong expressionism dialect, shown by the rounded curves along the horizontal side and one vertical façade in the middle, but he put also the modernist architecture for the interior design. The building is still used as the headquarter of a regional bank, the Bank Jabar.

Congklak

Even within Indonesia, Congklak is known by different names from region to region. The most common name, Congklak, is taken from the cowrie shell, which is commonly used to Playing Congklakplay the game. In Malaysia, the game is known as congkak, a name that is used in many Sumatran provinces as well. In Java, the game is known as Congklak, dakon, dhakon or dhakonan. In Lampung, the game is called, dentuman lamban. In Sulawesi, the game is referred to as Mokaotan, Maggaleceng, Aggalacang and Nogarata.

Historical references to Congklak refer to the game played by young girls of Javanese nobility. It is most likely that foreign traders, due to their close contact with the upper classes, introduced Congklak to them. With the passage of time, Congkla' s popularity grew until its now widely played by the common people as well. In most regions, Congklak play is limited to young girls, teens and women in their leisure time and its seen as a 'girl's game'. In only a few regions is Congklak played by men and boys as well.

In Sulawesi, historically, the game was reserved for play only during grieving periods, after the death of a loved one. It was considered taboo to play the game at any other time. In Central Java, in pre-historic times, Congklak was used by farmers to calculate the seasons, to know when to plant and harvest, as well as to predict the future.

The playing board is made from wood, with variations from island to island in the number ofCongklak playing boards can take on many shapes. holes on each side, either 5, 6, 7 or 9 holes. All the boards have two 'store house' holes, one on each end. The design varies from simple, unadorned woods, to boat-shaped boards, to highly decorated playing boards. In Central Java, elaborate designs utilizing the Javanese naga (dragon) are common. Dragons face out from both ends, with their tails decorating the side of the boards and legs suspending the board up off the floor. Congklak boards can be elaborately carved and painted, with gold and red being popular colors. Most, however, are made of relatively plain wood.

As in the archaeological find in Jordan, diggings in Mojokerto, Lamongan and Bondowoso in East Java have unearthed Congklak 'boards' with holes carved into large stones. These were found along with the broken pieces of temple stones and other archaeological remains of earlier times.

In Lampung, village children often play without a board, but instead create their own playing area by scooping out holes in the ground and collecting stones or seeds each time they want to play.
Playing Pieces

Not much has changed since prehistoric times, when Congklak was played with stones or seeds. In Indonesia, stones, seeds and shells are used to play the game, whatever is close Children in Indonesian villages enjoy the traditional game of congklakat hand. Near a beach shells may be used. Near rivers, the game may be played with smooth pebbles and in agricultural areas, seeds. Commonly used seeds are tamarind, kemiri, sawo and even corn kernels.

The widespread popularity of Congklak around the world can undoubtedly be attributed in part to the simplicity of the materials used to play the game. Congklak, in all its variations, continues to attract dedicated players as well as craftsmen, mathematicians, programmers and collectors of regional art and handicrafts.

Whatever version you play today, and by whatever name you call it, you'll find Congklak a challenging game of patience and skill.

Egrang ( Stilts )

This article is about the poles. For the type of bird, see stilt. For other uses, see Stilts

Egrang/Stilts are poles, posts or pillars used to allow a person or structure to stand at a distance above the ground. Walking stilts are poles equipped with steps for the feet to stand on, or straps to attach them to the legs, for the purpose of walking while elevated above a normal height. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, waves or shifting soil or sand. Stilts have been used for many hundreds of years.

Today, stilt walking tends to be undertaken often but not solely as an entertainment for children.

Egrang atau jangkungan adalah galah atau tongkat yang digunakan seseorang agar bisa berdiri dalam jarak tertentu di atas tanah. Egrang berjalan adalah egrang yang diperlengkapi dengan tangga sebagai tempat berdiri, atau tali pengikat untuk diikatkan ke kaki, untuk tujuan berjalan selama naik di atas ketinggian normal. Di dataran banjir maupun pantai atau tanah labil, bangunan sering dibuat di atas jangkungan untuk melindungi agar tidak rusak oleh air, gelombang, atau tanah yang bergeser. Jangkungan telah dibuat selama ratusan tahun[1].

Terdapat beberapa jenis egrang, yakni:

* Egrang pegangan
* Egrang pasak
* Egrang drywall
* Egrang pegas

Bandung Have a Television Station

For the international TV channel by Romanian Television, see TVRi

Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI)

Launched : August 24, 1962
Owned by : Government of Indonesia
Slogan : "Makin Dekat di Hati"
"Closer to the Heart"
Country : Indonesia
Broadcast area : Free to Air/Cable/Satellite
Sister channel : QTV
Website : www.tvri.co.id
Availability :
Satellite :
Indovision : Channel 93
TelkomVision : Channel ??
Aora TV : Channel 901
Nilesat : Transmission 12130 Channel 77
Cable
First Media : Channel 5
TelkomVision : Channel ??
IndosatM2 : Channel ??
StarHub TV : Channel 119

Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in Indonesia , and the only broadcaster with national coverage. It is based in Senayan, Central Jakarta. [1]

The initial motto of TVRI was "Weaving Unity and Togetherness" ("Menjalin Persatuan dan Kesatuan"), but in 2000, the motto was changed to become "Closer to the Heart" ("Makin Dekat di Hati").

History
The TV tower of state-owned TVRI at its headquarters in Jakarta

In 1961, the Indonesian government decided to include to establish a national TV station as part of the preparations for the 1962 Asian Games to be held in Jakarta. Later that year, the Television Preparation Committee was formed. In October, President Sukarno ordered the building of a studio in Senayan, Jakarta and two television towers. TVRI broadcast its first test transmission, of the Indonesian Independence Day celebrations from the Merdeka Palace transmission on 17 August 1962. TVRI went on the air with a broadcast of the 1962 Asian Games opening ceremony on 24 August. Two years later, the first regional broadcasting station opened in Yogyakarta, Central Java and was followed with stations in Medan, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang (Makassar), Manado, Denpasar , Balikpapan , and Bandung

In 1974, TVRI became part of the Information Ministry, with the status of a directorate. Its role was to inform the public about government policies. In 1989, TVRI lost its monopoly when the government's sixth Five-Year Plan allowed private TV stations to begin broadcasting. [2] The first of these stations to begin broadcasting nationwide was TPI, owned by President Suharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana. It used TVRI's facilities and staff for free while starting up.[3]

After the start of the reform era, TVRI's status was changed again and it became responsible firstly to the Ministry of Finance and was then turned into a limited company under the authority of the State Ministry for State-Owned Enterprises and the Ministry of Finance.[1]
[edit] TVRI today

TVRI has 22 regional stations and more than 6,800 employees, of which 2,000 are based in Jakarta. It broadcasts information and educational as well as entertainment programming from 5.00am until 12.45am.[1]

History Of Gedung Sate ( Satay Building )

Gedung Sate, is a neo-classical building mixed with native elements that now serves as the governor's office of the West Java province in Indonesia. Located in Bandung, the building was designed by a Dutch architect J. Gerber.

Its common name, Gedung sate, is nick name that translates literally from Indonesian to 'kebab building', which is a reference to the shape of the building's central flag pole.

Gedung Sate, dengan ciri khasnya berupa ornamen tusuk sate pada menara sentralnya, telah lama menjadi penanda atau markah tanah Kota Bandung yang tidak saja dikenal masyarakat di Jawa Barat, namun juga seluruh Indonesia bahkan model bangunan itu dijadikan objek wisata Indonesia pertanda bagi beberapa bangunan dan tanda-tanda objek wisata di Jawa Barat. Misalnya bentuk gedung bagian depan Stasiun Kereta Api Tasikmalaya. Mulai dibangun tahun 1920, gedung berwarna putih ini masih berdiri kokoh namun anggun dan kini berfungsi sebagai gedung pusat pemerintahan Jawa Barat dan juga bisa dijadikan referensi tempat wisata Indonesia.

Gedung Sate yang pada masa Hindia Belanda itu disebut Gouvernements Bedrijven (GB), peletakan batu pertama dilakukan oleh Johanna Catherina Coops, puteri sulung Walikota Bandung, B. Coops dan Petronella Roelofsen, mewakili Gubernur Jenderal di Batavia, J.P. Graaf van Limburg Stirum pada tanggal 27 Juli 1920, Gedung Sate Bandung merupakan hasil perencanaan sebuah tim yang terdiri dari Ir.J.Gerber, arsitek muda kenamaan lulusan Fakultas Teknik Delft Nederland, Ir. Eh. De Roo dan Ir. G. Hendriks serta pihak Gemeente van Bandoeng, diketuai Kol. Pur. VL. Slors dengan melibatkan 2000 pekerja, 150 orang diantaranya pemahat, atau ahli bongpay pengukir batu nisan dan pengukir kayu berkebangsaan China yang berasal dari Konghu atau Kanton, dibantu tukang batu, kuli aduk dan peladen yang berasal dari penduduk Kampung Sekeloa, Kampung Coblong Dago, Kampung Gandok dan Kampung Cibarengkok, yang sebelumnya mereka menggarap Gedong Sirap (Kampus ITB) dan Gedong Papak (Balai Kota Bandung).

Dalam sejarah Gedung Sate, selama kurun waktu 4 tahun pada bulan September 1924 berhasil diselesaikan pembangunan induk bangunan utama Gouverments Bedrijven, termasuk kantor pusat PTT (Pos, Telepon dan Telegraf dan Perpustakaan.

Arsitektur Gedung Sate merupakan hasil karya arsitek Ir. J.Gerber dan kelompoknya yang tidak terlepas dari masukan maestro arsitek Belanda Dr.Hendrik Petrus, yang bernuansakan wajah arsitektur tradisional Nusantara berciri wisata Indonesia.

Banyak kalangan arsitek dan ahli bangunan menyatakan Gedung Sate adalah salah satu tempat wisata Bandung yang memiliki bangunan monumental yang anggun mempesona dengan gaya arsitektur unik mengarah kepada bentuk gaya arsitektur Indo-Eropa, (Indo Europeeschen architectuur stijl), sehingga tidak mustahil bila keanggunan tempat wisata Candi Borobudur ikut mewarnai Gedung Sate.