The Center of Perahu Pinisi Industry

Perahu Pinisi


Since long time ago, the Bugis people of South Sulawesi have been famous for their excellent sailors. They were very expert for travelling across the seas and oceans for the Nusantara (Malay archipelago) territory by Perahu Pinisi (Pinisi ship). 
Perahu Pinisi is well-known as a means of traditional sea transportation amongst the Bugis people since many centuries ago. According to the manuscript of Lontarak I Babad La Lagaligo, Perahu Pinisi has already existed since around the 14^th century A.D. According to the manuscript, Perahu Pinisi was first made by Sawerigading, The Crown Prince of Luwu Kingdom. The material to make the ship was taken from welengreng tree (dewata (god) tree) which was very strong and not easily brittle. But, before the tree was cut, a special ceremony must be held so that the spirit in the tree would move to another tree. Sawerigading made the ship to sail to China to propose a Chinese princess, named We Cudai.





Sawerigading succeeded marrying Princess We Cudai. After some time living in China, Sawerigading missed his home. Using his ship, he sailed back to Luwu. But, when his ship was about to reach Luwu beach, suddenly a great wave rammed the ship and made it broken into pieces. The pieces of his ship were cast onto three territories of Bulukumba Regency: Ara, Tana Beru, and Lemo-lemo. The local people in those territories used the pieces to make a new luxurious ship named  Perahu Pinisi.
Until now, Bulukumba is still well-known as the producer of Perahu Pinisi craft. The artisans keep maintaining the tradition for making the ship, especially in Tana Beru.

How to Access Location

The centre of Perahu Pinisi industry is located in Tana Beru, Bontobahari Sub-district, Bulukumba District, South Sulawesi Province.  Tana Beru, as the centre of Perahu Pinisi industry, is located 176 kilometres from Makassar City or 23 kilometres from Bulukumba District. To get to Tana Beru from Bulukumba, visitors can go by private vehicle or public transportation, such as pete-pete (minibus). 

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Cangkuang Temple

Cangkuang Temple in Garut West Java

Cangkuang derives from Sundanese language replacing term for pandan leaf (Pandanus furcatus) that in the past was used by local people to make hat, plaited mat, and palm sugar wrapper. Now, cangkuang is used both as the name of village and temple.

Cangkuang Temple was discovered firstly by Prof. Harsoyo and Drs. Uka Tjandrasasmita on December 19th , 1966. Both of them included into the researcher team of Leles history. It was discovered after receiving a report stated by Vordeman on the Notulen Bataviaasch Genootschap – published in 1893 A.D. – saying the existence of an ancient graveyard and the remain traces of Siwa Statue in Leles. Some other pre-historic age legacies were discovered on the next research. They were kendan stones (oxidant stone), pieces of earthenwares from the neolithic age and big stones from the megalithic age.

Having a look at the shape of the temple, some archaeologists assumed that the temple was erected in the eighth century. However, from  the simple ornaments used, the making technique, and a chinese record, there is a prediction that the temple was built in the seventh century, on the same era as the building of Javanese temples.

Along the journey to the location, you will ride by Pulo Village which has the unique tradition and well-preserved traditional houses. By taking getek – raft made of bamboo – you will see the panoramic sight of Cangkuang temple that is awesome.

The atmosphere in Panjang Island, the location of Cangkuang Temple, is quite fresh and has imposing view because there is a beautiful park and the number of teureup tree, banyan trees, and  randu tree (Ceiba pentandra). Moreover, the existence of Mount Haruman, Mount Mandalawangi, and Mount Guntur combined with the calm water of surrounding area can enhance the location as the worth visiting tourism destination for you.

A public small museum keeping many antique objects and 12 ancient books is located nearby the temple. Some documents telling the history and all information relating to the temple can also be found in the museum.

About a kilometer away from the museum, there is a tomb of Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad. It is believed that he was the envoy of Mataram Kingdom who was assigned to fight againts VOC in Batavia (Jakarta). After being defeated by VOC, he and his entourage decided to keep staying in Cangkuang where the local inhabitants there had embraced Hindu. Considering such reality, the location is a right place for cultural and natural tourism.

Cangkuang Temple Location

Cangkuang Temple lies in Cangkuang Village, Leles Sub-district, Garut District, West Java Province, Indonesia. Cangkuang Temple‘s location is about 46 km away from Bandung and 20 km from Garut District. Depart from your home to Garut District then go on to Leles Sub-district. The temple is three km away from Leles highway or about 35 minutes by walk. Having passed by Pulo Village, you have to wade Lake Cangkuang by getek to Cangkuang Temple. Tourism information center, mosque, museum, shelter, parking area, and raft for hanging around the location are available for you. Moreover, food stalls, souvenir shops and beautiful park are also supporting facilities that may offer you memorable visit. The entrance ticket to the location is IDR 2000/person. 

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Bledug Kuwu

Since the reign of old Mataram Kingdom (732 – 928 A.D.), bledug kuwu has been shaped out naturally from the volcanic mud in the district of Grobogan, Central Java, Indonesia. Over and above the existence of eternal fire resources of Mrapen and Kedungombo dam, Bledug Kuwu is the worth visiting tourism destination in Grobogan District, Central Java Province. Bledug Kuwu is derived from Javanese language, bledug means explotion/ to explode and kuwu/ kuwur  means  run or scattered about.

The early history of bledug kuwu was started when a man namely Joko Linglung was going home from the Pacific Ocean to Medang Kamulan Kingdom through a hole – that is now bledug kuwu – after defeating Prabu Dewata Cengkar. Joko Linglung made the hole himself as he was able to transform  into a snake. Such ability was a requirement to be admitted as the son of Aji Saka, the roler of Medang Kamulan Kingdom.

Along the journey to bledug kuwu, you will see the natural view of thick forest, green farms, and beautiful hilly areas. In the location, you will see frequent small explotions of the mud every two to three minutes. The wallow mud area is 650 meters in diameter. Sometimes, the mud`s explotions can be as high as local inhabitants` houses.

The existence of bledug kuwu is utilized by local inhabitants for livehood resources by producing salt. The activity of local people in producing salt in the location is a distinction which is rarely found in the mainland. The expertise of local people in producing salt was recorded on the history of Surakarta Kingdom.

Bledug Kuwu Location

Bledug Kuwu lies in Kuwu Village, Kradenan Sub-district, Grobogan District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Taking public transportation like bus from Semarang bus station to the location requires IDR 10000 for the costs. Then, you must continue the trip to the location by taking minibus with IDR 5000 in charge.The entrance ticket to the location for observing the natural phenomenon of vulcanic mud in bledug kuwu is IDR 500. Some food stalls, guesthouses and other supporting facilities can be easily found around the location. Of course, the shops selling local salt can be found as well. 

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