Ngasem, Bird Market

In the past, amongst the Javanese community especially the noble community (priyayi), the possession of material symbols identified social status and prestige. One of the symbols was birds. For Javanese people, having birds as pets was a symbol of klangenan and social status. This also identified one`s high taste on hobby.

Where the belief came from, when it was started, and why the Javanese noble men liked to raise birds, is still a mystery. The birds were usually the ones that had beautiful chirp, especially perkutut and other high selling price birds. However, the fact that raising beautiful chirp birds became tradition and that certain birds became the measurement of social status, had become special everyday life of Javanese people.

Thus, a bird market was built. As a bird market, Pasar Ngasem (Ngasem Market) has operated since 1809. This makes Pasar Ngasem the oldest bird market in Yogyakarta. But, that time, Pasar Ngasem had not yet been the center of bird trading, because the bird sellers were still spread all over the place in Yogyakarta.

Far after that, in 1960`s there was a policy from the city government that all birds sellers in Yogyakarta, including those who were in Pasar Beringharjo (Beringharjo Market) to move their business to Pasar Ngasem. Now, Pasar Ngasem is the center of birds trading. Besides perkutut, there are also kutilang,  kepodang, emprit, prenjak, jalak, and parkit, that the buyers hunt or are sold out with high price.

Besides the historical and cultural values above, the market has a certain atmosphere making it different from the other bird markets. The chirps of hundreds of birds and the noise of the people inside the market can already be heard once visitors step their feet in front of the market. Besides seeing the trading activity, visitors can also listen to the conversation/transaction between the seller and the buyer which is done in Yogyakarta special terms. To understand the conversation, visitors can ask their guide to translate it for them.

In this market, visitors can enjoy a few shows held by bird lovers. Some of the shows are skill performance by pigeons to fly out and back in to the cage, and chirp competition of kinds of birds. Because of that show, the buyers are very impressed and interested in the birds and willingly pay no matter how much the cost. The sellers sometimes also train the birds to sing or chirp beautifully, and share some tips on how to raise birds.

Although Ngasem is a bird market, we can also find snakes, fish (at the west part), iguanas, dogs, cats, civets, rabbits, and roosters of all kinds there.

Just like any other traditional market, Ngasem also provides market snacks. One of the special snacks is jenang gempol (made of rice flour that tastes salty mixed with coconut gravy and sweet java sugar syrup) that can be found in front part of the market. Other snacks are getuk, lupis, thiwul, and gatot. Besides the bird kiosks, there are also food stalls (warung) that offer soto and nasi rames. Besides that, visitors can also find Yogyakarta special jamu gendong (jamu: tonic made of medicinal herbs. There are kinds of tonic, and each of them has special function. The sellers put the tonics in bottles inside a basket and carry the basket on their back around the market.

Pasar Ngasem Location

Pasar Ngasem is located in Jalan Polowijan, Keraton, Yogyakarta City, D.I Yogyakarta Province. The market is around 400 meters west of Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace). From Taman Sari (Water Castle), which is right at the south of Pasar Ngasem, we can see the market very clearly. 

From the center of the city, that is Malioboro or Keraton Yogyakarta, visitors can take becak (pedicab) or andong (Yogyakarta carriage) to get to Pasar Ngasem. With andong, it will cost around IDR 10.000, while with becak, it will cost IDR 15.000 . Both transportation means will take 10 to 15 minutes to get to the location.

Around the market, there are food stalls (warung) that offer kinds of food such as: sate, soto, lotek, gado-gado, gudeg-yogya, etc.  Souvenir shops that sell Yogyakarta crafts can also be found there. If visitors need any information about Yogyakarta, they can get it from Polisi Pariwisata (Tourism Police) who wears brown uniform and maroon tie that stands by at the tourism place.

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Wonderful of Narmada Park in Mataram City

Narmada Park

Like other kingdoms in Nusantara (Malay archipelago), Bali Kingdoms which had ever ruled in Lombok Island built many parks as places for the kings to rest and enjoy the nature after the tiredness of managing the kingdom affairs. There are some equipments inside the parks which are usually used to amuse the kings. Different from other parks in West Nusa Tenggara, this park was built as a place for the kings to worship and do their rituals.

Narmada is a park which was built by King Anak Agung Gde Ngurah Karangasem in 1727 A.D. However, most of the history books write that it was built in 1805 A.D. The name of the park is taken from a holy river in India, that is Narmada River. This park is similar to Mount Rinjani and Lake Segara Anak. It is said when the king was too old to do the ritual and sacrifices (pekelan) in the peak of Mount Rinjani which has 3726 meters height, he ordered all architects in the kingdom to bring the nuance of Mount Rinjani to the center of the city. Finally, they agreed to make the duplicate, that is Narmada Park. In the past, Narmada Park was a place which was used by the kings not only to worship Dewa Shiwa (Shiva Deity), but also to take a rest.

Nowadays, Narmada Park is opened for public and becomes the center of recreation which is always visited by many local and foreign tourists. This park is always crowded on the weekend.

If you are a nature lover, but you are too busy and do not have much time, it is a right decision to spare your time visiting Narmada Park. The concept of this park has a special characteristic of exotic nature nuance which is arranged to imitate the form of mountain. On the below part, there are three ponds which are irrigated by clear spring like a lake. The amount of the pond is the same as the amount of Lake Segara Anak in the peak of Mount Rinjani. Inside this park, there is a temple named Kalasa Temple which is located in the above of the park. To reach this temple, you have to pass tens of stairs which was made intentionally so that you will feel like climbing Mount Rinjani. It is pretty exhausting to reach the top peak of Kalasa Temple. However, the tiredness will be erased by the nature situation that is still fresh, the shady trees, and the natural swimming pool with clear water.

Between November and December, this park will be seen as piety center. The Lombok natives who embrace Hindu religion usually celebrate Pujawali Day in this month by climbing Mount Rinjani and doing pekelan ritual by throwing stuffs and small jewelry to honor the God who keeps Mount Rinjani. People who cannot go to the mountain just have to go to the temple in this park.

Another interesting thing is the pond water in Narmada Park originated from the spring which comes from Mount Rinjani. This spring is believed to be able to make someone looks younger than his real age is. You can try it by washing your face or drinking it.

Where Narmada Park Access Location?

This park is located in Mataram City, province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. For tourists who want to visit Narmada Park, the trip to the location needs about 20 minutes from Mandalika bus station in Mataram City using public transportation. The tariff of public transportation is  4.000,00 IDR and taxi is 25.000,00 IDR. To enjoy this miniature of Mount Rinjani, the tourists only have to buy tickets 2.000,00 IDR for adults and 1.000,00 IDR for children. This park is opened for public and starts from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Middle Indonesia Time).There are not many hotels around this location. The tourists usually stay in hotels which are located in Mataram City.

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Wonderful of Komodo Island

Having arrived there, Lieutenant Steyn and his crew saw giant lizards which length was up to two meters. Steyn could kill one of those giant lizards and brought it to his office in Ende City. Then, this giant lizard was photographed and the picture was brought to Peter A. Ouwens, a director of Zoological Museum and Botanical Garden in Bogor. This was the first documentation of a giant lizard named Komodo. Therefore, in 1910 the Netherlands named the island as Komodo Island.

The result of that photography was published by a national daily newspaper of Netherlands in 1912. This publication made Komodo Island visited by the researchers, missionaries, and tourists. Realizing that Komodo was a special rare animal in 1915, the Netherlands government issued a rule about protection to this animal from hunting and killing.

As the name, Komodo Island is an island which is known as the original habitat of Komodo (Varanus Komodoensis). The local people calls this animal as Ora. Until present day, Komodo still becomes a pride because it becomes a source of income for local people from the tourists who visit the island.

In this island, tourists can see Komodo which is the biggest lizard species around the world, with length of the body up to 3,13 meters and weight up to 165 kilograms. The tourists also can see several activities of this rare animal, such as the Komodo copulate which always happens between May until August; Komodo which is eating deer, goats, and pigs; and see Komodo which is sun-bathing on the road and on the branches of trees in the morning.

Komodo National Park

In 1980 the government made Komodo Island as the Komodo National Park to protect Komodo from extinction. Six years later, in 1986, this national park was accepted as the World Inheritance Site by UNESCO. This national park consists of two big islands. They are Rinca Island and Padar Island surrounded by several small islands. The total wide of this national park was 1.817 kilometers square.

Komodo Island Location

Komodo Island is an island located in the western area of East Nusa Tenggara Province bordered to the West Nusa Tenggara Province. Administratively, this island is included in the Komodo Sub-district, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.

From Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara Province, tourists can go by plane to Ende, a city in Flores Island. The journey is continued to Labuhanbajo City for ten hours by minibus. From the city located in the most western area of Flores Island, the journey is continued to Komodo Island by speed boat for about two hours. The foreign tourists are charged US$ 5 per person for one day, and local tourists were charged IDR 25,000 per person. In this island, tourists can find international resorts, several cottages provided by local people, and restaurants as well.

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Muara Kuin Floating Market in Banjarmasin City

Muara Kuin Floating Market


Muara Kuin Floating Market is one kind of trading interaction patterns of people who live above the water. The sellers and buyers conduct the trade on boats called Jukung (Banjar Language). The trade activities start after morning prayer and usually end when the sun has moved up about 9 a.m. (Middle Indonesia Time). Late that that, the market is deserted by the traders who go along the river, selling their stuff to the inhabitants living along the river.  
This floating market has existed since more than 400 years ago and this is the proof about the trading activities of people who live above the water. Like markets in the land, on this floating market, trading commodities, such as vegetables, fruits, fishes, and other household needs are also sold. The first buyer is called dukuh while the second buyer who buys from the first hand to be sold again is called panyambangan. In this market, visitors can watch the trading transaction which is done traditionally by bartering amongst boating traders. In Banjar Language, it is called bapanduk.
Unfortunately, the attractive condition of trading activities on boat gradually loses its fame, not only because of the decreasing amount of the local traders, but also because of traders‘ attitude which is not friendly anymore and the lack of support from the government of Banjarmasin City. The government policy to build market in the land nearby Muara Kuin floating market and hundreds of low bridges which block the river traffic access directly or indirectly, is one the causes make the trading activities disappear in this floating market.





Visiting Muara Kuin floating market will give unforgettable memories about how the people who live above the water complete their daily needs. Besides, visitors will also know the trading transaction pattern which have existed since more than 400 years. Because this market has become a witness of economic activity journey of South Kalimantan society, a familiar saying appears that “if you have not yet visited Muara Kuin floating market, you have not gone toBanjarmasin”. The jostling situation between big boats in this floating market is pretty unique and special. The jukung drivers with his skill of chasing the buyers or the sellers who hang around and oaring their boat which often shakes because ofBarito River wave. Tourists who come from big cities will feel different sensation when seeing woman traders with their wide hat riding in a boat to sell garden products or food made by themselves. Floating market does not have organization as market in land, so it is not recorded how many traders and visitors, the traders division based on commodity, and places to sell which always move. Visitors who only want to relax can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and food/cookies from Banjar, while enjoying the shaking wave which spring upon the klotok (motorboat) that is ridden. Visitors can also see floating houses (Lanting House) which are located along the river side.



How to Muara Kuin Floating Market Access Location?

Muara Kuin floating market is located in the current of Barito River, exactly in the estuary of Kuin River, North Banjarmasin Sub-district, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan Province.If leaving from the center of Banjarmasin by using motorboat or usually called klotok, it needs about 45 minutes to reach the market which is located in the current of Barito River.If you want to reach it earlier, visitors can use land transportation by taking Banjarmasin City – Alalak Village route. From Alalak Village to the location of floating market which is not really far, visitors can charter klotok which costs 70.000,00 IDR (based on charters‘ ability to bargain). By renting klotok, visitors are not only able watch the activity in the floating market, but also invited to picnic to Kembang Island. This place provides renting place for klotok boat, restaurants, stall which sell food and soft drinks. Besides, in this market, visitors can spend the night in Lanting House which stands in a line in the river side.

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The Story Line of Kiskendo Cave

Kiskendo cave, which was named Guo Kiskendo by the local people, was found firstly by a hermit named Ki Gondorio in 1700‘s. The hermit was also the first cave keeper. According to the local story, one night the hermit had a dream of entering a cave that looked like a palace. In the dream, Ki Gondorio got a guidance to name the 15 rooms in the cave. After he woke up, Ki Gondorio followed the guidance that he saw from the dream.

Despite there is a story like above, the local people have their own versions. Some say that the cave came from the wayang world. The version tells that once upon a time, Kiskendo cave was a kingdom ruled by a king named Mahesosuro. Some other say that the cave is the duplicate of another cave in India.

Until now, the local people still think that Kiskendo cave is a sacred place. This relates to the myth or legend it brings, the places inside the cave that are often used for some ascetic activities or meditation, and the rules that forbid anyone to litter the cave, insult or damage it, and do immoral activities inside the cave.

Tourists can search the story line of Kiskendo cave that is being related to the wayang story (Ramayana epic) which is carved to the relief in front of the cave.

Kiskendo cave is a complex of tourism object which consists of a few places. Rumor has it, this relates to the legend that came with the cave, which is Kiskendo Kingdom. There are 15 areas in the cave, they are:

• Lidah Mahesosuro (Mahesosuro Tongue), is a rock that has a tongue. People say that this rock was King Mahesosuro‘s tongue which was cut by Subali to prevent him from being risen from the death.
• Pertapaan ledek (Ledek Retreat), is a place for artists to meditate for gaining success in their job.
• Pertapaan Santri Tani (Farmers Retreat), is a place for farmers to meditate and pray for good harvest. Farmers around the cave in the old times often lived in this place.
• Pertapaan Subali (Subali Retreat), is a place Subali meditated before fighting against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro (ox-headed man).
• Sumelong, is a hole that leads to the top of the cave. Myth has it that Subali used the hole (it is in the middle part of the cave) to get out from the cave since Sugriwo closed the way out of the cave.
• Lumbung Kampek, is a place to keep valuable things from the Kingdom of Kiskendo Cave.
• Selumbung, is a rice barn of the Kingdom of Kiskendo Cave.
• Gua Seterbang (Seterbang cave), is a cave that still becomes the part of Kiskendo cave. People say that this cave connects to the Indian Ocean (south of central java).
• Keraton Sekandang (Sekandang Palace), is the center of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom. In this place, Subali fought against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro.
• Kusuman Retreat, is a place of meditation to gain a higher status.
• Padasan, is the well at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom.
• Sepranji, is the center of animal farming at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom.
• Babat Kandel, is rocks that look like human‘s intestines. According to the local story, this babat was Mahesosuro‘s intestines that were thrown by Subali.
• Sawahan, is a place to plant rice.
• Selangsur, is a place where the soldiers of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom fought Subali.
• Besides the 15 places above, there are other objects near the complex of Kiskendo Cave, they are Sumitro Cave (about 50 meters), Grojogan Sewu (a waterfall with of 20 meters height), Watu Blencong  (around 250 m above Kiskendo cave), Mount Krengseng, Watu Gajah, and Mount Kelir (limestone mountain shaped like a sail, about 4,5 km from Kiskendo cave).

Kiskendo Cave Location

Kiskendo cave is located at the area of Menoreh mountain which is part of the administrative territory of Dusun Sukamaya, Jatimulyo Village, Girimulyo Sub-district, Kulon Progo District, D.I Yogyakarta Province. This cave is at the south western part Wates, the capital city of  Kulon Progo District, and is about  800 meters height above the sea level.

To get to the cave location which is about 35 km from the city of Yogyakarta, tourists can take the bus from the Center Terminal of Giwangan Yogyakarta. From the terminal, the tourists can choose the bus with Yogyakarta-Sentolo route or Yogyakarta - Wates route that costs IDR 10.000 (February 2008). Usually, the buses that operate in those routes have dark color and smaller in size compared to the city bus.

From Terminal of Giwangan, it takes 40 minutes. Do not forget to tell the conductor to put you down in the Ngeplang three-junction. From the junction, tourists have to take another bus with Samigaluh or Nanggulan route. This costs Rp. 15.000 and 50 minutes travel to get to the Kiskendo cave. In the tourism area, there are toilets, resting place (pendopo), and vast parking area (for buses, cars, and motorcycles).

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Bau Nyale Festival in Lombok Island

Bau Nyale Festival


The festival “Bau Nyale” in Sasak language means “menangakap nyale” (catching nyale). Nyale is a kind of worms usually living at the bottom of the sea, such as in the holes of corals. This activity is held every the 20^th of the 10^thmonth of Sasak calendar or five days after the full moon. Usually this event occurs in March. The main program on this festival is catching nyale that only appears once a year in some particular locations in South Beach of LombokIsland. The Nyale will appear in the middle of the night until nearly dawn.
According to the local tale, long time ago along the South Beach, there was Tonjang Beru kingdom led by a king who has a beautiful princess named Princess Mandalika. Her beauty made many princes in Lombok Island charmed. Because of many proposal to her and Princess Mandalika could not choose one of the princes, she decided to plunge into the South Beach and promised that she would be back once a year. Like what she said, she comes back every year, but in the form of nyale. Other tale says that nyale is the transformation of Princess Mandalika`s hair.





Before the main celebration begins, there are many arts and traditional events performed. If you are interested in them, just come at noon. You can build small tents to rest awhile. From these tents, you can watch Betandak (exchanging quatrains), Bejambik (granting souvenir to lovers), and Belancaran (taking a pleasure trip by a boat). Moreover, there will be Princess Mandalika colossal drama performance. 
Many visitors from different area come to Lombok Island just to see the noisy and crowded situation when catching nyale. This festival shows togetherness situation where the people come together to find nyale massively. You are also permitted to participate in finding nyales in this location. If you are lucky enough, you will get many nyale. According to Dr. dr. Soewignyo Soemohardjo`s research, nyale has high protein and they are able to produce a substance which has been proved able to kill germs. The common way to cook nyale amid Lombok society is by wrapping nyale with banana leaves and then burning it. It is commonly called pepes (roasted fish).



Where Bau Nyale Festival Location?

Nyale always appear in the South Beach of Central Lombok which is exactly in 16 points which scatter for tens of kilometers from the East until the West, such as the coast of Kaliantan Beach, Kuta Beach, and Selong Belanak Beach. These beaches are surrounded by hill lines. However, the most crowded beach visited by many tourists is Seger Beach located in Kuta Village, Pujut Sub-district, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. 


To reach Kuta Village, tourists can use public transportation from Mandalika Terminal (Mataram City) to Praya (the capital of Central Lombok) which is about 30 kilometers. From that location, there is no transportation which go directly to the tour location. Therefore, you can rent a car to get to Kuta Village. To enjoy the beauty of Seger Beach and else while catching nyale, tourists do not have to spend money. Those beaches still become open beaches and have not been made as tour location by local government, except for Kuta Beach.  

If you are interested in this tour, the equipments that you have to provide are flashlight, net, and container for nyale. However, many local people usually provide those equipments.
In the past, this village was quiet enough, but since this festival was loved by the visitors very much, many motels and moderate inns was built around the tour location. Besides, there are also many small stalks and restaurants which offer various kinds of special food from Lombok Island.

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Batuah Agro Tourism in Samarinda-Balikpapan

Batuah Agro Tourism


Batuah agro tourism is a tourism object based on agro business in the district of Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This garden was officially declared on July 8^th 2000 by the then Governor of East Kalimantan. The total area of the garden is 35 hectares, filled by various plants, such as ornamental plants, fruits, medicinal plants, and other scarce plants.
The garden has almost 914 kinds of plants, including vegetables and fruits. Specifically, the number of the fruit plants in this garden is 50 kinds from 75 varieties. Many fruits can be found there such as rambutan (lychee), durian, salak(zalacca), elai and guava. This garden becomes conservation garden and place for germ plasma collection in special horticulture plants.







In this garden, the visitors are allowed to eat the fruits freely. But, if the visitors want to take those fruits home, they will be charged, especially for rambutan, about 3,000.00 IDR/kg (February 2008). Besides that, there is a fishing pool open for public. The visitors who want to fish are not charged, but if they wanted to take the fish home, it will be charged about 20,000.00 IDR per kilo. 





Where Batuah Agro Location?

Batuah Agro Tourism located in Samarinda-Balikpapan street KM 38, sub-district of Loa Janan, district of Kutai Kartanegara, province of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The travel from Samarinda to the location needs approximately 50 minutes; from Balikpapan needs about 75 minutes through Hutan Rakyat Bukit Suharto (National garden) The visitors could use private and public transportation as well, both from Samarinda and Balikpapan. There is veranda that can be used as a resting place, sholat (Prayer), and other things. The visitors can enjoy other facilities in this area as well, such as jogging track and camping area.

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