Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe in Gorontalo

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe

Tumbilitohe derives from Gorontalo language, tumbilo means set and tohe means lamps. Therefore, Tumbilotoho means setting lamps. Historically, it has been celebrated by Gorontalo people since the 15th century. It is usually done on the last three days of Ramadhan month (Fasting month), 27th – 30th of Ramadhan, started from maghrib (6 p.m.) until subuh (4 a.m.).

In the past, it was intentionally aimed for lightening Muslims to distribute Islamic tithe at night. At the time, lightening alliances were made of resin torch and latex. Considering that the stock for resin torch decreased time by time, they had ever turned to padalama (coconut oil) then turned to petroleum.

As the time goes by, now Gorontalo people tend to use modern lamps but some of them prefer to use the petroleum lamps. Those petroleum lamps are hung on every beam decorated by young coconut leaves. Banana, as the symbols of prosperity, are also found on the top of those lamps and also sugar cane as the symbols of sweetness, cordiality and the glory of Eid El-Fitr. This tradition has a distinctive attractive power for the local inhabitants and surrounding people living in Manado, Palu and Makassar.

Gorontalo City turns into a glittering city when the tradition of Tumbilotohe takes place. Every part of public service buildings such as local government office, mosques, even football yard, is decorated by colourful lamps. Moreover, farmlands and empty land are also full of flickering lamps which are painted with beautiful mosque, calligraphy and Al Qur`an pictures.
 

This three-day celebration is more interesting when the attraction of bunggo (bamboo cannons) is played by children competing each other. All of those bamboo cannons are faced to the people`s homes, proposed to awaking the people for having sahur (the meal eaten before daybreak during the fasting month).  By such atmosphere, you will feel its religious nuance and strong solidarity of surrounding people.

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe Location

Tumbilotohe is in the city of Gorontalo, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. It can be reach by land, water and air transportations. For you living in Sulawesi Island, you can take any public transportation but for you who are outside Sulawesi Island, you must take either water or air transportations. There are two harbours in Sulawesi Island, Gorontalo Harbour and Anggrek Kwandang Harbour in the district of Gorontalo. In addition, for air transportation, there is an airport in the sub-district of Tibawa, Gorontalo District about 35 km from Gorontalo City. There are many supporting facilities such as hotels, restaurants, worship places, car rentals, and communication devices.

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Kampong Gedong: China Town in Bangka Island

Kampong Gedong is an old china town that is settled by 50 Chinese families. The first generation of Chinese people migrated to Bangka Island and worked as tin miners. Most of Chinese people in Bangka Island are traders. Some of them produce typical foods of Bangka Island such as chips, kemplang, getas, etc.

In Kampong Gedong, you will see Chinese people‘s tradition that is kept-well from a century ago. Historically, Chinese people living in kampong Gedong are descendants of six bosses holding local tin mining factories in Parit 6 area – Liuk Phun Thew (hakka dialect).

Kampong Gedong usually becomes a place for celebrating Imlek, Peh Cun, and Qing Ming. On those celebrations, there is a figure symbolizing the guardian of kampong Gedong named Sun Go Kong (Sun Wu Gong).

Since 2000, Kampong Gedong has been established as village tourism destination. This decision was drawn because of numerous ethnic Chinese buildings and Chinese traditions that are kept well for hundred years.

In Kampong Gedong, you will see antique wooden houses standing in a row decorated with Chinese ornaments and Han Zi calligraphy. Likewise, there are worship place and a China temple that is assumed as the residence of kampong Gedong‘s guardian.

Those buildings and the green surrounding nature offers you exotic view as well as the movies in the 1940s. Such views remind us to some other old towns such as Penang, Malacca, and China Town in Singapore.

Kampung Gedong Location

Kampong Gedong lies about 53 kilometers aways from Sungailiat. The kampong is 14 kms away from Behinyu. The kampong lies 90 kms north of Pangkalpinang. The kampong is located in Kampong Gedong, Lumut Village, Belinyu Sub-district, Bangka District, Bangka Belitung Islands. In Kampong Gedong, you can find lodgements, hotels, food stalls, and China temple. 

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Mount Binaiya

Mount Binaiya is the highest mount in Maluku Province. The area of the mount ranges from Seram Island to Manusela National Park (189.000 ha). The rainfall average of the mount is 2.000 mm/year during November to April.

In 1972, Manusela National Park was divided into two areas: Wae Mual (17.500 ha) and Wae Nua (20.000 ha). Wae Mual comprises lowland forestry area in the north. Mangrove, resin (Agathis Alba), and meranti tree (Shorea sp) dominate the Wae Mual area. Wae Nua is situated in the center of hilly area. The width of Wae Nua area is 20.000 ha.

Mount Binaiya is 3.055 meters above the sea level. Having an escapade tour, the mount offers you unforgettable experience ever. In the slope of the mount, you will see meandered rivers which have average width between 6 and 8 meters.

Mount Binaiya Location

Mount Binaiya lies in Central Maluku District, Maluku Province. You may take public transport from Ambon City – the capital of Maluku Province – to Tulehu harbor costing IDR 10.000. From Tulehu, you must continue the trip to Seram Island by speedboat. The cost for taking speedboat crossing Malacca strait is IDR 60.000. From Wahai harbor (Seram Island), you may further the trip to Kanikeh Village for approximately six hours. There is no accommodation and supporting facilities around Mount Binaiya since its location in the hinterland of Maluku Province. However, you may spend more days there in the local inhabitants’ houses.

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Ulee Kareng Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop

Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop

There is a common tradition among the people, especially male, of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam; that is drinking coffee in coffee shops. Nangroe Aceh Darussalam is well known for its numerous coffee shops among other provinces in Indonesia. The difference between coffee shops in Aceh and in Java Island is that the coffee shops in Aceh seem like restaurants. Among the numerous coffee shops in Aceh, Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop is the most popular one. It is owned by Nawawi that has been existing since 1958 by his father, Haji Muhammad.

For Aceh people, coffee shop is more than a place to drink a glass of coffee and some local food of Aceh Province, it is a place to develop social relationship among Aceh people. Moreover, it is also a place to discuss any political issues and economical cases.

Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop is not only famous among Aceh people, but also Indonesian people. Its popularity grew up rapidly after tsunami because many volunteers from either domestics or foreigners came to Aceh. It had also been discussed by International mass media.

Its distinctive taste and its aroma are the best result of the best making process that is made by high quality of Coffee Arabica from Lamno, Aceh Jaya District. Made by special technique full of patient from the frying process (on the lightly frying) until the grinding stage, it produces tasteful coffee. It is better to be served in lukewarm so that the aromatic smell of the coffee can be tasted, even from several meters distance. Moreover, people usually taste it with local cuisines of Aceh like sarikaya cake, timpan cake, bolu cake, martabak telor, nasi gurih (salty rice), and Mie Aceh.

Though Nawawi, the owner of Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop, achieves success in his coffee shop, around IDR 2.000.000 or one a half of coffee in a month, he keeps on being aware of his beyond living. After Tsunami occurring on December 2004, he set a rule that all Muslims must leave the shop when praying times are coming, especially at Dzuhur, Ashar, and Magrib. However, for non-Muslims, it does not matter to stick around in the shop at those times. For him, both world living and beyond living must walk inline.

Ulee Kareng Coffe Shop Location

Jasa Ayah Coffee Shop lies on T. Iskandar Street No. 13 – 14 A, Ulee Kareng Sub-district, Banda Aceh City, Nangroe Aceh Province. Ulee Kareng Sub-district is located in the centre of Banda Aceh City, so there are many public transportations hanging around the location such as taxi, motorized pedicabs, and labi-labi (Ulee Kareng -  Aceh Traditional Market route). As its location in the centre of Banda Aceh City, it will be easy to find some inns or luxurious hotels around the location.As its location in the centre of Banda Aceh City, it will be easy to find some inns or luxurious hotels around the location.

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Gunongan the symbol of Sultan Iskandar Muda`s love to Putroe Phang in Aceh

Gunongan

Gunongan that is situated in Taman Sari (Taman Sari Kingdom) is the symbol of Sultan Iskandar Muda`s love to Putroe Phang, his wife who came from Pahang, Malaysia. As the story goes by, Putroe Phang was full of solitude feeling since the bustle of Sultan Iskandar Muda as a head of state administrations.  She kept remembering her home in Pahang, Malaysia. Fortunately, Sultan Iskandar Muda knew the problem then he built a small mount named Gunongan as a miniature of hills surrounding the Pahang Palace. Since then, Putroe Phang felt exciting. Almost all her times were spent along with other Palace`s ladies by climbing it.

Gunongan is located directly in front of the graveyard of the Dutch fleets. It was built in 1607 – 1636 A.D. on the tenure of Sultan Iskandar Muda in the 17th century. It is not so big; it is hexagonal building which resembling flower with three storeys where on the peak can be found a crown pillar. An entrance door is not too high and keeps on locked. There is a corridor leading to the third storey of the building.

Besides the main building, there is a building called Kandang Baginda. It is a graveyard of the Aceh Sultanate family, one of them is the tomb of Sultan Iskandar Muda`s adopted son, Sultan Iskandar Tsani (1636 – 1641 A.D.) from Malaysia.

The Location of Gunongan

Gunongan lies in Taman Sari Gunongan, Seutui Village, Banda Aceh City, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province, Indonesia.Gunongan lies in Taman Sari Gunongan, Seutui Village, Banda Aceh City, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province, Indonesia.

It is easy to reach the destination remembering Seutui Village is located in the centre of Banda Aceh City. You can enter the location from the gateway on Teuku Umar Street. There are numerous public transportations around the locations such as pedicab, taxi, motorized pedicab, and labi-labi (typical public transportation of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam). Those public transportations usually pass by Taman Sari Gunungan route, Lhoknga – Aceh Traditional Market, Lamteumen – Aceh Traditional Market, and Lamlagang – Aceh Traditional Market.

Considering the location of Gunungan is in the centre of Banda Aceh City, it will be easy to find either luxurious hotels or middle class hotels around the location.

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Mount Maras

Mount Maras offers you tranquility of green view with scattered farms and leafy trees of surrounding area. Likewise, the mount which is situated at 699 meters above the sea level, presents you wonderful scenery of sunrise in the morning and sunset in the afternoon. We suggest you to bring some foods and tents if you want to climb the mount. There is no food stalls in the surrounding area.

Mount Maras is the only mount in Bangka Island. It offers you magnificent views of its nature and fresh air. The leafy trees in the slope of the mount give you shelter from the sunshine. Spending a night in the location is an unforgettable experience. Flickering lamps of the local inhabitants and twinkling star in the sky are wonderful scenery of Mount Maras in the night. Mount Maras is the right place for hiking, camping, and climbing.

Mount Maras Location

Mount Maras lies in Rambang Village, Riau Silip Sub-district, Bangka District, Bangka Belitung Islands. Mount Maras can be reached from either Sungailiat (70 kms) or Belinyu City (33 kms). You can take public transport from Sungailiat to the slope of the mount.

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Rafting Sensation in the Nimang and Ranoyapo Rivers

Rafting is a new type of sports that are available in Indonesia. It is a challenging recreational sport pumping up someone‘s adrenalin rush. Just come to the Nimanga River or the Ranoyapo River. There, you will feel the exquisite sensation of exploring the rivers and its distinctive characteristics. There are guides who will accompany you while enjoying the sensation of rafting on the Nimanga River and the Ranoyapo River.

Rafting on the Nimanga River and the Ranoyapo River, which is 35 km long, offers you an unforgettable experience. You will raft above the rough and clean water of those rivers while enjoying magnificent view of surrounding nature and various bird species. This is the right place for having leisure time forgetting any crowded of the city life.

Nimang River Location

The Nimanga  and the Ranoyapo Rivers can be found in Timbukar village, Minahasa District, North Sulawesi Province. The location is about 30 km away from Manado City. You can take minibus from Manado bus station to reach the locations. In addition, taking your own transport will be around three hours to reach those two rivers. You can easily find some hotels nearby the location. Guide services are also available for you there.

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