Kota Kapur Inscription Site in Kota Kapur Village, West Mendo Sub-district, Bangka District

The existence of Kota Kapur Inscription Site has close relations with the strait of Bangka, which was often crossed by a number of ships in the past. In the 1700s, Bangka Strait was a place where a number of sea-rovers coming from Kota Kapur Village robbed every ship crossing the strait. They plundered land from the sea without commission from Crivijaya Kingdom.

When Sultan Ratu Akhmad Badaruddin – the ruler of Crivijaya Kingdom – knew such a fact, he summoned his soldiers to eradicate those sea-rovers from Crivijaya‘s territories. Later on, Crivijaya successfully defeated them and established an agreement between the King of Crivijaya and an envoy of the sea-rovers. The agreement then now is known as Kota Kapur Inscription since was made in Kota Kapur Village.

Three clauses are written down on the inscription using Pallawa letters in Sanskrit language. First, Crivijaya‘s territories covered the regions in Bangka Island and neighbouring islands. Second, people settling those regions should admit the Crivijaya‘s authority by obeying the law and regulations established by the Kingdom. The last clause restricted any kind of robbery and rebellion against the Crivijaya‘s.

In 1892 A.D., a Dutchman named JK. Fander Meulend, who was also the administrative ruler in the Selan River, discovered the inscription‘s existence. Then in 1978 A.D., a local inhabitant of Kota Kapur Village found the inscription‘s pedestal that is 30 cm in length, 42 cm in width, and 7 kg in weight.

Kota Kapur Inscription Site reveals the old stories of Crivijaya‘s glory in the past. It is the right place for some archaeologists and historians who want to trace back memorial journey of Crivijaya in defeating sea-rovers damaging Crivijaya‘s authority. At least there are two archaeological researches on the inscription have ever been conducted by a team of French archaeologists in cooperation with a team of Indonesian archaeologists in 1994 and 1995.

In the site, you will see the remaining traces of a temple that was built at the era of Crivijaya Kingdom. Other Crivijaya‘s remnants are some ancient ceramics, three metres high castle, and moat surrounded by the castle. Likewise, a building resembling a Javanese mansion is a so-called museum that keeps many historical things and pieces of statues within.

Since you arrive at the location, you will see a 75 metres high stones resembling a gateway. The stone is a sign that the inscription was discovered by JK. Fender Meulend.

Kota Kapur Location

Kota Kapur Inscription Site lies in Kota Kapur Village, West Mendo Sub-district, Bangka District, Bangka-Belitung Province. The site is situated at the riverbank of the Mendo River flowing to Bangka Strait. To reach the location, you can take public transport from the heart of Bangka District to West Mendo Sub-district. Unfortunately, access to Kota Kapur Village via West Mendo Sub-district is hard to find. Therefore, we suggest you to drive your own private cars to reach the location. There is no inn as well as lodgement nearby the location where Kota Kapur Inscription is found. However, you can find some hotels in the heart of Bangka District. Thus, if you are undertaking research on this site, you can spend more days around the location by looking for hospitality services in the heart of Bangka City.

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Bone – Bone Village

Bone-bone is a cloistered village that is situated at an altitude of 2.500 meters, on the slope of Mount Latimonjong. 540 inhabitants, or 80 families, inhabit the village and occupy stage houses.

Since 2001, the village‘s inhabitants have not smoked cigarettes anymore. It started when a Muslim priest, from Java Island, who was designated as a village chief at the time. He began to summon his citizens not to smoke by establishing unwritten law banning his people from smoking. As the time goes by, all people settling the village obey the law hence, Bone-bone Village is now famous as an “Anti-nicotine Village.”

Since 2007, Health Promotion Center of South Sulawesi Province fixed the village as a “Healthy Village.” The first time entering the village‘s gateway, you will see a placard saying "Nikmati Indahnya Pemandangan Alam dan Segarnya Udara Dusun Kami” (Enjoy the magnificent nature scenery and fresh air of our village).

Since entering the village‘s gateway, you will be amazed by wonderful scenery of surrounding areas. The village offers the fresh air to everyone since no air pollutions either from gasoline or cigarette smokes. Since 2001, the village‘s local inhabitants have never been smoked cigarettes anymore since the existence of an unwritten law banning them from smoking cigarette at all times.

There is no punishment for those breaking the law but it comes from their self-awareness of smoke‘s bad impacts damaging their health. Amongst them, smoking is considered as taboo as well as discussing sex in the public.

The village‘s inhabitants are well-known as devout Muslims, who strictly ban conducting useless habit such as smoking. Therefore, the village is also famous as an Islamic village. All women wear Islamic costumes at daily lives. And female children are not allowed to play outside of home with male children who are not their mahram (husbands or siblings). When adhan is calling to prayer, they stop from activities for conducting shalat. They are back to their activities after that.

Bone-Bone Location

Bone-Bone Village is administratively located in Baraka Sub-district, Enrekang District, South Sulawesi Province. Bone-bone Village lies about 300 kilometres away from Makassar. It can be reached by taking public transport from Makassar City to Enrekang District spending approximately six hours. Then, you must continue the trip to Baraka Sub-district that is around 50 kilometres away.

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Mabissu Dance

The word “mabissu” is derived from “bissu” with a prefix addition of “ma“ that means “to perform bissu dance.” “Bissu” in “Bissu Dance” can be meant as clean and pure from menstruation, and invulnerable to any dagger. Likewise, amongst the Bugis people, “bissu” is the name of people performing Mabissu Dance.

Mabissu Dance, some call it Magirri Dance, is commonly performed by six male of bissus who are led by a bissu chair. Bissus performing the dance are dressed in female dresses.

Frequent beatings of tambourine are the dance`s overture. Soon after that, mystical mantras are recited in To Rilangi language (ancient language of the Bugis people) and just keep reciting them during the performance. The bissus begin to dance unconsciously; they start moving around Arajangnge, a sacred thing in which the spirits of deceased Bugis`s ancestors are taking a rest within. In addition, Arajangnge is also the space to put ritual offerings such as Bugis traditional cakes, fruits, and buffalo`s head.

Mabissu or Maggiri dance, as well as other Indonesia`s traditional dances, bears mystical values as well. When tambourine`s beatings gradually played faster, the bissus decelerate their movements to perform Maggiri.

Maggiri is a stage when bissus perform their invulnerabilities to any daggers. It seems out of normal sense but all are real. Bissus perform those all unconsciously since the spirits of deceased Bugis`s ancestors unite in their bodies. Daggers that are slipped on bissus` waists are stuck into other bissus` bodies, especially on their hands, bellies, and mouths.

Such an action is aimed at examining whether the bissus are suit to the spirits of deceased Bugis`s ancestors obsessing their bodies. Supposing the bissus and the spirits are suit each other, the Bugis believe it gives a blessing to all people.

The pinnacle of Mabissu Dance is nagiri`i. It is a stage when bissus point locally traditional weapons to their bodies. You will be amazed watching this invulnerability show. You will not see blood spouting from their bodies even though weapons point human bodies frequently.

To some extent, some people ask for blessing from the spirits of deceased Bugis ancestors obsessing the bissus` bodies. For you believing in such a mystical belief, you may expect favour from the bissus. For Muslims, however, expecting favour from another Allah is forbidden.

Mabissu Dance Location

Mabissu Dance is commonly held in Assaurajang Village, Segeri Sub-district, Pengkajene Islands District, South Sulawesi Province. You can take public transport from Makassar City leading to Sigeri Sub-district in approximately two to three hours. You have to succeed the trip to watch Mabissu dance by taking public vehicles for about 20 minutes.

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Parangtritis Beach

Speaking of beach tourism in Yogyakarta, Parangtritis Beach will be the first to pop in our mind. The beach in the southern coastal area of Java Island is indeed popular. Most tourists spend their time at Parangtritis during their visit in Yogyakarta. No wonder that this beach becomes the tourism icon of Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The name Parangtritis itself has an interesting history. Once, it was said that a fugitive of Majapahit Empire named Dipokusumo meditated in this area. In his meditation he saw water dropping (in Javanese language called tumaritis) from fissures of rocks (in Javanese language rock is also called parang). Then he named the area Parangtritis which means water dropping from rocks.

Parangtritis Beach maybe not as beautiful as the other beaches in Bali or Gunungkidul. But this does not trouble tourists. Every weekend or holiday season, Parangtritis is crowded with visitors.

People believe that Parangtritis Beach belongs to the territory of the Queen of the South Sea or better known as Nyai Roro Kidul. According to the local belief, Nyai Roro Kidul likes green color, thus, it is suggested that tourists who visit Parangtritis avoid wearing green clothes.
In addition to the mysterious story of Nyai Roro Kidul, Parangtritis Beach is also believed to be the meeting point of Panembahan Senopati (the first king of Islamic Mataram) and Sunan Kalijaga (one of the nine-saints of Islam) after Panembahan Senopati finished his meditation. Even, local people believe that Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta Palace and Mount Merapi are the manifestations of the inseparable trinity.

Particles of soft sands blown by the wind welcome you as soon as you set you set foot in this slightly slope beach. Rows of rocky hills and cliffs stretch on the westernmost of the beach. On the east side there are Parangkusumo Beach, sand dunes, Opak River estuary, Depok Beach and rows of other beaches. They are the bonus when you visit Parangtritis Beach.

Those who are adventurous should try hang-gliding from above the western cliff. Flying high above the blue sea is another enchantment to enjoy. In addition, you can also try another extreme sport like rock climbing. Rows of Parangndog cliffs offer an exciting climbing sensation and beautiful view of blue ocean as you reach the top.

When you wish for a peaceful atmosphere, enjoy playing with the wave and making sand castle. You can also enjoy the special snack called peyek jingking (ant-lion fritters) sold by the hawkers. One thing you should remember is that you must not go too far toward the sea because Parangtritis big wave is pretty dangerous.Walking along the coast westwards you will find exotic view of sand dunes which resemble the desert in the Middle East. Or else, rent a bendi (two-wheeled horse carriage) and feel another sensation of traveling along the coast.

At dusk, the beach view is getting more beautiful. The blue sky turns gradually into golden orange or glowing red. The sun is extinguishing as it is setting down and finally disappears. Dusk is the moment that tourists and photographer wait to take pictures.

Parangtritis Beach is not only a tourism destination but also a place to perform customary rituals. Every Friday and Tuesday Kliwon (the 5th day of the five-day week) there are always fishermen or visitors who throw offerings and flowers of various kinds to the sea. This ritual is often called as Labuhan and people believe that the offerings go to Nyai Roro Kidul. Through this ritual, people wish for safety and blessing from God. The royal family of Yogyakarta Palace also performs this ritual at Parangtritis Beach.

Parangtritis Beach Location

Administratively, Parangtritis Beach is situated at Parangtritis Subdistrict, Kretek District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indoneia. Parangtritis Beach is accessible 27 km south of Yogyakarta downtown. There are two routes you can take to get to this beach. The first route is Yogyakarta –Parangtritis Street – Kretek – Parangtritis. This is the main route most tourists take.

The second route is Yogyakarta – Imogiri – Siluk – Parangtritis. This route is relatively longer than the first one but it offers more scenic panorama. Along the way, as far as your eyes can see are the green ricefield, fine rivers and rows of karstic hill. In addition, you will pass the Graveyard of Mataram Imogiri Kings.

All kinds of public transportations are possible to reach Parangtritis. If you do not drive your personal vehicle, take the Jogja – Parangtritis bus from Giwangan bus station and you are required to pay only Rp 10.000 (March, 2010). Another advantage you get if you take a public transportation is that you are free of entrance ticket.

Bicycle is another transportation alternative. The road to Parangtritis is level with less bend which is convenient for bikers. However, considering that it is 27 kilomenters long, make sure that you prepare yourselves with good stamina before cycling to Parangtritis.

Parangtritis Beach has adequately complete accommodations and facilities to meet tourists needs. Some of them are the inns, restaurants, food stalls on the sea shore, place of worship, parking lot, public conveniences, souvenir market, health clinic, lifeguard post equipped with watchtower and SAR team. In addition, there are also bendi (two-wheeled horse carriage) rentals whose tariff rate you can bargain.

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Penyengat Island

During the golden era of Riau-Lingga Sultanate, Penyengat Island held significant roles in governmental and educational sectors. The island was likewise the heart of Islamic teaching and Malay cultural civilization in the past. For that reason, the provincial government of Riau Islands fixed the island as the highly recommended historical tourism destination. The remaining traces of Riau-Lingga Sultanate can still be found in the island, even though some of them are in critically physical condition.

Once upon a time, there were some fishermen and pirates anchored off the coast of the island. They came to the island for pure water that was hard to find in other places except in Penyengat Island. Feeling of being disturbed by those people, a group of bee flied over them to take revenge on. Those people got stung by the bee, so the island was named “Penyengat” that literally means “stinger.”

Another story grappling with the early history of Penyengat Island is the story of Sultan Mahmud Marhum Besar, who ruled over Riau-Lingga Sultanate from 1761 A.D. to 1812 A.D. It is said that the sultan proposed a marriage to Engku Putri Raja Hamidah, the daughter of Raja Ali Haji. As he loved the girl very much, a 240-ha island named Penyengat was bestowed upon her by the Sultan.

Start historical travelling in Penyengat Island by taking a visit to the Great Masjid of Sultan Riau. The masjid was built in 1832 A.D. upon initiative by Yang Dipertuan Muda VII Raja Abdul Rahman. The masjid keeps some handwritten Korans and a number of ancient manuscripts that were written on Arabic and Jawi scripts.

The architecture style combines the Malay, Arab, and India styles together. It is said that the masjid‘s wall was the mixture of red-bricks and albumin, which was used as the glue.

Feeling enough observing the elegance of the Great Masjid of Sultan Riau, you can move to other historical sites but, we recommend you to take a visit to several mausoleums of Riau-Lingga Sultanate staffers. There you can find the mausoleum of Engku Putri Raja Hamidah and Raja Ali Haji‘s graveyard. The most interesting one is the mausoleum of Raja Ali Haji because here, you can see one of his great literary works entitled Gurindam 12. You can read the whole series of Gurindam 12 that were carved out on the mausoleum‘s wall.

Move to another site, thus you will find an adat house where numerous royal properties of Riau-Lingga Sultanate are kept well within. In this Malay-style building, the Riau Islands people often hold some activities such as adat meetings and wedding parties. Moreover, the local inhabitants usually take some water from a spring located on the ground floor of the building. They do believe in the efficacies of the water, which can heal certain diseases. By the way, the water is believed to have ability of helping the one for getting a marriage partner soon.

Bukit Kursi Fortress, which was built during 1782 to 1784 A.D. when the Riau-Lingga Sultanate was under the role of Raja Ali Haji, is another must-be-visited site. The fortress was built facing directly to the sea, hence you can experience two travelling sensations at the same time, undergoing historical travelling and enjoying the turquoise sea water.

Penyengat Island Location

Penyengat Island is part of Riau Islands Province that includes administratively into Tanjungpinang Sub-district. To reach Penyengat Island, you can take water transportation called pompong from Sri Bintan Pura Port in Tanjungpinang City. It is hard to find any hotels and inns in the island. You can only spend the night at the local people‘s houses here. Likewise, public transportation such as busses and taxis is really hard to find. The best way to look around the island is taking benmor (motorized pedicab) with IDR 20.000/hour for its cost.

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Shopping Center Book Market

Your trip to Yogyakarta would be incomplete without visiting Yogyakarta book market that is better known as the “Shopping Center”. On Sriwedari Street, lines of kiosks displaying various books will be seen right away. Its existence as a book shopping center cannot be separated from the status of Yogyakarta as the city of education, in which tens or hundreds of state and private universities lie. Yogyakarta has become a melting pot of students coming from different areas of Indonesia and even Southeast Asia. The survival of the Shopping Center has of course been owing to the high reading tradition of Yogyakarta citizens.

“Book is the Window of the World”. Occupying a new place, Shopping Center has begun to carry the motto. It implies that reading is the best way to enrich our knowledge and that book reflects the cultural dynamics of a nation. The Shopping Center is becoming more and more important, along with the rapid growth of book publishing in Yogyakarta, either of local author or translated texts.
The new place has indeed only been operating since July 26, 2005. However, it actually houses hundreds of book vendors that have been working since 40 years ago or since 1970s. The Shopping Center has been moved several times due to city construction and eviction before settling in its permanent place in the cultural preservation area of Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. There are at least 124 kiosks neatly arranged in the two-story building. The vendors are affiliated in a Book Vendor Cooperation (Kopaku) Yogyakarta that was established in 1988.

Being so well-known, in 1988 the Shopping Center, then was still in its old location, was paid a short visit by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad. The name of Shopping Center as a center for book vendors was quite big for Southeast Asia level at that time.

The Shopping Center is always crowded almost everyday and particularly on weekend. In fact, some of the visitors come from outside Yogyakarta. The book market often turns out to be the best alternative for book readers when, for example, a certain book is not available in other bookstores.
Books sold in the Shopping Center are new and used books. Each kiosk has its own specialty based on theme such as social, culture, religion, literature, textbooks, dictionary, and comic books. Not only that, Shopping Center also provides various neccesities for students such as news or article clippings, papers, thesis paper, and supplementary books for school and university.

The book prices at Shopping Center are relatively cheaper compared to those at other bookstores. Why? Because generally, the vendors would only take a profit about 5 or 10 percent from publisher prices. Kiosk owners purchase books directly from distributors or book agencies, allowing them to get a discount of 25 to 35 percent. Here, bargaining is possible. This is another thing that distinguishes the Shopping Center from other bookstores.

Shopping Center Location

Shopping Center is situated right at the center of Yogyakarta, precisely at Sriwedari Street, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 55122. The location is on the east of Vredeburg Fortress and next to Taman Pintar and Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. On its north, there lies Beringharjo Market and Malioboro area.

It is easy to reach the Shopping Center since it lies downtown. Besides, the place is also relatively close to Adisucipto Airport (about 8 km away), Giwangan Bus Station (about 6 km), Lempuyangan Train Station (about 3 km), and Tugu Train Station (about 1 km).

Tourists who depart from Adisucipto Airport could take Trans-Jogja bus (route 3A or 3B) through Malioboro Street, costing Rp. 3000 (by October 2008). After 25 minutes, tourists could stop at Gedung Agung bus shelter. Shopping Center is only 300 m away and could be reached on foot. From Giwangan Bus Station, tourists could take a city bus route 2, 4, or 15 that would go through Malioboro as well. The bus fare is about Rp. 2.000 (by October 2008). Stop in front of Beringharjo Market or Taman Pintar, tourists could reach Shopping Center on foot, taking a 200 m walk. The Shopping Center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m and applies no entrance charge. Supporting facilities in the Shopping Center complex are a musholla (small mosque), toilet, and a shady and broad parking area.

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Liang Bua Cave

Liang Bua Cave

There is an assumption that Liang Bua Cave was shaped about 190.000 years ago. It is based on the result of laboratory research on the sediment at the south corner of the cave. It was shaped since the water stream from a river penetrating the surrounding hills. At the end, after a long run, those rocks shaped the formation of sedimentary rocks.

An archaeological excavation had ever been conducted by National Archaeological Research Centre in cooperation with University of New England in 2001. The result of the excavation was announced on October 28th, 2004 stating that hobbit fossil was discovered in the location. Such discovery then increases the visitors to Liang Bua cave.

Liang Bua Cave is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. A fossil of Homo Floresiensis, which is 100 cm tall and 25 kg weight was discovered. It is assumed that the fossil is not taller than a five-years old boy. This fossil, whose the skull is just the same as a lemon fruit, is believed that such species lived about 13.000 years ago, together with giant lizards/ komodo and pigmi elephants.

Liang Bua Cave Location

Liang Boa Cave is located in Flores Island, Liang Bua Village, Ruteng Sub-district, in the district of Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. You can take air transports to reach the destination from Kupang City to Ende City, in Flores Island for about 1,5 hours. Then you must continue the trip to Ruteng City by public transportations for approximately 4 hours. From Ruteng Sub-district to Rampassa Village, the travel can be accessed by public transports or approximately 13 km away. Around the location, you can find restaurants or inns intended to offer you comfortable visit.

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