Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2009

Posted by Wiratri

The international Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali Island is the major project of the Ubud-based Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation. Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2009 theme is Suka-Duka: Compassion & Solidarity.

Suka-Duka is an ancient communal wisdom that for centuries has been one of the main pillars of Bali’s traditional institutions and communities, came to be called as banjar (neighborhood organizations).

The theme reflects the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival’s commitment to turn this literary gathering into an inspiring moment. Some of the finest writers from 23 countries will converge to discuss the great themes of our time: religion, identity, the legacy of colonial brutality and the postcolonial voice, human rights, race and identity, exile, gender, censorship, literary expression, families and love.

Join with the workshops of  Ubud Writers & Readers Festival that teach the craft of writing, in between book launches, performances, exhibitions, cocktail parties and celebrations into the early hours of the morning.

And if that is not enough, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2009 will take to the streets once again with a dazzling carnival of poetry and performance in one of Ubud’s charming laneways.

A youth program of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival runs simultaneously to the main program, and will include writing and creative skills development workshops led by local and international guest writers. The program targets children and young adults from age 3- 18.

Ok, see you there…

Other post you may be interested in reading :  Tanah Lot Temple and Borobudur Temple

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By Bram P

Mostly hotel and car rental provider do not offering discounts at random, we should ask for it and sometimes if they do, these discounts are not even worth it unless you are traveling during off peak season. Unfortunately most of us are traveling during peak season because this is the season when we actually have time to travel.

So let’s face it and take aside from waiting discounts. You should take the initiative and try to find your own ways cheap travel by making your own discount.

• Try to find detour flights rather than the straight one when you inquire. You can get cheaper overall prices if you choose to book two flights instead of one. There some people have been save up to $ 2,000 by doing this way.
• Save your money by buying food at the grocery and cook it yourself rather than eating everyday at a restaurant. You can make a healthy food as well as your pockets health. That is why there is a stove in your hotel room.
• Choose travel to places which boast a natural beauty and have lower costs of living because here prices tend to be lower. For example you can take travel to Bali in Indonesia, Malaysia or Philippines which there are have great views and tourism destination without the hassle of overpricing, English speaking natives are also a plus for these countries.
• If you have planned to stay for more than a week, you should ask and negotiate the hotel for a week long stay discounts. You might get cut off percentages of your room or even a “free day” bonus.
• Choose package deal for accommodation and airfare combined into one rather than paying them separately because usually the price of package deal tend to cheaper. There are also some travel agencies even offer package deal which include for airfare, accommodation and car rental, you can save a lot if you have the industriousness to canvass.
• Some hotel and airline company provide a special discount or coupon for those willing to reserve online. The discount may range as much as 50% on your travel costs by doing this way.

I wrote a guide you may be interested in reading: Bali Island – A Snapshot Preview and  Bogor Botanical Garden

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by Wiratri

Ganjuran Church is a famous name of Ganjuran Jesus Sacred Heart Church, the most of Catholic Pilgrimage in Yogyakarta.  Ganjuran Church is the first Catholics Church established in the residence of Bantul, 20 kilometer from Yogyakarta city. Ganjuran Church was built with initiative of Joseph and Julius Schumutzer, a two Dutch relative. Ganjuran Church is designed by Dutch architect, J Yh van Oyen. The first step of the development was held on April 16, 1924. For months later, it finished, and officially blessed by Mgr. Van Velsen SJ on Wednesday, August 20, 1924.

Ganjuran Church was designed with integrating cultural of Hindu, European, and Javanese. European cultural is seen from the shape of the building forming a cross from above view, while Javanese cultural is seen from the roof forming tajug that is supported by four teakwood pillars, symbolizing four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Altar and the statues of Jesus and Mary have also Javanese cultural because the statue is depicted in Javanese clothes. Hindu cultural seen from reliefs at every stop of the Sacrifice Path Jesus is described as having hairs of Hindu monks.

Three years later, Mr. Julius Schumutzer established a building that similar looked a like a Hindu temple beside the Ganjuran Church. It was established on December 26, 1927. On February 11, 1930 Mgr. Van Velsen SJ officially blessed it. The purpose of this building was to provide a place for devotion to the Holy Heart.

The nuance of Javanese cultural implemented on the music liturgy is the main special thing of Ganjuran Church. Holy mass celebration done in Javanese language with songs accompanied by gamelan (Javanese orchestra) on Thursdays to Sundays at 05:30 a.m., every night of first Friday, each Christmas and on Saturdays at 05:00 p.m. The holy mass is done at the yard of the temple, except daily mass at 05:30 a.m. that is done in the church.

How To Get There?

From Adisucipto Airport

• Taxi
  It takes about an hour (approximately 25 kilometers) and costs around Rp 60.000,00.
• Bus
  Take a bus Solo-Yogyakarta to the bus station of Giwangan. From the bus station, take a bus Yogyakarta-Parangtritis to Ganjuran. It costs around Rp 8.000,00 per person.

From Tugu Railway Station

• Taxi
  It takes about 40 minutes (approximately 20 kilometers) and costs around Rp 50.000,00.
• Bus
  Take a bus 4 to the Bus Station of Giwangan. From the bus station, take a bus Yogyakarta-Parangtritis to Ganjuran. It costs around Rp 8.000,00 per person.

From Giwangan Bus Station

• Taxi
  It takes about two hours (approximately 15 kilometers) and costs around Rp 40.000,00.
• Bus
  From the bus station, take a bus Yogyakarta-Parangtritis to Ganjuran. It costs around Rp 8.000,00 per person.

(See Google Map Here)

Travel Tips :

• Private vehicles will be the best choice to the Ganjuran Church. However, if you are with your group to the Ganjuran Church, just contact travel agent for your safe and comfortable.

Other post you may be interested in reading : Prambanan Temple and Bali Island

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By Bram P

Prambanan temple or also named Roro Jonggrang temple is a complex  of  Hindu Temple which consist of three main shrines, there are Brahma in the north, Vishnu in the south and the biggest one Shiva temple in the middle. Shiva temple as the biggest temple soars up to 47 meter. Those three represents of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of the temple facing to the east. Each  main temple has smaller temple  on the side and all of them are facing western. The name for each temple are Angsa temple for Brahma, Garuda for Vishnu and Nandini for Shiva. Beside those temple there are more 234 more small temple.

Inside those temple can be found a statue represent each temple name except the Shiva temple, there are three room consist of Agastya (Shiva’s teacher) statue, Btari Durga (Shiva’s wife) statue and Ganesha (Shiva’s son) statue inside those each room.

Prambanan temple was build in 10^th century under king of Mataram Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung from Sanjaya dynasty. Since 1991, just like Borobudur temple, Prambanan temple has appointed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

Beside all those statues and temple, the attraction of Prambanan temple is engraved panel relief of story Ramayana on the wall of the temple. Another attractive relief which also engraved is the Kalpataru tree. This tree-in Hindu- is a symbol of tree of life, eternity and enviroment harmony. The tourists can improve their knoweldge about Prambanan temple by visiting Prambanan museum inside the complex area of Prambanan temple. The museum consist of history about the discovery of  Prambanan temple  and during renovation.

On regular time here presented traditional performing art Sendratari (ballet) Ramayana. The ballet performing story of Ramayana which adopted into Javanese culture. The performing may including more than 200 artists at its original place Prambanan temple open air theater. The show presented from 07.00 pm  to 09.30 pm in Ramayana Open Air Theater in four clear night and full moon, every month from May to October. The full story of Ramayana will be performing at Trimurti Theater (closed theater) and presented by around 50 artists.

How to get there?

Prambanan temple is located eastern of Yogya city approx 17 km, at the side of main road from Yogya to Solo city.

The address is

Jalan Raya Yogya – Solo Km 16 Prambanan, Yogyakarta 55571, Indonesia

(see Google map here)

Administrator office

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan Ratu Boko
Jl. Raya Jogya-Solo Km 16 Prambanan, Yogyakarta 55571

Phone: (62 274) 496-402 / 496-406

Fax: (62 274) 496-404

E-mail: corporate@borobudurpark.co.id

Representative office

Menara Batavia 25^th floor

Jl. K.H Mas Mansyur Kav 126, Jakarta 10220

Phone: (62 21) 5793-0331

Fax: (62 21) 5793-0330

E-mail: jakarta@ borobudurpark.co.id

Travel Tips

• Prambanan Park opens daily from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Entrance fee for domestic tourist is IDR 12,000 (week days) – 15,000 (Saturday & Sunday) each and USD 7 – 12 each for foreign tourist.
• The best time to visit is from 7.00 to 9.00 am or 3.00 to 6.00 pm
• There are restaurants, merchandise shop and hotel around.
• You are not allowed taking food or snack to enter Prambanan Park, only drinking water.
• Admission fee for Ramayana theater performance

Other post you may be interested in reading: Indonesia Miniature Park and Indonesia National Monument

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By Bram P

Borobudur temple is the biggest Buddhist temple in Indonesia with around 118 meter long on each side and 42 meter high. This temple is one of the most popular Buddhist temples in the world with 1,460 relief panels, which also there are story relief panel of Lelitavistara, Jataka/Avadana, Gandawyuha and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Borobudur temple also acknowledged as World’s Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991.

According to Karangtengah dan Kahulunan epigraph, the temple was build by King Samaratungga from Syailendra dynasty around year 824. The name Borobudur was probably named after word “bara” in Sansekerta language, which is mean “complex of monastery” and word “beduhur”, which is mean “high”. So, the Borobudur name means a complex of monastery in higher land.

The Borobudur temple construction is ten terraces building. The temple comprises six square platforms. Above the square platform is three circular platforms and the main dome is located at the top of them. At the main dome lies Buddha statue inside perforated stone (stupa) facing westward and surrounded by another 72 Buddha statues inside perforated stone.  Each step of terrace symbolizes the stage of human life in Mahayana philosophy. There are ten stage of Bodhisattva for human must go through to reach the fullness stage of Buddha.

The journey begins at the base of the temple, this stage named after Kamadathu. This symbolizes human are bounded by “kama” or lust. In this level we can see 120 carved stone story panel Kammawibhangga.

The upper four level floors are named after Rupadhatu. This level symbolizes human have set them free from lust but still bounded by body form and shape. In this level Buddha statues are placed in open area and hole in the wall.

From fifth to seventh level floors are named after Arupadhatu. This level symbolizes human have set them free from all of lust, body form and shape. In this level Buddha statue seated inside perforated stone (stupa).

At top of the level floor is named after Arupa. This level symbolizes nirvana where Buddha is resided. Here you can see spectacular volcanoes. Mount Merapi and Merbabu in the eastern and Mount Sindoro and Sumbing. The unusual jagged Menoreh Hills encircle the temple to the South and West.

Inside Borobudur temple complex area there are also 2 free entrance museums, Kapal Samudraraksa museum and Karmawibhangga museum. In Kapal Samudraraksa museum you can see Samudraraksa ship which used to sailed by ancestor and their outfits. In Karmawibhangga museum consist of the renovation history and process about Borobudur.

How to get there?

• Borobudur temple is located on a small hill in the Kedu Basin, Borobudur village, Magelang district, Central Java.
• The distance from Yogyakarta is around 45 km northwest or 1.5 hour driving.
• The distance from Semarang is around 100 km southwest or 2.5 hour driving.
• The entrance of Borobudur Park is located in Jalan Badrawati, Borobudur.

(See Google map here)

Administrator office

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan Ratu Boko
Jl. Raya Jogya-Solo Km 16 Prambanan, Yogyakarta 55571

Phone: (62 274) 496-402 / 496-406

Fax: (62 274) 496-404

E-mail: corporate@borobudurpark.co.id

Representative office

Menara Batavia 25^th floor

Jl. K.H Mas Mansyur Kav 126, Jakarta 10220

Phone: (62 21) 5793-0331

Fax: (62 21) 5793-0330

E-mail: jakarta@ borobudurpark.co.id

Public transportation to museum

Public bus from Jogja terminal Giwangan or Jombor, cost IDR 15,000-20,000 one way (2009). Get down at Mendut temple, the distance to Borobudur temple around 500 meters.

If you from Semarang, take bus to Yogyakarta and get down in Magelang terminal. Afterward take micro bus to Borobudur and cost you around IDR 6,000.

Travel tips

• Borobudur Park opens daily from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Entrance fee for domestic tourist is IDR 12,000 (week days) – 15,000 (Saturday & Sunday) each and USD 7 – 12 each for foreign tourist.
• The best time to visit is from 7.00 to 9.00 am or 3.00 to 6.00 pm
• There are restaurants, merchandise shop and hotel around.
• You are not allowed taking food or snack to enter Borobudur Park, only drinking water.
• Prepare yourself in fit condition to walk and climb to the temple. The distance from entrance gate to the temple is around 1 km or you can take public transport.

Also, check out my other guide on Bandung City and Tanah Lot Bali

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