The Beutiful Of Mendut Tample

Mendut Temple

Mendut is a Buddhist temple. This temple is situated in the village Mendut, Mungkid district, Magelang regency, Central Java, a few kilometers from the temple of Borobudur. Mendut founded during the reign of King Indra of the Syailendra dynasty. In the inscription Karangtengah 824 AD, stated that the king Indra has built a shrine named wenuwana which means it is a bamboo forest. By a Dutch archaeologist named J.G. de Casparis, this word is associated with Mendut.

Decoration found on temple ornaments Mendut be intermittent. Decorated with carvings of celestial beings and gods gandarwa apsaras or angel, two monkeys and a garuda. Mendut temple for Buddhists to have meaning. The presence of three large Buddha statues in this temple has a beauty that is very high both in physical form or as a work of art. All three statues of Buddha in the temple chamber is considered still emit rays of chastity. So among the Buddhist temple is a place of prayer.

Mendut indeed different temples that exist in Indonesia. As a Buddhist temple, this temple has its own charm. Not only the existence of large Buddha statue, the temple was also decorated with reliefs depicting Jataka stories, which are loaded with meaning the teachings of the law 'Cause and Effect.' Reliefs were carved on the outer wing panels ladder section the bottom.

When it was rediscovered in 1834 AD, the temple was covered with soil and shrubs. Like Borobudur temple, the temple is expected to also become victims of the massive eruption of Mount Merapi mahapralaya the year 1006 AD So damaged ravaged affected Merapi volcanic material. And for centuries this temple is 'drowning' swallowed era, along with the displacement of the center of the kingdom in Central Java to East Java.

Beside Mendut Temle there Buddhist monastery. This monastery was formerly a Catholic convent which was then divided up his land to the people in the 1950s. Then the people's lands are purchased by a foundation built upon the Buddha and the monastery. In this monastery there are dormitories, places of worship, parks, and several statues of Buddha.

Article Source :

 http://indonesialand1.blogspot.com/2012/01/mendut-temple.html

The Beutiful of Menara Kudus Mosque

Menara Kudus Mosque (also called Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Masjid Al-Manar) is a mosque built by Sunan Kudus in 1549 AD or the year 956 Hijri Baitul Maqdis using stones from the Palestinians as the first stone. The mosque is located in the village Kauman, city districts, counties Kudus, Central Java. The mosque is uniquely shaped, because it has a similar tower of the temple. This mosque is a blend of Islamic culture with Hindu culture.

Tower of the Holy Mosque is one of the relics of history, as evidence of the spread of Islam in the Land of Java. This mosque is unique because the design of the building, which is an amalgamation of Hindu Culture and Islamic Culture. As we know, before Islam, Java has evolved in Buddhism and Hinduism with the legacy of temples and temple. In addition there is the worship of the Spirit Ancestors (Animism) and reliance on objects (dynamism). Tower of the Holy Mosque into evidence, how a combination of Islamic Culture and Hindu culture has produced a building that was unique and high-style architecture. A building of mosques, but with the tower in the form of temples and various other ornaments of the Hindu style.

The Beutiful Great Mosque of Demak

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The Masjid Agung Demak in Central Java, believed to be built by the Wali Songo brotherhood in 16th Century Demak Sultanate


Masjid Agung Demak (or the Great Demak Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the center town of Demak, Central Java Indonesia. The mosque is believed to be built by the Wali Songo (the nine pious religious leaders) during the first Demak Sultanate ruler, Raden Patah during the 15th century.
This mosque is the proof of glory achieved by the Demak Bintoro kingdom as the first Islamic kingdom in Java island.

Mosque Features

Masjid Agung Demak is the classic example of a traditional Javanese mosque. Unlike mosques in the Middle East it is built from timber. The tiered roof is supported by four enormous teak pillars. This means that the mosque is rather small when compared to many modern Indonesian mosques. The tiered roof shows many similarities with wooden religious structures from the Hindu-Buddhist civilizations of Java and Bali. The main entrance of Masjid Agung Demak consists of two doors carved with motifs of plants, vases, crowns and an animal head with an open wide-toothed mouth. It is said that picture depicts the manifested thunder caught by Ki Ageng Selo, hence their name “Lawang Bledheg” (the doors of thunder).

 

 Article Source :  http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27490

Masjid Agung Semarang Central Java (Great Mosque in Shout West Asia)

Great Mosque or Masjid Agung Semarang Central Java is a mosque located in the city of Semarang, Central Java province, Indonesia.

This mosque was built in 2001 until 2006. This mosque stands on 10 hectares of land. Grand Mosque was inaugurated by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on November 14, 2006.

Great Mosque of Central Java (MAJT) which was built in 2001 to 2006 is located in East Semarang area, precisely located at Jalan Gajah Semarang. Majestic mosques and spectacular stands on 10 hectares of land and has very complete facilities, such as the convention hall (auditorium), souvenir shop, Pujasera, office buildings, libraries, and the tower of view.

Mosque was built about five years time this building was left of the ideals and aspirations of the main Mosque of Central Java (MAJT) able to control social and economic life that tends to promote worldliness. Overall this mosque construction cost of 198,692,340,000 IDR.

Grand Mosque was inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on about 14 November 2006 by pressing the sirens and the signing of a replica plaque.

While the original inscription had been installed permanently in the front yard entry level 3.2 meterdengan Mosque weight 7.8 tons, is a natural stone taken from the slopes of Mount Merapi, Magelang regency, Central Java.

This inscription carved Nyoman M. Alim is also believed to create a miniature temple of Borobudur is located in Minimundus Vienna Austria in 2001.

Central Java Grand Mosque was built in the area of approximately 10 hectares, with an area covering the main building 7.669M2, and can accommodate 6000 pilgrims.

Court was equipped with an area of 7500 M2 giant umbrella 6 who can open and close automatically as in the Nabawi Mosque in Medina, able to accommodate 10 thousand worshipers.

This mosque architecture is a blend of Javanese architecture, Arabic and Greek. On the right wing is Convention Hall or auditorium that can accommodate 2000 pilgrims, were left wing is prepared to library separately later in the design of a modern library (digital library); and office space for rent.

Great Mosque of Central Java but is prepared as a place of worship, was also prepared as an object of religious tourism. To support these goals, the Great Mosque is equipped with a guesthouse with a capacity of 23 rooms in many kind of class, so that the pilgrims who want to spend the night can take advantage of the facility.

Another attraction of this mosque is Al-Husna Tower or Al Husna Tower 99 Meters height. The bases of the tower have Da’Is Radio Studio (Islamic Da'wah). While on the 2nd floor and 3rd floor used as the Museum of Islamic culture and on the floor there is Cafe 18 Muslims who can spin 360 degrees. On the 19th floor is equipped for tower view 5 binoculars that can see the city of Semarang.

At the beginning of Ramadan 1427 H then, binoculars at the mosque was first used to see Hilal Rukyatul as seen by the team of Central Java Rukyah using sophisticated binoculars from Boscha

For the purposes of worship, mosque architecture of universal and local fusion was able to accommodate 10 thousand worshipers. Inside the mosque is complex there guesthouse with 23 rooms in various classes. This homestead provision aims to provide lodging facilities for pilgrims or religious tourists who want to spend the night in MAJT.

For those who want recreation, MAJT also provides some entertainment facilities, such as play equipment and train a rabbit that will take visitors around the mosque complex.

Article Source : http://indonesia-permai.blogspot.com/2010/02/masjid-agung-semarang-central-java.html

“Karimunjawa as beautiful as my dream!”

I went to Karimunjawa after this place appeared in my dreams few times, and I'm glad that I visited this place...it's beautiful!

You can reach karimunjawa from pelabuhan Kartini (a small port) in Jepara, the ferry runs about 3 times a week so make sure that you check the schedule.
The journey took about 6 hour, if you have time better take ferry besides cheaper you also can soak the atmosphere of people surround you and enjoy it!

I stayed in Wisma Apung, it's the only floating accomodation in this island. To get around you can use a small boat, but during my stay there I seldom left this accomodation because everything that I need had sorted out ;-) if I wanted to see sunrise I just need to get out from my room and the sunrise right infront of me, same goes to sunset i just need to walk around this place turned my back and I can see one of the best sunset! This place also has shark farm, so I can swim with shark and feed them as well! And you can also do snorkelling activity around this place too as it has nice coral reef.
And for the meal just like other accomodation you have an option to get it from the hotel (mine is Rp 20.000 for dinner and it's excellent seafood dinner!!) or you can go to Alun-Alun (town centre) where there are lots of food vendor and you can buy from them. If you want western food there is one restaurant calls "cafe Amore" .

Even I'm travelling solo I joined a group for snorkelling tour, it took about 2-3 days if you want to see all the spot. I think we visited 4-5 spot, one of the best one was near menjangan kecil island and the other one was near tengah island, amazing coral reefs and many beautiful fish!

If you have more time, beside snorkelling, diving, sunbathing and swimming another activity that you can do is to explore the mangrove forrest in the mainland.

Karimunjawa is really beautiful place to visit as it's still unspoilt, quiet and not as commercial as Bali or Gili T, infact karimunjawa reminds me of Gili Trawangan 10 years ago, but way much better.

There are lots of accomodation that suits all budget, from homestay style to resort style.
If you don't go with tour for snorkelling you can rent a a boat for about Rp 250.000 - 300.000/ day (depends on your skill to haggling) and the boat will take you to all spot. If renting a boat for your own not an option, alternatively you can talk to the tour operator if you can join their snorkelling trip and I think they'll only charge you about Rp 70.000/ day/person.

Visit Karimunjawa! you'll not regret it and I'm sure just like me you'll have a good time in this beautiful place and for myself it's easily become one of the best holiday spot that I ever been :-)

How Environment, Industrialization and Rain Barrels are interconnected

by: Maverick M. Stanford

 As early as elementary science, it taught us that water covers 70% of the Earth's surface, while earth’s land mass only covers 30% of the Earth's surface. Now that is huge different.

Everyone might wonder how come other environmental organizations have been relentless in their campaign to conserve water. Well the truth is only a small percentage of water is actually in a useable state, the majority being the saltwater of the ocean or in the polar icecaps. And the rest of the earth’s body of water such as rivers and streams are fast drying up. Rain barrels are one of the most practical ways to conserve water.

With the earth’s booming population and industrialization, both require put pressure to the earth’s water reservoir. The human population requires more fresh water to drink and so food production such as agriculture and livestock. As industrialization continues globally more and more water is used in manufacturing processes. These scenarios suggest one clear message to all; water shortage is an imminent problem in the near future.

The government has a big role to play in creating laws that protects earth’s natural water resources from total destruction and disseminating information to the public with ways and means to conserve water. A lot of states in US are encouraging the use of rain barrels, especially to the households who are far away from towns and villages with no reliable water system.

By simple installing rain barrels, the household can save a great deal of water. Though rain barrel water may not pass as drinking water without proper and thorough filtration system, it can used in flushing toilet, lawn and gardening usage, car washing and general cleaning purposes. Collecting and catching rain water is easy too; minutes of heavy downpour are enough to fill up large rain barrels that can be used by households for several days. Just imagine how much water can be saved if all household will turn into utilize rain barrels as a mean to save and conserve water.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/environment_and_going_green/article_1152.shtml

Banyumas's Waterfalls

                             Central Java Map. cilacapculture.blogspot.com

 

Hearing word of Banyumas, many people may be will remembered of ‘ngapak’ accent that always make us smile, or imagine the beautiful panorama of Baturaden with its Pancuran tujuh hot spring. For climber, mount slamet would not be forgotten ever. Indeed, Banyumas is rich of beautiful natural objects and friendly people.

Nevertheless, in this article I try to depict another hidden beauty, and many people perhaps do not know or even hear, that is waterfalls in southern Banyumas.

Southern Banyumas I mean here is an east-west elongated folded mountain which is located in the south of river Serayu, therefore geologists call it Southern Serayu mountain. Further to the south, a wide lowland, called as Cilacap lowland, extends parallelly with this mountain and bordered by Indian Ocean in the south.

When my friends and I visited village Kemawi,  distric Somagede, I got information from the local residents that many beautiful waterfalls surrounded that area, but is still rarely visited by tourists. Without wasting time, I asked to a local resident to accompany us went there, as well as guide.

Village Kemawi itself is located on the centre of Southern Serayu mountain exactly, on the anticline hinge of this folded mountain. It is about five hundreds meters above sea level and the air is fresh enough in the morning. Albizia, rubber tree, durian, jengkol, coconut, and crops are dominant vegetations here.

Back to the waterfalls, Gumawang waterfall is the first waterfall we visited. We could reach this object by riding car until the nearest small town. The road is well asphalted and lake Tapak Bima seen on the left side. It called ‘tapak bima’ because of its form like human footprint. After about two kilometers on riding, the road became narrows and very slippery. Across the inhabitant garden, as close to the waterfall, the road became a footpath. To reach the waterfall itself, we had to walk down the slope as deep as approximately a hundred meter. Along the walk down, we could see beautiful panorama of Gumawang valley.

                                     Gumawang waterfall

After about one hour walk down, we could see the beautiful Gumawang waterfall. This waterfall actually has three levels and each separated by approximately ten meters wide pools. The big debit water is clear, except in rainy season, and falls among andesite rock that shows imperfect pillow lava structure. In the left side, another waterfall falls among breccias rock, much less in debit but as high as the Gumawang’s. 

                             Playing under the second level waterfall

Not far from Gumawang waterlfall, in Karangaren town, there is another big water debit waterfall, Klapa waterfall. The water runs down through breccias wall as high as approximately 30 meters and looked like waved curtain or white grandmother’s hair.

This waterfall is different with Gumawang flow. The water is clearer, and many little pools, about 2 untill 3 meters in diameter, above and under the main waterfall, looked like natural jacuzzies. It is unfortunate if you visit it without swimming.

                                      the pool, want to swim?

The third waterfall is still anonymous. It is located in the north of the centre of village Kemawi. This waterfall has five levels and each has approximately five until seven meters high. The water runs down the seventy until sixty degree andesite breccias cliff, therefore we could climb it easily enough. On the top of this waterfall, we could take a rest by viewing to the north, enjoy the beautiful Banyumas basin scenery which drained by meandering river Serayu. Mount Slamet could be seen standing gallantly in the distance with its white smoke whiff.

                                        the third waterfall

There are still many another wonderful waterfalls you can visit, still anonymous, still on South Serayu mountain, and you can enjoy some of its picture below.

Source : http://sagaragaluh.blogspot.com/2011/05/banyumass-waterfalls.html

Indonesia ranked 4th Most Beautiful Country in the World

by:  ardianta inyoman  

The wonderful beauty of the Indonesian archipelago once again received worldwide recognition as Indonesia was named the fourth most beautiful country in the world through the survey conducted on Twitter and Pinterest by United Kingdom’s leading leisure travel company website, First Choice.

Topped only by Latvia, Mexico, and Turkey, Indonesia managed to outrank other countries in the top ten which include United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, Brazil, India, and Canada. Other popular vacation countries such as Swiss, France, Spain, and Japan did not even make it to the top ten. The survey was officially closed at midnight GMT on Friday, 18 May 2012.

As an archipelagic country, the splendors of Indonesia are as many as its countless islands. From the tropical white sandy beaches of Bali and Lombok, the underwater paradises in Raja ampat, Bunaken, and Wakatobi, to the majestic summits of Mount Tambora and the Carstensz Pyramid, the natural landscapes of Indonesia are the physical definition of beauty. The magnificent Borobudur Temple, the imposing Prambanan Temple, and the fascinating traditions of Toraja, are just to name a few of the fascinating heritage features that make Indonesian culture equally fascinating. The combination of these natural and cultural wonders are the reasons behind the high votes, thus placing Indonesia in the top part of the list.     

First Choice released an interactive infographic on the previous month asking people around the globe to share which country they think is the most beautiful. This project has inspired thousands of people to discuss the question on Twitter and hundreds more to create Pinterest boards of the countries, landscapes, people and cultures that inspire them. The response was so phenomenal that the committee decided to extend voting for an extra week.

Pinterest submissions were judged by TravelMail/Daily Mail Online editor, Sarah Gordon, First Choice travel expert and Communications Director, Fiona Jennings, and travel photographer Stuart Dunn. Dunn won the Travel Photographer of the Year 2011 award in the “One Shot – Wild Moments” category. The best Pinterest submission was awarded with a Nikon 3100 camera, and one lucky Twitter entry will be picked at random to win an iPhone 4S.

To check out the complete list, you can visit: http://blog.firstchoice.co.uk/conflict-of-pinterest-infographic/

Source: detik.com , firstchoice.co.uk , INDONESIA.TRAVEL

photo courtesy : blog.firstchoice.co.uk

Going Green Is So Much Simpler Than Most People Think

 by: Collin Rojas.

An increasing number of people are now wanting to do their part to save the planet due to the worsening problems caused by global warming. Unfortunately, numerous people assume that going green is costly and time consuming. Read on to discover several immediate things you can do to get on on the path to living green.

Recycling is the top way to start. A lot of people continue to place glass and aluminum items in their normal garbage even though recycling is not that hard to do today. In the US, it's not hard to locate a trash service that offers glass and aluminum recycling choices. Many people still continue to discard these items even though recycling bins are not hard to find. It merely takes a few minutes to wash off the cans and bottles before placing them into the recycle bin.

Newspapers are another item that overburden our landfills. Virtually all people will merely take their daily paper and toss it in the garbage when they are done with it. But, there are many other uses that you can get out of your newsprint other than poring over it it. Did you know that you can keep your windows clean using newspapers? If you're tired of seeing small white fragments and streaks on your windowpanes after you clean them with paper towels and cleaner, try to use old newspapers instead. Several community groups run regular paper drives. Merely compilepile all of your old newspapers, put them in a stack, and see if the paper drive organizers will come to your location and pick them up.

One more thing that could help you to start to live green is to begin walking a bit more. Lots of people routinely drive short distances merely to buy one thing at their local corner market. If you just walk to the store, not only could it take less time, because you won't have to locate a parking spot, but you will be saving money on gas and helping to save planet Earth by not burning those fuels.

If you wish to save even more on gas, take the chance to car pool when you can and only mow your lawn two times a month instead of weekly. A gorgeous lawn is good to have but skipping an additional week before you mow again shouldn't significantly affect it. Using a manual push mower like those more normally used many, many years ago will help to save the environment even more. Numerous hardware shops still carry this type of mower.

When people make up their mind to try green living, it's easy to make a few lifestyle modifications that will benefit our environment. Likewise, you can find lots of info all over the Internet on other ways to start living green, you only have to look for it.

Global warming due to green house gases

by : REKHA REDDY

Global warming is defined as the rise in temperature of the earth's atmosphere. It's said that by the time a baby born today is 80 years old, the world will be 6 and a half degrees warmer than it is now. Warming of the climate system is explicit, and scientists are more than 90% certain that most of it is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that collects in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat, cause the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution -- they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, create nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually.

Global warming doesn't create hurricanes, but it does make them stronger and more dangerous. Because the ocean is getting warmer, tropical storms can pick up more energy and become more powerful. So global warming could turn, say, a category 3 storm into a much more dangerous category 4 storm. In fact, scientists have found that the destructive potential of hurricanes has greatly increased along with ocean temperature over the past 35 years.

We can cut global warming pollution by reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into common use. We can increase our reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and conserve energy.

4 Steps to Choose the Best Solar Panel Installation System

When it comes to choosing Solar Panel Installation systems, you have to consider many factors like the capacity required, the cost and the efficiency of the system. Installing a PV panel system for your home is a costly affair, so you must take your time. When you are performing Solar Panel Installation in your home, it is up to you to ensure that the panels meet the standards in your country. If you want to get the solar credits to offset the huge price of installation, the panels need to be certified as per international standards. Your installer must be able to provide the appropriate proof. Even the inverters that are connected to the grid need to be approved before being connected to the grid. They need to comply with minimum standards and in some countries like Australia they should have the latest Certificate of Suitability. This is especially important because there can be some low-quality imported solar PV panels in the industry. 1. Capacity Required An average home would consume around 18 kWh of electricity in a day and this rate is growing with time. And, this average consumption can vary from one place to another in the same country. A 1 kW Solar Panel Installation system would produce around 4 kWh of electricity in a day, depending upon your area. This accounts for almost 20% of the electricity consumed by an average household in a day. So, the larger the PV panel system that you install, the more electricity you would be producing. For example, a 1.5 kW PV system would produce around 2,500 kWh of power every year. This comes to around a third of the electricity consumption of an average household. 2. Warranty The warranty offered on Solar Panel Installation systems from manufacturers range from 5 years to 25 years. However, you should install a system that has a warranty period of minimum 25 years. Otherwise, you cannot trust the manufacturer. 3. Efficiency Every manufacturer and supplier uses energy efficiency as a selling point for their Solar Panel Installation systems. However, the fact is that it wouldn’t tell you how the PV panels would perform. However, the more important thing you must consider is the amount of energy that the system would be producing in a year against the money that you spend. 4. Cost A 1 kWh system would cost you around $10,000 before you claim the rebates and incentives. However, after claiming all the rebates and incentives you can expect to pay something between $6,000 and $7,000. This would significantly depend upon the area were you live. However, there are also some manufacturers that are offering Solar Panel Installation systems for as low as $3,000 after deduction of the government aid.

Do you want to take advantage of Solar Panel Installation in your home? Choosing the panels would become easier if you visit this link. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

How to Save Money on your Solar energy System?

The initial cost of installing Solar energy systems is high. But, the system in itself can payback for itself if shop around for best prices, apply for tax incentives and rebates from the government and store the additional energy produced.

According to one report, the usage of Solar energy has increased by more than 20% in the US since the year 1995. With the current available technology, solar power systems are expense to install but they pay back in the long-term. There are many tax incentives and rebates offered by governments that can significantly reduce the initial cost of installation. With the help of these incentives and the development in more economical solar power systems, Solar energy can prove to be an efficient way to minimize a home’s monthly expenses. Ways to Reduce the Cost 1. Shop Around Request quotes from several companies that specialize in installing solar panels. When you compare the prices from different companies you get the right information to negotiate with them and get the best possible price. In most cases, the residential power requirements can be met with the fundamental thermal panels. When you are having a large area of idle space, you can consider installation of larger systems to generate additional energy to be stored. There are some utility companies that can pay you for the Solar energy produced and sold to them. You can also install the panels yourself if you have some technical experience. 2. Tax Incentives Perform your research with regard to the tax incentives offered by your local, state and federal governments. In some countries, you can get as high as 30% tax credit from the federal government on the overall cost of the Solar energy systems that you have installed in your home. In addition, even the local and state governments can be paying rebates for installing solar power systems in homes. For example, the Illinois Association of Solar Energy is a state body offering reimbursement against solar credits gather by home users. 3. Storage of Energy Once you have saved on the installation of Solar energy systems and also received solar credits and tax incentives from the governments, another way to save money is to install a storage system for collecting all the surplus power. A battery back-up can be installed for this purpose, and it can keep powering your home when the weather is cloudy or there is no sunshine. Such a storage system can help you to reduce your energy bill or even eliminate it completely. If you live in a sunny area, this can be an optional choice but in areas with long winters, storing energy can certainly save you lots of money.

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are several other ways to make Solar Energy systems more economical. Visit this link to find out how you can get back the cost of installation and reduce your annual energy bills. Article Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051568096-1-how-to-save-money-on-your-solar-energy-system/