Thursday, March 31, 2011

East Java On April

The East Java’s Calendar of Events 2012 contains the schedule of some traditional ceremonies, traditions, festivals and performances which held in the cities and the regencies in East Java. It is designed to promote and to publicize the tourism agenda in the whole area in East Java.



It is important to inform that the local communities usually determine the schedules of the ceremonial events by using the calendars of Javanese, Moslem, and Hindu Tenggerese. Therefore, to assure the exact date of the events, it is advisable to confirm the local Government Tourist Offices.



We hope the East Java’s Calendar of Events 2012 will be helpful and useful for visitors and travelers.





















9-10 April - NGANJUK REGENCY ANNIVERSARY
It is the procession to celebrate the movement of the Central Government from the former office building in Berbek City to the new one in Nganjuk City. It is celebrate  with carnival, dance, and horse dance, Barongsai and leather puppet show.

Location: Nganjuk Regency.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Bon Appetite At Pecel Bu Yatin Surabaya

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Pecel Bu Yatin Surabaya"][/caption]



Pecel Boeyatin Surabaya



“Pecel Boeyatin” is one of “warung pecel” or pecel stall in Surabaya. This stall is already operated since 30 years ago and already famous among the Pecel fanatics. “Pecel Boeyatin” is located at Jalan Ketabangkali No. 51 Kayun, Surabaya, settled among the business center buildings in Surabaya. Hence, it is not surprising if we come to this stall during our lunch, and will always full.



As we know, that pecel is such Indonesian traditional salad and consist of green vegetables like string bean, bean sprout, cabbage, water spinach, spinach, “kembang turi” or Sesbania grandiflora and the dressing sauce is using spicy peanut sauce.

At glance, “Pecel Boeyatin” is just like an ordinary pecel in East Java, that make this pecel different is coming from the sauce. The spicy peanut sauce is made from Tuban particular peanut, mix up with the traditional spices like sugar, salt, chili, galangale, makroot leave and some other spices.



Peanut from Tuban is different rather than other peanut, physically it is small and rather long, but it crispy and tasty. It is not be fried, but roasted when it prepared to be pecel sauce. Moreover, the peanut should not be smoothed by using a machine, but manually because it can change the taste. That makes this “Pecel Boeyatin” different.



A portion of Pecel and rice is cost about Rp. 9000 per plate, this is not include the side dishes. We can choose the side dish that we want, like, empal or fried meat, tempe or soy bean cake, tahu or tofu, egg satay, gut satay, omlet, fried chicken and many more. This stall is daily open from 6 am to 21 pm, it depends on the customers.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Karangsari Tourism Products

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Karangsari "][/caption]



Karangsari Agro Tourism



Karangsari Village, Regency of Sukorejo, Blitar is become popular because of the Star Fruit (Belimbing). What makes this star fruit become so famous is coming from the size, which has jumbo size, and it has sweeter taste than commonly star fruit, with tempting light yellow.



While doing devotional visit to Bung Karno graveyard, you can spend your time visiting Karangsari village and buy the star fruit as a gift. While enjoying the atmosphere at Karangsari village you can also see the star fruit's tree over the road, for the people around the village is plant it at their house.At first, someone at the village trying to plant the star fruit seed, which is a gift from a friend, and amazingly this person can change the people around for they can cultivate the star fruit as a commodity. And so on, this village become popular as the biggest star fruit producer. The type of star fruit that largely produce is Bangkok, which is grafting by local type and Bangkok, there are also the Philippine type that trying to cultivate.Actually, for both type, Bangkok and Philippine the fruit are having the same size and taste. But, for Red Bangkok Type the fruit is more dense and having sweeter taste, instead of needs extra maintenance.



Unfortunately, the obstacle is about the quantity and the karangsariquality of the fruit. For Philippine type, the fruit is tends to be wide apart.The consumer needs for this fruit is stable and tends to increase. The biggest consumer is coming from Surabaya, Semarang and Jakarta. At Surabaya, the distribution is not only coming from traditional market, but also on supermarket and hypermarket. In fact, the the biggest demanding for Karangsari star fruit goes to Supermarket or hypermarket than to traditional market.The selling is usually coming from Surabaya and directly forward to Jakarta to fill the requirement in there. Because of the market demand is increasingly raise, the Karangsari people are cultivate the red Bangkok star fruit (now popular as Karangsari Star Fruit) but at present time other village is also start to cultivate the star fruit. Other villages are Purworejo, Tlumpu, and any other area near Blitar.For you who wants to make a trip to Blitar and wants to buy Karangsari Star Fruit, you can pick the star fruit from the tree, which still fresh and naked. the price is usually negotiate by the owner, it can be per pieces or per Kilos.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

The History Of Hok Yoe Kiong Temple

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Hok Yoe Kiong Temple"][/caption]



Hok Yoe Kiong Temple



It was half century ago, the Chinese people in Nganjuk town was Kong Hu Cu. Unfortunately, there were not such appropriate temple to go to. The only thing left was the altar for The Honor of Kongco Tik Tjoen Ong, which was in China Gathering Hall, today's known as Dr. Soetomo Street, Nganjuk. Even though the condition of the temple was inappropriate, the Parish was large enough.



Mr. Soen Boen Lee is one of the parishes who always come to pray to the temple. Since he is praying at the temple he feels many graces come into his life, and he feels so blessed and much more prosperity come into his business. Those facts makes The Honor of Kongco Kong Tik Tjoen Ong largely become more famous and attract many more people to come, both from outside or inside the town. This hilarious cannot stay any longer for the temple is not enough to hold the people.



The main existence of the temple is a place to pray and put the statue which symbolizing the Man who’s having great influence for the people indeed. Moreover, it having purpose to memorize the contributions from those Man, in order to be good example for the people nowadays.



The People who come to the temple is consist of some religion, that is why this temple been called as Tri Darma "Hok Yoe Kiong" Sukomoro- Nganjuk. The uniqueness from this temple, where it can't be found from any other temple, there is a pile of earth about 1 meter in one of the room. It been said that the pile was refers to the ant, on the altar written "Ya Ong" or "King of Ant".



Hok Yoe Kiong in Sukomoro, Nganjuk, is not big enough, but it builds on the road margin near with the train station, beside the Sukomoro district office and traditional market, where is the central of Nganjuk Onion. The visitors who come to this temple is not only from local area, but it also come from outside town, especially Surabaya. This thing makes the founder of this temple, Soen Boen Lee and the family feels so happy. Nowadays, the management for this temple is not only come from Tri Darma, but also come from Moslem, Catholic and Christian. They are invited to join in order to maintain this temple. The leader of this temple nowadays is Mr. Teguh who’s got the honor from the people until the temple shown its movement. Socially, this temple has also taking apart in Leong art and Barong Sai, which use the player from local inhabitant. Moreover about sport, in every Sunday morning there are always Early Exercise on the temple for the people around Sukomoro and Nganjuk.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Pasar Atum Surabaya

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Pasar Atum"][/caption]



Pasar Atom Surabaya



Pasar Atom or Atom Market shooping center is located in Bunguran Street Surabaya. Pasar Atom is not typically as the real traditional pasar, but we cannot also say to be a mall or plaza. The building is seems like plaza, but most of the vendors allow the buyer to do bargain. The products available is also vary from the utilities, garment, foods or even jewelry.



Pasar Atom is typical as China Town in Surabaya, not only because of the most visitors are coming from Tionghoa ethnic, but also the location of the place is settled on China Town. Hence, we can see the acculturation between the local society and also from the Tionghoa culture. The acculturation shown from the visitors and the products. Moreover, we can find a lot of Javanese-Chinese Culinary in Pasar Atom, and there are some more from other Indonesia culture and tribes.

The number of the visitors can reach 20.000 until 30.000 per day, and can reach almost 50.000 in week end. The most visitors coming from Surabaya, but there is also visitors from outside Surabaya, like Sidoarjo or Malang.



Pasar Atom has 8 floors at most, which is the first floor to the fourth floor is used to be shooping center, and the rest are used to be parking lot.



It was established in 1960, the Atom Market continues to grow until now. Furthermore, there is now Atom Mall that interconnected to Atom market. The building in Atom Mall is new and more less like plaza or the common mall, having AC and tidier that Atom Market. But, for those who like being conventional with the products in Atom Market will be still fanaticaly goes to the old Atom. We cannot insist that Atom market offers more products, especially its culinary products.



The most famous culinary in Atom market is Cakueh Udang Peneleh, Nasi Udang Bu Rudi, Ote-Ote Porong and many more Surabaya’s traditional foods. We can agree that Atom Market is a little slight of Surabaya itself.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Baronggung Traditional Batik

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Baronggung Batik - Tulungagung"][/caption]



Baronggung Batik



Discussing Batik is never get enough. We can not just stand on Yogyakarta or Solo style, for almost area in Indonesia having their own pattern on Batik motives.



In Tulungagung, East Java, is also has particular Batik cloth, which is known as Baronggung Batik. Tulungagung Batik is almost the same with typical of Solo and Yogyakarta Batik, which is taking Mataraman motifs, such as Sido Mukti, Rujak Sente, Kawung.



What makes different in Tulungagung is coming from the color. Tulungagung Batik has develop the prominent coloring that is tent to green, blue, and yellow. It is also distinguishing the results of other local batik which is typical of coastal motive that has been taken as a special feature Tulungagung batik products. The motive of Kawung, Barong, Padas, Kopi Pecah and Truntum is some of Tulungagung hundreds' original batik motif.



The existence of the ancient style of Mataraman ethnic motifs, is said to have existed since decades ago and still being maintained until present days.



In addition to maintaining Mataraman motif, batik entrepreneurs in Tulungagung also makes the motives creations without leaving the characteristic of batik Tulungagung. It is meant to attract more consumers and also to make limited particular motive only for one product.



These Batik businesses are spread in Kauman, and also in District Kedungwaru with more than 50 business units spread across the region. Any custom made design is also available for those who want to make their own thought and design applied in Batik pattern.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Ledhug Suro Ceremony, Magetan

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="Ledhug Suro Ceremony - Magetan"][/caption]



Ledhug Suro



There are so many ways that being held by the local government to celebrate the new year of Hijriah. At Jogjakarta there is Sekaten, at Solo (Central Java) there is Grebeg Syuro because it coincidently come with the change of Java’s year which starting from Suro. Any other places like Sukabumi (West Java) is also celebrate this Islamic new year by doing Larung.



In Magetan, East Java, in order to attract the visitors to come, they make “Ledhug”. Lesung Suro and Bedug Muharam (Ledhug) is typical of drum which instrumented continually and it is been combined by the sound of gong and many more instruments that makes a uniqueness traditional music.



Before the process of Ledhug is begin, there is a “Prosesi Andum Berkah Bolu Rahayu”, which is the most attractive one. Thousand of societies are gathering in front of town square, struggling to take the Bolu or the bread. Before it goes on procession to go to town square, the bread is on ritual offering, because it believe that it has grace for those who eat it.



Moreover, there is Jarak lawu traditional dancing which brought by the elementary students and also Magetan traditional transportation called Delman is being ride in the middle of the crowd. When the sound of Gamelan, traditional music, is presented, the Major of Magetan and other local government is taking the Bolu and welcome flower by Dyah-Bagus magetan (it is like Miss Magetan). The Bolu bread is been modified as a mortar (Lesung), Bedhug and Gong then it is spread out to the people.



Lesung suro is having purpose to celebrate the year of Saka, which starting on 1st Suro. As mention, Lesung or Mortar is a tool for pounding the rise and the object to communicate with the ancestors. Bedhug Muharram is having purpose to celebrate the new year of Hijriyah, which starting on 1st Muharram.



Anyway, Bedhug for Moslem is a media for calling the people to pray to God, and Gong is Magetan industrial product, that already becomes an Exported product. Judang is a traditional equipment to carry the ‘Uborampe’from Magetan society, which want to celebrate the marriage.



The main purpose for those celebration is about to dig, to cultivate and to promote Magetan traditional and industrial field, in order to develop Magetan as a Tourism Object and Tourism Destination Object.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Grape Tourism Forest

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Grape Forest Madiun"][/caption]



Grape Forest Tour



Grape [gra pe] forest, is such a forest tourism in Madiun, East Java. This tourism object is located in the middle of the teak cultivation seed forest and including the protected tree forest. It states about 17 km from Madiun city to the east side. Presicelly, in Wungu village, Wungu district, the area is about 5 ha.



This place is sol calm and fresh because, having green sightseeing and clean fresh air. It is suitable for family recreation and need natural scenery to release tenses during the routine. Moreover, when school holiday this place is very busy visited by adolescents or students.



The available facilities at this park is include children's playground, a hall for a meeting place and the forest. There is also a river that flows, which the sourced is directly coming from mountain springs of Dungus area.



The visitors can do some sports like mountain bike, hiking, rock climbing, or even an August camp for students or boy scout. The atmosphere and the nuance makes this forest become a pleasent place for family gathering or outdoor activity spot.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com

Grebeg Suro Ponorogo

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Grebeg Ponorogo Traditional Ceremony - Ponorogo"][/caption]



Grebeg Ponorogo



Is the biggest culture event in Ponorogo regency that held on a certain occasion of welcomed Islam New Year or Saka New Year that often known as one suro date (one of Javanese month). This agenda entered East Java tourism calendar (Calendar of event).



Grebeg Suro is the ritual culture incident and became the party site of Ponorogo people. Usually it begun a week before 1 Suro.

It is the series of Grebeg Suro agenda is Reog National festival, various good activity sorts the race and the exhibition and ended with Larungan agenda in Ngebel lake.



The parade of the elephant statue that consist of the musical procession and the elephant statues. Those statues have received by human kind and climbed onto by two children. This art is has influenced by Islam culture.



More info visit

www.eastjava.com