tour and travel

Ramayana Ballet in Prambanan Temple

2008-06-16T22:01:00.001-07:00

The Ramayana Ballet is basically a dramatic performance that beautifully tells the story of Ramayana and mainly about Rama who was legendary Hindu king or can also be said as incarnation of god. The dramatic performances tell the story of Rama’s courage. This popular dramatic performance is organized in Prambanan, which is one of the largest compounds of Hindu temple in entire Indonesia. This temple complex is situated in central java, which is around 18 kilometer to the east of Yogyakarta. Ramayana Ballet in Prambanan Temple is usually organized on full moon days for its visitors.

Ramayana Ballet in Prambanan Temple is organized on various dates during a period of about six-month. In this popular Ramayana Ballet many reputed dancers. They perform their dances to the audiences in the most traditional clothes. The performances are organized in outdoor setting within the Prambanan temple complex of Indonesia.

Ramayana ballet is one of the best examples of story telling in Indonesia. The Ramayana Ballet in Prambanan Temple differs from the original Indian epic and it beautifully reflects the adaptation to Javanese sensitivities over the years. The Ramayana ballet uses performing arts for story telling. The Ramayana Ballet is a beautiful combination of art, drama and dance. The artists perform rigorous training to perform best during the course of the event. The Ramayana Ballet performed in Prambanan Temple is basically a folklore version of the Rama .in this drama different cycle of the life of Rama is shown beautifully. Almost 100 dancers take part in these shows with full enthusiasm. The ballet consists of numerous group scenes and also slow moving dance. Gamelan orchestra is also played to make the show even more entertaining. Moreover, on the course of the event sometimes fire scenes are also performed .the Ramayana ballet usually ends up with Rama and his followers wining back Sita from the clutches of Ravana, King of Lanka.

Loi Krathong

2008-06-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

When the tide is high and rivers brim on the full moon in November, Thais pay tribute to water. Held this year on November 5, the Loi Krathong festival sees most of the population head to canals, streams or rivers like the Ping or Chao Phraya to bless this element so central to their culture, and to seek forgiveness for using and polluting it in the process. Thais say this thank you with flowers. Only we don’t present bunches or even garlands; we fit the plants architecturally into krathong — elaborate natural rafts that they construct from materials found in the traditional Thai garden or field. Most urbanites, however, buy ready-made krathong from pierside stalls.

Pattaya Tour

2008-06-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

Originally Pattaya is a small, unknown fishing village on the eastern side of Thailand facing the Gulf of Thailand. Its location appear for the first time in the Thai history when Phraya Tak who later became King Taksin marched to Chanthaburi and passed through this vicinity after the downfall of the former capital Ayuthaya to the Burmese in 1767.
Pattaya Festival Thailand's world-famous seaside resort puts on its most festival face for this annual event, held in April at the height of the summer season. Food and floral floats, beauty contests,. stalls selling local delicacies, and a spectacular display of fireworks on the beach are only a few of the highlights that attract merry-makers.

Karon Beach

2008-06-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing area, Karon is nicely spread out and rarely feels crowded.
Karon is concentrated around three main areas. In the Karon Plaza area on the south end there a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community, where some budding Thai painters have built a complex of huts, pubs and art galleries in which they live and work. Nearby, on the beach road leading to Kata, is the newly opened football stadium, which hosts both local and international sporting events.

Dussehra Festival

2007-07-27T20:14:00.001-07:00

One of the big festivals celebrated in most parts of India is Dussehra. The festival is celebrated with zest and festivities as it also marks the beginning of the winter season after the long, unbearable, hot summer. Dussehra marks the victory of Ram over the demon king Ravana, and the rescue of his wife Sita. In north India, gigantic effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers are set aflame amidst bursting of crackers. Fairs are usually held on this occasion with lots to eat, buy and enjoy. Dussehra means the Tenth Day, being the 10th day of the bright half of Ashvin. This day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory Tenth, because of the victory of Ram over Ravana. As Dussehra is preceded by the Navratri or the nine days of the worship of Goddess Durga, some rituals related to the Goddess are also carried out that day. The rituals of Durga Puja involve the usual puja of goddess Durga along with Lord Ram. On this day in Satyug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great demon and king of Lanka, Ravan, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita. Ram, along, with his brother Lakshman, follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle for ten days to rescue his wife Sita. According to another story, Kautsa, the young son of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living in the city of Paithan. After studying under the guidance of Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting a present, or gurudakshina. Initially the guru refused but later asked for 140 million gold coins, one hundred million for each of the subjects taught. The obedient student went to the King Raghu to ask for the money, as the king was renowned for his generosity. Within three days the king made the God of Wealth Kuber make a rain of gold coins near the shanu and apati trees. After giving the promised amount to the guru, Kautsa distributed the rest of the coins among the needy on the day of Dussehra. Even today, in Ayodhya, the capital of King Raghu, people loot the leaves of the apati trees and present to each other as sone or gold. Activities Dussehra is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much joy and happiness in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Ram over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various episodes from Ram's life are taken out. On the tenth day, or the Vijayadasami, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Actors dressed as Ram, his consort Sita, and brother Lakshman arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with firecrackers. The result is a deafening blast, and an explosion of sound and light enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph of the spectators. Also part of the celebration is the Ram Lila or the dramatic depiction of episodes from the lives of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. All the regions across the country have evolved their own distinctive style, and performances at different places are done in the local language. This was also the day to worship the weapons. According to legend, Arjuna, one of the Pandav princes, hid his weapons in a shami tree when the Pandavs were banished into the forests. After one year he returned from the forest and on the day of Dussehra, he retrieved his weapons and worshipped them along with the shami tree. Hence the custom of worshipping weapons on this day started. History The town of Kota was once the part of the erstwhile Rajput kingdom of Bundi. It became a separate princely state in the 17th century. Apart from the several monuments that reflect the erstwhile glory of the town, Kota is also known for its palaces and gardens. Kota is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It is located on the eastern bank of Chambal River and is drained by its tributaries. Kota is on a high sloping tableland forming a part of the Malwa Plateau. The Mokandarra hills run from southeast to northwest axis of the town. It is 36 km from Bundi. Summers are quite hot (April–June) while winters are cool (October–February). It experiences scant rainfall between June and August. The history of Kota is linked with the history of Bundi. Both Bundi and Kota came under the rule of the Chauhans in the 12th century. The descendents of the Chauhans set up their capital at Bundi and ruled from here. While Bundi was the capital, Kota formed the land granted to the eldest son of the ruler. This arrangement continued until 1624. In 1624, Emperor Jahangir, the great Mughal ruler, partitioned Bundi and made Kota an independent state. Rao Madho Singh, son of the ruler of Bundi, ascended the throne of Kota. It became a part of the British Empire in 1818 and later became a part of the Indian state of Rajasthan, when it gained independence in 1947.

Ramayana Ballet

2007-07-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Ramyana Ballet is a dramatic performance that tells the story of Ramayana, the classic Hindu tale of honour, magic and courage. Performed on various dates over a six-month period, the Ramyana Ballet involves hundreds of dancers and is performed in a wonderful outdoor setting within the country’s famous Prambanan temple complex. Built in the ninth century, the temple is the largest complex of its kind in Java and is famed throughout the whole of Indonesia for its spectacular beauty

Ramayana Ballet

2007-07-05T01:01:00.000-07:00

Presented by more than 250 artists at its original place: Ramayana Open Air Theater & Trimurti Theater
Prambanan Temple complex - Yogyakarta - Indonesia

Ramayana is the Java's finest example of storytelling in stone in which the epic is egrved on the wall of Siwa Temple in the complex of Prambanan sanctuaries. Prambanan's version of teh Ramayana differs somewhat from the original Indian epic, reflecting the adaptation to javanese sensibilities over the centuries.

More recently, the Ramayana has been adopted for teh performing arts. Since the 1960s, hundreds of dancers have brought the ancient reliefs panels to life at Prambanan's ope- air theater, located just west of the temple complex. Essentially, a traditional dance drama minus the lengthy dialogue, the Ramayana Ballet or "Sendratari" - an acronym composed of teh indonesian words of art, drama and dance - is rocking good theater, with enough heroics, tragedy, romance and mayhem to satisfy the most jaded modern spectators, all presented under a tropical moon with the magnificient floodlit Roro Jonggrang Temple as a backdrop.

The entire Ramayana epic consists of four episodes, each night one episode, presented from 07.30 to 09.30 p.m. in four clear nights on and around the full moon, each month from May through October. The full story is held at Trimurti Theater every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; presented by more than 50 professional dancers

History

2007-07-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Based on the God statue and the reliefs, could be known that Prambanan complex was the place of Hindust worshiping.

An inscription that could be related to the Prambanan temples, was Siwaghra inscription (778 C / 856 M). The insription mentioned about inauguration a holy building for the God Civa. Then the name of king Jatiningrat (Rakai Pikatan) in which has to fight againts Balaputra, and after he won the war he gave the kingdom to Dyah Pitaloka (Rakai Kayu wangi 851-852). In that inscription was also detaily saod about the Hindusts holy building, as well as mentioning about Dwarapala.

The Legend Of "Roro Jonggrang"

2007-07-05T00:59:00.001-07:00

A popular legend, which was variations thorughout java, ascribes the creation of the slender Maiden to a daughter of King Boko, who command an unwanted suitor to build one thousand temples in one night. Assited by spirits, the would-be husband had almost accomplished this impossible task when Roro Jonggrang ordered the village women to begin pounding rice, an activity generally performed at dawn.

The spirits, believing dawn was approaching, fled and teh angry suitor cursed Roro Jonggrang who turned to and was placed in the temple as the statue of Durga, Shiva's formidable consort.

Candi Sewu

2007-07-05T00:57:00.000-07:00

Sewu Temple complex located in the area of Prambanan Temple Park, about 800 meters to the north of Rara Jongrang Temples. Sewu Temple is the second largest Buddhist temple in central Java after Borobudur. The fact that this temple was built near Prambanan Temple, which is a Hindu temple, indicated that the Hindus and Buddhists lived in harmony.

It is believed to be a royal temple and was one of the religious activity centers in the past. Based on the inscription dated back to 792 AD which was found in 1960, the name of the temple complex was probably "Manjus’rigrha" (The House of Manjusri). Manjusri is one of Boddhisatva in Buddhist teaching. Sewu Temple was probably built in the 8th century at the end of Rakai Panangkaran administration. Rakai Panangkaran (746 AD – 784 AD) was a popular king from the old Mataram kingdom.The temple was studied firstly by HC Cornellius in 1807. The first archeological study was done by NJ Krom in 1923.

The massive restoration was carried out from April 1, 1983 to 1993 costed 3 billion rupiah.Sewu Temple complex has 249 temples, consists of one main temple, 8 "Apit" temples and 240 "Perwara" temples. The main temple forms a polygon of 20 corners with 29 meters diameter and 30 meters high. Most of the structures were made up of andesit stone.

The main temple has 1 main room and 4 small rooms of which are doorways to the temple. The east door serves as main door to the main room. That way, the main temple faces to the east. The structure has 9 ‘roofs’, each of them forms a stupa on the top.

Tawur Agung

2007-07-05T00:55:00.000-07:00

Tawur Agung
A ritual ceremony at Prambanan Temple

Tawur Agung is a spiritual attempt at maintaining the balance of nature. the ceremony is held to purify the earth and return it to its state of harmony. The harmony between the Bhuwana Alit (micro cosmos) and Bhuwana Agung (macro cosmos).
Tawur Agung (literally means grand repayment) is a ritual series aimed as a process toward soul purification for the Hindus. The ceremony is held a day before Hari Raya Nyepi (the day of silence).

In the Caka new year day, Hindus across the country commemorating Seclusion Day. They honored tapa brata, a day of no activity except for religious discussions.

The Caka year begins on the day after the new moon that ends the ninth month - almost always in March. The first day of the tenth month is New Year's day, called Nyepi. The day before Nyepi, that of the new moon of the ninth month, is the day for exorcism, while Nyepi is a day of silence, for meditation and prayer.

The purpose of Nyepi is that the New Year should begin with nothingness as it is believed that all existence originated from nothing. It is the time for mediation, for tapa brata (strict self control). During Nyepi four rules are practiced: brata amati geni (no fire or light), amati karya (no work), amati lelungan (no movement) and amati lelangan (no desire).

Tawur Agung - or also known as Tawur Kesanga - rituals are performed at idday when the sun has reached its zenith, it is led by an Ida Pedhanda (Hindu priest). Incense fills the air and the reciting of the wedas are accompanied by the tinkling of bells. As the congregation sits quietly, the gamelan turns out solemn beats in keeping with the occasion.

History

2007-07-05T00:51:00.000-07:00

Borobudur temple is the one of the best preserved ancient monument in Indonesia that are most frequently visited by over a million domestic as well as foreign visitors. It also had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage main kind. The architectural style has no equal through out the world.

The inspired structure representing the micro cosmos, which have very often given rise to question e.g. when, in what way, during how long time and by whom the sanctuary had been built.

The right answers up to now has remained a mistery since no written documents had been found so far. Based on brief inscription at the Borobudur's base floor that covered by soil, most scholars estimate that Borobudur was built around 800 AD when the Central java was under the reign of Samaratungga, king of Syailendra Dynasty who adhered to Mahayana Buddhism. It has been estimated that the construction of Borobudur took between 30 to 60 years to complate, based on the assumption that most of labourers were also farmers who had to stop work regularly to tend their farms.

There is evidance that the temple was originally coated in white plaster and painted. It must have been an awsome sight to see a majestic, colorful temple rising above the greenery! Borobudur has full of philosophical ornaments in which it is completly symbolizing the unity in diversity of path that can be followed to reach the ultimate aim of life. The reliefs engraved on the wall of the temple tell about the beatiful learning of life.

However, during the 10 th and 11 th centuries there was transfer of power from central java to the east, Borobudur Temple became completly neglected and given over to decay because of that unfortunate political situation. The sanctuary was exposed to volcanic eruption and other ravages nature.

Neglected and abandoned for almost one thousand year had made Borobudur in ruinous condition when it was rediscovered in 1814, since then the excavition of Borobudur was begun. In 1907 - 1911 the big restoration was carried out by Dutch Goverment and directed by Theodore Van Erp. In fact, by uncovering the structure and not building a drainage system, he further endangered it by exposure to the elements of nature.

The structure remained in grave danger of decay and collapse until 1973, when an association of 27 countries, the goverment of indonesia, UNESCO and several private organizations financed major resoration works. 23 February 1983, officially announced the completion of the restoration project.

The Borobudur Ship Expedition

2007-07-05T00:49:00.000-07:00

The building of the ship was based on the idea of Philip Beale, a former British Navy who was charmed by the beauty of the ship engravedon the wall of Borobudur Temple when he visited the temple 20 years ago. He was stunned and had a thought that if the builder of the temple had already crafted the relief of the ship on the wall of Borobudur a century ago, then there must be the Indonesian ancestor having capability to sailing on the ocean and made the wooden ship as well.

Philip Beale came back to his home country in order to search for anykind literatures referring to imagining ship. At last, he found out that since a hundred years ago, the Indonesian ancestor really carried out the cinnamon shipping trade from Indonesia to Madagascar and Africa. In order to realize his dream came true, Philip Beale tried to find sponsorship for the expense. He just wanted to prove his curiousness and tried to trace the cinnamon route as being happened a century ago.
To build the ship there was a formed-team lead by As’ad Abdullah, a traditional fisherman who was born in Sumenep, Madura 1934. The team was also assisted by Philip Beale himself and Nick Burningham, an Australian architect. As’ad Abdullah had a lot of experience in building the ship and nowadays, he has already finished 40 (perahu layar) and 16 ships. The model of the ship was based on the relief engraved on the wall of Borobudur Temple at the panel number 6(bidang C, lorong I, sisi Utara).The building of the ship started on 20 January 2003 and was docking on the water on 26 May 2003, set up the outrigger was carried out on 11 June 2003. The ship was inaugurated on 15 July 2003 by The Minister of Tuorism and Culture, I Gede Ardika and UNESCO in Port Benoa, Bali.

The Expedition of The Cinnamon Route was officially inaugurated by the former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri on 15 August 2003 in Marina Beach Ancol, Jakarta. This Expedition would trace the Cinnamon Route from Jakarta through Madagascar, Cape Town continued to West Coast, Africa and ended in Ghana on December 2003.

After carrying out the expedition of The Cinnamon Route of Africa 2003 successfully, the ship was sent back to Indonesia in the condition of pieces in order to make easier in transportation. When it arrived in Indonesia, the pieces of the ship would be rebuilt and set up in the Ship Museum in Borobudur which was prepared especially for that.

Borobudur Sun Rise

2007-07-05T00:48:00.000-07:00

The Real imagination that you can find when the sun comes out from the east horizon welcoming you in a brand new day. The best scenic view of the sunrise is in the midst of June where the sun comes out between Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. It' so stunning!
This amazing experience can be enjoyed on top of Borobudur Temple. The preperation bagun from Manohara Hotel at 4.30 in the early morning then walking through the dewy grass at the lush tropical garden before climbing up the stairs of the magnificent temple.
Come and be the witness of the amazing creation.
For reservation or futher information please call 0293-788131, 788266 ext 225 or fill out the reservation form of Manohara Hotel, Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur - Magelang - Indonesia

waisak

2007-07-05T00:45:00.001-07:00

Vaicak Ceremony
Once a year during the full moon in May or June, the Buddhist hold the Vaicak ceremony commemorating the birth, the death and the time when the Boddhisatva attains the highest wisdom and become Buddha. The ceremonies held on Mendut Temple and attended by thousands of Buddhist coming from all over Indonesia.
The following day. The Buddhist walk on procession from Mendut temple, passing the Pawon temple and finally on the Borobudur temple, where another ceremony is staged