Asmat wood carving
The work distinctive wood carved Asmat is one of the national cultural wealth that already has a name for the foreign tourists. Characteristics of Asmat carving is a unique pattern and is naturalist. From the pattern complexity of how to make it look that makes them valuable carving work and quite a lot of high-demand foreign tourists.
In terms of the model, Asmat carving is very diverse, ranging from human statues, boats, panels, shields, drums, egg carving kaswari to pole. The Asmat are adopted and environmental experiences of everyday life as they carved patterns, such as trees, boats, animals and people boating, hunting and the others.
Carving is a tradition and ritual life that is closely ... [readmore]
The INDONESIAN island of FLORES
Mount Kelimutu
Flores island is one of the island on East Nusa Tenggara province. It stretches between the east longitudes of 118? and 125?, and between the latitudes of 8? and 11? south. The east Nusa Tenggara cover the area? 49,880 sq km and it has a population of 3,500,000.?? Flores becomes one of the biggest island on the territory of East Nusa Tenggara or NTT which comprises 566 islands, including many smaller islands which are not in-habitated and unnamed. The three main islands are Flores, Sumba and Timor from which comes the term 'Flobamor', which has been familiar as one of the names of NTT.
Flores is the volcanic island and has unique and spectacular attractions. Mount Kelimutu has become a favourite destination, with its ... [readmore]
Gamelan
Gamelan is a musical ensemble that usually highlight metallophone, xylophone, drums, and gongs. The term gamelan refers to the instrument / tool, which is a unified whole that is realized and pounded together. The word gamelan comes from the Javanese language, which means gamel hitting / beating, followed by a suffix that makes the noun. Gamelan orchestra are mostly in Java, Madura, Bali, and Lombok in Indonesia in a variety of sizes and shapes of ensembles. In Bali and Lombok today, and in Java through the 18th century, the term gong is more considered synonymous with gamelan.
Emergence of gamelan preceded by Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominated Indonesia in the early days of recording history, ... [readmore]
Ngaben ceremony in Bali
Ngaben, is a purification ceremony atma (spirit) as the first phase of a sacred obligation Balinese Hindus to his ancestors by burning the bodies procession. human body consists of a rough body, subtle body and karma. Human gross bodies formed from elements of 5-called Panca Maha Bhuta, the earth (solid), apah (liquid), sratumarga (hot substances) slave (wind) and akasa (space vacuum). These five elements are merged to form the human physical and mobilized by the atma (spirit). When humans die, the die is rough body, atma is not. Well Ngaben, is the purification process atma / soul as it leaves the body rough.
There are several opinions about the origin of the word Ngaben. ... [readmore]
The Toraja in Sulawesi
The island of Sulawesi contains a great variety of exotic peoples, landscapes and natural wonders.
Tucked away amid the rugged peaks and fertile plateaus of South-Central Sulawesi live many isolated tribes, who share a common ancestry with the seafaring Bugis, Mandar and Makassar peoples of the coasts, conservatively maintaining many ancient crafts and customs. Coastal dwellers refer to these tribes collectively as the Toraja or "highland people".
The roofs of this "alang" (yam storage building) rises at both ends like the bow and stern of a boat.
newer style homes next to traditional storage buildings
the traditional residences on the hill above the newer town
houses in a row
suburban
newer structure
House panels of the "tongkonan" dwellings are exquisitely carved often with a water buffalo motif.
Many cattle are slaughtered at special occasions.
horns ... [readmore]
