Controversial Pendet Dance

Pendet dance, however this dance originaly from Bali, Indonesia. Have you ever heard other language that posses the word Pendet? It's totaly Balinese. but recently, this term become controversy. And this is when it all begins.


An ad promoting the network's Enigmatic Malaysia, a special series meant to highlight the cultural heritages of Malaysia featured Balinese Pendet dancers. This prompted an outrage from the dancers in Bali, who posted messages demanding that Malaysia apologize over the misinformation, which then sparked a series of street protests. Further demands were made from the local governments, cultural historians as well as the tourism ministry in Indonesia for Malaysia to clarify the situation. The Malaysian government reportedly offered their apologies, which was rejected by the Indonesian tourism minister. However, the Malaysian government denies claims that it was responsible for the ad, and later disclosed that Discovery TV had sent an apology letter to the two countries, clarifying that the network was responsible for the ad.

what i can take as conclusion are, how come such controversial ad be released to public. Do the tv channel gain the permission to view the ad to public? Or, futhermore, Do Malaysia, i mean the government has a censor department that review all the ad and tv programme before they are released? if there are any, why do they don't put attention on this? it's a controversial and sensitive issue. This such issue can ruin the diplomatic relation between this two Country. Moreover, this sort of problem is not the first time. do we learn from our mistakes? both of us. Please, is there peace live on earth? we should think about what we're about to do. Relize every risk of what we do.

Ref. Wikipedia Read More..

Traditional Dance

Indonesia is a country of many islands. that's why, the culture vary from island to island. the culture form could be art, fashion, language, habit, dance, etc. The way of living in one isand is quite different from others. for example the sumatra people will have very diffferent culture from Kalimantan or Sulawesi. Today focus is on traditional dance.

In sumatra, You must ever saw the famous dances, Saman dance from Aceh. the dance perform by numbers of people who sit in rows. I guarantee you also must have heard of Tor Tor, the north sumatra traditional dance. Or, Piring and Lilin dance from Padang. Even The Dayak and Papua have their own dances that are different from other province dances. Talking about dances, You must know Bali. This land of God is quite famous for the dances.

Traditional Balinese dances are the oldest form of performing arts in Bali. Traditional dances can be divided into two types, sacred dance called Wali and entertainment dance called Bebalihan. Wali (sacred dance) is usually performed in some ritual ceremonies only because it has strong magical powers and only can be performed by specific dancers. Bebalihan are usually performed in social events. In addition to entertain, Bebalihan also has other purposes such as: welcoming guests, celebration of harvests, or gathering crowds. Bebalihan has more variations than Wali.

Indonesia is a vast and beautiful country. With different culture. I want to tell you that, nowadays all you know is Bali. Indonesia has more beautiful site. Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Ambon, Papua are the island that worthy to be seen. Try one and I guarantee you'll be back for second visit. because once is never enough.

ref. Wikipedia Read More..

Pendet Dance, the history and controversy

Pendet is a traditional Balinese dance, in which offerings are made to purify the temple or theater as a prelude to ceremonies or other dances. Pendet is typically performed by young girls, carrying bowls of flower petals, handfuls of which are cast into the air at various times in the dance. Pendet can be thought of as a dance of greeting, to welcome the audience and invite spirits to enjoy a performance.

Pendet is the presentation of an offering in the form of a ritual dance. Unlike the exhibition dances that demand arduous training, Pendet may be danced by anyone. It is taught simply by imitation.

Younger girls follow the movements of the elder women, who recognize their responsibility in setting a good example. Proficiency comes with age. As a religious dance, Pendet is usually performed during temple ceremonies.

All dancers carry in their right hand a small offering of incense, cakes, water vessels, or flower formations. With these they dance from shrine to shrine within the temple. Pendet may be performed intermittently throughout the day and late into the night during temple feasts.

The original Pendet dance is performed by 4-5 young girls (before their puberty) in temple yards. Pendet dancers bring flowers in small Bokor (silver bowls for keeping flowers in a ceremony). They spread the flowers around the temple. This dance is a symbol of welcoming God in some ritual ceremonies in Bali. Pendet actually has simple dance movements. These movements are the basic dance movements of Balinese dance. Pendet has undergone later development with variations and now is not only performed in ritual ceremonies but also in some social events. Pendet since has been known as a welcoming dance.

ref. Wikipedia

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Travel to jogjakarta, you’ll never get lost (Guarantee)

Jogjakarta, never ending asia. You’ve heard that slogan. Ya, this city is the only city who still retain the kingdom in ancient time. Keraton Ngayogyakarta hadiningrat, they called the city. If you want to see Indonesia in ancient time.. Jogja is your destination.

You’ll be treated as if you’re a king here.. traditional culture, beautiful places, beaches, ancient temples (candi), and many more..ready to cheer you up. You’ll never find a place where the tradition is practice in daily life..

Why you’ll never get lost? Because this province has provided itself with the information you need. Yup the whole information you need. The jogjakarta tourism board, has prepare four information center (tourism information center) to provide anything you need. Here are the four places :
1. Malioboro street no.14
2. In front of province tourism board at malioboro 56
3. Tugu railway station
4. Adi sutjipto international air port of Jogjakarta.

The information you’ll get include: hotel room (rate, class, and availability), tourism object destination, Cullinary places, shopping center and many more.

If you ever visited Jogjakarta and you satisfied with the service, please inform other. If not, please contact us for better service improvement. Nowadays, the attractive site in jogja is tourism village. It’s a place located in rural area used as tourism. At this village, there’re various activity you could do. You’ll learn how the villager live, local culture attraction (dance, ritual and many more). And you’ll never achieved in the city, the fresh and clean air of countryside….
Enjoy… Read More..

Thank you for stealing our cultural heritage…

A little controversial title I made. Yah it’s true. Many of our culture were being robbed by others. Instead of angry, I want to thank them. Why? Big question may appear in your head?hehe.

Here are some reasons for you to know…
By doing that, you make us realize and feel blessed for the great culture we have. You know our people seem not care about this stuff. So. More people get involved in studying and preserving this culture and bringing them to life.
The cultural heritage you’ve claimed is already known as us.. (i.e. angklung, batik, reog, and the latest issue pendet dance). So in my mind, I thank you once more. Only us, who could answer the historical event bound in that stuff. Others may claim, but only us may explain..hehe
You know how expensive it is to make a good promotional ad for tourism? Hehe, thank you. Because with your action, we get free promotional charges to promote our country. For example, when you put batik in one of your country tourism ads, people would see, and immediately remember or our country. So, instead of traveling to your country, they prefer ours.. thanks.

That’s the reasons why I thank you for stealing our culture. Only god knows who’s wrong and who’s right.. or in this case of claim culture thing… who’s first and who’s last. I mean the sooner you register or claim, the sooner the culture will be yours. Haha.
So my country hurry up…and wake up. Read More..

Malaysia never claimed the Pendet Dance as theirs…

Still hurt by the conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia about batik and reog, I feel that I need a good news about this two country relationship. And finally the good news I’ve expected come..

The Malaysian General Consulate in Medan give the statement. Malaysia government has never claimed pendet dance from Bali and Jemur Island of Riau as theirs.
Fauzi Omar the general Consulate in Medan said that the term of Tari Pendet from Bali island and Jemur island or Riau is not true.

He said that the tourism ad that publish this dance was made by private company. “The government of Malaysia has never made or even involve in the process of the documentary film making”, he said.

Further he said, in this ad, indeed there’s pendet dance showed, but there’s no intention to claim the dance as theirs. Later, the Discovery Channel, the company who made this ad, has sent their apology because of this pathetic event.

But what lesson can we took due to this event? Indonesia loves their culture very much, but seem always late in making the certification. And For Malaysian, since our diplomatic relation is not too good right now, Please don’t make any controversial issues. It could make our relation worse. So, I hope, we could have our understanding each other. So, better relationship will be built.

Go Indonesia Go

Go Malaysia Go

We could make our country better.
We have beautiful country..
Introduce the beauty of our country to the entire world,
Surely the world would come to see us..

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Hurray, UNESCO agreed to make Batik as Indonesia Cultural Heritage…..

Yup, this is the article I pick from local newspaper. What a heart-warming news. After a long time of struggle and controversy, finally batik is ours. The news was informed by Minister of Welfare to the president.

According to the minister, the official ceremony will be held in September, 28th, 2009. in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Due to this succeed, the president hopes people in Indonesia willingly to wear batik.

The journey to the acclamation began in 2008. at that time the government has conducted research and surveys involving batik community, batik artist and expert among 19 provinces to nominate batik as cultural heritage in non-things category from UNESCO.

“Batik is not only considered as culture from Indonesia, but also considered as representation of humanity non-things culture”. Aburizal Bakrie, minister of welfare, said. He added, UNESCO regard batik as cultural icon that posses value of unique, symbol, and deep philosophy in human life cycle. As traditional cloth, batik rich of cultural value as traditional art inherited generation by generation.

This success completing the success chain of Indonesia campaign in preserving and get the international world acclamation of our culture. Jero Wacik, Minister of tourism said, since 2003, UNESCO has made Wayang and Keris as Indonesia Culture. In addition he said, nowadays government is still on progress in the struggle to put Angklung and many others as nomination in UNESCO cultural certification.

Go Indonesia GO….

ref. Kompas Read More..

West Java, the homeland of living Goddes...

Do you ever see the beautiful indo gals in Indonesia tv shows?

Yup, i can tell you. Most of them are Sundanese..

Even for me myself is confusing? Why they're all pretty? Haha..

That's not what i want to say though. hehe, so what am I trying to say?

Since I'm focusing on promotion of indonesia, I'll completely show you indonesia.. mostly from the cool, cozy, and worthy places to travel..

I'm a newbie, and since I'm new, I'm eager to learn.. learn to find what's good in my country..

West Java.. What cross your mind when you heard that?

i could say..pretty lady (always number one hehe), angklung (traditional music instrument), wayang golek (traditional 3D puppet), jaipong (traditional dance), and also deicious cullinary..

here i told you a little about this place

west java is located at java island..next to jakarta (or i can say surrounding jakarta). people here also known west java as Bumi Parahyangan. we call the people sundanesse (hehe, don't know what's the relation to sundae..ehmm, yummy). the culture of sunda can be separated from this place, from the unique language, famous jaipong dance, and not unique but also famous puppet show. not forget to mention the traditional musical instrument made of bamboo called Angklung. last time i check, claimed by malaysian but i told you, they know nothing..this things definitely indonesian. there's a lot of tradition, meanings, philosophy, and history bound to this music. i can tell you the whole story at the next session..so be patient ya..

here are some pics of this gorgeous place........

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