Ramayana Ballet

Ramayana ballet (sendratari Ramayana), on the open-air stage in the Prambanan Complex,with the temples as the background,presents a spectacularperformance of the Ramayana epic during full moon.

pic taken from : http://claubertandgildia.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_archive.html

Important Royal Ceremonies

The ceremony is held on the 12th of Maulud - the third month in Javanese calendar - to commemorate the birth of Mohammed the Holy Prophet. For about a week, the people of Yogyakarta celebrate this event with a festival called Sekaten. At the end of this festival the Kraton's soldiers in their traditional and colorful uniforms will be on marching-squad escort the Gunungan (mountain-shaped cones, containing rice and ornamented with vegetables, fruit, and other foodstuffs) carried from a quarter of the Sultan's Palace to the Great Mosque. After the praying ceremony in the mosque, some of the Gunungan will be distributed among those attending the ceremony called Gerebeg. The interesting and attractive pageantry of those Royal soldiers with the Gunungan procession is also held on two other Gerebeg occasions namely :

Gerebeg Syawal
Held on the 1st of the tenth Javanese month of Syawal, after the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Gerebeg Besar
Held on the 10th of the last month of Javanese calendar to celebrate the religious festival based on the Abraham's faith-test whether he intended to sacrifice one of his sons as a token absolute loyalty to God or not.

Labuhan
Labuhan ceremony is held to celebrate the birth of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono. "Labuh" in Javanese means throw something to the river or to the sea. The offering from the Yogyakarta's Sultanate Palace consist of food, and cuttings of fingernails and hair of Sultan that will be thrown to the South Sea (Indian Ocean). The offering is intends to be presented to the Goddess of the South Sea, Kanjeng Ratu Kidul. It is believed that by performing the ceremony, the King and the people of Yogyakarta will get their welfare. The same ceremony is also held on the top of mount Merapi and Lawu.

http://www.geocities.com/in_yogyakarta/cultural_performances.html

Wayang Kulit

The Indonesian word 'wayang' is derived from a word meaning 'shadow' or 'ghost'. These intricately cut and perforated shadow puppets are made from buffalo hide. 'Kulit' means 'leather' or 'skin'. 'Wayang Kulit' has a documented history of existence of at least 800 years in the Indonesian archipelago.

taken from : www.arkib.gov.my

Jathilan

It is really a pride that the Art Market of Gabusan, which is located on kilometer 9,7 on Yogyakarta – Parangtritis Street, with its specific building capable to receive 600 craft makers. It is not existing in other regencies and even in other countries in Indonesia.

However, behind the pride there is a worry that the Gabusan will have same destiny like LIK (Small Industry Area), which was build in New Order. But, the officers of Bantul Regency has thought and watched it since a long time before it was built. The solution is the Art Market of Gabusan is not used to invite tourists, who picnic to Parangtritis beach merely. On the paper view, it will be great for Bantul, if half from two millions Parangtritis beach tourists per year visit Gabusan. It must make the international level market becomes more live.

Seemingly, the government of Bantul Regency doesn’t dream to depend on the tourists’ visit. The people of Bantul Regency, as many times, appealed by the Regent of Bantul (at that time the regent was Drs HM Idham Samawi) must have a feeling that the Art Market of Gabusan is belonging to them.

Thus, there are week programs to enliven the Art Market of Gabusan. The attractive traditional art of Jathilan or Crazy Horse is performed there. The performance of Gagak Rimang group, which was performed on last Sunday, December 12, was out of prediction. It because the crazy horse rider who was possessed was more than 2 persons.

For the photographer or cameraman, it became attractive report. But, out of prediction, a man wearing black dress walked to close the photographer of Bantulbiz.com, who was taking photo. Calmly, the 27 years old man warned and suggested the reporter of Bantulbiz.com to keep the camera in the bag. How could it so? The young man answered calmly: “This time is really incredible. The spirits possessing the jathilan players are from the palace.” No doubt, the camera was put in the bag immediately (The reporter may be scared if he will be possessed).

Before the activity began, mbah Sudiprawiro, 89 years old, looked like reading spells near the crazy horse while sometimes put incense on the coal, which created white-thick smoke.
“What did it mean, mbah?” the reporter of Bantulbiz.com curiously asked after the rite ceremony finished. “I beg permission from the spirits in here to make the performance goes well. I also beg helps, if there will be ‘smart’ person (have an ability to invite spirit), who will do bad action and disturb this jathilan performance.

taken from : www.bantulbiz.com

Batik

Many kinds of batik are produced by groups of artisans such as: sido Asih, Sido mukti, Wahyu Tumurun and others. It is located in Giriloyo and karangkulon, Wukirsari, Imogiri District, Bantul Regency.

Becak

The Becak is a popular form of local transportat and yogya has more becaks than anywhere else in Indonesia. As a traditional transportation, it cheap and delightful form of transportat and carries anything from people to serious amounts of goods.

Kraton Jogja

As cultural remains, Yogyakarta Sultan palace built in 1755,was the center of Mataram Kingdom in the past. Up to know The Palace has big role to preserve Java Culture,even in the modern era,Kraton’s role as the cultural fortress is getting stronger.

Pasar ngasem

Pasar Ngasem, The earthy, cacophhonous bird market north water castle Taman Sari is a fascinating place for visitors. It is a popular tourist attraction where you can watch bargaining over prized songbirds and racing pigeons.

'YES 118,' Yogya's Emergency Service

The city of Yogyakarta now has an emergency number, 118. The center is located at Yogyakarta’s Red Cross (PMI) and offers a 24-hour service. The PMI coordinates with the nearest hospital to arrange ambulance to take patients to the hospital.“Patients can even ask to be taken to a hospital outside Yogyakarta,” said Yogyakarta Health Services head, Dr. Choirul Anwar, yesterday in the city.According to Choirul, the program, which is called "Yogya Emergency Services 118" (YES 118) involves Yogyakarta’s PMI and nine hospitals in Yogyakarta, among them are the hospitals of Kota, Bethesda, Dr Soetarto, Hidayatullah, Ludira Husada Tama, Panti Rapih, PKU Muhammadiyah, and Sardjito as a reference center.The municipal government will cover the costs for ambulance transportation to hospitals in Yogyakarta and the first 24-hour treatment if there is no family member accompanying the patient.

resource : http://www.tempointeractive.com

Messenger flyby reveals 30 per cent of Mercury never seen before

NASA scientists said Wednesday that a flyby of Mercury earlier this month has sent images showing 30 per cent of the planet never seen before.

"The region of Mercury's surface that we viewed at close range for the first time this month is bigger than the land area of South America," scientist Sean Solomon was quoted by DPA as saying."When combined with data from our first flyby and from Mariner 10, our latest coverage means that we have now seen about 95 per cent of the planet.

"NASA's Messenger spacecraft came within just 200 kilometres of Mercury on October 6 in the second of three planned flybys for the craft. It is due to settle into orbit around Mercury in 2011, providing what scientists hope will be the most complete picture yet of the solar system's smallest planet.The 1,200 images show the planet's western hemisphere. Researchers hope to use them to map the planet's surface.

The flyby was designed largely to pick up a gravitational boost of energy for the craft.Data from Messenger's first flyby in January showed massive lava flows had shaped the planet and provided the first information on 20 per cent of Mercury's surface.In 1974-75, the NASA probe Mariner 10 made three passes by Mercury, giving space scientists their first information about the planet's magnetic field.

resource : www.antara.co.id

Parangtritis

Parangtritis Beach is located about 27 Km from Yogyakarta. It has been famous for long, not only as a beach resort where sand dunes, sandy beach and rocky cliffts meet, but it also a historycal place which closely to the mysterious legend of the Queen of the South Sea (Kanjeng Ratu Kidul)

Keris Handy craft

It located in Banyu-sumurup,Girirejo, Imogiri District,Bantul Regency and about 20 km south east of Yogyakarta. Visitors not only buy the products but they also learn how to make kris. Its products can find both in the country or in the international market such as: Dutch, Brunai Darussalam etc.

taken from: http://bantulbiz.com

Andhong

Andhong is popular for larger groups and is often hired out for special occasion such as weddings. Slow but sure, andhong is highly enjoyble way to enjoy the peaceful rice-fields and rural views of the area at a leisurely place.

Malioboro

Jl.Malioboro where the main shopping street that through the heart of the city from the railway station at one to the Sultan Palace at the other. Bisides the area containing many losmen and small hotels, it is full of shops, restaurant and services offering great bargains for the visitor. At night, the stails along the street selling souvenirs and small items, roll up and the evenning lesehan begins.

Merapi Tracking

The enchantment of merapi has actually challenging adventure. Merapi tracking tourism promises addvebture spirit fulfilled. Walking onto the save route, it only takes 4-5 hours for trackers to channel his advebture soul in exploring the slope and volley, and going along lava route of Mount Merapi up to the top to have an amazing panorama of daybreak.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta Special Province is one of the most popular tourist destinations, wich located in the midle of South part of Java island,and has a life and long culture history. As a tropical area, Yogyakarta has two seasons; they are tropical,which is going on october to april. And integrated geographical condition is amazing arrangements. Natural Mountains ranges and beaches spreading out evently in this region make every one interested to visit.