The Beauty of The Island of Komodo

The Beauty of The Island of Komodo

Komodo Island is located in the province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The island was a place to live animals dragons. Natural scenery on the island is very beautiful. No wonder that the island is frequently visited by tourists.

The tourists, both local and foreign, frequent visits to the island of Komodo. Especially for tourists who are fond of adventure in the open. Reportedly, there were about 2,800 tourists visiting from early 2008 to June 2008. Most of them come from abroad. Among others from the USA, Germany, Netherlands, France, Britain, Australia, and Russia. The natural beauty of the island of Komodo is reflected in a beautiful forest conditions. Including mangrove forests. Mangroves be one of the features of Komodo Island. Why is that? Because it still looks green forest despite the dry season arrives.

Natural scenic beauty of the island of Komodo, also seen in the coastal areas and the sea. Sea water conditions in the waters of Komodo Island, clear. The beauty of life at sea is equally fascinated with panoramic land. Well, for the preservation of the island is maintained, the Government of Indonesia makes it a national park. Opening is performed in 1980. The name of the national park is the Kruger National Park (KNP). To note, in addition to the island of Komodo, TNK region also includes the island of Rinca and Padar. The total area of approximately 1817 square kilometers KNP. This national park serves to protect the environment and their dragons animals. In 1986, TNK inaugurated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Seven Wonders of the World TNK candidate elected as one of the candidates "Seven Natural Wonders of the World Themed". This decision was made by the New7Wonders Foundation, in August 2008.

Parties New7Wonders Foundation has worked closely with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia. Both agreed to introduce the KNP to the general public. Especially in the delivery of TNK as a potential "Seven Natural Wonders of the World Themed". According to the plan, the final preliminary activities that take place in early 2009. KOMODO ISLAND Komodo National Park or the Komodo island is located between the province of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara include three large islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, and several smaller islands with an area of 603 km² land area and the total area is 1817 km². Administratively, this area is located in the District of Komodo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

National Parks are designated as forest conservation area by the forestry minister with wide 132 572 ha is initially formed with the aim of preserving the species of dragons or giant lizard unique and rare Komodo Island is an island located in Nusa Tenggara islands. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for native animals dragons.

The island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government. Komodo Island is located east of the island of Sumbawa, which are separated by Sape Strait. Administratively, the island including the District of Komodo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Komodo Island is the westernmost tip of East Nusa Tenggara province, bordering the province of West Nusa Tenggara. The presence of Komodo National Park which is one of the popular vote nominees competition "New 7 Wonder" is now quite inviting appeal. The controversy that accompanied the event would have absolutely no effect on intensive efforts to continue to preserve the park in 1986 by UNESCO as a world heritage site. On the island of Komodo dragons animals live and breed well. Until August 2009, on the island there are about 1300 individuals dragons. Coupled with the other islands, such as the island of Rinca and Gili Motang, their numbers totaled about 2500 tails. There are also around 100 individuals dragons in Wae Wuul Nature Reserve on the mainland island of Flores but not including the Komodo National Park. Besides Komodo, this island also store a variety of exotic flora Sepang wood by local people used as medicine and dye clothes, nitak tree Sterculia oblongata in believe are useful as drug and tasty and good seeds like peas.

Komodo known by the scientific name of the species of Varanus is the largest lizard in the world who live on the island of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Gili Dasami in Nusa Tenggara. By the locals, dragons often called Ora. Including family members Varanidae lizards, and klad Toxicofera, dragons are the largest lizards in the world, with an average length of 2-3 m. Large size is associated with symptoms of island gigantism, the tendency for body meraksasanya certain animals that live on a small island linked to the absence of carnivorous mammals on the island where dragons live, and metabolic rate are small dragons. Because of his body, lizards occupying a top predator that dominates the ecosystem in which they live. Komodo 1910. Her body was found in a great and terrible reputation make them popular zoo. Dragons in the wild habitat has shrunk and therefore IUCN incorporate dragons as a species vulnerable to extinction. Lizard They are protected under Indonesian law and a national park was established to protect them. Actually appeal KNP not solely by the mere presence of Komodo. As I quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Forestry, which manages the site's Komodo National Park, panoramic underwater views of the savannah and the attraction of potential supporters.

Photo of Komodo Islan

Bahal Temple: Treading the footsteps of Wajrayana Buddhism in Sumatra

Bahal Temple

Here traces of Buddhism in North Sumatra province, located in Padang Lawas District, about 400 km from the city of Medan. This temple is also called Temple Portibi and estimated contemporaneous with the Temple Barelang in Riau the XII century. Its location in the Bahal template, Padang Bolak, Padanglawas, North Sumatra or approximately 3 hours drive from Mulberry.

This temple was founded by King Rajendra Cola who became King Tamil Hindu Shiva, in South India and is estimated to have thousands of years old. Portibi kingdom is a kingdom that is unique in terms of its name is Portibi. Portibi in Batak language means the world or earth. Other experts call this temple is associated with the presence of Pannai as the area was conquered by the Kingdom.

The researchers revealed that the temple in the village Bahal are three of the 26 temples scattered ruins of 1,500 km² in area of Padang Lawas, South Tapanuli. Because of its location in the middle of a very vast rice fields, locals often call Bahal temple complex with the temple name Padang Lawas or 'temple in the desert Iuas'. Bahal temple complex consists of three temples, each about 500 meters apart. A few kilometers from the temple there is also a complex temple Pulo.

Bahal temple called biaro by the community is the largest temple complex in the province of North Sumatra, because of its area surrounding the temple complex of Bahal I, Bahal Bahal II and III. The entire temple complex of buildings in the third made of red brick, except statues made of hard rock. Each temple complex is surrounded by a fence and a thickness of about 1 m are also made of red brick. On the east side there is a gate that juts out and flanked on either side by a wall height of about 60 cm. Bahal temple stands on the banks of the river Batang Pane. Of the various theories that developed, the possibility of ever becoming Pane Batang river trade traffic. It is estimated that once the forest upstream able to provide adequate water supply. However, now debits small, shallow, and impossible to be a means of transportation.

The main building Bahal temple I is the largest compared to the main building Bahal temple II and III. The main building consists of arrangement mat, legs, body and roof of the temple. Placemat berdenah temple square base measuring approximately 7 m² with a height of about 180 cm. In each of the main building there is a temple complex located in the middle of the page with the right facing the entrance gate.

Some experts are already doing important research in Bahal temple, among others, Franz Junghun (1846), Von Rosenberg (1854), Kerkhoff (1887), Stein Callenfels (1920 and 1925), De Haan (1926), Chrome (1923), and FM Schinitger known meritorious reveal the history of archeology in Sumatra.

German archaeologist F.M. Schinitger 1935 researching this temple by Tamil-speaking Tanjore inscriptions and made by King Coladewa of South India in 1030. This king conquered Pannai refer note I-Tsing. Schinitger conclude this temple associated with the flow of Vajrayana Buddhism different with Buddhism now. This is characterized by violent look at a statue of a giant faced with creepy faces. Similarly, reliefs on temple walls depicting giant dancing with dance tandawa. Characteristics violent, cruel, and tend to close the sadistic rituals. This is supported by the information of some writing on a gold plate or stone found.

In Bahal II temple ruins found the statue of Heruka, the only kind of similar statues in Indonesia. Depiction very sadistic with a giant pile of skulls and dancing on top of the bodies. Bambang Budi Utomo, a researcher at the National Archaeological Research Center wrote in Kompas, Friday, September 23, 2005, "The right hand (the giant) raised upward while holding vajra while the left hand is in front of the chest while holding a bowl of human cranium".

In Vajrayana Buddhism there Tantric ceremonies are portrayed as sadistic acts which can not be separated from the corpse and liquor. There is also a ceremony conducted Bhairawa above ksetra, the field where the bodies pile up before it burned. In this place they are meditating, dancing, predicting spells, burning corpses, blood drinking, and laughing as he pulled out a snort like a buffalo. Goal is to be rich, long life, strong, invulnerable, can disappear, and heal the sick. To be more powerful, they repeatedly chanting the name of Buddha or Bodhisattva. It is believed the Vajrayana in Padang Lawas to create a feeling of calm or get back on the power of miracles born god who was worshiped (reincarnation).

Now the grass meets the temple area and unfortunately poorly maintained temple. Temple surrounded by grassland vast, barren, and is often used for grazing livestock. As a shade plant, usually plants balakka used herders for shelter from the sun. Although the building is still good, but the walls of the temple are made of red bricks are filled with graffiti.

Although a historical tourist area, not visible rows of stalls selling food or souvenirs in the vicinity. Surrounding communities, know enshrinement complex but every day could be said no visitors. It is understandable because public transport to the temple complex is relatively rare and time-consuming.

Bahal temple itself is officially used as a tourist attraction by the government. This place is only busy at certain times such as holidays, Eid, or New Year. The crowd is a village communities around Padang Bolak and Barumun. The road to the temple last condition is muddy and not well maintained.

Photo of Bahal Template

Traditional Stone Jumping People of Nias

Traditional Stone Jumping People of Nias

Since the age of 7 years, the boy on the island of Nias practicing skipping rope kept rising proportion as their age increases. When the time comes, they will jump over piles of rocks shaped like a truncated prism as high as 2 meters. It also became a graduated courage and maturity to them as descendants of Nias fighters.

Tradition skip rocks on the island of Nias, North Sumatra or referred to as a stone or Fahombo Hombo has been going on for centuries. This tradition of sustainable joint megalith culture in the island area of 5,625 km² which is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and has a population of 700,000 it.

Fahombo tradition passed down termurun in each family from father to son. However, not all youth Nias able to do it even though it was practiced from childhood. Nias people believe that in addition to exercise, there is a magical element of ancestral spirits which one can jump over the stone perfectly.

Skip rocks on the island of Nias was originally a tradition born out of the habit of the tribes fight between villages on the island of Nias. Nias people have a hard and strong character inherited from the culture war fighter. Formerly the tribes on this island are often at war provoked by resentment, land border, or the issue of slavery. Each village then fortify the area with stone or bamboo as high as 2 meters. Therefore, traditional stone jumping was born and performed as a preparation for war.

At that time, the villages on the island of Nias, which led the nobles of strata Balugu will determine the suitability of a man Nias become warriors for battle. In addition to have a strong physique, master martial arts and sciences black, they also must be able to jump over a 2 meter high tiered stone without touching the surface at all as a final test.

Now traditional stone jumping is not for the preparation of tribal war or inter-village but as a cultural symbol of the rituals and Nias. Nias youth to successfully perform this tradition will be considered an adult and mature physically so that they can get married. Sometimes people who managed to do this tradition will also be considered to be a defender of his village in the event of a conflict.

Things to rock Hombo not only provide for a young man Nias pride but also for their families. Families whose children have succeeded in Hombo stone will have a party with a few head of cattle slaughtered.

You can enjoy this amazing attraction at several places on the island of Nias, as in the village of Bawo Mataluo (Hill of the Sun) or in the village Bawomataluo, South Nias regency. When visited Nias Island do not miss also to observe the splendor of its cultural heritage megalithic statues heritage, traditional houses, and of course surfing (surfing) or dive