An Evening Breeze on Grabag Station

The Grabag Station building and its railway yard, currently isnt functioned anymore after the Semarang-Jogjakarta track was officially closed on 1984. Currently the building used as Junior High School building. Its visible that the pillars as the parts of shelters on the platforms had been demoslished.

The Ruang Kepala , I guess before its used
by the Kepala Sekolah (eng: Headmaster)
previously its used by Kepala Stasiun
(eng: Head of Station)

On June, 7th 1864 is becoming the most importante date for the developments of railways in Indonesia.    L.A.J.W Baron Sloet van den Beele, the Gouverneur General on that time, officially break ground in Kemijen, Semarang, marked  beginning of the development of railroad network in Java Island specifically, and in East Indie generally. Thus, its begin the era of railways as the mass transportation for the people in East Indies.

After the track between Semarang and Tanggoeng is finished and its officially opened on August 10^th 1867, there’s several line built to expand the railroad networks. The track itself expanded to Solo and finished on 1870 then to Jogjakarta two years later. Then for the efficiency, because its considered turning too far, its built the track to Jogjakarta from Semarang through the mountainous area in the central Java area, through Kedung Jati-Ambarawa-Magelang-Jogjakarta. Its really-really challenging every engineer on that time, because its really impossible to realize it. Anyway, they make it, and its used the special mountainous track, similar with those in West Sumatera or in Switzerland.  This track itself were officially closed by the government of Indonesia on 1984, due to its already inefficient, the people refers to bus transportation lately. Then the track is abandoned, only track from Tuntang -Ambarawa-Bedono were preserved, for the tourist attraction. The rest of the track? Most of them are stolen, settled or simply demolished.

A railroad bridge, not so far from the station,
heading to Jogjakarta direction.

During my KKN programme, I’ve found the remains of the Semarang-Jogjakarta railways track, there’s Grabag Station. The condition were almost well preserved because now its used by the local government as a Junior High School building. The station designed are easily recognized, there’s not so much additional on the building structure. Here, I felt the power of interactions on that time between the people in countryside with those on the city. On the colonial period, the development of railroad network have its purpose to fulfilling the needs of the people about transportation, also as an efforts to the better economic growth. Along the area which passed by railroad network, the people used this “metal horses” as their daily transport.  Furthermore, in many small station or halte located, the people from the countryside often exploit it as their means to sold their product,  the traders came from the countryside offering their product, dominated by agricultural products, and those from the city are also came with their product, dominated by factory product like clothes, shoes, and so on. The station once  become the important place for the rural and urban people to interact.

Coming into a place like this, sometimes made my mind imagining what happend on that time. Once I closed my eyes and tried to romanticize, the people interaction here, the whistle blowed by the station administrateur , the passenger who waiting for the train for the Semarang or Jogjakarta direction, a rendezvous or a farewell. Several Sado, waiting in the yard of the station, waiting for the passenger to used their service to go home or to the others destionation.  Then I opened my eyes, only a gentle evening breeze passed surround. Alone, quiet and only a sounds from sparrow faintly audible. Ah, if only this building could speak. . .

From the Gas Lighting to the Electric Power

NIGM office in Semarang, situated on Bodjong Street (now Jalan Pemuda)
(source: Het Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen )

Hello World! Long time no see, well almost a weeks ago returned back from my KKN(Kuliah Kerja Nyata) or in English we can simplified it such a “live in” programme, where I've stayed for 35 days in the countryside, mostly belongs to the low-welfare status which face the problem like low education level, poverty, bad administration, and so on. Thus, we have to  implementing what we got on da college to the real society.  In my college, it’s a duty to follow this program, and belongs to one of graduated requirement, whether a lot of college in Indonesia no longer obligate this program. I felt blessed because of my college still preserve this program, because I believe, its gonna be fun, yet really I realize, Its really-really unfogetable experience!  

Sleko Gaswork, on the picure marks wits two large
storage tanks, its also visible the Uitkijk above it.
(source: Het Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen )

Talking about my KKN experience, remind me back about how lack the street light is in the countryside. And its such an irony in the modern era like now, there’s still a dark road which it would endangered the rider, plus! In the countryside most of the road itself are following the contour of its earth surface, so its adding the vulnerability for the rider. Street light are important, even for the centuries, people are pay much attention about how to add the street light so that the rider could passed pleasantly during the night. Start from the light from torch, natural oil lamp, light gas who distributed by pipeline network, and now what we enjoyed as our street light source, that’s from electricity.

According to Wikipedia articles, much far before Thomas Alfa Edison invented the incandescent lamp, in the William Murdoch, a James Watt Company in Soho employee invented the lighting system using the flammability of a gas, made from the coal-gas.  Murdoch's invention creates such a big impact for the society on that time. The first public street lighting with gas was demonstrated in Pall Mall, London on January 28, 1807. In 1812, Parliament granted a charter to the London and Westminster Gas Light and Coke Company, and the first gas company in the world came into being. Less than two years later, on December 31, 1813, the Westminster Bridge was lit by gas! And soon its built the gas network thorugh the street, households, offices, and factories.  As artificial lighting became more common, desire grew for it to become readily available to the public. This was in part because towns became much safer places to travel around after gas lamps were installed in the streets, reducing crime rates. Then the gas lighting era, has just begun.

The Lamplighter lighting a gas street lamp, in Stockholm
(source: commons.wikimedia.org)

In Semarang city itself, I don’t know the exact year, but once on early 19th century, its built the Sleko Gaswork, in the west side of Uitkijk. The people of Semarang depended their electricity from this installation. The Sleko Gas work are using coal as their source then the gas are sitributed through the pipeline network to the whole parts of city, so the remains of this facility are still visible in the old building, just see their electricity installation, most of them are still preserved the iron pipe, but now its no longer using gas but cable. Sleko Gaswork are managed by Nederladsch Indische Gas Matschapij or simply called NIGM, which now are nationalized as PT. Gas Negara. Talking about Gas Lamp, are related to the my prevous post about H. Spiegel building,  the famous importeurs and retail stores as well while one’s of the most popular product is the gas lamp. For the centuries, the brand of Spiegel are becoming quality assurance for the gas lamp product. Now, we could saw it in the antique store, a lot of antique lamp has its brand. There's also an interesting story related the gas light era's there's about the lamplighter. The lamplighter are  an officers hired by the city municipal to light the street lighting in the evening and shut it down on the morning.  Of course we couldnt find any lamp lighter nowadays where the street lighting are in automatic mode, but in several country, they hired again the lamp lighter as tourist attraction. 

The current condition of where the Sleko Gaswork located,
there's nothing left only a sign that stated if the land were
belongs to PT Gas Negara property. 

The glory of gas lamp are start to the end during the 20th century, after the Thomas Alfa Edison invented the incandescent lamp also the DC power. Soon the electric power installation are using cabels as its connector. Its safer than the light gas, which somehow are caused case of fire. In Semarang also, soon after the invention of electicity, the installation are built by the Algemeene Nederlandsche Indische Electriciteit Maatschappij or simply called as ANIEM. The gas installation replaced by the cable installation, and the Sleko Gaswork, changed its function become power plant for the electricity needs. After the Independence, Sleko area, where the Gaswork situated are facing the serious flood problems because of uncontrolled reclamation surround it.  Then its shut down, and now, there's nothing remains marked that previously there's a big gaswork, that the people on this city are really depended on that facility for their daily.      

Enjoying the Holiday through Observed the H.Spiegel Building

H. Spiegel building (left side) visible on a postcard from the Dutch-Indies era (source: Olivier Johannes) 

Happy New Year! Its 2013 already and this holiday, was really a breakthrough for my history passion because of I met a lot of people and saw a lots of chance also supports to preserve the historical asset in Semarang city. One of them is Mas Khrisna, an Architect who works for Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala (eng: Historical Preservation Council) who have an ideas to increase the awareness of Semarang people about the importance of Kota Lama (eng: Old Town) preservation through an event this October. He choosed a building, formerly used by NV Spiegel, to become the site of this event who has a theme Kuno-Kini-Nanti (eng: previous-now-future), such a history exhibition like Pameran Sentiling 1914, but this in the large scale. As His plan to renovate then re-functioned this building, He want to socialize it to the people in Semarang, through this event  the importance of this building and all of the heritage asset in Old Town generally. Thus He need people to support it, and one of them were me and my friends from @lopenSMG. Tuesday, January 2^nd 2013, we were invited by Mas Khrisna to observe the current condition of Spiegel building, then here we go!

The Spiegel Building, front facade.
 taken on 2007

The Spiegel building, still in good contion from the outside, some of its details are remaining visible on its facade. There is a combination of decorative pattern in round shapes and horizontal lines on the facade walls.  The entrance is situated at the corner side of the building, faced directly to the street without any courtyard in front of it, a common building form in Kota Lama. Moving inside to the building, there’s a large hall with four green pillars who functioned as a 2^nd floor buffer. The floor was formed by marble, but the condition were badly damaged because of once its functioned as a workshop for the heavy equipment. Moving to the 2^nd floor, we’ll goonna walk through the wooden staircase which the condition is getting rotten. So as the condition on the 2^nd floor, who formed from teak wood, its also already getting rotten.  Thus mas khrisna iniciate to covers it by plastic sheet, in order to protect it from the raindrop who often come inside the building because of the leaked roof. Next I moved the balcony, and suddenly the scenery of Kota Lama on the evening fascinated me. Then I imagined, how it was on the past? Where Kota lama still as the centre of people activity in Semarang city.

Inside the Spiegel Building, upon the 2nd Floor,
its appears what Mas Khrisna did, with
covered the floor with plastic sheet in order
to protect the wooden floor from the raindrop.

Generally, the building condition are 80%. But to renovate it and brought it as it origin condition , its couldn’t be easy. There’s a lot of recast by its former owner, who functioned it as the workshop. Then another problem like leaked roof, that almost happened in every corner of the building also wooden structure which already rotten. Anyway, there’s nothing that couldn’t be realize if we give our best isn’t? Just like my favourite Javanese quotes from my friends Mas Gatot, “Dalan kui raono nek alase rak dibabat, desa kui raono yen alase ora dibuka, lan kutha kui rak kedaden nek raono desa” (eng: In the Jungle, there will be no way if the bush aren’t cleared away, there’s no village if the timberland aren’t opened, and there’s no town if there’s no village who formed it). Cheers up! The hardwork are heading in the way ;) 

@lopenSMG, History Preservation through Twitter

From the left, Rizky, Fahry, Lovink, Ridho and Me, in front of Thio Sing Liong Mausoleum

The year of 2012 is almost end, and the holiday were spoiled me already this week. The rumours of the doomsday is now become a common jokes, thus the 2012 films for me, now is the biggest HOAX in 2011-2012, LOL. Anyway in this holiday also,  my friends, Ridho, Fahry, and Rizky ask me to do some unordinary activity, revealing the historical sites in Semarang city together, its like heritage trails who Komunitas Historia Indonesia did in Jakarta.What an Initiative! I felt so blessed and so happy, cause this is what I did for so long, mostly alone and now I will got a company. Then I set the date, and decide to realize this on December, 26th, right after christmas.

Inside the mausoleoum, where the Thio Sing Liong and
His 2nd Wife are buried, taken by Rizky Yuniarso.

The destination were undetermined yet. On the morning around 9 pm, we gathered in front of my elementeary school, SDN Sompok, and have a breakfast first on a waroong near there. Suddenly, Lovink, Ridho's classmate coming, and now we're five, and its make the trails more attractive. While breakfast, we discussed where is our destination today, and I offered them to exploring the remains of chinese grave along Sriwijaya street, and they approve it. The first destination were Thio Sing Liong Mausoleum, the grave of Thio Siong Liong together with his wife and relatives, who located near Gedung Wanita, Sriwijaya. Thio Sing Liong, was one's of the tycoon in Semarang city, His business was spice trading. His grave itself were in 100% condition, and this is  the best preserve chinese grave in Sriwijaya, who already demolished on thge 70-80 decades and changed into settlements. We entered inside its mausoleoum and found that this was so luxurious. The Mausoleum was in form of sculpture of Thio Sing Liong and his Wife, and its from marbles. The marbles itself were imported from Genova, Italy. We took several photos, because we found some interesting goods, like His family photos and a bouquet with certification, Societiet Hwa Yoe Hwe Kwan, 15 December 1940.

Then we continued our trails to the former dorms of my father. There's still existed three chinese grave on its backyards. But when we were there, there's nothing left, its already demolished all.As my memories, one's of the grave are in form of turtleback, I never found it yet in everywhere, only there. As I read on wikipedia, the turtleback tombs are common grave form in the coastal area in mainland of china. For me this is a proof that the chinese people who coming to Indonesia are traders, traders are using ship right? And it must be setlled near the coastal area. 

After that, we take a rest also take a lunch. There's an idea delivered by Ridho, to share about what we did through twitter. Since the power of social media are so strong now, we need to utillize it in order to increasing awareness of Semarang people about its the city history. Moreover, through twitter also, its possible to have an interactive interaction, so it'll be more interesting, at least the people itself know about what this city have.So today, I decide to make this account @lopenSMG so for everyone who have twitter account, kindly follow us and share what you know about Semarang city history specifically or Indonesia history generally with #blusukanSMG hastag. Keep tweeting! :)

Religion Tolerance a la Kudus City

Al Aqsa Mosque or people recognize it as Masjid Menara Kudus, in 1940
(source: Tropenmuseum)

Hello World!

Happy Iedul Adha all! Yesterday we celebrated one’s of the holy day of a moslem, the symbol of sacrifice and  togetherness. During Iedul Adha, one things is important, that is qurban (sacrifice) itself, which in the holy Koran, we recognize that phopret Ibrahim (Abraham) had a recurring dream, in which Allah SWT was commanding him to offer his son, Ismail (Ishmael) as a sacrifice. Ibrahim felt so confuse whether he want to obey the God orders, but there’s no father in the world who have his heart to sacrificing his dear son.  But later when Ibrahim asked Ismail about this, Ismail replied, “ Insha Allah (God willingness), you’ll find me to be patient, just do what the Allah asked to you father”. After all Ibrahim realize orders to sacrificing his son, he blindfold his eyes when he cut Ismail throat. When he cut Ishmael's throat and removed the blindfold, he was surprised when found  Ismail was unharmed and and still alive! But he found a dead sheep which was slaughtered. Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out Allah SWT order. Since that day, all the moslem who’ve been capable are have a duty to slaughter a cattle (cow, goat, sheep, camel, ram, buffalo) during Iedul Adha day, then later distributed to the poor people. That’s the origin of Iedul Adha, but I wanna share about the unique tradition in Kudus city, a city to the east of Semarang about this day.

The story teller, Hasan, experted
about the story about early Islam in Java

I got this story from my friends who comin’ from there named Hasan Anwar, he explain me about, why the Kudus people are forbidden to use cow as their qurban? Even not only on that celebration, we almost couldn’t find any soto, kind of Javanese soup, which using cow meat in Kudus, because they changed it with buffalo meat. So, whats the reason behind it?

Hasan, told me that its just because of Sunan Kudus, the pseudonym of Jaffar Shadiq, the early Islam missionary in Java who lived in Kudus, forbid the people to slaughtering cow, in order to respect the Hindu’s people, who at that time are the majority in Java island. One day, he received a cow coming from the merchant from India. The people are so curious when the cow is tethered in front of Sunan Kudus house. The hindu’s people want to know what will Sunan Kudus do, for the holy animal according to their belief. The number of people gathered increasing, both of the Hindu’s and Muslim’s, who want to  prevented, if any trouble happened to the Sunan Kudus. Then Sunan Kudus come out from his house and said, “Brothers and sisters! My beloved people, I’ll not do any danger to this cow, and I beg u not to hurt even slaughter the cow, because in my childhood this animal once saved my life, its nursing me when I was suffering due to really bad thirst. Even in our Koran, there’s a surah (chapter) using the name of this animal, called Al Baqarah (Baqarah: female cow). ”

Then the people are so excited with what the Sunan Kudus said. Its proof them about the high tolerance of moslem people. Even after that a lots of people converted to Islam, and Sunan Kudus according to the folkstale, received a granted, there’s a building from the local religious leader, where later he renovated it and nowadays become what we recognize as Masjid Menara Kudus.  Most of the building carried the Hindu’s architecture, dominated with the red bricks structure. Its always remind me about , the beauty of harmonism.

Well, until now, Kudus people still obeys the Sunan Kudus order not to slaughtering cow. Every Iedul Adha day, there’s no cow is slaughtered, only goat, sheep, and buffalo. Even Hasan’s added, “once there’s a kampong, break the rule, they slaughter the cow and later all of them were ill.” Believe it or not ;)    

Jazz with Javanese Taste, its Ngayogjazz!

Ngayogjazz 2011, Nandoer Jazz-ing Pakarti 

As the November comes, the most awaited jazz performance event, the Ngayogjazz, is finally ready “break the rule” of the common Jazz Festival! Its free and its so Javanese ;). With the tagline of, Dengan ngejazz kita Tingkatkan Swasembada Jazz (through the Jazz, we increased the self-supporting Jazz)  Ngayogjazz 2012 will be held on Sunday,November 18, 2012. This year it’ll be held on Desa Brayut, a village near in the outrkirt of Jogjakarta. Well, it takes me back to the memories of Ngayogjazz 2011 when it  was held in Pasar Kotagede, a traditional market encircled with the local kampong.

Our fellow "Aljabar Band" from Jazzngisoringin community,
one of the raising star in Semarang City nowadays.

Jazz music where always find its spontaneity, being interactive, expressive and friendly, and through the ngayogjazz  all of this aspect is fulfilled. The event itself its free of charge, accommodating the local performer, and has its own characteristic as Jazz in the Javanese land, not those from the west, that’s the main differences. In the Ngayogjazz 2011, I accompanied by my friends Wisda, Bagoes and Ikhsan also with my Russian friends, Sasha, depart from Semarang city on the noon, and arrived in the venues on maghreeb time, around 6 pm. Soon we experienced  the mystical and magical jazz spirit courtesy of Ngayogjazz 2011. A stage in the middle of kampong, a stage in the parking lot of traditional market, it’s a jazz fest but there’s a lot of tradional food seller with their gerobak(cart) on it, really unbelievable where the music that a lot of people see it as the identity of the high class society, then we could see it in the condition like this.

There’s 6 stages on Ngayogjazz 2011, but we choose the Horn Stage, because there’s a Jazzngisoringin, a jazz community from my city, Semarang, that performed. The stage itself situated in the yard inside the kampong, well this is a symbol that bringing jazz into the traditional people is not impossible at all. Feeling thirsty and hungry, we decided to pay a visit to a warung(tavern) a traditional food and beverages. There we meet another mates, mas dimas, mas aji and mas erje. They also coming from Semarang to enjoyed the event. As we take a rest in the kiosk, there’s another stage situated near it, so our conversation are accompanied by chilling jazzy music performed from the stage near us

All of my friends who accompany me enjoying this
Ngayogjazz 2011, thanx for the memories mates! ;)

We close our journey here, in the main stage. Enjoying the closing performance by Djaduk Ferianto, a famous ethnic music artist that also the founder of this event, Idang Rasjidi , the famous jazz pianist,  and Trie Utami, the famous jazz singer. Here we enjoyed the jazz mixed  with javanese traditional music resulting the amazing harmonious music. So guys, the November is  near, just prepare yourself to Ngayogjazz 2012! Its gonna be worthy and unforgettable, for sure ;)

Hotel Bellevue Semarang, A Recommended Place to Stay

Hotel Bellevue in 1948, the front side is no longer like its appears in the photos because now there's a cafe built in front of the hotel (source: sepatoeroesak.nl) 

Visiting Semarang city, everybody needs the comfortable place to stay precisssely. Well, I'll show you the recommended hotel in Semarang that everyone who stay there will not only just rest for a while, but also enjoying the old memories for those who lived in the colonial period, and an old time experience for those who was born after it.

Bellevue Hotel, or now recognized as
Hotel Candi Baru as it appears on 2007

Its, Candi Baru Hotel which provides a mix of original Dutch building with cold and calm atmosphere in the , Candi baru settlement. Its built after the boom of the hotel growth in Semarang, right after the Koloniale Tetoonsteling event, that increasing the number both of business growth and tourism in Semarang. So many new hotel built in the Nieuw Tjandi areas because in the colonial age, this area belongs to outskirt city area. But now its no longer anymore, its already a densely area, then it makes the area is too crowd as the resting place, and  the result? Many hotels are demolished. Thats why, we recognizing there's a kampoong named Candi Losmen, but of course now adays there's no losmen (hostel) anymore existed on that place.

Back to the Candi Baru Hotel, originally has a name as Bellevue Hotel until it changes in the early decades of 60's since Mr.President Soekarno, banned the used of foreign language as his efforts related to nationalism. Built by Van Damen Wars in 1919, and now owned by PT Sido Muncul, one's of the traditional herbal product company, the building is still well preserve and strong enough. Beautiful park scenery and artistic architectural, decorating with the statue of angels make its really attractive to everybody who stay there. The hotel rates itself are varied start from IDR 85,000 to IDR 500,000 per night. Well, for you who wanna coming to Semarang, its recommended to stay here :)

Inside the hotel, the dining hall, still preserved the old atmosphere. Hanging lamp, PC tile floor, chairs, tables, all inside the hall, perfect! (source: official website of Candi Baru Hotel)

There’s Nothing More Fun than Being at The Top

Greeted at the end of the long holiday weekend, it's time to realize a new experience, yap its called Climb a mountain! Yes, I really never felt such pleasure in the highest peak and enjoy the beauty of nature, admiring the creation of the Almighty, the creator of the Universe . Then, it was decided, early April the Easter long weekend, I’ll realized this new experiences.

Then, team assembled, initially there were 15 people planned to participating, but on the D-Day, only 13 people who bravely encourage they self to conquer the peak of Ungaran Mountain. Preparations are made, all gears are prepared, and this time the team was led by my friend who is a Mapala(Mahasiswa Pecinta Alam) members, Arsono Sugiharto. Arsono, managed everything related to the what is need to do and need to prepared of.

Maghreeb time coming over, athan was greet, but we were still not set, the preparation has not been completed yet, we still lack the motornikes, as a vehicle to take us to the Pos Mawar, one of the starting point for climb the Ungaran Mountain. Finally after all is clear, we start the trail struggling with a jammed flow on the main road of Semarang-Jogja highway through the cold night, with one detination Pos Mawar, Tirto Umbul , Bandungan District. Unlucky at the start of the trip, one of his motorbikes tire is leaking, the motorbike is forced to be left in nearby resident house near there. Because of its happened on the middle of the trip, in the middle of woods and its in the nite, pretty dark there, damn it, well, is it a bad sign? Could be, but life must go on right? ;)

At 9.17 pm, we arrived in Pos Mawar and then suddenly we met another group, which is no others they were our own friends, Dani, together with another 4 mens . Yap, we are now consist of 18 people. After lil introduction, filling the data for administrative purposes, then continued to check the gear, and the last one, a little briefing from they who experienced climb the Ungaran Mountain, then yap! The journey begins!

Firstly we walking through the pine forest, and walked slowly towards the west, into the forest and the narrows roads. Very bright the moonlight that nite, and it is wonderful to look east, flickering lights of Semarang, Ungaran, Kendal, and Salatiga City in the distance seems so beautiful. After exploring the pine woods for nearly two and a half hours, we arrived at the coffee plantation, a sign that we have been close to the Dusun Promasan, a transit point before climbing the Ungaran Mountain. Here we separated with Dani and his company, who decided to immediately climb to the top without transit. Finally, at around 11.30 pm, we reached the Promasan, and stayed in the house of one of the resident there. After got our dinner and our Isha prayers, soon we’re asleep, because at exactly in the 3:00 am in the morning we'll have to start to climb, so we could enjoy the sunrise from the peak of Mountain.

The alarms rang! some of my friends who have been awakened, wake the others, this time only nine people who decided to climb. Approximately at 3:45 am, the trail is begin, back through the coffee plantations, and we arrived at the foothill of the Ungaran Mountain. in the middle of the trail, there’s a debate about the climbing lane, about whats supposed to be the right lane, since its still dark so its difficult to see clearly. High shrubs obstruct our view,more high, it’ll find the higher bushes and steeper road. There was visible a flashlight from a distant, it seems from other climbers, we must be on the right track, I though. But then, the flashlight was getting closer to us and finally we also met with them, unfortunately, they said that, this way is a wrong path, they decided to give up because it has been since 03:00 am, tracing this path and a ended with the dead end! We have no choice, we ought to go down again.

Some of team member started to be pessimistic, including me. At the bottom, at the starting point, we take a break, its already 5:31 am, the sun has been rise from the east horizon. Fortunately, we still have a team member who still energic , they encouraged the other, giving spirit that we couldn’t give up, because we already in this place. Then we continue our trail.

The lane still bushes, but this tme is not as many as in the first lane. Through the slippery and steppy lane accompanied by birdsong in the morning, this trail was so great, and of course this atmosphere added spirit to get to the peak, as soon as possible. There is a natural sign that indicates whether we are close to the peak or not, that is a giant rock. When we were passed that giant rock, we felt so happy because it means that the peak is already near. Finally, after going through an extensive savanna, we reached the peak of the Ungaran mountain. Praise and gratitude spoken, and soon the beautiful scenery greet us, in the height of 2050 amsl(above mean sea level) . So its right that, there’s nothing more fun than being at the top.

Diskriminasi Dalam Penataan Kota

Ruang Publik, sesuai definisinya yakni sebuah ruang yang terbuka dan terjangkau aksesibilitasnya setiap waktu, menurut situs wikipedia.org ,dan jika kita mempersepsikan ruang publik adalah gambaran dari jiwa warga kota, maka gambaran itu adalah keterasingan dan diskriminasi. Jelajahilah ruang-ruang publik di kota kita dan rasakanlah sekat-sekat yang akan memerangkap kita dalam kelas-kelas sosial.

Mari telusuri keberadaan ruang-ruang publik di kota kita tercinta, Semarang. Dari yang terdekat dari rumah saya yang berada dibilangan Sendangmulyo, Semarang Timur, masih terbilang lumayan baik karena masih terdapat lapangan-lapangan terbuka, namun yang memprihatinkan adalah semakin sedikit masyarakat menggunakannya untuk beraktifitas. Walhasil hanyalah sebuah tanah lapang yang dipandang para developer sebagai lahan kosong. Kompleks perumahanpun dibangun secara masif, dan telah mendesak gaya hidup menjadi kampung yang egaliter. Bahkan kini muncul konsep kluster, perumahan di dalam perumahan. Artinya penyekatan semakin mengecil. Masyarakat semakin nyaman hidup dalam keterasingan dengan dalih keamanan dan lingkungan pergaulan. Semakin banyak orang tua yang tak mengizinkan anak-anak mereka keluar rumah. Menyebabkan anak menjadi terpenjara. Dunia anak dan mungkin juga orangtuanya menjadi hanya sebatas pagar rumah masing-masing.

Dari ruang rumah yang memenjara, mari kita tengok ke sekolah. Kita tengok tren, sekali lagi di kota kita tercinta, Semarang, yakni semakin maraknya sekolah-sekolah internasional. Jaminan pendidikan yang berbasis internasional, jelas tersedia. Menjadikan anak-anak berwawasan global, itu sudah barang tentu, namun adakah rasa nasionalisme, kearfian lokal dan kepekaan sosial yang dipupuk didalamnya? Saya rasa tidak ada di sekolah yang notabene berbiaya selangit ini. Salah seorang kawan yang adiknya bersekolah di salah satu sekolah internasional terkemuka di Semarang menuturkan bahwa, tidak pernah diajarkan mata pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, dan pelaksanaan upacara bendera pun hanya setahun sekali, tepat saat peringatan kemerdekaan RI, pada tanggal 17 Agustus. Menyedihkan, sungguh.

Setelah sekolah, mari kita beranjak ke tempat yang acap kali menjadi ruang publik masyarakat Semarang, apalagi kalau bukan pusat perbelanjaan atau Mall. Semakin menjamurnya pusat perbelanjaan memang secara makro menjadi indikator pesatnya pertumbuhan ekonomi kota, namun juga menjadi sebuah fenomena, semakin terkotak-kotaknya kehidupan kaum berada dan kaum tidak mampu. Coba anda datangi pusat-pusat perbelanjaan terkemuka di kota ini , saya yakin, tidak akan dijumpai masyarakat dari kalangan menengah kebawah. Ini kan ruang publik baru? Aksesibilitasnya kan mudah? Oh jelas, namun pernahkah anda membayangkan bahwasannya mereka di ruang itu hanyalah sebagai saksi, tanpa bisa menikmati, geliat pertumbuhan ekonomi kota besar? Itulah yang terjadi, lama-lama mereka jenuh dan dengan sendirinya akan menghindari datang ke tempat dimana setiap orang merelakan dirinya untuk dimonopoli oleh brand-brand terkemuka, tanpa ada kemampuan sebagai price maker.

Ulasan di harian Kompas menyebutkan, ketiadaan ruang publik yang menjembatani pertemuan antarkelas sosial menyebabkan masyarakat tumbuh dalam dunia yang menyempit. Mereka hanya bersinggungan dengan dunia dari kelas berbeda melalui dunia maya, seperti melalui film atau tayangan televisi, atau paling banter melalui jendela kaca mobil saat menyaksikan anak-anak yang meminta-minta di lampu merah. Tentu saja, nuansa yang tertangkap akan sangat berbeda.

Mereka melihat kemiskinan dan kekumuhan hanya sebagai sesuatu yang patut dihilangkan, tetapi abai terhadap akar masalah kesenjangan, yaitu minimnya celah transformasi ekonomi dan sosial. Semua ini, bisa jadi, bermuara pada tiadanya ruang publik untuk berinteraksi secara manusiawi dengan sesamanya.

Masyarakat kota Semarang telah lama rindu memiliki pilihan ruang publik yang beragam. Masyarakat rindu memiliki taman Makam Dowo yang kini telah berubah menjadi kawasan perumahan elite dibilangan Siranda. Rindu menikmati panorama Semarang dari kawasan Gombel secara cuma-cuma, melalui taman yang ada disekitaran tugu Tabanas yang kini telah berubah menjadi tempat hiburan yang untuk menikmatinya kita harus merogoh kocek terlebih dahulu. Wahai Bapak Walikota, sungguh kami rindu.

Fight against "Forgetting"

  

Ignoring or just try to forgetting? A words that so many people in this country fight aginst it. Once, also there’s a word “apologizing”, but sometimes, we just forget the meaning of each words, and which one is we used again some problem, are we apologizing? Or just ignoring moreover forgetting? Confusing, yap its confusing enough. Its just when we were in the election, a lot of people just change “their clothes”. From one party to another party, kinda new promises, kinda new hopes, then people easily forget about what he done in the past, about his track record. Finaly, its just such an empty promises where always promising about the prosperity and kinda social welfare, just like in the past.

Its October, 1st, 46 year ago, in Indonesia, an old reign just begins to torn down, with a designated failed coup, the mr.president, Soekarno just being accused of tried to coup his own reign, it not making sense at all, but later people who were in bad economic condition, living with starvation because of embargo, and sick with unended confrontation (with Malaysia) easily agitated with the opinion. They demanding the better condition, and seeking for the new hopes that Soeharto with their company in Army promising. The people start to condemnd their own leader, people start to being anarchy, and demanding Soekarno take into the court. Then the court was held but is just a menthaly terror that so exhausting for the old man like Soekarno that also depressed and often to get illnes. Closed court were chosen rather than public/open court, the objectives is clear, to make all the case still unclear, kept the public condemnd their ex-great leader, the man who take the nation equal to another big country. Most of the people, were just being unpatient to the new hopes of people walfare, that Soeharto brought with. Several years later, the stabilization and economical growth extremely good, but its just because of foreign country aid, like Japan, US, EU, followed by their economic capitals of course, something that Soekarno didn’t like it much.

In the end of his reign, its true that so many people under Soekarno era suffering for the economical disasters. But not so many people that suffers, died, moreover lost because of military suppression. Events like eradication of communist activity, petrus (miterious shooter), tanjung priok massacre, 1998 tragedy, taken lifes thousand of people in this country. Once again, its just let it without any courts. Most of the people try to apologizing, but its true that they apologizing? Or just ignoring or just try to forgetting?

#commemorating 46 years of 30 September Movement, dedicated to my beloved Grandpa

Purworejo, My Childhood City

Van Laar Junction (Tugu PKK). Its named after Van Laar, because of once there's a Hotel near there named
Van Laar 

The cloudy sky this evening make my mind remember about the sky in my childhood city, Purworejo. I was in Purworejo from 1991(whan I was born, hehe) until 1996. But the memories was so strong in my mind, especially whan my mom’s took me to that city last years to accompany her to visiting her friends in SMP Negeri 1 Purworejo, well that junior high school was her past work place. So, I’m gonna tell y’all about the stories of my childhood city.

Purworejo Train Station

The history of Purworejo when I search in wikipedia.org is firstly known as the part of Ancient-Mataram Kingdom based on Kayu Ara Hiwang inscriptions found in the village of Boro Wetan (Subdistrict of Banyuurip), if converted to the Gregorian calendar is dated October 5th, 901 AD, showed that its has been a settlement before that date. Bujangga Manik a Pakuan Kingdom(ancient kingdom in West Java)voyager, on his journey allegedly that he pass through this area on his way home from Bali to Pakuan,. The Journey is at 15^th century.

In the Sultanate of Mataram until the 19th century it is probably better known as Bagelen Well, currently Bagelen even just a subdistrict in the district and it has a big market called pasar bagelen, a famous market on that region. I’m still remember when I was child I’ve a friends who coming from that region.

The Town Square of Purworejo, its could be seen
in the distance the GPIB church, ones of the old
building landmarks in Purworejo

After the Duchy of Bagelen submitted his mastery to the Dutch East Indies by the Sultanate of Yogyakarta (due to the Diponegoro War), the region is merged into the residency of Kedu and become district. The Dutch Government under Van Den Bosch (the Governoor-General) built a new settlement, named Purworejo as a center of government (until now) with the Dutch town planning design engineer, while still taking the elements of Javanese tradition. This new city is a city of military barracks, and a number of Dutch troops from the Gold Coast (now Ghana), West Africa, known as Black Dutch settlements centered here.Its interesting that there were a large settlement of Dutch Negro Corps in Purworejo. The people aways call them as belanda hitam or translate as Black Dutchman. But until now, I cant find the rest of them, maybe they just leave for a long time, but to comemmorating the settlement there was a street named, jalan afrika (eng:africa st) in the region that in the past is become the settlement of this belanda hitam.

Well, the old city must have an old building too. When I’ve my trip there, some old buildings are still well maintained and stylish Indisch used up to now, such as the military complex near Ksatrian (my family past residence), masjid Jami 'Purworejo (dated 1834), housing regent, and the church beside my childhood kindergaten, the GPIB church. My city also become the birthplace of the famous people like, Jan Toorop (Famous Dutch Artist) A.J.G.H. Kostermans (Botanical expert), Johan Hendrik Caspar Kern ( Dutch Linguistic expert), Oerip Soemohardjo (Independence Heroes), and so on. Wish I could be as famous as them. Every javanesse city has its own square in the middle of cities. Also in Purworejo, it has a square, covering an area of 6 hectares, and is reputedly the largest in Java. Well, I really missed my childhood city, so bad.

Bedug Pendowo, finished in 1840 and was the largest bedug
 in Central Java in the past

The Sarsaparilla Lemonade

Hello World!

Before it I'm gonna say, Gong Xi Fat Choi .. for those who celebrate Chinese New Year. Well, on friday, my family and I took a visit to Semawis Market, a night market that situated on Chinese quarter, in the cetral Semarang. Various kinds of Chinese souvenirs are available, and also pork-based foods definitely! Hahaha ... absolutely i cant taste it. I decided to taste the tofu soup to m dinner.

My visit to the market Semawis this time, make me find something, maybe not new for me because I have known for a long time, but I've just never even seen the original shape and taste it. Yap, it was a bottle of lemonade drink called sarsaparilla, which is popular in the 1950's until the 1970's, when the coca-cola started entering the Indonesian market. Sarsaparilla is a type of vitaceae which, is derived from Latin America . If we drink, at first glance is similar to root beer. However, it has unique characteristics, a very strong mint.

This drink is unique, especially for my family, since the lemonade saparilla has enjoyed more than 3 generations, starting from my grandfather, father, and now myself finally start to like this drink, hehe. However, to find it is not easy, as well as I know this beverage just from my father's story, only now I can found it. For those who want to try, please come to Gang Warung(Warung Alley)and find the pempek seller. There available lemonade Saparilla and the price is quite affordable. Enjoy it :)

NB. For u were interested to buy this drink, Please call (+628995910946) or email {info yogifajri91@gmail .com} , we offers u a package for 5 bottle of sarsaparila with price Rp 80.000,- /10$ (excluding shipping fee) for those who outside Indonesia, we'll send it through DHL with additional shipping fee based on the destination of course, enjoy :)

1 Februari 2010: Goes to Bandengan,Jepara!

At Pulau Panjangan, a small island near Bandengan Beach

This was my first trip to Bandengan Beach, Jepara. I really want to go there anyway, because I overheard from my mate that the beach is damn great!So me and my senior high school friends, decided to go there at holiday. Then, here we go!Only two hours drive from Semarang approximately.

Me and my friends take the motorbikes to get there and we passed Pantura highway until Demak and changed into alternatives route by Welahan to get Jepara. The road from Semarang until Demak is in good condition, neither with Demak until Jepara, which in bad condition due to it just an alternatives way. We ought to be careful.

Arrived at the beach, we’re become unpatient to swim. This white sandy beach was so amazing…but unfortunately as usual, as most tourist attraction in this country, this beach also still littered with trash everywhere and its really disturbi this “exotic” beach. Well the waves are not too tight to make the visitor comfortable swimming at the shore, plus a breezy beach wind adding cool ambience.

After a couple of hour we swim and play with the sea sand, we decided to hire a boat to the island, called Panjangan island, its only 70 000 IDR. The Panjangan Island is just an uninhabited isle, according to the helmsman of the boat which I rent, in the middle of the island there is the tomb of one of the holyman of Islam, who spread the Islam in the area of Jepara at 17^th century

Actually if you paid attention, it appears if the Panjangan island, is planned to built a resort. This can be seen from the pier, the ruins of cottages and abandoned paths.Hmm..what a pity!After that 4 hours of happiness, finally we go back to Semarang. But firstly we visited the mosque at “aloon-aloon Jepara” to doing our prayer, and take a lunch at padang resto, yummy!

Well, we’re very exhausted enough on that day, but also feels very glad and so happy.I’ll never forget that days in my lifetime.    

On the motor boat, heading to Pulau Panjangan,
and its only IDR 70.000! Cheap, isnt?

In front of the public bath, provided by the local
setlement of Bandengan Beach