Learning Other Countries through a Culture

by Natalia Neisya (061214071)

Talking about culture is also dealing with different areas, races, and even countries. Culture becomes an interesting topic for discussion because we can learn other cultures from other areas. It will give us new knowledge and help us to realize that culture is an important thing in our life. Then, it brings us to keep and to preserve our culture.

Through this report, the writer will share her knowledge about kind of cultures which have been learned in Extensive Reading II class. There are kind of cultures from Indonesia, Japan, and China.

First, we will discuss about Indonesian culture such as Batik, Traditional Javanese Wedding, and Ngaben Cremation. Second is Chinese New Year Ceremony. The last is Japanese culture, such as Tea Ceremony and Ikebana.

Batik
Now, let us talk about Batik. Batik is a traditional cloth from Indonesia which has special unique motifs such as Kawung, Ceplok, and Parang. Nowadays, it has been growing as a world culture. Many people around the world use Batik for different purpose. Usually people use Batik for clothes, accessories, decorations, etc. Making Batik is not easy. We will pass some process. First, we should prepare the cloth. Choosing cloth for Batik is an important thing, because it will determine the result. Primissima is the best quality of cloth. Then, we should design the cloth. After that, we should apply wax in the design and color the cloth. The last is boiling the cloth to release the wax. Batik has also special treatment to keep the cloth beautiful. We should use Lerak (special soap for Batik cloth) to wash Batik cloth, so it will not wreck the Batik cloth.

Traditional Javanese Wedding Ceremony
Traditional Javanese Wedding becomes one of popular and special ceremonies in Indonesia because of its complex rituals. It is divided into two parts of rituals. First are preparations including Peningsetan, Tarub, Siraman, Ngerik, Midodareni, and Ijab. Second are the main rituals including Panggih, Wijidadi, Kacar Kucur, Dahar klimah, Mertui, and Sungkeman. Javanese Wedding has also special decoration such as Sajen, the Gate from kind of plants, and Kembar Mayang.

Ngaben Cremation
Ngaben Cremation is a traditional ceremony from Bali. It functions as spirit purification. Ngaben Cremation uses some instruments including Banten, Various symbols such as small tower, music instruments, symbol of ancestors, symbol of dead, etc. The steps of rituals are first, bathing and dressing the death body. Second is purifying the death body with holy water. Third is burying the death body at cemetery. Then, the family will conduct Memukur. The last is conducting Ngaben ceremony on another year. Ngaben Cremation becomes a great and expensive ceremony in Bali. Usually, it also becomes a tourism object.

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a special occasion for Chinese people. It is time of reunion and thanksgiving, and family affair. It becomes special occasion because Chinese New Year has a long celebration. Usually, Chinese celebrate this occasion on 15 days. In this celebration, we will find kind of traditional food such as vegetarian dish, fish, chicken, noodle, nian gao, and man tou. Chinese has also special decoration for New Year. They usually use kind of plants and flowers, orange and tangerines, and candy tray. Each item has also special meanings for them. Plants and flowers mean the emblems of reawakening of nature. Orange and tangerines symbolize abundant of happiness, while candy tray symbolize togetherness.

Tea Ceremony
Tea ceremony is a Japanese culture. It has two parts of ceremony. In the first part, people will drink Koicha (very thick tea). Then, in the second part, they will drink Usu-Cha (thinner tea). The host will also serve dinner in this second part. In conducting Tea ceremony, there are some rules followed. First, Corean ware is the only one utensil used in this ceremony. Second, we should use a room as plain as possible. The last, it should be conducted in the afternoon or at 6 p.m.

Ikebana
Ikebana or floral decoration is also special decoration from Japan. It is not just a decoration but it has an important meaning, love of nature. It means that Japanese do Ikebana to express their love of nature. In Japan, not only women do Ikebana, but also men do Ikebana. Ikebana becomes their part of culture, so all of Japanese people should know and learn about Ikebana. There are kind of material used in Ikebana such as living branches, leaves, grasses, blossoms, moss, and fruits. While the equipments used are container, bamboo basket, glass container, and kind of kenzan (gotoku-dome, jakago-dome, kame-dome, etc). Ikebana has also kind of style such as seika/shoka, chabana, momoyama, moribana, adachi, and literati.

In conclusion, learning culture is interesting. Through a culture, we can learn other areas, races, and countries. Every country has different culture. They have different way to express their feeling toward God and nature. Every culture has also its special meaning and its unique thing. Through a culture, we know how to respect other people.


References
Batik, traditional fabric of Indonesia. Expat.or.id: Living in Indonesia, A Site for Expatriates. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.expat.or.id/info/batik.html
Chinese New Year. Educ.uvic.ca: Chinese new year homepage. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
Ikebana. (2010). Ikebanahq.org: Ikebana International – in friendship through flowers. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from http://www.ikebanahq.org/whatis.php
Negoro, Suryo. S. Traditional javanese wedding ceremonies. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from joglosemar web site: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/wedding.html
Ngaben, Bali cremation ceremony. (2006). Balitouring.com: Bali daily. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://www.balitouring.com/bali_articles/ngaben.htm
Quitney, Jeff. (2000). The Tea Ceremony in Japan. Coffee.quickfound.net. (original work published July 17, 1892). Retrieved March 8, 2010, from http://coffee.quickfound.net/japanese_tea_ceremony_1892.html

The Good Values of Indonesian Dances (A view of Indonesia Traditional Dances)

Richard Ferdinand
081214140



A. Introduction
Indonesia, as a developed country, does not only grow because of history but also from its culture. Consisting of many islands from east to west and tribes who live in it, Indonesia has many various cultures. These cultures can be described in several applications. They are songs, ritual activities, ritual ceremonies or dances. They all bring many good values that can control people life. Not only control them, living these values make one tribe or society can life peacefully and harmony (cf. Gluckman, Ron., Blood, Sweat and Cheers, http// Pasola Ceremony Sumba – East Indonesia, mht, 27 February 21010)
This paper wants to pay attention to the several dances of Indonesia people that live in several areas which bring some good values. The purpose is to make people realizing that each dance, actually, brings many good values. Besides that, by showing some good values people aware that there is no reason to start the fight, war or battle in our Loved Indonesia Country. We have same ideas and values in our cultures so that we can keep peace live on us.


B. Content
1. Knowing Background Some Traditional Dances
From my six articles that I have submitted we can see clearly the background of those dances. Those traditional dances have different background. Knowing the background traditional dances is very important because we can know what the values which are delivered. We can see that, for examples in Broom Stick Dance and Battle Rice Cake.
Broom Stick Dance is performed to remember the efforts of Malukus to get their liberation. People of Maluku fight against colonialism thought and colonialism action. It is also called the war dance (cf. Roesda, Broom Dance History Stick Morella, www.google.com, ‘Broom Dance’, 13/02/2010) Meanwhile The Battle Rice Cake is performed to commemorate entering Islam and Hindu in Lombok. This is also called traditional and religious dance. From the delivered intentions, we know that this dance is performed by Muslims and Hindus. We can guess also the meaning that delivered by this dance, which is bring the tolerance and harmonization values. This dance is usually performed to arouse the spirit of work together between Muslims and Hindus. More than it, this dance also conveys human’s will to live side by side peacefully (cf. Nugraha, Panca., The Battle of Rice Cakes, The Jakarta Post, page 22).
There are several traditional dances too that deliver same values to us. They are Pasola Ceremony (in West Sumba), Sang Hyang Dance (in Bali) and The Kabasaran Dance (in North Sulawesi). All of these dances convey some good values that have to be supported by Indonesian people. So, there is no reason to leave behind all the values that are brought by our culture dances. We have to care all our traditional cultures.


2. Knowing The Purposes and Values
Giving purposes are same with giving many meanings and values for one traditional dance. It also means we want to make our life better than before. We bring and deliver these meanings to all people. We deliver that we want to live hand in hand with others by keeping our culture. The spectators can understand the values only by noticing the purposes of one dance. Many traditional dances are performed with one or two purposes. There are some purposes that brought by one dance, for instance independence, freedom or hopping guidance and protecting from God.
These purposes convey to us the will of people at that time. If one tribe in the bad situation, like suffers from disease or disaster, people need protection and guidance from god. So, to get their intention they (one tribe) do one or two ritual ceremonies to raise the god’s generosity to protect them from disease or disaster. They also do some ritual ceremonies to look after their plants, like rice or corn from harvest failed. It deals with one tribe life basic needs and its prosperity.
What I have mentioned above is related to the values of life that deserve to fight. The freedom, independence and protection are the purposes that usually showed by one traditional dance. Those purposes contain some worth values that control people life. Keeping harmonization, keeping togetherness and keeping the union are some values that also offered by one traditional dance. We have to preserve all of our traditional dances so that we still find all the Indonesian people live in their ancestor dreams (the values of traditional ceremonies). Our duty is to make these dreams become true.


3. What Government Should Do?
What government should do today to preserve and develop our traditional dances; it is a nice statement to answer. Protecting our culture is very important to do. It is not only to keep its values but also to keep our traditional dances still exist. In globalization era not only our markets are attacked by abroad product but our cultures are in danger too.
So, we as Indonesian people need to look after our culture from distinction (cf. Sahyang Dance – the dance of spirit., http//www.balivision. com/Article_Resources/Sanghyang, asp). But more than it, our government has to give its hand to guard our culture and its values. For Indonesian people, all these purposes and values that are offered by traditional dances are the way to live harmony. We know when we live in one area we do not only live with same person, religion or culture in purpose but also we live to keep them becoming true. We have to believe all traditional dances bring good values. What we have to do is to make it live.




C. Conclusion
All of our traditional dances are good. They contain our ancestors will. We have to look after it. They, our ancestors, have learned in their ages to make and to produce one well-society. All the dances that created by them delivering their will. So, it is our job, our duty and our task as their grandsons and granddaughters to live it for good.


References…

Nugraha Panca., The Battle of Rice Cakes, The Jakarta Post, Friday, January 22, 2010, page 22.
Roesda., Broom Dance History Stick Morella. Retrieved February 13, 2010, from www. google.com, “Broom Dance”.
Gluckman., Blood, Sweat and Cheers. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http// spears fly and blood flows at Sumba Supertitious Pasola Festival.
Sahyang Dance – the dance of spirit. Retrieved March 02, 2010, from http//www.balivision. com/Article_Resources/Sanghyang,asp.
Wenas, Jessy /translation: Roderick C. Wahr., The Kabasaran Dance. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from http//www. The Minahasa – Social Structure – The Kabasaran Dance, mht, about Cakalele, Kumoyak and Lalay’an.
Ita Yulianto, Vissia., Is Celeberating Kartini’s Daya still Relevant Today?, The Jakarta Post, Wednesday, April 21, 2010, page 6.

Japanese Culture, A Living Treasure

As years pass by and people changed throughout years, our past leaves some legacies. It left histories of what people have done in the past, and one of the valuable legacies of mankind that draws man’s desire of the aesthetic of life and things is art. While people created such amazing things, such as economy, politic, cooking and style of living through art, unconsciously they built their culture. An amazing thing that would be one of the signs of the existing of mankind is a culture. A culture will remain to live throughout years. Japanese, a country that have old culture that still live today, where everyone is creating a new culture, a global culture, is one of the world living treasures.

Japanese culture is a living treasure as it does live in every part of Japanese’s life and activity. Japanese culture is old but at the same time it is new. The old things are still living, and yet these are mixing in harmony with so many new cultures. Although they are mixing one each other, the origin of the old cultures are not vanished. Uniquely, the old cultures of Japan are strongly standing as the dominant culture. One of the most popular old cultures is a Japanese traditional clothes, Kimono and Hakama. As Kimono and Hakama are the old culture of Japan, they still have legacies from the past, the beauty and uniqueness of materials, patterns and styles. These legacies are still living and making these clothes are surprisingly very popular, expensive and admired by Japanese. Japanese is the society that is proud with their culture and keeps using these traditional clothes today. Even though the old time has changed, the admiration and the appreciation to these clothes, these legacies are not faded

A culture is an art of living that relates so many things as a spider relates its yarns into one unity. Japanese culture is also the same; it has its yarns to relate the old culture into one unity, the Japanese culture. The relation is surprisingly beautiful and sacred. One of yarns is a traditional clothes. Japanese traditional clothes are worn in dancing, ceremony and these are mixed with a new style of fashion, Lolita. In dancing, Japanese wear their traditional clothes as the sign of their legacy from the past that have high level of art’s aesthetic. While in ceremony, it can be seen in Ocha no you (tea ceremony) a ceremony that require people who is attending to wear kimono or hakama. They have to wear it because they attend an event to relax themselves while admiring the art of making tea. This is a special occasion where not every Japanese can enjoy everyday. Another yarn is fashion that now has developed into a new creative style, Lolita. Lolita is Japanese subculture that creatively remakes Japanese traditional clothes into a new cute style. Lolita style has mixed kimono, hakama and Japanese uniform to be more popular in youth style. Japanese people are creating a new way to make their culture become more popular and live. They keep the spirit of keeping and being proud to their living treasure and continue it into actions. If they have not kept and took actions and just leave it behind, their culture will not live throughout years, it will soon be extinct.

Japanese culture also has something that is also priceless to be notice, their cuisines. As it has told before, Japanese culture is old but new. Japanese cuisines are also old things but also new because these have the old techniques, old manners, but yet, Japanese cuisines have new faces and taste. They make cuisines based on the manners that have continuously been inherited by their ancestors. However, they make the cuisine with traditional manners but the taste and the appearance is not that old. They have made it tastier and shaped the cuisine to be more interesting to see. They appreciate their traditional culture and make it as a base of everything they want to make.

Finally, it is clear that Japanese culture is a living treasure. It does live in every part of Japanese’s life and activity. The big yarn of Japanese culture is the art itself that has related everything in Japanese culture into one beautiful unity as a spider has sewed its pattern and when the spider has finished its web, it will show its true shape that connects one each other, in this context is a Japanese culture web. This web not only connects and keeps the culture alive but also continues the legacies to be a part of Japanese life. Japanese culture is an old thing that still lives hidden in Japanese’s life, ceremonies, fashions, traditional clothes, dances and cuisines. These are priceless treasures to be kept alive.

The last thing to remember is that culture is an art of mankind that needs to be kept and inherited to the next generation. If people do not love and keep their legacies, they will lose their past. They will have no mirror to look back and learn form the past’s failures. Their past cannot live and yet it will die and be forgotten. Then, let’s learn from Japanese that let their culture lives and tells their histories. They are making the next generation to be better mankind who admit and proud to their culture, so that they can face the global culture with a pair of strong feet to stand.

Yosephine N.U
081214038

Tales of Superheroes

By : Christian Adi B.Alexander (081214054)

I believe that everyone already know what superhero is. If not let me try explain what superhero is to you. In simple way, we can say that superhero is a person who has a superpower which can be used to save other people. So with that definition we can learn that not all people who have superpower ability is superheroes. The most important is that they can utilize their uncommon power to help other people. That way they can be called as superheroes. But do you think superheroes are real? We only know superheroes story mostly from television right? In fact, superheroes are just fiction figures. But they are created to represent the good side of humanity.

If we talk about superhero, do we have question like why we like superheroes? Why do we idolize them? They are just unreal figure. If it is just story, everybody can write and tell anything about this superhero, right? Every author of the superheroes series’ should realize that their creations could change the life of many people. It is not a secret anymore that even an adult person still idolizes a fictional figure like these superheroes thing. The story of superhero films must be created very carefully. An author should bring the story as real as possible.

In this modern era, there are so many films about superheroes. Two of the big countries which always produced these superheroes series are America and Japan. Both country with the company inside always try to serve the great film another and another. And we can say that those two countries are successfully present their superhero stories. Each of films in those two countries has their own superiority and weakness. Some of the superheroes series that come from America are Spiderman and Power Ranger Series. While superheroes series that come from Japan are Kamen Rider Series, Ultraman Series, and unexpectedly Doraemon.

First, let’s see the series from America. What’s so great of superheroes in superpower country like America? America is a country full of entertainment. It is not easy to establish something there to get famous, including the superhero series’. But slowly but sure, the American people begin to look for a new method of entertainment. At first, superheroes series’ aren’t very popular like now. The flow changed in the beginning of 90s when Power Ranger, the adaptation of Japan’s Super Sentai first aired in America. Even though it is just an adaptation, the rating of Power Ranger especially the first season was very high. Many people praised the story, where others think that this adaptation is even better than the original. Because of so many positives critic and review from audiences, right now Power Ranger still aired in America and it never lose its fans. The success of Power Ranger triggered the other superheroes series. One of them is Spiderman. Who don’t know about Spiderman in this modern era? This is considered as one of the most successful superheroes series all time. In early 2000s, the first movie of Spiderman came out. What is the result? Like we already know, with its great story, the character-protagonist and antagonist, and special effect, Spiderman has become a must-watched movie. And even the next two sequels also became great movies.

Second, let’s see from the Japanese superheroes series’. Who would think that Japanese will be the birthplace of superheroes series? The company of this country has produced so many successful series throughout the world. Started with the Ultraman series in 70s era, now so many film like Ultraman can be found. And Ultraman series still got a high rating in audience heart. Even though the stories of each Ultraman series are similar, people still love this film. And in the beginning of 80s, Kamen Rider series popped out. Right now, Kamen Rider has become very famous. There are so many action figures using Kamen Rider as the theme. People not only praised the story, but also how the author could create such a wonderful character in Kamen Rider series. And is there anyone who doesn’t know about Doraemon? You must be joking if you don’t know about this cartoon figure in this modern era. Doraemon, a manga created by Fujiko F. Fujio, may look like a cartoon comedy. But actually this is also a superhero series. We must understand once more that superheroes are figures that used their superpower to help other people. And it matches Doraemon, right? Doraemon helped his friend by using super-high technologic devices. Even though he isn’t battle against evil, he is still considered as a superhero. Therefore, because of it great success in so many decades, Doraemon has become Japan first “anime ambassador”.

Do you now understand how great superheroes are? They are already fan favorite. The story about them fight the evil bring good morals to many people who watch them in the television. Even though they aren’t real, they made themselves acknowledge by the audience. Yes, we can learn so much about them. So don’t be hesitated to watch this superheroes series’. Watch and find the positive things in this genre of film.

The Visual Kei Culture in Indonesia

by: Rosa Wuri Amurti (081214049)

Recently, the term of Visual Kei has been well developed among the Japanese culture fans in Indonesia. As the time goes by, this unique term gains more and more fans. However, what actually is Visual Kei? What makes it so attractive especially for Indonesian people? How does it develop in Indonesia? And how do people react toward Indonesian Visual Kei fans? So, I wrote this article to further discuss about it.

According to jrockrae.wordpress.com, Visual Kei, or Visual style, is “one of Japanese music subcultures where we can hear pop-like songs alongside the hard metal tunes”. What is interesting from this unique music subculture is that it also sells style: a style of androgynous beautiful men who dress like girls that might seem weird for most people. Visual Kei, which has many different types: Visual Kei, Angura Kei, Oshare Kei, Eroguro Kei, etc; has been developing throughout the world. It has been gaining more and more fans in America, Europe, and Asia, especially in Indonesia.

Since 2005, Visual Kei has become a trend in Indonesia followed by the birth of several Visual kei fans communities that do Visual Kei cosplay, and also some local bands that cover Visual Kei bands’ songs that we can find in every Japanese Culture Festival all over Indonesia. For example, in Yogyakarta, there is a community named Shimatta which members are Visual Kei fans. This community always holds a gathering every Sunday afternoon at UPT UGM to share the latest info they have about visual kei and also latest music released. Some of the members also form visual kei bands like D n C, Watershield, and the AgonY which are very famous among Japanese culture fans in Jogjakarta.

Just like the fans in other countries, Visual Kei brings a huge influence to Indonesian fans. Visual Kei fans in Indonesia tend to be very unique. They are very multitalented and creative. Most of Visual Kei fans are not just fans who will freakily shout at the television when they see their idol or hope that they will meet their idols and get their signatures. I can guarantee that most of them are good musicians, good writers, and good illustrators.

In Indonesia, fan-boys or otaku1 tend to be musicians; who also dress beautifully like girls. We can find at least ten visual kei bands in big cities like Jakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Jogjakarta, etc. They cover bands like L’Arc en Ciel, the GazettE, Dir en grey, Deluhi, etc. Moreover, as you know, Jrocks and Elven previously are bands that cover L’Arc en Ciel, a famous visual kei band in Japan, and now, they have achieved great success in Indonesian music industry with their visual kei influence. Let’s just wait who will next bring Visual Kei influence in Indonesian music industry.

Some fan-girls or fujoushi2 are also musicians. They usually become vocalists of visual kei band. However, most of them tend to be artists; either writers or illustrators. We can find their good writing on the internet (especially in livejournal.com) as a form of English or Indonesian fan-fiction, stories in which their favorite Visual Kei artists become the characters. We can also find their good drawing of Visual Kei artists on deviantart or other websites. However, if you hate gayness, don’t you dare to browse their works because most of their works contain male and male relationship. “I write yaoi3 fan-fictions because I don’t want to see my idols going out with girls. I prefer them being gay than seeing them with girls.” Akichuu, one of famous Indonesian fan-fiction writers said.

Despite its fast development, Visual Kei still becomes a minority in Indonesia. It is because common people’s point of view that considers Visual Kei appearance is weird. Besides Japanese language is not really as common as English, most of the music is not too easy listening for Indonesian people who are more accustomed to pop music. The style of Visual Kei artists is also not common for Indonesian people that think that beautiful men who dress like girls must be gays, drag-queens, or other bad stereotypes. As time goes by, such insult becomes nothing but a minor sting for Indonesian Visual Kei fans.

As we have seen, nowadays, many people dress like Visual Kei artists. We can even find them in public places like mall or even campus, because Visual Kei somehow has already become a part of their lives. Some people may think that they are weird, gay, deviant, and strange. However they are not like what most people think. They have a principal that they think is right. So, as good Indonesian people, we should appreciate and accept them the way they are.

1 otaku : male fans

2 fujyoshi : female fans

3 yaoi : boy and boy’s love

References:

Anonimous. Japanese music in america. Jrock & the Visual Kei 2.0. Retrieved February 2, 2010, from http://jrockrae.wordpress.com/about

The Heritage of Java Island

People have already known about a beautiful island of Indonesia, called Java. I can guarantee that everybody knows how to get there but I am not really sure that everybody knows the heritage of this island. In this opportunity, I’m going to tell you some reasons about why java is really awesome and rich of culture.

The first thing is about the way how people enjoy their life in Java Island. They believe that as a human being, they have to nrimo, eling, and margawe. Those three things are the positive beliefs that always accompany people’s attitude and behavior. Because of those beliefs, people can enjoy their life; they can get the happiness from everybody around them. People live happily in this island although they come from so many different things. The different characteristic and also the different of their religions do not really matter for people who live in Java. They always remember that everything comes from God. God gives people a special gift that has to be kept and also has to be shared to others. Because of that belief, they can live together in the different environments, cultures, and traditions. People in Java always appreciate others. In this island, women are highly-appreciated. Women have an important role in the daily life as a mother and a beautiful figure.

The second thing is about the tradition. Almost all events that happen in Java Island have their own traditions. In this opportunity, I would like to tell you about the Javanese traditional wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony in Java Island is really unique and sacred. All events are full of meaning, rituals, and symbols. Javanese have to follow all of the sacred rituals if they will hold a marriage. The married couple will wear traditional clothes that are full of accessories. Each accessory symbolizes a sacred meaning that will unconsciously influence the married couple’s life.

The heritage inside Java Island not only comes from people, tradition, or their way of life. Nature also becomes the heritage of this island. Java Island is known as a fertile island. Everything can be planted in the land of Java, especially herbal plant. Java is rich of herbal plants. People usually use this kind of plants to create a healthy drink. It is called Jamu. This drink is very popular in Java. This is not only because jamu is the symbol of the natural heritage but also because the benefit of drinking jamu. Javanese accustomed to consume jamu as a medicine that can solve their health problem. They believe that this drink is better than chemical medicine at the drugstore. They believe that jamu has no side effect, easy to be got, and has an affordable price.

The third and the most interesting thing that makes this island beautiful is art. There is popular art product in this island that is called batik. Batik is a kind of traditional cloth that is directly made by people. All about batik are full of philosophical meaning. The process of making batik shows the patience of Javanese because it takes a long time to finish a piece of batik cloth. The pattern of this cloth also has a wonderful meaning. Batik maker can tell a really nice story like Ramayana Story by seeing a piece of batik cloth. Batik is not only in a form of cloth. There are bags, shirts, blouses, and so many handicrafts that are made from batik cloth.

Many things make Java Island becomes really awesome. The heritage of Javanese culture is amazed by a lot of people. Foreigner also loves this culture. The heritage of Javanese is highly-appreciated by people in the world. As a Javanese, you have to proud of your culture. In Yogyakarta, the existence of the Javanese culture is kept in a beautiful museum, named Ullen Sentalu. This is a recommended place to start knowing about Javanese culture and all about Java. You can visit this beautiful place to have a good understanding and also to enrich your knowledge about Javanese culture.

Please love your culture and keep the existence of your culture…..!!

By : Aurelia Anindita

PBI - 081214045