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Borobudur temple

The list of the Seven Wonders of the World has changed many times over the years, and often Borobudur has been included. UNESCO added the monument to its list of World Heritage Sites in 1991, and has been of great influence in restoring the monument to its former glory.

Borobudur temple is built to represent many layers of Buddhist theory. From a birds eye view, the temple is in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala. A mandala is central to a great deal of Buddhist and Hindu art, the basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four entry points, and a circular centre point. Working from the exterior to the interior, three zones of consciousness are represented, with the central sphere representing unconsciousness or Nirvana.

More about Borobudur click here

Rujak Cingur is east javanese food

Rujak Cingur is a vegetables salad with spicy sauce. There is none of Surabaya or East Javanese people that are not fond of this dish. As the name, rujak, it is a vegetable and fruit dish with sauce. On the other hand it is a one-dish meal. It consiststempe or tempeh, tofu, beef cingur. Cingur is a cow’s nose. For the sauce, it is enriched with peanuts, chili, tamrind, water, pisangbatu (unripe/green cooked banana), and petis. Petis is another East Javanese special ingredient. It’s made from shrimp, fish or clam. It has dark glossy color with strong smell .

This food has become the unique taste of Surabaya. The flavour is really unique, because it combines of slices of cooked buffalo or beef lips, yam bean (bengkuang), young raw mango, pineapple, cucumber, bean sprout, kangkung ( water convolvulus), lontong (compressed rice), fried tofu and tempe, all served with black sauce made from fried garlic, chillies, a slice of young banana, petis (black fermented shrimp paste) and ground peanuts.

Eruption of Bromo mountain

Bromo mountain is located in Tengger, in East Java. It is one of the most famous and most beautiful volcanoes in Indonesia. Standing at a height of 2392 meters, Mount Bromo isn’t the tallest mountain in Java. That title goes to 3676 meter tall Mount Semeru, located to the south of Mount Bromo and within sight. Also called Mahameru, meaning “great mountain”, Mount Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia constantly belching steam from its peak.

Mount Bromo is one of two volcanoes that were created following a massive eruption which created an enormous caldera in which are the active Mount Bromo and the non-active Mount Batok.The caldera has seen been filled with grey sands, and is called Laut Pasir or Sand Sea. Trekkers walk through this expanse on their way to Mount Bromo.

The major access point is Cemoro Lawang at the northeastern edge of the caldera, but there are also trails from Tosari (northwest) and Ngadas (southwest). The village of Ngadisari, on the road from Probolinggo about 5.5 km before Cemoro Lawang, marks the entrance to the national park. Both Cemoro Lawang and Ngadisari are rather picturesque, with brightly-painted houses and flower beds outside. The nearest airport to Mount Bromo is Surabaya, about 3 hours away by bus. Most visitors to Mount Bromo access it from Cemoro Lawang, at the foot of the mountain.

How to go there ?
From Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport, take the Damri shuttle bus to the Bungurasih Bus Terminal. From there, take the Patas air-conditioned bus to Probolinggo. At Probolinggo, it is another one hour to Ngadisari, a town about 6km northeast of Mount Bromo and the base camp for Mount Bromo trips. Another base camp is Cemoro Lawang, about half an hour from Ngadisari. The foot of Mount Bromo is a 3-km hike from Cemoro Lawang.

Shadow plays of Wayang Kulit

In Java, Wayang Kulit plays are performed in villages and towns on public holidays, religious festivals, weddings, birth celebrations and the traditional muslim event of the transition from childhood to teenage. In Bali, they are also staged at cremations.

The dalang manipulates the Wayang (puppets), sings and taps out signals to the orchestra. He also speaks the parts for all characters; he must be able to render the shy sweetness in the voice of a princess, the spiteful whine of a lackey and the righteous but controlled anger of a noble hero.

Not everyone can be a dalang. A Dalang is a most extraordinary man. First of all, he is a public entertainer. To amuse a great number of people is not an easy matter. He must be physically strong and healthy, otherwise he would not be able to stand the strain. Just imagine, he is seated cross-legged for nine successive hours. He cannot even have a wink of sleep. He cannot get up from his seat until six o'clock the next morning. He also has to strike the kechrek (rattle) with his right foot almost incessantly. He handles the puppets with both hands, imitates their different voices, tell jokes at the right times, and even sings every now and then. In addition, he controls the musicians without anyone among the audience ever noticing it.

The Dalang lifts the chempala (rod) with his left hand and simultaneously we hear the soulful and haunting sound of the rebab (two string violin). Now every one is listening. The Dalang quickly glances up at the lamp above his head, and after removing the 'gunungan', the mountain, from the center of the stage, he then begins.

Now every one is listening. The Dalang quickly glances up at the lamp above his head, and after removing the 'gunungan', the mountain, from the center of the stage, he then begins.

Reog-Ponorogo

Reog is a traditional dance that become the main identity for Ponorogo regency.
Because of this, Ponorogo is also known as Reog city.
This theatre has been known wide in Indonesian even foreign tourists.

Reog National Festival is held every years along the anniversary of Ponorogo regency and Grebeg Suro celebration.
Reog dance is also staged full moon nightly in paseban, Ponorogo Town Square.

Reog told about the struggle for a prince who will propose to a lovely pretty princess .
This dance is staged about 25 - 40 dancers and the musician.
The interesting of Reog is his main leading figure named Singo Barong.

The dancer of Singo Barong bear the mask about 30 - 40 kg weight and supported by the strength of their teeth.
The other leading figure in Reog include Kelono Sewandono, Bujang Anom, Jatil and Warok.
The visitors can enjoy this traditional dance only in Ponorogo, East Java - Indonesia. The only area that has REOG dance is Ponorogo, not in other country.