Japan: summer festival in Aomori City

Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture is the northernmost prefectural capital city on Honshu, Japan's main island. This port town used to be the main departure point to Hokkaido via ferry; and, although it remains the main port for car ferries, the opening of the Seikan Undersea Railway Tunnel and the advent of cheap flights have reduced ridership and many travelers now bypass the city altogether. Today Aomori is best known for its spectacular Nebuta Matsuri summer festival.

In Aomori, you can see:

•    Nebuta Festival. Aug 2-7. Said to be Japan's biggest fire festival. This festival includes an abundance of street vendors. Each day culminates in a huge parade featuring lit up lantern floats and costumed dancers.  

•    Nebutanosato. This museum houses exhibits about the Nebuta if you're unable to make it during festival season.  

•    Aomori Bay Bridge. This bridge spans a short harbor inlet that could easily be walked around in five minutes, so it appears to be basically an excuse for public funding as a tourist attraction.  

•    Aspam Center. A large triangular building that can be easily spotted from the train station or the bridge, this is the tourism center for all of Aomori prefecture.

•    Asamushi Onsen. A hot springs resort on Mutsu bay with a rather large number of inns.  

•    Yotei-maru Ferry. The ferry which connected Hokkaido and Aomori prior to the building of the Seikan Submarine Tunnel, is now a somewhat run down museum, a short walk from the train station. The rear part of the deck of the ferry serves as a beer garden on summer nights.  

Nebuta Festival

 

Nebuta Festival

Nebutanosato

Aomori Bay Bridge

Aspam Center

Asamushi Onsen

Yotei-maru Ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guide info: www.japan-guide.com/e/e3750.html

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Minangkabau, the World's Largest Matrilineal Society

minangkabau

The Minangkabau ethnic group (also known as Minang) is indigenous to the highlands of West Sumatra, in Indonesia. The Minangkabau are strongly Islamic, but also follow their ethnic traditions, or adat. The Minangkabau adat was derived from animist beliefs before the arrival of Islam, and remnants of animist beliefs still exist even among some practicing Muslims. The present relationship between Islam and adat is described in the saying "tradition [adat] founded upon Islamic law, Islamic law founded upon the Qur'an" (adat basandi syara', syara' basandi Kitabullah). 


The Minangs are the world's largest matrilineal society, in which properties such as land and houses are inherited through female lineage. Some scholars argue that this might have caused the diaspora (Minangkabau, "merantau") of Minangkabau males throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia to become scholars or to seek fortune as merchants. As early as the age of 7, boys traditionally leave their homes and live in a surau (a prayer house & community centre) to learn religious and cultural (adat) teachings. This tradition has created Minang communities in many Indonesian cities and towns, which nevertheless are still tied closely to their homeland; a state in Malaysia named Negeri Sembilan is heavily influenced by Minang culture.
The first female minister was a Minang scholar.

In addition to being renowned as merchants, the Minangs have also produced some of Indonesia's most influential poets, writers, statesmen, scholars, and religious scholars. Today both natural and cultural tourism have become considerable economic activities in West Sumatra.

Traditional Minangkabau music includes saluang jo dendang which consists of singing to the accompaniment of a saluang bamboo flute, and talempong gong-chime music. Dances include the tari piring (plate dance), tari payung (umbrella dance) and tari indang. Demonstrations of the silat martial art are performed. Pidato adat are ceremonial orations performed at formal occasions.

Saluang

Randai is a folk theater tradition which incorporates music, singing, dance, drama and the silat martial art. Randai is usually performed for traditional ceremonies and festivals, and complex stories may span a number of nights. Randai performances are a synthesis of alternating martial arts dances, songs, and acted scenes. 








Rumah gadang ('big house') - or more correctly rumah bagonjong - are the traditional homes (Indonesian: rumah adat) of the Minangkabau. The architecture, construction, internal and external decoration, and the functions of the house reflect the culture and values of the Minangkabau. A rumah gadang serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial activities. With the Minangkabau society being matrilineal, the rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live there - ownership is passed from mother to daughter.

Rumah Gadang

The houses have dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. Shuttered windows are built into walls incised with profuse painted floral carvings. The term rumah gadang usually refers to the larger communal homes, however, smaller single residences share many of its architectural elements.







Animism has been an important component of Minangkabau culture. Even after the penetration of Islam into Minangkabau society in the 16th century, animistic beliefs were not extinguished. In this belief system, people were said to have two souls, a real soul and a soul which can disappear called the semangat. All Minangkabau customs allegedly in conflict with the Koran were to be abolished. Although the Padri were eventually defeated by the Dutch, during this period the relationship between adat and religion was reformulated. Previously adat was said to be based upon appropriateness and propriety, but this was changed so adat was more strongly based upon Islamic precepts.

The Minang's adat and their Islam religion each help the other and thus form "a hedge against the decline of either", as follows: "The passion the Minangkabau pour into religion and adat " on the one hand strengthens adat which then limits "the destructive consequences of Western capitalism" and on the other hand guards their religion "against falling lockstep into a simplistic anti-Western Islamism."
With the Minangkabau highlands being the heartland of their culture, and with Islam likely entering the region from coast it is said that ‘custom descended, religion ascended’ (adat manurun, syarak mandaki).

Randai

Tari Payuang (Umbrella Dance)

Rumah Gadang

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Japan: Japanese countryside, Nikko

Nikkō is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikkō National Park and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,181.

The post-merger city of Nikkō covers a large area (1,449.87 km²) of rural northwestern Tochigi. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behind Takayama and Hamamatsu.
Lake Chūzenji and the Kegon Falls lie in Nikkō, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has also been used for mining copper, aluminum and concrete.

The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of Hokkaidō even though it is much closer to Tokyo than Hokkaidō. The elevation of Nikkō plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikkō is around 7°C (44°F) with the warmest months reaching only about 22°C (72°F) and the coldest reaching down to about -8°C (17°F).

Nikko experiences a humid continental and hemiboreal climate with cold, snowy winters and predominantly mild, very wet summers. Nikko is situated at an altitude of 1298m above sea level.

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Indonesia: Night in Yogyakarta City

Yogyakarta city name may no longer sound familiar to fans tour the streets, in Indonesia the city became the second tourist destination after Bali for foreign and domestic tourists. Various epithets aimed at this particular area, ranging from the cultural city, university town, city to city gudeg batik. Not to mention writing a variety of Jogjakarta, among others, Ngayogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta, Djogjakarta, or Jogja make this city unique impression.
In addition to cultural heritage, Yogyakarta has beautiful natural panorama. Sites or objects of cultural heritage relics of the past widely spread in the region of Yogyakarta. The city is never dead, day or night Jogja still presenting the beauty for everyone. 

-Malioboro 

When the night, Malioboro more alive. Malioboro, which in Sanskrit means "bouquet" became the basis of naming the street. Malioboro is a one-way streets are flanked by hotels, shops, markets, and restaurants. Every night, at roadside stalls filled with typical lesehan Jogja with bright lights. On the patio stores and souvenir sellers teradapat many souvenirs of Jogja at bargain prices. Variety of goods ranging from local handicrafts, batik, silver and trinkets sold in shops along the corridor.

 

-Kilometer Zero Zone 

Regions zero kilometers is the end of Malioboro street, naming the 'zero kilometer' because this place is the center of the start of counting kilometer in Yogyakarta. Various historical buildings in the region, among others, St. Francis Xavier Church, Bank Indonesia (the former building of De Javasche Bank), General Post Office Building, Bank BNI 46, a former building Matschcappij Nill, Building Societeit de Vereeneging, the Great House as a Keraton presidency during a visit to Yogyakarta, Ngejaman (Stads bell-shaped), and Margo Mulyo Church is banguan Dutch heritage that still functioned until now.
In addition to historic bangunah, as night zero kilometer area became the center of the community and tourists. In one corner there is a monument General Offensive March attack that is often used for exhibitions, festivals, and concerts at night. Zero kilometer area also became a public space to communities in Yogyakarta, call it music community, Bike community, as well as community artists often spent the night in the region.
The arrangement of lights and parks also enhance this area, as well as a variety of foods of Jogja is easily found at night when the tourists indulge tongue. 



-Angkringan 

Angkringan derived from the Javanese language, which means sit back angkring. Angkringan usually a pushcart that sells a variety of cat food such as rice, quail egg satay, fried, wedang ginger, and so on. Angkringan is an egalitarian place for visitors to vary from various walks of life. Starting from the artists, humanists, students, families, an office employee all blend into one. They all enjoy a night on the famous place to chat while eating late into the night.

-Masangin 

If a visit to the cultural center of Keraton Yogyakarta, visitors will pass through an area large enough that a court of the Keraton, called the Alun-alun. Keraton itself flanked by two Alun-alun, the first Alun-alun north and south of the Alun-alun. In Mawlid, when nighttime plaza north enlivened by the night market which is a folk festival market. In this place also often a big music event held at night. 




-Tugu Jogja 

One symbol that is quite famous in Tugu Jogja Jogja is a handsome old building still standing in downtown. This monument is located at the intersection of Jalan P. meeting Mangkubumi on the south side, Jalan PM Sangaji on the north side, Jalan Sudirman in the east, and P Diponegoro Street on the west. 15-meter-high monument was unveiled on October 3, 1889 or 7 Sapar Java Year 1819. The building of this cone is the imaginary axis that connects the South Coast, Kraton Yogyakarta and Mount Merapi.
The building history is a favorite visitor at night, late at night, many tourists who visit the monument was to take pictures. At night, Tugu Jogja is the main attraction for the travelers as the exotic beauty of the lights in the middle order is captivating. 

other picture:

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Dayak, the Native People of Borneo

Traditionally, Dayak agriculture was based on swidden rice cultivation. Agricultural Land in this sense was used and defined primarily in terms of hill rice farming, ladang (garden), and hutan (forest). Dayaks organised their labour in terms of traditionally based land holding groups which determined who owned rights to land and how it was to be used. The main dependence on subsistence and mid-scale agriculture by the Dayak has made this group active in this industry. The modern day rise in large scale monocrop plantations such as palm oil and bananas, proposed for vast swathes of Dayak land held under customary rights, titles and claims in Indonesia, threaten the local political landscape in various regions in Borneo.

Further problems continue to arise in part due to the shaping of the modern Malaysian and Indonesian nation-states on post-colonial political systems and laws on land tenure. The conflict between the state and the Dayak natives on land laws and native customary rights will continue as long as the colonial model on land tenure is used against local customary law. Underlying the world-view is an account of the creation and re-creation of this middle-earth where the Dayak dwell, arising out of a cosmic battle in the beginning of time between a primal couple, a male and female bird/dragon (serpent). Representations of this primal couple are amongst the most pervasivel motifs of Dayak art. The primal mythic conflict ended in a mutual, procreative murder, from the body parts of which the present universe arose stage by stage. The practice of Kaharingan differs from group to group, but shamans, specialists in ecstatic flight to other spheres, are central to Dayak religion, and serve to bring together the various realms of Heaven (Upper-world) and earth, and even Under-world, for example healing the sick by retrieving their souls which are journeying on their way to the Upper-world land of the dead, accompanying and protecting the soul of a dead person on the way to their proper place in the Upper-world, presiding over annual renewal and agricultural regeneration festivals, etc.Religious differences between Muslim and Christian natives of Borneo has led, at various times, to communal tensions.Muslim Dayaks have however retained their original identity and kept various customary practices consistent with their religion.

An example of common identity, over and above religious belief, is the Melanau group. A few practise a distinct Dayak form of Kaharingan, known as Liko. Liko is the earliest surviving form of religious belief for the Melanau, predating the arrival of Islam and Christianity to Sarawak. Social cohesion amongst the Melanau, despite religious differences, is markedly tight.


Despite the destruction of pagan religions in Europe by Christians, most of the people who try to conserve the Dayak's religion are missionaries. For example Reverend William Howell who has contributed to the Sarawak National Gazette. His contributions were also compiled in the book The Sea Dayaks and Other Races of Sarawak.


Kinship in Dayak society is traced in both lines. Although, in Dayak Iban society, men and women possess equal rights in status and property ownership, political office has strictly been the occupation of the traditional Iban Patriarch. The most salient feature of Dayak social organisation is the practice of Longhouse domicile. The Iban of the Kapuas and Sarawak have organized their Longhouse settlements in response to their migratory patterns. Iban Longhouses vary in size, from those slightly over 100 metres in length to large settlements over 500 metres in length. Longhouses have a door and apartment for every family living in the longhouse. Dayak headhunters

Headhunting was an important part of Dayak culture, in particular to the Iban and Kenyah. External interference by the reign of the Brooke Rajahs in Sarawak and the Dutch in Kalimantan Borneo curtailed and limited this tradition. Apart from massed raids, the practice of headhunting was then limited to individual retaliation attacks or the result of chance encounters. Early Brooke Government reports describe Dayak Iban and Kenyah War parties with captured enemy heads. At various times, there have been massive coordinated raids in the interior, and throughout coastal Borneo, directed by the Raj during Brooke's reign in Sarawak. Metal-working is elaborately developed in making mandaus (machetes - 'parang' in Indonesian ).

The combination of these three factors (short, cutting edge up and protrusion) makes for an extremely fast drawing-action. There are various terms to describe different types of Dayak blades.

Dayaks in Indonesia and Malaysia have figured prominently in the politics of these countries. Organised Dayak political representation in the Indonesian State first appeared during the Dutch Administration, in the form of the Dayak Unity Party (Parti Persatuan Dayak) in the 30s and 40s. Feudal Sultanates of Kutai, Banjar and Pontianak figured prominently prior to the rise of the Dutch Colonial rule.


Political circumstances aside, the Dayaks in the Indonesian side actively organised under various associations beginning with the Sarekat Dayak established in 1919, to the Parti Dayak in the 40s, and to the present day, where Dayaks occupy key positions in government.


In Sarawak, Dayak political activism had its roots in the SNAP (Sarawak National Party) and Pesaka during post independence construction in the 1960s. Under Indonesia's transmigration programme, settlers from densely-populated Java and Madura were encouraged to settle in the Indonesian provinces of Borneo. In 2001 the Indonesian government ended the gradual Javanese settlement of Indonesian Borneo that began under Dutch rule in 1905.

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Indonesia: Raja Ampat.

 Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's West Papua province, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau. Raja Ampat is new regency which separated from Sorong regency at 2004.[1] It encompasses more than 40,000 km² of land and sea, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia. It is a part of the newly named West Papua (province) of Indonesia which was formerly Irian Jaya. The islands are the most northern pieces of land in the Australian continent.

According to Conservation International, marine surveys suggest that the marine life diversity in the Raja Ampat area is the highest recorded on Earth.[2] Diversity is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the Coral Triangle composed of Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, making Raja Ampat quite possibly the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world.

The area's massive coral colonies along with relatively high sea surface temperatures, also suggest that its reefs may be relatively resistant to threats like coral bleaching and coral disease, which now jeopardize the survival of other coral ecosystems around the world. The Raja Ampat islands are remote and relatively undisturbed by humans.

The high marine diversity in Raja Ampat is strongly influenced by its position between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as coral and fish larvae are more easily shared between the two oceans. Raja Ampat's coral diversity, resilience, and role as a source for larval dispersal make it a global priority for marine protection.

1,309 fish species, 537 coral species (a remarkable 96% of all scleractinia recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands), and 699 mollusk species, the variety of marine life is staggering. [3] Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs.

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Nepal: Muktinath Temple.

Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa is a holy place for both Buddhists and Hindus at 3750 meters (12,300 feet) at the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas of Nepal. To know more about the background of Muktinath, you can have a look at the picture gallery or browse through the "Muktinath" menu item above. The information on this page is based on the feedback of visitors to this web site; our own experience and information we get from the local people we have contact with.

It is a great example of how two religions can share the same holy spot with mutual respect and support.

In Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa all the elements are represented, not only earth, air and holy water, but also fire. Beside trees are growing at an unusual altitude. For this and reasons unseen yogis from both religions do their meditation at Muktinath.

for details please visit: www.muktinath.org

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