Friday, August 28, 2009

BERINGHARJO, THE COMPLETE TRADITIONAL MARKET IN YOGYAKARTA


Beringharjo market became a part of Malioboro love to give. How not, this market is the center of economic activity in hundreds of years and its existence has philosophical meaning. The market has restored many times it represents a stage of human life that are still struggling with the economic needs. Furthermore Beringharjo also one of the pillars "Catur Tunggal '(consisting of the palace, North Square, the Palace and the market Beringharjo), which represents the economic function.

Market Area Beringharjo originally a forest of Banyan. Shortly after the establishment of the Kingdom Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, precisely in 1758, this market where economic transactions by the people of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas. Hundreds of years later, in 1925, before the economic transaction has a permanent building. The name "Beringharjo 'itself is given by Hamengkubuwono IX, means the original area of the Banyan Tree (Bering) expected welfare (Harjo give). Now, the tourist market interpreted this as a fun shopping.

The front and rear of the building west of the market is a great place to pamper your tongue with a Hawker market. In the northern front, can be found Brem around with a softer texture than Madison and krasikan Brem (such lunkhead rice flour, sugar, Java, and the destruction of sesame). In the south can be found bakpia green beans usually sold still warm and moist as cake and hung nagasari kWe. While the back generally sell snacks sustainable Ting-Ting as a caramel made of mixed nuts.

If you want to buy batik, Beringharjo is the best place for a complete collection of batik. Started batik cloth and ready made garments, raw cotton, silk, and the price of tens of thousands to nearly one million available in this market. Collection of batik cloth found on market stall to the north western part. Although the collection of batik clothes are almost everywhere in the western markets. Besides batik clothing, western clothing market stall offers Surjan, headscarf, and weaving and batik sarong. Sandals and bags are sold at low prices can be found around the western part of the escalator market.

Walking to the second floor of the eastern part of the market, do not be surprised if jejamuan smell. It was a sales center Javanese herbal ingredients and spices. Materials are sold as herbal medicine turmeric is used for making acid turmeric and ginger are used to make a famous bitter herb. Ginger spices are offered (usually treated with a round of drinks or simply burnt, boiled and mixed with rock sugar) and wood (used to enrich the flavor of beverages such as wedang ginger, coffee, tea, sometimes used as a substitute for cocoa powder the cappuccino).

This market is also a great place to hunt for antiques. Antique sales centers located on the 3rd floor of the eastern markets. Instead you find an old typewriter, a helmet in the 60 years that the front has a mica limited to the nose and so on. On the same floor, you can hunt for good quality second hand goods, if you want. Various types of imported used goods such as shoes, bags, even clothes are sold at a price much cheaper than the original price with good quality still. Naturally, care in choosing.

Satisfied with the inside of the market, it was time for the area to explore the market to offer no less interesting. Market Lor area formerly known as China Town Village is the most famous region. You can find oldies tapes of musicians in the 50 years that are rarely found in other places with the most expensive price of Rp 50,000.00. There are also crafts metal statue of Buddha in various positions for Rp 250,000.00. Collector old money, this place also sells old currency from various countries, even the use of the 30's.

If thirsty, drink ice cendol of Yogyakarta is a significant choice. Ice cendol Yogyakarta has a richer flavor than ice cendol Banjarnegara and Bandung. It contained not only cendol, but cam cau (type of gelatin made from the leaf cam CAU) and the white cendol made from rice flour. Other beverages available young coconut ice cream with sugar, syrup and herbs such as Javanese turmeric and tamarind rice kencur. Drink prices were not expensive, only about Rp. 1000 to Rp. 2000.

Although the official market closes at 17:00 hours, but the dynamics of the dealers do not stop at that hour. The front of the market still offers a unique variety of snacks. Martabak with different content, a legit bright moon and nuts mixed with chocolate and sugar content klepon delicious Javanese can buy every afternoon. At about 18:00 until after midnight, there is usually at the front gudeg sellers market and offers a variety oseng kikil-oseng. During dinner, you can listen to the Javanese traditional music played or spoke with the seller who usually greeted with the familiar.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

BOROBUDUR, THE LARGEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THE 9th CENTURY


Candi Borobudur Who does not know? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in the complex. Millions of people desire to visit the buildings in the World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architectural and functional, as a place of worship, Borobudur is attractive.

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of the ancient Mataram Kingdom, Sailendra offspring. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian name Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship which was completed May 26, 824, nearly one hundred years since the first days was built. The name of Borobudur, according to some people means a mountain with terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high places.

Borobudur-shaped building consists of 10 levels ‘punden berundak”. 42 meter height before they renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as a drag. Six lowest level and square in the upper three floors and a circular highest level of Buddhist stupa directed to the west. Each level represents the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who wants the level of the Buddha must go through to reach each of these life stages.

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes the man still bound by lust. Four levels above Rupadhatu represents people who have set themselves free from lust, but still tied to appearance and shape. At these levels, a statue of Buddha placed in the open space. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupa placed in the eye called Arupadhatu, symbolizes the man who is freed from lust, appearance, and shape. The upper part is Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha lives.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels show how agile. Relief that is read by consistently as you walk clockwise direction (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). The relief panels tell the legendary story of the Ramayana. In addition, there are relief panels describing the state of society at that time. For example, reducing the activity of the farmers resulting from the progress of the farming system and reduce the sailing time to the advance of the cruise was centered in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect the teachings of the Buddha. Hence this temple serves as feeding the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES invites you to walk through each narrow passage in Borobudur to the philosophy of Buddhism to understand. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century was a visit to the temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

With all the beauty and mystery, it is natural that many people from all enter the world penjru Borobudur as a place to visit in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, Karanganyar Wanurejo like to see people and craft. You can also go to the top Watu Kendil the panoramic view from the top of Borobudur. Wait what? Do not worry about earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected.