Soeharto, The Smiling General

Soeharto was the second President of Indonesia, having held the office for 32 years from 1967 following Sukarno's removal until his resignation in 1998.

Soeharto was born in a small village near Yogyakarta in 8 June 1921, during the Dutch colonial era. His Javanese peasant parents divorced not long after his birth, and he was passed between foster parents for much of his childhood. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, Suharto served in Japanese-organised Indonesian security forces.

Indonesia's independence struggle saw him joining the newly formed Indonesian army. Soeharto rose to the rank of Major General following Indonesian independence. An attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was countered by Soeharto-led troops and was blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party.The army subsequently led an anti-communist purge, and Suharto wrested power from Indonesia's founding president, Sukarno.

He was appointed acting president in 1967 and President the following year. Support for Soeharto's presidency eroded following the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis. He was forced to resign from the presidency in May 1998 and he died in 2008.

He was known as the smiling general. This is because at every moment, he is always smiling to the public. Nobody knows for sure why he was always smiling to the public, which surely it is his trademark.

http://en.wikipedia.org/

The Story of Fisherman in a Polluted River

Ciliwung River is known to be one of the most polluted rivers in Jakarta, despite being a lifeline for many poverty-stricken people. Overflowing with garbage and human waste, it has continued to be a painful reminder of how rapid urbanization caused severe environmental degradation in the country. Nevertheless, it remains to be the source of income for fishermen like Namin, who takes a two-hour commmute ride from his house in Ceger, Cikarang.

Previously, he worked in the market when he was 18 for two years. When he was 20, Namin left due to the lack of funds. namin began to earn money from catching ikan sapu sapu (sucker mouth fish). He started to fish since the beginning of 204 untill now. Namin use a net that's throw into the water yo catch the fish and wait while hope to get the fish. For the equipment, he used to borrow from his friend that charged a rental fee.But them, he learned how to make his own fishing equipment, and if the net was broken, i'll made a new net.

In one day, Namin can catch 5-6 kilograms of fish (1$ per kilos), so he can get 6$ per day (60.000 rupias).Usually, he sell the fish to a trader in Cikarang. This money is used to provide food for his wife and child. Despite health concerns it raises, he continues to keep fishing simply because of one reason: to provide food for his family.

Reference : The Jakarta Post

Top 10 Most Populous Cities in Indonesia

As the fourth country in the world who have the highest population, Indonesia has many densely populated cities. From national census data, there are 10 cities in Indonesia are categorized as top 10 most populous cities of Indonesia, there are :

1. Jakarta (8.792 million)
Special Capital Region of Jakarta (DKI Jakarta, Jakarta Raya) is the capital city of Indonesia. width is about 740 km ², and its population numbered 8.792 million inhabitants. jakarta city is also one of most populous cities in the World

2. Surabaya (3,282,156)
Surabaya is the capital city of East Java province, Indonesia. Surabaya is Indonesia's second largest city after Jakarta. Metropolis with a population of about 3 million inhabitants, Surabaya was the business center, commerce, industry and education in eastern Indonesia. surabaya city area is 374.36 km2

3. Bandung (2,771,138)
Bandung is the capital city of West Java province. The city was anciently known as Parijs van Java (Dutch) or "Paris of Java". Because it is located in the highlands, Bandung was known as the place where the cool air. Bandung Area is 16 767 hectares.

4. Medan (2,036,018)
Medan city is the capital of North Sumatra province, Indonesia. Medan is the gate of the western part of Indonesia. Medan also become the most populous cities in Sumatra island. Medan city has an area of 26 510 hectares.

5. Bekasi (1,940,308)
Bekasi is a city in West Java province, Indonesia. The city is located in east Jakarta, adjacent to the west of Jakarta, Bekasi district in the north and east, south of Bogor, Depok and southwest. Bekasi is one of the city besides the buffer Jakarta Tangerang, Bogor and Depok, as well as the residence of commuters who work in Jakarta. Bekasi City consists of 12 districts, divided again over 56 villages. Area 210.49 km2 bekasi city.

6. Tanggerang (1,488,666)
Tangerang City is located in Banten Province, Indonesia, just west of the city, and surrounded by the Tangerang District in the south, west, and east. Tangerang is the largest and most important city in Banten province and the country's second largest urban area after the Greater Jakarta. Tangerang City Area 164.54 km2.

7. Semarang (1,352,869)
Semarang is the capital city of Central Java Province, Indonesia. Semarang is one of the city led by the mayor. The city is located about 466 km east of Jakarta, or 312 km west of Surabaya. Semarang is bordered by Java Sea to the north, Demak district in the east, south of Semarang Regency, and Regency of Kendal in the west. Semarang city Area 225.17 km ².

8. Depok (1,339,263)
Depok City, is a city in West Java province, Indonesia. The town is located just south of Jakarta, that between the Jakarta-Bogor. Depok City consists of six districts, which are divided into 63 wards. 200.29km2.

9. Palembang (1,323,169)
Palembang City is one of the major cities in Indonesia as well as the capital of South Sumatra province. Palembang is the second largest city in Sumatra after Medan. This city had once been the center of the Sriwijaya Kingdom and later moved to Jambi. Siguntang hill, in Palembang West, until now many people are still sacred and regarded as a former center of purity in the past. Size 102.47km2 palembang city.

10. Makassar (1,168,258)
The city of Makassar (formerly level II status of the municipal area; from 1971 until 1999 officially known as Ujungpandang or Ujung Pandang) is a municipality and also the capital of South Sulawesi province. on the southwest coast of Sulawesi island, facing the Makassar Strait. Makassar is known to have a beautiful beach namely Losari. Makassar City Area 128.12 km ².

The Town that Surrounded by Five Mountains

Magelang is just a small town that located in the central Java.but magelnag is the unique town. magelang is Town that Surrounded by five mountains. there are Mount Merapi, Merbabu, Sumbing, Telomoyo, and Menoreh. it would not be surprised if Magelang become one of coolest city in Indonesia.

1. Merapi

2. Merbabu


3. Menoreh


4. Sumbing


5. Telomoyo

Three mountain are located in eastern of Magelang,there are Merapi, Merbabu, and Menoreh. while two others are in the western and southern of Magelang. Because magelang is surrounded by five mountains, so magelang has a fertile land that support to built agricultural business.

Magelang also known as the Town that has many tourism object. Not only Borobudur temple, Magelang also have many nature tourism such as waterfall, pool, hills, and the mountains. So if you going to Indonesia, do not forget to visit Magelang, it just 30 kilometres from Yogyakarta.

Phinisi, Indonesian Famous Traditional Ship

Indonesia is one of the largest maritime countries in the world. it would not be surprised if Indonesia has a lot of maritime cultural heritage. One of the most important maritime heritage of Indonesia is Phinisi. Phinisi is the most famous traditional boat from Indonesia. even pictures of this ship had drawn in one of the Indonesian paper money.

Phinisi boat is a traditional sailing boat from Indonesia, which originated from the Bugis and Makassar in South Sulawesi Tribe. These ships generally have two main masts and seven-screen, three front end, two in front and two behind. This ship is usually used for inter-islands transport of goods. Other information was an aircraft that uses this type of display screen schooner with two poles with seven strands of the screen that has a meaning that the ancestors of the Indonesian nation able to navigate the seven great oceans of the world.

Phinisi has been used in Indonesia since several centuries ago. Historically, this ship was first created by a royal prince named Sawerigading Luwu, Sariwegading trying to make a sailing boat that big and strong to be used to sail the South China Sea in order to apply for china princess. According to the story, on his return to the archipelago, the ship was buffeted by big waves and make this ship split into three parts. Bugis society then combine the three parts of the ship and then the ship was named Phinisi

Price of a Phinisi can reach hundreds of million rupiah. This is because almost all parts of the ship made of wood and the production process also requires a lot of ceremonies once there is a company ritual.Bahkan ship Caribbean origin who bought this Phinisi ship up to 3 billion rupiah.

http://sekedar-tahu.blogspot.com/2010/03/perahu-phinisi-kebanggaan-bangsa.html

How to Built Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is one of human construction that can survive till thousands of years. Temple borobudur's shape is similar to the pyramids, but borobudur divided into 6 levels. Borobudur Temple is a Buddhist temple was built around the 8th century. be approximately 1200 years old already.

Borobudur temple is made of thousands of stone composition. But many experts are surprised by borobudur temple. how could a stone structure survived until thousands of years. The Secret of borobudur temple's construction remains unsolved until now. But according to residents around the temple of Borobudur, The structure borobudur temple's stone can survive till thousands of years because the structure of stones at the temple of borobudur is glued to each other only by using chicken eggs.

In fact, borobudur temple's structure was built with locking technique. so this technique called lock and key techniques. the principle of this technique is to shape the stones like a jigsaw puzzle.
Try to see the picture below !

Lock and key techniques

Although the fact says that this temple was built with lock and key techniques, but the public still believe that the eggs are still used to build the temple borobudur. But the public perception may be right. Because recent studies show that chicken egg contains a very strong adhesive. Until now, the technique of making borobudur temple's is still being a secret. Only 2 people in this world who know the secret the technique of making borobudur temple, they are Gunadharma (borobudur temple architect), and an expert from Latvia named Edward Leedskalninand

Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare by Nasution

As the people of Indonesia, you must be familiar with a general named Abdul Haris Nasution, the general who had led the division Siliwangi. He is one of Indonesia's best generals. He is a powerful figure, strong, full of spirit of nationalism, and has a brilliant brain. He is the author of the phenomenal book in the military world, "Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare"

In the Revolution of Independence I (1946-1948), when he led the Division Siliwangi, Nasution took the second lesson. People need to support the military. From this reason,was born the idea of guerrilla warfare as a form of people's war. This method is more mature after Nasution became the Commander of Java military division in the Revolution of Independence II (1948-1949).

therefore, he is known as a pioneer of the basic guerrilla war against the Dutch colonialism. Style of this war and then popularized by General Sudirman. The concept of guerrilla warfare was later published in a book that is phenomenal at that time, Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare.

now, the book Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare, has been translated into many languages, even the obligatory books of military academies in several countries, including the elite school for the military world, the West Point of the United States (U.S.).

and you know,one of the secrets of vietnamese victory when fighting against Americans is because the vietnamese army was learned this book.Now, this book is become a reference book of military schools around the world.

Scorpions will hold a final concert in Indonesia

Scorpions is a very popular legendary band. I really want to watch the concert of scorpions. But until now, I've never seen their live concert,and altrough This band announced that they had disbanded on 24th January 2010, i still want to watch their live concert. and it turns out, my dream will came true.

Why ?

Because they will hold their closing concert in Indonesia. And more fun again, they will hold their concert in Magelang, the city where I live (magelang is a small city that the temple of Borobudur is located). Tommy Pratama, the number one in the Original Production, promising the Ultimate scorpions consert will be hold in Indonesia. exactly in Borobudur temple

scorpions members asked to hold their concert in Indonesia because they think Indonesia is a beautiful country and beautiful, making it suitable to conduct their concerts. especially in Asia, most of scorpions albums sold in Indonesia

Scorpions in concert titled''2010 World Tour Concert in Final Farewel The Earth''was, Klaus Meine (vocals), Matthias jabs (lead & rhythm guitar), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm & lead guitar), Pawel Maciwoda (bass), and James Kottak (drums, percussion) will give the best for fans

scorpions will bring a few songs on the album Lonesome Crow (1972), Fly to the Rainbow (1974), In Trance (1975), Virgin Killer (1976), Taken by Force (1977), Tokyo Tapes (1978 , live), Lovedrive (1979), and Animal Magnetism (1980). And the album Blackout (1982), Love at First Sting (1984), World Wide Live (1985, live), Savage Amusement (1988), Crazy World (1990), Face the Heat (1993), Live Bites (1995, live) , Pure Instinct (1996), Eye II Eye (1999), Moment of Glory (with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, 2000), Acoustica (2001, acoustic), Unbreakable (2004) to Humanity: Hour I (2007), and Sting in The Tail (2010).

But, the execution time has not been determined, it is because still waiting for negotiations between the organizers and management