Visit Taman Wisata Alam Punti Kayu, Palembang, South Sumatra.

Taman Wisata Alam, Palembang.

Hutan Wisata Punti Kayu is a nature park for tourism in the middle of Palembang City. The nature park has functions as a place of conservation, tourist and recreation, research and education, as well as supporting cultural activities. Not surprisingly, when entering the holiday season, many students coming from different schools and students who come to study, learn while getting to know the rich flora and fauna of Indonesia.

Covering an area of 39.9 ha, Punti Kayu Forest has a wealth of diverse flora and fauna. In term of flora, visitors can find various types of plants, such as pine (Pinus Merkussi), acacia (Acacia mangium), Mahogany (Switenia Swageri), Talog (Muntingia calabura), and Pulai (Alstonia Granensis). Besides,  Punti Kayu Forest is home to a flock of long-tailed macaques, monkeys, squirrels, lizards, raccoons, even a rare insect that has not been named scientifically.

Hutan Wisata Punti Kayu is located on the highway of Palembang - Jambi precisely on Jalan Kol H Burlian 6.5 Km, Palembang. It is also closed, about 5 km, from the International Airport Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin 2. So when landed on or departed from the Airport, visitors will always pass by this park. 
 

New Attractions in TWA Punti Kayu.

When just landed, in no traffic jam situation after about 10 minutes after passing Gramedia Book Store on your left, on your right side there you can see a green forest city grown with pine trees; It is Hutan Wisata Punti Kayu. On the other way round, when on the way to the airport, after about 30 minutes, you will find this beloved green park in Palembang on your left side. It is noticeable its presence as you will find the lines of pine trees along the road on the left when closing the park.

Entrance Gate of the World Landmark Park.

Now TWA Punti Kayu provides new attractions. These attractions available are Replicas of the World's Landmark including: Liberty Statue, Pisa Tower, Eiffel Tower, Egypt Pyramid, Pre wedding Park, Flying Fox, and Water park. You can do pre wedding photo taking session as well as taking photos with Replica of the World' Landmark in the same park  as the are in the same area. Just pay the entry ticket of Rp 10,000.0 per person, then start taking photos there.

Replica of Pisa Building.

Replica of Eiffel Tower.

Replica of Liberty Statue.

Replica of Egypt Pyramide.

Traditional Architecture of South Sumatra: Rumah Limas

A Rumah Limas of Palembang, South Sumatra.

The shape of Rumah Limas is very typical.  the uniqueness  is found on the roof which is pyramid-shaped and has a pole or a house on stilts. Generally this type of home, was designed with great size and lots of room inside. Usually the pyramid house founded on the riverbank facing the ground, which is equipped rooms gegajah, used when the owner held a celebration, festivity or important meetings.

A house as the building is apart from a physical unit, it has a specific symbol. Every owner gives his or her house with a particular meaning. Custom home or Rumah Tradisional form diverse has its own values. The shape of traditional house also describe the natural conditions in the area.

Rumah Limas is the traditional house typical of South Sumatra province. From the name, it is clear that this is a pyramid-shaped house. The building is terraced with a separate cultural philosophy for each level. These levels are called by the community as Bengkilas. The roof and the pillars of Rumah Limas has specific meanings. The uniqueness of other Limas house is the form of stratified floors. While the form of Limas house which resembles a house on stilts or Rumah Panggung describes natural conditions of which are mostly located in the wet areas.

As the name implies, the Rumah Limas, then this is the shape of a pyramid-shaped house. This custom home has a terraced building, and at every stage has its own cultural philosophy. These levels are called community as a Bengkilas. When we visit to one of Limas house, the host will welcome on the patio or on the second floor alone. Limas house is very spacious and is often used as a venue for a celebration or custom events. The area of this traditional house vary, typically ranging from 400 to 1000 square meters.

The word of Limas means that truncated pyramids (in Java known as Limas). Rumah Limas contains a very deep meaning and is a symbol of an expression, among others, expressed in the form of a steep roof and five levels on the floor or kekijing.

The roof is pyramid-shaped • Firm house clapboard • Distribution room that has been set (standard) • Tiered-level (gravestone) • The entire roof and walls and floors of the house rested on top of the poles embedded in the ground • Have ornaments and carvings featuring identity Palembang culture

Pyramid-shaped roofs truncated pyramid. At the top of the pyramid roof there are ornaments in the form of simbar and horns. Simbar interpreted as a home crown decorated with jasmine flowers, which symbolize harmony and majesty of the traditional house of the pyramid. While the horn serves as an ornamental roof, but the amount of the horn has its own meaning. There is the influence of Islamic culture on the horn.

The core of this Limas traditional house is gegajah room or customary room. Located below the peak of the limas roof, in the gegajah  rooms there are  pangkeng room, amben tuo and amben keluarga. These rooms space is the space which is the highest and most respectable compared to other spaces, because the room is a space with highest privacy.

In the gegajah room,  you will find Amben (Hall / Deliberation place) located in the gegajah room.  Amben Keluarga serves as a family room. Amid the gegajah room, you will find Amben Tetuo. The function of .Amben Tetuo is as a reception room of honored guests or , and as a wedding seat for the bride at the wedding even.

Each Kijing or staged floors is a symbol of  different lineages native people of Palembang. The first Kijing is the first and the lowest terrace is a gathering place for the native of the Kiagus (Kgs) group. While the second Kijing, higher than the first, is for the native of Kemas (Kms) group and Massagus (Mgs). The third Kijing is for the native of Raden group  with his family.

The main construction of the roof (alang arrangement) use a type of rare wood called Kayu Seru. the wood can not be used at the base of the house, because it should not be trampled by foot. The main pillars use Unglen wood (Ulin or Borneo Ironwood Eusideroxylon zwageri,) or Tembesu. For doors and windows, the wood used is Merawan wood.

For the shake of aesthetics, Rumah Limas also features wooden carvings with floral motif as a symbol of life. There is a Buddhist influence in the form of three sacred flowers (lotus, jasmine, deer fern) and the influence of Islam in the form of calligraphy carvings.
 
Source: taken from a number of sources
  

Visit Palembang, South Sumatra: Ampera Bridge.

Ampera Bridge in the night.

Ampera Bridge is a bridge in the city of Palembang, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Located in the middle of the city of Palembang, linking the area of upperstream (Seberang Ulu) and downstream (Seberang Ilir) separated by the Musi River Ampera Bridge has become a kind of emblem of the city.

 

The Upper Stream View of Musi River from Ampera Bridge.

Ampera Bridge is a  pride of Palembang people, South Sumatra and become a landmark for the city of Palembang.Ampera bridge is a gift for the community of Palembang from Presiden Soekarno  funded by the Japanese war compensation fund.In the past this bridge was named Bung Karno Bridge, but he did not agree. 

At first, the center of the body of this bridge can lift up so that the mast does not get caught passing underneath the bridge body. The middle part of the bridge can be removed by mechanical means, two pendulum weights each of about 500 tons in the two towers.The speed of about 10 meters per minute to the total time required to lift full-bridge for 30 minutes.

When the central part of the bridge is lifted, vessels of 60 meters wide and with a maximum height of 44.50 meters, can pass to the Musi River. When not lifted, the maximum tall ships could pass under the bridge only nine meters from the surface of the river water. Since 1970, the bridge shall no longer be increased or decreased. The reason, the time used to lift the bridge, which is about 30 minutes, is considered disturbing the flow of traffic between Seberang Ulu and Ilir, Palembang two areas separated by the Musi River.

Another reason because there is no large ship can sail on the river Musi. Sedimentation is getting worse causing Musi River not navigable for large boats. Until now, sedimentation in the Musi River is steadily still going strong. In 1990, two pendulum weights for raising and lowering the center of the bridge, each weighing 500 tons, dismantled and lowered for fear that if at any time it fell and hit passers-by on the bridge.The view of Ampera Bridge during solar eclipse on March 9, 2016  is shown the following video.

  

Visit Palembang, South Sumatera : State Museum of South Sumatera

State Museum of South Sumatera.

A particular destination in Palembang worth visiting as edutourism is Museum Negeri Sumatera Selatan or, State Museum of South Sumatera. Formerly known as DewaBala Putera Museum, it was built in 1978 and inaugurated on November 5, 1984. The museum is managed by the National Education Department of South Sumatra province. The museum address is at Jl. Sriwijaya I No. 288 Km. 5,5, Sukaramai, Palembang 30139

State Musem of South Sumatra Province was built with the traditional architecture of Palembang in an area of 23 565 square meters. In this museum, there are about 3,800 collections, consisting of many kinds of collections are classified into ten types, including geologika, Biologika, traditional stuffs of Palembang, offset animals from various areas in South Sumatra and some miniature houses from remote areas of South Sumatera. There is also a replica of the inscriptions of ancient statues ever found in Bukit Siguntang.

Traditional Ornament in the Main Lobby.

Interested in the history of South Sumatra, particularly Palembang? This museum is the right place as archaeological collection of the State Museum of South Sumatra Province  is classified into four  periods,pre-history, the era of Sriwijaya, Palembang Sultanate era, the period of the Dutch colonialism. 
 

The Period of Palembang Sultanate Era.

Various collections are exhibited in three main showroom. Before entering the three main showroom, visitors will see various collections of statues in the museum lobby. Replicas of the statue dates from the megaliths in South Sumatra.

A Statue of A Mother Holding A Child.

Megalith culture or large rock culture in South Sumatra is located in the plateau region of Pagaralam. Its position is in the series of the Bukit Barisan Mountains in the west side of South Sumatra. In this region, 22 settlements of megalith culture were found. Of the settlements objects of pre-history in the form of statues were found which later became the god Balaputera Museum collection. Various statues are currently the museum's collection include a statue of a mother holding a child megaliths, statues of people riding a buffalo, snake wound up human statues.
 

The Collection of Sriwijaya Era.

After passing through the lobby, visitors will enter showrooms museum. In this room visitors will get information about the beginning of the history of the kingdom of Sriwijaya in the archipelago. In this room also found a collection of relics from the pre-kingdom of Sriwijaya in the form of pottery, beads, and metal casting.

The Collection of Pre History.

In another section found replicas of inscriptions that describe the beginning of the establishment of the kingdom of Srivijaya. Inscriptions, among others, the inscription Kedukan Hill, Relaga Batu, Kota Kapur, Talang Tuo, New Boom, Kambang unglen I, Kambang unglen II, and inscriptions Siddhayatra. In addition to the inscriptions, in this room visitors will also find another collection of Sriwijaya Kingdom era of a statue of Buddha, Hindu statues, and Fragments.
Further inside, visitors will be taken to explore Palembang Sultanate era. Relics of this era looms in the form of songket. One songket fabric collection that became the pride of Balaputera Dewa Museum is songket with motive of Naga Besaung which has a length of 6 meters with a width of about 25 cm.  
 

Traditional Weaving Machine.

In addition, visitors will also find other collections in the form of various crafts carving Palembang. Various sculpture has been applied in rek bride, couches, chairs, until the frosting on the door of the house. 
 

Ulu House.

Collection of sculpture from Palembang Sultanate era that became the pride of Balaputera Dewa Museum is home limas and ulu house located in the backyard of the museum.  
 

Limas House.

 

Exploring Mount Dempo and Its Vicinity in the City of Pagaralam, South Sumatera.

Mount Dempo in Pagaralam, South Sumatera.

Mount Dempo is administratively part of the City of Pagaralam, South Sumatera Province. As a destination of the natural tourism  in Pagaralam, Mount of Dempo  is the most visited site and accessible directly by car both from Palembang and Bengkulu. From Palembang, it takes approximately 6 hours more or less for about 295 kilometers. Direct flights of any air lanes are available daily from Jakarta to both cities to connect to Pagaralam.

Geographically positioned at 04° 02'' SL and 103° 08'' EL, Mount Dempo is the highest peak in South Sumatra and  has two peaks called Dempo and Merapi. The highest peak is Merapi with 3173 m high above sea level, while Dempo about 3049 m. Around the summit, there are seven craters found and A 400 m wide lake is found at the north-west end of the crater complex.

Tea Plantation at Moun Dempo.

While climbing Mount Dempo, visitors are exposed to the beauty of Dempo Tea Plantation under management of PTPN VII (state-owned tea plantation company). Tea Plantation provides a green landscape which is very soothing to the eyes when looked at: you will feel want to continue looking at the beauty of the tea plantations on the slopes of Mount Dempo with a land area of approximately 1.328 Ha, indeed the city is a city of a million beauty and natural charm, it's no wonder the city is a city where the tourists always come on a holiday.

Dempo Tea Plantation is the highest village about 1650 m above mean sea level (MSL). From this village, visitors start to climb and usually spend the night at Sawah Highland (3000 m) where lots of springs running into.There are two tracts to the summit of Mount Dempo:  the tract of Kampung 4 and Rimau. Presently, most climbers starts from Rimau than kampung 4, because the track safer. For those of you who for the first time and wanted to climb the peak Dempo, you' d better find 'Bang' Ilham and his friends in Pagaralam City to ask for their help  as they often guide the local tourists to climb the peak of Mount Dempo.They will bring tourists to the nearest village on the foot of Mount Dempo, which can take more than 20 minutes, because the road is quite steep, winding by passing expanse of green tea gardens (https://pagaralamwisata. wordpress.com).

Once you get to the summit,  the view is superb. In addition to the crater which gives a special impression, you get the chance of overlooking at the Bengkulu province and the Indian Ocean with a carpet of the serene and silent hill and valley.

Pagaralam city has, in fact, a lot of tourism sites,besides Mount Dempo there are also other natural attractions such as waterfalls,as well as archaeological sites. In this city, there are at least 33 waterfalls and 26 sites already listed menheers.The cultural heritages of megalith era are including:

Ancient Human ArcaBelumai villages, megalithic cultural heritage which is alleged to have lived 2500 - 3000 years.Batu GongDusun Karang Dapo, Village Tumbak Ulas, District of South Pagaralam, which is a relic of megalithic; there is also in Dusun Nanding.Batu JajarTanjung Aro, District of North Pagaralam, there are three ranks of stone megaliths along 1 km and a width of 50 m, almost all of andesite totaling 53 pieces. 

Other cultural heritage of megaliths are located in the hamlet Tegurwangi (Batu Beghibu), Mount Migang (Batu Rang, Batu Kitap), Gunung Kaye (Batu bupean, Batu Dakon), Simpang Pelajaran (Batu Pidaran), Muarapayang Site (rock boat, grave stone coffin) , Tanjung-aghe (stone Jeme entwined snakes, grave stone coffin), Talangtinggi Mount Dempo (grave stone coffin), Keban Agung (stone jelapang), Belumay (stone nik kuanci and grave stone coffin), Lubukbuntak (stone Jeme), Geramat Mulak Ulu (stone streaky), Semende (stone treads puyang crew), Pagaralam-Pagargunung (stone ghuse, stone bekatak), Kuteghayewe (stone elephants, grave stone coffin, a stone seat), Impit Hill (rock Jeme ngilik kids), Tanjungsakti (menhir ), Tanjungsakti (stone crater), Baturancing (stone kebau pointy horns).

An array of waterfalls in Pagaralam including :

• Waterfall Ayek KaghangDusun Muara Quiet, Village Perahu Dipo, District of South Pagaralam, 15 km from the center of Pagar Alam, taken within 2 hours by foot, 100 m and a width of 20 m. 

• Waterfall Batu BetulisGutters hamlet Windy, Keluharan Selibar, Northern District of Pagar Alam.Waterfall BesemahSubdistrict South Dempo, the highest waterfall in the city of Pagar Alam, and very beautiful. 

• Waterfall EmbunPagar Alam Utara subdistrict, district Gunung Dempo, no place to shelter visitors. 

• Waterfall  Lawang AgungLawang Agung Lama village, Muara Payang, 45 minutes from the center of Pagaralam, 500 m from the main road. 

• Waterfall Lematang IndahBeautiful Leamatang neighborhood, a roadside on the outskirts of Pagar Alam, 40 meters high, reached by stone steps down to the bottom of the waterfall. 

• Waterfall  MangkokPematangbango hamlet, village Cughup Jare, District of North Pagaralam, with a dressing for those who want a shower, and a prayer room. 

• Waterfall  MelintangSumber Baru, Candi Jaya, but access is extremely difficult, through the woods and coffee plantations with a very steep road. 

• Waterfall PancurIt is located 2 Km from the city center, to the east of Tea Gardens Gunung Dempo, with water so clear, and the pool at the base of the waterfall. 

• Waterfall Seven MemoriesVillage of Dempo Makmur, Northern District of Pagar Alam, there is a pool at the base of a waterfall and rock slide. 

• Other waterfalls in Pagar Alam is Alap-alap, Cungkuh 7th Level, Kasih Bunda, Kincir, Merak, Muara Siban, Muara Tenang, Namling, Padu Rasa, Pancar, Rimau, Sumber Jaya (Dempo Tengah), Talang Keling, Talang Martam, Tanjung Keling (North Dempo).

• Lake Rimbacandi Around the hill Raje Mandare, with red colored water, reached by walking for two days through the woods and hills Rimbacandi, Candi Jaya, District of South Dempo.

Source: www.wikipedia.com and www.merbabu.com

 

A Trip To Palembang: Total Solar Eclipse 2016

The cloudy sky covered total solar eclipse 2016.

I happened to have the opportunity joining the crowd in Palembang on March 9, 2016 watching Solar eclipse. Arriving the night before the celestial event gave me only little time making some preparation. Since Palembang is the city where I grew and spent my teen age, I had no problem finding a place to stay overnight.

My problem was finding the viewing spot. In the morning, I arrived pretty late as the crowd already occupied almost the entire the bridge which was built in 1962 as the compensation to the loss of Indonesian from Japanese occupation. I struggled hard to reach the bridge as one kilometer away from the bridge all streets heading into the bridge were full with cars of all sorts as well as motor bikes. When I got to the foot of the bridge, the crowd already spilled into the water fountain, in front of the mosque of Agung, impossible for me weaving among the enthusiasts to find watching spot.

An idea came into my mind, an ideal place might be along the river bank. I stepped back, then, and strolled along the outer side of the bridge moving toward the river bank. Again, my effort failed as so many solar eclipse enthusiasts also packed along the river bank. I, then, decided to rent as motor boat to take me to the middle of the river as my best watching spot. I had my perfect viewing spot then, exactly, in the middle of musi river.

As time lapsed, to my disappointment, the sky was cloudy. Although my presence was in time for the total solar eclipse, it seemed the first contact already took place, the time when I got to the foot of the bridge, but covered by the cloud. The cloud coverage went on until the total solar eclipse.The moment of blackout in the ampera was lit by colorful lights and whistles played by the crowd on the bridge.

The Moment of Total Solar Eclipse 2016 over The Ampera Bridge.

Source: @irdan_muhammad

Experience The Best Ever Solar Eclipse 2016 in Palembang, South Sumatera.

 City and Time of Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia (@hariankompas)

The total solar eclipse will take place on March 9, 2016, and can be seen from 11 provinces in Indonesia including South Sumatra. It is not only an attraction for Indonesia itself, but also for foreign tourists to come and witness the total solar eclipse in Indonesia. 

The eclipse can be seen from the province of West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.

The best location of viewing in South Sumatra is Palembang. The capital city of South Sumatera will be covered by sun eclipse for over 1 minute 51 second. The  eclipse will start at around 07:20:50 and end at 07:22:51 WIB (Western Indonesian Time); the maximum eclipse will be at 07:21:45.

The total solar eclipse in Palembang take five stages as follows :

1. Partial eclipse begins (first contact): The Moon's shadow starts becoming visible over the Sun's disc. In Palembang, the first contact will take place at 06:20:30 WIB;
2. Total eclipse begins (second contact at 07:20:50 WIB): Almost the entire disc of the Sun is covered by the Moon;
3. Maximum eclipse or totality: at approximately 07:21:45 the Moon will completely covers the disc of the Sun;
4. Total eclipse ends (third contact): The Moon's shadow starts moving away and the Sun reappears at 07:22:51 WIB;
5. Partial eclipse ends (fourth contact): The Moon stops overlapping the Sun's disc. The eclipse ends at 08:31:28 WIB. (www.timeanddate.com)

In 1988, the eclipse hit the peak at 07.29. The crowd, locals as well foreign tourists, gathered along the Ampera bridge to witness the nature but rare moment. as oppose to the crowd, astronomers chose Kenten Golf Course.

Ampera Bridge in the night, a viewing spot of sun eclipse in 1988.

So, it could be the best time for you to visit Palembang, including South Sumatra. Don't forget while you are there, special cuisine of Palembang Malay is waiting to enjoy. 

Source: taken from a number of sources 

DOWNHILL Asia Pacific MTB 2015 Championship at Bukit Sulap, Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatera.

Landmark of South Sumatera, Musi Bridge.

Having Successfully hosted "Asian Mountain Bike Championship 2014, Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatera, will again host two MTB races. In 2015, Lubuk Linggau will be hosting MTB Asian Series and Asian Pasific Series taking place November 6 to 8. While in 2016, World Championship of MTB is scheduled to be this city too. In addition, the provincial government of South Sumatera has also appointed the city to become the venue of Asian Games 2018 for MTB, cross country and road race.

Lubuklinggau already have MTB venue in Bukit Sulap. The venue is the best in Asia, even when the tilt train  and sky lift is completed, the venue will be the MTB world's best. as commented by the President of the Asian Cycling Confederation, Cho Hye Eun.

The race in 2015 has two branches of MTB namely Downhill (DHI), Cross Country (XC). The two numbers are divided into two categories, namely the UCI (international and national). At UCI XC category, the race is divided into Elite Men, Elite Women, Junior Men, Junior Women and for the national class consisting of Men Open, Master A, Master B, Master C. Meanwhile, the UCI DHI category, the race is divided into Elite Men and Elite Women. While in the national category melombakan Men Open class, Master A MasterB Master C and Junior Men. The total value of the prize event UCI category 2 reaches IDR 350 millions.

The mountain bike race will be free for UCI Rangking 1 to 20 and for ACC Champions. Entries for Asian and Oceanian National Champions are also free. For more information please find at www.lubuklinggaumtb.com.