Oirata, Favorite Tourist Village In Maluku

Oiratavillage on Kisar Island in Maluku Barat Daya (MBD) district, Maluku Province,has in the past several years been a favorite and idyllic destination forforeign tourists.

In its spice island adventure voyage of discovery from Darwin, Australia, MVOrion cruise ship, with hundreds of Australian, New Zealand, and even Dutchtourists, was again fortunate to come alongside the wharf of Nama beach port onthe west coast of Kisar island on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

MV Orion from Australia with tourists from various countries has during thepast four years made Nama beach part of its regular ports of call to visit thevillage of Oirata.

After berthing at Nama beach and completing formalities on Saturday, thetourists eventually got off the ship and made their way to a convoy of localcars, waiting to take them to Wonreli town for a welcome ceremony.

In small groups with local guides the tourists were invited to explore Kisar`shistory including the remnant architecture from the Dutch period over 400years, and then ushered to Oirata village.

As part of Maluku`s southwestern islands, Kamanasa said Kisar was in the pastone of the remotest and least accessible in all Indonesia, but now it was nolonger isolated.

To date it has basically a few facilities such as accommodations andrestaurants for visitors, but some fine beaches and snorkeling spots of coursecan still be found there.

It might be the reason why Kisar has since the past four years been a regularport of call for the Australian cruise ship.

Geographically, Kisar is closer to Australian continent and culturally nearerto Timor Leste and has a real Timorese feel to it, with villages scattered inthe dry, scrubby interior rather than along the coast.

Sights are limited to a very few colonial buildings such as a ruined old churchat Leklor village, Fort Vollenhove at Nama beach, and Fort Delftshaven atKaisama village which are the most impressive for foreign visitors.

Some of the finest "Ikat Weavings" are found in Kisar, and the bestof these are made by the people of Oirata village with some of uniquetraditional-style houses left.

Previously known as "the Moluccas", the Maluku region is truly acollection of forgotten islands located just north of Australia.

Sitting between New Guinea and Timor Leste, it is part of Wallacea, thelegendary deep water area that separates the Australian and Asian continentplates.

The southwest corner of Maluku is virtually inaccessible but is home tonumerous stunning islands with fringing reefs and ancient culture.

Very few outsiders have ever set foot on these islands and a unique experienceis guaranteed as the MV Orion`s crew members and guests discover the"Forgotten Islands" of Maluku.

Their visit in July this year was the tiny island of Kisar which serves astheir official entry point into the archipelago.

Kisar has over 400 years of European history and despite being only a fewhundred miles off the coast of Australia, its European history is virtuallyunknown.

Sulawesi Dancing

GandrangBulo originally just a simple dance similar to folk dances without a layout themotion raw style of the royal palace. This dance is a dance typical Makassar tothe accompaniment of gendang beat and violins, rang merrily along with typicalsong Makassar like Sumbang Kacayya. Besides easy danced, dance supplies arealso fairly simple, just use a small bamboo. Some dancers use two pieces ofbamboo about the size of seven inches, clipped in such a way between hisfingers, then ditetakkan until delivery noise is very distinctive yetsuggestive. Half the other dancers bring two pieces of bamboo which has beendeliberately broken and chopped on the edges. When the bamboo strips arepitted, then the sound will be "prapak pak pak pak, pak pak pakprapak", the sound that evokes adrenaline dancers and spectators

Bali Bohemia: The Seventh Annual Yak Awards 2011

TheSeventh Annual Yak Awards 2011, with a "Bali Bohemia" theme, willfeature 14 chefs and mixologist and culinary contributions from some of Bali’sleading hotels and restaurants during an evening dedicated to honoring leadersin Bali's business and private sectors.

More than 600 industry and community guests, nominees, advertisers and sponsorsare expected to attend the yearly society event on Bali’s calendar set forFriday, September 30, 2011, starting at 6pm at the Tugu Hotel, Canggu.

Guests and invitees are urged to be “quirky,” dressing in a “Nouveau Trad”style that presents new slants on traditional Indonesian fashion and textiles.

The evening will also mark the debut of Bali’s new champenoise label Carat 22served with wines sponsored by Indowines and beer from Heineken.

As in past years, music and dance will mark the Yak Award celebration withperformances by “Sonic Soul,” dance and music by Mekar Buana Conservatory andNyoman Sura, Jegog Siwentra, Suarmantra, Vocal performances by Yasmin Sutejaand Yuki, and a range of top local DJ talent.

The gala evening will be hosted at Bali’s Tugu Hotel, Canggu.

The raison d'être for the evening is recognition of achievement in a number ofindustry categories awarded by The Yak Magazine's directors, to outstandingindividuals and companies in Bali.

Voting through [The Yak Magazine’s website] , closes on September 28, 2011, andwill be tabulated on-line by web provider, Island Communications.

The categories for awards in 2011 are: Best Chef, Best Sunset Venue, BestRestaurant, Best Wine List, Best DJ, Yak Woman of the Year, Yak Man of theYear, Best Community Services Award, Best Bar, Best Villa, Best Spa, BestFashion Label, Best Jewelers, Best Resort, Best Ad Campaign, Best Event andOutstanding Achievement Award.

Pre-Event Tickets are Rp. 350,000 (US$39) with pre-sale tickets available untilSeptember 29, 2011. On the door ticket price is Rp. 450,000 (US$50)

For more information please contact” [Email] or telephone ++62-(0)361-8446341.

© Bali Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced if attributed tohttp://www.balidiscovery.com. All images and graphics are copyright protected.

"Convergence" wins Sail Banda 2010

Theyacht "Convergence" skippered by Randolph Kent Repass of the US, hasbeen declared the champion of the international marine event Sail Banda 2010.
Randolph was therefore on Tuesday night presented with the Maritime Affairs andFisheries Minister`s trophy by Maluku Vice Governor Said Assagaff at a ceremonyheld at Tantui Nusantara Fish Port as the mooring location of the yachtsparticipating in Sail Banda.

Convergence, a multi-hull yacht from the US, was the first to arrive at BandaIsland on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 4.45 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time(WIT) after being flagged off at Darwin`s Cullen Bay, Australia, on July 24.

The second yacht to arrive in Banda was "Pegasus" of England, skipperedby Jason Charles Lawrence, who was eligible to receive the Maluku Governor`strophy.

While "First Light III" of Australia, skippered by Bernard JohnMcGoldrick, came in third as it arrived in Banda at 8 on Tuesday morning, July27. Bernard received the Sail Banda Committee`s trophy.

The first three yachts were followed by six others, namely "Catspaw"of England which was skippered by Peter Richard Whitby, "Magnetic" ofNew Zealand by Trevor Clifford Clark, "Erica" of New Zealand by ErickFrederik Gray, "Umbra Luna" of Australia by Dale Lynn Clemons, and"Miranda I" of Australia by Goyffrey Philip Rawlins Birch.

Sail Banda 2010, organized by the central government in cooperation with Malukuprovincial administration, is participated in by 49 yachts from five countries.

Aceh

• Banda Aceh- the provincial capital with a population now exceeding 200,000 inhabitants, divided into two main regions by the Sungai Krueng Aceh river. There really are tourist attractions and landmarks galore in Banda Aceh, such as the gleaming Mesjid Raya Baiturrahman (Baiturrahman Mosque), the remains of Gunongan, the Dutch cemetery of Kherkhof, the lively Pasar Aceh Central Market, various Tsunami landmarks, and the acclaimed Museum Negeri Banda Aceh. At night, the colourful Pasar Malam Rek food market is not to be missed and is based on the corner of the Jalan Khairil Anwar and the Jalan Ahman Yani. 

• Banyak Islands - a group of around 100 mainly uninhabited islands, which sit roughly 30 km / 19 miles to the west of Singkil. Literally translated as the 'Many Islands', the Banyaks are around a four-hour boat trip from Singkil's port. Accommodation is available on just a few of the Banyak Islands, such as Balai, Palambak Kecil, Panjang, Rangit Besar and Ujung Batu.

• Gayo Highlands - with stunning mountain panoramas and large areas of countryside and fields. The attractions within the Gayo Highlands all tend to be natural and include the Buffalo Caves (Loyang Koro) and the Simpang Balik hot spring, close to the town of Takengon. Blangkejeran is another notable town here and is well placed for guided tours of nearby local Sumatran villages. Gunung Leuser National Park - a diverse forest and world-famous national park. 

• The Gunung Leuser National Park contains an immense array of Indonesian flora and fauna, including many endangered animals, such as elephants, orangutans, rhinos, tigers and more besides. Primates are more widespread in the park and it is quite likely that you will encounter the Thomas Leaf Monkey, which sports a crest and white front. The Alas Valley is where most tourists head, particularly to the village of Gurah, where outdoor attractions and countless different jungle trek packages are on offer.

• Lampuuk / Lhok Nga - popular coastal destinations located on the westerly coast of Aceh, with glorious beaches and simple accommodation.

• Pulau Simeulue - an isolated island lying approximately 150 km / 93 miles to the west of Tapaktuan, with dense rainforests and coconut plantations. The island of Pulau Simeulue is rarely frequented by tourists, although the surfing opportunities here are renowned, especially at the Baneng Beach Retreat.

• Pulau Weh - an attractive island, with an interesting village and first-rate beaches, at Iboih and Gapang. Sabang is the main township of Pulau Weh and also serves as a port. Attractions around Sabang come in the form of the Pantai Kasih, the Pantai Paridiso and the Pantai Sumur Tiga beaches. 

• Tapaktuan - a sleepy and relaxed seaside resort which is located around 200 km / 124 miles to the south of Meulaboh, where it is the principal town within South Aceh. The majority of sights to see in Tapaktuan reside along its coastal road of Jalan Merdeka. Outside of Tapaktuan, innumerable attractions offer themselves to tourists, such as the Kluet part of the Gunung Leuser National Park, the beaches of Pantai Air Dingin and Pantai Tui Lhok, the Dark Cave (Gua Kelam), and the port of Singkil, which is the departure point for the Banyak Islands and Pulau Simeulue.

"Sail Morotai" promoted in s Korea

TheNorth Maluku province would host "Sail Morotai" in 2012.

Therefore, during his visit to South Korea, North Maluku Governor Thaib Armaiynwould promote that international maritime and yachting event there, Acting Headof Morotai district, Sukemi Sahab, said.

"Governor Thaib Armaiyn are now in the Republic of Korea. During hisvisit, he will promote the Sail Morotai to the South Korean communitymembers," he told ANTARA on Tuesday.

The governor was in South Korea to join the Investment National CoordinatingBoard`s investment promotion mission. Besides that, he would also introduce theSail Morotai to South Koreans, he said.

For North Maluku, the Sail Morotai was a meaningful and strategic internationalevent because it would put the province on to the world`s tourism andinvestment maps, he said.

The comings of foreign tourists and sailors to the Sail Morotai events wouldintroduce the greatness of North Maluku province`s tourism and investmentpotentials, he said.

"For the Morotai Island district, Sail Morotai will positively contributeto tourism, investment, and infrastructure construction," he said.

In making the Sail Morotai get success, the North Maluku provincial governmenthad proposed a budget of about 200 billion rupiah to central government inJakarta.

The government`s funds would be used for preparing basic infrastructures suchas roads, bridges, airport, and public facilities to support the Sail Morotaiin a short time, he said.

This international event was initially introduced by President Susilo BambangYudhoyono when officiating the move of North Maluku capital from Ternate toSofifi, he said.

In 2010, the annual event of Sail Indonesia had a theme of "SailBanda" in which the Maluku provincial government was the host.

As part of the promotion strategies and ways to welcome the sailors, the hostdid not only organize communal festivities and cultural events but alsoprovided their guests with tourism and investment booklets.

Through this annual yacht event, Indonesia is expected to remain in the routemap of international sailors as one of the secure marine tourism destinations.

Over the past years, the Sail Indonesia`s participating international yachtsstart sailing to the Indonesian waters from Darwin, the capital of Australianstate of Northern Territory.

Among the participating skippers were from the United States of America, NewZealand, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, andSwitzerland

Bengkulu

• Bengkulu - the provincial capital, with a population of approximately 400,000 residents. The city of Bengkulu offers many coastal attractions, with its historical Benteng Marlborough fortress overlooking the Indian Ocean and being much photographed by tourists and day trippers, as well as the Bung Karno Mosque (Mesjid Jamik). Pantai Panjang is the main beach in Bengkulu, while for reminders of the strong British influences in the past, check out the Thomas Parr Monument and the Inggris Monument.

•  Northern Bengkulu - offering a host of attractions along the coast road, the Jalan Manusurai Pantai, which heads in a northerly direction between Bengkulu and Padang. Towns of note within the Northern Bengkulu region include Curup, Ipuh, Lais and Mukomuko, while the Gunung Kaba volcano is also likely to be of interest and features two smouldering craters and is encompassed by a lush rainforest jungle.

•  Pulau Enggano - an isolated island sited around 100 km / 62 miles from southerly Bengkulu, covering around 675 square kilometres / 260 square miles. Whilst facilities for tourists are relatively nonexistent, there are some gorgeous beaches with good snorkelling opportunities. The main harbour on Pulau Enggano is Malakoni.

East Kalimantan

Gantar Dancing

This dance comes from Dayak Benuaq andTonyooi tribes. This dance is known as a social dance among the youth and alsoa welcome dance. This dance describes gladness and joy in plant paddies/rice.Gantar is a cut of bamboo which is filled with paddies/rice seeds and a longstick named "asek" to make holes to plant paddies/rice.

It also describes a graceful of Dayaktribes to welcome the guests who come to East Kalimantan as tourists orinvestors or the other respected guests then they will be inviting to partaketo dance. The clothes which the dancers use named Ulap "Doyo", realclothes of Dayak Benuaq tribe that taken from doyo fibres. 

Kancet Tebengang Madang

which in Indonesian means EnggangTerbang Dance (Hornbill Flies Dance). This dance comes from Dayak Kenyah tribewhich describe about their transferred from Apau Kayan by disseminating to allof the areas in East Kalimantan to find the better life. 

The Hornbills always follow its leader'scommand, and so do the Dayak Kenyah people. Hornbill also represents a symbolof peace. This dance starts with “lemaloq” which is an idyll in Dayak Kenyahlanguage that represents a story about their journey. This dance is brought gracefullyby the Dayak girls like the Hornbills that fly. 

Hudog Dancing 

This dance comes from Dayak Bahau andModang tribe that represents a dance to chase away the crop pests or bad/evilspirit. Usually, the dancers wear the scary mask to chase away the crop pestsand the bad spirit.

Kancet Hudog Aban 

This dance comes from Dayak Kenyahtribe. Same with the Dayak Bahau tribe, this dance is also meant to chase awaythe crop pests and bad/evil spirit which annoying. The difference is just themasks that wore by the dancers, and the dancers from Hudoq Aban are women thatwear a veil of beads (Aban).

Belian Bawo Dancing

Belian is one of the cultures of theDayak Dayak Benuaq Tonyooi and tribes to cure ill people. There are many Belianso there are many costumes, moves and music that this dance that follow suitwith the aims of Belian itself. “Pemelian” or shamans act as Mediators amongpeople and the evil / bad spirit in treats the ill people. 

Kancet Pepatai Dancing 

Kancet Pepatai is a dance from DayakKenyah tribe. It describes about the brave men (Ajai) from Dayak Kenyah tribein war. This dance tells about the beginning of war until the given titleceremony for the Ajai which have succeeded to won the war. 

Leleng Dancing

Leleng in Kenyah Ianguage means to turnaround (to and fro). There is Utan Along (a name of a motherless girl) whohesitates because of her lover went and didn't come yet. Turn around means ofher hesitating. Just like a hesitate people that usual to and fro, and then sodo with Utan Along. That's why it names Leleng Dance. This Dance starts withthe song of Leleng which tells about the Utan Along's story. 

Ngelawai Dancing 

Thisdance accompanies by “Rendete” music, a typical music of Dayak Tonyoi-Benuaqtribes. This dance brings by beautiful girls that wears a long shawl and dancegracefully. This dance usually brought as a welcome dance.

Selampit Delapan Dancing

Selampit Delapan Dance is a traditionaldance originating from the province of Jambi. This dance was first introducedby M. Ceylon when on duty at the Jambi Provincial Culture Department in the1970’s. Men born in Padang Sidempuan July 7, 1941 has exceptional talent in thearts, especially dance. As a good personal, friendly, and energetic makes himeasy to adapt to local culture and environment. More activities in the field ofculture struggling to make himself successfully captures the deepest messagesof the community association which is processed into a work of art calledSelampit Delapan Dance. In development, the dance was later determined to beone of the typical dances of Jambi Province. 

 Dance association was first playedby eight people using the wick stove as much as 8 rope tied to or hung in theattic. Ceylon dance named with the name “Selampit Delapan Dance” which refersto 8 straps that are used in the dance. Ceylon friend named O.K. Hendrik thensuggested to replace the wick stove with a scarf so that played dance lookedmore appealing. The proposal was approved by the Ceylon, so that in any eventstaging Dance Eight braid, scarf used as a medium of dance until now. 

By M. Ceylon, Dance braid was firstintroduced to glue the association relationship antarpemuda. Through the mediumof dance, the atmosphere of intimacy antarpemuda can be developed well. Everymovement in this dance describes the cohesiveness, and solidarity that is theguidance in daily life. In Selampit Delapan Dance contained a message about themeaning of an association, that association is based on good faith, mutualrespect, and behaved wisely. Surely this view is inseparable from thephilosophy of community life Jambi uphold the values of faith as a cornerstonein each interaction.

Selampit Delapan Dance lots shown onparty activities, like party and promotion of indigenous culture. At the partyactivities, dance is featured in the great days contained in the City and theProvince of Jambi, such as the conferment of degrees indigenous heritage, theAnniversary of Jambi, which fell in May, the Anniversary (HUT) in JambiProvince in January, and party Jambi community in commemorating the Anniversaryof Independence of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), which falls on August 17.Dancing With the braid Eight servings, activity is expected to be more festiveparty. On a large scale, this dance is displayed in cultural activities bothlocally and nationally outside Jambi Province. Dance is not uncommon even braidEight displayed as one of the media campaign Nusantara culture abroad. 

In Selampit Delapan Dance spectators canwatch the graceful movements that are served by the dancers. The dance openedwith a squat movement and play while you deliver to greet obeisance to theaudience as respect. This has become one characteristic of the Malay dances.The dancers perform the movement regards as a tribute to the audience of hiswillingness witnessed the dance offerings from start to finish. 

After delivering the greeting ofrespect, the dance continued with the core movement. Each dancer immediatelytakes the scarf that hung to further prepare for the core motion. They thenformed a circle before making a rotary motion. Slowly one by one from thedancers spin to knit a scarf, this movement is done in turns with gracefulmovements, so the scarf coalesce into a beautiful winding. After a nice blendwith the scarf, the dance movement followed by opening a knitted scarf. Hismovements were performed exactly like the early movements when making knitting.After the knitting is finished loading, then the position of the dancers backto form a circle formation scarf while playing with a regular motion andcarried to completion until the scarf back open as usual. 

Interesting dance movements increases withthe composition of colorful clothes and scarves are worn by dancers. Thedancers, amounting to 8 people (4 pairs) appear with the composition ofcolorful clothes, like blue, yellow, red, and pink scarf with a matching color.Assorted colors are beautiful looks combined with typical Malay Jambi wovensarong made of gold-embroidered silk used as a belt.

Eight dance braid can be found in thecity of Jambi, Jambi Province, Indonesia. Usually the dance featured in Jambicommunity cultural activities, such as cultural party, anniversary of the cityof Jambi, Jambi Province, as well as the Anniversary of RI. 

To get to the city of Jambi journey canbe reached by using public transportation (metro mini), taxi, or private car.If using public transportation (public transportation), the trip can be startedfrom the Sultan Taha Airport Syaifuddin proceed to Telanai Pura Jambi, Jambicity which also became the capital city of Jambi province with about 15 minutestravel time. 

Fortourists from outside the city who want to linger in the city of Jambi towitness the Dance of Eight braid, can stay at the hotel are numerous in thecity. In addition, along the road in the city of Jambi, there are manyrestaurants and restaurants serving variety of dishes typical of Jambi Malay.

At Sail Banda 2010, SBY Sees Hope For Maluku

Theheavy downpours may have battered the port of Ambon during Tuesday’s peak eventof Sail Banda 2010, but it failed to temper the excitement felt by thousands ofAmbonese residents. The port was crowded with people trying to catch a glimpseof President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.

In great anticipation, the crowds lined both sides of the streets, includingschoolchildren, who were dismissed early to join the throngs of people, waitingpatiently in the rain.

In his speech Yudhoyono said that with Sail Banda 2010 the country would usethe momentum to promote Indonesian marine diversity and to help develop remoteislands.

Sail Banda 2010 is an international maritime event aimed at showcasing howMaluku has overcome years of conflict.

Yudhoyono declared Maluku — long famed as the “Spice Islands” — as the“National Fish Belt”. “These areas have the potential of producing 1.64 milliontons of fish a year. This is a huge potential that will benefit the welfare ofthe people,” Yudhoyono said.

A parade of naval ships from Indonesia and the participating countries tookplace as part of the maritime event.

Joint operations have been carried out by the navies of Indonesia, Singapore,Australia, New Zealand and the United States to offer free health treatment toresidents in the run-up to Sail Banda 2010.

Also, a choir sang the song Rinduku Padamu (My Longing For You). The song,written by Yudhoyono, is the title song of his first album launched in 2007.

Sail Banda 2010 will be completed on Indonesian Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Gending Sriwijaya Dancing

This dance was held to welcome thespecial guests who visit the area, such as the head of the Republic of Indonesia,the cabinet minister, head of state / government of the state, minister,ambassador or which is considered equivalent to that.To welcome the guests washeld a magnificent traditional dances is one of Sriwijaya gending, this dancecomes from the heyday of empire Sriwijaya in Palembang, which reflects theattitude host a friendly, cheerful and happy, sincere and open to guests whoare special.Sriwijaya dance gending held a 9 dancers young and beautifulclothes ber of Adat Aesan Gede, Selendang Mantri, paksangkong, Dodot andTanggai. They are the core of the dancers be under guard two other dancersbring an umbrella and spear. Are behind the singer is once gending Sriwijaya.

However, at this time the role of performers and music this train is more replacedtape recorder. In the form of original music suite consists of gamelan andgong. The role of guards are sometimes eliminated, especially if it be dance orstage in the building is closed. In front of the dancers take it as a Forewordto be devoted to the special guests who came, accompanied the two dancers whobring pridon made of brass. The Foreword is originally only done by girls king,sultan, or noble. Pridon bearer is usually familiar wet nurse or the nursedaughter. Thus the other dancers, dancers.

To welcome the guests was held amagnificent traditional dances is one of Sriwijaya gending, this dance comesfrom the heyday of empire Sriwijaya in Palembang, which reflects the attitudehost a friendly, cheerful and happy, sincere and open to guests who arespecial.Sriwijaya dance gending held a 9 dancers young and beautiful clothesber of Adat Aesan Gede, Selendang Mantri, paksangkong, Dodot and Tanggai. Theyare the core of the dancers be under guard two other dancers bring an umbrellaand spear. Are behind the singer is once gending Sriwijaya.However, at thistime the role of performers and music this train is more replaced taperecorder. In the form of original music suite consists of gamelan andgong. 

Therole of guards are sometimes eliminated, especially if it be dance or stage inthe building is closed. In front of the dancers take it as a Foreword to bedevoted to the special guests who came, accompanied the two dancers who bringpridon made of brass. The Foreword is originally only done by girls king,sultan, or noble. Pridon bearer is usually familiar wet nurse or the nursedaughter. Thus the other dancers, dancers.

Nias Island

• Bawomataluo - the most well-known and accessible of all the southerly villages on the island of Pulau Nias, and perched rather precariously upon a hillside. Tourism has recently arrived in Bawomataluo and souvenir sellers will likely compete for your business. The views of nearby Orihili's rooftops are quite impressive, as are the occasional war dances and stone jumping performances. 

• Botohili - a small and appealing hillside village situated on the peninsula of Pantai Lagundri. Rows of traditional houses make up the landscape of Botohili, while close by, Hilimaeta and Lagundri are also worth a look. 

• Gomo- lying within the central highlands and close to a number of traditional village attractions. The Gomo area is perhaps best known for its ancient menhir monoliths and stone carvings, which are reputed to date back more than 3,000 years and are to be found in Lahusa Idanotae, Tetegewo and Tundrumbaho.

• Hilinawalo Mazingo- a remote village with one main attraction, the Chieftan's House (Omo Hada), which is used as a meeting place for no less than seven surrounding villages. Pantai Sorake / Teluk Lagundri- located alongside Lagundri Bay and famed for its strong waves, perfect for keen surfers. At the beach of Pantai Sorake, the surfing season falls between June and October.

• Teluk Dalam- a hectic port town, which features a good choice of shops and banks, and handy connections to outlying beaches.

Sail Banda kicks off

Themuch awaited international marine event of Sail Banda kicked off in Darwin onSaturday.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono flagged off49 of 106 foreign yachts to mark the start of the Sail Banda 2010 at Darwin'sCullen Bay, Antara news agency reported.

Spokesperson for the Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Florence Sahusilawanesaid participants of the event were scheduled to reach Banda Neira in on July27.

Sahusilawane said all the yachts would also participate in a series of culturalfestivals at different stopovers in Indonesia in the next three months,including the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores,Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and Batam or Bintan.

Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Ambon,Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller onesperched on the rim of Indonesia`s deepest sea, the Banda Sea.

A reception ceremony attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will beheld on Aug. 3 for the participants.

Maluku governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said his administration would ensureorder and security during the event.

West Sumatera Dancing

• It is a tradition in Minangkabau to welcome honorable guests or to open a traditional event by presenting "Sirih Leaves" in a special container called a "Carano". It symbolizes a request to allow the ceremony to take place and asks a blessing form the guest as the activities begin. It is performed in a special dance called " Tari Pasambahan" or "Welcome Dance".

Manggaro Dance 

•  There is a unique way people in some villages chase away the birds so as to remove their weariness and boredom while in the rice fields. They make various movements and clik pieces of bamboo in their hands, while singing or shouting together. By the way they hope the birds will go away while the farmers are enjoying themselves. 

Urak Simpuah Dance 

• There is a popular proverb in Minangkabau "Duduak bapamenan, tagak baparintang" which means that one should have something to do while sitting or standing. The movements of this dance show several activities done daily women at home. The basic movements are adopted form "Mulo pado" dance, which is a very old dance originating form Luhak Nan Tuo, the ancient name give to the area of Tanah datar regency, which is well known as the center of the old Minangkabau Kingdom. 

Tingkah Adoh Dance

• Adok is kind of percussion instrument like tambourine though is bigger in size. It is commonly used to accompany Minangkabau folk song. In this dance the adok are rhythmically beaten by the dancers to accompany the dynamic movements of the dance. 

Plate Dance on Broken Glass 

• This dance describes how farmers cultivate their wet rice-field or sawah beginning from digging the land, ploughing, planting , harvesting, taking the crop home, until pounding the rice. When the farmers get a successful crop, they will enjoy themselves in a cheerful festivity. Every body has the chance to demonstrate whatever special proficiency he or she has jumping and dancing on the glass fragments symbolically means that men who are honest have to bravely face all risks. Plates in Minangkabau symbolize property and the happiness of a home. 

Sewah Dance The movements

• of this dance are based on the acts and movement of the traditional Minangkabau self-defence which is called "Pencak Silat". The dynamic music and movement of the dance reflects how optimistic and energetic the Minangkabau people are in facting the various challenges of life, especially when they are away from home. The used of Sewah or long knife is used in the dance.

Rambun Pamenan 

• Rambun Pamenan is an old tale which is popular among Minangkabau people. Rambun Pamenan was a brave and honest young man who had once to fight for a beautiful girl. The girl's ring was stolen by some naughty boys when she and her sisters were playing together. As she could not go back home without her ring, her sisters had left her alone, while the naughty boys still played around her and teased her. Eventually, Rambun Pamenan appears and fight the boys. He wins the fight and gives back the girl's ring.

Pencak Silat 

• Silat is the term for the arts of self-defence. The Silat of Minangkabau is very original, as all movements seen in nature, in accordance with the philosophy of Minangkabau " Alam Takambang jadi Guru " which means Nature is the Teacher. No movements are taken from other self-defence arts such as Kungfu, Karate,Taekwondo, and so on. Names are given to some movements of Minangkabau silat like " Kuciang Bagaluik " which means Cat Game and "Tangkok Harimau" or tiger catching etc.

Indang Dance

• Indang or Rebana is the local name for a small tambourine. The use of Indang in the traditional dance of West Sumatra shows that there is an influence of Islamic culture on the original Minangkabau's culture. Islam culture was brought to Minangkabau, West Sumatra by merchants from Arabia and Persia simultaneously with the coming of Islamic teaching to this country in the 14th century. All the dancer commonly become absorbed in their dynamic movements while beating the Indang so as give rhythm to the movements and the song. They sing together along with dance. All the words of the song are usually about the history of the prophet Muhammad or advice according to Islam teaching. Now a days the also give general advice. 

Umbrella Dance

• Bendi is the local name for two wheel horse drawn cart which can take 3 to 4 passengers. This old fashioned vehicle is very popular for short distance transportation on villages as well as in towns. It is a custom for a newly married couple to visit their close relatives or to go to picnic places for the pleasure for e few days the wedding. The use Bendi as the Have to Pass small paths in villages. This dance descry ibes a newly married couple and their companions go to Sunga Tanang a scenic place for a honeymoon, locates on the slopes of mount Merapi near Bukittinggi. The umbrella is a symbol of the protection given by the bridegroom to his new bride.

Selendang Dance

• Selandang is kind of shawl. This dance is usually done by youngsters at a party or feast just for pleasure. Wearing a shawl, and Malay style dress does not mean that the dance is influenced by the Malay culture. It is an original Minangkabau dance for the Minangkabau tribe and it is said to originate from the Malay race. Also the music accompanying the dance resembles Malay music

Ragam Andalas Dance 

• This is a combination of various dances from different parts of Sumatra which is also known as Andalas Island. It starts with a traditional dance from Aceh, and then goes to East Sumatra or Deli, Tapanuli, Riau, West Sumatra, Jambi, South Sumatra, and finally ends with dance from Lampung a province at the very tip of South Sumatra. The dance done by boys and girls in pairs is very energetic, and dynamic in nature.

Bandar Lampung

• Bandar Lampung- enjoying an elevated setting and great views across Teluk Lampung. Bandar Lampung is the region's largest city, Sumatra's fourth biggest, and also serves as the administrative capital. Attractions in Bandar Lampung are in reasonable supply and tourists will find that the most visited include the Krakatau Monument and the Lampung Provincial Museum. 

• Gunung Krakatau - known to many as Mount Krakatoa, this volcano is perhaps the most famous on the planet. The eruptions of theKrakatoa volcano have been well documented. Today, visitors can take a boat trip around the island and only imagine the spewing lava, clouds of ash, and the devastation that this volcano has been responsible for. Kalianda - a peaceful and charming small town, with good vistas of Teluk Lampung, which is situated around 30 km / 19 miles away and to the north. Just a short excursion from Kalianda is a selection of pristine beaches and characterful fishing villages.

• Kalianda has now become a popular weekend break destination with Jakarta locals looking for an alternative to Bali. Also close to Kalianda is the Gunung Rajabasa volcano, Wartawan Beach and its hot springs, and the islands of Pulau Sebesi and Pulau Sebuku, both of which boast great swimming and snorkelling opportunities.

• Way Kambas National Park - a vast reserve and one of Indonesia's oldest national parks, with groups of Sumatran elephants, small numbers of the endangered Sumatran rhinos and tigers. Visitors to the Way Kambas National Park are able to join safaris, where you are led through the tropical foliage on the back of a friendly elephant. Alternatively, you can take a canoe down the meandering Sungai Way Kana, passing various riverside attractions and guest houses along the way.

Riau

• Dumai - a bustling port, with ferries regularly departing for Melaka (Malaysia) three times each day. From Dumai, ferries also travel to and from Pulau Batam, Pulau Bintan and Jakarta.

• Natuna Islands - an isolated group of islands, which are quite tricky to actually reach. The Natuna Islands are most famous for their basket-weave cloth, as well as their displays of traditional dancing. Pulau Natuna Besar is one of the more interesting of the Natuna Islands. 

• Pekanbaru - a busy, modern city, which has become the wealthy oil capital of Indonesia. Pekanbaru's population is now close to 800,000 people and facilities here are excellent, with banks, shops, restaurants and hotels lining the main thoroughfare of Jalan Sudirman. Also most tourists come to Pekanbaru for its good ferry connections with Singapore and there are a handful of notable attractions, such as the Malay exhibits at the Balai Adat Daerah Riau, the 18th-century Grand Mosque (Mesjid Raya), and the seasonal performances and events at the Riau Cultural Park. 

• Riau Islands - spread across the South China Sea and numbering around 700 in total The Riau Islands tend to be regarded as quite separate to Sumatra, with both the islands of Pulau Batam and Pulau Bintan being so close to Singapore that they are almost suburbs. Other noteworthy islands within the Riau archipelago include those of Anambas, Karimun, Lingga, Natuna, Penuba, Singkep and also Tambelan

Pallet Jack Use

• Only pallet jack operators may operate pallet jacks

• Do not exceed the manufacturer's load rated capacity; read the lift capacity plate on the pallet jack if you are unsure

• Do not ride on pallet jacks

• Start and stop the pallet jack gradually to prevent the load from slipping

• Pull manual pallet jacks; push them when going down an incline or passing close to walls or obstacles

• If your view is obstructed, ask a spotter to assist in guiding the load

• Stop the pallet jack if anyone gets in your way

• Never place your feet under the pallet jack

Tips On Food Handling

• Avoid cross contamination.  Wash your hands every time before coming into contact with food.  Wash hands/utensils after handling raw meat, fish, or poultry.  

• Wash your hands often.  Use soap and water to wash, and paper towels or clean cloth towels to dry your hands.  Research has proven that frequent hand washing is the most effective way to prevent food-borne illnesses.

• Keep perishable foods refrigerated or frozen until they are used.  Thaw frozen items in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or a microwave (as part of the continuing cooking process).  Marinate food in the refrigerator.

• Make sure the temperature in your refrigerator is below 40 degrees F.  Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and check it often.  Adjust the thermostat to a cooler setting if necessary.

• Examine foods and all date labeling.  Buy foods with the longest period to the expiration date.  Don't buy food items if the packaging is damaged.  Throw away foods that don’t look and smell fresh.  A change in the odor or appearance of foods is often a sign of spoilage.  Throw away eggs with cracked shells.

• Be sure cutting boards and knives are thoroughly scrubbed and washed with soapy water after each use.  These items can easily transfer disease-causing bacteria from raw meats and poultry to vegetables, fruit, or cooked meat.  Use different cutting boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods.

• Don’t use marinades that have come into contact with raw meat or poultry as dips or for basting.  If you want to use the marinade for these purposes, boil it first or prepare a separate portion for that use.

• Store raw meat, poultry, and fish in the meat drawer of your refrigerator or in tightly sealed plastic bags to prevent juices from leaking onto other foods.  Thaw frozen meats, fish and poultry in a pan on the lowest shelf so that juices won't drip on other foods.

• Cover ready-to-eat foods in the fridge to protect them from cross-contamination by raw meats or unclean surfaces.

• Use effective and protective plastics for freezing foods.

• Use a meat thermometer to be sure meats are thoroughly cooked, especially ground meats from combined sources, like hamburger.  Beef, lamb and pork should reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees F.  Juices should run clear and there should be no sign of pink inside the meat.  Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 170 (breasts) to 180 (whole birds and thighs) degrees F.  The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a safe cooking temperature chart on their website. (exit DHS)

• Cook all seafood.  Avoid eating raw fish, raw clams, oysters, and mussels.  The US Food and Drug Administration recommends cooking seafood to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for 15 seconds.

• Cook eggs until the whites are firm and the yolks begin to harden.  Don’t eat foods that contain raw eggs such as cookie dough, egg dressings, eggnog, or homemade mayonnaise.  Pasteurized egg products are available that can be used safely to prepare these foods.

• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold until they are served.  To prevent illness hot foods should be held at 140 degrees F or higher and cold foods should be held at 40 degrees F or lower until they are served.

• Cool foods rapidly before storage.  If you are preparing large quantities of food for later use, cool the food rapidly.  Some methods include: placing the container in an ice-water bath, dividing the food into several small containers before refrigerating, including ice as an ingredient, stirring with an ice wand, and providing greater air circulation around the product container.

Docks ( Non-Forklift )

• When stocking shelves by hand, position the materials to be shelved slightly in front of you, so you do not have to twist when lifting and stacking materials

• Visually inspect for sharp objects or other hazards before reaching into containers such as garbage cans, boxes, bags or sinks

• Remove or bend nails and staples from crates before unpacking the crates

• When cutting shrink wrap with a blade, always cut away from you and your co-workers

• Do not try to kick objects out of pathways; push or carry them out of the way

• Do not let items overhang from shelves into walkways

• Move slowly when approaching blind corners

• Place heavier loads on the lower or middle shelves

• Remove one object at a time from shelves

• Place items on shelves so that they lie flat and do not wobble

Fire Extinguiser Selection

Portable fireextinguishers can saves lives and property by putting out or containing fireswithin the capability of the extinguisher. However, they must be of the correcttype for the particular fire, and they must used correctly.

Selection of Fire Extinguishers
There are a number of types of portable fire extinguishers available inAustralia. Each type of extinguisher may be rated for one or more classes offire. In some cases, particular extinguishers are not only consideredineffective against certain classes of fire, they can be dangerous if used inthose circumstances.

The classes of fire are:

Class A : Ordinary combustibles (Wood, Paper, Plastics)
Class B : Flammable and combustible liquids
Class C : Flammable gases
Class D : Combustible metals
Class E : Electrically energised equipment
Class F : Cooking oils and fats

Portable fire extinguishers are distinguishable by their labels and theircolouring. In 1997 the standard colours of some portable fire extinguisherswere changed. It is therefore likely that you may encounter two of the sametype of extinguisher with different colourings.

Cylinder

If a cylinder is damaged, in poor condition, leaking, or the contents areunknown, contact your cylinder vendor. Have the vendor return the damagedcylinder to the manufacturer.

• Wear appropriate foot protection when engaged in moving or transporting cylinders.
• Sturdy shoes are a minimum.
• Steel toed shoes if required by your supervisor, instructor, or department.
• Proper personal protective clothing and equipment shall be worn.
• Always have an appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) available and be familiar with the health, flammability and reactivity hazards for the particular gas.

Electrical & Fire safety

Fire and Burn Prevention

• Fires and burns are the second leading cause of household injuries.  Each year nearly 4,000 people in the U.S. die in home fires.  Thousands of others are injured as a result of fires or accidental burns.  Most of these deaths involve children and elderly adults.  Kitchen accidents, space heaters, chimney fires, faulty electrical wiring, and cigarettes are common causes.  Check your home for fire hazards.  Install smoke detectors on every floor.

Tips on Fire Safety

• Dispose of cigarettes, cigars, and matches carefully.

• Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home and test them often.

• Plan two escape routes from each floor of your home and practice using them.  Be sure you can open doors and windows from the inside without a key.

• Never leave a burning candle or fireplace unattended.

• Don’t place anything that will burn near a furnace, water heater, space heater, or the stove top.

• Don’t use flammable chemicals near appliances with pilot lights.

• Have your furnace and chimney inspected each year.  Some utility companies provide free or low cost inspections.

• Know how to put out kitchen fires.  If a fire occurs, don’t panic.  For oven fires, close the door and turn off the oven.  Use a pot lid to smother a stovetop fire.  Keep a filled ABC-rated fire extinguisher near the kitchen.

• Pay attention when you are cooking.  If you must leave the kitchen turn off all burners.

• Prevent scalds by setting your water heater to 120 degrees or lower.  Anti-scald devices are available for bathtubs or showers.

• Know emergency phone numbers for your area.  In most places it is 911.  Post the number near each telephone.  Teach children the emergency number.

Tips to Protect Children from Fires andBurns

• Teach children not to play with matches or lighters.  Store them out of sight and reach.

• Teach your children what to do if they smell smoke or hear the smoke alarm.

• Have children practice escaping from a fire.

• Never leave young children alone.

• Place pots and pans on the rear burner of the stove and always turn handles inward so they are not accessible to toddlers.

• Keep the cords for crockpots, coffee makers, and deep fryers out of the reach of small children.

ElectricalSafety

• While enjoying electric TVs, radios and other appliances, we may forget they can cause shocks and fires.  In 1990, bad plugs, cords, switches, and outlets caused about 13,000 home fires and nearly 200 deaths.  Most electrical fires and injuries can be prevented.  People should take the time to have their electrical systems inspected and learn about electrical safety.

Tips on Electrical Safety

• People who live in homes that are more than 10 years old should consider having the wiring inspected.  If your home is more than 40 years old, an inspection is overdue.  Be sure to consult with your local building inspector before making repairs.

• Never place electric cords under rugs or bedding.  Heat or sparks from these cords could cause a fire.

• Follow the safety tips on new appliances.

• Check electrical cords for signs of wear.  Replace frayed or cracked cords to prevent shocks and fires.

• Check labels on lamps and use the right size bulb.  Check the label on your fuse box and be sure you use the right size fuses.

• Fix electrical problems right away.  If fuses blow often, circuit breakers trip often, switches get hot or people are shocked, something is wrong.

• Cover unused outlets with plastic plugs.

• If a cord has 3-prongs, use it properly.  Don’t remove the extra prong.  The third prong is there because the appliance must be grounded to prevent electrical shocks.

• Take cover during a thunder storm.  If you are indoors, stay away from open windows and doors and use the telephone only in an emergency.  If you are outdoors stay in your car and away from water, trees, and metal objects.  Avoid low areas that might flood in a heavy rain.

• Do not overhaul outlets.  Extension cords shouldn't be used as permanent fixtures in home rebuilding.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

• A ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI is a special type of outlet that prevents shocks.  These outlets are recommended for areas where water is used.  Install GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchens (within 6 feet of the sink), laundry areas, garages, basements, outdoor outlets, and around pools, saunas, and hot tubs.  Test these outlets monthly.

For more information

• Fire Prevention: call your local fire department.

• Electrical Safety: call your local utility or an electrical contractor.