JogjaMag December 2013 by Mika Guritno

FREE Dec 2013

ENGLISH Your Guide to Discovering Jogja

Chicken Church Mystery Roosts in Magelangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hills

Tall Bikes Riding High p. 16 The Dedicated Dancer p.22 Party into Shape p. 24 TOP 10 EVENTS THIS MONTH

TOURIST DIRECTORY & MAPS

Over 1500 local business listings www.jogjabagus.com

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Contents

EDITOR’S NOTE As the year comes to a close, we hope you spend the last of 2013 getting out to see the many wonders that Jogja and its surrounding areas have to offer. Tucked away in the quiet hills of Magelang, a giant chicken-structure roosts mysteriously, waiting to be explored. Meet the people riding those tall bikes you’ve spotted roaming the streets, and learn how to stay on top. Squeeze your way into a crowded dance studio and join the latest fitness revolution, or follow the dangdut music and snack on a brightly-colored cassava treat. Head over to Gamping to celebrate the New Year festivities with age-old tradition. This captivating city is filled with so many cool people doing noteworthy things. To all of you, thanks for giving us something to write about and we look forward to bringing you more next month. Take care, Julianne Greco

JOGJAMAG STAFF FOUNDER

EDITOR

CONTENT MANAGER STAFF WRITER PHOTOGRAPHER GRAPHIC DESIGNER CUSTOMER SERVICE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CONTRIBUTORS Cover Photo

Sylvain Leroy Erik W. Jorgensen Sarah Herz Julianne Greco Anna Miranti Deti Lucara M. Arifin Mika Guritno Atreda Wicaksi Lily K. Jisura Hendro Wijanarko Patrick Vanhoebrouck Moko Pramusanto Mika Guritno

DESTINATION OF THE MONTH

08 12

Chicken Church

INSPIRING JOGJA

Museum Anak Kolong Tangga

STREET FOOD Gethuk Lindri

JAVANESE WISDOM

JAVANESE HEALTH SECRET

UNDERGROUND JOGJA

Jogja’s Tall Bike Community Train in Mind Consciousness

18 22

HIGHLIGHT

Enchanting the World The Power Within

PORTRAIT OF JOGJA The Dedicated Dancer

ACTIVE JOGJA Party into Shape

26 30

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH Chairman of Asmindo

Top 10 Events

What’s Happening This Month

TOURIST DIRECTORY

Find what you’re looking for

JOGJA MAP

City Map, Jl. Prawirotaman & Jl. Sosrowijayan

PTPMA. Mindo Kp. Minggiran MJ 2/1106 B Yogyakarta Tel. 0274 7436052

Contact: 0274 7436052 cso@jogjastar.com

JogjaMag @jogjamag jogjamag.com

24 28 33

Previous Editions

restaurant - travel - guesthouse fair trade shop - yoga studio indonesian and world kitchen friday night jazz alternative tours and courses contemporary art exhibitions fair trade shop | yoga classes open daily from 7.30 am

jalan prawirotaman 30, jogjakarta, java, indonesia ph +62 274 38 65 57

www.viaviajogja.com | www.viaviacafe.com

Destination of the month

CHICKEN CHURCH Mystery Roosts in Magelang’s Hills

Photo: Mika Guritno

and the sides are lined with vent-like windows. The view from the top of the hill is enchanting. Magelang district can be seen looking north, while the southern side gives a clear view of the Menoreh hills. When entering the building, receive a welcome from a dark maze of hallways with small cell rooms on both sides of the first floor. Explore and look carefully to find stairs leading to the upper floor. On the ceiling, there is a large cross-shaped hole, letting sunlight shine down into the building directly. The open air brick windows bring in a fresh breeze, giving off the eery feeling of someone breathing on the back of your neck. If not too creeped out by the deserted vibe in this building, the place has a lot of potential for a great photo shoot. While not much literature is available on this giant chicken building, the surrounding residents of the hills know the place’s story and pointed JogjaMag to a Chinese-Indonesian resident, indicating him as the creator. The building’s construction was initiated by 67-year-old Daniel Alamsjah, with the purpose of making a prayer house. He explained that the building is actually modeled after a dove,

Words: Deti Lucara

agelang, a small town located about 50 km north of Jogja is a spot tourists flock to, since it is home to the world-famous Buddhist temple Borobudur. Aside from visiting this famed attraction, Magelang offers an additional tourist experience. About 2.5 km west of Borobudur, precisely on Rhema Hill, Kembanglimus village, a giant chicken hatches from the top of the hill. The giant chicken is actually a massive abandoned building. Its appearance from Google Earth is incredible, like an old fortress hideout for an ancient secret society (have a look on Google satellite coordinates 7°36’20.21”S 110°10’49.93”E). The location is a bit challenging to get to and visitors should leave vehicles at the base of the hill near a local’s house then hike about 1 km up a fairly steep incline. Be careful during rainy season, since it is easy to slip on the clay ground. Once at the top of the hill, a giant chicken head towering about 30 m is visible, with a pointed-shaped crown on its head and an open mouth. The long fat body of the chicken lies on the grass as if hatching its eggs below. The whole building is made of bricks

not a chicken as many people believe. “I started building it in the early 1990s, I built it bit by bit, slowly because a lack of funds. In the end, the construction had to stop because I ran out of money. It was never finished,” Alamsjah shared. The building is now offered for sale. A Singaporean expressed interest to Alamsjah last year, but has failed to make a full payment. Regardless of this eye-catching building’s future use, it makes for a stunning view, exotic creepy experience and a great place for photo shoots, making a trip to the chicken (or dove) church worth your time.

Please scan this QR code for the direction to Chicken Church

*The Church Basement

Inspiring jogja

Museum Anak Kolong Tangga Toys Cross Borders

Museum Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 4pm

Photo: M. Arifin

Museum Anak Kolong Tangga 2nd floor of Taman Budaya Yogyakarta Jl. Sriwedani 1, Yogyakarta Tel. 0274 523512

own organization, Dunia Damai Foundation, as the management. Because of the museum’s location, it bears the name Museum Kolong Tangga, which literally means “museum under the stairs”. Due to space limitations, he changes the display every year, so visitors always get something new to see. Corens is determined to bring the museum to life. “We are a living museum. We are not a graveyard or warehouse, children are welcome to come and to have lots of questions. Because through questions, I believe children will discover life,” he said. For instance, traditional toys are more likely designed as sociable toys where children interact with each other, teaching concepts like social morals, sharing and playing together. This kind of wisdom can be hard to find in modern toys. A closer look at toys can reveal the context of why a toy was made. Sometimes toys also lead us to have sense of being part of the bigger world. Indonesian children are familiar with the dakon or congklak game, a board game with certain holes made of teak or mahogany wood and played with seeds to be placed in certain order in the holes. However, this game originally came from South Africa. “The kids get angry knowing this fact, they can’t accept it. This must be from Indonesia, they say. I told them, ‘do not fight for something that is not worth fighting, but it is worth gathering information instead.’ This thing, the cross-cultural experience you have to get through this museum,” Corens wisely said.

Words: Deti Lucara

ne local museum offers its visitors the chance to go back to the past, to be a child once again with eyes wide open, and discover the world through a comprehensive collection of toys. Museum Anak Kolong Tangga, located on the second floor of the arts center Taman Budaya Yogyakarta (TBY), demonstrates that some toys are a result of cross-cultural exchange. The museum’s collection features many rare traditional Indonesian toys, but it also houses toys from all over the world like marionette dolls and carousel pieces from Europe and other traditional toys from Asian countries. The collection includes more than 9,000 toys and the museum’s mission statement outlines a dedication to preserving traditional toys, which has occupied the last 40 years of museum founder Rudy Corens’ life. Corens, a Belgian artist who has lived in Jogja for 25 years, both collects and designs toys. For him, children’s toys are more important than what adults may think. “It is not just about toys, but the history behind them, where they came from, who made them, why there are made, what they signify and so on,” Corens explained. When his collection reached 3,000 items, Corens started thinking of how he could do something more useful with it. “What is the point of storing thousands of toys in the boxes? Then I came up with the idea to share them with children,” Corens said. In 2008, the director of TBY, Dian Anggraeni, greeted the idea enthusiastically and gave space on the second floor of TBY for a children’s toy museum with Coren’s

STREET FOOD

Gethuk lindri Follow the Dangdut Music

The price is about Rp. 3K for 3 pieces

Photo: M. Arifin

Gethuk Lindri can be found in Beringharjo traditional market on Jl. Malioboro

Words: Deti Lucara

wo-wheeled carts driving around selling food can easily be seen throughout the city’s streets. But, a cart equipped with a large speaker, playing super-loud, dangdut music is not an everyday sight. This unconventional and musical way of selling is employed specially by gethuk lindri vendors. Gethuk lindri is a traditional Javanese cake made from cassava with a noodle-like texture, usually appearing in bright colors. Gethul lindri is quite easy to make. First, cassava is boiled and mashed, and then sugar and food coloring are added. The dough is then molded into elongated, rounded pieces, akin to noodles, then cut to a length of about 5 cm and a thickness of about 4 cm. Gethuk is then served with grated coconut to give it a savory flavor. This traditional snack has a long local legacy dating back to hundreds of years in Java, but no one is really sure about its origin. This simple snack is quite popular among locals, ranging from children to the elderly. If you have the chance to take a walk on a lazy afternoon in Jogja, and suddenly hear dangdut music from a distance of hundreds of meters, it probably means a gethuk vendor will soon pass. Dangdut itself is a genre of popular Indonesian music with Indian, Malay and Arabic influence and is usually played at a loud volume. “I was initially confused when I first heard dangdut music in the distance. Could anyone possibly think that the music has to do with gethuk? It is weird, but somehow that’s what makes it memorable,” said Agus, a loyal gethuk lindri customer. The funny way of selling this snack has become a trademark for gethuk lindri vendors across Java. No one knows exactly who first initiated the idea, even the vendors themselves do not know how it was started. Gethuk lindri and dangdut music are now widely accepted as coming together, despite the oddness of the combination. Gethuk lindri is best enjoyed in the afternoon while drinking tea, and surely while listening to some dangdut music.

EASY

GOIN’ Restaurant & Cafe

Underground Jogja

Riding High Tall Bike City

Connect on social media: FB: sepedatinggiyk Twitter: @sepedatinggiYK

Photo: Mika Guritno

But the biggest question, for the layman is simply, how do they get on bikes that tall in the first place? Well at first, the bike must be pushed, and while it is rolling the rider must start climbing it and grabbing the handlebar. Getting a foot on the pedal is the rider’s main concern. Once atop and on the seat, the bike can be controlled easily. It takes much effort and practice to get to this point and the experience of falling off is a part of the learning process. Stopping at a traffic light is another major challenge for riding these bikes. Beginners are advised to look for something to hold on to, such as a tree, pole or car hood. If riders go in a group, they can lean on each other. More experienced riders like to push the pedal forward and backward with a torpedo wheel and keep the bike balanced for a few minutes until the traffic light turns green. On the weekend, some tall bike enthusiasts assemble at kilometer zero of Jl. Malioboro and practice acrobatic tricks like riding backwards, or getting three to five people on the bike. If you are daring enough to ride this super-sized bike, come ride with these friendly kids. The community would love to share experiences and help newbies modify their own bikes. Most important of all, they will show you how stay on top.

Words: Deti Lucara

little boy rides down the street on a bicycle. Sounds like an ordinary scene that could take place anywhere, except for the fact that this bike is two meters tall. People stare and jaws drop as they anxiously watch the boy navigate through traffic, slipping in between vehicles on the street. Tall bikes like this, ranging from one to three meters, can be spotted more and more making their way through Jogja’s roads, especially during nighttime. Who are these bike riders and what are these tall bikes about? The mystery was finally solved on a Saturday night when a group of young tall bike enthusiasts shared their story. Dwi, a tall bike enthusiast, explained that this phenomenon started when a European circus group, Cyclown Circus, stopped in Jogja on their world tour in 2006. “They stayed here for a few months and interacted with some local artists.” Since Cyclown’s visit, tall bikes have really taken off in popularity. “We now have hundreds of tall bike fans, they made their own bikes in some bicycle workshops. They design the shape of the bike and how tall it will be. Sometimes they use two bikes welded together, sometimes they use scrap metal to heighten a bike,” Dwi continued. Tall bikes are making their way across the archipelago and communities have formed in Jakarta, Bandung, Bogor, Semarang and many others. Most enthusiasts are young people, but the elderly are also welcome. “The youngest member we have here is 10 years old, and the oldest one is 59 years old.”

Javanese Wisdom

BEGJA BEGJANE SING LALI, ISIH BEGJA KANG ELING LAN WASPADA Since intellect sometimes forgets, train in Mind Consciousness and Alertness

Q A

Do Javanese do anything special to ring in the new year?

Q A

Where around Jogja can we witness Saparan festivities?

Around Yogyakarta several places will have their distinct Saparan festivities on variable specific dates of the Sapar month. In Wonokromo, Sleman district, it is called Saparan Rebo Pungkasan, and hundreds of small cakes called apem will be thrown to the crowds from a tower. In Jatinom, Klaten district it is known as Yakowiyu with many artistic displays. In Purworejo district there is a village of Tlogoguwo which celebrates the Saparan with still strong emphasis on the agricultural cycle and farmer beliefs. Other Saparan festivities are famous in further lying towns such as Magelang, Solo or Cirebon. Almost all will feature Wayang (Shadow Puppet) shows with lakon stories taken from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epos related to fertility or wealth accumulation. Traditional dances and performances will be held from noon to dusk, including jathilan trance dances and campursari concerts, and many people present dress up in traditional Javanese clothing and garbs. The most important Saparan festivity in Yogyakarta takes place in the town of Gamping on the western outskirts of the city (5km west from the Kraton walls). This event is called the ‘Bekakak’ and attracts thousands of people to witness a huge procession through the streets of Gamping and the final ritual offering at the sacred Gamping rock (Cagar Budaya Gunung Gamping). Dozens of groups will be marching in line dressed up in various characters of Javanese history and carrying along huge effigies of

Words: Patrick Vanhoebrouck & Moko Pramusanto

In the second month of the Javanese calendar, the month of Sapar, many villages and towns in Java will hold a Saparan ceremony. These ritual and artistic events are traditional manifestations of collective agricultural communities to celebrate and uphold the ancient belief of harmonious relationships between humans and nature, especially as they pertain to agricultural fertility and harvest. In that sense the Saparan events are larger forms of the core Javanese ritual named Slametan (which means ‘looking for safety and harmony’). As nature here is considered in its vast macrocosmic multiplicity, the underlying entities which are remembered and given offerings to can range anywhere from climate elements such as water, wind, fire and earth to the living beings created alongside humans such as animals, plants and spirits. Offerings of all kinds will display the core produce and crops which farmers and breeders subsist on and make up the daily foodstuff of the population. In a progress resembling life-cycles, the Javanese year started with the Suro month in which ‘birth’ or re-birth is celebrated, coming into world and life as we know it. The Sapar month then focuses on inherent values such as fertility, growth and successful results related to these stages. The offerings, dances and objects displayed usually carry a symbolic and metaphorical meaning that reverts to these concepts. Traditional characters which appear are for example Dewi Sri, the Rice Goddess, or Semar, the Guardian spirit of Java and his funny-looking sons as well as other familiar spirits and animals believed to co-exist in the chain of life. Obviously since harmony and goodness is sought,

an atmosphere of fraternity and joy accompanies the participants and spectators of these events.

familiar spirits known to coexist in the Javanese land and neighborhoods. The main groups are the four Gamping Bergodo or soldier battalions dressed in 17th century uniforms that remind one of the valiant resistance fight against the Dutch colonial regime. Indeed, besides concepts of fertility and growth the Saparan also portrays expressions of courage, power and survival ideals as they are accepted and taught within Javanese culture. It is therefore not surprising that ancient spiritual and mystical elements of the Javanese Kejawen tradition are apparent throughout the procession and especially at the final ritual offering to the Gamping Rock. In essence the Bekakak event serves as a grand purification ritual which aims to cleanse the area from negative forces and reopens a year of opportunities and welfare.

Q A

Can you explain the origins and myths associated with Gamping?

The Gamping Saparan Bekakak finds its origins in an historical event that took place at the end of the 18th century. In the 1790s after the bloody Javanese War whereby the Mataram Empire was split into Surakarta and Yogyakarta upon the signing of the Giyanti Treaty, the Prince Mangkubumi was allotted by the Dutch to build his own Kraton in Yogyakarta. This is the Kraton that we can visit today and where his descendant Hamengkubuwono the 10th still rules from as the present Sultan. Mangkubumi who was crowned as the first Sultan of the HB line decided to stay in a Royal house in Ambarketawang (present Gamping) while his retinue was busy building the new palace further east. The materials extracted for the building of the Kraton came from a nearby mountain range of chalkish sandstone. It is told that the spirit communities which resided in this mountain reacted very violently to the destruction of their habitat and punished the laborers and some nobles overlooking the

work. This put the whole project in peril, and thus after many spiritual counseling and meditation techniques, the king HB I ordered a major offering ritual to be implemented to ask the spirits for forgiveness and at the same time allow for a harmonious solution so both parties could benefit. The first Bekakak ritual was thus enacted, and it is said that it initially required a human sacrifice made up by a couple which gave their life for the realization of the Palace. Later on it was replaced by animal couples, always female and male. Nowadays the main offering is in the form of a couple of effigies filled with red sugar symbolizing blood. A portion of the participants are local mystic practitioners whose role is to guarantee the safety and harmonious relationship between the visible and invisible realms. Especially at the end part of the ritual at the Gamping Rock which is believed to be haunted by numerous spirit residents. One of these groups of mystical practitioners is the Tenaga Dalam group named Padepokan Satriyo Manunggal headed by Mas Joko Triagung. The sacrifice of the couple effigies symbolizes a cosmic realignment between microcosm and macrocosm, whereby humans acknowledge the powerful forces outside of their control and intellectual capacity. To vigorously remind everyone to always be conscious of all that Nature really represents and its formidable power, offerings such as Kolak, Ketan and Apem are distributed at Saparan events. These are sweet and sticky food items, which symbolize interdependent bonds between the creation and the creator. Remaining conscious of these and correcting oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own actions and speech is in itself leading to a state of slamet, as described above. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Javanese often say: BEGJA BEGJANE SING LALI, ISIH BEGJA KANG ELING LAN WASPADA. This means: even (intellectually) smart people still forget, it is wiser to be conscious and alert (spiritually).

Advertorial

Bale raos Eat Like A King

ave you ever dreamt of being king or queen in the city’s royal palace, where you would have elegantly delicious royal cuisine while dining in a majestic Javanese joglo? Where you would be greeted by friendly services, accompanied by the sound of gamelan music and classical Javanese dance performances? In Bale Raos Royal Cuisine Restaurant, this dream can become a reality. Bale Raos literally means “royal cuisine restaurant”, since it is located inside the Sultan Palace’s complex, the kraton, and occupies a former soldiers barrack, which can be accessed through the west gate of the Palace. Bale Raos was founded in 2004 with the mission to preserve the Javanese culinary heritage, initiated by GKR Hemas, the queen and Prince KGPH Hadiwinoto, the brother of the current Sultan X. Once you enter the gate, you will encounter a large garden, where two magnificent open joglo buildings stand. Two dining tables are beautifully laid out in a large open space with a capacity of up to 250 seats. Pick a seat in one of the joglo buildings or in the open space surrounded by green garden. Friendly staff will approach and bring the menu. Once the menu opens, you will be transported back to the past, as if in a time machine, to discover the royalty’s

favorite dishes, especially starting from the period of Sultan VII to present. Some of their mainstay menus are: bebek suwar suwir (Sultan IX and X’s favorite dish), a duck meat dish served with pineapple chunks and ‘kedondong’ sauce); urip urip gulung (Sultan VII’s favorite), a rolled-catfish fillets dish, which is roasted and served with turmeric gravy); semur piyik (Sultan VII’s favorite), braised young pigeon in sweet soy sauce served with sliced potatoes; kambing panggang, a special dish that has always appeared in the Royal wedding party, a goat meat dish grilled in olive oil and served with sauteed sliced potatoes and vegetable curry. This authentic cuisine in Bale Raos is available for a la carte, buffet, exclusive catering with the option of house calls and the glamorous Rijstaffel dining. Rijstaffel means rice table, a fabulous form of dining with a large selection of dishes, fully served by the waiters and waitresses. While enjoying the royal dishes, music creates an ambient atmosphere for relaxation and delight. Live gamelan music and a Javanese classical dance performance are available some days, while on every Saturday night, keroncong live music is performed. Fine dining in Bale Raos is a special royal and unforgettable experience. Many honored guests from all over the world have been hosted by Bale Raos. In 2011, Bale Raos had the honor of hosting the Chaine des Rotisseurs event, an international gastronomic

Rijstaffel dining society founded in Paris in 1950 and received many compliments. No wonder almost every guest leaves with a good impression after the first visit. “Bale Raos gives an extraordinary experience. Becoming queen one day while in an elegant dining setting is definitely a delightful surprise for my visit in Jogja. Previously, I had heard about this restaurant from a friend, but had never thought it would turn out to be more than dinner,” Kania, a tourist from Jakarta, said with enthusiasm.

Bale Raos Royal Cuisine Restaurant Magangan Kulon 1, Kraton Complex, Yogyakarta For convenience, please make reservation in advance especially on the long weekend Tel: 0274 – 2623035 / 415 550 Email: baleraos_yogya@ymail.com Open hours: 9.30 am – 9.30 pm Services: A’la carte | Buffet | Dinner set menu Rijstaffel | Exclusive catering 19

Javanese health secret

tenaga dalam The Power Within

Words & Photo: Moko Pramusanto

Javanese elders used to counsel their grandkids with a saying which stated that whoever can control their breathing will be rewarded with a healthy and long life. The statement refers to the capacity of breathing techniques to stimulate inner levels of energy within the body, which at the same time, brings about a confident mind. This concept is related to the practice of Tenaga Dalam or Inner Power. Tenaga Dalam is a popular practice which focuses on synchronized movement, breath and mind training to arrive at a physical and mental harmony. The premise of inner power science is the distinction between two sources of energy used by the body, one being aerobic and the other anaerobic. Whereas aerobic power requires oxygen the second power is based on availability of ATP (Adenosyn Tri-phosphat) molecules in the tissues to form ADP (Adenosyn Diphosphat) + energy. It has been proven that energy released from ATP is five times greater than similar amounts of oxygen. Every human stores this source of potential energy within. Most people do not realize this though, hence are often amazed by their own power of intuition and strength in times of sudden emergencies. For example, recorded cases where an elderly person, who in normal times was not able to lift a heavy wooden table, will do exactly that during a fire in the house, in order to save himself. These are some of the wonderful manifestations of anaerobic power usage.

This fact has not been lost on the spiritually inclined Javanese ancestors of old. When training in Tenaga Dalam practice, a core method is the retaining of breath while performing a physical movement called jurus, thereby exhausting available reserves of oxygen. When retaining the breath, one keeps very still, so as to force the body to use the other source of energy described above. At this point, the anaerobic energy will be activated. The process which follows the release of anaerobic energy in the body is quite extraordinary, as an unfamiliar reaction will take place in the tissues. Every time such a reaction occurs, a bio-electric power will be generated which is much greater than with usual oxygen based processes. Simply put, each of our body’s molecules possesses a natural electric field with an automatic range. Since cells are closely bonded one to another, such range can be greatly magnified if the stimulating energy is enhanced. This bio-electric charge accumulates within and is also felt near the body’s outer surface, it is known as the Body Prana (in Sanskrit) or Qi (in Chinese). In Java, the Tenaga Dalam (inner power) term is coined for such an energy stimulated charge and it is believed to be tremendously efficient for various needs in life. Besides Martial Arts, Healing is one of the most common applications, whereby energy is directed at a person’s symptoms to stimulate the patient’s own inner power field and help reestablish a level of balance in the body’s Prana, often resulting in curing the sickness or pain experienced. Various internal systems such as the immune and cardiovascular systems react very positively towards inner power techniques. In Java Tenaga Dalam is regularly applied in massage techniques or paranormal distance healing, it is then named “Doyo Pamaluyaning Sesakit” (curing power). So now, breathe deeply and hold it in for a bit longer to see what happens!

POrtraiT of jogja

brotojoyo hapsari The Dedicated Dancer

Dance Classes Tuesday - Friday, 4 - 7pm. Senior members practice Wednesday & Friday, 7 - 10pm. 22

Photo: M. Arifin

Siswa Among Bekso Jl. Kadipaten Kidul 44, Yogjakarta

To reach these four elements mentally, it requires a lengthy process of practicing. “It takes a long time to learn classical Javanese dance. I used to take up to two years just to learn only one type of dance,” Hapsari explained. However, the long learning process has been condensed to meet the demands of the younger, more instant-gratification oriented generation and in just two years, students can learn at least five types of dance. For Hapsari, diving deep into classical Javanese dance from an early age, makes the dance become a part of her life spirit. She felt the deep longing to dance when she stopped teaching for a few years to focus on raising her children. Every time she heard gamelan music, she hardly hold stay calm. When Hapsari got back into the dance world in 1997, she determined that she will never leave this legacy of the ancestral art again. “I will keep on dancing until old age, until my body is no longer able to move.”

Words: Deti Lucara

he graceful movements of the beautiful Javanese dancers synchronize perfectly with the gamelan music. They move slowly and carefully, as if each movement is precious. The time seems to be eternal, leaving the audience stunned in silence. This enchanting, majestic dance is commonly staged in Kraton (the sultan’s palace) or at traditional ceremonies. One senior dancer who has now also become a teacher at a dance school, Brotojoyo Hapsari, asserts that it takes patience and persistence to learn classical Javanese dance. Hapsari, a 52 year old woman, is one exceptional Javanese female dancer in Jogja. She has practiced dance since she was just eight years old and has taught it for 30 years. Her early memories of dancing come from watching the practice of classical Javanese dance in Ndalem Kaneman, home of the sultan’s relatives in the Kadipaten area. For the last 61 years in the joglo of Ndalem Kaneman, thousands of youth have learned classical Javanese dance under the Siswa Among Bekso dance school. Siswa Among Bekso was founded back in 1952 by Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX’s brother, Prince GBPH Yudonegoro, in order to preserve classical Javanese dance. This traditional Jogja court dance style has a deep philosophical meaning, as elaborated by Yudonegoro with the creation of Siswa Among Bekso. It is generally believed that the dance is related to the concentration of the mind (sawiji), consciousness (greget), confidence (sengguh) and persistence (ora mingkuh).

Active Jogja

Zumba Party into shape

Zumba Hot Spots:

Aivi Studio: Mangkuyudan MJ 3/256 Bellina Studio: Jl. C. Simanjuntak (ladies only) DF Fitness & Aerobic: Jl. Demangan Baru Chris Studio Senam: Jl. Kaliurang Km. 8

Photo: Ike Aivi Lusillia

moving, that you forget it’s exercise. Zumba mixes four essential dance beats: merengue, salsa, cumbia and reggaeton, but is not afraid to include other influences. Expect anything from Pitbull to salsa to Shakira in any given session. Classes are typically one hour and students follow the instructor’s moves. The club-like music without having to go to the club, on top of the ability to seriously socialize with other participants, helps explain the rapid growth of Jogja’s Zumba community. Once people try Zumba, many come back for more, says Aivi. One woman, Bu Yanti, hopped on the Zumba train just six months ago and now joins classes at Bellina Studio three times a week. “It’s something new other than aerobics, and the most fun workout,” Yanti says. Skeptical about Zumba or do not want to commit and join a gym? Most studios offer a pay per class option, where you do not need a gym membership to join the classes.

Words: Julianne Greco

ozens of women wearing bright colors shake all they’ve got, shimmying and pumping their bodies to the rhythm of a lively Don Omar song. Not in a smoky club, but packed tightly into a sweaty dance studio, the women are students in a Zumba Fitness class. Zumba, one of the latest international fitness trends, is a dance fitness program that combines fun music and interval training to help participants burn calories and tone up. Founded in 2001 by Colombian Beto Perez, Zumba now has 14 million followers in 185 countries, according to the official Zumba Fitness website. Sure enough, the international dance fitness sensation has made its way to Indonesia, and recently Jogja. Instructor Ike Aivi Lusillia was the first to bring Zumba to Jogja, just last year. Since her debut class in October 2013, there are now around four licensed instructors helping to spread the fitness program throughout the city. Aivi teaches at several studios around Jogja. Zumba’s staggering popularity is evident by peeking into her classes, where it is common to find 20 people breaking it down and competing for dance space. “They feel like they’re partying, but they’re really doing fitness,” Aivi said, explaining why women (and also some men) are crazy about Zumba. “Join the party,” one of Zumba’s mottos, reflects the program’s core philosophy: have so much fun

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH

Yuli sug

Chairman of Indonesia & Handicraft Please tell us a little bit about Asmindo. Asmindo is an association of furniture and handicrafts businessmen, both at the national and regional levels. Asmindo was established in 1988 with the goal of providing insight into the development of markets and products to Asmindo members, as well as share information about any regulations relating to the furniture and handicrafts business. In addition, Asmindo aims to connect its members and build a mutual business network.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

there are many creative people in this city

Can you tell us the market situation of furniture, both locally and internationally? In Jogja, furniture ranks as the third largest exported commodity. Nationally, the export value is about $2 billion USD. It means that the international market situation is pretty good, despite how the American and

Photo: M. Arifin

Komplek Pyramid Jl. Parangtritis, Km. 5,5, Yogyakarta Tel. 08812758693 / 081390078839 Email: geraiasmindojogja@gmail.com

Words: Deti Lucara

GERAI ASMINDO

How does the development of furniture in Jogja look from year to year? Development is going well, as there are many creative people in this city - thus the quality of design continues to evolve. Furniture that made in Jogjakarta is considered to have high artistic value, making it not merely a product of mass production, but truly a work of art. But despite the development of design and increased quality, the number of Asmindo members may not change much from year to year. Fluctuating economic conditions sometimes cause many small furniture producers emerge at once, or conversely disappear. There are currently about 300 businesses listed in Asmindo Jogja, and approximately 200 of those are active.

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an Furniture Industry t Association European crises have affected it. On the other hand, when the financial crisis hit the international market, the local market gained strength due to the increased purchasing power of the local society. That is why we are now also increasingly targeting the local market, instead of just focusing on exporting, while imported furniture comes in and supplies the needs of the local market. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the future projection of the furniture market? In my view, the domestic market will grow more rapidly than the international market, following the increased number of upper middle class people in Indonesia. On the other hand, the development of the international market remains stable from year to year. 10 years ago, the government set the target on export value at $3 billion USD. I believe this value should be higher since Indonesia has a larger timber industry than any other furniture exporting country, including Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. What do you think can be improved? A lot of homework needs to be done to improve the quality and quantity of Indonesian furniture in order to compete with products from other countries. The main thing now is to make a complete and comprehensive database that could map the potential source of timber and craftsmen in Indonesia. This database is also a tool to conduct market analysis and product development, as well as a determinant of quality standards, and arranged for mutual collaboration between furniture businessmen.

TOP 10 EVENTS

DECEMBER 2013 2 Dec

GAMAFEST

Time: 1 - 10pm Place: Gedung Purna Budaya, Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM) Phone: 085648841228 Admission: Bring coins from Rp. 100 - 1000 Celebrating the anniversary of UGM, Gamafest will be held with various events such as a movie screening, performing arts presented by foreign students, flashmob and DJ performances. The event is held by UGM and its office of international affairs.

Sekaten 2013

6 Dec - 15 Jan

Time: 4pm - 12am Place: North Alun-Alun Yogyakarta Phone: 0274 588025 Admission: Free Come shop, eat, play games and enjoy various forms of entertainment at Sekaten in Alun-Alun Utara. The event is a carnival and night market and only occurs three times a year. There are several explanations about the origins of the word “Sekaten.” Some say sekaten is derived from the words “Syahadataini”, which means spreading the wisdom of Islam. Other versions assert sekaten is derived from the word “sekati”, i.e. the names of two gamelan belonging to the sultan’s palace. Come check it out and have fun, regardless of the event’s mysterious parentage!

Jogja KPop Family Carnival 2013

8 Dec

Time: 11am - 6pm Place: Auditorium RRI Phone: 08197840398 Admission: Rp. 20 - 25K For the last few years, Indonesians have been infected with Korean pop (K-pop) fever. In order to introduce Korean culture to the wider community, Jogja Kpop Family is holding a carnival with a series of events such as bazaars, photobooth, fanbase, an idol look-a-like competition, game zone, cover dance and cover singing audition.

End Sale, Fashion Bazaar & Garage Sale

13 - 15 Dec

Time: 10am - 9pm Place: Jogjakarta Expo Center (JEC), Jl. Raya Janti Phone: 0274 451001 Admission: Free Computer and fashion lovers can stop by a bazaar and garage sale, which will take place at JEC mid December. The event targets young people, as well as gadget and fashion enthusiasts in Jogjakarta and surrounding areas.

Stand Up Night

14 Dec

Time: 8pm Place: Graha Sahba Pramana, UGM Phone: 089671440877 Admission: Rp. 35 - 90K Pesta Rakyat Gadjah Mada (PERAGAM), literally meaning folks festival, presents a variety of activities to facilitate UGM students with channeling their skills and talents. Stand up comedy, which is called Stand Up Night (SUN) will entertain the audiences with clever jokes and witty remarks, presented by comedians. 28

17 - 24 Dec

Pameran Patung Jhoni Waldi “Batas Cerita dalam Lingkar Perjalanan”

Time: 9am - 9pm Place: Bentara Taman Budaya, Jl. Suroto, No. 2 Phone: 0274 560404 Admission: Free The exploration of the body and movement is presented in the work of sculpture by Joni Waldi, with the topic “the boundaries stories in travel circumference”. Jhoni Waldi, an artist from West Sumatra, combines various materials such as teak, cast aluminum, bronze, copper and brass metal in his artwork.

GATHERING: Jogja Volkswagen Festival

28 - 29 Dec

Time: 9am - 10pm Place: Jogja Expo Center (JEC), Jl. Raya Janti Phone: 0811269392 Admission: Members free, public approx. Rp. 10 - 20K The biggest Volkswagen annual festival will be held in Yogyakarta, designed to accommodate big fans of Volkswagen from all over Indonesia. Various events will be held to support this festival, namely: Volkswagen car contest, club booth, talk show and more. Look out for a parade of Volkswagen antique cars.

Perayaan Malam Tahun Baru 2013

31 Dec

Time: Around 7am Place: Malioboro Phone: Admission: Free Come and feel the excitement of New Year’s Eve celebrations, which will be centered in downtown Jogja on Malioboro Street. The night will be car-free, and all roads leading to Malioboro will be closed from 7 p.m. to avoid traffic congestion. The event takes place along Malioboro and will be enlivened with stages of art performances presented by arts communities from all walks of life in Jogja.

Live Balinese Dance Performance

Every Thursday

Time: 7pm Place: Putu Bujangga Restaurant Phone : 0274 419952 Admission: Free Come get a taste of culture beyond Java and watch a live Balinese dance performance, available every Thursday at Putu Bujangga restaurant. Various types of traditional Balinese dance are presented, such as margapati, panyembrahma dance, oleg tamulilingan, joged bumbung and kebyar duduk.

Ramayana Ballet

Everyday

Time: 6 - 9:30pm Place: Open Air Theater, Purawisata, Yogyakarta Phone: 0274 375705 / 0274 380643 Admission: Rp. 250K (Performance Only) Ramayana ballet tells the great love story of Rama and Shinta, originiating from the epic Indian story. The ballet has been performed nightly for 25 years continuously by Pura Wisata Open Air Theatre, which brought them to get an award from the Guinness Book of Indonesia Records (MURI) in 2001. The performance also comes with a dinner package in a beautiful garden restaurant with Javanese ambience.

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