Tjoet Nja’ Dhien

Eros Djarot’s 1988 film was picked as the Best International Film at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. It chronicles the life of one of the most highly regarded Indonesian freedom fighters on the long road to independence. I was reminded of the film when I ran across the pamphlet distributed at the screening of the film in Jakarta in the early ’90s.

Tjoet Nja' Dhien 26-Mar-1873

I was surprised that the full film can be seen now on YouTube. Subtitles are in Bahasa Indonesia.

Tjoet Nja’ Dhien (1988) Full Movie

This is the first film to provide international recognition for Indonesian film. It stands out as the first notable serious film in an industry otherwise devoted to film for popular consumption.

 

Indosiar Visual Mandiri – Unique Hybrid Tower

I saw some video at the NAB a few years back showing the unique construction of Indosiar’s 395 meter structure. It is a hybrid design. The upper portion of the tower is guyed to a lower self-supporting section. The result is the top of the Jampro antenna residing at 1296 feet above the ground. The design preserves real estate, a precious commodity in Jakarta, and qualifies as the archipelago’s tallest structure.

In the trip to visit the Indosiar transmitter site in Kebon Jeruk I managed to connect with four people who I had worked with up to the time I left IVM in 1997. Since my visit I have managed to connect electronically to a few more. Maybe that’s appropriate. I did decide I don’t want to wait fifteen years before getting back to Indonesia for another visit.

Indosiar-05-Jan-13-289.jpgThis photo is here not because it describes the transmitter site but rather that it captures Wayang Orang postures. The two visitors from the West have adopted the poses attributed to wayang portrayals of the Dutch. The hands-on-hips stance is an especially evocative expression of arrogance. At least that is the way it is used in performance.

Some of the batteries in the UPS banks. When you get to the tens or hundreds of kilowatts it takes a lot of batteries to operate long enough for the generators to take the load.

Some of the batteries in the UPS banks. When you get to the tens or hundreds of kilowatts it takes a lot of batteries to be able to operate long enough for the generators to take the load.

A lot of what's here are things you can find at most transmitter sites anywhere. The bulk of the terrestrial viewers are still watching PAL analog television.

A lot of what’s here are things you can find at most transmitter sites anywhere. The bulk of the terrestrial viewers are still watching PAL analog television.

It was Comark at the first Jakarta site at Joglo and the other seven sites in the first round of construction. The company was Thales and Thomson. Now we have again returned to Comark.

It was Comark at the first Jakarta site at Joglo and the other seven sites in the first round of construction. The company was then Thales and Thomson. Now we have again returned to Comark.

Indosiar had just edged ahead of a Finnish broadcaster for having the largest number of IOT sockets in use when the first eight stations were constructed. I wonder who has that distinction these days. This EEV cavity brings back some memories.

Indosiar had just edged ahead of a Finnish broadcaster for having the largest number of IOT sockets in use when the first eight stations were constructed. I wonder who has that distinction these days. This EEV cavity brings back some memories.

Three generators provide redundant backup to PLN.

Three generators provide redundant backup to PLN.

One of the ENG vans gets parked at the transmitter since the Daan Mogot studios are subject to flooding. A little more than a week after our visit Jakarta experienced some serious flooding that probably did not spare Kebon Jeruk.

One of the ENG vans gets parked at the transmitter since the Daan Mogot studios are subject to flooding. A little more than a week after our visit Jakarta experienced some serious flooding that probably did not spare Kebon Jeruk.

Across the block are the old and the new RCTI towers. Transmit antennas are now close enough to solve the previous problem of viewers not being able to optimize their antenna pointing for both stations.

Across the block are the old and the new RCTI towers. Transmit antennas for RCTI and IVM are now close enough to solve the previous problem of viewers not being able to optimize their antenna pointing for both stations.

Not that many viewers as yet, but about half of the Indosiar transmitter sites also do DVB-T2. The digital transmitter here is from Rohde and Schwarz.

Not that many viewers as yet, but about half of the Indosiar transmitter sites also do DVB-T2. The digital transmitter here is from Rohde and Schwarz

Across the block are the RCTI towers and evidence of even more construction. The tall cranes that were part of the Jakarta skyline in 1997 apparently never left.

Across the block are the RCTI towers and evidence of even more construction. The tall cranes that were part of the Jakarta skyline in 1997 apparently never left.

And now the unique tower. Rohn was the designer and fabricator of this tower. Catur Mitra Adhikara was the supplier of both the tower and the Jampro multi-station antenna that extends 20 meters above the 375 meter tower. The lower self-supporting section rises to a height of 120 meters.

And now the unique tower. Rohn was the designer and fabricator of this tower. Catur Mitra Adhikara was the supplier of both the tower and the Jampro multi-station antenna that extends 20 meters above the 375 meter tower. The lower self-supporting section rises to a height of 120 meters.

Hybrid Tower 02

Hybrid Tower 02

Hybrid Tower 03

Hybrid Tower 03

Tour over, we went for lunch at Paregu. This shabu-shabu restaurant was a great choice and there were ingredients so I could make es cendol for dessert. A nice ending to a fascinating tour.

Tour over, we went for lunch at Paregu. This shabu-shabu restaurant was a great choice and there were ingredients so I could make es cendol for dessert. A nice ending to a fascinating tour.

 

Wayang Museum – Jakarta, Indonesia

Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre. Wayang kulit (skin) is the most uniquely Indonesian form. These are the shadow puppets whose performances can be an overnight event and which is accompanied by music from a gamelan. The classic performances are derived from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Other characters and stories have been added to the repertoire since the introduction of Islam to Indonesia where it spread rapidly after the thirteenth century.

The Wayang Museum also features wayang golek puppets which are wooden puppets operated by sticks from below. They even display puppets from other countries like the water puppets from Vietnam.

The person who guided us through the museum was very knowledgeable and added a lot to what we learned here.

The person who guided us through the museum was very knowledgeable and added a lot to what we learned here.

Semar is a popular character in wayang performances. He is derived from Javanese mythology.

Semar is a popular character in wayang performances. He is derived from Javanese mythology.

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The kulit (skin) of wayang kulit is traditionally buffalo hide.

The kulit (skin) of wayang kulit is traditionally buffalo hide.

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These are Vietnamese water puppets.

These are Vietnamese water puppets.

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I guess I wasn't supposed to be photographing here. At least the sign did not threaten lethal force as do some of the signs on Kandahar Airfield. Nobody seemed to be bothered by my excess taking of photographs.

I guess I wasn’t supposed to be photographing here. At least the sign did not threaten lethal force as do some of the signs on Kandahar Airfield. Nobody seemed to be bothered by my excess taking of photographs.

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Male ondel-ondel. These figures house a performer and are still in regular use.

Male ondel-ondel. These figures house a performer and the performances are still quite common. You might even pass a character like this on the streets of Jakarta.

Female ondel-ondel. These puppets originated with the Betawi, the original inhabitants of Batavia.

Female ondel-ondel. These puppets originated with the Betawi, the original inhabitants of Batavia.

 

 

Jakarta Kota Tua – The Old City – Batavia

A trip to the Wayang Museum brought us to the old section of Jakarta where we got to see a magic act and to glimpse SpongeBob SquarePants.

Picture Me at Kota Tua? This should have been my indication that more photos awaited in this section of the city.

Picture Me at Kota Tua? This should have been my indication that more photos awaited in this section of the city.

Other photographers at work.

Other photographers at work.

A touch of the old west.

A touch of the Old West?

There was no Chanel Number 5 to be found but the prices were very reasonable.

There was no Chanel No. 5 to be found but the prices were very reasonable.

Here the interview is used as a technique for practicing English with native speakers.

Here the interview is used as a technique for practicing English with native speakers.

Kelapa muda, young coconut, is a cure for most anything.

Kelapa muda, young coconut, is a cure for most anything.

We encountered a magic act in front of the Batavia Stadhuis. The Governor's offices of colonial days are now Museum Fatahillah, the historical museum.

We encountered a magic act in front of the Batavia Stadhuis. The Governor’s offices of colonial days are now Museum Fatahillah, the historical museum.

Flames 1

Flames 1

Flames 2

Flames 2

Flames 3

Flames 3

Not all the buildings are well preserved.

Not all the buildings are well preserved.

Recording equipment seemed a regular part of what we encountered as we toured Jakarta.

Recording equipment seemed a regular part of what we encountered as we toured Jakarta.

We missed getting our picture taken with SpongeBob SquarePants.

We missed getting our picture taken with SpongeBob SquarePants.

SpongeBob needed a rest. It had not rained yet. He was probably a bit dried out.

SpongeBob needed a rest. It had not rained yet. He was probably a bit dried out.

Last time in Indonesia, Kompas was just the newspaper. It's a television station now too.

Last time in Indonesia, Kompas was just the newspaper. It’s a television station now too.

 

Jakarta Skyline

Sixteen years can bring a lot of change to the look of a city. Only a few familiar buildings could be seen from the vantage point of the sixth floor deck where we were staying.

Cell phones were a new thing when I left Indonesia in 1996. They are everywhere now with good service from a number of competitors.

Cell phones were a new thing when I left Indonesia in 1997. They are everywhere now with good service from a number of competitors.

Most of the buildings along Thamrin and Sudirman are new and taller than the buildings we remembered which are hidden behind them.

Most of the buildings along Thamrin and Sudirman are new and taller than the buildings we remembered. The buildings we recalled are hidden behind the new buildings.

This city view shows that Jakarta dries its laundry in an ecologically friendly manner.

This city view shows that Jakarta still dries its laundry in an ecologically friendly manner.

We got to see wedding preparations down the street with the landmarks Monas and Mesjid Istiqlal visible in the background.

We got to see wedding preparations down the street with the landmarks Monas and Mesjid Istiqlal visible in the background.

 

Kereta Api Parahyangan – Bandung to Jakarta by Train

The train from Bandung to Jakarta makes for a much more relaxed experience than the trip by road. Some of the scenery you will pass, particularly close to Bandung, is another reason to favor the train. This is a well traveled route and there is a train every few hours. Transit time is about three hours.

Hungry? The food is quite good and is reasonably priced.

Hungry? The food is quite good and is reasonably priced.

Kereta Api Parahyangan 01

Kereta Api Parahyangan 01

Kereta Api Parahyangan 02

Kereta Api Parahyangan 02

Kereta Api Parahyangan 03

Kereta Api Parahyangan 03

Kereta Api Parahyangan 04

Kereta Api Parahyangan 04

Kereta Api Parahyangan 05

Kereta Api Parahyangan 05

Kereta Api Parahyangan 06

Kereta Api Parahyangan 06

Kereta Api Parahyangan 07

Kereta Api Parahyangan 07

Kereta Api Parahyangan 08

Kereta Api Parahyangan 08

Kereta Api Parahyangan 09

Kereta Api Parahyangan 09

Kereta Api Parahyangan 10

Kereta Api Parahyangan 10

Kereta Api Parahyangan 11

Kereta Api Parahyangan 11

Kereta Api Parahyangan 12

Kereta Api Parahyangan 12

Kereta Api Parahyangan 13

Kereta Api Parahyangan 13

 

Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

Bandung-31-Dec-12-65.jpgBandung was a nice place to start to reintroduce ourselves to Indonesia. Here, on Jalan Cihampelas, Yu-Gi-Oh greets visitors to the display of children’s clothing. Jalan Cihampelas is alternately called Jeans Street and it is here that you can find bargains on clothing of all varieties. Modernity has come to the area in the form of the Cihampelas Walk shopping mall. Not the same bargain prices but everything you would want to find in a mall can be found there.

A trip from Jalan Cihampelas to the Bandung Electronic Centre was further than we expected but we got to have a look at some of the city sights that were not in the lists of the guide books.

A trip from Jalan Cihampelas to the Bandung Electronic Centre was further than we expected but we got to have a look at some of the city sights that were not in the lists of the guide books.

The Dago Tea House, or Dago Thee Huis for the Dutch, is a great place for a quiet meal in the Sundanese manner.

The Dago Tea House, or Dago Thee Huis for the Dutch, is a great place for a quiet meal in the Sundanese manner.

The Dago Tea House also offers shopping options, including wayang golek.

The Dago Tea House also offers shopping options, including wayang golek.

The items for sale at the Dago Tea Shop are worth a look.

The items for sale at the Dago Tea Shop are worth a look.

We ended up with a wooden mouth harp, whose Indonesian or Sundanese name I have forgotten.

We ended up with a wooden mouth harp, whose Indonesian or Sundanese name I have forgotten.

The Padma Hotel is still a nice place to stay. The hotel has become bigger and the area nearby has seen a lot of new construction since the hotel was the Chedi but the service is still first rate. It is still green on the back side of the hotel.

The Hotel Padma is still a nice place to stay. The hotel has become bigger and the area nearby has seen a lot of new construction since the time the hotel was the Chedi but the service is still first rate. It is still green on the back side of the hotel as well.

 

Picture Me At Gedung Merdeka (Bandung)

What tourist visit to an historic site would be complete without pictures of other visitors taking their own photographs in front of relics and antiquities? A visit to Gedung Merdeka, the site of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, captured some of these memory creators.

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 Bandung-Museum-Konferensi-02-Jan-13-175.jpg

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I felt obliged to picture Mary at Gedung Merdeka in front of the first panels of the Palestine exhibit.

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Bandung Museum Konferensi

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Bandung was the site in April 1955 for the first major Asia-Africa Conference. The site of the conference, Gedung Merdeka, is now a museum commemorating this historic event. Just above we see how it might have looked as President Sukarno addressed representatives of the twenty-nine nations assembled there. This conference is credited with placing the groundwork for what developed into the Non-Aligned Movement.

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The actual conference chambers are preserved as shown above.

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The Palestine exhibit is not part of the permanent collection here, so we were fortunate to visit at the right time. The Asia-Africa Conference declared its support for the rights of the Arab people of Palestine in 1955. Indonesia has long recognized the nationhood of Palestine.

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