Indonesia is the world's most diverse country and it blessed with extravagant of nature and culture. For years, Indonesian culture spreads to the regions and it takes a chance to be claimed by the neighbors countries (mostly by Malaysia). Fortunately, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acknowledged at least 14 Indonesian nature and culture, even it should be much more than that as Indonesian natural resources, cultural richness and diversity makes it's so different than any other country on the planet.
Ujung Kulon National Park
Ujung Kulon National Park is Indonesia's first proposed national park and was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 for containing the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Java. The park is located at the western-most tip of Java, within Banten province of Indonesia. It includes volcanic island group of Krakatoa and other islands including Panaitan, as well as smaller islets such as Handeuleum and Peucang on Sunda Strait. Ujung Kulon National Park is the last refuge of the critically endangered Javan Rhineceros. The park also protects 57 rare species of plant. The 35 species of mammal include Banteng, Silvery Gibbon, Javan Lutung, Crab-eating Macaque, Leopard, Java Mouse-Deer and Rusa Deer. There are also 72 species of reptiles and amphibians and 240 species of birds.
Komodo National Park was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and as Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1986. It's also one of the New7Wonders of Nature. The park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca and 26 smaller ones. The total area of the park 1.733 km2 and it was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo Dragon, the world's largest lizard. Later it was dedicated to protecting other species, including marine species. Komodo National Park is located within Lesser Sunda Islands in the border region between the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) which first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn.
The hot and dry climate of the park, characterized by savannah vegetation, make it to a good habitat for the endemic Komodo Dragon with their populations are restricted to the island of Komodo (1.700), Rinca (1300), Gili Motang (100), Gili Dasami (100), and Flores (2.000), while extinct on Padar. Cloud forests appear only in few areas above 500 meters but they provide habitat to several endemic flora. Coastal vegetation includes mangrove forest, which generally appear in the sheltered bays of the three larger islands. Fringing and patch coral reefs are extensive and best developed on the north-east coast of Komodo. The park is rich in marine life, including whale sharks, ocean sunfish, manta rays, eagle rays, pygmy seahorse, false pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs, blue-ringed octopus, sponges, tunicates and coral.
Lorentz National Park
Lorentz National Park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its named for Hendrikus Albertus Lorentz, a Dutch explorer who passed through the area on his 1909-1910 expedition. It's located in Papua with an area 25.056 km2 makes it the largest national park in Southeast Asia. An outstanding example of the biodiversity of New Guinea, Lorentz is one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in the world.
It's the only nature reserve in Asia Pacific region to contain a full altitudinal array of ecosystems ranging through marine areas, mangroves, tidal and freshwater swamp forest, lowland and montane rainforest, alpine tundra and equatorial glaciers. At 8448, Puncak Jaya (formerly Carstensz Pyramid) is the tallest mountain between Himalayas and Andes. Birdlife International has called Lorentz Park 'probably the single most important reserve in New Guinea'. It contains five of World Wildlife Fund's 'Global 200' ecoregions: Southern New Guinea Lowland Forests, New Guinea Montane Forests, New Guinea Central Range Subalpine Grasslands, New Guinea Mangroves and New Guinea Rivers and Streams.
There are over 630 species of bird (around 70% of the total number of bird species in Papua) and 123 species of mammal. Birds include two species of cassowary, 31 dove and pigeon species, 31 species of cockatoo, 13 species of kingfisher and 29 species of sunbird. Six bird species are endemic to Snow Mountain including Snow Mountain Quail and Snow Mountain Robin, 26 species are endemic to Central Papuan Ranges while three are endemic to South Papuan Lowlands. Threatened species include Southern Cassowary, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Pesquet's Parrot, Salvadori's Teal and Macgregor's Giant Honeyeater. The mammal species include Long-beaked Echidna, Short-beaked Echidna and four species of cuscus as well as wallabies, wildcats and tree-kangaroos. Endemic to Sudirman Range is Dingiso, a tree-kangaroo species only discovered in 1995.
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. It comprises: Gunung Leuser National Park (8629,75 km2), Kerinci Seblat National Park (13.753,5 km2) and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (3568 km2). The total area of the rainforest is 25.000 km2.
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra was chosen because: first, it represents significant area of forests on the island of Sumatra, because of biodiversity of lowland and mountain forest. This once vast island of tropical rainforest has been condensed to secluded areas in the space of 50 years. Second, the national parks that make up the heritage are all located on the well-known key spine of Bukit Barisan Mountain, known as 'Andes of Sumatra' and that all around it there are magnificent views. The mountains of each site represent important mountainous backdrops to the established and developed lowlands of Sumatra. The mixture of the stunning Lake Gunung Tujuh, the highest lake in Southeast Asia, the splendour of the giant Mount Kerinci volcano, many small volcanic, coastal and glacial lakes in natural firested settings. The shows the beauty of Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. Lastly, all three national parks have varied habitat and have outstanding biodiversity. Altogether the three sites make up 50% of the total plant variety in Sumatra. At least 92 local common species have been recognized Gunung Leuser National Park. The nomination contains populations of both the world's largest flower, Rafflesia Arnoldi and the tallest flower Amorphopallus Titanum.
Gunung Leuser National Park is a part of 18 Indonesian regions classified by World Wide Fund for Nature among 200 global ecoregions of importance for preservation of the world's biodiversity. 174 mammals, 3 being endemic and 21 listed as threatened in 2000. Little is known about the smaller mammals. 380 species of birds are listed, 13 being endemic and 52 threatened. Some of the importand species: Orangutan, Sumatran rhinoceros and pigtailled monkey. Important plants are Rafflesia Arnoldi and Amorphopallus Titanum. Several important bird species are Rueck's Blue-Flycatcher and White-winged Wood Duck.
In Kerinci Seblat National Park, 85 mammals species are recorded, 5 endemic and 23 listed threatened, 370 species of birds are listed, 13 being endemic and 58 threatened. Some important mammals species are Bornean Clouded Leopard, Asian Tapir and Sumatran Rhinoceros. The population of Sumatran tigers in Kerinci Seblat National Park is the highest recorded, making it one of 12 Globally Important Tiger Conservation Landscapes. Several bird important species are White-winged Wood Duck and Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo. A few important plant species: Hopea Beccariana and Shorea Ovalis ssp. seicea.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park has 98 mammals are recorded with 1 endemic and 25 threatened, 379 species of birds are listed, 7 being endemic and 58 threatened, and 59 reptile and amphibian species are recorded. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park has the same bird species as Kerinci Seblat National Park. Some important mammal species: Sumatran Elephant and Leatherback Turtle.
Borobudur Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a 9th century Mahayana Buddhist Temple which is located in Muntilan, Magelang, Central Java and it's the greatest Buddhist monument in the world. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms and it's decorated with 2.672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa.
Built by a king of Syailendra Dysnasty in between AD 750 and 842: 300 years before Cambodia's Angkor Wat, 400 years before work had begun on the great European cathedrals. The temple's design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region. It also depicts the gupta style from India and shows influence of Buddhism as well as Hinduism.
The monument is both a shrine to Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base at the monument and follows a path around the monument and ascends to the top through three level symbolic of Buddhist cosmology: Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1.460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.
Evidence suggest Borobudur was constructed in the 9th century and abandoned following the 14th century decline of Hindu kingdoms in Java and Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by Indonesian government and UNESCO. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.
Prambanan Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the biggest is Southeast Asia. Prambanan Temple Compounds consist of Prambanan Temple (also called Loro Jonggrang), Sewu Temple, Bubrah Temple and Lumbung Temple. It's characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the towering 47 meter high central building inside a large complex of individual temples. The temple located on the border between two provinces of Yogyakarta and Central Java.
Prambanan Temple itself is a complex consisting of 240 temples which dedicated to Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). While Loro Jonggrang, dating from the 9th century, is a brilliant example of Hindu religious bas-reliefs, Sewu with its four pairs of Dwarapala giant statue is Indonesia's largest Buddhist complex including Lumbung Temple, Bubrah and Gana. The Hindu temples are decorated with reliefs illustrating Indonesian version of Ramayana epic which are masterpieces of stone carvings.
Sangiran Early Man Site registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 5 December 1996 and it's an archaeological excavation site in Java. According to a UNESCO report in 1995 "Sangiran is recognized by scientists to be one of the most important sites in the world for studying fossil man, ranking alongside Zhoukoudian (China), Willandra Lakes (Australia), Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) and Sterkfontein (South Africa), and more fruitful in finds than any of these."
The area comprises about 56 km2 (7km x 8km) and it's located in Central Java, about 15 km north of Surakarta in Solo river valley. Administatively, Sangiran area is divided between 2 regencies: Sragen (subdistricts of Gemolong, Kalijambe and Plupuh) and Karanganyar (subdistrict of Gondangrejo). An important feature of the site is the geology of the area. Originally a dome was created millions of years ago through tectonic uplifts. The dome was then eroded exposing beds within the dome which are rich in archaeological records.
Subak has enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 2012 as Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy. Subak is the name of water management (irrigation) system for paddy fields in Bali which has been developed more than 1000 years ago. For Balinese, irrigation is not simply providing water for the plant's roots, but water is used to construct a complex, pulsed artificial ecosystem. Paddy fields in Bali were built around water temples and the allocation of water is made by a priest.
Subak is a traditional ecologically sustainable irrigation system that binds Balinese agrarian society together within the village's Bale Banjar community center and Balinese temples. The water managements is under the authority of the priests in water temples without forget about Tri Hita Karana Philosophy which is relationship between humans, the earth and the gods, an ancient method followed in India by Rishi's of Hindu Religion in India. In 1981, Subak Museum is opened in Tabanan Regency with limited items until now.
UNESCO designed Wayang Kulit, a puppet theatre, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intagible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. Wayang is a Javanese word for particular kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppets itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by Gamelan orchestra in Java and by gender wayang in Bali.
The term wayang is Javanese word for shadow, or bayang in standard Indonesian. In modern daily Javanese and Indonesian vocabulary, wayang is most often associated with the puppet itself or the whole puppet theatre performance. Wayang Kulit is a unique form of theatre employing light and shadow. The puppet are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. The plays are invariably based on romantic tales, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Some of the plays are also based on local happening or other local secular stories. It's up to the conductor who called as Dalang, a master puppeteer to decide his direction. There are many kinds of wayang in Indonesia, such as Wayang Golek in West Java, Wayang Wong, Wayang Klitik, Wayang Beber, Wayang Sadat, Wayang Wahyu and to preserve all wayang in Indonesia, the government built Wayang Museum in Kota, Jakarta.
Keris given the title UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. Keris or Kris is a prized asymmetrical dagger most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia. The word's origin derives from the old Javanese term ngiris which means to slice, wedge or sliver.
Kris is more frequently-used spelling in the West but keris is more popular in the dagger's native lands. A Keris can be divided into three parts: bilah (blade), hulu (hilt) and warangka (sheath). These parts of Keris are objects of art, often carved in meticulous detail and made from various materials: metal, precious or rare types of wood or gold or ivory. A Keris's aesthetic value covers dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 150 variants), pamor (the patern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 60 variants) and tangguh referring to the age and origin of Keris.
Both a weapon and spiritual object, Keris are often considered to have an essence or presence, considered to possess magical powers, with some blades possessing good luck and others possessing bad. Keris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, a sanctified heirloom (pusaka), auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator for social status, a symbol of heroism etc.
Batik designated as UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 2 October 2009. Batik is Indonesian fabric that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Javanese traditional Batik, especially from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, has notable meanings rooted to Javanese conceptualization of the universe. Traditional colours include indigo, dark brown and white, which represent that three major Hindu Gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). This is related to the fact that natural dyes are most commonly available in indigo and brown. Certain patterns can only be worn by nobility, traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines of greater width indicated higher rank. Consequently, during Javanese ceremonies, one could determine the royal lineage of a person by the cloth he or she was wearing.
Other regions of Indonesia have their own unique patterns that normally take themes from everyday lives, incorporating patterns such as flowers, nature, animals, folklore or people. The colours of pesisir Batik, from the coastal cities of northern Java, is especially vibrant, and it absorbs influence from Javanese, Arab, Chinese and Dutch cultures. In the colonial times pesisir Batik was a favorite of Peranakan Chinese, Dutch and Eurasians.
Although the word's origin is Javanese, its etymology may be either from Javanese amba (to write) and titik (dot or point) or constructed from a hypothetical Proto-Austronesians root becik meaning to tattoo from the use of a needle in the process. The word is first recorded in English in Encyclopedia Britannica of 1880 in which it's spelled battik.
Angklung designated as UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 18 November 2010. Angklung is a musical instrument made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved to have a resonant pitch when struck and are tuned to octaves. The base of the frame is held in one hand, whilst the other hand strikes the instrument. This causes a repeating note to sound. Each of three or more performers in an Angklung ensemble play just one note or more, but altogether complete melodies are produced.
Angklung is popular throughout Southeast Asia, but it's originated to Sundanese people in West Java and played by them for many centuries. The word angklung was originated from Sundanese 'angkleung-angkleungan' that means the movement of Angklung players and the sound klung that comes from the instrument. Another theory that suggested that the word angklung was formed from two Balinese words angka and lung, 'angka' means tone and 'lung' means broken or lost. Angklung thus means an 'incomplete tone'.
According to Dr.Groneman, Angklung had already been a favorite musical instrument of the entire archipelago even before Hindu era. According to Jaap Kunst in Music in Java, besides West Java Angklung also exists in South Sumatra and Kalimantan. Lampung, East Java and Central Java are also familiar with the instrument. In the Hindu period and the time of the Kingdom of Sunda, Angklung played an important role in ceremonies. It was played to honor Dewi Sri, the goddess of fertility, so she would bless their land and lives. Angklung also signaled the time for prayers and was said to have been played since the 7th century in Kingdom of Sunda. In the Kingdom of Sunda, it provided martial music during the Battle of Bubat as told in Kidung Sunda.
The oldest surviving Angklung is 400 years old Angklung Gubrag which was made in the 17th century in Jasinga, Bogor. Other antique Angklung are stored in Sri Baduga Museum Bandung. The oldest Angklung tradition is called 'Angklung Buhun' (ancient angklung in Sundanese) from Lebak Regency Banten and it's played by Baduy people during Seren Taun harvest ceremony. In 1938, Daeng Soetigna from Bandung created an Angklung that is based on diatonic scale instead of the traditional pelog or slendro scales. Since then, Angklung has return to popularity and is used for education and entertainment and may even accompany western instruments in an orchestra. One of the first performances of Angklung in an orchestra was in 1955 during Bandung's Asia-Africa Conference. In 1966, Udjo Ngalagena, a student of Daeng Soetigna opened his 'Saung Angklung' (House of Angklung) as a centre for its preservation and development. On 9 July 2011, 5.182 people from many nations played Angklung together in Washington DC and are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest Angklung ensemble.
Saman Dance recognized as UNESCO Intangible Element of World Cultural Heritage on 24 November 2011 and ASEAN Tourism Association (ASENTA) named it as the best ASEAN cultural preservation effort at the 25th ASEANTA Awards for Excellence 2012. Saman Dance (or dance of thousand hands) is originated from Gayo ethnic group from Gayo Lues Aceh and is normally performed to celebrate important occasions. The dance is characterized by its fast-paced rhythm and common harmony between the dancers. These two elements are key figure of Saman, and are among the reasons Saman are widely known and practiced in Indonesia, beside being relatively easy to learn.
The dance is done by a group of people of forming a line accompanied by a music player. Originally, the group was exclusively male, but it's now more common to see female Saman dancers. The music player plays percussion instrument such as kendang, and leads the song before it's followed by the dancers. The music contains various verses with folk and Islamic elements, both of which can be fully sung or not depending on the performer's decision. A short song (which leads to a short dance) can last for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
A typical Saman performance is usually constituted of the following elements: after a brief greeting from the music player, the dancers enter the stage and immediately from a single line while sitting in a form equivalent to Japanese seiza. The song then starts to play, with the lyric at the beginnings commonly tells the generals of Gayo culture at medium pace. The dancers then begins to move their hand in a rhythmic manner, following the movements while singing as their music player does. As the dance progress, the movement is also performed with arms, head and the general upper body. Also, the pace became faster, and the seat position may change. The key element here is that every player must move at the same time, creating a homogeneous, continuous, line of movement that are often described as the defining feature of Saman Dance. As the music became faster and the movement more energetic, the music will abruptly end, and the players exit the stage.
Noken is listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on 4 December 2012. Noken is a multifunctional knotted net or woven bag handmade from wood fibre or leaves native to Indonesia's province of Papua and West Papua. Men and women use it for carrying plantation produce, catch from the sea or lake, firewood, babies or small animals as well as for shopping and for storing things in the home. Noken may also be worn, often for traditional festivities, or given as peace offerings.
The method of making Noken varies between communities, but in general, branches, stems or bark of certain small trees or shrubs are cut, heated over a fire and and soaked in water. The remaining wood fibre is dried then spun to make a strong thread or string, which is sometimes coloured using natural dyes. This string is knotted by hand to make net bags of various patterns and sizes. The process requires great manual skill, care and artistic sense, and takes several months to master.
Women carrying Noken are still a common sight in Wamena. In several areas of Papua, Noken -instead the usual ballot box- is preferred as a way to place ballots where it's recognized as a ballot tool in Papua regional leadership elections.
