Galery for All Stuff

The Wednesday Letters

d4du — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:06:26 +0000

I have read The Wednesday Letters, a New York Bestseller Novel, written by Jason F Wright. The novel idea is very simple in the story telling and yet have the power that is capable of touching the heart.

The story begins when Jack and Laurel who experienced death together in the same day. Love so deep that they unite in welcoming the death that came suddenly on the evening of the day Wednesday that, to meet one’s fate before Jack was still writing the letter in last Wednesday.

Death of a sudden this change the life of their three children, namely: Matthew, Malcolm and Samantha. The more the accidentally finding overlapping bank letter from their father Jack on their mother Laurel, written each day Wednesday. Little by little start reavel secret of both parents and their second son : Malcolm.

This novel tells about true love and affection that so big, that love without conditions. Simple, but give moral messages that give inspiration to our lives. Especially how the character of Christ who love without conditions in life of Jack and Laurel, to be a precedent for their children and change their personal life from a disordered to be meaningful and life changing way of Matthew (with his wife because not yet have a child), Malcolm (fled to brazil because of legal issues involved and the broken-hearted) and Samantha (single parent with one child, divorced with her husband Will).

This novel should be read, the story flows continue to increase until the end, the novel gives the example of love without conditions. This is exactly the novel that made me touched

Rating: ****

Gift from Monas(Monumen Nasional), Landmark of Jakarta

d4du — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:37:44 +0000

On Saturday 4 July 2009, my family with my two neighbors in one cluster go to Monas. A long time ago, I went to Monas. I usually visit the deer in the garden and relax with a massage reflection garden, but that day i want to ride to Peak of Monumen Nasional. However, only my son Matthew go to the top, I get to the bottom of the cup Monas. Monumen Nasional(Monas) provides an interesting museum, where display the history of the struggle of the Indonesian people to achieve independence in the form of a diorama, that showing a mock-mini, the establishment of Boedi Utomo, National Awakening, until the Sumpah Pemuda, and Proclamation Independence of Indonesia. A museum is very good to educate the nation history.

Here are some photos in the Monas with pocket camera and mobile phone camera:

Greatness of Monas, view from East side with background of buildings on Medan Merdeka Street

Istiqal Dome(left) and Katedral Tower(right) view from far away, Symbol of Religion Harmony

West side of Monas

Under tunnel, a way to enter Monas

The fare is cheap, there are two type of fare, a continuous ticket(peak of Monas) Rp 8000 for adult and Rp 4000 for children dan museum ticket Rp 3000 for adult and Rp 1500 for children.

Under Sunny day, queue to enter Peak of Monas

Presidential Palace(Left side)

Corner of Monas

Medan Merdeka Park AdStand

The litle boy and folding bike

Go to Komodo National Park, get a Funtastic Eco Tourism!!!

d4du — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:12:52 +0000

Spectacular view of Komodo island

A mercy for the country of Indonesia, have an exotic group of islands that located on the western island of Flores. The islands have rich of natural flora and fauna and having invaluable price. Group of islands is known as the the Komodo National Park, consisting of 3 large islands, namely Komodo island, Rinca island and Padar island, and several other smaller islands such as Gili Montang, Gili Dasami and many other islands around. make the Komodo National Park (then named KNP) known habitat is to have Komodo, ancient reptiles species, the largest monitor lizard, and the only one in the world. Therefore KNP to be the main destination of unique eco tourism and exotic tourism which is owned by Indonesia.

Location and Geographical

Kampung Komodo

Located in the cluster of islands of East Nusa Tenggara, in West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. Located between the islands of Sumbawa(west) and Flores island(east). With the broad area of approximately 173 ha with the details of broad land approximately 41 ha and wide sea approximately 132 ha. It consists of approximately 26 islands, both large and small, the islands are Komodo, island Rinca island and Padar island. have a diverse natural contours of the land, sea and mountains and have a lot of mountains or hills that both active and not on the Mount Satalibo, Mount Tumbah, Doro King, Mount toda Klea and Gunung Api Sangeang located in the northern island of Komodo. The total number of mountain or hill in TNK approximately 11 units.

Sunset on the Komodo Island

History of Komodo National Park

Around 1908, Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, an official Dutch Colonial Administration in the area of Flores, heard reports about a giant dragon on the island of Komodo. Then he went to the island of Komodo with mempersenjatai themselves and bring a team of trained, and successfully landed on the island . Usaha Lieutenant Steyn is not futile, and he succeeded in killing a species 1 is odd. By Peter Ouwens A (director of the Zoological Museums and Botanical Garden, Bogor, Java) documented this species. This is the first documentation of Komodo.

By Ouwens, then do the research and research results published in a newspaper publication year 1912, in this article Ouwens proposal to give the name of the giant lizard Varanus Komodoensis name.

Recognizing the importance of meaning rare animals as the Komodo, the Dutch in the year 1915 issued a regulation on the protection Komodo and Komodo island.

On 6 March 1980, the Government of Indonesia set Komodo National Park with coverage area of 173 ha.

Because by so rich, various and unique of flora and fauna,set Komodo National Park as World Heritage Site and biosfer preserve by UNESCO in 1991.

Climate and Vegetation

Keadaaan natural dry, dry and relatively warm temperature. Own the savanna area, and a source of water is limited, so be by Komodo habitat. Many types of vegetation planted here, such as: papyrus (Borassus flabellifer), rattan (Calamus sp.), Bamboo (Bambusa sp.), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), bulging (Sterculia foetida), bidara (Ziziphus jujuba), and mangroves ( Rhizophora sp.)

Landscape of Rinca Island

Arts & Culture

Communities around TNK follow traditional patterns, with the traditional elders, customary law and the pattern of kinship relations thick. Livelihoods are mainly fishermen, farmers and traders. With the development of a model eco tourism in the emergence of TNK livelihoods new form of trade and service activities support tourism.

The language used in the West Manggarai regency including Austronesian family of languages. Consists of several native tribes and migrants, the tribe of Manggarai, Bajo, Bima, Selayar, Komodo dragons and other tribes (such as Ende, Sikka, Sumba, Timor, Java and others).

Traditional art with characteristics that develop in the West Manggarai is the art of weaving, art works, art literature, art and sound art and dance.

Woven Art – In art of weaving, weaving a pattern is developing a lot of black and dark motif with various colors. In each motif are woven philosophical meaning. The weaving is Manggarai stars.

Selendang

Dancing – Art of dance by the public generally dipentaskan West Manggarai names are dance and dance pieces of rice.

Sanda Dance

Art Voice – singing a traditional activity, generally associated with a variety of traditional ceremonies. Many of the sacred poetic dilagukan with many unique rhythm accompanied with traditional music as simple gong, drum, korontong and nyiru. To track the region is famous sanda and mbata.
Kriya Arts – Arts skill used in making rope woven, plaited pandanus hats, Lontar crafts, handicrafts and bamboo.

Sculpture Komodo, Craft and Pandan Hats

Food and Drink (Culinary)

NTT community, especially people drink traditional Manggarai have enough popular, with the name of gin is sopi. Drink gin fermentation is taken from the sugar palm tree flower, have alcohol contents that is high enough. Ttraditional food is axis, rebok, songkol, corn, petroleum, meat or smoked beef sei, sei cow tongue and skin of fish krupuk. There are also other foods such as shrimp rebon that consumed by many people on the island of Komodo as a snack. In addition to the local beach and the sea, many processed food also results from other sea.

Sopi, traditional gin

Flora and Fauna

Habitat famous here is the type of the giant monitor lizard known as Komodo dragons, the local call Ora.. Which can have a body length of up to 3 m and weight 250 Kg. Supposedly capable of living up to the age of 100 years. Have the largest population on the island of Komodo, the rest are on the island of Rinca and Padar island. Komodo is a type of animal karnivora and carrion eater, and also is a top predator Komodo only because the only predator in the TNK. food is a lizard, wild boar, deer, buffalo, birds, animals and other small mammals more.

Varanus Komodoensis

Status of Komodo Conservation

Currently, the Komodo entry in the list on the IUCN red list of threatened species. As seen in the map below shows, these animals only in the range of islands Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Flores and Gili Dasami (in green areas). Red areas indicate Komodo is no longer found in the wild nature.

Komodo Population Map

In addition to typical animal Komodo, TNK also has a diversity of flora, fauna and biodiversity is invaluable price, there are also deer (Cervus timorensis floresiensis), wild pig (Sus scrofa), ajag (Cuon alpinus javanicus), wild horse (Equus qaballus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), turtle, dolphins, whales, Manta fish and dugong which is often seen in the sea TNK.

Two Dugongs in TNK Sea

Fun with Coral Reefs and Fish

For the marine park as much as 259 types of coral and 1,000 species of fish such as barakuda, Marlin, yellow tail, red kakap, baronang, and others. Park is a marine species that is rich in marine habitats and coral reefs.

Tourism Location

Appropriate location to visit:

Loh Liang – the main entrance on the island of Komodo, office care and there are homeless guests around 3 km from the Komodo ‘s village.

Board Name TNK

Loh Buaya – located on the island of Rinca, often found the existence of Komodo.

Red Beach, Island paralyzed, and Loh Bo sebita – for sunbathing and Snorkling, has beautiful and exotic beaches.

Snorkeling in the TNK

Banu Nggulung, to wildlife observation

The Entrance Gate TNK Loh Buaya

Lodging / Hotels and Transportation

From information of West Manggarai government, there are about 378 registered lodge in the vicinity of KNP, as well star hotel, cottage and cheap hotel and up to inn class. So the tourists both domestic and international need not worry for the problem of accommodation. Transportation on land, sea and air is also available complete enough.

Hotel in the TNK

How to get KNP :

Via the land, By bus from Bali or Surabaya or Mataram – Bima, then moved to a small bus to Sape, by Ferry 8 hours Sape to Labuan Bajo. Price of bus tickets Bima to Surabaya Rp. 350.000, Bima to Sape Rp. 15.000, Ferry Labuan Bajo-Sape Rp. 35.000

Through the air, the flight with the Indonesian Air Transport flight to serve 2 times or Trans Nusa Airlines serving 3 times a flight from Denpasar, Bali to Labuan Bajo (Flores), a ticket around Rp. 500.000 – Rp. 750.000.

Air Transportation services

Through the sea port, Benoa-Bima-Labuan Bajo every 2 weeks on saturday: 09.00-20.00 (until the next day).
one way ticket from Rp. 143.000 – Rp. 435.000
Labuan Bajo-Bima-Benoa, Labuan Bajo-Bima-Benoa, every 2 weeks on Thursday: 08.00-11.00 (until the next day).
one way ticket from Rp. 143.000 - Rp. 435.000

For visits to Loh Liang, Loh Buaya, and other place, can rent a traditional boat, Boat rental prices from Labuan Bajo KNP around Rp. 700.000 - Rp. 1.500.000 per day. From Bima(Sape) – KNP per day Rp. 1.500.000 – Rp. 2.000.000

Small boat, sea transportation from island to island

The entry ticket to enter TNK can be seen below. Benchmark price is taken in the year 2007:

Let us as a community, especially Indonesian people, to love one of the natural wealth that has been given by God for this and keep our children and grandchildren.

Based on the Live Ranking status of New 7 Wonders of Nature as of June 23 2009, Komodo National Park is in the order of 6 to E Group in Forests, National Parks Nature réservés. Let’s continue to support in Komodo National Park www.new7wonders.com/nature/en / vote_on_nominees to become one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

References from various resources:

http://www.komodo-gateway.org
http://www.manggaraibarat.com
http://www.dephut.go.id
http://www.indobackpacker.com
http://www.reptileknowledge.com
http://encarta.msn.com
http://www.new7wonders.com
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/609/
Jejak Magazine from Mapala UI
http://www.eoearth.org

Credit Photo : www.encarta.com, www.manggaraibarat.com, www.reptileknowledge.com, www.komodo-gateway.org and Jejak magazine from Mapala UI

BlackBerry Storm For Dummies

d4du — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:32:00 +0000

Description :

BlackBerry Storm For Dummies consists of five parts, and each part consists of different chapters related to that part’s theme.
Part I: Meeting and Greeting
Part II: Getting Organized with Your Storm
Part III: Getting Multimedia and Online with Your Storm
Part IV: Working with Desktop Manager
Part V: The Part of Tens

Author : Robert Kao & Dante Sarigumba

Download Link

Ayam Goreng, Empal Cabe Ijo, Tempe Goreng and Sop Buntut, a Javanese Cuisine

d4du — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:45:13 +0000

We can find many typical Javanese cuisine, if we are travelling to Java Island, one of the largest island in Indonesia. Yes, Indonesia has many culinary with hot and spicy taste. The popular cuisine in Java is Ayam Goreng(Fried Chicken). Other is Sop Buntut and Empal Goreng. And one of the most popular traditional cuisine is Tempe Goreng.

Ayam Goreng(fried chicken) is a bundling of fried chicken with lalapan(vegetables) such as cassava leaves, leafy vegetables and cucumber, usually added sambal, sambal is chili, such as ; sambal-bajag(bajag-fried spicies), sambal terasi(sauce made with shrimp paste) or sambal ijo(green chilli).

Sop Buntut is made by oxtail, stews potatoes, stews carrot, and soup with spices.

Tempe is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form. Tempe is often prepared by cutting it into pieces, soaking in brine or salty sauce, and then frying.

Empal Goreng is made by beef, it is prepared by butting it into pieces. Spiced and fried chunks of beef.

Empal Goreng Cabe Ijo(Fried Beef with green chilli)

One day, I visit to Lombok Ijo(Green Chilli)Restaurant on Gajah Mada Street, near Citra Land Mall, Simpang Lima, Semarang. Semarang is a capital of Central Java, Indonesia. I order Ayam Goreng, Ayam Bakar, Sop Buntut, Tempe Goreng and Empal Cabe Ijo

The price is very cheap only Rp 10.000 for Rice and Ayam Goreng, Sop Buntut Rp. 15.000, and Tempe Goreng Rp 2.500, Empal Sambal Ijo Rp. 8.500. Please, visit Java Island and enjoy Javanese cuisine!!!

iPhone The Missing Manual 2nd Edition

d4du — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:02:24 +0000

Description :

The purpose of this book, then, is to serve as the manual that should have accompanied the iPhones—both the original and the iPhone 3G. The iPhone is a platform. It’s a computer, so Apple routinely updates and improves it by sending it new software
bits. That’s fortunate, because there’s certainly room for improvement; there’s a long list of common cellphone features that the iPhone is still missing (Copy and Paste, MMS picture messaging, voice dialing, video recording, a To Do list, and so on).
But it will happen. To picture where the iPhone will be five years from now, just look at how much better, sleeker, and more powerful today’s iPod is than the original 2001 black-and-white brick.

The book contains chapter : iPhone as Phone, iPhone as IPod, iPhone Online, iPhone Apps, and iPhone Beyond.

Author : David Pogue

Download Link

Jam Gadang, an icon of West Sumatera

d4du — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:52:55 +0000

West Sumatera with Padang as the capitol, have wealth of heritage, both place, culinary, history, culture and religion. We can visit many tourism place in West Sumatera Region, One of them is Jam Gadang, landmark of Bukit Tinggi, a small town that located at-0.30556; 100.36917 near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C. This is some photos that i taken when visit to West Sumatera one year ago.

Jam Gadang Bukit Tinggi

Lake Maninjau West Sumatera

Water Fall West Sumatera

Beach at Padang City

Fishing boat toward to Air Manih beach

Sunset at Padang Beach