Watu Dodol Beach Banyuwangi

Watu Dodol
The Beautiful Beach in Banyuwangi

When you are on traveling to Bali or Lombok by bus or private car, you shouldn’t miss to visit Watu Dodol Beach. This beach is located on the north side of Banyuwangi before Ketapang Port. So, if you wanna reach this beach, you should take north lane (Jalur Pantura). There is a very big stone between the beach and the road.

Why do Banyuwangi people called it “Watu Dodol” ? my father told me the story, but I think it’s just a tale. This is the story from my father: Reputedly, this big stone came from the vendible of Kyai Semar that fallen down in that place. Semar is one of character in Javanese Puppet Show. While the rice spilled out and became the sands around Watu Dodol beach. People say, Semar tool was moringa wood, thrown and pierced in the sidelines of the big stone which called Watu Dodol.

But this is really strange because there is a Moringa tree grown up fertilely in the sideline of that big stone. As I know, for Banyuwangi people moringa is a weapon to cure and relieve from mystical influence like black magic that may attack. By using moringa, Banyuwangi people believe, it will disappear and fade.

Watu Dodol is very beautiful, you can see Bali Island, from the beach. There is fresh water which lays near the beach just like a little river. This water is not salty even though the tight come and the water mix with the sea water (which is salty), no salty taste in this water. You should prove it yourself by visiting Watu Dodol.

Here is Watu Dodol beach where I usually visit in my holiday when I’m back to my lovely hometown Banyuwangi …

The Best Korean Drama

THE BEST KOREAN DRAMA NAGISA’S VERSION

I have watched many Korean Dramas. For me, I prefer watching Korean Drama which has a happy ending story. I don’t like sad ending :p

TV stations in my country always shows “Sinetron” everyday. It's almost the same with Korean Drama but with the odd episodes. I choose Korean Drama not Sinetron, why? Well, I feel that Korean Drama’s stories are more romantic than Sinetron, because I like romantic story though sometime it seems won’t happen in the real world. I am having fun with K-Drama, it could release my tired after all days drowning in my job. I am Kdrama addicted, sometime I sleep late at night when so curious about the next story.

These are Korean Drama which make me so addicted and watching for more than once :

1. Princess Hours
2. You’re Beautiful
3. Cinderella Sisters
4. Boys before Flowers
5. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
6. Dong Yi
7. Jumong
8. Full House
9. My Girl
10. Wish Upon a Star
11. Oh My Lady
12. Lie to Me
13. My Princess
14. Scent of a Woman
15. My Name is Kim Sam Soon
16. City Hunter
17. Protect the Boss
18. Winter Sonata
19. Shining Inheritance
20. My Girl Friend is Gumiho
21. Pasta
22. A Thousand Times I Love You
23. The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince
24. Witch Yu Hee
25. My Sassy Girl Chun Yang
26. Playful Kiss

I will add the other list next time when I have finished watching my next Korean Drama. So what do you think? Do you like one of them or would you like to share and suggest me about your favorite ?

About K-Pop

Story About My Favorite Music K-pop

World Music develops rapidly, it comes so fast through many kind of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. People now can enjoy music from internet, not only their own country music but also other music come from abroad. Various music types which are expanding around the world. Indonesian music devotees could know the growth of music around the world.

South Korea, comes by carrying their music which called “Kpop”. Music and dance become the important part in K-Pop. They can move in R&B, Hip Hop or balad songs which are very attractive for the young people in Indonesia. K-pop fever is increasing swiftly in Indonesia. In such a short time, some boyband / girlband from Korea become Indonesian Idol nowdays. Everyone must know about Super Junior, SHINee, Wonder Girls, SNSD, FT Island, CN Blue and 2PM who had just made a concert in Jakarta. K-pop fanatic fans are greater and greater every year in Indonesia and they are now showing their fanatic without any ashamed. They’re proud because they are K-pop fans.

Most of Indonesian K-pop devotees are from youngster, this may be caused by the growth of technology like Internet which has brought social media (Facebook, twitter, youtube). Beside that, the biggest K-Pop fascination are their good songs, beautiful / handsome dancer and their incredible and wonderful stage effect. The music tempo is so Asian style that makes Indonesia easily enough to accept the K-Pop rhythm.

You know the glimpse of K-Pop in Indonesia ? well, there are soooo many boyband/girlband pop out. Some of them have their style but many of them are just like Korean Pop singers. Yes, it’s interesting for me though many people pouting to them. I think Indonesian Music is so colorful these days. I am the fans of K-Pop specially JYJ but I also love Indonesian Boyband like SMASH, XO XI or Indonesian Girlband like Cheery Bell. So, music can be our spirit no matter what music it is. Music can also unite us not only with the people from our country but also with other people from around the world. Just relax with music K-Pop or other music.

Folktale of Banyuwangi

THE FOLKTALE OF BANYUWANGI
EASTERN-MOST REGENCY EAST JAVA - INDONESIA

Once upon a time, there was a big kingdom located in East Java Province. This Kingdom was led by a fair and wise king. The king has a handsome son “Raden Banterang”. He is really like hunting. One day Raden Banterang said to his slave "This morning, I will hunt to the forest. Prepare a hunting tool for me". After all the hunting equipments were ready, Raden Banterang was accompanied by his servants went to the forest. When Raden Banterang was walking alone, he saw a deer crossing in front of him. He was then chasing the deer quickly and without being known he is in the middle of the forest. He separated from his servants.

Though he knew he got lost, he was still trying to find that deer. He was so curious to catch it, crossing the bush and trees in the middle of huge forest but still he couldn’t find the animal he wanted to catch. He felt tired and thirsty, luckily he found a river with its clear water. He drank the water slowly and washed his face till his thirst was gone. When he had finished drinking the water from the river, and wanted to move his feet, he was so surprised seeing a beautiful girl, “really she is so beautiful” he started talking in his mind.

“No way” “a beautiful girl? In the strange forest? “ “it couldn’t be, unbelievable”. Is she a gosh or an human being?” Slowly he ventured his self to get closer with the girl and askes “are you a girl or a forest gosh?” She smiled and said that she is an human being and her name is Surati from Klungkung Kingdom. She was there because she tried to escape herself from the enemy and his father had passed away when he tried to protect his kingdom. Raden Banterang felt sympathy with her life, he wanted to help and asked her to go with him back to his palace. Time flied and finally they got married.

One day, Princess Surati walked alone out of the palace and someone shouted to her “Surati! Surati!” a man with ragged and dirty cloth called her. She recognized him cause he is her brother “Rupaksa”. Rupaksa told her that Raden Banterang was the person who killed their father and he asked her to take a revenge. Surati told him that she has got married with Raden Banterang, she didn’t want to take a revenge to him. Since Surati didn’t want to help her brother to take a revenge to Raden Banterang, Rupaksa was so angry with her, but he gave her a red headband and he told her to keep it under her bed.

Raden Banterang didn’t know about her wife and her wife’s brother meeting since he was hunting in the forest. When he was in the middle of the forest, suddenly a man with ragged and dirty cloth came to him and said “My lord, Raden Banterang, your safety is being threatened and it was your wife the one who planned it. You can see the proof under her bed, there is a red headband. It belongs to the man who is ordered to kill you, my lord.” And then, after said that he disappeared directly.

Raden Banterang started to believe what the man said to him in the forest and he was back home and straight to his wife bed. He tried to find the red headband and he found it! He told to his wife “this is the proff, this red headband is a proof that you wanna betray me, you wanna kill me, how dare you! So this is your thankful to me?” Surati denied all the charge against her and she said “please believe me, I didn’t do that. I never wanna betray you my husband.” But Raden Banterang still didn’t believe her. He wanted to hurt her before she killed him.

Raden Banterang intended to drown his wife to a river. After arriving near the river, he told her about his meeting with a strange man in the forest. She told him that he is her brother who gave her the headband. Still Raden Banterang didn’t believe her . Then Surati said to him “my husband, please open your heart and mind, I will give my life and soul to protect your safety but give me a chance to tell you about the meeting between my brother and I.”

Surati said again “My brother is the one who wanna kill you. He ask my help but I refuse it.” Raden Banterang heard all the explanation but his heart wasn’t melt at all. He even thought that his wife was lie to him. Surati shouted to him “My husband, I’ll jump to this river, if the water is clear and has fragrant smell, it means I am not fault! But if the water is muddy and has putrid odor, it means I am fault!” Raden Banterang thought what his wife told him was just a lie, then he draw his kris and at the same time, Surati jump to the river.

Only several second after her jumped, the magic happened, fragrant smell spread around the river. Realized what was happening, Raden Banterang shouted “My wife is not fault! This river is aromatic! No!” How regret Raden Banterang was. He cried and so sad loosing his beloved wife and really regret how he could be so stupid, didn’t believe in her own wife. But it’s too late.

Since that time, the place where the river has fragrant smell called “Banyuwangi”. “Banyu” means “water” and “wangi” means “aromatic”. “Banyuwangi” then become the name of my hometown, a small city in East Java Island.

KUNTULAN FROM BANYUWANGI

HADRAH KUNTULAN

“HADRAH KUNTULAN” Kuntulan Tambourine, which is also called “Kundaran”, is one of the many art traditions that still survive till now on in Banyuwangi. The various journey changes that characterize Kuntulan showed its intelligence facing any changes. Kuntulan is influenced by Arabic work of art which has Islamic nuance.

Not only the dancing movement, the music and also the songs, but also the unique collaboration between Banyuwangi art tradition and desert art. Her presence also adds to the treasury and colors of traditional arts in the country. The collaboration with various social and cultural realities of Banyuwangi’s society bring this art into a distinctive dynamic and complex issues at once.

The designation of “Kuntul” means “egret”, as a symbol, according to Sutedjo HN, humanist from Banyuwangi, this is as a representation of the social lifestyle which more concern about togetherness among the human beings. It is inspired from egrets who are always calling their friends when they find some food.

Another peculiarity in the arts or kundaran tambourine “Kuntulan” is the rhythm that has a strong character, aggressive and jerky even when performing, the music player look as hand in hand to create a dynamic and full tone so natural that the spirit of rock music typical Banyuwangi even occasionally we have to close ears because it’s so loud and the Jidor players sometimes like a man possessed when playing. The song is not always Islamic songs, but also include folk songs and sometimes pop songs that are popular today.

The Achievement of Hadrah Kuntulan have scent Banyuwangi and East Java province. Recorded in the national art scene, Hadrah Kuntulan has been bacoming a winner in the National Festival at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta.

Art tambourine Kuntulan also been plugging his nails at the International level. Several times this art performances abroad. Hadrah Kuntulan also had been performing in Japan collaborate with Barongan.

Traditional Batik Gajah Oleng

BATIK "GAJAH OLENG"

Gajah Oleng has so many meanings, some say “Oleng” is as big as an elephant (Gajah), Oling is an animal that is similar to an rice field eel but it have ears. Others say that, “Gajah Oleng” is a special weapon of Banyuwangi. Since Batik Banyuwangi is including one of coastal batik, so the motifs and the colors is like a freedom.

This “Gajah Oleng” batik motif, motivated by the heroism of Blambangan society who don’t want to be "colonized" so that the word "Sing" which is the name of the Banyuwangi original ethnic. “Osing” means they don’t want to be the same as Batik from Mataram or Bali, then bring out different batik motifs and colors.

Batik Gajah Oleng symbolizes something forces, which grew from the Banyuwangi community identity. Its meaning related to the character of a religious community. With the mention of Elephant eling, which means being aware of (considering) the creator's wisdom is a good way to live a life of Banyuwangi.

In addition, the connection with the mysterious figure in the history Blambangan. Conquest Blambangan by Mataram, which at the time of Sultan Agung Hanyokro Kusumo (1613-1645 M). Where is the power of Mataram, many subject Blambangan brought to the center of Muslim rule in Plered Mataram, Kotagede. They are a lot of batik learning in the Islamic Mataram palace.

History of batik has been known by tradition palace in Java since the 15th century. In particular, in the reign of Sultan Agung. After a development period of political interests mutualism occurs, by setting the tradition of batik as a tradition of an identity. Mastery of the culture that surrounded her. Interestingly, the figure of a typical batik Banyuwangi unaffected Mataram or any element of Bali.

Less gregetnya batik in Banyuwangi does not mean do not have the aesthetic value of decorative architectural or decorative ornamental. Precisely cultivate Banyuwangi batik means digging back in terms of aesthetic value or Blambangan scattered on the existing remnants of Archaeology.

Traditional Ritual Dance "Gandrung"

"GANDRUNG" RITUAL DANCE FROM BANYUWANGI

The Gandrung is a ritual dance that initially came into being to express devotion to the goddess of fertility and rice, Dewi Sri, in Indonesia. A beautiful, classical dance, it has evolved over time to become a sort of courtship dance that portrays a girl looking for a man. In Javanese, the word Gandrung stands for desperately in love or being infatuated. Thought to have originated in Banyuwangi in East Java, the dance is also popular in Lombok and Bali, where it is performed at social events, weddings, or to engage tourists.

While there are a number of dancers on the stage, the focus of attention is on a single dancer who is either an unmarried girl or a boy dressed up as one. Sometimes, transvestites also star as the main dancer, and there could also be more than one main dancer on the stage. Typically, the Gandrung starts are around 9:00 p.m. with dancers performing all night. Ending before dawn, the dance is on par with other dances like the tayub, ketuk tilu, and the lengger, which come from different parts of Java.

The main dancer is exotically dressed in a traditional costume, ornamental headgear, shawl, and a beautiful fan. The dancer uses this fan or the shawl enticingly during the dance to indicate interest in a member of the audience. He or she may either tap the person with the point of the fan if close by or throw the shawl to the person. The invited person usually dances together with the dancer.

The invited audience member may gift the dancer a little money to show appreciation. Considered the welcome dance of Banyuwangi, the city itself acquired the term the City of Gandrung. Its native people are the Osing, and the dance is thought to express their personality. The dance form portrays influences from Madura, Java, and Bali. The music has a Balinese flavor, while the dance moves can seem Javanese or Madurese from time to time.

Over the years, the Gandrung lost its ritual connection with the goddess Dewi Sri and is now sometimes performed as a courtship dance outdoors in certain parts of Lombok. Originally, the instruments musicians used were violins, gongs, drums, and kenong. Over time, they added others such as bonang, gamelan, xylophones, and terbang.

Musicians may also use other instruments, like angklung, saron, and gendangs. At times, a singer may also lend his or her voice to a Gandrung dance. The exotic music is quite vibrant and varies depending on the area where the dance is performed.