You will notice that most of these destinations are out of the way and rather hard to get to, but they are relatively easy to get to.
These places must have all captured your fancy for some reason or another. Save for the locations in Canada and Australia.
Here are the list of 13 places you would most like to find out :
1. Socotra (Yemen)
If you’ve seen photos from Socotra you’ll understand why this is a very special place. It is an island in the Indian Ocean located about 240km from the coast of Yemen. It is home to species found nowhere else on Earth. Moreover, they look really cool. It has been called the most alien looking place on Earth.
Pieces of batik hang in glass cases in the Batik Gallery at the Jakarta Textile Museum like illustrated pages jumping off history books.
Each piece tells the life stories and legends of a bygone era in Kudus, the smallest district in Central Java.
One piece shows a black-and-white motif of a capsized ship. The unique piece of batik tells the history of Adm. Cheng Ho, who came to Indonesia in the early 1400s. One of his ships capsized just off the coast from Mount Muria, a dormant volcano, washing its cargo and survivors ashore.
The ship’s cargo consisted of exotic spices from around the world that sprouted on the fertile land around the volcano and still grow there today. Its survivors, the admiral’s army, populated the villages below Mount Muria and are the ancestors of the people of Kudus.
Another unique motif from Kudus is Pakis Haji , or Queen Sago Palm, which depicts the palm’s deeply furrowed trunks and lush green foliage.
“Sunan Muria [the guardian of Muria] cut the tree trunk and made it into a cane that accompanied him during his travels across Java to spread Islamic teachings in the 16th century,” said Yuli Astuti, a batik Kudus artisan. “It’s believed that the cane had magical powers.”
Yuli was one of the pioneers who led a batik revival in Kudus in 2005.
Since the early 1900s, batik from Kudus has been famous for its pictorial and calligraphic motifs. It reached its golden era in the 1930s, when Lie Boen Ien and Liem Wie Tjioe, batik artisans of Chinese descent from the northern coastal city of Pekalongan, also in Central Java, relocated to Kudus and set up production centers.
They combined their expertise and knowledge with the local cultural elements of Kudus batik.
“That’s what makes Kudus batik so unique,” Yuli said. “It’s a multicultural product that combines local, Chinese and Islamic elements.”
The Chinese batik artisans developed vibrant flora and fauna motifs in Kudus, such as the ornate buketan , or floral bouquet, and the exquisite merak katelia peacock and Cattleya orchids, designs that can take more than one year to create.
Handmade Kudus batik went into decline with the introduction of printed and hand-stamped techniques in the 1970s. Customers preferred these new varieties because it was much cheaper, due to the shortened production process.
“By the 1980s, Kudus batik was near extinction,” Yuli said. “The young generation chose to leave batik-painting and work in cigarette factories that guaranteed more pay for less work.”
Kudus produces tobacco and cloves and is an important center for cigarette production, with more than 100 factories.
By 2005, there was only one batik artisan left in Kudus, Niamah, who was then 75 years old and did not have any children to follow in her footsteps.
The Kudus district government became concerned and invited embroiderers to Kudus to study batik under Niamah.
However, only about 20 people accepted the offer and attended the free workshop. Even fewer followed through with what they learned at the workshop and seriously pursued the craft.
“But I felt that it was my calling,” Yuli said. “So, after the workshop ended, I came to Niamah’s house almost every day to learn how to paint batik.”
At the end of 2005, Yuli closed down her embroidery shop and opened Muria Batik Kudus, a workshop and production center. To promote her craft, Yuli participated in textile exhibitions in Jakarta.
It was during one of these exhibitions at the Jakarta Convention Center in December 2008 that she met Miranti Serad and Ade Krisnaraga Syarfuan, members of a textile group called Rumah Pesona Kain. RPK was set up in 2005 as an organization for lovers of traditional Indonesian textiles.
The group aims to revitalize Indonesia’s traditional textile industry by training and motivating traditional artisans, reintroducing traditional textiles to the Indonesian market and promoting traditional Indonesian textiles abroad.
“Kudus batik is not only a work of art, but also a cultural product with a deep historical and philosophical meaning,” said Ade, one of the group’s leaders.
“Take the yellow-and-black motif that resembles undulating valleys. It was adapted from the Arabic inscription of ‘Allah.’ The batik reflects the deeply ingrained religious nature of the people of Kudus,” she added.
Ade and Miranti proposed including Kudus batik as part of RPK’s incubation program, which aims to revitalize the production of traditional textiles by training, motivating and funding traditional artisans. Currently, RPK’s program is active in 19 areas the country.
So the two began the job of helping to revive Kudus batik. At the time, the art form had lost much of its originality, so the pair conducted in-depth research and borrowed old pieces from collectors for local artisans to reproduce.
One of the collectors was Hartono Soemarsono, a batik entrepreneur who owns more than 600 vintage pieces from all over Indonesia.
“Kudus batik is a rare find,” he said. “It has exquisitesogan [brownish] hues like Yogyakarta and Solo batiks, yet they have more descriptive patterns.”
Fourteen of Hartono’s pieces of Kudus batik from the 1930s and the 1940s are now on display at the Jakarta Textile Museum until the end of the month.
“They’re very difficult to make,” Ade said. “The original motifs are very detailed and intricate. It takes between three and eight months to create them.”
RPK promotes the final products of all that effort in various textile expos in Indonesia and abroad. The groups has also invited a number of high-profile Indonesian designers to create collections using the textile.
Fashion designer Barli Asmara is one of them. The designer presented his collection “Pesona Batik Kudus” at Graha Bimasena in South Jakarta at the end of March.
“Kudus batik is still underexposed,” Barli said. “It’s not as famous as batik from Yogya, Solo or Pekalongan. Yet, it actually has very beautiful motifs that could be turned into chic outfits.”
Barli combined Kudus batik with intricate tobacco motifs, lace and brocade and made them into stylish dresses and flared skirts.
He also combined the batik with vibrant butterfly motifs, chiffon and taffeta to create elegant jackets.
“I wanted the young generation to realize that Kudus batik can also look young and trendy for their daily wear,” Barli said.
The designer’s work is on display at the RPK gallery in Epicentrum Walk in South Jakarta.
With so many exhibitions and fashion shows, Kudus batik has enjoyed a newfound popularity.
In April, Djarum, one of the country’s largest cigarette producers, which is based in Kudus, ordered 70,000 pieces of batik from Yuli for employee uniforms.
“It’s a special batik that incorporates traditional Kudus motifs, including tobacco leaves, cloves and shipwrecks,” Yuli said.
This year, the Kudus district government passed a regulation that requires all civil servants to wear local batik every Wednesday and Friday.
“Hopefully, this regulation will help to support the growth of the local batik industry,” Yuli said.
With growing demand, the industry has once again expanded and attracted young artisans.
Today, Yuli employs 40 paid artisans at her workshop. In her spare time, she organizes free batik workshops for students from elementary school to high school.
Talented participants from the workshops could get the chance to be hired as artisans for Yuli’s workshop. One of the newest hires is 21-year-old Malihatun. After graduating from high school in 2009, she took part in a workshop to learn how to paint batik.
“I love drawing,” she said. “So, painting batik is a way to channel my hobby.”
After she completed a three-month training course, she was asked to join the workshop full time. Malihatun jumped at the opportunity.
“I was so happy,” she said. “I am able to make a living out of what I like doing best.”
Some of her friends chose to work in the cigarette factories in Kudus, but Malihatun never looked back.
“I’m so proud of what I’m doing,” she said. “I’m actually creating a fashion product for people to wear.”
A high point for Malihatun came when she watched her favorite actor, Reza Rahadian, win the Best Actor Award at the Indonesian Film Festival in December last year.
On the television screen, the actor accepted his award in a black batik shirt, featuring a Queen Sago Palm motif that gave away its Kudus origin.
“I recognized it as the batik that we had worked on at the workshop,” Malihatun said. “So, I gathered all my friends and family members in front of the TV. I was so proud. It gave me a deep sense of satisfaction that no amount of money could buy.”
Indonesia is the largest archipelago and the fourth most populated country in the world. With over 17,000 different islands, Indonesia has just about every different kind of landscape imaginable. Mountains, volcanoes, rice terraces, bustling metropolitan cities, sleepy villages, beautiful beaches and so much more can be found within its borders. For those considering a trip to Indonesia, there are a few places that are must-sees that deserve special recognition.
Bali is one of those must-see places in Indonesia. With gorgeous beaches and pristine water set against a stunning backdrop of rugged coastline, volcanoes, and rice terraces, it’s easy to see why many believe that Bali is paradise on Earth. While many come to the island for its world-class surfing and other water sports, or to simply relax and enjoy one of the many beaches, Bali also has a wealth of cultural opportunities. While Indonesia as a whole is predominantly Muslim, the majority of people in Bali are Hindu, and their religion and culture shines through in their everyday life. Away from the beaches, the cultural heart of Bali is considered to be Ubud. Ubud has a number of historical sites, in addition to museums and galleries. The landscape surrounding Ubud is something to be seen as well, with rice paddies and terraces surrounding the town, enveloping the area in a sea of green.
Another beautiful and interesting cultural place to visit while in Indonesia is Borobudur. An ancient Buddhist stupa and temple complex, Borobudur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central Java. No one knows for sure as to who exactly built Borobudur, or even why it was built, though it’s thought to have been constructed during the 8th century. Along with the mystery of who built it and why, there’s no clear answer as to why Borobudur was abandoned, although many believe that it may have something to do with the area’s conversion to Islam during the 15th century. Regardless of the reasons, it’s a beautiful, awe-inspiring complex and a fantastic place to visit.
For those visitors who want to experience Batak culture and see the world’s largest volcanic lake, a trip to Danau Toba is in order. Danau Toba is located in Sumatra, and its beauty must be seen to be appreciated. With a backdrop of mountains set against the cool, clear water, it’s a great place to visit. The Batak people are another good reason to visit Danau Toba, as they are friendly, relaxed, and have a rich cultural heritage.
Visitors wanting to experience modern Indonesia should take a few days to explore Jakarta. The capital and largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta is everything one would expect from a city with around 10 million people, complete with shopping, dining, and nightlife options that make it one of Asia’s most exciting cities. Visit museums, parks, mosques, and markets while you shop and eat your way through the city. Jakarta can be chaotic and overwhelming, but it’s never boring, and it’s an interesting window into the lifestyle of urban Indonesians.
Intentional resting is method developed by Dan Howard. He has been teaching people for decades how to practice intentional resting over feeding adrenaline and allowing stress to continue to manifest itself. In this article, you’ll become familiar with the techniques of intentional resting and can try it out for yourself. The aim is to ultimately relieve yourself of the guilt, worry and anxiety and to learn to rest in a way that helps you to heal and move through the tough times in life.
Begin by focusing on a part of your body that is hurting you. It can be a sore part of your body or an inflamed area such as your neck or shoulders. Or, it might be your mind if it’s full of racing, uncontrollable, negative or unhappy thoughts. Or perhaps it’s your skin, your knees, your lymphatic system, your broken heart – just pick whichever part of your body is hurting most or causing you the most discomfort in your opinion.
Focus your willpower on the part of your body that you have decided is hurting. What do you notice when you do this? For most people, you’ll find that your body as a whole, including the painful area, tenses up. Be aware that this is a common strategy that we use to try and deal with pain – yet you’ve just learned that it doesn’t work so well!
Change your strategy. This time, pretend that the pain is no longer present. Ignore the pain and tell yourself that you’re not hurting. This strategy is like playing peekaboo – first you see it but then when you no longer pay attention to it, you expect it to go away even though it’s still very much there. Consider how this makes you feel – does the pain go away? No? You’ve just discovered another common strategy for dealing with pain that doesn’t work!
Stop trying. Now say the following phrase to yourself, either in your head or out loud: “I am resting for [name the area of the body that is hurting] now.” Then just pause. Think about what you notice now. For many people, focusing on resting works far better than working at trying to fix something relentlessly or to try and hide from it. Indeed, Dan Howard says that the more you work at trying to stop the pain, the less successful you will be. Instead, intentional resting requires that you notice what is going on in your body and then choose to rest what hurts.
Try different ways of telling yourself that you’re resting. This isn’t by any means an exact science and it’ll require some trial and error on your own behalf to find what works for you. For example, Dan Howard has found that some parts of his body respond better to saying “I’m resting into my [whichever part it is]” than saying “I’m resting for [that part]“. The aim is to find a settling feeling, a feeling that you’ve landed into deep restfulness for that pained part of yourself and you’re releasing yourself from unease, anxiety and discomfort. It’s a healing process and a restorative process.
Repeat until this method works best for you. It may take a number of attempts before the pieces fall into place and you discover how intentional rest soothes you and allows you to truly rest to the point of restoring your energy and reducing any pain.
Be accepting of the value of resting like it matters. Rest does matter and yet it is tied up in so many negative connotations such as being lazy, selfish or unaware that many of us are too guilt-ridden to treat rest as the restorative we deserve. Martha Beck points out that we need to watch animals to be reminded what real rest is like. She relates an incident where she was watching a pride of lions resting after an unsuccessful hunt. Instead of sitting around down and low about it (and analyzing what went wrong if they could do such a thing), they sat, purred and rested for hours, surrendering to the need to regain strenght rather than wallow in defeat. Yes, life can be hard and sometimes life stacks up all the odds against us and causes us to feel that we never get a break. However, by choosing to rest intentionally, you can heal the scars and restore your energy to face the challenges with greater strength and sense of purpose.
