PAPUMA IT'S AN ANNUAL RITUAL

It's an annual ritual. The name is the float offerings, and Sunday afternoon ( 12/12/2011) was held at white sand beach Malikan ( PAPUMA). there is a crowded with fragrant incense. A piece of goat's head was placed on a miniature ship and paraded together toward the ocean.

The parade people were wearing traditional javanese dress, with accompaniment of reog singo budoyo, they entered the monastery yard, and stopped at one of the niches where offerings. This is Vihara Dewi Sri Wulan. the most color was predominantly red: with round towers latticed gold soaring. Inside the niche a lion and a stork stand.
This monastery is said used to be just a small hut. A philanthropist, who did not want to be know, is helping to build a luxurious monastery. more than 30 people were working together to build a monastery for a year. This monastery was called as the vihara Dewi kwan Im, the biggest and the only one that are facing at the southern ocean. No other temple has this uniqueness. the only one in south east asia. many people who come and worship here and giving the greater income. There are even foreign tourist such as germany, iran, israel, and china who come here.
In this niche monastery, the prayers were chanted for the offering, before being taken on the beach. in the middle of the papuma beach a number of elders and the monastery leaders encourage "ship" offering into the sea. The offerings that are manifestations of gratitude's fishing communities in the south of jember. on the abundance of fish harvest occurs throughout the year. forever.
float public offering are also describing of jember southern harmony. Artist, rangers, police, traditional leaders, religious leaders and guard monasteries, all of there. last year, barongsai become an art tradition that was played. this year, reog be an option. the night before, leather puppets and held in advance of the event in that afternoon.
for some people, float the offering is a blend or a number of element of religious syncretism : muslim, javanese, and confucianism. this event has been held for give times during the last fast five years. in its development, more and more peopole and tourist who are interested in this ceremony. of course, this is a unique cultural tourism assets and attractive. not only promote the beauty, but also the meaning of peaces is a difference of the diverse society.

REOG IN PENDALUNGAN

Reog is derived from Ponorogo, Indonesia East Java. But in jember, reog is also feeling like at home, especially in the southern region. in fact in Jember reog is not only played by those who are from or having a blood ties with the citizens of ponorogo.

How come reog is also found in jember ?? All were started from the colonial government's effort to bring the labors from mataraman plantations of the region to work in Jember. Dutch made jember become a regional supplier of plantation crops, ranging from tobacco to sugar. Separated from their hometown, the labors formed the reog arts groups as a part of strengthening self - identity.

The are two groups of the oldest reog in jember, namely in the village helter ambulu district and village kesilir wuluhan. they've been around since the 1950s. in fact, some people say, since the 1920's. Curently, there are 23 groups reog in jember, like kalisanen, sidodadi, helter, drupal, wuluhan, until the district kencong.

they manage this group with a self help and independence. it is difficult for having a fully  expect from region government. fortunately there is jember university to support the development of reog. here, the community was born from student namely sardulo anorogo, which means humble tiger. rectorate also support the reog activities, by making the colossal stage that showing every year in the moment of celebration the university anniversary.

During this time, there is a problem about regeneration reog group who are far away from ponorogo. The most difficulties regeneration is in position of pembarong and pengrawit, especially for the position of trutempeters  and drummers.

the presence of sardulo anorogo in jember make reog more diverse spread of enthusiasts, and is easier for making regeneration. the members of the community are coming from lumajang, gresik, tulungagung, jember, probolinggo and even from bali.

if calculated since 1993 untiil today, the community already has a thousand members. Now, some of them have their own reog group or give training for school in Ngawi, Madiun, or Ponorogo itself. these diasporas capabilities that making the reog always survive. In therms of grip, sardulo anorogo is also able to contribute its own style. Sardulo Anorogo has adapted art movements of other traditions, such as banyuwangi style gamelang jaranan or the addition of attraction models. the main grip is still reog ponorogo, but there is a color of pandalungan locality.

when malaysia has claimed this art, the players, actually, got up and excited more than usual. they want to show, that reog belongs to INDONESIA.

JEMBER, CITY OF PLANTATION

It is jember 's destiny to become a city of plantation, Around 1850, George Birnie, a dutch of Scottish descent, opened a tobacco plantation at jember and sold their products to Europe, Birnie employed some people from Blitar and Madura. Birnie did not only plant tobacco as a raw material for cigarettes, but also coffe, rubber and chocolate. later jember became a research center for coffee and chocolate. in the 19th century, Jember is a part of Bondowoso regency. The plants were cultivated along the Argopuro mountain slope.

Beside tobacco, coffee, rubber, and chocolate, Jember also produced sugar cane. At Semboro sub district, a sugar company was established in 1920s which is still running up to now. As plantation area Jember becomes a favorite tourist destination for foreign tourist, especially the dutch, who wish to have a nostalgic experience. Until the area became nationalized in 1958, the dutch used to manage the plantation. until now, some colonial buildings formed nearby the plantation area are still being maintained and show contemporary heritage.

the plantation are essential assets to promote agricultural tourism. today, people need a rest from their daily routines, and going back to nature seems to become an objective. in the plantation tourism project, people can walk around to see the production process of tobacco, sugar, or chocolate. This agricultural tourism project introduces us to something new which we owned a lot of from nature.

A TRADITION

         
Bird cages are a tradition. that's what can be found in Dawuhan Mangli Village Sukowono Region  in Jember East Java Indonesia. Most of the people here make bird cages more than just a source of earning. men and women work in quality here, women usually paint the cages, and they can also do men's work in installing the bars of the cages. they work from morning to almost dawn at their houses which are also their workshop. they just like what kahlil gibran said " work is love made visible".

they are real role models for their children. at first, bird cages were made from rattan. as the rattan became rare, they now make the cages from regular wood.

 

they sell the cages to Jakarta, Bandung, Jogja, Solo and Madura. The well maintained quality makes it possible for them to keep their way of life until now. Sukowono bird cages have been on regular demand for koong festival in jember. this bird singing festival is held annuality during visit jember month.

TWO BEAUTIES OF THE SOUTHERN SEA

       Jember, located in east java, Indonesia has huge potential from its multicultural community as well as its breathtakingly beautiful natural resources. the geographical location of jember is shaped by fertile valleys on the south and the central part, mountain ranges on the north and the east, and Indonesian ocean on the south with Nusa Barong island the only island in the regency. with its fertile valley, jember has always been know as an agronomic destination, its also popular for its multicultural people with their different crafts. let's also not forget the gorgeous beaches that the city has. so, come visit and enjoy the attractions that jember has to offer.

       Every agrees that jember has breathtakingly beautiful natural resources. some out of town friends of mine always have their jaws dropped when visiting PAPUMA, for one example. "have you seen the sunset there? it's unbelievable!" the problem is, of course that jember's name always on and off in term of tourism destination. not to be compared with BALI, Jember is even still far  behind Batu. In Batu people can earn  their living from tourism.

PAPUMA BEACH

        One way to improve this is of course by promotion. promotion and tourism is an inseparable package, for promotion creates image.
The southern sea always related to myth,  mystery and magic. big waves and folklores. here, also lie the two beauties of beach tourism ; WATU ULO and PAPUMA.
Watu Ulo is never far from jember's name. This beach tourism destination is located in sumberejo village, ambulu region. The beach is 40 kilometers south of the city center and can be reached by car or motorbike. with the temperature of 25-32 degrees celsius, it has the perfect sunshine. The Rp 4000,- entrance ticket is quite affordable. when the school vacation starts, student flock to this beach.
        Watu Ulo, just like its name which name snake stone, has along coral resembling a snake coming from the shore into the sea. There are entertainment shows and handicraft market for ten days every lebaran.

not far form watu ulo, there is a white sandy beach called pasir putih manikam (PAPUMA). Circled by forested hills, we can often see monkeys roaming free. the forestry department built seven cottages, seven gazebos, and handicraft shop here. the cottages which are structured by coconut wood, are located on higher ground. they are perfect for sunset watching.

 it takes much more precaution to swim in the southern sea: the sea is notorious for its killer waves which have drowned some reckless swimmers. it might be letter just to sit back, relax and eat delicious seafood while watching the scenery

 there are a lot of myth and legend involving the southern sea. the most well known one is about the queen of the southern sea ( nyi roro kidul) who would take any beach -goes wearing green clothes to be her eternal slave in her kingdom at the bottonm of the sea. most of the javanese living on the south coast believes that nyai roro kidul is the goddess of sea harvest and holds " Larung sesaji " rituals for her annually. the received some religious touch after islam came in and now it is held every 7 syawal or ketupat day. this is  the fisherman's thanksgiving for their good harvest.