Thursday, April 29, 2010

Jugun Ianfu: Suffering that never ended

Jugun ianfu or Comfort women is a euphemism for women working in military brothels, especially those women who were forced into prostitution as a form of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.
Around 200,000 are estimated to have been involved, with estimates as low as 20,000 from some Japanese scholars and estimates of up to 410,000 from some Chinese scholars, but the exact numbers are still being researched and debated. Historians and researchers have stated that the majority were from Korea, China, Japan and Philippines, but women from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and other Japanese-occupied territories were also used in "comfort stations". Stations were located in Japan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, then Malaya, Thailand, then Burma, then New Guinea, Hong Kong, Macau, and what was then French Indochina.
Young women from countries under Japanese Imperial control were reportedly abducted from their homes. In some cases, women were also recruited with offers to work in the military. It has been documented that the Japanese military itself recruited women by force. However Japanese historian Ikuhiko Hata stated that there was no organized forced recruitment of comfort women by the Japanese government or military.
The number and nature of comfort women servicing the Japanese military during World War II is still being actively debated, and the matter is still highly political in both Japan and the rest of the Far East Asia.
Many military brothels were run by private agents and supervised by the Japanese Army. Some Japanese historians, using the testimony of ex-comfort women, have argued that the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were either directly or indirectly involved in coercing, deceiving, luring, and sometimes kidnapping young women throughout Japan's Asian colonies and occupied territories.

Jugun Ianfu in Indonesia
Mardiyem is one of the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery during the period 1942-1945 pedudukan. His story as a sex slave tertutur in a book titled "Momoye: They Call Me" written by Eka Hindra with Koichi Kimura and published in 2007.
Mardiyem is an orphan who daily work as servants in the palace with the task of taking care of horses and carriages. Age 13 years when the local Japanese authorities opened an opportunity for girls to be a showman. Because fond of singing, he went to register. Those selected must undergo a medical examination. "My brother did not you want to ride the boat, far away Borneo could two to three days on the ship, so his body should be healthy ...," the reasons given Soesroedoro physician's assistant who opened the practice in the area Panembahan, Yogyakarta, told Mardiyem who knows only that he would join a play group Pantja Soerja in Borneo.Mardiyem addition, there are about 40 other girls aged between 16-22 years are superimposed to a boat to Borneo in August or September 1942. Only Mardiyem and three other girls who just turned 13 years old, namely Soetarbini from Tedjokusuman, Karsinah from Tamansari, and Jaroem from Sosrowijayan. One ship, but all sorts of hope that kept the women who were transported from Java to Borneo's. Mardiyem expect him to be a player plays according to promise, but there are others who expect a job as a housemaid or houseboy to eat. When they finally landed in Borneo, the fate that awaits utterly beyond any hope of that ever existed on the ship.After the war, the punishment was not less cruel society. They unilaterally declared a moral flaw, simply because they are considered 'old whore'. To avoid discrimination, many of them choose to hide their past or living isolate themselves in grief and misery to end their lives. They are the victims of humanitarian crimes that never get any assistance to heal the physical, mental as well as their deep inner. They really took it all alone in this. There was never any official recognition from any party that they actually are victims of crimes against humanity and deserved justice.
In 1993, ex Jugun ianfu Mardiyem become the first Indonesian to complain of his fate companion law, namely to LBH Yogyakarta, as a first step to pioneer the struggle to find justice for Indonesian women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese military authorities during the occupation period from 1942 to 1945 . Two years later, accompanied by LBH Yogyakarta Mardiyem go to Japan for the first open problem ianfu Jugun Indonesia in international forums. A year later Mardiyem got an invitation from one of his lecturers Japan to promote his testimony as a Jugun ianfu on campuses Sakura Affairs.In the final moments, Mardiyem give a message to the Indonesian government in order to disseminate Jugun ianfu to the young generation and to streamlining the curriculum history of education in Indonesia, especially about who and why is there Jugun ianfu. Mardiyem not agree terms mean Jugun ianfu equated with a 'pelacur', as currently exist in schools history books.

source:
http://jugunianfuindonesia.org/
http://langitperempuan.com/
http://swaramuslim.net/
http://sejarahkita.blogspot.com/
http://detiknews.com/
http://koalisiperempuan.or.id/
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com/

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Big Holes in Indonesia

1. Mining holes Batu Hijau in Sumbawa

Batu Hijau mine is an open pit mine which is a copper and gold mine. These mines operated by Newmont Mining Corporation subsidiary PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PT Newmont). This mine is located 1530 kilometers (950 miles) east of the capital Jakarta, Indonesia in Sumbawa, in the District Taliwang south, an island in West Nusa Tenggara. Mine is the result of ten years of exploration and development programs are based on the discovery of porphyry copper deposit in 1999. Production began in 2000.

2. Mining holes Grasberg in Papua
Grasberg mine is the largest gold mine and third largest copper mine in the world. Located in Indonesia's Papua province near the Puncak Jaya, the highest mountain in Papua, and has 19 500 employees. It is majority owned by a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, based in the United States (67.3%), together with its subsidiary, PT Indocopper Investment Corporation (9.3%), and Indonesia (9.3%) ; and revenue sharing joint venture with Rio Tinto Group (13%). The cost to build the mine on the mountain of U.S. $ 3 billion. In the year 2006, an estimated 2.8 billion tons of reserves valued at 1.09% copper, 0.98 grams / ton gold and 3.87 grams / tonne silver. Production in 2006 was 610 800 tons of copper; 58,474,392 grams of gold, and 174 458 971 grams of silver.

source:
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com
http://kaskus.us
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://googleearthplaces.com

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Revisi of my post "The Oldest Kingdom in Indonesia"

10. Sunda Kingdom (669-1579 AD)
Kingdom of Sunda (669-1579 AD), according to the script Wangsakerta a stand-replacing royal kingdom Tarumanagara. Sunda kingdom founded by Tarusbawa Çaka 591 in the Sunda (669 M). According to primary historical sources from the 16th century, this kingdom is a kingdom, which covers an area which is now the province of Banten, Jakarta, West Java Province, and the western part of Central Java Province.
Based on the primary codex Bujangga Manik (narrating the journey Bujangga Manik, a Hindu priest who visited the Sunda sacred places of Hinduism in Java and Bali in the early 16th century), which is currently stored at Boedlian Library, Oxford University, UK since 1627), limits to the east of the Sunda kingdom is Ci pamali ("pamali River", now known as Kali Bradford) and Ci Serayu (which is currently called Kali Serayu) in Central Java Province.

9. Kanjuruhan Kingdom (6th Century)
Kanjuruhan is a Hindu kingdom in East Java, whose center was near Malang city now. Kanjuruhan alleged to have been founded in the 6th century AD (still contemporary with the Kingdom Taruma around Bekasi and Bogor now). Written evidence of this kingdom is the inscription Dinoyo. Its king is Gajayana famous. Another relic is the Temple and the Temple Wurung Clown.

8. Kalingga Kingdom (6th Century)
Kalinga is a patterned Hindu kingdom in Central Java, whose center located in Jepara area now. Kalinga already exist in the 6th century AD and its existence is known from the sources of China. The kingdom was once ruled by Queen Shima, who is known to have whoever stole the regulations, will cut his hand.
Putri Maharani Shima, Parvati, is married to Crown prince named Mandiminyak Galuh Kingdom, which later became the second king of the Kingdom of Galuh.
Maharani Shima has a grandson named Sanaha who married the third king of the Kingdom of Galuh, namely Brantasenawa. Bratasenawa Sanaha and have children named Sanjaya, who later became king of the Kingdom of Sunda and Galuh Kingdom (723-732 AD).
After Maharani Shima died in the year 732 AD, Sanjaya replaces the great-grandfather and became the king of Kalinga kingdom of the North, later known as the Earth Mataram, and later founded the dynasty / Wangsa Sanjaya in the Ancient Mataram Kingdom.
Handing over power in West Java to the son of Tejakencana, namely Tamperan Barmawijaya aka Rakeyan Panaraban.
Then King Sanjaya to marry the daughter Sudiwara Dewasinga, King of the South or the Earth Sambara Kalinga, and had a son namely Rakai Panangkaran.

7. Barus Kingdom (6th Century)
Barus is a continuation of the imperial kingdom in Barus after the entry of Islam to Barus. Islam was introduced to Barus in the early emergence of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
In an archaeological excavation, discovered tomb Mahligai a historic burial ground Rukunuddin Sheikh and Sheikh Usuluddin which marks the emergence of Islam to Indonesia in the first century AD in District VII Barus.
This cemetery length approximately 7 meters tombstone decorated by some peculiar and unique to read Arabic, Tarikh 48 H and Tomb Objects Mahligai is for Muslims Religious Tourism World is Located 75 km from Sibolga and 359 km from Medan City .
The first king who became a Muslim is King Kadir, who then passed on to his children who later styled Sultan.
Kadir is the successor kingdom of the King who had the hereditary rule and is a descendant of King Barus Pardosi Alang, once established the first center in Toddang Kerajaaannya (tundang), Tukka, Pakkat - also known as the country Rambe, who migrated from the clan Balige Pohan.
In the 6th century, has stood up a new authority established by the Sultan of Barus Ibrahimsyah coming from Tarusan, Minang, Batak descent from a collection of clans Pasaribu, which eventually form the leadership in Barus Dulisme.

6. Tarumanegara (358-669 AD)
Tarumanagara or Taruma Kingdom is a kingdom that once ruled in western Java in the 4th century until the 7th century AD Taruma is one of the oldest kingdoms in the archipelago that leave the historical record. In historical records and relics of royal artifacts around the site, it seems that at that time the kingdom Taruma homage to Vishnu is the Hindu kingdom.
When given the historical record or inscription that is, no definitive explanation or notes about who is the first time establish Tarumanegara kingdom. King of the ever powerful and very famous in the annals is Purnawarman. In 417 he ordered the excavation and Candrabaga Gomati River (Kali Bekasi) along the 6112 spear (about 11 km). Excavation is completed, the king entered into salvation with menyedekahkan 1000 cows to the Brahmins.
Evidence of the existence of the Kingdom Taruma known with seven stone inscriptions were found. Four in Bogor, one in Jakarta and one in Lebak Banten. From the inscriptions it is known that the kingdom led by Rajadirajaguru Jayasingawarman in 358 AD and he ruled until 382 AD Grave Rajadirajaguru Jayasingawarman around the river Gomati (Bekasi region). Tarumanegara Kingdom is a continuation of Salakanagara.

5. Kutai Martadipura Kingdom (350-400)
Kutai Martadipura is patterned Hindu kingdom in the archipelago which has the oldest historical evidence. The kingdom was located in Muara Kaman, East Kalimantan, precisely in the Mahakam river upstream. Kutai name is taken. Kutai name given by experts to take from a place of discovery of an inscription which indicates the existence of the kingdom. There are no inscriptions that clearly mentions the name of this kingdom, and indeed very little information can be obtained.

4. Sekala Brak Kingdom (3rd Century)
Sekala Brak is characterized by a Hindu kingdom and is known as a Hindu kingdom Sekala Brak after the arrival of the Four Umpu Pagaruyung who spread the religion of Islam and subsequently became Kepaksian scale Brak, located at the foot of Mount Pesagi (the highest mountain in Lampung) The forerunner of the tribe Lampung ethnic nation today.

3. Melayu Tua Jambi (2nd Century)
Dharmasraya merupakan nama ibukota dari sebuah Kerajaan Melayu di Sumatera, nama ini muncul seiring dengan melemahnya kerajaan Sriwijaya setelah serangan Rajendra Coladewa raja Chola dari Koromandel pada tahun 1025.
Dalam naskah berjudul Chu-fan-chi karya Chau Ju-kua tahun 1225 disebutkan bahwa negeri San-fo-tsi memiliki 15 daerah bawahan, yaitu Che-lan (Kamboja), Kia-lo-hi (Grahi, Ch'ai-ya atau Chaiya selatan Thailand sekarang), Tan-ma-ling (Tambralingga, selatan Thailand), Ling-ya-si-kia (Langkasuka, selatan Thailand), Ki-lan-tan (Kelantan), Ji-lo-t'ing (Cherating, pantai timur semenanjung malaya), Tong-ya-nong (Terengganu), Fo-lo-an (muara sungai Dungun, daerah Terengganu sekarang), Tsien-mai (Semawe, pantai timur semenanjung malaya), Pa-t'a (Sungai Paka, pantai timur semenanjung malaya), Pong-fong (Pahang), Lan-mu-li (Lamuri, daerah Aceh sekarang), Kien-pi (Jambi), Pa-lin-fong (Palembang), Sin-to (Sunda), dan dengan demikian, wilayah kekuasaan San-fo-tsi membentang dari Kamboja, Semenanjung Malaya, Sumatera sampai Sunda.

2. Salakanagara Kingdom (130-362 AD)
This kingdom is a kingdom in West Java was the first ever recorded by history. Salakanagara, based on the Manuscript Library Wangsakerta Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantara (who prepared a committee with its chairman Prince Wangsakerta) is thought to be the earliest kingdoms in the archipelago).
Name experts and historians who proves that the Tatar Bantam has a history of values is high, such as Husein Djajadiningrat, Tb. H. Achmad Hasan Mu'arif Ambary, Halwany Michrob and others. Many of their findings has been compiled in the writings, reviews or in books. Not to mention the names like John Miksic, Takashi, Atja, Saleh Danasasmita, Yoseph Iskandar, Claude Guillot, Ayatrohaedi, Vishnu Handoko and others who add insight about the Bantam become more spacious and open with his works made both in Indonesian and English.
Founder Salakanagara, Dewawarman ambassador is around, traders as well as foreigners from Pallawa, Bharata (India), who eventually settled for marrying the daughter of a local prince.

1. Kandis Kingdom (Before Century)
Kingdom is estimated to stand before a century, predating the establishment of royal Moloyou or Dharmasraya.
Two figures are often referred to as the king of this kingdom is Patih and Tumenggung.
Jambi Lubuk ancestors are believed to be descended from Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain Wali Allah. Iskandar Zulkarnain three sons named Maharaja Alif, Maharaja Maharaja Depang and Kings split up looking for new areas. Alif to Banda Ruhum Maharaja, Maharaja Depang to China and Maharaja Airport to Kings Island Gold (Sumatra). When docked in the Golden Island, Kings Maharaja and his entourage set up a kingdom called the Kingdom which is located in Bukit Kandis Burn / Mount Bakau. This area is green and fertile region which is surrounded by crystal clear rivers.

source:
http://mozaikminang.wordpress.com/
http://ahmadsamantho.wordpress.com/
http://kaskus.us/
http://buaypernong.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://id.wikipedia.org/
http://melayuonline.com/
http://pariwisata.lampung.go.id/
http://bureketo.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Top 10 The Famous Female as Indonesian National Heroes

10. Maria Walanda Maramis

Maria Josephine Catherine Maramis, (born at Kema, North Sulawesi, December 1, 1872 - died in Maumbi, North Sulawesi, 22 April 1924 at age 51 years), or better known as Maria Walanda Maramis, is a National Hero of Indonesia because of his efforts to develop situation of women in Indonesia at the beginning of the 20th century.

9. Nyi Ageng Serang
Nyi Ageng Serang original name Raden Ajeng Kustiyah Wulaningsih Retno Edi (Serang, Purwodadi, Central Java, 1752 - Yogyakarta, 1828) was an Indonesian national heroine. He was the son of Prince Natapraja that controls the remote areas of the Mataram kingdom which is now exactly in Serang Grobogan border-Sragen. After his father died Nyi Ageng Serang replace his father. Nyi Ageng Serang is one of the descendants of Sunan Kalijaga, he also has a national hero is a descendant of Soewardi Soerjaningrat or Ki Hajar Dewantara. He is buried in Kalibawang, Kulon Progo. He was a national hero who was almost forgotten, maybe because his name was not as popular as RA Kartini or Cut Nyak Dhien but he is a boon to the country ini.Warga Kulon Progo monument immortalize him in the town center of sculptures Wates he is a gallant horse carrying a spear.

8. Martha Christina Tiahahu
Martha Christina Tiahahu (born in Nusa Laut, Moluccas, January 4, 1800 - died in the Banda Sea, Maluku, January 2, 1818 at the age of 17 years) is a girl from a village on the island Nusalaut Abubu. Born around the year 1800 and at that time took up arms against the Dutch colonialists 17 years old. His father is Paul Tiahahu Kapitan, a lieutenant from the land of Thomas Abubu who is also assistant Pattimura Matulessy in the war against the Dutch in 1817.
Martha Christina listed as a unique freedom fighter's is that of a teenage daughter who directly engage in the battle against the Dutch colonial army in the war Pattimura year 1817. Among the fighters and the community up among the enemy, he was known as a brave girl and resolutely against the ideals of struggle.

7. HR. Rasuna Said
Hajjah Rangkayo Rasuna Said (born in Maninjau, Agam, West Sumatera, 14 September 1910 - died in Jakarta, 2 November 1965 at age 55 years) was one of Indonesia's independence fighters and also an Indonesian national hero. Like Kartini, he is also fighting for the equality of rights between men and women. He is buried in the TMP Kalibata, Jakarta.

6. Cut Nyak Meutia
Cut Nyak Meutia also known as Cut Meutia was born in Perlak, Aceh in 1870. When she grew into adulthood, she married Teuku Sam Searah. They divorced not long after the marriage.
Cut Nyak Meutia's new husband was Cut Muhammad or Teuku Cik Tunong. Differing from his brother, Cut Muhammad did not obey the Dutch because he didn't admit the colonization of Aceh by the Dutch. Therefore, Cut Muhammad and his wife worked hand in hand with the Acehnese to fight against the Dutch.

5. Cut Nyak Dien
Cut Nyak Dhien (old spelling: Tjoet Nja 'Dhien, Lampadang, the Kingdom of Aceh, 1848 - Sumedang, West Java, November 6, 1908; buried in Mount Crested, Sumedang) is a National Hero of Indonesia from Aceh who fought against the Dutch in the Aceh War.

4. Siti Hartinah
Raden Ayu Siti Hartinah (born in the village of Cork, Surakarta, Central Java, August 23, 1923 - died in Jakarta, 28 April 1996 at age 72 years) is the second Indonesian president's wife, Retired General Suharto. Siti Hartinah, who daily called "Tien" is the couple's second child and Raden Ayu KPH Soemoharjomo Hatmanti Hatmohoedojo. He is canggah Mangkunagara III of maternally. Tien Suharto married on December 26, 1947 in Surakarta. Siti later awarded the title of national hero RI shortly after his death.

3. Fatmawati
Fatmawati real name Fatima. Born in Bengkulu in 1923 and died in Jakarta in 1980 and was buried in Rubber bivouac, Jakarta. She was the wife of the 3rd of the First President of Indonesia, Soekarno. He is also known for his service in sewing Flag Heritage Sang Saka Merah Putih is also flown on Indonesia's Independence Proclamation ceremony in Jakarta on August 17, 1945. Of his marriage he was blessed with 5 Soekarno children.

2. Dewi Sartika
Dewi Sartika (born in Bandung, December 4, 1884 - died in Tasikmalaya, 11 September 1947 at age 62 years) is a pioneer of education for women, is recognized as a National Hero by the Indonesian Government in 1966.

1. RA. Kartini
Raden Ajeng Kartini, or actually more accurately called Raden Ayu Kartini, (born in Jepara, Central Java, 21 April 1879 - died in Rembang, Central Java, 17 September 1904 at age 25 years) was a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. Kartini is known as a pioneer of women's indigenous.

source:
http://id.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://kaskus.us
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com
http://tokohindonesia.com
http://indonesiaindonesia.com

Thursday, April 15, 2010

5 plane crash in Indonesia, with most casualties

5. Casualties killed 104 people.
December 19, 1997. SilkAir Flight 185 was a routine commercial flight service airline SilkAir from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia to Changi Airport, Singapore. On December 19, 1997, at around 16:13 pm, Boeing 737-300 aircraft serving these routes have an accident crashed in the Musi River, Palembang, South Sumatra. All of the 104 people who were in it (97 passengers and 7 crew members) were killed, including pilot Tsu Way Ming and co-pilot Duncan Ward. Among those killed in the crash was Singaporean model and author Bonny Hicks.

4. Casualties killed 107 people.
Pan Am Flight 812, a Boeing 707-321B, was a scheduled international flight from Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia with an intermediate stop at Denpasar, Bali. On April 22, 1974 it crashed into a rough mountainous terrain while preparing for a runway 09 approach to Denpasar after a 4 hour 20 minutes flight from Hong Kong. Location of the accident is about 42.5 nautical miles North-West of Ngurah Rai Airport.
Examination on the disposition of the wreckage and inspection of the site indicated that no structural failure of the aircraft occurred before impact. It was determined that the premature execution of a right-hand turn to join the 263 degrees outbound track, which was based on the indication given by only one of the ADFs while the other one was still in steady condition is the most probable cause of the accident.

3. Casualties killed 143 people.
5 September 2005. Indonesia Mandala Airlines Flight 091 was a Boeing 737-200 owned by Mandala Airlines crashed in the area Padang Bulan, Medan, Indonesia on 5 September 2005. This accident happened as the plane was taking off from Polonia Airport, Medan. The plane was flying majoring in Jakarta and Medan to transport 116 people (111 passengers and 5 crew). Previously reported that the plane carrying 117 people but a passenger plane. Passengers who survived were 17 men and 44 people on the ground also become korban.Pada October 12, 2006, NTSC stated that based on the results of the investigation, Flight 91 fell due to the condition of the flap and slat (adder tool lift the aircraft during take-off) that does not go down as well as procedures check list of equipment that does not fit the requirements.


2. Casualties killed 191 people.
December 4, 1974. Martin Air aircraft leased to Garuda Indonesian hajj flight crashed while landing at the airport will Colombo, Sri Lanka, and caused 191 deaths.

1. Casualties killed 235 people.
26 September 1997. Garuda Indonesia flight GA 152 was an Airbus A300-B4 aircraft that crashed in the village of Fruit Nabar, Sibolangit district, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia (about 32 km from the airport and 45 km from the city of Medan) is now about to land at Polonia Airport, Medan on 26 September 1997. This accident killed all 222 people on board are numbered and 12 crew and up to now is the biggest plane crash in Indonesia's history.
The plane was en route from Jakarta to Medan and have been preparing for landing. Polonia Airport control tower lost contact with the plane at around 13:30 pm. When the occurrence of these events, the city of Medan was thick smoke from the fires blanketed the forest. The thickness of the smoke causes the pilot was very limited range of view and just rely on guidance from the control tower Polonia, but kesalahmengertian communication between the control tower to the pilots caused the aircraft taking the wrong direction and crashed into a mountain cliff.
From all the people killed, there are 44 dead victims could be identified which was subsequently buried at Monument Membramo, Medan. Among the casualties, other than citizens of Indonesia, also carrying passengers to U.S. citizenship, the Netherlands and Japan.

Bonus: The Missing Plane
1. January 1, 2007.
Adam Air Flight KI-574 was a scheduled domestic airline Adam Air is majoring in Surabaya-Manado, which prior to transit in Surabaya from Jakarta, is lost in flight. The black box was found at a depth of 2000 meters on August 28, 2007. All the passengers and crew numbering 102 missing and presumed dead. On March 25, 2008, the cause of the accident as announced by the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) is bad weather, damage to navigational aids inertial Reference System (IRS), and failure of pilot performance in dealing with emergency situations.

2. January 31, 1993.
SC-7 aircraft of Pan Malaysian Air Transport Skyvan registered 9M-PID lost 35 minutes after taking off from Polonia. The aircraft with 11 passengers and 3 crew members crashed in the forest area of East Aceh, no one has found its ruins.

source:

The Indonesian man who survived an earthquake by sawing off his own leg

An 18-year-old construction worker trapped in the rubble of a building that collapsed during the earthquake in Indonesia escaped after sawing off his own leg.

Ramlan, from Padang, was working on the seventh floor of a building under construction when the quake hit the city on 30 September.
The teenager's leg was crushed beneath a falling concrete girder as he and his colleagues were attempting to flee the building, leaving him trapped and alone.
Ramlan attempted to pull his leg free so he could escape to safety, but found himself trapped. He was able to reach a hoe, and began to hack at his leg, but the blade was too blunt to penetrate the bone.
Fortunately, his mobile phone had survived undamaged, and Ramlan was able to telephone his friend and colleague Eman, who returned to the building to help.
Eman, 53, located a trowel, and handed it to Ramlan, who continued to hack at the crushed limb, but again found he could not penetrate the bone. Eman then found him a saw, and Ramlan began to saw through his leg, but was too weak to continue.
Eman, who lives in the same street as Ramlan and calls him Adik, which translates as "little brother", took over and amputated the leg before winding his T-shirt around the wound and carrying Ramlan to the Yos Sudarso hospital.
Doctors there were able to staunch the bleeding, and performed a more orthodox amputation higher up the limb.
Ramlan was visited in hospital by Caritas, an international partner of the British charity Cafod, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Speaking to Caritas charity worker Tim O'Connor yesterday, Eman said: "I just thought I have to save my friend and I raced back up to where he was. I did not think of the danger, just of the welfare of my friend."
Brendan Gormley from the DEC – made up of 13 UK charities – said Ramlan's bravery was typical of many survivors. "Ramlan's actions were extraordinary and the courage and determination he showed is typical of many survivors with whom we are working."
Charities have been delivering aid to tens of thousands of survivors in and around Padang since the earthquake. Cafod and partner charity Caritas have delivered tarpaulins to villages and aim to assist 27,500 people, while World Vision is distributing 12,000 family emergency kits, including sleeping mats, blankets and soap. The Red Cross has more than 300 volunteers distributing relief items.
Oxfam is providing clean water and shelter in the region, and has sent mobile water treatment plants to Padang, while Christian Aid and Save the Children are supporting thousands of households.
So far 704 people have been confirmed dead in Indonesia and343 missing. An estimated 1,500 people were injured in the quake, 600 of them severely. Search and rescue teams say there are no more survivors in the collapsed buildings.

source:
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com
http://oddee.com
http://guardian.co.uk
http://tempo.co.id

Cannibalism in Indonesia

Individual

Sumanto (born in Purbalingga on March 3, 1972) was an Indonesian cannibal who comes from Purbalingga, Central Java. In early 2003, he stole the corpse of a grandmother who had just buried, and then ate because they believe this will give him supernatural powers. Sumanto belief based on mystical beliefs of local and expert opinion that Sumanto mental disorders.
He was sentenced to prison for 5 years but was released to coincide Eid Day 2006 (October 24) after a few times to get remission. Now he's rumored to be in a boarding school.

Poeple
The Korowai of Papua, Indonesia may be the only tribe left in the world to practice ritual cannibalism. It is said that they kill and eat members of their tribe that have been convicted of witchcraft, although this may just be a ploy to attract tourists. Apparently the brain is most tasty part of the victim’s body and is eaten raw while still warm. Korowai houses are built high on stilts. It is thought that this design evolved through a need for protection, owing to the once rampant practice of cannibalism on the island. Members of the Fore tribe, who live on the opposite side of the island to the Korowai in what is now Papua New Guinea, are thought to have contracted the degenerative brain disorder Kuru (also known as laughing sickness) through the ritual consumption of their own dead tribesmen.The Korowai, also called the Kolufo, are a people of southeastern Papua (i.e., the southeastern part of the western part of New Guinea). Their numbers are very roughly estimated at about 3,000. Until the 1970s, they were unaware of the existence of any people besides themselves and some immediately neighboring villages. Only a few of them have become literate thus far.
The Korowai have been reported to practice ritual cannibalism up to the present day. Anthropologists suspect that cannibalism is no longer practiced by the Korowai clans that have had frequent contact with outsiders. Recent reports suggest that certain clans have been coaxed into encouraging tourism by perpetuating the myth that it is still an active practice.In 2006, the television show 60 Minutes claimed that when someone in Korowai society is convicted of being a khakhua (secret witch doctor) he or she is tried, and if convicted he or she is tortured, executed, and eaten. Other unverified claims were made that the brain is usually eaten immediately, while still warm, and that pregnant women and children don't participate in the cannibal act.
The distinctive high stilt architecture of the Korowai houses, well above levels of flood-water levels is a form of defensive fortification- to disrupt rival clans from capturing people (especially women and children) for slavery or to be eaten in cannibalism. The height and girth of the commonly ironwood stilts also serves to protect the house from attacking arson – to set the huts alight and smoke out the hiding inhabitants.


source:
http://tempointeraktif.com
http://weirdworm.com
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Indonesia to be recognized in Guinness Book of World Records for deforestation rate

Greenpeace is using an novel marketing ploy to raise awareness about forest loss in Indonesia: the Guinness Book of World Records. The green group has convinced the publisher of to recognize Indonesia as the "country with the fastest rate of forest destruction on the planet."
According to Greenpeace, the text will read:
"Of the 44 countries which collectively account for 90% of the world's forests, the country which pursues the world's highest annual rate of deforestation is Indonesia with 1.8 million ha (4,447,896 acres) per year between 2000-2005 - a rate of 2 per cent annually or 51 square km (20 square miles) every day."
Hapsoro, an Indonesian Greenpeace forest campaigner, said "It is a national shame for Indonesia to own this distinction in the record books. These record rates of destruction make Indonesia not only the fastest forest destroyer but also the world's number one greenhouse gas polluter from deforestation."Indonesia's high rate of forest loss is largely the result of poor forest management and corruption. Each year thousands of hectares are illegally logged for timber and burned to establish oil palm plantations.
Greenpeace has used the "award" tactic in the past, notably with the "Golden Chainsaw" prize, which was awarded in 2005 to Blairo Maggi, Governor of the State of Mato Grosso. At the time Maggi, known as the "King of Soy", was one of the largest destroyers of the Amazon rainforest.
Indonesia will be officially be awarded its "highest deforestation" title in the 2008 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. Greenpeace made the announcement as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was meeting in Bangkok to discuss ways to cut carbon dioxide emissions. One of the proposals on the table considers compensating tropical countries, like Indonesia, for conserving their forests. Tropical forests lock up large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate global warming.

source:
http://news.mongabay.com
http://reddit.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

Indonesian village snacks on soil for better health

In Indonesia, soil is not just a raw material for bricks and ceramics, it's also a snack that one family has been making for generations.
Tuban, in East Java Province, is the only village that produces "ampo," a snack made from clean, gravel-free dark earth collected from nearby paddy fields.
Although there is no medical evidence, villagers believe the soil snacks are an effective pain-killer and pregnant women are encouraged to eat them as it is believed to refine the skin of the unborn baby.
There is no real recipe: makers of the snack use a wooden stick to pound the soil into a hard, solid mass.
Rolls of dirt are then scraped off the with a bamboo dagger, baked and smoked in large clay pot for half and hour and then they're ready to serve.
The better the quality of the soil, the better the taste of the snack, its creator, fifty-three year-old Rasima, says.
Rasima, who like many Indonesians only has one name, makes ampo everyday to sell at the local market, just like her ancestors.
She is the village's only ampo producer, and can earn up to $2 a day to supplement her family's income from farming.
"The ampo-making has become a family tradition in the village and I do not know exactly when it started," she said.
"All I know is that it was made by my great-grandmother and it was continued by my grandmother then my mother and now I continue to make it."
Rasima says her knack for finding good soil comes from her job as a field worker.
"I work in the paddy fields of others, looking for banana and teak leaves, so my job is always in touch with nature," she says.
Fans say the soil snacks have a cool, creamy texture.
"I think the taste is nice and I usually eat this. It is nothing special, it feels cold in my stomach," said Siti Qomariyah, who has been eating the snacks since she was a child.
In Tuban, a village in the East Java province of Indonesia, earth is used to make “ampo” a creamy snack believed to have medicinal properties.
According to Rasima, the ampo cook of Tuban, there is no real recipe to making this bizarre snack. All she does is look for clean, gravel-free soil, in the village’s rice paddies, pound it into a solid block, using a stick, and scrape rolls out of it,with a bamboo dagger. The rolls of soils are then baked and smoked for an hour. Rasima then takes the earthy snacks to the village market, where she earns about $2, to supplement her family’s income.
Tuban is the only earth-eating village on the planet. There are people, around the world, who enjoy eating sand, or kaolin, but not baked soil. Villagers believe ampo is a natural pain-killer, and that it makes babies’ skin softer, if eaten by their pregnant mothers.
As for the taste of ampo, “it’s nothing special, it feels cold in my stomach” says one of the Tuban locals, who has been eating ampo, ever since she was a child.
source:
http://reuters.com
http://odditycentral.com
http://unp.co.in
http://trickfist.com
http://ubervu.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Java Treasure Trove – Indonesia

The treasure trove is the most recently found. The find contains close to 14,000 pearls, 4,000 rubies, 400 dark red sapphires, and more than 2,200 garnets. They were found on a ship that sunk off the shores of Indonesia more than 1,000 years ago. In addition to jewelry, the treasure hunters found tiny perfume flasks, jars made of baked clay, slender-necked vases, and brightly coloured glassware from the Fatimides dynasty that once ruled ancient Egypt. They also found dishes adorned with dragons, parakeets and other birds; porcelain with finely-carved edges; teapots decorated with lotus flowers; and celadon plates with their glaze intact. The find is valued at several million dollars; 50% of which will go to the government of Indonesia. 10th Century wrecks are extremely rare and this find fills a large gap in our knowledge of that period.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Tallest Statues in Indonesia


4. Avalokitesvara Boddhisatva Statue (22.8 m)
If you’re traveling to Siantar or on an excursion to Lake Toba in Prapat, have a stop off at Vihara Avalokitesvara in Pane street, Siantar. Help yourself to pray (for Buddhist) or admire the statue of Kwan Im (Quan Yin) that is recorded by MURI (Indonesia’s Record Museum) as the biggest Avalokitesvara Bodhissatva Statue in Indonesia.Kwan Im statue in Siantar was built in 3 years and made public on 15th November 2005. The 22.8 meters granite statue was ordered from China as the heighest statue in South East Asia.
For Buddhist, Kwan Im is regarded as the Goddess of Mercy and known as Bodhisattva or Buddha-To-Be, human being that is almost reaching enlightment and perfection. The position of Kwan Im in Siantar is called “The Sutra Holder Quan Yin” out of 33 other positions.
Kwan Im is also called Avalokitesvara, identical to the Vihara in which the statue is in. Aval means “hear” and lokite means “world” and svara means “voice” which summarizes “Hearing voices of the world”. “Avalokitesvara, as buddhists believed, is compassion. And those who suffer will be heard”, said Monk Dhyanavira of Vihara Avalokitesvara.
The statue is surrounded by “Catur Mahadewa Raja” (guardians of hell, who’s noting merits/misdeeds done by mortals). The site is also featured with a giant bell and a praying wheel. At the lower part of the site, 33 small Kwan Im statues are circling the big statue.
The Kwan Im statues is now one of religious sites to visit in Siantar, visited by many tourists as well as pilgrims especially on holiday and holy day of Buddhist.

3. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue (23 m)
Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana, or Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) is a private cultural park on the Bukit Peninsula at the southern end of the island of Bali in Indonesia. Bukit is a limestone plateau with Uluwatu to the west and Nusa Dua to the eastern.
It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who is his companion.Currently, the statue of Vishnu is 23 m high, although the original plan was for a 146 meter gold plated Vishnu riding Garuda on top of an 11 storey entertainment complex. The idea was not without controversy, and religious authorities on the island complained that its massive size might disrupt the spiritual balance of the island, and that its commercial nature was inappropriate.

2. Christ Blessing Statue (30 m)
Christ Blessing (in Manado language is Kristus kase Berkat) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Manado City, Indonesia. The statue stands 50 metres (158.3 feet) tall and consists of 20 metres of pedestal and 30 metres of statue. It is made of 25 tonnes of metal fibre and 35 tonnes of steel, and is located at the peak of the CitraLand residential estate. This statue has become a new icon of Manado city and unveils one of Asia's tallest Jesus Christ statues.The idea came from Ir. Ciputra, an Indonesian real estate developer, when he and his wife stood on the place where the statue now. The statue is build for Manado and North Sulawesi society and to worship God. The construction took nearly 3 years by Yogjakarta Engineer. The cost of the monument was five billion rupiah (about 540,000 dollars).
This statue has a declivity 20 degree and is made from fiber and steel and became the "first flying tallest statue in the world".

1. Jalesveva Jayamahe Statue (30.6 m)
Monument of Jalesveva Jayamahe (Monjaya) is great evidence and very amaze suborder masterpiece. An endowment of high history value, as the reflection of the highness of Indonesian nation as the maritime nation one. The other meaning of this statue figure is as the readiness symbol to receive the devotion from generation to the next generation.This monument is a statue as high as 30,6 meters, which sustained by a building as high as 30 meters. This statue depict a Commandant of Indonesian Maritime Army complete with his honor sword upstanding to stare towards the sea fully confidence and seriousness ready to dash against the wave and go through storm, which have shown, that is the aspiration of Indonesian nation.
Monument of Jalesveva Jayamahe taken away from TNI AL motto that means, "In the sea we are glorious" its height is 60 meters. The building consisted of concrete building domed four floors 30 meters that taken as copper statue fulcrums as high as 30 meters. At part of this building wall is made the history of maritime combatants warrior diorama (TNI AL) since revolution physical era until 90-an year.

source:
http://indonesiatop.blogspot.com
http://eastjava.com
http://kamaruddin.jajanmedan.com
http://id.wikipedia.org
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com

Indonesian Conjoined Twins

Kembar Siam di Indonesia

1970
Indonesia's first recorded set of conjoined twins are born to the Minarsih family in 1978.

1980
Pristian Yuliani and Pristian Yuliana are born in Indonesia on July 31, 1987. The craniopagus twin sisters are joined by a very small section of skull and are separated without complications on October 21.

Conjoined twin sisters Franciska and Teresa are born in Indonesia in 1989.


1990-1994
Omphalopagus twin sisters Manda and Adinda are born in Indonesia on March 23, 1992, and separated on September 23.

1995-1999
In February of 1996, sisters Norma-Hafisah and Norma-Nafisah Aghnia are born in Indonesia, They are omphalopagus twins and are separated on September 11, 1996.

Thoracopagus twin girls Rena and Reni are born in Indonesia on March 4, 1997, and separated in August.

Eka Dwi Apriliani and Eka Dwi Apriliana Misbachrudin are born in Yogya, Indonesia on April 29, 1998. Joined at the abdomen, the sisters die at 11 days while awaiting possible separation surgery.

Anandya and Anindya Yoris Safadia are born conjoined at the chest and abdomen in Indonesia on June 1, 1998. The twin sisters undergo separation on May 25, 1999.

Omphalopagus twin boys Barkah and Slamet Sardi are born in Indonesia on September 12, 1999, and undergo separation on February 29, 2000.


2002
Thoracopagus twin boys, Iksam and Ilham, are born in Indonesia on June 6. They undergo separation on September 1, but Ilham dies.

Thoracopagus twin girls, nicknamed Dedeh I and Dedeh II, are born in Bogor, Indonesia, on May 30. Both sisters die on June 20 while awaiting separation surgery in Jakarta.

Falah Perani Nuraida and Falah Perina Nurfarida are born in Indonesia on April 21. "Rina" and "Rani" are ischio-omphalopagus twins. Separation is attempted on February 26, 2003, but sadly both sisters die.


2003
Ischiopagus tripus conjoined twin boys, Abdurrahman and Abdurrahim, are born July 13 in Indonesia to Rodiah and her husband Asep (many Indonesians use only one name). Sadly, the boys die on July 24 from congenital defects.
Another pair of conjoined twin boys are born in Jakarta, Indonesia in early April. Doctors are planning on waiting several months to see if the boys, Hafizd and Harits Darmawan, can be separated.


2004
Thoracopagus twin girls, Mariana and Mariani Bahri Aisyah are born in Indonesia on Aug. 21. They are successfully separated on July 26, 2005.

Thoraco-omphalopagus twin girls, I Gusti Dwipayanti and I Gusti Dwipayani, are born in Indonesia on May 1. "Yani" and "Yanti" undergo separation on Jan. 28, 2005 and sadly, Yani passes away on Feb. 3, 2005.

Twin thoracopagus boys, Ardi and Arda, are born to Sutikno, 26, and Marlina, 23, in Wates Village, Tangerang, Indonesia on Apr. 9. Each pass away on April 12. ]

Thoracopagus twin girls, Nugroho Yuliana and Nugroho Yuliani Hariyani are born in Indonesia on March 7. Both twin girls pass away on March 22.

Ischiopagus tripus twin girls, Anggi and Anjeli Harmaini, are born in Indonesia on Feb. 11. They are successfully separated in surgery in Singapore on May 23, 2005.

The first of at least five sets of conjoined twins are born in Indonesia on Jan. 17 with the arrival of omphalopagus girls, Siti Maryati and Siti Maryani Kusnaini. They are successfully separated Feb. 11, 2004.


2005
Thoracopagus twin girls, nicknamed Listiyani I and Listiyani II, are born to Ni Wayan Listiyani, 20, and I Wayan Yasa Artana, 22, of Tianyar Village, Bali, Indonesia on September 19. The sisters share a single deformed heart and survive for just ten days.

Xipho-omphalopagus twin girls, Salwa and Salma Umiyati, are born to Nurdin and Tutik Umiyati in Tulungagung, East Java, Indonesia on July 1. The twins are successfully separated on Oct. 1.

Twins known as Nurlela I and Nurlela II, but later renamed Mia and Nia Ayu Lestari, are born to an Indonesian couple, Nurlela and Mulyadi, on March 22. The sisters are thoracopagus twins, born sharing a pericardium, or the membrane that surrounds the heart. They are separated at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta on June 11 in a six-hour operation. Both twins have congenital heart defects and Nia passes away on June 17, with Mia following on June 28.

Conjoined twins Amir Mukti Abadi and Amir Mahmud are born in Jombang, East Java, Indonesia on February 25, joined at the chest and with multiple birth defects. Nicknamed "Abad", Amir Mukti Abadi has no liver of his own, while Amir Mahmud, known as "Little Abad" is parasitic, with no facial features, heart or brain of his own. The twins are divided in a 2-hour operation, led by Dr. Teguh Sylviantoro, at the Integrated Surgery Center of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya, on June 3, 2005. Amir Mahmud passes away and is buried in the twins' hometown.


2006
Dicephalus twin girls Naila and Laila Asmaul Husna are born in Indonesia on October 21. The family lives in Tlekung-Gangsiran and the twins share two heads, four arms (two fused), two chests, two hearts, and two legs. The twins undergo surgery to remove their cumbersome inner pair of arms, but will not be separated.

Also in Indonesia, Deva Eka Syamitha and Devi Eka Syamitha are born to Marce Louk Panggi, 23, in Bali on October 4. Rare parapagus tripus twins, the sisters share a heart and both die on October 10.

A set of dicephalus dibrachius twin girls are born to an Indonesian couple, Nuryati and Mulyadi, on August 6, 2006, and given only one name, Syafitri, because they have only one heart. Nuryati does not know she is pregnant with twins until she is seven months pregnant, at which point an ultrasound does not detect that the twins are conjoined. Syafitri live only about twenty days.

Sisters Ananda Oktavia Ramadani and Andini Oktavia Ramadina are born to Puniah and her husband Sukandar in Grobokan Village, East Java, Indonesia, on October 1. Conjoined at the chest and sharing a malformed heart, the sisters die during an operation to separate them at Daerah Public Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, on November 2. Their father asks that the operation continue so that "Dani" and "Dina" can be buried in separate caskets in their native village.

Thoracopagus twin sisters Yesa and Yesi are born in Kodya Palembang, Indonesia, to Herdiana and her husband M. Yunus on September 18. They are brought to the RSCM in Jakarta and undergo an operation to insert tissue expanders under their skin, the first stage in separating them, on April 28, 2007.
A set of dicephalus dibrachius twin girls are born to an Indonesian couple, Nuryati and Mulyadi, on August 6, 2006, and given only one name, Syafitri, because they have only one heart. Nuryati does not know she is pregnant with twins until she is seven months pregnant, at which point an ultrasound does not detect that the twins are conjoined. Syafitri live only about twenty days.

Anita Rismayutin Rayahu and Yunita Rismayutin Lestari are born in Imogiri, Bantul, Indonesia on January 10, to 26-year-old Umiyatun and 33-year-old Riswanto. Sadly, their mother Umiyatun dies of blood loss after giving birth to the sisters. The ischiopagus tetrapus twin sisters undergo separation on August 5 in Yogya. Further reconstructive surgery is performed on Anita on April 26, 2007


source:
http://twinstuff.com/
http://indonesianow.blogspot.com/
http://pontianakpost.com/
http://detiknews.com/
http://tempo.co.id/
http://surabaya.detik.com/
http://arsip.net/
http://opinibureto.blogspot.com

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Indonesian Floral Emblem

Lambang Bunga Nasional Indonesia


Bunga Melati (Jasminum sambac)
Jasminum sambac (syn. Nyctanthes sambac) is a species of jasmine native to southwestern and southern Asia, in the Philippines, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Common names include Arabian Jasmine, Full (فل) (Arabic), Bel/Beli (Bengali), Mogra (Hindi and Marathi), Mallikā (Sanskrit), Kampupot, Melati (Malay and Indonesian Language), Sampaguita (Filipino), Mallepuvvu (Telugu), Mallikaipu (Tamil), dundu Mallige (Kannada) and Kaliyan (Urdu). The botanic name sambac is derived from a misapplication of the Sanskrit name champaka, which refers to the fragrant flowered shrub Michelia champaca.It is an evergreen vine or shrub reaching up to 1-3 m tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, simple (not pinnate, like most other jasmines), ovate, 4-12.5 cm long and 2-7.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced in clusters of 3-12 together, strongly scented, with a white corolla 2-3 cm diameter with 5-9 lobes. The flowers open at night, and close in the morning. The fruit is a purple-black berry 1 cm in diameter.
flower is known as sampaguita and was adopted by the government as its national flower in 1937. Filipinos string the flowers into leis, corsages and crowns and distill its oils and sell them in stores, streets, and outside churches. The garlands may be used to welcome guests, or as an offering or adornment in religious altars. Its oil is believed to be a cure for headache.
In Cambodia, the flower is used as an offering to the Buddha. Since 96.5% of Cambodians are Buddhists, it is widely known throughout the country. The season of the flower begins in June, the month that provides the most rain. During this month, many civilians thread the flower buds onto a wooden needle to be presented to the Buddha.
In Bengali, the flower is known as beli and is extremely popular for its sweet fragrance. It is used to make garlands to adorn women's hair. And in South India, too, they are strung into thick strands and worn as a hair adornment. In Hawaii, the flower is known as pikake, and is used to make fragrant leis.
In China, the flower is processed and used as the main ingredient in jasmine tea.


Bunga Anggrek Bulan (Moon Orchid)
Phalaenopsis amabilis, commonly known as the Moon Orchid, is a species of orchid.
It was first discovered on a small island off the east coast of New Guinea by native botanist Georgius Everhardus Rumphius in 1653; however, he named it Angraecum ablum majus. It remained undiscovered until 1825 when Karl Ludwig Blume discovered the same species and gave it the name it is known by presently. This species is usually found in the eastern to southeastern regions of Asia. Plants in this genus are typically widespread in the areas of eastern Asia, such as China and Indonesia. This particular species wide-ranges from Indonesia to Australia. In fact, this species is one of Indonesia's national flowers (along with Jasminum sambac and Rafflesia arnoldii).Plants of this genus have a uniform structure that makes the identification easy for novice botanists. Phalaenopsis amabilis, like most of the other species in this genus, has a short stem. This is believed to be an adaptation to gain the light requirements needed to grow, according to Christenson. The rooting of P. amabilis is usually unbranched. The only times it would be branched are if the roots are damaged or if the individual has gotten old in age. The leaves of P. amabilis vary from oblong to elliptic at the base and obtuse, minutely, at the tip or apex and measures at 50 × 10 cm. The moon orchid's flower is showy, membranous, white, the lip, (the unpared petals of an orchid) which is three-lobed, and the callus are a variety of yellow and red depending on the individual plant. It is able to bloom for a long period of time and can grow up to 10 cm in diameter and more.
Phalaenopsis amabilis reproduces sexually through pollination. This plant grows its flower to attract the pollinator. It is generally pollinated by large carpenter bees from the genus Xylcopa. For this particular species in the Phalaenopsis genus the pollination frequency and success rate is high (about 50%).
P. amabilis and the other species in the same genus grow naturally in three distinct habitats. The first is in seasonally dry areas, then seasonally cool areas and last constantly moist or humid areas (Christenson), developing adaptions for each habitat. For the seasonally dry habitats, Phalaenopsis species have an extreme adaptation in which it adopts deciduous habits, losing its leaves. They do this because in dry habitats, leaves are a serious liability when water isn't easily accessible. This adaptation typically occurs in species found outside the Himalayan region. For the habitats that are seasonally cool areas, the species found there are all deciduous or semi-deciduous in nature which means these plant have a strong dormant rest period. In this dormant period, the plants have protection from the cold due to the high carbon to nitrogen ratio and low water content on the leaf tissue. The constantly moist and humid habitats are the most common places that someone can find many of the Phalaenopsis species. In this habitat, the species grow in the canopy evergreen forests. Because they grow in the canopy, the species' adaptation is growing leathery leaves to prevent desiccation and so that the plants can tolerate higher light levels than other species.
According to Dressler, the plants of this family are thought to be closely related to plants that would have been classified in the Liliaceae or the Amaryllidaceae families.


Bunga Bangkai (Rafflesia arnoldii)
Rafflesia arnoldii is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on earth, and a strong odor of decaying flesh - the latter point earning it the nickname of "corpse flower". It occurs only in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian Archipelago. Although there are some plants with larger flowering organs like the Titan Arum and Talipot palm, those are technically clusters of many flowers.
Several species of Rafflesia grow in the jungles of southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Many of them are threatened or endangered. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest which attains a diameter of around one meter (3 ft) and can weigh up to 11 kilograms (24 lb). The largest recorded flower was measured at 1.04 metres on February 11, 2010, in Malaysia on the edge of the Cameron Highlands.It lives as a parasite on the Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in primary (undisturbed) rainforests. Rafflesia lacks any observable leaves, stems or even roots, yet is still considered a vascular plant. Similar to fungi, individuals grow as thread-like strands of tissue completely embedded within and in intimate contact with surrounding host cells from which nutrients and water are obtained. Perhaps the only part of Rafflesia that is identifiable as distinctly plant-like are the flowers; although, even these are unusual since they attain massive proportions, have a reddish-brown coloration and stink of rotting flesh, which is why it was nicknamed the "corpse flower". This scent attracts insects such as flies which then pollinate the rare plant. It is not to be confused with the Titan Arum, Amorphophallus titanum, which is also commonly referred to as the "corpse flower".

source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/
http://national-flowers.info/
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
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