HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, INDONESIA!

As Indonesia celebrates its 69th Independence Day today, the 17th of August, I thought I’d share the story, of their official emblem. Garuda, the anthropomorphic mythical figure is their National symbol/emblem, however there is a large difference between the mythical figure and what Indonesia uses as their emblem. The official emblem, Garuda, is embedded with a coat of arms containing the five principles of the state, PANCASILA, and its motto- BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA (Unity in Diversity). The Indonesia Garuda on the emblem is a Javanese Eagle and not the original mythical creature. The look on the face is stern and towards the side which emphasizes its strength as a national symbol. The bird carries the Motto of the Indonesian State and not the elixir of immortality as depicted in mythology. The Mottos is derived from an old, pre-Islamic, Javanese literature which can be translated into English as –“The essence of Buddha and Shiva are of difference substance, they are different indeed but how can they possibly be separated; Buddhism and Shivaism are different but one; they are two but one, because the truth cannot become two.” This depicts the Indonesian state standing together despite their many differences and also the fact that it’s a largely Muslim country. It is a reminder to be peaceful and to embrace, in kindness, their differences. The Garuda has a coat of arms embedded on its chest. These represent the five principles of the nation- Pancasila. The elements are- A Central Star- representing the oneness of God. The five tips are for the official religions of the country-Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Now Confucianism has also been accepted. A Chain- the symbol of Humanitarianism, a just and civilized humanity. A Banyan Tree- this is to show national unity. A sacred tree with deep connections, that reach deep into the layers of Indonesian identity. In Bali, Banyan trees are thought to be living beings an each on has a shrine addressed to its soul. A Bull- represents the principle of democracy. A symbol of strength and also being a social animal. The Two Twigs of Rice and Cotton- these depict the principle of social justice that represent sustenance and livelihood. In a world where a majority of a multi-cultural states are destroyed by never ending conflicts about loyalty to ones state, religion and ethnicity, Indonesia stands as an island of peace. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, INDONESIA!

Whats in a Name (Balinese Name Traditions)

When i set foot in Bali for the first time, I was utterly confused as almost everyone I was introduced to seemed to have the same set of names. It took me some time to figure out the system and finally get the method or system of recognizing people's names. The naming system is unique and native to the island of Bali and to some extent its neighboring island of Lombok. Bali has a strong majority of Hindus and most of the names given are from Sanskrit origins though many still use the Balinese name. The names given to people are based on their order of birth, regardless of the gender of the person. Only four names are used in this system though they maybe some variations which may arise due to caste, traditions or even because of the difference in language between the regions in the north and the south. The most frequent and widely used four names in Bali are as follows- Wayan, Putu, Gede - The first Born Made, Kadek, Nengah - The second Born Nyoman, Komang - The third Born Ketut - The fourth Born. The Caste system although not as important as compared to the Indian system still has a role to play with regard to the naming system. It is said to have evolved from the Javanese region with influences from the Hindu-Buddhist sects. The naming system of the peasant farmers of Bali precedes the idea of caste. These people are largely a mix of 'native' Balinese and very early Hindu-Buddhist missionaries and their followers, who did not arrive in Bali with successive waves of Javanese nobles and military rulers. They form the caste level that would be called Sudra in India, that is, people outside the triwarna, or three colors (Wesya, overseers and minor aristocracy,Ksatria, nobles, kings and warriors and Bhramana, the highest caste comprising teachers, priests, writers and philosophers). This "farmer caste" comprises the vast freemasonry of the Balinese villages, as set out above, this caste uses names to denote birth position. It is an ingenious way for peasant farmers to keep track of inheritance questions, Wayan, for first born, Made for second, Nyoman for third and Ketut for fourth. The three castes, use a caste identifier as the first part of a name. SUDRA - There are no special names given to people from this caste and they use the names which denotes their birth. In local tradition they will only add 'I' (For males) and 'Ni' (For Females) in front of their names. WESYA - 'Gusti Bagus' (Male) and 'Gusti Ayu' (Female) KSATRIA - I Gusti Ngurah (Male) I Gusti Ayu (Female) Anak Agung (Male) Anak Ayu (Female) I Dewa/ Dewa Agung (Male) I Dewa Ayu/Desak (Female) The word Gusti refers to "Leader" where as Agung refers to "Great" or "Prominent". BRAHMANA - Ida Bagus (Male) Ida Ayu (Female)

AYAM CEMANI (COMPLETELY BLACK CHICKEN)

The 'Ayam Cemani' or the 'Completely Black Chicken' originated on an island called Java in Indonesia. A dutch breeder exported this breed to Europe for the first time in 1998. Currently they can be found in Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Rooster of this species can weigh up to 2.5 Kilograms whereas the hens weigh in a little less. What is remarkable about this bird is not just the colour of it outside appearance, but everything except its blood (Dark dark red) is black. Its meat, its muscles and even its bones are black. They are considered to be an extremely expensive bird to breed and the hens lay about 80 single eggs per year. This 'Ayam Cemani' is associated with a lot of black magic and it is believed that through it, many diseases are curable.

Welcome To Bali

Being fortunate enough to live in a place like Bali, I thought I'd share some facts about this remarkable island which is also knows and The Island Of The Gods or even a Surfer's Paradise. I however like to combine the two and call it God's Paradise. Being a small island (90km North to South and 140km East to West) it makes it easy to explore in just a day. Located just 2kms East of Java, Bali boasts of terrific climate and an exceptional landscape.A chain of six volcanoes, between 1,350 meters and 3,014 meters high, stretches from west to east. The island also has lush tropical rainforests, crater lakes, deep ravines and flowing rivers. The rice terraces and fruit and vegetable gardens are truly a sight to behold. The climate is constant between 24 degrees to 32 degrees through out the year. The beaches around the island usually have grey or black volcanic sand, however the south coast beaches have beautiful white sand.The combination of attractions, things to do and friendly people make Bali a place one must visit atleast once in their lifetime.The quietness and wisdom of older people is clear as one drives through the villages and the respect the younger crowd has is equally matched. The women are always well dressed and most of the time can be seen carrying offerings on their head, on their way to the next temple. All along the roads, the young men can be seen raising and pruning their fighting cocks which is a great sport on the island.The night life at Kuta caters to the younger generation whereas places like Sanur attract the older generation where one can sit on the beach and enjoy a meal.Nusa Dua is the so called business hub of Bali where all the bIg hotels are located and major conferences are held.Jimbaran is a great place at the south if the island where one can enjoy great BBQ seafood at sunset and watch the planes land and take off. The island where Hinduism is the prime religion, boasts of a large number of temples including the famous Baisakhi temple.Kintamani is a hot spot for tourists. Mt Batur is a great day trek and the sight of the volcanic crater (Kintamani) and its crater lake is truly a magnificent sight.I really could go on about this place but I'd like to leave some surprises for tourists as well. I can only warn people.This island could be the most addicting thing one has experienced in their life.