Jakarta: Mie Bakso

Bakso or baso is Indonesian meatball or meat paste made from beef and is similar in texture to the Chinese beef ball or fish ball. Bakso is commonly made from beef with a small quantity of tapioca flour, however bakso can also be made from other ingredients, such as chicken, fish, or shrimp.

Bakso are usually served in a bowl of beef broth, with yellow noodles, bihun (rice vermicelli), salted vegetables, tofu, egg (wrapped within bakso), Chinese green cabbage, bean sprout, siomay or steamed meat dumpling, and crisp wonton, sprinkled with fried shallots and celery. Bakso can be found all across Indonesia; from the traveling cart street vendors to restaurants. Today various types of ready to cook bakso also available as frozen food commonly sold in supermarkets in Indonesia.

Unlike other meatball recipes, bakso has a consistent firm, dense, homogeneous texture due to the polymerization of myosin in the beef

Origin

The name Bakso originated from bak-so (肉酥, Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bah-so·), the Hokkien pronunciation for "shredded meat" (Rousong). This suggests that bakso has Indonesian Chinese cuisine origin. Today most of the bakso vendors are Javanese from Wonogiri (a town near Solo) and Malang. Bakso Solo and Bakso Malang are the most popular variant; the name comes from the city it comes from, Solo in Central Java and Malang in East Java. In Malang, Bakso Bakar (roasted bakso) is also popular. As most Indonesians are Muslim, generally Bakso is made from beef or is mixed with chicken.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakso

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Splendid sunset at Pura Uluwatu

Uluwatu Temple (Pura Uluwatu) is one of Bali's nine key directional temples. Though a small temple was claimed to have existed beforehand, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan in the 11th Century. Another sage from East Java, Dang Hyang Nirartha is credited for constructing the padmasana shrines and is claimed to have attained Moksha here. 

Pura Uluwatu Bali

Even more remarkable than the temple itself is its location, perched on a steep cliff 70 metres above the roaring Indian ocean waves. There are more steep headlands on either side and sunsets over Uluwatu are a sight to behold.

Pura Uluwatu at cliff 

The entrance fee from Oct 2012 is Rp 20,000 and you need to be properly dressed to enter. Sarongs and sashes are available free at the entrance. Guides, once famously mercenary, hassle visitors less than they used to, although they will offer to "protect" you from the monkeys, for a tip of course. Note that while you are free to walk around the temple grounds, the central courtyards can only be entered during special rituals.

monkey at pura uluwatu

The temple is inhabited by large number of monkeys, who are extremely adept at snatching visitors' belonging, including bags, cameras and eyeglasses. Keep a very close grip on all your belongings and stow away your eyeglasses if at all possible. If you do have something taken, the monkeys can usually be induced to exchange it for some fruit. Needless to say, rewarding the monkeys like this only encourages them to steal more. Locals and even the temple priests will be happy to do the job for you, naturally in exchange for a tip (Rp 10,000-50,000).

The cliff is fascinating but the temple itself is not as impressive as others in Bali. There is also a very scenic cave underneath with rock formations leading onto a beach close to the temple. This is a popular spot for surfers

source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Bukit_Peninsula

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Indonesia: Bali - Kecak dance

Kecak Dance, is a typical Balinese performing arts that was created in the 1930s and played mainly by men. This dance is performed by many (tens or more) male dancers who sat lined circle and with a certain rhythm called "cak" and raised both arms, depicting the story of Ramayana when Rama's line of apes help fight Ravana. However, Kecak from sanghyang ritual, the dancers dance traditions will be in unconscious condition, to communicate with God or the spirits of the ancestors and then convey their expectations to the community



The dancers were sitting in a circle is wearing plaid fabric like a chessboard their waist. Besides the dancers, there were other dancers who portray the characters of Ramayana as Rama, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman and Sugriva.

 

Kecak dance songs taken from the ritual dances sanghyang. In addition, the instrument is not in use. Only used kincringan imposed on foot of dancers who portray the characters of Ramayana.

Around the 1930's Wayan modulus worked with German painter Walter Spies to create the Kecak Dance Trance and the tradition of the Ramayana story. Wayan modulus popularizing this dance around the world with his Balinese dance troupe.

 

Some place to performe Tari Kecak in Bali:Pura Taman Sari, Batu Bulan, Kesiman, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Pura Padang Kerta, Padang Tegal Kaja and Pura Batukaru.

 

 

Reference: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kecak, http://wisata.balitoursclub.com/jadwal-pertunjukan-pementasan-tari-bali

 

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