Indonesia is a favorite destination for millennial muslims

Indonesia is a favorite destination for millennial muslims

The Mastercard-HalalTrip conducts research on the motivations, habits, needs and preferences of Muslims. The survey of Muslim-based millenial tourist survey focuses on 372 respondents aged 18-36 years with various educational backgrounds and jobs living on five continents namely Africa, America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

The result, Indonesia is in second position, after Malaysia who was in first place. In addition, in position number three after Indonesia is Japan.

News and full results can be read in the article below (by thejakartapost):

Indonesia is second favorite destination among millennial Muslims

According to the result of Mastercard-Halal Trip Muslim Millennial Travel Report, Indonesia is the second favorite destination among millennial Muslims, with Malaysia crowned as the winner.

This shows that Indonesia’s status has improved from last year where it took the fourth spot.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya was grateful for the achievement and determined to topple Malaysia off the first place in the near future.

“Our emotional rival is Malaysia, while Thailand is our professional rival. We need to find ways to defeat our rivals and how to catch up with them,” Arief said.

The minister urged his team to make improvements, especially in human resources since Indonesians are still lacking in foreign language skill, “We are good at providing Muslim-friendly facilities. In fact, we took home 12 awards out of the 16 categories at the World Halal Tourism Award,” Arief said.

Below is the list of millennial Muslims’ favorite travel destinations according to Mastercard-Halal Trip Muslim Millennial Travel Report

1. Malaysia

2. Indonesia

3. Japan

4. Thailand

5. Australia

6. Singapore

7. United Arab Emirates

8. United Kingdom

9. United States

10. India

(asw)

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Wonderful Indonesia - Wonderful Journey to a Wonderful World

Wonderful Indonesia - Wonderful Journey to a Wonderful World

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Acehnese Saman Dance Incorporates More Than 10,000 Performers, Breaks Record

Acehnese Saman Dance Incorporates More Than 10,000 Performers, Breaks Record

Jakarta. Thousands of people filled the Seribu Bukit Stadium in Blangkejeren City, Aceh, on Sunday (13/08) to watch performers put on the traditional Saman dance.

pic. google.com

The performance, dubbed the "10,001 Saman Dancers," broke the record for most Saman performers in one exhibition, according to the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI).

Aceh Tourism Agency head Reza Pahlevi said that in 2014, as many as 5,000 performers put on the same dance, the highest number at that time. Unesco listed the dance as part of its World Cultural Heritage attractions in 2011.

"This year's dance was a collaboration between the Aceh government and the Gayo Leus district administration. Let us preserve this dance together," Reza said.

The Saman dance is studied by schoolchildren throughout the province.

"The event is one of the efforts and commitments of Gayo Lues and the Aceh administration to preserve, maintain and promote Saman dance as their identity," he added.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya praised the new record, calling on the public to preserve their traditional heritage as a means to improve communal welfare.

"It is time for Aceh’s tourism, through the Saman dance, to attract more visitors," Arief said.

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Aceh International Halal Food Festival 2017 to focus on certification

Aceh International Halal Food Festival 2017 to focus on certification

Indonesia Travel Destinations

The issue regarding halal food has become a hot topic following the release of Qanun Nomor 8 Tahun 2016 about Halal product assurance system.

pic. google.com

According to Food and Drug Analysis Agency (LPPOM) MPU Aceh, Deni Candra, apart from using halal ingredients, a halal-certified food should also consider other elements such as the process, facility, hygiene and sanitation.

In line with this matter, Aceh is set to hold Aceh International Halal Food Festival 2017 that will run from August 18 to 20. 

“This is a huge event where we can discuss the issue of halal food to society. There will also be guests from Thailand and Malaysia who will talk to us about halal certification in their respective country,” said Deni. 

The three-day event will be held at Taman Sari and will be joined by local and international food entrepreneurs as well as LPPOM MPU Aceh.

“Visitors will also be treated to an array of traditional dishes from 23 regencies and cities in Aceh.  They can also enjoy other traditional and international delicacies and visit the food truck festival zone,” added tourism ministry's head of Cultural Promotion, Wawan Gunawan.

Tourism minister Arief Yahya said that being a country with the largest Muslim population in the world doesn’t mean that Indonesia gets a free pass from obtaining the halal certification.

He furthermore explained that the certification has strategic impact towards tourism. A non-muslim majority country can attract plenty of muslim tourists through the halal certificate.

An example is Singapore, a small country that welcomes 3.5 million more muslim tourists than Indonesia.

“The first thing that we need is certification, the second one is providing service that fits the international standard. One evidence is Thailand, a non muslim-majority country yet it has plenty of muslim tourists,” said Arief. (asw)

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Indonesia Travel Destinations: Gunung Leuser National Park

Indonesia Travel Destinations: Gunung Leuser National Park

pic. google.com

Gunung Leuser National Park is a national park covering 7,927 km2 in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, straddling the border of North Sumatra and Aceh provinces, a fourth portion and three-fourths portion, respectively. The national park, settled in the Barisan mountain range, is named after Mount Leuser (3,119 m), and protects a wide range of ecosystems. An orangutan sanctuary at Bukit Lawang is located within the park. Together with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat National Parks, it forms a World Heritage Site, the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

Geography

pic. wikipedia, google.com

Gunung Leuser National Park is 150 km long, over 100 km wide, and mostly mountainous. About 40% of the park, mainly in the north-west, is steep, and over 1,500 m in elevation. This region is billed as the largest wilderness area in Southeast Asia, and offers wonderful trekking. Around 12% of the park, in the lower southern half, is below 600 m above sea level. Eleven peaks are over 2,700 m. Mount Leuser (3,119 m) is the third-highest peak on the Leuser Range. The highest peak is Mount Tanpa Nama (3,466 m), the second-highest peak in Sumatra after Mount Kerinci (3,805 m).

Ecology 

pic. wikipedia, google.com

Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the two remaining habitats for Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). In 1971, Herman Rijksen established the Ketambe Research Station, a specially designated research area for the orangutan. Other mammals found in the park are the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, siamang, Sumatran serow, sambar deer and leopard cat.

After researchers put 28 camera traps in July 2011, 6 months later the researchers found one male and six females, and predicted the population is not more than 27 Sumatran rhinos, of which the total population is predicted to be around 200 in Sumatra and Malaysia, half the population of 15 years ago.

Water supply

pic. wikipedia, google.com

The first signs of reduced water replenishment have already been seen in and around the Leuser Ecosystem. Groundwater reservoirs are rapidly being exhausted, and several rivers fall completely dry during part of the year. This has severe consequences for the local community. Both households and industries need to anticipate water shortages and higher costs for water.

Tourism

pic. wikipedia, google.com

Low-impact ecotourism can be one of the most important sustainable, nonconsumptive uses of Leuser, thereby giving local communities powerful incentives for conservation. Given the opportunities to view wildlife such as orangutans, some experts view ecotourism as a major potential source of revenue for communities living around Leuser.

Tangkahan trekking

pic. wikipedia, google.com

A 7- to 8-hour drive from Medan, Tangkahan is visited by 4,000 foreign tourists and 40,000 domestic/local tourists a year. Modest inns are available, but generation set electricity is limited. Many Tangkahan people nowadays work for tourism and avoid illegal logging, with education sometimes past the elementary school, but with training, they can serve the tourists well. All tourists should enter Tangkahan Visitor Center first, and choose the various packages, with up to 4 day and 3 night packages, the prices are fixed even for the porters. Trekking can be done by foot or using elephants.

Biodiversity

pic. wikipedia, google.com

People living in areas with a high biodiversity value tend to be relatively poor. Hence, the highest economic values for biodiversity are likely to be found within institutions and people in wealthy countries. Funds can come from several sources, including bioprospecting, the GEF, and grants from international NGOs (with donations possibly being proportional to biodiversity value).


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Indonesia Travel Destinations: Aceh Tsunami Museum

Indonesia Travel Destinations: Aceh Tsunami Museum

pic. google.com

The Aceh Tsunami Museum, located in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, is a museum designed as a symbolic reminder of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster, as well as an educational center and an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is ever hit by a tsunami again.

Design

pic. google.com

The Aceh Tsunami Museum was designed by Indonesian architect (and future mayor of Bandung) Ridwan Kamil. The museum is a 2,500 m2 four-story structure; its long curving walls covered in geometric reliefs. Inside, visitors enter through a dark, narrow corridor between two high walls of water — meant to recreate the noise and panic of the tsunami itself. The museum walls are adorned with images of people performing the Saman dance, a symbolic gesture dedicated to the strength, discipline and religious beliefs of the Acehnese people.[2] From above, the roof resembles a tsunami. The ground floor is modelled on the kind of traditional raised Acehnese houses that were best equipped to survive the tsunami.

The building acknowledges both the victims, whose names are to be inscribed on the wall of one of the museum’s internal chambers, and the surviving members of the local community.

In addition to its role as a memorial for those who died, the museum also offers a place of refuge from future such events, including an "escape hill" for visitors to run to in the event of another tsunami.

Collection

Exhibitions at the museum include an electronic simulation of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, in addition to photographs of victims and exhibits featuring stories from survivors of the disaster.

sumber: wikipedia

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Indonesia Travel Destinations: Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

Indonesia Travel Destinations: Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

pic. wikipedia, google.com

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is a Mosque located in the center of Banda Aceh city, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is a symbol of religion, culture, spirit, strength, struggle and nationalism of Acehnese people. The mosque is a landmark of Banda Aceh and has survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

History

The original Masjid Raya ("Grand Mosque") was built in 1612 during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. Some say the original mosque was built even earlier in 1292 by Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah. The original royal mosque featured a multi-tiered thatched roof, a typical feature of Acehnese architecture.[1]

When the Colonial administration of the Dutch East Indies attacked the Kraton During the First Aceh Expedition on 10 April 1873, the Acehnese attacked the KNIL from the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. From some flares shot onto the thatched roof, the mosque caught fire. General van Swieten promised the local rulers he would rebuild the mosque and create a warm place for mercy. In 1879 the Dutch rebuilt the Mosque Baiturrahman as a gift to — and to reduce the anger of — the Acehnese. Construction only began in 1879, when the first stone was laid by Tengku Qadhi Malikul Adil, who became its first imam, and was completed on 27 December 1881 during the reign of Muhammad Daud Syah, the last sultan of Aceh. Many Acehnese initially refused to pray at Baiturrahman because it was built by the Dutch, whom they were warring against. Nowadays, however, it is a source of pride for Banda Aceh.[2]

pic. wikipedia, google.com

Before 1935, the new Baiturrahman Grand Mosque featured one dome and one minaret.
At first, the mosque featured only one dome and one minaret. More domes and minarets were added in 1935, 1958 and 1982. Today the mosque has seven domes and eight minarets, including the highest in Banda Aceh.

The mosque survived the 2004 earthquake and tsunami with minor damages such as wall cracks. The earthquake had slightly tilted and cracked the 35-meter minaret by the main gate. During the disaster, the mosque served as a temporary shelter for displaced persons and only reopened for prayers after two weeks.

Architecture and design

The mosque was originally designed by the Dutch architect Gerrit Bruins.[4][5] The design was subsequently adapted by L.P. Luijks, who also supervised the construction work done by contractor Lie A Sie.[4] The design chosen is Mughal revival style, characterized by grand domes and minarets. The unique black domes are constructed from hard wood shingles combined as tiles.

pic. wikipedia, google.com

The interior is decorated with relieved wall and pillars, marble staircase and floor from China, stained-glass windows from Belgium, well-decorated wooden doors, and ornate bronze chandeliers. The building stones are from the Netherlands. At the time of its completion, this new design presented a stark contrast compared with the original mosque that many Acehnese refused to pray in the mosque, because it was built by the Dutch "infidels". Today however, the mosque has become the pride of Banda Aceh.

Gunawan Tjahjono (1998). Indonesian Heritage-Architecture. Singapore: Archipelago Press. pp. 81–82. ISBN 981-3018-30-5.
http://www.travelmarker.nl/bestemmingen/azie/indonesie/bezienswaardigheden/banda_aceh.htm
http://lestariheritage.net/aceh/webpages/sites01.html Aceh Heritage
http://atjehpost.co/articles/read/4881/Amazing-Baiturrahman-Kisah-Awal-Mula-Masjid-Raya-Banda-Aceh Amazing Baiturrahman; Kisah Awal Mula Masjid Raya Banda Aceh
Van der Klaauw, C.J., ed. (24 December 1940). Geslachtslijst Bruins. p. 6.Oey, Eric M. Sumatra. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., 1996.

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