Sintren Dance

Sintren is a traditional art and the surrounding community Pekalongan, Sintren is an element of the mystical dance / magic that comes from love story Sulasih and Sulandono. In the story that Sulandono is the son of Ki Baurekso results Rantamsari marriage with the Goddess. Raden Sulandono forge Sulasih love with a girl from the village Kalisalak, but the love affair does not get the blessing from the examination Baurekso, finally R. Sulandono go and be imprisoned Sulasih choose to become dancers. However a meeting between them, still continues through the other. Meeting arranged by Dewi Rantamsari to enter the spirit of beautiful woman's body Sulasih, at that time was also a R. Sulandono which are called the spirit of his mother, be imprisoned for a Sulasih and there were meetings between Sulasih and R. Sulandono.

Since it is held every sintren shows the dancers entered the spirit of beautiful woman bound by diviner, with a note that things are done when the dancers are truly in a state of pure (virgin). Sinteren played a girl that is still sacred, assisted by the diviner and gamelan accompanied 6 people according Development sintren dance as entertainment and culture with dancers and assistants' bador '(joke). In a game art DewiLanjar any such effect in the game Sintren, diviner (puppeteer) DewiLanjar often invite the Spirit to enter in the game Sintren. When it is successful then the players can Sintren look more attractive and bring in more light-footed dance and mesmerize.

Art is very famous and popular in the region, especially Pantura Pekalongan. In the era before the event is used to sinter the communications and entertainment event for young people young woman looking for a mate, other than that this art is used as a mediation request for rain. While at this time Sintren still often played on the days of National and welcomes guests to the official.

Culinar and Shoping at Pekalongan

Culinary :

• Megono,

Pekalongan special cuisine is called Megono which basic ingridients are young jackfruit and coconut. If the young jackfruit is difficult to obtain, bamboo shoots or buds can be used as an optional ingridient. In the past, Megono generally can only be found in lower-middle-class food stalls along the pantura street from Pekalongan to Batang. Young jackfruit which has been chopped into small pieces is boiled and then mixed with spices consisting of grated coconut and mashed herbs such as garlic, onion, chili, lime, galingale and salt. It is simple enough to serve it, just by pouring Megono onto therice. Though classified as common and simple dishes, Megono is worth to try. Have a nice time for a Megono experience!

• Soto Pekalongan (Clear soup)

Soto Pekalongan has a distinctive feature, as it uses tauco (fermented soybean) as its additional flavor. Special taste of tauco makes the soup flavor smell delicious. But for those who does not like the smell of tauco, this soup is still worth trying without it.

Shopping :

Handicrafts

Batik, Pekalongan special motive is well-known around the world, including the jlamprang, Cuwiri, Garuda Madep, and Galaran motive. Pekalongan batik has its own characteristics in terms of motive or color which is much influenced by Chinese motives and styles.

Source : http://www.visitjawatengah.com/en/what-to-experience-in-jawa-tengah/categories/shopping-and-culinary/item/culinary-shopping-in-pekalongan-regency

Pekalongan - Central Java

Pekalongan regency is one of Central Java regencies with the capital city of Kajen. This regency is bounded with Java Ocean and Pekalongan city in north, Batang regency in east, Banjarnegara in south, and Pemalang regency in west.

The history of Pekalongan dated back to the early 12th century. A book written in 1178 by a Song dynasty official already had record of Pekalongan, then known to Chinese merchants as “Pukalong”, it was then a seaport of Java(then known as Dvapa); the king of Java lived at Pukalong, knotted his hair at the back of his head, while his people wore short hair and wrapped their body with colorfully weaved cloth.

Pekalongan became a part of the empire of the Sultanate of Mataram through treaty and marriage alliances by the early 17th century. The area was on the geographic periphery of the empire, which was based in interior central Java. However, it was a wealthy area, and by the end of the 17th century, the substantial money and produce it sent to the center made it a key part of Mataram’s realm. The area went into economic decline during the 18th century, and the Dutch East India Company began to gain substantial influence over the area’s political and economic life. The Dutch built a fort in the city in 1753 which still stands.

From the 1830s, the Pekalongan area became a major producer of sugar. Sugarcane had been grown in the area since early 12th century, as recorded in Chinese history books, but production expanded substantially during the mid-19th century due to Dutch efforts. Initially, production was boosted through compulsory corvée labor.

Pekalongan has long been known as batik city, and one of the batik production centers are located in District Buaran and Wiradesa. Some well known manufacturers such as batik Batik Humas, stand for Mohammed Hussein Assegaff. While the glove factory (cloth palekat) that famous in Pekalongan, among others is, Gadjah Duduk and WadiMoor.

After the Batik products, Pekalongan is also famous by its culinary, like Megono. Megono is young jackfruit in slices dressing by coconut sambal. It is tasty and spicy, it usually served while still hot with an additional menu like raw petai and fried fish. This rice is wrapped in teak leaves or can also be with banana leaves, and they used to call it by name “Sego Gori”.

Other Pecalongan food is Taoto, which is kind of spicy thick soup of meat broth which made of pekalongan taoco or fermented soybean.

Pindang Tetel, actually this kind of food is similar with Soto, but the difference is in the seasoning sauce, which is prepared by using the ripe fruit heron.

Like the most inhabitant, Pekalongan is mostly populated by Javanese people and spoke in Java language. Anyway, Pekalongan has different dialect among other Javanese language that particularly being recognize. Some of the words are added with suffix “ra”, like “ojo koyo kui ra”, which mean Don’t be like that.

Pekalongan has numbers of tourism destination beside the Batik producers, like Linggo Asri tourism object, Cinde waterfall, Watu Ireng tourism object, and others are in the form of pilgrimage tourisms.

Pekalongan is a calm and friendly

Source :  http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/pekalongan-central-java/

Profile of Pekalongan City

 

Literally, the town area is a part of administrative area in a country or a kingdom which is led by a major, the formation of Pekalongan City could not loose from the strategical potency of this area even geographically and economically , or politically. The Strategical potency  of Pekalongan City Area that can be explained by exploring the historical sources discussed belows .

Geogrphically and economically, the Pekalongan City area becomes a network center of land tranportation which connects west side with east side of Java Island, also the North shore area with the inland area. In a long way of Java North Shore thre is a highway that extends from Anyer in West side untill Panarukan in East side of Java Island.  The Establishment of this highway was created by Daendels, who got a job as a General Governor of Hindia-Netherlands in a period time 1808-1811, from this highway  there are many small roads or streets towards the inland.
Besides it is passed through by the highway which connected between the west side and the east side  of Java Island , NV Nederlandsdch Indieshe Spoorweg maatschappij (NIS) purposed to Hindia -Netherlands Government to build the train road, and the first route built was Semarang-Yogyakarta  route. Hindia -Netherlands Government agreed with the condition that the RailRoad was built through Ungaran – Salatiga. The first lying down was done by General Governor Sloet Van Den Beek by opening the route from Semarang -Yogyakarta Hadiningrat on June 17th 1864 and finished on August 10th 1867, and then NIS continuosly developed the effort on July 19th 1868, the railroad route up to Kedungjati.  The next two years  on February 18th 1870 the railroad route has reached Solo through Gundih, the the next two years has reached Lempuyangan (Yogyakarta).  The next Development, NIS gave the management to Staatspoor.
The Train Development in Java Island have developed so fast, as for the railroad from Semarang to Cirebon through Pekalongan City also became a priority and built on August 25th 1885 by NV . Semarang Cirebon Spoor Trans Matschappy becaused that areas looked as places which has overpopulated and produced the important farming products such as sugar, nila and coffee.  The available Transportation Facility in that time was only gerobag transportation with the expensive fee and a long time. Besides that , to go easily to North Shore, the train was also needed  to accelerate loading the import stuffs from the port Semarang.
At the past time, the railroad route in Pekalongan City go to East from old station which was located in Toko Foto Yen (now Gajah Mada Street) through  Hayam Wuruk Street – dr. Cipto street – Batang with mini halte in Sumber Waras Drugstore. Then in 1923 moved 100m to South and this halte called Mipitan (in front of SD Keputran). The railroad route to the sea (called Boom) was also built , and route to inland Wonopringgo.
Besides the available road, Pekalongan City also had sea tranportation facility, that was the existing Pekalongan Port, which since XVII Century had been interested the Dutch Trade Company desires (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagtiief VOC) to hand over it. The desires to take over the Pekalongan Port did not loose  from the positive potency of inland areas which produced the agriculture products which could be sold even in local trade or to other islands.
Pekalongan Port became a contribution as the gate for the products loading  activities from the inland area such as sugar, coffee, nila, cotton, and others. All of that had became the support and motivation factor of Pekalongan City to be a Port City and a trade city which enough developing on 19th Century.
The Geographical and economical Potency which has been had by Pekalongan City is a main motivation factor for establishing political powers in this place, although the views about the positive potencies is hard to be found from the sources of anxient Indonesian history (before year 1.500), the existence of kingdoms which was centered in Central Java is enough to show it,

 Source : http://oss.pekalongankota.go.id

Pekalongan, the Biggest Batik Industrial City in Indonesia

Pekalongan is one of the cities in the Central Java. It is included in the governance territory of the Province of Central Java, which is located in Semarang. Pekalongan is located in the north coast, it makes Pekalongan as the important city for trading and for transportation, because in Pekalongan passed by the main road of Java, which is commonly called as “Pantura” or the north road, this main road passes the Pekalongan city and makes Pekalongan as the important city for trading and transportation along with Semarang, this city was famouse since the Dutch colony as the transportation and trading city, in the history, Pekalongan holds the main transportation route, that is why by the Dutch colony, in Pekalongan built many train station with European architecture style.

Pekalongan

Since Pekalongan is located in Central Java, the traditional Javanese culture is very easy to find here, there are Syawalan and Sedekah Bumi. Syawalan is Muslims culture in Pekalongan to celebrate something important day according to the Islam month, and Sedekah Bumi is an offering ceremony to celebrate the year without disaster and float the offerings to the sea.

Pekalongan Station

Pekalongan has a predicate as the Batik city, even though the batik offered in there is not the traditional and has high value of philosophy like the batik from Javanese Kingdom that is of course the price will be very expensive, this city is famous for the low price batik and have the good quality of batik. Once you get there make sure you buy batik as the souvenir to be brought home, because the batik shopping in Pekalongan is a shopping attraction and interesting place you should visit. Besides shopping attraction Pekalongan also famous as the coast city, there are many beautiful beaches you should visit in Pekalongan, like Slamaran beach, Pasir Kencana beach, or dupan Water Park.

Mosque in Pekalongan

As the city located in the strategic landscape, Pekalongan’s transportation is very complete, there is a huge terminal for buses from every city in Java land, big station where many trains stop from the every city in Java land, and there are many cabs also besides traditional transportation like Becak. While the airport is located in Semarang, since Semarang is the capital city of the Province of Central Java. The International Airport also located in Semarang that is Ahmad Yani International Airport, the distance is about 100 km from Pekalongan city, in Ahmad Yani Airport provides buses that can go to Pekalongan city.

Source: http://www.indonesiatravelguides.com/pekalongan-the-biggest-batik-industrial-city-in-indonesia.html#comments

Grand Opening IBC & Craft Pekalongan

In 02 October 2012,

Praise be to God Almighty that on the 2^nd October 2012 the Commemoration of National Batik Day was held at International Batik Center & Craft (IBC & Craft), Pekalongan.

This gratitude-filled ceremony was then followed by the grand opening of IBC & Craft. The plague was signed by two ministers, i.e. Minister of Industry of Republic of Indonesia and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Republic of Indonesia.

Attended by various governmental and social officials, entrepreneurs and public community, among others the Vice Minister of Industry of Republic of Indonesia; Governor of Central Java; Regent of Pekalongan; Mayor of Pekalongan; Special Staff of Minister of Advancement of Underdeveloped Regions; Director of Art Development of Republic of Indonesia as a representative from the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy; the Indonesian Batik Foundation Chairwoman along with its members; Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Chairman; Mr. Adi Sasono – former Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises of Republic of Indonesia; Mrs. H. Sri Redjeki Sumaryoto – former Minister of Women Empowerment; the head and representatives from Paguyuban Batik Sekar Jagad Yogyakarta; all batik ambassadors represented at IBC & Craft; also present the head and staff of IBC & Craft management, making this modest event very majestic and grand.

In his welcome speech, the Central Java Governor, Mr. Bibit Waluyo stated that IBC & Craft that is located in Pekalongan has become “the asset of Pekalongan, the asset of the people of Central Java, and the asset of the people of Indonesia.”

While the Vice Ministry of Industry, Mr. Dr. Ir. Alex S.W. Retraubun stated that with the existence of IBC & Craft in Pekalongan is an extraordinary thing, very visionary, unique and cannot be found in Jakarta. Quoting his speech, he stated that,” the idea to open International Batik Center & Craft in Pekalongan with the support from the Indonesian Batik Foundation is a holistic partnership to bring forth the batik industry issue into the international platform, through batik as the gateway.”

Hopefully with the blessings and support from all batik lovers, artisans and conservationists, and from all of Indonesian citizens will usher IBC & Craft towards a global success for the welfare and the richness of our nation, which is in line with the mission of IBC & Craft.

Source: http://www.internationalbatik.com/whats_new_detail.htm/10/Grand-Opening-IBC---Craft

International Batik Center to be Built in Pekalongan

in Thursday, January 19, 2012,
TEMPO Interactive, SURAKARTA: PT Grahamandiri Manajemen Terpadu is managing an international batik center in Pekalongan that will be operational by mid February. International batik center consultant, Robert Antonis, said the batik center was being established to support batik producers nationwide. 

"We designed it to be like Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). People won't have to go around Indonesia to learn about the various batik patterns in the country," Robert said during a road show held in Surakarta yesterday. Pekalongan was chosen as the location as it is the oldest batik producer city in Indonesia. 

The batik center will be built on 4 hectares of land and will include 700 batik stalls, a museum, fashion show area, as well as training and seminar rooms. Currently, only 1.5 hectares of land has been utilized for 184 stalls so far. 

Robert has invited batik businessmen from many areas to join the center with an investment of Rp180 - 230 million for their own stall. "I guarantee the investment will be profitable because they will own the stall," he said.

Olympic love continues with new London exhibit

Which event from the London Summer Olympic Games resonates most powerfully in your memory:

The Queen’s appearance in the Danny Boyle-produced opening extravaganza?

Usain Bolt’s record dash in the Olympic 100 meters?

Brunei, Qatar and Saudi Arabia including female athletes on their teams for the first time?

The baffling, cycloptic visages of Olympic and Paralympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville? 

Whatever your memories of last summer’s Games, you may find them in the Museum of London’s new exhibition, “Opening the Olympics.”

The exhibit features close to 70 items collected before, during and after the London Olympics and Paralympics, including props, outfits and paraphernalia from the opening and closing ceremonies.

Other items related to the Games include recordings of events, local reactions and tweets about the Olympics.

“This display brings together a collection of objects and stories, allowing the public to re-engage with London 2012 and reflect on its legacy and success,” said Timothy Long, the museum’s curator of fashion and decorative arts.

The display will be open to the public free of charge until October 31.

Museum of London, 150 London Wall; +44 (0)20 7001 9844; www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Source: CNN