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Culture Industry & Indonesia’s Traditional Markets

Prananda Navitas — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:18:44 +0000

Background: Traditionally, markets in Indonesia were not just places to trade goods and services, but also a place of cultural and social exchange. In the ancient days, markets open once a week (the Javanese calendar only has 5 days in a week; Pahing, Pon, Wage, Kliwon, and Legi) because the population was not as dense as today. The day on which the market is open is known as “dina pasaran” (market day). More over, every village had their own market day. This meant that anyone from a particular village, who needs to purchase goods on a non-market day, must go to another village to purchase the goods they need. This phenomenon encourages markets to also function as a place of social and cultural exchange, with local produce reflecting local culture (every village also has their own trading customs, depending on local culture and traditions). Markets also encourage village growth, and thus were the barometer of a village’s welfare. Thus, Indonesia’s traditional marketplaces represent one of the nation’s many cultural heritages. Their existence is undoubtedly needed by society as they, up to this day, provide goods and sevices at a low and negotiable price.

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Retracing My Early Steps in Ratmakan, Yogyakarta

Vicky Ariyanti — Sat, 24 May 2008 02:43:43 +0000

I came home to the smell of half burnt coal, traditional incense, and the hide out between alleys of the busy street of Yogya. Many memories hit realities that during these years while I was a way venturing the world, things had certainly also changed there. There’s a different beauty you will find here in contrast with Venice. Although both have similar canal view, they are not comparable.

The ancient architecture of Java blended with Indische style still is available to be seen on the side of the alleys. Things that are physical still stayed the same for the last 25 years or so. But, there are signs of changes once the alley move down wards toward River Code. Feeling uneasy, I found that some old heritage were torn down and replaced with modern style buildings.

Some of the walls are full of graffiti, which are not always pretty. Although the settlers there consider them to be the color of the Kampung (organic or unregulated urban settlements) hence they are a part of the vista. Some I can tolerate, they beautify the scenes and add value to the overall sights. Some are ugly that I will not try to accentuate in this article.

The story of this Kampung started as early as the formation of Yogya in the 17^th century. It was developed under the instruction of the Sultan whose aim was to house the Mataram Kingdom’s soldiers just out side of the Dutch fortress. His order was held by a soldier named Ratmoko, therefore the site was named Ratmkan (in Javanese this means the place of Ratmoko). Although in the development of the city, the site was later being used as steel factory’s dumping site and now being used to housed immigrants and about 400 of the city’s dwellers.

Walking passed under the old roofs and by the old Javanese front doors brought back nostalgia to one’s soul. The Yogya that you’ve known during the last decades is still moving in slow paces there. You can still find urban spaces being used by dwellers even in tightest areas. Communal life is still thick and the strong paguyuban (togetherness) and social tolerance also gotong royong (helping each other; gemeinschaft) spirit. These are the things that are the taste of Javanese society and indigenous fabric of urban Yogya.

Indonesia: The Rapid Estate Developments’ Growth

Gitadevy Zuchrufi — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:31:17 +0000

Indonesia, the former Nation in south east Asia developing countries has just rapidly grown their real estate developments. This archipelago celebrity like nation has just spreads the property developments in several of the province. Jakarta, the capital city, held several Giant projects like the development of Regatta, in Pantai Mutiara.

Also in several cities (means: kota) there we can see a lot of new architectural buildings, landscapes, and nodes of attraction. A lot of malls, shopping centers, hotels and public spaces also can be seen in Semarang, the capital city of Jawa Tengah, Makassar, Manado, and Surabaya, like developed by tycoons like Ciputra, Carrefour’s, the Swiss Belhotel chains, Novotel’s, and more.
Don’t forget with the Paris van Java, Bandung, that has just became the most favorable tourist attractions and shopping destinations with their Factory Outlets (FO) those spread like mushrooms in the rainy days there, even beating the other cities in other countries like Kuala Lumpur and even Singapore.
This is just also a good sign of quality and symbolizes of the nice jobs from their good governance, lead by the President Yudhoyono. The Indonesian government was re-constructed their financials sides aspects and provided secure lands and hopes for their people. The mass traffic and public transportations also become the main priorities to handle. New healthcare and the provision for better health for the common people are also the main points of the recent concern. Indonesia also become a new tour and travel destinations, because of the shock from the 1st and 2nd Bali Bomb Tragedy, the goverment has just try their best to turn down the bad aspects and obstacles, re-constructing the tourist atractions and provide a good influence for the land ownerships and investors.