Tulamben underwater paradise

When divers see calm waters on a sunny day, it is as if they are being called forth to heaven to enjoy the marine paradise below.

When we arrived at Tulamben, one of Bali's most frequented diving spots, the water was calm and there was a light breeze of refreshing wind.

Nature's beautiful welcome more than made up for our 2.5 hour drive from Sanur, where we had spent the night. Getting out of the car, there was a strong buzz of excitement among us.

Our diving guide from Bali Scuba, Chris, seemed to sense our mounting enthusiasm and tried to speed up preparations for our adventure. But he still needed to stick to the procedure. He explained the diving plan after the usual dos and don'ts briefing.

"We are going to dive at the following spots: the US Liberty Shipwreck, Coral Garden and the Drop Off," he said, pointing to the underwater map.

US Liberty shipwreck

While some people were still putting on their BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), Chris signaled to those who were ready to go with him. We walked some 100 meters along the sandy beach from the Paradise Resort, our base camp, to begin our adventure, diving to the entry point site.

Chris reminded us to walk carefully when we were approaching the edge of the beach, which was full of volcanic stones as big as adult's fist.

In a day at least 50 divers visit the diving site. They usually came in groups and the must-see spot was the shipwreck location.

"When holiday season comes the number (of divers) can double," Chris said.

The US Liberty shipwreck, which was torpedoed by the Japanese army during World War II, attracts divers to Tulamben. Those who prefer snorkeling can enjoy the ship stern for it is only located some 6 meters under the water surface with average visibility of 12 to 30 meters.

History has it the ship, which sunk in Lombok waters, was about to be towed to Singaraja port in North Bali but as Singaraja was already occupied by Japan army, the shipwreck was rerouted to Tulamben beach.

Mount Agung's powerful volcanic eruption in 1963 pulled the shipwreck deeper to the seabed - its present home -where it is heavily covered with anemone, gorgonian and coral.

When we reached the shipwreck, two schools of bright, silver trevally fish swam past us as if patrolling the site. They perfectly contrasted with the dark sand.

Hundreds of trevally moved in circles. They swam around the shipwreck and did not seem afraid of us. Locally known as kuwe, the trevally even approached some divers. Chris got an amazing welcome from surgeonfish that swarmed him as if performing their welcoming dance. Fishes in Tulamben are indeed friendly and recognize no fear - unlike in other less visited diving spots.

I remembered when I got a similar warm welcome from a school of small fishes in Bunaken, North Sulawesi. It was a priceless moment. The fishes not only "danced" around me but they also "kissed" my diving mask.

So when I saw what happened to Chris, I lifted my underwater camera and began pressing its shutter release to capture the precious moment and other beauties nearby.

If we observed carefully enough, we could spot ikan sebelah (flounders) and blue-spotted stingrays that hid beneath the sand, waiting for their lunch.

Not far from the shipwreck, I saw dozen of garden eels, eating floating planktons. Their bodies danced to the gentle sea currents that moved gently in this site. Many others rested with half of their bodies submerged in the seabed.

Our second destination was the Coral Garden, which was located right in front of the Paradise Resort. This garden is 2 to 15 meters depths, making it the perfect destination for snorkeling.

This spot has both soft and hard coral with light density. Yet, they were rich with marine life, including Napoleon fish, pipefish, parrotfish and clownfish. Even barracudas, which had sharp teeth, were seen swimming nearby when we got there. Chris said divers could come across blacktip sharks if they were lucky.

Columns between the soft and hard corals were the perfect hideout for shrimps. Local divers called them cleaner shrimps. One type was red and white but there was also one with combinations of red, white and green.

Fellow diver Emily Douglas from US was intrigued to find out if the shrimps were natural vacuum cleaners. She extended her hands to the shrimps, which immediately swarmed her hands and performed their famous duties.

Because of its average depth and generous light, this spot was also known as a perfect site for night-diving and heaven for hunting objects for macro-photography.

Our last destination was the Drop Off, located on the right side of Coral Garden. We walked to go to the side and had to go through the rocky beach.

The Drop Off site was formed naturally by a volcanic eruption. Our adventure began on a sandy slope, which was the starting point of the standard dive at Tulamben. At the end of the slope we could see the Drop Off's topography in the form of vertical walls whose depth could reach tens of meters.

The wall was heavily decorated with sponges and black coral. The marine life at this site is not very different to the Shipwreck site. There were butterflyfish, angelfish, Moorish idols and many other small fish with striking colors. Coral fish like groupers and anthias can also be seen at this site. Lucky divers can spot bigger fishes like whitetip and hammerhead sharks.

In general, Tulamben waters have relatively good visibility ranging between 12 and 30 meters. Its subtle currents make this place suitable for divers of any level.

Visiting Tulamben is a must for divers whenever they are in Bali. A growing number of diving operators are proof of the growing popularity of this recreational sport. Dive operators usually offer transport and accommodation, as well as alternatives to diving and snorkeling.

Tulamben has been included among spots recommended by nearly all diving operators, and is one of the best places to begin your underwater adventures.

Borobudur at the crossroads

(JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

The best time to visit Borobudur Temple is at dawn. That is when Central Java’s magnificent World Heritage monument is enveloped in cool mist and peace.

That is when you will be able to climb the ancient stones in near solitude and be rewarded with a view of the candi’s rotund stupas – 72 in total – rising majestically out of the mist with the first rays of the sun.

Of course, you don’t actually have Borobudur to yourself. When I went, I was surprised to find 20 to 30 others on the highest terrace of the monument, waiting impatiently for the sun to come up.

They were mostly foreign tourists, some with fancy cameras on tripods, some with little children. However, it was relatively quiet and I felt very fortunate to be able to visit this historic gem in such serene circumstances.

This was my second visit to Borobudur, and how different it was from the first. I had come the day before and made the mistake of coming on a Sunday. The entrance at the foot of the monument was already buzzing with people eager to set foot on the monument and as I looked across the length of Borobudur Park, I could see a never-ending stream of people making their way toward the entrance.

Borobudur at dawn – quiet and peaceful (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

Once past the entrance, it was quite a challenge trying to navigate the stairways. The narrow stone stairways were choc-a-bloc with people, so climbing was a slow process, often with a view of nothing else but someone else’s posterior. When I got to the top, several visitors, mostly teenagers or children, were seated on top of the stupas, despite signs forbidding visitors to do so.

Strewn across the floors of Borobudur’s many terraces was litter – cigarette butts, empty bottles of mineral water, plastic bags. The few dustbins that were available were already full to the brim. It was not a pretty sight.

According to the authorities, Borobudur gets about 2.5 million visitors a year, the bulk of whom are Indonesians. When I went, schools were on their year-end break so a high proportion of the visitors that day were large groups of excited students on school outings. The rest were mostly families from neighboring provinces who had come on holiday, and a handful of foreign tourists accompanied by their guides (or guidebooks).

Litter along the terraces of Borobudur could damage the porous surfaces of the ancient stones (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

It is comforting to know that so many people make the effort to visit Borobudur. After all, the monument is a present-day window to Indonesia’s glorious past. It is also an enduring memento of the advanced level of craftsmanship that prevailed in Java at a time when Western Europe was struggling through its Dark Ages.

Built in the eighth and ninth centuries, Borobudur houses a staggering 2,672 relief panels, many exquisitely detailed, as well as 504 Buddha statues. At the summit, a gigantic central stupa rests on a massive lotus-shaped base half a meter thick, making this the largest Buddhist stupa in the world.

Borobudur is a place of pilgrimage for those of the Buddhist faith. Its passages were designed for monks to circumambulate the edifice in silent prayer. Along the lower square terraces, they would be flanked by carvings such as the biography of the Lord Buddha, from his descent from heaven until his enlightenment, which is depicted on the main wall of the first gallery.

As they ascended to the higher circular terraces, they would be surrounded by unembellished stone walls, representing Buddhism’s Sphere of Formlessness. Above them, the main stupa – which is empty, signifying Nirvana – would soar into the sky. Today, Buddhist rituals are still carried out at Borobudur on auspicious days such as Waisak.

On top of this, Borobudur lies amid great natural beauty. As I stood atop the candi’s highest tier, I was almost eye to eye with Mount Merapi, the still-active volcano that soars 2,911 meters in the northeast. It was wrapped in fluffy clouds, while on the ground, green rice paddies stretched for miles.

Children climbing one of the stupas (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

On the western and southern edges, the Menoreh hills rose and fell. This is the geographical center of Java. Called the Kedu Plain, it is also known as the Garden of Java as it has been made unusually fertile and lush by volcanic earth and the intersection of two rivers, the Progo and the Elo.

Little wonder, then, that so many are drawn to Borobudur, which is already under threat, even without the crowds. According to the Borobudur Heritage Conservation Institute, acid rain has damaged some of the carvings, while global warming could cause more fissures and cracks in the monument’s stones.

The growing number of tourists to Borobudur, which is managed by PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, add further strain. Litter is not just unsightly; the remnants of cigarettes or sugary drinks could damage the porous surfaces of the monument’s stones. Overcrowding along the steep stairs holds the risk of accidents, should a child or elderly person slip and fall.

Poorly supervised youngsters mean unnecessary touching of carvings, or worse, climbing onto statues and stupas, contributing to erosion of its more fragile surfaces. Painstakingly restored in the ‘70s and ‘80s with help from UNESCO, the Borobudur temple is a grand inheritance that every Indonesian should be proud of, regardless of religion. It would be a shame to let it succumb today to modern-day tourism

American space tourist buys return ticket to orbit

Marcia Dune , The Associated Press , Cape Canaveral | Tue, 03/24/2009 4:30 PM | Travel

Two-time space tourist: A Saturday, April 7, 2007 file photo taken from a broadcast on Russian RTR Russian Television Channel, Space tourist U.S. billionaire Charles Simonyi, left, is seen aboard the space craft before the launch of the Soyuz TMA-10 from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Simoni will become the world's first two-time space tourist when he leaves Earth behind Thursday, March 26, 2009 and heads back to the space station. (AP/RTR-Russian Television Channel)Recession or no, billionaire Charles Simonyi couldn't pass up another shot at space, even if it meant shelling out $35 million more.

Besides, it may one of the last times the Russian government allows tourists to hitch a ride to the international space station.

"It's now or never," said Simonyi, who has now spent $60 million for a couple of space vacations. The first was $25 million.

A computer genius who helped build Microsoft, Simonyi (sih-MOHN'-ee) will become the world's first two-time space tourist when he leaves Earth behind Thursday. He'll be accompanied by two professional astronauts — a Russian and American — who will be going up for a six-month stint at the space station.

His own trip will last under two weeks, and it will be his last.

"I'm not getting any younger," the 60-year-old told The Associated Press in a recent telephone interview. He'll be one of the older men to fly in space, though nowhere near John Glenn's record at age 77.

Besides, he's promised his new wife, Lisa Persdotter, a 28-year-old Swedish socialite, that this will be his final spaceflight. He told her about his plans when they got engaged and "she was very supportive, but, BUT to a limit, mainly. Just once," Simonyi said with a chuckle. He's quick to point out this is his first marriage, and he's taking one of their engagement rings with him into orbit.

The Hungarian-born Simonyi, who lives in suburban Seattle, is among six rich people who have bought tickets to space through Virginia-based Space Adventures.

NASA, the major stakeholder in the space station, may not love the idea of hosting tourists — "spaceflight participants" as it calls them. But the initial concerns back in 2001 have eased over the years with the addition of guidelines.

Space station program manager Mike Suffredini has spoken to Simonyi, just as he has with everyone going up, to make sure the visitor understands his limitations at the orbiting complex.

"It really has to do with their safety," as well as the safety of the others and the space station itself, Suffredini said. "They're extremely restricted" in what they can do on the American side.

All this may soon be moot: Russian space officials have indicated that after this year, there will be no more seats available to tourists. That's because the space station crew is about to double in size to six — hopefully by the end of May — and professional fliers will fill all the slots.

After he returned from his two-week space station trip in April 2007, Simonyi said Russian cosmonauts told him how different and rewarding it was to go back up a second time. With doors closing on future tourist flights, Simonyi did not want to miss out.

Because the training for his first flight was so recent, Simonyi got the abridged version, three months at cosmonaut headquarters in Star City, Russia, versus six to eight months before. He will return to Earth on April 7 in a Soyuz capsule.

"I look at it as a continuation of the first flight," Simonyi said. "The reasons are the same. It's to support space research, it's to popularize civilian space flight and communicate the excitement of sciences and engineering to our kids."

Simonyi's own interest in space was kindled in childhood. He represented Hungary as a junior cosmonaut, when he was 13, and won a trip to Moscow to meet one of the first Soviet spacemen. His interest in computer programming eventually led him to the United States; he's been a U.S. citizen for 27 years.

Simonyi — who has a doctorate in computer science and is a licensed pilot — led the development of Microsoft Word and Excel. He left Microsoft in 2002 and founded Intentional Software Corp. as well as the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences.

He's offered to do medical and radiation experiments while he's up there, and will use Windows on Earth software to photograph Earth. The view and the feeling of weightlessness are drawing him back as well.

"It's a super-wide screen, and the Earth is fantastic blue," he said.

His wife of four months will be at the launching site in Kazakhstan, along with about a dozen other family and friends. Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, who was an usher at Simonyi's wedding, can't make it.

It's ironic, Simonyi said, that he left Hungary in 1966 as a teenager, frustrated by Soviet secrecy, and now Russia is allowing him to fulfill his dream — again.

"Who would have thought? The irony of this is amazing," he said.

Traditional Chinese houses enjoy reinvention

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 07/19/2009 10:02 AM | Travel

A small alley lies between traditional houses in China. Many small alleys create labyrinth-like path for residents. JP/Tifa Asrianti

While traditional houses in Indonesia disappear due to a lack of conservation, the trade of traditional-style courtyard homes siheyuan in Beijing thrives after the government issued a decree in March that encourages groups and individuals to buy the siheyuans.

Under the new decree aimed at promoting better siheyuan conservation, owners will have a legal right to sell, lease, mortgage or transfer their property at negotiated price.
Over the past five years, the price of siheyuan has soared to 30,000 Yuan (US$4,500) per square meter. The price is expected to continue rising given the fact that there are only around 1,000 siheyuan for sale in Beijing.

According to real estate agencies, most buyers are non-Beijingers seeking a solid investment. Because of the high cultural value, the profit margin ranges from 100 percent to 200 percent per sale.

One of the non-Beijingers buying or renting siheyuan is Mark Thirwall, an Australian who found his ideal place to settle down in Central Beijing’s Beixinqiao hutong.

Beijing has many hutongs, but Thirwall set his heart on Beixinqiao because he believed it had somemagical charms and, unlike other hutong in the capital, the lanes were meandering.

“It’s quiet and has no bars or tourist harpooning small shops near it. Instead it’s a piece of Beijing’s older past brought to the forefront. Besides, there are some beautiful big trees in the area that have their own identity papers issued by the local neighborhood group,” Thirwall said.

According to him, renting a hutong in Beijing was as simple as obtaining all the right papers including a leasing contract.

“The main issue that really needs to be addressed is how to deal with your neighborhood relations” he said.

It certainly is not an issue for Thirwall as he enjoys walking, riding his bike or sanlunche [tricycle] and talking with the locals.

After six months of renovation, Thirwall’s new home became a club called ‘The Hutong’ (www.the-hutong.com). Opened in 2007, The Hutong has a kitchen for creative cooking classes, a private tea house, a multi function room and a roof-top terrace.

“I love tea and my business partner Stacey Shine loves painting. It seemed like the perfect place to convert into a cozy lounge/tea house atmosphere conducive for learning. We wanted a space that could offer Chinese cultural courses in a soft environment,” he said.

“The neighbors all know us now. They pretty much work as the tour guides pointing everyone whom has a “big nose” to our front doors. Sometimes even random strangers that didn’t even want to come to The Hutong.”

Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconies

aren Hawkins , The Associated Press , Chicago, U.S. | Sat, 07/04/2009 7:58 AM | Travel

Anna Kane, 5, of Alton, Ill. looks down from "The Ledge," the new glass balconies suspended 1,353 feet (412 meters) in the air and jut out 4 feet (1.22 meters) from the Sears Tower's 103rd floor Skydeck Wednesday in Chicago. The Ledge is open to public beginning Thursday. AP/Kiichiro Sato

Visitors to the Sears Tower's new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest.

"It's like walking on ice," said Margaret Kemp, of Bishop, California, who said her heart was still pounding even after stepping away from the balcony. "That first step you take - 'am I going down?'"

Kemp was among the visitors who got a sneak preview of the balconies Wednesday. "The Ledge," as the balconies have been nicknamed, open to the public Thursday.

The balconies are suspended 1,353 feet (412 meters) in the air and just out 4 feet (1.22 meters) from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck. They're actually more like boxes than balconies, with transparent walls, floor and ceiling.

Visitors are treated to unobstructed views of Chicago from the building's west side and a heart-stopping vista of the street and Chicago River below - for those brave enough to look straight down.

John Huston, one of the property owners of the Sears Tower, even admitted to getting "a little queasy" the first time he ventured out. But 30 or 40 trips later, he's got the hang of it.

"The Sears Tower has always been about superlatives - tallest, largest, most iconic," he said. "Today is also about superlatives. Today, we present you with 'the Ledge,' the world's most awesome view, the world's most precipitous view, the view with the most wow in the world."

The balconies can hold five tons, and the glass is 1.5 inch (3.8 centimeters) thick, officials said.

Sears Tower officials have said the inspiration for the balconies came from the hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week. Now, staff will have a new glass surface to clean: floors.

The balconies are just one of the big changes coming to the Sears Tower. The building's name will change to Willis Tower later this summer.

Last week, officials announced a 5-year, $350 million green renovation complete with wind turbines, roof gardens and solar panels.

A view from the top in the ‘land down under’

One of the best ways to enjoy a new travel destination is watching the place’s scenery unfold from a vantage point.

Australia’s natural as well as its metropolis’ viewpoints can literally lift visitors above and beyond. The Jakarta Post checks out some of the country’s breathtaking views in every way possible.

View of 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.Photo by Kenny Santana

A view for the thrill seekers: There is no better place to enjoy Sydney’s Harbor than at the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, attached to a rail by a rope some 134 meters above sea level. And visitors can only peer at the view by climbing the bridge. The climb of our choice, the late twilight Discovery Climb, takes you and a few others to the heart of the bridge to gape at Sydney in the sunset, with the city lights gradually illuminating the harbor.

Harbour Bridge: Photo by Kenny Santana

The journey up the bridge is simply magical. With a safety rope around your waist at all times, you walk from one steel pillar to another, up some rather steep stairs until you gradually reach the top of the bridge’s arch. It’s no secret the most-viewed landmark from the summit is Sydney’s Opera House. It’s grand and standing tall, though no one is actually taller than you are at that very moment.

A view of the best of both worlds: Imagine an elevator that can bring you to the 77th floor in less than 43 seconds. The Gold Coast’s renowned observation deck, QDeck, has one such elevator that takes its visitors 230 meters above sea level in unique surroundings.

Peek behind the Qdeck’s Telescope.: Photo by Kenny Santana

As Australia’s only observation deck located along the beach and in the world’s tallest residential tower, QDeck has a view to die for. Well, make it two views. It has a view of the gorgeous white sand beach on one side and of the Gold Coast’s expanse of skyscrapers on another. The combination of both is a treat for both city and nature lovers. People say you cannot have it all, but QDeck proves it wrong.

A view with a twist: Okay, you might be able to guess what to expect from an observation deck, but Eureka Skydeck 88 in Melbourne city center has something others viewpoints don’t. With magnificent vistas of Melbourne’s skyscrapers from 88 storeys high, step in to The Edge for an extra A$12 and get ready to find out.

You’ll enter a glass cube with a translucent floor that will slowly move out of the building and take you three meters out from the edge of the main tower at 300 meters above the ground. Adding to the twist, gripping music plays in the background (obviously played on purpose) before the floor suddenly becomes see-through.

There you are, feeling like you’re in the middle of the sky and that any minute you can fall all the way down to that speck of a street below you. The guide actually told us if we fell, it would take less than 30 seconds for us to hit the ground, which was not a very reassuring thought. During these few minutes, you can hear your heart beat faster and faster. This pure adrenaline kick is not to be missed.

A romantic view for two: When driving along the 243-kilometers Great Ocean Road, stop at Apollo’s Bay Chris’ Beacon Point restaurant. The open view from the restaurant overlooking the Bass Strait is stunning. Make sure you reserve a seat close to the window and arrive just before dawn.

Anyone can easily linger there for hours, enjoying the impeccable Mediterranean cuisine and extensive list of French wines. And if a two-hour lunch or dinner break doesn’t satisfy your hunger for sceneries, book a night at Chris’ chic villa or studio for a gorgeous evening (and morning) to remember. Oh, and don’t tell anybody we tipped you about this “Will you marry me?” spot.

A 360-degree view: If you are dreaming of a priceless moment, try hiring a helicopter to take you over the Great Ocean Road. With the choice between a 10 to 50 minutes ride, the 12 Apostles Helicopter ride brings its passengers spectacular views of natural lime stones and sandstones dotting the ocean.

Travelers will have unobstructed views of the famous (not to mention gorgeous) 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge for a reasonable A$95 per person. And for a few dollars more, the helicopter can bring you to London Bridge and even to West Victoria’s most southern point, Cape Otway Lighthouse.

While up there, the pilot will also be your guide and tell you short stories about the natural wonder spread out below you. Relish some picture-postcard moments as the helicopter maneuvers its way to give you this rocking view of the rocks. Unforgettable.

A view before a good night sleep: Located in the corner of George Street, the Four Seasons Sydney hotel has the advantage of having a view of the Sydney Opera House as well as serving you the final dessert of the day. The 53-square-meters Premier Full Harbour-View room is the perfect place to be when saying good night to the iconic city landmark. We also recommend the Gold Coast’s Q1 Resort & Spa accommodation located just below QDeck and The Langham Melbourne for its Yarra River view.

— Photos by Kenny Santana

RI awards scholarship to 50 teenagers from 31 countries

The Indonesian government awarded Wednesday scholarships to 50 teenagers from 31 countries to study Indonesian art and culture.

The scholarship recipients, who are from Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Samoa, China, South Korea, Thailand, India, Japan, Laos, Singapore, Cook Island, England, the US, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and the Salomon Islands, will be educated in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, and Bali.

"Your presence in Indonesia means a lot to us because you can tell the world that the recent terrorist bombings did not affect the country's social and economic situation," Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

Xanim Eliyeva, from Azerbaijan, thanked the Indonesian government for his scholarship.

"This will give me an opportunity to learn and live in Indonesia after spending one year learning about Indonesia in my home country," Eliyeva said.

Hotel Bintang "o" Pertama di dunia

NULL STERN HOTEL : HOTEL BINTANG 0 (NOL) PERTAMA DI DUNIA

Hotel ini terletak di switzerland, NULL STERN HOTEL menobatkan dirinya menjadi hotelberbintang 0 (nol) pertama didunia. Akomodasinya amat murah namun berkarakteristik : tidakada TV, tidak ada kamar mandi pribadi dan yang paling menakjubkan lagi tidak ada sinarmatahari. Hotel ini telah dibuka pada awal 2009 ini.

Hotel ini dibuat dari bekas bunker nuklir beberapa yard di bawah permukaan tanah di daerahsevelen, swiss, The Null Stern Hotel (atau hotel berbintang nol) akan menjadi hotelberbintang nol pertama di dunia dengan tarif 6-18 euro per malam. tertarik ??

Ini pic nya:

Spoiler for klik show untuk melihat gambar:

Gerhana Terlama

Hari ini Selasa 22 Juli 2009 telah terjadi peristiwa Gerhana Matahari Total
(GMT) yakni satu kondisi dimana bundaran Matahari tertutupi oleh bundaran Bulan yang sedang menuju ke fase Bulan baru atau konjungsi atau ijtima’. Gerhana ini merupakan gerhana pemuncak dari sebuah "parade gerhana"
selama 30 hari ke depan dimana secara berturut-turut akan terjadi 3
gerhana sekaligus yakni Gerhana Bulan Penumbral 7 Juli 2009, Gerhana
Matahari Total 22 Juli 2009 dan Gerhana Bulan Penumbral 6 Agustus 2009.
Parade gerhana semacam ini terakhir kali terjadi 9 tahun silam tepatnya
pada bulan Juli 2000.

Spoiler for Dari Atas Bumi:

Spoiler for Dari Atas Bumi:

Gerhana Matahari Total 22 Juli 2009 merupakan bagian dari gerhana seri Saros 136 dan bisa dilihat dari kawasan Asia Selatan, Asia Tenggara, Asia Timur dan Samudera Pasifik. Sebagai bagian dari seri Saros 136, maka gerhana ini merupakan perulangan dari GMT 55 tahun sebelumnya, yakni GMT 20 Juni 1955. Yang membedakan hanyalah lokasi keterlihatan gerhana kali ini sedikit bergeser ke utara. Dan kelak 55 tahun ke depan, yakni 24 Agustus 2063, GMT yang sama juga akan berulang dengan catatan bahwa lokasi keterlihatan gerhana kian bergeser ke utara menjauhi kawasan khatulistiwa.

Gerhana Matahari Total 22 Juli 2009 memiliki bayangan inti (umbra) yang memanjang sejauh ribuan kilometer dari lepas pantai Laut Arab di sebelah barat India dan menerus ke timur laut melintasi kota Shanghai dan Kep. Jepang untuk akhirnya berbelok ke tenggara hingga berakhir di pertengahan Samudera Pasifik. Umbra ini memiliki lebar 258 km. Gerhana dimulai pada pukul 06:58 WIB ketika terjadi kontak awal penumbra (P1). Disusul kemudian kontak awal umbra (U1) pada pukul 07:51 WIB. Seiring dengan gerakan Bulan mengelilingi Bumi, maka gerhana akan berjalan terus ke timur hingga mencapai puncaknya 09:35 WIB. Gerhana mulai berakhir pada pukul 11:19 WIB ketika terjadi kontak akhir umbra (U4) dan sepenuhnya berakhir pada pukul 12:12 WIB ketika kontak akhir penumbra (P4) terlampaui.



Seluruh wilayah Indonesia terletak jauh di selatan lintasan umbra dan berada di perbatasan daerah penumbra, sehingga hanya bisa menyaksikan gerhana ini dalam bentuk gerhana sebagian. Batas area penumbra membentang dari pantai barat Pulau Sumatra yang menerus ke timur laut melintasi kota Jambi, Samarinda dan sebelah utara kota Palu untuk kemudian berbelok ke tenggara melewati kota Luwuk, Bula (Pulau Seram bagian timur) dan laut Arafuru. Hanya daerah di sebelah utara garis ini yang bisa menyaksikan gerhana.

Spoiler for mantab:

Spoiler for mantab:

Spoiler for dari India:

Spoiler for dari Xinhua:

Gerhana bisa disaksikan pada pagi hari untuk Pulau Sumatra dan
Kalimantan. Di Sulawesi dan Papua, gerhana bisa disaksikan pada siang
hari. Durasi gerhana yang terpanjang terjadi di kota Jayapura dan
sekitarnya, yakni selama 1 jam 52 menit yang dimulai pada pukul 11:11
WIT. Namun penutupan cakram Matahari oleh Bulan yang terbesar pada saat puncak gerhana justru terjadi di kota Banda Aceh dan sekitarnya, yakni
mencapai 29,7 % (magnitude 0,297). Di Banda Aceh gerhana mulai terjadi
pada pukul 07:14 WIB dan berakhir pada 08:48 WIB. Sementara durasi
terpendek gerhana terjadi di sepanjang perbatasan penumbra. Di kota
Samarinda dan sekitarnya misalnya, gerhana hanya berlangsung 17 menit
sejak pukul 09:36 WITA, dengan tutupan cakram Matahari hanya 0,4 %.

daerah-daerah yang bisa melihat gerhana di indonesia, yakni yang bertempat di
propinsi :

* Nangroe Aceh Darussalam
* Sumatera Utara
* Sumatera Barat
* Riau
* Riau Kepulauan
* Jambi (sebagian)
* Kalimantan Barat
* Kalimantan Timur (sebagian)
* Sulawesi Utara
* Gorontalo
* Sulawesi Tengah (sebagian)
* Sulawesi Tenggara (sebagian)
* Maluku (sebagian)
* Maluku Utara
* Irian Jaya Barat
* Papua

Effect of cigaretes (Efek ROKOK)

Ini ni kalo kalian suka merokok!
yang satu paru2 nya sehat!
yang satu bisa liat sendiri kan??

Roket karya anak bangsa

Roket RX-420 & CN-235 Militer:
Getarkan Australia, Singapura, Malaysia

Oleh Cardiyan HIS



Momentum ini harus dijaga terus dan ditingkatkan sebagai kebanggaan atas kemampuan teknologi sendiri. Jangan sampai karya insinyur Indonesia ini dijegal justru oleh orang Indonesia sendiri (biasa) para ekonom-ekonom Pemerintah yang sering menganggap karya bangsa sendiri sebagai terlalu mahal dan hanya buang-buang uang saja untuk riset ....! Inilah musuh yang sebenarnya. Waspadailah kawan-kawan insinyur Indonesia...





Meski sudah berlangsung 2 pekan yang lalu, peluncuran roket RX-420 Lapan ternyata masih jadi buah bibir. Anehnya bukan jadi buah bibir di Indonesia yang lebih senang ceritera Pilpres, tetapi di Australia, Singapura dan tentu saja di negara tetangga yang suka siksa TKI dan muter-muterin Ambalat yakni Malaysia.

Seperti diketahui roket RX-420 ini menggunakan propelan yang dapat memberikan daya dorong lebih besar sehingga mencapai 4 kali kecepatan suara. Hal itu membuat daya jelajahnya mencapai 100 km. Bahkan bisa mencapai 190 km bila struktur roket bisa dibuat lebih ringan. Yang punya nilai tambah tinggi ini adalah 100% hasil karya anak bangsa, para insinyur Indonesia. Begitu pula semua komponen roket-roket balistik dan kendali dikembangkan sendiri di dalam negeri, termasuk software. Hanya komponen subsistem mikroprosesor yang masih diimpor. Anggaran yang dikeluarkan untuk peluncurannya pun “cuma” Rp 1 milyar. Kalah jauh dengan yang dikorupsi para anggota DPR untuk traveller checks pemenangan Miranda Gultom sebagai Deputi Senior Gubernur BI yang lebih dari Rp. 50 milyar. Apalagi kalau dibandingkan dengan korupsi BLBI yang lebih dari Rp. 700 trilyun.

Mengapa malah menjadi buah bibir di Australia, Singapura dan Malaysia? Karena keberhasilan peluncuran roket Indonesia ini ke depan akan membawa Indonesia mampu mendorong dan mengantarkan satelit Indonesia bernama Nano Satellite sejauh 3.600 km ke angkasa. Satelit Indonesia ini nanti akan berada pada ketinggian 300 km dan kecepatan 7,8 km per detik. Bila ini terlaksana Indonesia akan menjadi negara yang bisa menerbangkan satelit sendiri dengan produk buatan sendiri. Indonesia dengan demikian akan masuk member "Asian Satellite Club" bersama Cina, Korea Utara, India dan Iran.

Nah kekhawatiran Australia, Singapura dan Malaysia ini masuk akal, bukan? Kalau saja Indonesia mampu mendorong satelit sampai 3.600 km untuk keperluan damai atau keperluan macam-macam tergantung kesepakatan rakyat Indonesia. Maka otomatis pekerjaan ecek-ecek bagi Indonesia untuk mampu meluncurkan roket sejauh 190 km untuk keperluan militer bakal sangat mengancam mereka sekarang ini pun juga!!! Kalau tempat peluncurannya ditempatkan di Batam atau Bintan, maka Singapura dan Malaysia Barat sudah gemetaran bakal kena roket Indonesia. Dan kalau ditempatkan di sepanjang perbatasan Kalimantan Indonesia dengan Malaysia Timur, maka si OKB Malaysia tak akan pernah berpikir ngerampok Ambalat. Akan hal Australia, mereka ada rasa takutnya juga. Bahwa mitos ada musuh dari utara yakni Indonesia itu memang bukan sekedar mitos tetapi sungguh ancaman nyata di masa depan dekat.



CN 235 Versi Militer

Rupanya Australia, Singapura dan Malaysia sudah lama “nyaho” kehebatan insinyur-insinyur Indonesia. Buktinya? Tidak hanya gentar dengan roket RX-420 Lapan tetapi mereka sekarang sedang mencermati pengembangan lebih jauh dari CN235 versi Militer buatan PT. DI. Juga mencermati perkembangan PT. PAL yang sudah siap dan mampu membuat kapal selam asal dapat kepercayaan penuh dan dukungan dana dari pemerintah.

Kalau para ekonom Indonesia antek-antek World Bank dan IMF menyebut pesawat-pesawat buatan PT. DI ini terlalu mahal dan menyedot investasi terlalu banyak (“cuma” Rp. 30 trilun untuk infrastruktur total, SDM dan lain-lain) dan hanya jadi mainannya BJ Habibie. Tetapi mengapa Korea Selatan dan Turki mengaguminya setengah mati? Turki dan Korsel adalah pemakai setia CN 235 terutama versi militer sebagai yang terbaik di kelasnya. Inovasi 40 insinyur-insinyur Indonesia pada CN 235 versi militer ini adalah penambahan persenjataan lengkap seperti rudal dan teknologi radar yang dapat mendeteksi dan melumpuhkan kapal selam. Jadi kalau mengawal Ambalat cukup ditambah satu saja CN235 versi militer (disamping armada TNI AL dan pasukan Marinir yang ada) untuk mengusir kapal selam dan kapal perang Malaysia lainnya.

Nah, jadi musuh yang sebenarnya ada di Indonesia sendiri. Yakni watak orang Indonesia yang tidak mau melihat orang Indonesia sendiri berhasil. Karya insinyur-insinyur Indonesia yang hebat dalam membuat alutsista dibilangin orang Indonesia sendiri terutama para ekonom pro Amerika Serikat dan Eropa: “Mending beli langsung dari Amerika Serikat dan Eropa karena harganya lebih murah”. Mereka tidak berpikir jauh ke depan bagaimana Indonesia akan terus tergantung di bidang teknologi, Indonesia hanya akan menjadi konsumen teknologi dengan membayarnya sangat mahal terus menerus sampai kiamat tiba.
Kalau ada kekurangan yang terjadi dengan industri karya bangsa sendiri, harus dinilai lebih fair dan segera diperbaiki bersama-sama. Misalnya para ahli pemasaran atau sarjana-sarjana ekonomi harus diikutsertakan dalam team work. Sehingga insinyur-insinyur itu tidak hanya pinter produksi sebuah pesawat tetapi setidaknya tahu bagaimana menjual sebuah pesawat itu berbeda dengan menjual sebuah Honda Jazz. Kalau ada kendala dalam pengadaan Kredit Ekspor sebagai salah satu bentuk pembayaran, tolong dipecahkan dan didukung oleh dunia perbankan, agar jualan produk sendiri bisa optimal karena akan menarik bagi calon pembeli asing yang tak bisa bayar cash.

Tatoo galery

To apply tattoos on the skin, the tattoo artist needs both a good clear reference of the actual design, and well drawn stencils (line drawings) as the "blueprint" for the actual tattoo. To the right, you can see several samples of both tattoo designs and their corresponding stencils. These designs are all created by one of our world renowned tattoo flash artists, Edward Lee.

All designs sold on TattooFinder.com are available to the customer at full size, in clear view, and include the corresponding stencils (like the samples displayed on this page).

What are STENCILS (line drawings) and why are they important?

Stencils, also known as "line drawings" or "liners" are what a tattooist REALLY needs to apply the tattoo design to the skin. The line drawings are run through a thermofax (or similar device) with the result being the line drawings set to carbon paper. The tattooist then applies a liquid solution (type may vary) on the skin, and presses the carbon line drawings to the skin. This provides a "blueprint" on the skin . . . a guide to create the actual tattoo.

Stencils are a way that the tattoo flash artist (artist who creates the design on paper) communicates the intended artistic nuances of the design to the tattoo artist (who actually applies the tattoo on the skin). Like any type of communication, it is a "two-way conversation." Not all line drawings are created equal. Some tattoo flash artists put more "information" into their design stencils and some put less. Likewise, tattoo artists use stencils differently. Some will follow the stencils provided exactly as they were created, while others may alter the stencils before using them to create tattoos on the skin.

Regardless of how they are created and used, almost ALL tattooists use line drawings. There are a very few select number of tattooists who "freehand" tattoos, but even they will oftentimes use a pen directly on the skin before they start to apply any ink. In other words, they may not be using any "reference material" (designs and/or stencils on paper), but to create on skin what they have in their mind, they still create the "stencils" on skin with a pen of what they imagine the final design to look like.

The bottom line is that most tattooists NEED stencils to create tattoos on skin.

What do the different DESIGN SIZES on TattooFinder.com mean? Can I change the size for the actual tattoo?

The smaller designs we sell on TattooFinder.com are generally 1 - 3 inches, and the larger tattoo designs are generally 7 - 10 inches. In general (and this is not a perfect science), designs on TattooFinder.com are "sized" at the smallest size they could be applied as a tattoo on skin.

Skin is a "living canvas" and has its own properties as a "medium" for art. There are general "rules" in tattooing (do's and don'ts) for how to apply a tattoo on the skin for it to look good and STAY looking good over time. One of these rules applies to how "tight" a tattoo can be and still "hold up over time".

On skin, ink fades and ink spreads. How well the tattooist applies the ink can definitely effect these things, but following the "rules" also greatly effects the results. If a design is applied to the skin that is too "tight" (too much "ink information" in too small a place, the end result will be an abstract "ink blob" on the skin.

For example in the "medium" sized tattoo design to the right (the rose with the cross), if this tattoo design is applied on the skin at a much smaller size than it is here, then the black lines in the leaves will run together and the leaves will look like black ink blobs (black dominates all other colors and shades). So the general rule here is that if you try to put too much detail into a design that is too small to support the detail, the tattoo will not hold up well over time.

In general, tattoo designs can be "scaled up" (made larger) with no problem. However, to make the tattoo design smaller on the skin than it is as we sell them, most likely the tattooist will need to alter the design (stencils) to leave out some of the detail. So yes, larger designs CAN be made smaller, but this takes some extra work by the tattooist (and of course depends on the skill level of the tattooist to do this job well).

Also, some of the larger designs sold on TattooFinder.com actually SHOULD be made larger than the size they print at. The largest actual size of designs we sell is 10 inches by 7 inches. This is to accommodate standard printers that only print this large (so you can print your own tattoo design from home). For example, the "large" tattoo design to the right (of the dragon with the transparent tribal over it) really has too much detail in it to be done at this actual size. But we sized this design to be able to print on your printer. Any tattooist should be able to "scale" the design by changing the size of the stencils using a copy machine.

Can I make changes to the tattoo design before it is applied on the skin? Can I make CUSTOM designs?

Yes! Tattoo Designs sold on TattooFinder.com can be altered by you and/or your tattoo artist to make it more "personalized" for you as a tattoo (and we ENCOURAGE you to do this!). Colors can be changed, parts can be added or left out, a color design can be done as a black and gray design and visa versa. Many people oftentimes purchase several tattoo designs from TattooFinder.com to mix and match to create just one tattoo. Sometimes to "Find the Perfect Design" you need to actually find "several" tattoo designs and use them to create the "perfect design" for you! This just means that "some assembly may be required", and this is up to you and/or the creativity of your tattooist!