SOLO, THE SPIRIT OF JAVA

                                                     Bengawan Solo song, Japanese version

     

When read and talking about SOLO, central Java, what cross to my mind is a good image, peaceful environment and a city not to crowded. Let us take some example that well known nationally like hand made Batik fashion, soft spoken citizen, nice girls and Sultanate.
 

                                       Solo gate

The good  scent coming out from municipality especially the character of Mayor, Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi. Joko, relatively young, 49 answered the reporters why he was never withdraw his salary, since his life could afford by his family business. Using old car from his successor then buy a new model, luxury one that he entitle to do so. Above behavior is not common in high officials in Indonesia.
 

In order to protect small businesses, he turn down Shopping malls development application as a trend in whole cities in the country.  Relocated small business to a proper places no attacks whatsoever, he approach the small business community instead of using power as a common practices in Indonesia. He relocated them in order to spare more room for green environment
The new program  is about operated a new 2 storeys  Bus for city tour own by the municipality. He copied a lots from Europe when he traveled in business trip before elected as a mayor.

 

                                         Solo Castel
 
 In his effort to branding Solo as a Spirit of Java, Solo registered as a member of World cities heritage in 2006 and two years later assigned as a host for Conference of this Organization. Municipality kept Benteng Vastenburg from destroyed for a shopping mall and stage for World Music festival in 2007 . Then in 2008 this festival held in the palace Mangkunegaran
 

 

                                  Batik, Java traditional shirt  

That is why, a reputable Indonesia magazine Tempo included him as one of 10 top leader in 2008.
Government should see SOLO city management as a model for all cities all over the country, to paid special attention to make city a convenience place to live. If Joko Widodo's term is over in 2015 for the second terms, his name will be recorded well in Solo city history or Indonesia leadership model as well.

If you happened visit to Jogjakarta city, take advantage visit Solo by commuter train or bus and return to Yogjakarta again later at night to witness how different this city then other cities in Indonesia.

                                  Solo palace crews
 

2 comments:

Endang Puji said...

I was born in Solo, a city that I'm proud

March 20, 2011 9:14 AM

PINONDANG SITUMEANG said...

Mbak Endang, no wonder you are one of the admired lady of this peaceful city Thank you for your support to visit this blog Best regard,

March 20, 2011 10:47 PM

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TOUR DE SINGKARAK

West Sumatra Government knew well what products/services to be promoted and offered to the World. One other thing was nice view, start from Singkarak lake, Ngarai valley all in origin, green environment. They saw the panoramas to the World indirectly through Bike Championship, this 2011 was the 3rd Championship.

West Sumatra Government paid a special attention to run International Bike championship in order to promote travel business, to sell beautiful panoramas in this region. From efficient point of view spend for Rp. 750.000.000,- for cash prizes equivalent US$ 90.000 worth compare to pay CNN or international Televesion advertisement.

Last year participants were 22 teams, 10 were local and the rest 12 teams from Iran, Malaysia, The Netherland and Japan. Azad University and Tabriz Petrochemical often participated in bike championship in Indonesia at Java and Bali championship. Some of outside teams were the best team who participated in UCI (United Cycling International) calendar. Most of them were Continental teams who knew West Sumatra fields condition

This year the best participants increase to 27 teams, 15 from abroad and the rest 12 from Indonesia. It means that this championship more known and interesting for world cycling teams.

                                                    

The starting point from the capital of West Sumatra, Padang and end at Singkarak lake with multi stage 7 stages. This year the length of the stage become 739,3 kilometers from 551,7 kilometers year previously, since the regents asked to be covered by the tour through 12 districts

The cost of the event funded together by National budget, regional Government and 12 districts budget in order to promote the travel destinations. Indirect positive are to build or improve hotel and its environment who will improve job opportunities.

The last but not least, as the consequences of additional districts and additional length of stage, Cash prizes also increase from Rp. 600 million last year to Rp.750 millions this year or equivalent US.$ 90.000,-

The official in charge arr Mr.Sapta Nirwandar of Dirjen Pemasaran Kementerian Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata KEMBUDPAR and Raseno of Bidang Promosi Sumatera Kembudpar.

CERITA RINGAN DARI NEGERI PERJANJIAN

"Sorry you come late", kata petugas loket KLM di Bandara Ben Gurion, Tel Avil, Israel, sambil mengembalikan 3 ticket dan paspor. Saya terdiam sebentar karena terkejut dan melihat jam tangan, lalu menjawab :"We have to fly to day to Jakarta", sambil menunjukkan jam keberangkatan dari Bandara Schipol, Amsterdam - Jakarta. 

                                                            Danau Galilea

                                                                      Betlehem

Dari balik kaca dengan kasat mata masih nampak pesawat dengan huruf  biru besar KLM parkir di hanggar, karena masih ada  waktu 90 menit lagi sebelum boarding. Kami santai saja seperti di Tanah air, tiba di Bandara 90 menit sebelum take off.

Negara yang baru setahun sebelumnya jadi sasaran peluru kendali Scud Irak itu, mempunyai aturan khusus,  penumpang harus datang 3 jam sebelum take off, bukan 2 jam seperti aturan international,.

Setelah dia sadar bahwa kami mengejar pesawat KLM di Amsterdam, tanpa kami ketahui, dia memindahkan kami ke pesawat lain. Ticket dan pasport dikembalikan dan saya kaget lagi, memperhaatikan  boarding pas merk "El Al", Garudanya Israel. Alamak. Saya berdoa dalam hati :"Tuhan jauhkan pesawat kami dari bom teroris".

Pesawat El Al

Kami antri dibagian pemeriksaan security. Baterey tustel diambil, kantong dichek dan dikosongkan, sepatu dibuka, juga kaos kaki dilepas, isi tas digerawangi sampai kedalam. Itulah tas hitam satu satunya yang kami beli di Tel Aviv, karena 3 koper lain kami titip di Hotel Holiday Inn, Amsterdam selama seminggu wisata rohani di Tanah perjanjian, Israel.

Seorang security wanita muda mengantarkan kami hingga ke ruang tunggu di lantai dua dengan mengucapkan :"Sorry for the inconvenience", sambil berlalu tanpa senyum.

Puji Tuhan, merasa lega, pesawat melewati masa take off, mulailah saat membagi snack dan minuman. Pramugarinya berjalan ke baris belakang melewati kursi kami . Saya menoleh kebelakang dan melihat mereka mendahulukan melayani para pria berpakaian hitam, jenggot dipilin pilin dan memakai topi kecil bulat diatas kepala masing masing. Mereka menyebutnya "Rabby" atau guru agama Jahudi, yang dihormati. Walah walah.

Setelah saat akan landing, terdengar intercom : "In a few seconds we will landing at Brussel airport", kami juga kaget. Ternyata pesawat El Al itu tidak terbang ke Negeri Belanda  tetapi ke Negara lain dan kami harus ganti pesawat lagi. Dalam hati yakin koper hitam satu satunya yang kami beli di Tel Aviv pasti mengikuti sipemilik. Kami boarding ke pesawat kecil  dengan hanya membawa 6 orang, kami bertiga dan satu penumpang lain, plus pilot dan pramugari

 Mata ditutup berdoa, jantung berdegup kencang karena was was, pesawat terbang dibawa angin kesana kemari seperti layang layang dihembus angin.  Pemandangan perkebunan bunga warna warni yang begitu indah dan luas tidak dapat dinikmati lagi. Tidak sampai 30 menit pesawat bersiap akan landing. Pramugari dengan sigap mengumpulkan kembali snack, gelas dan anggur, yang belum sempat disentuh. Dasar pelit.

Berlari lari kecil, istri dan anak gadis saya Peggy kewalahan menuju conveyor bagasi. Conveyor menjatuhkan bagasi satu demi satu dan memutari ruang Baggage claim, hingga akhirnya berhenti. Koper hitam made in Israel itu tidak ada. Tinggal di Bandara Ben Gurion, Brussel atau terbawa pesawat El Al, nobody knows.

Kami langsung ke loket Baggage claim melapor kehilangan Tas. Dengan cuwek dua petugasnya otomatis mengucapkan kata kata dari  Manual book :"Leave your name and address, we will send it as soon as possible". Saya sempat kesal dan dengan ketus berkata :"I don't believe you can locate our bag", kata saya. Karena 10 hari sebelumnya koper koper kami juga ketinggalan di Washington state, Amerika, ketika berganti pesawat dari United Airline  ke pesawat Alaska Air.

Dengan sedan Mercy, taxi resmi Bandara, kami minta sopir ngebut ke Hotel Holiday Inn di kota Amsterdam untuk mengambil koper koper yang kami titip dan langsung balik  cepat cepa tke Bandara lagar tidak ketinggalan pesawat lagi. Puji Tuhan kami bisa terbang kembali ke Tanah air yang sudah dirindukan walau baru ditinggal 3 minggu.

Keesokan harinya setelah menikmati makan siang lezat masakan isteri, telpon berdering. Diseberang sana berkata :"Pak koper yang ketinggalan di Tel Aviv sudah tiba". Kami segera menuju Bandara Soekarno Hatta dan menemukan koper hitam kami. Setelah dibuka, isinya utuh. Puji Tuhan.

TRAIN SINGAPORE - MALAYSIA - BANGKOK

Taking the train is the safe, comfortable & amazingly cheap way to travel overland between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Bangkok.  It's a real experience, unlike flying, and relaxing on a train on the traditional colonial single-track railway past palm plantations and little country stations is far nicer than using a bus on an ugly & depressing modern motorway. 

From 1 July 2011 you now leave from Woodlands Train Checkpoint in the north of Singapore Island, rumbling slowly over the famous 1923-built causeway across the Johor Strait into Malaysia and through the palm plantations and jungle towards Kuala Lumpur. 

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur takes 6 hours by leisurely daytime train or 8 hours on a time-effective overnight sleeper, from just £7 or $10 one-way.  Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (the station for the ferry to Penang) is of a similar length & cost;  

Butterworth to Bangkok on the daily 'International Express' costs around £23 or $34 and takes less than 24 hours with a comfy sleeper & a restaurant car for dinner & breakfast, see the pictures here.  The whole 1,233 mile Singapore to Bangkok journey can be done in just 48 hours including an afternoon in KL and a morning in Penang, but by all means stop off for longer in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.

Where you go is up to you...  Here are the train schedules for the main line linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Bangkok.   Feel free to take any train on any date between any two stations, it's up to you.  All these trains run every day.  Trains in Malaysia & Thailand run on metre-gauge track, narrower than European standard gauge.  How much does it cost?   How to buy tickets. Singapore to Bangkok by train:  The whole train journey from Singapore to Bangkok is 1,920 km or 1,233 miles and involves two or three trains, depending on where you want to stop off.    Look at the timetable below.  For a fast journey with no stopover in KL and just a morning in Penang, you'd take train 12 Singapore to KL, train 22 KL to Butterworth (Penang) then train 36 Butterworth to Bangkok.   Or for an afternoon stopover in KL, a morning stopover in Penang, you'd take train 2 to KL, then train 22 KL to Butterworth, then train 36 Butterworth to Bangkok.   However, I'd recommend stopping at Kuala Lumpur and Penang for a bit longer as they are both fascinating cities.  So take any train you like from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, either one of the daytime trains (train 2 or 12) or the overnight sleeper train (train 24).   Stop over for a day or two, then take any train you like from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (the station for the ferry shuttle to Penang), there's a choice of two daytime trains (trains 10 or 2) or an overnight sleeper (train 22).   Finally, take a comfy sleeper on train 36, the 'International Express' leaving Butterworth at lunchtime and arriving in Bangkok next morning.  It's entirely up to you whether you travel from Singapore to Bangkok all in one go in 48 hours or stop off and see places on the way, as each train is booked & ticketed separately.   All 3 trains can be booked at any railway station in Malaysia or Singapore or by email with Malaysian Railways. It's really not difficult to read this timetable!  Each column is a separate train, and you read downwards.  You can buy tickets for any train, between any two stations.   So for example, in the second column you see that train number 2, with 1st & 2nd class seats, running daily, leaves Singapore Woodlands at 08:45, stops at Johor Bahru, Gemas, Tampin, calls at Kuala Lumpur at 14:56, calls at Ipoh and finally arrives at Butterworth (for Penang) at 21:20.   You could change trains at KL onto train 20 to Hat Yai.  Or you could stay on board till Butterworth, stay overnight and catch train 36 to Bangkok next day.  It's up to you... TICKET There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket.  The cost of a Singapore to Bangkok train journey is the sum of the fares for each train you take, Singapore to KL, KL to Butterworth, Butterworth to Bangkok Traveller's reports... Traveller Sheena Clowes reports from regular journeys between Singapore, KL, Penang and Bangkok:   I am an older lady who loves to travel alone and overland, so here are some recent pointers for added comfort for these journeys which I have made many times over the past few years, most recently today from Butterworth-Bangkok.   First of all, the International Express (Butterworth-Penang) is late both leaving and arriving around 20% of the time.  Be prepared for it, not stressed by it.  For instance, it left yesterday at 15.45 instead of 14.20, and arrived in Bangkok at just before 2pm today.   But even with my delaying for a cup of good coffee at the station in Bangkok, I was checking into my hotel at 2.45pm - I wouldn't be checking into a city-center hotel 45 minutes after landing at Bangkok international airport, would I!? Take some water and a light snack - biscuits, maybe - for the first few hours of the International Express when there is no restaurant car. If you forget, you can get food at the bus station just a short distance from the train station, or if you are coming from Georgetown, at the stalls at the jetty there.   The International Ekspress carries local passengers without reservations between the first station after Butterworth to the last station before Thailand, so don't spread your belongings out too much, you will end up with them all on your lap soon enough!   There is also usually hot drinking water available at the end of the 2nd class sleeper for making tea, instant noodles, re-heating baby food etc.  In the center of these coaches there is an electricity point where you can recharge your phone.  Make friends with the people sitting there, to keep an eye on it,  and only take as long as you need (it doesn't need to be fully charged for a quick phone call) as other people need to charge their phones, too. The lower berth on the International Express 2nd class sleepers offers an unprecedented (in my experience) amount of space as it is a full metre wide. The size of the berth, and the way the curtains hang around them, and their length, means that even an arthritic old woman like me can change clothes in privacy and rearrange her overnight case.  If you like to read in bed, take a book-light or head torch, and that if you need pitch darkness for sleeping, take  some sort of eye shade. You only get one pillow per berth, so fold up some soft clothing if you like your head higher. The cotton blanket that you are issued with is freshly-laundered and I find gives just the right degree of cosiness when wearing a T-shirt and cotton trousers.  Some people are too cold - the air-conditioning is fairly fierce - and need to put on more clothes to keep warm!   If you don't want an Asian breakfast or a rather strange Western breakfast, you can just buy a cup of coffee for 30 baht. It's instant but good and hot and strong, just the ticket with a couple of Malaysian "breakfast biscuits" and a carton of Yogurt you bought the previous day in Butterworth or Georgetown.   The food offered by the "Bogie Restaurant" (orders taken after crossing the border; dinner is served after Hat Yai and breakfast at whatever reasonable hour people are getting up) is generally very good if you like Thai food.   The restlessness of the southern provinces of Thailand is evidenced by the armed guards on the train overnight and a policeman patrols the sleeper coaches randomly through the night - in stocking feet!  However, I have never been aware of any problems in the border areas while I have been traveling.

ROSE FROM THE EAST

For the first time Indonesia honored by the opportunity perform in WEF, World Economic Forum in Davos Sweden in the last week of January 2011.

Indonesia will perform “Co Co night”, Collaboration and  Cooperation of all nations. Maya Hasan, daughter of ex Indonesia minister in Soekarno era, H.Mohamad Hasan, for the 1^st time ever perform on behalf of Indonesian agency.

In this event, Maya, well-known as a harp player, will plays her composition “Rose of the east” along with Sasando, Timor string instrument with Saluang, Minang pipe instrument, meet east and west of Indonesia.

This is a rare opportunity to saw the world that west instrument of harp to be Indonesian harp in Maya hand.

Maya eager to  saw that Indonesian recently created a fusion from traditional root and modern era.

She remembered of what her father said :”This is your country, do something even a small things, it will never be useless” , she said copied what her father said.

 Maya Hasan Sound of Light feat Fariz RM, John P, Adi D, Sandy W, Iwan H, Michael

In her latest Indonesian Mega Show Megalitikum Kuantum both in Jakarta and Bali , Maya Hasan can boast of two new accomplishments; engaging with "sampeq" , a traditional three-strings guitar-like instrument from Kalimantan ( Borneo ), and turning her harp to the Slendro musical scale for collaboration with the gamelan performance during the last number of the show.

Unlike the most world harpists who insist that the harp must be played using certain techniques and in certain musical performances, Maya Hasan decided to buck the trend. It was after meeting harpist Carrol McLaughlin of the University of Arizona , that she discovered her individual harp style.

Born in Hong Kong on 10 January 1972 , she had initially learned the harp from Heidy Awuy in Jakarta after completing Junior High School. Later, her musical studies took her to the University of Willamette , Salem , Oregon in the United States (1990-1993) under the training of Laura Zaerr, in which she majored in harp performances. There, she appeared in the Salem Chamber Orchestra of Oregon, Oregon Ballet Theater also featured in a local radio, tv channel, and The Senate of Oregon.

Since returning to Indonesia in 1993, Maya has been frequently invited to appear with the Nusantara Chamber Orchestra, Twilite Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Surabaya Symphony Orchestra, Erwin Gutawa Orchestra and is a member of The World Harp Ensemble representing Indonesia along with four harpist from Canada , Japan , Puerto Rico and The United States.

She has also appeared in a number of harp recitals, both solo and together with others. Maya Hasan has also been performing in other countries al well, from solo recital in Malayia and USA to soloist and joining the Bolshoi Ballet from Tushkent in Malaysia as principle harpist.

For the public of Indonesia , she creates two programs annually for children and adults, in corporating traditional melodies and instrument, thus creating a brain new image of the harp. Together with her music group Celtic, Maya Christina Worotikan Hasan produced the Sea Breeze Album (2000), contributed to the recordings of the PADI band (Kasih tak Sampai, 2001) and participated in theater stage appearances with EKI Production playing the Harp for Sale song that became part of the Gallery of Kisses album (2002).

TOUR de SIBOLGA - DANAU TOBA

TOUR de SIBOLGA – DANAU TOBA

(66 km oleh senior 66 thn)

Setelah saya menggowes sepeda Sibolga – Tarutung diujung Desember 2010 lalu, muncul sebuah ide ataukah mimpi, mungkinkah Pemerintah dan Organisasi Olahraga Sepeda di Tanah air merancang Program TOUR de PARIS yang berskala mini di Sumatera Utara.

Disamping untuk menggiatkan Olah raga sepeda itu sendiri, yang lebih penting lagi adalah memperkenalkan daerah tujuan wisata (DTW) Sibolga dan sekitarnya dengan mengaitkannya dengan Danau Toba yang akan dilewati. Bisa saja dilaksanakan pada jadwal terpisah atau dikaitkan dengan jadwal Pesta danau Toba tahunan dan peserta rally menginap di Danau Toba sambil menonton.

Karena sifatnya bertaraf internasional, tentu akan diliput oleh berbagai media Negara peserta. Liputannya termasuk pemandangan alam, kebudayaan khas dan kehidupan masyarakat yang akan menjadi promosi langsung DTW Sibolga Nauli dan Pesta Danau Toba khususnya serta Sumatera Utara pada umumnya keseluruh penjuru dunia melalui Media cetak, Jaringan TV dan Dunia Maya.

                                           Tor tor dan rumah adat Batak

Biaya program seperti ini jauh lebih murah dan berdampak efektif dibandingkan dengan Iklan pariwisata Negara seperti Malaysia, Thailand dan Negara kecil di Karibia, Amerika Selatan dan Negara Negara kecil lainnya, yang tidak pelit belanja Iklan di Media luar, seperti biasa kita saksikan di CNN, ABC, NCBC dan lain lain. Tidak seperti Negara kita sangat pelit kalau tidak mau dikatakan tidak beriklan.

Disini akan banyak fihak yang akan terkait dan memerlukan kolaborasi mengenai Sumber Dana/Anggaran dan Sumber Daya Manusia misalnya Departemen Pemuda, Olahraga dan Pariwisata serta Pemerintah Daerah Sumatera Utara hingga Organisasi Olahraga dan tidak kalah pentingnya perusahaan yang akan beriklan. Teknis pelaksanaannya sendiri menurut hemat saya tidak begitu rumit rumit amat, karena ajang seperti ini sudah sering dilaksanakan di Jawa – Bali.

Mimpi ini juga dilatar belakangi oleh pemandangan alam yang menjadi kekuatan, daya tarik tersendiri yang selama ini tersembunyi. Coba bayangkan tayangan CNN, media Internasional dan TV Nasional menayangkan pemandangan Lomba sepeda menyusuri bibir pantai Sibolga – Barus yang exotic. Pasti kita akan terhenyak bahwa itu bukan di pulau Karibia atau Hawai.

                                                  Sunset di Sibolga

Belum lagi pemandangan yang aduhai menelusuri jalan menanjak yang berkelok kelok seperti ular dengan latar belakang “Teluk Tapian Nauli”, Teluk biru yang tenang sebagai latar belakang, 5 – 6 km jaraknya dari dua batu lubang legendaris itu.
                           
                                                      Warga asing

Tanpa kita sadari keindahan alam ini sudah diketahui oleh penggemar sepeda dari berbagai Negara. Terbukti, dibeberapa kampung yang dilewati, saya selalu diteriaki anak anak dengan kata kata : “Good morning Sir”, walau waktunya sudah sore, sambil mereka berlari lari kecil disamping kiri kanan saya. Ada juga yang berteriak “Inggris, Inggris”.

Ketika saya membeli setumpuk duku manis seharga Rp.10.000,- di Sitahuis sorang Ibu memanggil saya dengan Mr. Hutabarat, maksudnya orang Barat, suatu pemandangan yang tidak asing lagi bagi mereka. Mereka tidak mengira kalau saya lahir di Sitahuis juga, kebetulan saya berkulit agak putih, memakai perlengkapan helm, kaca mata hitam, sarung tangan dan kemeja berwarna menyala, persis seperti yang dipakai orang orang asing itu.

Warga asing itu menikmati avountur menjelajahi kampung yang masih perawan, melewati jalan berkelok kelok yang sangat menantang adrenalin kejantanan mereka dan sekaligus menyaksikan kehidupan rakyat Sumatera Utara yang sangat sederhana dengan mata kelapa sendiri. Suatu pengalaman seumur hidup yang akan melekat, terukir dalam benak dan akan ditulis diberbagai media setelah mereka kembali ke Negara asalnya.

Jalan mendaki yang menantang dengan panorama laut, teluk Tapian Nauli yang tiada duanya, batu lobang dengan suasana yang cukup menyeramkan, jika dilewati sendirian. Belum lagi menu makan ikan bakar maknyes, segar dengan ramuan khas Sibolga akan membekas dilidah dan fikiran mereka.

                                                          Batu lobang pertama

TOUR de SIBOLGA itu bisa juga diperpanjang dengan memulainya dari Barus melalui bibir pantai hingga Sibolga, menjadi etappe pertama. Rombongan menginap di kota Sibolga dan berkesempatan merekam senja jingga diatas riak riak laut. Esok paginya dilanjutkan etappe berikutnya Sibolga – Tarutung atau Sibolga – Danau Toba, dan diakhiri satu hari kemudian dengan etappe Danau Toba – Medan. Jarak tour ini diperkirakan sekitar 400 km.

Yang paling berat dan menantang adalah kaki dan betis yang dikayuh dengan gigi diset paling kecil, dengan perlahan tetapi pasti digowes mendaki jalan terjal dan berkelok kelok. Dibagian terjal sepeda dibuat zig zag memotong jalan ke kiri ke kanan agar bagian terjal dapat dilalui. Tak jarang dibagian jalan yang tergolong amat sangat terjal, memilih turun dari sadel dan mendorong sepeda dengan napas satu satu, sebelum kembali duduk disadel kembali.

Etappe Sibolga - Tarutung adalah tantangan yang paling berat dengan tanjakan yang tidak putus putus dalam jarak 10 km pertama, sampai puncaknya di kampung Simaninggir, lokasi complex GM Panggabean. Setelah menaklukkan tanjakan itu, secara phisiologis etappe berikutnya relative lebih ringan, melalui jalan menurun mendaki berganti ganti hingga ke Tarutung.

                                                  Jalan menanjak dua jalur

Dua hari setelah Natal, tepatnya tgl. 27 December 2011 saya menggowes sepeda gunung dari Sibolga – Tarutung sejauh 66 km dng sepeda yang saya bawa dari Jakarta. Kondisi tanjakan dan kelokan seperti ular itu sudah saya hafal luar kepala ketika saya masih anak anak sampai Sekolah Lanjutan di Sibolga/ Sidempuan dan menjadi kernek Bus P.O.Tarida milik keluarga jurusan Sibolga – Tarutung p.p.

Berat sepeda itu cukup ringan, 12 kg, sehingga tak perlu ongkos tambahan karena masih dibawah maximum bagasi 25 kg, asal saja dibungkus dengan rapi. Ban yang telah dikempeskan, injakan kaki, sadel dan stang dibuka lalu dibungkus dengan karton tebal. Tiba di Bandara bisa distel sendiri dengan menggunakan beberapa kunci kecil yang kita bawa. Atau minta bantuan ke bengkel sepeda terdekat.

Karena saya penggemar sepeda gunung cukup lama, lebih dari 10 tahun, saya memberanikan diri dan komit akan mampu menjelajahi tantangan 66 km ini diusia senja, 66 tahun. Keluarga dan kenalan memang agak heran, bertanya apa motivasi saya nekad melakukannya.

Mendaki tanjakan ini sudah lama menjadi mimpi saya dengan maksud pokok ingin meninggalkan satu pesan kepada masyarakat bahwa :

HIDUP SEHAT
JANGAN PATAH SEMANGAT

Pesan itu yang saya sampaikan juga seusai kebaktian Hari raya Natal tgl. 25 Desember 2010 di Gereja HKBP Sitahuis. Saya memotivasi dan memberikan contoh hidup bahwa diusia senja dengan pola makan sehat, menghindari makanan berlemak, tidak merokok ternyata masih mampu menggapai jarak sejauh itu. Apa lagi jika ditambah dengan olah raga teratur. Dengan demikian bisa dihilangkan persepsi keliru bahwa orang tua senior, pensiunan bukanlah “laskar laskar tak begune”, pinjam istilah Malaysia.

Saya juga menitipkan satu pesan istimewa tentang arti pentingnya pendidikan, agar anak anak jangan sampai putus sekolah, jika tidak mau menjadi penderes getah miskin, seperti orangtuanya. “Gantungkan mimpimu setinggi langit”, kata saya meniru ungkapan Bung Karno, menutup pesan setelah sebelumnya memberi contoh bahwa saya anak kampung Sitahuis bisa mengirim 3 anak sekolah di Amerika dan seorang lagi menjadi Dokter.

Selama sepuluh hari didaerah ini saya cukup terkejut melihat orang cepat menjadi tua. Angkatan seusia saya sudah banyak yang dipanggil Tuhan dan yang agak aneh, banyak orangtua yang menderita penyakit asam urat dan tidak tahu apa obatnya, kecuali obat kampung. Salah satu penyebabnya adalah karena konsumsi makanan yg kurang sehat dan makan daging berlemak berlebihan dan mereka tidak mengenal apa yang disebut olah raga.

Beberapa tip yang perlu diperhatikan sebelum menggowes sepeda jarak jauh antara lain adalah kondisi sepeda itu sendiri dan bisa minta bantuan bengkel sepeda untuk melakukan pemeriksaan sebelum memulai. Kedua, agar ransel atau backpack tidak dibawa sendiri tetapi oleh kendaraan lain, karena cukup memberatkan kaki, terutama jika sudah mencapai titik mendekati tujuan, kekuatan mulai berkurang.

Hal lain adalah makan siang agar dipersiapkan sebelumnya dikampung mana rombongan pada saatnya istirahat. Karena dalam perjalanan sulit mendapatkan restoran, rumah makan yang layak. Di Adiankoting, 15 km sebelum Tarutung ada rumah makan Padang yang cukup representartif untuk makan, istirahat maupun sembahyang. Tempat yang cocok untuk istirahat.

Tidak kalah pentingnya, jika peserta adalah suku Batak, jangan lupa status daalam Silsilah marganya sendiri karena akan bermanfaat dalam perjalanan. Pengalaman di dua kampung yang saya lewati, Parsingkaman dan Lobupining ketika saya dijamu makan, minum oleh keluarga satu marga. Sebelum makan Tuan rumah membentangkan selembar kertas tebal lebar berisi Silsilah, lalu bertanya :”Yang mana Ompungmu”, katanya sambil menunjuk gambar struktur dan nama nama Ompung kami. Untung saya bisa menunjukkan nama yang tepat dan sepakat memanggil Tuan rumah dengan panggilan Amanguda atau Paklik.

Ini sepenggal sumbangan pikiran saya untuk Pemerintah Daerah baik Tapanuli Tengah, Tapanuli Utara, Humbasa sampai Pemda Sumatera Utara untuk dapat memikirkannya dan memasukkannya dalam Program kerja dan Anggaran tahun mendatang sehingga ide ini tidak hanya mimpi.

Sudah tentu sambil bermimpi ajang olah raga Internasional, tidak ada salahnya Pemerintah Daerah Tapanuli Tengah, Kotamadya Sibolga dan Tapanuli Utara bisa memulai program sendiri TOUR de SIBOLGA jarak dekat dengan route Sibolga – Barus atau Sibolga – Tarutung. Untuk tahap awal bisa juga dibatasi hanya tour one way, satu arah saja, Sibolga - Barus atau Sibolga - Tarutung, sedang kembalinya naik Bus.

Semoga mimpi ini suatu saat menjadi nyata. Amin

                                               komunitas penyair Jakarta, 13 Febr 2011

BLOOD SPEAK OUT LOUD

Helping without expecting anything in return, helping someone never knew before, not a member of the family, not extended families either, still maintained, could find in certain communities in Indonesia. How come this attitude could happened in modern age, including with them in high level of education. In this case blood speak out loud as the reason.

In December 16, 2010 I went to Duri town in southern part of Sumatra island, Indonesia to attend a wedding of my little sister, Norma Situmeang. A lots of Situmeang family who lived in that area, gathered to discuss about the wedding two days before D day. In a solid brotherhood, we agreed to serve tree big Gold fishes and a special, expensive Ulos scarf to be presented in the wedding, financed together.

At the time of discussion a question raised: “Who is a big brother and who is a little brother in these Situmeang group ?”. For the time being we called each other as a brother. In this case, from the age point of view, I was an older in the group, just coming to town from Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. But in the family tree system, age isn’t the determine factor. Status depend, based on the generation in chronological order. Ultimately, we couldn’t come to the same understanding and be in a status quo for the time being.

To know precise what our exact status is in the family tree, we dial a 75 years old Situmeang at Medan city, some 400 miles away in North Sumatra with Blackberry speaker On mode, so the gathering could hear. From the other side of the phone that senior man confirmed that I was not as a brother, but a level higher, in a father position. Every one in the gathering respect, accepted and conform that my status in the Family tree is 13th and the host is 14th generation.

The second case happened on my bike journey from my hometown, Sibolga to Tarutung town, North Sumatra, 66 kilometer length, on December 27, 2010.
A day before, my Face Book friend - not meet before - called me:”Don’t forget to have lunch tomorrow, I serve fresh fish grill”, she invite me for lunch. She called me from her father house in the village, 30 kilometers away from Sibolga town. I assumed we would have lunch at the village.

Unfortunately, the next day when I reach that village, Parsingkaman, she isn’t available there but at her own home in Sibolga town. We had made miscommunication. She urged us to stop by at her Dad house at the Village for lunch. Before lunch served, her father, 80 years old unexpected said: ”I knew your father well and I knew your history”, he said, even we never meet before. “When both of your parents he passed away, I was there in the funeral”, he conform.
                                15th generation

I was wonder with what he just said. With a slow motion, serious face he explained :
“I was your Dad’s agent here in this village to buy rubber”, he said. “He was a sincere business man”, he said with a smile. They become a close business partner so far and a friend within Situmeang clan.

Two funny things happened this time. First having date for lunch with a lady, Meriati Situmeang a Face book friend - never met before face to face. Second, met her old father who knew my father – deceased - and knew my own story well.

The 3rd case happened in other village, when I reach kilometer 51, rain drop and dark start in early evening. A group of hangout men asked me:” Where are you going in this cold and dark night”, they ask in unison. “To Tarutung town”, I said unhesitant. Then one man asked me : “Why don’t you stay overnight”, he said politely and offered his house. But another man suggested :”Just go ahead and stop by at the blue house” pointing a house at the end of the Lobupining village. The house belong to Situmeang family too.
Culture say, if any problem arise, let the same clan handle it first before somebody else.

In a cold evening and raining, my body sweating after exhausted pedal my bike, the family served me a glass of hot sweet tea. It was grateful to have a hot tea to warm my body. The hot tea is my most need more then anything else in the world, welcome me by a similar family name, Situmeang, off course not knowing each other before.

Soon after sit on a new sheet over the floor, the father took out a wide white sheet from a cupboard in the guest room and spread wide in front of us. The white sheet is a diagram, a stucture chart of Situmeang family tree. He asked me in a very serious face :”Who is your ancestor”, he point the second line of the chart. Fortunately, I knew my ancestors well and pointed a name “Jamita Mangaraja Situmeang”. Finally. without any arguing I accepted to call him “father”, since his level one level higher above me. He is number 12th and myself is 13th generation.

After we conform the Family tree, then I asked him a favor :”Would you mind to assigned someone drive a motor bike to shine my bike way in early evening to my last destination, Tarutung town, 15 kilometers away, since my bike has no a lamp. But he preferred to saved my bike in his house and let me spent the night at the Hotel in town and stop a Bus for me. The next day I will come to pick up my bike again.

The last case, the 4th, is a family tree clearance happened at the end of December 2010, when the villagers just come down from to Sibolga town, met in a house belong to Situmeang family, a retirement of Bank BRI.
Tree of us pointed Mr.Bonaran Situmeang, as a refrence, a well known National lawyer from Jakarta. Currently this lawyer come to Sibolga as a candidate of Head of district (Bupati) competing with 2 other candidates.

From Family tree point of view, this lawyer called me Grand father and the villager and the host, was originally come from the same village with this lawyer, called them Grand father as well. Tree of us are the 13th generation, while the lawyer is the 15th generation.

From the 4 cases above, it make clear about status in a Situmeang clan and as a consequence, open our heart and passion to help each other as told above without expecting something in return, solely because the blood speak out loud. The last thing is that every single family had an obligation without any written law or instruction to do so, maintain and updating his Family tree to make sure the exact status in the big Situmeang clan.