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Country Features
Wonders of Southeast Asia (Series 1 - Philippines)
The Banaue Rice Terraces (Ifugao Province, Philippines) In Luzon Province of the Philippines, through mountains and rice terraces, the road ends at a church, in a small town called Banaue. in Ifugao province, 4,000 feet above sea level. The Ifugao province is famous for the handiwork of its people, who increased cultivable lands by carving gigantic rice terraces from the sides of mountains. For over 2,000 years, the people of Batad have built these terraces, one stone at a time. This growing, living stairway stretches far beyond what the eye can see. Taking an estimated 2,000 years to build, the still-productive rice terraces rise from the valley floor to heights of up to 3,000 feet, a feat of engineering marvel so substantial that some call them the eighth wonder of the world. The only man made wonder which was literally sculpted from the earth. A scarcity of water has led to some rice patties drying up. With no electricity or road, the people of Batad live their lives as they have for thousands of years, with a deep, close connection to the earth. They worship ancestral spirits, sacrificing three chickens or one pig to appease an angry spirit. When a person dies, the body is hung from the thatched roof of their hut for three days as a sign to the villagers that the person has moved on to a better place. Afterwards, the bones of a deceased family member are collected and placed ceremoniously inside the roof of the family's dwelling, to give comfort and protection to the living.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Palawan, Philippines) Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. The park is an underwater sanctuary where nature thrives. Tubbataha is the Philippines' only marine natural park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance being preserved for future generations of humankind. Tubbataha supports an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colorful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and pelagics haunt the steep drop offs to the open sea. A team of rangers are stationed on the reef year-round and, from March until June, divers visit Tubbataha to experience the wonders of this unique underwater world. Chocolate Hills (Bohol, Philippines) Whether you believe the ancient myths or the scientists; Bohol's Chocolate Mountains, an unusual geological formation, are a breath-taking and bewildering sight. According to the latest accurate survey done, there are 1,776 molehill-shaped cones of similar size (30-50 meters) spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres. These molehill-shaped cones of similar size (30-50 meters) appear at regimented intervals across 50-squared metres of land. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name. They are featured in the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in the province. They have been declared the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Palawan, Philippines) The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is one of the most distinguished biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. It is known for scenic natural beauty, intact old growth tropical rainforest, interesting wildlife, pristine white sand beaches and a spectacular limestone formation that possess a most impressive cave system. The main focus of the PPSRNP is an 8.2 km long underground river that is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the World. The PPSRNP has been declared a World Heritage Site. It is the Official Nominee of the Philippines in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. As a natural area, it has attracted an increasing number of scientist, environmentalist, protected area managers, students, wildlife enthusiast, photographers, and nature lovers. It is a source of pride and a key element in the identity of the people of Puerto Princesa in particular and of the Philippines as a whole. Note: In the absence of popular requests, next country to be featured will be Indonesia.
Wonders of Southeast Asia (Series 2 - Indonesia)
Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia Borobodur is the most prestigious monument in Indonesia, the world’s lagest Buddhist temple and one of the greatest monuments in the world. It is of uncertain age, but thought to have been built by the influential Indonesian dynasty, the Sailendra, that emerged between the end of the seventh and beginning of the 8th century A.D. The Sailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism, one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism, which originated in India in the 1st century. The Sailendras ruled the maritime of Southeast Asia, however, they also engaged in agricultural pursuit through intensive rice cultivation. Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the 14th century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Some said the monument was discovered by the Dutch Cornelius De Houtman in 1817, although the people of Jogjakarta were well aware of its existence. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. However, the first major conservation step was taken in 1874 by Isidor van Kinsbergen and the major action took place between 1907-1911 led by Thedar van Earp. He reconstructed the upper round terrace by using many new stones but still, the monument was deteriorating and UNESCO came to rescue and sponsor the restoration and conservation of the nomument. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1984 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The structure, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill in the form of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular stories, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics). The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology. The different levels of the monument symbolizes the different levels of wisdon we have to go through during life until reaching the enlightenment of Buddha, symbolized by the spectacular upper terraces. The lowest level of the monument exposes the “realm of desire”, a state of mind with a lack of morality, previous to the teachings of the Buddha. The second level shows the “realm of forms”, which is the stage when humans get wiser about the meaning of life and are trying to get virtuous. The third and highest level is the “realm of formlessness”, where one understands already that the visible world is illusory and the real aim of life is in the inside of oneself: purification in order to escape from the circle of reincarnations, meaning sufferings. The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. Once a year, during the full moon in May or June Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak, commemorating the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana), and passing away of the Supreme Buddha.
The Batik Textile Batik is generally thought of as the most quintessentially Indonesian textile. It is a textile art, whereby Batik is defined as a piece of cloth which is dyed with the wax resist dye method, using the design specific batik motifs. UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a “Master of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” on October 2, 2009. “Batik” is an ancient art form with origins that trace back to Asia and it is believed that it is a Malay word meaning, “to write” or “to dot”. “It is also thought to be derived from the word 'am batik' which translated means 'a cloth with little dots' or from the Javanese word 'tritik' which describes a resist process for dying where the patterns are reserved on the textiles by tying and sewing areas prior to dying. Experts disagree as to the precise origins of batik but although the process of decorating cloth through the process of batik is found in the ancient period around 1500 years ago, in Egypt and the Middle East, in Turkey, India, China, Japan and West Africa, with every new culture and religion lending it its own unique designs, the batik of Indonesia is unique and unequaled. The oldest type of motif used for batik is probably “Banji”, based on a cross with arms called swastika. It was originated from Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). The Batiks are influenced by traditional patterns and colors with examples of geometric styles like the “Kawung”, consisting of intersecting circles, known in Java since at least the 13th century. For many years this pattern was reserved for the Sultan of Jog Jakarta, and the “Ceplok style”, which is more influenced by the Islamic influence and uses both geometric forms and nature themes and the ”Parang style” that comprises diagonal parallel bands. The art of "batiking" is similar to the one of drawing or painting on a piece of cloth. Initially, the fabric, normally white or cream in color, is washed in boiling water to remove all traces of other materials like starch before the process begins. The tracing of the desired design on to the prepared cloth is the first stage of making batik often of ancient symbols and motifs, on fabric such as cotton or silk. Melted wax, usually a mixture of beeswax and paraffin, is poured finely using the canting, a wood-handled copper funnel with a narrow tubing at the end. The cloth is dipped in a vat of dye, which colors the portions not covered with wax and then the fabric is allowed to dry. Wax is subsequently removed by immersing the cloth in solvent, hot water or by ironing between absorbent papers. The process is repeated several times as only one color can be used at a single dip. The more colors there are in the print, the more likely that this is the same number of times that the cloth is waxed and dyed. This process is called Batik tulis. Batik tulis has both sides of the cloth ornamented. A typical 4-meter silk piece takes about three months to complete, which 5 years ago, goes for about US$300. Batik cap uses also the waxing process but its process is of course faster and easier. People’s appreciation of batik tulis is higher; since it is really an artist’s work and not only of a craftsman’s. It combines the expertise, patience, deep feeling to produce the finest product, and it may take days, weeks and even months to make a batik tulis. For special occasions, batik was formerly decorated with gold leaf or gold dust, especially in the Yogjakarta and Surakarta area. This cloth is known as Prada cloth. The Central Javanese used gold dust to decorate their Prada cloth. It was applied to the fabric using handmade glue consisting of egg white or linseed oil and yellow earth. The gold would remain on the cloth even after it had been washed. The gold could follow the design of the cloth or could take on its own design. Older batiks could be given a new look by applying gold to them. Gold decorated cloth is still made today; however, gold paint has replaced gold dust and leaf. The application of wax with a canting is done with great care and therefore is very time-consuming. As the population increased and commercial demand rose, time-saving methods evolved. The invention of the copper block, called “cap”, developed by the Javanese in the 20th century, revolutionized batik production. Other methods of applying the wax to the fabric include pouring the liquid wax, painting the wax with a brush, and putting hot wax onto pre-carved wooden or copper block, called “cap” and stamping the fabric. By block printing the wax onto the fabric, it became possible to mass-produce designs and intricate patterns much faster than one could possibly do by using a canting. Most batik today is done with synthetic microcrystalline waxes. They’re more consistent, more often reusable, penetrate better, can be heated safely to higher temperatures. They usually fall between beeswax and paraffin in price and in working properties. They can be blended with other waxes for intermediate effects. The common name given to fabric, which incorporates batik pattern without actually using the wax-resist dyeing technique, is “Batik print”. It represents a further step in the process of industrialization, reducing the cost of batik by mass-producing the pattern repetitively, as a standard practice employed in the worldwide textile industry. Traditionally, in Indonesia, batik was sold in 2.25-meter lengths used for kain panjang or sarong for kebaya dress. “Kain Panjang” is a single piece of cloth which is not sewn at all, but simply wrapped around the waist, usually with some kind of belt or sash. It is usually worn on more formal occasions, especially in Java. “Sarong” is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a kilt by men and as a skirt by women. The “Kebaya” is a traditional blouse-dress combination national costume of Indonesia, although it is more accurately endemic to Java, Sunda and Bali. It is sometimes made from sheer material and usually worn with a sarong or batik kain panjang, or other traditional woven garment. Batik has been both an art and a craft for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. Javanese Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) Wayang is an Indonesian and Malay word for theatre. When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theater, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. "Bayang", the Javanese word for shadow or imagination, also connotes "spirit." Performances of shadow Puppet Theater are accompanied by “gamelan”, a musical ensemble, typically from the islands of Bali and Java, and by "gender wayang", a style of gamelan music played on Bali. Wayang is a generic term denoting traditional theatre in Indonesia. There is no evidence that wayang existed before Hinduism came to Southeast Asia sometime in the first century CE. However, there very well may have been indigenous storytelling traditions that had a profound impact on the development of the traditional puppet theatre. The first record of a wayang performance is from an inscription dated 930 CE, which says "si Galigi mawayang," or "Sir Galigi played wayang". From that time ‘till today it seems certain features of traditional puppet theatre have remained. Galigi was a famous wandering entertainer around those parts who was requested to perform for a special royal occasion. At that event he performed a story about Bima, one of the brother heroes of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata.
Sangiran Early Man Site The Sangiran Early Man Site, inhabited for the past 1.5 million years, is one of the key sites for the understanding of the human evolution. It is an archaeological excavation site at the island of Java in Indonesia. The area comprises about 48 sq. km. and is located in Central Java, about 15 kilometers north of Surakarta (Solo). In 1996 it was accepted as World Heritage by the UNESCO. Eugene Dubois, a Dutch anatomist, discovered in 1891 at Trini (a plaeoanthropological site on the banks of the Bengawan Solo river in Ngawi Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia), remains of what he described as "a species in between humans and apes", the first known specimens of human ancestors. He called his finds Pithecanthropus erectus, derived from Greek and Latin roots meaning ("ape-human that stands upright”) or Java Man, which is the name given to the fossils discovered in 1891. These were the first specimens of early hominid (great apes) remains to be found outside of Africa or Europe. The Java Man’s age is uncertain but thought to be 700’000 years and is far more humanlike and has a far larger brain size than any ape. A second occurrence of "Java Man" was discovered at Sangiran cave in 1936-1941 by an archeological party organized by the German Gustav Heinrich Ralf von Königswald. S. Sartono and T. Jacob made later excavations. The most recent studies have been joint Indonesia and Japanese studies led by Kildo Choi and Dubel Driwantoro. Then also in Indonesia, Eugene Du Bois found “Homo erectus soloensis” between 1931 and 1933 in Ngandong. These were thought to belong to a more advanced population than the h. erectus who lived on Java at least as late as about 50,000 years ago. The discovery of Homo floresiensis, nichnamed “hobbits” in 2003 on the island of Flores in Indonesia and of the recentness of its extinction (possibly as recently as 12,000 years ago) has raised the possibility that numerous descendant species of H. erectus may have existed in the islands of Southeast Asia and await fossil discovery.
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