Children of the Forest Tell their Tales: Jambi, Sumatra

May 2nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

As the country marks National Education Day yesterday, the Kubu tribe in Jambi province has special reason to celebrate, with the release of a book of traditional tribal tales symbolizing its emergence from isolation and embrace of formal learning. The tales were passed down orally for generations by members of the Kubu tribe, who live in what is now the Bukit Duabelas National Park, before being recorded for the book by five anak rimba, which literally means children of the forest.

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Historical Sites Vanishing: North Sumatra

April 8th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Historical sites in North Sumatra are being threatened by commercialism, with many old buildings being sacrificed in the name of profit. Bungaran Antonius Simanjuntak, who is a sociology and anthropology professor at Medan State University, said officials and businesspeople are to blame for the continued degradation of historical sites in the province.

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West Sumatra Law on Koran Skills Effective 2008

February 9th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

A provincial ordinance on Koran literacy passed by the West Sumatra legislature earlier this week will go into effect in 2008, a legislator told The Jakarta Post.

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Image of the Day: Palace Guards - Kraton: Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

December 2nd, 2006 | By Wombat | 3 Comments »

Whenever you visit the Sultan’s Palace, or Kraton, in Yogyakarta you will inevitably see the palace guards all around the grounds keeping a watchful eye on daily happenings.
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