Archive for February, 2015
Question Words in Indonesian Posted by asimonoff on Feb 28, 2015
Constructing an interrogative sentence in Indonesian is much simpler than in English, as Indonesian does not recognize “to be” or tenses. However, sometimes you should memorize some expressions because they are specific to Indonesian, and they would not make sense if you translated them into English. So memorization is the best way to learn them. Following are the…
Pawang Hujan: The Rain Master Posted by asimonoff on Feb 27, 2015
In a tropical country like Indonesia, the seasonal rains are becoming more unpredictable and sometimes, they can interrupt planned events and outdoor activities from taking place. A sunny day in the morning can, all of a sudden, turn into a heavy downpour in the afternoon. In contrast to the Western culture, where weather forecasting has played an increasingly large role in…
Prambanan Temple Video Tour Posted by sasha on Feb 24, 2015
Not far from Yogyakarta, you’ll find the amazing 9th century Hindu temple compound of Prambanan. Dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (the Hindu Trinity), this ancient temple was given UNESCO status in 1991 and is one of the most popular attractions in Java.
Chinese New Year Celebration in Indonesia: A Road to a New-found Identity Posted by asimonoff on Feb 20, 2015
In Indonesia, the Chinese New Year, also known as ‘Tahun Baru Imlek’ or ‘Tahun Baru Cina.’ However, interestingly, the word ‘imlek’ is originally from Hokkien language, which means ‘lunar calendar.’ Along with Chinese people around the world, Chinese in Indonesia celebrates this most important holiday, which begins on the second new moon after the winter solace, with…
Prambanan – Indonesia’s Largest Hindu Temple Posted by sasha on Feb 18, 2015
One of the highlights of traveling across Java is a visit to the 9th century Hindu temple compound of Prambanan. The largest Hindu temple in all of Indonesia and one of the biggest in SE Asia, this impressive structure was recognized as an outstanding religious complex when it was given UNESCO status in 1991. To…
Love and Courtship in Indonesian Culture Posted by asimonoff on Feb 17, 2015
In Indonesia, where family plays an important role in partner selection, a courtship and finding the right partner is a family affair. Most parents believe that the best candidates for their future daughter or son-in-law should have a good background based on the crucial aspects of “Bibit, Bebet, Bobot” which has a Javanese origin, referring…
Indonesian Vocabulary for Valentine’s Day Posted by sasha on Feb 12, 2015
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day (Hari Valentine) approaches. As is the case in many countries all around the world, February 14th is a day for couples to show their love and singles to be miserable. In Indonesia, it’s common for guys to take their girlfriend (pacar) out on a date (kencan). Common…