Banyumas Vilagers Close Up

Take a look at these Vilagers Faces.



i found it at gatot's blog, native photographer in banyumas. currently work for TV-One jakarta

Baturraden

Natural enchantment

The name of Baturraden comes from two words of Java they are Batur (slave) and Raden (queen). There was a story, a slave who took care a horse at the palace area of old Java. The love grew between slave and the princess, a regent’s daughter.

But their love didn’t get permission because of class social gap. Both of them left the palace and build up happy family on the feet of Slamet Mountain. Their place then grew be a village called Baturraden means the united of slave and queen.

Now Baturraden became favorite tourist place because of the beautiful nature and combining with culture and the tradition of the people. From the workers house of PLTA (water electricity technology) that was build up by Dutch colony now became resting place up to 640 meter of the sea.

Baturraden surrounded by naturally jungle that untouchable by human being. The jungle which is rich by flora and fauna keep on saved the eternality. Slamet mountain the biggest and the second higher at Java has 3.428 tall up to the sea.

Everyday, the temperature be overage between 18 degrees until 25 degrees. The place that becomes a background, the most popular love legendary is just 14 kilometers from the town center of Purwokerto. All kinds of vehicles can take the tourist up to enjoy the beautifulness by nature of Baturraden.

Modern History

Story of developing natural tourist resource in Baturraden begins from called by scientist as physics reaction between subatom and neutrons or called electricity. In 1928 the Dutch colony built up PLTA (water electricity technology) at the Ketenger one of the area in Baturraden.

The fourth pioneers’ men from Dutch that built up Baturraden became tourism area. J C Balgooy built animal husbandry for milk cow supply, meat and the egg for the worker at PLTA. Smoulders made a hotel which had 17 rooms, and now becomes Wisma Wijayakusuma. Tenteatte built hot water bath at Pancuran Telu (three spouts) and Pancura Pitu (seven spouts), in order can be visited by tourist. While Van Depperen at that time known as a leader sugar industry in Tegal supporting several business men and workers to visit Baturraden. The house of Van Depperen now becomes Villa Rahayu.

The role of the fourth men of Dutch besides make Baturraden knowing as electric supply, also famous with the beautiful scenery. in the freedom war era, 1947-1949 all facilities that became symbol Dutch Colony destroyed by Indonesian Army (TNI) except animal husbandry which had function to give milk cow and meat supply.

But beautifulness of Baturraden is not disappearing even all Dutch facilities were destroyed. Many students still visit Baturraden, just to see what the animal husbandry is looking like. Of course you can never imagine the road to Baurraden as good as now. Under Sukarno’s power in 1950 the animal husbandry was nationalized. But that year the place also closed because it indicated on diseases. There are no more visitors or tourists after that.

After the freedom of Indonesia from Dutch colony, the Banyumas prominent figure looks the potential of Baturraden to build as tourism industry for growing up Banyumas. In 1952 appeared developing plan of Baturraden. But at the time could not be realized because of Darul Islam battle (Molsem Army ). Baturraden developing could be realized in 1970.

Attraction

You can relax yourself together with your beloved people to enjoy many facilities and nature attraction, or other attractions made by people. While race, follow natural jungle between damar trees and pine. You can take rest at hot source water Pancuran Telu and Pancuran Pitu.

Feel the sensation by taking bath with hot water from the source of the earth. The water temperature containing sulfur is about 60 degrees. That region also became treatment for rheumatic and skin diseases.

You can ask the guide to invite professional message, and you will enjoy having experience special message that only served in Baturraden. Message your body with yellow gold sulfur mud, and you will refresh your body.

If you want to take the sulfur mud home, villager has prepared in liquid or powder. You can use at home for your message.

Beside dammar jungle and pine, enjoy natural quietness by visiting Telaga Sunyi (quite lake). Put your entire problem and your mind; just try to take attention the bird sing, wind blows shaking the peak of the tries, and feels the cold water from the mountain. Let your mind and your body sinks at the holding of nature.

Baturraden also provided many playing facilities, just like mini cart, gliding action pool, swimming pool, hot bath, and water bike. There is also Kalola Widya Manggala zoo to introduce your children about variety of Indonesia animals.

Besides hotel you can also order spa or spent the night at the café and restaurants that have special traditional taste and natural.

The Virgin Mary Cave, Kaliori

Silent Temple of Mother Mary

Mary Cave of Kaliori is a human made cave which places on the top of green hill of Kaliori Village, Kalibogor Sub district, Banyumas. Only 14 kilometers from Purwokerto city, in this place, Catholic believer around the world rebound prayer trough Mary’s hand, the Jesus’ mother.

All locations are a leafless hill back and dry so that, some pastor from Oblat Maria Imaculata (OMI) start a reforestation movement. Together with all catholic believers around them, Mary Cave was built as a peaceful visit sacred place, beautiful and also cools. Each month visitors from anywhere go to the sacred for making prayer.

Besides crucifixion route which give chance to thoughtfully “Galgota Street” there is also backyard garden to pray, called by Life Rosario. This area also includes hotels with complete facilities, Ratu Surga Church, and old folks’ home.

Mary Cave was built on 15 august 1989 which was opened by Mgr. Paraguay S Hardjosoemarto MSC, bishop from Purwokerto. Pope Yohanes II blessing to Mary statue, he also sign the ancient inscription in impressive mass at 10 Oktober 1989 in Yogyakarta. Now this region became one of the complete places of Mary Cave in Indonesia with the full facilities.

People, Religion and Language

People

Like others area which become economic growing central, Banyumas is not only inhabited by native people of Javanese Banyumasan ethnic group. Concentrations in urban area are ethnic group of Tionghoa, Batak (Sumatera) and amount of others ethnic group in Indonesia also have been staying. Openness basic attitude makes cultural wealth from outside of Banyumas is easy to be received and become part of local uniqueness.

Religion

Banyumas population is only 1, 6 milion people which every 100 female and exist 99 male. 95 % is Javanese ethnic group; either native people (Banyumasan Javanese) or Javanese mixture with majority religion is Moslem. But minority adherent likes Christian, Hindu, Budha, and Kong Hu Cu to live in harmonious life. Some people still follow native religion Javanese, Kejawen which divided into various branches spiritualism

Population density in Banyumas is about 1.169/km in 2006 with household approximately are 4 members every family.

Language

Variety of people in Banyumas still uses Banyumasan Language. Cultural observer and historian deem that Banyumas language is purest relic old Javanese language or Kawi Javanese. Banyumasan Language does not happen stratification process like Kraton Javanese which nowadays becomes most dominant Javanese. Banyumasan Language was born and develops as posses of grass root society who’s expressive, free, frankly (blakasuta) and equal (egaliter) as reflection of people daily life.

Banyumasan language has many various pronunciation and vocabulary in local environment. It contains spelling variation and vocabulary from one district to others. Some experts give opinion that much variation are happened because there is not dominant power to arrange; which one is ‘formal or non formal words’. Nowadays those varieties exactly become a wealth.

Banyumas society commonly uses Indonesian as formal communication. There is something unique that adult people who still live in rural, they cannot speak fluently a language which comes from Melayu language family and has become formal language in Indonesia.