Merapi, The one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes

"On the afternoon of 25 October 2010 Mount Merapi erupted lava from its southern and southeastern slopes."

Merapi, Gunung Merapi (literally Mountain of Fire in Indonesian/Javanese), lies in one of the world's most densely populated areas and dominates the landscape immediately north of the major city of Yogyakarta. With summit elevation about 3000 m, it is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes in Indonesia. It has erupted regularly since 1548. It is very close to the city of Yogyakarta, and thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1700 m above sea level.

Merapi is the youngest and southernmost of a volcanic chain extending NNW to Ungaran volcano. Growth of Old Merapi volcano beginning during the Pleistocene ended with major edifice collapse perhaps about 2000 years ago, leaving a large arcuate scarp cutting the eroded older Batulawang volcano. Subsequently growth of the steep-sided Young Merapi edifice, its upper part unvegetated due to frequent eruptive activity, began SW of the earlier collapse scarp. Pyroclastic flows and lahars accompanying growth and collapse of the steep-sided active summit lava dome have devastated cultivated lands on the volcano's western-to-southern flanks and caused many fatalities during historical time. The volcano is the object of extensive monitoring efforts by the Merapi Volcano Observatory.

Merapi has the unfortunate distinction of producing more nuee ardentes than any other volcano on Earth. The nuee ardentes result from collapse of the lava dome at the summit. Of the 67 historic eruptions 32 have had nuee ardentes associated with them. Eleven of these eruptions resulted in fatalities. Merapi is closely monitored by the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia. Shortly before this photograph was taken Merapi was generating up to 40 nuee ardentes per day.

The name Merapi could loosely translated as 'Mountain of Fire' from the Javanese combined words; Meru means "mountain" and api means "fire". Smoke can be seen emerging from the mountaintop at least 300 days a year, and several eruptions have caused fatalities. Hot gas from a large explosion killed 64 people on November 22 in 1994, mostly in the town of Muntilan, west of the volcano[citation needed]. Another large eruption occurred in 2006, shortly before the Yogyakarta earthquake. In light of the hazards that Merapi poses to populated areas, it has been designated as one of the Decade Volcanoes.

Take virtual trips on Merapi by click this

Culture

Merapi continues to hold particular significance for the Javanese: it is one of four places where officials from the royal palaces of Yogyakarta and Solo make annual offerings to placate the ancient Javanese spirits. To keep the volcano quiet, the Javanese regularly bring offerings on the anniversary of the sultan of Yogyakarta's coronation. For Yogyakarta Sultanate, Merapi holds significant cosmological symbolism, because it is forming a sacred north-south axis line between Merapi peak and Southern Ocean (Indian Ocean). The sacred axis is signify by Merapi peak in the north, the Tugu monument near train station, the axis runs along Malioboro street to Northern Alun-alun (square) across Keraton Yogyakarta (sultan palace), Southern Alun-alun, all the way to Bantul and finally reach Southern Ocean.

Monitoring

Merapi is a basaltic to basaltic-andesite stratovolcano with a summit crater containing an unstable lava dome. Merapi is Indonesia's most active volcano and well known for partial collapse of lava domes and the generation of pyroclastic flows. Pyroclastic flows can travel as far as 8 miles (13 km) from the summit and reach speeds of 70 mph (110 km/hr). Pyroclastic flow deposits can be remobilized as lahars. Direct observations of Merapi have been recorded since 1888. Recent study of tephra deposits on the flanks of the volcano found 27 marker beds that reveal Merapi's past history. The volcano has had numerous moderate to large (1 million cubic m) eruptions. These eruptions typically begin with pyroclastic flows and are followed by widespread pyroclastic air fall. Plinian to subplinian eruptions are common. These older deposits indicate that Merapi is capable of eruption styles very different from those currently observed.

Mount Merapi is the site of a very active volcano monitoring program. Seismic monitoring began in 1924, with some of the volcano monitoring stations lasting until the present. The Babadan (northwest location), Selo (in the saddle between Merbabu and Merapi), and Plawangan monitoring stations have been updated with equipment over the decades since establishment. During the 1950s and early 1960s some of the stations were starved of equipment and funds, but after the 1970s considerable improvement occurred with the supply of new equipment. Some of the pre-1930 observation posts were destroyed by the 1930 eruption, and newer posts were re-located.

Similarly after the 1994 eruption, the Plawangan post and equipment were moved into Kaliurang as a response to the threat of danger to the volcanological personnel at the higher point. The eruption of 1930 was found to have been preceded by a large earthquake swarm. The network of 8 seismographs currently around the volcano allow volcanologists to accurately pinpoint the hypocentres of tremors and quakes. A zone in which no quakes originate is found about 1.5 km below the summit, and is thought to be the location of the magma reservoir which feeds the eruptions. Other measurements taken on the volcano include magnetic measurements and tilt measurements.

Small changes in the local magnetic field have been found to coincide with eruptions, and tilt measurements reveal the inflation of the volcano caused when the magma chambers beneath it is filling up. Lahars (a type of mudflow of pyroclastic material and water) are an important hazard on the mountain, and are caused by rain remobilizing pyroclastic flow deposits. Lahars can be detected seismically, as they cause a high-frequency seismic signal. Observations have found that about 50 mm of rain per hour is the threshold above which lahars are often generated.

Geological histories

Merapi is the youngest in a group of volcanoes in southern Java. It is situated at a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate is sliding beneath the Eurasian Plate. It is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire – a section of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and South East Asia. Stratigraphic analysis reveals that eruptions in the Merapi area began about 400,000 years ago, and from then until about 10,073 years ago, eruptions were typically effusive, and the outflowing lava emitted was basaltic.

Since then, eruptions have become more explosive, with viscous andesitic lavas often generating lava domes. Dome collapse has often generated pyroclastic flows, and larger explosions, which have resulted in eruption columns, have also generated pyroclastic flows through column collapse. There has been no late eruption. Typically, small eruptions occur every two to three years, and larger ones every 10–15 years or so. Notable eruptions, often causing many deaths, have occurred in 1006, 1786, 1822, 1872, and 1930—when thirteen villages were destroyed and 1400 people killed by pyroclastic flows. A very large eruption in 1006 is claimed to have covered all of central Java with ash. The volcanic devastation is claimed to have led to the collapse of the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram, however there is insufficient evidence from that era for this to be substantiated.

In April 2006, increased seismicity at more regular intervals and a detected bulge in the volcano's cone indicated that fresh eruptions were imminent. Authorities put the volcano's neighboring villages on high alert and local residents prepared for a likely evacuation. On April 19 smoke from the crater reached a height of 400 meters, compared to 75 metres the previous day. On April 23, after nine surface tremors and some 156 multifaced quakes signalled movements of magma, some 600 elderly and infant residents of the slopes were evacuated.[5]

By early May, active lava flows had begun. On May 11, with lava flow beginning to be constant, some 17,000 people were ordered to be evacuated from the area and on May 13, Indonesian authorities raised the alert status to the highest level, ordering the immediate evacuation of all residents on the mountain. Many villagers defied the dangers posed by the volcano and returned to their villages, fearing that their livestock and crops would be vulnerable to theft. Activity calmed by the middle of May. On May 27, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck roughly 30 miles southwest of Merapi, killing at least 5,000 and leaving at least 200,000 people homeless in the Yogyakarta region, heightening fears that Merapi would "blow". The quake did not appear to be a long-period oscillation, a seismic disturbance class that is increasingly associated with major volcanic eruptions. A further 11,000 villagers were evacuated on June 6 as lava and superheated clouds of gas poured repeatedly down its upper slopes towards Kaliadem, a location that was located southeast of Mt. Merapi. The pyroclastic flows are known locally as "wedhus gembel" (Javanese for "shaggy goat"). There were two fatalities as the result of the eruption.

On 25 October 2010 the Indonesian government raised the alert for Mount Merapi to its highest level and warned villagers in threatened areas to move to safer ground. People living within a 10km (6 mile) zone were told to evacuate. Officials said about 500 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded on the mountain over the weekend of 23-24 October, and that the magma had risen to about a kilometre below the surface due to the seismic activity. On the afternoon of 25 October 2010 Mount Merapi erupted lava from its southern and southeastern slopes.

source:
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu
http://www.volcano.si.edu

Rencong, the traditional dagger sharp weapons from Aceh

Rencong (Bahasa Aceh: reuncong) is a traditional Acehnese dagger sharp weapons, the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the shape resembles the letter "L". Rencong including a dagger in a different category with a knife or sword.

The shape and usage
Rencong similar way as with a dagger. Rencong long blade can vary from 10 cm to 50 cm. Matau blade can be curved like a dagger, but in many rencong, can also be straight like a sword. Rencong inserted into the sheath knife made of wood, ivory, horn, or sometimes silver or gold metal. In nature, rencong inserted between the belt in front of the user's abdomen.

In the customary law
Dagger rencong empire, made of gold and ivory sheath with engraved blade holy Quran verses.
Rencong have levels; to the king or sultan sheath usually made of ivory and the blade of gold and berukirkan sekutip verses from the Quran the holy religion of Islam. While other rencong rencong-usually made of buffalo horn or wood as a sheath, and brass or white metal as a dagger.

As confidence in the Javanese kris, traditional Acehnese community connects with the mystical power of weapons Rencong. Rencong still used and worn as a fashion attribute in the traditional ceremonies of Aceh. The Acehnese people believe that the form of rencong basmalah represent the symbol of the religious beliefs of Islam.

Rencong so popular in the people of Aceh so that Aceh is also known as the "Tanah Rencong (Land of Rencong)"

source:
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rencong

Keris, ethnic weapon from Javanese ancient tradition

The most famous ethnic weapon or heirloom for Javanese people is Keris (dagger). In the ancient time, a man is not considered as a real man if he has no keris. The keris is highly valued, treated and respected with special care. This weapon is usually inherited from fore fathers. According to Javanese ancient tradition, especially in the court families, a father was obliged to give to his adult son at least a keris.

Keris is a stabbing weapon that is known in Nusantara or Indonesia, including Malay Peninsula and the southern Philippines. The use of the keris itself scattered in the area dwellers who have affected the culture of Srivijaya-Majapahit, such as Java, Madura, Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Kalimantan coast, part of Sulawesi, the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand and southern Philippines (Mindanao). Kris form Mindanao do not have much in common with other areas of the keris, although also a stabbing weapon. The keris of Indonesia has been listed in UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Non-human material.

In general, keris is divided to two important parts, the blade (Wilah) and the scabbard (Warangka), to protect the blade. A keris is considered 'good' if it has perfect physical characteristics and at the same time contains good and strong spiritual power.

Besides being used as a weapon, a dagger is also often considered to have supernatural powers. These weapons are often mentioned in many traditional legends, such as empu Gandring's Keris in legend of Ken Arok and Ken Dedes.

The procedure for the use of different dagger in each region. In areas such as Javanese and Sundanese, a dagger was placed in the rear waist peacetime but is placed in front in wartime. Meanwhile, in Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, a dagger was placed in front.

The history

Originally Keris that we know today is still not explained very well. Temple reliefs in Java such as Borobudur and Prambanan (9th century) more show knights with Indian-style weapons. Relief that clearly reflected this weapon are in:
- Bahal Temple (11th century AD) the royal heritage Penai/Pane in North Sumatra that are part of the Srivijaya empire
- Penataran Temple (13th century AD), relics of the Majapahit kingdom in Blitar, East Java.

Although we can not be sure when the real dagger was first formed but given the dagger in several temple reliefs on where in the 9th century there has been no relief that clearly indicates the keris, dagger-shaped still India, was in the 11th century was clearly illustrated it can be concluded that the keris has take a unique shape around the 9th century to 11th century AD

Keris of Buddhist and the influence of Indian-China culture

Early kingdoms of Indonesia strongly influenced by Buddhist and Hindu culture. Temples in Central Java is the main source of cultural era. The surprise was the least use of dagger or something similar to it. Relief at Borobudur did not show a similar dagger.

From the archaeological discovery of many experts who agree that the proto-dagger-shaped knife blade straight with thick and wide. One of these is a kris dagger type Knaud family owned, obtained from Sri Paku Alam V. Keris is relief on the surface that contains the epic Ramayana and there are years of Java, 1264 (1342 AD), although there are doubts about the milestone.

The influence of Chinese culture may enter through the Dong Son culture (Vietnam), which is a link between Chinese culture and the Malay world. There keris sajen which has a shape similar to a dagger hilt human Dong Son.

The "Modern" Keris

Keris which we now know is the result of a long evolutionary process. Modern keris known today is a unique dagger awl. many who believe that the dagger obtain forms at the time of Majapahit (14th century) and new Mataram Sultanate (17th century-18) but the reliefs of the temple bahal Pane royal heritage, part of the Srivijaya empire, in North Sumatra Portibi show on 10-11th century.

The form of keris as we know it today has found its form observer and collector dagger more often classified as ancient and newer keris (Javanese: nem-Neman). Ancient Keris created before the 19th century, making use of ores and raw materials derived from natural sources and meteorites (because there is no metal ore smelting plants), so that the metal that is used still contain many types of other alloys, such as iron ore containing titanium, cobalt, silver, tin, nickel, copper etc..

Newer Keris (after the 19th century) usually only use materials of iron, steel and nickel from the smelting of iron ore, or scrap metal (per vehicle spare parts, iron bridges, railway iron, etc.) that the average is manufactured, so that purity guaranteed or likely to contain very few metals other types.

Suppose research Haryono Arumbinang, Sudyartomo and Budi Santosa (BATAN Yogyakarta nuclear scholar) in the era of 1990, showed that a keris with tough Tuban, kitchen Tilam Upih and prestige of Rice Wutah turned out to contain iron (Fe), arsenic (arsenic) and Titanium (Ti) , according to the researchers that the keris is "an ancient dagger," for the element titanium metal, new metal is found as an element of self in about 1940, and metals which exceed the hardness of steel but much lighter than steel, widely used as a means of modern transportation (plane aircraft, spacecraft) or a rocket, so at that time the technology has not been present in Indonesia. Titanium many meteorites found on rock and iron sand usually comes from the South Coast region as well as Sulawesi. Of the 14 kris studied, the average alloy contains many other species such as cromium, Stanum, stibinium, silver, copper and zinc, as much as 13 kris contains titanium and only one dagger that contain nickel.

Newer Keris can be immediately known because of its metal content of the type of empu (kris craftsmen) to buy their raw materials in iron stores, such as iron, nickel, brass etc.. They do not use raw materials from iron ore (eg taken from mining) or stone meteorite, so it does not need to be analyzed with radioactive isotopes. So if there is suspected as a result kris engineering, or new kris kris-looking ancient, the research will be easy to express it.

The process of the making of the blade

The process of the making of the blade in the old days may last one year only for one keris. The keris maker is called an Empu. Only the respectable Empus could make a high quality keris, physically and spiritually. Empu has to do some spiritual deeds to prepare a keris, like fasting, not sleeping for several days and nights, meditation, etc. In Principle, a keris is a personal sacred weapon, it is made by an Empu, in accordance with the wish of the consumer.

The manufacturing of keris is complicated, for short as the following :
- At workshop with good fire plate to case the row materials such as 5 kg iron plate, measuring; 4 cm wide, 2 cm thick, 15 cm long; 50 gr of nickel and 0,5 kg of steel.
- The iron is heated until it become smaller, it forges again and again.
- The 5 kg iron become 2 kg forged iron.
- The nickel inserted in between the forged iron, smolder them, forged them carefully to produce the desired 'pamor' or surface pattern.
- Afterward the steel sheet, together with above forged iron and nickel, smolder and forge again.
- In this stage the keris should be made Keris Lurus (a straight keris) or Keris Luk (keris with curves). The keris should be formed in accordance to the blue print, using several tools such as; rough fine, triangular files, grindstone and chisels.
- Afterwards the keris should be heated but not smoldered and than plated, to make the keris more durable. After it has been plated, it should be soaked in a mix solution of sulfur, lemon juice and salt. The keris is ready and its weight is about 0,4 kg.

The Physical Characteristic of Keris

There are some characteristic of keris

1. Keris Lurus (straight Keris) and Keris Luk (curved keris)
2. Dapur
   Dapur or shape is the keris specific form or type and identified by particular combination of parts and curved (luk). The meaning of dapur is based on certain standard which is called Pakem Dapur Keris. The names of dapur among other :
   
   • Sangga Buwono
   • Jangkung Mangkurat
   • Pasopati
   • Tilam Upih
   • Sengkelat
   • Jalak Nyucup Madu
   • Etc.
3. Tangguh
   Tangguh is the estimated era of keris making. It is linked with prominent kingdoms, such as ;
   
   • Tangguh Kahuripan of XI AD
   • Tangguh Singasari of XII AD
   • Tangguh Pajajaran of XIII AD
   • Tangguh Majapahit of XIV AD
   • Tangguh Mataram of XIV - XVI AD
   • Tangguh Kartosuro
   • Tangguh Surokarto
   • Tangguh Yogyakarta
   • Etc.
4. Pamor
   Surface pattern of a keris blade, the design has not been carved, it appears as a result of forging technique of different metals.
   Some pamor's name are :
   
   • Ilining Warih
   • Wos Wutah
   • Lintang Kemukus
   • Udan Mas
   • Mlati Sumebar

The Physical characteristic of Keris, also symbolizing its mission.

1. Dapur : Jalak Ngucup Madu (jalak is a starling, a kind of bird; ngucup is drink; madu is honey). The wish is clear, the owner of the keris should live in prosperity.
2. Pamor : Udan Mas (udan is rain; mas is gold). The keris has a mission to help its owner to have an abundant wealth.
3. A. Keris Lurus or Straight Keris, symbolizing self-confidence, strong mentality.
   B. Keris Luk or Keris with Curved

   Luk 3 : symbolizing a success to achieve some wishes.
   Luk 5 : to be loved by other people
   Luk 7 : dignity.
   Luk 9 : dignity, charismatic and leadership.
   Luk 11 : to achieve high position
   Luk 13 : peaceful and stability of live.

The magical power of Keris

Believe it or not, despite its physical characteristic, keris contain a spiritual mission.The original spiritual power is the wishes of the Empu, the maker. While preparing and making a keris, the Empu, in the holy state, solemnly pray to God , the keris should contain spiritual wishes as requested by the Empu or the consumer.

It depends who is going to use the keris, the mission should be different, for instance, for the kings, begawans (priest), generals, high ranking officials, farmers, traders, fishermen, workers, soldiers, etc. So, it could be easy to understand that a keris which good for king , may be not good for a trader.

The Additional and/or Other Spiritual Power of Keris. The keris could be filled with spiritual beings, unseen by ordinary people, such as a genie, (jin or qodam) in order to protect or to help the keris owner.

Source:
http://www.joglosemar.co.id/
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keris

Lorjuk (Solen grandis) from Surabaya-Madura aquatic, in East Java

Lorjuk including a type of marine animals whose families have shellfish. Lorjuk is another term for shellfish knife widely used by most people in East Java. Until now, not currently known to exactly where the emergence of the term "lorjuk". Most likely lorjuk become popular because it was taken from the name local clam knife itself is "lorjuk" which are found in East Java (Kenjeran Coast Surabaya, Sidoarjo and Aquatic Kwanyar, Aquatic Madura).

The latin name's of lorjuk is Solen grandis. Based on the classification, lorjuk classified in Phylum Mollusca, Class bivalves, and the Order Veneroida Family Solenidae. Judging from the morphology, lorjuk have a long shell with two parallel sides, small body length, one end tapered body shaped like a blade, stick and stood upright on the sandy beach. Sometimes lorjuk pulled his body into the sand to hide from the enemy. In some countries, lorjuk also known by a some name like "razor clam "or" jacknife ", because its characteristics are identical with knife

Lorjuk arrest process quite difficult because it requires special equipment and shrewdness fishermen. Until now, techniques and gear used are still traditional in nature. Cycle lorjuk season generally 1-2 months so that in 1 year there were 3 times a season. Season factor is very influential on the catch of fishermen. In fact this time the number has declined due to the arrest lorjuk performed continuously.

Indonesia's Petis

"Petis" is the component in the Indonesian cuisine made from soup (usually from pindang, kupang or shrimp) that is heated until liquid becomes thick gravy like sauce that is more dense. In subsequent processing, sugar caramel nut paste added. This causes a dark chocolate color and sweet taste.


Petis tuna and petis lorjuk from Madura Island, East Java

Generally, petis made from shrimp paste and colored dark black. But at Pamekasan, in Madura Island, it made from tuna fish juice that contains protein. And the color is yellowish brown with distinctive taste delicious tuna.

Petis is also can made by lorjuk in Madura Island. Lorjuk is a solid paste from the boiling lorjuk. That is widely used to mix East Java cuisine such as rujak or spice of lontong balap. Almost all the people of East Java and Madura like this petis because of delicious taste.

Petis sapi from Boyolali, Central Java

In addition to shrimp, kupang and lorjuk, at (Boyolali), central Java, Indonesia, as the producer of such products of petis that made from raw cow's fresh milk, dendeng (beef jerky), abon (shredded), skin and rambak (crackers made from cow hide), also known as petis sapi.
Petis made from a byproduct in the manufacturing process of abon (shredded) and dendeng (beef jerky). The smell 'fishy' in this petis is different between petis udang (shrimp), petis kupang with petis sapi (beef).

The typical aroma of petis

Unlike terasi (shrimp paste), that known and consumed by residents of Southeast Asia generally. Petis seems only known in Indonesia. The aroma of petis is very typical. It's different with terasi. Almost all countries in southeast Asia, like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, know shrimp paste, with a variation of dosage forms, dry, wet or semi-moist, and the name. But the aroma coming out of the shrimp processed the same countries.

How to storage petis?

Basically, the petis is a food product is durable, because the sugar content is high (such as soy sauce). Paste shelf life of 3-12 months, depending on the process of packaging and storage. Once the packaging is opened, in order to remain durable, store in refrigerator. If not, the possibility of paste will be damaged which is characterized by the growth of fungus (mold) on the surface.

Some foods that flavoring or seasoning by petis

Petis was used as a flavoring (seasoning) in some foods such as rujak, rujak cingur, rujak gobet, rujak manis, kupang lontong (Sidoarjo), semanggi suroboyo(Surabaya), lontong balap (Wonokromo, the name of the area in Surabaya), tahu campur(Lamongan) , tahu tek (Lamongan), or campor (Madura). Telor petis is a favorite home dishes in Surabaya.

Source:
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petis
http://www.wpi.dkp.go.id/epaper/wpi0310/pages/maret10.pdf

Yummi, coto makassar or coto mangkasara....deeply recommended

Coto Makassar or coto mangkasara....heem, it's my fav ones. Coto Makassar is the typical food of Indonesia, from Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. I known, because I ever stay in there. It is a type of soup, made from meat and offal (entrails) beef that simmered in a long time. Mixed offal stew beef is then sliced and seasoned with specially blended spices. It served in a bowl and eaten with "ketupat" and "burasa". In addition, can be sprinkled with fried onions and a little beat lime juice. Con­sum­ing sam­bal tauco as com­ple­ment in serv­ing Coto Makasar is a proof.

For the native people of Makassar, "burasa" and "ketupat" is like a staple food that can not be separated while eating a meal. Burasa or buras is made of rice like "lontong" or rice cake, but just a different shape because it is wrapped in banana leaves shaped flat like a banana cake. Not only are mixed into coto, domestic poultry can also be enjoyed with peanut sauce. In other side, Ketupat is made of rice caked boiled in a rhombus-shaped packet of plaited young coconut leaves.

Observed from the his­tory, Coto Makasar has a back­ground of advance culi­nary sci­ence because it is usu­ally served at for­mal events in palace. For­tu­nately, nowa­days the enjoy­ment of this food is not only tasted by upper cir­cle in palace, but also by com­mon peo­ple. Coto Mangkasara already spread to various regions in Indonesia, starting at street stalls to restaurants. Chi­nese tra­di­tion influ­enced the process when Chi­nese mer­chants livened up Ban­dar Makasar in 1538–1556.

If you come to Makassar and stopped at the Losari beach, then do not forget to taste this delicious coto Makassar. By the way, please feel free to share in this blog, the location of best taste Coto Makassar that you know, by giving a comment.

The recipe is a bit complex, but that is commensurate with that generated a tasty coto Makassar. Although the complex recipe, but how to cook it is not too difficult. Coto Makassar suitable eaten during lunch or dinner. Here is the recipe and how to cook it.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg beef
• 1/2 kg offal(lung and friends), fried, separate, get in the jar
• 2 liters of rice water
• 5 lemongrass, crushed
• 5 bay leaves
• 250 grams of peanuts, fried, mashed
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil, for sauteing
• 5 cm ginger, crushed
• 1 cm galangal, smashed

Seasoning mashed:

• 10 cloves garlic
• 8 cloves roasted hazelnut
• 1 tablespoon roasted coriander
• 1 teaspoon roasted cumin
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Supplementary ingredients:

• Fried onions
• Scallions
• Chopped celery

Sauce ingredients:

• Puree the 10 pieces of red onion, 5 cloves garlic, chili 10 pieces of braised short curly.
• 100 grams Tauco (fermented soybeans) are sauteed with 6 tablespoons of cooking oil until cooked, add salt and brown sugar to taste. Mix with ingredients that have been mashed

Method:

1. If using tripe or liver, boiled separately until soft, remove, drain, cut into cubes.
2. Water boiled beef with rice, lemon grass, galangal, ginger and bay leaves. Once cooked lift, drained, diced.
3. Heat oil, saute the spice paste until fragrant, add to the broth, add fried peanuts, bring to a boil.
4. Presentation: Prepare a bowl, fill with meat, liver, tripe and lungs. Sprinkle fried shallots, scallions and celery, served with rice cake and sauce.
5. Serve warm.

How does Islam arrive to Nusantara?

The first introduction of Indonesia's population to Islam

In the year 30 Hijri or 651 AD, only about 20 years ago of the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan RA send a delegation to China to introduce Daula Muslims, who have long standing. In a journey that took four years, the delegates turned out to Uthman had stopped at the Islands of the archipelago. Several years later, exactly the year AD 674, Umayyad Dynasty has established trade base on the west coast of Sumatra. This is the first introduction of Indonesia's population to Islam. Since then the sailors and Muslim merchants continued to arrive, century after century. They buy local produce from the land of green this while preaching.

First Islamic kingdom in Indonesia

Gradually, the indigenous population began to embrace Islam, although not yet on a large scale. Aceh, the westernmost region of the Islands archipelago, is the first to accept Islam. Even in Aceh, first Islamic kingdom in Indonesia was established, namely Pasai. News from Marcopolo mentioned that at the time of sojourn in Pasai year 692 AH / 1292 AD, were many Arabs who spread Islam. Similarly, news of Ibn Battuthah, nomadic Muslims from the Maghreb., Which when dropped in Aceh in 746 AH / 1345 AD wrote that in Aceh have been scattered schools of Shafi'i. The oldest relic of the Muslims who are found in Indonesia located in Gresik, East Java. Form of Islamic tomb complex, in which one of them is the tomb of a Muslim woman named Fatima bint Maimun. Numbers written on his tomb in 475 AH / 1082 AD, ie at the time of the Kingdom of Singasari. It is estimated that these tombs are not from the natives, but the tomb of Arab traders.

Islam came to Southeast Asia by way of peace, not with a sword, not to seize political power

Until the 8th century H / 14 AD, there is no indigenous population embraced Islam en masse. New in the 9th century H / 14 AD, the indigenous population embraced Islam en masse. The historians argue that Islam entered the archipelago population on a large scale in the century was due at that time the Muslims already have a significant political force. That is marked by the establishment of several Islamic kingdoms such as the Kingdom of patterned Aceh Darussalam, Malacca, Demak, Cirebon, and Ternate. The rulers of these kingdoms of mixed blood, descendants of the kings of the indigenous pre-Islamic and Arab immigrants. The rapid Islamization of the 14th century and 15 M, among others, are also caused by the decline of power and influence of the kingdoms of the Hindu / Buddhist in the archipelago such as Majapahit, Srivijaya and Sundanese. Thomas Arnold in The Preaching of Islam says that the arrival of Islam is not as conquerors as well as the Portuguese and Spanish. Islam came to Southeast Asia by way of peace, not with a sword, not to seize political power. Islam entered the archipelago in a way that really show it as RAHMATAN LIL'ALAMIN.

With the native population into Islam Nusantara and the establishment of Islamic governments in different parts of the archipelago, the trade with the Muslims from the center of the Islamic world became increasingly tight. The Arabs who migrated to the archipelago is also growing. The largest of which is derived from Hadramaut, Yemen. In the chronicle of Hadramawt, migration is even said to be the largest in the history of Hadramaut. But after the Christian European nations and the greedy master coming area-by area in the archipelago, the relationship with the center of the Islamic world as if disconnected. Especially in the 17th and 18th centuries AD. The reason, other than because the Muslim archipelago occupied by the resistance against colonialism, as well as various regulations created by the colonialist. Every time the invaders - notably the Netherlands - subjugate the Islamic kingdom in the archipelago, they would thrust the royal ban treaty whose contents are related to trade with the outside world except through them. So terputuslah Nusantara relations with the Islamic ummah of Muslims from other nations who had established hundreds of years. The colonialist desire to alienate Muslims archipelago with its roots, also visible from the assimilation policies that make them among the Arabs with the natives.

The arrival of the colonialists

Since the early arrival of the Europeans at the end of the 15th century AD to the fertile island is prosperous, is already seen their greedy nature to master. Moreover, they found the fact that the population of these islands have embraced Islam, the religion of their enemies, so that the spirit of the Crusades was always carry around every time they beat a region. In their fight against Islam in collaboration with indigenous kingdoms that still adhered to Hindu / Buddhist. One example, to decide cruise lines of the Muslims, then having seized Malacca in 1511, the Portuguese cooperation with the Kingdom of Sunda Pajajaran to build a base in Sunda Kelapa. But the purpose of this Portuguese failed miserably after the combined forces of Islam from the north coast of Java along hand in hand to demolish them in 1527 AD Of this historic battle led by an Arab-blooded son of Aceh Gujarat, namely Al-Pasai Fadhilah Khan, better known by his title, Fathahillah. Before becoming an important man in the three Islamic kingdom of Java, namely Demak, Cirebon and Banten, Fathahillah had studied in Mecca. Even the participate defend Mecca of the Ottoman Turkish invasion.

The arrival of the colonialists on the one side has awakened the spirit of jihad of the Muslims archipelago, but on the other side make the deepening of belief in Islam is uneven. Only the pesantren (Islamic schools) who studied Islam, and even then usually limited to the Shafi'i school. While the majority Muslims, mixing faith with pre-Islamic traditions. Aristocratic circles close to the Dutch even have affected the European lifestyle. Conditions like this still happen at least until now. Apart from this, scholars Archipelago are the people who persevere against colonialism. Although many of them come from the congregation, but it is often among the congregation rose up against the invaders. And although in the end it was crushed any resistance with tactics devious, but history has recorded millions of martyrs who died in the archipelago a number of battles against the Dutch. Since the resistance of Islamic kingdoms in the 16th and 17th centuries such as Malacca (Malaysia), Sulu (Philippines), Pasai, Banten, Sunda Kelapa, Makassar, Ternate, until the resistance of the scholars in the 18th century such as the War of Cirebon (Bagus Rangin), Java War (Diponegoro), Padri War (Imam Bonjol), and the war in Aceh (Teuku Umar).

Source:
http://www.ummah.net/

Lontong Balap: Special and Original's Food From Surabaya

The ingredients

Typical original Surabaya's food in east java, which is cooked from the rice cake, sprouts, fried tofu, Lento (made of soybean), soy sauce, fried onion and chili sauce.

Lento is made from rice peanuts/Tholo with flour, afterwards it is added with galingale, the spring onion, rough-skinned citrus fruit and adequate salt. It is formed round resembled the croquette.

Lontong Balap is full of sprouts. Lontong Balap is not served well without Kerang Satay (Shellfish satay).

Shellfish satay, is made from the shellfish that is boiled and then it is served like satay, but without being roasted. Lontong Balap will be more delicious to eat if being added with hot soy sauce and chili sauce.

The history

Long ago, "lontong balap" sold by using the pole. Vegetable sprouts are included in large pot soil. Borne soil pot front and back. Because of the heavy pot, the seller walks very fast. Imagine if carry a certain weight and fast way in hurry. It was quick as the race (balap) was impressed. Perhaps that way it is called Lontong Balap . Seller was in hurry like racing (balapan).

Source:
http://www.surabaya.go.id/eng/culture.php?page=lontong_balap

Naskah Wangsakerta, the controversial manuscript about history of Javaland Kingdoms

Naskah (Manuscript) Wangsakerta is a term that refers to a set of scripts that were prepared by Prince Wangsakerta personally or by the "Panitia Wangsakerta". According to the contents of Pustaka Rajya Rajya i Bhumi Nusantara parwa (part) V sarga (vol / script) 5 in the form of a list of libraries, library Sultanate of Cirebon collect at least 1703 the title of the manuscript, which is 1213 of which form works Wangsakerta Prince and his team.

This controversial manuscript is now stored at the Museum of History Sunda "Sri Baduga" in Bandung.

Controversy

Wangsakerta manuscript discovery in the early 1970s, besides causing excitement and admiration will completeness, to many it was a cause of doubt and suspicion, even the scholars and historians suspect that this manuscript real but fake. Among the reasons doubt this manuscript, namely:

• Too historical, it is not common as contemporary texts (chronicle, ballad, legend, saga);
• Fitting the content of the manuscript with the works of Western scholars (JG de Casparis, NJ Krom, Eugene Dubois, etc..), So there is a suspicion that the manuscript was prepared with reference to the work of these experts (not made of the 17th century);
• Physical state of the manuscript (paper / Daluang, ink, character building) shows a script that made reference to a rough copy and writing, not like the old script in general.

The texts produced by Panitia Wangsakerta

In the preface each manuscript Wangsakerta kept informed about the process of making of these manuscripts. The committee - led by Prince - Wangsakerta is intended to meet the demand / mandate of his father, Panembahan Girilaya, Prince Wangsakerta preparing the manuscript for the story of the kingdoms in the archipelago. The committee was established to conduct a gotrasawala (symposium / seminar) between the experts (sajarah) of the entire archipelago, the results are compiled and written into the texts now known as Manuscript Wangsakerta. Gotrasawala took place in 1599 Saka (1677 AD), while the preparation of papers to spend up to 21 years (completed in 1620 Saka, 1698 M).
[Edit] Works Committee Wangsakerta

The texts produced by the Committee Wangsakerta can be classified into several headings:

* Reader Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantara
* Reader Pararatwan
* Reader Carita Parahyangan i Bhumi Kulwan Java
* Reader Nagarakretabhumi
* Reader Samastabhuwana
* Copies of the books of law Majapahit
* Collection of Carita, Katha, and itihasa
* Library of kings and king of a small village
* Copies of some Java script Kuna
* Mahabharata
* Collection kathosana
* Copies of inscriptions
* Copies of letters of friendship treaty
* The text of the story traders
* Manuscript in various other regional languages and foreign languages
* Widyapustaka Collection (various sciences)
* Islamic Library
* Sarwakrama kings Salakanagara
* Sarwakrama kings Tarumanagara
* Sarwakrama kings and Pajajaran Galuh
* Sarwakrama kings Galuh
* Sarwakrama kings of Central and East Java
* The kings and princes Majapahit
* The kings and princes of Bali
* The kings and princes and Kadiri Janggala
* The kings and princes of Srivijaya
* Kings of Bali, Kadiri, and Janggala
* Copies of manuscripts Prapanca work

Kutai Martadipura, the first kingdom in Kalimantan (Borneo)

Kutai Martadipura is patterned Hindu kingdom in the archipelago which has the oldest historical evidence. The kingdom was located in Muara Kaman, East Kalimantan, precisely in the Mahakam river upstream. Kutai name is taken. Kutai name given by experts to take from place names found inscriptions indicating the existence of the kingdom. There are no inscriptions that clearly mentions the name of this kingdom, and indeed very little information can be obtained.

The yupa ( inscription )

The information is obtained from Yupa / inscription in the sacrifice that comes from the 4th century. There are seven pieces yupa which became the main source for experts in interpreting the history of the Kingdom of Kutai. From one of these yupa known that the king who ruled the kingdom of Kutai time was Mulawarman. His name is recorded in yupa because of his generosity menyedekahkan 20,000 cows to the Brahmins.

King Mulawarman

Mulawarman are children of Aswawarman and grandchildren of Kundungga . Name Aswawarman and Mulawarman are very thick with the influence of Sanskrit when viewed from the way of writing. Kundungga is the magnifying of the Kingdom of Campa (Cambodia) which came to Indonesia. Kundungga itself allegedly have not embraced Buddhism.

King Aswawarman

Aswawarman is probably the first king who figured Hindu Kingdom of Kutai. He is also known as the founder of the dynasty of the Kingdom of Kutai Wangsakerta so given the title, which means forming a family. Aswawarman has 3 sons, and one of them is Mulawarman.

Son Aswawarman is Mulawarman. From yupa known that during the reign of Mulawarman, Kingdom of Kutai its moment of glory. Territory covering almost the entire region of East Kalimantan. People Kutai prosperous and affluent life.

Socio-economic life of the Kingdom of Kutai

Judging from the location of the kingdom of Kutai in trade and shipping route between the West and East, the trading activity seems to be the main livelihood. People Kutai has been actively involved in international trade and trade of course they also get to the waters of the East Java Sea and Indonesia to look for merchandise that sold well in the International market. Thus, Kutai has included a stopover area of international trade, namely the Straits of Malacca, Java Sea-Makassar Straits-Kutai - China, or vice versa.

Culture & Beliefs Kingdom of Kutai

Kutai community cultural life is closely related to belief / religious affiliation. Yupa is one of the Kutai culture, which is a stone monument which is the ancestral heritage of Indonesia from the Megalithic era, namely the form of menhirs.
One yupa it mentions a sacred place by the name Waprakeswara (place of worship of Lord Shiva). It can be concluded that the community's religious Kutai is Shiva (Hindu).

The ended of this kingdom

Kutai kingdom of ends when the King of Kutai named Maharaja Setia Dharma killed in battle at the hands of King aquatic mammal to-13, Aji Prince Panji Mendapa Anum. Keep in mind that this Kutai (Kutai Martadipura) differs from aquatic mammal kingdom whose capital was first located in Kutai Lama (Cape Kute). Kukar is, in the year 1365, mentioned in the Java literature, Negarakertagama . Kutai Kartanegara further into the Islamic empire called the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara (Kesultanan Kutai Kartanegara).
Kingdom of Kutaias if it did not appear again by the outside world because of lack of communication with foreign parties, until very little is heard of him.

The name and culture affect

Name of Maharaja Kundungga interpreted by historians as the original name of the Indonesian people who have not been affected by the name of culture India. Meanwhile, son named Asmawarman alleged to have affected the culture of Hindu. This one is based on the fact that the word comes from the language Sangsekerta. Word 'Warman' is typically used to the last names of people or inhabitants of South India.

Salakanagara, the first kingdom in Javaland

Salakanagara, based on the Manuscript Wangsakerta - Reader Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantara (who prepared a committee with its chairman Prince Wangsakerta) are thought to be the earliest kingdoms in the archipelago).

Name experts and historians who proves that the Tatar Banten have historical values that high, among others, is Hussein Djajadiningrat, Tb. H. Achmad Hasan Mu'arif Ambary, Halwany Michrob and others. Many of their findings has been compiled in the writings, reviews or in books. Not to mention the names like John Miksic, Takashi, Atja, Saleh Danasasmita, Yoseph Iskandar, Claude Guillot, Ayatrohaedi, Vishnu Handoko and others who add insight about Banten became more spacious and open with his works made both in Indonesian and English.

Indian descent

Founder Salakanagara, Dewawarman is an ambassador around, traders as well as immigrants from Pallawa, Bharata (India), who eventually settled for marrying the daughter of the local lords, while the founder is Maharesi Jayasingawarman Tarumanagara, refugees from the region Calankayana, Bharata because the area controlled by another kingdom. While Kutai was established by refugees from Magada, Bharata after the area was also dominated by another kingdom.

Early leaders of the ruling here is Aki Tirem. That said, the city is called Argyre by Ptolemy in the year 150, is located in the Gulf region Pepper Pandeglang. Aki is Tirem, prince or ruler of a local village that eventually became law when the daughter of Sang Aki Dewawarman Luhur Mulya named Goddard Pwahaci Lara was married by Dewawarman. This makes all the followers and forces Dewawarman married local women and did not want to go back to his hometown.

When Aki Tirem died, Dewawarman receive the scepter. Year 130 AD he later founded a kingdom with the name Salakanagara (Silver State) capital is Rajatapura. He became the first king with the title of King Darmalokapala Dewawarman Aji Raksa Gapura Sagara. Several small kingdoms around him into his territory, including the Kingdom Agnynusa (Fire District) located on the island of Krakatoa.

Salakanagara Rajatapura is the capital of up to 362 years into the administrative center of the Kings Dewawarman (from Dewawarman I - VIII). Salakanagara stood just over 232 years, precisely from the year 130 AD until 362 AD. King Dewawarman I own only in power for 38 years and replaced by his son who became King Dewawarman II with the title of King Digwijayakasa Dewawarmanputra. King Dharmawirya recorded as King of kings Salakanagara Dewawarman VIII or last until the year 363, because since it Salakanagara has become a kingdom which is under the authority Tarumanagara founded in 358 AD by the sages that come from Calankayana, India named Jayasinghawarman. In the reign of Dewawarman VIII, the economic situation very well populated, prosperous and safe, while the religious life is very harmonious.

The last period of this kingdom

While Jayasinghawarman founder is daughter of King Dewawarman Tarumanagara VIII. He is himself an Indian sages of Calankayana who fled to the archipelago because the area was attacked and conquered the kingdom of Maharaja Samudragupta Maurya.

In later days after Jayasinghawarman establish Tarumanagara, central government to switch from Rajatapura Tarumanagara. Salakanagara then transformed into the Kingdom of the Region.

The order of the King Salakanagara
130-168 M,

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN I
• Royal name: PRABU DARMALOKAPALA AJI RAKSA GAPURA SEGARA
• Description: Traders from Bharata (India)
  

168-195 M,

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN II
• Royal name: PRABU DIGWIJAYAKASA DEWAWARMANPUTRA
• Description: the oldest son of Dewawarman I

195-238 M

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN III
• Royal name: PRABU SINGASAGARA BIMAYASAWIRYA
  
• Description: Son of Dewawarman II

238-252 M

• Real Name: DEWAWARMAN IV
  
• Descripstion: Son in laws of Dewawarman II, King of Ujung Kulon

252-276 M

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN V
  
• Descripstion: Son in laws of Dewawarman IV

276-289 M,

• Real name: MAHISASURAMARDINI WARMANDEWI
  
• Description: oldest daughter of Dewawarman IV & Dewawarman V's wife, because Dewawarman V die against pirates,

289-308 M,

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN VI
  
• Royal name: SANG MOKTENG SAMUDRA
• Description: the oldest son Dewawarman V

308-340 M,

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN VII
  
• Royal name: PRABU BIMA DIGWIJAYA SATYAGANAPATI
• Description: the oldest son Dewawarman VI

340-348 M,

• Real name: SPHATIKARNAWA WARMANDEWI
• Description: the oldest daughter Dewawarman VII

348-362 M,

• Real name: DEWAWARMAN VIII
• Royal name: PRABU DARMAWIRYA DEWAWARMAN
  
• Description: grandson who married Sphatikarnawa Dewawarman VI, the last king Salakanagara

Start Salakanagara 362 M DEWAWARMAN IX has become a subordinate kingdom of Tarumanagara

Timeline of kingdoms in West Java/Banten

Indonesia in simply mentioning

Geoposition

Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia consisting of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited) and straddling the equator. Its neighbor to the north is Malaysia and to the east is Papua New Guinea. The major islands are:

• Sumatra,
  
• Jawa (Java is the most populous),
  
• Bali (The island of gods),
  
• Kalimantan (Indonesia's part of Borneo),
  
• Sulawesi (Celebes),
  
• The Nusa Tenggara islands,
  
• The Maluku (Moluccas) Islands,
  
• Irian Jaya (West Papua).
  

Indonesia, part of the “ring of fire,” has the largest number of active volcanoes in the world. Earthquakes are frequent. Wallace's line, a zoological demarcation between Asian and Australian flora and fauna, divides Indonesia.

Short history

The 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia were home to a diversity of cultures and indigenous beliefs when the islands came under the influence of Hindu priests and traders in the first and second centuries A.D. Muslim traders began in the 13th century, and most of the archipelago had converted to Islam by the 15th century. Portuguese invasion began early in the next century. Then the Dutch colonize this country around 1595. India Company established posts on the island of Java, in an effort to control the spice trade.

The British ever colonize the islands but returned them to the Dutch in 1816. During World War II, Japan take control the islands. After Japan's surrender, Indonesian represented by Sukarno and Hatta, proclaimed Indonesian independence on Aug. 17, 1945.

The meaning of Nusantara/Nuswantara

At the time of Majapahit, "nusantara" is used to name the islands outside Java (between in Sanskrit means the outside, opposite) as opposed to the Jawadwipa (Java). Sumpah Palapa of Gajah Mada in writing "Lamun huwus kalah nuswantara, isun amukti palapa" (If you have lost the islands opposite, then I enjoy the break).

In the 1920s, Ernest Francois Eugene Douwes Dekker (1879-1950), known as Dr. Setiabudi (grandson of the brother Multatuli), introduces a name for Indonesia, which does not contain elements of the word "Indian". The name was no other is Nusantara, a term that has been submerged for centuries. Setiabudi took the name from Pararaton, Majapahit era of ancient manuscripts found in Bali at the end of the 19th century and translated by JLA Brandes and published by Johannes Nicholaas Krom in 1920.

The definition of Nusantara that proposed by Setiabudi much different from the meaning of nusantara in Majapahit era.

By Dr. Setiabudi, the word "nusantara" that connotes ignorance Majapahit era was given a nationalistic sense. By taking the original Malay word between, now, Nusantara has a new meaning of "homeland between the two continents and two oceans", so that Java was included in the definition of a modern country. The term nusantara of Setiabudi is rapidly becoming popular as an alternative use of the name of the Hindia Belanda.

Indonesia is The Lost Atlantis, isn't it ??

Location hypotheses of Atlantis

These are various proposed real-world settings for the island of Atlantis, (Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος) a lost civilization mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 B.C. In these dialogues, a character named Critias claims that an island called Atlantis was swallowed by the sea about 9,200 years previously. This story was passed down to him through his grandfather, Dropides who in turn got it from Solon, the famous Athenian lawmaker who translated it from the Egyptian language. Plato's dialogues locate the island in the Atlantic Pelagos “Atlantic Sea”,^[1] "in front of" the Pillars of Hercules (Ηράκλειες Στήλες) and facing a district called modern Gades or Gadira (Gadiron), a location that many modern scholars associate with modern Gibraltar; however various locations have been proposed.

It also figures in the Celtic myths concerning Mererid, the sinful daughter of King Gradlon, whose scabrous conduct led to the sinking of the land of Ys. So, in the Americas (Bochica, etc.) and elsewhere.

If we read the Bible attentively, we note that it also speaks of two creations, exactly as Plato also tells of two different Atlantises (cf. Gen. 1 and 2). Moreover, the Bible also tells of two destructions of the world by the Deluge. These two different narratives are quaintly embroidered on each other in Gen. 6, and comprise the Elohist and the Jahvist accounts of the Flood, which relate two visibly different events.

The Bible Is Right After All

We see, then, that the tradition (or traditions) narrated by Plato exactly coincides with the Biblical lore. Moreover, as we said above, the two traditions also exactly agree with the prehistoric events observed in the geological and the archaeological records. And, when we trace the worldwide legends to their source, we always end up in India and Indonesia, the two Atlantises of legend, no matter where we start from.

In truth, continents don t sink. It is the sea that rises, flooding entire continents, as it did in Lemurian Atlantis and, to a great extent, in the Indus Valley, the site of the second Atlantis. Relativists will say that both events sea level rise and continental sinking are one and the same thing, at least from the point of view of the observers. But geologists will hotly debate the issue, and claim, as they have long done, that actual sunken continents are a geological impossibility. It is all a matter of perspective, of relativistic illusion. But the best ancient sources say, for instance that magnificent Hindu saga, the Mahabharata speak of sea level rising rather than of continents sinking.

The Elusive Sunken Continent Revealed

However, anyone who inspects a chart of the oceanic bottoms in the region of Indonesia such as the Ice Age Map of Indonesia shown in Fig. 1 below, will readily concede that the South China Sea encircled by Indonesia indeed formed a continent during the last glaciation, which ended some 11,600 years ago. This chart clearly shows the sunken continent of Lemurian Atlantis in Indonesia, as well as the extensive sunken strip of Indian Atlantis at the Indus Delta.

The map leaves no room for doubt about the reality of what we are affirming concerning Lemurian and Indian Atlantis, one almost wholly sunken, and the other sunken to a very considerable extension. We remark that this map in contrast to most others presenting proposed sites for Atlantis and/or Lemuria is purely scientific, rather than an invention of ours or of others. It is based on the detailed geophysical reconstruction of the seabottoms in the region in question, and portrays the areas of depth under 100 meters, which were obviously exposed during the Ice Age, when sea level dropped by that amount and even more.

In fact, several strictly scientific, similar maps exist, and can be seen elsewhere, inclusive in the Internet. One of these maps, was published in the National Geographic Magazine (vol.174, no.4, Oct. 1988, pg. 446-7) and is reproduced, for comparison, in Fig. 2 below. It shows the world as it was some 18,000 years ago, at the peak of the last glaciation of the Pleistocene Ice Age. As can be seen, this map corresponds quite closely with ours, shown in Fig. 1.

In particular, please note the huge chunk of land, of continental dimensions, to the south of Southeast Asia, and which became sunken when sea level rose, at the end of the Pleistocene. Another sizable piece of land in the Indus Delta, the site of the second Atlantis, also disappeared likewise, at that occasion. No other regions of the world display a similar event, including the Americas (not shown). The conclusion is that Atlantis, if Plato was in fact speaking truthfully, could only have been located in that region of the world.

As both maps above show, a huge extension of continental size prolonged Southeast Asia all the way down to Australia. This continental-sized land was indeed "larger than Asia [Minor] and Lybia [North Africa] put together", exactly as Plato affirms. It is seen to have been about two or three times larger than continental-sized India. It was also far larger than Australia, shown exagerated due to the peculiarities of the projection utilized.

The Lost Continent Finally Found, released on August 2005, is Prof. Arysio Santos' latest work.

The Indonesian Islands and the Malay Peninsula that we nowadays observe are the unsunken relicts of Lemurian Atlantis, the lofty volcanic mountains that became the volcanic islands of this region, the true site of Paradise in all ancient traditions. The sunken portion of continental extension now forms the muddy, shallow bottoms of the South China Sea.

The South China Sea north of Indonesia and Java Sea have been advocated as a site for Atlantis. Key to this argument that Sundaland was the location of Atlantis is that the Ocean of Atlantis refers to the ocean which encircles Eurasia and Africa, which was the historical understanding until the time of Christopher Columbus. Proponents of this idea claim that natives of Sundaland who fled the rising waters or volcanic explosions eventually had contact with Ancient Egyptians, who later passed the story onto Plato who gets some but not all of the details correct, including location and time period. The main advocate of this theory is the Brazilian professor of nuclear physics Arysio Nunes dos Santos.

During the Last Glacial Maximum, what is now known as the Sunda Shelf was the location of a large subaerial coastal plain that was part of Sundaland. During the Last Glacial Maximum, Sundaland extended northward from Indonesia to Borneo and northwestward to the coast of Southeast Asia. Sundaland is quite tectonically stable lacking any known prehistory of any significant, much less cataclysmic, tectonic subsidence. Numerous studies by petroleum and Quaternary geologists have found a complete lack of any evidence for any Neogene and Quaternary volcanic activity within the Sunda Shelf despite its proximity to Indonesia.

Detailed studies^[100][101] of late glacial and postglacial sea level rise for this part of the Sunda Shelf demonstrates that the first significant submergence of Sundaland by rising sea level occurred between 14,000 and 15,000 years ago. Periods of abrupt rise in sea level submerged a significant part of Sundaland beneath the South China Sea between 13,000 and 14,000 years ago. Between 14,300 and 14,600 years ago, a period of 300 years, sea level rose 16m (62 feet). Between 12,000 and 13,000 years ago, the submergence of Sundaland by rising sea level was relatively minor. A final period of rapid flooding of Sundaland by the South China Sea occurred between 11,000 to 12,000 years ago. The submergence of Sundaland during this period was minor in extent relative to the area submerged between 13,000 and 14,000 years ago. Evidence for any significant or cataclysmic submergence of Sundaland as the result of tectonic processes is completely lacking.

Source:

• http://www.atlan.org/
• http://www.lost-civilizations.net/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_hypotheses_of_Atlantis