The Us President, Barrack Obama, is planned to visit Indonesia on the 4th week of March, 2010. According to Robert Gibbs, the spoke person of White House, via twitter says The president is scheduled to depart on 21 March 2010.Obama had spent 4 years of his childhood in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.

Gary Locke, US Secretary of Commerce, explained the US intends to increase trading between those two countries. Uncertainty of obligation and unresolved infestation conflict have made US manufacturers to stop doing business in Indonesia.

barack obama

Trading between the US and Indonesia valued US$ 18 last year. Us export valued US$ 5.1, while Indonesian export to US valued US$12.9. To increase the commerce it depends on Indonesian government to create policies reformation to ‘wake’ the commerce.

We hopes the visit will also improve more tourists from the US to visit Indonesia. The visit will prove that Indonesia is a safe country to visit. furthermore, US government will give good tourism information for its citizen.

Sunda Kelapa Harbor 1527, that what is written at the entrance to the Jakarta’s oldest port of . At the age of more than eight centuries, the port which is also the origin of the Jakarta is trying to survive. To get here, visitors can use the various modes of transportation but if you have a very spare time, walking in the morning or afternoon from the Old City to the port would be an interesting experience. Many stories are told by the old building along the way to the port. Unfortunately, walking in this area is extremely uncomfortable. Except for holidays or Sunday.

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History says, this port is used by the  Tarumanagara Kingdom started at about the 5th century. Sunda Kelapa was never lonely, this port is an important port until the time of the European explorers arrived and the Dutch masters more than 300 years. Now the harbor is filled with old wooden ships carrying timber wood, cement, steel, building materials delivery to and from Borneo/Kalimantan.

If not satisfied looking at rows of ships from the mainland, there is a tenant who will take the visitors by boat  to browse through the port of Jakarta Bay. The view is clearly very contrast where huses of the poor standing beside the buildings of the rich. Until now people from the villages on the left side of Sunda Kelapa (the poor) are often walking around with a canoe.

Sunda Kelapa photo by IwanTan

Villagers are busy fishing from the boat in the estuary of Ciliwung river,  quite attractive, especially when the sun was about to slip into the west. All that combined with a busy crew. This is the most interesting attraction when you want to observe the people in the tourism place in Indonesia. Imagine this port a few centuries back, when the new arrivals from Europe anchored their ship.  Imagine also how Prince Jayakarta managed to expel the Portuguese at this point, the starting point of Jakarta.
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Djarum Super Jakarta International Blues Festival 2009 will be held at Istora Senayan Jakarta on Saturday, September 7, 2009. The theme taken for this year is “Back To The Roots of All Music”.

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The Indonesian musicians that will perform are Gugun & Blues Shelter, Blues Train, Kiboud Maulana, Gigi, The Dance Company, The Changchuters. special performance from senior blues artist Yopie Item and two of his children Audy and Stevie Item, Bondan Prakoso and his father who is also a musician, Sisco, Abdee Slank, John Paul Ivan, and Rif’s vocalist, Andi.

International Stars from UK, USA, Australia, Dutch, Ireland, Thailand and Singapura are invited to perform on stages. Artists loke Jan Akkerman and Mike Wilgar will surely give great atmosphere on the show.

There will be four stages on the festival. The ticket costs IDR 100.000 or about US$10. It’s an affordable price to witness the world class blues festival in Indonesia.
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Photo credit: Deka ~ Discover-Indonesia.com

Great, Indonesia is rich of traditional culinary. Every province has its own food so that tourism in Indonesia is not merely visiting places but also taste the local food. Beside Ketoprak, Jakarta has a classic traditional food called Kerak Telor (Egg Crust). This kind of food exists from many years ago since Jakarta was named Batavia.

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Kerak is basically rice crust that is adhering to the pot. The main substances for Kerak Telor are egg and rice. Those substances are for the crust which is rather crispy on its edge. The additional substances are butter, cooked shredded meat, fried onion, cheese, chopped meat or anything else that makes it more tasty and luxurious.

Photo credit: Deka ~ Discover-Indonesia.com

To make Kerak Telor the first step is making the crust. Using small pan, the rice is half cooked, and then an egg is added. The next step is pouring other substances into the pan one by one. It uses pan to make the food thin and circular. After a while the food is ready to be served. Accompanied by a cup of java coffee is the best way to enjoy ‘egg crust’.

Photo credit: Deka ~ Discover-Indonesia.com

Where to buy Kerak Telor?

Kerak telor are sold specifically at the tourism places in Jakarta such as Dunia Fantasi, Ancol and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. The price is vary depend on the substances. Generally, it cost for about IDR9000 less than a dollar (US$). In other city it usually sold on the fair.

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Jakarta has many specific foods like Kerak Telor and Ketoprak. Those foods are today can be found in many places in Indonesia.

In Central Java and Yogyakarta, Ketoprak is not the name of a food, it is a performance art like drama. It uses Javanese language in the dialog and song. The Gamelan is escorting the play.

Ketoprak Jakarta is a food traditionally consists of  lontong (food consisting of rice steamed in a banana leaf), tofu, sliced cabbage, mihun (thin rice noodles), sprout, chips and sauce made from bean, brown sugar and chili. The taste can be hot or salty, it just made by order. The price is about IDR5.000 to 10.000 according to its substances. Today meat is commonly added in ketoprak to be more luxurious.
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Photo credit: Deka

We can find ketoprak at restaurants and street food stall. In Yogyakarta it can be found at Gajah Mada University complex, precisely along the boulevard park.

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