Batik

Today, more colleagues wear batik in celebration of the Unesco recognition of Indonesia's batik as part of world cultural heritage.

A Library for the Blind

Friend of the Eyes from kurniawan hari on Vimeo.

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This video is a documentary about an organization in South Jakarta that works to empower blind people. The organization is called "Mitra Netra" which literally means "Friend of the Eyes". This video was prepared for Multimedia Journalism class.

Photo Slide Idul Fitri

This is a journey of the home-travelers to celebrate post-Ramadan Idul Fitri festival in Central and East Java. They can drive their own car or take bus or train. Bringing overload luggage, they usually will spend 12 hours to get to their hometown about 600 km east of Jakarta. They will meet their big family, attend the Idul Fitri morning prayer and meet relatives to forgive each other. At the end, they will have a feast with the family.

Indonesian Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri

Jakarta, Sept. 20, 2009

More than 160 million Indonesian Muslims celebrate post-Ramadan festival Idul Fitri in the world’s most populous Muslim nation on Sunday. They attended a morning prayer at mosques or open fields in big cities and small villages across the archipelago.

People chanted Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi ilhamd (God is great and to Him all the praises) as they flocked to attend the prayer. The God-praising chant, known as takbir, had been heard since the night.

Meanwhile, others distributed zakat fitrah (alms) to the needy.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and state officials including Cabinet members joined thousands of Muslims for the prayer at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta.

In his nation-wide address, Muslim leader Mohammad Ali stated that Islam, a religion that brings rahmatan lil alamin (peace to the universe), had been facing tough challenges.

Ali, a director general at the Religious Affairs Ministry, emphasized there were people who claimed to be the real Muslims but misunderstood Islamic teachings only to show violence which clearly opposes the basic principle of Islam.

As soon as the Muslims finished the morning prayers, they met their neighbors and relatives to forgive each other. After practicing the Ramadan fasting for one month, giving alms and forgiving each other, Muslims hoped the good deeds would purify their soul.

* Kurniawan Hari reported from Jakarta, INDONESIA

My Favorite Place

Nabi Ibrahim

Nabi Ibrahim, pendiri agama Monoteistik, diperkirakan sudah hidup sekitar tahun 2000-1900 BC di Timur Tengah. Beliau dikenal juga pendiri Judaism. Sebagai perbandingan, Stonehenge (komplek bebatuan yg dipakai untuk ibadah agama) didirikan di dataran Salisbury negara Inggris sekitar 1900-1400 BC. (Sumber: Family Almanac, NYT)

Perang Troya

Perang Troya (Trojan Wars) terjadi pada tahun 1400 BC (sebelum Masehi). Negeri Yunani (Greece) menaklukkan Troy di Asian Minor. Kaum Barbar dari utara mulai menyerang Yunani mengakibatkan dimulainya apa yg disebut Jaman Gelap (Dark Age) dalam sejarah Yunani.
(Sumber: Family Almanac, NYT)