Night Music - The Sounds Of Coffee And West Java
By Alun Evans
Summarize By Eri Rm
Jakarta is a city of noise, a cacophony of noise. The noise is mostly man made, motorbikes, trucks, cars, horns, sirens, bells. West Java is normally not known for its coffee cultivation. Back in the early Dutch Colonial days, most of the original coffee was planted in a wedge shaped curve that stretched from Batavia up into the hill country around Bogor and Sukabumi. The coffee was grown here mixed with Pepper and Clove trees. Coffee initially grew very well on the flat land around Batavia. Today the areas where the coffee was planted are densely populated inner city suburbs- there is no sign of the small private plantations that once thrived there. Likewise the rolling hill country that rises from the city towards Bogor has little sign of the past agricultural endeavours. The Cileungsi River was a pleasant waterway used to transport Coffee, fruit, Cloves, Pepper and rubber grown in orderly plots down into Jakarta for local consumption and export.
However it is much more difficult to identify where the original coffee plantations were.
Over the years I have either stumbled upon remnants of the original coffee plantations, or been invited to view coffee that has been unearthed growing wild- tall and straggly, amongst new growth of secondary rainforest.
Sukabumi is a city southwest of Bogor. In the late 1890's and early 1900's, rust played havoc with the Arabica coffee plantings throughout the Dutch East Indies. Robusta remains the main type of coffee grown today, despite efforts to try and focus growers on the more difficult to cultivate, but higher returning Arabica.
Around West Java Robusta is common, Arabica less so. The coffee trees, growing beneath the taller canopy, are initially well sheltered fro the rain, but soon everything- including chickens, children and coffee are wet through.
The coffee trees stir in the wind, seemingly enjoying the moisture, the deluge.
The remnants of the rainfall drip melodically from the tall trees, through the coffee trees below onto the ground. An evening amongst the coffee growers of West Java is a trip back in time to a much simpler and perhaps wholesome era.
Medan - In Search of the Long-Lost Simplicity
AirAsia announces the first Indonesia destination with FREE SEATS for the explorers.
AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline proudly announces the arrival of the first Indonesian destination, Medan from Hong Kong from 16 January 2011. In celebration of the first Indonesia AirAsia route, AirAsia is inviting our guests to take part in this new exploration with a kick-off FREE SEATS offer, debuting the AirAsia connection between Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Offer is available for booking online from 1 December to 5 December 2010 for the four times weekly direct flights between Hong Kong and Medan - Polonia International Airport (MES). Travel period for the FREE SEATS is from 16 January to 10 November, 2011.
Connecting Indonesia
Kathleen Tan, AirAsia’s Regional Head of Commercial said, “Our growing presence in Hong Kong since our conception in May 2008 signifies the commitment that AirAsia has for the Hong Kong and South China market. For instance, guests can travel from Hong Kong to Medan, and return via Kuala Lumpur; or guests can fly from Hong Kong to Bangkok, hop on to Medan and return to Hong Kong. Medan, Indonesia has been building a name for itself as an escape to city life with the stunning scenic attractions it offers. Being the nation’s third largest city, Medan is the home to a vast variety of cuisines, the harbor of fruits of an energized milieu, and is where the spectacular Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in South-East Asia situated. Seats are also available via mobile. AirAsia Blackberry App, AirAsia Android Phone App as well as AirAsia iPhone App. AirAsia is also offering great hotel rates and personalized travel packages under AirAsiaGo. Guests can obtain greater savings and more value for money on their accommodation in addition to the low fares that AirAsia offers.
