Thursday, July 23, 2009

Birds, Nature & Me - 3

Actually this post is like an "Essay" which we used to write in the classroom when we were in school-age (something like "Write an essay about your favorite blah blah blah"). Yes. It is really the same like this. Everyone has their favorite things perhaps these can be cloths, cars, small tools, ornaments, foods, pets, animals and it can be varied. In fact, I love nature in general; sky, mountain ranges, trees and plats, flowers and faunas etc.. but especially I love more to animals those in natural habitats, wild. Nature in the Nature has already their own beauty..

Since I was in my childhood, growing in typical small town in central Myanmar, I love to touch the nature in different way. If there is question asking "how did you start to love the nature and who did you to love it?", my answer is all about my father who is my knowledge bank (until now). Since I started talk and made uncountable questions to him, he answers and (always) satisfied me. He told me uncountable numbers of stories related to nature, culture, religion, beliefs, history, and many of subjects which are still stuck in my mind.


Once I asked a question, the answer come out from him with various facts and quotations. He can not even stop :) Sometime I said, father that is more than enough for me. If I write about my father, it would become like Arabian Tales (for one thousand and one night perhaps even more). He is my hero and ever the best father of mine.

When I was in middle school (secondary school), I used to study in early morning about 4 am onwards which is the best time to study and for me to get more concentration. I used to studied until before breakfast. The weather is usually cool in the small town of typical dry zone in central Myanmar. My father always wake me up for my early morning study and he never went back to sleep (he just waiting probably reading a book with a pot of Myanmar tea) and accompany me. After awhile we started to hear beautiful songs singing from the guava tree inside our house compound. The song had quite high tone and beautiful melody (I notice it is eight to 14 diffient tone and melody). I asked what kind of bird is it. He said "Nget Kyar (ငွက္ က်ား - actualy there is another bird with same name which is completely different - water bird) also known as Tha Baik Lwal (သ ပိတ္ လြယ္)". The color of the bird is only Black & White (it can be varied) and the feature is a bird caring an alm bow (Buddhist monks equipment). Later after twenty over years, once I joined Myanmar Birds & Nature Society, I knew it is called "Magpie Robin" precisely the birds I saw are "Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)".

Our family relocated to the capital city in Yangon over a decade ago, we were in subarbs of Yangon in a narrow apartment of 6 storied building. I lost my lovely songs for years. Then after we settled down in newly established town - outskirt of Yangon city center (about 20 kilometers). We grew some plants and trees in our house compound. Again, I started to get back my favourite birds singing as "Moning Section Music (မ နက္ ခ်ိန္ ခါ ေတး သံ သာ)".

***

Oriental Magpie Robin
The Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus Saularis) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. Distributed in many parts of tropical South and Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds.


Ref:-
- Wikipedia

Photos were taken from below sources and posted in this post before but after insisted by the original photographer, I deleted from the post accordingly. (updated on 2226 hrs local time, 18 March 2011).

- www.birdfinders.co.uk
- redzlan.blogspot.com
- Flickr

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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Best of Southeast Asia by UNESCO - 3




Indonesia

A home of over 220 million people, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, composing over 17,500 islands stretched between Australia and Asian continental mainlands. Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua are main islands of the country with 33 provinces, Indonesia's capital city is Jakarta.

Borbodur

Located in central Java, this magnificent temple was completed in the early eight century and hiding in the forest for over 100 years and later after buried under volcanic rubble and enveloped by the tropical rain forest for some 1,000 years. A British colonial agent Sir Stamford Raffles rediscovered the temple in 1814. After all, it was restored under UNESCO guidance in the 1970s. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO. It is said to be world's largest Buddhist temple and remained as spiritual significant of Indonesia and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991.

Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (6 July 1781 – 5 July 1826)

How to get there

Borobudu is an hour driving distance from Yogyakarta, at the edge of a tiny Borobudur Village, where the inhabitants are mainly farmers and souvenir vendors. There are a number of flights operating to Yogyakarta including the national flag carrier Garuda Airlines.





Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park was established in 1980 in order to conserve the unique creatures of Komodo dragon (Varanus Komodonesis) and its habitat. It is located between the Sumbawa and Flores islands which is right in the center of Indonesian Archipelago. Actually, the Komodo National Park is comprising three main islands - Komodo, Rinca and Parda but includes as well as small islands nearby with a total land surface of 2,321 square kilometers.

How to get there
The gateway cities are (mainly) from Denpasar (Bali) and Labuan Bajo in the west of Flores or Bima in eastern Sumbawa by air. Or a long ride of ferry from the nearest city Labuan Bajo to reach Komodo National Park.




Prambanan Temple Compounds
Prambanan temple is located in central Java, constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. The plinths of the temple show the triump of Hindu architectural structure. It is known to be as world largest Hindu enshrine in Southeast Asia and become UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

How to get there
It is just about 18 Kilometers east of Yogyakarta.





Ujung Kulon National Park

In the south western of the island of Java and equatorial waters of the Sunda Straits merge, is Ujung Kulon National Park. It is rich in wildlife and eco-diversity and known as home for endangered Java Rhinoceros. The park is 120, 551 hectares are compositions of 78, 214 hectares of land and 44, 337 hectares of surrounding reefs and sea. Ujung Kulon National Park became UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 1991. In addition to its natural beauty and geological interest – particularly for the study of inland volcanoes – it contains the largest remaining area of lowland rainforests in the Java plain. Several species of endangered plants and animals can be found there, the Javan rhinoceros being the most seriously under threat.

How to get there

From Jarkartar to Labuan or Tamanjaya to take permission and proceed to Handeuleum or Peucang.


Sangiran Early Man Site

In 1934, an anthropologist Professor Dr. Gustave Heinrich Ralph von Koeigswald started examine the site, Sangiran located in central Java. After a few years of excavations, fossils of some of the first known human ancestors, Pithecanthropus erectus ("Java Man", now reclassified as part of the species Homo erectus), were found there. The total area is 48 square kilometers and 15 kilometers north of Surakarta in the Solo River valley. In 1996 it was listed as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.







How to get there

It is a village located 17 Km north of Solo, on the road to Purwodadi.



Lorentz National Park
The park is located within Irian Jaya (central Papua) Province and stretched over 150 kilometers from the central cordillera mountains in the north of Arafura Sea in the south. It lies on the half of the island of New Guinea. The park is largest protected area in Southeast Asia Region a total area of 2.5 million hectares. It become UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 1999.

How to get there
It is accessible by air from Jayapura to Wamena and Timika.




Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra

The total area of this serial site is 2, 595, 124 hectares comprising Gynung Leuser National Park , Kerinci Sablat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan national Park. The park is a home for one of the key mammals of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage Parks is the Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae in addition, some other 174 mammels and 380 birds. It become World Heritage Site in 2004 as Natural Sites list.



Ref:-
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Wikipedia
- Indonesia Tourism
- Komodo National Park Officials
- Virtual Tourist
- Yahoo Travel
- Ujung Kulon Travel
- Central Java Tourism
- Indopecific Tourism
- the Encyclopedia of Earth
- Indoneisa Expedition

Photos:-
- Filckr

- Google
- Travelblog

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Seminar explores trade and tourism ties with Indonesia



By Zaw Win Than

INDONESIA and Myanmar are sister countries that should develop their
trade, cultural and economic links - that was the message from a
seminar on trade and tourism between Indonesia and Myanmar held on
June 23.

The seminar, held at Yangon's Traders Hotel, discussed further
enhancing trade, commercial relations and tourism cooperation between
the two countries - which could even lead to "twinning" Bagan with the
famous Buddhist site of Borobudur, with eventual direct air links.

"When you look at how small the volume of trade and tourism is between
the two countries, I think it's time to discuss how to improve the
situation," said Indonesia's ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Sebastianus
Sumarsono.

"There is no direct banking or transportation link, something that
could create multiplier effects to our mutual benefit on the lives of
our two peoples. By conducting this economic seminar, I hope we can
exchange views on the best way to promote Indonesia-Myanmar economic
relations," Mr Sumarsono told seminar participants.

He said the two nations had a history of cooperation in politics, the
economy, socio-cultural matters and defence and security. Indonesia
considered Myanmar an independent partner, as shown by the treaty of
friendship signed in 1951, and were approaching the 60th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Indonesia had also
extended support in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

"Unfortunately, our trade volume has not reflected this good
relationship, and the number of tourist visits between our two
countries is also still very low," said Mr Sumarsono.

He added that trade between the two countries was steadily gathering
momentum, citing an increase in person-to-person contacts between
Myanmar and Indonesian businessmen, with the encouragement of both
governments.

According to official statistics, the volume of bilateral trade
between the two countries has been increasing since 2005-2006. U Thein
Myint Wai, assistant director in the directorate of trade in the
Ministry of Commerce, said Indonesia's exports to Myanmar during
2008-2009 amounted to US$210.34 million, while its imports from
Myanmar were valued at about $28.35 million.

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, the total foreign
investment in Myanmar as of March 31, 2009, amounted to more than $15
billion, of which Indonesia provided $241.497 million with 12
permitted enterprises. That is 1.54pc of the total foreign investment
in Myanmar, putting Indonesia in ninth place.

"There is no cooperation on a bilateral basis in the trade sector
between the two countries, and no agreement between Indonesia and
Myanmar for the promotion of trade. But both countries are cooperating
within ASEAN," said U Thein Myint Wai.

U Maung Maung Lay, secretary general of the Union of Myanmar Chambers
of Commerce and Industry, said Indonesian investment in Myanmar had
increased since a joint trade committee was formed in 2007 to improve
bilateral trade.

"Indonesia may rank ninth in foreign investment now, but soon I hope
it will be first," he said.
The prospects for tourism between the two countries was discussed by
Dr Sapta Nirwandar of Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and
by U Htay Aung, head of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism of
Myanmar. Of the more than six million foreign tourists that go to
Indonesia every year, only about 2500 are from Myanmar.

"Although arrangements for tourism cooperation between Myanmar and
Indonesia haven't been signed yet, the two countries have friendly
cooperation in tourism," he said.
In order to deepen that cooperation, both countries will jointly
promote Bali-Ngapali-Ngwe Saung as tourist destinations, promote the
famous Buddhism sites Borobudur in Indonesia and Bagan as sister
cities, operate direct air links between two countries, and take other
joint measures.

Myanmar has already taken the lead on a project to promote Buddhist
pilgrimage tours among ASEAN member states and India. U Htay Aung said
the exchange of familiarisation visits between the two countries could
also help promote tourism in both.
He said to promote Borobudur and Bagan as sister cities, the
establishment of an airline link between the two countries would be
significant.

"Direct flights can't start immediately because the number of tourists
is still too low," he told The Myanmar Times, adding that a visa on
arrival system for Buddhist pilgrims arriving by charter flight could
be considered.

"Bagan is one of the world's most amazing heritage sites," Dr
Nirwandar said. "We plan to promote our Borobudur and Bagan as sister
cities to promote pilgrimage tourism, friendship and cooperation
between the two countries."

Photos:
- Zaw Win Than
- Google

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Apologies


Although the H1N1, world's financial crisis and some other critical factors are seriously threatening to the global tourism, I was busy with various tasks and responsibilities in these days. I am the one who always happy to be busy all the time in fact. People nowadays are hanger for information and knowledge and usually on their own ways to find out for those.

By other means (actually a practical mean) of seeking these information and knowledge are traveling to their interested destinations no matter they are busy or in their constraints. Whenever they have time and disposable money, they eagerly start to think for a trip perhaps more than one.

Malaysia's off-season is over and we from tourism industry people are started to be sank in the sea of daily tasks plus extras if the works are not in good order. Since I joined in this travel industry last over a decade ago, I have being happy to work with.

The reason is I really love to travel. I always try to travel even a short visit to a new or even a repeated place. If the chances (time and disposal money) are not favor me, obviously I would not be able to do so. But according to the nature of business, I am arranging trips for people. At least I am traveling everyday to the various destinations.. with my imagination..

I was busy and until now.. that is the reason why I could not continue the posts especially "The Best of Southeast Asia by UNESCO" which I expected to. It would resume back as soon as it is ready..

Apologies to everyone who visits to this blog where is no new post :)


Photos from Google

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