Aceh (part 6)

Saman
"Saman" the most popular dance in Acheh and the dance that has become well-known abroad with the name "Thousand hands". It has its origin from the Alas ethnic group and is normally performed to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. and other important occasions. Eight to twenty male performers kneel in a row on the floor and make different kinds of torso movements accompanied by songs, clapping hands, slapping chests, slapping hands on the floor, etc. The songs are praises to Allah or prayers. The dance starts with slow movements and increases its tempo gradually to great speed and finally come to a sudden stop. There are many different regional versions of "Saman"
' Saman Inong '
Meuseukat
"Meusekat" is almost the same as "Saman". The only difference is that "Meusekat" is performed by women and originates in west and south Acheh.
Pho
The word "pho" derives from "pheubae po". "Peubae" means weeping and "po " is an honorable indicator. The dance was developed from the old dance "bineuh" and originated in the 16th century in south Acheh. It was beginning performed at the death of Sultan or noble man as an expression of loss and sadness. Over the years it started to appear in the "manoe pucok" ceremony ("bathe" and "new bud" respectively) in the days before a wedding when the bride is bathed. During this ceremony the bride is seated in full traditional attire and accompanied by her parents. After a "peusejuk" ( a cooling ceremony) the dancers appear. They led by a "syeh" who produces songs that decribes the life of the bride from birth until marriage. It is about how much the parents have done, how much they have spent on her and how they have taken care of her. Now the moment of departure has come and the bride will leave her parents for a new life with her husband as wife and mother. the newlyweds are also blessed and wished a prosperous future. The songs are often so sad not only the bride and parents, but also the participans, sob togeter.
Laweut
"Laweut" was developed in early days of Islam in the Pidie area of northern Acheh and means a kind of prayer to the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. " Lawaeut" is also called "Seudati Inong" for its similarity to the "Seudati" dance and that it is performed by women, eigh of them with a "syech" ( leader). Normally it is performed in a standing position, accompanied by song and sound of snapping fingers, stepping feet, beating thighs and clapping hands from dancers
Tarek Pukat
The "Tarek pukat" dance depicts the life of the fishermen in the coastal area. This includes making nets, rowing boats, catching fish and pulling the net which actually is meaning of "Tarek Pukat". The dance is cheerful, dynamic and accompanied by songs or instruments. Each dancer has a rope and during the dance these ropes are woven into net.
Marhaban
This dance was normally only used for celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. , but due to its popularity has begun to appear also on other occasions. There are 20 performer, 10 women and 10 men, accompanied by special tambourines. The dance is often followed by prayers to the Prophet.
Rapai Geleng
"Rapai" is the name of a tambourine used to accompany songs and dances. "Rapa-ii Geleng" is a dance specially developed with this tambourine in mind. The movements are almost the same as in the "Saman" dance, but the 11 to 20 male dancers handle one tambourine each, which gives the dance a very distinct and enjoyable flavor. A song with Islamic teachings accompanies the dance.

' Rapa-ii Geleng '
Perang Sabil
"Perang Sabil" is a new creation, composed in order to commemorate the war against foreign invaders. This very dynamic dance, accompanied by music, is performed by 8 women and 8 men. The women carrying rencongs (Achehnese blade) and the men swords ("Peudeung"). The dancers describes how the rencong and Peudeung is used in a real war and the dance itself can be hurtful enough if a dancer loses his concentration.
Bines
"Bines" comes the Alas people and is developed from the folk tale "odeni maleleng". This tale tells us about the fate of young woman committing adultery and punished by her own village people with death. The mother of girl walks crying around the body of the girl, layng on leather pad. The dance describes the grief of the mother and a sad song in local language accompanies the movements.
Didong
"Didong" is most popular Gayo dance, and dance groups of 20 to 40 men and women compete in different aspects of dance, such as song, movement and voice. It can be performed at any kind of occasion.
Ul-Ula Lembing
A dance strongly influenced by Malay traditions and very popular in east Acheh. It is performed by four couple in traditional Malay attire.
Alee Tunjang
Originally a dance for the start of the harvest that despicts traditional rice milling. Performed by four couple moving beautifully to the music from "serunee kalee" . They carry "lesung" (rice mortar) and "alu" (pestle), 2 to 3 meters long.
Daboih
The famous "Daboih" is hardly a dance, but merely a show of the performers ability to withstand diffeerent kinds of sharp blades. The actors stab themselves to the special sound of tambourine "rapa-ii". The show can be rather dramatic at times. Even electric chain saws can be used ! Keep away if you have a bad hearts.
Lansir Madam
Lansir Madam is an odd remnant from colonial era and can be described as a "Dutch Square dance".

raziey

java wedding

Indonesia has many diverse cultures (an estimated number of 300 cultures and languages, among 200 million Indonesians, living on 13.677 different islands). This enormous variety in cultures has a great impact on marriage ceremonies. Every wedding in Indonesia has a different ceremony, each of them influenced by the cultures of the families involved. Every ceremony is a step in the creation of a new bound between two families.

The parents of the man (would-be-bridegroom) send an envoy to the parents of the woman (would-be-bride), proposing that their son is willing to marry their daughter. Nowadays, for practical reasons, the parents of both sides can talk directly. The parents of the couple have to approve the marriage.

Usually, the parents of the would-be-bride have a greater say, as they are the ones who will organise the ceremonies (a big wedding will require a Paés Agung (kings make-up), a small one will require a Paés Kesatrian (knight's make-up)). They are responsible for the wedding ceremonies that will be followed, such as Siraman (bathing ceremony), Midodareni (ceremony on the eve before the wedding), Peningsetan (traditional engagement ceremony), Ijab (religious marriage consecration) and other Javanese ceremonies following the wedding celebration. They will also organise the wedding reception to give family and friends the opportunity to send their blessings to the newly wed couple.

taken from: http://users.skynet.be/dvran/E_javanese.htm

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wisata pantai barat aceh

Aceh barat memiliki kawasan pantai yang paling indah di seluruh Provinsi Aceh. dan pantai ini langsung berhadapan dengan laut lepas Samudera Indonesia. Di beberapa tempat. pantainya berdinding tegak dipagari oleh bukti-bukti berhutan lebat. Pada sore hari. pantai Aceh barat menampilkan pesona yang sangat mengesankan karena merupakan daerah tempat tenggelamnya matahari.

Wisatawan yang melakukan perjalanan dari Banda Aceh ke selatan menyusuri pantai barat akan menikmati panorama pantai yang sangat indah dengan latar belakang pemandangan bukit-bukit yang ditutupi hutan. Pantai Samudera Indonesia yang berada di kawasan ini membentang dari utara ke selatan seolah tanpa pernah terputus. Menyusuri pantai barat Aceh ini mulai dari ibukota Banda Aceh berakhirnya di Singkil. kota yang terletak diujung paling selatan provinsi ini wisatawan bisa menikmati keindahan alam namun sayangnya belum di dukung infrastruktur yang baik.

Kota-kota disepanjang Pantai Barat ini adalah Calang, Meulaboh, Tapaktuan, Pulau Simeuleu, Teluk Jamin, Singkil dan Kepulauan Banyak. Ketika gempa dan tsunami menghantam Provinsi Nangroe Aceh Darussalam 26 Desember 2004 lalu kota-kota inilah yang mengalami kerusakan.

Calang adalah sebuah kota kecil yang terletak 140 Km selatan Banda Aceh dengan pantainya yang sangat bagus. Untuk menuju ke tempat ini. Anda dapat menumpang kendaraan bis umum dan Banda Aceh ke Calang-dengan waktu tempuh sekitar tiga jam.

Meulaboh berjarak 250 Km di selatan Banda Aceh yang dapat ditempuh dengan menggunakan bis umum. Dianjurkan untuk tidak berenang di pantai yang berada di de kat kota karena memiliki arus yang kuat dan berbahaya untuk tempat bermain. berenang di Meulaboh adalah di Lhok Bubon yang berada 16 Km utara
Meulaboh.

Tapaktuan terletak sekitar 200 Km di selatan Meulaboh dan merupakan kota terbesar di Aceh Selatan. Perjalanan ke Tapaktuan dari Banda Aceh ditempuh selama 11 jam dengan menggunakan kendaraan umum, namun orang umumnya lebih suka singgah dulu di Meulaboh (6 jam) sebelum melanjutkan perjalanan lebih ke selatan lagi.

Tapaktuan dapat digunakan sebagai pangkalan (basis) untuk melakukan eksplorasi ke kawasan Kluet 45 Km selatan Tapaktuan yang merupakan bagian dari wilayah Taman Gunung Leuser. Bagi mereka yang menyukai burung maka Kluet merupakan tempat yang bagus untuk melakukan pengamatan terhadap hewan tersebut. Pantai Tu`i Lhok yang berada 18 km utara Tapaktuan merupakan pantai yang paling bagus di kawasan Tapaktuan. Di dekat pantai ini terdapat sebuah air terjun kedl dimana wisatawan dapat mencud badan setelah berenang di laut. Air terjun yang lebih besar terdapat di Pantai Air Dingin yang berada di selatan Tu`i Lhok.

Pulau Simeulu adalah pulau terpendl yang dikenal karena hasil perkebunannya yaitu eengkeh dan kelapa, selain itu tidak ada lagi yang dihasilkan dari pulau ini. Pulau yang berlokasi 150 Km dari lepas pantai Tapaktuan ini memiliki suasana yang tenang dengan penduduknya yang ramah. Untuk menuju ke pulau ini dapat menumpang kapal dari Meulaboh ke Sinabang atau pesawat udara tiga kali seminggu dari Medan via Meulaboh. Teluk Jamin adalah sebuah desa pantai yang terlerak 70 Km selatan Tapaktuan dan merupakan salah satu tempat keberangkatan untuk menuju ke Kepulauan Banyak. Untuk menuju ke tempat ini dapat menumpang bis urn urn yang banyak melewati Teluk Jamin dalam perjalan menuju ke Tapaktuan di utara dan Subulussalam dan Sidikalang di selatan.

Singkil adalah kawasan pelabuhan yang berada di mulut Sungai Alas. Sebagaimana Teluk Jamin maka Singkil merupakan pelabuhan utama bagi mereka yang akan berangkat menggunakan kapal menuju Pulau Banyak. Jika Anda ingin berangkat dengan kapal ke Pulau Banyak maka berarti Anda harus menginap di salah satu dari empat losmen yang terdapat di tempat ini yaitu: Indra Homestay, Harmonis, Purnama dan Favorit dengan tarif sekitar Rp 60.000.

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