Hand embroidery by Pakistani women

Women in rural areas of Pakistan have admirable hand embroidery skills. The quality of their work is excellent, but unfortunately they have to sell their work on very low prices, as these women are not aware of the market rates in big cities. These women work hard and help their men, to make an increase in the income as to support their family. Women in our villages also not get proper information about the trends and designs of the clothes exhibited in urban areas of the country, but still the Multani, Sindhi, Balochi etc embroidered clothes are famous among women and young girls of Pakistan.

Trendy colours for this summer

In summer girls choose soft, cool and light colours, for the derss like shalwar kameez. The choice of colours for the dresses is according to the weather, and as the summer is intense in Pakistan, the dresses made are of colours which absorb less heat and have soothing effect on the eyes. All the light and soft colours are in trend for this year summer in Pakistan. New arrivals of elegant printed lawn and cotton fabric in beautiful combinations of various colours are available in the markets these days.

Hot summer in Pakistan

People of Pakistan used to enjoy the moderate weather just a few years ago. Global warming has now changed the climate not only in Pakistan, but throughout the world. This year the intense heat wave has hit Sindh and its surrounding locations, setting the hottest temprature in the history of South Asia. The extremely hot weather also kills a number of people in different parts of the country. The worst case scenario in the coutry is that the people have to face electricity load shedding for many hours. This situation has now become unacceptable and unbearable for the people of Pakistan. Pakistani girls are also suffering in this agonizing situation. The schools and colleges are closed for summer holidays these days. Girls are trying to relax at their houses.

Luyties Monument, Bellefonatine Cemetery

This is most likely the grave of Dr. Herman Luyties, the pioneer of homeopathic treatments for aches and pains. His company still survives. On the day we visited, the protective covering over the statue had fogged over, leaving the woman's sculpture inside shrouded in a surreal mist. The Grave Hunter has some additional information on the statue here.

Cahokia Mounds

I visited Cahokia Mounds last week, and was impressed again at what a stunning site it is. In particular, the pictures of what the site looked like originally caught my eye.

I think a lot of people forget that the largest city in America in Pre-Columbian times was right across the river from St. Louis.

Just like in St. Louis, some of the mounds were hauled away for fill, which was the case with the second largest mound at Cahokia, seen above.

it's actually very hard to capture Cahokia in photographs, as the site is universally green, except for one house right in the middle of the site.

Monk' Mound is truly impressive, and larger at the base than the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt, so they say.

Looking out on a hazy day towards St. Louis, it's amazing to see the contrast of two cultures, separated by a millennium. St. Louis would be wise to better market Cahokia as one of the premier archeological sites in the world. Other than New York and Philadelphia, which possess one UNESCO World Heritage site each in their city boundaries, no other American city has the distinction of having a UNESCO site so close to it.

Underwater Cities, Ruins and Other Urban Archeology: 7 Submerged Wonders of the World

of human civilization.

(Check out our complete collection of Underwater and Oceanic Oddities.)

Alexandria, Egypt: Off the shores of Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great, lie what are believed to be the ruins of the royal quarters of Cleopatra. It is believed that earthquakes over 1,500 years ago were responsible for casting this into the sea, along with artifacts, statues and other parts of Cleopatra’s palace. The city of Alexandria even plans to offer underwater tours of this wonder.

Bay of Cambay, India: A few years back discovered the remains of a vast 9,500 year old city. This submerged ruin has intact architecture and human remains. More significantly, this find predates all finds in the area by over 5,000 years, forcing historians to reevaluate their understanding of the history of civilazation in the region. The find has been termed Dwarka, or the ‘Golden City,’ after an ancient city-in-the sea said to belong to the Hindu god Krishna.

Kwan Phayao, Thailand: In itself perhaps not unusual, a 500 year old Thai temple sits at the bottom of lake Phayao. What makes this case strange is that the lake was actually made intentionally about 70 years ago, and that there has been recent discussion of potentially restoring the temple at the cost of billions of dollars. However, the ruins serve as a habitat for fish that many have argued should remain untouched.

Yonaguni-Jima, Japan: Discovered by a dive tour guide some twenty years ago, controversies have arisen around a mysterious pyramids found off the coast of Japan. These structures seem to have been carved right out of bedrock in a teraforming process using tools previously thought unavailable to ancient cultures of the region.

Havana, Cuba: A team of scientists continues to explore megalithic ruins found in the Yucatan Channel near Cuba. They have found evidence of an extensive urban environment stretching for miles along the ocean shore. Some believe that the civilization that inhabited these predates all known ancient American cultures. So far, only computer models of this mysterious underwater city exist.

North Sea, Europe: A lost natural landscape was found recently under the North Sea, once occupied by human hunter-gatherers over 10,000 years ago. What were once rivers, lakes and oceans are now all at the bottom of the sea, only made known through digital mapping. Scientists theorize that this amazingly well-preserved landscape was at the heart of an ancient civilization spread across Europe.

Atlantis, Antarctica? Over a hundred years ago, a museum curator in Istanbul made a remarkable discovery. Examining an ancient map on gazelle skin, he found a location marking a mountain chain where Antarctica is today. This map is, amazingly, one of many pieces of evidence people have used to try and claim that, in fact, Antarctica is the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. Other evidence includes the recent discovery (via sonar technology) of land under Antarctica as well as the mapping systems used by ancient cartographers, which suggest Atlantis might have been located far from the Mediterranean Sea.

French Abandoned Metro Station and Lines

Paris, France is notorious of late-running Metro trains due to frequent worker strikes – but perhaps less well known for its numerous abandoned Metro stations. Urban explorers manage to find their ways into some of these abandoned subway tunnels while others have been converted to new uses including (appropriately enough) official homeless shelters. Some of the tunnels can even be visited privately late at night in groups led by sanctioned rail-expert tour guides.

Polish Abandoned Chemical Factory Complex

Warsaw, Poland has had a long and trying history of war and strife. It is perhaps no wonder that even in the heart of a relatively prosperous Polish city one can still find a vast abandoned factory complex. This series of deserted structures began as an electric lamp production facility in the 1920s before being converted to construct radios for submarines by the Germans during World War II. It reverted to its old function after the war but was poorly managed and eventually abandoned altogether, with remnant containers of chemicals and other assorted scientific equipment left behind as a testament to its earlier uses.

Finnish Abandoned Match Factory

Tempere, Finland is one of many places that saw considerable growth and prosperity during the industrial revolution. With a thriving Finnish timber industry came the matchstick factory featured above. Built between world wars, the factory was in continuous use until the mid-1970s at which point it switched industries with the times, become (among other things) an automobile plant for a period of time. Since being entirely abandoned the main building and surrounding structures have become hangouts for local teens as evidenced in the images above.

English Abandoned Water Pumping Station

Ryhope, England is home to an abandoned water pumping station that almost seems like a retrofuturistic structure straight out of a cyberpunk novel. This deserted structure is a monument to the Victorian era of industrialization, dating back to the middle of the 19th Century. It was an important step in the modernization of clean water distribution in an era where urban densification and disease went hand in hand. Though the station is no longer in active use all of the machinery still works, a true testament to the capabilities of Victorian English engineers.

Danish Deserted Refrigeration Factory Complex

Copenhagen, Denmark has developed a rich tradition of industrial production in part due to its geography. Flanked on virtually all sides by water, it is no wonder this country has spawned many facilities like the refrigeration factory featured above. These pictures show the internal story of desertion, fire and other internal tales as well as the future plans for redevelopment on the site. Adjacent condos (shown in the last image) represent the likely direction of this abandoned property as waterfront real estate continues to replace old industrial uses.

Belgian Beautiful Castle and Cathedral

Mesen, Belgium is the smallest town in Belgium with fewer than 1,000 residents. However, it is the home of one of the most beautiful abandoned castles one could imagine, built, rebuilt, modified and expanded from the 1500s onward. This gorgeous structure evolved from a defensive fortress to a boarding school over time before being abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. It has has decayed by natural means with very little outside interference or vandalism and conjures picturesque images of beautiful deserted buildings. Nonetheless, it is under threat of destruction. It seems that only in Europe, where such buildings are more abundant, could such a lovely structure be considered common enough to not necessarily warrant rehabilitation.

German Military and Hospital Complex

Berlin, Germany has been at the center of European history in many regards, most recently as the divided core of Germany before East and West reunification. This abandoned complex located in Beelitz (just outside of Berlin) dates back to the 19th century and was used by the Germans as a military hospital through the second World War. From the 1940s on it was continuously occupied and used as a military hospital by the Russians complete with a surgery, psychiatric ward and rifle range before being abandoned in the 1990s. During its years of operation, famous (or infamous) patients included Adolf Hitler and former East German leader Erich Honecker.

i feel i need to express my feelings SOMEwhere.

okay so. tomorrow morning it will be 7 days since you, sammy (because he can read) will have been missing.
I've cried to no end every. single. day. until my head feels like it wants to explode.
i've walked around all the neighbourhoods by national school down till the bridge behind the houses calling until my voice has hurt.
Your toys are still lying around, unused, your water cup is still in my room, untouched since the day you left, i leave the windows open every night in case you come back, your favourite treats are still in my drawer waiting for you..
i'm so scared and have a panic attack every other hour because i'm so worried
i am
losing
my
mind

please god please return sammy back home to me
he is my best buddy and little furry son
my brave lion, the thing i miss most and associate with HOME

T_T
i can't even continue to type because i will cry again and my head really cannot tahan anymore
i miss you chammy cham..



p.s. Another consequence of this male cat behavior is that Tom can easily become lost. In the excitement of the expedition he takes no notice whatever of the route he took and can find himself bewildered as to where he is when the night of passion is over.

Tatto Bibir yang Bikin Tampilan Makin Seksi

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INILAH.COM,Jakarta - Seni melukis tubuh atau tatto tak hanya bisa diaplikasikan di sekujur tubuh saja namun juga wajah termasuk bibir.

Bila ingin bibir Anda lebih seksi dengan warna-warna alami tanpa menggunakan lipstik, tatto bibir adalah solusinya.ini hadir beberapa inovasi-inovasi terbaru dalam seni melukis bibir yakni dengan tatto temporer atau tatto sementara.

'Violent Lips' merupakan motif yang akan membuat bibir Anda menjadi lebih playful dengan warna-warna seru dan motif-motif unik, mulai dari pola bendera sebuah negara, glitter hingga gambar hewan.

Produk tersebut tidak memiliki efek buruk untuk bibir, karena mengandung vitamin dan telah disetujui oleh Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Tato bibir tersebut bentuknya seperti tempelan kuku. Caranya dengan menempelkannya pada bibir dengan menggunakan air, hampir sama seperti Anda mengenakan temporary tattoo biasanya. Namun prosesnya sedikit rumit, sebelum ditempelkan, Anda perlu menggunting tato mengikuti bentuk bibir Anda.

Untuk melepaskannya dengan cara mudah, Anda memerlukan baby oil atau air biasa. Tapi untuk keefektifitasan, pilih baby oil karena akan melunturkan tato dengan lebih mudah.

Satu paket berisi tiga aplikasi dengan beragam pola. Mulai dari glitter, dan motif hewan, serta hadir juga 13 motif bendera kebangsaan.

'Violent Lips' bisa tahan di bibir hingga delapan jam, namun hindari makanan berminyak karena bisa melunturkan tato. 'Violent Lips' dijual dengan harga $15 dan Anda bisa mendapatkannya di Sephora.

apakah anda sudah BERBAKTI KEPADA ORANG TUA

Terdapat banyak ayat yang mendudukkan ridha orang tua setelah ridha Allah dan keutamaan berbakti kepada orang tua adalah sesudah keutamaan beriman kepada Allah. Allah berfirman yang artinya, “Dan Kami perintahkan kepada manusia untuk berbakti kepada dua orang ibu-bapanya, ibunya telah mengandungnya dalam keadaan lemah yang bertambah-tambah, dan menyapihnya dalam dua tahun. Bersyukurlah kepada-Ku dan kepada dua orang ibu bapakmu, hanya kepada-Ku lah kembalimu.” (QS. Lukman: 14). Lihat pula QS. al-Isra 23-24, an-Nisa 36, al-An’am 151, al-Ankabut 08.

Ada lima kriteria yang menunjukkan bentuk bakti seorang anak kepada kedua orang tuanya.

Pertama, tidak ada komentar yang tidak mengenakkan dikarenakan melihat atau tercium dari kedua orang tua kita sesuatu yang tidak enak. Akan tetapi memilih untuk tetap bersabar dan berharap pahala kepada Allah dengan hal tersebut, sebagaimana dulu keduanya bersabar terhadap bau-bau yang tidak enak yang muncul dari diri kita ketika kita masih kecil. Tidak ada rasa susah dan jemu terhadap orang tua sedikit pun.

Kedua, tidak menyusahkan kedua orang tua dengan ucapan yang menyakitkan.

Ketiga, mengucapkan ucapan yang lemah lembut kepada keduanya di-iringi dengan sikap sopan santun yang menunjukkan penghormatan kepada keduanya. Tidak memanggil keduanya langsung dengan namanya, tidak bersuara keras di hadapan keduanya. Tidak menajamkan pandangan kepada keduanya (melotot) akan tetapi hendaknya pandangan kita kepadanya adalah pandangan penuh kelembutan dan ketawadhuan. Allah berfirman yang artinya, “Dan rendahkanlah dirimu terhadap mereka berdua dengan penuh kesayangan dan ucapkanlah, “Wahai Tuhanku, kasihilah mereka keduanya, sebagaimana mereka berdua telah mendidik aku waktu kecil.” (QS. al-Isra: 24)

Urwah mengatakan jika kedua orang tuamu melakukan sesuatu yang menimbulkan kemarahanmu, maka janganlah engkau menajamkan pandangan kepada keduanya. Karena tanda pertama kemarahan seseorang adalah pandangan tajam yang dia tujukan kepada orang yang dia marahi.

Keempat, berdoa memohon kepada Allah agar Allah menyayangi keduanya sebagai balasan kasih sayang keduanya terhadap kita.

Kelima, bersikap tawadhu’ dan merendahkan diri kepada keduanya, dengan menaati keduanya selama tidak memerintahkan kemaksiatan kepada Allah serta sangat berkeinginan untuk memberikan apa yang diminta oleh keduanya sebagai wujud kasih sayang seorang anak kepada orang tuanya.

Perintah Allah untuk berbuat baik kepada orang tua itu bersifat umum, mencakup hal-hal yang disukai oleh anak ataupun hal-hal yang tidak disukai oleh anak. Bahkan sampai-sampai Al-Qur’an memberi wasiat kepada para anak agar berbakti kepada kedua orang tuanya meskipun mereka adalah orang-orang yang kafir.

“Dan jika keduanya memaksamu untuk mempersekutukan dengan Aku sesuatu yang tidak ada pengetahuanmu tentang itu, maka janganlah kamu mengikuti keduanya, dan pergauilah keduanya di dunia dengan baik, dan ikutilah jalan orang yang kembali kepada-Ku, kemudian hanya kepada-Ku lah kembalimu, maka Kuberitakan kepadamu apa yang telah kamu kerjakan.” (QS. Lukman: 15)

Syarat Menjadi Anak Berbakti

Ada tiga persyaratan yang harus dipenuhi, agar seorang anak bisa disebut sebagai anak yang berbakti kepada kedua orang tuanya:

Satu, lebih mengutamakan ridha dan kesenangan kedua orang tua daripada ridha diri sendiri, isteri, anak, dan seluruh manusia.

Dua, menaati orang tua dalam semua apa yang mereka perintahkan dan mereka larang baik sesuai dengan keinginan anak ataupun tidak sesuai dengan keinginan anak. Selama keduanya tidak memerintahkan untuk kemaksiatan kepada Allah.

Tiga, memberikan untuk kedua orang tua kita segala sesuatu yang kita ketahui bahwa hal tersebut disukai oleh keduanya sebelum keduanya meminta hal itu. Hal ini kita lakukan dengan penuh kerelaan dan kegembiraan dan selalu di-iringi dengan kesadaran bahwa kita belum berbuat apa-apa meskipun seorang anak itu memberikan hidup dan hartanya untuk kedua orang tuanya.

ajaib MANTRA AJI SEMAR MESEM

* Mantra aji Semar mesem ini termasuk aji pengasihan yang sangat langka, di mana bila wanita terkena mantra aji ini akan sulit disembuhkan . Perlu di ingat mantra aji ini jangan di buat sembarangan , melainkan untuk kebaikan atau benar – benar wanita tersebut niat akan di kawini .
= BACAAN MANTRA AJI SEMAR MESEM ADALAH sbb :
” Ingsun amatak ajiku si semar mesem , mutmutaku inten , cahyane manjing ono pilinganku kiwo tengen , sing nyawang kegiwang , opo maneh yen sing nyawang kang tumancep kumanthil inh telenging sanubariku , yo iku si jabang bayi . . . . .( sebut nama wanita yang dimaksud ) , wis temtu welas asih marang badhan sliraku , saking kersaning allah ” .
= CARA MENGAMALKANNYA :
Puasa mutih 7 hari 7 malam dan patigeni sehari semalam , mulai puasa pada hari selasa kliwon , mantra aji dibaca ketika akan tidur , seraya membayangkan wajah wanita yang di maksud

Watak Budaya Sunda anu ka sohor ti jaman baheula nepike jaman harita

Sunda berasal dari kata Su = Bagus/ Baik, segala sesuatu yang mengandung unsur kebaikan, orang Sunda diyakini memiliki etos/ watak/ karakter Kasundaan sebagai jalan menuju keutamaan hidup. Watak / karakter Sunda yang dimaksud adalah cageur (sehat), bageur (baik), bener (benar), singer (mawas diri), dan pinter (pandai/ cerdas) yang sudah dijalankan sejak jaman Salaka Nagara sampai ke Pakuan Pajajaran, telah membawa kemakmuran dan kesejahteraan lebih dari 1000 tahun.

Sunda merupakan kebudayaan masyarakat yang tinggal di wilayah barat pulau Jawa namun dengan berjalannya waktu telah tersebar ke berbagai penjuru dunia. Sebagai suatu suku, bangsa Sunda merupakan cikal bakal berdirinya peradaban di Nusantara, di mulai dengan berdirinya kerajaan tertua di Indonesia, yakni Kerajaan Salakanagara dan Tarumanegara. Bahkan menurut Stephen Openheimer dalam bukunya berjudul Sundaland, Tatar Sunda/ Paparan Sunda (Sundaland) merupakan pusat peradaban di dunia. Sejak dari awal hingga kini, budaya Sunda terbentuk sebagai satu budaya luhur di Indonesia. Namun, modernisasi dan masuknya budaya luar lambat laun mengikis keluhuran budaya Sunda, yang membentuk etos dan watak manusia Sunda.

Makna kata Sunda sangat luhur, yakni cahaya, cemerlang, putih, atau bersih. Makna kata Sunda itu tidak hanya ditampilkan dalam penampilan, tapi juga didalami dalam hati. Karena itu, orang Sunda yang 'nyunda' perlu memiliki hati yang luhur pula. Itulah yang perlu dipahami bila mencintai, sekaligus bangga terhadap budaya Sunda yang dimilikinya.

Setiap bangsa memiliki etos, kultur, dan budaya yang berbeda. Namun tidaklah heran jika ada bangsa yang berhasrat menanamkan etos budayanya kepada bangsa lain. Karena beranggapan, bahwa etos dan kultur budaya memiliki kelebihan. Kecenderungan ini terlihat pada etos dan kultur budaya bangsa kita, karena dalam beberapa dekade telah terimbas oleh budaya bangsa lain. Arus modernisasi menggempur budaya nasional yang menjadi jati diri bangsa. Budaya nasional kini terlihat sangat kuno, bahkan ada generasi muda yang malu mempelajarinya. Kemampuan menguasai kesenian tradisional dianggap tak bermanfaat. Rasa bangsa kian terkikis, karena budaya bangsa lain lebih terlihat menyilaukan. Kondisi memprihatinkan ini juga terjadi pada budaya Sunda, sehingga orang Sunda kehilangan jati dirinya.

Untuk menghadapi keterpurukan kebudayaan Sunda, ada baiknya kita melangkah ke belakang dulu. Mempelajari, dan mengumpulkan pasir mutiara yang berserakan selama ini. Banyak petuah bijak dan khazanah ucapan nenek moyang jadi berkarat, akibat tidak pernah tersentuh pemiliknya. Hal ini disebabkan keengganan untuk mempelajari dengan seksama, bahkan mereka beranggapan ketinggalan zaman. Bila dipelajari, sebenarnya pancaran etika moral Sunda memiliki khazanah hikmah yang luar biasa. Hal itu terproyeksikan lewat tradisinya. Karena itu, marilah kita kenali kembali, dan menguak beberapa butir peninggalan nenek moyang Sunda yang hampir.

Ada beberapa etos atau watak dalam budaya Sunda tentang satu jalan menuju keutamaan hidup. Selain itu, etos dan watak Sunda juga dapat menjadi bekal keselamatan dalam mengarungi kehidupan di dunia ini. Etos dan watak Sunda itu ada lima, yakni cageur, bageur, bener, singer, dan pinter yang sudah lahir sekitar jaman Salakanagara dan Tarumanagara. Ada bentuk lain ucapan sesepuh Sunda yang lahir pada abad tersebut. Lima kata itu diyakini mampu menghadapi keterpurukan akibat penjajahan pada zaman itu. Coba kita resapi pelita kehidupan lewat lima kata itu. Semua ini sebagai dasar utama urang Sunda yang hidupnya harus 'nyunda', termasuk para pemimpin bangsa.

Cara meresapinya dengan memahami artinya. Cageur, yakni harus sehat jasmani dan rohani, sehat berpikir, sehat berpendapat, sehat lahir dan batin, sehat moral, sehat berbuat dan bertindak, sehat berprasangka atau menjauhkan sifat suudzonisme. Bageur yaitu baik hati, sayang kepada sesama, banyak memberi pendapat dan kaidah moril terpuji ataupun materi, tidak pelit, tidak emosional, baik hati, penolong dan ikhlas menjalankan serta mengamalkan, bukan hanya dibaca atau diucapkan saja. Bener yaitu tidak bohong, tidak asal-asalan dalam mengerjakan tugas pekerjaan, amanah, lurus menjalankan agama, benar dalam memimpin, berdagang, tidak memalsu atau mengurangi timbangan, dan tidak merusak alam. Singer, yaitu penuh mawas diri bukan was-was, mengerti pada setiap tugas, mendahulukan orang lain sebelum pribadi, pandai menghargai pendapat yang lain, penuh kasih sayang, tidak cepat marah jika dikritik tetapi diresapi makna esensinya. Pinter, yaitu pandai ilmu dunia dan akhirat, mengerti ilmu agama sampai ke dasarnya, luas jangkauan ilmu dunia dan akhirat walau berbeda keyakinan, pandai menyesuaikan diri dengan sesama, pandai mengemukakan dan membereskan masalah pelik dengan bijaksana, dan tidak merasa pintar sendiri sambil menyudutkan orang lain.

The Flavors of Betawi Cuisine

Betawi (Batavian) men are generally picky eaters. They can distinguish flavors and do not like fast food. As a result, the women are required to be great cooks in the kitchen, for many generations.

In the old days, the infiltration of Chinese, Arab, and India cultures received warm welcome in Betawi community because of similar tastes they share, which use various spices. An exception is the alligator bread, which was originally made using cassava. The arrival of Europeans had helped introduce the bread, and now the recipe has been modified so it is easier to make.

“Still, the main theme of Betawi food is that we can even taste the aroma. Besides, it is usually braised or cooked in herbed broth with coconut milk,” said Ridwan Saidi, a cultural figure, while having a nostalgic meal of his hometown.

However, the transformation of Jakarta’s appearance as a consequence of rapid development, incoming streams of urban population, and the complexity to manage them, have all marginalized the typical Betawi menu. More Betawi women are complaining when it comes to cooking traditional food. Maslah (45) and Supeni (53), for instance, whined when they had to make geplak, cookies made of rice flour, sugar and coconut, although the recipe is fairly easy to make. These cookies are often served in celebrations.

“But it is hard to make them. We should mix the ingredients instantly after we roast them, while the batter is still hot. If we wait any longer, then it would be burak, it would not stick,” Maslah explained.

Bakers of dodol betawi, or sweet sticky cake, do face the same problem. You need to be extra patient to mix the dough in a huge crock for hours. But this sweet confectionery has a better fate. You can always find dodol makers in many Betawi communities. Let’s say Dodol Mak Ai at Setu Babakan in South Jakarta, Dodol Bu Mamas in Condet, East Jakarta, or Dodol Tiga Macan Rogaye in Balekambang, also in East Jakarta.

Regrettably, most Betawi natives under 30 are not familiar even with the names of some of their ancestors’ cuisine. Just ask them about sayur besan, literally “the in-laws’ dish”, they would probably reply with “What kind of food is that?” Below are two examples of the nearly extinct Betawi cuisine.

Just forget the lofty dreams that they will make it globally. What is more important is that they will not vanish without a trace. Distinct from other dishes, this menu has its own characteristic, a representation of the attitude of Betawi personality

Minahasa Woven Cloth After 200 Years

The Minahasa woven cloth disappeared 200 years ago. This had caused the Minahasa people to borrow woven fabrics from neighboring regions or batik from Java. Today, the woven fabric has returned.

The return of Minahasa woven cloth has delighted the people of the North Sulawesi. In fact, Minahasa weaving is now widely worn by celebrities. Young actress Shereen Sungkar for example. When she received the Panasonic Award for 2010 Most Popular Actress, she looked elegant wearing a green dress of Minahasa woven designed by Thomas Sigar.

Thomas Sigar, the Manadonese descent fashion designer, is the one who rediscovered the old motifs of Minahasa woven cloth. Since 2005, along with Benny J. Mamoto and Rita Mamoto of the Cultural Art Institute of North Sulawesi, Thomas initiated the revival of Minahasa woven. He conducted his research from books to the field. “In the 17th century thru the 18th, before religions entered the Minahasa, weaving skills reached the highest level,” said Thomas Sigar, who had studied at the Ecole Superieure d’Arts Graphiques and the Academie d’Arts Julien, Paris, France, in 1973-1974. He discovered from his research that the ancient weaving of Minahasa cloth is the most complex method of weaving.

Born in Jakarta on October 20, 1952, the designer said the highly difficult method of weaving and the arrival of Christian religion in the 19th century—that viewed the motifs of ancient Minahasa cloth as symbolizing paganism—have caused the disappearance of Minahasa woven fabric since 200 years ago.

Today, in this entire world, there are only seven pieces of Minahasa cloth which already aged over hundreds of years. They are stored at a museum in the Netherlands. “We can find one piece of cloth in the National Museum, but I’m afraid it is not from Minahasa but from the Philippines,” said Thomas, who has been developing Indonesian cultural heritage in the form of fashion since 1997.

Thus, it has been a long time for Minahasa people to wear fabrics that were not theirs. According to his notes, even when participating in the traditional ceremonies, the people of Minahasa used to wear a woven fabric from Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and even batik cloth from coastal Java region. Thomas also discovered photographs showing that in the kingdom days, the king wore a patala cloth from India.