Biography of Sung-Kyun Kim | Chapter 14:19 Part 2
6 ~ 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 |
BALI AND WEST NUSA TENGGARA
From Bali to West Nusa Tenggara
After waiting about two hours in the Ngurah Rai International Airport, finally we departed from Bali with morning flight by Wings airplane. The flight was only about 30 minutes.
We arrived in Lombok International Airport, Praya-LOP Mataram, Lombok, NTB at 09:40 Local Time. Then, we took a taxi to Novotel Hotel, Kuta Beach where the IFLA APR Council meeting was held.
IFLA APR Council Meeting
While Prof. Kim was at the meeting room with other participants, I was in a room near the inner garden, continue my work on my presentation slides for my participation on ACLA Bali Symposium would be held in Denpasar in a couple of days later. The IFLA meeting was finished about 3 pm.
flowing artistically and ended at the white sands beach. I couldn’t help jumping in such nice atmosphere to celebrate my excitement and freedom of fresh air. Prof. Kim loved my jumping. He was always excited too to capture my jumping, again and again. Owh! We were laughing together there, so happily.
We then joined with the other participants to take pictures in the inner garden, then having an early dinner with the participants at the hotel restaurant facing the beach. We can enjoy sun set view from the place. Prof. Kim took a very beautiful picture of the sun and shared it with me and posted it on his Facebook.
After the long dinner time with talk and chat among participants, we spant that night in the hotel. Two ladies, Dr. Soehartini Tinoek Sekartjakrarini from Jakarta and Prof. Nor Atiah Ismail from Malaysia shared their room with me. Prof. Ismail Ngah from Malaysia shared his room with Prof. Kim. Hmm, how kind they were.
The next day, after breakfast, we could still enjoy the fresh and artistic atmosphere in the hotel. The buildings and the landscape were designed with local ethnic style.
The 2015 IFLA APR Congress
IFLA APR councils and delegations were about to leave for Mataram City to attend the 2015 IFLA Asia Pacific Region Congress in Lombok Raya Hotel in Mataram City, West Lombok. The event was organized by ISLA/IALI under Dr. Siti Nurisjah, the President, a senior professor from IPB. She and Prof. Kim were school-mates in Univ. of Pennsylvania, US thirty years ago.
With the theme “The Future Mountain and Volcanoscape”, the 2015 IFLA APR Congress was held in conjunction with the celebration of 200 years of the largest volcanic eruption recorded in the history of modern civilization. This occurred at Mount Tambora (4.300 m) in 1815. This volcano totally created new landscapes, buried three kingdoms, killed approximately 17,000 people and produced global anomalous climate and political impacts.
I met Penny Ariesanty and Ninil. We asked someone to take pictures of us with Prof. Kim. Penny was the one who organized the event in Jakarta under SUD-FI that made me met Prof. Kim for the first time on January 20th, 2014 in a field observation of Ciliwung River bank. The activity followed with SUD forum meeting. Prof. Kim gave a lecture about river restoration plus his suggestion of solution and problem solving approach for Ciliwung river problem. At that time I found him a very grounded professor.
On that day, September 7th afternoon, we separated from the congress event and continue our travelling by ourselves. We stayed at our Bali friend’s home in Mataram for three days. In late afternoon we were walking to find a place where we can have our dinner. We bought some food material so we can cook at home too.
September 8th morning we went out and visited some places by using a rental car.
Gunungsari Traditional Market
There are several tradisional carts with horses, called Cidomo at the parking area of tha traditional market. Public transport system hadn’t been developed at that time.
Heading for Geopark Rinjani
The horizon of Lombok rural area, many paddy fields with mountain background view along the way. When almost entering the Sendang Gile waterfall area, we saw open irrigation from the mountain, the water looked so good: clean and clear.
Geopark Rinjani, Sendang Gile Waterfalls
Sendang Gile waterfall is a waterfall located in Senaru village, Bayan district, North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara province. More located in the village area Senaru, 2 kilometers from the village of Bayan. This tourism object is still in the Mount Rinjani National Park area. This is because this waterfall is the entry point for climbing towards Mount Rinjani. In addition, it turns out that the water in Sendang Gile comes from a spring on Mount Rinjani which is very cool and natural.
Senaru Village is one of 9 Villages in Bayan District in North Lombok Regency. There are 14 neighborhoods within this village area. The people seemed living in a very simple environment with local natural materials to build houses and other buildings, namely thatched roofs, walls made of woven bamboo and floors made from a mixture of clay and cow dung. However, many of them have already used information and transportation technology. There are several satellite dishes and many motorbikes.
Rinjani Mountain
Mount Rinjani is a mountain located on the island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The mountain which is the second highest volcano in Indonesia with an altitude of 3,726 m above sea level and is located at latitude 8º25 'latitude and 116º28' east longitude is a favorite mountain for Indonesian climbers because of the beauty of the landscape. This mountain is part of the Mount Rinjani National Park which has an area of around 41,330 ha and this will be proposed to increase to 76,000 ha to the west and east.
Sunny weather at that time supported our mood to be happier. The scenery looks so beautiful in the midday sun. Fresh and cool air is an inseparable part of the natural environment in this place. I was proud of the natural wealth of this country, Indonesia. My trip in Lombok with Prof. Kim was my first, and so was Prof. Kim's.
At that time we shared stories about travel experiences. Apparently my experience is very little compared to Prof. Kim He has visited at least fifty countries throughout the world. In Indonesia too, he had visited many cities and regencies. I said that I had never been abroad. He said he would make me visit his country, South Korea. And if you've ever been to South Korea, then you seem to have visited many places in the world. My country is the best. Believe me, he said.
Local Ethnic Bride
Coincidentally, we went through a crowd which turned out to be a group of people with Sasak traditional wedding couple. Prof. Kim is very interested and wants to take some photos.
I asked the driver to stop and park the car on the side of the road. Prof. Kim hurried out to approach the bridal group which was moving against the direction of our journey. I followed Prof. Kim There are many photos he took, including photos of traditional music players included in this procession.
We continue the journey to Pura Meru after stopping to have our late lunch. Our driver joined us to eat together.
Pura Meru, a Hindu Great Temple
At that time, the sun was down and soon it will set. The color of the evening sky looks very harmonious with the color of this temple building. And as usual, we took pictures each other as well as taking photos of buildings and surrounding scenes. When taking a photo of Prof. Kim, I see how he looked very harmonious with the colors of the buildings in this place. He looked like a complex element of this temple. Happiness radiates from his nice smile.
On the left side, to the west of this temple there is a mosque. The evening prayer call sounded. Prof. Kim then took a photo to the place from where the call to prayer came. He said, the view of the sunset was very good there.
We went home while we were in downtown Mataram after stopping by a shop to buy instant coffee. We did not manage to buy beer in this city.
September 9th after breakfast, we saw Lovie's brother Nyoman Budayana, we called him Manudak, praying in the backyard pelinggih. We waited until he finished, and said good-bye after expressing our gratitude that we had been given a place to stay for three nights at his house.
We walked out of the main road to intercept Cidomo who could take us to Gunungsari Market. At the market, we negotiated with an angkot driver to take us to the ferry port and stop in some traditional villages and pottery shops.
Sasak Ende Neighborhood, Lombok
This is one of the neighborhood in Sasak Village. In accordance with the name of this village, this area is dominated by ethnic Sasak.
Prof. Kim without hesitation entered the middle of this settlement and took lots of pictures. He looked so excited as usual when in the middle of nature with a camera in his hand.
Sasak Sade Neighborhood, Lombok
In this neighborhood, houses and rice barns are shaped specifically from the Sasak tribe with natural materials, namely roofs of alang-alang grass and bamboo woven walls. Soil conditions looked dry. Because it rarely rains, but the trees that grow look quite strong and healthy.
We asked a local resident to take pictures of us at our last destination on the island of Lombok, NTB.
Back to Bali by Crossing the Sea
Returning to Bali from Lombok, we agreed to use sea transportation, from the last destination, we were escorted by the same angkot to the ferry port. Some ticket brokers stormed us, but according to the angkot driver's message, it's better to buy directly at the ticket window. We finally boarded the ferry according to official procedures.
We had more than four hours at sea. We took turns taking photos, we're lovers, then Prof. Kim took out his selfie stick and we took pictures together.
After taking photos of the scenery and taking pictures of us, we sat in the cabin. There weren't many passengers, so there were lots of empty seats. Prof. Kim was lying with her head on my lap. I was happy iwhenever he slept in the position on our trip. There was a mysterious affection as well as a sense of security that convinces me that my beloved is truly my soul mate.
We arrived at the port of Padang Bai, Karangasem Regency, Eastern Bali around 6:30 pm. We enjoyed sunset just before we arrived at Bali island.
Struggle for Transporting Ourselves in Bali
From Padang Bai Harbor, we use a commercial bus bound for the Ubung bus terminal in Denpasar City. The transportation system in Bali is very poor. We waited for hours at the terminal because the bus driver waited until the bus was full of passengers. Finally the bus moved to Tabanan at almost midnight.
We arrived at Megati Village outer road at about 2 am. Tuadi's parents took us on their motorbikes, to enter the village, to our house where the kids were waiting for us.
Megati, Hindu Village in Tabanan Regency, Bali
When we arrived at our small house where my kids and I lived, we did not go to sleep immediately. We ate some snacks, drank hot tea and watched a Korean film video that Aisya downloaded. The film was a comedy drama about three generations, we laughed together.
The next day, I was cooking our breakfast while Prof. Kim was photographing Ancha my son. He said Ancha was really a good boy. He told me, "Ancha can make a kite by himself, the boy likes playing a kite, he even can communicate and negotiate with the wind!"
By noon, me, Ancha and Prof. Kim walked to the outer of village street that sold local culinary. We ate pecel ayam, and bought a portion for Aisya who didn't want to come together. On the way out and into this village, Prof. Kim photographed a lot of landscapes, flowers, trees and houses as well as pelinggih (family temple) of some extended-family compounds.
In the late afternoon we were picked up by Univ students. Udayana who was involved in the ACLA Symposium committee. We stopped by for dinner before arriving at our accommodation room at Puri Ayu Hotel, Denpasar.
ACLA Symposium Day 1, on Sep 11th
The theme of Bali ACLA 2015 International Symposium was Agricultural Landscapes of Asia: learning, preserving, and redefining. It was held in Puri Agung Pemecutan Room, Puri Ayu Hotel, Denpasar.
The opening ceremony performed a Bali dance, followed by three welcoming speech, by Prof. I Nyoman RAI, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University; Prof. Sung-Kyun KIM, President of ACLA; Prof.Dr.dr. Ketut Suastika, Rector of Udayana University.
Dear Friends of ACLA.
It is my great pleasure to meet our ACLA members here.
On behalf of ACLA, I am pleased to welcome all of you to 2015 ACLA International Symposium at Udayana University.
ACLA is an international non-profit organization devoted to understanding the Asian cultural landscapes from an Asian point of view, and conserving and developing the Asian cultural landscape through sharing of knowledge and international collaboration. through sharing of knowledge and international collaboration…
Ended with…
Your participation in the planned meetings and activities is critical to the success of the Bali Symposium in this year. I certainly believe that the Symposium will bear fruitful results and lay firm groundwork for the future development of the ACLA.
Thank you very much.
There were three keynote speeches of the Day 1, by Prof. Heiko Faust (University of Goettingen, Germany); Dr. Suryo Adiwibowo (Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia); and Prof. Sung Kyun KIM (Seoul National University, Korea). The moderator was Dr. Ayu Suartika.
In Section I: Learning 1, I moderated the forum, facilitating three speakers: Balqis Nailufar, from Indonesia, Chetsadaphong Lertvilairut from Thailand, and Tomomi Maekawa from Japan.
Section II: Learning 2, the moderator was Naniek Kohdrata. Section III: Redefining 1, the moderator was I Putu Sudiarta, Ph.D.
I presented my paper with PPt slides. My presentation was The Real Subak – Integrated Organic Farming as Tri Hita Karana Manifesto Show Case: Subak Blongyang, Megati Village, East Selemadeg District, Region of Tabanan. There were three questions to my presentation. I saw Prof. Kim took some pictures of me.
Welcome Dinner
In the evening of Day 1, we had a welcome dinner in the hotel. Some of participants sang a song, among others, Dr, Vipul from India. She sang an Indian song very nicely. Then finally we sang a song together.
ACLA Symposium Day 2, on Sep 12th
There were three keynote speeches of the Day 1, by Prof. Shozo Shibata (Kyoto University, Japan); Prof. I Wayan Windia (Udayana University, Indonesia) and Prof. Rana PB Singh (Banaras Hindu University, India). Section II: Redefining 2, moderated by Dr. Ayu Suartika; Section I: Preserving 1, moderated by I Putu Sudiarta Ph.D, and Section I: Preserving 2, moderated by Naniek Kohdrata.
In the Closing Ceremony, I remember again the points of Prof. Sung-Kyun Kim’s Keynote speech were as follows:
1.We need to see Asian cultural landscape through Asian point of view;
2.Cultural diversity is as important as bio-diversity. We have to preserve diversity of Asian cultural landscape;
3.Asian cultural landscape have been sustainable. Goal of studying cultural landscape in Asia is not only to preserve cultural landscapes well but also to look for solutions for sustainable future Asian landscape;
4.We need a forum to work on these issues.
That’s why we continue with the next ACLA preparation. We agreed that next one would be held in Lampang, Thailand by Prof. Suparp Tajai.
Foto session took some minutes before we were preparing to go out together by bus.
Site Visit and Farewell Dinner
From the hotel our buses moved to southern part of Bali. We went to Jimbaran area. We visited GWK, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, the Cultural Bali Park.
Prof. Kim took so many pictures, as usual. And again, we took turns to take pictures of our lover. I took him and he took me. He taught me how to take pictures well. He said that I have to consider the background, the surroundings, and the main object as one unity. He gave an example by taking me with purple flowers as my background. Yes, I learned much from him, many things.
From GWK, we all by buses visited the famous culinary area, Seafood in Jimbaran Beach. While waiting our foods we ordered we can enjoy sunset. There are some Bali dance performance at the stage too. Happiness were in the air we breathed together. All of us were enjoying the farewell dinner party at the beach, at Blue Ocean Seafood, Kedonganan Beach Restaurant.
ACLA Symposium Sites Visits, on Sep 13th
Pura Luhur Batukaru
Luhur Batukaru Temple is a temple as a place of worshiping God as a Supreme God. Because of its function to worship God as a God who grows plants by using water properly, then in Pura Luhur Batukaru is referred to as worshiping God as Queen Hyang Tumuwuh - the term God as the one who grows. Luhur Batukaru Temple is located in Wongaya Gede Village, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency. The location of this temple is located on the western part of the island of Bali on the southern slope of Mount Batukaru.
In this place, Prof. Kim and some of us entered into the most sacred inner garden and the main water temple. We can come in by using a sarong and purple belt. Temple of Balinese Subak system, Pura Ruhur Batukau. Water for terraced rice fields starts from here.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih rice fields in the highland village namesake in West Bali are most famous for their dramatic and exotic scenery. The cool plateau and stunning views of this village at the foot of Mount Batukaru.
Jatiluwih rice fields consisted of more than 600 hectares of rice fields following the topography flowing from the Batukaru mountains. It is managed by a traditional water management cooperative known as Subak, dating from the 9th century. The cooperative itself finally gained recognition as a dominant factor in the entry of Bali's 'cultural landscape' in the list of heritage.
Prof. Kim and I walked around the main area on a longer tracking route than other friends did, because he wanted to take more pictures, so we arrived at the place to eat rather late.
Lunch, then visit the Coffee (Medium Scale) Industry
We got our lunch in the area of Jatiluwih rice terraces. The foods and beverages were so delicious. The whole atmosphere was perfect!
We then moved by our buses to a coffee medium scale industry. The industry has their own coffee plantation, luwak, manual processing place, open sitting space for testing many kinds of coffee flavors and tastes, and attractive shop.
Taman Ayun temple
Taman Ayun Temple is a Paibon / Pedarman King Mengwi Temple to worship the ancestral spirits of the kings which is realized by the construction of a Paibon gedong, and also built meru-meru for worship and worship to the Gods for the people of the kingdom of Mengwi in asking for prosperity. Taman Ayun Temple is located in Mengwi district, Badung regency, Bali province, Indonesia. This Taman Ayun Temple is historical a relic of the Mengwi kingdom.
Being a Couple by Bali Sacred Belief
The plan to be a Bali couple was firstly inspired by Prof. Ni Luh Kartini the founder of BOA, Bali Organic Association where I learned and worked as Subak facilitator for the local farmers in Tabanan.
When I told Prof. Kim a couple of weeks before he came back to Bali, he agreed. So I told Prof. Kartini to prepare the simplest one. We scheduled it at the time after ACLA Bali Symposium finished, before Prof. Kim flew back home to Korea.
We arrived at BOA office at about 6:20 pm by taxi from Pura Ayu Hotel. The wedding processing started five minutes later. The ritual lead and facilitated by a Mangku, and witnessed by the office boy and the driver of BOA. Prof. Kim looked so excited. He whispered, “Nita, I love this moment, thank you, Honey.”
So, in our history, there was a very sacred and magical moment, just in 15 minutes, we were in a simplest Bali Wedding Procession to be a true couple tangibly and intangibly.
Since September 13th, 2015 at 6:40 pm we have been an eternal couple by the Universe confirmation. We shall never be separable anymore. Our Love is endless. Ours is not a happy ending story but a never ending Love history.
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