Forty-two years have passed, but how can I forget? A so beautiful place, rolling hills of tea is green as emerald, sapphire-blue sky then vanished in the mist and the air is so cold. While rivers flowing clear water seemed to be directly drink without the need to be cooked on the stove fire. Multicolored flowers are always blooming –is there more beautiful than the color of flowers? Then scolds neighbors warm greetings all unpretentious and sincere friendship little girl with no interests or tendencies.
I always remember a place while still attending kindergarten, although the distance continued to stretch troubling. In 1981 I had a holiday to a memorable place it then travels farther endless. The desire for a visit to the tea plantation, similar Kaligua dream vanished when a person is awake.
Tea Plantation is a state-owned company that was originally established in 1879, when it handled Cultur Onderneming NV in the Netherlands and the Netherlands. Fan John Pletnu & Co. was appointed as the representative of Indonesia, located in Batavia --now Jakarta-- After standing tea plantations, 1889 Van De Jong managed to set up a tea factory in Kaligua, District Paguyangan, Brebes, Central Java Province. At altitudes above 1,500 meters above sea level tea tree to get the climate and soil conditions are perfect for growing. Now extends to 779 hectares of green tea gardens.
The climate in the Netherlands, so do not allow for the growth of tea plants, extreme seasonal changes are severe constraints on the side of the country is limited and does not allow open farm land with an extremely broad. While a cup of hot tea either in the morning or late in the evening has become a regular meal should be consumed daily. The Dutch government management capabilities so solid, so as to build a factory and opened tea plantations are very spacious to produce tea with the highest quality and is eligible to be exported abroad. Production of PTP XVIII Kaligua not for public consumption in the country, but for the sake of exports. The taste of tea shockingly high, because special Secapa processed. None of the private tea factory capable of producing tea taste like this.
On August 17, 1945 when Ir. Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesian independence, practically the entire assets of the Dutch government was taken by the Indonesian Government. Similarly, the ownership Kaligua Tea Plantation, plantation is immediately administered by the Government of Indonesia.
Nature is beautiful, because of the hard work of man, the air is cool and fresh tea plantation region Kaligua lead eventually not only as a place to live and work, but to be the agro-tourism destination. In addition to tea hills verdant, within this estate there is also Gua Japan, Fountain and Lake Ranjeng or Lele Park, located mid-way between growers toward Kebumen.
Surface water-clear Lake Ranjeng mirror, around the lake is a pine forest. For a moment the sun was bright, but the mist that fell blocking solar rays, so the atmosphere around the lake became so exotic -like shrouded in mystery. Each traveler must do rituil feed the fish catfish, consequently group of catfish looked over food appeared on the surface of the water, once absorbed. Rituil every traveler do the same, feed the fish devoured with joy. Some travelers screaming for joy. There is a belief rooted in the eternal word of mouth, that no one is allowed to catch catfish to make meals at home. Anyone who dared to take action that will get disaster, safety is threatened. If interested in eating catfish, then the said fish should be cooked on the side of the pool, having eaten fish spines should be returned to the lake, in order to live again as at first. The belief that makes everyone was interested to catch catfish, present at the edge of the lake in the quiet of nature and the green trees and mist drifting down is a magic.
On June 1 to coincide with the anniversary of Plantation held a series of events that has the potential to directly entertain a wide audience. A group walking past flock to pilgrimage to eat Van de Jong --We call with Mbah Deyong, once hard to give that name in Dutch, so we give in the pronunciation of Java. The hills seemed shady menghijai tea, the sun shines in gold, just drifting fog distance. Who knows how long we were going to climb until it reached the tomb of "sacred" who founded the forerunner of this plantation.
After a pilgrimage to the tomb of the founder of the plantation, plantation anniversary enlivened by the presence Ronggeng –The Traditional Dancer, which has been ongoing since 1901, when the leadership of the tea plant was first mendatangan processing machine in the form of steam. The machine is still used as a holding tank for the supply of diesel fuel production process with a capacity of 10 thousand liters.To bring engine of the Capital City District Paguyangan to the plant site in the hamlet Kaligua workers should be a distance of 20 km. There was nothing available means of transportation, whether truck or jeep. Dozens of workers have to lug abuzz for 20 days to bring the boiler on its purpose. Works transporting the boiler as far as 20 kilometers and 20 days is a very heavy thing, to reduce the load, the art troupe entertained Ronggeng, complete with gamelan drumming. As a result, the workers really entertained and can also solve the job well, melodic drumming gamelan and sway swing a flexible Ronggeng Gandes was able to entertain the workers, fatigue seemed to disappear instantly. In the following years,until over a century later is still a presence ronggeng rituil birthday celebration plantations as entertainment, while preserving traditional culture and art.
After the show the dancers there are other arts performances to enliven the birthday estates, namely Kuda Lumping. Kuda Lumping dance is played with imitation horse property, made of woven bamboo or braid. None of the historical record can explain the origin of this dance, only a verbal history passed down from one generation to the next. No source states, Kuda Lumping dance is a form of appreciation and support of the common people against the cavalry of Prince Diponegoro in the face of Dutch colonizers. There is also a version that says, Kuda Lumping dance depicting the story of the struggle of Raden Patah, aided by Sunan Kalijaga, against the Dutch colonialists. Another version, the dance tells the story of war games Mataram forces led by the lane I, King of Mataram, to face the Dutch troops.
Regardless of their origin and historical value, Kuda Lumping dance reflects the spirit of heroism and military aspects of the cavalry or cavalry. This is evident from the rhythmic movements, dynamic, and aggressive, with the flick of woven bamboo, mimicking the movement like a horse in the midst of battle. Often in Kuda Lumping dance performances, the show also featured attractions smell magical supernatural powers, such as the attraction chew glass, slashed sleeves with machetes, burned himself, walking on broken glass, and others. Perhaps, this attraction reflects a supernatural force, which in the ancient Javanese kingdom thrive in the environment, and the non-military aspects of which were used against the Dutch troops.
In dancing, do not need special choreography, and the provision of equipment and Karawitan gamelan. Gamelan to accompany the dance Kuda Lumping is quite simple, consisting only of Kendang, Kenong, Gong, and trumpet, flute sounded shrill. The poems were brought in to accompany dance, usually contain an appeal for people always do good deeds and always remember the Creator. In addition to containing elements of entertainment and religion, traditional art Kuda Lumping often also an element of ritual. Before the event started, usually rain handler will perform rituals, to maintain the fine weather, because this show is usually done in the open field.
In each dancing, Kuda Lumping dance is presented in four fragments, two fragments of dance Buto Lawas, Senterewe dance, and dance Begon daughter. In Buto Lawas fragments, usually presented four to six male dancers. Several young dancers ride bamboo and dancing to the music. In this section, the dancers Buto Lawas has owned or possessed by spirits. The audience was not immune from the phenomenon of ownership. Many local people who watch the show into a trance and dance with the dancers. In the subconscious, they continued to dance with energetic movements and looks compact with the other dancers.
To restore awareness of the dancers and the audience has, in any case always present its progenitor, people who have supernatural abilities that its presence can be identified by the clothes he wears all black. The ancestors of these will provide the antidote to the awareness of the dancers and the audience recovered. In the next fragment, male and female dancers bring senterewe join the dance. In the last fragment, the movements are more relaxed, six women carry Begon daughter dance, which is a dance cover a whole series of attractions Kuda Lumping dance.
Shows that are not less interesting after ronggeng and Kuda Lumping is Wayang Kulit. On the night of performances on stage have been laid kelir paved with banana trees. Color made of white cloth symbolizing jadag berwrana highway, is a world where human decency is right or wrong behavior. On the left and right screen mounted directly puppet characters, the Pandavas on the right symbolizes kindness, Kurawa the left symbolize evil. Wayang comes from the word 'shadow', that the audience sitting in front of the screen to watch the motion of the hero in the form of shadows flashed, because blencong rays. Rays blencong or replaced by light symbolizing the light of life that reflected the sun, moon, and stars nan eternal light on the earth. What life would be like today without the light beam? Except black and dark without any activity.
In the light of the constantly moving blencong shadow puppet characters appear as if alive, adds weight to the performing arts. In the show has prepared a set of gamelam complete with Sinden in a melodious voice sang songs. Gentle gamelan rhythms and slowly turned into a smart, even sesayup echo in the distance along with melodious chanting songs of the singer's life symbolizes the ever-changing rhythm of love, grief, anger, fear, and anxiety. The rhythm of life referred too quickly changed even in an instant. Like grief, sadness, anxiety, and anger even if there is no different except that sudden changes in the rotation period could not be drawn retreat.
And finally Ki Dalang, the director authorized full run of the series of stories. Mr. Saleh, who has a kiosk to meet daily needs, has imposed a complete beskap with blangkon to play the whole story. With five basic elements in a total puppet show is a symbol of life. Disputes between the Pandavas and the Kauravas as a marker of the ancient story that continues forever in this version as well as a different time dimension.
Everyone seemed delighted that night, they would not only be entertained all night long in a story and shows the full content of philosophy. But also has a meeting room for a social time and communicate with colleagues and family members in a situation that is impressive. I was a kid too, did not know exactly how detailed the real story. However, that puppet always show the power of good and evil. The battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas in the fight over the throne and an ambiguous figure of the most tragic, namely Karna. Pembarep Pandavas true, but born out of wedlock the mother, so that floated out to the Ganges, found and raised Radeya, sais trains in favor of the Kauravas.
With too many pieces of stories in Mahabaratha, puppet shows is local art that serves to build morale. Mahabharata from India based on Hindu culture, including the story spread to the land of Java through social interaction adapted into performing arts are passed on from generation to generation. This time is displayed as rituil the birthday celebration tea plantations. No matter how evil Kauravas revealed in a hundred characters, but the five Pandavas goodness never lose it.
Besides overall performances of folk art, nature surrounding the farm so peaceful. Is a decent map destination for all tourists take a rest for a moment after the daily routine which presses. All life in Kaligua Tea Plantation has been stored in memory for 42 years. Tea Plantation Kaligua now remain in production, became one of the agro-tourism destination. My cure homesickness by going to the web, looking at photographs of tea gardens large extend, still green as emerald. Tourism facilities have been built, the hotel as well as the arrangement of the area around Lake Ranjeng visit, Gua Japan, even every corner in this place offered by very friendly to every visitor. I'm still dreaming to be able to visit the plantation, fused with a peaceful nature, was reunited with his childhood friend.
Are there any you also want to get there?
***
