VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Es Dawet is a typical beverage of East Java which is sweet and tasty. The traditional beverage then sold across cities in Java island. Es Dawet  consists of  dawet (cendol), liquid brown sugar, coconut milk and ice. In general, Dawet has the same shape, eventhough it appears in various colors. The shape is a little bit long like worm. Unlike other dawet, dawet Ponorogo has different shape. It is round shape and usually called Dawet Gempol because in Javanese language the word gempol means round.

In a bowl of dawet gempol, consists of dawet, liquid brown sugar, sliced jackfruit, coconut milk, and ice sometimes added with dawet made of black sticky rice and palm flour. Because of various flavors in one portion, making dawet gempol is very different from dawet in general.

The combination of sweet taste, savory taste of coconut milk and brown sugar, combined with cold taste of ice and savory dawet, coupled with the sweet taste of black sticky rice, adding to the delicious taste of this drink. The dawet Gempol in Ponorogo is served uniquely, a bowl as dawet container is covered with a small plate. In Ponorogo, you can easily find Es Dawet Gempol, especially if you visit the region during Ramadan, because this drink is used as a breaking fast menu. The price of Es Dawet Gempol is relatively cheap which is around Rp. 2,500 to Rp. 5,000 per portion.

Waste is still a serious problem that must be solved, especially in terms of its processing. In regard to this problem, ITB students and lecturers are encouraged to create a Bio-refinery Society -BIOS startup engaged in processing organic waste. BIOS is a techno-social startup that has a vision to create bio-refinery or processing biomass into renewable energy and other materials that are useful for people's lives. Interestingly, in processing the garbage, the BIOS utilizes black army flies. The larva of the black army fly is a type of fly that is larger than ordinary flies and is well-understood for its ability to consume and reduce organic waste.

Co-founder and CEO of the startup, Bagoes Muhammad Inderaja explained that currently, the BIOS is focusing on developing the concept of bio-refinery through the use of protein-rich black fly larvae to be used as premium animal feed. The premium feed developed by BIOS has the name Magic Pet Feed. He also explained that the use of black army flies is more advantageous in comparison with the conventional waste treatment such as bio-digester, or composter. Bio-digester and composter usually take long time. Within 6 weeks until 2 months, new waste can be processed. With black army fly larvae, the processing of waste can be faster up to twice or 3 times.

The BIOS startup has two excellent products: firstly fertilizer for plants, and secondly dry larvae with high protein. The BIOS has even managed to process waste of nearly 150 kilograms for 6 months. The protein-rich larvae produced contain very high protein and are very appropriate for ornamental fish and pet feed such as turtles. Meanwhile, related to fertilizer products produced by the BIOS, Bagoes added that  The BIOS startup has also been included in SNI standards. However, the product has not yet entered the market because the BIOS is trying to continue to develop.

The Business Forum of Indonesia - Latin America and Caribbean (INA-LAC) was successfully held on October 14 and 15, 2019 in Tangerang, Banten. The Business Forum produced investment commitments in the mining sector worth 5 billion US$ or equivalent to 70 trillion rupiah for the next 5 years. It was also agreed the trade agreement worth 463.68 billion rupiah or more than 33.12 million US$ in the beauty sector, food and beverage, spare parts, rubber products and furniture.

Acting Director General of American and European Affairs of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, Tuesday (Oct15) said, the Indonesia-Latin America and Caribbean Business Forum also produced several agreements, namely export-import facilitation cooperation between the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI)/Exim Bank Indonesia with the Colombian Bancoldex, commencement of dialogue towards the formation of the Indonesia-MERCOSUR trade agreement, commencement of the Indonesia-Colombia Partial Trade Agreement TOR discussion as well as technical cooperation and capacity building for communities and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in Belize, Panama and Suriname.

So far it has been noted that Indonesia has only one trade agreement with countries in the region, namely the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in December 2017. In addition, cooperation agreements have been reached between Indonesian Export Financing Institution -LPEI and Bancomext Mexico signed in 2013, and cooperation between the Indonesia-Mexico Chamber of Commerce signed in 2018. Indonesia is currently initiating trade negotiations with Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Panama.

Teuku Faizasyah said, the overall achievements in INA-LAC Business Forum is a manifestation of the commitment to translate good relations between Indonesia, Latin American region and Caribbean Islands, into a concrete and mutual beneficial economic cooperation. Teuku Faizasyah moreover said that the implementation of INA-LAC 2019 is in line with the direction of President Joko Widodo to increase exports with Indonesia's non-traditional market. The results of this Forum will continue to be followed up in 2020 and subsequent years, and will become a permanent program of activities of the Directorate General of America and Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Batu Bolong temple is one of tourism objects in Lombok coast and built on black stone. The location of the temple is very strategic. It is located at Batu Bolong hamlet, Batulayar district, West Lombok or around 5 minutes from tourism center of Senggigi Island or 20 minutes from Mataram City.

According to history, Batu Bolong temple was built in 1533 by an ascetic, namely Dang Hyang Dwijendra from East Java when he spread out Hindu from Java Island to Bali Island and the last destination was Lombok Island.

The name of the temple is taken from shape of the black stone where the temple was built. The big stone with hill shape has a hole. In the past, the hole was an access for local people to look for wood at Senggigi forest, before  artery street was built on the slope of the hills which connects West and North Lombok regency.

If sea water is in low tide, you can be through the hole which is like cave and around 5 meters on foot, you will directly arrive at Duduk beach, the long beach where there is no building surrounding the beach, except small stalls.

To enter the temple complex, you have to pay for Rp15,000 – Rp 20,000 for donation. The doormen will give you yellow shawl which is tied on your waist, as appreciation that you are the guest of the temple. 

When entering the temple, you should not be too noisy because it is worship place. Surrounding Batu Bolong temple, there are provided many lodgings if you want to enjoy longer the beauty of nature surrounding the temple.