VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

photo : koranseruya

When you travelling to Magelang, Central Java, you can not only visit Borobudur Temple. Magelang has many other interesting tourist attractions one of them is Butuh hamlet. It is located at the highest land in Magelang, on the slopes of Mount Sumbing. This tourist village is located at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level. Butuh hamlet is located approximately 20 kilometers or about half an hour of trip from Magelang City by using motor vehicles. The total population of the hamlet is around 610 families with 2,500 people. Majority of the residents work as farmers. They plant a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, cabbage and others. The structure of the residents houses in the hamlet is quite unique. The houses are built in a regular manner, following the contours of the slope of Mount Sumbing. In the past, before the houses were built, the area was an agricultural field for residents, so that the house buildings followed the contours of the land, from foot to the peak of the mountain.

For people who like natural scenery and tracking can visit Butuh Hamlet. While tracking around the hamlet, you can take pictures with a view of the houses’ row on the mountain slopes like in Nepal. You can also see the expanse of vegetable crops, and if the weather is clear, you can see Mount Sumbing from a distance. In addition, for those who like hiking, this hamlet is one of the basecamp for climbing to Mount Sumbing. In front of this basecamp, you can see the natural views from a distance, while tasting delicious typical culinary of this hamlet.

photo : JP

On September 15, Indonesian Statistics Agency (BPS) announced that Indonesian import grew negatively in August 2020. However, the trade balance experienced a surplus, because the export was higher than import. BPS announced that Indonesia's import in August 2020 was US$10.74 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the export was US$13.07 billion dollars. Therefore, Indonesian trade balance in August 2020 was surplus US$2.33 billion dollars. The surplus was a surprise amid Covid-19 pandemic which caused a sluggish economy not only in Indonesia but also in almost every country. Based on Indonesia's economic development in this difficult time, Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected that Indonesian economic growth will improve in early 2021. ADB Economist for Indonesia, Emma Allen in a webinar on Asian Development Outlook 2020 in Jakarta on Tuesday (15/9) said that ADB projected the recovery will occur quickly along with domestic demands which can increase purchasing manager's index on manufacturing until surpassing 50 limit in August. Therefore, in its annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook 2020 which was just released maintains its prediction for Indonesian economic growth next year around 5.3 percent after experiencing 1 percent contraction in 2020.

ADB's projection about Indonesian economy is not too different from the government's explanation to the House of Representatives last year. Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a working meeting with the House's Budget Committee stated last week that the economic growth in State Budget Draft 2021 which was targeted between 4.5 to 5.5 percent, now becomes 5 percent. She also explained that the economic growth target change was a right decision which represents the hope and caution towards uncertainty in 2020.

Covid-19 epidemic is truly a bad hit against economic growth in almost every country. For Indonesia, 1 percent contraction in the 4th quarter was a rare occurrence after the 1997-1998 monetary crisis. However, many policies taken by the government, such as cash aid to boost domestic purchasing as well as investment and business leniency, had given hope for economic recovery. Although Indonesia is facing the 2nd wave of Covid-19, the joint effort against Covid-19 with some countries, mainly in vaccine development which had been in the final clinical test had also given hope for the people to live healthily and normally so it moves again the domestic economy namely in industry, service, manufacture, and tourism.

PHOTO : PLASTIC POLLUTION

Although policies on single-use plastic restrictions have been issued in several regions, some local governments have not fully implemented the regulation. This was said by the Head of Sub-Directorate of Goods and Packaging of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Ujang Solihin Sidik, during a virtual discussion on a plastic-free area forum held by the Indonesian Plastic Bag Diet Movement, as reported by Antara on Tuesday (Sept8). The single-use plastic restriction policy has been issued in 2 provinces and 35 districts/cities. Related to this matter, Ujang Solihin Sidik encourages non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in the environmental sector to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the policy and verify data related to plastic waste. The results will show whether the regions have successfully implemented the single-use plastic reduction policy or just simply made regulations without real implementation. This is important because the data is a measure of the successful performance of reducing plastic waste. This waste reduction data will contribute directly to the target of reducing waste in the framework of Regional Policies and Strategies for Household Waste Management and the like in each city. Ujang Solihin Sidik emphasized the importance of this data since it will affect the target of 30 percent reduction of national waste by 2025. According to him, the verified data will also be the basis for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to recommend regions that are eligible to receive regional incentive funds.

photo : TULI TULI BISNIS

Butonese people in Southeast Sulawesi have a habit of consuming processed cassava and corn as their staple food and also fresh fish. The typical food of Buton are made simply including ingredients, the process and the way to serve it. Most of typical Buton culinary are made from cassava, such as tuli tuli. This food which is formed like 8 number, is a favorite food of the people of Buton Island because it tastes delicious. The main ingredient is cassava, shallots and salt. Tuli-Tuli is usually served with chili sauce. It served separately with the chili sauce, or mixed with the chili sauce, depends on the tastes. To make fried tuli tuli, cassava is firstly shredded. After that the cassava dough is pressed firmly so that the water comes out until it dries. The dried cassava is then split into two parts. The first part is mixed with water, shallot slices, and salt, then heated until it becomes a thick dough. After that, it is mixed with a grated cassava that has dried. The two doughs are then mixed. When the dough is mixed, just take one small circle then it is formed like the 8 number. Then it is fried. Tuli-Tuli tastes savory when being eaten. This culinary will taste more delicious when eaten while dipping it in the chili sauce. People of Buton island prefer to enjoy fried tuli tuli in the afternoon and at night. So, the sellers will only sell it in the late afternoon until evening.  It is not difficult to find tuli tuli In Buton island. This food is also commonly sold with other fried foods such as fried bananas, fried sweet potatoes and fried breadfruit. It is affordable price around Rp. 1,000 to Rp. 2,500 per piece.