Brown Canyon of Semarang

By M. Taufik H

Brown Canyon is a mine site in border of Semarang City. It is located at Meteseh rural area, near Demak Regency. My first time knew about that site, when I lived at Semarang. One day, I watched a TV program on Trans 7 or Trans TV name My Trip My Adventure. I felt in love with the place wich was introduced by the host located at Semarang. I guessed it was at Demak or Semarang Regency, because I did not ever hear about such place. I guessed, the host or the TV crew only familiar with Semarang City name. They would called every place around Semarang City with Semarang.

I was so curious about that place and wished someday could went there. I searched information at google and found a fact that Brown Canyon located at Semarang City, about less than an hour from my former boarding house. I was so happy and told my uncle that I will went there. My uncle interested and agree to followed me.

At Sunday, tomorrow after I watched that program we went to that site. That place is so remote from the town. The road was also sandy and dry. We lost to TVRI office and asked the officer there. He gave me a guidance to the right location. Finally we arrived to the destination.

Brown Canyon view is similar with Grand Canyon view in USA. Thats why it was quite impressed me. I can took a picture in the great background as if I was in Grand Canyon. Anyway, It was quite dangerous place also because the "hills" could suddenly ruined. It was happened when I took a picture actually. After it ruined, the air became so sandy.

Semarang, My Beloved City

By M. Taufik H.

Semarang is a special city for me. I dont know why since when. It is a capital city of central java, a province where I was born.

My oldest sister went to Semarang at her farewell tour. She visited Puri Maerokoco. Her story made me was obsessed to go to Puri Maerokoco. For me, Puri Maerokoco sounds great, a central java province version of TMII (Indonesian Miniatur Park).

I had a chance to visited Semarang first time in 2016. I went there to do IQ test for provincial training selection of science olympiad. I did the test at Udinus. It was a great journey for me. I felt so blessed, happy and proud because I collected with brilliant students around my city. Moreover, Zainul, a pyshic olipiader, was really funny and made our journey so fun.

You know that finally I studied at Semarang State University for my bachelor degree. But, I got Tegal campus so I did not study at Semarang. As a Tegal campus student was really complicated. Especially about the feeling. I was so obsessed to study at Semarang.

Finally, at my postgraduate, I lived at Semarang. Not only can enjoyed study at Semarang campus, but also can enjoyed joined a Semarang NGO, PKBI Semarang. There, I was so happy and got many awesome experiences. I felt in love with Semarang.

I dont know why, Semarang is really meaningfull for me. Maybe because I made many dreams came true there. Even, I feel more enjoy and happy stay in Semarang than Tegal, my hometown.

Grobogan: The Simplicity of Java

By M. Taufik H.

Dance4life Caravan Camp is my first short term workcamp which I joined. It was held in Grobogan. I decided to join that workcamp because I interested with such activity in Semarang. I helped the comitte in Semarang and I think it was great program. 

In 2017 there were 5 dance4life workcamps. Semarang regency, Semarang city, Grobogan, Solo and Rembang. I choosen Grobogan because it was the nearest one as well as I had known well the campleader. We did a workcamp before in Semarang.

I invited some friends in order to the program would be more attractive. It would be great and fun if we can did it together with my friends right? And Rafika, my friend at my former organization agree to joined with us.

The international volunteer was from France, her name is Christelle Dang. She is a Vietname descent, so her look like ours. As I know, France people are not good in English, because they feel that they are superior than British. But, Christelle is really good in English. Her pronounciation just perfect.

We did that workcamp happily. Me and Rafika as local participants, Christelle as international participant, as well as Aring and Aji as camp leaders. We went to target schools to promoted anti bullying and taught them dance4life, made batik at batik centre, did household activities, and played outside. I really love all activities. 

Aring and Aji were not good in English, but they learnt much and improved. I also learnt much from Christelle, even she taught me basic French such as "Bonjour, Au revoir, La tour Eiffel, Mercy". 

I enjoyed the activities. I can learnt English, French, make a batik, dance, presentation, and many more. Anyway, Grobogan is a great place with great culinary tourism. I found many unique and delicious foods there. Oh, im miss Grobogan so much.

Rafting Crazy Adventure in Serayu River

 That was my first time visited Banjarnegara regency despite 2 years before I was a provincial boarding of IPM (youth organization). Even Banjarnegara was my first regency in Banyumas area which I visited. Haha poor me. I had a chance went to Banjarnegara when I should attended a project meeting there. 

At that time I felt not good in health and mind, so I asked my uncle to accompanied me. He was agree and we went there with bus. We arrived the city hall of Banjarnegara and looked for a lunch. We found meat ball resto and i was surprised  because the taste was very good and the price was cheap. We had prepared much money because commonly the price food on city hall are expensive.

Then we met my project mates and picked us to the hotel in the side of serayu river, Surya Yudha Hotel. I got a room beside a river so I could enjoyed river flow only with opened the window.

After finished the project meeting in the first day, we had a chance to joined rafting. That was my first time did rafting. We went to start point with car and wore rafting equipment. We also got a short guide from our tour guide. After that, we created 6-7 member group and gooo. Rafting in Serayu river was so amazing experience. I felt very spiritfull and delight and sometime fear (because i could not swimming). We  felt so happy because we could felt quite dangerous adventure with safety guarantee. Just like children feeling. We rafted a long 4 hours with full sunlight. After that my skin being darker. It was so challenged and fun. You have to try it if you go to Banjarnegara.

Dance4Life Flash Mob Surprising Purwodadi

Purwodadi Car Free Day (CFD) area on Sunday (09/11/16) enlivened by the appearance of Grobogan street bands. When some of the visitors were enjoying the band's performance, suddenly appeared a teenager carrying red x-banner entitled  "Pijar" in conjunction with the changed of the band singer voice become attractive music. X-banner carrier teenager was suddenly dancing to the beat of the music and a few moments later followed by other visitors from the crowd. Of course it attracts the masses who felt shocked and curious. Beat of the music and movements danced by teenagers carrying x-banner which followed a group of people has also drawn several other visitors to also watch.

 Suddenly flash mob event is a culmination of international work camp that aims to campaign for the prevention of HIV/AIDS as well as juvenile delinquency song and dance (Dance4Life). Workcamp Dance4Life Caravan Grobogan (Dance4Life Caravan) initiated by Pilar (Youth Center) and IIWC (Indonesia International Work Camp) of PKBI Jawa Tengah, and took Youth Center Pijar PKBI Grobogan as local partners. Aring and Aji, campleaders of the event explained that Dance4Life Caravan that started on September 3 and has conducted various activities including roadshows to schools in Grobogan, teaching children around the campsite (English), radio broadcasts, learn batik, share HIV pamflet to the people, visit some tourist sites in Grobogan, as well as flashmob peak activity. Aring and Aji continue, Dance4Life Caravan Grobogan this year followed by three volunteers, Taufik from Semarang, Rafika from Surakarta and Christelle from France.

Christelle, a volunteer from France said it was pleased and satisfied to be able to join in Dance4Life Caravan in Grobogan this year. He is very happy to be able to contribute positively to the youth in Grobogan in this activity, as well as to know better the citizens of Indonesia, culture and daily life. Rafika, other volunteers also feel proud to be part of this positive activity and claimed many gain very exciting new experiences. While Taufik said all the experience gained from the activities Dance4Life Caravan in Grobogan will not be forgotten. Taufik added, ranging from the first time he arrived in Grobogan until the top event flash mob Dance4Life in CFD Purwodadi, everything is cool. All volunteers hope with this activity, capable of providing Grobogan public awareness of the importance of maintaining reproductive health and promiscuity among teenagers.

Urban Farming Project in Manyaran

Manyaran. That is not strange name for me. Because since I was staying and working in Semarang, I often passed Manyaran to goes to my office. Manyaran location still same district with my office. Ok, from here my new great experience began. When I decide to joined workcamp of IIWC with urban farming theme. That was my third time I joined IIWC workcamp, but first time joined VSTV (Very Short Term Voluntary). Yeah, it was my good chance, because I have enough free time in that time. BTW, actually the right location was not in Manyaran, but in Kembangarum, the urban area near Manyaran.

Wed, 27 July 2016. Afternoon in my office, suddenly I got a called. A weird voice (like girl voice) called me and asked me about IIWC workcamp. Suddenly I remembered that voice, Aring voice I think and in fact I was right. Aring reminded me and my friend to prepare workcamp tomorrow at 8 a.m. He told me that there was 2 participants from czech and 2 other from Semarang (me and my friend).

Our first day and first lunch with Pecel & Ice tea

In the H day, I went to IIWC office and met with the international participants. They were from Czech Republic, Tomas and Peter. After we walked together to found Tomas's backpack, Aring invited us to had lunch. We ordered pecel (vegetable with nut sauce) and fruit ice tea. Tomas and Peter actually felt full but they did'nt want to rejected Aring's invitation. Obviously they spent the meal while I and Aring was not. They said that the meal is tasty just Peter think it was too spicy for him.

 We went together to the campsite in Kembangarum after we met with the local partner, Edi. Edi was the Unwahas agriculture student who initiating a movement in his urban area to planting vegetables. Wow, Kembangarum area consist of hills, so enough hard to me drived my motorbike with Tomas behind. Tomas told me that was the first time for him got a ride motorbike. He said that in Czech, motorbike is rare.

 

Our campsite was good I think, wide, clean and no mosquitos, but too hot for Tomas and Peter. Near our campsite there was a "creepy house" with chicken and birds. We often utilized the front of that house to parked our motorbikes. The street in front of our campsite was so unique, 45 degrees limit. The best part of our campsite was the view around, especially in sunset. So cool, like Sao Paolo view, city in the top of hills. BTW, Edi's home located near from the campsite. We did some activity there.

Planting vegetable

Some activities of urban farming project were created some seed place with pipes, planted the seeds and water the plant. We also made a handycraft from plastic garbage. Aring teach us and the local people created a rose from plastic garbage. He was a little bit failed, because his rose was a little bad :-p. We mocked Aring with called him, "bad teacher" (sorry). Oh yeah, we also went to local primary school to promoted planting vegetable movement to
the student. We did some games, but because the students were to many, the game didnt work well. The student (children) too hysteric with Tomas and Peter. The student swarmed them, fight over to shaked their hand, and asked their signature (Oh my God, just like celebrities). But yeah, overall the last activity quite succes I think. We could promoted and ensure the student to love vegetable, besides that Tomas and Peter felt so happy because they never met with many children in Czech.

In Sunday, we did activities with Unwahas Student Workcamp (KKN) in Nongkosawit, Gunungpati. There, the student also did planting activities like vegetable and fruit. Besides that, cause Nongkosawit was the village tourism object, they also did tourism activities like created traditional souvenirs and traditional toys. There, we met also with the Mangkang Project camper and did all activity together. Mangkang project camper consist of Remi (Netherland), Haruka (Japan), Marsha and Malesa (Italy), Matheo (France), Rian and Rahil (campleader). The best part of that day was we have chance to played Gamelan (Traditional Javanese Orchestra). I think it was magic because we could played one simple song only in one hour practiced (Wowww). Actually I was ever learned Gamelan (5 years a go) and I think it's hard to played it before. The gamelan's sound was great. I love it so much. We were very happy and satisfied.

It was great experience for me could met and to be friends with Tomas, Peter, Aring and Edi. They are very kind persons. Aring is a funny man, he often jokes and sometimes do absurd and weird behave. I met him in the first time, 2 years a go. But, in workcamp moment was the first time we knew each other well. He was a good person and has many similarities with me such as same old, working in PKBI (he in Grobogan, me in Semarang), and founding youth center of PKBI. Unfortunately, he told me that he will resign from PKBI Grobogan. I felt so sad but anyway I will resign too. I hope we still also do some good activities together in the future. 

Edi is a smart student. Despite his campus is not big campus, but he could reached many great achievements there. He has great ideas and idealism. He told me the story when the first time he was initiated the movement. It was hard for him because he should sacrified much times, money and energy to invited the local people to joined his movement. But the best part of him, he is a low profile and open minded person.

Tomas and Peter also great persons. They are so friendly and polite. They always asked me if wanted to did something to ensure that it was polite or impolite. They also fullfilled their promise and accept every local people invitation. They also be patient to did not drunk some beer because they respect with us and the local people (I proud with you, mate). I tried to be their translator in some moments and I thinked they were very patient and kind because my English actually bad. But I was very enjoyed became their translator and their friend during workcamp. 

Thank you guyz. Maybe it was 5 days, but really great experience for me. Im so sorry if any mistakes from me. I hope we can reunited in the other chances (maybe in Czech Republic). See you next time!!!

Tomas wrote our name in Greek alphabet

Ekspresi Nusantara (Sticker Design)