Famous Indonesian

Koes Plus is an Indonesian musical group that enjoyed success in the 1970s. Known as one of Indonesia's classic musical acts, the band peaked in popularity in the days far before the advent of private television companies, delivering stripped-down pop songs at the then-only TV station, TVRI.

Hailing from the Bojonegoro-Tuban area in East Java, the band started out as Koes Brothers (Koes Bersaudara), consisting entirely of the Koeswoyo siblings. Its antics of pioneering Beatles-influenced rock 'n' roll subculture in Indonesia was proven to be controversial, as the brothers were subsequently arrested by the Highest Operation Commando (KOTI) in 1965. They were eventually released just the day preceding the nation's coup d'état, in September 29. This experience resulted in their song Di Dalam Bui.

When drummer Nomo quit in 1969, Murry was then invited to fill the niche, but the decision caused an internal uproar as the band was initially projected as a family act. The feud was then resolved by rebaptizing the band as Koes Plus. It consisted of the Koeswoyos plus an outsider hence the name.

Koes Plus' early days were rugged, as record companies insisted on rejecting them. Murray became frustrated at some point and temporarily quit the band, distributing their records freely as well as joining several other acts. Not until their songs were played on the state radio network did they gain considerable fame.

Koes Plus, infamously, never owned any legal rights pertaining to their works- they were paid only by the time they produced an album. Consequently, the band never enjoyed any form of royalties whenever their works are being reproduced. In recent years, the band members have apparently been having financial problems despite the fact that their musical legacy has obviously left its mark on the local music scene.

The band still performs live, the enthusiastic spirit of these legendary songwriters and musicians belying their age. Oldies but goldies such as CintaMu Telah Berlalu, Mobil Tua, Angin Laut, Diana, Maria, and Kapan-Kapan have lost nothing of their freshness and appeal; the audience, currently consisting of three generations of Koes Plus fans, tends to know all the lyrics by heart. Their only English song, Why Do You Love Me? also received a lot of airplay in Australia.

Chrisye (born Chrismansyah Rahadi) was a popular Indonesian pop singer, of mixed Chinese-Indonesian descent. He was born in Jakarta on September 16, 1949, and died there on March 30, 2007 following a long battle with lung cancer. He recorded 28 albums in his lifetime. He married in 1982 to G.F. Damayanti Noor; they had four children.

Chrisye started recording in the band Gipsy in 1969. The band covered music including Procol Harum, King Crimson, ELP, Genesis and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and ventured to the USA to play in New York. The band in 1977 collaborated with Guruh Soekarno Putra, one of the sons of former Indonesian President Soekarno, and brother of Megawati Soekarnoputri, subsequnet Indonesian President, on Guruh Gipsy, a prog rock album that combined prog rack with Balinese gamelan.

His raise to fame came with the release of the movie soundtrack “Badai Pasti Berlalu” in 1975. The album was done in collaboration with Eros Jarot (currently a member of Indonesian parliament).

His first, and most popular solo single was in 1976 with Lilin Lilin Kecil (Little Candles), composed by James F. Sundah.

In 1981 he starred in the film Seindah Rembulan (As Beautiful As the Moon).

In 2005, Chrisye made an album titled "Senyawa". In this album, Chrisye did collaborations with other Indonesian popstars, such as Project Pop, Ungu, Peterpan, etc.

Krakatoa (Indonesian: Krakatau), also spelled Krakatao or Krakatowa, is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The name is used for the island group, the main island (also called Rakata), and the volcano as a whole. It has erupted repeatedly, massively, and with disastrous consequences throughout recorded history. 

The best known eruption culminated in a series of massive explosions on August 26 - 27, 1883, which was among the most violent volcanic events in modern times. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, it was equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT — about 13,000 times the yield of the Little Boy bomb (13 to 16 KT) that devastated Hiroshima, Japan.

The 1883 eruption ejected more than 25 cubic kilometres of rock, ash, and pumice, and generated the loudest sound historically reported: the cataclysmic explosion was distinctly heard as far away as Perth in Australia approx. 1,930 miles (3,110 km), and the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius approx. 3,000 miles (5,000 km). Near Krakatoa, according to official records, 165 villages and towns were destroyed and 132 seriously damaged, at least 36,417 (official toll) people died, and many thousands were injured by the eruption, mostly from the tsunamis that followed the explosion.

The eruption destroyed two-thirds of the island of Krakatoa. Eruptions at the volcano since 1927 have built a new island in the same location, called Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatoa). This island has a radius of roughly 2 kilometers and a high point around 200 meters above sea level. The original island of Krakatoa had a high point at an estimated 2000 meters above sea level and had a radius of 9 kilometers.

Anoa are a subgenus of buffalo comprising two species native to Indonesia: the Mountain Anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and the Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). Both live in undisturbed forest, and are essentially miniature water buffalo, are similar in appearance to a deer, weighing 150–300 kg (330–660 lb). They live in deep rainforests.

Both are found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia; the Mountain Anoa is also found on the nearby island of Butung. They apparently live singly or in pairs, rather than herds, except when the cows are about to give birth. One young is born per year.

Both species of anoa have been classified as endangered since the 1960s and the population continues to decrease. It is believed unlikely that there are more than 5000 animals of each species remaining. Reasons for the decline of the anoa include hunting for hide, horns and meat by the local peoples (though they were rarely hunted in their native range before the introduction of modern firearms); and loss of habitat due to the advancement of settlement. Currently, hunting is the more serious factor in most areas.

Mountain Anoa are also known as Anoa de Montana, Anoa de Quarle, Anoa des Montagnes, Anoa Pegunungan, and Quarle's Anoa. Lowland Anoa are also known as Anoa de Ilanura or Anoa des Plaines. They are also called sapiutan (or sapi utan).

Lowland Anoa stand but little over a yard at the shoulder, and is the most diminutive of all wild cattle. It is most closely allied to the larger Asiatic buffaloes, showing the same reversal of the direction of the hair on the back. The horns are peculiar for their upright direction and comparative straightness, although they have the same triangular section as in other buffaloes. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes, and there may be white markings on the legs and back; and the absence or presence of these white markings may be indicative of distinct races. The horns of the cows are very small. The nearest allies of the anoa appear to be certain extinct buffaloes, of which the remains are found in the Siwalik Hills of northern India. In habits the animal appears to resemble the Indian buffalo.

The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is a species of lizard that inhabits the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Gili Dasami, in central Indonesia. A member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2–3 meters (approximately 6.5–10 ft) and weighing around 70 kilograms (154 lb). 

Their unusual size is attributed to island gigantism, since there are no other carnivorous animals to fill the niche on the islands where they live, and also to the Komodo dragon's low metabolic rate. As a result of their size, these lizards are apex predators, dominating the ecosystems in which they live. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carrion, they will also hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals.

Mating begins between May and August, and the eggs are laid in September. About twenty eggs are deposited in abandoned megapode nests and incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and therefore dwell in trees, safe from predators and cannibalistic adults. They take around three to five years to mature, and may live as long as fifty years. They are capable of parthenogenesis, in which viable eggs are laid without fertilization by a male.

Komodo dragons were discovered by Western scientists in 1910. Their large size and fearsome reputation makes them popular zoo exhibits. In the wild their range has contracted due to human activities and they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. They are protected under Indonesian law, and a national park, Komodo National Park, was founded to aid protection efforts.

The Komodo dragon is also known as the Komodo Monitor or the Komodo Island Monitor in scientific literature, although this is not very common. To the natives of Komodo Island, it is referred to as ora, buaya darat (land crocodile) or biawak raksasa (giant monitor).

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, boasts of having one of the best biodiversity levels. It ranks second next to Brazil. This means that there is an intense mixture of floral and fauna, usually bearing Australasian and Asian ancestry. The country is used to be connected to the mainland of Asia. There are a lot of islands that comprise the country, and majority of them are filled with sun-kissed beaches, beautiful and majestic coral reefs, and plenty of different species of fish and other marine creatures. That's why besides immersing yourself into the history and culture of its people, sailing in Indonesia is a popular activity that you can look forward to.

A holiday vacation in Bali will never be complete if you don't try swimming, canoeing, or even diving in any of the 10 best dive spots in the area. Good choices will include USAT Liberty. It's basically a U.S. cargo steamship filled with ammunition by the time it was torpedoed in 1942 by the Japanese. Today, it's considered to be one of the most interesting artificial reefs in Indonesia. You can then proceed to Amed, which is located on the eastern coastline. It has a lot of fishing villages, such as Gili Selang and Lipah. The island is valued for the privacy it gives to visitors.

Another interesting place to visit is the Maumere in Flores Island. It's already a very famous tourist destination, so there are now plenty of tours that you can choose from. You can also select a yacht charter from Bali and then sail through the Maumere. You can also go to the area by flying from Central Flores Island. Formerly a volcanic island, Flores has attractive places to offer to foreigners. You can try shopping at their local market, dine in Wuring (a small fishing village), or experience traditional Indonesian culture at Sikka. Of course, your stay will not be complete without diving or swimming, especially in Pemana.

Sailing in Indonesia may also mean exploring Irian Jaya. This is the largest Indonesian province, with a span of more than 400,000 square kilometers. Besides the beach, you can make a stop and follow several hiking trails leading to Puncak Jayawijaya, a very large mountain range that is 5,800 meters above sea level. You can also camp at other mountains such as Gunung Yamin and Gunung Trikora. There are also several lakes where you can go fishing or canoeing, the largest of which is Panai.

People go to Indonesia for food, clothing, and a sense of culture. They may have forgotten that it's also blessed with an impressive ecosystem, made up of seas, lakes, mountains, and animal creatures. Sailing in Indonesia will allow you to enjoy its natural resources.