After answering the traditional questions from the village elders to establish the friendly intention of the visitors, Harry Jenkins, as leader of the delegation, was asked to crush an egg and proceed to open a barrier, formed by a fresh cut tree trunk, covered by a batik cloth. Once this was set aside, the party moved to the palm frond gateway, where two pencak silat or shadow boxers faced each other through flimsy ropes. One representing the villagers, and the other the visitors, an energetic and humorous contest took place during which finally, the last barriers were broken, allowing the visitors to stream in.
After the formalities, the traditional monotonal, improvised singing, or karangut, began a music and dance display, which also included enthusiasic invitations for the guests to join.
Later visiting the school, and the village health clinic, the delegation walked through the village to view infrastructure improvements being made by local goverment, including clean water provision to all houses, and small household solar units. Also visited was a family rubber orchard, where latex collection was shown.
A comfortable 2 hour cruise back to Tangkiling on board the Rahai'i Pangun had the final treat of glimpsing the iconic orangutans on Pulau Kaja release island.
5 November 2008
AUSTRALIA AND INDONESIA STRENGTHEN PARLIAMENTARY LINKS
Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer, welcomed the visit by an Australian Parliamentary delegation to Indonesia this week as part of regular official exchanges between our two parliaments.
“The visit is part of the deepening interaction between our two democracies,” said Mr Farmer.
“The last Indonesian parliamentary delegation to Australia in August 2007 experienced the lead-up to our national elections later that year. So too this Australian delegation is seeing Indonesian democracy with all its vibrancy and openness leading up to the 2009 elections,” said Mr Farmer.
The delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Harry Jenkins, held a range of meetings in Jakarta including with the Speakers of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and other Indonesian parliamentarians.
The delegation was also received yesterday by the President, HE Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and, in a separate meeting, by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Mr Farmer also said during the visit the parliamentary delegation was seeing first hand the environment and education work Australia and Indonesia are doing together.
“To help protect the environment our two countries have established a Forest Carbon Partnership to reduce emissions from forest degradation.”
“Australia is also building two thousand schools throughout Indonesia to improve education,” Mr Farmer said.
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