English
Aditya Wikara – 8.1
English Literature
Ms. Terri
22nd Sept 2011
THE DIVERSED CULTURE OF WEST NUSA TENGGARA
West Nusa Tenggara is an Indonesian province, a province rich in art, resources and diverse culture. Art is a major aspect in the West Nusa Tenggara culture. It is used to express rituals, anxiety, beauty and cultural traditions. However art is only one of the many cultural aspects in West Nusa Tenggara. The traditional cuisine, clothing, and the unique flora and fauna are three things that can express the culture of West Nusa Tenggara which should be passed on throughout generations.
The culture of West Nusa Tenggara can be expressed by various aspects, one of them is the distinct traditional food. There are different varieties of food that are traditionally from West Nusa Tenggara such as ayam taliwang and plecing kangkung. Rice is the staple food in the West Nusa Tenggara cuisine but plain rice isn’t very satisfying. Ayam taliwang is a roasted spicy marinated chicken which is served with peanut, tomato, chili and lime dip. The marinade is made from a mix of chili, onion, garlic, kempur (a medicinal plant), sugar and salt. Other than that, there is also plecing kangkung, a vegetable dish which consists of a boiled shrimp with chili sauce, tomato, sprouts, nuts and lime. “The tiny lime has a pungent smell and aromatic citrucy that characterized thus the limau lime, the one who brings all the enourmous flavour to the plecing kangkung” (Rodrigues). When the dishes are eaten together with rice, it creates a delicious taste. In essence, the West Nusa Tenggara cuisine is very diverse, which is why the traditional cuisine should be passed on throughout generations.
West Nusa Tenggara isn’t only famous for its traditional food, it is also famous for traditional elegant clothing. Traditionally, the clothing from West Nusa Tenggara are divided into two different types: female and male. “The clothing worn by men are headgears, long sleeved shirt, a sarong to the knee, long pants and there is a dagger tucked in their back. The women wear a long kebaya with a songket. The ornaments worn are in a form of a flower on the head, earrings, necklaces and bracelets” (Istiyar, 88-89). The traditional clothing worn are mostly used during ceremonies such as the Semawa social wedding. The clothing from West Nusa Tenggara is complex because there is something to wear from head to toe. The West Nusa Tenggaranese are creative enough to design such clothing which is why it should be passed on throughout generations.
Other than food and clothing, West Nusa Tenggara also has unique flora and fauna. “The Wallace Line, named after the 19th century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, is the point of transition between the flora and fauna of Western and Eastern Indonesia which includes West Nusa Tenggara” (AyuBaliLestari). In essence, it is the key to the uniqueness of the flora and fauna. “The northern part of the province is mountainous and lush with tall trees and shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas.” (Wonderful Indonesia) The different flora spieces growing in West Nusa Tenggara are of great importance to the life of the people of West Nusa Tenggara. “The difference of the flora between the Wallace Line becomes more pronounced as it moves further east, where dry seasons are more prolonged and corn and sago are stapled food instead of rice.”(Wonderful Indonesia) The plants found in West Nusa Tenggara are the bungur, mahogang, kesambi and many others. As for fauna, the habitat of each animal depends on the climate and natural conditions. The wild animals found are cucak rawa, bergings, koak-koak and other various animals. These are the distinct flora and fauna which are not be found in any other places.
Three things that can express the culture of West Nusa Tenggara are the traditional cuisine, the clothing and the unique flora and fauna. The recipes from the traditional cuisine should be passed on because the cuisine is diversed and delicious. As for clothing, the wearing of traditional garments during ceremonies must be carried on throughout generations because it is a splendid sight to see. The unique flora and fauna which surround the Wallace Line should also be preserved because there is no other place where these species exist. These things are the facts that express the diverse culture of West Nusa Tenggara.
WORKS CITED
Ayu Bali Lestari. Flora and Fauna. Access Bai Online. 11th August 2011.
< http://baliwww.com/destination/index/category/956.html>
Istiyar . Y. Bani. Nusa Tenggara Barat. Jakarta. 1992.
Rodriques. Ira.Plecing Kangkung. BeLittleFood.8th September 2011. <http://beelittlefood.
blogspot.com/2011/04/plecing-kangkung-slight-boiled-watr.html>
Wonderful Indonesia. West Nusa Tenggara. Discover Indonesia. 10th August 2011.
< http://indonesia.travel/en/discover-indonesia/region-detail/36/west-nusa-tenggara>
English Literature
Ms. Terri
22nd Sept 2011
THE DIVERSED CULTURE OF WEST NUSA TENGGARA
West Nusa Tenggara is an Indonesian province, a province rich in art, resources and diverse culture. Art is a major aspect in the West Nusa Tenggara culture. It is used to express rituals, anxiety, beauty and cultural traditions. However art is only one of the many cultural aspects in West Nusa Tenggara. The traditional cuisine, clothing, and the unique flora and fauna are three things that can express the culture of West Nusa Tenggara which should be passed on throughout generations.
The culture of West Nusa Tenggara can be expressed by various aspects, one of them is the distinct traditional food. There are different varieties of food that are traditionally from West Nusa Tenggara such as ayam taliwang and plecing kangkung. Rice is the staple food in the West Nusa Tenggara cuisine but plain rice isn’t very satisfying. Ayam taliwang is a roasted spicy marinated chicken which is served with peanut, tomato, chili and lime dip. The marinade is made from a mix of chili, onion, garlic, kempur (a medicinal plant), sugar and salt. Other than that, there is also plecing kangkung, a vegetable dish which consists of a boiled shrimp with chili sauce, tomato, sprouts, nuts and lime. “The tiny lime has a pungent smell and aromatic citrucy that characterized thus the limau lime, the one who brings all the enourmous flavour to the plecing kangkung” (Rodrigues). When the dishes are eaten together with rice, it creates a delicious taste. In essence, the West Nusa Tenggara cuisine is very diverse, which is why the traditional cuisine should be passed on throughout generations.
West Nusa Tenggara isn’t only famous for its traditional food, it is also famous for traditional elegant clothing. Traditionally, the clothing from West Nusa Tenggara are divided into two different types: female and male. “The clothing worn by men are headgears, long sleeved shirt, a sarong to the knee, long pants and there is a dagger tucked in their back. The women wear a long kebaya with a songket. The ornaments worn are in a form of a flower on the head, earrings, necklaces and bracelets” (Istiyar, 88-89). The traditional clothing worn are mostly used during ceremonies such as the Semawa social wedding. The clothing from West Nusa Tenggara is complex because there is something to wear from head to toe. The West Nusa Tenggaranese are creative enough to design such clothing which is why it should be passed on throughout generations.
Other than food and clothing, West Nusa Tenggara also has unique flora and fauna. “The Wallace Line, named after the 19th century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, is the point of transition between the flora and fauna of Western and Eastern Indonesia which includes West Nusa Tenggara” (AyuBaliLestari). In essence, it is the key to the uniqueness of the flora and fauna. “The northern part of the province is mountainous and lush with tall trees and shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas.” (Wonderful Indonesia) The different flora spieces growing in West Nusa Tenggara are of great importance to the life of the people of West Nusa Tenggara. “The difference of the flora between the Wallace Line becomes more pronounced as it moves further east, where dry seasons are more prolonged and corn and sago are stapled food instead of rice.”(Wonderful Indonesia) The plants found in West Nusa Tenggara are the bungur, mahogang, kesambi and many others. As for fauna, the habitat of each animal depends on the climate and natural conditions. The wild animals found are cucak rawa, bergings, koak-koak and other various animals. These are the distinct flora and fauna which are not be found in any other places.
Three things that can express the culture of West Nusa Tenggara are the traditional cuisine, the clothing and the unique flora and fauna. The recipes from the traditional cuisine should be passed on because the cuisine is diversed and delicious. As for clothing, the wearing of traditional garments during ceremonies must be carried on throughout generations because it is a splendid sight to see. The unique flora and fauna which surround the Wallace Line should also be preserved because there is no other place where these species exist. These things are the facts that express the diverse culture of West Nusa Tenggara.
WORKS CITED
Ayu Bali Lestari. Flora and Fauna. Access Bai Online. 11th August 2011.
< http://baliwww.com/destination/index/category/956.html>
Istiyar . Y. Bani. Nusa Tenggara Barat. Jakarta. 1992.
Rodriques. Ira.Plecing Kangkung. BeLittleFood.8th September 2011. <http://beelittlefood.
blogspot.com/2011/04/plecing-kangkung-slight-boiled-watr.html>
Wonderful Indonesia. West Nusa Tenggara. Discover Indonesia. 10th August 2011.
< http://indonesia.travel/en/discover-indonesia/region-detail/36/west-nusa-tenggara>
Reflection
For english, the work which I have chosen would be the West Nusa Tenggara essay. Just like Bahasa Indonesia class, I was assigned to create a essay regarding West Nusa Tenggara. However, the three cultural aspects which I chose were different then the bahasa Indonesia essay. The aspects which I selected was the traditional food, traditional clothing and the flora and fauna. The most interesting one would be the flora and fauna if you actually have read my essay. From this essay, I did one major mistake which affected most of my grade. The forgot to put “translated” in my work cited page which ruined my quotes. But this was a good experience which made a good lesson for me. I hope I can do better next time.
The IB learner profile which I have learned would be being a reflective person because I didn’t achieve a maximum mark because of not reflecting. If I had reflect and read over my essays over and over I would have achieved a better mark.
The fundamental comcept which I learned would be communication because I had to communicate with my friends and the teachers in order to be able to get full mark.
For english, the work which I have chosen would be the West Nusa Tenggara essay. Just like Bahasa Indonesia class, I was assigned to create a essay regarding West Nusa Tenggara. However, the three cultural aspects which I chose were different then the bahasa Indonesia essay. The aspects which I selected was the traditional food, traditional clothing and the flora and fauna. The most interesting one would be the flora and fauna if you actually have read my essay. From this essay, I did one major mistake which affected most of my grade. The forgot to put “translated” in my work cited page which ruined my quotes. But this was a good experience which made a good lesson for me. I hope I can do better next time.
The IB learner profile which I have learned would be being a reflective person because I didn’t achieve a maximum mark because of not reflecting. If I had reflect and read over my essays over and over I would have achieved a better mark.
The fundamental comcept which I learned would be communication because I had to communicate with my friends and the teachers in order to be able to get full mark.