The alpha team consisting of six people, one of them is women, took over seven hours from the last camp at Lembah Danau-Danau to reach the top Cartensz Pyramid. To go to the Lembah Danau-Danau itself, the team previously used vehicles from Tembagapura, one district in Mimika Regency, Papua, Indonesia, and then followed by cable car across the ravine to get to Bali Dump, a kind of places of gravel and sand desert.

After that, the adventure must be taken on foot to Zebra Wall, black and white cliffs as high as 15 meters. Then, the team also had to pass through the way like an alley which is known as Pintu Angin ( porthole/door of wind ). From the porthole, then the team can reach the Lembah Danau-Danau that located at about 4200 meters.

To reach the Cartensz Pyramid, the team have to travel through a field dominated by a steep incline with a slope of up to 80 degrees with visibility only about 3 meters because of thick fog.   At an altitude of approximately 100 meters to the top, the climbers also must pass through the ravine with 20-meter-deep and the width of 15 meters, by crossing with a rope. Not only that, they also had to struggle against the cold because of buffeted by ice rain and high winds. However, the physical exhaustion was replaced when they successfully reached the summit and see the beauty of the enchanting panorama of Jayawijaya.

Besides as the beginning mission, the climb to Carstensz Pyramid basically used as practice for the team staying in the area of ice so they can adapt to extreme temperatures. The team then headed for the other six highest peaks on six different continents in the world at July – August :  the Kilimanjaro (5895 meters in Tanzania, Africa), Elbrus (5642 m in Russia), Vinson Massif (4897 m in the Antarctic), McKinley (6194 m in Alaska), Aconcagua (6962 m in Argentina) and Everest (8848 m in Nepal / China).

This year, the citizens of Larantuka City in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, are festive to welcome the five-century celebration of the discovery of Mr. Ma statue (Mother Maria or Saint Mary).   The pilgrims come from different regions to look on the celebrations and at the same time they hope to get a miracle.  Some of them are sick people, especially stroke and disability. Return from Larantuka, the pilgrims usually carrying the blessed water, i.e. water that was previously used to wash the Mr. Ma and Mr. Ana statues.  This water is believed can cure diseases and cast out the demons.

Semana Santa processions in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara has undergone the inculturation between faith of local community, church teaching and the traditions which is brought by the Portuguese. Some traditions change, but the most defended. Nevertheless, the changes appear not questioned but seen as something to enrich the tradition and become the property of all.

In celebration of Semana Santa, Mr. Ma (Mother Maria) becomes the most miserable figure of suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The statue of Mr. Ma was paraded along with Mr. Ana as Jesus.  In the past, the people giving tribute to ancestors who are believed inhabit the house of veneration, Korke. Now, they laid the cross.  The Korke was changed to be a small church and the tributes were converted into a collection (a kind of donation) for the church.  The tradition that is retained up to now is the eight of tribes who are responsible to lead and manage the processions. The eight tribes are indigenous tribe that is believed by the King of Larantuka to maintain and clean the statue of scourging of Jesus and the statue of Cruz Costa (Jesus bear the cross).  The sequence of devotion is also maintained in accordance with the original as in the Bible.

Indigenous religions of East Flores community is also recognize ‘ ama lera wulan ina tana ekan ‘, the authority of heaven and earth. They believe, by looking at the sky there is something extraordinary and very high power. However, their existence is also not separated from the soil and earth. The inculturation of local religions, Portuguese tradition, and the church traditions can be said reflected enough in the celebration of Semana Santa in Larantuka.

Each tribe that lead and manage the procession of Semana Santa has its own place of rest (stopover) to be visited.  At each stopover is sung a ‘lamentasi’ song or a song that describe the Jesus’ passion and suffering and then is cried by Mother Maria.  All were using the Portuguese language. This procession is a blend between traditional activities and religious so that the tradition elements and religion elements are united very intense and difficult to separate.

The numbers of pilgrims who come from another city give a positive advantage on tourism industry in East Flores. The inculturation of Semana Santa in Larantuka is what make it different with Semana Santa tradition in others country such as Spain, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia.  Inculturation, making Semana Santa in Larantuka becomes more rich and fascinating.  Semana Santa in Larantuka bring us realize that between tradition, religion and culture of a nation can be complementary, not vice versa.

You know, under the snowy slopes of Mount Whistler, the black bears sleep all winter in caves or burrows hidden mountain. Throughout the spring and summer, these animals out of hiding and find out of food like grass and strawberries that grow in line ski resort. As soon as autumn approached, they themselves eating as much as possible and prepare a long sleep in winter. The bear is a hibernation animal, which can spend 100 days in the winter in a narrow cave or burrow. Thick fur and fat in the body making the bears were able to survive in the frozen air, without food and drinking water, and able to suspend his body functions in a way that difficult to explain until now.

Seem, all the noise that occurs at the ski arena do not interfere their sleep.   They still can sleep well .   I thought  if there was competition with hibernation category, the Whistler bears could won the gold medal…

source : kompas 2010

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