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Visual Research Materials from Data to Knowledge

Camera is 'weapon' Visual Ethnography

Above I described our video tours of my informants’ sensory homes. I encouraged  my informants to discuss and show what most interested them. However, our interviews were structured by my research objectives and, unlike observational cinema, a checklist scripted each tour. We had just one hour of tape and rather than waiting for events to unfold we consciously used this technology within a constrained time period to explore and represent each informant’s home and to discuss human and material relationships, sensations, identities, emotions, memories, creativity and activity associated with this domestic space and its material and other agencies.

Ascent to The Summit Argopuro (August 10-16, 2008) part 4

Day IV (August 13, 2008) – Basecamp of Pos Mata Air I
At about 05:00 I already up and immediately proceed to prepare for the trip. At that time, the children (Danang and Arif) awake, we were all out of the tent to enjoy the view from the cliff side that is very exotic.
Large expanse of trees in the hills and cliffs with water that resembles a mini waterfall into the eyes of experience difficult to forget. We signed an agreement to continue the journey to Cikasur at 08.00 precisely.




Ascent to The Summit Argopuro (August 10-16, 2008) part 3

Day III (August 12, 2008) –Tobaco Fields-
In the morning we tried to get him to cook the rice cooker was a problem though. Before cooking, cleaning tents uncomfortable at first, because people leave in the field. We boiled sausages and vegetables for mixing with pecel spices.  
 After breakfast and cleaning we are ready to continue the climb at 7:50. Not forgetting our past and praying on the sidelines of preparatory trip suddenly there was a little boy who will go to the fields. At first glance seems Bolang (adventurous Boy) by uniformed and footwear SD fields typical of shoes as an Office which is more than non-slip bottom alias ridges.


Ascent to The Summit Argopuro (August 10-16, 2008) part 2


Day II (August 11, 2008) - Police Besuki - 07.00 am directly from the police after spending Besuki vegetables in the market, we were getting ready to leave the village Baderan.



The day coincides with a special day (pasaran), the day on which the activity takes place Besuki Market Goat sale of animals, cattle and tobacco.While waiting for transportation to Baderan at a red light many fun things for the observations, including trucks carrying tanks and cow horse, becak with heavy loads and primary school children who were practicing longmarch for Indonesia Independent Day. When the little boy wanted to shoot Mboys red uniforms and white women say "Lek, Foto Lek !!" When he was the leader of the line, while her friends just smiled.


After waiting about 45 minutes under traffic light, finally came on transport (angkutan pedesaan) and Oops! I almost lost W230 Motorola to accidentally fall from the pocket and  upside down on the dusty grass. If only in the second one I have not looked back then the phone would have been taken. I sat and Mboys in car manned by three young people with music Dangdut Koplo of a sound system under the dash.

Ascent to The Summit Argopuro (August 10-16, 2008)


Mount Argopuro for some quarters regarded as a mountain climber who silit but not easily forgotten. Rough terrain, steep terrain, the forest is still virgin and routes are many reasons for some people to think twice Argopuro ride. But it all paid off by the beautiful scenery, exotic savanna, forest edelweiss, watercress and friendliness of the locals. Two years ago exactly 27 to 31 August 2008 along with Duo Donny, Gundul and Cimenk. I ride Argopuro for the first time. As time goes by the desire to hiking blossomed again mainly because I bought a new set of equipment up the mountain sendir sweat: Carrier Bags South Merapi (South Beach) 80 liters + Close, Sandal mountains, Eiger North Face Sleeping Bags + small pillows, mattresses Eiger all The new department has on hand.My original plan to go to Semeru, but because there is news that the mountain was closed, then was forced to slam generate Argopuro. After delayed for a week because my friends no one has been completed with the affairs of the campus eventually there was an agreement to depart on August 10 and August 11, Danang ama Arif followed.


First Day (August 10, 2008) - Kosan Roykan "Day Day" -
Departure from the hostel at 12:50 o'clock noon, and I walked to the station Gubeng Mboys warming, we thought initially miss the train because the schedule given by friends as passengers leave at 13 : 03 so that in the event of an accelerated warming let alone step foot into Roykan still widening. Roykan once stepped to me like a speed of 1.5, so my training is really like Nature Lover Organitation. Do not feel we have a quick trip to the station Gubeng at 13:10. After waiting some time, the counter opened 10 minutes before departure, had bought two tickets commuter Roykan number Rp4000, -. Promptly at 13:55 am commuting the train arrived and are ready to take us to the terminal Bungurasih.

Arriving at the bus station directly Bungurasih we seek majors Situbondo, it turns out we've become victims of irresponsible brokers. We took the bus NNR 2 people Rp26.000 usual fare, - I think it is really cheap to Besuki because the terminal is said that the bus will drop in Besuki, but when we pay the ticket will be placed in the terminal Probolinggo, we cheated. Arrive at the terminal at 17:30 Probolinggo we moved the bus to continue the journey to Besuki with Rp16.000 price for 2orang. That night around 19:40 hours, the bus down in front of police headquarters Besuki, after seeking permission from the duty officer, I take a shower, buying food while mboyz around Besuki square.

when buying food around Besuki square, Donny remembered childhood that often play into the square. As I recall childhood nostalgia, I surround the square while looking for a suitable dinner. After providing a wide selection of food, I finally fixed the fried rice. Immediately, I ordered 3 packs because I remember there was one father who slept in the mosque when we arrived at the police station Besuki. After purchasing nasgor pink, I rushed to buy our groceries ie lack of sugar, flashlight batteries, and film for Roykan pocket camera. Arriving at the mosque we eat directly nasgor police and iced tea, but the package handed over to the father who dtidur in the mosque so we're back to nasgor 2 it. After a full and play with our new friends who are wild cats, we are getting sleepy and rest of the journey is still long.

Mboys Expedition to The Top Mahameru June 28 - July 4, 2008 (Happy Ending)

From Kalimati to the peak of Mahameru we spend 3-6 hours, depend on the weather, numbers of climbers and dust. a big number of climber can produce huge dust a long the journey and slow down the move because an narrow trail is difficult to the climber to pass the others. Usually the climbers start in the mid night and reach the peak till dawn, enjoy the sunrise. One hour climbing from Kalimati, we come in Arcopodo, Now the twins statues here are missing. The trail is narrow, stepy, and dusty. The deep valley in the left and in the right side through the woodland. The next journey is an open area with sandy, stepy and dusty. Hoping a good weather stay with us. One step we walk, a half feet we go down and burried in the sand. A cloudy night or fogs can make the sight not so clear. A storm can be so dangerous to contonue to the peak. In the top of the mountain, called Mahameru, We can enjoy an unforgettable and fantastic panorama towards many peaks of East Java, coasts and seas, and sunrise in the east horizon. The climbers must wait an exploded crater to take a picture. Before 9 AM the climbers must leave the peak, because the explosion toward to the peak, bring poison, sand, stone, ash, and dust.



Mboys Expedition to The Top Mahameru June 28 - July 4, 2008 (Oro-Oro Ombo)

The next path is a wide grassland, called oro-oro ombo, long time ago there are many deers live here. Today, we are very lucky if we can see it. It is very hot to walk throw the open land. We better start from Ranu Kumbolo in the early morning. After one hour, we will enter woodland of casuarina trees. Sometimes we can see wild birds and wild cocks. A mouse deer can be found too, in the far away. So watch the trail carefully.





Mboys Expedition to The Top Mahameru June, 28 - July, 4, 2008 (Hiking Time)

Ranu Kumbolo (2,400 masl) is a resting place with a lake, and has beautiful scenery especially in the morning when we look ant the sun rising through the chinks of the hills. There is a climber hut for resting and cooking. Here, we can make a tend and fishing. There is a time went ducks live here in a big numbers in the lake. Swimming in the lake is forbidden, be carefull went we step the bank of the lake, sometimes we can sank into the mud under the water. This is the first place we can spend to relax and have a long time to rest. We can stay here during the night and continue the journey in the morning. 



Mboys Expedition to The Top Mahameru June, 28 - July, 4, 2008 (D-day)



 Ranu Pane (2,100 masl) is the last village and here the basecamp and the office. The climbers can get permission here for climbing. There are two beautiful lakes, in the up side is called Ranu Pane and the other one nearby called Ranu Regulo. In the evening, it is very cold to stay here. Its population is about 600, surviving their lives from vegetable agriculture. 

Mboys Expedition to The Top Mahameru June, 28 - July, 4, 2008 (preparations)

Mount Semeru is the highest mountain in Java 3,676 meter above sea level. Dry seasons is the best times to climb this mountain from May till September. During the wet/rainy seasons, usually there is a storm an landslide in the top of the mountain. Landslide sometimes happen in the middle track between Ranu Pane and Ranu Kumbolo.
We can start from Malang the second biggest city in East Java. From Malang the climbers can ride mini bus to Tumpang. There is a market and a Hindu’s Temple in Tumpang Village. There are two option of vehicles from Tumpang to Ranu Pane Basecamp. Rent an open Jeep, it cost 500,000 ID Rupiahs, or the cheapest ones using Truck together with vegetables and local peoples only 35,000 ID Rupiahs for one person.
We will pass Gubuk Klakah village. Here there is a National Park office and we must register first. From this Village we will pass a dusty road with sand to Ngadas village. We can see some wonderfull panoramas a long the journey on the way to Ranu Pane village.


Great Artists of East Java

Gombloh is a great artist through his music, he made a phenomenal song about the struggle of the people of Surabaya in the fight against colonialism. "Gebyar-gebyar" song became one of the pride of Indonesia.

Masmundari is the artist from Gresik who painted Damar Kurung, she dedicates his life to always proceed in a painting. with the ink strokes of watercolor as an honest mirror of life. 

 Cak Durasim is ludruk character in the traditional arts of eastern Java. Since the Japanese colonial era, he is present in every stage and die as a warrior people's voice through art.