Visual Ethnography

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.

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.

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.

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 hav...

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 affair...

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 se...

Kalimati (2,700 masl) is the second place to open the tend. We must stay and wait until the morning to climb to the peak. Although there is a small spring water called Sumbermani, it is better if we bring the fresh water from Ranu Kumbolo to cook and drink. Here we wait and rest until midnight.

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.

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. 

 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. 

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 villag...

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.

 Rope Game  Game Stand  water games should not be spilled Game of Spider web