mountains

#1Pic1Day: Boyongan | Moving Out (Tibet, 2005)

Moving Out (Tibet, 2005) The Tibetans who inhabit the steppes at the Roof of the World still maintain their animal herding tradition, and as nomads, moving is vital and integral part of their daily life. While horses and yaks used to be the main vehicles in moving their possessions, now motors and trucks and cars have replaced the function. Boyongan (Tibet, 2005) Bangsa Tibet yang mendiami padang rumput di pegunungan Atap Dunia masih mempertahankan tradisi penggembalaan, di mana perpindahan adalah bagian penting dalam hidup mereka. Kalau dulu mereka berpindah dengan bantuan kuda dan yak, saat ini kendaraan bermotor sudah membuat perpindahan lebih mudah dan cepat. [...]

February 21, 2014 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Tertinggi di Dunia | Highest in the World (Everest, Tibet, 2005)

Highest in the World (Tibet, 2005) Rows of snowcapped mountains surrounding the highest point of Everest are seen from behind the cloud. There is also politics behind the naming of the world’s highest peak. The countries where Everest is located refuse to use the name of the British scientist Sir George Everest as the name of the mountain. The Tibetans call Everest as Qomolangma, “The Holy Mother”. The Chinese also preserve the name, spelled in Chinese as Zhumulangma, and never use Everest in their English-language legal documents. Later, the Nepalis also rename the peak as Sagarmatha. Tertinggi di Dunia (Tibet, 2005) Barisan pegunungan di samping puncak Everest, menyembul dari balik pelukan awan tebal. Di balik penamaan ini juga ada politik. Negara-negara yang menjadi tuan rumah gunung tertinggi di dunia ini menolak untuk menggunakan nama ilmuwan Inggris Sir George Everest sebagai nama dari puncak gunung ini. Orang Tibet menyebut Everest sebagai Qomolangma, “Ibunda Suci”. China juga mempertahankan nama itu, dalam bahasa China ditulis sebagai Zhumulangma, dan tidak pernah menggunakan nama Everest dalam dokumen resmi mereka dalam bahasa Inggris. Kemudian, Nepal juga menamai puncak itu sebagai Sagarmatha. [...]

February 20, 2014 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: The Journey to the Everest (Tibet, 2005)

The Journey to the Everest (Tibet, 2005) A little village on the way to Everest. To visit Everest, foreign visitors have to obtain special permit. I came by motorcycle and pretending to be a Tibetan, so managed to sneak to the Everest Base Camp without going through checkpoints. Menuju Everest (Tibet, 2005) Sebuah desa kecil terletak dalam perjalanan menuju Everest. Untuk mengunjungi Everest, pengunjung asing memerlukan surat izin khusus/permit. Saya datang dengan menumpang sepeda motor dan menyamar sebagai orang Tibet, sehingga bisa tiba di kaki Everest tanpa melalui pemeriksaan. [...]

February 19, 2014 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: 108 Kelokan | 108 Turns (Tibet, 2005)

108 Turns (Tibet, 2005) Turning and winding road up and down hills you have to go through in the journey to the Everest. They say, there are 108 turns in total. I have lost count, though. 108 Kelokan (Tibet, 2005) Jalan yang berkelok-kelok mendaki dan menuruni bukit dalam perjalanan menuju Everest, konon totalnya berjumlah 108 kelokan. Saya sendiri sempat kehilangan hitungan saking banyaknya kelokan di sini. [...]

February 18, 2014 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Gunung Bersinar | Glowing Mountain (Annapurna, Nepal, 2003)

Glowing Mountain (Annapurna, Nepal, 2003) Annapurna III glows at sunset, seen from a village not far from Manang (3520 meter) Gunung Bersinar (Annapurna, Nepal, 2003) Annapurna III bersinar saat matahari terbenam, terlihat dari sebuah desa tidak jauh dari Manang (3520 meter). [...]

December 13, 2013 // 6 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Porter (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Porter (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) During heavy trek season of Annapurna, a local porter may go up and down the mountains for a dozen times. The porting and guiding business is dominating the trekking industry in Nepal. Porter (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Pada musim sibuk trekking Annapurna, seorang porter lokal bisa naik turun gunung sampai belasan kali. Bisnis porter dan guide adalah yang mendominasi industri treking di Nepal. [...]

December 12, 2013 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Pendakian ke Puncak | A Journey to the Peak (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

A Journey to the Peak (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) The famous Annapurna Circuit is 21-day trekking journey, among which the highest point is Thorung La Pass at 5416 meters. For many trekkers, Thorung La is the biggest challenge to conquer in the whole trek. Pendakian ke Puncak (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Rute treking Sirkuit Annapurna yang terkenal itu adalah sebuah perjalanan naik turun gunung sepanjang 21 hari. Titik tertinggi dalam perjalanan itu adalah Puncak Thorung La, pada ketinggian 5.416 meter. Bagi sebagian besar treker, Thorung La adalah tantangan terbesar untuk menaklukkan rute ini. [...]

December 11, 2013 // 3 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Infrastruktur Pegunungan | Infrastructure (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Infrastructure (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Tourism has changed the landscape of Annapurna. Once very wild and dangerous mountain ranges to conquer during the Maurice Herzog era who reached its peak in 1950s, Annapurna is now very much tamed for the sake of international tourists. Clear trail signs, hotels, restaurants, bridges, and even roads are built to make the trek very much easy and practical. Infrastruktur Pegunungan (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Pariwisata telah mengubah wajah Annapurna. Dulu, Annapurna pernah menjadi pegunungan yang liar dan berbahaya saat Maurice Herzog pertama kali mencapai puncaknya pada tahun 1950an. Tetapi kini Annapurna telah dijinakkan demi kebutuhan turis internasional. Petunjuk pendakian yang lengkap, hotel, restoran, jembatan, dan bahkan jalan beraspal telah dibangun untuk membuat rute treking ini semakin mudah dan praktis. [...]

December 10, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Spektrum Etnis | Ethnic Spectrum (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Ethnic Spectrum (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Trekking through Annapurna Circuit is not only to adore the spectrum of natures, flora, and fauna from the lowest elevation to top of Himalayas, but also to observe the spectrum of human beings: race, ethnicity, religion, language. Passing through Manang (3520 m) and up to higher places, the previously predominantly Hindu Aryan people are replaced by Tibetan-like Buddhist people. Spektrum Etnis (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Melakukan trek melalui Sirkuit Annapurna bukan hanya untuk mengagumi spektrum alam, flora dan fauna dari daerah rendah sampai puncak Himalaya, tetapi juga untuk mengamati spektrum manusia: ras, etnik, agama, bahasa. Setelah melewati Manang (3520 meter) dan semakin tinggi sampai ke puncak, orang-orang Arya penganut Hindu kini sudah digantikan oleh bangsa-bangsa mirip Tibet dan penganut agama Buddha. [...]

December 9, 2013 // 0 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Himalayan Buddhism (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Himalayan Buddhism (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) The higher parts of Annapurna Circuit is inhabited by the Manangi people, who look like Tibetan, speak a language close to that of Tibetan, and believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhisme Himalaya (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Bagian Sirkuit Annapurna yang lebih tinggi dihuni oleh bangsa Manangi, yang mirip orang Tibet, bicara bahasa yang dekat bahasa Tibet, dan menganut agama Buddhisme Tibet (Lamaisme). [...]

December 6, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Chicken Express (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Chicken Express (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Tourism has changed the face of Nepal and its Himalaya to an irreversible point. Annapurna is considered as the best trek on earth, the most touristy with spoiled facility. Hotels and restaurants scattered all the way from bottom to top of the mountains, and porters carry materials from the lowlands up to high Himalayas to make fancy food for the international tourists, including chicken which can’t survive the elevation. Chicken Express (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Turisme telah mengubah wajah Nepal dan Himalaya-nya secara permanen. Annapurna dianggap sebagai jalur trek terbaik di dunia, sekaligus yang paling penuh turis dan fasilitas yang memanjakan. Hotel dan restoran tersebar sepanjang jalan mulai dari kaki gunung sampai puncak Himalaya. Tak kurang juga para porter mengangkut bahan-bahan makanan dari dataran rendah untuk membuat makanan rumit kebutuhan turis mancanegara di puncak Himalaya, termasuk juga ayam-ayam yang tidak mungkin hidup di tempat setinggi [...]

December 5, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Kepala Baja | Metal Head (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Metal Head (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) The people inhabiting highlands of Annapurna are known to be powerful and are the main material of the famous Gurkha soldiers. A man is powerful enough to lift carcass alone, and even the women in Manang region may carry 30 liters of water by hanging the burden on their head, climbing up and down the mountains. Kepala Baja (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Orang-orang yang mendiami daerah tinggi di Annapurna terkenal sebagai bangsa yang kuat, dan merupakan bahan baku utama dari tentara Gurkha yang tersohor itu. Seorang lelaki di sini kuat untuk memanggul bangkai sapi sendirian, dan para perempuan di Manang bisa mengangkat 30 liter air yang digantungkan di kepala mereka sambil mendaki dan menuruni bukit [...]

December 4, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Tropical Nepal (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Tropical Nepal (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Nepal might be tiny in size, but in term of elevation it’s unmatchable. The elevation of Annapurna Circuit trek ranges from 700-is meter, passing through hot and tropical villages similar to those of Indonesia, and reaches its peak at 5416 meter at Thorung La Pass. Alam Tropis di Nepal (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Nepal mungkin negara kecil dalam hal ukuran, tetapi kalau soal ketinggian adalah negara raksasa yang tidak terbandingkan. Rentang ketinggian Srikuit Annapurna adalah mulai dari desa-desa bergaya tropis pada 700an meter, dan mencapai puncaknya pada 5.416 meter di puncak Thorung [...]

December 3, 2013 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Bukit Berbukit | Rugged Hills (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005)

Rugged Hills (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) The Annapurna Circuit trek trails is considered one of the best treks in the world, though road construction is threatening its reputation and its future as a classic trek. The Circuit started to be popular in 1970s when the Nepal became one of the important terminals in long happy hippy trail originating from Europe. You start the trail at very low elevation (with scenery very tropical, not much different from Indonesian hills), until the snow-capped mountain scenery typical of the Himalayas. Bukit Berbukit (Annapurna, Nepal, 2005) Jalur treking Sirkuit Annapurna dianggap sebagai jalur trek terbaik di dunia, walaupun pembangunan jalan mengancam reputasinya dan masa depannya sebagai jalur trek klasik. Sirkuit Annapurna mulai populer pada tahun 1970an ketika Nepal menjadi perhentian penting dalam jalur hippy yang berangkat dari Eropa. Kita mulai pendakian pada ketinggian yang sangat rendah (dengan pemandangan yang sangat tropis, tidak jauh berbeda dengan perbukitan di Indonesia), hingga mencapai gunung-gunung bertudung salju yang khas [...]

December 2, 2013 // 5 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Desa Hantu | Ghost Town (Hunza, Pakistan, 2006)

Ghost Town (Hunza, Pakistan, 2006) Duykhar, a village on the top of hills watching over the Hunza valley, is a green and busy village in summer. People come here to cultivate the land, and hotels are full of visitors. The area is called as Eagle’s Nest, from where people can view the whole valley, as an eagle in its nest. But in winter, the village turned to a ghost town. The wind is very harsh and the temperature is much lower than normal, plus no electricity and no business from tourism. The dire situation forces the inhabitants to move to their warmer homes downhill. The houses are covered by thick snow, and practically it’s a ghost town. Desa Hantu (Hunza, Pakistan, 2006) Duykhar adalah desa di puncak bukit yang memandang langsung ke Lembah Hunza. Desa ini hijau dan sibuk di musim panas. Penduduk sibuk mengolah kebun dan hotel-hotel dipenuhi turis. Daerah ini dikenal sebagai Sarang Elang, dan dari sinilah pengunjung bisa memandang keseluruhan lembah, seperti elang yang melihat dari sarangnya. Tetapi di musim dingin, desa ini berubah menjadi seperti kota hantu. Angin dingin menerjang, suhu jauh di bawah normal, ditambah lagi dengan ketiadaan listrik dan turis. Karena itulah penduduk biasanya [...]

November 8, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Gunung Katedral | The Cathedral (Gojal, Pakistan, 2006)

The Cathedral (Gojal, Pakistan, 2006) The extremely rugged mountains of Tupopdan, nearby Passu, in Gojal area are also known as “The Cathedral”. Gunung Katedral (Gojal, Pakistan, 2006) Puncak-puncak gunung lancip di dekat Passu di Pakistan Utara ini dikenal sebagai “katedral” karena bentuknya yang [...]

November 7, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Perjalanan Menembus Angkasa | A Journey through Sky (Ainy Pass, Tajikistan, 2006)

A Journey through Sky (Ainy Pass, Tajikistan, 2006) With high mountains covering 93% of its total area, Tajikistan is blessed with natural beauty but cursed by the relating problems, especially transport. Traveling through high passes becomes impossible in winter as the mountains are covered by snow. During Soviet Union era, travel from the capital Dushanbe to the northern city of Khojand (formerly Leninabad) used to be possible through the lowlands of Uzbekistan. But since the independence, worsening relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have forced travelers to go through high mountain passes: Ainy (3378 m) and Anzob (3372 m). The Chinese government is now helping with projects to repair the road and build tunnels to make the trip possible all year round. Perjalanan Menembus Angkasa (Ainy Pass, Tajikistan, 2006) Dengan pegunungan tinggi yang menutupi 93 persen wilayahnya, Tajikistan diberkahi dengan keindahan alam yang dahsyat, tetapi juga dikutuk dengan banyaknya masalah terutama di bidang transportasi. Bepergian melintasi puncak-puncak gunung tinggi menjadi mustahil di musim dingin, karena pegunungan tertutup salju. Pada era Uni Soviet, perjalanan dari ibukota Dushanbe ke kota Khojand (dulunya Leninabad) di Tajikistan utara bisa dilakukan melalui dataran rendah di Uzbekistan. Tetapi sejak kemerdekaan bangsa-bangsa di Asia Tengah, juga [...]

September 23, 2013 // 2 Comments

Kandar – The Land of Fighters

April 3, 2006 Helicopter bringing aids to Harama. Imagine how those angry fighters hijacked the flying copter First, the rumors. The name of Kandar is full of myth, ask every villager of Noraseri, and his face will be filled by fear. Not only villagers from Noraseri, but the fame of Kandar had reached areas as far as Pattika and Muzaffarabad. The people of Kandar had made their popularity around the hills. Kandar, located on the top of the hill just behind, is visible from Noraseri. Seemed as close it was, the real four kilometer distance was somehow an unreachable gap for the villagers from Noraseri. It was the image of Kandar which put down the people of other villages. I have heard the rumor about Kandar for the first time from Rashid who told me how ‘nonsense’ these people were. Rashid said that no NGO was working there, as the NGOs were afraid of Kandari. Kandar, accidentally the name resembled “Kandahar”, one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan. It was a joke that Kandar was Kandahar of Kashmir. Once upon a time in history, somewhere in a time dimension after the disaster, there happened a helicopter was hijacked by [...]

April 3, 2006 // 0 Comments

Mobile Does Not Work

Mashallah I just arrived in Karimabad, Northern Areas today after the gruelling 24 hour journey. Just found that no mobile service provider can send signal up to the mountains here, so my mobile number will not work during my stay in Hunza region of Northern Areas. I will return back to Pindi after 2 weeks, Inshallah, and by the time i will be able to use my mobile again. At this moment there is internet cafe already in this village so communication still can be done thru my email address. [...]

December 21, 2005 // 0 Comments