Sail Moyo Tambora back, with more appealing programs

The archipelagic and maritime country of Indonesia will once again take center stage when 144 yachts from 38 countries sail the Moyo Tambora route in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), in the much-anticipated Sail Moyo Tambora 2018.

Sail Moyo Tambora 2018 is part of Sail Indonesia, an annual rally that typically departs from Darwin, Australia, and heads to Indonesia, visiting several ports across the archipelago.

This year's rally, which will highlight Moyo Tambora after having previously promoted the Sabang, Karimata and Bunaken legs, expects to see hundreds of yachts from around the world depart from two locations: Darwin and Singapore.

The yachts are to gather in early September in the Labuan Bajo area of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, before sailing together to Badas Port, where Sail Moyo Tambora 2018 opens on Sept. 9.

The annual event is scheduled to be held from Sept. 9 to Sept. 23.

Sail Moyo Tambora 2018 features an array of attractive events, from international sports festivals and unique local arts and cultural shows to international seminars and workshops on the economy.

A welcome dinner on Sept. 8 will precede the opening ceremony. The event will be held to welcome invited domestic and international guests, who will come to Sumbawa either as tourists or to take part in a sail competition or other events.

The opening ceremony on Sept. 9 in Badas Port, Sumbawa, carries the theme “Discover Sumbawa” to showcase NTB’s cultural wealth. NTB is more than just Lombok – the Island of Sumbawa is also part of the culturally and marine-rich NTB.

Fighting spirit: Two Lombok men in West Nusa Tenggara engage in the local martial art of peresean, where they fight one another using sticks and protect themselves with rattan armor.

At least 100 yachters from various countries will visit Sumbawa Island to see its breathtaking natural wonders and experience its culture.

The opening event will also feature cultural attractions that reflect the distinct features of NTB. They include mass dances from Sumbawa and Bima, a parade of 1,000 traditional ships and an international yacht rally in Sail Moyo Tambora 2018.

With each yacht carrying a crew of two to four sailors, the province is looking at welcoming around 500 foreign visitors during the event.

The opening ceremony will also mark the peak of three preceding events, namely Social Service, held from Aug. 26 to Sept. 9, and Pelayaran Lingkar Nusantara (Archipelago Circling Sailing), held from Aug. 25 to Sept. 9.

Social activities led by the Indonesian Navy were held in Bungin village, Badas district, Moyo Island. The program focused on free health services for the local community, free house renovations, and the promoting of social and health issues.

Meanwhile, the Archipelago Sailing event involved at least 400 boy scouts across Indonesia. They sailed the sea of Sumbawa.

In addition to sailing, participants were given the opportunity to climb to the top of Mount Tambora.

A number of surfers from different countries will compete in an international surfing competition – the World Surf League Qualifying Series – on Yoyo Beach, West Sumbawa. The event kicked off on Sept. 8 and will end on Sept. 12.

Deep blue: An aerial view of the Moyo Tambora lake in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara.

Following the opening ceremony, there will be a series of main and supporting events that will reflect different facets of Nusa Tenggara and its richness in arts and culture. The main events are the City Parade, the Fun Color Run, the Culinary Program and the Weaving & Fashion Street Fest. The supporting events include the Maritime Culture Dialogue, the Investment Forum, Kenawa Jazz Festival, International Paragliding, International Workshop of the Blue Economy and Senggigi Festival.

For three days, from Sept. 9 to Sept. 11, visitors of Sumbawa will be treated to West Nusa Tenggara’s cultural attractions in an event at Badas Port.

On the same days and at the same venue, visitors will have an unprecedented opportunity to witness a range of creative industrial products that showcase Indonesia’s maritime and tourism potential in Indonesia at the Maritime Expo.

One can also watch the City Parade, through which all regencies and municipalities in West Nusa Tenggara will showcase their traditional cultures, as reflected in attire and accompanying traditional dance and music. The parade, to be held on Sept. 10, will start in the Sumbawa regency office and finish at Pahlawan Field.

For health-conscious travelers, there is the Fun Color Run, a mixture of sports and fun, on Sept. 10. At least 5,000 participants across NTB will take part in the event. It will start at the Sumbawa regent’s office and finish at Saliperate Beach. The first 100 finishers will be entitled to a medal and a door prize that will be presented at the end of the program.

Participants of the Fun Color Run will be treated to Sumbawa’s typical dishes, many of which feature fish, in the Culinary Program on the same day.

Fashion enthusiasts and fans of ethnic fabrics will have the opportunity to see how local weavers weave cloths in Weaving & Fashion Street Fest at Samota Bride on Sept. 12. The weaving demo will be enlivened by the Fashion Street, featuring local cloths.

Intact kingdom site

Skillful riders: Locals take part in a buffalo and horse race, a very common activity in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara

Given that Sumbawa is rich in cultural diversity, with an intact kingdom site as one of its legacies, the event will also feature a cultural dialogue to revive local cultural diversity. The dialogue will be held on Sept. 12 in Sumbawa regency.

Sumbawa offers natural and marine resources that are untapped, providing an opportunity for investors to explore business opportunities. An Investment Forum, therefore, will be held on Sept. 13 to help boost local income.

The event will also feature International Workshop of the Blue Economy, which will be held at Mandalika, Lombok, NTB, from Sept. 1 to 18.

Apart from the workshop, there will also be a seminar themed “Asia Pacific Geopark Network” on Sept. 18 at Mataram, Lombok, NTB.  

Other supporting events will include Barapan Kebo & Pacuan Kuda (Buffalo & Horse Race) on Sept. 15, International Paragliding on Sept. 16, Gili Tramena Begawe on Sept. 20 and Senggigi Festival on Sept. 21 to 22.

Sail Indonesia Moyo Tambora will be closed on Sept. 23 in the Farewell Party event in Gili Mas, Lembar, West Lombok. The closing ceremony is expected to be attended by yachters and a number of dignitaries.

Saporo Snow Festival

Text by Hesti Setiarini, photo adapted from google, executive summary by darmansjah

Saporo snow festival held since 1949 and visited by about two million tourists from home and abroad. This year was held on February 6 to 12 in three places: Odori Park, Susukino and Sapporo Tsudome. Hundreds of ice building of the main sponsors nearly a dozen feet tall meet Odori Park. Park that stretches from west to east along the 1.5 kilometers in the heart of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and Sapporo Clock Tower face. In the past it was a festival of ice sculptures are Homare Sawa, Nadeshiko Japan captain. Japanese are so proud of their women's football team, won the trophy because of the World Cup and became the first from Asia.

Statuesque Stunner with a Penchant for Travel

A touch of heritage: Patricia explores some of Hong Kong's lesser-known spots, including a traditional cheongsam dress shop.Two years after her dazzling performance on Asia’s Next Top Model, model Patricia Gouw stars in a new reality show that takes her on a thrilling adventure around Hong Kong.The first thing you’ll notice when Patricia Gouw walks into a room is her sheer presence, honed by years in the modeling and pageant circle learning to command the attention of all.

Perhaps best known for being the runner-up in cycle four of the modeling competition-slash-reality show Asia’s Next Top Model, Jakarta-born Patricia has since spread her wings into other ventures like presenting TV shows and radio segments.

Patricia is certainly no stranger to the world of fashion and beauty, having majored in fashion business at LaSalle College as well as receiving numerous accolades such as the runner-up for Wajah Femina 2010, the runner-up for Miss ASEAN 2012, as well as making it to the final 15 of Miss Indonesia 2012 and being crowned Miss Healthy.

Far from the dazzling glamour of fashion and pageantry, Patricia’s latest entry in her TV portfolio took her on an adventure to Hong Kong, as part of reality show Extreme Ends, which premiered on Oct 17 on the KIX channel.

The show follows four Southeast Asian celebrities and their companions as they embark on an adventure around Hong Kong, exploring the metropolitan’s “extreme ends” wit ha different theme for each pair.

Patricia decided to participate in the show was she loves discovering new things, and also because she could bring along her friend, 2008 Putri Pariwisata Indonesia Chika Mailoa.

“After getting married and having two kids, I noticed that she became shier. I was happy to bring her along to get her back in the groove,” Patricia said about her friend of 10 years.

The two were assigned the theme “Hidden and Exposed”, with Patricia taking on “Hidden and Chika ‘Exposed”.

Patricia and Chika were given no clues about their itinerary or challenges before filming in July, perhaps as an allusion to their assigned themes.

“When I arrived, I had no idea what I would be doing, only that I would ‘experience’ Hong Kong. As soon as chika and I arrived at the airport and met our contacts there, we went our separate directions,” Patricia recalled.

Patricia and Chika went to different destinations and were only able to meet up at nighttime.

Particia’s first activity in Hong Kong was far from easy. It was real rock climbing, she noted, not the simplified version one might find in malls.

“It was literally in the hills and cliffs, they were not playing around.”

Despite having zero experience rock climbing, she tried it out with the assistance of an expert. But along the way she faced major challenges: her safety shoes hurt her feet; and it was her time of the month.

“I was stuck at some point, and then the guide was like say whatever  it is that you’re feeling’. So, I can didly answered ‘I’m leaking!’.” Patricia said, giggling.

Not only that, Patricia also needed to strike a pose whiLe clinging to the cliffs.

“When I got halfway, they stopped everything for a drone shot. On one side I was shaking all over, but on the other side I needed to look good for the camera, so I posed while yelling at them to hurry up as they wind was bearing down on me.”

The adrenaline-pumping climbing aside, Extreme Ends also took Patricia to discover Hong Kong’s  charming secret spot, including a Chinese medicine store that actually conceals a restaurant.

“There was a hidden door. You’re supposed to push a button, and it opens to reveal a retro-style café.”

During the culinary trip, Patricia and chika took part in a game through a video call, where one had to guess what dishes the other ordered.

“If my guess was right, then chika would be allowed to eat. That really tested our friendship because we hadn’t seen each other in a long time and we have different tastes as well.”

Patricia thoroughly enjoyed the dinning experience although she could not remember the names of the dishes.

“The food was ordered for me, and I couldn’t read the dishes’ names; I’m KW (not real)Chinese!” Patricia, a model of Chinese descent, joked.

After experiencing the worlds of fashion, pageantry and travel, Patricia said that she enjoyed traveling the most. The Hong Kong trip allowed her to experience the city like a local and exposed her to new things.

“I’m always like ‘what’s next?”. I don’t mind trying new things, and I’m very open to that.”