Tag: travel

Indonesian National Anthem

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Hi, everyone well Friday is here again and today so here is some information about the national anthem of Indonesia. The anthem is called Indonesia Raya it has been the national anthem since the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945.

The first stanza of “Indonesia Raya” was chosen as the national anthem when Indonesia proclaimed its independence on 17 August 1945.

The song is played in flag raising ceremonies in schools across Indonesia every Monday. The flag is raised in a solemn and timed motion so that it reaches the top of the flagpole as the anthem ends. The main flag raising ceremony is held annually on 17 August to commemorate Independence Day. The ceremony is led by the President and is usually held in Merdeka Palace.

In 1951, ownership of the copyright to “Indonesia Raya” came into question. President Sukarno ordered a search for the rightful heir to Soepratman.  By law, Supratman was the copyright holder of “Indonesia Raya” as its composer. After Soepratman’s death in 1938, ownership of the rights to his works fell upon the designated heirs, his four surviving sisters. However, because “Indonesia Raya” was officially adopted as the national anthem of Indonesia on 17 August 1945, the work became the property of the state. In addition, the name of “Wage Rudolf Supratman” must be listed as its creator.

As a national anthem, copies of “Indonesia Raya” cannot be circulated as merchandise to be sold. Consequently, the government had the obligation to obtain all the rights to distribute the song, including the original recording, from Yo Kim Tjan. In 1958, the government obtained the sole right to “Indonesia Raya” from Soepratman’s family.  The following year, Yo handed the original record of the song to the Indonesian government. With the recommendation of the Department of Education, the government also rewarded Soepratman’s sisters with 250,000 Indonesian rupiah each on 31 May 1960.

Here is the English translation

Indonesia, our native country,

Our birthplace,

Where we all arise to stand guard

Over this our Motherland:

Indonesia our nationality,

Our people and our country.

Come then, let us all exclaim

Indonesia united.

Long live our land,

Long live our state,

Our nation, our people, and all

Arise then, its spirit,

Arise, its bodies

For Great Indonesia.


CHORUS

Indonesia the Great, independent and free,

Our beloved country.

Indonesia the Great, independent and free,

Long live Indonesia the Great!


Indonesia, an eminent country,

Our wealthy country,

There we shall be forever.

Indonesia, the country of our ancestors,

A relic of all of us.

Let us pray

For Indonesia’s prosperity:

May her soil be fertile

And spirited her soul,

The nation and all the people.

Conscious be her heart

And her mind

For Indonesia the Great.


CHORUS


Indonesia, a sacred country,

Our victorious country:

There we stand

Guarding our true Mother.

Indonesia, a beaming Country,

A country we love with all our heart,

Let’s make a vow

That Indonesia be there forever.

Blessed be her people

And her sons,

All her islands, and her seas.

Fast be the country’s progress

And the progress of her youth

For Indonesia the Great.




Indonesia

~ joannerambling ~ 3 Comments

Hello everyone, this week we are looking at the country of Indonesia which is in Asia. It is a vast and fascinating country with a wealth of unique facts.

The current capital is Jakarta, located on the island of Java. However, the government is in the process of relocating the capital to a new city, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo (East Kalimantan), due to overcrowding and environmental issues in Jakarta.  

It has a population of around 284.7 to 285.7 million people making it the world’s fourth most populous country. It has the largest Muslim population in the world, though the country is officially secular and recognizes six major religions.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, comprising over 17,000 islands (though the exact number is debated). Due to its numerous islands, it has the second-longest coastline in the world, after Canada.  

It stretches over a distance equivalent to about one-eighth of Earth’s circumference and straddles the equator.  

Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the most volcanic countries in the world, home to 139 volcanoes, with many still active. It also has the world’s largest volcanic lake, that being Lake Toba, on Sumatra.

The national motto is “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity), there are more than 300 ethnic groups with over 700 languages and dialects spoken. The official national language is Bahasa Indonesia, which serves as a unifying force across the archipelago.  

The island of Java is the most populous island in the world, home to more than half of Indonesia’s total population. It is where the capital is located.   

The flag of Indonesia, known as Sang Saka Merah Putih (The Lofty Red and White), is a simple yet powerful design.

It is a horizontal bicolour of two equal bands, with red on top and white on the bottom. The red symbolises courage (keberanian), and the white symbolises purity (kesucian).

It was officially adopted on August 17, 1945, the day the nation proclaimed its independence.  

However, the red and white colours and the bicolour design have a much longer history, tracing back to the Majapahit Empire in the 13th century. This flag was also used by Indonesian nationalist movements as early as 1928.

Beijing

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Today I am looking a bit more at the town of Beijing, the capital of China.

Beijing is a city with a rich and extensive history, with evidence of human habitation dating back hundreds of thousands of years. It has served as the capital of various Chinese dynasties for most of the past eight centuries and has played a central role in the country’s political and cultural development.

The area around modern-day Beijing has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The discovery of “Peking Man” fossils in Zhoukoudian, dating back 230,000 to 250,000 years, provides evidence of early human ancestors.

Beijing’s rise to a major imperial capital began in the 10th to 13th centuries, when nomadic peoples from beyond the Great Wall made the city their capital.

In 1215, the Mongol armies of Genghis Khan captured and destroyed the city. However, Kublai Khan, a successor of Genghis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), decided to rebuild the city and make it his capital, renaming it Dadu (“Great Capital”). It was during this time that the city first became the political centre of a unified China. The Venetian merchant Marco Polo visited Dadu and was astonished by its grandeur.

In 1644, the Manchu people conquered China and established the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), with Beijing as their capital. The city’s layout and many of its iconic landmarks, such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, remained largely the same, though new palaces and gardens were added outside the city walls, including the Old Summer Palace and the Summer Palace. The Old Summer Palace was famously destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860.

The Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1912, and the Republic of China was established. Beijing remained the political centre for a time but was renamed Beiping (“Northern Peace”) in 1928 when the capital was moved to Nanjing.

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China from Tiananmen Gate, and Beijing was once again declared the nation’s capital. The city has undergone significant changes since then, with the development of modern infrastructure and the expansion of the urban area. Notable recent historical events include the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and the hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

According to official data, the permanent population of Beijing was 21.832 million at the end of 2024. This marked a decrease of 26,000 from the previous year.

The housing market in Beijing is complex, with a mix of ownership and rental options. The government has played a significant role in housing policy, with a shift from subsidized public housing to a more commercialized market since 1978. This has led to a variety of housing tenures, including public rental, private market rental, and several types of home ownership (e.g., purchasing former public housing or market-rate homes). Residence status and income are major factors that determine the type of housing a person can access.    

The majority of Beijing’s population lives in multi-story apartment buildings, a trend driven by rapid urbanization and the need to house a massive population in a limited space.

The most common form of housing is apartment buildings, these range from older, multi-story buildings (typically 4-7 stories) to modern high-rise towers with over seven floors and elevators. They are found throughout the city, with prices and quality varying significantly depending on the location. Modern, high-end apartments are common in the central business district and upscale neighbourhoods, while more functional and affordable apartments are found in the suburbs.  

There are also siheyuans which are courtyard houses, these are Beijing’s traditional and iconic residential dwellings. A siheyuan consists of buildings arranged around a central courtyard. While they were once the dominant housing style, many have been demolished to make way for modern apartment buildings. Today, the remaining siheyuans are highly sought after and expensive, often found in the historic “hutong” (narrow alley) areas of central Beijing. Some have been converted into boutique hotels, restaurants, or shared by multiple families.  

Found predominantly in the city’s suburbs are villas, which are Western-style, single-family homes or townhouses. They are a much rarer and more expensive housing option compared to apartments.  

A significant portion of the migrant worker population and some state employees live in dormitories or other forms of collective housing provided by their employers. These are often located near factories or construction sites and are generally considered a more temporary or basic form of accommodation.  

How old is China

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Hi everyone, I am going to share a little more information about China, like how old the country is.

The age of China as a continuous civilization is often measured in different ways, leading to various figures.

China is widely considered one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with a history spanning over 4,000 years. This is based on archaeological and historical records of early dynasties like the Shang.

The first unified Chinese state was established by the Qin Dynasty in 221BCE. This marked the beginning of imperial China, which lasted for over two millennia. This period of centralized rule is a key factor in the formation of the modern nation-state.  

The country has had many dynasties, however the number of dynasties China has had is a bit complicated, as it depends on how you define a “dynasty.” Some periods saw multiple competing dynasties at the same time, while others were short-lived.  

However, historians generally recognise 13 major dynastic periods in a long, continuous line of succession that ruled over a unified or semi-unified China:  Here are what those 13 dynasties are.

Xia Dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BCE): The first dynasty in traditional Chinese history, though its existence is considered quasi-mythical by some scholars.  

Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE): The first dynasty with solid archaeological evidence.  

Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE): The longest-ruling dynasty, which developed the concept of the “Mandate of Heaven.”  

Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE): The first to unify China and establish a centralized, imperial system.  

Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE): A golden age for Chinese culture and technology.  

Sui Dynasty (581–618): Briefly unified China after a long period of disunity.  

Tang Dynasty (618–907): Another “golden age,” known for its flourishing arts and culture.  

Song Dynasty (960–1279): A period of great economic and technological advancement.  

Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368): Established by the Mongols under Kublai Khan.  

Ming Dynasty (1368–1644): Known for its ambitious public works and extensive maritime exploration.  

Qing Dynasty (1644–1912): China’s last imperial dynasty, ruled by the Manchu people.  

In addition to these, there were many other smaller or regional dynasties and periods of fragmentation, such as the Three Kingdoms, the Sixteen Kingdoms, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms periods. If you were to count every single one of these, the total number of Chinese dynasties could be as high as over 80.  

China’s National Things

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Today we are looking at some of the national things of China.

                         The Great Wall

They have a national landmark which is of course The Great Wall, The Great Wall of China is a series of fortified walls stretching across the historical northern borders of China to protect against nomadic tribes of the Eurasian Steppe. It was first built in the 7th century BC, and slowly expanded over time until the Ming Dynasty.

                        A Giant Panda 

The national animal of China is the Giant Panda, a bear native to south-central China. Also considered a national animal is The Chinese Dragon, or Loong, which is one of four auspicious legendary creatures appearing in Chinese mythology and folklore. The dragon has many animal-like body parts, including wolf’s head, stag’s antlers, hare’s eyes, bull’s ears, serpent’s torso, carp’s squama, tiger’s limbs, and eagle’s talons. Theories claim that Loong was a combination of totems of many tribes created to unite them under one banner.

                      Red-Crowned Crane

There are two national birds the red-crowned crane or Manchurian crane which is a large East Asian crane and among the rarest cranes in the world. It is found in Siberia northeastern China. The other one is the Golden Pheasant which is a game bird native to Western China.

                        Fuzzy Kiwifruit 

The Fuzzy Kiwifruit is the national fruit of China. It has fuzzy, dull brown skin and tangy, bright green flesh, also considered a national fruit is the Jujube it is an oval drupe 1.5-3 centimetres deep; it resembles a date and has a single hard stone like an olive.

The national tree is the Ginkgo it is the only species of these trees left all the others are gone. The national flower is the Chinese peony, Chinese herbaceous peony, or common garden peony it is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to Central and Eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia

The national instrument is The Guqin this is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement

The national sport is Table Tennis as declared by Chairman Mao.

I am sure most people will not be surprised to read that the national dish is Peking Duck, but how many know that the national drink is Baijiu which is a Chinese colourless liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume.

This is all for this week, I will do more about China next Monday.

China

~ joannerambling ~ 7 Comments

This week we are looking at China which is in East Asia and is the largest of all the Asian countries, making up nearly the entire East Asian landmass. It’s also nearly as large as Europe.

There are 33 administrative units under the central government, these consist of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 special administrative regions.

It has a population of around 1,416,096,094 which is around 17.2% or the total world population, it is the second largest populated country.

The capital of China is Beijing and has been for around 8 centuries, it has a population of over 22 million.

The official language is Standard Mandarin which is mainly based on the Beijing dialect.

The flag is red with five golden stars, it has one large star and four smaller stars in a arc, it has been the national flag since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China on the 1 October 1949. It was designed by Zeng Liansong. The red represents the Communist Revolution, and the stars represent the unity of the four social classes of the Chinese people.

When we think of the Chinese currency, we think of the currency we think of the Yuan which is the basic unit however, the currency is the renminbi.

The People’s Bank of China has the exclusive authority to issue currency. Banknotes range in denomination from 1 fen to 100 renminbi. The obverse side of some banknotes contain images of communist leaders, such as Mao Zedong. The reverse side of most coins contains images of historic buildings and the country’s diverse landscape.

                    Buddhist Statues

China is a centre for world religious thought and practices. Although about half the population identifies as nonreligious or atheist, many belief systems have shaped Chinese society for centuries. The government officially recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Islam, though it keeps these under tight control.

                       Confucianism Temple

Also popular is Confucianism which is a worldview, social ethic, political ideology, and way of life that entails ancestor reverence and profound human-centered religiousness. It emphasizes the duty of the individual in society and government.

There is also Daoism, which is a, indigenous religious-philosophical tradition, Daoism emphasizes mystical experience and the individual’s harmony with nature.

Buddhism came to China possibly as early as the 3rd century BCE. China became an incubator for many of the great present-day Buddhist sects, including Zen and Pure Land, and, by its extension into Tibet, the source of Tibetan Buddhism.

                   Folk Religion Temples

Many Chinese embrace aspects and rituals of indigenous folk religions, which comprise the largest group of those professing a belief. Deities of the popular pantheon are intimately involved in everyday life as givers of blessings or bringers of calamities.

Christians are a small but significant and growing minority, many of them converts to Evangelical Protestant denominations.

Islam Members of non-Han minorities constitute the bulk of those following Islam.

That will do for this post, more next week.

Week 34 of 2025

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Sorry I forgot to post this yesterday

I had another good night had 9hr6mins sleep was awake for 7mins. 5C this morning, so bloody cold.

Tim had to leave for work at 2am he should be home by 8am.

I am so damn cold this morning, I am struggling to get warm.  I have two pairs of socks and slippers, a long sleeve singlet, a tee shirt and a cardician, fingerless gloves and a rug over my legs and yes, the heater is also on.

It warmed up by 11am and I managed to do a few things around the house.

BGL:5.8

Steps:6,045=3.05klm

I had really good night got 10hr19mins sleep was awake for 7mins. Not as cold this morning it is 7C.

I mopped the kitchen, laundry and bathroom floors, vacuumed out twice. Cleaned the kitchen when I first got up other than that I did nothing much.

BGL:5.5

Steps: 8,150=4.13klm’s

I slept well got 8hr54mins sleep was awake for 8mins.

Sam’s new driver is named Frank.

Coles was delivered around 8.15am but got message from Woolies at 7.30am saying there was logistical breakdown, and my order would be late, received another message at midday saying the order would be 240mins late.

Sue took me to physio, while there Jess rang to say my shopping had been delivered. So much for being hours late.

Physio went well, the physio’s name is Noah, and he was nice, I have of course been given some exercises to do each day I go back on the 2nd.

I set up the Cpap machine Tim bought for his use, it is actually an Apap machine, something I have never heard of, I didn’t have to set a pressure number. I hope it helps him. However, he does have issues with a blocked nose and that may make things difficult, but we will see.

BGL:5.5

Steps:10,388=5.28klm’s     

KIRSTY & VAUGHAN’S BIRTHDAY YES, THEY ARE TWINS.

I slept well even if my watch says I only had 6hr 56mins sleep was awake for 11mins. That doesn’t seem right I went to bed at 8.30pm work up at 5am.

Asked Tim how he slept he said he removed the Cpap mask during the night as his nose was blocked, and he couldn’t breathe.

Sue and I went to the podiatrist then home, it has rained on and off all day.

Sue sent me a video she shot around Charlestown of the police helicopter circling around and so many cops around the area. A man had been stabbed in a carpark and they were looking for the perpetrator. Part of what Sue was shown on the 6pm news

Of course, it was raining when I went to meet Sam this arvo.

BGL: 5.8

Steps: 9,516=4.83klm’s

I slept well even if my watch says I only had 6hr 48mins sleep and was awake for 19mins. That doesn’t seem right I went to bed at 7.30pm work up at 5am and I didn’t wake at all during the night to pee.

Sam let me know that I don’t have to meet her this arvo as she is going to Bailey’s for a bit.

Sue and I went shopping and saw Sandy and Denni which was great, Sandy told me I walk like our Nan did, and Sue said that on Tuesday when she looked at me, she thought I looked like Nan these comments I take as a compliment

BGL: 5.8

Steps: 7,555=3.83 Klm’s 

I slept well got 8hrs 26mins sleep and was awake for only 8mins.

It is another cold and wet day here temp this morning is 10C but after Sam goes to school, I have nothing to do and won’t be leaving the house.

This afternoon it is 14C and still raining.

BGL: 6.1

Steps: 6,300=3.23klm’s

I slept well got 10hrs 29mins sleep and was awake for only 9mins.

It is 10C this morning but warmed up a bit by 10 am and cooled down again by 5pm.

Tim is working this afternoon he is doing rail and won’t be home till around 2.30am tomorrow and he is working again tomorrow afternoon. He left at midday for work.

I received another parcel from Temu good, my error not Temu’s.

BGL:5.8

Steps: 7,652=3.90 klm’s or 2.4miles

Elephants

~ joannerambling ~ 4 Comments

Today we are looking at elephants which are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

African elephants are the largest land animals, with males reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing up to 14,000 pounds. 

The trunk is a multi-functional organ, used for breathing, smelling, touching, drinking, and even as a tool for digging and grabbing.

They have tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth that grow throughout their lives. 

While their skin is thick, it’s also sensitive and elephants often use mud and dust to protect themselves from the sun and insects. 

They are known to have an exceptional memory and are known to remember individuals and locations for years. 

They live in close-knit herds, primarily led by older females, and communicate through various vocalizations and body language. 

They communicate using a range of sounds, including trumpeting and infrasound, which can travel long distances.

African elephants are pregnant for an average of 22 months, whilst for Asian elephants it’s 18 to 22 months.1 You might think such a long pregnancy is because of what huge creatures they are – but you’d only be partly correct. Baby elephants do develop slowly in the womb because of their physical size but also because of the size of their intellect.

Baby elephants can stand and walk within minutes of birth, and they stay close to their mothers for support and protection. 

Both African and Asian elephants are facing threats from habitat loss and poaching, leading to conservation efforts to protect them. 

They can live almost as long as humans, African elephants have a maximum lifespan of about 74 years, Asian elephants can live to about 80 and the oldest known elephant in the world is thought to be an Asian elephant who lived to be 89 in captivity. 

Asia

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Time to move into another part of the world, we are now in Asia, which is the worlds largest and most diverse continent, it has both the highest and lowest points on Earth as well as the longest coastline of any continent.

It is subject overall to the world’s widest climatic extremes, and, consequently, produces the most varied forms of vegetation and animal life on Earth.

The name Asia is ancient, and its origin has been variously explained. The Greeks used it to designate the lands situated to the east of their homeland. It is believed that the name may be derived from the Assyrian word asu, meaning “east.” Another possible explanation is that it was originally a local name given to the plains of Ephesus.

Asia has the Arctic Ocean to its north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south.

Asia is separated from North America to the northeast by the Bering Strait and from Australia to the southeast by the seas and straits connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Isthmus of Suez unites Asia with Africa.

Asia is the birthplace of all the world’s major religions—Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Of those, only Christianity developed primarily outside of Asia and has little influence on the continent, though many Asian countries have Christian minorities. Buddhism has had a greater impact outside its birthplace in India and is prevalent in various forms in China, South Korea, Japan, the Southeast Asian countries, and Sri Lanka.

There are 48 countries in Asia, this number does not include dependent territories or areas of special sovereignty. 

Over 2,300 languages are thought to be spoken in Asia, sssthis linguistic diversity is due to the continent’s vast size and diverse geography, which has allowed languages to develop in relative isolation. Asia is home to a wide array of language families, including Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, Dravidian, and many others.

Haiti National Things

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

This week we are looking at some of the national things connected with Haiti the national animal of Haiti is also the national bird. It is the Hispaniolan trogon. It is a colourful bird with a rich assortment of bright feathers along its wings and breast, and a unique pattern on its tail. It’s found only on the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is becoming increasingly rare there due to ongoing habitat loss.

Their national flower is the Hibiscus. Specifically, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also known as the pink hibiscus or rose mallow, is the flower often associated with Haiti. In Haitian Creole, it’s called “choublak” or “rose kayenn”. 

The hibiscus is a vibrant and resilient flower that symbolizes the Haitian spirit. It is used in various ways, from traditional herbal teas to being a decorative element and a symbol for political parties, like the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats. The national tree is the Royal Palm.

Haiti’s national dish is soupe joumou (pumpkin soup). It’s a tradition to eat this soup on New Year’s Day to celebrate Haiti’s independence. The soup is made with squash (joumou), beef, and vegetables, and is known for its symbolism of freedom and hope.

The national sport of Haiti is football (soccer) and huge crowds will come out to cheer at games. Children can be seen playing football all over Haiti’s city streets and rural roads.

Haiti’s national drink is Clairin, a rum made from pure sugar cane. It’s produced by small, artisanal distilleries throughout the island. Clairin is known for its rustic, pure flavour, often expressing herbaceous, vegetal, earthy, and grassy notes. 

In Haiti, the age of consent for sexual activity is 18 years old. The legal age for marriage is also 18 for males and 15 for females but can be lower with parental or presidential authorization. 

The traditional dress for Haitian women is know as a karabela. The dress is made of blue cotton or linen with red lace to symbolize the colors of the Haitian flag. Orange, yellow, and green lace are also used to accent the dress. It is full-length, normally worn off the shoulders.