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Fact About Tours

East Java or Jawa Timur included Madura Island has a total population of 29.2 million with the area of 47.922 sq km. The majority of population are javanese, but many maduranese farmers, fishermen live in East Java. they are familiar faces, particulary around Surabaya, the capital of the province. In Bromo area is a small population of Hindu Tenggerese.

Geographically, much of province is flatter than the rest of Java. In the north-west is low land with deltas along Brantas River and Bengawan Solo. But the rest of East Java is mountainous and hilly, containing the huge Bromo-Tebgger massif and Java's highest monutain Mt. Semeru. This region offers a raw, natural beauty and magneficent scenery.

Major attractions for the visitors include the magnificent Gunung Bromo, still one of Java's active volcanoes. Then there is a host of other mountains, pleasant walks, and fine hill towns, like Malang. In the north-east corner of the province there is also the important Baluran National Park, the most accessible of Java's wildlife reserves. Finally, although East Java is closely related culturally to Central Java, the Madurese are best known for their rugged sport called Kerapan Sapi, the famous bull races which take place on the island during August and September.

HISTORY

East Java's hazy past comes into focus with its political and cultural ascendancy in the 10th century AD, and the reign of Airlangga. Before claiming the throne in 1019 AD, Airlangga had spent many years as hermit, devoting time to accumulating wisdom through fasting and meditation. Under Airlangga's government, eastern Java became united and powerful but shortly before his death he devided his kingdom between his two sons, creating Jenggala, east of Brantas River and Kediri to the west. A third kingdom, Singosari, join in the struggle for the ascendancy.

East Java achieved its gloriousness when the Majapahit Empire was governed by Hayam Wuruk with his assistant Patih Gajah Mada on 1294-1478 and during the reign of Hayam Wuruk carried their power overseas, with raids into Bali and an expedition against Palembang in Sumatra. Majapahit also claimed trading relations with Cambodia, Burma, Siam, Vietnam and sent mission to China. When Hayam Wuruk died in 1389, the Majapahit Empire rapidly disintegrated. By the end of 15th centur, Islamic power was growing on the north coast and less than a century most of East Java are muslim. Just because of didnt want to be in muslim environtment many Hindu-Buddist were moving to Bali, but in the mountain ranges around Gunung Bromo, the Tenggerese people traced their history back to Majapahit and still practise their own religion. A variety of Hinduism that includes many proto-javanese elements. During the 17th century the region finally fell to the rulers of Mataram in Central Java. 

Today, Surabaya, the provincial capital and second-largest city in Indonesia. It is a vital centre for trade and manfacturing, but East Java is still a region of agriculture and small vilages. In marked contrast t the practically always - wet western end of Java. East Java has monsoonal climate and real dry season from April to November. 

THE LAND

Anyone who opens a physical map of Java will notice immediately the high, mountainous ridge extending along the entire lenth of the centre of island. Some of the higest and nost active of these volcanic peaks are to be found in East Java, whose flat, fertile plains are punctuated by no less than six separate ranges, becoming progresively higher toward the east. These mountains are among East Java's principal attractions and some of the more outstanding include the 3,676 meter active cone of Mt. Semeru, Java's higest peak, the famous sand sea and steaming crater of Mt. Bromo, the sulphureous summit of Mt. Welirang and the strangely beautiful crater lake of Ijen and Kelud. Two main waterways, Brantas and Solo rivers are lifelines for much of East Java predominantly agricultural community. The former rises in the highlands to the north west of Malang and follows a circuitous path before dividing into  a number of smaller streams to meet the sea a  Surabaya. The famous  Bengawan Solo, longest river in Java, has its source in the centre of the island and stretches 540 kilometers before joining the coast at Gresik. Other important rivers include the Madiun, Konto, Sampeyan and Grindulu.

CLIMATE

Like the lanscape, East Java' s climate is derived, depending upon attitude. The plains and lower hill regions are hot and humid, making conditions ideal for wet rice cultivation (sawah). Further up in the hills the air becomes quite cool, while in high mountainous areas at night the temperature can drop to near zero. Hill regions are well suited for the cultivation of a large variety of fruits and vegetables, which thrive in the colder climate. Principal crops, aside from rice, include corn tobacco, sugar cane, coffee, rubber, kapok, cloves, tea, cocoa, peanuts, soybeans and cotton. In addition, there are extensive plantations of teak and pine. East Java has a market wet and dry season, with rain occurring between October and April. The wettest mothn are December, January and February. 

 

 

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