Indonesian Heritage Society has new head<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Indonesian Heritage Society, a
\nvolunteer organization here, bid farewell to chairwoman Mary de
\nTray on Thursday and greeted Liz Oley, who replaces De Tray.<\/p>\n
Founded nearly 30 years ago as Ganesha Volunteers, the
\nIndonesian Heritage Society is an organization of volunteers from
\naround the world who assist Jakarta's museums, particularly the
\nNational Museum, and promote public appreciation of Indonesia's
\ncultural heritage.<\/p>\n
\"My greatest debt of gratitude is to the people of Indonesia
\nwho created the tremendous wealth of culture that I have come to
\nknow, at least a bit, and to love. Indonesia's cultural heritage
\nhas opened up new vistas for me, vistas that I will carry with me
\nwherever I go,\" said De Tray, who is leaving the country this
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
She became a member of the society in 1994 following the
\nappointment of her husband, Dennis de Tray, as country director
\nfor the World Bank here. She was appointed the society's
\nchairwoman in 1997.<\/p>\n
The society this year has 445 members from 32 different
\nnationalities. Indonesians are the largest group, with 72
\nparticipating members.<\/p>\n
The group's many activities include helping with the
\npublication of the National Museum's catalog, translating
\narchival records, giving museum tours, and teaching English and
\nother languages to the museum staff.<\/p>\n
\"Explorers\" is one of the society's most popular activities,
\nespecially among newcomers to the city. Conducted one morning
\nevery week, participants meet in small groups to visit places of
\nhistoric and cultural interest in Jakarta and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
The sites include Jakarta's many museums, notable mosques,
\nchurches and temples, arts centers, traditional markets,
\nhistorical cemeteries, gardens and home-based industries, such as
\njamu (traditional herb) making and production of tempe (tempeh)
\nand tahu (tofu).<\/p>\n
Lately, the explorers have also expanded their destinations to
\ninclude sites of interest outside of the city, such as in Puncak,
\nBogor, Banten, Ciampea and Plered, all in West Java.<\/p>\n
And in its annual meeting Thursday, the society launched a new
\nedition of The Jakarta Explorer, a book compiled from research
\ndone by the participants based on their many site visits. The
\nbook, written in English, was first published in 1991.<\/p>\n
Mary said it took a considerable amount of time to update the
\nbook because of tremendous changes within the city.<\/p>\n
\"Many of the sites had to be revisited and it was inevitable
\nthat enthusiasm for the project resulted in the addition of many
\nlocations,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The new 325-page book also includes detailed information of
\nthe various areas in the city -- from the old port of Sunda
\nKelapa, tempeh factories at Mampang Prapatan to the botanical
\ngardens in Bogor -- along with new maps and updated photographs.
\n(ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-heritage-society-has-new-head-1447893297",
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