ARE you planning to vacation with your family in the area around Jakarta in the near future? Try the new Kampoeng Joglo Tanjung Lesung tourist attraction, the unique place is guaranteed to be exciting
Kampoeng Joglo itself is a tourist spot in the form of a village with an original joglo house in the Tanjung Lesung-Banten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and officially opened to the public on May 18, 2023.
Preserve Indonesian culture
Yes, designer Migi Rihasalay and her husband Andrew James – owners of Kampoeng Joglo, inaugurated Kampoeng Joglo which they built for six years since 2016. The inauguration was carried out in conjunction with the ‘Mitoni’ event, which commemorated the age of pregnancy of the wife who had been seven months
“Finally, after a long struggle for six years, we can complete the construction of Kampoeng Joglo Tanjung Lesung. Where, in this complex, there are six joglo houses that we have indeed imported directly from Java which are expected to be a creation house for artists in Indonesia in the future,” Migi Rihasalay in grand opening on Thursday (18/5/), at Tanjung Lesung SEZ, Pandeglang-Banten.
While Migi’s husband, Andrew James, who is an Australian citizen, expressed his love for Indonesian culture, especially Javanese culture, indeed trying to be realized through Kampoeng Joglo that he made.
“This is the cultural heritage of Indonesia, especially Java, which we must preserve. So that in the future we can motivate Indonesian children to be able to maintain their cultural heritage, know their cultural origins and motivate them to continue working and Kampoeng Joglo in Sunda land can be used as a gathering place for artists to want to be active in the future, “he explained.
Fall in love with Javanese cultural customs
According to Migi, the construction of Kampoeng Joglo is Andrew’s dream since he set foot in Indonesia in 1981 in Bali. And in 1990 while living on the island of Java, Andrew became more in love with Javanese customs, including artistic and all-wood joglo buildings.
This love was realized by building Kampoeng Joglo near Jakarta, precisely the coastal area of Tanjung Lesung SEZ – one of the independent city projects of PT Jababeka Tbk.
“Each joglo has its own characteristics and some of them are hundreds of years old,” said Migi.
In addition, added Migi, Kampoeng Joglo is equipped with rooms and multipurpose halls as a creative event for artists.
The couple Andrew James and Migi Rihasalay hope that the presence of Kampoeng Joglo can be useful for the local community and become a tourism attraction in Banten, especially the Tanjung Lesung SEZ.
“As an inspiration village and can also be for various events, such as art performances, venue weddings and others,” continued Migi who also likes to paint used bottles and others.
In the Kampoeng Joglo Tanjung Lesung complex itself, there are six Joglo house pavilions whose buildings were brought directly from several regions in Central Java with the average age of the house between 100-300 years. There are six joglo houses, each of which is named after a puppet character, namely Gatotkaca, Bima, Srikandi, Dewi Khunti, Arjuna, and Nakula.
Meanwhile, Arief Yahya, Minister of Tourism 2014-2019 who was present at the opening appreciated the creation of Kampoeng Joglo Tanjung Lesung. According to him, Kampoeng Joglo is an extraordinary and unique “work”.
“I quite appreciate the making of Kampoeng Joglo in Tanjung Lesung. Because it dares to present Javanese culture in the land of Sunda. This is important for us because we continue to build the face of tourism through 10 New Bali, one of which is in Tanjung Lesung. Hopefully, Kampoeng Joglo will be a home for the tourism industry and a home for Indonesian artists for the future of tourism progress, especially in Tanjung Lesung,” said Arief Yahya.
The opening of Kampoeng Joglo was attended by guests from various backgrounds, among others, Setyono Djuandi Darmono founder and chairman of PT Jababeka Tbk, Hyanto Wihadhi as Director of PT Jababeka Tbk, Setiawan Mardjuki from Jababeka Hospitality Management, Alharmidi as Head of Banten Provincial Tourism Office, Neneng Nuraeni as Head of Pandeglang Regency Tourism Office as well as representing Pandeglang Regent, Arief Yahya Minister of Tourism 2014-2019, Tinton Suprapto, Indonesian motorsport legend, and Sigit Samsu, chairman of Indonesia Flying Club.
