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Madura Island is part of East Java that needs a better access.
Madura that consist of four regencies has a lot to offer.
It has excellent quality of agriculture outputs and beautiful
tourism objects and more. The presence of the bridge had
expected to improve smoother flow of people, goods and service
from and into this island. Mayor impacts had expected to
emerge from this facility, be it socially and economically.
The Suramadu Bridge that connects Surabaya and Madura Island
has expected to complete in 2007, extending 5.43 km with
28.10 m width.
The sea crossing from East Java to the
small island of Madura takes just half an hour. Measuring
about 160 km in length and about 40 across at it s widest
point, Madura support a population of close to 3 million
inhabitants, most of whom are farmers or fisherman.
The most famous attraction of this island is the annual
bull racing (kerapan sapi), which takes place during the
dry season in August – September. These exiting and
colourful tournaments consist of a race between two pairs
of bulls, each team pulling a rider and sled. Then, the
finals are held in Madura’s capital, Pamekasan on
October.
The interesting part of this attraction
is when a rider stands on the ‘Keleles’, yelling
and slamming while his hands hold two sticks and slap the
bull’s weight and attached to the bulls. A pair of
male cow races each other in 200 m length or known with
Kerapan Sapi. Madurese always hold this race yearly from
sub district level, district, and finally to get a President
Cup.
This tradition has done for so long and
it is a symbol to thank to God by cow breeders in Madura.
Brown cow, a Madurese cow which is always in the race, tourist
also can notice Sapi Kereman, to enjoy how Madurese takes
care of their cows. It is the interesting part, begins with
how the Madurese graze the cows, take care of the cow’s
health with traditional herbs and train the cow about running.
In the middle of Kerapan Sapi, there is an additional attraction
“Sapi Sono”. It is a female bull contest.
The town of Sumenep of the North Eastern
and of the island has some interesting historical, as well
as some good nearby. The city’s old palace and museum
are worth visiting, as is the large Jami’ Mosque with
its green-tiered roof, above the town is the royal mausoleums
Asta Tinggi. The two main beaches near Sumenep are Slopeng
beach and Lombang beach. The former, which lies on the north
coast some 21 km from the town, is a beautiful location
with tall palm trees shading the edge of the beach. At Lombang,
on Madura’s northeastern point, a long and narrow
stretch of white sand is back by dwarf Causarina trees.
A narrow road runs the whole along Madura’s
attractive north coast, from Slopeng to Bangkalan. There
are many small villages and quite beaches on the way, in
particular the fishing communities of Pasongsongan and Pasean,
where the estuaries have packed with colourful sailing boats.
Near to Bangkalan there is Aermata tomb of Ratu Ibu, which
dates back to the mind 17 century. The tomb set on a hill
about 4 km inland the town of Arosbaya.
Madura has well known for its Batik Textile production and
has its own unique style in the performing art; the island
is famous for its Topeng Dalang, a mask dance / theatre,
which at one time had only seen within the royal palace.
Most popular Batik is at Tanjungbumi, Bangkalan. |