travelogue

My country, Indonesia has hundreds of different ethnics with their own unique culture and culinary which represent the people. One of the biggest ethnics living in Indonesia is Javanese. Javanese culinary itself are divided into 3 regions, East Java, West Java, and Center Java. These 3 types of culinary are very different from each other. I come from East Java. East Javanese culinary are rather salty and has strong spices. Most East Javanese cuisine are made of “petis” or “terasi”, fermented shrimp paste. For example, “Lontong Balap” a soupy food contents with sprout, noodle, and tofu ). Petis contented in Lontong Balap makes it coloured black and taste very tasty which shows East Javanese people are quick minded, easy going, and thoughtful.

A different case for West Java and Central Java. Most of West Javanese food doesn’t taste as strong as the East, it is famous as “Sundanese Food” . Some of Sundanese food are served raw, like “Oncom”. It is mixture of bean, cabbage, and sprouts dressed with peanut sauce and it tastes mild. Sundanese food shows that most Sundanese people are more likely to be calm and gentle.

Meanwhile in Central Java, most of the food tastes sweet. The famous one is called “Gudeg” which is originally from Yogyakarta. It is made of young jackfruit cooked with coconut milk. Another Central Javanese food is Ayam Goreng kalasan ( kalasan fried chicken) which is originally from Klaten. From the food I have tasted, I can conclude that Central Javanese people like sweet tasted food, which shown that they are patient, friendly, and easy going.

There are still many more unique culinary of Indonesia. Just mention, Balinese, Kalimantanese, Sulawesi, Sumatran, etc. Each of it are also divided into several different regions. For example, one famous Sumatran cuisine is “Masakan Padang” or Minang Kabau cuisine from Padang,West Sumatra. This cuisine is typically has a very strong taste from many spices and mostly cooked with coconut milk like the world’s most delicious food, Rendang. So, I would conclude that people from Padang are attractive, strong, and quick.