The orangutan population is increasingly critical

We haven't included the discussion on nature conservation for a long time, especially after knowing about the latest condition of orangutan habitat on the island of Borneo. 

There was something intriguing, so we on this occasion again made an article with the nature conservation-themed, in the hope that it could spark empathy for the orangutan conservation efforts. Thus the existence of orangutans in the wild can continue to be preserved.

A mobile library of Yayorin (Yayasan Orangutan Indonesia/Indonesian' Orangutan Foundation) to support its education efforts, in areas close to orangutan habitat, in Central Kalimantan Indonesian Borneo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2RRHfzQ)

The year 2019 has been passed, the population of orangutans on the island of Borneo is increasing decreased. If previously the status of its population was critical, now the existence of orangutans in Kalimantan has entered an endangered critical stage.

"In the past, we could say the orangutan conditions on the island of Borneo are still safe. The population is between 35,000 and 55,000. But after the survey increased again (the severity levels), now it is the same as Sumatra, in very critical stage," said Rondang Siregar, an orangutan expert at the University of Indonesia some time ago.

This critically endangered status is determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. And the Sumatra orangutans have assumed this status in advance.

A mature male Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2O7KJgC)

Rondang further said, the reason for the increasingly falling down the population of orangutans still revolves around the classic problem, namely the orangutan lives increasingly threatened because their habitats were taken for human use. For example, in 2017 alone, the deforestation rate is still around 97,000 hectares, especially now that the numbers are getting bigger. 

As a result of deforestation makes the orangutan habitat fragmented. "Because their habitat was chopped up eventually they came out and conflicted with humans," said Rondang. 

Pongo pygmaeus morio or the Black Bornean Orangutan. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2O7KJgC)

On the island of Borneo alone, poaching and trade in wildlife are also still rife. In fact, orangutans are clearly protected by the Indonesian's Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems. 

"In the past, the price was Rp.500,000 (approx US $37) when left the forest. When it came to the port, the station, the terminal, it could reach millions rupiah. Surely it is always there," said Rondang. Due to habitat loss and poaching, the orangutan population has declined dramatically by 50 percent over the past 20 years. How tragic, isn't? 

Thus the orangutan preservations need to be done immediately and You can actively participate in this effort by making a donation through Orangutan Foundation. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION | SAINS KOMPAS]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

Boyolali genuine wood Bugatti Veyron amazed the World's consumers

Through the excellent product quality, the ability of Indonesian artisans in creating high artistic works can not be denied anymore. One example is the Boyolali craftsmen who became the spotlight this time.

As reported by Carscoops on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, that a workshop which is located in one of the cities in Central Java - Indonesia is able to make a replica of the Bugatti Veyron 'land jet' that made ​​from genuine wood. It also explained that the replica of the French luxury car was made at a scale of 1:1 and can be redeemed with a spend of Rp. 40 million (or approx US $3,362 or €2,600).

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sports replica made entirely out of teak. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1ziSuo2)

The entire body and detail of the Bugatti Veyron can be seen carefully on this high-quality wooden replica. The owner of the workshop, Mr. Eko Lukistyanto, said that the life-size Veryon was made from teak wooden scraps and it has a fully detailed interior with a workable steering wheel and shifter, pedals and seats.

The replica of Mercedes Benz 300SL made entirely out of teak. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1wscYqG)

Meanwhile, the typical Indonesian wooden Bugatti Veyron is made to fulfill orders from the European buyer. Further, the wooden car is going to be sent to the owner who was in Germany.

The replicas of premium motorcycles made entirely out of teak. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1rPXqrH)

Not only working on the Bugatti Veyron, but the same workshop also working on many replica of the other luxury cars. In addition to the French hypercar, they also has made the German sportscar replicas, such as Mercedes Benz 300SL and many variants of motorcycles. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSCOOPS]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

Here it is Komando, an extremely unique twin-engined scooter

At a glance, if you look at the vehicle figure, it will cross our minds that this is a tactical combat vehicle that is ready to be used by soldiers on the battlefield. Indeed, this is the impression wants to get by the vehicle maker when first make it.

The fact, the vehicle is the extreme and unique scooter modification results and given the name of 'Komando,' which was made by a man from Cilegon, Banten named Bagas Roffiyanto.

Komando, an extremely unique nine-wheeled scooter from Banten and still can be used as vehicles on the highway. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2siBWQV)

It all started when he wanted to modify the 1986 Vespa Strada scooter of his-owned then he chose the concept of a tactical combat vehicle due to he was very inspired by his father who worked as a soldier.

"Its basic was 1986 Vespa Strada, (and) inspired by (my) father who is worked as a soldier and also because I was not passed when registering the army. So I decided to make my scooter like an army vehicle," Bagas said as quoted by detikOto.

Unmitigated, he then completely overhauled his Vespa scooter appearance in his workshop and assisted by some friends. This extreme scooter modification process was carried out for 5 months and cost up to Rp.15 million, so be the figure of an extreme scooter that appears in gray, black and green military camouflage color.

Komando, an extremely unique scooter from Banten which is driven by two engines made by Bagas Roffiyanto. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2siBWQV)

Then he added a number of accessories to add the more military impression and the vehicle' fierce look such as on the front there was a machine gun replica, then the ex-ammo box was mounted on the left side and functioned to store mechanic's tools, then there were several other accessories such as ex bazooka tubes. Meanwhile, behind the rider seat, there's one seat is provided for passengers.

This extremely unique modified scooter has a length of about 3.5 m and a width of 1.2 m. As the drivetrain of this extremely unique nine-wheeled scooter is 2 units of engines installed at the rear where the first engine was taken from the 1975 Bajaj Chetak (front) and the second of the 1986 Vespa Strada (rear). Above the engines were also installed 2 units of fuel tubes.

To operate this extreme vehicle can be said to be a bit unique, where the rider must first start its two engines via its typical manually kick-starters. Then the driver sits in a lower position than the standard scooter seat. In addition, to control this extreme scooter, the rider hands should be stretched upwards like the high handlebar motorcycle riding position with the throttle position on the right-hand, clutch and gear-shifting on the left.

After the engine is turned on and by considering the condition of the vehicle which is fairly long, the rider must be able to adjust the speed when riding it on the road. Well, although it is driven by two engine units, not necessarily the rider could be maximized the power of its engines.

Komando was inspired by Bagas Roffiyanto's father who worked as a soldier. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2siBWQV)

"I did not dare to go fast when riding it, at most 40 to 50 kilometers per hour, and even then on the straight and empty road only. Because the Komando's length is 3.5 meters and 1.2 meters wide is not possible to run at high speed," said Bagas.

Nevertheless, this extremely unique modified vehicle has been used to drive around the streets of Banten together with his community members. This extreme vehicle was also ever participated in several motorcycle contests and also ever was ranked third for the 'Vespa Extreme' category in one event.

The scooter mentioned above can function like other two-wheeled vehicles so that it can be used as vehicles on the highway, but so far it is not known yet whether those vehicles have the roadworthy permit from the authorities.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops..... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ANTARA-JAMBI | DETIKOTO]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

An Indonesian-made classic Vespa scooter of wood waste

As understood by all of us, that in the process of automotive modification sometimes not familiar with the 'expensive' word. In addition, the unique shape and eccentric appearance sometimes also become the owner's choices. Especially for motorcycle enthusiasts, typically they use motorcycle design based on their expertise-owned. In a previous article, there was a carpenter from Portugal named Carlos Alberto who made a unique wooden Vespa scooter.

The wooden Vespa composed of 65 million pieces of pencil wood waste, made by Eri Ashari shown off at the 2018 Indonesian Scooter Festival held in the Jogja Expo Center. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2E3nEGn)

Much like that but now an Indonesian wood craftsman who made a classic-type Vespa into a very unique scooter and looked different than others.

Well, he is Eri Ashari who managed to make a replica of the Vespa MP6 prototype scooter whose entire body is made of wood waste (specifically wood waste from the pencil-making industry).

Through his skilled hands, he managed to arrange more than 65 million pieces of wood waste material into an antique Vespa scooter for more than 2 years.

Eri Ashari posed with his wooden Vespa scooter creation. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rmMGO9)

"This is all from pencil wood waste. There are about 65 million pieces to make this (scooter). Incidentally, indeed in my place, there are so many (wood waste), so I use them. The seats are also made of wood," Eri explained as quoted of the Tribun-Jogja.

A wooden Vespa scooter by Eri Ashari.  
(Picture from: http://bit.ly/2LFEqjb)

Eri also mentioned that before he ever had made several unique wooden scooters and this antique scooter was his fifth works. He further added that this scooter was the first scooter he made from the pencil wood waste material and possibly the first in the world.

"It starts to be produced in 2016, (and) this is actually the fifth Vespa. So from the small pieces of wood waste, it's (then) arranged (in such a way). What makes it difficult because (the material) is stiff, so it's hard to shape. It should be arranged vertically if arrange in horizontal was easy to break. This is the only (scooter) made from pencil wood waste. After this, there will be no more," he explained.

Besides being made of wood waste material, the antique Vespa created by Eri Ashari also has a remotely-controlled digital audio system. Then there is a fairly large white ivory-colored precious stone embedded in the seat that functions as a cooler, so that even though you sit for a long time but the seat does not feel hot. To ease its maintenance, the whole body of this antique scooter is given a nano-coating layer.

Eri also said that this shiny brown lines patterned wooden scooter had succeeded in carrying out a test drive through a long journey over more 1,000 km with the route of Lembang to Pangandaran round trip. He also said that this antique wooden Vespa had got a roadworthy permit from the authorities.

When asked about the price, it is not surprising that the antique Vespa by Eri has a pretty fantastic price. According to him, so far his wooden Vespa has received an offer from a scooter enthusiast with a price of €139,000 or equivalent to Rp. 1.9 billion. Although the scooter has been offered at a fantastic price until now he has not been willing to let it go.

"This year (2018 ago), I want (the scooter) to be auctioned off, but the price is not known yet. There are many offers coming in, from Italy, Indonesia too. But I'm not pursuing the high prices, but I want my wooden Vespa works to fall to someone who can appreciate it as an artwork," he said.

Reportedly now, Eri Ashari is finding out about the possibility to keep his antique Vespa in a museum, possibly in Yogyakarta or Bandung. Besides this Eri' wooden scooter,  do you want to see other unique wooden scooters made by two Jepara craftsmen? Let's take a look them!

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops..... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TRIBUN-JOGJA | MOTORPLUS-ONLINE | KUMPARAN | TEMPO-OTOMOTIF]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

A unique three-wheeled vehicle built of the car named Krakatoa

Various unique customized motorcycles and cars on display at the Kustomfest 2019, one of the largest annual automotive events in Indonesia, held on October 5-6, at the Jogja Expo Center, Jogjakarta. And seen many visitors who came to see the event which was held just for two days, ie on Saturday to Sunday.

A three-wheeled vehicle named Krakatoa by a Bandar Lampung-based workshop, Satan Soul Custom on display at the Kustomfest 2019. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2AN07Yq)

The strict selection system created by the organizers is intended there're no old works ever come back on display at the following year event. This seems to make the public always curious, what kind of custom vehicles will be presented by the Automotive builders who come from various regions in Indonesia.

Of the many cars and motorbikes appeared at the event, one that made the visitor astonished was the work of a Bandar Lampung-based automotive custom workshop, named Satan Soul Custom. On this year event, Wuriyanto thus the name of the workshop owner brought a three-wheeled vehicle named 'Krakatoa' in a hot rod styled fierce looks. Those vehicle creator said that the vehicle was built from a 1982 Toyota Mark II with 2,000 cc engined.

This unique three-wheeled vehicle 'Krakatoa' built of the 1982 Toyota Mark II. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2LRClAX)

As quoted from Tempo, the builder also claimed that the three-wheeled vehicle was made in a relatively short time, which is four months and was specifically built to appear at this annual automotive event. Although it was done in a short time, the results were practically good and neat.

The Satan Soul owner whose its works have passed several times during the 2014 and 2017 events, also explained not only once they were built a motorcycle based of a car. Yes, at the Kustomfest 2017 event, the Soul Satan ever displayed a motorcycle based of the Mazda B600 and managed to sold on Rp.60 million after the event end. 

The Krakatoa three-wheeled vehicle intended to sell at a price of more than Rp.100millions. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/33b5yNb)

And now what about for the Krakatoa three-wheeled vehicle. According to Yanto, thus the owner of Satan Soul is usually called, he intended to sell the Krakatoa at a price of more than Rp.100 million due to the complicated level of workmanship.

The Krakatoa three-wheeled vehicle was built from the front to the rear. Although the gas lever remains in the hand while the clutch and gear are placed on the foot. For the front, this vehicle applies an independent drive taken from the Datsun 3S.

Meanwhile, the connecting handlebar and rear wheels are also given an intermediary. Furthermore, the front shock absorbers use components taken from the Harley Davidson Softtail while for the back of the Daihatsu Hijet 1000.

Then the radiator of the three-wheeled vehicle is placed at the rear while the whole body is remade by using the 1.2 millimeter thick iron plates. Furthermore, the Satan Soul owner said that the three-wheeled vehicle 'Krakatoa' able to run more than 100 km per hour. Do you want to try it?
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SATAN SOUL CUSTOM | TEMPO]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

Here's the Kongo, one of the world's most sought after scooters (Part-2)

Now we are know that the Vespa Kongo is a designation for a Vespa special models which assembled in Germany and was a state award for the Indonesian soldiers who have been served in Congo as the UN's Peacekeeping Forces in between 1960 to 1963. So clearly this Kongo type of scooter only exist in Indonesia.

Vespa Kongo has become a part of the history of the Indonesia's participation for world peace. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2pFy4YR)

Distinctive marks of the Vespa Kongo 

One of the features that makes the Vespa Kongo so unique, due to these scooter models were not assembled at the Vespa factory in Pontadera, Italy as other Vespa models in general that time, but at the Vespa GmbH Augsburg, one of the Vespa factories in Augsburg, Germany which was established in 1958 and there were 2 scooter models, ie.  Vespa 150 cc scooters (Vespa Ausburg T150/4 (type 332, 4-speed) VGLB, and Vespa 125 cc scooters (Vespa Ausburg T150/4 (type 332, 3-speed) VGLA.

Vespa Ausburg VGLA/B aka Vespa Kongo has a round front fender without joints and uses 10-inches sized rim on both its wheels. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2oGthFZ)

Vespa Kongo is manufactured by using higher quality steel plate materials and has more complete equipment compared to other Vespa scooter models that were commonly circulating in Indonesia at that time such as the VBB1T or VBB2T models.

The Vespa Kongo scooter models physically have a special characteristic on the body which is not found in other Vespa models, namely:

• It has a Garuda emblem made of brass plates on the left front body (but unfortunately, the logo is rarely found in the remaining Vespa Kongo now).
• On the left handlebar (the clutch/gears section) precisely, there is an oval shaped bulge.
• It has a round front fender without joints.
• It uses 10-inches sized rim on both wheels.
• It has a handlebar with a rather large box-shaped VDO speedometer that is different from the Vespa Type VNA/VNB.
• At the top of the speedometer there is a small indicator lamp.
• It has a machine number that starts with the codes of VGLA1M or VGLB1M.
• And finally in the Indonesian Vehicle Ownership Book (Bukti Pemilik Kendaraan Bermotor/BPKB) there's an 'Ex-Brigade III information' about name and rank of the soldiers who got this scooter.

In addition to the characteristics mentioned above to complete the owner identity such as, the soldier identity numbers who got the Vespa scooter is also embedded in the handlebar (oval handlebar) made of brass and an accompanying awards. Here we provide some pictures that might give a little picture of the characteristics of the Vespa Kongo scooter as mentioned above:

Vespa Kongo distinctive marks as mentioned above, as follow it has an oval shaped bulge, a box-shaped VDO speedometer, at top of speedometer there's small indicator lamp, etc. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2o0ZOGR)

At present, the existence of thsee Vespa Kongo scooters are difficult to find in the original conditions. Even if there were, they would be very few in number and be in the hands of people who care to maintain their existence. 

The valid authentication marks of Vespa Kongo can be seen in the Indonesian Vehicle Ownership Book (Bukti Pemilik Kendaraan Bermotor/BPKB) there's an 'Ex-Brigade III information' about name and rank of the soldiers who got this scooter. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N)

In addition, at the first place it's also affected by the very limited number of scooters in accordance with the number of soldiers who got it, plus at present the condition of some of its spare parts which have been damaged and cannot be repaired, meanwhile its replacement parts are no longer on the market.

Another Vespa Kongo distinctive marks as mentioned above, as follow it has a box-shaped VDO speedometer, at top of speedometer there's small indicator lamp, etc. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N)

Until now, we don't know yet how much price of the Vespa Kongo scooter in original condition. We're though that were not cheap certainly, or an exorbitant prices it could be. (Some said the price over Rp.50 million or around US $3,5k).

Are you have these special-kind-of scooters? If yes. We can only say 'Congratulation, You are very lucky person due to have one of the most sought after scooters in the world.' 

Today, the Vespa Kongo like a myth among the Indonesian scooter fans even the world. If you have it. Keep the Vespa Kongo scooter as one of the Indonesian priceless treasures..!!  

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... (Back to Part-1).   

(This article was deliberately created in order to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Indonesian National Army (Tentara National Indonesia/TNI) on October 5, 2019.)

Remain as the Guardian of Our beloved Indonesian homeland with all the heart. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS | OTOFREAK | MOTOPLUS | OTOMANIA | VESPA]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone.