DESA SAMBI, Village that Comparing Modern and Traditional Life
Category : Alternative Tourism

Daily activities are like a hiding treasure. Many people missed it but some of enjoy it. That's the reason behind from a guy named Haryono. He is in charge with Yogyakarta local village named Sambi Villages in Jogyakarta. The village is located at jalan kaliuran Km 15, north Jogjakarta city. He thought that villagers daily life is interesting. ''Something traditional was attracted people who came from modern life such as people from Jakarta and westerners,'' he said.

Sambi Village located 15 kilometers north Jogjakarta. It's easy to reach it, but if you not aware may be missed the sign directed to the village. Crossing village road to the Sambi Village is just like passing away in the middle of nature painting. At the north, you'll see big Merapi Mountain, in the south, it will be field layer along you can see. If you lucky, in the harvest season, you'll see beautiful yellow field which will ready to be harvested.

Haryono is tried comparing modern values and traditional in the village. ''I asked them to know each other by going around in the village and keep its secure.  They learned not about their own live but they have to know about togetherness also,'' he said. ''The students who came from Jakarta and other big cities would be learned that live is not only about mall, mall and mall,'' he said bluntly.

At the same time when the conversation did, there were students from Surabaya. They danced and played traditional instrument called Gamelan. ''That's another way to teach about living together with harmony. Gamelan is a complete traditional instrument. You can't play it by your self and ignoring the others. You need more sensitive to the others players doing. That's the essence we try to show,'' he said.

Beside gamelan, visitors might be learnt how to plant rice and gaze duck.  They will be learnt to respect the nature. They sleep at local homestay who owned by villagers. Seeing rural daily life, experiencing a new life that different than before, it's an interesting experience for most visitors. Perhaps, some visitors have a rural childhood memories, so they come to Sambi Village to recall back the memory.

Villagers from work together and they have an organization to manage the village. Management, financial and marketing are in villager's hand. They do not need to change parts of their live. Rural activities are their daily life, such as planting, breeding and 'gotong royong', working together to develop village. ''Some of have their job desk as a chef, the others looking for the place for out bond games, and managing villagers houses,'' Haryono said. ''We have to do our harmony first.''

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