All Things Wasabi at Daio Wasabi Farm

 

Kami tiba di saat hujan rintik-rintik. Saya berjalan sambil memegang payung memasuki area dengan kehijauan di kiri-kanan jalan setapak. Kami sontak berhenti di sisi sungai dimana terdapat rumah kayu dengan kincir air di sisi bangunan, sungai yang sebagian tertutup tanaman dan kehijauan kemanapun kami memandang.

It was drizzling when we arrived. While holding the umbrella, I walked down the path which was green on the both sides. We suddenly stopped when there was a wooden-house close to the river side that mostly covered with plants.

Meski matahari sedang bersembunyi, area di sisi Daio Wasabi Farm di Kota Azumino, Nagano, Jepang ini tetap terlihat indah. 

The area of Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino Nagano City Japan stay beautiful, though the sun still hiding.

"Persis area ini dahulu merupakan lokasi shooting film Dreams di tahun 1989," ujar Teddy Yamaishi yang menemani kami.

“This area is used to be location of Dreams the movie in 1989.” Teddy Yamaishi, who accompany us said

Jujur saja saya tidak tahu film yang dimaksud, namun area indah ini memang cocok untuk set film. Bangunan dan kincir air ternyata memang dibangun sebagai properti film dan kemudian dibiarkan di bentuk aslinya hingga kini. Kami kemudian naik ke area lain dengan jalur seperti sungai yang tertutup kain hitam memanjang. Itulah area kebun wasabi, semacam pasta khas Jepang yang memiliki rasa pedas.

Honestly, I was not familiar with the movie, but having this beautiful spot for shooting was such a right choice. The building and water-wheel were originally built as the movie property but it remained in the same condition till now. Then we went up to another area with route like a river covered with a long black cloth. That was the wasabi farm, kind of Japanese pasta with a spicy flavor.

 

Daio Wasabi Farm merupakan perkebunan wasabi terbesar di Jepang dengan luas 15 hektar. Kebun wasabi ini berada di area aliran sungai dengan suhu yang selalu sama yaitu 13°C baik di musim panas maupun musim dingin. Suhu air selalu sama karena aliran air di perkebunan ini berasal dari pegunungan salju di sisi utara. Wasabi memang memerlukan suhu konstan 13°C untuk dapat tumbuh dengan baik.

Daio Wasabi Farm is the biggest wasabi farm in Japan with an area of 15 hectares. This wasabi farm is in the stream area with same temperature either in summer or winter, which is 13°C. That temperature is caused by the water source from the snow-mountains in the north side. A constant temperature at 13°C is important for wasabi to grow well.

 

Pada saat kami datang seluruh tanaman wasabi ditutup dengan kain jaring hitam untuk melindungi dari matahari, hal ini dilakukan pada bulan Mei hingga Oktober setiap tahunnya. Kita baru dapat melihat langsung tanaman tanpa tertutup kain di bulan November hingga April.

When we came, all the wasabi plant was covered with black webs cloth to protect it from the sunlight. They did it every year from May to October so we can only see the plants exposed on November to April.

Area luas yang dibangun sejak tahun 1915 ini cocok untuk berkeliling. Ada beberapa area dimana kita dapat menemukan berbagai patung di sisi kebun wasabi. Rupanya pemilik perkebunan menyukai karya seni patung sehingga terdapat banyak patung tersebar di berbagai sisi Daio Wasabi Farm. 

The wide area that has been built since 1915 is suitable for making a tour. There are also some areas where we could see various statues on many sides of Daio Wasabi Farm. Apparently, it is because the owner likes an artwork especially statues.

 

Di dekat tempat pekerja memotong tanaman wasabi yang sudah dipanen, terdapat kuil yang dibangun untuk menghormati Hachimen Daio yang dipercaya sebagai pelindung perkebunan. 

Close to the cutting area of wasabi that has been harvested, there was a temple to honor Hachimen Daio, which is believed to protect the farm.

 

Namun bagi saya tempat paling menarik adalah area makan dimana kita dapat menemukan berbagai makanan hingga es krim dengan tema dan rasa wasabi, serta toko yang menjual segala hal juga dengan tema wasabi yang kadang terlihat aneh seperti wasabi beer, wasabi curry, coklat wasabi, kacang wasabi hingga boneka wasabi berukuran besar.

But the most interesting part for me is the eating area where we could find various kinds of food even ice cream with wasabi theme and flavor, also a shop selling anything about wasabi which some looked weird like wasabi beer, wasabi curry, wasabi choco, wasabi nut, even a giant wasabi doll.

Saya hanya mencoba ice cream wasabi yang tetap manis namun melewatkan wasabi beer. Bagi saya bir dan wasabi bukan kombinasi yang tepat but hey anyway it's a wasabi land and the law of order is managed by wasabi Gods (may I say that?). Pecinta wasabi ataupun bukan, you'll enjoy a day of wasabi in the wasabi land :)

I only tried wasabi ice cream that still sweet and skipped wasabi beer. For me, beer and wasabi is not a perfect match but hey, anyway it’s a wasabi land and the law of order is managed by wasabi Gods (may I say that?). Either you’re a wasabi lover or not, you’ll enjoy a day of wasabi in the wasabi land :)

@marischkaprue - her hair is green, just like wasabi

NOTES

Where

Daio Wasabi Farm

1692 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano

T: +81 263 822118

W: www.daiowasabi.co.jp

Opening Hours:

9:00 - 17:20 (April - Oktober)

9:00 - 16:30 (November - Maret)

How To Get There

Dari JR Matsumoto Station: naik kereta (JR Oito Line) ke Hotaka Station (arah Shinano-Omachi), waktu tempuh 30 menit, ¥320 one way.

From JR Matsumoto Station: take a train (JR Oito Line) to Hotaka Station (route Shinano – Omachi) for about 30 mins, ¥320/one way

Dari Hotaka Station naik taksi (¥1.300), atau naik Loop Bus (rute hanya beroperasi di bulan April-Oktober) waktu tempuh 10 menit (¥500/one way atau ¥800 one day pass)
From Hotaka Station: take a cab (¥1.300) or Loop Bus (only on April – October) for about 10 mins (¥500/one way or ¥800/one day pass)

PS:

Pada bulan (akhir) April hingga Oktober kita dapat menyusuri sungai dengan perahu selama 15-30 menit dengan harga ¥900 - ¥1800.

At the end of April until October we can track the river by the boat for 15-30 mins with only ¥900 - ¥1.800

 

More info/ group handling contact:

yamaishi@matsumoto-tca.or.jp (Matsumoto Tourism Association)

hotaka@atlas.plala.or.jp (Azumino Tourist Association)

Lava Abadi di Batu Tara

Kami berjalan mendekati dermaga. Langit masih hitam pekat malam itu namun saya dapat melihat bintang yang memenuhi langit Lembata, sangat indah. Waktu menunjukkan pukul dua dini hari. Kami hanya tidur sekitar dua jam dan semua tampak mengantuk, hanya Ferry yang terlihat segar membawa tripod untuk mengambil foto bintang dari dermaga.

It was still 2 a.m. as we walked up to the dock. Even in the darkest night, I could see a beautiful sky of Lembata full with stars. We only slept for two hours and all of us looked sleepy, except Ferry who still so fresh carrying tripod for taking shot of stars from the dock.

Prep with kaka Edward Suhadi

Kami memindahkan barang-barang ke dalam kapal dan saat semua sudah lengkap kapal mulai bergerak menjauhi dermaga. Mesin mendorong kapal dengan kecepatan tinggi bergerak ke arah utara.

We moved all the equipments to the boat, made sure everything all set, and started departing to the north side with high speed.

We can see the lava in the mids of the night

Selama dua jam kami tertidur di kapal. Perlahan mesin kapal mulai berkurang kecepatannya, kami bergerak mendekati sebuah pulau. Samar-samar saya melihat cahaya-cahaya merah di bagian atas pulau. Sontak kami langsung memanggil teman-teman yang masih tidur “Lava! Lava!,” kami sudah mendekati Batu Tara, si Gunung Api aktif yang terus menerus mengeluarkan lava.

It’s been two hours since we were asleep, till the boat getting slower and we approached one island. I could see the red lights vaguely on the top of island. Suddenly we woke up our friends while shouting “Lava! Lava!” when we were seeing Batu Tara, the active volcano that kept emitting lava continually.

Kapal semakin merapat dan pemandangan selanjutnya yang saya lihat semakin menakjubkan. Pendaran cahaya merah dari lava terlihat jelas, beberapa saat lava terlihat menyembur dari puncak kawah dan kemudian menjadi garis-garis merah menyala lava yang perlahan turun dari puncak kawah. Lava ini terlihat sangat jelas di gelapnya malam, lava terus menerus keluar, kadang menyembur sambil bergemuruh dan kadang Batu Tara seperti beristirahat sejenak sebelum kembali menyemburkan lava, sungguh pemandangan yang sangat spektakuler, saya merasa seperti melihat pertunjukkan kembang api namun dalam artian yang sangat berbeda.

The boat moved even closer and my sight was full with amazing view. I could see the red glow from the lava clearly, spurt from the summit crater, turn into flaming red stripes and then slowly falling down. The lava looked so bright in the dark night; it kept spurting and also rumbling. Sometimes Batu Tara seemed like having a break before another eruption. That was really spectacular and I felt like looking at a fireworks show but just in a different context.

Suara gemuruh dari lava dan batu-batu vulkanik yang menggelindung turun terdengar jelas. Kemudian diikuti suara batu-batu yang berjatuhan ke laut. Batu Tara memang langsung berbatasan dengan laut, Ia berada di pulau Komba yang dikelilingi laut.

The rumble sound of lava and volcanic rocks that rolling down was so loud, continued with the sound of some rocks that falling to the sea. Batu Tara directly adjoined with the sea, it is located in Komba Island that surrounded by the sea.

Mendengar gemuruh dan melihat semburan lava yang spektakuler, ingin rasanya mendekat untuk melihat lebih jelas. Namun kami harus menahan diri berada di posisi yang aman untuk mengamati aktivitas Batu Tara.

Hearing those rumble sound and looking at the spectacular lava eruption got me want to come closer and see clearer. But we had to keep ourselves in the safe point, staring at Batu Tara’s activity   

Sebelumnya saya sudah beberapa kali melihat gunung berapi, terutama di saat saya bekerja sebagai reporter. Namun Batu Tara berbeda dengan gunung api lainnya. Batu Tara terus menerus mengeluarkan lava tanpa henti. Hanya ada sangat sedikit gunung berapi dengan karakter seperti ini, misalnya Gunung Kilauea di Hawaii, atau Gunung Etna di Italia namun nama Batu Tara masih jarang terdengar, informasi mengenai gunung dengan lava aktif di utara Lembata ini juga masih sangat sedikit.

When I worked as a reporter, I had been going to some volcanoes. But I found out Batu Tara different; it was one of the few volcanoes that still continually making eruption like Kilauea Mountain in Hawaii or Etna Mountain in Italy. Unfortunately, Batu Tara is still not familiar and any information about volcano with active lava in this northern part of Lembata is also very limited.

Cannot see the lava clearly after sunrise so you better came during dark night

Bonus of this trip: beautiful beautiful view during sunrise

Keberadaan Batu Tara menambah satu lagi daftar keunikan Indonesia di dunia, Batu Tara layak disandingkan dengan gunung api-gunung api dunia yang populer karena keberadaan lava abadi. Another story to appreciate more of living in Paradise, Indonesia :)

The existence of Batu Tara becomes part of the list of Indonesian uniqueness in the world since its eternal lava makes it worth to be compared with the world popular volcanoes. Well, another story to appreciate more of living in Paradise, Indonesia :)

@marischkaprue – nothing last forever but her love of traveling is an exception

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES

Where

Batu Tara berada di Pulau Komba, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Untuk menuju Batu Tara gunakan speed boat dengan waktu temput sekitar 2-3 jam (sesuai dengan kecepatan masing-masing speed boat)

Batu Tara is located in Komba Island, East Nusa Tenggara

It takes about 2-3 hours by using speed boat to reach Batu Tara (depend on the speed level)

 

Warning

Batu Tara adalah gunung berapi aktif yang secara konstan mengeluarkan lava pijar, debu vulkanik, erupsi dan awan pekat tebal. Jangan mengambil resiko tanpa perhitungan, ketahui jarak aman untuk mengamati Batu Tara

Batu Tara is an active volcano that constantly emitting lava, volcanic ash, eruption, and dense cloud. Do not take risks and keep your distance safe in looking at Batu Tara

 

Spotted: Matsumoto City Museum of Art

Bagi seniman, karya seni adalah representasi jiwa mereka, pecahan dari manifestasi pikiran mereka yang liar dan seringkali sulit dimengerti kebanyakan orang.

For artists, an artwork is the representative of their soul and manifestation of their wild imagination that somehow would be hard for many people to understand.

Nama Yayoi Kusama mungkin terdengar asing bagi kita yang tidak bergerak di bidang seni, namun karyanya telah mendunia. Saat melihat instalasi besar berbentuk empat bunga dengan warna cerah dan bintik-bintik berwarna-warni di depan gedung Matsumoto City Museum of Art, saya merasa tidak asing dengan pattern yang ada.

Yayoi Kusama maybe sounds unfamiliar to those who are not working in arts; nevertheless her works have been worldwide. When I saw a big installation work in a shape of four bright flowers and colorful spots in front of Matsumoto City Museum of Art, I feel so familiar with the pattern.

Yayoi Kusama, pic source: oddpears.com

Bintik-bintik atau spots memang menjadi ciri khas Yayoi Kusama, seniman asal Nagano, Jepang yang dianggap "gila" sejak kecil. Di masa mudanya Yayoi selalu melihat pattern spots dalam pikirannya dan menuangkan dalam berbagai coretan gambar yang tampak aneh.

Spots is the characteristic of Yayoi Kusama, an artist from Nagano, Japan, who considered being “crazy” since childhood. During her youth, Yayoi always saw pattern spots in her mind and turned it into various random sketches.

Her spotted mind, pic source: hypebeast.com

The famous Yayoi pumpkin, pic source: huffingtonpost.com

Ia kemudian melanjutkan pendidikan di Amerika dan menemukan pattern yang menjadi ciri khasnya. Beberapa karya Yayoi yang terkenal antara lain lukisan dan karya instalasi berbentuk labu kuning dengan bintik-bintik hitam. Yayoi juga terkenal dengan karya pattern bintik-bintik yang mengkombinasikan warna merah dan putih.

She continued studying to America and finding a specific pattern to be her characteristic. Some of Yayoi’s famous works are paintings and installation in a yellow pumpkin pattern with black spots. Yayoi is also well-known with the spotted pattern combination of red and white color.

Memasuki Matsumoto City of Museum of Art bagaikan memasuki dunia Yayoi. Display pameran permanen semuanya adalah karya Yayoi, saat masuk ke area dalam museum kami seakan masuk dalam sela-sela pikirannya yang dipenuhi bintik dan ragam bentuk sederhana namun menarik.

Entering Matsumoto City Museum of Art felt like getting into Yayoi’s world. All display in the permanent exhibition was purely Yayoi’s work. When we walked around the areas of the museum as if we explored every corner of her mind, full with spots and simple pattern yet so catchy.

Area permanent exhibition ini adalah area dimana kita tidak boleh mengambil gambar. Namun ini justru membuat kami lebih menikmati suasana dan sensasi visual yang ada tanpa pikiran untuk mengambil foto dan mencari angle.

This permanent exhibition area is restricted for taking a picture. But it made us more enjoy the circumstance and got impressed visually without busy about looking for angle.

And you're inside her mind, pic source: jpf.org.vn

Feels like in a different world, pic source: artboom.info

Ada kalanya kami dibawa ke ruangan merah dengan bintik-bintik putih, ataupun satu lorong dengan kaca di dua sisi yang memantulkan bentuk-bentuk memanjang dengan bintik khas Yayoi. Satu lagi karya instalasinya yang mempesona mata kita adalah ruangan dengan kaca di semua sisi dan permainan cahaya titik-titik lampu yang membawa kita ke dunia yang berbeda. Imajinasi liar dan kreatif seorang Yayoi Kusama dapat dinikmati dengan apik di museum ini.

There was a time where we were taken to the red room with white spot and another time we were in a corridor with glasses on the both sides reflected long patterns with Yayoi’s typical spots. Another her installation work that kept us amazed is a glass room with a light spots trick as if we were thrown in the different world. The wild and creative imagination of Yayoi Kusama is fully pleasing the visitor of the museum.

Yayoi Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton, pic source: vogue.co.uk

Saat keluar dan melewati deretan vending machine dengan pattern khas Yayoi ini saya teringat koleksi Louis Vuitton dengan pattern serupa yang ternyata merupakan kolaborasi Yayoi dengan creative director Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs di tahun 2006.

When I went out and passed through the vending machine, again, with the touch of Yayoi, I remembered the Louis Vuitton collection with the similar pattern which apparently collaboration between Yayoi and the creative director of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, in 2006.

Yayoi membuktikan bahwa kreativitas tidak terbatas, bahwa tidak ada batasan akan karya seni. Ia membuat sketsa, lukisan, patung, karya instalasi hingga kolaborasi dengan brand kelas dunia. Di umur 86 tahun achievement seniman asal Nagano ini sudah tidak terhitung, tidak heran satu gedung didedikasikan untuk karya-karyanya.

Yayoi proved that creativity has no limit and so does art. She made sketches, painting, statues, installation artwork, even collaboration with the world-class brand. At the ages of 86, this artist from Nagano already received countless achievement, no wonder there is a building dedicated to her works.

@marischkaprue - sometimes she got some spots on her mind also

NOTES

Where

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

4-2-22 Chuo, Matsumoto

Nagano, Jepang

T: +81 263 397400

W: matsumoto-artmuse.jp

e: museum@city.matsumoto.nagano.jp

Admission Fee

Permanent Collection (karya Yayoi Kusama) ¥410 (Dewasa), ¥200 (Pelajar)

**Untuk non permanent exhibition tiket dijual terpisah

Permanent Collection (by Yayoi Kusama) ¥410 (Adult), ¥200 (Student)

**Tickets for Non Permanent Exhibition are sold separately

 

To Know

Kita tidak boleh mengambil foto di dalam area permanent exhibition, area luar bebas untuk berfoto. 

We are not allowed to take pictures in the area of permanent exhibition but it is free in outside area.