Original text by Retno Bintarti, executive summary by darmansjah
It's still early, around 08.30, when we arrived at a train station at the end of last August. A young woman dressed with colorful hair twisting welcome once drove us to the city center which is about 200 meters. Here APPENZELL, a small town in eastern Switzerland.
WestoppedinAppenzellfewdaysin the InternationalMediaTrip"Living Traditions". A total of140journalistsfromvariouscountriesin marathonarriveand registerits presenceat thecounterthat had been preparedin themiddle of theshopping center. Ourgroup-about 30 journalists-are the first group tocome Despiteits centralplace of registrationof shops andthe clock showscloseat 09.00, the atmospherearoundwas quiet. Could it bebecausethe shopsandeating placesopenyet?
Appenzell, the name ofthe placewe stopped, itwasquiet, evenatlunch.Where are they?
With an overallpopulation ofapproximately16,000people living inan area of172square kilometers, wonderifAppenzellandfeels empty. "Lucky"here and therein thehillylandsoccasionally seencowsaccording tonumber onlya littledifferencewith the total population, ie15,500tails.
In this setting, our partywhomostlycomefrommajor citiesinAsiatofind itis travelingsofar. Appenzelltubfarfromourreach. In fact, the distanceAppenzell-Zurich, wherewelanded, is actuallyrelativelyeasy reach. Train ridefrom the airportwith amovingtrainonly takes about40minutes.
It may be that this is because Appenzell itself is foreign to us. Talk Swiss, this place almost rarely mentioned as cities or other places, such as Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Lucern, Laussane, or Montreaux.
"Tradition is the living part of the culture. Living traditions require our attention, "says Daniela Bar, head of communications at the International Media Swiss Tourist Board, when the convention was attended by 140 journalists.
Switzerland on the theme "Switzerland-Get Natural" to sell tours the country with eight souls. Appenzell use within society still holds a strong tradition in terms of dancing, singing, farming, democracy, and other course promoted the theme tune, get natural.
Impressive, aseachpieceis madewith greatearnest. Considerfor example, "Appenzell. SwitzerlandistheSwissevenmorethanyou think". Or"More than just a picnic, anexperience".
As someonewhocomesfroma congested citysuch asJakarta, Appenzelllikeoasisfora momentawayfrom allthe hustle and bustleandbusyness ofthecitylikenever stoppedexploited. Severaltimes thetrain ridefromthe hotelto the city center, we found onlytwoor threemen who wereridingwith thesame purpose.
Biosphere, Entlebuch
Our program in a small town called Entlebuch bit confusing. We went along the familiar direction of our guide we call Alfonso. With a train ride and move in three stations, including Lucerne, we arrived at Entlebuch. Our hotel is quite simple, like a jasmine-class hotel. But, then, we must raise hand up because the food is delicious.
Entlebuch2001 was named the first biosphere reservation in Switzerland based on the decision of UNESCO. The area is 400 square kilometers is one of the most beautiful and unique areas. Here are the snowy peaks throughout the year, which can be visited with a cable car ride. The first national park in Switzerland are in this region. Expanse of bush and swamp maintained almost at a quarter of the region. To maintain authenticity, local residents led to the birth of local products.
We got introduced to the game of golf Switzerland or whose real name is hornussen. Steven demonstrates that during the game it's been a tradition since childhood whose members consist ofvariousages. The game is still quite a lot of fans, at least not at this time there are about 130 clubs throughout Switzerland. "It's never bored," said Gregor Felder, a member of the club who is now 78 years old.
TravelinginEtnleburchnot justeye washtrip. Whenwe were takento the placeof traditionalcharcoal making, wegot averyinterestinglessonfromacomplexprocess of makingcharcoal, from thebeginning ofthe timber, sorting, buildingpiles, until theauthoringprocessthat takesweeks.
Willy Renggli, the name of the charcoal farmers, forced to build a cottage near a pile of charcoal
However, as in other fields, she turns her work the occasional flinch. "Especially in the winter and blustery storms, I ask myself, would I survive?" Said Willy who was quite well-built.
While listening to his explanation, we imagine supercooled weather, with storms rare these residents. If it were so, the grass is not always beautiful.
