YOGYAKARTA – Media and Journalism Concentration of Communication Science Study Programme of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta held a Backpacker Journalism around Bali. This activity was carried out in order to fulfil the field practice assignment of the Print Media Production (PMC) course in the form of making a magazine with the theme of Balinese culture and culinary. This activity took place from (15/10/2023) to (21/10/2023) with ten students and four lecturers participating.
The group of students departed from Babarsari Campus at around 12.30 WIB (15/10/2023) and arrived in Bali at 07.00 WITA (16/10/2023). After cleaning up and having breakfast, the group headed to the first location, namely the salt industry village on Kusumba Beach and continued to the Tenganan Traditional Village.
The next day, coverage was carried out in four places at once. Exactly at 10.00 WITA, the journey began to Warung Pundukan. In addition to the appeal of traditional Balinese food served, this place is quite crowded because it is located near the white sand beach in Bugbug Village, Sengkidu. Participants also covered the traditional village there.
At around 2.30pm, the coverage continued to the arak industry in Tri Eka Bhuana Village. Participants saw firsthand the place, tools, and materials for making arak. Some of them also tasted tuak that had not been distilled into arak. However, the manufacturing process could not be witnessed because no one was producing at the time. One of the arak makers gave the group of students the opportunity to taste the traditional arak flavour.
Kristina Harefa (21), one of the students who did the coverage, said that the coverage in the arak industry was the most memorable coverage because she could get a new experience tasting arak directly at the processing site.
“This arak coverage is the most memorable. The roads that had to be travelled were quite challenging. I’m happy because I can taste the arak as well as the neutraliser, which is young coconut water straight from the tree,” he said.
The group left the arak industry village at around 19.00 WITA. The day’s agenda was not over yet. The trip continued to the Nurul Huda Mosque in Kampung Islam Gelgel, Klungkung Regency. It was a religious event at the mosque, so the coverage was quite limited and could not go around the mosque. After finishing, they went straight back to their lodgings and arrived at around 10pm.
On the third day, the coverage started from Penglipuran Traditional Village in Bangli area. There were participants who covered the typical culture and traditions there, as well as the culinary available in the area. The famous culinary and still much sought after by tourists, namely mujair nyat-nyat and jamu Loloh Cemcem.
The second place is still in the vicinity of the area, which is one of the places to make Be Keren named Arda Yusa which has been produced for generations since the days of the Bangli Kingdom. After that, the participants headed to the last destination, Warung Nagi I Wayan Merta Lawar Plek Samsam Guling with its characteristic pork blood lawar. They had the opportunity to witness first-hand the process of making lawar until it was ready to be served.
The coverage continued on the last day. There were three places to visit. The first destination was the traditional Balinese mask making place I Wayan Muka & Mang Mega Mask Product. Not only to see the process of making them, but participants were also shown the practice of using them in traditional Balinese dances and a collection of the results of the works that have been made.
From there, the journey continued to Sukawati Village Office to cover pecalang, the traditional village security in Bali. After that, the participants headed to the last coverage destination, Satriya Lelana Art Studio. There were about twenty children practising traditional Balinese dance there. This place was the end of a long series of coverage since the first day.
The last day in Bali was filled with free activities to prepare for going home. The group returned to Jogja on Friday (20/10/2023) at 13.30 WITA.
Sika Nur Indah as the lecturer in charge of the PMC course said that Backpacker Journalism is one of the flagship programmes in the Communication Science Study Program. Therefore, she hopes that this activity can run optimally until the pre-coverage process, namely the launch of the magazine that has been written.
“I am quite proud of my friends during this coverage. Alhamdulillah, it went well, although there is still an overall evaluation,” he added.
Source: suarasikap.com