I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN

Teks & Foto / Text & Photographs : galih sedayu

Indonesia adalah sebuah negeri dengan jutaan cerita yang tak akan ada habisnya. Pesonanya begitu memikat hingga ia kerap dijuluki permata khatulistiwa. Ribuan pulau dengan segala keajaiban yang dimilikinya menjadi potensi pariwisata yang sangat berharga di mata dunia. Namun bukan berarti kita hanya berdiam diri dan berleha-leha saja menanti turis asing yang menyambangi tanah air. Menjemput bola kadang menjadi kunci jawaban di tengah pertanyaan mengenai bagaimana mengatasi persaingan yang sengit demi menarik wisatawan datang ke sebuah negara.

Wonderful Indonesia Festival adalah aksi nyata yang dilakukan oleh Pemerintah Indonesia demi meraih kunjungan wisata yang diharapkan. Karena di sanalah hadir berbagai alasan mengapa Indonesia patut untuk dikunjungi, dirasakan & dinikmati. Melalui program promosi yang digagas oleh Kementrian Pariwisata Republik Indonesia, festival ini menjadi salah satu ajang yang mengusung tugas mulia yakni mewartakan berita baik perihal Indonesia kepada dunia.

Negara Thailand yang menyandang sebutan negara gajah putih, merupakan salah satu celah pasar di Asia Tenggara yang disasar oleh Indonesia demi mendatangkan turis asing ke tanah air. Karenanya segala upaya perlu dilakukan demi menarik perhatian masyarakat Thailand agar mereka sudi merogoh koceknya untuk terbang dan berlibur ke Indonesia. Terlebih saat ini ada tiga buah “Direct Flight” yang memudahkan rute kunjungan wisata dari Thailand ke Indonesia. Medan, Jakarta & Bali adalah kota yang menjadi simpul penerbangan langsung dari Thailand menuju Indonesia. Demi mencermati hal tersebut, Wonderful Indonesia Festival digelar di CentralWorld Square, Bangkok, Thailand yang berlangsung dari tanggal 17 – 19 November 2017. Dengan konsep Branding, Advertising & Selling (BAS), kegiatan ini diharapkan mampu mendobrak jumlah wisatawan manca negara khususnya pasar Thailand yang akan menyapa Indonesia.

Merupakan suatu kehormatan bagi saya, karena ditunjuk dan dipercaya untuk menjadi “Creative Director” kegiatan Wonderful Indonesia Festival di Thailand tersebut. Dengan mengambil tema “Indonesia : The Never Ending Story of Magical Lands & Legends”, sejumlah agenda kegiatan yakni “Art & Culture Performances ; Clothing & Craft Market ; Culinary Bazaar ; Interactive Activity & Workshop ; Intimate Music Concert dan Travel Fair”, menjadi bumbu-bumbu yang diolah ke dalam sebuah masakan Indonesia. Dalam merancang konsep dan mendesain festival ini, saya menggunakan pendekatan “Story Telling” sebagai jembatan komunikasi agar segala aktivitas yang hadir di sana dapat terhubung intim dengan pengunjung serta tercapai pesan yang diharapkan. Lima zona destinasi wisata yang menjadi pasar Thailand yakni Medan (1) ; Jakarta & Bandung (2) ; Jogjakarta, Solo & Semarang (3) ; Surabaya & Malang (4) ; serta Bali (5), semuanya dikemas ke dalam bentuk 5 cerita rakyat asal negeri khatulistiwa, Indonesia. Cerita Legenda Danau Toba dihadirkan demi menarik turis asing menyambangi Medan ; Legenda Lutung Kasarung demi menyasar Jakarta & Bandung ; Legenda Roro Jonggrang demi menyasar Jogjakarta, Solo & Semarang ; Legenda Keris Mpu Gandring demi menyasar Surabaya & Malang ; serta Legenda Barong demi menyasar Bali. Semuanya menjadi himpunan cerita yang akan didongengkan kepada masyarakat Thailand oleh para musisi, seniman, penari serta semua penampil melalui karya kreatifnya masing-masing.

Sejumlah nama yang mewakili Indonesia pun turut mencurahkan energi kreatifnya di Negeri Pagoda tersebut. Meski diserang terik panasnya cuaca Kota Bangkok yang sangat menyengat, namun para Kolaborator Indonesia tetap semangat menyuguhkan persembahan terbaiknya. Dari Bandung tercatat ada DJ Destiny, Kartwel Noesantara (Dadi Firmansyah / Karinding & Percussion, Arief Hendrawan / Percussion, Rian Andriawan / Percussion, Ariya Iim Nugraha / Wing Instrument & Percussion & Mohammad Nizar Novian / Percussion), Patrakomala (Ammy Kurniawan / Violin & Guitar, Opik Bape / Guitar, Arnie Christanti / Bass, Adisty Sofie Anggia / Drum, Rahma Sekar Savitri / Vocal & Ukulele Guitar, Kris Takarbessy /Vocal & Guitar. Dari Banten tercatat ada Sanggar Bina Seni Tari Raksa Budaya. Dari Cirebon tercatat ada Project Qiu (Nurhadi Nugroho / Rapper, Ivan Suwarno Putera / Rapper, Ajeng Rahayu / Rapper, Mayasari / Vocal, Ridzqy Marajuang Nasution / Rapper. Dari Jakarta tercatat ada Kamila (Ava Victoria / Alto & Violin, Mia Ismi Halida / MezzoSopran & Violin, Ana Achjuman / Sopran & Violin. Dari Jogajakarta tercatat ada Papermoon Puppet Theater & Jogja Fest. Dari Malang tercatat ada Malang Amore Carnival (Yoseph Agus Kristian / Carnival Player & Dancer, Leonardo Yofi Galih Fernando / Carnival Player & Dancer. Dan dari Thailand tercatat ada nama Artis & Penyanyi Pinky Sawika Chaiyadech.

Persatuan Mahasiswa Indonesia yang ada di Thailand (Permitha) pun turut bersinergi dengan menjadi relawan di kegiatan Wonderful Indonesia Festival ini. Mereka bahu membahu membantu dengan penuh ikhlas agar pelaksanaan kegiatan ini berlangsung dengan lancar. Syukurnya festival ini banyak dipadati oleh ribuan pengunjung baik itu yang berasal dari masyarakat lokal Thailand hingga turis asing yang sedang berlibur di Thailand. Booth pameran yang berisi informasi serta “pop up” perihal wayang, batik, kain tenun, angklung dan bumbu masakan Indonesia laris dinikmati oleh pengunjung. Belum lagi booth kuliner, workshop, travel wishlist, foto dan travel fair pun menjadi daya tarik tersendiri bagi pengunjung. Plus himpunan hiburan serta atraksi yang disajikan di area panggung utama menjadi menu spesial yang menjadi magnet bagi para pengunjung yang hadir di sana.

Kiranya segala jejak kolaborasi yang telah dihadirkan serta ditinggalkan di kegiatan Wonderful Indonesia Festival ini, dapat menjadi obor yang menyala abadi agar kemudian dapat terus diestafetkan kepada siapapun yang mencintai tanah air. Karena negeri kita tercinta ini memang sangat layak untuk diwartakan sehingga cahyanya tak kan berakhir padam, tak kan berakhir pudar, tak kan berakhir sirna. Selama ada pelita hati dan pelita jiwa bangsa Indonesia yang terus menerangi, sudah semestinya kita percaya bahwa negeri ini akan tetap menjadi taman bermain dan surga dunia.

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Indonesia is a country with millions of stories that will never end. His charm is so enthralled that he is often called the jewel of the equator. Thousands of islands with all its magic has become a valuable tourism potential in the eyes of the world. But that does not mean we just sit back and relax just waiting for foreign tourists who visited the country. Picking up the ball is sometimes the key answer in the middle of the question of how to overcome fierce competition in order to attract tourists come to a country.

Wonderful Indonesia Festival is a real action undertaken by the Government of Indonesia in order to achieve the expected tourist visit. Because there are many reasons why Indonesia should be visited, felt & enjoyed. Through a promotional program initiated by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, this festival became one of the arena that carries the noble task of proclaiming good news about Indonesia to the world.

Thailand country that bears the title of white elephant country, is one of the market gaps in Southeast Asia targeted by Indonesia to bring foreign tourists to the country. Therefore all efforts need to be done to attract the attention of the Thai people so they willing to spend their money to fly and take a vacation to Indonesia. Especially now there are three “Direct Flight” which facilitate the route of tourist visits from Thailand to Indonesia. Medan, Jakarta & Bali is the city that became the direct flight node from Thailand to Indonesia. Look at these things, Wonderful Indonesia Festival held at CentralWorld Square, Bangkok, Thailand from 17 to 19 November 2017. With the concept of Branding, Advertising & Selling (BAS), this activity is expected to break down the number of foreign tourists, especially the Thai market will greet Indonesia.

It is an honor for me appointed and trusted to be the “Creative Director” of the Wonderful Indonesia Festival in Thailand. With the theme “Indonesia: The Never Ending Story of Magical Lands & Legends”, a number of activities agenda that is “Art & Culture Performances; Clothing & Craft Market; Culinary Bazaar; Interactive Activity & Workshop; Intimate Music Concert and Travel Fair “, all this agenda become the spices that are processed into an Indonesian cuisine. In designing the concept and designing this festival, I use the “Story Telling” approach as a bridge of communication so that all activities present there can be intimately connected with visitors as well as achieved the expected message. The five destinations of Thailand’s tourism destinations are Medan (1); Jakarta & Bandung (2); Jogjakarta, Solo & Semarang (3); Surabaya & Malang (4); as well as Bali (5), all packaged into the form of 5 folklore of the equator country of Indonesia. Legend story Lake Toba presented to attract foreign tourists visited Medan; Legend of Lutung Kasarung for targeting Jakarta & Bandung; Legend Roro Jonggrang for targeting Jogjakarta, Solo & Semarang; Legend Keris Mpu Gandring for targeting Surabaya & Malang; and Legend Barong to target Bali. Everything becomes a collection of stories that will be told to the people of Thailand by the musicians, artists, dancers and all the performers through their creative work.

A number of names that represent Indonesia also helped to devote creative energy in the Pagoda Country. Despite the blazing heat of Bangkok City’s stinging weather, but the Indonesian Collaborators keep the spirit of presenting his best offerings. From Bandung we have DJ Destiny, Kartwel Noesantara (Dadi Firmansyah / Karinding & Percussion, Arief Hendrawan / Percussion, Rian Andriawan / Percussion, Ariya Iim Nugraha / Wing Instrument & Percussion & Mohammad Nizar Novian / Percussion), Patrakomala (Ammy Kurniawan / Violin & Guitar, Opik Bape / Guitar, Arnie Christanti / Bass, Adisty Sofie Anggia / Drums, Rahma Sekar Savitri / Vocal & Ukulele Guitar, Kris Takarbessy / Vocal & Guitar. From Batam we have Studio Bina Dance Mercury Culture. From Cirebon we have Project Qiu (Nurhadi Nugroho / Rapper, Ivan Suwarno Son / Rapper, Maya Rahayu / Rapper, Mayasari / Vocal, Ridzqy Marajuang Nasution / rapper. From Jakarta we have Kamila (Ava Victoria / Alto & Violin, Mia Ismi Halide / MezzoSopran & Violin, Ana Achjuman / Soprano and Violin. From Jogajakarta we have Papermoon Puppet Theater and Jogja Fest. From Malang we have Malang Amore Carnival (Yoseph Agus Kristian / Carnival Player and Dancer, Leonardo Yofi Galih Fernando / Carnival Player & Dancer. And from Thailand there is the name of Artist & Singer Pinky Sawika Chaiyadech.

Indonesian Student Association in Thailand (Permitha) also joined together to become a volunteer in the activities of Wonderful Indonesia Festival. They work together to help sincerely so that the implementation of this activity goes smoothly. Thankfully this festival is crowded by thousands of visitors either coming from local Thai people to foreign tourists who are on holiday in Thailand. The exhibition booth that contains information and “pop up” about wayang, batik, woven cloth, angklung and spices of Indonesia’s best-selling cuisine enjoyed by visitors. Not to mention the culinary booth, workshop, travel wishlist, photos and travel fair was a special attraction for visitors. Plus the set of entertainment and attractions are presented in the main stage area into a special menu that becomes a magnet for the visitors who are present there.

May all the traces of collaboration that has been presented and abandoned in the activities of Wonderful Indonesia Festival, can be a torch that burns eternally so that later can continue to give by to anyone who loves the homeland. Because our beloved country is very worthy to be proclaimed so that the light will not end off, will not end up faded, will not end disappear. As long as there are lights of the heart and light of the soul of the nation that continues to illuminate, we should believe that this country will remain a playground and a paradise of the world.

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