Belotan is a small village which located in sub-distric Bendo, Magetan, East Java. It is about 10 kilometers from Magetan city, and 15 kilometers from Madiun city. So, this location is between of two cities. Belotan is a traditional village. Majority of the people are traders and farmers. But, modernization had affected some part of society lifestyle, and make significant change to the socio-culture. Many of the young generations no longer be the trader or farmer. They choose to go out from the village, and seek employment in other cities.
I know this village since I was a child. Maybe since I was kindergarten. Every weekend, my father always brought me to meet "mbah" (that is my calling to father's mom). We stayed in mbah's house in a night. Arrived on Saturday morning, and went home on Sunday afternoon. There are many activities that I've done. But, the most memorable activity is when my cousin, his friends, and I went to the river. We took a bath, fishing, and swimming there.. It's very exciting!
Today, I come back to the river. What I see? Very different views. No swimming child, no washing woman, no bathed buffaloes/cows, no washed sand trucks, and no fun. I just look some people irrigate the fields. Very quiet. But, some condition still same. From distance I can see Belotan Bridge which connecting Belotan village and Karangrejo village. When I want to go to the river I still must tread a cliff too.
Although many things of the river have changed, but the beautiful memory about it will never change. []gea
Galleries
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| Trough the Cane Field (like Dahlan Iskan's story) |
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| A place I learned to swim. Several years ago, it was more wide. |
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| Belotan Bridge in distance |
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| When I was child, it was place for people to washing and take bathing |
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| The way to back, treading a cliff |
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| A field that seen on the brink |
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| My bike near a brink |
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| Me on the bike :) |
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| Grapefruit (Jeruk bali) garden |
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| Belotan's location, between two cities (Magetan and Madiun) |
