Phew… I should admit that I (and also Phodi) was looking forward for last weekend. Last Saturday was my eldest cousin wedding and because we had missed the fun at her engagement party 2 weeks ago, we were happy to be in her big day. I particularly was happy as I got to dance away! It has been a loooong time since the last time we were dancing. The band at the wedding was great but boo… they ended their gig right after things were heating up. I.e. just one song after the bride and groom were joining the crowd and it wasn’t even 9 pm. Super boo!

Anyways, three photos from the day; I totally forgot to take any picture on my phone so I have to ask others to send me photos -.-”

with aunts, cousin and mom

And during that week, us, Indonesians, were having our country’s most exciting (and controversial?) presidential election yet. Psst.. this presidential election was my first ever election. 5 years ago I didn’t bother coming down to the Consulate General in Melbourne to vote as I was in the dark about any candidates. However this election was different. We were presented with (too) much information that hopefully could help us to choose the right candidate. Like always, some educated people acted more like groupies rather than smart voters whenever they’re discussing their chosen candidate. Politics is always funny, isn’t it?

first time voter

So the day of Wednesday, 9 July 2014 came and it was an important day because we voted for the one who will rule Indonesia for the next 5 years. Here I present you both candidates;

(pic taken from google)

As of the time of writing, there are stilll debates on the quick count results as some quick count organisations declared Joko Widodo as the winner while few others declared Prabowo Subianto as the winner of the election. The real count result will be published by KPU (Komisi Pemilihan Umum / General Election Commissioner) on 22 July so it’s best that we wait until then.

However, just now I read an article on Kompas where Head of KPU stating that the result produced by KPU isn’t an absolute. Okay… I understand that there’s a law saying the result can be challenged. But isn’t his statement showing lack of confidence in his own institution’s legitimacy? Ah.. we can only pray that Indonesia is in God’s hands. Pray that peace will still take place after the result in published in a week time.

On a much happier topic, we’re now in week 36 and we’re as happy as we can be. I’ve packed my hospital bag the day after we came back from Jakarta, thanks to the realization that the baby can come sooner. Within the last 3 weeks, 3 people told me that their first born arrived 3 weeks early. Everything was normal, it’s just that their babies decided to join them early. With those stories, I decided to pack my hospital bag just in case. Have I finish packing though? Of course not! Hahaha.

From this week onwards, we will visit our obgyn on a weekly basis. On week 36, the baby’s 2,6 kg and our obgyn’s happy as he wishes the baby to reach 3 kg before labour. His statement surprised us a bit because he never mentioned anything to us before. I just wonder how many more kilograms I will gain until labour as I’ve gained 13 kg up to today!

measuring amniotic fluid

measuring weight

heartbeat at 133 bpm

It’s now 3 weeks to due date and I won’t lie to say that I’m not nervous. While the thought of holding our baby is exciting, I’m not so fond about the thought of going through labour. But like my obgyn said, in the midst of our silence because we had nothing to ask during consultation, “Just like a warrior going on a war, prepare your self with the thought that you can win it.” Hahaha… I’ll treat the process that way then.

And oh, I’m writing this entry on my laptop with some music playing on the loop and my baby’s dancing away in the tummy. One of the best feelings ever

Every year, Solo and Salatiga are in my family’s year end agenda. The only two times (as I remember it) we didn’t go there were 1) when the family gathering was in Bandung, 2) during my first year in Melbourne and my parents came in to visit me. And both my brother and I had each a 1 red flag for not coming back “home” because of work. Funny thing is, eventhough we never lived in Solo we always refer going to Solo in December as “coming home”.

That being said, last December was my millionth time going to the grands (well maybe not that much). I always love going home, apart from those time when my dad preferred driving rather than flying. It’s always a pain in the ass in its most literal term. The travel time usually takes us 12-14 hours for 562 km, including 2-3 short toilet breaks, a quick breakfast and lunch. The pretty view along the new-ish tollway in Cirebon and some other areas along Pantura give a bit of zen but definitely not doing anything to my poor rear part.

Once you got to Salatiga or Solo though, it feels like a whole different world. Time seems to stop in these cities. The daily holiday routine will usually go like this; 8am: wake  up time, 9am: breakfast (usually Soto or Noodle), 10am – noon: visiting relatives or going shopping, noon: lunch, past noon: going shopping or having nap then chatting about what to have for dinner, night: having dinner then more warungan or angkringan to finish the day. The next day same routine will happen with different kind of dishes to savour! Yum!

There are too many good food to enjoy in Solo and Salatiga for me to post. So if you’d like to know more about what to see and where to dine, shoot me an email or leave a comment below Enjoy!

off we go! Dad went earlier for his high school reunion

Selat Solo (Javanese beef steak) – first meal in Solo

Shi Jack in Solo – fresh milk with a twist

what milk you’re having tonite?

preparing milk. the “milktender” always put up a show

sweethearts

look who visited me in Solo! We treated him with a Nasi Liwet night

cousins <3

Wedang Ronde Jago Salatiga

Wedang Ronde Jago Salatiga – hot ginger and nut dessert with mochi

preparing Wedang Ronde

greens near my grand’s in Salatiga

working!

Breakfast from Kartoali Salatiga

at Roncalli Salatiga, a nice green complex where my dad learnt English back in the 70s.

dear hub looking at Keleteng Sam Po Kong (Sam Po Kong Temple) in Semarang

more view of Sam Po Kong

Toko Oen – I think it’s the oldest eatery in Semarang

waiting for our lunch at Toko Oen

the super famous Lumpia Gang Lombok (Gang [aisle] Lombok’s Springroll)

Lumpia basah (wet/unfried springroll) ala Gang Lombok. Super good!

Bro waiting for his springroll

the space to dine in is TINY so we have to squeeze

Lawang Sewu (Thousand Doors) in Semarang. They say it’s the most haunted building in Java

Courtyard of Lawang Sewu Semarang

Us with Oma. First Christmas without Opa.

and this is how we roll. Selfie with the whole family.

homemade seafood fiesta at my grand’s, thanks to my eldest aunt

with dad before going to the airport

time to go home. Got the whole airport lounge for us

Kesempatan untuk berada di Ambon Manise ini datang karena sang suami mendapat tawaran untuk bergabung dalam sebuah acara KKR yang diadakan oleh pemerintah kota Ambon dan Voice in the City yang bernama “Ambon Berdoa dan Bersyukur”. Karena perjalanan ini adalah sebuah perjalanan kerja, kami tidak berkesempatan untuk mengunjungi pulau-pulau lain di kepulauan Maluku. Beberapa tempat juga saya kunjungi tanpa suami karena komitmen pekerjaannya. Untuk membaca lebih banyak tentang KKR ini, klik disini.

Mata saya terpaku pada pulau yang berada di bawah langit biru dan lukisan awan putih saat Pak Pilot berkata, “Selamat datang di Ambon.” Tidak pernah terlintas dalam pikiran bahwa suatu hari saya akan menginjakkan kaki di tanah Maluku, negeri yang terkenal dengan sagu, cengkeh, pala, minyak kayu putih dan mutiara. Rempah-rempah pula yang membuat kepulauan ini begitu diinginkan oleh bangsa Portugis bertahun-tahun yang lalu.

Dibalik keindahan pulau ini, masih tersimpan kesedihan mendalam karena konflik 5 yang pernah terjadi di tahun-tahun yang lalu. Saat kami menuju pantai-pantai indah yang ada di pulau ini, Pak Aleka, supir yang membawa kami berjalan-jalan, beberapa kali menunjukkan puing rumah-rumah yang habis terbakar saat terjadi keributan di Ambon. Miris rasanya mendengar begitu banyak amarah dan kekerasan yang pernah terjadi di sini sementara kami mata kami terus menerus dimanjakan dengan hamparan air laut yang begitu meneduhkan.

Selain mata yang dimanjakan, lidah kami juga dimanjakan dengan berlimpahnya ikan bakar yang ada di kota ini. Sebagai sebuah kepulauan, tidak heran bahwa makanan yang mudah ditemui di Ambon adalah ikan bakar dan hasil laut lainnya terutama cumi-cumi. Sebagai pecinta makanan laut, saya menikmati berbagai ikan bakar yang tentu saja ditemani oleh segarnya sambal colo-colo. Jika setelah perjalanan ke Surabaya kami memutuskan untuk puasa makan ayam (baca ceritanya disini), tidak demikian dengan jalan-jalan ke Ambon. Kami malah tambah ingin menyantap ikan bakar yang segar seperti yang kami dapatkan di Ambon.

Saya begitu terpesona dengan keindahan alam pulau ini dan saya berharap bisa kembali lagi suatu hari nanti. Mungkin untuk membawa anak-anak saya untuk bermain dengan bebasnya seperti anak-anak manis yang saya temui di Santai Beach. Satu doa yang saya selipkan seraya memandang keindahan matahari terbenam di Tanjung Latuhalat adalah agar Ambon Manise bisa kembali berjaya dan dicintai.

Menuju Ambon

Feri untuk menyebrangi Teluk Ambon

Pepeda, makanan khas Maluku yang terbuat dari Sagu. Alat penyendok bernama gata-gata.

kuah untuk Pepeda

Makan Rujak di Pantai Natsepa

makan rujak dengan matahari terbenam

menikmati matahari terbenam di Pantai Natsepa

Pattimura, sang pahlawan dari Maluku

mengunjungi Museum Kebudayaan Maluku

berolahraga di Lapangan Merdeka

nuansa natal di sekitar Kota Ambon

ulang tahun ke 25!

Makan ikan bakar setiap hari!

Es buah khas Maluku yang menggunakan jus sirsak

Talam sagu, cemilan khas Maluku

Babi goreng dan sate babi. Oink oink

Coto Makassar, dimakan bersama boras (sejenis lemper)

Ikan dan udang bakar dengan sambal colo-colo yang segar

cemil-cemil di sore hari dengan sirup pala yang menyegarkan

Rarobang; kopi susu dengan serpihan kenari

Pantai Pintu Kota

Pantai Pintu Kota

saya jatuh cinta di Santai Beach

air laut yang menggoda untuk diselami

air pantai yang begitu jernih

Bersama Pak Aleka di Tanjung Ratu Halat

matahari terbenam di Tanjung Latuhalat

Warning: this post might cause intense hunger and crave for food

Last month we visited Malang for my beloved mentor’s wedding. It was a wedding that we’ve been looking forward to and we were very excited for it. With the short time we had, we managed to have lots and lots of delicious food. All thanks to a friend of ours who’s apparently a great culinary guide and thanks to you who had spared some time to meet us Please keep in touch!

One thing that I regret from the trip was the fact that I only bought one Bu Rudy’s famous sambal bawang! Now I’m left with the last spoonful on the sambal and so desperate for having more. Also, we had so much chicken dishes that we decided to have a chicken hiatus for 2 weeks.

During the trip we went to Ibu Rudy, Pulau Madura (!!!), Galaxy Mall (to its traditional food filled food court), Pasar Atom (to buy some Cakue), Tunjungan Plaza (why not?), Boncafe (to meet up with my lovely girls), Zangrandi (an old school ice cream joint), Ayam Penyet Ibu Sri (another chicken dish), Batu Secret Zoo (2nd highlight of the trip – the 1st was the wedding), Bu Kris (and yet more chicken), Java Dancer (great coffee), Tugu Hotel (fantastic decor as expected), Rawon Nguling (they ran out so quickly!) and of course, the grand wedding that was like a reunion.

From the trip, we highly recommend Batu Secret Zoo. It’s such a great place, not only for kids but also for adults. We enjoyed the zoo and its adjacent Museum Satwa so much that we think it’s better than all the zoos we’ve been before. It’s definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area, or even to be a reason to visit Batu and Malang. For more information check out their website.

But for now, enjoy some photos from our trip and if you’re on Instagram, search for #jnphoditrip for more photos.

Suramadu Bridge – connecting Surabaya and Madura

traditional sweets with coconut sugar on top

traditional sweets

satay is always good

snacks at Pasar Atom

buns!

Chicken and shrimp Chinese doughnut

Zangrandi’s spaghetti ice cream

thank you Ika and Flo!

hello girls!

gone bananas!

at Batu Secret Zoo

pretty in pink

Noah’s Ark at Batu Secret Zoo

honey bear

king of the jungle

ROARRR

]]> https://www.jessicaneva.com/2013/11/a-weekend-in-surabaya-and-malang/feed/ 0 https://www.jessicaneva.com/2013/11/manado-man-lives-to-educate-others/ https://www.jessicaneva.com/2013/11/manado-man-lives-to-educate-others/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2013 09:06:30 +0000 Jessica http://www.jessicaneva.com/?p=360

Have you ever heard of Bunaken? The world famous underwater marine park located in the province of North Sulawesi. Last August my parents, brother, husband and I were privileged to be able to visit this beautiful area for a full 3 days. It was quite a rush but my brother was about to go on his final year internship in Kuala Lumpur so we had to maximize the time we had. However, limited time wasn’t an issue as our accommodation was special. A family friend of ours who are Manadonese have a holiday house in Airmadidi district and they very kindly offered us their house. Very blessed indeed!

We experienced a whole new experience during our stay in Airmadidi. Having been living near a mosque in Jakarta, we were surprised that instead of hearing morning prayer from a mosque, we heard Christian songs and community announcements travelled through the air. Apparently it’s a custom in the area that people pay Rp.2000 (A$0.20) to request a song as a donation for church building or events such as Easter or Christmas. The “radio” opened for request from around 6am so it was like an alarm that woke us up each morning.

One most memorable thing from our trip to Manado was a Minahasan (the biggest tribe in Manado) philosophy that was also the slogan of the city; “Sitou Timou Tumou Tou” which means “Man lives to educate others” or in Indonesian “Manusia hidup untuk menghidupkan orang lain”. I found it profoundly deep and heart warming. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a city with a slogan similar to this. It was a great reminder for everyone that we had a purpose in life and not to live selfishly.

Writing this blog is my way to educate others; by sharing pictures from places we’ve been, recipes of food that we love and my thoughts on everyday things. What would yours be?

 

breathing freshest air each morning

pretty wooden house at Airmadidi

exploring backyard

very zen

making new friend at Airmadidi

 

family that travels together stays together

Mount Lokon

Jesus Christ statue in Manado

Linow Lake

 

Bukit Doa aka Prayer Hill

Prayer Hill at Tomohon

we just had to stop and pose! En route to Tomohon

Bukit Doa / Hill of Love

at Sulphur filled Hill of Love

Old cemetery complex

sunflower

 

a very big horn

on our way to Bunaken

amazing day to be at the sea

ready to snorkel

Bunaken Marine Park

enjoying gorgeous sky and sea

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Another item on my wish list was ticked last month when dear husband and I visited Bosscha Observatory. The first tick was watching Ramayana Ballet at Candi Prambanan. The story goes like this…

When we first moved to Bandung, I told him that I wanted to go on Bosscha’s night tour. It was previously (when I lived in Jakarta) impossible  to do as they only have 4 days a month opening for night visit, which all 4 would be on weekdays and only in dry months. As always, he’s more than willing to go with me to visit new places (he better be!) So with high determination I called Bosscha in July to book 2 tickets and unexpectedly, the quickest open spot was in September! A bit schoking as I thought I would wait for a month at the most and not two!

12th September came and I was a little worried as it had been raining the whole week. That day the sky was cloudy and dark in the afternoon so I started to pray, wishing for a bright sky. Around 4pm, the sky was clearing up and off we went to Bosscha with a cheerful heart.

After driving for 35 minutes in an easy weekday traffic (won’t never happen on weekends), we reached Bosscha Observatory. We headed to the registration office to pay the entrance fee (Rp. 10.000,- or A$ 1) and the nice reception lady chuckled a bit when she realized there were only us 2 in the group. I peeked at the list and saw that other groups were 70 kinder kids, 40 high schoolers and few other big groups.

Bosscha Observatory

We the headed to the main observatory building and I was delighted! I always have this warm fuzzy feeling whenever I’m in a place where I’ve been dreaming of, regardless of how silly others might think. This feeling was the same feeling when I stood at Monas’ viewing platform or entering Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. Back to Bosscha Observatory, may I present you the main building named Kupel!

Kupel at Bosscha

Inside the Kupel building, there was it, the gigantic Zeiss double refractors. This telescope weights 17 tonnes or to put it into perspective, it’s the same weight as 4 elephants. However, due to its smart design this telescope can be manually redirected by a person.

Zeiss double refractors at Bosscha

What’s more amazing from the Kupel were its rotatable roof and adjustable floor. We’ve seen this technology everywhere nowadays, but do remember that all these were built in1920s. Impressive! Unfortunately, the Zeiss wasn’t allowed to be used by public but there were 2 other telescope that we could use.

Kupel’s rotatable roof

The first telescope we used was called the Bamberg. Through this telescope, we could see the surface of the moon. Too bad I didn’t find any rabbit on the moon and because I wasn’t satisfied with one gaze, I queued again for a second look. What was the moon’s surface look like? Just like the one you saw on movies. The second telescope was a much smaller telescope, but a digital one called Cassegrain GOTO. That day we were suppose to see Mars and Venus but unfortunately Venus was a bit shy, covered with clouds.

Bamberg (inside the building) and small Cassegrain at the front

Bamberg Telescope, directed at the moon

Overall, it was a good experience for us. We were blessed with mostly clear sky and great cool weather. Most importantly we were reminded that we’re like a speck of dust in this vast universe, yet we believe in a God who controls that huge universe. So why do we have to be worry?

After having a great cultural day on day 1, we were tired  and thus didn’t start our last day in Jogja early. We had breakfast in the hotel then checked ourselves out before going out and about in the city. Day 2 main destinations were Keraton (the Palace), Taman Sari Water Castle and of course, buying souvenirs. We walked around 20 minutes down Jl. Malioboro before we reached the Keraton. The first half of the road was fine as it’s sheltered but then the second half of the road was definitely hot and dusty. So if you’re planning to walk, don’t forget to put on sunscreen and wear a hat and a pair of sunnies.

squinty eyes!

The Keraton is open for public everyday from 8 am – 2 pm and there’s different art showcase on each day. The entrance fee didn’t include guide fee which we could easily find near the entrance gate. I would highly recommend hiring a guide as there are no sign or information inside the Keraton. The guides are Abdi Dalem, royal servants of the Keraton and there’s no official fee for their service. Interestingly, they usually won’t mention any amount as they see themselves as servants of the Sultan. It’s a public secret that Abdi Dalem receive little salary from Keraton but they believe that their service to the Sultan will give them an eternal reward. Thus, to fulfil their needs many have second job outside the Keraton.

Jogja’s Keraton is still used as residential for the Sultan and his family and so there are some areas closed for public. The Keraton was built in the 18th century and has gone through some renovations over the years but the main structure remains the same. One interesting point was the mix of cultures and religions shown in the architecture; Deutsch, Chinese, Portuguese, Islam, Buddhist and Hindu. The beautifully crafted columns that support the main bangsal (open space) were influenced by different religions in that era, and some elements in the Keraton are influenced by other cultures as well. Clearly the world was never that big!

Pretty part of Keraton

After listening to Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat’s great history, we headed off from the Keraton to Taman Sari. Taman Sari Water Castle was the royal garden of the Sultanate which located on the Keraton ground. As the complex is huge and there’s no information sign available, I would recommend hiring a guide who can tell the full history of the complex. Similar to the ones in Keraton, guide fee at Taman Sari is based on mutual agreement.

Taman Sari was used as the resting and bathing place for the Sultan and his family members, as well as a hiding and meditation place. Built in 18th century, some areas of the complex were destroyed during the British  invasion in the 1812 and big earthquake in 1986. However, I suppose the main eyesore in this complex are houses that were built irregularly that made the complex more of a village rather than a heritage site.

Originally consisted of an artificial lake where Sultan and his family would go canoeing, it is unfortunately the lake has turned to residential area. A little imagination was needed to be able to picture its beauty. Close by the lake, there’s a 2 story underground mosque which built on Islamic values. From the underground mosque, we then visited the bathing complex. This area had gone major reconstruction and now become the main attraction of Taman Sari. Back in its glorious time, Sultan would choose between paddling through the lake (of course his servants would paddle!) or walking through the underground passageway. Rumour even has it that there’s an underground corridor between Keraton, Taman Sari and the South Sea of Jogja where Sultan can hide to safety.

The bathing complex consisted of 3 baths; one for Sultan’s daughters and young sons, another for his concubines, and a special one for the Sultan himself and a chosen wife. Each of this baths has its own change room and sauna, and the bath for Sultan even has an additional room for a siesta. To choose a lady that would accompany him bathing, Sultan would ask his wives and concubines to bath first while he went up to the tower and threw a flower. The one who picked the flower first would Sultan’s accompany for the day. Nearby the bath stood 2 stones that were used as aromatherapy and hair dryers. Servants would start fire to create heat which was used to dry the ladies’ hairs. Very smart indeed!

Fancy a dip?

Refreshing

At the back of the bathing complex, there were 4 gazebos where Sultan and his companies would relax while listening to music before going back to the Keraton. Our guide told us that when Sultan decided to go for a bath, it would mean a full day trip that consisted of musicians, servants, wives, daughters and young sons. Eventhough the distance between Keraton and Taman Sari was considerably short, it was the pace of the group that made the trip long. I suppose Sultan and his family should remain graceful at all time.

Musicians hut at the backyard

We then headed back to our becak to visit Mirota Batik in Jl. Malioboro. Becak, or cycle rickshaw, is a vehicle that traditionally used human power. However, our becak was a modified version that used small motor and it surprised us because the becak driver didn’t turn on the motor on from our first leg of the trip (Keraton – Taman Sari). We didn’t know back then that motorized becak was illegal and our driver could be penalized if known. Riding the motorized becak was definitely nicer as it was faster and cooler as we caught more winds yet it’s also more dangerous. With it’s size and design, becak wasn’t designed for high speed. However, to be honest we enjoyed our fast ride more.

a motorized becak in disguise

Mirota Batik was very crowded and the aisles were so packed that moving around was a challenge but I have to admit that Mirota is a good place for souvenirs. You could get everything from batik dresses to wallets, traditional coconut carvings to fridge magnets, aromatherapy essences to traditional drinks. We went here because my dad asked us to buy him some Wedang Uwuh or Junk Drinks, if we translate it literally from Javanese. Wedang Uwuh consisted of ginger, sappanwood, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemongrass root, cardamom and sugar. If you’re familiar with spices, you will know that Wedang Uwuh would taste sweet and spicy which also mean soothing for the throat. Looks aside, this drink is very pleasant and thus is highly recommended.

To close our Jogja trip, we met up with 2 of our Jogja friends who took us to early dinner in a wedangan near the Keraton. Wedangan is not a restaurant but more like a small kiosk / stall that sells various kind of food. There are lots of wedangan in Jogja (and also in Solo) but tourists should be aware that some wedangan would charge tourists more than locals. They can easily do it as most wedangan don’t have menu / price list. It might be a good idea to ask around (hotel / guest house reception or locals) for some recommendations. Our weekend in Jogja then ended as we arrived at Tugu Station to board our 8pm Lodaya Malam train straight to Bandung. The train was freezing cold, as it always is, but we were ready to cover up with socks, shawls and jackets. It felt like Melbourne winter all over again.

First long haul train ride

We arrived on time at Bandung Station on 3.30am, feeling a bit sleepy but thankfully we were able to sleep through during our train ride. As it was hubby’s first long haul train ride, he was satisfied with the experience as the train was clean and the seats were very comfortable for sleeping. His only complain was the lights that were kept on for the full trip. We should remember to pack our sleeping eye pads if we were to go on another train ride. Anyhow, our trip to Jogja was educational and fun, and has made me even prouder of my country and its heritage.

Jogjakarta, also known as Jogja or Yoyakarta, is the capital of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Special Distric). Famously known as Kota Gudeg (Gudeg City – more on this later) as well as Kota Pelajar (Students City), Jogja is also famous for its batik, dance, music and puppet shows which give this city the nickname Kota Budaya (Cultural City). During the national revolution, Jogja served as Indonesian capital for the period of 1946-1949 and it makes the city is historically significant for Indonesia.

Dear husband and I went for a 48 hours trip to Jogja last July. Our theme for the trip was culture and heritage so our destinations were Borobudur, the Ramayana Ballet, Jogja’s Keraton (Palace) and Taman Sari (Water Castle). So much to see in a weekend so hop hop, off we went!

To maximize the trip, we flew with the only morning flight available from Bandung which was on 06.30 am. FYI, the only other direct flight was on 2.25 pm. Oh the joy of living in a small city – not. So we flew with Merpati Air and to our surprise the plane was a Modern Ark 60 which made me a bit claustrophobic as the leg space was very tight and the windows were tiny. Drama aside, we made it to Jogja safely.

our ride!

Arriving at Jogja’s Adisucipto Airport, we were greeted by live traditional music consisted of a sinden (the lady singer) and 3 musicians playing gamelan. It was indeed a sweet touch while waiting for our luggage. For day 1, we rented a car with driver to drive us around as the day would be a long one.

welcome to Jogjakarta

First destination: a gudeg breakfast at Yu Djum (Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar 102). Gudeg is undoubtedly Jogja’s most famous dish. While gudeg is also popular in Central Java, the one is Jogja is usually sweeter and drier. Gudeg is made from jack fruit cooked in coconut milk and palm sugar, mixed with various spices and then served with rice, chicken, boiled egg and krecek (beef skin wet crackers). Although the one we went to wasn’t the original location of Yu Djum, it was still so yummy!

Gudeg Yu Djum

With a full happy tummy, we continued our journey to Candi Borobudur (Borobudur Temple). It was an hour ride in a normal traffic to reach Borobudur. Borobudur is a buddhist temple built in the 9th century and it’s still used for pilgrimage, especially on the Vesak. As a kid I’ve been to Borobudur several times but seeing this majestic architecture for the first time as an adult was a whole new experience. I was in awe as I stared at the temple and gazed through its relief. Borobudur has gone through the tests of time; forgotten as Islam overtaken Java, bombed by extremist group, rocked by an earthquake and buried in ashes from Mount Merapi eruption yet through rehabilitation this amazing temple stands still in all its glory.

The majestic Borobudur

Stupas at Borobudur

After spending time under the scorching sun of Borobudur, we hushed ourselves to Amanjiwo for a little rest and relax. Amanjiwo is a part of Aman Resorts and it was a perfect place for cooling ourselves down. Located 15 minutes away, this resort has a perfect view of Borobudur. We spent an hour sitting down at the restaurant, sipping drinks and enjoying nibbles. It was indeed a great way to hide from the sun while still enjoying the great view of Borobudur.

Chillin at Amanjiwo

Given that it’s past lunch time and we haven’t got any proper lunch, we headed back to Jogja for late lunch. It was perfect timing though as the restaurant we were heading wasn’t open until 3pm due to Islam’s fasting season. Mang Engking (Jl. Soragan No.13 Janti) was the restaurant we went to and it’s popular for its udang galah (river prawn). Again, the one we went to wasn’t the original place as it was too far for us – or our hunger in this matter. We had the famous honey grilled prawns, stir-fried morning glory and crispy fried squid. Cholesterol here we come!

Honey grilled prawn

Cute thing about this particular Mang Engking, the built a little castle and named it Soragan Castle. Even cuter, people use it as pre-wedding photo venue! So we felt obliged to take our post-wedding photo

Soragan Castle

Feeling a bit tired after an early morning, we decided to head to our hotel and check ourselves in. Our hotel of choice was Whiz Hotel (Jl. Dagen 8) which was located near Jl. Malioboro. The hotel was more than ok for an overnight stay, given its location and quiet surrounding, compared to the popular backpackers street of Jl. Sosrowijayan. After a short nap, we headed to Candi Prambanan for our main destination, the Rayamana Ballet.

Watching open air Ramayana Ballet was a childhood dream. Every Christmas I always go to grands’ house in Solo, a city 55 km away, but Christmas is in December and the open air shows are only from May to October. Thanks be to God, it was pouring heavily when we checked in and having our nap but then it was all clear sky! Amazing God indeed. Knowing that we’re 100% blessed, we happily entered the venue which was located in Candi Prambanan complex. Whilst Borobudur is a buddhist temple, Prambanan is a hindu temple but it’s just as pretty and majestic as Borobudur.

An act from the Ramayana ballet

Beautiful backdrop <3

I was impressed by the neatness of the show, from the entrance to the synopsis which was available in many languages (Indonesian, English, Germany, French, Korean, etc.). Apparently the first show was in 1961 so I suppose they have many years of experience to make it better. The show went for 2 hours with 15 minutes interval and it was epic. Thousand years love story re-enacted by more than a hundred dancers and musicians in front of a beautiful temple just made it so beautiful and romantic. We sat at the special class which gave us centre view of the stage and we also got a sitting cushion that was proven to be very important as the seats were from stone! Unless of course, if you pay more and go VIP. After the show, don’t forget to run to the stage and take pictures with the dancers.

with the main characters of Ramayana

That was the end of our day 1 in Jogja. We went back to the hotel, paid our driver and said adios to the rental car as tomorrow we’ll travel by foot & public transport. Excited! See you in day 2!

During my 2nd year back in uni, I wrote a short essay on Jakarta’s traffic and its impact on the city’s life. The essay was an assignment for my South East Asian subject, a breath subject that I chose based solely on my curiosity of my beloved country and its neighbours. A curiosity of the region’s potentials and future growth. So I said to myself that I shall start small and start with my own country city, my Jakarta.

daily view for Jakartans

The other day I was watching Megastructures: Seoul: Unlocking The Grid, an episode of National Geographic Channel’s series on megastructures. Here’s the excerpt

On 1 July, 2004, under the circumstances, the city implemented an innovative traffic reform. It introduced, for the first time in the world, a state of the art transport system by coupling IT technology with a traffic policy and carried out a citizen-oriented comprehensive traffic policy.This program will take a close look into its traffic reform policy and the secrets to success, and introduce scientifically its state of the art transport system, a key technology to the success. (Taken from http://natgeotv.com/in/megastructures/about)

As I watched the Seoul’s amazingly structured public transportation system on my TV screen, a little jealousy started to crawl in. A city with a smaller area than Jakarta (605.2 km² to 740.3 km²) and slightly more population (10.58 million to 10.19 million, based on 2011 data) somehow able to have an effective public transport and road systems and managed to keep them clean! The traffic reform in Seoul included a removal of a flyover in the city centre (in a bid to reduce passenger cars and pollution) and a reformation in bus system. The new bus system in Seoul reminds me of Transjakarta, with its middle ramps and the fact that it’s bus (duh!) Each bus has a GPS that enables location and speed tracking, which gives information to waiting passengers and other road users of the traffic condition. The same concept as an app that you might be using to find the quickest way home called Waze.

Between my jealousy, the episode showed that the city of Seoul moved the street vendors to clean up the roads which instantly reminded me of the relocation of street vendors in Tanah Abang that just happened few days ago. This fact led me to ponder on Jakarta and the changes that it’s going through now. I don’t want to go into politics but to be honest I’m excited with the hope for a better city that our current leaders bring. I used to go home by Transjakarta back in my highschool years and it’s quite sad to see that the bus stops are looking less inviting. I dream of a city where people can be comfortable in public transports, I dream of a city where people can stroll safely on the street, I dream of a city where it is a culture to throw trash in the bin and queuing is a no brainer, I dream of a city with less cigarette smoke and more fresh air from the parks where people can relax and enjoy. Most of all, I dream of a city where traffic moves much faster than 10km/h.

Jakarta, please never stop moving…