Visiting Tidung Island

Tidung Island was the first island that came in my head when my niece asked me for snorkeling in Thousand Island. Well.. my niece was 8th grade and she was never snorkeling in her life. So I have a plan to take her to Thousand Island and teach her snorkeling. She was very happy when I said I will take her to Tidung Island.. ^^

And then I asked some of my friends to acompanying us. Gladly, two of them was agree to join this backpack trip.. ;)

That day (10/7) I and my niece went to Marina Pier, Ancol. To visit Tidung Island, we used speed boat from Marina Pier, Ancol.
note:
Using speed boat from Marina is more expensive than from Kali Adem, Muara Angke. The cost is almost 2,5 times more expensive.

In Marina, there are many speed boats which are heading to Thousand Island. You can find them at 17th Pier. The 17th Pier is the pier that providing public transportation/speed boats to society who wants to visit Thousand Island.

When you get there, there will be some officers with blue shirt who will help you for buying the ticket. You don't have to worry about their present. They are official officers.

Or.. you can walk through to a building next the cafetaria. That building is an office which is selling ticket to Thousand Island.
You can buy the ticket on the spot, without any confirmation first..

The ticket costs in some prices, depending on the island (2016):

• Bidadari/Ayer/Untung Jawa: IDR 75K (weekday), 100K (weekend).
• Pari/Pramuka/Tidung: IDR 125K (weeday), 150K (weekend).
• Harapan/Kelapa: IDR 180K (weekday), 225K (weekend).
• Putri/Pelangi/Sepa: IDR 200K (weekday), 250K (weekend).
• Pantara: IDR 300K (weekday), 350K (weekend).

We arrived at Marina, Ancol, around 8.30 am. There were so many visitors in the pier. But most of them visiting Pari Island. Only a few visiting Tidung Island. Lucky for us, we got an empty boat!

Just 4 of us at the bottom room of the boat! ^^ Capacity of this boat is 180 people.. yeayy^^

Catching Breath at Payung Island

Sudden trip!
Yeup.. I never planned this trip (29/10) until one of my friend told me that next week some of freedivers will go to Payung Island (Payung = Umbrella -) for training.

When I heard about that, I was so excited to join because this was my chance to try again my capability of equalization in the ocean (since I failed the exam of A2 AIDA -).

And the next thing I knew, I was in a traditional ferry on the way to Payung Island..

Note:
If you want to go to Thousand Island by traditional ferry, the port had been moved. It is not next to the gas station anymore, It is moved to Kali Adem Port..
If you used public transportation, the route: Transjakarta (cost IDR 3.500), stop at Penjaringan Shelter - B01 (cost IDR 5K), stop at Muara Angke Bus Station - Becak motorbike (cost IDR 5K), stop at Kali Adem Port.
Or... you can use Transjakarta Feeder  bus from Pluit (but this bus is still rare, specially in the morning when you in hurry to catch the ferry).

Kali Adem Port

Ticket booth to Thousand Island with traditional ferry

Easy Ride to Garuda Wisnu Kencana

Few days ago I had a short trip to Bali. Even it was a short trip, I used it to visit a place that I would like to see much but I never had a change to go there everytime I went to Bali. It was Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

Yeup.. it was a simple thing but It became big if you want it so bad :p
I by myself never understood why I always fail to visit this place (back in the past-). That is why when I had a change, I did it with no doubt, alone by myself.. ^^

Is it possible to visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana alone?
Yes, of course!
In a chep and easy way?
Yes, absolutely!
How? ^^
I will tell you how.. ^^

Online Transportation

It was about 10.30 am when I stood in front of a Padang restaurant at Seminyak, Bali, (3/11). I was waiting for a driver who will drive me to Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Art.

I used G*jek to visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana. What? is it possible using online transportation to visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana? Yes, of course!

Only paid IDR 27K from Seminyak to Garuda Wisnu Kencana by using G*jek. I got 50% discount for paying by G*pay.. It should be IDR 52K, cheap? hell yeah.. ^^

You can find G*jek app at Google store and download it. This online transportation is trully help my day in Bali. Because in Bali, public transportations are rare to find. You need to rent motorbike or car to visit places.

The Beauty of Ijen Crater

previous story... Gulma vs Baluran National Park

After Baluran National Park, we went to Ijen Crater. I didn't know exactly the way that our driver chosen to go to Ijen Crater, because along the way, there was no 'spamming' things.

Roumors said, if we go to Ijen Crater by ourself, using private car, people there will stop you and force you to go out from your car and rent theirs (some kind of jeep), which is very expensive per car. They will not allow you to use your own car to get into Ijen Crater. Hm... lucky us I think ;)

Honey

When we drove on the street to Ijen Crater, I saw an interesting view, boxes among the trees. Why there were so many boxes there? And when I saw bottles in a table next to the street, I asked our diver, what was that? he said it was bottle of honey.. "
"Ow.. can I buy that?"
"Yes, of course, they sell it."

(left) Real honey. (Right) These boxes are bee hives

And then we stopped. I walked through a man who looked busy checking boxes. When he saw us, he smiled and approached us.
"How much is this honey?"
"120K each."
"How about 100K? I'll buy 2."
He said ok.. I smiled happy ^^

Bee... can you find d queen? The clue is, she has no strip in her body ;)
The queen was imported from Australia. It cost IDR 1,2 million /each.

Koleksi Seni Rupa Istana Kepresidenan RI

Sejak tanggal 2 – 30 Agustus 2016, Galeri Nasional Indonesia menggelar pameran lukisan koleksi Istana Kepresidenan Republik Indonesia. 

Hmm.. sebenarnya aga telat yah aku nulis artikel ini karena pamerannya tutup 3 hari lagi.. :p

Tapi gapaap lah yaw.. itung-itung ikut meramaikan dunia pergalerian di Indonesia * tsaahh ;))

Nah, mumpung masih ada waktu hingga selasa, yuks..rame-rame datang ke Galeri Nasional Indonesia yang lokasinya tepat di depan Stasiun Gambir (Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 14). Ga bakalan nyeselll.. karena koleksi lukisan Istana Kepresidenan RI keren beudd.. ^_^

--

Menjelang tengah hari aku, Mendi, dan Sarri tiba di Gedung Galeri Nasional Indonesia. Panasnya cuaca siang itu tidak menyurutkan niat kami untuk mengunjungi pameran lukisan koleksi Istana Kepresidenan RI ini.

Selain penasaran seperti apa lukisan-lukisan yang konon katanya adalah lukisan-lukisan langka yang belum pernah/dilarang dikeluarkan dari lingkungan istana (dilarang dipertontonkan untuk umum-red), udah lama juga aku ga ketemu sama cewek2 ini, obat kangen jadinyah..hihi.. ;))

Gedung Galeri Nasional Indonesia - Jakarta

Gulma Vs Baluran National Park

Previous story.. Pantai Bama & Hutan Mangrove di Taman Nasional Baluran

The car moved slowly crossing rocky road. Sometimes it stopped by for fulfill our passion to the beauty of  savana in Baluran National Park.

Yeup.. for me, Baluran National Park is more than gorgeous, exotic, and pleasant to see.. It is just like when you see something that you like so much and you can't find any word to say about it.. ^^

Savana Bekol

These are some photos that we took on the way from Bama Beach to Savana Bekol..^^

Dry.. ^^

Baluran National Park

Pantai Bama & Hutan Mangrove di Taman Nasional Baluran

cerita sebelumnya ... Misteri Lain di Taman Nasional Baluran

Pagi itu Pantai Bama terlihat sepi, hanya ada kami dan satu keluarga yang asyik bermain di atas pasir kecoklatan.

Beberapa ekor monyet berkeliaran di sekitar pantai, di atas bangku kayu, di pohon, dan beberapa di antaranya mencari-cari sisa makanan di atas tumpukan sampah.

Monyet adalah hewan yang paling banyak ditemui di Pantai Bama. Kebanyakan cukup jinak (dalam arti, mereka tidak berusaha menjambret tas maupun barang bawaan kami-red).

Matahari belum sepenuhnya bersinar saat aku dan Ika memutuskan untuk mencari sebuah Pohon Mangrove tua yang konon katanya telah berusia sekitar seratus tahun dan masih hidup hingga saat ini. Tak hanya itu, pohon mangrove tersebut juga didaulat sebagai pohon mangrove terbesar di Asia, wow!

Pantai Bama jelang mentari bersinar

Keliling Cirebon Naik Angkot

"Gue kaget pas liat instagram, die udah di Cirebon aja," tukas salah seorang teman sambil menunjuk padaku saat kami sedang berada di dalam commuter line.
"Kapan lo ke Cirebon?"
"Kemaren"
"Sama siapa?"
"Sendiri"
"Heh? iseng amat lo, bday trip ye?"
"Emm... ^^"

Begitulah kira-kira percakapan kami di dalam commuter line. Mereka pun langsung mendaulat aku untuk bercerita bagaimana kisah perjalananku saat berada di kota Cirebon. Well.. berhubung aku nggak pelit, aku bagi ceritanya ke kamu semua deh.. ^^

Kota Cirebon

Hujan turun dengan riangnya saat aku tiba di Stasiun Gambir, Jakarta. Waktu masih menunjukkan pkl 05.30 pagi. Kereta Cirebon Express sudah terparkir di jalur 3, setia  menunggu penumpangnya.

Aku duduk di bangku kereta sambil menatap matahari yang perlahan terbit dari balik jendela. Mendekati pkl 06 pagi, satu persatu penumpang mulai memasuki gerbong dan duduk di kursi mereka.

Tepat pkl 06 pagi, kereta berangkat dengan sedikit penumpang di dalamnya. Mayanlah.. jadi bisa tidur rebahan euy..^^

Sekitar 1 jam aku tertidur lelap di bangku kereta, dan saat terbangun, aku sudah berada di wilayah Indramayu. Mataku langsung dimanjakan oleh hamparan sawah nan hijau, adem bener ngeliatnya ^^

Misteri Lain di Taman Nasional Baluran

cerita sebelumnya.. Kisah Bangkai Hidup di Taman Nasional Baluran

Tak hanya kisah Bangkai Hidup yang melegenda di Taman Nasional Baluran, ada kisah lain yang juga  masih menjadi misteri hingga saat ini..


Makam Mbah Cungking

Sambil menyeruput teh manis yang masih mengepul, Pak Kasman kembali melanjutkan ceritanya..
"Di Taman Baluran ini ada sebuah makam, namanya makam Mbah Cungking," tuturnya.

Mbah Cungking adalah orang sakti. Konon, kesaktiannya sangat terkenal di seantero Pulau Jawa. Salah satu kesaktian yang dimiliki Mbah Cungking adalah, ia mampu memindahkan ribuan kerbau hanya dalam satu waktu.

Konon pada waktu itu, Mbah Cungking diminta untuk memindahkan ribuan kerbau dari suatu daerah ke Taman Nasional Baluran. Dengan menggunakan kesaktiannya, Mbah Cungking memasukkan kerbau-kerbau tersebut ke dalam sebilah bambu.

foto ilustrasi. by google

Kisah Bangkai Hidup di Taman Nasional Baluran

cerita sebelumnya.. Legend of Patih Gajah Mada at Madakaripura Waterfall

Banyak yang bilang Taman Nasional Baluran adalah  Afrika-nya Indonesia. Katanya, tempat ini adalah surganya udara panas dan padang savana yang luas - yang di atasnya berlarian banteng, rusa, dan sejenisnya, kaya yang di pilem God Must Be Crazy itu loh.. ^^
Betul ga yah?
Let's check it out ;)

Matahari masih duduk disinggasananya saat mobil yang membawa kami menggelinding meninggalkan kawasan Air Terjun Madakaripura. Setelah mampir sebentar di sebuah rumah makan untuk memberi makan cacing-cacing di dalam perut, kami melanjutkan perjalanan menyisir jengkal demi jengkal jalanan beraspal.

Entah sudah berapa jam kami berada di dalam mobil, yang jelas, gelap telah menyelimuti langit saat kendaraan kami membelah hutan Baluran. Masih terngiang di telingaku tentang perkataan ibu pedagang di warung yang tadi kami singgahi untuk makan malam.

Katanya, masih banyak bajing loncat yang berkeliaran di hutan tersebut. Bajing loncat adalah sebutan halus untuk rampok yang suka memangsa orang/kendaraan yang melewati  hutan Baluran.

Wefie dulu di warung sebelum ke TN Baluran ^^

Weekend ke Kantor Gubernur DKI-Jakarta & Museum Nasional yuks!

(14 Nov' 2015)

"Ngabisin wiken di Jakarta aja?"
"Yes, kenapa nggak?"
"Nge-mall?"
"Nope.. banyak yang lebih asik dari nge-mall kok."
"Ciyusss?"
"(-__-!)"

Ada banyak tempat wisata di Jakarta yang bisa kamu dan keluarga kunjungi saat wiken selain ke mall. Kamu bisa berkunjung ke museum, perpustakaan, pelabuhan, stasiun kereta, water park, dan sebagainya.

Nah.. aku mo rekomendasiin dua tempat wisata yang bisa kamu nikmati bersama keluarga or teman or pacar saat wiken tiba. Ga perlu ngeluarin kocek berlebih untuk mengunjunginya. Tempat yang kumaksud adalah Kantor Gubernur DKI Jakarta (aka. Balaikota) dan Museum Nasional (aka. Museum Gajah).

Mau tau jeroan-nya kedua tempat tersebut? yuk cusss.. langsung ke tekape.. ;)

Museum Nasional (Museum Gajah)

Berawal dari nyari tempat jalan-jalan murah tapi tetep fotogenic, ide untuk mengunjungi Museum Gajah pun tercetus.

Wait wait.. tempat yang fotogenik itu opo toh? menurut definisi dari KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia), fotogenik: memiliki wajah dan sikap tubuh yang menghasilkan potret yang menyenangkan.
Jadi, tempat yang fotogenic itu berarti (menurut pendapatku): tempat yang memiliki dan menghasilkan potret yang menyenangkan.. :D

Jadi, Museum Nasional (Museum Gajah) ini fotogenik? yes.. betchull..^^
Dan.. ide ke tempat ini pun kami realisasikan saat wiken.. ^^

Di depan Museum Nasional ^^

Legend of Patih Gajah Mada at Madakaripura Waterfall

There are so many articles that write about Madakaripura waterfall, but none of them have same story..

Wanna know mine? check this one out.. ;)

(15 Mei 2015)

It was 10 o'clock in the morning when I arrived at Senen Station, Jakarta. I had a half hour more to catch the train that will bring me to Surabaya City, East Java. Surabaya was not my point of view, but Banyuwangi area.

Banyuwangi has many incredible sceneries that very famous not only in local but also international. There were three places that I want to see: Madakadipura Waterfall, Baluran National Park, and Ijen Crater. This time I did not go alone, Ika was accompanying me.

Me & Madakaripura Waterfall, East Java, Indonesia.. ^^

At 10.30 AM, the train that brought us left the station.

Huft.. I slamed my butt on the economic train's chair. I looked at next to me, it was empty. There were only a plastic bottle of mineral water and snacks hanging near window. "Hmm.. someone has owned chair next the window," I talked to my self.

Well.. I will tell you something.. If you go by economic train and you got chair next the window, it means you can sleep well, and also can reduce sore level on back bone and butt almost 50%! isn't it great? :p