Monyet Belanda | Chubby Buddy Adventure - Part. 2

Ya! Monyet Belanda - That's how we called long-nosed monkey in here. Why Belanda? I'm not sure, probably because Dutch people was the first Caucasian people who visited Kalimantan earlier - no offense Steve, haha!
But first, before we talk about it. We went for breakfast at Depot Miki - all eyes on us! Yup, that's my first experience - all people instantly staring at us on the first step we enter the place - literary all eyes - everyone! Haha! Weird - like they never see bule before -_-! Today we had breakfast at Depot Miki. I got soto banjar and he got nasi kuning with egg and fish - taste so so.

Beaching before mangroving ;p
So, after weird staring breakfast we went to the beach - the one and only closest free beach ever! Haha! Banua Patra. It was pretty good, we walk along the beach until the rocky place. Then we are heading to mangrove! Yay! 



Mangroving for the first time!
Yes, I used to lived close this neighborhood for almost 17 years, but I never ever visit this mangrove. Funny! In fact, the first mangrove I ever visited was in Surabaya. Back to Margomulyo mangrove, this place located near the "fisherman village". The entrance is quite hidden, you have to walk pass the houses. And ask someone about the gate keeper, in this case, we ask to the local at the last house before the entrance. Don't forget to give donation, so they can take care of this place.
Soon we enter the place, it's quite relaxing. We saw small colourful crabs, some fish who like unevolve pokemon - haha! birds, and also we found snake - who just jump into the branches -_-!

 

And here's the main star of this mangrove, Monyet Belanda. Haha! We are so lucky to see them, they are soo BIG - I'm scared!!! We only see them from distance - of course because I had bad experience with monkeys. We also saw some small monkey too. The only this that we missed is the crocodile - which we can see it later in other place.

After walking around and feels like national geographic photographer, we went out to check the other side of this mangrove. We met some kids and one of them is posing for us, haha! Cool kid! 

 

So, it was pretty fun! The rest of the day we just went to the mall and watch a movie. Tomorrow, we will visit the Samboja Lodge to see the Orang Utan. So I wil see you in the next post soon - hopefully ^_^

 

speak soon,

Ninu

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Chubby Buddy Adventure Part 1 | The Beginning

Wow! It's been more than a year since my last post. Let's say I've been busy with my "life". Now, I'm still busy with my life anyway, but I'm trying to motivate my self to write again. So, back to topic - I actually just got back from Vietnam last week. After two weeks escape from the real life. So, I think it's the best time to write it now - before I forgot haha!

Counting the Days
We start to plan this trip earlier this year. Who are we? Well, you will know about it soon - haha! Well I actually start counting the days until we meet since June 6th 2016 - that's exactly 100 days before he fly to Indonesia. One day before he fly, his flight to Balikpapan was rescheduled and we have to get new flight because he can't make it - what a chaotic night for us T-T!

 

Big Day!
September 15th 2016, I have to pick him up at the airport - excitement and nervous. I went to the airport way to early - haha! It feels like one hour of torture until finally see him from distance - directly with bare eyes, not through camera, haha!

 

FINALLY, WELCOME TO BALIKPAPAN!

My first impression - well, he is a nice real human and tall ;p haha! Because I can see him from really really far distance. It was abit "krik-krik" momen at the first time, but went well, haha! Had some dinner and drop him to the hotel. So, I will continue to next post - soon - hopefully!

speak soon,
Ninu

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Beatus's Gigantic Crab | Food Travel : Surabaya

Food, food, food! This time I want to talk about food! Gigantic Crab, yes! It's a super big crab I ever see in my life ;p It's not as big as Alaska Crab (which I never try, only see it at one of restaurant in Balikpapan). Actually, I'm not a big fan of crab, but everytime my boss come to visit, she always wants to eat crab. This time she visit Surabaya and took us to try this crazy crab.

It's called Beatus, they said this restaurant is really famous in Surabaya, for it's big crab. The place is quite far for the city center, also not so big. They said we lucky, we don't make reservation that day because usually need reservation. 

So, we order this spicy caramelized crab, grilled sea bass with potato and spicy caramelized sea bass for the main course. Look at those shallots and garlic, so yummy! We also order mushroom cream soup, some kind escargot (I forgot the name and didn't take picture, haha!), that salmon sushi thingy and a little snack too  for appetizer.

Everything just so perfect! No wonder this restaurant always full. And the last is pancake with ice cream for dessert. We are too full, so we can't eat all, haha! Because we order another extra crab, lol. The thing that I don't like about this pancake is, one of the ice cream is coffee flavor XD. Haha! I hate coffee. But overall, everything yum! I would give nine out of 10 for this restaurant ;)

Good Food, Happy Tummy!

speak soon,

Ninu

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December Escape : Part 1, Darajat Pass | Travel

So! I'm back! After neglecting this blog for two months (sorry!). I just came back from my short escape this early December. It was spontaneous, right after I got email from my boss that we will have meeting in Surabaya. I suddenly think, why not go to Bandung after meeting. Haha! And then I ask my boss to divert my flight home to Bandung, and he approved it. 

And the journey begin. It was the right time, because my best friend, Reni, just resign from his office so she have time to hangout with me. This is my first time landing in Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, and it was ok (not like I always thought that it will be scary, because the airport is small and the runway is short enough, hehe!). Reni's employee (yes! she have some people work for her workshop) came and pick me up. 

Arriving at Reni's place, this big monkey greeting me, hehe! Nothing really change with him, but Reni! She now even look more skinny than me (envy!) Hehe. 

Day one in Bandung, I go shopping alone, because it's Reni last day at work. So, she needs more time to say goodbye with her co-workers. The next day, she took me to Garut!

We start the journey alittle bit late, we plan to leave earlier but Mang Sloed (Reni's friend) can't pick us up ealier. So we leave aroung 10am. It was fun way to Garut. I've been to Garut once, but not exploring the city. As you can see, green, mountains and rice field, so peaceful. 

Then we stop for lunch at Padang Restaurant. The wind blow really strong and makes the small plant infront of the restaurant fell down right when I about to enter the restaurant (Haha! lucky it's not fell on me!). I think it was to early to have lunch, why? Because not all the menu ready. Haha! So we just got spicy chiken with veggies, instead Rendang (-_-!). Nom nom, so yumm! 

After finish our lunch we continue our journey. At first Mang Sloed notice that we took the wrong turn, so we go back. They way back was full with trouble, stuck in traffic, tree fell down on the street. Haha! We finally back in the city, and guess what, we got lost! Haha! We ask to the local how to get to Darajat pass. Even one old man write down a map for us. How stupid, right after we got the map for that oldman, we just notice why don't we use GPS on our phone (Haha! So stupid!). 

All the way to Darajat pass (the new way) all you can see is beautiful yellowish rice field.  

And finally we reach Darajat Pass! Welcome Girls! Hehe! The place is not so big, but they make it like a water park but with hot and warm water. So, its time to play in the water!

After about three hours playing around, it's time to go home. The view on the way home also nice. Sorry for blurry pictures, because Mang Sloed drive really fast.

The journey ending as the sun goes down. Beautiful sunset, which I can't capture, lol. Hope to see you again Garut!

speak soon,

Ninu

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See The Jungle Through The Eagle Eyes | Travel

See the jungle through the eagle eyes, what an epic title ;p That's what I felt when I finally able to visit The Canopy Bridge in Bangkirai Forest. It was sunny day, me, my sister, and our friend from South Korea come to visit us, in here! Yea! In Balikpapan. Lets, meet Jihyun and his 4 years old Jungle!

Maybe some of you must be wondered how do I know her, hehe! She was one of  my hosts from Couchsurfing while I visit South Korea last year (I haven't post anything about my Seoul travel XD). She planned to travel around Indonesia for 2 or 3 months with his cute son. And I was so exciting when they finally got a chance to visit us!

So, our journey starts on Saturday morning. Driving out of city, to go to some places. First place was the KWPLH. I've been to that place before, so I will skip that place. Our second place is the Bukit Bangkirai. I never been to this place my whole life, lol. At first, we (me and the driver) thought we are lost, because all we see only trees and some sign to Petung, not Bukit Bangkirai, lol.

There are some cars in fron of us, so we decide to follow them (we assume that they are going to the same place, because we meet them before at KWPLH). We was stuck about 1 hour after we see the first sign. Because there's a big hole in the road and the car in front of us can't go, until they put some wood in it. It was long drive until we see the sign (finally!) 

From that gate, it's about half hour to our destination XD. After we reach our destination, it was super hot and we all exhausted. We plan to have lunch at restaurant, but the food not ready yet (what?! T_T) We almost cancel this trip, because there's a rule kid's under 5 year old can't go to the canopy bridge and the canopy bridge seems far. We can't take stroller and Jungle have to walk, that's the problem. I ask the officer how far, and he said its about 1-2 hours. What?!? Jihyun already give up, I told her, we came this far to go to canopy bridge, let me ask the officer again. And finally, after clear instruction, the officer said, kids can go with adult, and the first canopy birdge only 500 meter from our place now, lol (So, that 1-2 hours walk was how long you want to stay around the canopy bridge, haha!) Soo, here we go!!

There's something funny happened when we start walking. Jungle was so happy, and he was dancing and fell down. Hehe.. I'm trying to upload the video, but the connection too slow XD.

He doesn't want to go down. Haha! That's what he do, trying to push the tree, lol! Before we go down stairs, he stuck his head in the fences. He said "mummy, look I can slide my head", few minutes later he said "mummy, I can't take out my head" XD. We was worry if he can't take it out and stuck here. But finally! He can! Yay! Too bad I didn't take picture (Jihyun took a pic). Maybe should ask her the pic and update here.

This is what I mean by see the jungle through eagle eyes ;) What a beautiful view from up here :) This bridge was build with american constructions. And it already established for years.

I really miss this little guy :) He is so funny, even we can't talk, lol! Because he only speak a little english and I can't speak korean, haha! 

So it was fun day at Bukit Bangkirai. Maybe next time will have to explore all the track ^^

Love, Ninu

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