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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The Most Loveable Sustainable City 2015 : Balikpapan

Congratulation!! Yes! We beat Paris in the second place! This award based on vote from the people who love they city. So, I guess people in here really love this city :)

Balikpapan won the We Love Cities Award is based on all the love expressed from people like you. - We Love Cities Facebook Page

As part of the Earth Hour City Challenge, the city of Balikpapan, Indonesia was recognized as the Most Loveavle City for 2015! Balikpapan was one of the 47 green city finalist selected throught the social media platform We Love Cities. More than 200,000 people who truly love theri cities and want to see them become more sustainable voted in contest. 

The We Love Cities campaign engaged citizens around the world to express their love through votes, tweets, Instagram pictures and by submitting suggestions on how their cities can be more sustainable. These improvement suggestions will be shared with the participating cities. - WWF

Finalists Earth Hour City Challenge 2015:

Brazil : Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo

Canada : Edmonton, North Vancouver, Vancouver

Colombia : Bucaramanga, Monteria, Santiago de Cali

Finland : Espoo, Lahti, Tampere

France : Besançon, Nantes, Paris

India : Pune, Rajkot, Thane

Indonesia : Balikpapan, Jakarta, Semarang

Malaysia : Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam

Mexico : Puebla, Hermosillo, Toluca

Singapore : Singapore

South Africa : Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane

South Korea : Changwon, Seoul, Wonju

Spain : A Coruña, Córdoba

Sweden :  Eskilstuna, Gothenburg, Västerås

Thailand : Hatyai, Khon Kaen, Mapammarit

United States : Cleveland, Evanston, Seattle

Once again, Congratulation!!

speak soon,

Ninu

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Baby Z Summer Time | Beach Day!

Hallo! Last weekend, we went to beach for dad's family gathering. This time, we went to closest beach from our house, Kilang Mandiri Beach. We planned to leave earlier, so it's not too hot when we play at play the beach, but it was raining all morning XD. So we went there around 10 am, when the sun start shining too much.

Soon when we arrive (it's only like 10 minutes from home, by car), we look for place to put our stuff and then take Baby Z to sand! Yay! This time she didn't cry, but she still scared a bit with the water. Maybe she haven't get used to wet sand and water. The sand look more dark, because it was raining in the morning and there are some garbage around the beach.

She's not smiling, lol! Look at those faces. Seems like water bottle more interesting than the sand. She only laugh two times, it was when I say "Good! Let's play dirty!" and when my dad's friend come over and say hi.

After like 45 minutes, Baby Z start crying, maybe because she bored, so we took her back to her daddy. I was sitting down on the ground, and she can't stop pulling may hair XD. 

I think people at the beach more interesting that the phone XD this is the best selfie when made that day ;p Haha! 

Ow, I found something on the sand, I'm not sure it's a rock or not. But it have "Y" shape. Hehe! Y for Yes! Hehe..

Last but not least! Lunch time!! Finally! Haha! Baby Z was sleeping on the this table too while we eat ;p Haha! Lots of food! But I only eat this, grilled goat with lontong, veggies soup and some sausages. Nom! Nom!

It was fun day! Feels like we really have "summer holiday" :p How was your weekend?

Love, 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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Family | First Beach Time on May Day!

As you know two days ago was May Day, and it means day off from work! Actually this year is our first time (in Indonesia) to get May Day as national holiday! Yay! I have many things to do on my minds for this day. But, mum ruined it in early morning. Haha! She make us (me, my sister and dad) to go to the beach with my brother and his coworker. Yes, my brother and his coworker planed to have beachy time with their family and my mum was so exciting to take Baby Z to the beach for the first time. She even say "I want to ride ATV and stuff" like ten times that morning. Haha! 

My brother and his wife go earlier, and we (me, my sister, mum, dad and of course Baby Z) leave around 9 am. We are going to Lamaru beach, which located somewhere far away from city, lol, it's about 30 minutes driving from home. 

So, we arrived there, not much people this morning. The beach is better than last time I went there. More neat and the facilities better. So we just sat under the tree and looking at the beach. 

After 1 hour, I decided to take Baby Z playing with sand. Yay! At first she was fine until I put her standing on sand. She start making weird faces, lol. And, when the water come, she freaking out! Haha! And start crying, lol! We also make her sit on sand. And again, she start crying. It's a little hard to put her on sand alone, because corals everywhere. She even have to stand on my feet in the water. Too bad we don't bring extra clothes (me, my sis or my brother), if not she will be in water. 

After playing dirty, we took her to clean up her feet. We wash her feet and again she start crying, lol. I tried to make her stand on the grass and yea, she start crying again, lol. She usually like playing water when shower time. I guess she still scared with the beach sound.

Around 12pm, the sea began to recede and I think I want to try to take Baby Z again before home. And this is how she reacted. Wet sand, no water, and not crying ^^ Yay!  But it only last for 5 minutes until she cry again, Haha! 

We left the beach early, but it was fun day :) Next time we will take her to beach near our house. So, how do you spend your May Day this year??

Love, Ninu

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