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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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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Food : From Bubur Ayam to mean Face Fish & His friends from Ocean!

So last week was a busy busy week, because one of the bosses come to visit. It was a "surprise" visit, because I knew she will come night before she come next morning. So, this is cause all the collages we supposed to see are busy. This visits totally just for interviewing new employer. Since, my boss have nothing to do for two nights, we decide to eat somewhere nice. First night, we went to my favorite Bubur Ayam Samarinda restaurant. Because I thought she haven't try anything from here. Too bad, I forgot to take picture. Maybe next time if I eat there again, I will take picture.  I also stay one night at hotel with awesome city view (I posted on my Instagram). It was at the 11th floor.

Back to topic. On the second night, we decide to eat seafood. So, I told her, let's go at Ocean Restaurant. The restaurant have cozy place next to beach (even you can't see anything at night ;p). This restaurant have many menu like from eastern to western. This time, we try this square fish, Squid with Green Chili and Salty Egg Crab. When the fish come, I was like, OMG! look at it face lol! I don't take picture of the crab (even they  serve it really beautiful), because we already hungry, and eat it right when it come to our table.

Mean Face Fish ;p

So, the fish, taste like fish hehe..It just have "nice presentation". The squid, just like normal squid and chili didin't too hot. But the crab, taste GOOD! I guess this is the best crab I ever try (the Black Pepper Crab also good!). Next time I go here with my parents, I will order that crab! ^^

Love, Ninu

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Travel : Mangrove Wonorejo

Mangrove, actually we can find mangrove forest in my city, Balikpapan. But until now, I don't get a chance to visit that place. Funny, the first mangrove forest I visit was in Surabaya, East Java. It was boring weekend until my couchsurfing friend tell me about the mangrove near her friend's house. So, we decide to go there. Viola! This place called Ekowisata Mangrove Wonorejo, located near from Juanda airport. What you can see in this place, mangrove (of course), birds and monkeys. This mangrove separate into two areas. The first area, you can go there walking from the main entrace, and it's short walk with deadend. This area have newer wooden bridge, you will see what I mean when you see the 2nd area. And the most important thing about this first area you don't have to pay anything, so just walk in.  

1st area, deadend, with Mita

Another shoot with Ubay

Going to 2nd area, we have to take boat and its not free. I forgot how much we have to pay, but if you want to see the real mangrove, then go for it! The boat can take around 15 passengers, and it takes about 15-20 minutes to the "mangrove farm".

The 2nd area quite "traditional", because they still use bamboo bridge. It looks nice but you have to walk carefully.

The bridge will lead you to the "farm". As you can see, the Pertamina build this place. They have plant lots of mangrove. And they also have place where you can chill out after long walk. When I got there, they are building something, I'm not sure what it is. But one thing that missed in this place, they supposed to prepare drinking water because its really hot in there.

Mangrove Plantation

Waiting here for 2 hours XD

It was a FUN day, until we realize that the boat left us like for 2 hours. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, no food, no drink, low battery phone. We are trying to call the officer, but too bad, the one we contact not work in there anymore. After a very long waiting, the boat coming. The boat have to leave us because there's kid, crying and he want to go back. If we arrive 3 minutes earlier to the dock, we wont missed the boat and don't have to wait that long. But that's adventure! Hehe..

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Travel : House of Sampoerna & Surabaya Heritage Track

Did you ever hear about House of Sampoerna? Maybe first thing came into your mind is one of cigarette brand in Indonesia. Yes! But House of Sampoerna, is a museum about Sampoerna company. This place is one of Surabaya tourist attractions and you must go to this place when you in Surabaya. This place is located in "old Surabaya", this building was built on 1862 with Dutch colonial architecture and it was purchased in 1932 by Liem Seen Tee, the founder of Sampoerna, with the intent of being used as Sampoerna's first major cigarette production facility.

This place have three main part, which is central auditorium (museum), west are and east area. First impression when I enter the building is strong tobacco smells (Haha! of course). Actually I don't like this smells, makes me sick, but i this is more than just a smells. In the main entrance you will see nice fountain in front of the door, and you meet a nice staff. They ask you for your ID card, they just check if you are adult since this is cigarette museum. On the right side you will see the Liem Seen Tee's family stuff, like his working desk, some pictures, a kebaya that his wife wore long time ago. And on the left side, you will see a bags full of tobacco, a small traditional "warung" and a bike that Liem Seen Tee use.
The next room, is more like the history of Sampoerna company, there are some pictures from they important persons, there is something like printing stuff for the cigarette packing. Ow, and the toilet is on the right side of this room. The toilet was impressive, because they use the cigarette packing as wallpaper. Moving to the next room, you will find more interesting stuff, like the Indonesia map, i guess this explain about the Sampoerna's  expedition in Indonesia. On the right side of this room you will also find some stuff like a chemist bottles (I'm not sure) and an old motorcycle and a typical Indonesian street seller booth. And on the left side, there's Sampoerna's marching band stuff and the video history about it. Also you find a big old machine (I forgot what this machine use for).
On the second floor, there's a souvenirs shop and a place where you can see the worker make the cigarette, but it only on Saturday and several time, if i'm not mistaken.

The two other part of this museum, the east side, there's fancy cafe and art gallery. I don't have chance to go there. And the west side is for the family residence. On the outside you can see vintage car par on the west side.

One thing interesting about this museum, they have a program, which provide the tourist to see more about Surabaya. This called Surabaya Heritage Track (SHT). So, by join this trip, you can see some interesting places in Surabaya with unique bus. They have several different routes, depend on the theme. Usually each month they have different theme. This trip is available on Tuesday until Sunday, in three departure time. It's better do make reservation, because mostly the schedule is full, especially in holiday season. My route that day was Kampung Keraton - Cak Durasim - Kampung Arab, if i'm not mistaken. At Cak Durasim, you can see kids practice traditional dance and other stuff. Actually, I almost forgot what I saw on that day ;p so hope this pictures can explain some.
I went to House of Sampoerna two times during my on job training, it's around April - May 2014. My first visit was with my friend, and the second one to join that SHT tour. It was fun day. Hope I can go there again, maybe to have dinner at the fancy cafe with someone ;p.

Love, Ninu

House of Sampoerna
Free of charge
Address  Taman Sampoerna 6, Surabaya 60163, Indonesia
Phone      +62-31-353-9000
Fax           +62-31-353-9009
Email        hos.surabaya@sampoerna.com

Open from Monday to Sunday
Museum, Shop, & Art Gallery  9 am - 10 pm
Cafe  11 am - 10 pm

For more information, just click here.

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Travel : See a Dinasour in Bandung!

Hello Explorer!

So, today i'm going to tell you something fun to do while you in Bandung. Do you want to see something unique? I suggest you to go to Geology Museum! Yes! A museum, I love visiting museum.  Even only once i went there, but i really like that place. Geology Museum is located in Jalan Dipenogoro No. 57, Bandung. This building is near from Gedung Sate, about 5 minutes walking. 

Geology Museum was build on May 6th, 1962. The museum open at 9 a.m to 3 p.m from Monday to Thursday and at 9 a.m to 1 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday and national holidays, the museum closed for objects collection treatments. When i visited, too bad the museum was under renovated in some area (it was about 6 years ago ^^). So, maybe now it looks better. 

That's me, 6 years ago in front of the main entrance

This museum have 2 floors. On the first floor, divided in 3 rooms, which is orientation room, west wing room and east wing room. On the second floor, divide in 3 rooms, west room, middle room and east room.

Rex trying to eat me :p

For me, the fun place was the east room in the first floor. They called it as the Room of History of Life. Why? Because in this area you can see the earth conditions around 4 - 5 billions years ago. In this area you will find lots of fossils, but this one is the very attractive one. The Tyrannosaurus Rex Osborn, 19 m lenght, 6.5 m height and 8 ton weight. Even this is just a replica, but this is awesome!

There are many other interesting fossils in this area, such as snake, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, etc.

Some Fossils in Geology Museum

Other fossils,  i guess it snake fossil

On the west side on the first floor you can see the Indonesia Geology. There are some booth that explain some good information, such as the movement of active earth plates, geological condition if Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku Nusa Tenggara and Papua. There are some rocks and mineral resources from all over Indonesia. And also you can see the visualization of volcanoes in Indonesia, such as Tangkuban Perahu, Karatoa, and Merapi.

I don't know what it is, but i guess it's a stone :p

Stones

Mountains Replica

There are more interesting stuff on the second floor, but too bad i don't have the pictures. So, i guess you have to go there and see it your self ^^.  Ow, one thing, there is one interesting stuff outside the museum. They make replica of oil machine or something (i don't know the exact name) and it actually moving like the real one. 

The Machine

So, this is the end of the story. I know i didn't give much informations, but it just because i visited this place 6 years ago >_<. Maybe, if i have a chance to go back to Bandung again, i will go there and give more story to you. For more information, you can check the details information on this link.

Happy Exploring!

Love, Ninu

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