I was off for a couple of service trip in order to monitor the Eid transportation service. I went to Lampung and Bandung before the Eid and Banten and Semarang after the Eid. These trips were conducted in a row, a whole week before and after Idul Fitri. Quite exhausting. We interviewed people who in charge in public transportation in kind of place like railway station, airport, harbor, and bus terminal. We also asked people who use the public transportation; what they are complaining about, what they are suggest to improve transportation services, etc. Since my family won't go to our hometown (Magelang, center of Java), I'm not complaining this no-holiday's mission :p.
Here are few pictures from my trip >>
Tanjung Karang Train Station in Lampung. Bounty for scalper. I think it's really not effective. Things that need to be improved is ticketing system.
Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. Small airport, but very clean and luxurious. The employees are very friendly and helpfull. Well done!
A boyscout help the visitors cross the road at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 1. The terminal 1 is so crowded and dirty. Even the restrooms smells so bad, uuugh. I don't know why the operator seems like can't do something about that. Terminal 2 is much much better.
My friend Habieb interviewed Mr. Jaya, Senior Service Manager at Posko Lebaran Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng.
flood at Terboyo Terminal, Semarang. People choose to wait the bus at the outside rather than in terminal. No wonder..
On my spare time, I like to try new recipes that I found in magazine or internet. So this time I would like to try Empal Gepuk Karapitan (recipe from Femina Magazine). It's Sundanesse cuisine. It's not so hard too make, even an amateur like my self can prepared it without any difficulty ;). The dish is perfect when paired with a plate of hot rice and sambal masak (sauted crushed chilli (hmm, I don't know if the translate is right or not). Make it for lunch for your love one!
Ingredient : 600 gr beef, half-done stew 750 ml coconut milk (I use instant coconut milk)
Spices, mashed it all (a.k.a diulek) : 8 shallots 3 cloves garlic 2 cm galangal a bit of tamarind 1/2 tablespoon coriander 100 gr palm sugar 1 teaspoon salt
Direction : 1. Cut the beef into 5 x 6 x 1 cm, mashed the beef to widen. Set aside. 2. Saute the spices until fragrant. Add the coconut milk, stir well. Add the beef. Reduce the heat, cook the beef while stirring occasionally until it is tender and most of the liquid is evaporated. Lift from heat. 3. Deep fried beef until brown (be careful, stay at low heat or you gonna overcooked it) 4. Served (mine is topped with fried slice shallot)
Sambal Masak : Saute 4 red chili (cut into pieces), 1 shallot, 1/2 tomato (cut into pieces), and a bit terasi (shrimp paste) on a pan with a bit oil until tender. Finely crushed with pestle and mortar.
Huaaaa, it's been a long time since the last entry I wrote! The last was 4th August 2010.. and I missed one moment to write; Short Holiday to Batu Karas (pangandaran, west java) from 30th July to 1st August. Okay, although it already expired, I'll keep write it. It's blog anyway :).
By the way, from now on, I'll try to write my blog in English to sharpen my english skill. I think I've lost it :(
So finally, our plan to Batu Karas accomplished! Too bad Raya didn't come along with us because of her duty. Rah-rah team this time were me, Abul (Adit), Waluyo, Mr. Herdin, and Rilles (huhuuu,, I'm the only girl in the team >.<). We left on Friday afternoon after working hours with Abul brother's car, but it got some gear trouble. Fortunately, it wasn't serious, we still can go! The trip from Jakarta to Pangandaran takes 7-8 hours of driving. We arrived at 2 o'clock in the morning and immediately seek for lodging. We found the good one which consist of front room (sofa, mini refrigerator, tv), 2 bedroom (room A = 1 double bed, room B = 2 double beds), and a bath room, non-AC (electric fan). After drinking some beers, we were fast asleep (-.- )zzZZZ
On 31st July morning, we went to Green Canyon River not far away from Pangandaran beach (about 45 minute driving). But, ta-daaaaaa..! The Green Canyon turned into Brown Canyon. The local guard said it was raining hardly last night causing the river overflow. And the real bad news is, we can't enter the cave which is the most beautiful spot in Green Canyon site. Disappointed... T.T
At the river dock, sadly watching the flood
So we skip this place and head to the next destination, Batu Karas beach. Actually, there are some lodging too in Batu Karas. But they are remote from anywhere, we chose to stay near the town. Most of them who stay there are foreign tourists. Now, we are ready to play, but suddenly, the rain is come :(. It doesn't really matter, but it makes the waves goes crazy, and also cold, brrrr....!! Abul learn to surf. I admit he was quite great. He doesn't need much time to be able to stand on the surf board and riding the wave. Pretty cool (he shouldn't hear this or he'll gonna blow his big head :D). Too bad, there are no photos taken when we played because the hard rain. Midday, we've changed clothes when suddenly the rain stopped and the sun shine so bright, damn!
After lunch, we are going to Sasak Gantung Bridge, also in Batu Karas area. It's a bamboo bridge arranged in such a way that crosses the Green Canyon river, strong enough to be passed by a motorbike. If we walk on it, the bridge will be swung back and forth like a baby cradle. No worries! Bamboos are very strong, ya know. We took many photos there since the environment is very natural and beautiful(except the brown water >.<). We also saw many foreign tourist riding motorbike around the village near this bridge. They seemed to enjoy this peaceful place, so do we.. *take a deep fresh breath
Sasak Gantung Bridge
It's so cool, Mr. Herdin! I love this pict!
It's already mid-afternoon, we decided to go back to Green Canyon site to try our luck. Yes, the flood has receded slightly. We'd rather try than not at all. So we sailed with a single machine boat along the river. The view is also great, and we heard the scenery in the cave is more stunning. But we stopped right at the cave's entrance. We only get this far because the water rushing through the cave's entrance, make it impossible to enter. Sigh,, nothing we can do to beat mother nature. We have to respect the Earth more than ever.
The View at Green Canyon River
The Cave's Entrance, too dangerous to enter, our boat can be crash by the rocks under the water
Now, we are back to Pangandaran beach to see the sunset. We pay a boatman to take us to a place called "Pasir Putih (White Sand)". It's just the faster way. We also can walk to get there but we after the sunset moment. It located at the end of the beach, separated by big coral rocks. FYI, Pangandaran beach normally has black sands, but somehow this place has white sands. It is also a conservation area, we can see monkeys live freely there. One of them even trying to snatch my plastic bag contain my wet swimming clothes. Maybe they thought there's a food in it :D. Then we rent a mat and lie down with ease, seeing the sun slowly goes down (actually, it was cloudy, we didn't see the real sunset, but we're still happy). See you tomorrow Mr. Sun!!
Sail to Pasir Putih
Human, Please dispose the waste in place!
Watching the (Cloudy) Sunset
1st August, we have breakfast on the beach side. Then we stroll along the beach, watching other tourist's activities. They are swimming, playing volley ball, making sand castle, playing soccer beach, banana boating, and others. Children screaming happily, girls and boys laughing hard, parents watched them with smile.. Whew, this place is very crowded! Oh yeah, please obey the rules! The south sea has strong current. There are spots that not allowed for us to swim.
See the green hill behind us? That's Pasir Putih
We're check-out from lodging and then had lunch. We have to go now, the trip to Jakarta will take 7 hours. Even we still want to play, our Boss won't wait us until we've satisfied, do they? But we take time to visit a place called... mmm, what it is? I forgooot... :((. Well, it's a hill with a hotel build on it, if we climb to the top, we'll see a fantastic views of nature. There's a sea at one side, and valley at the other. And they are soooooo beautiful! I love You, God.
The Valley
The Sea
Soon we arrived in Ciamis and stopped by to house of Mr. Herdin's family to take some gift from his niece. After that, we visited an old two-level bridge made of steel and woods that crossing a ravine. The first level is used by cars and motorbikes. The second level is used by trains. I'm not sure about this, maybe it was made when we were colonized by the Dutch. At least the bridge was about 50 years old.
Level one. Isn't it scary?
We waited for the train passed, but it didn't coming
Yep, this is Indonesia, people willing to do dangerous thing. The piles is too high
After a smooth and save trip without any obstacle, we arrived in Jakarta at 10 pm. Tired but happy. Can't wait to see the photos! We absolutely need another vacation like this. Maybe the next destination will be Bali? or Lombok? It will be nice.. Hope we can make it!
BUDGET INFO Gasoline round-trip : Rp. 300.000 Pangandaran Beach Entrance : 5 persons of us, about Rp. 50.000 Lodging : Rp. 400.000 Boat rental @Green Canyon : Rp. 75.000 Boat Rental @Pangandaran Beach : Rp. 50.000 Mat Rental : Rp. 5.000 Stomach Things : a lot of Rupiahs
Tanjung Karang Train Station in Lampung. Bounty for scalper. I think it's really not effective. Things that need to be improved is ticketing system.
Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. Small airport, but very clean and luxurious. The employees are very friendly and helpfull. Well done!
A boyscout help the visitors cross the road at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 1. The terminal 1 is so crowded and dirty. Even the restrooms smells so bad, uuugh. I don't know why the operator seems like can't do something about that. Terminal 2 is much much better.
My friend Habieb interviewed Mr. Jaya, Senior Service Manager at Posko Lebaran Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng.
flood at Terboyo Terminal, Semarang. People choose to wait the bus at the outside rather than in terminal. No wonder..
Garuda landed safely
Ships crowd. I didn't know where is this.
