...it's just what I think and experience...: nekad traveling

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2nd Jogja Rally Motorbike

Got three-day perfect holiday in the middle of class boredom, I and two of my classmates participated in 2^nd Jogja Rally Motorbike organized by Jogja CoushSurfer. Uh, it was really an amazing race!

Basically the rally was a sort of treasure hunt or travel quiz that was designed a bit more for fun for everyone, rather than just as a competition targeting one grand winner. The rally was based around a set of clues/questions about interesting things (place, food, goods, etc) that we can do or see in Yogyakarta. Points are allocated for every answer based on how difficult the clue is to solve of how far you have to travel to solve it. It’s ranged between 10 up to 1000. The crazier the team, the more points we get.

The team should consist of local people and foreigners. There were two Australian (Alex and Bridget) in my team and one Indonesian that’s my classmate, Diah! Eh, but actually we got extra team mates (Ari and Yani), the sons of Alex and Bridget ;) We named our team “Dragon Keraton” that depicted spirit of Yogya traveler (that’s just my assumption though).

We started the race at 07.30 am and ended before dark. The race was riddled with lots of mysterious clue. Even for the finish meeting, we just got a clue “before dark in kuak-kuak (duck sound)” No idea about the exact time and venue!

The rally quiz was about 100 questions and commands. It was clustered into place to visit, foods, Yogya gallery, museum, etc. As we expected before, there were some ridiculous things that we should do, such as find a durian favor condom and the used one for extra point, drinking cobra blood, taking picture (or even kiss) the policeman, kiss the owner of guded seller, and so on! Also, the organizer supplied a photo of a particular slightly obscure landmark in Yogyakarta with one of the organizers standing in front of it in a silly pose. We might get 5 points if we could identify where the place is, 20 points if we go there and take a photo with one of our team in the picture, 30 points if the whole team is in the picture, and extra points if you could exactly replicate the photo or do something super silly there.

The super silly things my team did were: dancing and singing in front of Vredeburg main gate, dancing and singing with the street singer in a food vendor in Malioboro, invited people to make JOGJA letter by their bodies, Alex kissed two policemen, Diah kissed a guded owner, occupied the kitchen of Mirota Batik resto on the 3^rd floor, Bridget sold some stuff in the traditional market, and many more. No wonder that in the judging session, our team was awarded The Craziest Team in the rally. Hooorrraaaay!!!!

(Alex, Yani, and Ari on the becak! 20 points for this)

Another silly thing in the rally was about the judge. There were 3 judges and they were all bribable with SEX, ALCOHOL, MONEY, and MANY THINGS. Hahahhaa…!!! They said that this is Indonesia, so that's the common rule! Therefore, in end of the race there was some other prize for the most persistent team in bribing the judges.

This rally made my day! I hope I can participate in the 3^rd Jogja Motor Bike Rally next year ;)

For the other photos, you can click this

Karimun Jawa

Embarked with some tweets on twitter with friends about going somewhere for holiday, we ended up in the pristine beaches in Karimun Jawa. It's located in Jepara: 5 hours by van from Jogja to the harbour, and another 6 hours to get that places by boat. As it's one of popular hidden tourist destinations in Java, we started our first day with a very high expectation! Well, what we expected was fulfilled in the end of our trip. White sandy beach, stunning corals, wonderful fishes, tasty seafood, humorous companions, friendly local people, cozy hostel, and spectacular underwater experiences with sharks (which is one of the craziest things I've done in my life) will never be forgotten! It's such recommended place to visit when you drop by in Java, Indonesia. Glad to spend 4 days there before we get back to uni life :D

To save time and bandwidth on the blog you can see my albums of Karimun Jawa online in my facebook.

Make sure you check them out!

(Yey, super exciting)

(Swimming with the sharks)

(Sunset on the beach)

(Lunch time; seafood)

(Time to snorkling)

(Superb companion)

(Amazing underwater)

Sulawesi Exploration

Never waste your time and maximize every single holiday!

Last month I had a chance to get back to my homeland to attend my brother’s wed; enjoying the family gathering and reunion with some old buddies. When the party was over, everything turned to be normal. Everyone was back to their own business. As I did not want to be babysat at home (though I missed my home), I preferred to go out and tried to explore South Sulawesi with my Japanese friend who came with me!

Here you go….!!! Our first destination was the pre-historic cave nearby by home. It took me 30 minutes by scooter with a bumpy road up to the little rock mountain. There were two caves on it that supposed to have some carving and palm picture of the pre-historic human in Sulawesi. Unluckily, after hiking for about almost an hour, nothing that we could see! The caves were fenced as if it was a prison! Pathetic! Yet at least we could enjoy stunning sunset scenery from the top of the mountain!

Another destination was Bantimurung water fall! Got there with some old friends from high-school, we again did caving instead of jumping down to the river. We didn’t plan to get wet though, so we didn’t bring any extra clothes. Odd? Maybe!

Exploring the capital city of the province, I rode a motorbike to every corner of the interesting spots, lazed around in Losari beach, and ended up watching an international theater performance in Rotterdam Fort up to midnight. The theater was fascinating! Just knew that the story performed in the theater was the longest literature in the world which originally comes from one of districts in South Sulawesi. After sailing and performing in another country, finally they landed in the land where they were born.

(Sunset in Losari beach)

Before heading back to Jogja, I still had 4 days off! Toraja was already in mind for the next destination! Didn’t want to waste our time, we decided to crash Toraja on the following day. So exited!

We touched down Makale city in Toraja in the late evening! As we had no enough preparation for our itinerary, we spent our first nite in a small old-fashioned-motel. No need to complain as it was an emergency situation. The price was fairly reasonable though!

Our itinerary for two days in Toraja was finished just in a half-nite. Sitting couple hours in front of computer and browsing on internet got us lots of information about places that we shouldn’t miss, the foods that we should taste, and the things that we need to purchase as oleh-oleh (souvenir).

Lemo (the hanging grave), Londa, and traditional house of Torajan in Kete’ Kesu, and some other spot which I cannot hardly remember the name were in long list of our itinerary. For the most tourists in Toraja, Bakso Babi (pork meatball) was the most recommended food. Then before getting back home, some special Torajan handicraft would be a very nice souvenir for our lovers at home. Gratefully in the end of our trip, we were told that there was death/funeral ceremony. As it might be once in a life-time moment, no reason not to visit and to see how spectacular it was as people said.

And…as we expected! The ceremony was breathtaking! Never seen “genocide” of pig like that! Some people might find it scary, but for us it was incredible. We had no idea actually what the purpose of the ceremony, but we just nodded and amazed all the time watching the ceremony. Amazing Toraja!

(In front of Traditional House in Toraja)

(The hanging grave in Lemo)

(Waiting before dying in the ceremony)

(surrounded by Skullos)

(Londa)

A-Day-Brief-Art-Trip

This morning I woke up late, about 9 am. I was rather rotten since I did not sleep well last night. I think I got a nightmare last night yet I don’t remember it well. After taking shower, I sat in front of my TV and found nothing interesting. So I switched it off immediately and thought what to do today. Since I was quite lazy, I was starting brainstorming interesting place in Jogja that I never visit yet. Ahhhaaa….abra…kadabra…!!! Then I decided to visit Affandi Museum (Indonesian Famous Painter) and Taman Budaya Jogjakarta. Frankly to say, I intended to visit that places since couple weeks ago, but nobody wanna accompany me to visit them though now I don’t have friends to go there too-so pity!

In Affandi Museum I found very wonderful painting and sculptures. I thought it would be boring to visit the museum alone. But in fact it was so interesting even though I was alone. I as freely explored each side of this museum and enjoyed Affandi’s paintings and sculptures. Moreover, the shape of the museum is very unique.

In Affandi Museum there are four galleries that we can visit. Outside the gallery we can find Affandi family’s cemetery. We can also buy some the paintings that were painted by his son. Unfortunately we are prohibited to take picture inside the galleries. There was two paintings that were very wonderful according to me which are Barong and Doa Orang Jawa. It’s so amazing!!! And you know how much do those cost? IDR 300,000,000 and IDR 150,000,000 respectively!!! Wowowowowow…..(tp sumpah bikin ngiler tuh lukisan!!!)

After visiting Affandi Museum, I went to Taman Budaya Jogjakarta to see art exhibition. Even though not so many people come there, but I enjoyed it anyway. I saw a lot of paintings, sculptures, and many other artistic things. You can check these pictures below…..!!! Definitely, today was so interesting..ting…ting…!!! I am satisfied with my one day brief art trip. Now I am thinking to be an artist or painter like Pak Affandi,hihhiiihh!!!!

Painting in Taman Budaya Jogjakarta

Affandi Statue

Barong (Oil on Canvas)

Warriors (Taman Budaya Jogjakarta)

Affandi's head sclupture

Hanging hats (Taman Budaya Jogjakarta)

The weirdest thing I did in Germany

Prior to going in Germany, I had thought that I would face a lot of things that would make me look stupid there. And it’s really happened when I was there. The followings are the weird things that I did there:

Since I got accident two days before departing to Germany, I could not walk well. I got little surgery in my feet so I used walking stick (cane) to help me toddle. During in the airport (Adi Sucipto, Cengkareng, Changi, and Frankfurt Int Airport) I was being assisted by the airport officer and sit in the wheel chair. When I arrived in Frankfurt, (maybe because I was too excited) I forced myself to walk around the city with my cane. You know, my cane was an old cane (so traditional and out of mode, lol) so everybody starred at me, moreover I only wore shocks without shoes, hahaha…..!!!! Probably those German people thought why that such old cane was still exist???? Ahahahahaa……

Even though I am looked weird, but I was assisted by beautiful German lady, yeyeyeye..it's revenge!

In Thuringen experienced day, I decided to join with a group that was going to Eisenach. It is little city but so beautiful, the place where you can visit Bach house and Martin Luther King house, besides you can visit a Wartburg castle on the top of the hill that is protected by UNESCO as one of world heritage sites. Actually at that time I was not 100% okay, I mean I was a bit ill. And actually the weather was very good, shiny though still cold (for me). That’s why I had prepared my proper cloth before I joined with the group. Eventually, I wore my thick jacket, hat, and double gloves. I just realized that I wore weird cloth when almost everybody in the group asked me, “Do you feel cold?” and “Where are you from?” They said that people in Germany would only wear my cloth style in the winter. Hahahahaha…I just laughed at myself suddenly and put my glove and my hat off even though I still felt so cold.

As if winter, but it's nearly summer, heheheh

Yeah, sometimes look different is okay, but don’t make yourself look so silly. However, you can get famous when you are different from the others. Everybody will star at you and ask you everything, lol!!!

Perspective of Europe

After I got back in Indonesia last week, everybody congratulated me and asked for souvenir (oleh-oleh). Mostly they said that I was so lucky I could step my foot on Europe. Suddenly they asked whether I like staying there or not, and questioned what I like and I don’t. It seemed like they attacked me with a lot of questions without giving me enough time to explain one by one, hahahha (lebai+sok ngartis)!!! I know that everybody might think that living in Europe is something very wonderful and comfortable. For me, that idea is not totally true. But I acknowledge that before I got there, I thought the same thing. I appraised Europe as a dreamland to live in, even I didn’t really know what the reasons were besides it has modern and sophisticated transportation and other stuffs. I used to dream that someday I would love to have European wife and live in Europe for long time (even I thought for the rest of my life). However, after enjoying my time in Germany for more or less two weeks, I got new perspective about Europe. Even though I only spent my time in Germany, I think it can represent Europe as whole. I told to some of my friend that I wanna go back there someday but I don’t wanna live there for long time (like 20 years). I just expect that I will be back there to have my study in Master Degree or just for some vacations through backpacking. I consider going to Europe is not a reward but it is a challenge. Challenge of your iman as a Moslem! Of course, curiously my friends forced to reveal my reasons. Honestlly, there are several reason why I think so. Firstly, as a Moslem I don’t get any big opportunity to do my religious activities even though I am not that religious. It doesn’t mean that European will prohibit or limit your access to do it. But the problem is the access to do it is not as big as in Indonesia or in Muslim countries (yaiyalah: of couse!). No adzan (pray calling) or mosque to do shalat. And in case of me where I stay with my host in his apartment, no such guarantee that the place that I use for sholat is clean since in people come inside the room with sandals or shoes. It’s true and not a new case since in Europe, Muslim is not majority. However, it just based on my personal opinion, maybe for the other Muslim who has high quality Muslim can adapt easily to this condition :) The food is being my second reason. Fortunately, I spent several days in Indonesian Embassy before I went to Ilmenau (the palce where the conference was held). Indeed, the food was served with Indonesian receipt and spice. Yet when I was out from Indo Embassy, I had to eat European food which was not really okay for me. I am not kinda omnivore which eats all kinds of food. I do not eat pork (not based on religious reason, simply I hate pig), I don’t drink alcohol (not based religious reason again, simply just for healthy issue), and I don’t get used to with European spice. When I ate Kebab, I still missed eating Jalang Kote’ or Pastel, when I ate pizza, I still missed eating Martabak Telur which is a lot more delicious, and I still missed eating rice when I ate fried potato or pasta. In case of Germany, they drink sparkling water that’s very odd for me. That’s why, I used to bring my own bottle and filled the water from “keran” in order I can drink. Fortunately because the water in Germany is hygiene so it can be drunk :) The third reason is the expensive living cost. No one can deny that living cost in Europe is very expensive, moreover for someone from developing country. Even for entering the toilet in public space, we have to pay 75 cent!! (in Houptbahnhouf of Frankfurt) Probably you can imagine by yourself the other example of the price for the goods. I was surprised when I went to the mall and looked the price of half piece of Papaya. Do you know how much the price? It costs IDR 90.000. Damn!!! We can get a bunch of Papaya with that price in Indonesia. Even you can eat it as you breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a year, lol . Lastly, I hate the toilet! You know, we are in Indonesia always using water to clean up after pup. But you will not find water in toilet in Europe because the people use paper or tissue. It’s f*cking annoying to use it. And I don’t need to explain you how I acted after using toilet there :) It’s too complicated to explain, lol. However, overall I really enjoyed my occasion in Germany. It’s so amazing experience to face those kinds of thing. It’s funny to get used to them and it's extremely fantastic to have many differences that I found between Europe and Indonesia. But I believe that you have different opinion with me. Do you like Europe so much? Or anybody of you has a plan to spend the rest of your time in Europe?