Trip to Balekambang Beach

A tiny island with a Hindu temple standing on it is named Moyo, where a bridge is connect it to closely beach named Bale Kambang. The beach itself is southern shore of Java island, so all the view around is directly to Indian Ocean. At the time I went there, it was so crowded of people perhaps because it is one of favorite destination for people who live in East Java. Actually, the beach was quite dirty. And beside the bridge that connects Moyo island and the beach, there was also another bridge that was broken. It connects the beach with another island. I hope that government especially the tourism department will pay more attention about this place. 

Around 3.45 pm surrounded by the direct view to Indian Ocean. My sunnies is from Calvin Klein.

The trip was started when me and my college-mates gathered around 6.30 am, and departed from Surabaya half an hour later. We had our breakfast at a traditional resto which sold Soto Madura. The route was Surabaya-Sidoarjo-Pandaan-Lawang-Malang-Gondang Legi-Balekambang.
The new opened highway road from boarderline of Surabaya and Sidoarjo is routed directly to Pandaan, which really helps us to manage time. So we didn't need crossing the traffic. The highway was surrounded by strato-volcanoes. It was so beautiful, and when we opened the car window, the air was so fresh.

Our car-mates minus Orlando. Left to right was Channing, Vinesia, me and Alif.

The street in Gondang Legi district was not that wide, so when two cars from opposite direction across, one have to stop and stay in the edge of street. The view was awesome! I was thinking that I want to spend time in village.

The gate of Bale Kambang beach in Southern Malang, East Java. The entrance ticket was IDR 10.000,-/person.

I was wearing my stripe loose top, dream catcher necklace that I bought in a indie expo, Calvin Klein sunnies (yes, wear it oftentimes since it's still my favorite, and I just still not enough yet), then semi-jeans chino pants that I bought in  a size bigger, because I want something a boyfriend jeans look but still skinny. No a kind of beach style, because that time I was sick, tired of many preparation for my graduation in upcoming week. But I tried to be happy, it was the great vacation with incredible friends.

Montchi on my hand!

A little #SELFIE won't hurt nobody!

Rino, Channing and Suryana.

Starfish.

Direct view to Indian Ocean.

The morning view of the beach. Oh I forgot to tell that we stayed a night. There were many cottages for rent IDR 250.000/night. And compare to facilities we got here and in Surabaya, it was quite expensive. No Air Conditioner, no television, and the bathroom water was a little salty.

The connection bridge at 10.12 am.

Apologise if the review is too simply, perhaps I'd update the story and fulfill with funny stories. I just a little bit sick when writing this post. And I just have to take more rest since this recent weeks I completely busy even I'm not a student again. My brother just go to uni this academic year, and I help him for his first year and task from his student council in his department.

Photos taken by Clara Yunita Hakara Warid, Vinesia Annisa, Made Lia Mertayukti and Zul Haris Olivianto.



love,



clara

Banking trap.

Mostly people nowadays have own their back account. And of course they go to bank in certain period to manage their financial. So do I, just went there for claiming of my atm card that couldn't working. It was one of big national banks in Indonesia. The service supposedly better than others. As usual, the security welcome me so well and gave a complaining form to fulfill, then he ushered me to a table with two women sat on. At first I didn't have any other expectation, they were just customer services who one of them was younger perhaps she still under training. I filled the form and told them about my problem. The older woman asked my identity card, of course I thought she worked on my problem, while the other told me about insurance program which I've already told her that I knew that. Really I was not interested but I kept listening as an appreciate of her job. I felt a little bit uncomfortable because she asked me several private information which all her questions had no relation with my problem. It was really took my time quite long and I was in busy.

After I told for few times that I would considered about the offer, they gave back my identity card, and then they just told me to move to other table. Then I was like what was she doing with my identity card if she didn't solve my problem. So it was really a trap. They were from an insurance. Because they didn't do anything about my complain. But when I asked them is the offer are product from the bank it self, she was just yes. So I was still thinking they both the customer services. But finally I knew it was wrong expectation.

Then I just have to start over explaining my problem to their real customer service. And I didn't have any idea about what the women will do with my data. It's okay if they only want to offer me about the insurance, but nowadays some unlucky customer were registered to some insurance or other programs that they didn't notice just because this banking trap. And I deplore much about the liar she was telling me even after I asked her to confirm, and her answered was still doesn't make sense. I wasted my time for something unimportant like this.

Well it is not the first time I got offer about insurance, and all were fine. But for stealing identity card information like this is just this time. So be careful ladies!


xoxo,



clara

Ijen Crater

The very first climbing experience in my life is this one. I never thought that I could make it before since when several friends discussed to climb a mountain I didn't put any interest on. But weeks behind, of course after those busy months and short holiday, me and several college-mates decided to climb Mount Ijen. The elevation is 9183 feet.

At first I thought it was so dangerous, because of the eruption of Mount Raung which in same stratovolcanoes group in Banyuwangi Regency. That eruption was made me stress due to the on-off-airport. I almost stuck here and didn't have holiday if I can't fly to my hometown. Not only that, the flight was so scared, wind blew so hard and it worried me. After years of traveling by plane, that was the first time I want to cry and can't see the window on board.

Days before, we checked the weather report from Indonesia's BMKG (weather department) via their official media, and also searched many informations about the route etc. We wanted to make sure that everything good even some of us have went there before. Beside wide turquoise-colored acid crater lake, it has a blue fire which already mentioned by National Geographic. This is the reason we chose midnight tracking from Paltuding posts.

We departed from Surabaya around 08.30 am after a little real drama happened, and had traditional breakfast in Sidoarjo around 09.30 am. Then we passed many cities before we stopped by for having lunch in a beach that located somewhere in north-east of East Java province. The beach named Pasir Putih (white-sandy-beach).

Then we continued to Banyuwangi cities. Well actually there are two options for reaching Paltuding. The first one is via Situbondo then Bondowoso. But according to the information we got, the main road was in terrible condition. But the government prepare another road with satisfied condition which we were opted (via Kecamatan Licin). After passed the Ketapang port in Banyuwangi we drove straight into an intersection then we turned right as written in sign board. There was so many sign board, and google maps was still working. We stopped by at a gas station for resting, praying and taking a bath. Then we continued our trip. At first we passed many villages, until everything just dark, the only light is our car's lightning. And when we looked at our car's rear glass, it was so dark and so scared. The road was not really wide, uphill, and tortuous. I prayed all the way.

We arrived at Paltuding around 07.00 pm and after parked our car, we looked for shop around to have dinner. Many shops were closed, and we had Indomie and egg for dinner. Yes, because it was the only one menu they offered. Cold weather and Indomie, is kind of great collaboration.

Well, at first I was not really interest with that famous blue fire and didn't have any idea why we have to take midnight tracking. The one and only reason that came across my mind was because we chasing the sun rise. So after dinner, we had a little sleep inside our car before they opened the track.

About 01.00 am we started walking from Paltuding with many international and domestic tourists, even we met some kids too! My friends were putting attention on me, they really worry but I said that I've prepared my self and I was okay. They said the tracks is 3 km long but I didn't think that it was in horizontal way, but in vertical yes!! I assume that the angle of the track is around 25-30 degree. And we had to walk in midnight where the only lightning is from our own flashlight. The higher we walk, the lower temperature we got. In the halfway, I started up to silent. I wanted to cry. I was thinking where on earth I am, how can I go home and I really need SAR. I hold my friend's arm and kept moving uphill. Well, they thought that the person should get concerned the most is me, but in fact was not. There were still another who more tired than me.

At 03.30 am, we arrived at Ijen Crater. Everything was so dark, flashlight everywhere. And if we wanted to see that famous blue fire closely, we need to walk down around 1 hours and put special gas mask because of sulfur toxic. Then I said big no. The temperature was around 7 degree Celcius or even lower. And if we want to see the sunrise clearly we had to walk uphill around 45 minutes, and I was thinking that I couldn't. All I want was going home and screaming MAYDAY loudly. My friend, Abah, who was the leader of this trip asked the condition each of us. And some were sleeping. I tried so but it was so hard. I still wide awake and sat on sulfur rocks, and my body started to shiver. I really scared that I would got hipotermia, really I still want to live for years forward. I kept praying, Abah telling me many stories, but I didn't know, I couldn't use my mind and all I replied was the word "ya". I saw a bonfire, then I walked close to. My body still shivering.

Then around 05.00 am, behind the cliffs, I saw the thing that I waited...

The sun rise from behind the cliffs.

This spectacular-incredible-scenery was enough to paid off my struggling of climbing.

The squads!

Looks who just so confidence to take selfie, the Indonesian singer Tulus look alike who famously called Abah.

Intan, Feriska-my friend's girlfriend, and my self standing on sulfur rocks. 

My Channing-Tatum-look-alike friend!

Around 07.30 am we started to walk downhill to Paltuding. And of course after took enough photos.

This sign board was at Pondok Bunder (2214 mdpl), halfway to Paltuding.

This is my mount-adventure. And still consider to have another or not. A short advice for whoever wants to climb, just do some exercise such as running or jogging a week before as adaptation for your body.



love,

clara

THAT is known by Gili Trawangan

Almost skip to share one of my favorite trip during my short-holiday. So I went to Gili Trawangan which recently just much discussed by people as international favorite destination. This island is located in Lombok Strait, and about 45 minutes sail from Bangsal Port in North Lombok.

At this port, they provide public boats with two types to opt; a faster boat which made from steel and a slower boat which made from wood. The first type is cost IDR 87.000,00 per pax and the second is IDR 17.000,00 per pax include tax. By choosing the faster boat, it only need 15 minutes from Bangsal to arrive in Gili Trawangan. And for who don't comfort with public transportation, you can rent a boat for private around IDR 500.000,00 a way trip, but they'll wait if you want to snorkel around the sea. Some of five-stars resort also provide their guest with private boat, and pick up service at the airport. It takes about IDR 2.000.000,00 only for renting their boat a way trip only. It's more expensive, but more comfortable. There is more quality by spending more money, right?

At Bangsal Port, in North-west Lombok.

The weather was quite sunny, but for me I still need more brighter and brighter. Along our way to sail the sea, we saw very beautiful scenery, hills around the port were standing under the blue sky and clouds just moving, and we smell salt water so fresh. I was little upset when arrived at Gili Trawangan port, the seawater was just not clearly as years behind. But it's still more amazing than any other beach especially the beach that I've just visited few days behind during my trip to Ijen Crater in East Java, oh I should review it soon.

This island is really motor-vehicle-pollution-free. The government doesn't allow the use of motor vehicle for in site transportation. The function of taxi, kind of for dropping off guest to their hotel, is replaced by horse-drawn carriage called Cidomo. The driver have personal walkie talkie, so they can receive message from head office to pick up guest or else, really like taxi! The rate is depends on destination, but approximately IDR 75.000,- for 3 persons and extra IDR 25.000,- for additional person (max. 4 person exclude driver in each Cidomo). And they have special price for traveling around the island. There also bike rental for tourist with price about IDR 25.000/hour.

At the main area (near the port), you can spot many Gelato shops with many variant tastes.

We stayed at Ombak Sunset Resort, located at north-west of the island. They have some swings that recently become one of Gili Trawangan's landmark.

So that's short about my trip to Gili Trawangan during Ied-Fitr holiday this year. And will share about my trip to Ijen Crater in East Java soon.


love,



clara