Escape to Makassar 22-26 Sept 2013

Its about Indonesia, its about Sulawesi. And its about my solo traveling story. 

Its started with airlines promo to Makassar, yet with no annual leave can be taken, i presume to have a time to visit Makassar on this September, and surely i will have. After being chased out by Mandala Airlines over my Padang Trip that suddenly cancelled due to the closing of Jakarta-Padang PP routes, i still doubt to use my promo ticket or not. And yeah, it turned worst since my departure schedule was the same day with my mid exam. 

I keep thinking that there's no reason to just stay at home if you have a free time. My father said, "life is too short for just sleeping." And of course, i cant agree no more. So, after finished my mid test i tried to book one way ticket to Makassar at night, its 8.30 PM already. Again, my spirit was wavering at the moment, but its ended up with flight to Makassar for tomorrow morning. Yups, tomorrow, 5 AM. less than 9 hours to go, hence i should not fall asleep tonight and packing. lets get lost in Makassar!!! 

1. Tanjung Bira and Tanah Beru

It was one of the famous beach closed to Bulukumba area. A nice beach surrounded by beautiful islands like Kambing and Selayar island, the hidden paradise for underwater experience like diving and snorkeling. Snorkeling mainly available at guesthouse or boat driver and cost around IDR 300K per person per day, while dive can be found in Dive provider counter close to the beach with cost around IDR 370K per dive whereas minimum 2 set diving has to be taken. 

Bira can be reach by taking Kijang (personal car using yellow plat) from Malengkeri terminal at Makassar. It takes around 5 to 7 hours depends on the traffic and resting time. Otherwise, you can take Kijang from Malengkeri to Bulukumba and transfer into Pete-Pete (Public transportation) to Bira. Transportation from Bulukumba to Bira only operate up to 3 PM, so please ensure that your travelling schedule already fair enough to catch up the last departure. On the way to Bira, we will passing by Tanah Beru area, its a place to construct the Phinishi Boat. Some construction were highly stand up at the beach side along the way of Tana Beru. 

Other than that, you can also take Bus that headed to Selayar from Malengkeri terminal, but its very rare and timing for departure is not clearly available. If you got the opportunity to catch this bus, just ensure to get off at the harbour since the bus will board to the ship and heading to Selayar Island. 

Its evening already when i arrived, sunset in Bira was beautiful at that moment. After heading to one recommended budget hostel from internet, i headed to the beach. And suddenly its become the perfect place to escape. The beach was quite empty, only few visitor came by for just swimming, walking along the beach or riding banana boat. The sands are really soft eventhough not as white as i imagine. 

Having me time at this place feels so refreshing after a long weekend with both deadline and college exam. The wind passed by and enhance the spirit to just standing there, watching what people do on this hilarious moment. And there they came, a colony of nice people called a friend. Maybe it just a few minutes left, departing from short conversation through photograph. And like miracle, i'm no longer solo traveler. 

Leaving the beach, i stop by at the tenant known as the place where diving being arranged in Bira. After have a look and knowing that the instructor not yet arrived, i try to chill out with some foreigners and surprisingly all of them are friendly and we talk a lot like an old friend. 

First one is Tony, a retired man from Singapore. He loved diving since 10 years a go. A rescue level of diver that never wanna be a dive master. He draw money from investment on shares and marketable securities, and well seems he lived his life with the fullest. He even have dived in Egypt, a long time a go, before this country banned for foreigner. He stayed in Indonesia almost for a month and focus on exploring underwater on Sulawesi area. Of course Bunaken in Manado has become one of his favourite. 

"Its bothering me to keep the license for being a dive master, i dive for fun, that's it. No need to have more." He said. 

What i envy the most about him was how he choose to enjoy his retiring period. And the most envious thing is reality that he have made a footstep in Tibet on bike. Yups, on bike. Awesome!!!

Other than this master, i met Spanish man named Leo. A pilot engaged by Garuda Indonesia that currently staying in Makassar. Out of office schedule, he went to Makassar to get Diving license. Just like me, we're newbie on diving experience. 

I spent that night just by making friends as much as i can, and then spent a night in Rizwan guesthouse, enjoy morning sunshine on the beach and sadly heading back to Makassar to catch my bus to Tana Toraja. Surely it feels goods to experience this. 

I dont have a chance to dive at that time, since commonly dive will be started on 9 AM up to 2 PM. And the other thing is, Bira-Makassar tooks almost 7 hours; that means if i take it, i'm gonna missed the overnight bus to Tana Toraja. 

Rather than take Kijang to Bulukumba, and then Bulukumba to Malengkeri with the other, i took direct kijang from Bira to Malengkeri. Its more convenient since i've become the third passenger for almost2 hours. its a long journey anyway, and i dont want to take a risk by being fool at Makassar when i missed Toraja bus. 

Arrived at 3 PM, i used the remaining time to meet my mate from Backpacker Indonesia, Sandy from Pekanbaru who introduce me to nice couchsurfing member in Makassar Ikhsan, with Lucas (CS member from Spain) and of the CS girl from Jakarta (i've forgot her name since it was a very short meeting) as a compliment. We had lunch together in Coto kiosk close to Universitas Hasanudin, and heading to Ikhsan's house for praying, resting and showering. It feels nice after so long long journey.  Ikhsan is an active CS member in Makassar and frequently bring his CS friend to this terminal. That's why he can got discount for us. Not much, but still, its cool. 

And finally at 8 PM, Ikhsan take me, Sandy and Lucas to the bus terminal. Yeah, now we're three musketeer and ready to rock in Toraja.

Tana Beru

Bira Harbour, a gate to Selayar and other island like Flores. 

Sunset at Tanjung Bira, Makassar 

Notes: 
Bus DAMRI from Airport to Karebosi : IDR 25K 
Pete2 Karebosi - Malengkeri : IDR 4 K 
Kijang Malengkeri - Bira : IDR 85 K 
Kijang Bira - Malengkeri : IDR 70K
Riswan guesthouse : IDR 100K/night 

A memorable short visit to Delhi

Aksardham Temple, Delhi

It takes a long time for me to write about New Delhi. Not about i dont like this city, but more about the fact that i have no time other than working. Hahah, sounds silly, but that's the fact. I only have two hands accompanied with 10 fingers that mostly used to write and define a workingpaper. A small brain, or maybe a half brain was hiding inside my head. Eventhough its not fully utilised to generate a bright idea at work (because i'm not that briliant), its tiring enough for just to create some words.

 

New Delhi is the capital of India and seat of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of the Government of India. It is also the centre of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. source: wikipedia

 

Does it mean that i will have a time for doing nothing at work? That's exactly what i'm trying to say. So, let me make a short story about my visit to the Capital of Hindustan, New Delhi.

 

Why Delhi?

Delhi become my next destination after Jaipur. The sixth city, where i decided to get some experience and another taste of Hindustan. I love my visit to Hindustan, and surely want to make a comeback but we never know if we still have the thing called "tomorrow" so i have to visit the capital of this country, because commonly both of the most modern and poor side of the nation are lie down and their capital. It will be interesting to see how the capital absorb all of their diversity and walk together into a modern city.

 

I used the term of modern city on this passage with the following consideration:

a) Delhi has established a Metro on their transportation system, just like MRT in Singapore or MTR in Hongkong, it was very convenient to travel with. The route also very tourist-friendly. My CS Host in Delhi, Anupham, accompanied me to visit Aksardham Temple, Masjid Jamek incl. a sightseeing of the busiest place - ChadniChowk (i know this place because its mostly appear in some Bollywood movie), Qutb Minar and Red Fort. I cant make a visit into some other places because its a very short visit, and this one was the best route suggested by Anupham and i do trust him.

 

Delhi Metro Station



b) Unlike in Rajashtan or Varanassi, you will see that not so many people are wearing Kurta or Saree, but t shirt, jeans and any casual attire. I dont like this thing that much, because i love the place where people keep their traditional clothes for daily activity. In Indonesia,  i love Jogja and Bali.

 

It was my 8th days in Hindustan, tired, less sleep and a lil bit afraid if i cant reach their place are haunting me along the waiting at Japur station because its keep delay and delay for several time. I tried to make a call several time to Mamtha to let her know about the train schedule through public telephone. but after 6 PM, the public telephone already closed.

 

Unfortunately, i met a very nice family at the waiting room. A big Indian family, and its common in here. We talk a lot and their childs are very happy to communicate with stranger like me. They help me to make a call using their mobile, even make a short conversation through mobile phone in indian language. See, India is not that scary. Even, when they know that our coach are close, they came to my place and ask me to have a dinner with them. How lucky i am.

 

On my coach, i sat next to the Rajashtan family who's heading to Delhi. The son, a teenager, as usual are very very happy to see foreigner like me and to have a chat with me. They offer me some Chai and Cookies. This family also very nice and helpful. They ensure that i have to get off at the proper station. Alhamdulillah.  

 

I met Anupham and his wife, Mamtha, for the first time on my late night arrival in Gurgaon station. A very nice and kindhearted couple. I contact them through CS and they are very welcome to host me in Delhi. I got so many delay on my train departure from Jaipur and resulting a very late night arrival. The second thing is, i booked my ticket to arrive in Delhi, but they are lived in Gurgaon, Haryana that makes me have to stay wake up and asked someone at the train, if its already arrived in Gurgaon or not.

 

I love my stay in their house. They take me like a little sister. We talk almost about anything, their dream of leaving in Canada, their experience with some surfers. They also try to understand of my taste problem on food, hahahaha.

 

I told them about my initial plan on visiting Nepal on the next day, and its cancelled since i have to take an exam in the college next week. They suggested to make a visit into Rishikesh, an 8 hours bus ride to reach the origin of Ganges. I made it and never regret.

 

One thing for sure when i have a chance to comeback to Delhi, make a visit and stay ant their house again. Thanks for everything.



Me, Mamtha and Anupham

Beauty and the Beast of Papandayan

 The story gonna be here soon ^^

Rishikesh, the origin of the Holy Ganges

Rishikesh, Laxmanjhoola

Rishikesh. Its also my first time to know about this place, even to have a plan to visit this place, never. But it became a gift on my last few days in India. A very calm, sacred and beautiful place hiding behind the mountain.

How to get there:
a. Took the bus from Gurgon Bus Station to Haridhwar - (INR 600 for 6-8 hours).
b. Change into the bus/auto from Haridhwar to Nepali Border - (INR 90)
c. The last, take Auto from Nepali Border to Laxmanjhoola (Rishikesh) - (INR 20)

Must do in Rishikesh:
a. Rafting - if you make a visit in a group. I've seen some, and it looks interesting.
b. Play around at the waterfall.
c. Take a yoga class. There's many houses of Yoga in Rishikesh. I met an Australian Guy who stayed 9 days in Rishikesh for Yoga.
d. Have a morning walk on Laxmanjhoola area.
e. Send a postcard - there's some post office available in Rishikesh
f. Stay at Karkee's house. Why? You will get a very cheap price on nice and comfortable room, nice view at the rooftop and nice life story of the owner, Mr. Karkee, who lived and managed the house by himself.
g. Have a coffee or lunch at some cafe closed to the beach.

You can buy your return ticket through some travel agents, be aware with the schedule since the bus is not run every single hour.

Happy travelling ^^