Closing 2013 - The stunning view of Selamet Mountain, Indonesia

Selamet Mountain, December 2013 

I want to stand with you on a mountain....

I want to  bath with you in the sea

I want to lay like this forever

Until the sky falls down on me

- Truly, Madly Deeply, Savage Garden -

2nd highest mountain in Java. I never imagine nor dreaming to be at the top of it. Yups, Selamet Mountain 3,428 Mdpl.  I'm not a hiker nor pro traveller. I just love to visit places i never been and met new people, seing new places and share about everything. But, here i am.... up and down crawling to the summit. Just like life itself, there's no guarantee that it will be easy.

 

Its not a good way to welcome new year for most of the people, despite of that some old friends always told me that the way i entertain myself sometimes a bit tiring instead of relaxing. And yeah, thats so damn true since hiking absolutely will be tiring. Even, i have rejected my friend's invitation to Bromo mountain and reserve my energy for this. The other reason is, i never been here.

 

So on friday traffic madness, i join with some BCI's friend (BCI =  Backpacker Ceria Indonesia) at Kampung Rambutan Terminal and get ready towards Selamet Mountain. There are 6 person gathered from Jakarta including me, Joko, Fardhil, Aziz, Fitri and Okha. Other companion coming from Purwokerto and Subang. All of us will meet upin Purwokerto.

 

How to get there?

 

What "there" on that question mean? of course top of the mountain.

 

First step, move on from the Kampung Rambutan Terminal to Purwokerto. We have to take an overnight bus from Jakarta to Purwokerto. Some bus provider may dragging you to have their service. But believes me, choose the right provider does matters. We plan to have Sinar Harapan from the beginning, but ended up to be seated in the Dewi Sri for a long ride and a short of misfortune that wasted our time.

 

It was a long ride, we have to spend minimum 10 hours in the bus to reach Purwokerto and become longer and longer since the bus condition is poor. The tire is broken around 2 AM. All passengers have to get down and wait with the sleepy head. Then, we ended up to arrive at Purwokerto on lunch time. Almost 14 hours!!!!

 

We're not stopped by at terminal since one of our companion, Mamet, is a local and offering us to have a visit at his house in Karang Kemiri, Purwokerto. He is a local who study in Yogyakarta and suddenly comeback last night to join trip with us. One of our friend from Subang, Itha, has joined him last night. And the other one is Melky, "Mamet's friend from Purwokerto. And here we are, the 9 fellowship of the Selamet Mountain ^^

 

Mamet's house is very comfy. Located a bit far from the mainroad, he and his brother randomly pick us to the house by motorbike. A small village down from the mountain. A beautiful landscape of a mountain and farming field brought back our spirit. And yeah, having a shower and free lunch make up our day. Mamet's family also really nice and helpful, i thought i got a CS house here hahahah

There are 2 options to enter Selamet Mountain:

a) Via Batu Raden

b) Via Bambangan

From Karang kemiri, we heading to Selamet Mountain via Bambangan. take a minibus to the place known as the gate to Selamet Mountain.

 

Its an evening already, when we reach the gate. After having our dinner (prepared by Memet's mom) and Shalat, we decided to take the night tracking. We didnt take the whole route at that time, stop by at the 2nd stage, spent the night there and continue our journey in the morning.

 

On the next day, we have a morning tracking and have a camp at stage 7, whereas some of the sky landscape already lie down in our feet and water available freely for the hikers. We only spent one night there, catch the summit early morning on the next day and get back to the city.



Morning breakfast ^^





Sunrise at Selamet Mountain

Lets not call it as a vacation, the road are extremely tiring but wonderful. The team itself was superb, caring and helpful. They encourage me to reach the top whenever i felt "OK this time and this point i have to give up. "

 

And here i am, like a story teller, mumbling about this place and never have any regret for ever being there.

 

 

 

Alhamdulillah.

Its November Recap!!!!

This is my December ....

Halah bahasaku, macam Chester nya Linkin Park aja ngomongnya. But yups, this is my December. Setelah sekian lama ga ketak ketik di blog, gateeeel and kangen banget rasanya buat sharing apapun (peristiwa, trip, kerjaan and personal life) selama beberapa bulan terakhir. So, let this note become my November recap :p

This is the way i entertain myself ;p

Mulanya nulis cuman iseng, trus mencoba memprovokasi diri sendiri untuk nulis pake Bahasa Inggris yang pas-pasan. Bukan berlagak songong, aku cuman pengen share pengalaman ke semua orang secara universal. Apalagi kalo jalan-jalannya di Indonesia, ga ada salahnya dong berharap tulisan sendiri menjadi moda untuk mempromosikan pariwisata Indonesia di mata dunia. So, maaf aja kalo tulisannya agak berantakan.

Makassar menjadi trip yang terakhir kali aku share disini, dan jangan salah, aku masih ngutang satu episode Makassar trip, beberapa episode Hindustan Trip dan pastinya trip dari Oktober ke November. Hmmmph... lumayan banget yak ngutangnya, semoga itikad untuk nyicil sebelum pergantian tahun keturutan!!! amiiiiin!!!!

As starting point, ini recap nya:

1. Menjangan Island, Bali - Ijen Crater and Baluran National Park

Trip kali ini kombinasi penyaluran hasrat jalan-jalan plus balas dendam karena ditinggal teman-teman muncak ke Cikurai..huuhuu tapi yasudlah, everything happened for a reason.. and reason nya adalah mereka pergi manakala saya harus menimba ilmu di Salemba (gaya :p)

2. Mudik gratis berkedok kerja di akhir Oktober

Yuhuuuu, ini berkah namanya... dapat tugas sehari ke Surabaya and it means bisa mampir kerumah cuma2.. Memang bentar banget sey, tapi lumayan lah menyambung kangen sama keluarga and Surabaya.

3. One day trip ke Gunung Padang - situs megalithikum
Yang ini racun forum di Backpacker Indonesia. One day trip murah meriah ke Gunung padang di Cianjur. Dan entah kenapa, moment nya paaaasssssss banget setelah beres ujian akhir PPAK. Bener-bener butuh liburan!!!!

4. Jogja Trip dalam balutan Mini audit goes to campus

Bukan Suntea namanya kalo menolak ajakan maen di waktu luang. Even, untuk 16 November ini tawarannya ga cuman satu, tapi tiga!!! nah lo??? Gratisan pertama, weekend gateaway ke Bandung yang cuman modal biaya makan. Yups, ada spare kamar gratis di Holiday Inn dari temen yang ada acara kantor di Bandung plus tebengan PP. Gratisan kedua, free return flights Jakarta Jogja bermodal jadi instruktur mini audit di UGM. The last one, ke Ujung Genteng bareng anak-anak Backpacker Ceria Indonesia.

Dan setelah mempertimbangkan beberapa hal, pilihan jatuh pada Ngayogyakarta. Cerita selengkapanya? ditunggu saja heheh

5. Meet and Greet with old friend in Palembang

Nah, trip yang ini korban promo tiket dari Garuda Indonesia. Selain korban promo, saya juga belum pernah menginjakkan kaki di bumi Palembang, lebih-lebih kanjeng ratu Marisa sekarang menetap disana, mantap sudahlah niatan kami (me, Prew and Emy) makan pempek di kota asalnya.

6. Final Exam is over

Yeah, final exam is over. No more studying and study leave. No more escape from work on friday. Huhu..sediiiih plus lega juga.

7. Resignation Letter submitted

I wish. Yups. It seems to be the right time. Everything has been planned as well as my travel plan. Lets meet up in another office next year!!!

Yeah its only a recap..

 

 

See yaa

Last day in Makassar



Stunning view at Rammang Rammang

 Last day in Makassar


An exit door just an entrance to another…

Yups, leavin Toraja put me back at Daya, Bus Terminal at the center of Makassar city. After having subuh, it’s a farewell with Sandy. Yeah, our togetherness should be ended today since he plan to visit Tanah Beru and Bira beach. And it means that, again… I’m a solo traveler. Before leavin the mosque, i catch the opportunity to have a shower. As expected, its feel amazing haha.

And ith a guidance from Sandy and some research, i’m heading to my first destination. Ramang-Ramang.

What is Ramang Ramang? Some people may never hear about this place. Even local people sometimes unfamiliar with this place. Ramang-Ramang is a small village located in Maros area. It’s a close area hidden within the karsts and known as one of the best karst in the world. Not only that karsts, this place also wrapped by the river with a very nice ambience that surprisingly calming, refreshing and surely its become my one of favorite destination.

How to get there?

From Daya Terminal, take pete-pete to Semen Bosowa area. Most pete-pete on this are in blue, the difference are on the number, hence make sure you asked first to the driver whether they pass by Semen Bosowa or not. After that, you can have a walk, take Ojek (motor vehicle) or waiting for another pete-pete towards the bridge in Ramang-Ramang area. I don’t think this bridge has a certain name, but its reachable through walking. And the best one when you visit this place early morning or just for one of peaceful evening.

Down from the bridge, there’s a mini port where some wooden boat ready to lead to us to enjoy Rammang-Rammang. It’s a quite place actually, only one person stand by during my visit. And the worst is, none will be there when you arrive, my friend has this experience on her visit and it made her lost her opportunity to treasure this place. Without a long bargaining session, he took me to the one of breathtaking place in Makassar.

There’s only me and the boat driver for almost an hour during crossing the river. Our conversation became the most vocal instrument among the nature. There’s only a green and green scenery accompanied till we stop at the entrance of the village.

The village is hidden behind the karst. A huge farming area that totally dry on summer. The villagers’ house rarely seen in between. Some cows was enjoying their breakfast, try to find something green and tasty among those dried ranch fields when I started to explore. The ground is broke on every single ways, and at the top of that, again… a huge karst standing arrogantly. This village has no water supply and electricity. For living, water taken from the natural water source located in the cave. This cave spotted down at the down side of the karst.

My boat driver took me to see around the village up to the ground where it commonly used for physical training of the student at university. Its not a huge place, an open area accompanied with a wooden building for stay at night. I also got an opportunity to go inside the local house. It’s a stage house with a very simple design inside. No separator between rest room, kitchen and bedroom. But among those simplicity, two thumbs up for them for keep survive in this global area while hold tight on their culture and principle.

Rammang Rammang Village

Wonderful as it is ...

  Its 9 AM already, and I decided to leave this wonderful place and heading to my next destination, Taman Nasional Bantimurung. I took the same Pete-Pete towards Maros and ask the driver to drop me off at the place where I can take direct Pete-Pete towards Bantimurung.

Bantimurung originally was the national conservation to maintain population of the butterfly in Makassar. But now, it transform into tourism spot that offers Butterflies museum, waterfall and the cave. Butterflies museum has many collection of butterflies both local and around the world. In front of the museum, there’s a specific area to enhance butterflies reproduction and living. Specific butterfly has their own food and method to keep alive and regenerate. Next, Bantimurung waterfall; it’s a short and wide waterfall that can be afford by everyone incl children as playground. And last, the cave. Its located at the top area after the waterfall. You have to take a long tracking to get there. It’s a bit spooky for me since the area still empty, mostly stay as it is (original) and not well manage but I love some spot where the color of the river change into the blue river. Despite of the dried leaves in the surface, it reminds me a lot to the swan lake in China. A place where I want to be ^^

Bantimurung Waterfall

Playing hohohohoh

Entrance to the cave

Butterflies at Bantimurung

 I decide to finish my visit at 12 AM and unfortunately, there’s no public transportation after awaiting for almost an hour. Makassar was on the highest temperature at the time, my body covered by my own sweat when I’m walking towards the main entrance of Bantimurung and it feels like heaven when I found Pete Pete to bring me back to Terminal Daya. From Terminal Daya, I’m heading to Taman Kahyangan area, a place where my old friend kindly invite me to stay at her house for a night.

Last night in Makassar, I went to the Sumba Opu area, gift spot located close to Losari beach. I bought some snacks for office mate and my family. Next, i run into the culinary option. We tried Makassar seafood and it was my first time trying Kudu-Kudu fish. Surprisingly the taste was more than good, its delicious. We are full already and it makes our planned dessert, Es Pisang Ijo has to stay at the fridge for a while.

Yeah, a proper resting time and sweet closing for this unplanned journey. Lets packing and sadly lets say… Sayonara Makassar!!! Its nice to know you ^^

Escape to Makassar part 2 - Good morning Toraja!!!

Kete Kesu, Toraja

Previous post: Escape to Makassar 22-26 September 2013

2. Good Morning Toraja!!!! 

Good morning Toraja!!!! 
Have a nice and comfortable bus last night allowed me to take a short relaxing time within my 2nd day in exploring Makassar. And after took around 9 hours from Terminal Daya, Makassar, finally we arrived at Rantepao around 6 AM. A lil bit late from the schedule, and i cant remember anything about the causes because i'm too sleepy and tired to be aware of any of those. 

There's not much to see in Rantepao in such a early morning. Many locals were stopped by at the same point as mine. Some of them have been waited by their family and ready to go home, and some will remain, either still waiting or just resting. Buses stopped in front of each bus pool, and surprisingly all of those are luxury bus. There's many bus provider from Makassar to Toraja and the vice versa. Proving that Toraja recently become interesting tourism spot and nice place to stay. 

After a few moment, we met with Okto, Couchsurfing member from Toraja. We agreed to rent motorbike to explore Toraja in one day. But, firstly we stopped by at Okto's place for just clean up ourselves and resting and yeah, we're in Toraja!!! Hahahhah

Toraja for me is about culture, tradition and anxiety. Most of the tourism spot in here was both beautiful and scary. Lets see Londa or Batutumonga; the stone graveyard, the tombs, big cave full with so many coffins, skulls and even the tree where's the babies buried inside. In other side they kept their traditional houses with beautiful and unique ornament in most of the city, the oldest and famous one, Kete Kesu. 

I do have taken so many pictures both in the graveyards and the caves, but i dont know, somehow i just too coward to revisit those pictures again and post. Maybe later. 

Other than those scary and beauty things, we were lucky to arrive there on Tuesday, because its the Buffaloes market day!! Peoples in Toraja believes that Buffalo is the precious animal. The funeral ceremony always accompanied with the slaughtering many buffaloes as symbol of glory. One funeral can be accompanied with many buffaloes, depend on the economic condition of the family. But the more you have it, become more prestigious. Other than that, the other consideration is the type of the buffalo, the albino one is more expensive compare to the normal. And again, i'm amazed that its price fall between 22 million up to 1 billion for each. Pretty enough to travel around the world ^^

In the evening, we still have a spare time to enjoy the view of the whole Toraja from the top. I forgot the hills name but its a nice place to visit. 

Buffaloes Market, Rantepao

Kika: Sandy, Lucas, me and Okto

Binded with the culture and anxiety, Toraja is christian city. Many churches build around the city and Mosque become the rare thing to find in here. However, dont worry for moslem, a big mosque surrounded with many halal food counter located close to the Manggala bus pool at Rantepao area. 

What about living? I didnt experience any overnight stay at this place. Toraja is a place that can be finished on one day visit for sightseeing. But if you love history, you have to stay longer.  There's a lot of hostel and guesthouse at Rantepao. My travelmate, Lucas, decided to stay there for another one night and Okto helped him to find a cheap room for him. 

Visit a good place and spend the wonderful day out with a new friends always become a true story of travelling. The art of leaving a footprint on every place that we ever been there tighten by the spirit of sharing and caring. Lets call it as friendship. 

So its ended here, i have to catch my bus and heading back to Makassar ^^ 

Tips : 
Book your return ticket earlier since the ticket was easily run out.
Bus ticket can be booked directly at the terminal or pool bus, or have a reservation by make a phone call to the bus ticketing office. 

Notes: 
Bus from Makassar - Toraja - Makassar : IDR 140 K (each way, total IDR 280K)
Rental motorbike : 60-75K per 12 hours 

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