Batukaras Beach

Batu Karas is a little village 1 hour away from Pangandaran. Batu Karas offers a nice beach for swimming and surfing. There are also several restaurants and hotels. This is a simple and remote village that will appeal to surfers, those wanting to immerse themselves in another culture, or anyone who just wants to get away from it all.

If you want something simple and peaceful, this is the place.

Saung Angklung Mang Udjo (SAU)

Sponsored by a 4 stars hotel in Purwakarta, I visited Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) a one-stop cultural workshop, consisting of: performance venue, bamboo handicraft centre and bamboo instrument workshop.

 

The performance at Saung Angklung Udjo features the Angklung, but also incorporates Wayang Golek (wooden puppets), traditional dance, and the children’s orchestra into the show, so it’s interesting to watch as well as listen to.

The audience gets to participate during the show too. They teach everyone to play the Angklung by giving everyone an instrument that plays a single note. Each instrument is numbered – the conductor uses a variety of hand signals to let you when to shake your Angklung. And, following the final dance, the audience is invited onto the dance floor to dance with the performers. It’s all good fun!

It was established in 1966 by Udjo Ngalagena and his beloved wife Uum Sumiati, by a strong purpose and dedication to conserve and preserve Sundanese traditional art and culture. SAU illustrates nature and culture in harmony, it is no wonder SAU becomes a noticeable destination where people could experience Sundanese culture as a part of world heritage.

Apart from that, SAU has an honourable function as an educational laboratory and training centre to preserve the Sundanese culture - Angklung in particular.

Sangkanurip, Kuningan

This was very unusual vacation. On the way back to Jakarta from ‘Kampung Nenek”, we decided to drop by at Sangkanurip, Kuningan. It is located in the foothill of Mount Ciremai, approximately 35 Km from Cirebon towards Kuningan. Surround yourself in the beautiful sceneries and fresh mountain air.

Sangkanurip is one of the tourist villages that do not only rely on beautiful panoramas, but also water for health. In the small village at the foot of Mount Ciremai that mineralized hot springs flow. 

The point of the flow is not so much, only in certain joints. But that’s precisely what makes the Village Sangkanhurip be special. Hot water is contains various mineral elements, especially odium, used by the visitors to relax the muscles. Also believed, hot water, by use of routine, it is an effective way to combat rheumatism and destroying fat. Therefore, hot water pool in the cool area in the valley of Mount Ciremai was visited by many tourists.

The Green Festival

This is a festival for all.

The public is free to visit bringing their children, because this arena also provides a learn-as-you-play arena about the environment.

Visitors are first greeted by a model red earth made of steel showing how hot the planet can get. A virtual ice floor, where the ice cracks when someone steps on it, brings a sense of how fragile the ice in the North Pole is. The experience was heightened by screens showing flooding, the melting glaciers and storms. Cartoonists Benny and Mice put on a playful show about Jakartans' wasteful habits, with Mice watching three television sets, with the radio, fan and air conditioner on, and Benny talking about buying new cars that will only add to the pollution and long traffic jams. Bad habits related to global warming were highlighted in cartoons and pictures, depicting leaving the AC and TV set on when not in use and letting the water run when brushing teeth.

The free-of-charge event was collaboration of Kompas, MetroTV, Female Radio, consumer goods manufacturer PT Unilever Indonesia and state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina.

They are my Sisters!

I have four sisters and all of them are older than me. I love my sisters. They are truly my best friend and the women I most admire. We grew up in tough circumstances and we are so close as adults. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes when I think about how lucky I am!

 

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of.  You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.  ~Amy Li

Dress Up Prettty Kebaya!

Ladies, dare to look different with Kebaya! A woman wearing a kebaya is at her most beautiful. Traditional, unique, and elegant, Kebaya is usually worn in special occasions such as wedding ceremony, college graduation day, or parties.

Long time ago, Kebaya is commonly worn by women who live in rural and village. An urban woman who wore this kind of clothing was considered old-fashioned and conservative. However, with the changing of time and the increasing of knowledge, the art of Kebaya fashion increases rapidly thus making Kebaya more stylish and modern.

You, too, can try wearing Kebaya and enjoy the elegance of the Indonesian ethnic fashion.

Company Family Outing 2010

Due to stressful work or just a busy schedule often times we miss out on communicating with our co-workers on anything other than “employee talk”. We do get our work done but miss out on really knowing the person we work with 25 hours a week!

In experience managing for company outing, the co-worker was much enhanced by regular yearly activities which involved family outing together, picnic or going together. These activities gave the co-workers good time to unwind, to be with their families during the weekend and also getting to know each other better. It offers a chance to the spouse and kids to meet mom/dad’s co-workers and bosses.

Taking on the role of chairman of my company can be fun. The planning process provides an opportunity to show off my leadership, organization skills, increase my confidence and self-esteem and an opportunity to get to know relatives like I have never known them before!

Cocktail Party

Last night I spent a fabulous evening at 4* Hotel in Purwakarta.
 

Celebrating the Earth Day on April 22nd, 2011, the organization invited their guests and bookers as well to participate in making the earth greener by planting trees.

Even all guests were not seated but remain standing; an evening cocktail party - with some variety of meals displayed on platters - still gives me a chance to mingle among them.

New staffs from their organization were introduced and also made new contacts with some people working in the same housing estate in KBI.

It was really an ideal way to spend a Tuesday night!

Swiss Delegation the organization

This is the delegation from Switzerland who made visit to our organization. Organized by Swiss Embassy, the group was interested in exchanging of views on various topics between Swiss companies that operating in Indonesia.  The aim of their coming was to attending the Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting between Indonesia and Switzerland. There were 2 Swiss delegates each from Department of Economy, Department of External Affairs and Department of Environment.

Fun Camp

If you have are very rare to go on camping (like me), you may be asking yourself the question, "Why is camping fun? What's so great about camping anyway?"

The adventure of living in the outdoors makes camping fun and enjoyable for young and old a like. The outdoors experience can be enjoyed by anyone...

Camping is like taking a vacation for a day, overnight or for the whole weekend. It's the best way to relax and unwind after a long, hard week of work. One gets revitalized in the morning freshness with clear air and dewy surroundings. Camping is fun and an easy outdoor activity. There are many things to do for you and your camping buddies. Living in cities, one often misses gazing at the stars. Sleeping under the open sky on camping nights, gives you the chance to learn about the different constellations and stars. I did it when friends when we were going on fun camp in Gunung Bunder, Bogor.

If you enjoy the quite atmosphere, wideness, trees and isolation from the crowded cities, camping is for you. You will get dirty, soaked in dust and mud, yet you'll love the experience.

My first Thanksgiving

This is my first Thanksgiving.  From films I have some imaginations about what Thanksgiving is and I am really eager to experience this event life. Through job rotation program in my work I got the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving in an American family. In Switzerland …!

Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take a day of vacation on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend.  The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination. Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie…..!

 Many thanks to the family Alexander for their grand hospitality!! I had a wonderful evening together with their family. They made my first Thanksgiving a great experience!

Reunion with old buddies from TarQ

I believe that friend always friend doesn’t matter what happen, but of course, if you hang out with them more, it will tighten the relationship. Life has been so busy lately, so it was nice to get a call from my old college friend asking if I wanted to catch up and have dinner together. So, I had dinner with some old college buddies at Japanese Restaurant in South Jakarta. The restaurant is very small and the tables are placed very close to one another. Reasonably priced coz they had promo with including the 50% off.

We had a great night! Plus we always have fun and it is good to see everybody again. I love all my friends and treasure them dearly. We wish to keep all ex-pupils informed of the exciting news from the College as it happens

 “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival.” – C. S. Lewis

Gathering of 3 family generation

Life gets busy. Work gets stressful, and social activities become more of a priority… getting together with a big family is soon forgotten!

This family gathering was held to celebrate Tante En Bday….
The Sugiono was there to the catch up with family members and enjoy special moment of an evening in December. So, meeting with my big family is a rare opportunity to meet, relax and enjoy each other. Sometimes having fun with my big family is motivation enough for everyone to get together, and sometimes we might need a little motivation. I was fortune to be a part of this multigeneration gathering coz few years, my Dad passed away.
So, honor thy family. It is a forgotten gift!

Nature's Blessing

People are becoming more environmentally aware every day, and as they do that they are thinking more about how to ply their skills in a way that can make a difference. Corporations around the globe – as well - are going green and contributing to environmental causes. They do this both to bolster their marketing image, and simply to be good citizens and contribute positively to their communities.

These outdoor activities such as (morning trekking, painting, catching fish) were done during ‘Green Forest Programme’ held by a 3 stars hotel in Purwakarta. The Corporation was undertaking a wide variety of projects with regard to Eco Energy Sources and encouraged bookers and/or guests to adopt environmentally friendly (and often cost-effective) steps.

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan is located in Central Java, about 15 miles away to the west of Yogyakarta and just beside the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo. So it is easily accessible from both cities. It takes only about half hour to get there from Jogjakarta.

Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the tenth century. The slim building soaring up to 47 meters makes its beautiful architecture incomparable. Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex.

The damage caused by the disastrous earthquake in 2006 still can be seen though is being reconstructed by local authorities who are currently working hard to rehabilitate the temple. Further, it’s recommended to see the ballet playing at the temple (Sendratari Ramayana). Do not miss it; this will make your experience unforgettable.

Ice World

This is a long picture taken at Ice World!

Experiencing a cold snap for the first time must indeed be an intense experience.

During the holiday, Ice World, which features a 50-meter-long ice slide and dozens of ice carvings of children's movie characters, had about 2,500 visitors a day. In the first hall there are snow men and a huge ice slide for the children. For some people – including us - who never experienced winter weather before it must be fascinating! Some kids were trying their hand at snowball fights while others seemed to be starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. Many people laughed and joked and watched mesmerized as their breath condensed in the cold air.

To enjoy this recreational park, we have to wear long sleeves and trousers and bring hats and gloves (parkas available there). For Rp 50.000,- at that time) you too can experience that quintessential Bule (Westerner's) winter. That is Ice World!

Farewell Party of Walter

This morning I received (again) an email from Walter. He was one of my employer s who moved to South America to take another opportunity in different organization.

Time is flying. It has been more than 2 years he left us …!

I do remember that it was not easy to throw going away party for him. I wanted to remember the great times we’ve had together but there’s a note of sadness in the air. I know that Farewell doesn’t have to be forever coz for me it’s a time to share and enjoy and also celebrate a new beginning of life

Reunion Planning 3rd Meeting

The 3^rd of our meeting was held in Munik Restaurant since this place was considering as the place for the Reunion on Saturday, June 18^th, 2011. The main agenda was how we finance the reunion. Even its only one day affair, we must remember that apart from the usual expenses, there are also chances to have unforeseen expenses. Other discussions were on several issues such as: collecting money, sending invitations to all classmates and teachers, planning menu, etc. Moreover, we must take more efforts to search the whereabouts of our classmates as many of them may have relocated for work or other personal reasons.

Hence, arranging a high school reunion party is a great way of meeting our old friends, thus refreshing the old memories. However, organizing a high school reunion is not an easy task; rather it requires lot of planning and efforts to put together a great reunion. But, we do believe that with proper planning and organization, we can turn our elementary school reunion into an event which will be cherished by all our classmates forever.

Bukittinggi, West Sumatra

When a friend of mine said that she must go to Bukittinggi to visi her parents, my imagination flew to moments I spent in Bukittinggi years ago…

Without a doubt Bukittinggi is probably the most laid-back and friendliest places you could ever visit in Sumatra. The city is surrounded by three volcanoes named Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. Bukitinggi was formerly named Fort De Cock by the Dutch and the centrepiece of town is the town’s clock-tower, which is topped with a horn- shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. This is a good place to visit as it overlooks the market square and the city’s beautiful surroundings. Most of the places in the town are within walking distance with each other as Bukitinggi is relatively small. Here are a few of the places in and around Bukittinggi worth visiting:

Maninjau Lake

The splendid Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra, is one of the calmest places in Indonesia. To reach the lake, we must take the steeply descending road from Bukittinggi. This journey will have you on the edge of your seat as the road has sharp hairpin bends and unforgettable twists and turns. The 44 bends in this road give it its name, Kelok 44. The drive down to the lake will amaze you with its remarkable views over the shimmering blue lake and surrounding hills. With inspiring scenery and peaceful surrounds, a visit to Lake Maninjau will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. If you’re looking for fantastic views, you may go to the top of a hill and get some of the best views of the lake.

Museum Bukittinggi. A traditional extended family house built in the 19th century (Rumah Gadang), it is a fine example of Minangkabau architecture. It house Minangkabau cultural and historical items. 

Anai

 Valley. The surroundings of the Anai Valley are magnificent. The dense tropical forest all around is most impressive and is a nature reserve. Below runs the river Anai with its crystal clear water. Just on the side of the road is a 40 m high waterfall.

Taman Panorama. This magnificent place located on the edge of town overlooks the amazing SianokCanyon. What’s great here is that there is a two-story observation tower that overlooks the whole canyon. Even better is what happens at Dusk. Megabats fly from the gorges into the forest to feed from the fruits on the trees.

Pasar Atas. An insane but delightful and colourful market that gets so big on Wednesdays and Saturdays that the stalls etc can be seen spread across the nearby hills. This is an interesting traditional market where the usual fare of fruit, vegetables and handicrafts can be bought.

Halloween at Lakeside Montessori Cibubur

Halloween is a favorite holiday for kids. They love being able to dress in costumes, carve pumpkins and attend a party. Halloween costumes are costume worn on or around Halloween, a festival which falls on October 31. Wearing costumes has long been associated with other holidays around the time of Halloween, even Christmas. Halloween costumes are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghosts skeletons, witches, and devils while young girls also often dress as entirely non-scary characters at Halloween, including princesses, fairies, angels, farm animals and flowers. Whether it's the costumes, the candies or the spooky good fun, who can say? Whichever one it is, though, a school Halloween party is always an event to remember!

Blambangan Post, Mt. Slamet

Mount Slamet is the second highest mountain in Java. To get to the top G. Slamet is 3 lanes and Bambangan Path is the path that is very popular and is the path most often climb.

Bambangan Route

is the shortest route than the route and Kali Batu Raden Wadas. From the town of Navan take the bus to the destination Purbalingga and continued by bus for the purpose of weight down on Serayu sari. Travel spliced using the truck to the village Bambangan rural transportation, the last village at the foot of Mount Slamet.  In 1279 mdpi-altitude hamlets are the climbers returned to check equipment and take care of any administration ascent. 

This was our 1^st trip to Blambangan even our mother in law house is only 10 kms from this post. The weather was so chilly and cold when we were there in the morning. We couldn’t go too far to the top since we brought along kids with us.

Batu Hiu, Ciamis

Batu Hiu (Stone shark) is a tourist attraction in Ciamis, located in the Village district Ciliang Parigi approximately 14km from the area towards the south of Pangandaran. This district renowned for its large rock that resembles a shark which is about 300 m from the beach. In this tourist attraction where visitors can see the panoramic Ocean Indonesia's vast stretches of rolling waves splashing white.

We dropped by on this beach for half hour before continuing the journey to Batu Karas, Pangandaran.

Dieng Plateu (The Strange Beauty of Java)

Early January 2011, I brought my family to visit Dieng in Wonosobo before they spent their school holiday in their grandma village.

Located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, Dieng community should be grateful for the abundance of wealth which conferred upon their beautiful and exotic land. The cold weather has led to the unique style of dress of its people. Temperatures during the day ranged between 15-20 degrees Celsius while in the night between 10 degrees Celsius. Dieng name derived from Sanskrit language which is "di" means the place and "hyang" means Gods. Overall Dieng can be defined as a place of the Gods. While the residents said Dieng derived from the word "edi" which means beautiful in the Java language, and "aeng" meaning strange. In other words Dieng is a beautiful place with a lot of ddities.

Despite centuries of sleep, Dieng has several volcanic craters that are still active until now. One of the most interesting is Sikidang Crater, a heaven for sulfur miners which supposedly likes to jump and move. Sikidang Crater gives another nuance on Dieng’s natural beauty. Fresh green landscape suddenly vanished as we entered this crater complex. As far as the eye could see, there was just a barren stretch of land surrounded by hills with a smoky pond on the other side. A few meters from the entrance there is a warning sign for you to be careful in moving, as well as a fire ban and throwing cigarette butts.

Dieng has an extraordinary natural and cultural wealth. One of the icons is Telaga Warna (the Colorful Lake), a beautiful lake with natural forest around it. Hidden among the rows of hills at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level does not make Telaga Warna (the Colorful Lake) lack of visitors. Its beauty and mystery always attract anyone who visits Dieng. The sound of the wild birds chirped and the thick forest which is wild maintained present a reassuring atmosphere of peace.

Across the street of Complex Candi Arjuna, on the slopes of a hill stood a museum called the Kaliasa Museum. There are 4 buildings in which two showrooms functioned to display variety of objects and artifacts of historical heritage. Most items on display are statues and stones from the complex of temples in Dieng. The most interesting item is the three-headed Shiva statue often referred as Shiva Trisirah. Shiva Trisirah is known as the oldest form of worship to Shiva. In addition, the museum is also displaying various information about the typical life of the indigenous Dieng people, traditional arts, as well as information about the phenomenal of the dreadlocks children. There is also a theater space to play the documentary film about Dieng’s natural and cultural potential that would be played for at least a 10-visitors group.

Friday is .... BATIK day ...!

Who does not know batik? If there are those who are not familiar with batik, truly outrageous!

Batik was one of the traditional cultures in Indonesia and it is also a national treasure of Indonesia. Originally, was mainly used for formal meetings and formal parties. Today, Batik develops in a lot of new ways, there are relax Batik, night gown Batik and modern Batik. Thus, Batik was now used for not only formal purpose, but for going out to malls, cinema, restaurants, cafes and other daily use.

Indonesia itself has confirmed that Friday becomes a Batik day and Indonesians were encouraged to wear Batik on Friday - of course this is an optional decision. A lot of companies had actually apply it and made their employees to wear Batik on every Friday. The Indonesian government encouraged their residents to use Batik and keep it as not only a traditional culture but also as their lifestyle as Indonesians.

So, friends, let’s start wearing Batik from now on and do not hesitate and do not be ashamed to wear batik in everyday. Be proud of wearing BATIK ….

Sikuai Island, West Sumatra

When I was sitting in a lobby hotel in Jakarta this afternoon, I randomly picked a Travel Magazine. Inside it, there is an article about Sikuai Island. My imagination went to the days when I spent the holidays there…

 "SIKUAI" (www.newsikuai-island.com) is a beautiful private island in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It basks in tropical weather all year long and is perfect for a peaceful getaway from the bustle of the city. Sikuai Island is one of the most picturesque destinations in West Sumatra with its untouched forest leading to easily accessible white sand beaches all around the island. The island is rich with the nature of tropical rainforest and coral reefs
I spent 2 days at Sikuai and it was heaven!!!
Our private bungalow, just steps from the beach, was the perfect escape from the busy life.

We were able to relax, snorkel and explore the island together used the jogging track surrounding the island. Plus the resort is absolutely beautiful! I loved our bungalow; it was nice and comfortable and had a front terrace. The staff was nice and service was excellent. I will definitely visit Sikuai again!

Hang' out with Friends

Living and working in the same environment can be a challenge, but having good friends to get you through the hard times and laugh with you during the good times is what it is all about! Over the past few weeks we have had several occasions to get together!

Having fun together with ‘core team of famgath 2010’ is a good reason to have a dinner! What a fun to hang out with friends or celebrate a successful event. Indeed, there are a lot of reasons to get together. First, we went to uphill Café and Bistro in Dago Pakar area in Bandung.The festivities included good food, good company, and of course singing together. We all had a great time just hanging out and celebrating a successful event!

Reunion Planning 1st Meeting

The pre-reunion dinner meeting at Urban Kitchen, Pacific Place was held on Feb 8^th 2011. The place was picked up more or less is in the central location. 12 alumni in attendance – which was good -.It was a happy event happened to see long friends (again). After the successful meeting, we took some pictures together. Again, thank you very much for your time and cooperation. See yaa in the next meeting :-)

Get-Together Celebration of ex-SD Budhaya

A large group of ex students SD Budhaya Cipinang gathered at Ade’s house in Cipinang Kebembem on Feb 3rd, 2011.  The crowd numbered over 20 people and went on ‘till almost late evening.  We realized how great it was to have friends to reunite for this fantastic set of events.  It meant such a great deal for everyone to take the time to get together again!

30 years have passed since we last saw each other on a daily basis.  We unfortunately lost some of our classmates, but we remember each of them warmly.  Each of us has gone thru some really great times as well as sad times.  It was evident that each of us has grown from our experiences.  We have great memories of our past together.  And this informal reunion only proves that the warm and fun memories can continue. As the saying goes... we are 30 years older.. but "all the women are beautiful and all the men are handsome".... We ARE a great group of friends.

And, most importantly of all.... to each and every one of you that attended any or all of these functions... our sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU!  We sincerely hope you enjoyed yourselves... and we will see you for the real Reunion on June 18^th, 2011 …!!!!