Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Sarangan: A Hidden Gem in Center Java


Those who says that Indonesia only has Bali as one of the beautiful places in the world, is totally wrong!

I just got back from Sarangan (located in Center Java Island) a few days ago.
Guess what? I feel amazed with their tourist area. It’s really lovely and breath-taking.

I went there with Martografi (a photography club based on Petra Christian University, Surabaya) for about 6 days. 

We went to Sarangan by bus from Surabaya, which took about 6 hours to get there! (it’s really tiring and I can’t feel my butt anymore… hahaha. But it’s worth it though!) 

There are many hotels in Sarangan, as well as Indonesia’s traditional food.
On weekends, there are also market around the lake, where you can buy souvenirs or some snacks.

A souvenir shop near the lake

Can you guess what is this ? 

Fresh and beautiful flower
Anyway, if you are a fruit die hard fans, then you must buy Sarangan’s fruit.
It’s really fresh and yummy !
It is famous for the banana, avocado, orange, and strawberry.
My favourite? Of course, Banana !


MUST try food :

  • Nasi Pecel (I think there’s no English for this food)
  • Bakso (meatballs) buy the P. RAJI one, the colour of the stall is red and it's the most delicious among all, hahaha. 
  • Sate ( satay ), they have chicken and rabbit. I prefer the rabbit one.
  • Tombo Luwe : this food stall is open around 8 at night, and they sell fried rice, noodle, ginger water, hot milk, so on. It’s delicious and a nice place to chit chat! Hahaha.
Girls taking picutre in front of Tombo Luwe (1)

Unlike most places in Indonesia, Sarangan has a cool temperature around 15 - 25 degree celcius, and there are lots of fog.
You might need to bring a jacket, because on the morning, the weather is freezing cold! 

Let me share you about the tourist spots in Sarangan :

My recommendation for Sarangan Tour : 4D3N

  1. Sarangan lake

Located at the centre of Sarangan, this lake is very easy to find. You just need a little walk from your hotel to reach this area.
You can ride a horse or hire a boat here ! 
If you want to do some exercises, you can walk around the lake while enjoying the fresh air :) 

The view from Sarangan lake
You could ride a boat here!

  1. Pundak Kiwo Waterfall

Let’s get some hiking!!

To get here:
a. Simplywalk to the Sarangan lake
b. Then turn left, cross over Kintamani Hotel, and walk straight. 
c. Once you find a big airplane statue, you will find the entrance of Pundak Kiwo waterfall on your left side. 
d. Walk along the village (approx. 25mins.) until you find a rest area that sell Satay, and the entrance of the waterfall is located between the two houses. 
**Ask the locals if you lost in the way.

There are 5 main waterfall in Pundak Kiwo. 
If the weather is good, you can reach until the very top waterfall, which is waterfall 5. 
Make sure you wear a sun block, trainer, t-shirt, and sport shoes. Make yourself comfortable! 

**Note : If you’re not sure, you can ask the local citizens (most of them CAN’T speak english) so you might want to brought a paper that say “Air Terjun Pundak Kiwo” so that they can understand you.
Other option is to hire a colt (a mini bus) near Sarangan area to go here. 

Feels like I'm on the movie "Twilight" !!
Look up! and capture this view ;)
Waterfall 2

Waterfall 3

Waterfall 4 and 5

  1. Cemara Sewu

To get here : Hire a colt from Sarangan
Here, you can enjoy the breath-taking view of the agriculture.
If you’re lucky enough, you can spot some local people doing their work as a farmer.


The view around

Overall view

A farmer is working on his land

  1. Tawangmangu Waterfall

To get here : Hire a colt from Sarangan
Entrance fee : IDR 30,000 (Foreign) 

Unlike the Pundak Kiwo Waterfall, the road in Tawangmangu waterfall has been polished so it’s easier to reach the waterfall. You just need to take the stairs to go down to the waterfall area, and take the stairs back up to the exit. 
It only has one big waterfall here, and there are lots of rest area around.

Watch out : there are naughty monkeys around! They can steal your glasses. Don’t bring a plastic bag or anything related to sweet (drinks, food, etc) because they’ll steal it right away.
River flow

Taking pictures in the middle of the way to the waterfall ;)

  1. Hunting Sunrise

Wake up at 4 a.m, search for a place with a wide view (or you can go to the top of your hotel) and just wait for the sunrise!
Many people says that sunrise in Sarangan is so beautiful.
Unfortunately, I don’t get any sunrise when I visit Sarangan, because the weather is not really friendly :(

Freezing and we don't get the sunrise! *mad mad*


Sarangan YOU ROCK!! 

Interested to go?
Pack your bags now!! 

**BornToBite visit Sarangan on January 2014


Thanks, reader(s)!
[Megan Faustine]


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Location Sarangan, Mungkid, Magelang, Jawa Tengah 56512, Indonesia

Sunday, January 26, 2014

5 Ways to "Breath" From Your Routine Activity

Have you ever feel that you're tired of your routine activity?
Seems like every tasks is really heavy and you can't burden it anymore.
You start to worry that this is not the right path for you, and it is not your calling.
It's kinda hard to explain the real feeling of this kind of "Depression" situation, but the one thing you know is you want to leave everything behind and have a moment with yourself.

 If you're feeling so, then take 1 minutes to read this article :)

I'll share some tips that come from my own experience, and I hope that it also can help you free your mind a little bit.

1. Sit in your bedroom and stare at the wall.
There's a moment when your brain is fighting against each other. The other side says "I don't want to do it", the other one says "Let's do it". Your brain keeps arguing and you start getting confused. If this happen, you can sit on your own bedroom and stare at the wall. Listen every words that two sides of your brain says, and take the good side or the right decision by your own.

 2. Take a morning walk alone and feel the fresh air.
When you wake up from your bed, it's the right moment to re-think about what you've done and think your good moments when doing your routine activities. Maybe by doing that you can help your parents company, you can meet with your friends, you're doing it for charity, and so on.
It always has a reason ! :)
If you think that your routine activity is not the right path / your calling,  then I suggest you to think about your life and what you really want to do.

 3. Singing out loud.
Sometimes, it is just your mind trying to confuse you. You're actually okay with your routine activity, but as a human being, we do feel bored. That's why we need something new. Something that out of our routine activity. Singing can be one of the way to get out from your routine. Pick your favourite song and just S-I-N-G! Relax, no one will pay attention how weird your voice is! Hahahaha.

 4. Eat and chew SLOWLY! (really, this helps!)
What I mean by this is when you eat, try to feel the seasoning of the food you eat and the sensation. Chew it slowly in your mouth, and enjoy your food. You can pick your own favourite food.
I choose to eat dessert in a time like this. Close your eyes and feel the food. Dessert has a sweet sensation where you can feel the sugar, the soft cake, the butter, the chocolate melts in your mouth... yum! I can feel that in my throat right now!

 5. Take a day off, enjoy yourself :)
Don't let your brain keep running. Sometimes it need a rest so that you can re-start freshly with a fresh mind.
Sometimes I take a day off college and stay at home, putting on my face-mask and laying down in my bedroom with the air-con on and some of my favourite music.
That way, I can think positively and get a new wisdom.

The main point is, do whatever is different from your routine activity, so that it won't make you get bored. Just try something new!
Do what you believe will reduce your stressed, it's okay even though it's weird! Just be you!
But don't do something criminal, hahahaha.

See you!
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Monday, January 13, 2014

Taipei - Day 7: Lin Family Mansion, National Palace Museum, Shilin, Taipei Taoyuan Airport

Time flies really really fast, and it’s already our last day in Taipei :(
Still, there are some places that we need to visit !

On the morning, we checked out from our hotel and put our bags at the Goods Care in the Hotel.

So today we’ll be going to Lin Family Mansion and Garden.
The house is so beautiful and it introduces us more about Taipei. 
So if you have time you need to see this place because you can see the beautiful old houses here. 

To get here : MRT Fulong 

After the exit, turn around, and turn left. Follow the signs, and you’ll get to the place.

The entrance of Lin Family Mansion and Garden



Not taking too much time here, we go to National Palace Museum.

To get here :

MRT Shilin, exit 1. Go straight ahead to the bus stop, then board bus Red Number 30.




Because this is our last day and my parents and I really love to go to Shilin, we decided to go at Shilin from 3 p.m until 7 p.m, then go back to the Hotel.

Oh and have I told you?
We have a really favourite place to eat at Shilin (We’re promoting your food stall, Jie jie!) 
The daughter’s owner is really kind to us. Eventhough she can’t speak English that well, she help us in ordering our food and serve us nicely. 
Not only that, I think they have the best fried rice here in Shilin ;)
So we can’t missed this restaurant before we get back, hahahaha

This is the restaurant, and the daughter's owner is the one who has a pony tail, wearing a grey t-shirt and her face is covered by the lamp
The menu from the restaurant (Except the hotdog)
A very cute games you can found at Shilin
When we arrived at our hotel, we asked for a Taxi to drove us to the Airport.
Happiness Hotel really has a nice service, because the officer help us to search which Terminal our flight is, and helped us to speak with the Taxi driver.
It was a real pleasant stay with you, Happiness Hotel !

It’s time for us to say goodbye to Taiwan :(

See you really soon !! 
*kisses and hugs*
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Location Taipei City, Taiwan
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