The Last Day of School

So, it is official that we’re not student anymore. Alhamdulillah.

6 years of study completed. As scheduled, 5 years and 9 months. Everything is settled, on time, just on time.

Today is the day where my prayers are being answered – to graduate on time!

14th July 2011, Yudisium dokter, angkatan 2005, gelombang 1.

Today is our Yudisium. I don’t know what ‘yudisium’ actually means, but what I get is, it is the day where something is to make official. We once had our yudisium sarjana kedokteran on September 2009, it was when we took the Dokter Muda oath, denoted that we had successfully finished our study and getting license to practice as trainee.

Today, our yudisium is to appoint us officially as doctors or better known as general practitioner (tapi nanti balik Malaysia kena jadi houseman balik…)

We'll be back to serve you!

Besties - From Bogor to Bandung

Enough of paragliding, we went up Puncak to have the famous Sundanese cuisine at a famous Sundanese Restaurant on the hill top. Oh wait, sorry! The Sundanese lunch was the day before.

After paragliding, we went straight to Bandung.

The view on the way Puncak - Bandung

Not using the new highway which connect Jakarta-Bandung, we followed the old road which has to go up and down the hill through Bogor instead. Just as we sail down the road, we missed the first intersection to Bandung and drove down the way to Sukabumi. Fortunately, we had the iPad 2 in hand and given direction from a very nice and friendly policeman, we made it back to the right path.

By chance, we found many durian stalls by the road side, so we stopped by for some! Duriannnnn time!

I *love* durian ^_^

After hours of driving…

Welcome to Bandung, Bil!

Taraaa it’s Bandung baby! That was my very first time in Bandung (yeah, after almost 6 years in Indonesia!). I always wanted to find out about what is there in Bandung that attracts so many Malaysian to go to. My mom, my sis, my aunts, everyonneeee goes to Bandung. They said it’s for shopping. Let’s see… wait! no shopping for me! I had just enough cash for something else, and shopping was never on my top priority. Well, we’ll see…

First stop in Bandung was to have lunch. Lapar gile kotttt, kita makan durian je dari pagi! This is it, the famous steak in town Suis Butcher. Memang sedap!

Frente's grilled sirloin with chef's sauce

Mine, tenderloin with cheesy bolognaise

We first drove down the most talked about Jalan Dago. Since it was weekends, the traffic was a bit shitty. Jalan Dago is well-known for it’s shopping spree! Well, most factory outlets are there. I didn’t study much on shopping in Bandung (cause I simply wasn’t looking forward for shopping!!). Hell yeah, the factory outlets look so alluring from the outside, like villas, like holiday cabins with beautiful landscapes and homey. Alhamdulillah, dugaan hari pertama tidak membawa ku masuk ke mana-mana FO.

Before it gets dark, we decided to find a place to stay. Thanks to Bang Agnes who had arranged an accommodation for us. Without any help from the GPS, Frente confidently drove up the hill of Jalan Setiabudhi to Hotel GH Universal.

“Buseeeett!! Is this the hotel?”

A very Victorian style hotel

And wait til we get inside…

I should have take some photos of the maids, their uniforms are very victorian-ish and cute.

“Doble bussssettt! I am Your Royal Highness”

Inspite of the little technical problem with the receptionist, we were brought into our room after about 30 minutes of waiting. But it was alright, I enjoyed the feeling of sitting on a comfy huge Your-Royal-Highness-kinda chair while admiring the interior of the lobby.

Frente is dealing with the receptionist

It seemed like we had to cancel all the to-dos in Bandung at night. The room was so gorgeously designed that we chose to just stay in, besides Frente was so worn-out after a whole day driving and flying (the paragliding) hehe. No Bandung street foods for dinner… we dropped down and dozed off in our princess-like beds.

Our princess-like beds

The next day, with full of enthusiasm, we checked-out the hotel after breakfast and put on our adventure hat and drove back down to the town. First stop was Cihampelas Walk. It was bad that I found TLTSN (The Little Things She Needs) shop. It is more or less like Vincci, but in a more funky and easy-going style. I successfully bought… 3 pairs of shoes and few sets of bangles. Damn, tak puas!

Next was, Rumah Mode. Who on earth had been to Bandung but didn’t know what Rumah Mode is?! I am not going to explain any further about what Rumah Mode is, but holy sheep, awesome!! Again, I successfully bought… a dress, a blouse and a vest. Alhamdulillah, only 3 items. But, whatthaaa?! Kata tanak shopping??!!! There goes!

Ibu Batagor. Kalau pergi Bandung kena makan road-side Batagor. MESTI tau!

Initially, I was trying on few very comfortable floral-printed cotton dresses in Rumah Mode which they didn’t have my size (busettt, emang rame yang seukuran/segede aku sampe abis bajunya?!), I thought it was fine, it means that I got to save my cash! However, Frente thought that I really should get those dresses cause they look so good on me (she said!), therefore we had our next stop at Heritage.

Dang, two more dresses safely tuck in the bag now. *happppppy!*

Getting souvenirs at KertaSari

I felt so overwhelm yet defeated by my own shopping-desire. Hence, I ought to buy some souvenirs for the others. The traffic was worse than ever, we stuck on the road for hours that we didn’t get to move to many other places. No Trans Studio, no Tangkuban Perahu (actually memang tak plan pon nak pegi sana… kemarin kan dah puas main dkt Dufan).

Lapar...

Cut the crap out, we went to The Valley for a late lunch. Frente memang beria-ia nak bawak I pergi sana, sebab dia asyik cakap pasal tempat2 best for dining + sightseeing in Bandung, it was like everytime we went for melepas-stress at Batu, it would reminded her of Bandung. So, there was The Valley – amazing! We had our lunch at the balcony of a restaurant-resort on the hill top, overseeing the view of Bandung, Subhanallah there was such a breathtaking moment.

Can't I get enough of pasta?

Over-looking this while having lunch

Next, balik!!!

Driving back to Jakarta. Daaa~

Paragliding Again - Puncak, Bogor

That was one of my sweetest travelling escapades with Frente.

Good Morning Bogor!

Waking up as early at 4:15 a.m didn’t seem to be a bit of a problem for me. That was the day we’ve been planning for for monthsss! I was so thrilled, despite of the very gloomy in dawn down town Jakarta, but not right after we hit the highway.

“OMG, these people are starting congesting the road as early as 5 a.m?”

The way up to the paragliding platform, where we parked the car while waiting for the time to fly.

Itulah, orang pergi mencari rezeki. Nak kata apa… tapi nasib baik kita tak tersangkut dalam jam, sebab kitaorg pergi the other way, out from Jakarta. To avoid the traffic wasn’t really the reason why we went out the house that early. Actually, we were planning to go for paragliding in Puncak, Bogor. Yayy! Excited!! jealous tak?

The view from the platform, before it gets a lil bit crowded.

Arriving Puncak a bit too early for paragliding. We called the instructors (in fact that we already went here the day earlier, but it wasn’t too windy for gliding, therefore we asked for the instructor’s number for booking), and they were still sleeping yet. hahaha excited terlebih punya pasal.

Chilling up the paragliding platform waiting for the wind to get a lil bit stronger

One of the best moments together, doing things we both love

However, Puncak was mesmerizingly beautiful. It is hilly sides about two hours drive from the Jakarta city. Just like Batu to Malang (but in a more developed manner). Needless to say, it was cold up there (but still I can afford to stand in short pants), and the hills are gorgeously covered with tea plantations and a lot of other colorful mountains shrubs. We parked the car on top of the hill, with the rare side facing the slope, we open up the car boot and snuggle ourselves inside while beholding the scenic greenish hilly view of Puncak. That is why I love big cars, and Frente’s CRV is just perfect!

Frente took off

Safety checked!

Then it was almost 9 a.m, the paragliders started to ramble up to the platform. We waited for few hours til the weather is perfectly windy for gliding. I was informed by the professionals that paragliding in Batu is way much better than one in Puncak, in terms of the height and wind. Cost wise, both are almost of the same price. I am more than proud that both of us had been on the paragliding in Batu back last year. Conversely, the view in Puncak was way much charming albeit of only got to be in the air for 10 minutes or so.

The view from up above. Excuse the snickers, they've got to lend me the shoes since I was barely on slippers

Apart from just gliding with the wind, I’ve met few people and made a few friends there. There was an uncle who has a big love for flying, that he worked all his life for this hobby. He once had stayed in Malaysia too and still managed to practice gliding somewhere back in Negeri Sembilan (I am yet to find out paragliding sites in Malaysia). Pilots from Malaysia got their license and training from Batu! *ehem!* and most of all, I tandem on my pilot who was the champion of paragliding back in the recent Sea Games.

Can you spot me?

Enough of paragliding, we went up Puncak to have the famous Sundanese cuisine at a famous Sundanese Restaurant on the hill top. Oh wait, sorry! The Sundanese lunch was the day before. After paragliding, we went straight to Bandung actually.

The landing pad

Those kids were so helpful putting the gears off us as soon as we landed. How adorable!

Trip to Banyuwangi - Ijen Crater

The next day, we woke up real early. The frigging cold bath didn’t even matters; we got into our hiking gears and excited to go!

Mas Agus picked us up. Mbak Syifa handed us under his responsibility because she believes that Mas Agus is the king of the mountains. Oh yes, he is! He climbed up numerous of mountains nationwide, and I bet he could hike up Ijen in blindfolded.

We climbed up 2368m in 2 and a half hour. yeah!! 

On your mark… get set… GO!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Go! go! cayok!

The sulfur carrier. This is half way through the creater, at the balai penimbangan.

This is at the balai penimbangan sulfur. These men can carry up to 100kg of sulfur on their back down the mountain. They get Rp1000 for every kilogram. It is so sad... especially when I saw an old man sitting at the side of the hiking track, taking out his water tumbler and mixed it with a sachet of Enerjoss powder (energy drink something like RedBull). It is tearing me to know how much effort they have to take to earn that very little money for living, and even worse, they have to jeopardize their health and take the energy drink which is the major factor for most kidney failure cases :'(

Ya Allah berkatilah hidup mereka,

murahkanlah rezeki mereka,

permudahkanlah urusan mereka.

Continue walking...

The fluffy clouds

Subhanallah, the breath taking view on the way to the top

Girl power!

Ada sikit2 macam Teletubbies Land?

Spot me!!

Subhanallah...

Reaching the top

This is it!!! Kawah Ijen

Yay, we've made it girls!!!

Ada signal! boleh check in foursquare

Men carrying blocks of sulfur from below the crater, up to the top, and down the 2368m mountain.

pinggir kawah Ijen

Wish Zuffy were here...

On the way down, lapar... POpMie time!

At the other side of the mountain, this is the man made sulfuric water fall. Was built hundreds of years ago by the Dutch.

Kite naik 4WD tu..

Trip to Banyuwangi - Baluran National Park

Last weekend was too awesome that I almost forgot to take my breath back.

A friend told me,

“If you have a dream, write it down!”

It suddenly came to flash back the time when me and my housemates were spending our lazy Sunday morning watching the TV about 2 years ago. What we saw on TV really caught our attention. It was a travelling tv program, showing interesting places in Indonesia. The host went to a very unique place, which looks like a safari in Africa, with the high trees in a desert like ground, and wild animals running free. It was Baluran National Park. I remembered Ima took our phone book and jot it down right away. So, Baluran National Park, Banyuwangi – is somewhere we MUST go!

Then, it was the Ijen Creater a.k.a Kawah Ijen. I saw that about a year ago from the internet. It was mesmerizing in the picture and I couldn’t get my mind out of it. I really wanted to go, but I was too doubtful about my friends to go hiking the mountain with me. I told Frente anyway, and there was Mbak Syifa too. What a coincident, Mbak Syifa’s hometown is in Banyuwangi, where both Baluran and Ijen are. OMG!!!!!!

So apparently, Mbak Syifa had been planning to bring me there, to fulfill my wishes. It has been months. When Mbak Syifa offered me and my friends to come along with her to Banyuwangi, without sparing a single second, I agreed to go! Then I convinced my friends to come along.

There was quite a long story beneath it all, until we made it to Banyuwangi. Mbak Syifa, Amak (her son), me, Frente, Sit, Ima and Zana took the 8 hours journey by road. We preferred to sleep along the way, her driver is crazier than F1 racer. We arrived her house and settled down our asses (dah duduk lama sangat dalam kereta kot), and get ready for our Safari adventure the next day!

Now, let the pictures tell the story…

Journey begins

The road to the desert

This is it! Can you believe it!

Yay, we've made it girls!!

Merah putih teruslah kau berkibar

Read my shirt

Bekol. Subhanallah

The road to the beach

kita panjat pokok!

Banyuwangi

If we could swim to the other side, we are already in Bali

Our dinner

Thanks to Tante (mbak Syifa’s mom) for the hospitality, your capulaga coffee is the best!! To mas Agus who accompany us and to Mbak Syifa for making this all memorable.