AOE: Beaching at Pandawa beach.

It's our full-time job that has been making me and my friends bored and feel saturated sometimes. In the mid time, we usually have a holiday to refresh our mood. January 2014, We decided to go to Bali. For me, it was not an ordinary holiday because I came to Nanda's house (my gf) and also met her family for the first time. I was a bit quiet in front of her family at the first time we saw each other face to face. I wasn't shy, i was just confused bout things to say. But as I visited her family more often since then, I get used to speak comfortably to them.

In Bali, Nanda accompanied us to some attractions she knew. One of the best beach attractions she suggested was Pandawa beach. We hadn't ever heard Pandawa before. It took us 2 hours from her house in Denpasar to the beach. Though it's quite far and a little bit remote (not as easy as going to Kuta beach that's located at the main road). It was worth it. We couldn't believe that Bali still has a beach like this; less visitor, blue water, white sand, clean, and cheap entry fee.

A refreshing scenery.

Have a groupie at the beach.

We also had fun underwater. Hehe...

Boyband? Haha..

Building Tommy's sand blanket.

Playing long jump!

Pandawa beach airstyle!

 Meditation in the air?!

Sunset glow at Pandawa beach.

Pretending to candid. Haha..

Me and Nanda in the perfect time, perfect place, perfect moment.

There are a lot of things you can do in Pandawa beach. You can play and have fun in many different ways you like since there's not so many people there. You just need to be careful of corals that you may tread at the shore. However, for surfers, you can't surf at Pandawa because of its tiny waves. Also, having sex there is completely forbidden because of ethics problem as well as due to the fact that it is a holy place for locals.

For those who like beaching and have fun with a little bit of private moments, Pandawa is the right place! 

AOE: Taj Mahal's twins, Bibi-Ka-Maqbara.

Have you heard that Taj mahal has a twins? Some people may be fooled by this creation. Some people perhaps call it the real Taj mahal. But it is not. Bibi-Ka-Maqbara is not Taj mahal even though its look is similar to Taj mahal. It is located in Aurangabad, more than 1000 km far away from the real Taj mahal in Agra. If you want to visit Taj mahal with a lower cost, it would be the best choice. It is almost 7 times cheaper than Taj mahal's cost.

Bibi-ka-maqbara is very similar to Taj mahal, isn't it?

Me and Pat with local people.

Lesser visitor than the real Taj mahal.

A little construction which was not yet finished.

Now you see me.

Wonderful architecture can be seen when you get closer to it. 

Carved wall decorates its door.

Even the entrance is also similar to Taj mahal.

Backyard view.

You can spend a whole day taking a picture in every corner it has.

Mandy was taking a picture of us.

These big trees complete its beauty.

Worth visiting attraction!

Clean area & fresh air.

Building around Bibi-ka-maqbara.

With Mandy.

Will you include this into your next traveling list?

LFL: Found 'Sisingaan'!

I went home to Subang to take my documents for completing passport renewal requirements on 30th of November 2014. It took 2 hours from Bandung by motorcycle or car. Once I got into Subang city, I found something interesting. I saw a crowd in the street. It contained some police officers, marching band, people with bikes, etc. As I got closer and saw a parade, I realized it was a celebration of Persib (Indonesian football club from Bandung) achievement to be a winner of Indonesian Super League (ISL) which is the biggest team league in Indonesia. I have seen it before in Bandung. The reason I call it interesting is I found 'Sisingaan' in the parade which I didn't see in Bandung celebration. This is my first time to see it again after couple years.

'Sisingaan' is a culture origin from Subang which is usually found while celebrating something. It contains 4 persons who dance with a man-made lion on their shoulder. Usually It is accompanied by a crew of singer. Nowadays I rarely see it in Subang. I am worried that it will become extinct as other countries cultures massive penetration to Indonesia that could threaten it. I hope Indonesia government especially Subang government can nurture it well, so that it becomes one part of Indonesian's assets that this world admit. Maybe some annual 'Sisingaan' competitions and exposing 'Sisingaan' in well-packed websites can make it keep alive. :)

AOE: When Ellora caves amazed me!

During my trip to India in 2011, I didn't miss a single chance to travel around. In the third week of my volunteer program there, I decided to go to Aurangabad with some friends. One of the most famous attractions in Aurangabad is Ellora caves. I thought all caves are the same, but I was wrong. Ellora caves are the typical huge rock-caves with some ancient carvings around its wall. I could see different variety of reliefs in almost all of its huge wall. It was made in between the 5th and 10th century by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. That is why Ellora is distinctive to other caves. So, it amazed me as a kid who was born in 20th century.

I liked it there, even though I needed to walk for a couple kilos to visit all of the caves. I could find a carved-stories around the wall just like what I heard in historical stories. For me, that was the best cave destination so far.

Interested to visit Ellora caves?

AOE: India with Tibetan taste.

I never knew that India has some amazing places that are distinctive to each other. I rarely read any international news before. So, I didn't know that some population of Tibetans have migrated to India due to their conflict with the Chinese government. It is McLeod Ganj, the place where those Tibetans have been staying all this time. I was surprised because Dalai Lama's residence is here too.

I and my friends rent a car to go to Dharamsala at night. It took a couple of hours to get there (I'm not sure, 4-5 hours perhaps). One thing I remember is the driver was quite crazy. He drove like a madman (rough and fast speed). Because of him, we arrived too early (even before dawn) in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala and no hotel nor hostel was opened yet.

Had this street food in Amritsar before we left to Dharamsala.

Our backpacks just after we arrived in McLeod Ganj.

Everyone was very sleepy.

I couldn't stand still any longer. Haha..

McLeod Ganj is such a nice place to stay for a while. It was enjoyable to be there as we were not in rush. The atmosphere was peaceful. It is very different from some places we visited before.

A bull on the street.

Walking was the only transportation we had.

Pat were taking a picture of the misty McLeod Ganj.

The way that connect the center of McLeod Ganj and our hostel.

McLeod Ganj from our hostel.

People were queueing for the gas.

Buddhist temple in the middle of McLeod Ganj market.

The scenery of McLeod Ganj.

The Himalayas from McLeod Ganj.

Helen on the street!

A McLeod Ganj goat with its tick fur.

A street dog with its tick fur.

Cute kid in Tibetan suit :)

Some unique items from Tibetans.

A lot of bong here.

I was excited when I saw this. Unfortunately, I have already quitted smoking.

This bong reminds me of my passed away friend.

Austin using this unique scarf looks like a local monk.

Helen was trying a fur hat.

Pat was trying a creation from Tibetan.

Walk around this place was our habitual here.

A poster we found in McLeod Ganj.

The signpost of Tibet's stolen child-the 11th Panchen Lama.

The Tibetan National Martyrs Memorial monument.

The Tsuglagkhang Temple's stupa.

The MANI prayer wheel at Tsuglagkhang Temple.

Scenery from Tsuglagkhang Temple.

It is very fortunate when you travel to somewhere and at the same time, there is a big event that you can witness accidentally. It happened to me when I was in McLeod Ganj. There was an international conference right after our arrival day. I witnessed delegation from some countries including the famous Dalai Lama. The conference was about the Tibetan biggest issue nowadays, the conflict with the Chinese government.

People gathered in the place where the conference was held.

People were watching the parade which was escorting the Dalai Lama.

The Parade arrived at the place.

The raisings of Tibetan flag.

People were watching the raisings of Tibetan flag.

Tibetan performances.

Selfie in the middle of the crowd.

Dalai Lama was leaving the event with this car.

Beside of the Tsuglagkhang Temple, there is another attraction that worth to be pictured because its fresh weather and nice view. It is Bhagsu waterfall that placed near McLeod Ganj. Tourists usually visit this waterfall because it is near from most hostel in McLeod Ganj and it is free.

The Bhagsu waterfall from the distance.

Locals have their own 'jacuzzi' to warm their body.

We have our own way to warm our body. Hehe

What are we doing, guys? Haha..

Having some coffee for breakfast was our habit in McLeod Ganj.

Tibetan Chop Suey for our last day dinner.

It was an honor to talk to the monk in personal before we left McLeod Ganj.

Our amazing days in McLeod Ganj was complete since we were very happy with the place and the people.

There are many places in India that might be more famous than McLeod Ganj such as Hampi, Ellora caves, Ajanta caves, Taj Mahal, and so on. I have been to those places and it was undoubtedly fun. But, when I came to McLeod Ganj, the atmosphere was different. I felt like it was not a part of India because most of its people are Tibetan (I don't mean that Indian is bad. I just felt it was different). They are very welcome and very warm to foreigner like us. The place and the people combined makes McLeod Ganj to be more fascinating attraction. So, how is it? Wanna visit this place?

Some photos are from Guia Luistro.