AOE: Small but challenging.

Once again (or many times later) I am going to take you to my hiking trip back to October 2012. In this trip, me and COTAS (my community in Subang) were hiking to the mount Canggah, located in Cibogo, Subang, Indonesia. It is about 1600-1800 meters high (I'm not pretty sure about the exact number). The reason why I put  "small but challenging” as the title of this post is because mount Canggah itself is relatively tiny (There are many other higher mountains in Java island) and but we passed it through a non-human way until reaching its summit. What I mean by the 'non-human way' is because this is not a common hiking track for people. There are only few of them have passed through this track. Therefore it was very challenging for us as we have to clear out the way. It took around 5 hours to get to the top of it (including couple minutes of rest).

View from Canggah summit.

Our backpack.

A real jungle. hahah..

Jodi, Wilandika, and our guide, mr.Darman

First time seeing clouds from upper summit.

With my friend, Wilandika. (we chose him as the leader of COTAS)

Jodi was seeing Cileat waterfall near the mountain.

Having snacks after 5-hours journey.

A man-made hovel at the summit.

Here is a video I made at the summit.

Going back as well as going into the jungle.

Taking a rest for a while.

An insect I don't know the name.

Cleaning our body at the river as a substitution of our lack of time of going to Cileat waterfall.

I had never thought that mount Canggah, a mountain near my hometown, could give me an outstanding experience. I have been living in Subang for couple years but I didn't know it could give me such amazing experiences through doing some challenging activities around this place (in this case is a hiking).

Indonesia has a lot of attractions, the famous one just like Bali, Lombok, Raja ampat, and so on; or the not-very-famous ones just like some places that We as Indonesians just found out about them. That's why 'Wonderful Indonesia' is titled to promote it to the world.

Having a lot of amazing places doesn't mean that Indonesia just have to wait for tourists to come. Indonesia has a problem in building good infrastructures. I don't know about the real problem is but from what I saw on TVs and from my own experience, that issue is real. Bad infrastructure prevents tourists come to Indonesia which results in the decline of tourist number each year in some provinces. Another problematic factor which I saw on TVs too is that, many local citizens have limited knowledge about?? which very often destructs the Indonesia's attraction. Learning from these problems, as an Indonesian we must preserve Indonesia's nature. Giving an education to locals is one way to do that. More importantly, the government must build good infrastructures evenly and seriously in all areas for the sake of Indonesian's future investment. I wonder if less money were corrupted, how far Indonesia has progressed to this present days?! It’s just so much to think about and to in this country, isn’t it?

Well, It just my thoughts. I don’t mean to stress everyone out with this kind of discussion! The point is that I just want to urge people to preserve and protect our country with all assets and resources in it. In addition, I hope you can try exploring the not so famous places and make it more famous, at least for the local tourist first. I think that’s the easiest way on how we can help to promote Indonesia’s tourism.

Have a good day everyone :)

Completed by Shinanandana

AOE: Sikh's holy place, Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Golden temple, first time I heard it, I had never thought it was such an amazing place. I could feel it when I was there on 7th August 2011. The atmosphere was different from the most places I've visited in India. When first stepped into Golden temple gate, my mind told me that they were Moslem because the females were wearing veils but when I asked it to my friends, the answer was clear. It is a holy place of Sikh. The Sikh in Golden temple we (I and my overseas friends) met was very friendly even though they are minority in India. We were completely pleased of being there as we took a look around accompanied by a Sikh friend we just met. We were offered to have a short trip inside the Golden temple.

Ambiance of the Golden temple entrance.

You must take your footwear off.

Put my feet on others' holy place was such a remarkable experience. (I haven't gone to mine yet)

The Golden temple in the middle of the pool.

Buildings around the Golden temple.

Beside the Golden temple, there are many beautiful buildings like this one.

People were standing in line to enter the Golden temple.

But we went into the Golden temple through the exit way because somebody told us to do that.

Before entering the temple, usually you'll be given something to eat, something that is made from nut.

A beautiful creation of human. I am impressed.

Some Hindi fonts on the entrance.

With the teenagers who are soon to be the guardian of the Golden temple.

Peace was all I felt over there.

The Golden temple night version.

With the Golden temple guardian.

Golden temple appeared on one of Ben Kingsley's movies titled Gandhi in 1982. So, the beauty of the Golden temple is beyond doubt. It became my best attraction in India which I spontaneously visited for free. We just had to take a bus from Pushkar and that was not really a long way just like my 27-hours-train-trip from Hyderabad to Agra. 

The world has lots of something you have no idea about. So, when you find it out, treasure it and appreciate all the differences that it might have. Sukhria.

AOE: Monument of love, Taj Mahal, India.

Taj mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal in 1632–1653. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal). It is listed as one of 7 wonders in the world. Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India; I and my Taiwanese friend, Austin, took a 27 hours-train from Hyderabad on August 2, 2011. It was an outstanding experience to cross the states in someone's country. The entry fee is 750 rupees for foreign tourist and 20 rupees for Indian tourist. (http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/ticketing1.html)

The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj Mahal

Taj mahal mosque

Taj mahal mosque beside the monument of love.

With my Taiwanese friend, Austin. We traveled around Northern India for 2 weeks.

Use this kind of thing or take off your footwear when you go into the Taj mahal.

Taj mahal from a closer look.

Calligraphy around the entrance

The artistic-monument of love.

A view of minaret and the river Yamuna.

This is my real passion. Travel around the world!

I had never thought that I would see by my own eyes the world's heritage as my lack experience of going abroad. But, as time goes on, that occasion finally came to me. I didn't prepare for something complicated, just some ordinary stuffs such as couple set of clothes, camera/hand phone, passport including visa, some money, my knowledge about the place, and my mentality to face a different culture. Low-budget travel could give you a real experience that you won't ever forget. Let's travel to this awesome planet!

AOE: Family time in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Hi guys, how's everything going? Do you all know about Surabaya, Indonesia? Surabaya (Indonesian pronunciation: [surəˈbaja]) (formerly Soerabaja, Soerabaia or Surabaja) is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 3.1 million (5.6 million in the metropolitan area), and the capital of the province of East Java. It is located on the northern shore of eastern Java at the mouth of the Mas River and along the edge of the Madura Strait. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surabaya)

I spent my annual holiday there with my family in December 2013 (we always plan about annual holiday together). We went around Surabaya city and Madura on the first day like visiting Kyai Haji Mohammad Kholil mosque, looking for Madura Batik, passing through the famous Suramadu bridge, touring to Monkasel, and so on.

Suramadu bridge connects Surabaya and Madura

Mosque of Kyai Haji Mohammad Kholil in Madura

Seeing the Batik of Madura

Madura Batik

Inside Sunan Ampel mosque in Surabaya

Inside Sunan Ampel mosque, Surabaya.

Cheng Hoo mosque, Surabaya. Cheng Hoo is inspiration name of 'Admiral Cheng Hoo', which become a Moslem when admission to Majapahit empire. The Chinese Moslem community had built this mosque wish to remind again that Chinese also propagates Islam taught. (http://www.eastjava.com/tourism/surabaya/chenghoo-mosque.html)

Wanna take that boat? Haha

Monkasel, Submarine museum. (weekday 08.00-20.00/weekend 08.00-21.00. IDR 5000/person)

Torpedo launcher inside Monkasel.

On the second day, we planned to go to Batu city as my mother wish. During our trip to Batu city, we spent a while to visit Sidoarjo mud flow or best-known as 'Lumpur Lapindo' and Tanggulangin leather industry.

Some creations from Tanggulangin leather industry.

Destruction caused by the Sidoarjo mud flow or Lumpur Lapindo

Cheng Hoo mosque, Pasuruan.

Fresh air of Batu city. It has apple farms and 3 water-parks.

Malang apples.

Surabaya statue. The symbol of "sura" or "suro" (shark) and "baya" or "boyo" (crocodile), two creatures which, in a local myth, fought each other in order to gain the title of "the strongest and most powerful animal" in the area according to a Jayabaya prophecy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surabaya)

A street band at Gubeng rail station

Eating some foods with sister

Got this view during our way home

Spending annual holiday with family is always gonna be fun. Even though we have lived together for several years, it doesn't mean it is boring. Traveling to different place also gives us a different experience and atmosphere too as we all are not local people. Be grateful to you all who still have a complete family. You can spend a great moment together. Don't waste your time for something negative and could harm your own family.  Matur nuwun.