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.

AOE: Short vacation to Jatiluhur, Indonesia.

The Jatiluhur Dam is a multi-purpose embankment dam on the Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia. It is located 70 km (43 mi) east of Jakarta, close to the medium-size town of Purwakarta. The dam serves several purposes including the provision of hydroelectric power generation, water supply, flood control, irrigation and aquaculture. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatiluhur_Dam)

I and my college friends had a short vacation there on August 2014. Riding a bikes was an alternative we chose because the place is not too far from Bandung. We enjoyed the vacation even though that was not so special. Big lake and big dam amazed me after all. We took a picture everywhere we could. That was my first time to visit one of the biggest dam in Indonesia.

We had a pray first before we arrived at Jatiluhur dam.

The unique human creation beside the mosque.

We must use this road to go to Jatiluhur dam.

Jatiluhur in panorama mode.

The road to the other side of Jatiluhur.

It is not an advertisement. It is just a picture of our motorcycle. Haha..

Me with scenery of Jatiluhur.

One of my college friends, Ridwan was posing with scenery of Jatiluhur.

Rest a while here.

Adi and Santi were enjoying their bowl of meatball.

Buffalos of Jatiluhur.

Ridwan.

Santi.

Me.

Adi and the buffalos were posing to camera. Haha

Ridwan was reaching the buffalos.

4 of us using self timer.

Air style!

She looks like a superhero. Haha

Adi (again).

3 of us at random area. Haha

Found this big thing during our way to other side of Jatiluhur. I believe it belongs to PLN, Indonesian electricity company.

Seafood fried rice for lunch. 

Jatiluhur dam scenery.

Are you a real model? Haha

Jatiluhur dam in panorama mode.

It feels like in Japan. Haha..

Selfie time!

Colorful boats.

Sunset view.

We witnessed some water-sport athletes were using Jatiluhur lake as their practice area. They are under West Java KONI (Indonesian National Sports Committee). That is the proof that Jatiluhur lake is not an ordinary lake.

Actually, Jatiluhur has a water-park and a place for picnic that we didn't visit. Most people have some vacation in those places. We just wanted to enjoy Jatiluhur from different side. Thank you.

AOE: Ciwidey trip.

I have been traveling to some great places with COTAS for almost 10 years. We experience from the worst to the best. Today's post will be one of the story of those journeys. We went to Ciwidey, an area that is well-known for its 'Kawah Putih' on 13th-14th of June 2009.

Making a bonfire with gasoline (stupid teenagers haha).

Sunrise scenery from our camp.

Me at the lake beside our camp (I was a smoker haha).

COTAS' leader, Wilan, nicknamed Kebit, at the lake beside our camp.

Our simple tent.

Dhery's pose.

Ready to go to Kawah Putih.

Rest a while during our way to Kawah Putih.

Pose every time we found a good view.

5 teenagers to Kawah Putih.

3 of us posed at the same spot.

Panorama mode (manual) haha

COTAS at Kawah Putih.

COTAS at Kawah Putih 2.

Don't know what to say. (Alayers haha).

These dried plants got our attention.

Actually, I have a stupid accident there. Me and my cousin, Dhery, were felt into the big hole on the road when we were riding a bike. Because of that, we got some wounds in our body. That was such a jackpot during the trip.

Kawah putih is one of many beautiful craters in Bandung. It is really good spot if you want to take your pre-wedding photo-shoot. What makes this place unique? That's because the crater is so close to you which is not a common thing. Thank you.