Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tips Belanja Lebaran

Saya mengantar seorang teman untuk belanja di bulan puasa tahun ini. Saya sih cuma ngantar, karena menurut saya lebaran bukan berarti belanja baju, makanan, dan sebagainya yang khas dengan perilaku konsumtif. Lagi pula yang lebih penting lagi dalam Islam nggak ada tuntunannya bagi umat islam untuk merayakan lebaran seperti orang Indonesia merayakan lebaran. Ya budaya mudik, ya perilaku konsumtif.
Tapi karena sudah jadi kebiasaan, ya sudahlah. Berikut ini tips-tips belanja saat lebaran, siapa tahu bermanfaat untuk pembaca.
1. Sebenarnya yang paling oke itu kalo kita nggak ikut-ikutan konsumtif, alias tetap bersahaja. Kan yang penting puasanya. bukan lebarannya. Daripada habisin uang untuk lebaran lebih baik utnuk beramal atau keperluan lain yang lebih diperlukan. First thing first. Toh nggak beli baju lebaran juga kita masih punya baju tahun-tahun lalu.
2. Kalau memang Anda tetap mau belanja, sebaiknya pakai transportasi umum saja bila memungkinkan, seperti becak. Wah parkiran ramai sekali dan seringnya macet. Selain nggak usah parkir ribet, kita juga beramal. kan tambah penghasilan pak becak untuk berlebaran. Pakai motor juga ribet banget karena parkir ramai. Naik taxi juga oke kalau belanjanya banyak.
3. Kalau hunting baju di pasar atau mall sekalipun selalu saja ramai pada saat lebaran. Seperti lautan manusia. Saya sendiri sering gak tahan di keramaian, selain panas karena AC nggak begitu kerasa juga karena sumpek. Nah biar lebih nyaman, sebaiknya pakai pakaian yang nyaman seperti sepatu flat, baju cotton, kaos. Penampilan belanja lebaran bisa di nomer sekiankan. Yang penting nyaman. Dari pada gaya tapi belanjanya nggak nyaman dan kaki pegel karena hi-heel?
4. Belanja nggak usah pakai make up yang tebel biar kalau kepanasan nggak kelihatan aneh. Biar mbak-mbak penjaga stores saja yang dandan habis-habisan.
5. Hati-hati sama tas Anda, apalagi kalau belanjanya di pasar. rawan copet.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Black Magic in the Metropolitan City




thats nonsense.......thats superstition......thats primitive belief...
well i guess that what people in this modern world say if people ask them about black magic.
In Indonesia communities especially in Java that i really know sometimes i heard people died with very strange cause and unusual symptoms.

But here is Surabaya you can see the dead witness of black magic which exist among community. There are interesting collection like indonesian voodoo doll which is called Jaelangkung and nini towok, or rusty nails which were taken from a patient by operation.

Well this museum wasnt built by witchdoctors community but by professional medical organizations. The founder of this museum is DR. Dr. Haryadi Soeparto, DOR, M.Sc tahun 1990.
Other things displayed are ghost map, anti-rapping pants, contraception devices, health spell, old medical tools, fetishes, magical water and many more.

Visiting this museum for me not just to satisfy my curiosity about those superstition but also broaden my knowledge about medical history.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

mangrove tourism at Surabaya

Lokated at the eastern shore of Surabaya lokated mangroves which is now can be a place to hang out and learn about coast ecosystem. Mangroves in this area has now been restored after it has been destroyed by illegal logging and waves.
The admission fee is just Rp.25.000 for adult and Rp. 15.000 for children.
it opens daily until late afternoon.

You will be taken by motor boat to gazebo at the mangrove. From the the pier to Gazebo will take about 15 minutes. On the way to gazebo you can enjoy the clean river with mangrove on the banks of it. Feel the breeze... i feel the breeze very rejuvenating. And you can see seagulls flying showing their pretty white wings sometimes.

The boat will also take you to the estuary of Wonorejo River and the Madura Strait where you can see Suramadu Bridge also if the weather is clear enough.

Once you get off you can see mangrove fish. Pretty interesting that they can walk with their fins to the mud. I think i see crabs too. And what is interesting is that there are birds. i wish i could bring good camera so i can take photograph of them

In Wonorejo has 8 species of mangrove. and in the whole mangrove in Wonorejo, Gunung Anyar and Medoan there are fauna species like grey monkey, 137 aves species, 53 insects, 7 mamals, 18 fishes, 10 herpetofauna (amphibia & reptile) and 7 species of crustacea.

After getting of the boat you can follow the jetty which will give you nice angle to shoot pics. Arriving at teh gazebo you can see strait a head, with ocean breeze blowing. At the gazebo, you can buy food or water that is sold by local people.

As i went there alone and other people were with their groups and they seem just wana sit at the gazebo, i walk thru the mangrove forest. I love the forest but this side hasnt been cleaned yet though the management.
Activities that you can do here:
1. Trekking (if you dont want to go by boat, you can take trekking route from the parking area)
2. Birdwatching
3. Learning/Education
4. Fishing
5. Refreshing

Sunday, August 1, 2010

COMMUTING IN SURABAYA

Surabaya as the second largest city in Indonesia has a very hectic traffic especially in rush hour round 7-8.30 in the morning and afternoon round 4 to 6 sometimes to 7 pm. If you are new here you maybe will think how to commute here.
1. public transport
this is the cheapest way to commute. Surabaya has shuttle line that we call LIN. Probably for every place you are heading too you will just have to get public transport twice. First to Jayabaya Shuttle Station and then from there take other LIN that will take you to where you head to. Do not worry even you dony know which LIN you are going to take, people at the Station will let you know which LIN you should take if you have the address. For each LIN charges Rp.3000.
2. Becak
Becak is pedicap which is avai;able every corner of Surabaya. You will need becak for short route that maybe there is no LIN reach the area. Usually becak will charge you Rp5.000 to Rp.10.000 rupiah, subject to the distance.
3. Taxi
there are many taxi companies here, and taxi is comfy and save way to commute. As always.
4. Ojek
Ojek is motorbike transport that you can hire to take you. Very efficient because motorbike can after cars in traffic jam.
5. Rent Car
If you rent car you will be easier if you need to go out of town. Usually rent cars will provide you with experienced driver that will take you to nice places in the vicinity of Surabaya like Malang or Batu. Rent car can be monthly, 12 hours or daily.
6. Rent Motorbike
Motorbike is very popular mode of transport in Surabaya. As it is cheap and efficient. If you want to stay long anough in Surabaya you can manage to buy one, but if not then better you rent it. Maybe hard to find rent motorbike here, but available personnally.
7. Cycle
Bicycle is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly mode of transport. BUt as Surabaya is very big city with very crowded traffic do not forget to have safety riding by wearing helmet and mask.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

SURABAYA

Total city area : 326 km2
Population : round 3 million
The hub of eastern Indonesia
Sister City: Seattle (USA), Kochi (Japan), Busan, (South Korea), Guangzhao (China), Marseille (France)

Ethnics in Surabaya:
Javanese : 53 %
Chinese : 25.5 %
Madurese : 7.5 %
Arabuc : 7%
Others : 10%

How to get there:
FROM Frequency Airlines
Kuala Lumpur 4 times/day Air Asia/Merpati/MAS
Johor Baru 1 times/day Air Asia
Singapore 2 times /day Garuda, Value Air
12 times/week Singapore/Silk Air
Hongkong 3 times/week Garuda, Cathay Pacific
BndrSriBegawan 6 times/week Royal Brunei
Taipe 2 times/week Eva Air
3 times/week China Airlines

Facilities in Surabaya:
-Internationalo Airport
-Accomodation ranges from 5 star hotel to homestay
-World Class Convention Center
-Championship Golf Courses
-22 shopping malls with int'l shops

Golf Courses in Surabaya
-Ciputra Golf and Family Club
facilities: 27 holes with club house, and 9 holes night golf
Designed by: Andy Dye
Opened in 1995
-Bukit Darmo Golf
Facilities: 18 holes with club house
Designed by: Jack Nicklaus
Opened in 1994
-Graha Family Golf and Country Club
Facilities: 18 holes with club house
Designed by: Arnold Palmer
Opened in 1995
-Taman dayu Golf Club
Facilities: 18 holes with club house
Designed by: Jack Nicklaus
Opened in 1997
-Finna Golf & Country Club
Facilities: 18 holes with club house
Designed by: Peter Thompson
Opened in 1994
-Pakuwon Golf & Family Club
Facilities: 9 holes with club house
Designed by: Phill Scot & Peter Waddel
Opened in 2002

Friday, July 16, 2010

Unique Surabaya

Surabaya in East Java is a part of javanese culture as it is located in the eastern part of Java Island. Surabaya is popular for its suroboyoan or typical javanese language that is rather direct and frank. Surabaya language is javanese that is influenced by madurese. This language also known as non-refine javanese language. cursing and rude words are common in this vocabularies. Misuh (cursing) in Surabaya is not exactly cursing other people, but it is just because the people are so open and friendly.
This typical of Surabaya Language led creative works for Surabaya typical T-Shirt which is now popular among Surabaya people or domestic tourist visiting Surabaya which is branded its product as Cak Cuk.

KAMUS MISUH
(Cursing Dictionary)
Surabaya-English
A Surabayan - English bad language

A
Amput: fuck. diamput: being fucked. jamput : being fucked.
Diamput kon iku! You're fuck!
Ancuk:fuck. diancuk: being fucked. jancuk: being fucked. jancuk jaran: fucked by a horse
mbokne ancuk: mother fucker. mbokne ancuk ancene! : You're mother fucker!
Asu: dog. Kon iku asu kok! You are just a dog

B
Bajingan : scroundel. Bajingan kon iku! You're scroundel!
Bangsat : rascal, scroundel
Bathukmu sempal : your forehead is destroyed
Bedhes : monkey. Bedhes! You're like a monkey!

C
congok : stupid. Kon iku ancene congok! You're really stupid! Ngok-congok! Fool to you!
cuk : see ancuk. Cuk! Fuck

D
dengkulmu anjlog : your knee plummet
dobol : asshole. dobol jaran : horse asshole

G
gathel: glanspenis. nggatheli: peckerish. Cuk, nggatheli! Fuck you, Dick
gegermu mlocot. your back is chafed
gendeng : crazy. Wong gendeng! Crazy man!
gidal : plaque. Gidal ilo! plaque to you.
goblok : stupid. Arek goblok! You're a stupid boy!

J
Jangkrik : cricket. Jangkrik! Damn it!

K
kakean cangkem: too much talk. kakean cocot: too much talk. Kon iku kakean cocot! You're just a big mouth.
Kakikmu methel. Your foot frayed. Kakikmu tumpes your foot destroyed

Thursday, July 1, 2010

HOTEL RATES IN INDONESIA

In Indonesia if you are a foreigner and you want to stay in star hotel, you will be given the rates for foreigner in USD, except if you have KITAS/ working permit. Even hotel voucher in travel agents usually have no rates for foreigner without KITAS. So when you see hotel room rates at travel agents usually there are notes that say : the prices are available for domestic or KITAS holders.
And what you can do to book the hotel if you have no KITAS is go to travel agent and ask travel agent to get hotel rates for foreigner without KITAS. This is only imposed in star hotel only. For small hotel (hotel Melati) in Indonesia there is no difference between rates for foreigner and for domestic tourist.
Contact travel agent for your stay and trip in Indonesia.