POSTCARD From MENJANGAN, BALI: a Freedive Day

One of my favorite places to dip in the water in Bali is Menjangan. Kenapa? Karena laut yang bening, air yang tenang dan gugusan karang yang indah. Menjangan seringkali mengingatkan saya akan Wakatobi, dengan karakter bawah laut yang berupa wall, serta gugusan karang yang memenuhi wall tersebut.

One of my favorite places to dip in the water in Bali is Menjangan. Why? Because of the clear sea, calm waters and beautiful coral clusters. Menjangan often reminds me of the Wakatobi, with underwater characters that consists of the wall, as well as the group of corals that fills the wall.

Blue day at Menjangan, Bali

Jika biasanya saya selalu datang ke menjangan untuk scuba diving, kali ini cukup berbeda. Tanpa tabung dan bcd, kami menikmati menjangan dari sisi lain: freedive. Saya memang baru belajar freedive di Apnea Culture, masih terus latihan dan belum lulus (hehe). But anyway, karena ada Ferry yang jadi buddy saya, kami freedive "tipis-tipis" saja di menjangan, sambil melatih kemampuan kami.

If I normally came to Menjangan for scuba diving, this time is quite different. Without the cylinder and bcd, we enjoyed Menjangan from the other side: freedive. I was just learning to freedive in Apnea Culture, continued training and has not yet passed (hehe). But anyway, since there is Ferry to become my buddy, we freedive "slightly" only in Menjangan, while practicing our ability.

Ada beberapa spot freedive yang menyenangkan di Menjangan, keterbatasan waktu (hanya one day saja dan tidak menginap di Menjangan) membuat kami hanya dapat mengunjungi tiga spot, ini dia:

There are some fun spots in Menjangan freedive, time constraints (only one day and not staying at Menjangan) made us can only visit three spots, this is it:

CORAL GARDEN

Saya terkejut melihat kondisi Coral Garden yang sangat berbeda. Perubahan suhu secara ekstrim sejak Februari 2016 lalu membuat karang-karang cantik di Menjangan (dan banyak area lain di Indonesia) perlahan kehilangan warna (bleaching), menjadi putih dan kemudian mati. Sebagian besar karang sudah rusak karena bleaching, area ini tidak terasa seperti spot yang sama yang selama ini jadi salah satu favorit spot saya untuk scuba dive.

I was surprised to see the condition of Coral Garden which is very different. Extreme temperature changes since February 2016 made a gorgeous coral reefs in Menjangan (and many other areas in Indonesia) slowly losing color (bleaching), to white and then die. Most of the coral has been damaged by bleaching, this area does not feel like the same spot that had become one of my favorite spots to scuba dive.

Namun kami dihibur schooling fish yang mampir ke area ini, rombongan ikan ini membentuk "formasi" yang beragam, mulai dari donat (yes, seperti donat) di dekat dasar laut, hingga jam pasir saat berada di dekat permukaan, kamipun dengan senang "bermain" bersama schooling fish ini.

But we are comforted by schooling fish making their way into this area, the groups of these fish form a "formation" is diverse, ranging from donuts (yes, like a donut) near the bottom of the sea, until the hourglass when near the surface, we also are happy to "play" together with these schooling fish.

SANDY SLOPE

Disebut Sandy Slope karena memang areal ini dipenuhi pasir putih di dasar, dan kemudian menurun membentuk lembah di bawah air. Karena kami di sini untuk freedive, area yang dipilih adalah area dangkal berpasir putih. Saat matahari cerah, Sandy Slope sangat cantik dengan warna turquoise yang terlihat dari permukaan.

It is called Sandy Slope because the area is filled with white sand at the bottom, and then declining to form the valley under water. Because we are here to freedive, the selected area is an area of shallow white sand. When it's sunny, Sandy Slope is very pretty with a turquoise color that is visible from the surface.

Kami bermain-main dengan pasir putih yang halus, di area ini tidak banyak koral, namun kita dapat menemukan gugusan koral dengan berenang ke area luar. 

We play around with fine white sand, in this area there is not a lot of corals, but we can find the coral reef by swimming to the outside area.

POS 2

Going down!

Saat perubahan suhu membuat Menjangan "sakit," karang-karang memutih dan perlahan mati, salah satu area yang masih tetap sehat adalah Pos 2. Area dengan karakter wall ini dipenuhi karang-karang sehat di sepanjang wall. Di sini kami dapat latihan turun dan naik perlahan sambil bermain bubbles :)

When the temperature changes make Menjangan "sick," the corals turn white and die slowly, one area that still remain healthy is Pos 2. The area with the character of wall filled with healthy corals along the wall. Here we can exercise descend and ascend slowly while playing bubbles :)

Playing with bubbles

It's nice to have a different experience in Menjangan. Tanpa tabung, kami menikmati laut Menjangan. Is it better? Well, I should say different, I'll always love scuba dive, but this freedive thing also grab my heart and attention.

It's nice to have a different experience in Menjangan. Without the tube, we enjoy Menjangan sea. Is it better? Well, I should say different, I'll always love scuba diving, but this freedive thing also grab my heart and attention.

Remember one thing: Never Freedive Alone

Have a fun splashy days folks!

@marischkaprue - #DugongInTheMaking

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES:

MENJANGAN

Taman Nasional Bali Barat, Bali

West Bali National Park, Bali

GETTING THERE

Dari Denpasar sekitar 4 - 5 jam perjalanan dengan mobil, jika berangkat pagi-pagi sekali (jam 5-6 pagi) maka bisa ditempuh dalam waktu 3 jam
From Denpasar about 4-5 hours away by car, if leaving early (at 5-6 am) will be taken within 3 hours

BOAT RENT

Biaya boat rent untuk snorkeling sekitar Rp. 500.000,- dengan durasi 4 jam (additional Rp. 100.000,-/ jam tambahan), kapasitas kapal up to 10 person.

The cost of boat rent for snorkeling is around Rp. 500.000, - with a duration of 4 hours (additional Rp. 100,000, - / additional hours), the capacity of the boat is up to 10 persons.

FREEDIVE COURSE

You can take a freedive course at Apnea Culture, Jakarta based, kelas dan latihan kolam di Jakarta (ada jadwal rutin latihan juga), contact via their Instagram to know more
You can take a freedive course at Apnea Culture, Jakarta-based, classroom and pool training in Jakarta (there is a regular schedule of exercise as well), contact via their Instagram to know more

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Around The World in 3 Hours at Tobu World Square

Imagine going from Tokyo Skytree to Statue of Liberty in minutes, then spending time in front of White House before going to Pyramid complex in Eqypt, then later spending some time sitting beside St. Peter's Basilica before enjoying Great Wall Of China, after that spend your time taking pictures of Itsukushima Shrine of Hiroshima, all in less than 3 hours!

Impossible? Here, it's possible, because all of it is only miniature :)

 

Walking towards Tokyo Skytree

Yap, di Tobu World Square yang terletak di Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko, Tochigi, Jepang, terdapat lebih dari 100 miniatur bangunan-bangunan ikonik dunia dengan perbandingan 1:25, Tokyo Skytree setinggi 634 meter menjadi "hanya" 26 meter saja di area ini.

Yep, in Tobu World Square which is located at Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan, there are more than 100 miniature of iconic world buildings with a ratio of 1:25, Tokyo Skytree as high as 634 meters to "only" 26 meters in this area.

Miniatur di Tobu World Square dibuat dengan detail yang sangat baik sehingga tampak persis seperti aslinya, dan saat difoto dengan angle tertentu, bangunan-bangunan ini sama sekali tidak tampak seperti miniatur.

Miniatures in Tobu World Square were made with excellent details that look exactly like the original, and when photographed with a certain angle, these buildings do not look like a miniature.

 

Mini Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Pepohonan dan tanaman yang menjadi bagian dari miniatur adalah tanaman asli, bonsai yang dibuat dan ditata sedemikian rupa sehingga tampak seperti tanaman besar yang menjadi kecil.

Trees and plants that are part of the miniatures are native plants, bonsai are created and arranged in such a way that it looks like a great plant that became small.

National Diet Building

Area di Tobu World Square dibagi menjadi beberapa zona sesuai dengan lokasi, saat masuk kita akan melewati area Jepang modern: Tokyo Station, Bandara Narita, National Diet Building hingga Tokyo Dome, kemudian area Amerika dengan Statue of Liberty, Plaza Hotel, WTC yang hancur dalam serangan 11 September, hingga White House lengkap dengan Obama "mini"

Areas of Tobu World Square is divided into several zones in accordance with the location, the time of entry we will pass through the area of modern Japan: Tokyo Station, Narita Airport, National Diet Building to Tokyo Dome, then American area with the Statue of Liberty, Plaza Hotel, WTC that was destroyed in the September 11 attacks, to the White House completed with "mini" Obama.

Ice cream time in front of Great Temple of Abu Simbel

Being St. Peter's Basilica monster guardian :))

Mini Neuschwanstein Castle

Dari sini hanya beberapa langkah kaki, kita sudah masuk ke area Mesir dengan Pyramid, Great Sphinx of Giza hingga Great Temple of Abu Simbel. Usai berbelok kita langsung dapat menikmati Colosseum, Parthenon hingga St. Peter's Basilica dan berbagai bangunan ikonik lainnya di Eropa.

From here just a few steps away, we have entered into Egypt with the Pyramid area, Great Sphinx of Giza to the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. After the turn we can immediately enjoy the Colosseum, Parthenon to St. Peter's Basilica and a variety of other iconic buildings in Europe.

Dari Eropa kami berjalan kaki ke zona Asia, Angkor Wat dan Great Wall of China jadi pemandangan menarik di area ini. There are so many miniatures, I even start to feel exhausted at this area haha, too many and all are in great details!

From Europe we walk to the Asian zone, Angkor Wat and the Great Wall of China become interesting sights in this area. There are so many miniatures, I even start to feel exhausted at this area haha, too many and all are in great details!

Doesn't look like a miniature at all..

Area terakhir adalah bangunan ikonik dari Jepang masa lampau. Salah satu favorit saya, Itsukushima Shrine dengan Torii gate merah benar-benar terlihat seperti aslinya! It's amazing!

The last area is the iconic building of Japan's past. One of my favorites, Itsukushima Shrine with Torii red gate really looks like the original! It's amazing!

Gotta visit the real St. Basil's Cathedral one day, but first, ice cream :)

It's really nice to stroll around Tobu World Square, saya memperhatikan beberapa bangunan yang sudah saya kunjungi, kemiripan yang luar biasa terkadang membawa memori saya ke saat saya mengunjungi bangunan-bangunan ikonik itu yang sesungguhnya. It might be only miniatures, but seeing and enjoying all details and atmosphere in Tobu World Square is trully making me happy :)

It's really nice to stroll around Tobu World Square, I noticed a few buildings that I have visited, remarkable similarities to sometimes bring my memory when I visited the real iconic buildings. It might be only miniatures, but seeing and enjoying all the details and atmosphere in Tobu World Square is trully making me happy :)

@marischkaprue - Around the real world in -- err 300 years? LOL

NOTES

TOBU WORLD SQUARE

209-1 Kinugawaonsen Ohara, Nikko

Tochigi Prefecture 321-2593, Japan
www.tobuws.co.jp
email: info@tobuws.co.jp

Terbagi menjadi 6 Zona: Japan, Asia, Europe, Eqypt, America & Modern Japan Zone 

Divided into six zones: Japan, Asia, Europe, Eqypt, America & Modern Japan Zone

 
GETTING THERE

From Tokyo:
Dari Station Asakusa (Tobu/ Subway) naik Tobu Limited Exp KEGON 1 atau Tobu Skytree Line Section Rapid for AIZUKOGEN-OZEGUCHI ke Station Shimo-Imachi (lama perjalanan sekitar 1,5 jam), kemudian dilanjutkan dengan naik Tobu Kinugawa Line for Aizukogen-Ozeguchi ke Station Kinugawa Onsen (lama perjalanan sekitar 20 menit). Total perjalanan: 2 jam, harga tiket: ¥2.980, rute available pada jam: pagi jam 7.10, 7.30, 8.10, 8.30 etc
Direct train: Dari Asakusa Station naik TOBU Limited Exp Kinu ke Kinugawa Onsen Station, available di jam 8, 9, 10, 11 etc, harga tiket ¥2.980, lama perjalanan: 2 jam

From Tokyo:

From Asakusa Station (Tobu / Subway) ride Tobu Limited Exp Kegon 1 or Tobu Skytree Section Line Rapid for AIZUKOGEN-OZEGUCHI to Shimo-Imachi Station (journey time approximately 1.5 hours), followed by riding Tobu Kinugawa Line for Aizukogen-Ozeguchi to Kinugawa Onsen Station (about 20 minutes travel time). Total journey: 2 hours, ticket price: ¥ 2980, available at these hours: morning at 7:10, 7:30, 8:10, 8:30 etc

Direct train: From Asakusa Station ride to Kinu Tobu Limited Exp Kinugawa Onsen Station, available in 8, 9, 10, 11 o'clock etc, ticket ¥ 2,980, duration: 2 hours

 

From Kinugawa Onsen: Bus (ada bus reguler dengan rute: Kinugawa Onsen Station - Tobu World Square), ¥200 one way.

From Kinugawa Onsen: Bus (there is a regular bus route: Kinugawa Onsen Station - Tobu World Square), ¥ 200 one way.

OPENING HOURS

Thursday until Tuesday: 9AM - 9PM

Wednesday: 9AM - 5PM

ADMISSION FEE

Adults ¥2500 (Sekitar Rp. 270.000,-)

Children ¥1200 (Sekitar Rp. 130.000,-)

WHERE TO EAT

Ps: Halal food available at Heian Restaurant

They even have prayer room and wudu space (before the entrance)

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BALI ONE DAY ITINERARY (and stay at KOKONUT SUITES)

I went to Bali once in a while, but mostly for scuba diving. Teman-teman biasanya bertanya, "ngapain lagi ya di Bali?"

I went to Bali once in a while, but mostly for scuba diving. Friends usually ask, "what else can we do in Bali?"

Well, here's my Bali itinerary when I don't do scuba dive, just a nice leyeh-leyeh, makan-makan, nongkrong-nongkrong day :)

Well, here's my Bali itinerary when I do not do scuba dive, just a nice chill and relax time, eating, hanging out during the day :)

Breakfast at Livingstone Bakery

This is a complimentary breakfast if you stay at Kokonut Suites, otherwise, you can still also enjoy breakfast at this cozy wooden-atmosphere cafe/restaurant/bakery.

Watermelon bread jadi makanan favorit dari Livingstone, dan tentunya mempercantik breakfast kita :)

Watermelon bread is one favorite food in Livingstone, and certainly beautifies our breakfast :)

After breakfast, if you still want more coffee, ada coffee shop di lantai atas Livingstone sekaligus concept store BURO.

After breakfast, if you still want more coffee, there's a coffee shop on the top floor at Livingstone and also BURO concept store.

Livingstone Bakery

Jl. Petitenget No. 88X

Kerobokan, Bali

Opening Hours: 7AM - 10 PM

Sightseeing around Seminyak

Went to beanbag paradise ha!

Strolling around Seminyak - Legian is always fun, entah extra nongkrong di cafe, atau sekadar melihat-lihat dreamcatcher, jewelleries, pillow, beanbags atau hammock.

Strolling around Seminyak - Legian is always fun, whether an extra hanging out in cafes, or just look for dreamcatcher, jewelleries, pillow, beanbags or hammock.

 

To THE BEACH: TEGAL WANGI

(40 menit drive dari Seminyak)

See? Nobody there!

Longing for not-so-crowded beach? Pantai Tegal Wangi bisa jadi opsi, meski tidak se-sepi pantai-pantai di Timur, namun kita dapat memiliki banyak area yang terasa private di pantai yang berpasir putih ini sambil menikmati laut biru yang menyenangkan.

Longing for not-so-crowded beach? Tegal Wangi Beach could be an option, although not as deserted as the beaches in the East, but we can have a lot of area that feel very private with white sandy beach while enjoying a pleasant blue sea.

 

Pantai Tegal Wangi

Jl. Tegal Wangi, Jimbaran, Kuta Selatan

Badung, Bali

LUNCH at Bale Udang Mang Engking

(30 minutes drive dari Tegal Wangi)

"Gubug" atau saung-saung di atas kolam ikan membuat suasana di Bale Udang Mang Engking menjadi sangat menenangkan. Makan siang di bale-bale yang teduh, plus memberi makan ikan (kita bisa membeli makanan ikan yang disediakan) jadi relaksasi yang menyenangkan. 

"Gubug" or huts above the fish pond create an atmosphere in Bale Udang Mang Engking which is very soothing. Lunch on a shady bench, plus feeding fish (we can buy fish food supplied) is a pleasant relaxation.

YUM!

One thing to try, of course, the prawn dishes, mulai dari udang bakar madu, udang bakar lecker, tumis udang, all gooood!

One thing to try, of course, the prawn dishes, ranging from honey grilled shrimp, grilled shrimp lecker, sauteed shrimp, all gooood!

Bale Udang Mang Engking Kuta

Jl. Nakula No. 88

Sunset Road

Kuta, Bali

Opening Hours: 11AM - 11PM

Have some FUN at UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

(10 minutes drive dari Bale Udang)

Datang bersama teman, keluarga, atau pasangan ke Upside Down World selalu seru. Set ruangan-ruangan yang dibuat seakan-akan "terbalik," membuat kita berusaha kreatif mengambil angle dan berpose unik agar saat foto dibalik, voila! it's funny :)

Come with friends, family, or partner to Upside Down World is always exciting. The chambers set are made as if they are "upside down," makes us try to take a creative angle and unique pose that when the photos were reversed, voila! it's funny :)

 

Upside Down World Bali

Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No 762

Pemogan, Denpasar, Bali

Opening Hours 9AM - 9PM

Afternoon Breeze at La Laguna

(30 minutes drive dari Upside Down World)

Sore hari saat yang menyenangkan untuk datang ke La Laguna di Jalan Pantai Kayu Putih, Canggu. Saat hari mulai gelap, lampu-lampu menyala dan memberikan atmosfir yang berbeda.

Afternoon is a right time to come to La Laguna in Jalan Kayu Putih Beach, Canggu. When it grew dark, the lights were on and give a different atmosphere.

 

La Laguna Bali

Jl. Pantai Kayu Putih

Banjar Tegal Gundul, Canggu, Bali

Opening Hours: 11AM - 11PM

STAY: KOKONUT SUITES

(19 minutes drive from La Laguna)

Spacious!

One thing about Kokonut Suites, it feels like your own place, your own apartment karena konsep suites di sini adalah satu unit tidak hanya kamar, namun lengkap dengan livingroom, dining area, dan dapur, cocok untuk longstay bersama teman-teman atau keluarga dengan area kamar yang cukup luas.

One thing about Kokonut Suites, it feels like your own place, your own apartment because the concept of suites here is one unit not only rooms, but complete with livingroom, dining area and kitchen, perfect for longstay with friends or family with the rooms' area which are quite spacious.

Selain lokasi strategis di Jalan Petitenget, Seminyak, saat kita ingin bersantai saja di hotel, kita dapat menikmati ketenangan dan rimbunnya pohon kehijauan di pool area Kokonut Suites, so this is a perfect place to stay in Seminyak :)

In addition to a strategic location in Jalan Petitenget, Seminyak, when we want to relax alone in the hotel, we can enjoy the tranquility and lush greenery of trees in the pool area of Kokonut Suites, so this is a perfect place to stay in Seminyak :)

  

Kokonut Suites

Jl. Petitenget No. 88

Kerobokan, Bali

So, when you'll visit Bali?

@marischkaprue - Bali never disappoint her :)

ROUTE MAP

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