Patrick in Raja Ampat

I assume you all know Patrick Star, well he is a star and also "star" so no need further explanation about Patrick's identity.

So Patrick and I went to Raja Ampat, that was our first time to one of the most beautiful destination in Indonesia and you can see that he enjoy the trip as well as I did.

Patrick wants a bit showing off about what he did in Raja Ampat, so let's see Patrick's photos and we can see that he was having so much fun in Raja Ampat :)

Patrick says "You Jump, I Jump"

Patrick loves the clear water

Patrick enjoying the view from Kri Island

He never seen any dog in Bikini Bottom

Even sea star need sunbathing :)

"Can I see Spongebob from up here?"

Patrick in Pianemo

I don't wanna go home. Patrick galau

@marischkaprue - Patrick's traveling companion

PS:

If you wonder where is Spongebob, well, he do the dishes because that's what sponges do ;)

See more about Raja Ampat on my previous blogpost:

• Pianemo, Raja Ampat
• The beautiful blue Arborek, Raja Ampat
• Manta Show at Manta Sandy, Raja Ampat
• Mangkur Kodon Homestay, Raja Ampat
•  

Indonesia's Best Beaches: Tarimbang Beach, East Sumba

Kalau bicara pantai dan laut, Indonesia jawaranya. Setidaknya itu yang berulang kali saya rasakan saat berkeliling Indonesia. Berulangkali pula saya dibuat terkejut, seakan keindahan tiada tara di tempat yang pernah saya datangi, kembali dikalahkan oleh keindahan lain yang saya dapatkan di perjalanan berikutnya.

When it comes to the beach and the sea, Indonesian have the best of it. At least that's what I feel when I travel around Indonesia when over and over again I stunned by its beauty. Feels like all those beautiful places I've been are just defeated by new places I visit again and again.

Kali ini saya menjejak salah satu pantai yang dengan bangga dapat saya sebut sebagai salah satu pantai terindah di Indonesia. Jika tidak percaya, mungkin anda perlu terbang ke Ibukota Kabupaten Sumba Timur, Waingapu, dan kemudian melakukan perjalanan darat selama tiga jam menuju Kecamatan Tabundung di selatan Sumba Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur.

This time I set foot on one of the beach that I can say proudly that it might be one of the most beautiful beach in Indonesia. If you don't believe it, maybe you should buy a ticket to Waingapu, the capital of East Sumba, then travel overland for about three hours to south area in Tabundung, East Sumba.
 

Patrick loves this beach!

 

Pantai Tarimbang adalah kombinasi putih sempurna pasir pantai dengan air laut yang membiru. Bukan biru biasa, di sini laut berwarna biru kehijauan, tuquoise, terlihat garis perbedaan warna dan kemudian di sisi kiri kanan pantai terdapat bukit dan tebing, bagaikan cerukan pantai yang hanya untuk anda karena di sini begitu sepi, begitu hening dan begitu indah.

Tarimbang is the perfect combination of white sandy beach with the blue sea water was. Even, instead of the usual blue, here you can see combination of blue, green, turquoise. On the left and right side, we can see hills and cliffs, this area feels like a private area since it was so quiet and beautiful.

The fresh water lagoon

Tarimbang bagaikan ditata dengan apik oleh Yang Kuasa. Pohon besar yang telah mengering muncul di tengah pasir pantai yang putih, dan jika anda berjalan ke arah kanan terdapat laguna kecil air tawar dengan latar belakang belantara kehijauan. Saat arus datang, air laut bercampur dengan air tawar di laguna ini, it's so beautiful.

The Almighty seems decorated this place beautifully. Large dried tree in the middle of white sand beach, and when you look to the right side area, you'll find small freshwater lagoon with greenery wilderness at the background. Sometimes, the sea water rise up and mixed with the freshwater in the lagoon, it's so beautiful.

Sejuta kata sepertinya tidak sanggup mendeskripsikan keindahan Tarimbang. So see these pictures and just visit this heaven in Sumba if you have time, will you?

Even million words can't describe the beauty of Tarimbang. So see these pictures and just visit this heaven in Sumba if you have time, will you?

@marischkaprue - Always making footsteps at the beach

 NOTES:

• Pantai Tarimbang terletak di area selatan Sumba Timur, tepatnya di Kecamatan Tabundung, Sumba Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur.
• Tarimbang Beach located in the southern area of East Sumba, at Tabundung District, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
• Untuk menuju Pantai Tarimbang, anda harus menuju Kota Waingapu, Sumba Timur (terdapat banyak penerbangan menuju Waingapu, jika dari Jakarta via transit di Bali). 
• To get to Tarimbang Beach, you will have to go to Waingapu first (there are a lot of flights to Waingapu from Jakarta, via transit in Bali)
• Harga normal tiket Jakarta - Waingapu berkisar di harga Rp. 3.200.000 - Rp. 3.500.000,- PP. 
• Normal return airlines ticket from Jakarta to Waingapu is around 280 USD to 305 USD.
• Dari Waingapu tidak ada transportasi umum menuju Tarimbang, caranya dengan menyewa motor atau ojek, atau menyewa mobil. Waktu tempuh sekitar 2,5 hingga 3 jam perjalanan dari Waingapu.
• From Waingapu, you cannot find any public transportation to Tarimbang so the option is by motorbike rental or ojek, or you can rent a car. From Waingapu to Tarimbang is about 2,5 to 3 hours.
• Contact sewa mobil di Waingapu: TX Waingapu, dengan harga sewa antara Rp. 400.000,- hingga Rp. 600.000,- per hari, sudah termasuk driver dan bensin. Telp: +62387 61534
• Rent a car in Waingapu via TX Waingapu, it's about 35 USD to 53 USD per day including driver and gas, but the price might be more for foreigner. Contact via +62387 61534
• Datanglah saat siang hari dimana warna laut akan terlihat jelas karena sinar matahari. Jangan lupa berjalan ke ujung pantai sebelah kanan karena terdapat tebing batu yang indah. Enjoy! 
• You better come during daytime when the colors of the sea is so vivid. Don't forget to walk to the edge of the beach at the right area, you'll find a big rocky hills. Enjoy! 

RELATED STORIES:

• Weekuri Lake, Angel's Lagoon in Sumba
• Magic Lights: Savanna in Sumba

 

A Piece of Africa in Java: Baluran National Park

Bayangkan padang savanna yang luas, langit yang biru dan binatang yang bergerombol. Tinggal di kota besar, pemandangan seperti itu adalah pemandangan langka, mungkin anda sudah bosan melihat gerombolan manusia di pusat kota, deretan gedung tinggi menjulang dan langit yang tertutup polusi asap kendaraan.

Imagine a vast savanna, the blue sky and group of animals. For those living in a big city, these sights are rare. We probably tired of seeing too many people on the street or shopping malls, row of tall buildings and grey polluted sky.  

When the soul is leaving

"Africa Van Java," sebutan bagi area taman nasional yang terletak di Kecamatan Banyuputih, Kabupaten Situbondo ini. Untuk mencapai "Afrikanya Indonesia" ini anda tidak perlu keluar dari Pulau Jawa karena justru di ujung Jawa inilah anda dapat melihat savanna bagaikan di Afrika.

"Africa Van Java,"  that's what people called this national park in Banyuputih District in Situbondo. To get this "Africa in Indonesia" you even don't have to get out of the main island in Indonesia since its situated at the tip of east Java. Here, you can feel savanna which sometimes might feels like Africa.

Berkendara ke Taman Nasional Baluran cukup menyita waktu. Namun anda tidak akan menyesal, setidaknya saya sama sekali tidak menyesal saat melihat savanna ini meski belum memasuki waktu musim kering yaitu waktu terindah Taman Nasional Baluran dimana anda akan merasa seperti di Afrika.

Driving to the Baluran National Park is quite time-consuming. But you will not regret it, at least I do not regret the moment I arrived, seeing this savanna, although during my visit it wasn't dry season yet. It would be totally different and beautiful during the dry season and that is when people say you'll feel like you're in Africa.

Monkey business

Feels like God open the door to heaven, magical!

Nama baluran berasal dari nama Gunung Baluran yang ada di area ini. Jika sampai di lokasi ini jangan lupa untuk trekking sedikit ke menara pandang karena dari sana anda dapat melihat pemandangan luas Taman Nasional Baluran, lengkap dengan gerombolan banteng yang jadi penghuni tetap area ini.

The name "Baluran" came from the mountain in this area with exactly the same name. When you're here, don't miss trekking to the viewing tower where you can see wider view of Bekol savanna, with group of bulls which are the permanent resident of this area.

They're going home :)

Tidak hanya banteng, saat sore hari saya terpesona dengan senja yang seakan "memanggil" monyet-monyet di taman nasional ini untuk "pulang." Iringan binatang ini dengan latar belakang senja sangat indah, rasanya seperti ada di Afrika, meski saya sejujurnya belum pernah kesana.

Not only bull, during the afternoon I was fascinated with the dusk which seems "calling" the monkeys to "go home." These animals with sunset as background, it does feels like I was in Africa, even though honestly I haven't been to the wild in Africa.

So, do you wanna get wild?

@marischkaprue - from Baluran to Africa (someday)

Photos by Ferry Rusli & me

NOTES:

• Terdapat Trip Organizer yang menyediakan open trip ke Taman Nasional Meru Betiri seperti Fun Adventure, 3 Days trip biasanya dengan harga Rp. 899.000,- 
• There are Trip Organizer which provide open trip to Meru Betiri National Park. Fun Adventure 3 days trip usually cost Rp. 988.000,- 
• Contact Fun Adventure di +6281 23410 5848 
• Contact Fun Adventure  +6281 23410 5848 

Skirt Singapore: Ultimate Meat Experience

This is the most delicious meat I've ever tasted (see below)

Yes these are super yummy!

Okay, saya tidak melebih-lebihkan di kalimat di atas. Skirt restaurant memang punya menu kebanggaan dan salah satunya adalah daging yang saya coba, Blackmore 100% full blood Japanese wagyu.

Okay, I am not exaggerating in the sentence above. Skirt does have an ultimate menu and one of them is the meat that I tasted, Blackmore 100% full blood Japanese Wagyu. 

"If you're a meat lover, this is heaven"

Proses pengolahan daging di Skirt cukup berbeda. Sebagian menu di sini menggunakan daging yang telah melalui proses penuaan yang diatur sedemikian rupa, disebut aging process. Sejak awal masuk ke restoran ini anda dapat melihat daging di dalam kotak kaca yang digantung, dengan label jenis dan proses serta tanggal.

The way they process meat in Skirt is quite different. Some menu here using the meat that through aging process in certain way. From when you arrived here, you'll see meats hanging in the glass case with labels showing types, date and process.

Proses grill juga dapat kita lihat di dalam area restoran, menarik melihat langsung chef mengolah makanan. Meski sebagian proses persiapan dilakukan di area terbuka di dalam restoran, sama sekali tidak mengganggu detail interior. Tanduk kaca yang dipasang menjadi instalasi di langit-langit adalah detail favorit saya di Skirt, it just so pretty.

We can even see the grilling process at the inside area. Its interesting to see the chef do their thing inside the dining area. Although some dine preparation is done in this area, it doesn't make the interior seems weird. What I love about the interior are the glass horns mounted into the ceilings like an art installation, it just so pretty.

chocolate, chocolate, chocolate yum!

Mixed Berry Pavlova uh-la-la

Tasting plate

Menu daging milk-fed lamb dan venison menjadi andalan dan ciri khas Skirt yang langsung dijaga kualitasnya oleh Chef Andrew Nocente. Saya sangat menikmati meat tasting plate dengan 5 jenis daging yang berbeda.

The milk-fed lamb and venison are some of the pride menu of Skirt which taken care directly by Chef Andrew Nocente. I really enjoyed the meat tasting plate with 5 different types of meat.

Jika anda bukan pecinta daging. Well, here you'll miss the fun in your tongue.

If you're not a meat lovers, Well, here you'll miss the fun in your tongue.

@marischkaprue - meatlovers

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES:

• Skirt terletak di W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way. Phone +65 68087278, email: skirt.singapore@whotels.com
• Skirt located at W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way. Phone +65 68087278, email: skirt.singapore@whotels.com
• Jam buka: Setiap hari pukul 6 sore hingga 12 malam
• Opening hours: Everyday from 6 pm to 12 pm
• Harga: Menu pembuka dari 8 SGD (Dolar Singapura), Main course mulai dari 28 SGD, Tasting plate of 5 breed 250 SGD. Cek harga selengkapnya disini  
• Price: Starter menu from 8 SGD (Singapore dollar), Main course start from 28 SGD, Tasting plate of 5 breed 250 SGD. You can see the detail price and menu here 
• Jika hendak mencoba tasting plate sebaiknya datang bertiga atau lebih, kebanyakan orang tidak sanggup menghabiskan sendirian atau berdua
• If you want to try tasting plate you better come with your friends or family, three or four person would be ideal since most people cannot finish it all alone.

RELATED STORIES:

• W Singapore, the pretty hotel in Sentosa

What you can find at Sentosa:

• Sea Aquarium, how to handle
• Sea Aquarium, more sea creatures 
• Ocean Restaurant, Romantic dinner
• Sea Trek Adventure
• Rainbow Reef
• Ray Bay

You Don't Have to Go Far to See Beauty: Kiluan Lagoon

Anda tidak perlu pergi jauh untuk melihat keindahan. Kalimat ini yang saya tulis saat saya mengunggah foto-foto ini di Instagram.

You don't have to go far to see beauty. That's what I wrote when I upload these photos on Instagram.

Jika anda tinggal di Jakarta, Lampung tidak terasa jauh. Cukup menyeberang dengan kapal ferry dari Pelabuhan Merak menuju Pelabuhan Bakauheni, Lampung, atau dengan pesawat jika ingin lebih cepat.

If you live in Jakarta, Lampung isn't that far. Simply crossing from Merak Port to Bakauheni, Lampung, or by plane if you want to arrive faster.

Kiluan bay

A bit foggy when we came

View from the homestay

Dari Lampung, perjalanan darat cukup panjang, apalagi jalan menuju Kiluan sebagian sudah rusak. Namun bagi saya yang mudah tertidur di perjalanan, ini tidak masalah. Sampai di Teluk Kiluan, kami langsung naik kapal kayu dengan bentuk seperti jukung di Bali, namun lebih kecil menuju homestay.

From Lampung,  it's quite a long road trip, plus some road to Kiluan partially damaged and slow us down. Good thing is that I'm easy to sleep during road trip so it's not a problem for me. Then, we arrived at Kiluan Bay. Using the wooden boat - it called Jukung in Bali, but here are smaller- we went to the modest homestay.

Kiluan tampak tenang, meski sudah jadi destinasi yang cukup populer, saya menyenangi momen dapat melihat pasir putih tanpa banyak turis bergerombol di pantai.

Kiluan is a nice and calm place. Although it already became quite popular lately, I enjoy the moment I can see white sands without many tourist huddled on the beach.

Ada satu lokasi yang saya sangat suka dari Kiluan. Bukan laut dimana lumba-lumba "menari" untuk anda, namun tempat dengan laguna indah dan tenang persis di sisi laut.

There is one place I really love in Kiluan. Not where the dolphins are "dancing" for you, but a place with beautiful and tranquil lagoon right beside the sea.

the beach

don't you just love it?

Laguna Bd Jaya, begitulah nama yang tertera di papan penunjuk jalan di Kecamatan Kelumbangan, Kabupaten Tanggamus, Kiluan, Lampung. Sekitar 30 menit berjalan kaki kita akan sampai di pantai berpasir putih dengan bebatuan karang di sekitarnya. 

Laguna Bd Jaya, that's the name on a signpost in Kelumbangan District, Tanggamus, Kiluan, Lampung. It took around 30 minutes walk then we'll reach a white sandy beach with rocks around it.
 

it's beautiful!

be careful! it's Fani trying to hop hop down :)

Dari sini anda akan perlu berjalan melewati bebatuan karang tersebut, beberapa area cukup memperlambat langkah karena mesti sedikit bermanuver dan melewati jembatan dari bambu.

From here you will need to walk past the rocks, some areas will slow you down a bit since you gotta do a bit maneuver, or crossing the bamboo bridge.

The laguna

Tapi apalah artinya sedikit berjalan jika pemandangan ini yang saya dapatkan. Laguna untuk kami nikmati :)
 
But a bit of walk is nothing compare to this scenery I got after the walk. A pretty lagoon for us to enjoy :)

Wahyu was the first one getting into the lagoon :))

Jika sudah sampai, haram rasanya kalau tetap kering. So go on and get yourself wet!

When you arrived, it's a sin to stay dry. So, go on and get yourself wet!

Before getting wet :)

@marischkaprue - beach is always calling her

All photos taken using Samsung NX300

NOTES:

• Laguna ini terletak di Kecamatan Kelumbangan, Tanggamus, Kiluan, Lampung
• This lagoon located at Kelumbangan District, Tanggamus, Kiluan, Lampung
• Terdapat banyak pengelola trip yang menyediakan paket menikmati Kiluan dengan harga di bawah 1 juta rupiah seperti Raja Wisata, telp: +62812 6557 6555/ +62856 9806685
• There are a lot of trip organizer providing trip to Kiluan with budget under 90 USD, Raja Wisata is one of them, contact through +62812 6557 6555/ +62856 9806685
• Trip menuju Kiluan melalui jalan darat akan memakan waktu yang cukup lama di mobil, pastikan terlebih dahulu jika anda tidak keberatan dengan road trip yang cukup lama sebelum memulai perjalanan, enjoy!
• The road trip to Kiluan is indeed took a long time, make sure you're okay with that before you start the trip, enjoy!

Join this trip with these super FUN awesome people! See? we get wet! :) Photo by Iqbal