KOMODO MANTA GALORE: Playful Day With Manta Rays

It was a bright sunny day, kapal kami menyusuri area perairan Taka Makassar di Taman Nasional Komodo, Flores. Laut sangat tenang hari itu, kami melihat bayangan-bayangan hitam di laut, manta ray! Saya langsung mengambil fin dan bersiap turun.

It was a bright sunny day, our boat down the water area of Taka Makassar in Komodo National Park, Flores. The sea was very calm on that day, we saw dark shadows on the ocean, manta ray! I immediately took my fins and plunging down.

Air laut komodo terasa dingin di hari yang cerah ini, baru sebentar berada di air, saya langsung berhadapan dengan satu pari manta yang berenang berputar-putar di area ini. Kami melihat beberapa manta lain di depan dan langsung mengejar "burung laut" yang terlihat sangat elegan ini.

The Komodo ocean water was cold on that sunny day, I have only been in the water for a while, I was immediately faced with one manta ray swimming around in circles in this area. We saw some other mantas in front of us and directly pursue the "seabird" which looks very elegant.

Berbeda dengan ikan pari (stingray), pari manta (manta ray) tidak memiliki "duri" dengan sengatan di buntutnya, kita dapat berenang bersama manta ray dan terkadang pari manta ini membiarkan kita berenang sangat dekat, but always remember not to touch them at all, ok? ;)

Unlike the stingray, manta ray does not have a "thorn" with a sting in its tail, we can swim with manta rays and sometimes manta rays let us swim very close to them, but always remember not to touch them at all, ok? ;)

Di antara kumpulan manta ray ini terdapat satu black manta, pari manta berwarna hitam pekat yang terlihat berbeda dari manta lain yang berwarna hitam dominan, dengan cephalic lobe (bagian di kiri kanan mulutnya) dan bagian bawah badan yang berwarna putih. Seluruh tubuh black manta didominasi warna hitam, hanya ada pattern putih sedikit saja di bagian bawah tubuhnya.

Among the pack of manta rays, there is one black manta, a manta ray with black color that looks different from others for its black dominant color, with cephalic lobe (the part on both sides of the mouth) and the bottom of the body which color is white. The whole body of black manta is dominated by black color, there are only a few white pattern on his lower body.

Black manta ini juga berukuran lebih besar dibanding manta lainnya, berhadapan dengan black manta dan memperhatikan gerakan tubuhnya yang gemulai sangat menakjubkan. It's a really perfect day, cuaca cerah, laut yang clean and clear, manta ray yang "menyambut" kami. All we want is just time to stop so we can play with them whole day :)

Black manta is also larger than the other manta, dealing with black manta and paying attention to its graceful body movements is so amazing. It's a really perfect day, sunny weather, the sea is clean and clear, and manta ray who "welcomed" us. All we want is just to stop time so we can play with them a whole day :)

This visit to Manta Spot is my best manta ray experience, universe has been so kind to us.. until we meet again, manta rays!

@marischkaprue - still learning to dance with manta ray

Photos by Ferry Rusli & Ruby Perkasa (11 & 12)

NOTES

MANTA SPOT

Komodo National Park

Flores - Indonesia

This manta experience is a part of Clean & Clear #SiapTerus Trip to Komodo for Traveler winner on challenge 8 jam Siap Terus. See more about #SiapTerus on Instagram

MORE MANTA SPOT IN INDONESIA:

• Dancing with the manta ray (BALI)
• Manta Show at Manta Sandy (RAJA AMPAT)
• In the Middle of Manta Party (BALI)

***

COLORFUL DAY AT OUCHI-JUKU, JAPAN

Memasuki Ouchi-Juku membuat saya teringat pada Shirakawa-Go, desa tradisional Jepang dengan daya tarik utama pada bentuk rumah-rumah yang ada. Atap rumah-rumah yang ada di Ouchi-Juku memang tidak berbentuk segitiga gassho-zukuri style, namun bahan bangunan dan atap yang tebal membuat suasana Jepang tradisional sangat terasa menyenangkan di desa yang berada di Shimogo, Prefektur Fukushima ini.

Entering Ouchi-Juku reminds me of Shirakawa-Go, a traditional Japanese village with the main attraction in the form of existing homes. Roofs of houses in Ouchi-Juku do not form a triangle gassho-zukuri style, but the building materials and thick roofs makes the traditional Japanese atmosphere feels nice in the village of Shimogo, Fukushima Prefecture.

Bahkan, sejak tiba di Stasiun Yunokami Onsen pun, saya sudah langsung menikmati suasana tradisional. Stasiun dibiarkan dalam bentuk seperti di masa lampau, set perapian untuk memasak menjadi display menyenangkan yang menggambarkan suasana rumah Jepang di masa lampau.

In fact, ever since arriving at the Yunokami Station Onsen, I had immediately enjoyed the traditional atmosphere. The station is left in the form as the same as it was in the past, the fireplace set for cooking turned into a fun display that describes the atmosphere of the Japanese house in the past.

Kami yang datang di musim panas langsung disambut bunga-bunga yang bermekaran, bahkan sejak sebelum kami tiba di area desa Ouchi ini. Jalanan memanjang beralaskan tanah dengan rumah tradisional di kiri dan kanan jalan membuat Ouchi-Juku terlihat rapih, namun menarik.

We came in the summer and immediately greeted by blooming flowers, even before we arrived at this Ouchi village. Elongated streets paved with traditional home ground on the left and right road of Ouchi-Juku make it look neat, but interesting.

Yang menarik, di musim panas ini warga Ouchi-Juku mendinginkan minuman botol di saluran air di sisi jalanan. Air yang dingin dan segar membuat minuman tetap segar, dan inilah yang dilakukan sejak dahulu sebelum ada teknologi kulkas :D

Interestingly, in the summer, the residents of Ouchi-Juku cool bottled drinks in the drains at the side of the road. The water is cold and fresh, so it makes drinks stay fresh, and this is done since long before there was refrigerator technology :D

Berbagai toko yang menjual souvenir dan barang-barang tradisional menghiasi pemandangan saat kami berkeliling Ouchi-Juku. Namun, satu hal langsung menarik perhatian kami, someone in Japanese traditional clothing with it's head covered! Dia berjalan kaki sambil memainkan seruling bambu, an Ouchi-Juku traditional musician! He really excited when we told him that we're from Indonesia, mungkin belum banyak orang Indonesia yang mampir ke Ouchi-Juku :)

Various shops that sell souvenirs and traditional items adorn the scenery as we drive around Ouchi-Juku. However, one thing immediately caught our attention, someone in traditional Japanese clothing with it's head covered! He's walking on foot while playing a bamboo flute, an Ouchi-Juku traditional musician! He was really excited when we told him that we're from Indonesia, maybe there are not many Indonesians people who stopped by at Ouchi-Juku :)

Kami kemudian terus berjalan menyusuri jalanan memanjang Ouchi-Juku yang mengarah ke bukit. Dari ujung jalanan kita dapat menaiki tangga untuk melihat desa tradisional ini dari atas, melihat turis yang menikmati berjalan kaki menyusuri jalanan sambil mampir ke berbagai toko dan tempat makan.

We then continued down the lengthwise street of Ouchi-Juku that leads to the hill. From the end of the street we can climb the stairs to see this traditional village from above, saw tourists who enjoyed a walk down the streets, stopping at various shops and places to eat.

Sejak dahulu, Ouchi-Juku adalah desa yang menjadi lokasi persinggahan. Terletak di rute perdagangan Aizu - Nishi Kaido, di antara Aizu dengan Nikko sehingga banyak pejalan yang singgah di Ouchi-Juku untuk beristirahat, makan dan berbelanja kebutuhan perjalanan mereka. Kini Ouchi-Juku tetap ramai, namun bukan menjadi persinggahan trader di rute Aizu - Nishi Kaido, melainkan menjadi daya tarik turis untuk menikmati suasana tradisional Jepang.

Even in the past, Ouchi-Juku is a village that became a stopover location. Located on the trade route of Aizu - Nishi Kaido, in between Aizu and Nikko so there are many pedestrians who stopped by at Ouchi-Juku to rest, eat and shop for their travel needs. Now Ouchi-Juku is still crowded, but not a stopover for traders in the Aizu - Nishi Kaido, but has become the main attraction of tourists to enjoy the atmosphere of the traditional Japan.

A visit to Ouchi-Juku will make you happy, will keep your eyes glued to various interesting things, to various colors this small beautiful town have since long time ago..

@marischkaprue - her colorful day in Ouchi-Juku became perfect after an ice cream in a sunny day

NOTES

OUCHI-JUKU

Shimogo, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture

Japan

GETTING THERE

Nearest Station: YUNOKAMI ONSEN Station

FROM TOKYO:

Tokyo Station to Koriyama Station by Shinkansen Yamabiko (77 menit)

Koriyama Station to Aizu Wakamatsu by JR Ban etsu West Line for Aizu Wakamatsu (66 menit)

Aizu Wakamatsu to Yunokami Onsen by Aizu Railway for Aizutajima/ Aizu Railway 6 for Aizukogen-Ozeguchi (37 menit)

Train fare: around ¥9600 (non reserved seat during Shinkansen)

FROM Yunokami Onsen Station:

Taxi ride: around ¥1.950

Bus (only operate during April to November): from Yunokami Onsen Station to Ouchi-Juku, ¥1.000 for one day pass, bus available every hour during morning - evening.

***

A BLISSFUL DAY IN BALI: THE SAMATA, SANUR

Sometimes we want the hustle bustle and enjoy our self in the crowd, sometimes we want to stop and relax, enjoying our time in peace.

Terletak di area timur laut dari deretan resort dan hotel di Sanur, The Samata memang terasa "tersembunyi." Kehijauan sawah dan suara deru angin laut yang menenangkan membuat resort ini sangat nyaman untuk menikmati relaksasi di Bali, tanpa perlu pergi terlalu jauh.

Located in the northeast area of the row of resorts and hotels in Sanur, The Samata is actually a bit "hidden." Greenish paddy fields and the whoosh of a soothing sea breeze makes this resort very convenient to enjoy the relaxation in Bali, without the need to go too far.

Hal yang paling saya suka dari The Samata adalah betapa resort ini serasa milik sendiri, karena sebagian besar berupa villa, maka pengunjung cenderung lebih memilih menghabiskan waktu di villa masing-masing sehingga area public swimming pool selalu sepi dan dapat kami nikmati sendiri.

The thing I like about The Samata is how this resort seemed like my own property, because the inn are mostly villas, visitors tend to prefer spending time at each villa so public swimming pool area is always quiet and we could enjoy the pool for ourselves.

Meski belum dapat menikmati villa (the villas were full booked during my visit), unit Ocean View Suite yang saya tempati menyediakan area yang luas, totally spacious bathroom, two different private terrace (my fav is the one with the pool view), wide bedroom and personal breakfast in our room.

Although I wasn't able to enjoy the villas yet (the villas were full booked during my visit), Ocean View Suite unit which I occupied had a large area, totally spacious bathroom, two different private terraces (my fav is the one with the pool view), wide bedroom and personal breakfast in our room.

Another blissfull day in Bali

Bali is always a good idea, Sanur is a great idea ;)

@marischkaprue - eat, pray, dive

THE SAMATA

Jalan Pucuk I No. 67

Sanur, Tangtu, Denpasar Timur

Bali - Indonesia

website: www.thesamata.com

RATE

Suites start from Rp. 1,2 juta

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Went with Windy & Mike from Apnea Culture