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 

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Sunset is the Beginning. Sukamade Beach, East Java.

Jalan setapak merupakan pintu untuk memasuki Pantai Sukamade di Taman Nasional Meru Betiri, Jawa Timur. Berjalan kaki sekitar 10 menit melewati hutan hujan tropis dan anda akan memasuki area pantai dengan garis pantai melengkung dan luas dengan bukit di sisi kanan pantai saat masuk ke area ini.

The path is an entry to Sukamade beach in Meru Betiru National Park, East Java. Walk about 10 minutes past the tropical rain forest and you will enter the beach area with wide curved coastline and hills on the right side of the beach entrance.

newborn troopers

Pantai Sukamade menjadi lokasi pelepasan tukik, di pantai ini penyu datang di musim-musim tertentu untuk bertelur dan kemudian sebagian telur ini dipindahkan ke area penangkaran agar kemungkinan hidupnya lebih tinggi.

Sukamade became the location to the release of the sea turtle hatchlings, the sea turtles come to the shore at certain seasons to lay their eggs. Then, the conservation officer will take some and transferred to the breeding area for bigger chance of survival.

Capturing the moments

Datanglah ke pantai ini di saat sore hari. Melepas tukik dan melihat langkah-langkah kecil bersemangat dari makhluk yang mesti menghadapi kerasnya hidup di usia sangat dini. Jejak-jejak tukik kecil menggurat pantai yang berkilau terkena air laut dan sinar matahari yang pergi perlahan.

Just come to the beach in the afternoon. Releasing the hatchlings and seeing small steps of this tiny creatures that must face the hard life since their very early age. Traces of tiny hatchlings draw the sparkling beach from the sea water and sunlight which going away slowly.

come on, keep on moving little fella!

You're almost there!

Real life start now

Kami menikmati momen menyemangati tukik kecil dan terkadang melihat elang laut yang berpatroli di atas dan sesekali menukik tajam ke pesisir laut memangsa tukik yang tidak beruntung. Wildlife talking, kami hanya dapat menyaksikan dari pantai momen-momen tersebut.

We enjoy the moment we encourage small hatchlings and sometimes we saw eagles patrolled the sea then sometimes dip steeply to the sea coast to prey on those unlucky hatchlings. Wildlife talking, we can only watch from the shore.

Look at the glowing sea water!

Saat tukik telah menggapai laut dan jejak-jejak kecil mereka terhapus, matahari kembali membuat goresan-goresan indah di langit. Saya kembali melihat langit "dilukis" oleh yang kuasa. Momen indah di penghujung hari.

When those hatchlings have reached the sea and their small traces erased, the sun re-create the beautiful scratches in the sky. I, again saw the sky "painted" by the mighty power. Beautiful moments at the end of the day.

Bagi kita sunset adalah penghujung hari, bagi tukik-tukik ini sunset di Pantai Sukamade ini adalah awal hidup yang penuh perjuangan. Godspeed little fellas!

For us sunset is the end of the day, for this small hatchlings, Sukamade beach's sunset is a starter for their life which full of struggles. Godspeed little fellas!

@marischkaprue - her eyes on Indonesia's beautiful beautiful sunset

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES:

• Pantai Sukamade terletak di Taman Nasional Meru Betiri, Jawa Timur
• Sukamade Beach located at Meru Betiri National Park, East Java.
• 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 

My partner in almost anything!

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Shimmering Night at Lampion Garden, Batu

Bayangkan tokoh tokoh kartun ukuran besar di satu area tertata dan menyala indah. Bayangkan istana dalam bentuk lampion besar yang terang. Bayangkan danau dengan teratai, ikan dan angsa yang menyala. Tempat ini adalah lokasi yang sangat menyenangkan, Lampion Garden.

Imagine large size cartoon characters in one area, glow beautifully. Imagine a palace in the form of huge lanterns. Imagine a lake with glowing lotus, fish and swans. This place is a a very nice place, Lantern Garden.

Glass house

He's waiting for you to come in

Terletak di Batu Night Spectacular, Kota Batu, sekitar 15 kilometer dari Kota Malang, Jawa Timur, lokasi wisata yang umum disebut BNS ini sangat padat terutama di akhir pekan. Saya harus cukup berdesakan untuk masuk ke rumah kaca yang berbentuk piramid seperti museum Louvre di Paris, Perancis, atau mengantre untuk "ditakut takuti" di rumah hantu.

Located in Batu Night Spectacular, Batu Town , about 15 kilometers from the Malang City. Commonly called "BNS," this playground is very dense, especially on the weekend. I gotta jostling to get into the glass house shaped like Louvre pyramid in Paris, France. Also, I you gotta queuing to be "intimidated" in the haunted house.

Meski wahana lain kurang lebih sama dengan taman bermain dan atraksi, saya kepincut dengan satu area di BNS, yaitu Lampion Garden.

 
Although other attractions are similar with the other playgrounds, one area catch my eyes, the Lantern Garden.

They should've put smurf instead of ducks :)

Are they doing some kung fu movements? :))

Shark and stones and it isn't cave diving

Sesuai namanya, taman di sisi kiri BNS ini dipenuhi lampion, namun dalam berbagai bentuk. Mulai dari kurcaci, jamur, tokoh kartun Disney lainnya, hingga istana besar, hiu hingga naga.

As the name implies, the park on the left side of the BNS is filled with lanterns, but in a lot of different forms. Starting from the dwarfs, mushroom, Donald Duck and other Disney cartoon characters, to a large palace, shark and the dragon.

My fav spot in this lantern garden

Menikmati berjalan menyusuri Lampion Garden anda akan menikmati berbagai bentuk lampion yang ada. Di tengah area ada danau kecil dengan teratai, bebek, ikan dan angsa dari lampion, menghasilkan refleksi cahaya yang indah.

Walking along the Lantern Garden, you'll enjoy various forms of lanterns. In the middle of the area there is a small pond with lotus, duck, fish and swan made from lanterns, making beautiful light reflections.

A couple of shining flamingo

Love is in the garden

Eiffel in East Java

Selain itu ada beberapa miniatur bangunan khas dunia, seperti Eiffel Tower yang bercahaya, hingga tembok besar Cina dalam ukuran mini. Yang menyenangkan juga di Lampion Garden semua tidak dibatasi dengan pagar pemisah yang biasanya mengganggu visual, anda bisa masuk ke sebelah lampion dan berfoto.

Besides that, there are some miniature of famous buildings in the world such as the Eiffel Tower made of lights and the Great Wall of China. The fun part is also because there isn't any fence that separate us from the lantern so you can stand next to those lanterns and take good photos of yourself.

This is kind of crowd we would love

Shining palace

This is a nice place to enjoy the night, just try to forget the crowd :)

@marischkaprue - knows there are always light after the dark

NOTES:

• Batu Night Spectacular terletak di Desa Oro Oro Ombo, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur.
• Batu Night Spectacular located in Oro Oro Ombo Village, Batu Town, East Java.
• Harga Tiket masuk ke Lampion Garden: Rp. 12.500,- per orang
• Admission ticket to enter Lantern Garden: Rp. 12.500,- (Indonesian Rupiahs) per person

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Sunrise Bromo from Penanjakan

Saya lebih senang menunggu sunset dibanding sunrise, selain karena warna sunset lebih mewah dibanding sunrise, saya pun tidak perlu bangun subuh untuk menunggu langit berubah warna.

I like sunset better than sunrise. The colors of sunset is more grand compare to sunrise and also, I don't have to wake up very early to wait the sky changing colors.

Namun saat mengunjungi Bromo sulit untuk melewatkan momen matahari terbit. Meski tetap harus bangun subuh dini hari, menggapai lokasi matahari terbit di area Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru, Jawa Timur tidak sulit. Salah satu lokasi yang mudah adalah dari Penanjakkan.

But while visiting Bromo it is hard to miss the moment of sunrise. Although I still have to wake up very early, to get the sunrise in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java wasn't difficult at all. One of the easy spot is Penanjakkan.

Saya memulai dari area Gubukklakah, Poncokusumo, Malang dengan kendaraan jeep 4x4 pada pukul setengah tiga dini hari. Kondisi cuaca pada dini hari sangat dingin sehingga kami menggunakan jaket tebal hingga sarung tangan.

I started from Gubukklakah, Poncokusumo, Malang with 4x4 jeep vehicles at two thirty in the morning. Weather conditions in the early morning was very cold so we use thick jackets and gloves.

Menjelang matahari terbit kami tiba di Penanjakkan dan turun dari jeep untuk trekking ke area lokasi pandang. Tidak perlu waktu lama, kurang dari sejam kami sudah tiba di lokasi dimana semburat matahari terlihat muncul perlahan.

We arrived in the area of Penanjakkan before sunrise, then continue trekking to the vieweing point. It didn't take long, in less than an hour we arrived at the point where we can see the sun is emerging slowly.

Warna matahari terbit itu selalu terlihat lebih tenang dan perlahan, berbeda dengan matahari terbenam. Langit gelap perlahan berubah warna indah sambil langin pun perlahan membiru.

The colors of sunrise is always looks more calm and slowly changing, so different with sunset. Dark sky slowly turned to beautiful colors and the sky is also turning blue.

As the sun rise, the sky turns blue

The white clouds appear, with hits of ray colors

When the sun rise, its getting warmer, no need gloves :)

Disini kita dapat melihat semburat matahari timbul di area kiri saat berjalan menuju area pandang, dan pemandangan Bromo Tengger Semeru di area kiri. A nice view and worth waking up very early. Enjoy!

Here we can see the sun arise in the area left as you walk towards the viewing point, and the view of Bromo Tengger Semeru in the left area. A nice view and worth waking up very early. Enjoy!

@marischkaprue - not a really morning person

RELATED STORIES:

• Menantang Debu di Bromo

 

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Menantang Debu di Bromo

Saya ingat lautan pasir di Bromo. Tapi saya tidak ingat pasir disitu terkadang tidak hanya berbisik, tapi berteriak.

I remember the caldera in Bromo, but I don't remember that the sands there sometimes aren't just whispering but screaming.

Usai menikmati sunrise di Penanjakan, saya dan rombongan turun ke area lautan pasir dengan mobil jeep. Langit biru terang meski cuaca tetap dingin. Kaldera atau lautan pasir Bromo ada di ketinggian 2.392 meter di atas permukaan laut, ditambah saat itu masih pagi hari sehingga saya lebih suka membalut diri di dalam jaket tebal.

After enjoying the sunrise in Penanjakan, me and my friends head into the Bromo's caldera. We ride a jeep and see the bright blue sky, but still, the weather is cold. Caldera or the huge area of sands in Bromo is at 2.392 meter above sea level, and it was still early in the morning so I prefer to wrap myself in a big warm jacket.

daily sight in Bromo

Kami turun dari kendaraan dan berjalan lurus ke arah Bromo. Tangga dengan pinggiran berwarna kuning terlihat sebagai garis dari kejauhan, lengkap dengan titik berwarna warni yaitu pengunjung Bromo yang entah jumlahnya berapa ribu hari itu.

 
We got out of the vehicle and walked straight toward Bromo. Stairs with yellow fringe seen as a line in the distance, complete with brightly colored dots which are people who visited Bromo and I completely cannot guess how many people are there, maybe thousands.

Pura Luhur Poten

Pasir masih berbisik saat kami tiba. Angin sesekali datang dan membawa debu serta pasir hitam Bromo, saya terlindung dengan adanya kacamata hitam. Mendekati Pura Luhur Poten yang ada di kaki Gunung Bromo seorang bapak bapak mendekati kami, menunjukkan masker yang langsung saya beli. "Di atas debunya luar biasa," ujarnya.

Sand still whisper when we arrived. Sometimes the wind came, brought the dust and black sands of Bromo. I got my eyes covered with sunglasses. We walk towards Pura Luhur Poten which located at the foothills of Bromo. A guy approached, showing mask that I bought immediately. "The dust is incredible up there," he said.

Saya berjalan ke arah manusia yang semakin banyak. Bromo selalu memikat. Foto Bromo dengan ciri khas asap yang membumbung dari kawah, kaldera dan landscape yang saat kita melihat, sebagian besar akan tahu, itu Bromo yang ada di Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru yang ada di Jawa Timur, Bromo yang merupakan gunung berapi aktif dengan kawah yang jadi tujuan wisata utama di timur jawa ini.

I walked to where more and more people walking. Bromo is always alluring. Smoke rising from the crater, caldera and the landscape is a typical photo of Bromo which when we saw, we know instantly that it is Mount Bromo in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java. Bromo is an active volcano which became the main tourist destination in the eastern Java.

 

Baru berjalan sedikit kali ini seorang bapak dengan kudanya mendekati, menawarkan saya untuk menghemat energi dengan naik kuda ke arah tangga. Ah, kapan lagi saya bisa berkuda di Bromo, maka kurang dari lima detik saya sudah mengiyakan, naik dan menikmati langkah kuda dan angin serta pasir yang berhembus sesekali.

Not long after, an old man with his horse approached and offered me to save energy by riding horse to the top, just right before the stairs. Well, when else I'll ride horse in Bromo? So I said yes, ride the horse and enjoy the wind and sands blowing occasionally.

Jalan naik ke puncak Bromo adalah padang pasir dengan ribuan orang yang berjalan, ataupun naik kuda ke arah tangga. Kami berhenti di area sebelum tangga. Manusia berdesakan menunggu giliran melangkah naik di tangga dua arah. Saya tidak punya kesabaran untuk menunggu maka saya melangkah ke arah pasir di bagian kiri tangga. Mungkin rute ini bukan yang termudah namun saya punya kebebasan melihat betapa menakjubkannya pemandangan saat melangkah naik.

The way to get on top of Bromo is a desert with thousands people walking or riding horse to the stairs. We stopped in the area before the ladder. Lines of people waiting to get their turn stepping up the two way staircase. I don't have the patience to wait so I climb the sands on the left side of the stairs and walk. These maybe not the easiest but I have better position to see how amazing the scenery while trekking up.

Edna and I choose this way

Sand storms coming!

Abu abu kecoklatan, warna Bromo hari itu. Langit cerah dan sesekali angin membawa pasir berteriak, namun bukan telinga yang harus kami tutup, namun mata karena kacamata saya tidak sanggup menahan pasir dan debu halus yang masuk ke sela sela kacamata.

Brownish gray, the color Bromo that day. Clear sky and sometimes the wind brought the sands, screaming. But it ain't ears that I covered to deal the screams, I gotta covered my eyes since the dust is everywhere coming into the side of my sunglasses.
 

Going to the top!

The caldera

Tidak perlu banyak energi untuk sampai ke puncak, Bromo membuka kesempatan bagi siapa saja untuk menaikinya. Anda tidak perlu jadi manusia paling bugar untuk sampai di puncak dan berdiri di samping kawah dengan asap yang terus mengepul.

You don't need super energy to get on top, Bromo open opportunity for anyone to get on top of it. You don't have to be the most sporty and strong person to be on top and see the crater with smoke billowing.

View from the top

Brought my Xperia Z1 to the dusty top and it survived!

Di puncak rupanya pasir berteriak lagi, lebih keras. Berulang kali saya menutup mata setiap badai pasir datang dan hanya punya sekitar 10 detik untuk mengambil gambar sebelum pasir berteriak lagi. Namun teriakan itu tidak membuat saya ingin segera turun. Saya melihat sekeliling dan kembali merasakan kebesaran, panorama yang luar biasa yang membuat saya tidak sadar sejam sudah berlalu di puncak Bromo.

At the top, the sands scream again, even louder. Repeatedly I closed my eyes as sandstorm coming and then only got about 10 seconds to take a picture before the sands screaming again. But that doesn't make me want to get down immediately. In fact I looked around and felt the greatness again, the incredible view that brings time running an hour without I even realize.

can you see the sand storms?

Relaxing while seeing the crater

Apalah artinya diteriaki pasir jika pemandangan seperti ini yang saya dapat. Apalah artinya mata sedikit terkena debu dan merah sedikit, apalah artinya pasir yang masuk ke sela mulut saya dan membuat gemeretak gigi dan pasir terasa saat saya menggerakan rahang. Semua itu hanya hal kecil dibandingkan dengan kenikmatan visual disini, di Bromo.

A bit of sands screaming is nothing compare to this view. A bit of dust stuck in my eyes and a bit of red teary eyes is not a big deal. A bit of sands in my mouth that when I move my jaws I can feel it crumble is not a problem at all. Those were just a tiny non important thing compare to the visual pleasure here, in Bromo.

@marischkaprue - prefers sea sands than mountain sands.

RELATED STORIES:

• Bromo Sunrise from Penanjakan

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