Walking Alone in Kuta, Bali

I was walking alone down to Legian from Kuta
With my tank top, short pants, hat and sunglasses on.
Nothing was wrong I believe, but in Indonesia too many people are curious to everyone
I found that many eyes staring at me while walking alone
It is such a discomfort.


I got lost, as always.
Ended up in a beach they called Germany Beach
Not many locals are there
The beach just right behind exclusive resorts
I was sneaking out through the small alley to get there
There were many fisherman’s boats docked
I saw some locals selling souvenirs just out of the resorts and some offer massage.
While those tourists enjoy the kiss of the sun, lying down lazily on their bench, the servants moving around serve them with orange juice and make sure they feel comfort.
Such a modern slavery I whispered to myself.

I sat down and enjoying that beautiful beach scenery myself
Next thing I know, I fell asleep in the warm sands
My skins were burnt
I woke up hearing locals playing volley next to me
One of them tried to start a conversation with me.
“Smoke?” he offered me.
“No, I don’t smoke” I said
He stand right next to me and started asking me questions
“I have to go back” I said, “My friends might be looking for me by now”


I moved to Kuta beach to see the sunset before return back to the hostel
I sat down in the seashore where there were so many people waiting for the sunset views.
Then I saw a face that look familiar, I remember he is one of the writers’ son that spoke to me last night in Ubud during the closing ceremony of the festival.
“Hei” I yelled.
“Hei, you again” he answered half surprised. He then sat down next to me. “What a surprise to see you again in here… it might mean to be”
Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to understand his Kiwi accent.
But then in 10 minutes of conversation, he already mentioned the words ‘beautiful’ and ‘cute’ too many times.
“I don’t take too much of compliment” I said and smiled.
“You tried to lay down away from me as if I am trying to kiss you….. which I might” he said, “Where will you go tonight?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I wanna meet my friends” I answered.

Selling souvenirs outside the resorts

They serve massage in this small hut just right in front of the resorts

It is such a beautiful place for sunset dinner

Empty yet beautiful beach in here

Fisherman's boats

Sunset

Have to sneak through this small alley

How Does It Feel to Live in Ubud, Bali

It feels so sad to finally come back home to Jakarta. I still sometimes hearing people speaking in different accent of English during my nap. In fact, I still vividly remember my conversation with those international writers and the voice of guys who flirt with me during the event. Even the smell of their perfume.

There are so many good things in Ubud that I still want to experience and to stay with, the foods, the people, the arts, the scenery, the shops, the bars, the restaurants, the cafes, the bookstores, everything!

Now I understand why whilst in Ubud I met many foreigners who want to or some even already settled down in Ubud. They leave their modern and sophisticated cities such as California, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, to stay in a quiet yet lovely small village which is Ubud.

So, I was in Ubud for about a week, working as a volunteer for Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) 2012. UWRF is an annual literacy festival, which invite writers from all around Indonesia and around the World (well, mostly are Australian) to discuss certain topic/issues selected.

I myself also aspiring to live in Ubud in the future, it is a real ideal place to spend your retiring moment. Though, I am not sure if Ubud will be the same in some few years. The vast growing tourist sector in Ubud has declined the local value of the society. There are so many exclusive -which of course expensive- resorts all along the way Ubud main streets these days. Tourists don’t come to Ubud for its magnificent traditional culture anymore. They start to come to Ubud simply because it is widely known for its stunning modern resort in between beautiful rice field scenery. Moreover, it also has branded product stores built right beside the traditional houses which make it a unique selling point. Construction of new buildings for tourist keeps growing incredibly uncontrollable. As the result, there is less rice fields left as people keeps selling and then building something new over it.

That is why during the events, there were many discussions evolved around the topic of how to create a sustainable tourism in Bali. As in to keep the local culture of Bali preserved while also keep getting income from tourism sector. It’s a tough question right? You can’t take something without giving something else. At least that is what Balinese people believe, it’s their philosophy.

Despite the debate over Ubud, I found that maybe that is what I actually need. That is what my heart really looking for. A quiet and simple place in where modernity and local culture are blending into one. It’s surprising that I can life there in Ubud without even have to worry about email, checking twitter and blackberry msger. When walking down the street alone, I don’t really care what I wear. I ate a lot too as I was less stress. Or perhaps it is because I was in Ubud for escaping. Perhaps…


To be continued…




Too many lovely Cafe and Resto all around the street, it is hard to pick one.




My only photo in Ubud (while not working) (me left)




Italian Resto, never been a wrong choice




Grab your drinks and lets dance



Nothing is better than having good dinner with your buddy in a lovely cafe with great foods served



Life music every single night ow...

Budgeting for Backpacking Trip to Bromo and Ijen from Jakarta

Berwisata ke Bromo adalah salah satu agenda yang sangat digemari oleh wisatawan domestik maupun internasional. Uniknya lagi banyak wisatawan yang mengunjungi Bromo adalah backpackers, karena untuk dapat mencapai objek wisata ini tidak diperlukan biaya mahal. Bilapun ada paket tour yang menawarkan paket wisata ke Bromo, umumnya tarif yang dipasang tidak terlalu mencekik kantong. 

Bromo memang sudah lama terkenal dengan pemandangan sunrise yang breathtaking. Bahkan banyak turis dari mancanegara yang sengaja datang ke Indonesia hanya untuk melihat pemandangan alam spektakuler tersebut. Tidak jauh dari Bromo terdapat Kawah Ijen, sebuah Kawah berwarna biru cerah yang berlokasi di kompleks Gunung Ijen. Bukan hanya pemandangan kawahnya yang indah, namun juga pemandangan alam dalam perjalanan mendaki menuju Kawah. Walaupun dibutuhkan 3 km berjalan kaki untuk sampai ke puncak untuk dapat melihat kawah, namun selama perjalanan menuju kawah Ijen mata akan dimanjakan dengan panorama pegunungan tinggi yang sejajar dengan ketinggian awan. Selain kedua objek wisata tersebut, ada banyak objek lain yang bisa diexplore di sekitar Jawa Timur, contohnya Baluran (Taman Nasional), Pantai Sempu (dikenal dengan keindahan pantainya yang menandingi Raja Ampat), atau menjelajahi kota Batu yang sejuk. 

Saya sendiri baru saja mengunjungi Bromo, Ijen dan Batu beberapa hari yang lalu bersama dengan dua orang rekan saya. Saya akui untuk bisa mencapai kedua objek wisata tersebut tidak perlu mengeluarkan biaya yang banyak. Bagi yang ingin berwisata ke Jawa Timur dengan budgmen minim, berikut adalah rincian pengeluaran saya berwisata ke Bromo-Ijen dari Jakarta. Semoga bisa dijadikan bahan pertimbangan: 

Budgeting:

Day I

Flight Jakarta-Surabaya (by Sriwijaya) = Rp.285.000,-

Aiport tax (Soekarno Hatta Airport) = Rp. 40.000,-

Damri Bus (AC) from Surabaya Airport to Surabaya Bus Terminal = Rp. 15.000,-

Bus (AC) from Surabaya Bus Terminal to Probolinggo = Rp. Rp.23.000,-

Elf (non-AC) from Probolinggo to Bondowoso = Rp. 25.000,-

Standart room in Cafe Lava Hostel Rp.185.000 (shared by two) = Rp.95.000,-

Day II

Rent a Jeep to go around Bromo Rp.350.000 (shared by six) = Rp. 60.000,-

Ride a Horse to reach the top of Bromo = Rp.100.000,-

Elf (non-AC) from Bondowoso to Probolinggo = Rp. 25.000,- 

Packet Trip from Probolinggo to Ijen return (include driver, private car, and shared room in Arabica Homestay) = Rp. 500.000,-


Day III

Entrance Ticket to Ijen Area = Rp.25.000,-

Bus (AC) Probolinggo – Malang = Rp.23.000,-

Public Transport (non AC) Malang – Batu = Rp. 8.000,-

Villa in Batu Rp.250.000 (shared by three)= Rp. 85.000,- 

Day IV

Jazucci with Sulfur water in Batu = Rp.25.000,-

Public Transport (non AC) Batu – Malang = Rp. 8.000,-

Bus (AC) Malang – Surabaya = Rp.20.000,-

Surabaya- Jakarta (Executive Train) = Rp.385.000,-



Total = Rp.1.747.000,- (exculde foods and miscellaneous)



Its equal with around $180 for 4 days trip to East Java. Not really expensive um?

Enjoy the Trip Folks! 

Love,

Olivia