Love

I met him at the end of 2014
On the day when Olivia told me
His college friend join our office
She look disbelieve yet laughing at the same time
She said, He is a person who played basketball while clog his nose on a tissue due to nosebleed
He is..unbelievably silly

I just laugh

On the afternoon
Someone sat in my chair when I came back from meeting
Talking to Olivia
Hugging my dog pillow

He woke up and said sorry
My first impression was
'What a kid'

Days gone by accepting him very easily on our hang out packs
In between
Comical Jokes
High laugh
And freaky hang outs
I started to get curious

A bit anxious
To somewhat unplanned plan

One day
Friday night with the packs
He got vulnerable and too innocently open up
I thought, that something I never can do
To be honest to other people, what I really am
Vulnerable is opulence for me

I thought it might be just another shallow adoration
Never I thought, that
I fell
On that night at Sabang 16

Favorite places in Manchester

Tonight I just brew a cup of Whittard
I choose Piccadilly blend randomly that fine afternoon in Whittard house, City Center
And I never regret that

The taste was just always remind me of that gloomy-windy city.
Manchester
So I go to google earth, and traces back memories
Traces back my favorite places

1. With worth and Platt FIelds Park

With worth and Plattfield are my favorite running spot. My class also ever held a picnic at platt Field. We brought food, and playing foot balls there.

The best memories at With worth was when heavy snow falls on that February, late winter. I was at the James Chadwick Building, finishing my first morning class and waiting for the next class when snows keep on falling, it was too beautiful. I walk to the closest park in reach. Withworth. Taking many pictures. Making my own snow man alone. Mix feeling of gloomy winter, missing home, missing him. And when I reminisce it today, I always smiling and miss withworth park so much.

2. Alan Gilbert Learning Common

This student hub is the best study space ever. Its seat design was just perfect and comfortable. Some seat are dedicated for self studying, whether it faces the windows or quiet corner to intensifies focus. Theres a lot of studying room to held group study, working on assignment together, or just watching football together!

And what I love the most is...1 pound coffe mocha machine!
Its cheap, its delicious, its warm in a cold night, it sells many hot drink choices, cappucino, coffe latte, chocolate, and our most favorite! coffe mocha!

3. Starbuck (Sackville Street)

Indi in Sackville St. Starbucks

I am not a big fan of coffee actually, moreover this expensive coffee brand. If its in Indonesia, seldom I'm gonna visit them. But I think I drank coffee a lot in the UK. Nero, Costa, 1 pound coffee machine, and my most favorite morning coffee call before earliest class: Starbuck in front of Sackville street.

First, morning class, is 3 hours class, full of struggle for me. Because I am the sleepiest person in a cold huge class, hence I need shot of it. Its located near Sackville building, Raymond building, and The Mills, where it is the main class, and head of ChemEng offices located.

Juan, my classmate from Columbia, told me that he ever worked in Starbuck as a bartender. He recommend 'White mocca coffee' to us, so since that, my 90% order there was almost white mocca, thanks to Juan.

4. Sainsburry (Piccadilly Station)

During thesis preparation, we work a lot in 'The Mills' building. One day, we walk to Piccadilly station that located nearby  to find food. At first we want to visit Chopstick, a Chinese junk food restaurant that we visit in the earliest day we arrived in Manchester. But when we cross Sainsburry, we saw packed of Thai food, in the "Hot Food To Go". So we were tempted to try. Since then, Me, Indi, Faba, Bang Hendrik, and Kang Agung oftentimes took a lunch break from doing our dissertation there,  we walked to Piccadilly, we choose hot rice box there, and went back to campus, ate it in the common room on the circle table while gossiping or talking about how shitty our dissertation are.

Dissertation Lunch Break after Piccadillywalk

6. Wasabi Sushi
This is obviously best and cheap Sushi that I know in town.
They have cheap hours on Sunday during certain hours, so Me and Rissa always visit them in those hours. Their conveyor walking Sushi is best, but sometimes we prefer their chicken Ramen. The Ramen is really really good as well.


7. Sanctuary student

My flat for almost 10 months of studying in the UK. Me and Rissa lucky to have the unit in the hook, I guess it is bigger than common unit. The view from our living room and kitchen is Grafton St, and the grass field on the crossroad.
I remember during snow in December, those grass field is covered in white and its breath taking to see that from our living room accompanied by hot chocolate.

Rissa is a good chief, so kitchen never slack. She cook anything we missed from Hometown, such as Mie ayam, Telur Balado, Capcay, anything but mpek mpek. I remember we pulled our luck so hard for making pempek but it taste like weird Roti instead.
My room is a small, single bed room, that has one cupboard, and one study table.
Vinca, our friend who also a well known fiction writer once visited Manchester and sleepover in our apartement. Sanctuary is  much to her delight. Me and Rissa always cook hometown meal for our guest and they love it. Even Vinca want to sleep in the living room instead bedroom, because our living room is that cozy.

Iceland

First Love

First time abroad

First job

Your first must be mean so much for you isnt it

I also treasure my first time too

And here is the land, where I got my first snow

Pre-departure

Iceland is the first land I set foot besides UK since being in Europe

It is all started in November

Between dry wind and cold weather in Manchester

My friend told me about going to Iceland for winter break

At the time I didnt really interested because pile of assignments and home sick keep me away from thinking of holiday

Days later, I realize that I should go somewhere on winter, because all dorm and the city will be so quite due to the long christmast break.

Then, I think of where to go, it must be real fun and antimainstream

Offers come, to go together to South of Europe because of extreme weather in North.
People normally choose the warm italy over cold cold Germany or Scandinavia.
But, thought it will be antimainstream to go further North in winter.

So I choose scandinavian team offers.

To feel winter in the northest once in my life.

When I said I'll go to Iceland to my classmate
They say I'm crazy
Maybe because of the name
But, wait, google it
And you'll find any information that in the winter
Iceland is warmer than European Mainland and USA
Iceland is well known of the land of "Ice and fire"
It means, even if the location is nearby the north pole
It has active volcanos and geothermal sources
And thanks to strong ocean current surrounded its land

"The average January temperature in Reykjavík is zero degrees Centigrade. 

That is considerably warmer than Beijing and about the same as Vancouver. 

Not bad for somewhere at the same latitude as Alaska"-wowair

Departure: 20 December

Me and Indi unfortunately should departed separately to other four, because we were the late comer ,and they already bought all the tickets far before us

Their flight was far more expensive when we were about to book one

So we choose another flight instead

Iceland Air. Heathrow Airport.

We arrived two hour before flight.
Think it was too early to enter the gate after check in, we took our time to drink shoot of coffe, took a selfie, and event tidy up our bag!

It turns out to be a mistake
Heathrow is the busiest airport ever, and so the bagage scanning queue is severe.

We enter the gate 10 minutes before boarding

Moreover, I forgot to took out some liquid before the scanning process

Hence, my lugage didnt made it to the secure tray, and they should check it further.

Its almost boarding time!
And I still wait for my bag to be checked.

Once they finished with checking my bag, we sprint as fast as we could to the gate.

And it couldnt be worst that our gate is 15 minutes by walk according to the information board

I couldnt think, just ran as fast as I could

When I arived in front of the gate, the screen showed that..

The airplane is delayed for half hour.

Oh, Thanks Allah!

Day 1: 20 December
Arrived in the airport late night
Took the pre-ordered bus named 'Greyline' to reach our hostel
In Iceland there are no public transportation, so we should book the transportation previously

Outside the airport we wished to be welcomed by pile of snow
But there was no snow outside
A bit dissapointed
But along the way to hostel
We saw few snow outside the window
Not bad

We forgot to let the owner know that we gonna come after midnight
It is important to check whether the hostel has 24 hour reception or not
When we arrived in the hostel
We need to wait for half an hour in the cold weather
Feeling bad for ringing the bell continously
Before the host opened the door for us while asking, why we didnt let him know previously

Igdlo Hostel

Our hostel is quite nice and homey
We love it

Front view

Day 2:21 December
Short sleep but very comfy
We woke up at 5 am to be picked up by our pre-booked tour
There are only two option for visiting tourist attraction in Iceland
Either by book a tour or rent a car
Renting a car on winter should be considered carefully
The road is slippery due to snow
Unskilled driver will slipped easily on the snowy road

We went outside the hostel at 5 am
It still dark outside
The sun was rise around 11 am that time

We were surprised by the snow mound outside the fence
I didnt notice the snow when we arrived previously

First time touching snow

The travel picked us at he nearby hostel

First destination is the well known blue lagoon

Blue Lagoon

Its probably not a natural hot water

But the silica water is heated with the natural geothermal source

It was so serene and beautiful

Spring bath is a brilliant decision even on winter

It was 1 deg. C outside but so warm inside the water

There is free mud mask inside the lagoon

So much fun

We spent the whole first day for blue lagoon

The sun is only shining for four hours on winter in Iceland

Iceland is surely very expensive

Half of my scandinavian trip budget is spent in Iceland, while the rest is divided for other three countries

In blue lagoon, one sandwich like in picture cost 1500 Iceland kron (around 10 £) and sushi cost 20 £.

Sandwich 

After bathing and ate a decent food (I bought the chepest one!)

We walked to the bus park area

And suddenly, heavy snow fell from sky

It was so beautiful

We were too excited 

I couldnt describe how I felt

My first snowfall

Outside the springwater pool

Back to Reyk

Jumped off the travel car in front of the alley to our hostel

So surprise of thick snow everywhere

We found a huge grass field covered in snow in front of the alley

Running crazily, laughing freely of seeing this

We spent hours playing there till sunset

Our first snow field

Indi 

Night came

We rest a bit

And prepare for dinner

Outside was so cold

But we were too hungry to stay home 

Someone too hungry, ate pop mie 'instant noodle abroad is absolutely best feeling ever.
She could not ate that alone, off course we intervene!

We visited the city center

Walking by 15 minutes more or less

We passed by the well known church Hallgrímskirkja

That style tho ..kindergarten students

Tata has an appointment with his Iceland friend

He suggest a cafee at the downtown Reyk named Vegamot

Arrived at the bistro
They have icelandic signature dish!
Deer burger was the best for me
Lobster Pizza comes second
And the red chicken fillet (I forgot the name) was quite good too!

Icelandic Dinner

After dinner, we walked around

The city center is the most 'homey' city center for me ever

No building

Only one or two floor shop like house along the way

We look at some nice icelandic sweater shops

And I bought two, cheapest available, for souvenir

And as a promise that someday I'll go back with him

On the way back from dinner

We found this cute Gluhwein stall beside the road

The traditional stall and the kind owner gestures made us curious

'What is that' 'what they sell'

Glogg-Gluhwein

Gluhwein words is mainly used in european midland to refer the hot drink made from wine and spice

But in Nordic country, The Gluhwein is called Glogg

It made from fruit and nuts

They explain to us kindly, that it doesnt contains wine at all

It turns out to be Nordic special hot drink, and so popular on winter or holiday

Snowing heavily

Walking again
The snow falling heavily
My first snow falls
It is too precious


Day 2: 22 December

We took the tour of south coast and glacier walk for the whole day
Indina took another tour
She booked Ice caving package for two days
She'll join another people who reserved the same tour, and they'll caving together
What a brave woman ;)

First destination is the Skogafoss waterfall

There are a lot of godessly beautiful waterfall in Iceland

The closest to town is Gulfoss
At first we almost split the group into two because Me and Edo did not have the heart to spend lot of money on ice hiking package, so we prefer the cheaper one
But, Garya being so determine in persuade us to stay as one group
She shoot her number one provoking ability on me and Edo
Nice try
Cause we finally gave up
Thinking the same frame as Garya 'memmories is more precious than money'!
The package we choose is Skogafoss waterfall+southern coast+glacier hike
The sceneray along the way is magnificence
Snow, white land as wide as eyes can see
Never ever regret going to Iceland on winter
And when I have chance to go back to Iceland, I still choose winter

Snowy Picture Hunting

Skogafoss waterfall is half frozen that day
The small river besides the field is so beautiful
We played ice sliding on the thin ice layer
That was so fun

Playing ice sliding with shoes only

Thinking its too fun, Edo decided to slide down and landed on his butt
On the bus, we realized somethin weird
No..smell weird
It turns out that the ice layers He used to slide is where the horse took pee or else
We laugh so hard, and bear the smell along the way
That was unforgetable

Southern coast
Iceland is a volcano land
Hence it has black sand on many area
The beach, glacier soil beneath the ice layer

Black Sand Beach

Behind the shooted pic

Random pose, checked!

Garya

 After south coast
We head to the final destination which is also the peak of the trip
Glacier hike
We arrived there around 2 pm
So few time left, because the sun was set at 4 pm that day
Some guide welcomed us, and explained the hiking field
They gave us set of hiking equipment consist of Crampons (special shoes with spikes), and Ice axes
Each group has one guide
Ours is Marcus
An Icelander

Ice hiking

Eyjafjallajokull glacier

The hike was like.. very short for me
I wish it would be longer
But the sun is setted
Even the tour duration was shorter in Winter than Summer
The glacier is far beautiful in winter, the ice is greener and bluer than Summer hike (said Marcus)

North of the walls

After the tour finished, we dropped by the bus at the town centre
We walk a bit to visit the icelandic opera house
According to google, the opera house was designed like shimmering icebergs crashed into the land
The pool in front of it (behind us) was so pretty

The smell was everlasting, lol

DAY 3: 23 December

The next morning
Sadly its time to go home
We picked up by our pre-ordered travel agent in the nearby hostel
Heading to the airport to continue our journey to the next Nordic countries
I was so in love with Iceland
Willing 100% to go back someday
But next time visisting Iceland will be on road trip
Tottally worth to try

Snowy airport field

Finally, here are some tips from me that might be useful to consider;

1. If you seriously want to hunt the Norther light, I sugest you to download the app in google store. If its shows high possibility than you can rest assure, but if otherwise, its better to rent car and chasing the light far north or join the private 'Northern light tour'. Common Northern light tour, even if they give you 100% money back guarantee, will easily cancel the schedule if the possibility of aurora is small. But private tour, more expensive for sure, will chase one no matter what happened. Self0drive, car-rent is cheaper so will be a good option too.

2. Even if winter holiday, identical to Christmast, and all the prices (flight, food, tour, etc) will be expensive. I still choose winter over summer to visit Iceland. why? The glacier is more beautiful, the 'Northern light' is at its strongest possibility, and its less crowded than summer. Winter tickets is expensive beacause many local people going back home to visit their family to celebrate Christmast together, but not as many as summer tourist.

3. Never ever underestimate the time in airport. The layout of every airport and their respective terminal is different to one another. There are some airport that has far distant between the terminal

Its always better early than late

Milea

Its been three stright days to finish Milea.

Milea Adnan Hussain, a graceful name.

Me and my friend, agree that its not Dilan that lucky to get the beauty of the school. 

Instead, Milea is the lucky one to get such a smart Dilan.

How can Dilan loves Milea, beside her physical appearance off course (that is too common for a couple start to interest each other).

And my curiosity is answered in 'MILEA' books.

.

"As far as I know, She always shows up in a good sight, even when she ate the terrible 'kupat tahu' from school canteen.

She walks with a good posture and appropriate clothes, even I'm so sure that she will stay beautiful when she doesn't wear any clothes

If I may argue, I think its not all about appearance, but also reflection of her pleasant personality.

With her joyful demeanor, she can accept people with playful attitude and did not feel weird for that"-Dilan

.

And so is the review from people who read Dilan and Milea said that this book is not only entertain the reader about the old time Bandung, the love story between two teenager, but also teach us lessons. 

For men, it give a clue on how to get close and take woman heart. 

I dont know how other reader perception to what Pidi baiq portray about Dilan ability to attract Milea, but for me, its all about laugh. 

A laugh, bunch of jokes, and showing attention are pretty enough to take one heart.   

And for women

This lesson is also what I learn not so long time ago

About how to wear proper clothes, keeping a good posture, when walking, eating, or else.

And being able to talk about many thing in a flexible manner.

To be able to have a connection in talking about many thing, becoming best friend with books or morning news is such a must.

Finally,

These are just my mere humble perception on Dilan trilogy.

Reading those books, was absolutely giving me a pleasure.
This book is about perspectives
A same thing in the eye of woman and man
Even we couldnt generelized, but this is a bit hint that might be most of us agree

Pidi has good words 

It is very meaningful and his point truely conveyed to hearts

.

And here are some fragment from the novel

"Aku percaya orang yang paling egois sebenarnya adalah orang yang paling merasa tidak aman didunia. Menyembunyikan emosi hanya untuk terlihat seperti baik baik saja padahal sesungguhnya menyimpan berjuta pikiran di kepalanya"

"Aku akan mengatakan dari perspektif sebagai laki laki bahwa itu lebih sulit untuk berkomunikasi secara efektif ketika ada begitu banyak emosi berputar putar di sekitarmu"

"Memang akan begitu, akan selalu menjadi hal penting di dalam perasaan seorang perempuan untuk membantu pacarnya tumbuh menjadi apa apa yang sesuai dengan harapannya, yang sesuai dengan keinginannya, dan menjauh dari apa apa yang akan merusak kehidupannya"

DILAN

I was spending this week to finish two books of Dilan and one of Milea.
First time I know Dilan" is from my best friend who live in Bandung, she text me some words and the picture from the book.
Then, curiousity brought me to Gramedia once I touch Indonesia.
But I have not really bought the book, until I finished "BRISTOL" that was written by my friend from Bandung too.
.
I was not expecting a lot from it
Oh..just another best seller novel
But I do believe, that it is my another 'Great perhaps'
Great Perhaps' that can give me something I need.

1/3 of books

Once I start reading it
I did not like it
A common love story of beautiful woman
And a popular man that far too romantic to be true
Its too perfect
And I dont like it

But then I get it
I do really get
Why Dilan,
Why we should agree that he is special.

After found out that Dilan deserve the title of best seller character
I question Milea, why Milea?
Isnt she just another beautiful girl, with an ability in his atittude to gracefully attract attention
(this latter will be answered in my next post:Milea)

Half of book

Dilan
When I read his mind in this book
He was that crazy
Made me remember about Olivia
The surprise
The ridiculous words in Dilan's head
How he handle serious things with silly answer
I know why he deserved to be love in this book
And I feels Lea heart
.
Dilan is far from Him

2/3 of book

Chapter unraveled
Its truely beautiful in a crazy way
When Lea meet Bunda (Dilan's mom)
I remember that day
One of the most beautiful things that I recall
The first time I went to His house
His mom greet and hug him at the door
Then she look at me, and things turn warm
That night
.
So I know then, how the feeling to be accepted and love
By a family who raise such a special man
Familiar feeling
.

Last Chapter

Dilan is far from Him
Beacuse they are their own self
But their act, is under the same label in my heart
"Accepted, Loved, Unique"
Just like Milea
Love in the first laugh

Finished
Dilan: 1990 is so much a warm hearted story
It bring me peace, to reminisce old things
It made me want to visit Bandung in 1990
I know its even before I was born! haha, but I want it so bad
The morning mist, cold weather, quiet night
Rain in December, Dago
I want to feel it more
.

Ah I want to meet her when I go there
And ask her how Bandung 1990 feels like


Pic: source1
source2

All about your heart

I recently love the song
Been skimming through lot of piece while sitting and typing my final project
Yet this capture my heart
And give me strength to do what I intend to do

"Oh, I've loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day
You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It's not about your scars
It's all about your heart"

Sky gazing

Miss a starry night so much
Sky gazing under thousand stars
Picturesque moon
The tranquillity ambience
To think and unthink
To feel in awe and accompanied by the sky occupant at the same time
To breathe

Rooftop sky of my old boarding house in Jakarta
Papandayan sky from camp-fire
Rinjani sky from hot water bath
maybe I could get some of UK starry night somewhere before going home


pic source:link

Black tea

I think I'm gonna miss today
Sitting beside the huge window
At the middle of busy noisy typing finger
Looking at the old building outside
Sipping the hot tea from the vending machine
Mind forth back between work and dreams

Such a nice weather outside
And I'm dreaming of a green green grass
Warm sunny day sleeping in the park
Sky gazing under million stars
Silver moon sparkling
Someday I'm gonna back to this country again
Its a promise

I love my today
How about you?

pic source: link

Sweet Disposition

We all know
Sweet things never come to soon
But often we forgot
And impatient take over
Rush the things that shouldn't rushed
Great thing take times, hard work and patient

Why not enjoying things we have now,
Lately, I do so
I start to enjoy the reaction kinetics that I used to hate,
I enjoy the oil and gas processing arrangement that once confused me a lot,
By questioning everything I dont know, bit of curiosity spices, and try to find the answer
I enjoy everyone around me
I enjoyed this city with whatever weather it overs,
I want my happiness to be as cheap as varies discounted dessert in the locals store nearby my apartment

And its a bliss when,
You can help to explain things to your friend that confused about work/study things
Or when you finally get the answer of question you've been questioning from book or friends
Or when you get compliment from your boss/supervisor for your report
Or when you make someone smile because of you

Because life is a ride in roller coaster,
The anxiety,
The doubt
The worries
Uncertainty about future
Bitter sweet of fight
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A kiss
A cry
Our right
Our wrong

While our blood still young
So young it runs,
Dont stop till its over
Wont stop to surrender

Pic source:picture

Fly on

Maybe sometime
We should let go
So things can flow like water
Arranged itself
Overall
We are not the best architect
God is

Amphetamine

The urge to come home in this Easter break is overwhelming
The effect to muffle it might be just cured by amphetamine

Tried everything to make it come true
But Its not my luck
God not permit me to do so
Including passport being hold in the embassy for a long time due to incomplete visa document, coursework,dissertation proposal and class that wont compromise, and bunch of other things.
A lot of friend that go home made it a bit hard to bear
But I should and would

University of Manchester Dance Competition 2016

Manchester

6 months ago stepped my feet in Manchester, and just have time to properly say Hello in Blog.
Time, mood, and so on, a bunch of reason that diminished few hours ago because of finally I have strong urge again to write.

Yeah so..Hello my rainy gloomy city
My home for the last 6 months and the next 6 months
My sanctuary for blue, red, and grey mood

I just watched a documentary movie about a British family that has mission to live like a Germany in German. When dinning together with their Germany neighbor, they asked them about their opinion about Britain. Their neighbor said its rainy, windy and gloomy.
Yeah they are correct.
I could not agree more.
But those what I seek.
Exactly what weather I seek.
If you have lived in such a hot, sunny country
You will plead God for a shade day, a cloudy day
Where the wind is flowing and skin is not hurt from burned by sun
Yes that's what I wish
But then
You got to appreciate things only when they gone
I called it now a "Sunlight sick"
The familia of 'Home Sick' and the other sick syndrome
Start to miss sunlight, and appreciate it more when you lose it

Manchester=Bogor+Bandung
Rainy, cold, windy, cloudy

I have been living my dream to live in high building
Seeing rain from my apartment window
Observe what all the tiny people busy down there
Where they want to go
What things they rushed for
While enjoying a cup of hot Camomile
Its so serene

But often times, when I enjoy the city
Such like..
The green grass hall behind Alan Gilbert Learning Common
The Imperial War museum
Egg Benedict at Moose
Old hearty scone at afternoon teacup
Or even just when on one rainy day gazing the city from my apartment window
I wished
I dearly wished
I could enjoy that with all my beloved one
All that I know longed to come here, and finally make their dream come true
And finally..
I closed my eyes, and gather the optimism in my mind
Someday it will come true
Universe will conspire to help them who dream

So, Hello Manchester
I hope someday they can come and enjoy you as well


Picture source

Looking For Alaska

The query lingering in my mind
What will people remember when we die

I often questioning, is it important to be remembered?
Do i want to be remembered
Doesnt make people remember us only bring them sadness

And i think, the dead, they'll never felt anything
Remembered or not
Who know they couldn't see the living, they couldn't interact with us totally
For all the bullshit is only happened in horror movie

Dont you think, what most important is idea
To inspire other people when we live
So that perhaps even we just talk simple things, or create small things,
It'll spark greater idea in the future

LIke Turing inspire computer machine
Like Bell inspire cell phone
Like Alaska inspire best prank ever in Culver Creek

People might die but idea lives forever

What great imagination you want to bring to reality?
What is your greatest perhaps?

Happy New Year

Its not going to Warsaw matter the most, nor Prague

I want to make more people laugh because of me

More people smile because of me

I want to be a more meaningful person

And bring happiness to people around

 

Midnight

Like a warrior in raven black armor
Amidst the wood under the faint moonlight
Refuse to stay away from darkness blanket
Refuse to stay away from her

Like a bet made in a black jack play
So mysterious it draw attention from all part
Refuse to distracted
Refuse to forgotten

Like midnight tonight
Cloudy misty dimly lit
Refuse to not fog the red moon
Refuse to not resemble the edginess in her mind

Karimun Jawa Trip- August 2014

I left my heart in Karimun
I left my heart for the wide shallow turquoise natural swimming pool
I left my heart for nemo
I left my heart for broken corals too

confuse?
Let me tell about my trip, as per usual i will provide my itinerary for days, and recommend what good and not

Day1 :


3.30 am
Arrived in Jepara at 3.30 am with dead eyes and broken bones (because of 24 hr road trip, we just arrived at home from Wonogiri at 8 pm and start to drive again at 12 am). We went to the mosque at central town, waiting for pray time, and rest a bit. At 5 am we went directly to the Kartini harbor, the guide said our ferry will arrived at 6 am and sailed at 7 pm.
So we took our breakfast at the local canteen in hurry, and prepare for the boat. The queue is already off when we ready to enter the ferry, its a peak season so we prepare for the crowded people scattering at the every corner of the ship.

Because its too crowded we got no space at main deck, so we held a mat at the bottom deck and just sat there. For 6 hour duration, i quite enjoyed it. Slept with sunglasses on, rambling on the stairs to see the scenery, ate cakes, and doing all holiday things to do. Laziness

.

12.00 pm
Our ferry, Siginjay, harbored in Karimun Jawa exactly at 12 pm, the beach was so clear even though its a busy harbour.

My expectation rose up, where else I could find a harbour without shiny oily water. We picked up by our guide and he drove us to a nice homestay named Arafah. We rest and had lunch upon the dining room. Our local treat was a bowl of delicious fish soup with coconut milk or we call it "Gulai Ikan". Its spicy hot and its heaven. Oh, wait, a lot more heaven will be told after this.

15.00 pm
Dad went somewhere related to fishing things with brothers while me and sister have so many list to do in Karimun beside the main sea tour. Based on the instagram screening, we show the picture that we desire to visit to our local guide. He said the pictures was a mangrove forest and Joko tuwo hill. Because mangrove forest located a bit far from our home stay and we need to rent a motorbike cost 40.000/hr, that afternoon we visited Joko tuwo hill first.
It takes not more than 15 minutes hikes up the green hill. The sunset is nice from above the hill. I have a good time there and took many amazing pictures.

I bet it nicer when its not too crowded.

19.00 pm
Dinner and rest.

Day2:

8.00 am
Sailed by wooden ship to the beautiful targets.

First stop was Cemara besar. Snorkeling time~ finally
Its not my first time snorkeling, but its my first time taking an underwater photography (Dive). Its wonderful. Its not that I can diving, I had helped by the guide , they push me far under the sea surface and took nice underwater photos. It such an amazing experience.

Next stop was Menjangan kecil island. The island is nice, but the snorkling spot was almost the same with Cemara Besar.

After that we went to Cemara Kecil island. While the first two destination is snorkling spot, this time its beachy beach. The tide was high enough, even its summer, well..you cant always predict Poseidon mood.
Our ship mored in Cemara Kecil island, the beach was white, beautiful, and clear. The guide grilled fishes by firewood while we playing on the beach.

16.00
Tanjung Gelam Beach

18.00
Harbour

Mom-Alan-Dad

Day3:

08.00
Harbour

09.00

First stop snorkling spot. I dont know what the spot name is, its beautiful, its really near Karimun Jawa island. The coral were more colorful than the snorkling spot on the first day.

Brother

Alan epic face

11.30

Geleang Island

Heaven. Truely amazing shallow beach ever. I dont even care for my skin burned so bad because of hours of playing and swimming in this natural swimming pool. Taking photo in this beach is an addiction, never enough. You gonna want to take more and more photo because of its too perfect. This is the only beach I met foreigners, and they even camp in there.

Haris

14.00

Same snorkling spot with the first one which I forgot the name, where I could met Nemo.

16.30

Shark captivity (Penangkaran Hiu). Its not worth to visit, i can't stand seeing shark captivated in the small  pool. And even worst ; Balloon fish, starfish, and stingray become a mere properties for visitor photo shoot. They seems in anguish when the visitors take turn to held them in their hand. I can't even stand to look at two small turtles placed in a bowl of sea water , toyed by a kid, I plan to throw them secretly to the sea, but then a visitor caught us and said we can't.

18.00
Arrived at homestay

Day 4

07.00
Took the express ship to Jepara.

Finish :)


*i'll complete this with pictures when i have time, Gosh. Sowryy :)