Manokwari from the air

I've been posting some of the photos on my photoblog, but I thought why not I'm also posting it here.
Here some view of Manokwari from the air, taken from plane's windows, from big aircraft like boeing 737-300 series to ATR and Cessna.

on the right corner is Abasi beach, a good spot to catch sunrise

and usually crowded on Sundays

 areas near Kwawi, East Manokwari

Fisherman village, along Sowi areas, West Manokwari

another view of Sowi areas

a blurry image of the whole Rendani airport, Manokwari

Mansinam island, 5 min away by boat from Kwawi, Manokwari

this island is my getaway when I need to get away from people :p

loves the shadow of coconut trees along the coast

Lemon island, the smaller neighboring island of Mansinam

almost could see the whole Manokwari, except
the Arfak mountain areas

There's a rainbow after the rain

I feel blessed that I could saw double rainbow twice! Both of them I saw in Sorong. The first one I saw around August 2011 and the recent one is on 7 June 2012. Too bad I don't bring a wider lens, so I only could capture some part of the rainbow. There also a bonus for me! I got to see beautiful bright sky just before the sun set behind the clouds.....

my first time seeing double rainbow in August 2011

double rainbow,  Sorong 22 August 2011

double rainbow, Sorong, 7 June 2012

Bright sky over Sorong on 7 June 2012

Exploring the other side of Manokwari

Before sunrise at Warkapi beach

On Sunday or Saturday, I used to go to the office as I don't know what else to do or where to go here in Manokwari, as my friends are limited to my colleagues at the office. But finally I met lot of new friends and the funny things is, I got to know my new friends in Manokwari through an email address given by my friend who currently living in other city in Papua. From one new friend, now expanded into one community group that usually gathered on the weekend and go from one beautiful place into another beautiful place. I feel so lucky that finally I could explore so many beautiful places which I don't think I will know the place if I go without them.

View to the sea from a
bridge, on the way to
Oransbari village

Last Saturday they asked me to join them exploring the mountainous area in Manokwari and to go there it needs considerably long hour-ride. So they pick me at 3 a.m and then touring the outskirts areas of Manokwari, from waiting sun rises at Warkapi, having breakfast at Oransbari village and still at Oransbari, we stopped at a small village caused we saw many lotus flower in a pond just on the side of the road and ended at Neney village to see the waterfall.

They didn't tell me that it took est. 1 hour walk to reach the waterfall, with the path is over looking the beautiful mountainous areas. Although it's very tiring walk, but when I saw the waterfall, all my tiredness gone! The water a bit cold but so refreshing....

During the walk to waterfall, I saw so many beautiful butterflies and many other creatures, including a blue bee! It is my first time saw a blue bee :D

After spending a few hour at the waterfall we decided to heading back to Manokwari. The rain started to fall when we walk back to where we park the car, which is another one hour walk :)

On the way back to Manokwari, the rain stopped and left the clear blue sky with moon hanging on the sky. We dediced to take a break and capturing the moon (actually I forced them to stop, so I could take a picture of the moon hehe...they were so kind, so they couldn't say no to my request....).

Finally, I get home at 8pm. It is a tiring day yet I am grateful to see many beautiful places at the remote areas of Manokwari. Hopefully they still want me to join them in their next trip exploring Manokwari...

reflection at a pond full of lotus 

small creek, on the way to the waterfall, Neney village

a blue bee, loves the shiny blue color:)

Waterfall at Neney village, Ransiki

the moon rises behind a tall tree

Catching sun rises in Manokwari

Got invitation from some friends here in Manokwari, if I want to join them hunting for sunrise. Despite my laziness of getting up early, who could refuse the offer when they said they will pick me up at home (they certainly knows that I couldn't get ojek/motorbike taxi at 4.30am). Sadly today they texted me again to see sunrise from another place, but apparently I was still enjoying my dream, so I didn't hear them until I got up at 6am :D

So here are some of the picture that I managed to capture the last 2 days becoming an early riser, at Abasi beach and Aipiri beach, Manokwari.

morning light, before sunrise at Abasi beach

sun rises behind clouds, Abasi beach

golden morning at Abasi beach

loves the early light just before the sun rises to the sky,
Aipiri beach

here comes the sun, Aipiri beach

sun rises at the horizon, Aipiri beach

Living the life in Manokwari…

Rendani airport, Manokwari from the air

I never been to Papua before, so when I said I’m gonna taking up a post in Manokwari, I’ve been clouded with many information on security issues, living conditions etc…etc… and it turned out not like as most people have said….

Bakaro beach

Although Manokwari is a capital city of West Papua, it couldn’t be compared with other provincial capital in western part of Indonesia. So far, living in Manokwari is like living in a small town somewhere in any part of Indonesia, with no chained mall or theatre and a laid back atmosphere…blue sky, beautiful beaches and mountainous areas… so many places to explore! 

Well, Manokwari has so many places to offer for people who like trekking, birding, snorkeling and diving. I only manage to see a little of it and still craving for more...

By the way, those who enjoy beers or any alcoholic drinks, sorry… you couldn’t find it here, even in a 4 star hotel, as its not permitted to be sold in Manokwari by local law!

Anyway… although I should live away from my hubby and children (missing them a lot!), I enjoy living the life in ManokwariJ 

and here are some of the reasons why....

Home after collecting firewood - Mansinam island

a small waterfall at Maripi village

Anggi lake showered with early morning light

Anggi lake just before sunset

Hello there...

Finally, thanks to google one policy so I could recover my blog...what a relieve:)

Been away for a while...well it's more than a while apparently, it's been a year..gosh couldn't tell how time flies, but I'm happy now to have access to this blog again...

So, its time to gathered my photos and stories that I've been put on hold..

Just a perfect cheery mood on a cloudy Saturday in Manokwari, West Papua:D

Jakarta....my Jakarta – Kota Tua #2: Wayang Museum

I reached the Museum Wayang (Puppet museum) after 5 minutes walk from Bank Mandiri museum. Located on the left side of the heritage complex in Kota Tua. Museum wayang housed in old church built in 1640 by VOC and functioned as a de oude Hollandsche Kerk until 1732. On 1733 the church renovated and named de nieuwe Hollandsche Kerk and continues functioned as a church until the earthquake on 1808 ruined the building. On 1912 after the building reconstructed, Geo Wehry & Co. functioned this building as their warehouse, but then in 1938 the building renovated again to match the surrounding buildings style, from new renaissance style and adjusted into a popular style during Dutch colonial time.

Enough said about the building, after paid IDR 2,000 entrance fee I begin wandering the museum, even the museum itself not as big as other museum in Jakarta, it is housed a big collection of any kind of puppet from accross Indonesia, there is even a collection of wooden puppet that reflecting the stories of a battle of local batavian (or betawi) hero ‘Si Pitung’ toward Dutch colonization with some puppet described as Dutch colonial people including the Dutch colonial army.

Various kind of puppets and masks, wooden puppets and shadow puppets, big and small puppets being displayed in this museum, the shadow puppets mainly comes from Java, stretches from West to East Java with different material made, the famous shadow puppet is made from cow skin, but there are many wayang displayed in here made from grass and other which is interesting to see and making a comparation on the form/shape of the same character made in different materials. the characters of wooden puppet and shadow puppets mainly were from Ramayana or Mahabharata epic. While the wooden puppet comes not only from Java but also comes from Tanah Karo, Batak, North Sumatera. (All this time I always thought that wooden puppet only could be found in Java..silly meL).

Wayang museum also have puppet collection from Cambodia, France, Malaysia, Thailand and Suriname. In this museum we could also found some traditional musical instrument such as Gamelan. It is a mind opening experience to me, as Indonesian, I don’t think I know all the form of wayangs if I am not visiting this museum....afterall wayang already acknowledged as the world heritage of masterpiece creation by UNESCO on 2003, so it is worthed for a visit.

Please bear in mind that all museums in Jakarta closes on Monday and stays open on Tuesday – Sunday from 09.00  - 15.00.

Jakarta...my Jakarta - Kota Tua #1: Bank Mandiri Museum

Finally... after one and half year living in Lombok, now its time for me to go back to Jakarta. It’s certainly different.. moving back from a quiet and beautiful Lombok to a hustle bustle city of Jakarta. Now it’s time for me to get to know again with Jakarta and I think the best time to start wandering in Jakarta is the Kota Tua area, the old town area where many heritage building from Dutch colonial era could be found.

The last time I’ve been in Kota Tua for a serious trip was in 1993! I mean really exploring the Kota Tua part with visiting all the museums, taking a walk through the kampung (village) around Kota Tua and do some paddling with small boat or perahu at Sunda Kelapa port were at 1993! Couldn’t believe it myself... wow... that long! What a shame!

So, in a hot day....it is! At 9 am in the morning, it’s already 34°C! I brave myself to go to the old town in Jakarta. Using public transport like busway (trans Jakarta bus) only cost me IDR 3.500  and less traffic from home to Kota.

My first destination is Bank Mandiri museum located just accross the busway shelter in Kota. So when I entered the building, I completely forgot that this museum were located in a very crowded area, I couldn’t hear any sounds, no bajajs (tuktuk), no buses, no angkot sounds... so peaceful and  calm compared to the condition outside the building.  After bought the entrance ticket, which only IDR 2.000,  at the first floor I was greet by life size statue of the bank security from the old days or let say from the ancient time:D

It seems that I was the only visitor, from the time I enter the building until finished my exploration 1.5 hour later I only met the museum staff and people who do the building renovation. Is it because museums still not a popular destination or just because I came during working days/hours?

Bank Mandiri museum housed in a 4 storeys art deco building ex Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij (NHM) or Factorij Batavia built in 1929. In 1960 NHM become the Indonesian Export Import Bank and through the years has changed several times with many names and today it called Bank Mandiri.

At the first floor the lay out was sets like a bank business area, where the stools prepared for customer who deposited the money. And it set like the banking at colonial era where the bank transaction area for European/Dutch is different with the other ethic like Chinese. After looking around, I went to the second floor.  While I climbed the stairs I was amazed with the stained glass window that dominated the whole walls. It is a very beautiful stained glass art from 1800 era that tells a story of activities at different season in Netherlands.

I definitely not coming at the right time, as one of the staff informed me that some of the building area were being renovated or closed for maintenance, so some of the painting was not in place, but still many things that I could see in here. There weren’t much to see at 3rd and 4th floor, but on the way down I was able to use the old lift. After finished with Bank Mandiri museum, I continue my exploration in Kota Tua with visiting museum Wayang or Pupet museum, around 300m from Bank Mandiri museum.

For more information on Bank Mandiri museum, could be found in http://www.wisatamuseum.com

the stained glass window

images in the stained window

Intriguing horse race in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara

When my colleagues planning to do field visit to Sumbawa and Bima I couldn’t resist to ask if I could come along with them (well of course I’d be responsible for my own expenses). So while they were arranging their trip. I was hoping that I could get my leave approved :D. 

After a few discussion on how is best to travel, as we were not heading from the same city and as I never travel to Bima before so I book a return flight with different route wishing that I could see more from the air as the coming and going is in different route.  I took a flight to Sumbawa Besar from Mataram and spent 2 days in Sumbawa Besar. From Sumbawa we decided renting a car to go to Bima. It took 5 hour drive from Sumbawa to Bima.  It’s tiring as the some of the road were not in good condition, but it was compensated with a beautiful view along the way. We spent another 2 days in Bima and back to Mataram with transit in Denpasar, Bali for a few hours.

I am not going to write about Sumbawa yet, but I am going to share my experience in watching horse race in Bima.

We were considered our self lucky that we came at the time of horse race final event in commemorating West Nusa Tenggara Province anniversary. It was a big horse racing event in Bima and we agreed that we have to watch it.

We came a bit late in the afternoon, fortunately there race still going on. I knew that I am going to see a crowd but I am not expected the BIG crowd, perhaps its like watching soccer or football in other place, the arena were over crowded so some people watching the race from unlikely places such as from tree branches and from the roof and/or the wall on the building surounding the arena... When we bought the ticket we were warned that we might not get a seat, but curiosity is winning this time:D, we still determined to go inside to see the race, either seated or not.

The horse race or pacoa jara in local language are using local breed horse which are small horses kind of pony sized horses. But what amazed and concerned me most is the jockey. The jockeys in this race were children aged 6 to 8 years old! Amazed because in such a very young age they could handle horses in a race, and concerned that in the circumstances like horse racing the likely accident is high and those little jockeys faced with a dangerous situation.

a tired little jockey

According to one of the horse trainer, the jockey trained mostly from age 4 and start to participate in horse race at age 6.  During the race no saddles used and those little jockeys could seat easily on the horses which I don’t think I could do without a saddle. At 5 pm we agreed that we’ve seen enough and we went back to the town to find something to eat...grilled fish by the beach sounds tempting...

After the race my mind still wondering about the children – the little jockeys. I am interested to see more of the life and/or the training that those little jockeys do. Wish I could meet someone that could bring me to see it.

determined little jockeys

no saddles being used in this race

A tease of Bromo

I’ve dreamed to come to Bromo since I was still in high school but never got a chance until last year. I was so fascinated by stories and pictures about Bromo and got curious about it. So in October 2010, finally I spent a weekend in Bromo. Yipppyyyy, I’m very excited!!!!

Bromo is part of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National park, situated around 145 km (90 miles) from East Java capital, Surabaya. The mount Bromo (2,329metres) itself easily recognize as the cap fully blown at previous eruption and left the crater with frequently belches with sulphur smoke. Mount Bromo located side by side with mount Batok (2,470 metres) and surrounded by a vast sea of sand and savanna.

The main destination ofcourse the Bromo crater which to get there we have to climb hundreds of steps!. I haven’t managed to go there yet in this trip, so I have a reason to come back to Bromo ;p, but unfortunately couldn’t do it soon since mount Bromo just erupted twice on 23 and 27 January 2011 and still on alert status as an outcome of the current escalated eruptive activity at the site.

Besides the crater, Bromo also famous for its sea of sand which also known as whispering sand and the savanna. I only was passing through the sea of sand to get to the savanna. The savanna in Bromo is different from the savanna I saw in Sumbawa island, West Nusa Tenggara. Despites the location itself in an altitude of more or less 2,000 metres indeed makes the savanna different from the dry land of Sumbawa.

Certainly a weekend visit is not enough to see many interesting places around Bromo, so I promise myself that I will be back to Bromo soon after it is safe again, cause I couldn’t see the famous sunrise in mount Bromo as the fog is too thick and drown the mountains in it so I could only see the tip of mount Semeru (3,676 metres). It is definitely a tease for me….it’s another reason to comeback there…..

Smoking mt. Bromo (left) and mt. Batok (right)

Sunrise looming over a thick fog

sunrise viewed from mt. Pananjakan

can't get enough of blue morning sky over hilly mt. Pananjakan

the very tip of mt. Semeru viewed from mt. Pananjakan

the hilly sides of savanna, Bromo

the savanna, Bromo

a horse rider looks tiny in the middle of savanna

Mr. Fadly and his gorgeous horse, Sultan