Road to Official Attempt of Guinness World Record for the Longest Human Chain, the Most People Diving Simultaneously and Unfurled Flag Underwater

Cheers from Manado

Here we go!

I officially joined the Official Attempt of Guinness World Record for the Longest Human Chain, the Most People Diving Simultaneously and Unfurled Flag Underwater 2019!

I came to this event with Lampung Corona Diving Club, my club, together with divers from Polisi Air dan Udara or Air and Water Police from Polda Lampung, as well as other diving clubs in Lampung.

welcome to Manado

I am lucky that I can join Corona Diving club Lampung!
It is such a fun team as I have joined since 2012 as my Dive Master, Mr. SInek Kurniawan, taught me how to dive in Lampung.
This time, it is 14 of us.. Om Sinek, Pak Donny, Ibu Tresna, Pak Basri, Ivan, Pak Yusman, Jonathan, Ibu Melly, Ibu Julie, Pak Wahyu, Abi, Marina, Wendy and I. We also have our dearest diving buddies from Lampung Dive Center, Jane, Ali and Andrew.

And the team from Polisi Air dan Udara Lampung and Bhayangkari members are also awesome! The Director, Pak Usman, and team really worked hard for the preparation of the participation od Lampungnese team in this historical event. Kuddos, pak! Thank you so very much for everything indeed.
I have the privilege to share this journey with them!

With Director of Air and Water Police as well as member of Bhayangkari Lampung

We arrived in Manado, North Sulawesi, on August 1st, 2019.
I took 3 days off for this special event and as we arrived, we went to the registration desk as well as the venue of the diving to check things out.
We have to have our own, unique QR code to be scanned in 5 points, starting from registration, getting the tank, dive in, dive out, and returning the tank as well as the weight.
We have to get our gear ready and that includes our BCD as well as other gears needed like mask, fins, weight and its belt, as well as camera if you have it.

the goodie bag

For sure, Manado is amazingly beautiful!
I came here 3 times already and I never get bored at all.
When we arrived the day before the D-day, we enjoyed browsing around the venue to check our designated tent as well as the bazaar where official merchandises, WASI corner, some sponsors' tents and discounted diving gear for those who want to get them. We had some local food and other souvenirs from Manado. It was fun indeed.

The venue of our diving

In total, there are 61 divers coming from Lampung joining this event.

The event was held in beautiful Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, from August 1 - 3, 2019.

Morning from Manado

WASI, Wanita Selam Indonesia, or Indonesan Women Divers, chaired by Ibu Tri Tito K, is the organizer of this event, supported by BRI, Traveloka, My Pertamina, Mayora, and so many other sponsors.

We dived at Manado Beach at Megamas complex in this land of the smiling people.
Officially, 3131 divers were registered!
As for the unfurled flag of Bendera Merah Putih, Indonesian flag, the size of it is 1406 square meter!

We have more than 500 divers breaking the record for the longest human chain and as I said before, 3131 divers diving simultaneously.

Super happy me!

I was obviously beyond excited!
And surely proud to join this once - in - a - lifetime experience !
And coming back to Manado is always pure fun!

This is indeed sweet presents for the 74th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 17, 2019, as 3 Guinness World Records were now held by Indonesia!

Check out some photos and videos of the Road to Official Attempt of Guinness World Record for the Longest Human Chain, the Most People Diving Simultaneously and Unfurled Flag Underwater 2019! 

Getting ready!

Don't forget to check out my YouTube video as well for the preparation of this event.

And for sure I will be back with more story, photos and videos from this event!

Cheers!

WW: Marvelous Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

How I miss marvelous Manado and Lembeh, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

at Bunaken...

on my way to Bunaken Island...

Lembeh and its crystal clear water :)

Missing the breathtaking underwater world of Indonesia

Entah kenapa..
Beberapa hari ini saya merasa ada yang tidak pas.
Tidak enak.
Membuat gundah...

I just don't know why I feel a bit 'off' lately.

Well, it's normal though :).
Perhaps I'm just tired..

Btw, jarang-jarang mellow seperti ini, saya pikir-pikir apa karena kurang piknik ya?
Soalnya banyak teman-teman yang posting atau merespons di sosial media dengan saran piknik kalau sedang gundah :).
Padahal saya selalu mencoba untuk keluar menikmati indahnya musim gugur di New York yang memang cantik luar biasa. At least for me.

We wandered around New York Botanical Garden, Central Park, and Astoria Park to fully enjoy the breathtaking autumn in New York. 

But back to the office, I still feel something is missing.
Terribly.

Yah, mungkin saya memang kurang piknik.
Sepertinya saya kangen tanah air.
Iya, saya kangen piknik di tanah air :).
Dan menyelam...hobi saya yang sudah lama absen dilakukan.

Looking at those breathtaking walls with its creatures..
Swimming along with turtles and school of fish..
Taking pictures here and there.. 
Taking underwater selfie again and again..

underwater selfie? why not :p....

Watching clown fish ..
Or just simply let my body float around in the depth of the sea..

Aaah, ini judulnya menyiksa diri yaaa
Dan dilalahnya, saya baru baca postingan Eka,blogger traveler ngetop yang rajin wara-wiri, yang baru aja main ke Manado, salah satu spot diving favorit saya. Atau lihat postingan path MF Abdullah, another blogger friend,  yang sedang menikmatinya indahnya Sulawesi, termasuk alam bawah lautnya.

Kalau sudah begini, hiburan saya hanya melihat koleksi foto-foto bawah laut yang sempat saya ambil saat menyelam di tanah air.

Dan sepertinya ada beberapa foto yang belum pernah saya publish juga :).
Boleh yaaa saya share di sini.

Most of them where taken in Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi.

blue...

recognize this fish from Finding Nemo? :)

so close..so happy :)

Dan memang alam bawah laut Indonesia cantiiiik bangeeeet

isn't he cute :)

Diving in Indonesia is what I love.
And I sincerely hope I can try diving here at the US and the Carribean as well.
Gotta save some money to have those awesome holidays :)

What would you do if you're feeling a bit off?

Wherever you may be...

And I know my Rabb will always be with me..

wherever you may be...

Wherever  I may be...

Bunaken, Manado

The clear blue sky at Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Join us on Skywatch Friday

I want to diveeeee....

While enjoying winter and its never-ending snowy days here, my heart terribly misses my family and the warmth and endless beauty of my hometown. 

Okaaay..I know...
I have been complaining  about it lately. 
Sounds like a broken record...
But the weather has been very unfriendly these days, especially the freezing wind.

And sometimes, whenever I have some free time, I keep looking at my social media accounts. It make things worse..Like the more I see and look through my FB albums, the more I miss home. And whenever I look at my PC, I accidentally ended up checking my hard drive and open my underwater photos again and again :(.

What's happening to me? 

Clear blue sky, warm weather, turquoise water, salty air, great diving buddies...

jumping high in Bunaken with my diving buddies :)

Gosh I miss them all...

Especially our serene underwater world...like the one in Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi, as well in Lampung...

my underwater selfie ")...

I even miss its strange yet fascinating creatures, like this mimic octopus...

taken in Lembeh, Manado..

The scorpion fish...

the Frog fish...

the Pygmi seahorses...

And even this fuchsia corals...

And back home in Lampung, I certainly have a lot to miss...
From its eclectic clams to tiny lion fish...

Tanjung Putus, Lampung

From its purple anemones and corals, cute star fish, to Mr. Turtle...

taken in Tanjung Putus, Lampung..

my lovely purple at Batu Mandi, Lampung

Mr. T...taken in Tegal Island, Lampung

at Batu Mandi, Lampung...

I know I can definitely dive here in the US or the Caribbean as well, but I simply have to wait until the weather is much warmer. 

Well, It won't be that long, will it?

So I can swim along with nemo again...soon :)

Meanwhile....lemme get back to my hard drive collection...
Don't you miss warmer weather?

Turnamen Foto Perjalanan Ronde ke-52: Framing

I just don't wanna miss it :)

Rasanya rugi sendiri kalau ngg ikutan Turnamen Foto Perjalanan dan ronde ke-52 kali ini temanya adalah framing dan hostnya adalah Depzh :)..
Sebenernya punya banyak stok foto, sampai bingung mau yang mana hihihi #halaaahgayaa.. 

Well, I have to say my technique is far below the standard but whenever I see something nice, I just capture it :p

Taken from one lovely corner of La Rascasse resort, Manado...
Overlooking Bunaken and Manado Tua islands, Manado, North Sulawesi, in my beautiful Indonesia ...

Menunggu sapa langit biru ...

let me through, please :)...

Foto ini diikutsertakan dalam Turnamen Foto Perjalanan Ronde ke-52

Underwater adventure: Manado Chapter #Bunaken

Continuing my little underwater adventure in remarkable INDONESIA, my one and only country...

Next destination is MANADO...

squeezing my oooh-sooo-busy schedule (yeaaah riteee..), I managed to sneak out on friday afternoon and chasing my diving group for great underwater adventures in Lembeh and Bunaken, Manado...

PRECIOUS...

Enjoying every minute of my stay there..6 lovely dives certainly made my days :D..

Well, before I came back with more details, some photos as a teaser :D..

Dude, wait for meeee...instantly remember Finding Nemo movie :D...Lekuan II site, Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi

...

La Rascasse...or famously known as Lion Fish...beautiful, yet dangerous... Lekuan II site, Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi

I and the large Triton...Fukui point site, Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi

clear blue sea at Fukui point site, Bunaken,Manado, North Sulawesi

Clown fish are certainly everywhereeee....