Showing posts with label West Java. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Java. Show all posts

WW: Jatiluhur Dam, Purwakarta, West Java


On our way back from Bandung, we decided to stop by at Jatiluhur, Purwakarta.

This city is famous as the location of the biggest dam and hydropower in Indonesia, Waduk Ir. H. Juanda or famouly known as Waduk Jatiluhur.

Built in 1957 by the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and inaugurated in 1967 by his successor, President Soeharto, this rockfill dam is surely huge. Surrounded by Mount Lembu, this lovely water reservoir provides a serene and calm ambience, with natural landscapes and fresh air. Truly a lovely spot to spend some times with your family.

We stopped here to admire the green scenery  and to have our late lunch.

Guess I have to visit this place again to explore more of the area.
Enjoy some photos we took along the way and hope you like it.





There is a hotel and resort here as well, d'Jatiluhur, managed by Grama Tirta company.
There are various rooms and cafes as well as restaurant by the dam where you can enjoy traditional cuisine and the sunset.



the tree house near the hotel..

Have you visited similar place as well?
Do you like it?

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Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World, Oh My Heartsie Girls and Friends


Enjoy the beauty of Indonesia :)
Hello again and happy to welcome you back on another round of our weekly link party.

Just a little update from my corner, where live has pretty much continue in its usual pace.
Meetings, draftings, reports, and more meetings are pretty much in the horizon.
But I's super excited as I will be back to 'school' in a way and join the senior diplomatic training.

I have probably mentioned it to you before and I have formally submitted my application.
I am happy to have a good TOEFL score as well.
647 out of 677.
Well, not that bad at all I suppose, after being away from school fro quite some times and the last time I did the test was probably 6 - 7 years ago.
I was a bite nervous I had no time at all to prepare but I crashed the night before reading the old book of TOEFL preparation and ended up sleeping faster LOL.
All in all, I guess I am ready now and I still have series of tests before I can formally join the program.

Meanwhile, my son is getting ready for the final test.
They also have so many tests in between as well, including cooking test!
So the boys, my son and 3 of his friends, came to the house last weekend to practice cooking nasi goreng, the famosu Indonesian fried rice.
It was hilarious to see them learning how to cook when they don't even know different types of onion nor never peel an onion before. It went well though..my son was pretty much do everything as he's quite a cook hehehe. Their nasi goreng tasted good and I sincerely hope they will produce the same thing during the real practice/test at school.Too bad I didn't take pictures of their work. I should have, shouldn't I?

I am spending some times in Bandung, the capital city of West Java, for meetings and this time, I took the train to go here.
It's always fun to take the train and I love the wonderful view we can definitely enjoy along the way.

Read also: Bandung - Jakarta by Train for more lovely photos and stories from the train.

View from the train

So now, let me invite you to our weekly Wonderful Wednesday and have fun with the links!


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WW: Sunyaragi Cave, Cirebon, West Java

Welcome to Sunyaragi Cave 

Another highlight of our family trip to Cirebon, West Java, on the last days of 2019.

It was only the 11 of us (out of God knows how many of my full family members :)) but for sure it was fun.

Previously, I have shared our family trip to Cirebon, West Java in a nutshell. 
Cirebon is about 3.5 hours drive from Jakarta, using the new highway we have.
Cirebon has long been known as an important city  along the western side of Java. 
It has a very rich history, dating back from the 14th century. 
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Cirebon played an vital role as a trading hub since it is strategically located along Java sea. As many foreign merchants came and went, Cirebon bears various influences from many countries, including China and India. During the colonial era, Cirebon also threw a big fight against the Dutch and Japanese, while on the religious side, Cirebon is the home of Sunan Gunung Jati, one of the famous nine Indonesian saints in Islam or Wali Songo. You see... many interesting aspects we can learn from this astonishing city.



Our first stop after driving  from Jakarta was actually Haji Apud's  famous Empal Gentong restaurant near the highway. But I will share our delicious culinary experience on another post. This time, I will take you to Sunyaragi Cave.


It looks like a temple yet it was made of strong corals.

Built in the 15th century by the Sultan of Cirebon, Sunyaragi Cave is very unique because it was made of corals. City of Cirebon is located near the sea and I guess that's why this cave was built this way. It gives a different shape and perspective as well, noting that this cave is not really a cave but more like a combination of meditation place and water palace.  
Judging from the remaining structure of this place, you still can see some springs and pools surrounding the cave. There are areas with bale or beds and meditation corners as well.


The old architectures

Tomb on top of one of the towers

The elephant statue..

Original Dutch ceramics

One of the meditation corners

can you see the spring and the pool?

Another goa or cave..

cheers from the 4 of us..

The name of this place itself comes from the Sanskrit, Sunya and Ragi.
Sunya means sunyi or silence while Ragi or raga means body.
So this is the place intended for those looking for a quiet place for meditation.
That is why it has many spots for individual meditation.
Well, I will definitely share more on this place, including its interesting history.

Here's the map that shows the exact location of the cave.


 

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WW: Family Trip to Cirebon, West Java

Cirebon, here we come!
Have you been to or heard about Cirebon before?



It is one of the historical cities in West Java, which happens to be the hometown of my late grandpa from my father's side.
The last time I visited this place was when I was 16 year-old. Ages ago!
Well, we did stop by for a while, only for a quick lunch, when we headed back home from Semarang to Jakarta.
But this time, we really spent the whole day exploring this lovely city again.


We went here with my mom and aunties as well as my little brother and his wife plus my niece. It was quite a big group, around 11 people all together.
The trip was fun and full of great food as well as laughter.
Plus visits to our ancestors' palaces.
Here are some snaps from Sunyaragi Palace, Sang Cipta Rasa Mosque and Kasepuhan Palace, Cirebon




The roof of the Mosque..all made of Teak Wood. Beautifully crafted!


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Orchid Forest Cikole, Fun Destination for All

"Ma, kita sudah sampai mana?
"I love it..udaranya dingin.  Enak ya ma?" Putri bungsuku, Obi, asyik membuka jendela mobil kami yang tengah melaju menuju Cikole.
"Kita mau ke Cikole, dek, tempat Bapak main sepeda" jawab Abang Bo.
"How do you know the name of this place, Bangsambung adiknya.
"That's the sign! baca aja.." jawab Bo sambil menunjuk papan tulisan yang menunjukkan bahwa kita telah tiba di Cikole, 1.5 jam perjalanan mobil dari Bandung, ibukota Jawa Barat. 
Cikole, kami datang!

***
Remember Orchid Forest, Cikole?
Ingat dengan ceritaku sebelumnya tentang taman sejuk dan asri yang dipenuhi dengan anggrek dan tanaman sejenis di Daerah Cikole ini?  

I have shared some photos on (almost) Wordless Wednesday Orchid Forest Cikole some times ago where my family and I really had so much fun there.



Dari rencana iseng-iseng main ke Cikole karena suamiku kangen ke hutan pinus tempat dia sering main sepeda dan ber-downhill ria, kami jadi tau kalau Cikole juga memiliki tempat piknik keren. 

Awalnya, kami memang pergi ke Lembang, Bandung untuk menikmati aneka aktivitas seru untuk keluarga di De Ranch, Lembang (ceritanya menyusul ya!). Selesai menikmati De Ranch, suamiku ingin bernostalgia ke Cikole yang memang letaknya tidak terlalu jauh dari Maribaya, tempat De Ranch berada. Saat kami memasuki area Cikole dan membeli karcis, penjaganya bilang kalau di atas ada Hutan Anggrek yang 'banyak spot foto" (demikian kata-kata persisnya si akang tukang karcis dengan logat Sunda yang kental LOL). Karena penasaran, kamipun akhirnya membeli karcis sebesar Rp 30.000,- per orang untuk tanda masuk Hutan Anggrek, dan ekstra Rp 30.000,- untuk parkir mobil.


Welcome!
Hutan Anggrek ini memang baru diresmikan oleh Menteri Pariwisata pada bulan Agustus 2018. Tapi saat kami ke sana, tempatnya cukup ramai dikunjungi. Banyak orang yang mengenakan seragam dan sepertinya datang untuk acara kantor ataupun sekolah. Bahkan suara hiburan dangdut terdengar jelas di berbagai sudut hutan. Sampai anak-anakku juga tanya itu suara apa keras banget :).

Saat masuk, kita akan disambut hamparan Bukit yang hijau dan asri. Ada beberapa rumah pohon di sana sini, lengkap dengan area bermain serta kafe dan restoran yang lucu, karena bentuknya lesehan dan dilengkapi dengan bean bags warna-warni. Juga ada beberapa gazebo yang cantik di tengah-tengah pepohonan.

I love this gazebo..
Mungkin banyak teman-teman yang berpikir bahwa tempat ini akan dipenuhi dengan tanaman anggrek yang beraneka rupa. Awalnya saya juga berpikir begitu. Namun saat masuk ke areal hutan, yang terasa awalnya hanya nuansa hijau dan dara yang sejuk. Saya sempat tanya ke suami, lalu ke petugas yang jaga, anggreknya ada di mana? Ternyata anggrek yang berbunga banyak terletak di orchid house, semacam rumah kaca untuk pembudidayaan anggrek.

Di dalam rumah kaca..

Here, you can go to Orchid House, where you will witness various types of orchids.
Di dalam rumah kaca ini, beraneka ragam bunga anggrek, termasuk yang langka, banyak bertebaran dan mekar dengan indahnya. Saya yang suka warna ungu bahagia sekali karena anggreknya memang hampir semua bernuansa ungu.
Let's take a closer look at them.






Cantik kan?
Apalagi jalan turun menuju tempat ini dihiasi juga oleh bola-bola lumut (tanah berbentuk bola yang ditumbuhi rumput atau lumut) dalam rangkaian tiang cantik berbentuk segitiga. Asli cantik bangeeet! Pokoknya super Instagramable banget. Kita sampai Harms antri berfoto karena banyak yang suka dengan spot ini. 

Aren't they cute?
Belum lagi atraksi  Hutan Kelinci, Kastil Anggrek dan Jembatan Gantung yang juga bisa kita nikmati di areal ini. Nanti aku share ceritanya di posting berikutnya ya.

Melihat tempat cantik seperti ini, sepertinya kami sekeluarga bisa piknik bareng ke sini lagi soon. Aku sempat mengirimkan foto-foto cantik selama di Hutan Anggrek Cikole ke mama dan tanteku. Mereka pun bilang kalau mereka pengen banget main ke tempat ini. Sekalian ajakin sepupu dan keponakan-keponakan yang pasti bahagia diajak piknik ke tempat cantik ini. 

Ini peta tempat Orchid Forest Cikole, Lembang.





Oya, sebelum berangkat ke Bandung, aku dan tanteku sempat kebingungan karena harus menjemput sepupu yang datang dengan istrinya dari Belanda. Waktu itu suamiku sedang kelar kota karena ada urusan. Ini salah satu sepupu kesayangan, soalnya sejak kecil aku sempat ikut mengasuhnya. Walaupun kami tidak seumur, tapi Elmo dan mamanyanya, Tante Mira Boissevan, selalu menyempatkan diri mengunjungi saya dan keluarga, di manapun kami berada. Terakhir mereka mampir ke Jenewa dan New York City juga.  Jadi waktu mereka ke Jakarta, kami jadi excited juga. Elmo Boissevain, sepupuku tercinta, datang dengan Nadin, istrinya yang berkebangsaan Jerman. Mereka tiba dari Bali, setelah cukup lama menikmati pulau dewata yang cantik ini. Mereka akan melanjutkan liburannya di ibukota Jakarta, sambil tentu saja bertemu dengan keluarga besar dan juga ada sedikit pekerjaan yang harus dilakukan Elmo. 

Beberapa pilihan Golden Bird

Aku tiba pagi di bandara dan menunggu cukup lama karena pesawat mereka agak terlambat. Aku berpikir bagaimana ya enaknya kembali ke Jakarta yang nyaman. Apalagi terbayang koper dan banaan mereka yang banyak, termasuk oleh-oleh untukku dan keluarga LOL. Sambil menunggu, akhirnya aku lihat tiket golden bird jakarta online di aplikasi Traveloka dan noting how good the service is, aku pun akhirnya memilihkan jasa ini untuk kedua sepupuku. 

Dan serunya, setelah aku lihat lebih jauh, banyak sekali pilihan jenis mobil golden bird Jakarta yang bisa kita sewa. Selain kendaraan seperti Toyota Avanza dan Innova, pilihan lain yang tersedia antara lain Toyota Camry, Alphard dan Mercedes Benz E200 untuk   jenes premium. Lengkap kan! Belum lagi diskon yang lumayan plus proses pembelian tiket yang relatif mudah sera terpercaya karena kita membelinya lewat Traveloka. So I ordered one Grand New Innova untuk sepupuku. Mereka suka dan berencana untuk menyewa lagi untuk mengantar mereka keliling di Jakarta. Kalau sudah begini, kita semua pasti happy Karena liburan bisa tenang, kerjaan selesai dan jurusan jemput-menjemput di bandara tidak lagi jadi masalah.  




Kalau sudah begini, rasanya ngga sabar untuk bisa liburan bareng-bareng bersama keluarga. Apalagi karena pekerjaan menumpuk dan buat kita penat, harus sering-sering piknik biar bahagia dan bidup seimbang. Mungkin kita akan ajak Elmo dan Nadin main ke Bandung, Lembang, dan sekitarnya juga.



Ada yang tertarik untuk main ke Hutan Anggrek Cikole juga?
Akan ke sini dengan keluarga dan beramai-ramai atau justru mau sendiri?
Whatever your choice, have fun yaaa..