I am welcoming myself back to my beloved home town once again.
Before departing to Wellington, New Zealand, for my next assignment, my family and I visit Lampung again to meet our big family and run some errands, including joining series of events for Lampung Krakatau Festival 2021.
This time, I took the liberty to take a closer look at the famous Els Coffee Roastery. This is my second visit here, but the first one was rather in a hurry. So now, I decided to linger for a while and enjoy the roasting process, done live in this very spot. No wonder the amazing smell or roasting coffee welcomes you as you step in to this premise.
Frankly, this is not the first roastery that I have visited, but surely the first one in Lampung that I visited in Lampung. Surely I didn't miss the opportunity to stream my visit this time live on my YouTube channel, as you can see it here.
During my visit this time, together with around 30 bloggers, vloggers, influencers and content creators from many parts of Indonesia, we witnessed the roasting process, watched the latte art and for sure, enjoyed the coffee, tea and munchies provided here. Our Baristas, Albert and Arles, patiently answered questions from curious bloggers and even posed for us with their works of arts. As you can see here, the lovely heart and graceful swan danced on your cup, makes you think and rethink before sipping your delicious Lampung robusta coffee.
the graceful swan
enjoy your coffee
say hi to our baristas
Els Coffee Roastery also sells beans and ground coffee, not only from Lampung but also from various parts of Indonesia like Pagaralam, Wamena, Kintamani and more. You can also get Kopi Luwak, the most expensive one! I myself bought their packages of Golden Lampung Robusta with a bonus of Durian Coffee! What a treat!
the Roastery...
the Durian Coffee.. dare to try?
Another beautiful thing I love from this place is the interior design the owner, Elki, decided to showcase. The string arts beautifully made by made by disabled people and macrame art made by Lampungnese artists are adorning this roastery.
don't you just love it!
I love this coffee flowers decor..
the lovely interior design in Els Coffee Roastery
The exact location of Els Coffee Roastery is in Kalibalau, Sukabumi, Bandar Lampung
Surely the team joining Lampung Familiarization Trip 2021, as part of the Lampung Krakatau Festival 2021, had a blast in this cool cafe and roastery. Thanks to Lampung Tourism Board or Dinas Pariwisata Lampung for inviting us to be part of this amazing journey. Pak Edarwan, the Head of the Board, as well as Elki, the owner of Els Coffee Roastery had welcomed us all here as well. Not to mention the Organizing Committee lead by Ari Tomat and Rika. Kuddos, guys!
Mr. Edarwan, the Head of Lampung Tourism Board
Elki, the Owner of Els Coffee
So, don't miss the opportunity to come and visit this lovely cafe and roastery, where you can definitely get the unforgettable experience in your coffee journey.
Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of moon.” ― Jalaluddin Rumi
Throwback Tuesday this week will be taking us back to my beautiful homeland, Indonesia
And Batur Lake, Kintamani, Bali, is what I have in mind!
Back in 2014, we took a short break to Bali before heading to NYC for our 4-year assignment. Knowing that we would be away from Indonesia for quite sometimes, we really tried to make the best of it. Besides, it's our first time vacationing in Bali as a complete petite family of 4 :). So off we went for a week in Bali. We managed to drive around and see more beautiful faces of this island of Gods and Goddesses. We stayed in Kuta and rent a car from Gungde, our dearest Balinese friend who was assigned in my Ambassador's residence in Geneve, Switzerland. Beside those favorite tourist spots, we went to the Eastern part of the Island as well and visited Tirta Gangga Water Palace.
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
In addition to Tirta Gangga Water Palace and Candi Dasa, we went to Batur Lake and Batur mountain. And after taking some snaps of this magnificent mountain and lake, we took the liberty to drive around the mountain. There are roads on the perimeter of it, heading to its crater, or taking you down to the lake.
There is one famous village named Trunyan near the lake. It is famous because of the special treatment Bali Aga, one of the tribes in Bali and living in Trunyan village, gives to the dead bodies. Yes, dead bodies. They have the tradition of laying the dead on the ground, covered by cloth and bamboo cage, and leaving them near the ancient Banyan Tree, or in local dialects called Taru Menyan, literaaly translated as nice smelling tree. Therefore, decomposing bodies are left in the open space like that without having putrid smell, believed to be absorbed by the tree. After the bodies are fully decomposed, the bones then remove to special place of stone altar for married couple, or cemetery for singles. Too bad we didn't visit this unique place. I was with my two young kids and it was quite expensive to go to the village as it was very isolated as well.
So instead, we just drove around the mountain and stop for a while to take pictures here and there.
The mountainous background, with some volcanic stones, provided perfect ground for a short photo session :p.
We stopped at one of the temples along the way and as always, we were fascinated by the religious way of life of the Balinese people.
So peaceful, yet colorful and rich.
on the beach at the backyard of our hotel
Feel free to check out where exactly Batur Lake is.
That's my #throwbacktuesday, the magnificent Batur Lake, Bali, Indonesia. Feels like going back there soon for holiday! Oh yes we will..
What's your wonderful memories today?
p.s : I will keep my Throwback Tuesday features but will post it every Wednesday or Thursday :).