Hope everyone is well and remains calm, cool and collected during this pandemic. Things are a bit out of control again these days and we do have to remain positive!
One way to keep me happy is by looking at my traveling journal and photo as well as video collections. I fully realize that I haven't really shared many of them in my blog. I stumbled upon my files from my trip to Havana, Cuba, in summer 2018.
Boy, how I miss traveling and how much I haven' t shared about Havana in my 4-day trip. It was done on my last days in the US, before heading back home to Indonesia in August 2018. Together with my dearest sista in NYC, Erma, I took the liberty to explore Havana. Well, 4 days is obviously not enough but we tried to enjoy what we can.
One beautiful corner at Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana
So, on the first day, we arrived already midday. We went directly to the hotel, NH Capri. After getting out of the airport and change the local currency as they have a separate monetary unit for international tourists, we headed to the hotel and after checked in and rest for a while, we walked around the area and went to Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
Being around since 1930s, the hotel is indeed an icon for Cuban splendid and colorful history. Its elegance is outstanding, you can easily spot it from afar, even from the famous highway El Moleçon. It has been graced by famous names and big personalities from all over the place, including Prime Minister Winston Churchil, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gradner, and more.
Overlooking the backyard of Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana
Here are some more photos you can enjoy.
These ones were taken around Hotel Nacional de Cuba, one of the beautiful and historical landmarks in Havana, Cuba.
After strolling around the area, we sat down at the bar and chilled. I guess the one that visited was View Bar or the Hall of Fame. The place is cozy and surely filled with many memorabilia from the past.
I am writing more piece about my trip there as well. It was indeed a memorable trip for me and Erma. Hope more stories will be ready soon.
Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun with the linky party.
When you read the title of this post, I bet you have a clear vision of what you will see. Nevertheless, being there myself at the island (well, with my family actually) and witness the amazing creation of the Almighty.
the 4 of us
I was spending a little quality time during the weekend with my hubby, Bo et Obi. We spent some times at the Green Bay resort, for my diving trip and test with the night dive and for a weekend away from the city. We certainly had memorable days and here are some of the happiness and joy I captured.
How do you like this island? Here's the shot I took from my hubby's drone. The island is indeed lovely, right. Wait until I share the diving photos!
One corner of Tanjung Putus Island
For sure I will bring more photos and story, from above and underwater as well. Just bear with me as I am in the middle of so many deadlines as well LOL. But I feel like I have so much to share and I do hope I do get a chance to do so.
Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun with the link party !
Traveling during the Pandemic and Being Google Local Guides - Interview with SEA Morning Show
Hi everyone...
How's February so far? It has been a wonderful month full of readjustments, surprises and of course hard works. Office is as demanding as always while on my personal side, I have some self-development activities that I have committed to do, joining the national leadership training program.
Meanwhile, one day, one of my friends from the social media groups contacted me and requested me to be one of the hosts in SEA Morning Show, as part of SEA Today. SEA Today or South East Asia Today is a web-based streaming television broadcasted in South East Asia region. Owned by Telkom Indonesia, this TV show displays and broadcasts news and information relevant to the public in SEA region. Launched in 28 October 2020 by the Minister of State Enterprise of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Erick Tohir. SEA Morning Show is a daily program that broadcasts from 6 - 9 AM and distributed in 10 ASEAN Countries.
Getting ready for the Interview with SEA Morning Show
So on February 16, I got a chance to have the interview with SEA Morning Show hosts and discussed about being a travel blogger as well as Google Local Guides. It was fun indeed! We started the conversation with how fun it is to be travel blogger and how, in the first place, I become one. Frankly speaking, I have been traveling around with my parents since I was a kid and we even had trips with the big family for certain occasions. The fact that later on I join the MoFA and become a diplomat makes me get even more opportunity to travel around the world.
As it apparently runs in my blood, my hubby and I started traveling with my family even since my kids were babies! My son, Bo, travelled and flew from Melbourne to Jakarta since he was 40 days old! Of course considering that he and I were in great condition and fit to fly. Then my daughter Obi has similar experience, too. Since early days, I have taken her to go places. She was born in Geneva, Switzerland, traveling around Europe has been one of our cups of tea. I remember we went on a 7-day trip around Cinque Terre and Tuscany , including Pisa as well as Firenze area, in Italy with 4-year-old Bo and 5-month-old baby Obi. It took a lot of preparation but we love the trip. The kids have been super wonderful along the way!
My love for underwater world..
I also shared some places I have visited, those that have captured my heart and forever fondly remembered. Of the 57 countries (and counting!) I have traveled so far, every place is of course unique. It has been my dream to travel around my beloved INDONESIA. I have only explored 21 provinces in Indonesia, out of 34 provinces. Some of the provinces have cities which are incredible. My favorite is of course LAMPUNG, my homey hometown. This place never ceases to amaze me, as we have discovered more and more beautiful landscapes. For sure, more diving sites and snorkeling areas are there waiting for you to discover it. I sincerely hope I can get some times to add more ticked lists in my go-to map of Indonesia.
While abroad, I love visiting national parks as well as UNESCO World Heritage Lists. I also love landmarks which offer unique, one-of-a-kind experience. Places like Liberty Statue in New York City, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Quebec City, Old Havana, Vatican City, Antigua Naval Dockyard, Venice, Cairo, Marrakesh and way more have been visited as well. In Indonesia, Borobudur and Prambanan temples, as well as Bukit Barisan National Park, which is part of the tropical rainforest heritage in Sumatera, and
More importantly, I shared a lot about being Google Local Guides. How excited I am to be joining the this global network of local guides from different corners of the world. Although I have just joined Local Guides in New York City since 2017, I have learned and enjoyed a lot of benefits from joining it. I have expanded my networks obviously, learning more about Google maps and how to contribute to it properly and meaningfully, as well as more on AI and some beneficial technicalities. Even when the pandemic hit us, we even get more united as we use virtual platforms to stay connected and even share more. Through Google Local Guides, I learn how wonderful it is to contribute meaningfully to the communities as well, as we contribute there in voluntary basis. No wonder while Google Local Guides was established in 2015, it has so many people joining this platform.
Moreover, I am so blessed that I was chosen as one of the Google Guiding Stars in December 2020. Of all the Google Local Guides around the world, there are 50 Local Guides who were chosen in 5 different categories,- Helpful Hero, Inclusive Mapper, Creative Contributor, Community Builder, and Local Business Champion. I was part of the Creative Contributor here. Thank you, Google.
Thank you, Google ...
Finally, we were also discussing about staycation, one of the possible and relatively safe ways of traveling during the pandemic. Now that we have 5 M, which is the abbreviation of 5 things we need to do during the pandemic in bahasa Indonesia. 5M comprises of wearing mask, washing hands properly and frequently, keeping the physical distance, reducing mobility, and avoiding crowds. Staycation will give us the opportunity to see and explore our surroundings in a safer way as it does not involve lots of traveling or meeting many people. As long as we can ensure that the place we are heading to are applying the strict health protocol and CHSE principles,- Clean, Healthy, Safety and Environmentally Friendly. I believe many of the hotels in Indonesia have gotten CHSE certificate so that they can operate safely during this pandemic.
Here's the video I compiled, with the help of my brother Ajay, for the whole segment of my interview. You can watch the complete video in my YouTube channel HERE. Hope you enjoy it and tell me what you think!
I really enjoyed the conversation and I sincerely hope what I have shared with be beneficial to others. I also hope you managed to watch the complete video and tell me what you think about traveling during the pandemic and being Google Local Guides if you have joined it!
Now let me take you to the hotel I chose during my stay in Ueno, Japan. This trip took place in 2018 and it was my first trip to Japan, to be followed by other 3 transits and visit. I have to admit I do fall in love with Japan since my first visit! Well, who wouldn’t?
So, welcome to APA Hotel Keisei Ueno Akimae Japan!
I love this hotel!
It was located in a very strategic location because it is only a walking distance from Ueno station, which is one of the hubs for you who like to visit Tokyo and the surrounding areas. It is only one fast train away from Haneda airport. Those who want to visit Tokyo on a transit or even spend the night here in Ueno. For me, it is like a great opportunity as I got a chance to try shinkansen or the fast train as well.
The hotel is not far the famous Ueno Park and all its wonderful temples and museums. It's also near American Market in Ueno, one of the landmarks in the area, and Hard Rock Cafe Ueno if you happen to collect some stuff from them like me and my hubby. Many food vendor and supermarkets are around as well.
The room might be small but it has everything you need. It is very compact yet it is still comfortable. I was enjoying the facilities they have inside the compact room which is surprisingly complete as well. Although it’s small, it has the comfy bed with all its pillows, robe, slippers, working station, all the charging station, evenbooks to read and hair dryer. They also put cute origamis on the sheet as a heartwarming welcome gesture. I am impressed!
The bed is comfy and the amenities are from Shiseido :). Can you imagine that? This brand is very famous and quite expensive in Indonesia LOL. The rate is manageable and I believe it's sensible for the facilities and location they offer.
Happy to go back here again if I gat another chance to visit Ueno again.
So what do you think about the hotel? I will share more about my visit to Japan soon okay. Meanwhile, stay safe, happy and healthy.
Hi everyone... Ready to enjoy a lovely weekend with The Frakarsas? Join us then!
Nothing brings me more joy than going out to the sea and enjoy its beautiful underwater world. Well, although I don't always have the luxury of going diving with my club in Lampung, I always try to sneak a snorkelling trip whenever we visit Lampung.
We took our first trip in 2021 to Lampung on the second week of January.
The trip was quite smooth as it was no longer the holiday season.
Let's go to Taman Nemo, Pahawang Island, Lampung
During the weekend, we were back to the sea we love so much again. As we have tried many snorkelling spots around Lampung Bay, this time I ask my boatman to take us to different corner to see other places and hope for better, healthier corals with more fish, I know that pollution, climate change and crowded environment due to irresponsible tourism activities, have driven the fish away and killed many soft corals around the area.
It was a beautiful day
I remember hopping on et off in the same place like 5-6 years a go and the fish is so abundant. That is why I hope we can still save this beautiful place on earth and preserve its amazing nature.
Do you see school of yellow fish roamong around the corals?
So long story short, after a 40-minute boat ride, we arrived at Taman Nemo, Pahawang Island, Lampung. It was the 9 of us that day so it was quite a crowd. As usual, we brought our own gear, food, drink and stuff we need. I brought my underwater camera and my hubby brought his drone. We definitely had so much fun with them!
happy to spend some times with them :)
Without further ado, my family and I started our snorkelling session and explored the area. It's good to see some corals and anemones are healthily intact on their natural habitat. But still I expect to see more fish although in reality we saw some but not too many. Nevertheless, I was happy to see big puffer fish, a school of angel fish, muray eel, clownfish et others. My boatman even saw a sea turtle. And the clear blue sky made the trip even more beautiful. Here are some photos I took during out trip.
Kelagian island from above..
Us and our boat..
it is still preserved
it's a bit crowded down here..
they look familiar :)
Do you like snorkelling as well? What do you like to see during snorkelling? Where do you usually snorkel?
December is a triple special for me and my family. It’s all about birthdays, birthdays, and birthdays! Plus vacation LOL.
I believe I have been telling my dearest blog readers that I am surrounded by 3 Sagitarians. My hubby, my son and my daughter. Good thing I am a Leo ♌️ so I can handle them (if you know what I mean 😉).
So this time, in this super special 2020 thanks to the pandemic, we actually managed to do things differently. We celebrated 2 birthdays in Bali (yaaaaay) and 1 in Jakarta with the my big families.
We started the birthday galore with Obi, my daughter. Although I was in the middle of preparation for meetings, we still get a chance to celebrate it in our hotel bedroom in Nusa Dua, Bali. We even had the mini birthday cake with cherries and chocolate on top 🍒.
So Happiest birthday to my baby bunny, ma mija, the brightest girl in the house (after mama hahahahaha) 🥰♥️🥰. No .. I was kidding. I bet you will be even brighter, smarter, more fun and more soleha ya love. I can’t tell you enough how proud I am to see you grow this gracefully all these years. Have blessed days head, gorgeous! May Allah SWT bless us all. Always!
Then the second birthday is super duper special as we celebrate my hubby’s born day and our anniversary as well. 16 years and still so much in love, complete with everything in between! We were in Ubud, staying in one of our favorite private villas there, and had a blast!
When people ask me how I - or perhaps ‘we’ can survive our relationship this long (9 years dating & 16 years of marriage and counting 🥰.), I might say I don’t now. I just enjoy the journey, - no matter how absurd and horrible it may be 😬🤭 , complete with its ups and downs; be true to myself and try to ensure respect is on our day-to-day menu. Obviously, it’s not always a rose-colored glasses world we have, but it sure is colorful enough to make you realize how blessed and lucky you are to have each other. You don’t always have the privilege to spend your life with someone that makes you feel super comfortable being yourself. With Udi, I have been through hell and heaven and he still stands by me until this very moment. I sincerely hope I can do the same! Here’s to 16 (or 25 from the scratch 😙🥰) years and counting ya love 🌺♥️.
Finally, the finale for this year’s birthday galore in the Frakarsas family is abang Bo’s. My first born son.
I still remember vividly when I came to Monash medical Center in Melbourne twice before I delivered my first born. It was quite an experience and an adventure for me and my hubby @frakarsa because it was only the two of us at the time and we were far away from home. Alhamdulillaaaah all was well and we celebrated the joy of being new parents merrily. But Bo has been a lovely and understanding kid since the very beginning as I have no trouble at all in raising him until now when puberty hits LOL. And he’s been traveling around since a tender age of 7 days, accompanying me to the boxing day sale then flew back home to Jakarta when he was only 39 days old!
Now, he is still a soft-hearted and loving boy who is not afraid to show his love to mama, yours truly, Bapak et Obi. He hugs me before going to bed and says I love you to us. He helps with household chores and cooks well! And he’s our cats’ favorite!
Thanks for being a unique and helpful you, Bang.. here’s to being 14 and more brilliant years to come 🎉♥️! Bismillahirrahmanirrahiiim ♥️♥️♥️
Before his birthday, we had photo session taken during our last visit to Bali and during our stay in Conrad Hotel, Bali. I love all the result and really thank Conrad for these wonderful shots and beautiful memories we share in there ♥️💜♥️.
So that’s our birthday galore this year. We are so grateful for all the beautiful things Allah SWT has bestowed us. May we all be blessed. Always.
Words can never express how grateful I am to be able to revisit this incredible heaven-on-earth, together with my family.
In this trip, we decided to explore the places that we haven't been or done things we haven't done before. That includes visiting the exotic Nusa Penida island!
And what an amazing island Nusa Penida is!
We took the tour to Nusa Penida operated by Idola Fast Boat and chose the full-day West side tour. We visited Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay. We had private tour with local car and guide as well. It was lovely!
Before I spill all the details about our trip there, here are some photos I took at the amazing Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida Bali.
What a lovely place indeed!
Will you visited Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali as well when you get a chance?
Sunset at Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung, Indonesia
Hi everyone,
Wishing you all a great day wherever you are.
I was traveling to Lampung, my beloved homeland, together with my family last weekend. We had some urgent matters to handle and Alhamdulillah things were under control. We even managed to visit the ocean and the islands we love so much. This time, we visited Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung.
beautiful sunset we have here..
Ma Mija et me..
Sunset at Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung, Indonesia
Sunset at Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung, Indonesia
Pulau Kelagian Besar, Lampung
Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung, Indonesia
Sunset at Kelagian Besar Island, Lampung, Indonesia
As we planned to catch the sunrise, we traveled in the afternoon and stayed there till the sun set. It was simply beautiful.
Check out the photos we took during our visit here.
And the video as well about our little adventure in Lampung.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and enjoy the link party.
