Jember Fashion Carnival 13, 2014: FEEL THE RIO ATTACK!

One of the costume theme in carnival

It was almost ten in the evening, finally Andhika, my tripmate came. He is my friend since in high school. He loves traveling like crazy, he loves Indonesia like nobody else. We would go to Jember for Jember Fashion Carnival 13 (JFC). It is annual festival held by Jember government to push the tourism sector in this small town. Adopted from the concept of Rio Carnival, this is great idea and becomes the role model for same events in other cities.

Dumb never cured. I forgot to order the room for us to stay there. I called many hotels and all were fully booked due to this festival. Then, one of the receptionist who sounds like a woman but actually a man offered me to check another hotel, after I told him that if I couldn't get a place to stay, I would stay in the train station, and I am a girl, and it would be terrifying. It sounded pitty enough to make him gave me a favor to find a room to stay. Thank God we got it. In a super creepy hotel.

In the morning, we went to city square, where the run way would be started. The parade was started around 3 in the afternoon. While waiting for the parade, we tried to catch up the crew to get VIP ID. By using that ID, we could stay in the performance stage,  not in the edge of the road along the runway.

And finally,  it was started based on the schedule. Me and Andhika got the ID, and we sat in the very nice spot where we could see the performance clearly. 

The concept of the festival was about showing the unique costumes based on the theme they have chosen. There were: Mahabharat, stalagmites, borobudur,jungle, kite,phoenix, etc.

To see their costumes go visit my instagram: @diantikanin. 

And finally the parade was over. Now we struggled for going back to the hotel,. The way to the hotel was in the same route with runway.  So we couldn't skip the crowd,  we walked together with the parade. The situation was a bit lost in control. People came forward and forced the talent to take picture with them. It made super long jam because of the undisciplined behavior. 

And we walked for 3,5 kms. That's so tiring because we walked so slow to pass the crowd.  We just moved back to the hotel and jumped to the swimming pool.

Why this parade is worth to attend :

1. International level

2. Great costume concept,  they seriously work on it

3. Annual event, so you can book your date there
4. Low budget, no need to take flight to Rio for such adorable carnival
5. Support local event.

And pictures of this carnival can be seen in my instagram: @diantikanin

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Living in Harmony Like Baduy, November 2014

Guys,  after reading this story, you have responsibility to find the answer of many things when you visit Baduy one day. Because all experiences here are mine, are my feeling, are my perspective. If you are not sure about whether it's wrong or right, that's your duty since today to find the answer. Have a good trip fellas.

I reached Jakarta, and Andhika - or Jawa people call him - also was on his way from Bogor to Jakarta. Again we would have a trip, but we went there with another 50 people in group. We would go to Baduy Tribe.

Baduy is a tribe which is located in Banten Province. They are divided into two main group,  Baduy Luar and Baduy Dalam. In this trip, I would stop until Baduy Luar, since it took shorter track to go, only 3 km on foot (around 1 hour tracking). And for Baduy Dalam, it took 4 hours with longer and killing track.

I estimated my time, if I started tracking from 1 pm. I would reach Baduy Dalam at 5 pm approximately, and I would be tired, and slept, and I couldn't enjoy it. Since took pictures in Baduy Dalam isn't allowed. And it was my first time came there, I needed to fulfill my curiosity so I need so many clicks for documentation. Considering that things, I stopped in Baduy Luar, where everything was more flexible.

In Ciboleger, our starting point; Jawa gave us briefing before starting the trip. He said: keep your spirit up, no negative feeling, don't break the rule in Baduy, be respectful to the locals.

During the trip, my boyfriend asked many things to the porter, Mang Herman from Baduy Luar. In Baduy Luar, we are allowed to take a bath using soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. Taking picture is allowed. And they are more open to visitors. All those things aren't allowed there in Baduy Dalam. Foreigner also isn't allowed to stay in Baduy Dalam. I didn't ask why.

Mang Herman walked with us while bringing somebody bag, it was heavy bag and he could bring it while talking without tired gesture at all. I even saw the boy of [around] 4 years old became a porter with his daddy.

He said, Baduy only has one Uun, the leader. And Jaro, easily, they are the assistant of Uun. People here live in balance, not too poor or rich, not too much in everything, and loves mother of nature.

He said that since he was kid, Baduy was opened for public, visitors come every weekend. In Baduy Dalam, visitors are allowed to stay one night. Not more than that.

During the trip, I saw plastic trashes everywhere. I kept questioning, was that because of visitors?  Where are their brains, how dare they throw the trashes in other's homeland?!

And that's why I swore myself not to throw the trashes during the trip. Be more respectful to the landlords.

PS: Pictures are there in my instagram @diantikanin, feel free to take a look on it.

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Nusa Ceningan, Where is the Cliff Jumping? Damn it.

I put all of the stuffs in my room and ready to go. I had a motorcycle there in the yard. We would go across the bridge to Nusa Ceningan.  Rara was so excited for cliff jumping.

From Jungut Batu, you will go through the road climbed to the upper side of the island in few minutes.  Be careful, the road is not friendly for high speed movement.

The scenery from the upper side was perfect. In the afternoon, the ocean water is bright and you can see the gradation of colors on it. The coastline goes wider, in the afternoon the water wave goes short and that's the right time for local people to get down and pick up the sea weed. They will put it on their yard or back yard or on the edge of the street to dry it. They use traditional way to process it.

I passed a graveyard too there. I couldn't imagine how dark this place at night,  in the upper side, there's no light at all along the road unless there's a resto or cafe which put the lights in front of their venue.  if you are not sure to go at night, considering the safety and motorcycle performance, better you stay nearby your room. That's why it's important for you to choose good place to stay, nearby restaurant or shop.

We passed a yellow bridge, one and only bridge to make Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan connected.

We moved and stuck, OMG there's no sign. We had map too and GPS, unlucky it didn't work, my position was stated in the middle of the sea. That's so frustrated. We moved to the very rough road and stuck. There were two boys walked there and we came closer to them.

"Do you know where the cliff jumping is?"

He desperately said, "We are looking for the same place. "

And we just left them away.

Shortly, after asked a local, we found the cliff jumping area. And... the gate was locked. What the hell!!! Rara ran to the cafe right in fornt of the area.

"Could you please tell me where is the staff, Mas? I want to do cliff jumping."

With a pocker face the mas - mas said,"It is closed."

"What?"

"Since a year a go."

...

Dududududu...

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Redefine Office Hour by VOffice

Everything moves very fast. Probably that's how we describe todays world. People business has high demand to be transformed into new level due to the growth of technology that make all activities be able to be done efficiently. The development of technology in cyberspace bring a new trend called virtual office.

Virtual office is a new way of working which makes people can work remotely from their working place. How can it be happened?

Imagine when you start your business. You need to find the way to make all actions done efectively. In another hand, you need to control company expense to make your new born business stable. Yet, you need to settle somewhere for keep in touch with your team, your prospected client, and your partner that force you to have an office. By looking at the condition, virtual office is the most suitable option to answer the demand. Everything can be done in virtual working space, at the same time you can minimize the expense in office asset cost.

VOffice is one of company which offers us virtual office service. By using this service, it will be very possible for us to do our job at home, or while in business trip. VOffice has product packages with certain key features based on what we need, such as: office address in business area, professional call handling, fax service, and many other benefits. VOffice location is now available in 7 area 6 in Jakarta and 1 in Surabaya, and it will grow more.

VOffice office location and features

This is how VOffice work. First, the client decides in which area the office will be addressed. Based on client preference, VOffice offers three product packages with certain key fitures: Silver, Gold, Platinum. Beside mentioned above, the client will be provided with many services based on their choice, such as: telephone line, free meeting room, free notification for every document adressed to the client, call forwarding, pick up air port service in all VOffice branch in Indonesia, teleconference service, web design service, etc.

Meeting room available for client

Those key features are very helpful to handle the office activity everywhere we are, while maintaining our company brand image professionally. For new company, it is very helpful to build company self confidence by having complete office component through VOffice. Say good bye to traffic jam which always be the big reason of time-wasting when we have appointment with client, we can handle teleconference with VOffice service. We won't miss any updates in office activities anymore, even when you are in Bali for vacation.

I am personally satisfied with VOffice website. It provides clear explanations for the customer to get more clear about VOffice service and price. I tried pop-up chat feature in VOffice website which is connected to the client consultants. They warmly serve the website visitors and give explanation we need about VOffice. I also got very quick response in my email after requesting VOffice service detail. Chat with them here, and feel the hospitality of service start from the beginning.

Pop-up chat menu connects website visitors to the consultant officer

This is not the only service we can have in VOffice. VOffice provides a service for company registration, both for Indonesian and foreigner who want to start the company in Indonesia. VOffice team will support all of the process and requirement needed, based on the procedure in Indonesia. Owning the company will be no more only a dream. Check how it works here.

With the jargon "A Big Business Image Without The Big Price Tag", VOffice informs us to feel the new experience in office hour activities with fair price and useful features. It brings office hour to the new definition. It is no more about people wake up every morning and go to the office, then sit to their chair, work with computer along the day, and go back home. Office routine now can be done everywhere as you expected. This is fun. We won't be trapped to boring routine all day long. This is how technology bring us to the new way of working.

Visit VOffice website: www.voffice.co.id
Surabaya VOffice website: www.surabayavirtualoffice.com

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Nusa Lembongan Nusa Ceningan, Piece of Heaven on Earth

The happiest thing in life is when your plan meet right person to make it happen.

So thank you Damara for being super fancy companion during my trip. Nusa Lembongan was actually her idea. One of her friend from France came to Bali for getting his diving license. So I came with them too for snorkeling, paid back what Gili Trawangan didn't give me when I went there.

The trip was started from Sanur Beach. Again, I met the sensation of fast boat smack. But God blessed me, it was only around 30 minutes trip. Paying for itinerary ticket, IDR 150K, we stopped in Jungut Batu Village. Then, walk along the street.

I couldn't deny that this place s so quiet and nice. And I could imagine what happened with this place when the night comes. Probably as calm as silent night moment. We stopped in a shop nearby big temple, something delicious was there, TIPAT!!!!!

It s Bali traditional food made from steamed rice covered with coconut leave. If you're Indonesian, it s actually ketupat. It s served with sprout, steamed vegetables, and peanut chili sauce. The price was super cheap, IDR 8K. Yumm!!!

Many homestays re there in the village,  you can choose one place which fits to your budget. I came there not in the peak season, so I didn't book the room, just go show. I got IDR 250K per night in a new place called Made Home Stay (if I am not mistaken). The rest, motorcycle renting for IDR 100K include fuel, since no gas station there. What I was thinking, if you really go to this island and plan for roaming around, no option, rent a motor. Even it is just an island, the distance between one to another is not kidding yaar (borrow Indian accent).

One more thing, bring enough cash! I told you my [a bit] suffering story about that.

There is no ATM in heaven, right? Dudududu...

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Gili Trawangan, When Dumb Girl Got Time Disorientation

Let's talk about Gili Trawangan trip. The most ridiculous trip I have ever planned in life. I was so dumb in arranging something, sometimes. And that day was the day I tortured my own trip plan.

I went to Poppies Lane I in Kuta to order shuttle bus - fast boat ticket to Gili Trawangan. I personally think that this is the most comfortable way for my self to go. Yes, if you want to, tou can go with another public boat to Gili, or even plane and stop in Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) airport. But having trip with fast boat is something new. By purchasing this ticket, I didn't have to think about how I can go to Padang Bai port from Kuta. I got easier choice than pushing my self to go with low budget style.  I wasn't that poor at that time. Hahaha...

Marina Srikandi boat would depart at 1 in the afternoon. It takes 2 hrs to go there from Kuta. The trip was quiet nice, the weather is great as expected, and the wave wasn't high.

Gili Trawangan is a small island in the northeast of Bali, part of NTB province. My friend told me, I can roam around this island in two and half hours by riding bicycle. We can rent it there anyway.

My friend recommended me a bungalow to stay there. From the port, I turned left and passed The Art Market. Then, turn right to the street right beside the market. There is a bridge to the beach right in front of that street so you won't get lost to remark the way back to the bungalow.

It's called Bintang Bungalow.  They only have three rooms and the rent price is quiet cute. Everyone offers you 500K IDR for the first time, that's the minimum starting price. I got 350K IDR for the bungalow and I thought it was good enough. It consists of one bed with fine bathroom,  they only have shower water without water heater. This place is super cute since you can feel calm and relax here, again, this is island bro. Hahaha...

Anyway, if you miss Indonesian food, go to the front of the bungalow and get the nice price for all menu.

What was happened to me at that time actually about disorientation of date. I was suggested by my friend's sentence before heading to Gili: you go there,  find the bungalow, have a good eve, and tomorrow you can go to snorkeling spot before going back to Bali.

I obeyed her, without checking my booking plan that actually for two days. Not one day.

So everything was in rush.

Gili was a cute nice quiet calm island un the morning and gone bad in the evening.  There is a pub called Rudy's, one of outdoor cafe, or we can say beach club. The ambience was quiet nice,  one of good place to spend your night in the air of beat.

I packed my bag in the afternoon,  and ran to Marina Srikandi office to confirm my departure to Bali. I said good bye and see you soon to the bungalow officer and move there.
"I confirm my departure," I said nicely to the officer while giving the ticket.
"But Miss, it's for tomorrow, "
"What?!?!?"
God damn stupid!!!
What I was thinking, I won't come back to bungalow and told him I got fucked by the date. That's so embarrassing.
"Really?  But I asked to go today. There must be a mistake while issuing my ticket by your officer! " I told him and blamed their side to secure my face.
"Can I check your payment confirmation?"
"I threw it to the trash bin. I thought you won't need it anymore," another lying drama had been stated.
"Alright,  that is okay as long as you don't switch your schedule, because it's not allowed," he started writing and gave it back to me and let me in to the boat.

Dear Sir, I am sorry for that. I accidentally changed my schedule because of my stupidity.

So Gili welcomed me only for a day. That's quiet sad. Hope to see you again Gili.  I even didn't get chance for snorkeling 😭

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Fucked Up By Train Service

Thank God for one more chance to feel the adventure in Bali. The grand theme of this trip was: in the name of experience.

Well it wasn't really about Bali but also Nusa Tenggara Barat trip! Yeyyyy!  Everything was started from Gubeng Railway Station.  I didn't know why i really love to have train trip to Bali. Even it takes super long way to be passed.

I took direct ticket from Surabaya to Denpasar. The Damri bus would pick me up on the station once the train arrived to Banyuwangi,  the last station before accessing ferry in Selat Bali.

But what happened was a bit annoying.  The officer said that the bus would wait in Gilimanuk Port in Bali, so the passanger must moved to the port (it was actually super near, 5 mins on foot) by themselves (the officer took us to the public car with uncomfortable seat to the port). What supposed to be happened was: after arriving station, we ll go to the bus,  and jumped to ferry, and move back to the bus to go to Denpasar.

I was so disappointed by all this thing. Particularly when the officer explained us that there was miscommunication between bus officer and train officer about the amount pf passanger who would go with bus. They thought they won't go to Banyuwangi only for 10 passengers.  Then an old lady angrily shouted him: "So if we just people of 10, you won't pick us up? But how about your service to us? That's what you promised us, so we purchased the ticket. I promise to write this to the newspaper.  You didn't know to whom you speak to!"

Well I guess it represented all pasanger's feeling.  Thank you,  Aunty.

For you guys who wants to go with ferry, as I explained before, you can stop in Banyuwangi station and move to Ketapang port on foot.  Just walk out from the station gate and turn right. Walk along the left side and you ll see very big sign of the port.

Go grab your ferry ticket for 6,500 IDR. After arriving Bali port, Gilimanuk; you can go with small bus in the  bus station after going out from the port for 35,000 IDR. Enjoy 3 hours trip to Ubung Bus Station in Denpasar throughout southern side of Bali. If you go with big bus, you will be dropped in Mengwi bus station and you have to continue to Ubung by other public transportations.

After arriving Ubung, you can go with motorcycle taxi or ojek in our local language for 20-25K IDR to Kuta or somewhere else.

To be continued.

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