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| Pantai Pasir Panjang |
I am a bit disappointed while I was in North Sulawesi. I thought I could found a white sandy beach there. But I was wrong. What I found was black sandy beach or just sea *like at Marina plaza in Manado* without sandy beach.
So, when I was heard about Lembeh Island, I wasn't hope there was a white sandy beach there.
Aftet we rent a boat, the boatman took us to Pantai Pasir Panjang. He said that it was really beautiful there. And it has been one of diving spot in North Sulawesi.
About one hour later we finally arrived at Pantai Pasir Panjang, a.ka Pantai Pasir Putih. Yaaaayyyy!!!! It's the most beautiful beach I've ever seen while I was in North Sulawesi.
A man from the island came to me and introduced himself. He described that Pantai Pasir Panjang actually is a private beach. But it's okay if we want to playing around here.
The man told me that this beach is one of diving spot in North Sulawesi beside Bunaken. But...unlike Bunaken, this beach is also perfect for people who just want to sit back and enjoy the scenery. The best part is...there is a cottage here....it seems the cheapest in Lembeh Island area....
HOW TO GET HERE
Just go to Bitung Port....and rent a boat. You have to rent a boat privately because the public boat only serve the ordinary route, from Bitung Port to Lembeh Island Port. Lembeh Island Port is far from Pantai Pasir Panjang. I rent a boat for Rp. 300.000 (US$ 30) for a day.
Yes...we know that Jakarta has a lot of malls. But....do you know...a place for shopping called Tanah Abang?? For shopalholic, why don't you try shopping at this place???
Tanah Abang which located at Jakarta Pusat (Central Jakarta) is a place for shopping wholesale and retail. There are a lot of goods that are sold here. Clothes, fabrics, bed sheet, bags, shoes, accessories...
Here are the guidelines about the type of goods, complete with instructions onwhat floor the goods are located :
B1 Floor : draperies, a wide range of materials or fabrics such as jeans, kebaya,batik, bed sheet and bed cover
SLG Floor : All kinds of woman clothes
LG Floor : woman cothes
Ground Floor : woman and man clothes
1st Floor : baby and kid clothes
2nd Floor : Woman clothes....
3rd Floor : bags, belts, wallets, women's accessories such as bracelets,necklaces, etc.
3A Floor : Shoes
5th Floor : woman-man-kid clothes;
6th & 7th Floor : boutiques
8th Floor : Food Court
Here are some tips if you want to shop here!!
- come as early as possible.
- don't bring your kid...because shopping here is less comfort for children
- there is no fitting room here, so you should know your size precisely.
- if you intend to buy in a large amount, bring luggage.
Happy shopping!!
I love this part of Jakarta!!!! I never get bored here. Yes!! This is old town of Jakarta. A place where the unique colonial buildings are located.
This is the only place in Jakarta where I could really 'breathe'.
What to see.....
You can visit the museums as well. There are some musuems here: Jakarta History Museum (Fatahillah Museum), Wayang Museum, Fine Art and Ceramic Museum, Bank Indonesia Museum, and Maritime Museum.
You can also visit Sunda Kelapa Harbour. This harbour once is a major harbour during colonial era in Jakarta.
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| Sunda kelapa Harbour |
What to do...
It's a great place to loads pictures of colonial building and 'kaki lima' (hand pushed carts). Do you interest in taking pictures for your pre-wedding photo?? There is photography services for pre-wedding photos here with the backgroundthe old buildings and antique cars.
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| Pre Wedding photographer |
You can also rent a bike, and you can around this district. Its cost about Rp 20.000 for one hour.
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Bike rental
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Food lovers....you can try and buy jakarta traditional food here, such as kerak telor (made from glutinous rice, egg, salted dried shrimp and other spices) and es potong (cutting ice cream).Or you can try Batavia cafe.
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| Kerak Telor Seller |
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| Es potong seller |
Getting there...
There are several ways to reach old town of Jakarta.
- busway..
- train: you can use economic AC train Bekasi-kota or Bogor-kota, or you can use all train that heading to Jakarta kota
- Mayasari Bakti bus line P 17 A from Kampung Rambutan or Pasar Rebo
When I was in Melaka, I was so excited... Besides heritage building...Jonker street with its nigh market makes me interested. Unfortunately...I went to Melaka at weekday. And the night market is open only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
So...I have no idea where to buy some souvenirs.
Actually...there are a lot of souvenir shops along Jonker street and near Stadthuys Complex, But...when I walked at Tokong Street.....and....find this cute souvenir shop... I guess I can recommend to you if you want to buy some souvenirs in Melaka.
Jonker Gallery has four outlets. But...I only visit their oulet at Tokong Street. They sell a lot kind of souvenirs...and also vintage stuff as bags, miniature of old cars or bikes, and clothes.
Here are some pic of Jonker Gallery and the stuff that they sell....!!!
This place is very famous. Everyone who visit Semarang usually want to go there. So..what make this place is so famous?? The rumors about the ghosts in there really makes people want to visit Lawang Sewu....even some people interest to see if the rumors are true.
So...what is Lawang Sewu actually??
Well....the term'lawang sewu' means 'a thousand doors'. Lawang Sewu is a colonial building with lots of doors. I don't know exactly the amount of the doors.....but, according to the guide, the building is called Lawang Sewu..it's because every single door-frame has four doors. So...' a thousand doors' is just like a metaphor...because there are so many doors in there.
Located at the corner of Jl. Pemuda, near Tugu Muda area, this place is easily to reach. Everybody in Semarang knows about this building.
In Dutch colonial era, this building was a Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij or train office *sorry...I can't find a perfect word for Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij in English*. When Japan conquered Indonesia and took over Indonesia from Dutch, all Dutch people in Semarang gathered in this place and they were killed by Japanese soldiers.
Lawang Sewu nowadays..
About two years ago, Lawang Sewu was opened for tourists. This building became one of tourist destination in Semarang. Sometimes, an expo was held in this building. One of the Indonesian movie use this place for shooting. Some couples use this place to take their pre-wedding photo.
All you have to know..
Lawang sewu is open daily...from 9 am till 6 pm. But at weekend (fri - sunday) Lawang Sewu open from 9 am till midnight.
With only Rp 45.000 (US $ 5) you can have a 'ghost tour' from basement to attic, of course there is a guide that will guiding you and tells about Lawang Sewu history plus tips how to capture ghost from your camera.For history lovers, architecture lovers, and ghost hunters...this place will surely amazed you!!!
This is the well with a depth 0f nearly a mile
The first train locomotive in Semarang, imported directly from Netherlands
'The souvenir shop'...you can find old coins here
The attic...one of the most haunted room
Men's restroom
The sink..imported from Netherland
This used to be the hospital room in Dutch colonial era
I love this!!! 
Yes!! This is me...
