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Pindahan Tulisan Bahasa Indonesia

Dear pembaca, untuk kedepannya tulisan dalam bahasa Indonesia di blog ini bakalan aku pindahkan ke blog aku yang lain "Nona Backpacker" biar gak bingung bacanya.. thanks!


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Pack & Go

Yippie.. another cheap deals from air asia!!

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Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence



Every religion or culture all over the world has their own way to define and celebrate their new year. For example, the Chinese have the Imlek year and to celebrate it,
have, as they called it in their own language, "Gong Xi Fat Choy". The Moslem societies have their Muharam year, and any of the people over the world using the Gregorian calendar, celebrate the New Year on January 1st.

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that falls on Bali's Lunar New Year's (in 2010, was on March 16). It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation. The day following Nyepi is also celebrated as New year Gudi Padva in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in India.


Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for Self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed. This year of 2010 Bali closed the airport start at 06.00 am. There is no flights in or out-no activity at all at the airport. And they request for all Indonesia tv station not to broadcast their programs in Bali. This year its really those moment of silence.



At 06.00 too other gate to Bali entrance are closed too (airport & harbours) for 24hrs (re-open again at same hour next day). So Bali is like grave yard for 24hr, very quiet. Any hotels that enoucourage their guest to stroll around will consider as insulting the holiness of the day.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

  • First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. The ritual performed in temple near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belongs to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea. Melasti is meant to clean the pratima or arca or pralingga (statue), with symbols that help to concentrate the mind in order to become closer to God. The ceremony is aimed to clean all nature and its content, and also to take the Amerta (the source for eternal life) from the ocean or other water resources (ie lake, river, etc). Three days before Nyepi, all the effigies of the Gods from all the village temples are taken to the river in long and colourful ceremonies. There, they have are bathed by the Neptune of the Balinese Lord, the God Baruna, before being taken back home to their shrines.
  • Second, The Bhuta Yajna Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual also meant to appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering. Devout Hindu Balinese villages usually mak e ogoh-ogoh, demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the ogoh-ogoh. They usually make Ogoh-ogoh (the fantastic monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo) for carnival purposes. The Ogoh-ogoh monsters symbolize the evil spirits surrounding our environment which have to be got rid of from our lives . The carnivals themselves are held all over Bali following sunset. Bleganjur, a Balinese gamelan music accompanies the procession. Some are giants taken from classical Balinese lore. All have fangs, bulging eyes and scary hair and are illuminated by torches.The procession is usually organised by the Seka Teruna, the youth organisation of Banjar. When Ogoh-ogoh is being played by the Seka Teruna, everyone enjoys the carnival. In order to make a harmonic relation between human being and God, human and human, and human and their environments, Tawur Kesanga is performed in every level of society, from the people's house. In the evening, the Hindus celebrating Ngerupuk, start making noises and light burning torches and set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh in order to get the Bhuta Kala, evil spirits, out of our lives. .



  • Third, The Nyepi Rituals is performed with the following conditions:
    • Amati Geni: No fire/light
    • Amati Karya: No working
    • Amati Lelunganan: No traveling
    • Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment
  • Fourth, The Yoga/Brata Ritual starts at 6:00 AM (e.g. March 26, 2009) and continues to 6:00 AM the next day.
  • Fifth, The Ngebak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come. Ngembak is the day when Catur Berata Penyepian is over and Hindus societies usually visit to forgive each other and doing the Dharma Canthi. Dharma Canthi are activities of reading Sloka, Kekidung, Kekawin, etc.(ancient scripts containing songs and lyrics).
  • Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed as the Nyepi Day or "Day of Silence."



A day after nyepi rituals taken (Ngambak Geni) actually there is an interesting tradition called "Omed-Omedan". It was held in Sesetan street in Denpasar Bali. Omed-omedan in Balinese language means "pull". This tradition held with pulling the opposite sex and kiss them (oww..). This tradition often called "Mass Kissing". The group were seperated between sexes, boys and girls (sorry young single people only!). Each group have to carry one of their group member to the other group-and the other group will pull that person and kissed each other. And its only one kiss!! (hahah!) after that each group will pull that person back to their group (girls and boys).








All participant get their turn to kiss the other groups!

Oh this tradition only held in Sesetan Village Bali.....







More info:
Here and here

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Latest Flight Promotion from Tigerairways!



Sale flights from Singapore... hmmmm not bad at all! check at Tiger airways website, buy the ticket before March 24, 2010!

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Matras Beach--source of those intl volley beach sand!

February 17, 2010


I never know that fact, i thought people here been talk about it and its just because they are originally from here. I thought they were exaggerate things about this beach-Matras Beach in Sungai Liat Bangka Island.

But then i was wrong.



Thats what i thought, until i saw it my self!! i just told my self, if any of those tourist saw this beach, they will say Kuta-Bali or Lovina is nothing!


Exploring the beach



its not that deep, and the current not that strong



Clear water... no garbage


Aww... it feels like its calling me to swim!!


very soft white powder like sand.. i could imagine playing volley ball with this sand, its very very nice to stand on! (and HOT!)






and its a windy day too! thats why the wave a little bit bigger!



It feels like a private beach. Less people. I would love to lying down here all day, sleeping, and had my tan. Its just perfect.



Local government already build small stall for food vendors etc, but i didn't see any that open






The other unique thing about this beach is, there is a small fresh water source, hidden on this beach where you could wash up. The water is very cold, and there is plenty big rocks covering it. And its the only beach that had fresh water flow to the ocean.


Behind those rocks and trees, there's small river filled with fresh water



It is VERY CLEAN, compare to beaches that i've visited before in Indonesia and Thailand. Its still natural, the only thing could see is old trees and dead sea weeds. But then there is nothing like garbage there--ok very very less.


If now, you ask me, if i could choose where to go Bali or this island, seeing this beach, i would definitely choose Bangka! Its truly a hidden paradise!





PS. I have to be fair here to say negative things about this beach:
I can't find a toilet here or place to change my clothes! so you have to figure that out! i just hope the local government will fix this immediately!

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Natural hot spring in Bangka????!! (Bangka Day 3)

February 16, 2010


On the second day at Bangka my friend told me about this natural hot spring. I thought they were joking... there are no mouintain in Bangka.. how come they got the hot spring???

So here we go again the pack with riding motorcycle about 30 minute to the hot spring at Pemali. I feel anxious because hot spring kind of fun after traveling for several days. I could swim and everything... hmmm...

Jambi had hot spring too. The one that i've visited is in Kerinci region. Its very huge!





Along the way i could see pretty view of ex tin mining hole that become lake, its very beautiful. Its seemed mysterious.

The entry ticket for Tirta Tapta Hot Spring is Rp 15,000,-/person and they charge Rp 1000,- for parking/ea

I had to change my jeans to short so i went to shower. Not bad its big, but its a little bit dark. Not very clean but for indonesia standard-its not that bad.




























The first pool we see is the one with slide. I didn't see any guards there. I saw little children climb to the top of the slide and boys are playing around the slide.. wow.. i wont bring my niece here. I can't understand why safety not #1 here. Even if the water only knee or waist high.. still i could see children age 5-6 or younger here that goes to that pool.









Its too crowd for me so we move to other pool where my friends said about this pool. Smaller but its good there. Without hesitate i just jump in the pool. and OMG!! OMG!! iTS TOO HOOOTTT!

My friend reaction just laugh at me when they see my red face and tears almost dropping at the edge of my eyes.. omg! its too hot ! hahahaha... i feel like boiled !!

After a while i think its better for me to have a swim. So we move to bigger swimming pool where i could do my 12 laps routine. It feels so good since the water is warm, but not as hot as that small pool that i went to first time, duh!



After swimming i feel so hungry so we went to the canteen and get some cheese fried cassava, Rp 15.000 a plate. Its taste so good, so soft... hahaha i love cassava!


After full, i did little bit exploring and see there is a huge cage at the other ned of the hot spring. And its deer-rusa from Bogor palace (haha sorry about the name, forgot the english!). Oh they also had duck boat here on the hot spring area. But we didnt explore much because its past 6 pm and we have to head back home. We ride our motorcycle again back to Sungai Liat. And we take several pictures on the way too!

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Tanjung Pesona Beach, Good First Impression (Bangka Day 2)

February 15, 2010



People say pictures say things that you just couldn't say. I wish i could post my whole pictures of Bangka Island here.

On my 2nd day, i borrow one of my friend uncle motorcycle and we ride along Sungai Liat street. Its a small town, the traffic is less crowded than Jambi, no traffic jam.




I like the air at the afternoon, its sunny hot, but you feel the "water" on the wind that blows. You could smell the sea salty air by riding motorcycle.

We went to a beach about 15-20 minute ride with normal 40-60 km/hr speed. The road is good, asphalt quite thin in some part, and could be slippery with the sand on some street corner/bent. Along the way to Tanjung Pesona Beach i could see how Bangka is a mix culture between Bangka people, Malay, and Chinese cultures.

Its still Chinese new year, you could hear fire cracker nite before. Some places even had the lion dance at night. At day time, you could see lots of chinese teen ride with motorcycle or walking, visiting one another house for what they call "kongnyan"/Imlek.

Tanjung Pesona Beach had a resort called Tanjung Pesona Beach Resort, placed in Pantai Rebo Sungai Liat.

When we stopped at security gate i just told them i want to go to lobby to check the room price. We do plan to stay over at one hotel. They allow us to go in. According to my friend to get to the beach usually they ask for Rp 10.000 per person.


To go to the beach we have to go a little bit down hill, and i could see the breath taking clear water from the road down, and i take apicture so youc ould see what i see for first time (i am a beach bum haha!). My first beach after so looong!

We park our motorcycle (its free), and i just ran to the beach. They have a park (jungle gym) for kids too. They even had two horse for rent there (its small local breed-ponny). Not bad!


First touch of the sand. Its not pure white sand, a bit yellowish but the beach is MUCH cleaner than Kuta Beach, i could assure you! i am not afraid of broken glass walking barefoot in the sand feel so nice.




Theres only less than 15 people on 3-5 kms shore, could you imagine that?



Its a heaven for me! just too bad i didn't plan to swim there that time!



I don't like over crowded beaches where lots of people lying down on the beach, dogs, and agressive people selling stuff and offer massage or braids etc (hahaha!). This beach very "beach" like pure place for relaxing. It had a clean canteen where you could buy ice cream or eat some food or snack. And as far i could see, there are just domestic/local visitor.



Its truly a hidden gateaway that i am very recomended!



Later we know that on the resort not far from there like 50-100 meters up you could find a nice restaurant with excellent view to the beach, but sure its more pricy. But from top/from the resort the view is worth the price.


We stay at the beach, playing with wave and sand and walking along the beach until almost 6 pm. We explore the resort too and went to this long bridge, its just so romantic (aaawww! wink wink).









We go back to the parking and then take few more pictures and swear we will go back here again ! hahahah !


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