Songa Rafting, Probolinggo

I love all activities related to water, especially white-river rafting. I did my first rafting in Phuket, Thailand a long time ago. It was not fun because there were too many rafts and people on the river (we were stuffed on the river like sardines). The timing was also too short, less than 2 hours.

 

Then, 3 years ago I went to Songa, Probolinggo, East Java. The river was so quiet, just a lot of trees and nature. The name of the river is Pekalen.  The guide led us along more than 18 km of river with beautiful views of virgin forests.It was an unforgettable journey. I loved it.

 

I know there are many spectacular rafting areas in America the country I live in, but unfortunately I can’t stand cold water!

 

 

 

We Dont Have A Last Name

I don’t know if it’s only Indonesia, or if there are any other countries where the people do not have a family name. For sure, only a few of Indonesian races have a family name: Batak, Flores, Chinese and Menado. I’m one of them, I have a last name. In Indonesia, we can tell where you are from by your family name. (For your information, Indonesia has more than 10 races and each race has its own language) 

If I’m not mistaken, Malay people from Malaysia and Singapore don’t have a family name either. They usually use BIN for son of…. and BINTI for daughter of…… So, if you see someone from those countries named Mohammad Bin Usman, don’t panic, they have no relation to Osama Bin Ladin.

 

Batam Island

 

Turi’s Pool.

 

As you know, Indonesia is an island country, and one of the islands called Batam Island where I used to live. Batam is a small but busy island with an area of only 415 km2 (258 miles). Located only 20km (13 miles) from Singapore, Batam is one of the fastest growing populations in Indonesia. As the island develops into a major industrial and tourist area, it attracts an ever-increasing population from other Indonesian islands who see Batam as a haven of opportunity.

 

Do not imagine Bali or Phuket. Batam is an industrial city in which a lot of multi- national manufactories were built. Even though, you’re still able to relax and enjoy the island. You can take a full day trip to the old Vietnam refugee camp on Galang. 100,000 people used this camp as their temporary home, while they awaited relocation to a third country.

 

If you want to just relax or do some water sport activities, stay one or two nights at Turi Beach Resort. The resort is beautiful, quiet and blessed with a magnificent view of the sea. It has Balinese style cottages with traditional teak and thatched-roofs. Just remember to bring mosquito repellent, unless you don’t mind sharing your happiness with mosquitos.

 

 Turi Beach Resort, Nongsa-Batam.

 

Eating on Batam Island

One of Batam’s biggest attractions is its fresh and delicious seafood. Giant prawns, live fish taken straight from the sea, clams, lobster and gonggong (snail in a shell) are cooked in a variety of styles and all are delicious.

My favorite seafood restaurant is Golden Prawn 555. It’s an interesting restaurant in which the seafood was reared in the adjacent pond and then hauled into various tanks for its patrons to choose from.

My family and I went to Golden Prawn seafood restaurant two years ago ; we ordered a variety of food for 13 people and only paid $ 90.00. I love their sour and spicy fish, battered cuttle fish and sambal colek (homemade chili sauce mixed with shrimp paste) .

I will definitely go there again this year.

 Seafood restaurant on stilts.

Part 5

Part 4

Part 3

Anthony Bourdain went to Garut, West Java to visit dodol home manufactory.

Part 2

Ooooppps someone broke the dishes.

Part 1

Anthony Bourdain visited Indonesia.