Category Archives: Places

Feb 24 3 comments
Daily, Events, Places

Yogyakarta, still is a unique place

Jadi ingat, terakhir kali ke sana tahun 1996, berarti sudah hampir 13 tahun yang lalu. Itu pun tidak sempat menjelajahi banyak tempat di kota yang istimewa itu. Mungkin karena cape setelah jalan beberapa hari dari pantai di kawasan Cilacap hingga pantai Parangtritis di selatan Yogya.

Minggu lalu, karena ada undangan untuk sosialisasi pengisian pelaporan survey dan pengeboran dari BPMigas, akhirnya aku berangkat lagi ke kota yang “unik” ini. Ga tanggung-tanggung, 1 minggu full…

Yogya, ga banyak berubah. Malioboro masih tidak berubah, kecuali tambahan halte “trans jogja” yang menjadi pilihan transportasi umum yang cukup nyaman bagi masyarakat maupun pendatang. Kraton dengan acara “Sekaten” yang juga tidak berbeda jauh dengan 13 tahun lalu aku datangi, meski bedanya kali ini aku hanya lewat dan… sore hari.
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Jan 27 3 comments
Events, Friends, Hobby, Learning, Places

Solar eclipse, January 26, 2009 (part II)

Yesterday, January 26, 2009… I finally could see the annular solar eclipse. It was so very beautiful. Thanks to my lovely Cle, without her I probably could not see it and capture the moment.
Here, I posted (only) 3 pictures I captures yesterday.

ZD Lens 14-45/3.5-5.6 (1/4000; F22)
ZD Lens 40-150/3.5-4.5 (1/4000; F22)
ZD Lens 40-150/3.5-4.5 (1/4000; F22)


I found that this kind of phenomena was not easy to capture it with my (regular) digital camera, but at least I’ve tried.
All the images are taken only by my Olympus E-500, Kit-lens ZD 14-45 (f/3.5-5.6), and Zoom lens ZD 40-150 (f/3.5-4.5). I didn’t use any special equipment for capturing eclipse. The additional equipment was only a Velbon tripod and double UV filters (Matin and Kokaii) only.
I was so excited to try and did not care if my camera will break after yesterday. First, I was only try using my Standard zoom Zuiko Digital Lens (14-45mm, f/3.5-5.6) in P-mode. but hei.. I couldn’t capture anything even when I use f/22. It was all so bright! well… I’m still an amateur on photography, rite?
Then I change my camera to M-mode (manual) and try to change everything from f number and the speed. and the moment could only captured in 1/4000 s and f/22. wow!!! well… remember, I did not use any other filter. I should have try to use a CPL filter, an ND, or use a film coating. Well.. next time maybe, if I had the chance to be in that next time.
Then after several shoots and realize that the image of the solar was too small, I decided to change my lens to Zuiko Digital zoom lens (40-150mm, f/3.5-4.5) directly in M-mode, 1/4000 and f/22.
The result? walla!!!! that’s nice!!! and I couldn’t stop capturing the moment… mmm… I realize that I have lost the moment when the eclipse start until it was becoming a ring shape.
Well… that was it.

the moment I was originally planned with my brother, Ical.
bRO, this one is for you, as I promised you that I will come to see the solar eclipse. I couldn’t go to Lampung, I couldn’t go with you, but this is the best I could do, bRO.. as my last promise to you.

note: thanks to sawung, updating all the information about this solar eclipse. and thanks, too, to ria who joining Cle and me.

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Jan 19 3 comments
Events, Friends, Learning, Places

Solar eclipse, January 26, 2009


This is the last promise I made to my brother, Ical, who passed away on last October’s end, to see the solar eclipse directly from the right place. This one is an annular solar eclipse which will be visible across the Southern Ocean and Indonesia on January 26, 2009.
The annular phase runs from 06:02:39 UT, when the eclipse begins in the South Atlantic, to the end of the eclipse in the Celebes Sea at 09:54:44 UT, while the maximum eclipse is at 07:58:39 UT. Meanwhile the partial eclipse will be visible over southern Africa, the Indian Ocean and most of Australasia between 04:56:38 UT and 11:00:41 UT.
Here, in Indonesia, the best place to witness this phenomenon is Lampung and places around it in south part of Sumatera. The other great places are Cilegon, Serang, Anyer and places around them for Java, and some places in the middle of Kalimantan. So, please come to those places to be one of many witnesses.

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Jan 06 6 comments
Daily, Events, Friends, Places, Tales

Selamat (kembali) bekerja! *setelah bersenang-senang di pergantian tahun*

Well… Happy (belated) New Year 2009!!!

Hari ini udah hari ke 6 di tahun 2009, dan ini adalah posting pertama yang bisa aku buat. Terlambat, mungkin…. Too late?? NOPE! Doa tak akan pernah terlambat!

Semoga di tahun yang baru ini banyak harapan baru yang bisa teraih, banyak kesempatan baru dan lebih baik yang dapat tercapai. Dan semoga hal-hal baik dan bagus yang dicapai dan didapat tahun lalu tak hilang atau berakhir di tahun ini, dan justru menjadi lebih baik lagi atau bahkan meningkat dalam hal apapun.
Resolusi tahun ini? Ahh… entahlah…. Apapun yang kita pikirkan sebagai resolusi, harapan, atau apapun itu, semoga bila itu baik akan tercapai, kalaupun tidak “terlalu” baik, ya setidaknya disadarkan dan kembali baik…

Setelah 12 hari merumahkan (ga rumah-rumah amat sih..) diri diakhir tahun, akhirnya di hari pertama ini kembali merasakan waktu yang berjalan sangat lambat dalam kotak kecil harian yang sama dengan tahun lalu, belum berubah.. namun semoga dengan semangat yang baru. Ahh… sama aja mungkin ya, tapi setidaknya harus memulai lagi dalam diri ini untuk membakar hati dan hari..
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Feb 06 0 comments
Daily, Events, Places

another resume of my year end (part II)

I will start this part from the time when I woke up from my un-rest at home coz then I hear her voice downstairs. I was hoping that she will have some rest, calm and not doing anything yet.
but… she had went out from her room n talk with my mom… in what language? I really don’t know… :-p

then she didn’t have a chance to get some rest.. and by the time we should gone to the place where we will met and have some diner with edu, a friend, she must have been very tired. But we must gone to met him, cause there something she must handed to edu and have something for haruka to brought back to Japan. And then Yusa, Argha and Nasrul, my friend from the office joined us having diner. after diner, we decided to went karaoke and the I call my brother to join us. And there we are until midnight.. poor haruka, she must have been very tired…

The next day we only have one plan. Only tried to find some place to exchange her yen to rupiah, but we didn’t find one that open. Then we took some lunch before went to my friend house, Ganjar… His family wanted to met and know haruka, so then i took her there… on a motorcycle… :-p and that was her first time!!
She was so afraid when riding that bike. gomenne, haruka.. ;-)
we arrived, have some talks, jokes, and pictures.. and then comes the time to met rasti. We went from the house nearly 6 o’clock in the evening and met rasti at carefour. We only having diner there and we must gone very soon coz she feels not fine.. and we went back home, but she was really in a low condition that night.. maybe because i decided to use a motorcycle and make her take too much smoke on the road and make her get too much wind…
hmmm.. i didn’t get any sleep that night coz it’s my responsibility to take care of her in that condition. ahh… she got geri geri and threw up so many times that night… I was offering her to canceled our trip to Bali on the next morning… but she refused it.. i know that she really want to go and see Bali…

And then on the next morning we have to go.. and i think she was really weak, but i got a little tired and sleepy…

to be continued….

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Jan 14 0 comments
Daily, Events, Places

just a resume of my year end

Is it too late to greet you a happy new year? Is it too late even for the moslem’s new year?
hmmm… maybe yes, but maybe not… I didn’t have a single chance to post lately, even when I really wanted to made one after having a great vacation on last new year holiday. I will make a little resume from that trip, but there might be things that I already forgot and left only in my head.

My last post was on last Christmas, but I was totally forgotten to send a greeting to our little sister - Esther - coz what in my head was only one thing. Yes, it was all because of the vacation I’ve planned for me and Haruka…

So then, she was arrived on Dec. 27th evening, but I have arrived at Jakarta even 1 day before, coz my friend from the college ask my help to send his report on his training to my office. skip that one and then I have checked in at the hotel where she will spent one night and have some rest.
Just as my last post, all set..
After laid down a bit, I went from the hotel at 20.00 to pick her up at the Cengkareng Airport, arrived at the airport before the display on my cellphone shown 21.00 means I had to wait at least 1 and a half hour, coz her flight will arrived at 21.55. One hour only, but then if we count the time at the baggages claim, and pay the visa, etc., it will take at least another half hour. well, there was I waited for more than one and a half hour until I saw her face, smiling at me and erasing all my tiredness of waiting. And I couldn’t wait to hug n hold her when she was finally right in front of me… and i was realized that it made her surprised, coz I never did it before.. ;-)
We didn’t wait too long at the airport n went to the hotel. Like we always did, we talk (almost) all nite long, but then I let her go to sleep coz she must have been very tired on her hours of flight. Until that time I never told her where we will go for the vacation. She wants to go to Bali or Lombok, but when I tried to booked for flights and hotels, all.. full booked. And she knows about it. But when I told her that I have the flight tickets and has booked the hotel in Bali… kyaaa!!! she was screaming! I was lucky that I don’t have a heart attack… hehe… and now she can take a sound sleep.

We checked out in the morning after having a breakfast, coz I already booked a ticket to went to Bandung at 07.45 and arrived at around 10.30. My brother has waited there and we directly went to my mom’s office. I planned to leave her there on my Friday pray. So, I leave her there for less then one hour after she had her lunch.

From mom’s office we go around to find money changer, but all money changer were closed at the time, so, after bought some of things she needed, we went back home to take a little rest before doing another plan in the evening.

to be continued….

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Aug 23 1 comments
Daily, Events, Places

Trip to Panaitan Island, Ujung Kulon

Last weekend, on August 16 night until August 19 night, i have another “backpack” trip to one island on the west of Java, Ujung Kulon National Park. I was went with the same team when i was on Karimun Jawa (Yusa, Argha, Binbin, Ook, Maikel), plus two more friends (Ajun and Dody), in this trip. And of course with all other new friends from other team. I lost my count, but the total maybe 23-24 people using two boats. Jo/Aan, Esti, Ayu, M’Edi, Romi, Rano, Vina, Ibun, Caca, Meidy, Andre.. wow… i lost other names… please let me know, guys…

well.. but i guess i have no time to make a full post now, so, wait until i have enough time to make the post.

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May 22 7 comments
Daily, Events, Places

Holiday Trip to Karimunjawa

On last weekend, the long weekend.. from May 17th to 20th, me and my friends, Yusa, Argha, Binbin, Maikel and Ook have a trip to karimunjawa islands.. what a very nice and a very tired trip… :p
We (exclude Maikel) gone from my office at 18.30 on Wednesday, after work, using a cab to the place where the bus wait and will take us to Jepara. But it was taking so much time from the office building to the rawamangun bus station, we were facing so much traffic jams… when we finally got to the bus, it’s already past 20. hmmm.. we’ll be late.. and that was right, because we could only arrive at the dock on Jepara at 13.30 on the next day.. it’s a 17 hours trip from Jakarta to Jepara.. it’s too long.. in my mind, i only count for 12 - 14 hours.. i don’t know what’s happening, is it the traffic or the driver that drove the bus to slow…
btw, we only 15 people on the bus using a rent bus.. 6 from our team, 7 the other team (Wisnu, Ratih, Jenny, Yunita, Ming ming, Irwan and Franky) and the driver and his co-driver.

Arriving at the dock we have to use a fisherman boat (only a little fisherman boat) and gone sailing for 6 hours!!! wow.. such a very long trip in the middle of nowhere… but the wave are very friendly on that noon.. with only a captain, 2 man as his crew, 13 people from 2 teams and 2 other man that we don’t know who, we go to karimunjawa islands…

but…

after 4 hours on the sea.. the engine of the boat having a trouble, and need to be repaired on the sea… wow.. but after a while the boat got broke again and then the captain ask another boat to pull our boat to the dock at the Menjangan island on the karimunjawa islands… and we arrive at 22.00… so, the total is 8 hours on the sea… and 25 hours from Jakarta… what a very long trip to have a vacation… but… in the morning we all know that the place are worth it… so, it is OK (at least for me) to have such a along time on the road and sea for the beautiful view of the place..

for the place that placed in the middle of the sea, our inn which is floating on the water, is not too hot, it’s a very cool and cozy place… but we can not go anywhere without a boat, the inn is not have any direct links to any island there… after having a late dinner, of course they are seafoods, we still couldn’t sleep.. we are too tired to get sleep.. so the all talking until 2 o’clock in the morning (at least it is me) and i get up a little late at 6… and the view… ahhhh, very pretty… who needs a sunrise if we still could see the sun rising behind the big island in front of us? hehe.. it just a quote for me because i couldn’t reach a single sunrise there :-( ahh.. what a sleepy head!!



and then i realize that Mr. Joko (Ismarjoko), who own the place, have a little sharks preserved place… wow, it is beautiful with 2 big sea turtles, a lot of sharks, starfish, clownfish (anemonefish), and a lot of i don’t know fish… but be careful, the inn is surrounded by Edible sea urchin (Sea urchin or in Indonesia “Bulu Babi” as in “Pig hair” :p ) under the water, because this sea urchin has a little poison on their “hair” or spines. Ok, but we will not swim, snorkel or eve dive near the inn…. hmmm.. but Binbin does swim when we ride on a banana boat.

ok… after having breakfast and take a shower for the one who wanted to have shower (but i didn’t take a shower that morning… I’m going to swim, snorkel and diving all day long, why should i get shower?), we go on a little ride on a banana boat near the inn, ahh.. but may be it just so boring because the speed is too low and the water is too quiet… ok.. just pass it…

now… lets go for snorkeling!!! On a small boat with 13 people and 3 boat crews, we go to find the spot to see the underwater view… first, it is a very hard wave and we have to try hard to get back to the boat after snorkeling.. and the crews decided to find another spot, near (very and too near) to the beach.. so, we interested to the beach more than to do the first thing we’ve plan, to snorkel… hehehe…
ok.. after playing on that beach in a very small island, we get to another beach in a bigger island that have a very beautiful view and (they who seen it said) beautiful underwater view… the coral reef are very great… but, i just regret my self because i didn’t have any underwater case for my camera, or at least a pocket camera with underwater bag…. it is very beautiful if we could get the picture from the corals… ahh.. i don’t know how to say it… God… it’s very beautiful!!!!!

ok.. after that we only go to a beach that didn’t have too good beach.. only a white sand beach with a pretty view to the ocean… hahahaha.. it is very pretty!!! it’s all pretty there.. if i have a chance, i will go there again.. maybe take three or more night there… get my self darker and darker and burn my skin by the sun… ahhh…. i like it so much…

hmmm… but remember, when you go on snorkeling, always take your heads up, be caution.. there might be jelly fish everywhere… i got bit by a little one, but it just hurts.. and you might see the big one, bigger than your head… so… just be careful…

we gone back to the inn.. play with the sharks on the preserved place.. and take a shower.. have a dinner.. and enjoy the last night on the dock… what a very beautiful day.. i don’t know hot to tell it in english… but… it just make me think to go back again other time…
the next day (i sleep at 02.30) i wake up at 07 and pass again the chance to catch the sunrise.. ahh… but is ok, because they said that it is cloudy… hihihi.. just another quote for my self. Then having or breakfast with a very delicious lobster, packing up our things.. and we have to go back to Jakarta…. I hate to feel this way.. I wan to stay a bit longer there….

but.. i have to get back… we get to the same fisherman boat (but it already fixed it’s engine), and having a trip for 6 hours without a problems… yeah.. if you said that the heat from the sun is not a problem or big ocean wave also not a problems… then there’s no problem at all when we got beck to Jepara using the boat. reaching the dock at jepara, the same bus has ready to take us back…
we get to Jepara first to see (and buy) some handy-craft, then go directly to Jakarta… we arrive at Cawang highway gate, Jakarta, at 04:00… ahh.. welcome back to Jakarta…. good bye vacation trip….

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