BUNKASAI – Gakko No Reminiscence

Early morning on a beautiful Sunday, my friends and I stopped a Semarang-Solo public bus (with AC) and headed to Solo. Flashback for a week before, my friends who take Japanese study told about this “Bunkasai” (or literally, “Culture Festival”) that would be held by one of senior high school in Solo and invited me to join them. I immediately said yes, because I though that it would be a different and interesting experience, especially to spend my holiday. Also, to see Japanese cultural festival was not an every day event.

By the help of Google Map, finally we found the school on foot (after getting off from the bus). Such an achievement, wasn’t it! This “Bunkasai” is an annual event held by SMAN 4 Surakarta. The entrance ticket was Rp8,000 plus two stickers. One more unique (or strange) thing, we got stamped on our neck or little bit lower to side shoulder (Yes, it should be there! Not on hand, arm or cheek).

The theme of this Bunkasai was “Gakko No Reminiscence”. It used two languages: Japanese and English. I gave a part in translating the English one, hehehe. So, the theme was about “school memories”.

We were welcomed by lots of stands made from bamboo at the school yard. Japanese food stands, K-drama stands, J-drama stands, manga comic and CD, cosplay, and many more. There was also a big stage at the center of the yard. A lot of bands specialized in Japanese songs would be performed there. Many Japanese cultures were introduced such as Japanese’s traditional martial art, Taiko, etc.

 

 

The most interesting and amazing part was the cosplay competition. Many contestants wore their costume based on manga comic or game. They were extremely total in their costumes, background music, style, way to move, etc.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Jogja, entah untuk yang keberapa kalinya ...

It is untold how many I've been to Jogja. Yeah, it's never bored to go there, even though the city has been changed a bit (or more?). And it's been a while I do not visit this city which is very well-known with its Javanese cultural heritage and many attractive tourism destinations.

Yet, last month (11-12 of June), my friends and I went there by motorbikes. We had planned it since a month earlier, we wanted to celebrate our finished final test for this term. There were 5 bikes with two passengers on it. I ride my black Mio as usual :)

We left Salatiga at 2 p.m and preferred the Kopeng road. Well,  it was kinda tiring do to its mountainous and winding road, but it's worth! We could see the fresh and beautiful sceneries of Merbabu Mountain and the far-little part of Merapi Vulcano. After passing the busy highway of Magelang, finally we entered the city of Jogja. It was almost dusk when we arrived in the famous Malioboro Street.

We left our stuff at a guest house (actually it was one of our friend's home).
The following are some places and activities we did there!

South Square (Alun-Alun Kidul)
The South Square is an area at the back part of the Sultan's Palace. It has totally changed. I mean the entertainment it offers. Actually one of my friend wanted to try the Masangin challenge, namely walking through two banyan trees in the middle of the square with your eyes being closed. The belief says that those who successfully do it will get unlimited blessing. However, do not try to peep since you will enter to other world so that it is difficult for you to return to the real world! The ritual of going through between two banyan trees is not mystical but it is means of saying our prayer to God. The answering of the prayer will depend on one's belief. At last, we all tried this challenge.

 Three of my friends tried the challenge

 Girls wanted to try the decorated semi-bike-cart vehicle (back), we should paddling ourselves!

At certain occasion, you can see leather puppet performance in Sasono Hinggil Dwi Abad, the building that is located adjacent to the South Square. Unfortunately it was not held at the time we were there.

Malioboro Street at Night
After having dinner, we continued our journey to Malioboro Street. It was extremely crowded due to the holiday season. In addition, there were a lot of events held along this street, especially at the Vredeburg Fort and the President Palace.

   

The girls did some shopping the next day, there are plenty supply of Batik and many other arts and cultural stuffs.

Baron Beach
The second day we went to beach. Actually we'd like to find the Siung but we're little bit lost of track and we arrived at the other beaches. Due to the road block so we decided to visit this beach.
It was located in Gunung Kidung Regency (literally, South Mountain), so you can imagine how the way to get there. Extremely winding and curving. And in hours! However, it paid after we smelled the air of the sea hehehe.
First sight, lots of blue boats are the welcome!
And followed by such a "lake" that separate the land and the real beach or ocean. You can cross by swimming or riding a boat only with Rp.2.000.

 

 

 

We back home at night and along the journey we passed what it's called Bukit Bintang (Star Hill), it was a place along the winding highway where we can stop for a while and watch the view from up hill. It was such a grandeur scenery of beautiful night landscape of Jogja city, with its lamps, sparking roads, etc.

Honestly it's very tiring traveling by motorbike, but it's worth though. 

photo of the day - #6

this picture was taken in Karangkates Dam, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

using canon digital camera 7x megapixel

trust the train, mademoiselle

These are some excerpts I recall from Agatha Christie's The Mystery of The Blue Train where the famous sleuth Hercule Poirot said: "Trust the train, Mademoiselle, for it is is le bon Dieu who drives it. Trust the train, Mademoiselle, because the train gets to its journey's end at last".

For a mysterious reason I have a weakness of traveling in car or bus. I can't stand of the movement, the closed room and the machine fragrant. My lungs always ask for fresh air. Therefore I prefer of train to go to somewhere quite far.

These following pictures was taken when my sister and me, and one of my sister's friend went to Jakarta. We would go to the 2008 Avenged Sevenfold concert in Jakarta (our capital city). First, we should take bus to go to Semarang (an hour from my town) and take the train from its station (Tawang Station). I hate the bus journey, even worse we hadn't had our breakfast yet. So, after arrived we chose to eat hot instant cup noodle.

And the journey began.

breakfast time

passing another train

our "spider web" train window

 beach seen from our window

don't forget the ticket, please

waiting for the night train to go home

Samas Beach

It's almost once a month I go to the place name Yogyakarta (Jogjakarta, Indonesia) because I ever spent three years of studying there, and we can found lots of interesting places to be visited. This city was well-known as a tourism object even to foreign tourist. Yogyakarta is a special province still rooted in its Javanese culture, which is headed by a Sultan (a king). Palaces, Batik's places, Wayang's places, beaches, traditional and art markets, and many much more.

This time I'd like to tell our adventure last year. Initially we just wanted to visit the cultural building that exhibited lost of traditional children playing tools. But after satisfying ourselves with meals in food festival we decided to go somewhere, beach!

Almost all beaches are at south region, thus we drove there, looked at the road signs, and finally - or accindentally - arrived at "Samas Beach". It's not as crowded one as other famous beaches. But it's cleaner and more quiet. We found only few people, even after that only five of us in the beach.

the sand and the coconut

foamy waves

sprint with the waves

so soft

little steps to nowhere

the sun sets and the sea tides

scattered around

desert sand

sun bathing and musing

d'sisters

leaned

swim competition

the surroundings

go home

http://javatourism.com/index.php?Page=1091

http://www.theindonesiaonline.com/jogjakarta/8-yogyakarta/7-beaches-in-jogja
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/21540036