Sunday, February 27, 2011

Batu Caves, Filosofi dalam 272 Anak Tangga

Sempatkanlah untuk mengunjungi Batu Caves apabila Anda sedang berkunjung ke Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bukit kapur Batu Caves adalah lokasi kuil Hindu terpopuler di luar India yang dipersembahkan untuk Dewa Murugan. Objek wisata religius yang juga merupakan spot utama untuk perayaan festival Thaipusam di Malaysia ini terletak sekitar 13 km dari Kuala Lumpur, dan tidak dikenakan biaya masuk untuk mengunjungi kawasan tersebut.

Setelah melompat ke dalam bus nomor 11D dari arah Pasar Seni dan membayar tiket sebesar 1.2 ringgit per orang, perjalanan 45 menit ke arah Batu Caves itu pun kami habiskan dengan tidur —apalagi didukung oleh teriknya matahari siang bolong dan minimnya pemandangan menarik menuju objek tersebut.




(Atas) Gerbang masuk Batu Caves;
(Tengah & Bawah) Patung Emas Dewa Murugan &
272 anak tangga menuju Temple Cave.

Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011

Astaghfirullah...
Pertama kali saya menapak ke dalam kawasan religius ini, objek pertama yang paling menarik perhatian saya adalah landmark berupa patung emas Dewa Murugan tertinggi di dunia (tingginya 42,7 meter) dan di belakangnya terlihat 272 anak tangga curam yang menuju sebuah gua di atas bukit kapur yang berfungsi sebagai kuil.

Belum hilang keterpukauan saya, dari belakang bahu saya terdengar desahan pelan, "Astaghfirullah..." Rupanya teman saya juga sangat terpukau melihat tingginya kuil di atas bukit tersebut dan langsung memutuskan untuk tidak ikut naik ke atas, hehehe...

Ya, sebagai orang-orang yang tidak pernah menjadi anggota komunitas pecinta alam dan tidak pernah melakukan aktivitas mendaki gunung (hanya pernah trekking kecil-kecilan), ratusan anak tangga tersebut terlihat amat sangat mengintimidasi kami.

Hadeuuhh, butuh berapa puluh menit ya untuk menuntaskan anak-anak tangga ini?, batin saya dalam hati. Saran saya hanya satu, datanglah ke tempat ini saat masih pagi atau sore sekalian, jangan tengah hari bolong. Terik matahari sepertinya cukup menciutkan semangat untuk naik ke atas.

Matahari siang bolong yang terik dan 272 anak tangga, here we come!
Untuk mencapai kuil gua di ujung tangga bernama Temple Cave, tentunya kita harus mendaki ratusan anak tangga tersebut. Sekilas mengingatkan saya akan ratusan anak tangga di Gunung Bromo. Menantang sekali. Belum lagi ditambah panasnya matahari yang cukup menusuk kulit. Saya bisa menyerah sekarang, tapi apalah artinya petualangan kali ini kalau sudah sampai di sini dan tidak mencoba sensasi naik tangga tersebut.

Akhirnya dari empat orang, hanya saya dan satu teman saya yang memutuskan untuk mendaki sang bukit kapur. Perbekalan yang kami siapkan hanya segenggam niat ... dan payung, dan sebotol air minum, dan kamera poket, ... dan mp3 player (yang sudah saya isi ulang dengan daftar lagu Top 100) yang akan sangat berguna apabila tiba-tiba di tengah jalan kami mulai merasa bosan. Ya, kami memang cukup lebay.

Filosofi dalam 272 Anak Tangga
Dan tahu tidak? Pendakian kali ini ternyata memiliki makna tersembunyi yang mungkin akan berpengaruh terhadap pola pikir kami di masa depan. Bagaimana ceritanya? Mari simak lebih lanjut catatan perjalanan di bawah ini.

Pertama kali melangkahkan kaki ke gerbang masuk tangga, kami berpapasan dengan dua orang wisatawan muda yang juga terlihat ragu-ragu untuk memulai pendakian. Kami saling bertatapan dengan pandang penuh arti, melihat bersamaan ke arah tangga yang curam, menghela nafas, dan saling melempar tawa. Yah, tampaknya kami harus segera memulai langkah pertama sebelum semangat kami goyah.


Let's the journey begin!
Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011

Seiring dengan anak tangga demi anak tangga yang satu persatu kami daki, beberapa kali kami berpapasan dengan para turis dari berbagai belahan dunia yang telah sukses mendaki ke atas dan sedang menuju ke bawah, dan setiap kali itu pula kami saling melempar senyum. Senyum tanpa batasan bahasa yang seperti memiliki arti "Ayo kamu bisa, sedikit lagi!"

Dari pengalaman tersebut, saya menemukan filosofi pertama dalam 272 anak tangga di hadapan saya.
Filosofi 1:
Sekelompok manusia dengan berbagai macam latar belakang apabila dihadapkan dalam keadaan yang berat pasti akan lebih terdorong untuk saling bekerjasama dan mendukung satu sama lain —padahal mungkin dalam keadaan normal, mereka tidak akan terlalu peduli satu sama lain. Dalam situasi seperti ini, manusia sebagai makhluk sosial akan menciptakan unsur "kebersamaan" yang muncul dari keinginan mereka yang terdalam.
Sepertiga perjalanan, kami sudah ngos-ngosan dengan peluh mengucur deras. Ujung tangga masih terlihat jauuuuhhh di depan mata. Tiba-tiba saya ingin menbuat satu goal untuk tahun 2011 ini: "Sukses mendaki 272 anak tangga Batu Caves!" dan rupanya goal itu sedikit menambah semangat saya untuk meneruskan pendakian, yah paling tidak saya jadi punya alasan untuk terus berjuang, hehehe...

Ah, tak lama akhirnya perjuangan kami terbayar sudah. Setelah beberapa kali istirahat mengumpulkan nafas, akhirnya kami mencapai puncak tertinggi dan dapat menikmati pemandangan dari atas yang ... ternyata biasa saja. Di atas, kami menatap bagian belakang patung Dewa Murugan dengan latar belakang pemandangan kawasan industri Gombak.

Tapi yang membuat kami kaget, ternyata kami berhasil mencapai puncak tertinggi hanya dengan waktu kurang dari 15 menit! Wah saya kira bakal habis minimal setengah jam...
Filosofi 2:
Masalah yang awalnya tampak mustahil diselesaikan setelah dilewati ternyata tidak seburuk/sesulit seperti yang terlihat pertama kali.
Kami hanya menghabiskan waktu sebentar di Temple Cave. Di bagian depan area ini terdapat sebuah patung dewa di atas batu yang dinaungi payung berwarna kuning serta sebuah kios oleh-oleh yang tampaknya hari itu sepi pengunjung. Kalau ingin menjelajah lebih jauh ke dalam gua pun sebenarnya bisa, tapi saat itu kami sudah ingin cepat-cepat mencicipi kelapa muda (3 RM) yang dijual di mini market bawah.



Temple Cave, pemandangan di puncak anak tangga.
Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011

Perjalanan ke Bawah
Untungnya kini kami sudah kuat mental melihat ratusan anak tangga yang *lagi-lagi* harus kami lalui, apalagi begitu ingat 15 menit lagi kami akan minum air kelapa muda segar. Satu persatu anak tangga kami turuni dengan sabar, dan secara tidak sadar kami sudah sampai mini market dengan waktu yang lebih singkat! Kelapa muda, tunggu kami!!
Filosofi 3:
Masalah apa pun pasti akan terselesaikan dengan baik apabila kita menjalaninya satu persatu dengan sabar dan ikhlas.

Di samping mini market yang juga menjual kelapa muda,
kita bisa memberi makan kawanan burung merpati
(sekaligus untuk difoto, tentunya).

Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011

Pesan Moral dari Cerita Ini
Coba lihat, ternyata banyak pelajaran hidup yang dapat kita petik dari mendaki ratusan anak tangga tersebut bukan? Tapi ada satu poin terpenting dari "ujian" 272 anak tangga Batu Caves yang sangat berpengaruh di masa depan kami, yang dapat dipaparkan secara gamblang sebagai berikut:

Setelah berhasil melalui uji nyali naik 272 anak tangga tersebut, setiap kali kami mendapati eskalator yang rusak, anak-anak tangga di Kek Lok Si Temple Penang, maupun hambatan-hambatan kecil lainnya selama backpacking kali itu, kami selalu menyahut dengan bangga,
"Alaahh... Batu Caves aja kita berhasil, ginian doang mah keciiiilll..."
Yak, masalah apa pun memang menjadi terlihat kecil setelah melalui 272 anak tangga Batu Caves!

Maka demikianlah pesan moral dari cerita ini yang sekaligus menutup catatan perjalanan saya di Batu Caves.

:))

FISHING AREA

SIMPUL TALI PANCING
Rangkaian Permanen

simpul-albright-ed125.jpgRangkaian/ rig permanen utama merupakan rangkaian yang mudah dan digunakan oleh banyak mania mancing untuk mencari berbagai spesies ikan seperti di muara yang mana tergantung dari para mania untuk menset rangkaian pancing pada piranti mancing dengan cepat.

1. Rangkaian Permanen Utama
a. Penggunaan kili-kili/ swivel mata tiga
b. Penggunaan kili-kili/ swivel standar

01_a.jpg


01_b.jpg2. Rangkaian Mancing Lanjutan
Rangkaian jenis ini ideal untuk memancing mencari jenis ikan berukuran kecil

02.jpg

Rangkaian Permanen Termodifikasi untuk memancing ikan-ikan berukuran kecil
Merupakan rangkaian dasar jenis lainnya yang menggunakan kili-kili/ swivel mata tiga serta pemberat. Cocok untuk mencari ikan berukuran kecil yang disesuaikan dengan mata pancing, pemberat serta ukuran senar.

Rangkaian Pemberat Bergerak
Simpul
simpul-albright-ed125.jpgPemberat bergerak merupakan penggunaan pemberat bukan permanen yang dibuat dengan adanya lubang yang menembus pemberat dan dapat bergerak serta meluncur mengikuti senar. Penggunaan pemberat jenis ini memiliki keuntungan saat ikan memakan umpan tanpa merasakan adanya pemberat.

Pemberat yang bergerak langsung pada pancing
Pada saat menggunakan pemberat yang berukuran lebih besar, gunakan pemberat yang berukuran lebih kecil atau manik-manik yang berfungsi agar terhindar dari kemacetan pemberat pada lubang pancing.

Penggunaan ring solid sebagai stopper

Penggunaan kili-kili/ swivel sebagai stopper

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I'm Indonesian Project: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Batu Caves, 272 steps ahead to go to Temple Cave.
Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011


Petronas Twin Tower, taken from Suria KLCC.
Photo (c) Herajeng Gustiayu, 2011

"I'm Indonesian" Project - started in May 2010

Share the joy of travel with all Indonesian travelers!

Tag your favourite destinations to show us as Indonesian were there! Any tag with "I'm Indonesian" text are welcome. You can create your own tag using cardboard, teared paper, or anything. Be creative ... and have fun!

Then you can send it to us at
backpacker.notes(at)gmail.com

Don't forget to mention the location. We will publish the chosen photos in our website with your name (and your website, if you have any) as credit! Feel free to contribute!

Happy traveling! :)


+ + + + +

"I'm Indonesian" Project (c) The Backpacker's Notes, 2011

Kuala Lumpur edition
Idea: Herajeng Gustiayu & Hanny Musytika
Property: Ronggo Ahmad Wikanswasto
Hand model: Hanny Musytika

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

the green of Curug Cikaso Waterfall

cikaso waterfall 3 We will visit an area in west Java province, precisely in Sukabumi. Sukabumi has a myriad of beautiful waterfall. One of them is Cikaso Waterfall  or known with the Curug Cikaso. The distance is about 33 kilometers from the Ujung Genteng coast.
Cikaso waterfall is an appropriate location for swimming in freshwater. Waterfall that falls from a height of 30 meters it really gives a fresh view that will never make us bored. Overflow waterfall looks majestic and charming. Although a little green, but it is very clear.
Green moss covering the rocks look like a beautiful tapestry. Were there as invited guests to do the adventure through fantasy land. Cikaso is not just a place to off a fatigue, but at the same time enjoy the gift of the Divine.
Cikaso is the name of the river that flows from the upper reaches are located in North Sukabumi until the end with its estuary on the South Coast region Surade District, South Sukabumi. From upstream to its estuary, the river water flow through some cikaso cliffs forming the river flow is an amazing waterfall. Cikaso waterfall is located between Jampang Kulon and Surade.
besides known by the charm of its beach, tile Ujung also rich with waterfalls along the rivers. Cikaso addition, there are also Curug Luhur, Curug Cigansa and much more.
Apart from boat engines, there is also a wooden boat or familiar there with jukung boat as an alternative to reach the waterfall. This boat was originally used to transport sand residents. But if anyone wants to use his services as a transportation to the location of waterfalls, boat owners will be willing to deliver to the location.
The distance between the mainland with waterfall location is not too far away, just across the straight if you want to walk away. However, to facilitate travel while enjoying the river Cikaso, you should choose the path of the river by boat services. Around the outskirts of this river the miners or local residence there mining the sand. Of course, this being the special view.
See more pictures of Cikaso Waterfall below
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Monday, February 7, 2011

the west outer islands of Indonesia

pulau-weh-0 Actually, Weh Island is not the west outer islands of Indonesia, but there's one more small islands called the island of Rondo, but may be due to the island was uninhabited, the Indonesian society is more familiar with Weh island as west outer islands of Indonesia. In fact, there is also some indonesia people that know Sabang city but do not know which island it located. The city was inhabited approximately 24 thousand inhabitants. it is the former Freeport, but as we all know, once the prolonged conflict in Aceh and the surrounding area including the island of Weh, therefore free port was closed by the government to prevent the entry of illegal weapons into Indonesia.
Currently, the city of Sabang Freeport reopened by the government while the condition on this area are getting more conducive and a new port has been waiting to support the plan. Sabang can be reached using the fast and slow ferries from the city of Banda Aceh, with fast ferry takes approximately 45 minutes from Banda Aceh.
As we all know, including the entire world know that there had been a quite miserable  disaster on the 24th december 2004 in the province of Aceh, including this area, namely the Tsunami. Weh island generally and Sabang especially also affected that quite sad disaster, though no casualties as much as other areas affected by the tsunami. A lot of infrastructure to be paralyzed by the disaster.
On this day in the town of Sabang and Weh island began to re-grow as the number of relief funds from foreign countries and local and government to develop Sabang and surrounding areas. Livelihoods of the population most of whom work as civil servants and they expect that after a while Freeport running and growing longer they can earn a living from trade and industry. In this island there is also a monument called Kilometre Zero Monument. In this monument there is a symbol of the bird Garuda on its top end. As we have told earlier that Weh is not the west outer islands of Indonesia, but there's one more small islands called the island of Rondo. But because the island was uninhabited, the monument built on the island of Weh, about an hour drive from the town of Sabang. The road to the monument kilometers own not so good, maybe this is because only few people visit these places or maybe vice versa because of poor access that causes a few people who can reach the place.But one thing is for sure, few of Indonesia's population has ever visited the place. This can be seen from the local tourism department notes that it provides a certificate to those who has visited the place.
One thing that is fun to visit each other if there is: can see the sunset in the western region of Indonesia. Because, that's how it should be, obtaining the sun sets in the west and rises in the east
See more pictures of Weh Island below

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Dreamland as Beautiful Beach and New Surfing Spots in Bali

Dreamland is one of beautiful beach in Bali island. Dreamland is located at the tip region of Pecatu Village, Badung regency, Bali. About 20 minutes from Uluwatu and 45 minutes from the north beach of Kuta. If you've ever heard about Bingan or Pedang pedang, Dreamland is in the there adjacent to the beach of Balangan. So if you want to get there, just follow the road towards Uluwatu beach.

Beautiful natural beaches, Sandy coral and a fantastic place to sunbathe, not too disturbed, although there are some semi-permanent buildings. Location of clean sandy brown on the narrow beach, below the steep rock walls, is suitable as a dream beach to watch the sunset or see the tourist playing surfboard. The water was still so clean, crystal clear. There is a hill overlooking a white sandy beach. The waves were so appropriate for the surfing enthusiast. Now dreamland has become a new surfing spots in Bali.

There are several cafés and other facilities. There are also food vendors and rental of chair that we can use. Lodging there is still quite cheap. If you want a little luxury, now is available 'Dreamland Villa' with complete fasility like 33 private pool for each villa complex . Of course location is very close to the beach. The fares of U.S. $ 262-850 per day should be used as a reference for anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of Dreamland with certainly get luxury hotel facilities.


Seeing its beauty and still so natural Dreamland, the place was suitable for the purpose of having fun when you're traveling to Bali. Enjoy the beach of your dreams.
See more photos for dreamland beach below ....


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Saturday, February 5, 2011

National Archives Building

 National Archives Building was build with Renaissance architectural style which looks elegant and artistic. Initially before converted into a museum, this building serves as a resting place Reyner de Klerk.

When was the beginning of the 18th century, the VOC had conquered Banten and Mataram, at that city in an unhealthy state in the region while outside the city was safe. 

The group of elite or wealthy officials such as Reyner de Klerk build vacation home (landhuis) with one large yard that is now the National Archives Building. In the big house lived the status of serf labor. The numbers there are approximately 150 people. 

The slaves were imported from various regions was then employed as a housemaid, maid of employers, umbrella or take the place of betel and place jewelry employers. Among the bondsman is nothing special as a group hired orchestra. They entertain the employer at dinner with your family or entertaining special guests. 

Old building that is now the National Archives Building was once a dream home de Klerk. He himself who designed the house. And design it until now retained. Ryner build a vacation home outside this city with a large yard as the place where the elite group with their family enjoying the weekend. 

Old buildings and beautiful green shades are belakangn often used as a place for various activities such as exhibitions, art and culture until the wedding ceremony. 


National Archives Building has a building area 1.272.2 sq. m, is the only government-owned building that does not charge entry or free to the public. 

This building is open to the public every day except Monday, or if there is a museum event from 06.00 to 17.00 pm for the building. As for the front yard until 18:00 pm because in part people use yard to play and exercise. 

Inside this building there is mostly a collection of maps, which depict the history of mapping in Indonesia. Start the first map depicting Islands archipelago, as envisioned by Bartholomeus from Alexandria, Egypt until the last maps made by American soldiers during World War II. There was also a collection of old furniture. 

One of the programs the Foundation of the National Archives Building today by Tamalia is trying to increase collections. By adding a collection. Later the National Archives Building may become a museum that also contains information about changes in furniture styles from century to century

 
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