Indonesia Trip: Peucang Island and Cidaon Savanna at Ujung Kulon

Last September an outdoor club in my office held a trip to Peucang Island at Ujung Kulon, Banten. We rented a bus and went after office hours. The trip from South Jakarta to Sumur village (the port to cross to Peucang island)  took us about 8 hours. We arrived at the Sumur village at dawn and we waited until the sun rises before crossing. From Sumur village, we could see Umang island. Umang island is popular for its resort. Umang also well known as hermit crab.

Umang Island

We took a motor boat to cross to Peucang Island from Sumur Island. The trip took us about 3 hours. In the sea we could see many fish trap that was build by the local fishermen. The looked unfamiliar but also sophisticated. Because the trip was long. Me and my friends at the boat sat on the top of the boat and enjoying the sun until we arrived at Peucang island. There was no GSM signal in there, so we could not play with our gadgets.

the motor boat

the fish trap

my view for 3 hours

After arrived at Peucang Island, the coordinator told us to bring our bags to the lodges and had lunch. There was only one lodges in there, the lodges are big enough with around 20 rooms. Each room includes Air Conditioning and Restroom. Even though this seems great, but please note that the electricity only on at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. only. Living in Peucang island was like living with the nature, so you don't need to be surprised if you meet monkey, wild boar, and deer around your lodge.

first view when arrived at Peucang

Peucang Island Sign

monkey on the beach

wild boars in the field in front of the lodge

the deer were also enjoying the place

After lunch, we got into the boat again and then went to other side of the island to find a nice place to do snorkeling. I didn't have mood to get wet that day, so I just took pictures of my friends who did the snorkeling.

the first snorkeling place

I just watched them from here

Unfortunately many people came back immediately after they jump to water. They said tiny and invisible jellyfishes suddenly attacked them. Because of this complain, then the event coordinator asked the people to get back into the boat and went to another snorkeling place. This new place was far from the land and it was like a huge reef in the middle of the sea. Some people who swam there even could stand on the reef.

the second snorkeling place

they can even stand on the reef

Since the boat could not get near the reef, so when my friends done snorkeling they had to swim to the boat. The current was quiet fast that afternoon, so they really had to struggling to swim against the current to get onto the boat.

try harder guys!

Finished with swimming and snorekling, the coordinator took us back to the island and asked us to explore the forest in Peucang. In the forest we can even see a really tall tree and many deer.

my sister and the tall tree

the view of the forrest

At the end of the forest, we found a beach. The beach was not really nice, maybe because the beach was short and too many rock and coral on the beach.

the beach at the end of the forest

another view of the beach

After done exploring the forest, the coordinator asked us to get onto the boat once again and cross to Bull Conservation in the edge of Java Island, named Cidaon savanna. There were not much bull that we could see that day, maybe because they're hiding somewhere. We could not get closer to the bull, because they may suddenly rampage and attack us. While we walking around Cidaon, I could find some Peacock feathers on the ground, but I could not find any peacock there.

Cidaon savanna sign

my friends are walking to the bull conservation

the bulls are hiding behind the bushes

with peacock's feathers

When we're done with the bull, then we went back to Peucang island. While we crossing the sea, the sun was going down and then the night come. There were no more activities that night, just dinner and sleep.

view while crossing between islands

the crews

I woke up at 5 hopping the sun has not raised yet. Unfortunately that morning was a little bit cloudy, so we could not catch up and took the sunrise picture.

the morning view

At 8 a.m., we had our breakfast and got ready to get back to Sumur village then returned to our home to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

bye bye Peucang island

the goodbye shot

XOXO,
The Tourist  

Japanese - Padangnese Fusion Foods at Suntiang

Lately I often see my friends post about a new restaurant that serves fusion food between Japanese and West Sumatra food. This restaurant named Suntiang, and it is located in Pondok Indah Mall 2, South Jakarta, Indonesia. West Sumatra is well known for its spicy foods and also foods with coconut milk in it. West Sumatra foods also called as Padangnese foods.

That time my stomach was not really hungry and I just wanted to fulfill my curiosity about this restaurant. I ordered 3 foods: Rendang Roll, Ayam Pop (Oily Chicken) Roll, and Ayam Bakar (Grilled chicken) Onigiri.

Clockwise, from top: Rendang Roll, Grilled Chicken Onigiri, Ayam Pop (Oily Chicken) Roll

For me, the idea about combining these to culture is great, but when it come to taste, I don't think they are that match. Even though I usually eat Rendang with rice, but that time the Rendang Sushi just didn't even close to the delicacy of Rendang itself. Since I am half West Sumatra, so I really appreciate the good taste of Padangnese foods.

Actually Suntiang also has other menus like Gulai Ramen and the Chicken Brain menu. Maybe I should try them all to change my opinion. Still, I really appreciate the idea, but the taste is just not fit for me.


XOXO,
The Tourist

Japan Trip: Kobe Nunobiki Garden & Ropeway

After eating Kobe beef, we looking for a a nice place to visit before ending our journey in Kobe. One of the famous and nearest place that we could reach was Kobe Nunobiki Herbs Garden & Ropeway. It is located next to Shin Kobe Station.

front gate to Kobe Nunobiki Garden & Ropeway

The entrance fee to the herbs garden + round-trip ropeway was 1,400 yen. The garden close at 6 p.m, but the last entrance is at 5 p.m.

the entrance ticket

We start the ropeway from lower station. Each car can be filled with 4-6 peoples. When it started getting higher, I can see the beauty of Kobe city. I also can see the whole Nunobiki garden from above, from Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Dam (the first concrete gravity dam in Japan), Peoples who picnic at Kaze no Oka Flower Garden, also the Glass House.

inside the cable car

Kobe city view during the day

Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Dam

Kaze no Oka Flower Garden from above

the glass house

After arrived at Herb Garden Top Station, I can see the full view of Kobe city from above. At the top station, there is a souvenir shop that sold seeds, herbal drink, and other herbal things. I was surprised that I can found Kopiko coffee candy in there too. It just amazing to see your country local product can be sold in a far away place like Japan, especially Kobe. Besides souvenir shop, there were also a food stall with German theme.

full view of Kobe city from Herb Garden Top Station

the white building is the souvenir shop

German theme food stall

the garden map

We continued to enjoy Herbs garden by walking down the pathway and visiting the glass house. The glass house was filled with many flowers and plants. There were also a garden terrace and mint cafe beside the glass house.

in front of the Glass House

inside the Glass House

motherhood statue inside the Glass House

Finished from the glass house, then we continue to Kaze no Oka Flower Garden. When we arrived there, the garden already empty. So we could enjoy the garden for ourselves.

me at the Kaze no Oka Flower Garden with Kobe city as background

Since we didn't want to walk until the lower station, so we decided to take the ropeway from Kaze no Oka Mid Station. Eventhough it was still 5.30 p.m., but the sky already dark. That was good because it means we can enjoy the night view of Kobe city from the ropeway.

Kobe night city view from the ropeway

Well, this Kobe Nunobiki Herbs Garden & Ropeway ended my journey in Japan. Hopefully I can return to Japan someday and explore the beautiful places that I haven't got chance to visit. Surely missing you, Japan!


XOXO,
The Tourist

Japan Trip: Kobe Beef at Wakkoqu, Kobe

My last destination in Japan was Kobe. The idea to visit Kobe was simply "Eating Kobe Beef in Kobe". Besides, Kobe is located near Osaka, and I will return to Indonesia from Kansai International Airport, Osaka.

Me and my travel partner decided to come to Tokyo Station earlier than our Shinkansen schedule, because we wanted to take some pictures in at Tokyo Station before leaving Tokyo. Tokyo Station is famous for its design. It has splendor looks of old times, but stand still among the skyscrapers. Since it was opened initially in 1914, so this year this station will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Wow!

in front of Tokyo Station

After filling my camera with Tokyo station pics, me and my travelling partner continue our journey using Shinkansen to Kobe. The travel took 3 hours long. After arrived at Shin-Kobe, we directly looked for locker room to deposit our luggage. Unfortunately the lockers were almost full so only my luggage can be deposit in there. My travelling partner should drags his luggage to everywhere from there (sorry :P).

We planed to eat the kobe beef in Wakkoqu. This restaurant is located in a shopping complex beside Shin-Kobe station. Actually we already made reservation in the Wakkoqu, but when we arrived there at the reservation time, the receptionist told us to returned 30 minutes later. So all we did just walking around in the quite shopping complex and sight seeing the souvenir shop near by.

After 30 minutes, we came back to the restaurant and the receptionist gave our seats. We seat in front of the cooking station, similar like Teppanyaki restaurant where the chef cooks in front of you. A chef then came to us, he then showed us which menu that includes Kobe beef in it. Then we choose sirloin lunch set as our lunch. The sirloin lunch set was priced 5,000 yen per person. The lunch set included cream soup as appetizer, Kobe Beef and fried rice as main course, and ice cream as dessert.  After we decided our menu, the chef then bring out our kobe beef. it looked so fresh and looked so yummy.

Raw Kobe Beef

The chef then started to cut garlic, and those thin garlic the fried one by one separately. I even saw he looked so focus and patient in frying each garlic. While waiting him frying the garlic, we enjoyed a cream soup as our appetizer. After the garlic done, he then started to cooked small sliced of the Kobe beef, also some other complimentary ingredient. At first I though eating Kobe Beef is felt like eating a normal steak, but this time is different. When the small slices of Kobe Beef reached medium rare. The chef taught us how to eat it. We should put a little salt on it and then just eat. It tasted so good really fresh and tender.  He then taught us to eat it with many ways, like using soy sauce, or using vegetables.

cream soup as appetizer

a plate with kobe beef, salt, potato, mustard, konnyaku, pepper, garlic, eggplant, and paprika

ice cream as dessert

my traveling partner enjoying his meals

While cooking, the chef greeted us and chatted with us. He told us that he has cooked for 14 years. He also said that the soy sauce that he used is Kikkoman, which is the one that I also used at home.

the chef

Overall, eating Kobe beef was not just about eating, full, and leave, but also experiencing the art of eating Kobe beef on various ways and looking the art of cooking each ingredients.


XOXO,
The Tourist