Tell me about this land...

Traveling mix; all pictures taken by me.

To travel is to see from a different eye. To sense new air. To explore differences. To taste variety. To encounter fellow unknowns. To feel small compared with the world. To regain curiosity. To be a stranger, once again. 

Traveling to me is the above. Being lucky enough to be able to travel to various places this year, I took note of the different beauties every single site has to offer to such an individual like myself. The luxury of exploring and regaining knowledge straight from the origins will always be a unique and precious experience on every encounter. I am to tell you a brief of each places I visited during my mid-year trip.


1. Lombok
The sea. The second time of stepping on this island and my satisfaction pocket always asks for more. Staring at the open ocean from a cliff with nobody else around, go snorkeling with turtles in the clear blue sea, drink tasty coffee with the locals near Rinjani, and share good jokes with fellow friends.
Checkpoint areas: Sembalun, Kania Taliwang chicken (tastes better than other versions, guaranteed), Kuta beach at the low end of the isle, the gorgeous traditional weaves you can get at Sukarare village, snorkeling (I suggest you to dive instead, snorkeling gives you a hard time on touching sea creatures) at the gorgeous gilis!


2. Surabaya
My mother's home-town. Paid our annual visit during the big celebration of Ied. I went thrice for different reasons; my favorite was to attend a friend's wedding. It is terrifying to see someone your age getting married so soon; it makes you think "what have I done with my life?!" and the question eventually grows into much depressing ones. But one thing for sure, happiness at a wedding spreads like a plague, and I couldn't help my self out of it.
Note: Ayu and Mario, I am happy for both of you.


3. Jember
The festival. How could people possibly ignore such extravagant event? I loved the rush hour of fixing costumes, putting on make-up, asking mommy where are one's shoe, taking pictures and posing. These people, they are not the kinds you meet in the city. Their honest lavish garments are hand-made by owners from scratch. It's a delight to see such local non-governmental supported international event from up-close.
Extra points: Stay at a homey inn, wake up to the fresh air, and eat soto Jember for breakfast!


4. Padang
Place of the best Indonesian cuisine in the world! No one should ever feel unexcited in visiting this region. Chocolate fields, soft carpet-like grass, fresh from-the-Nira tree brown sugar, ancient-like geological sites, fried duck coated in green chili sauce. Padang is a very lush ground, cultivated plants sprouting everywhere. Bless the people who came from this land. Bless those who manages to keep it beautifully rich.
FIY: Brown sugar made from Nira-trees tastes a whole lot better than those Palm-tree ones. Shame that there are only a few Nira plant cultivations left in this country. 

Traveling is important. But don't narrow down your thoughts; it doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. Broaden your options; be brave to travel light to someplace new. Some people are dead end to the thought of 'traveling = going abroad', it is not. How are you to represent your country outside, when you don't understand it well inside? Various perspectives are needed in this life, and traveling provides a way to increase it. Start saving; less spending on things unimportant, more investing in those that will last a lifetime; traveling, of course, being one of it.

*) Dont forget documentation, and your journal!