THE CITY BEEN COVERED BY SMOKE, JAMBI

It has been almost 2 months smog disaster hit the island of Sumatra and Borneo. There's a lot of efforts are being made by the government to get rid of them. However, it seems like it takes longer to overcome the haze this year.

Early September this year, I had the opportunity to enter the thick smog in the city of Jambi. To arrive in this town, I had to overland for 12 hours from Bengkulu because no plane can land at the airport of Sultan Taha, Jambi. Another option, 7 hours from Palembang which time flight status still 50% can set off or cancel, 12 hours from the city of Padang with status 100% safe and Batam 5 hours with the status of 50% can be set off or cancel anytime.

A STORY FROM LITTLE PARADISE AT KRUI

My friend and I going to the harbor of Kuala Stabas, Krui, Pesisir Barat region, Lampung Province to get a boat to Pisang island and I'm having a conversation with a random guy.

Fisherman boat at Kuala Stabas harbor, Krui

Me : I need a boat to going to Pisang island, which one will depart first?!
Guy : That one!
(Pointing a boat with the named Pulau Carita written on it)
Me : Thank you.
(Then talk to the sailor and book a seat at that boat) (Return to the place where I met that random guy)
Guy : So, why do you wanna go to that island? The season is not good for sailing, you know. Big wind and wave.
Me : Really?!
Guy : Yes, 2 days ago my boat was flipped in the ocean and all the passenger (30 people) was falling to the ocean. Lucky they were all a good swimmer. No one died. They floating for 2 hour before another boat pick them up and my boat could be pulled out and back to this harbor.
Me : OMG! I think i will need a live jacket because i'm not a good swimmer. I could only floating for maximum 15 minutes at open water like that.
Guy : Don't worry.. it's gonna be just fine. At that time i have to admit it was overload. Your boat will contain less than 10 people.
Me : so, which one is your boat?
Guy : the one that you going to sailing with. Okay, I have to go now. Need to pick up something at local market. Have a safe trip.
(Then he walk away)
Me : ( extremely flat face and then shocked!!) What????

This is the first time i am regret having conversation with the local. I mean, really??? I'm going to sailing with that boat??? OMG! What the heck i just dreamed last night that make me have to have this kind of experience? God, please protect me.

DIENG PLATEAU: THE LAND ABOVE THE CLOUDS WITH CRATERS, TEMPLES AND PONDS

In my previous blog, I only showed some pictures from the Dieng plateau. So, here's a little story about my journey to that wonderful city.

At the end of June 2013, I got an offer from my office friend, Tupono, for a trip to Dieng. So, considering that I had not been to Dieng before, and the costs that he was offering were reasonably priced, Rp. 410k (approx. USD 40) for a 3 day 2 night trip, I agreed. Dieng plateau is known as the land above the sky because it's located more than 2000 meters above sea level. That's why Dieng is considered the highest city in indonesia.

Welcome gate of  Dieng, Banjarnegara region, Central Java.

CHASING THE GOLDEN SUNRISE IN THE LAND ABOVE THE SKY, DIENG PLATEAU

30 minutes before sunrise

Me and my friends at office decided to do the "runaway" vacation to Dieng Plateau. One of the interesting things to do is hiking to Mount Sikunir and enjoying the golden sunrise. Here's some picture of the golden sunrise that according to my friend, was the best sunrise in Southeast Asia. (EKW)