#744 - Mid-Year Holiday : East Java (Part 2: Tanjung Kodok)

ENGLISH

Previously on Mid-Year Holiday : East Java (Part 1: Surabaya): Zilko and his family went to Surabaya to attend his relative's birthday. He then planned to go to Tanjung Kodok on Monday.

Monday, 6th July 2009

Firstly we went to our relatives' house to pick them up, since they also wanted to go to Tanjung Kodok. At about 9.30 AM, we finally departed. On the way, we stopped by at a gas station since my car needed to be refueled. There, my relatives' car got an accident where it hit a trailer truck when getting off the gas station. It's frontal bumper was heavily damaged but luckily no other essential part of the car was hit. They still could go on the trip even though with pretty damaged bumper.

At about 11 PM we arrived at Tanjung Kodok Resort. Apparently, we could be checked in after 3 PM and the receptionist suggested that we went to "Wisata Bahari Lamongan"/Lamongan Marine Park (WBL) first. WBL is a theme park. Of course it's not as fancy as Dunia Fantasi, but it also offers a more affordable price. Okay, so we went there after taking some pictures at Tanjung Kodok Resort.

Well, it was so hot and we didn't bring any sunblock, damnit!! Well, luckily I didn't get any severe sunburnt. The park was pretty good. All the rides and ornaments (statues, gates, etc) were not as great nor exciting as other in Dufan, but with the price, it's ok. The jetcoaster was kinda lame, it was SO short, even Kunang-Kunang in Dufan could boost a lot more adrenaline, LOL. The theme park was located on the beach, so it's kinda unique.

Anyway, finally four hours had passed and we were exhausted. So we went back to the resort anc checked in. Well, we already picked sea-view room in the highest story when we made the reservation. The view was beautiful!! hehe... :) I think one reason this resort was built pretty far from big city (1.5 hours from Surabaya) was the beach. I don't think there are many beaches out there which are still really beautiful but yet, located so close to big or developing cities.

In the evening, there weren't many options of restaurant we could pick. We then chose to eat at a small restaurant, serving seafood. It was pretty tasty :) The price was also reasonably inexpensive, even though I believe for that area, probably it could be categorized as expensive. Then, we went back to our hotel. Nothing much we could do.

Tuesday, 7th July 2009

After having breakfast at the hotel, we went to Mazoogo (Maharani Zoo and Goa (Cave)). It was a local tourist destination with another reasonable price. The zoo was not really big, but it was pretty good. It was in the same location with Maharani Cave and there was a Gem Stone Gallery.

Then, at about 10.30 AM we left the area and went back to our resort to check out. After checking out, we headed west to go back to Yogyakarta. Well, it was the first time I drove (and passed) on that route, so I really had to keep my eye on the road and signs. At about 12 PM we arrived at Tuban. Once there we had lunch at a chinese food restaurant which served pretty big portion of meals, LOL. Then, we went to Kwan Sing Bio Temple to take some pictures. At 1.30 PM, we continued our trip back to Yogyakarta.

Well, the street from Tuban to Ngawi (via Bojonegoro and Padangan, 5 km before Cepu from the east) was in a pretty bad shape. I heard so many efforts to fix them had already been done but in some times it went back to that bad shape again, probably it was the land contour, haha. Anyway, at 8.30 PM we arrived at Yogyakarta, and that was my first mid-year trip, hehe.

::: Soto Sulung I had Monday morning

::: Tanjung Kodok Resort

::: Soto Lamongan

::: Pier at WBL

::: One Spot at WBL

::: Sunset at Tanjung Kodok Resort

::: Sunset

::: Tanjung Kodok Beach

::: Rajungan (crab family) curry and fried squids.

::: fried bandeng and fried dorang

::: Tanjung Kodok Beach Resort's Gate

::: Tanjung Kodok Beach (2)

::: Tanjung Kodok Beach (3)

::: Tanjung Kodok Beach (4)

::: an ancient ship model

::: "Amethyst and Quartz Plates of Flower"

::: some of our meal at Tuban

::: Kwan Sing Bio Temple

::: Kwan Sing Bio Temple (plaza)

note : more narcistic photos are available on Facebook, hehe.... :D

BAHASA INDONESIA

Sebelumnya dalam Mid-Year Holiday : East Java (Part 1: Surabaya): Zilko dan keluarga pergi ke Surabaya untuk menghadiri pesta ulang tahun kerabat. Di hari Senin mereka akan pergi ke Tanjung Kodok.

Senin, 6 Juli 2009

Pertamanya kita pergi ke rumah saudara dulu untuk menjemput mereka karena mereka juga ingin ikut ke Tanjung Kodok. Sekitar jam 9.30 pagi kita berangkat. Di perjalanan, kita mengisi bensin sebentar ketika mobil saudara kena kecelakaan menabrak truk trailer ketika akan keluar dari pom bensin. Bumper depannya rusak parah tapi untungnya bagian penting lainnya tidak apa-apa. Mereka masih bisa melanjutkan perjalanan walau dengan bumper yang rusak lumayan parah.

Sekitar jam 11 siang kita tiba di Resort Tanjung Kodok. Ternyata, kita baru bisa check in setelah jam 3 sore dan resepsionisnya menyarankan kita untuk pergi ke Wisata Bahari Lamongan (WBL) dulu. WBL itu kaya taman bermain. Tentu saja WBL tidak sebagus Dunia Fantasi, tapi juga harganya memang lebih terjangkau sih. Oke, kita pergi kesana setelah foto2 bentar di Resort Tanjung Kodok.

Yah, waktu itu benar2 panas dan kita tidak membawa sunblock, sial!! Untungnya sih kulitku tidak terbakar. Tamannya lumayan juga. Semua mainan dan hiasan2 (seperti patung, gerbang, dll) tidak sebagus atau semenarik Dufan sih, tapi mengingat harganya kembali, ok deh. Jetcoasternya payah tapinya, pendek banget, bahkan Kunang-Kunang di Dufan bisa membuat adrenalin jauh lebih terpacu, LOL. Theme parknya terletak di pantai, makanya cukup unik juga.

Ngomong2, akhirnya empat jam berlalu dan kita sudah capek. Kita kembali ke resort untuk kemudian check in. Yah, kita memang dari awal sudah memesan kamar paling atas dengan pemandangan laut. Pemandangannya indah lho!! hehe... :) Aku rasa satu alasan mengapa resort-nya dibangun cukup jauh dari kota besar (1,5 jam dari Surabaya) adalah karena pantainya. Rasanya sih sulit yah menemukan pantai yang masih bagus tetapi terletak dekat dengan kota besar atau kota berkembang.

Malamnya, tidak ada banyak pilihan restoran untuk makan malam. Kita kemudian memilih untuk makan di sebuah restoran kecil yang menyediakan seafood. Lumayan enak koq :) Harganya juga tidak terlalu mahal, walau menurutku sih untuk penduduk di sekitar sana harganya sudah lumayan mahal juga. Trus kita balik ke hotel, tidak banyak yang bisa dilakukan.

Selasa, 7 Juli 2009

Setelah makan pagi di hotel, kita pergi ke Mazoogo (Maharani Zoo (Kebun Binatang) dan Goa). Itu adalah tempat wisata lokal dengan harga terjangkau. Kebun binatangnya tidak terlalu besar, tapi bagus juga. Terletak di satu lokasi dengan Goa Maharani, di dalamnya juga ada Galeri Batu-Batuan.

Kemudian, sekitar jam 10.30 pagi kita meninggalkan areanya dan balik ke resort untuk check out. Setelah check out, kita pergi menuju barat ke Yogyakarta. Yah, itu adalah pertama kalinya aku menyetir (juga melewati) rute itu, makanya aku harus benar2 memasang mata akan jalan dan tanda2. Sekitar jam 12 siang kita tiba di kota Tuban. Disana kita langsung makan siang di sebuah restoran chinese food yang porsinya besar-besar, LOL. Trus kita pergi ke Kelenteng Kwan Sing Bio untuk foto2. Jam 1.30 siang, kita melanjutkan perjalanan ke Yogyakarta.

Jalanan dari Tuban ke Ngawi (lewat Bojonegoro dan Padangan, 5 km sebelum Cepu dari arah timur) bener2 rusak tuh. Aku dengar sih banyak usaha untuk memperbaikinya sudah dilakukan tapi tidak lama jalannya kembali rusak. Mungkin kontur tanahnya yah, haha. Akhirnya jam 8.30 malam kita tiba di Yogyakarta, itulah perjalanan liburan tengah tahun pertamaku, hehe.

#743 - Mid-Year Holiday : East Java (Part 1: Surabaya)

ENGLISH

Saturday, 4th July 2009

Last Saturday, my family and I went to Surabaya. We went there to attend my grandma's sister's 85th birthday party which was held on Sunday. We departed at 5.50 AM from Yogyakarta. We arrived at Solo at about 7 AM and had breakfast at Timlo Solo Restaurant. Because I still don't like timlo, I didn't order timlo but nasi liwet instead (We actually planned to buy nasi liwet whose owner usually sells it in front of the restaurant. However, that day, it was sold out). Then, we continued our trip to Surabaya.

Approaching Surabaya, the street was getting more crowded. We were stuck in a pretty bad traffic jam after Krian, some kilometers before Surabaya. To make things even worse, the aircon of my car suddenly didn't work after we left Solo!! Imagine that: a hot city like Surabaya (and some other sorrounding it), a clear day, OFF aircon. It was like being in an oven, haha. Anyway, at about 2.45 PM we finally arrived at Surabaya.

At first we visited one of our relatives' house then went to our hotel to get some rest. At 5.30 PM we left the hotel and started the culinary evening, LOL. We planned to have dinner at Rawon Setan. However, we came to early and it was not open yet. Therefore, we had dinner at a seafood restaurant nearby. After that, we also took away two portions of Rawon Setan. Then, we visited another relatives' house. At around 8 PM we went back to our hotel to pick up my dad's friends to have dinner at Mie Kapasan (Javanese Noodle). At 11 PM we went back to our hotel.

Sunday, 5th July 2009

Sunday morning, I got up at around 6.50 AM. We had breakfast at Soto Cak Pardi, right accross Sh*raton Hotel. It was delicious, hehe. Then, we went to my grandparents' cemetery. At about 9 AM we went back to our hotel. My mom, my brother, and I then went to Tunjungan Plaza. At about 1 PM we met some relatives and had lunch together at Duck King. Duck King is a really professional restaurant. Sure, the price can be categorized as high but it's worth it. The meals are also tasty, haha.

Then, we went around Surabaya to find an aircon service center. My relative had some contacts but it was difficult to find available one on Sunday. After going around Surabaya we finally found one. After trying sometimes, they gave up and said the compressor should be changed and it was expensive. Therefore we decided not to do anything with it. After that we went back to our hotel.

Later on that evening, we went to the party. It was like another party, kinda like a wedding tho, haha. After the party, we went to Surabaya Town Square. After that we went back to our hotel.

To Be Continued ...

Next On Mid-Year Holiday : East Java
- Tanjung Kodok
- WBL
- Maharani Cave and Zoo
- Tuban

::: nasi liwet at Solo.

::: our meal at Nirwana Restaurant.

::: One Spot During the Trip. I somehow remember this place vividly, haha.

::: our meal at the seafood restaurant.

::: Rawon Setan.

::: Mie Kapasan (Mie Goreng).

::: Tunjungan Plaza.

::: Soto Cak Pardi.

::: Some of Our Meal at Duck King.

::: Peking Duck.

::: Sunset at Surabaya.

::: Surabaya Town Square.

BAHASA INDONESIA

Sabtu, 4 Juli 2009

Sabtu kemarin, aku dan keluarga pergi ke Surabaya. Kita pergi kesana untuk menghadiri pesta ulang tahun ke-85 adiknya nenekku yang diadakan hari Minggu. Kita berangkat jam 5.50 pagi dari Yogyakarta. Sekitar jam 7 pagi kita tiba di Solo dan makan pagi di Restoran Timlo Solo. Karena aku masih tidak suka timlo, aku tentu saja tidak memesan timlo tapi memesan nasi liwet (Sebenernya kita berencana makan nasi liwet lho yang jualan di depan restorannya itu. Namun, pagi itu sudah habis ternyata). Kemudian kita melanjutkan perjalanan ke Surabaya.

Mendekati Surabaya, jalanan menjadi semakin padat. Kita terjebak di kemacetan yang cukup parah setelah Krian, beberapa kilometer sebelum Surabaya. Yang parahnya lagi, AC mobilku tiba2 mati setelah kita meninggalkan Solo!! Bayangkan: kota panas kaya Surabaya (dan sekitarnya tentu saja), hari yang cerah, AC MATI. Bener2 kaya ada di dalam oven dah, haha. Ngomong2, akhirnya jam 2.45 kita tiba di Surabaya.

Pertama2 kita mengunjungi rumah saudara kemudian baru ke hotel untuk beristirahat. Jam 5.30 sore kita berangkat lagi dan memulai malam kuliner, LOL. Kita berencana untuk makan malam di Rawon Setan. Namun, ternyata kita datang terlalu awal dan masih belum buka. Makanya, kita makan malam di restoran seafood di dekatnya. Habis itu, tetep aja deh ngebungkus dua porsi Rawon Setan. Trus kita mengunjungi saudara lagi. Jam 8 malaman kita balik ke hotel untuk menjemput temennya papaku untuk makan di Mie Kapasan (Mie Jawa). Jam 11 malam kita balik ke hotel.

Minggu, 5 Juli 2009

Minggu pagi, aku bangun sekitar jam 6.50 pagi. Kita makan pagi di Soto Cak Pardi, di seberang Hotel Sh*raton. Enak loh, hehe. Trus kita pergi ke kuburan kakek-nenekku. Jam 9an pagi kita balik ke hotel. Kemudian aku, mamaku, dan adikku pergi ke Tunjungan Plaza. Sekitar jam 1 siang kita bertemu dengan suadara dan makan siang di Duck King. Duck King memang prodesional lho. Memang harganya bisa dikategorikan mahal, tapi emang sebanding koq. Makanannya enak2, haha.

Trus, kita keliling Surabaya untuk mencari tempat servis AC. Saudaraku itu memiliki beberapa kenalan tapi tetep aja susah kan nyari yang buka di hari Minggu. Habis keliling Surabaya akhirnya ketemu satu. Habis dicoba2, mereka menyerah dan katanya sih harus ganti kompresor yang harganya mahal. Makanya kita memutuskan untuk nggak diapa2in aja mobilnya dan diservis di Jogja. Kemudian kita balik ke hotel.

Malamnya kita pergi ke pestanya. Pestanya ya kaya pesta2 gitu, agak mirip pesta pernikahan, haha. Habis pestanya kita pergi ke Surabaya Town Square. Trus balik deh.

Bersambung ...

Selanjutnya dalam Mid-Year Holiday : East Java
- Tanjung Kodok
- WBL
- Maharani Zoo dan Goa (Mazoogo) ==> yup, ini nama resminya! ANEH!!
- Tuban

#742 - 2009 Wimbledon

pre-note : Entry about my first mid-year holiday to Surabaya and Tanjung Kodok will be posted later. I just arrived at my home two hours ago :D

ENGLISH

The third grandslam of this year, 2009 Wimbledon just finished last Sunday.

In the gentlemen singles, one (probably) disappointment already surfaced even before the main draw of the tournament was played. The current world no. 1 and defending champion, Rafael Nadal, withdrew because of injury. Well, this put Roger Federer in a better position to win the title with Andy Murray became his bigger threat.

Both played brilliantly towards the semifinals. Andy Murray won a long match against Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round, slaming a record of the latest finished match at Wimbledon. However, he lost to former world no. 1 Andy Roddick in the semifinal. The final was between Roddick and Federer. Before the match, I thought it was a no-brainer match, Federer would win easily, considering his 18-2 head-to-head record against Roddick. However, the match turned to be brutal. I didn't watch the whole match tho, just the middle thru the end of the fifth set. On that part of the match, I still think last year final was still greater. Still, this year's final was also great. Federer in the end won his sixth Wimbledon Single Titles by 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14. Look at the fifth set's score: 16-14!! Whatta score!! By winning this grandslam, Roger Federer regained his world no.1 crown, putting Rafael Nadal at the world no.2 position. He also beat Pete Sampras' record, who won 14 grandslam singles titles during his carreer. With this victory, Federer has won 15 grandslam singles titles.

In the ladies singles, I was rooting for Venus Williams for the win even though I also rooted for Serena Williams. This year, the final was between the two sisters. At first I thought Venus would win the match, since she had been really consistent during the tournament. Plus, she owns grass more than Serena, seemingly. However, in the end it turned out that Serena Williams owned the court better than Venus, winning 7-6(3), 6-2.

Even with the win, Serena Williams, who have won three of the last four grandslam (2008 US Open until 2009 Wimbledon), stays at world no.2. Dinara Safina still holds the world no.1 position for this week even though she lost to Venus in the semifinals. Well, the women's ranking system has been critized by Serena, one of her (implicit) critics is in this interview in Wimbledon. She'd rather stay at No. 2 but hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any.

In the ladies doubles, again, the Williams sisters showed her dominance on the surface. They won the title by beating Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, 7-6(4), 6-4. Wow!!

::: Roger Federer winning the championships.

::: Roger Federer kissing his trophy.

::: 2009 Wimbledon Ladies Singles' Champion, Serena Williams, with her trophy, and runner-up Venus Williams.

::: Venus and Serena Williams with her ladies double trophies.

::: Serena Williams and Rofer Federer, 2009 Wimbledon Champions.

::: Look at Serena's t-shirt saying "Are You Looking at My Titles?".

note : ALL Wimbledon's photos were taken from the official website.

BAHASA INDONESIA

Turnamen grandslam ketiga tahun ini, Wimbledon 2009 baru saja selesai Minggu kemarin.

Di tunggal pria, satu (mungkin) kekecewaan sudah muncul bahkan sebelum babak utama dimainkan. Peringkat 1 dunia saat itu, Rafael Nadal, yang juga juara bertahan, mengundurkan diri karena cedera. Yah, ini sih membuat Roger Federer dalam posisi lebih diuntungkan dengan Andy Murray menjadi pesaing terbesarnya.

Keduanya bermain brilian sampai semifinal. Andy Murray bermain pertandingan panjang melawan Stanislas Wawrinka di babak keempat, membuat rekor sebagai pertandingan termalam yang selesai di Wimbledon. Namun, dia akhirnya kalah dari mantan petenis nomer 1 dunia, Andy Roddick, di semifinal. Finalnya antara Roddick dan Federer. Sebelum pertandingan sih aku kira akan menjadi pertandingan mudah ditebak hasilnya, karena rekor 18-2 antaranya dengan Roddick. Namun, ternyata pertandingannya seru juga. Aku sih nggak nonton keseluruhan pertandingannya, cuma set kelima saja, itupun dari pertengahannya hingga akhir. Dari bagian yang aku tonton itu, aku rasa sih final tahun lalu masih lebih seru. Ya biarpun begitu yang tahun ini seru juga koq. Federer akhirnya memenangi gelar tunggal Wimbledon keenamnya dengan skor 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14. Lihat tuh skor set kelimanya: 16-14!! Bener2 skor gila!! Dengan memenangkan grandslam ini, Roger Federer mendapatkan kembali posisi nomor 1 dunianya lagi, menggeser Rafael Nadal ke posisi nomor 2. Ia juga mengalahkan rekor Pete Sampras yang memenangi 14 gelar grandslam. Dengan kemenangan ini, Federer telah memenangi 15 gelar grandslam.

Di tunggal wanita, aku sih mendukung Venus Williams walau aku juga mendukung Serena Williams. Tahun ini, finalnya adalah antara dua bersaudari ini. Pertamanya aku kira Venus akan menang karena dia sangat konsisten sepanjang turnamen. Selain itu, rasanya dia masih lebih memiliki lapangan rumput daripada Serena, kelihatannya. Namun, akhirnya Serena Williams yang lebih menguasai lapangan rumput tahun ini daripada Venus, dengan menang 7-6(3), 6-2.

Walau dengan kemenangan ini, Serena Williams, yang telah memenangi tiga grandslam dari empat grandslam terakhir (2008 US Open sampai 2009 Wimbledon), masih akan berada di posisi nomor 2 dunia. Dinara Safina akan tetap berada di posisi nomor 1 minggu ini walau ia kalah dari Venus di semifinal. Yah, sistem pe-rangking-an wanita ini sudah dikritik Serena sih, salah satunya (implisit) ya lewat wawancara ini diWimbledon. Dia lebih memilih menjadi nomor 2 tapi menang tiga grandslam daripada menjadi No. 1 tapi tidak menang.

Di ganda putri, Williams bersaudara juga menunjukkan dominasinya lho di permukaan ini. Mereka menang dari Samantha Stosur dan Rennae Stubbs, 7-6(4), 6-4. Wow!!

#741 - Few Days in Jogja

ENGLISH

So, these last two days I have been in Yogyakarta. Nothing much I have done here, since now we are in the middle of holiday, and as always, Yogyakarta is crowded of tourists.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to Surabaya and Tanjung Kodok (on Monday). So I will be away until Tuesday. At first we planned to stay for two night at Tanjung Kodok but then decided to cut it to only one night. This is because next week there will be presidential election, hehe. Story about it will be published later.

Watching this year's Wimbledon, I'm excited to see All Williams Final again this year, just like last year. Serena Williams defeated Elena Dementieva in a tough match, 6(4)-7, 7-5, 8-6. It was a really tense games, especially on the last set!! In the other hand, Venus Williams crushed world no.1 Dinara Safina in an easy match, winning 6-1, 6-0 only in 51 minutes. Who do I think will win? I have a feeling Venus Williams will win this year, clinching her sixth Wimbledon Singles Titles. In the gentlemens' singles, Roger Federer has booked a place in the final. The other spot is being fought by Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, whose match is being played now. I hope Andy Murray will win tho, hmmm.

::: martabak

::: Bakso Cornelan

::: Chicken Teppannyaki and vegetables

BAHASA INDONESIA

Jadi, dua hari terakhir ini aku berada di Yogyakarta. Nggak banyak yang aku lakukan sih, karena sekarang kan sedang di tengah2 liburan dan seperti biasanya, Yogyakarta selalu penuh oleh turis.

Besok pagi aku akan pergi ke Surabaya dan Tanjung Kodok (di hari Senin). Jadi, aku akan pergi sampai hari Selasa. Pertamanya sih kita berencana akan menginap dua malam di Tanjung Kodok tetapi kemudian kita memutuskan untuk mempersingkatnya menjadi semalam saja. Ini karena minggu depan akan ada pemilihan umum presiden, hehe. Cerita tentangnya akan ditulis nanti.

Nonton Wimbledon tahun ini, aku senang nih akan melihat Final Sesama Williams lagi di final, seperti tahun lalu. Serena Williams mengalahkan Elena Dementieva melalui pertandingan ketat, 6(4)-7, 7-5, 8-6. Bener2 permainan yang menegangkan lho, terutama set terakhir!! Di sisi lain, Venus Williams menghancurkan petenis nomor 1 dunia, Dinara Safina, dengan skor 6-1, 6-0 hanya dalam 51 menit. Siapa yang aku rasa akan menang? Aku rasa Venus Williams akan menang tahun ini, mengklaim gelar tunggal keenamnya di Wimbledon. Di tunggal pria, Roger Federer telah memastikan satu tempat di final. Tempat lainnya sedang diperebutkan oleh Andy Murray dan Andy Roddick yang pertandingannya sedang dimainkan sekarang. Aku harap Andy Murray yang akan menang sih, hmmm.

#740 - Trip Back to Jogja

ENGLISH

Today I went back to Yogyakarta catching Argo Wilis which departed at 7 AM from Bandung Railway Station.

This morning I almost forgot something important: turning off my TV-self-timer!! I had already been halfway to the station when I remembered that so I asked my taxi driver to go back to my boarding house to turn it off. Well, since I will be away for more than a month this time, letting the TV-self-timer on is kinda a 'nightmare'. It would be on tomorrow morning and stay that way for a month (tho it is equipped with "automated turn off" feature, it would have been no different since every time it reaches the set up time, it will turn itself on)! What a waste of energy and my TV's life expectacy, LOL. I turned on the self-timer in the first place because I was afraid I didn't get up early today and missed the train. It's the last thing I want.

Anyway, today, Argo Wilis' trip was a bit longer than usual. I guess there was a problem with the locomotive. We stopped a bit "too long" (for Argo Wilis) at Banjar Railway Station. At that time I didn't know what was going on, but I knew something was wrong. When I arrived at Yogyakarta, I noticed the locomotive had been changed, hmmm. That might explain why the trip took a bit longer. It arrived at about 2.35 PM at Yogyakarta.

Some illegal passengers were also seen during the trip. At first they stayed at the Restoration Couch. When some other (legal) passengers got off, they took the seats, hmmm. I guess it's hard to fight and erase this kind of practice, eh? It was Argo Wilis, the supposedly to be one of the highest class trains in Indonesia, yet that practice still happens on board, hmm.

These are some footages I took during the trip:

::: Hokben as my breakfast this morning.

::: Passing Manonjaya Bridge.

::: Scenery Not Long After Banjar Station.

::: Rice Field and High-Voltage Electricity Line.

::: Complimentary Lunch.

::: Rails toward Cilacap.

::: Passing Serayu River.

::: Sikampuh

::: A Windmill and Rice Field.

::: Crosssing Progo River.

::: Inside Argo Wilis Couch Executive 3.

::: Argo Wilis Entering Yogyakarta Railway Station Platform 3.

BAHASA INDONESIA

Hari ini aku balik ke Yogyakarta naik Argo Wilis yang berangkat jam 7 pagi dari Stasiun Kereta Api Bandung.

Pagi tadi aku nyaris melupakan suatu hal yang penting loh: mematikan self-timer TV-ku!! Aku sudah setengah jalan menuju stasiun ketika mengingatnya makanya aku meminta sopir taksi untuk balik ke kos untuk mematikannya. Yah, karena aku akan pulang setidaknya sebulan lebih kali ini, meninggalkan self-timer TV-ku menyala adalah 'mimpi buruk'. Kalo nggak besok pagi akan menyala tuh dan terus begitu selama sebulan (walau TV-ku dilengkapi dengan fitur "otomatis mati", tetap aja kan akan selalu menyala ketika mencapai waktu yang ditentukan)! Bener2 pemborosan energi dan masa hidup TV-ku, LOL. Aku menyalakan self-timer sih karena aku takut kaga bangun pagi ini dan ketinggalan kereta. Kan males banget tuh kalo ketinggalan kereta.

Ngomong2, hari ini perjalanan Argo Wilis agak lebih lama dari biasanya. Aku rasa ada masalah dengan lokomotifnya. Kami berhenti agak "terlalu lama" (untuk ukuran kereta sekelas Argo Wilis) di Stasiun Kereta Api Banjar. Waktu itu aku nggak tahu masalahnya apa tapi aku jelas tahu ada suatu masalah, hmmm. Ini mungkin menjelaskan kenapa perjalanannya jadi lama. Kami tiba di Yogyakarta jam 2.35 sore.

Beberapa penumpang gelap juga terlihat sepanjang perjalanan. Mereka pertamanya naik di Gerbong Restorasi. Ketika beberapa penumpang (legal) lainnya turun, mereka kemudian menduduki kursinya, hmmm. Kayanya susah ya melawan dan menghapus praktek kaya gini? Keretaku adalah Argo Wilis, yang seharusnya termasuk dalam satu dari kereta dengan kelas tertinggi di Indonesia, tetapi praktek kaya gitu masih aja ada, hmm.

Di atas ada beberapa foto yang iseng aku ambil selama perjalanan.