POH SARANG

Poh Sarang also known as The Cave of Maria Lourdes Poh Sarang, is one of sacred places for Catholics. It is located in Poh Sarang village, Semen subdistrict, about 10 kilometers to south east from Kediri. The Cave of Lourdes in Poh Sarang is an imitation from Cave of Lourdes in France, but it was in a small size, so in 11 October 1998 it enlarged. The statue of Maria is 3.5 meters tall. It is taller than real statue in France that only 1.75 meters , because it was adjusted with the huge of the cave that 18 meters height. Poh Sarang church was built by Henricus Maclaine Pont in 1936 on demand of Kediri parish priest, Priest H. Wolters CM. He asked to apply local culture in this church, its style combines Majapahit style and Christian faith.

Wikipedia

View From A Train

I took these photos when I was on a trip to Jakarta by train, I didn't know exacly where I was, but it had to be somewhere in Labuhan, Center Java.

she is my youngest sister

Do you believe I took these photos without came out from the train? I just saw itu through my window.

the lake before the "child" came up and covered it all up

Another photos of Bromo

beautiful hills

sulphur smoke attack

PHOTOS OF BROMO

sunrise

stairs up to the crater

Mt. Batok

Mt. Bromo surrounded by desert

me, my husband and friends at foot of Mt.Bromo

TRIP TO JOGJA First day, Friday 27 March 2009

I wake up at 04.30 am, take shower at 5 am, at 6 am we go to Station Gubeng at Surabaya. Destination : Jogja. We take a train trip to Jogja by Sancaka Pagi (morning) the departure is at 7.00 am and the arrival is 12.30 pm at Statiun Tugu, Jogjakarta.

Why do we take a train trip? because it's cheap. In the holiday season business class price Rp 80.000 ($ 6), in regular season it's only Rp 55.000 ($ 4.5). And we can enjoy the scenery more than take a plane trip (if you're in a hurry) if you're not, I suggest take the train! In the morning because, the air is still fresh, clean and when you arrive you can still do everything, maybe find hotels, rent a car or motorcycle or just take a walk on Malioboro street..

FYI : there are 2 kinds of Sancaka train, Sancaka Pagi (morning) and Sancaka Sore (afternoon). The Sancaka sore departure's at 16.00 and arrive at 21.30.

• Make sure that your cellphone is fully-charged and put it along with your wallet on the place that is easly to look at. My dad's cellphone is left behind on the top of washing machine while is being charged.
• Vehicle fee (at the station), motorcycle :Rp 1000, car : Rp 1500-2000 (?), if your vehicle have to overstay, motorcycle : Rp 5000/day, car : ???, maybe some of you know...

Bring little snacks, and a bottle of water or Pocari Sweat but don't drink frequently because you will have to go to toilet frequently too, that's OK actually but the train's toilet is not like the plane's that more hygienic..don't forget toilet paper or toilet tissue (roll)

• Do not buy toiletries, snacks, drinks that sold by the trader at the station, on the street or in any public places if you’re not in emergency situation like dehydration because they sell more expensive, so I suggest you to buy those needs in minimarkets such as Alfamart, Indomart, Circle K, etc, it is cheaper Rp 1000-2000 difference.

Finally..we arrive in Jogjakarta at Station Tugu, its place is in front of Malioboro street, so from the station you can walk through the street and you’ll find many hotels from high rates, medium and low rates or you can also ride “becak” and they will help you find the hotels that you want to stay in, with the rates you like. Becak will cost you Rp 6000 per ride, so if you ask them 3 times, for example from hotel A, you go to place B then go to market C, they will cost you Rp 18000.

• I suggest you would better rent a motorcycle if you want to go to many places when it is too far to walk through

• Near Station Tugu there are motorcycle rentals, you have to put DP (down payment) and your ID as the guarantee, the DP is usually Rp 500.000-Rp 1.500.000, and its rent costs Rp 50.000 per day with the helmet

• Another advice when you're shopping in Malioboro or other places that can be bargained is always bargain until half price from the trader sell, IF you're really WANT the stuff..IF you're NOT really want it..DON'T BARGAIN, or they will be angry.

        For example the price is Rp 50000, then you bargain Rp 20000 or 25000, the trader refuse         it, he wants 40000, but you're still want your price, leave him...if he needs you, he will         call you back and he will low the price maybe at 25000 or 30000.

The Borobudur Temple

this is the favorite angle for taking picture

the stairs are thousands to climb and it so high in slope

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana.

Second Day, Saturday 28 March 2009

cafe at Kombokarno Hotel

me at Vredeburg fortress

Malioboro market

Breakfast at Kombokarno Hotel at 06.30, then we go to Tugu Station to buy ticket from Jogja-Surabaya on Sunday evening, but the tickets are sold out! so we have to buy monday morning tickets, price Rp 55000 per person (Sancaka)

• Make sure your schedule (date of departure and arrival) is fixed. Buy round trip ticket.

After we got the tickets, next is The Borobudur Temple in Magelang. It's about an hour trip, +/- 40 km from Jogjakarta. The entry ticket is Rp 15000 per person plus photo permit ticket Rp 1000 and handycam Rp 2000

• Do not carry big backpack, it's better to carry handbag or "normal size" bag  because it will be left in deposit counter and in temple area is not allowed to carry food and drink bottle so.....we cheat, we hide the bottle  pssssstt, don't tell anyone...I think is a weird and ridiculous rules.

Why do they apply those "drink bottle" rules? because they already have cafe in exit area (and it's far from the temple also hot!!) 

Well, Borobudur Temple is the most largest Buddha temple in the world, it is really beautiful and awesome. I'm very proud with  this one of Indonesia's heritages

• Bring along your umbrella and sunglasses because it's very very hot

Third Day, Sunday 29 March 2009

Because I cannot go home today so I wake up late. Usually I woke up at 05.00 now at 07.00.

Today's destination : The Sultan's Palace (Keraton Jogjakarta)

It's the place where the Sultan and his family live for centuries until now. The location is divided into three places.

First place is right in front of "alun-alun". It is the terrace for welcoming the guests, meeting people of Jogja, and also for speech. There is museum of clothes that used by Sultan's army, families, people, and officials before.

Second place is the center of Palace. All the daily activities, administration and Sultan's house are here. In this place there are many museums: Sultan's clothes, his favorite things like cameras, family paintings, souvenirs and gifts from other countries, his office desk, some texts, his toys when he was a kid, pictures and also the room storage of "gamelan".

• If you come on Sunday, every 11 am there will be held the traditional dancing

Third place is Taman Sari. It is a bathing place for Sultan's wife and daughters.                     It's too bad I don't have enough time to visit it, maybe next time when I come to Jogja again..

• The ticket is very cheap and included a guide, it's very good..

• All the three places are not too far, so I think it's better to walk rather than ride "becak".

• Between the first and second place there is Museum Kereta (Carriage Museum), it is more quiet all the carriage are antique, very old but very beautiful