Day Tripper: Cable Car ride at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

It was not our 1st time visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta, not like our trip before, this time our timing was not quite perfect. Our little brother and his wife and son were in J-town, and this little man was very eager to had first hand experience riding Cable Car. I could recall my last ride on the same cable car was like 25-30 years ago, so this kind of exciting for me and my kids too.

Though we came early enough -early as on our timeline of course-, once we hit Taman Mini gate we saw  thousand of people flooded this park already. We decided we had to jump on the queue of the first cable car station -thanks to our parent that lend us their car plus driver, so we don't have to find parking spot ourselves-. 

Bought our ticket, lining lane seems empty, we thought we still can kick up our morning with another ride after Cable Car, until we followed through this metal-waist-height-bar to turnstill door, got our hand stamp, and wohoo....the queue was just unbelievably long! It seems moving through though, so we kept going until up to Cable Car deck an MORE and MORE people -was waiting on the platform. No turning point, we continued queue, tried to do quick math between numbers of people and timing of cable cars come and go. Long way to go. We did not think that it will be this long queue so we left our drinking water inside our car, and no sight of water vendor on the deck -on that time I really wish there were drink vendor or 'pedagang asongan' as we called it.

This flashing timer turned green after 26 seconds, means the cable car on the queue is ready to dispatch....it's 26 seconds distance between one cabin and another...

Rama loves buildings, structures and mechanical things so much, this photo taken by him -so I could check the company who made this Cable Cars on the net, that was he said-

We finally had turn to jump on our cabin after about 1 hour 10 minutes standing on the queue. Cable car ride was about 10 minutes, gliding along from C station (where we started) to B station and return back from B to C. There was also another station, A station which lead to B station too, and back to A again.

The view from atop was fantastic, we could see Taman Mini area from above, getting to enjoyed Taman Mini more compare with driving around this huge park -which one of traveller blogger said that "nothing mini about Taman Mini"-

It's worth the queue and Rp.25.000,- ticket fare.

Should try again next time. 

Lego all the way

When I uploaded picture above -the main family picture- in front of Legoland Malaysia's sign on my Facebook, I flooded by e-mails and messages asking about if this place is actually open. Some of friends thinking I was on holiday in Malaysia, some are envy that we got there on first day -thanks to my provocative info on my picture :-)

Then I had to tell the truth, that we actually only went to Gandaria City Mall nearby, and they happened to have Legoland Malaysia booth on LG level opposite Kopitiam Restaurant, and according to booth's staffs we were one of less than 5 families visited that day because they just had opened their booth. Of course they had special price for entrance ticket, IDR 288.000 instead of IDR 420.000 for adult and IDR 210.000 instead of IDR 330.000 for child and senior member (60+). Pre-sale ticket valid from opening day -which is plan on Sept 15- to Dec 2012.

Apart from Legoland booth there were also big Lego display on main LG lobby -cmiiw- that were not so outstanding, some little details are cute. Like the Firemen doing push-up exercise or a fireman on its pole.

This time, Lego had new collection called 'Friends', marketed for girls age 6-12, which my daughter completely fall in love with it. Though we loves Lego so much, we think this Friends collection still bit pricey at the moment so we decided we not getting any but Friends minifigure for my little girl.

They will have this Lego display until school holiday ends, about 2nd week of July. If you really want to see it, heading off to Gandaria City, LG, around opposite Ace Hardware area.

Happy Holidays!

Jakarta from my camera : June 2012

It is June, and Jakarta -big city often referred as Big Durian- will be one year older. Apart from smoked,fumed cursed and tot-toted motorbikes and cars fighting for their tiny space on its roads and 'gangs', I found plenty interesting things in Jakarta.

My son sketch for his version of Jakarta Guidebook he created with his classmates few months ago, and his introduction about Jakarta were interesting, with his personal view about Big Durian -rough and smelly on the outside but really sweet and great on the inside- gave me the idea to capture many you would not -or not yet- see about Jakarta.

It's unfortunate that my first snapshots were taken from a deli inside big hotel, which of course putting a lot into this celebration month. Put it aside, 'Roti Semprong' -a thin,crispy and sweet traditional snack made from flour and shaped onto cigar-size was always a prominent feature you would see in June, alongside 'Roti Buaya' -a crocodile shaped sweet bun-.

That's all for now. Will be back with more pictures...

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday, June 3rd 2012

Snapshot between Aksara Bookstore in Kemang , Mc Donald in Kemang and Lunch around Kemang, South Jakarta...

And things from Tintin-themed Birthday Party my son invited

Baskets of interest

There is one big shopping mall just sprout around the corner of my house -literally- . 

{In Jakarta, if you could walk to shopping mall in 10 minutes, that consider very close :-) }

And like many other malls, this one had big supermarket on their basement, which many Indonesian friend told me they like to came and shop there because many items are on special -of course, it's new anyway, they need to get customer in, isn't is?-

Armed with information about cheap groceries -I meant, on special price- I went for venture two weeks ago, arrived on this big supermarket -no wonder they called themselves hyper- and found many -yes many- items we consume on daily basis are on special indeed.

Then I found on one of their back corner, a basket section that too good to be true -if we talking about baskets in Supermarket, most of the times I will found those cheap distasteful plastic one. I never found baskets section like this. It's made from faux rattan -sort of plastic, maybe, oh well- but it does have a great looks. The only downside was the supermarket staffs clearly do not know how to arrange and displayed it based on shapes or colors , if they put little bit effort on it, I thought it would be wonderful....

{in case you wondering about my pictures, yes I DID ARRANGE it a bit, for the sake of my snapshot :-)  }

Price wise, around IDR 35.000 (for smaller round with about 12cm diameter) to IDR 120.000 for the big tall round basket. Round  basket bit more expensive  compare to square or rectangle counterparts.

After hours of yes-no-yes-no, I finally laid my  choice on this...

Where you could find this:

Hypermart Supermarket on Kemang Village - Jalan Antasari - South Jakarta.

Sugar Factory & Museum , Klaten , Central Java

On our last Lebaran holiday, on the way from Solo to Jogjakarta, we intentionally stopped by on this Sugar factory, located on the roadside of Solo to Jogjakarta main road, on the outskirt of a small town called Klaten, to be precise.

Me and kiddo had been visited this place once, the main idea was we wanted to take a stroll inside this sugar factory complex using their wood-powered lorry used to carry sugarcane crops from a nearby plantation. We missed the last lorry schedule  by 10minutes, so my children were quite disappointed at that time.

So when we were passing by this sugar factory again this time,  we decided to stop and try our luck.

Me myself was growing up on small suburb outskirt Solo, near a sugar factory called 'Colomadu'. So I was no stranger to lorries carrying sugarcane, the sirens of the factory used to marks shift changing, or days of local night market setting on around the factory once a year when it's come to sweet season the factory will start to turn those freshly harvesting sugarcane into white sugar. I still remember the aroma of  cotton candy sold by food vendor on the market with merry go round on the backdrop.

I always wanted go share the experience with my little family about it. The opportunity has open its own door for us.

Just like others, this Gondang sugar factory built by Dutch when they had Indonesia as their colony. Old yet sturdy, Gondang is one of the  couples of the sugar factory still operating these days in Central Java, under government-owned company.

It cost IDR 25,000 per person to ride the lorry around the sugar factory. It was only 4 people aboard before us, another 4 passengers aboard after us, off we went around. The lorry itself was German-made, 1 loco and 3 lorries. We sat on 1st and 2nd seat row on 1st lorry, right behind the loco, once they started adding more and more wood to its loco-burner, we were chocked by smoke -literally- ; and moved to very back seat of the lorry while laughed for our poor seat choice.

Lorries run at 1 km/hour speed -I guessed- given the mechanic ran on its side faster than lorries. It's gave us good view of inside the factory. Those huge and unused machinery on its yard, many old trucks and vehicles used to transport harvested sugar cane  and they even have their own electricity power plant inside the factory.

The tour with lorries around the factory took no more than 30minutes but was really worth an experience.

I wasn't aware that my son was very much into the sugar museum as well. The museum lay on the same complex with the factory, with a couple of old locos  displayed on its front yard. We had to buy another ticket to go inside the museum,IDR 10,000 per person. The museum is not big but had quite complete information about history of sugar factories around Central Java. Some information that was framed on the wall were in Dutch language -since we don't understand at all, my son insisted to take some pictures of those information and he will show to his Dutch fellows at school and have it translate.

Apart from a usual map and mock-up they put on display, they had an old type-writing machine and sewing machine on display as well. I had no idea why it's on display. No information whatsoever. I guess it might be from one of the house occupied by head of Gondang Baru Sugar Factory.

Needless to say, 10,000 rupiah certainly worth for me, giving the experience our kids had on the museum. If it's not that we have to continue our road trip, we would stay a bit longer and have a tea break on their in house 'Banaran Cafe' . May be next time.

Red and White: Dirgahayu my Indonesia

It's Independence day celebration kind of morning for me, hopped from one school -my son first- to another -my daughter afterward- . We were so ready to celebrate, dressed up in red and white and eagerly came for Upacara Bendera.

So there I was, attending Indonesia Independence day ceremony on the Netherlands School, sang Indonesia Raya, recital Pancasila and Declaration of Independence text, and seeing my son became the flag bearer for the very first time, yet I standing next to many Dutch -which once had us as their colony.

Singing Indonesia Raya was my regular chore since my son previous school has assembly once a week that include sang national anthem from both countries. Though I could not recall when it was last time I recite either Pancasila or the Declaration of Independence. And sometimes me and friends had quiz time when we will snapped the 4th of Pancasila -the longest one- and none of us could answered correctly.

Seeing bule -not one but many- dressed in red and white shivering me to the bone. I loves the view along the street lately, a festive on going with many red and white flags and banners, but when I saw people wore it -and they not Indonesian- and little children proudly march and sang Indonesia Pusaka -and again, they not Indonesian- it's remind me that I'm still Indonesia and should do more than dress up and celebrate once a year occasion like this. And less whining about this country.

Ok,lets move on before I become mellow.

It should be the say we cheer up about our independence, right?

So I moved to my daughter school, they held a celebration in fun way, with un-traditional games for the kids.

Before they started the game, once I walk to the school backyard, I greeted with very familiar song and travelled me to my primary-school age in an instant. They had Senam Kesegaran Jasmani song -oooh...I can't fint the perfect world to translate it...lost in translation-  played loud, with the kids exercise slash dance accordingly, one of the teacher stand on the front guided them and show the movement.

As it's hilarious it could be for me to see children bumping each other and tried to do their best action-; this is another thing: when did the last time I hear this song? A song played regularly once a week when I was on a kid, meant to make us do light exercise. I wonder if primary school this age still do the same. Or it might in public school? I have no clue.

Then the games begun. 3 different games, full of laugh, great way to enjoy my morning.

And of course everybody is the winner on those games. The teachers wisely gave every kids their own ribbon so no one felt left behind. 

I saw my children enjoy their celebration day, now it's got me thinking: I will find out if there will be games playing on our local kampung tomorrow, I will take them to watch.

I know Independence Day celebration it's not only about ceremony, games or dress attire, but this time let me just say:

Dirgahayu my Indonesia.

Which one you favor most: Metro Mini or Ayam Pop?

I went to SMESCO building yesterday, located on jalan Gatot Subroto -one of the main road in South Jakarta. Their UKM Gallery housed many beautiful craft from Indonesia's small business -it's a shame the caretaker could not generate visitor to this place, as I heard from many vendors. 

It's 5 storey full of batiks, wooden handcraft, jewelry and many more, but what hooked me up most is this unique pins made by Mahanagari.

I risked my life to get this snapshot, the creator won't be objected -I suppose, since I plan to spread their good craft to the world...free publicity won't do any harm...

These two were only example of many more Mahanagari has created.

So, metro Mini or Ayam Pop?

Day Tripper : Miniapolis

As much as we don't favour indoor playground, we kinda run out of option few Sundays ago. We don't usually do Sunday outing but since government decided that following Monday it's public holiday so we think it's ok to splurge another day on the weekend.

We could not stand the heat and humidity, so the idea to go play in Miniapolis- a kind of indoor playground-just pop on our head. We never been there as a family but Little Miss R went once with her school mate. She jumped for joy when we told her our destination and therefore busy telling her big brother for do and don't in Miniapolis.

It should be 30 minutes drive -tops- from our residence to Miniapolis -which located right in downtown Jakarta, on the 3rd level of Plaza Indonesia-. Thanks to our lack of information about half day traffic detour every 2nd and 4th Sunday on the bloodline of Jakarta -jl.Sudirman and jl.Thamrin,- took us more than 1 hour -which include circling around same streets couple of time, Google Map wasn't helping either-.

As we expected, not many visitors when we arrived about midday. We learnt our research that many Jakartan start flocking shopping mall around 1-2pm. Means we got chance to enjoy most before getting to crowded. We decided to bought day-pass ticket which covered all venues and unlimited playing time -and it's not cheap for sure, double it as well-.

 { Amazed }

 { Getting the ID tag }

Miniapolis itself bit larger that I thought, with shops surrounding its carousel and playground, mini-train track plastered on the floor, snaking around between shops and connecting one area to another. We jumped on the train and I had a good look of the shops when aboard while my kids enjoy the ride. Well-known shops like Mothercare, Crocs or Okaidi -the newest brand from French- were among them. I like independent store like Little Heirloom with their gorgeous display. One if them like Brown Tree displayed very cute doll with  -unfortunately-not-so-cute price tag attached.

Since we bought day pass tickets, we had the liberty to stop playing, grabbed our lunch on foodcourt 3 levels down, and back uplevel to play more. There were couple of restaurants and cafes on the same level as Miniapolis. We choose cafe Excelso and got ourselves -me and my husband- caffeine while our kids conquered tha playground. This cafe was packed with parents waited for their kids play on the playground. So we had to kept ordering so we don't get kick out ;-)

No children happy when its time to go home. Mine too. If following day still a holiday, I would be happy to let them play for a couple more hours, and I could also have more times to enjoy my afternoon coffee with my husband.

One last game before we headed home, Digiwall. Here, my kids in one team play another sibling, and hey, it was so much fun. Physical -as they had to touch all the light that on randomly and having their score announced at the end yet challenging. I do not mind playing it if they allow me.

  { Ready to climb the Digiwall }

Will we back? Hmmm...yes, not anytime soon but yes.

See you in another day tripper.

Day Tripper: Stasiun Jakarta Kota

I was standing on one of the corner of Stasiun Jakarta Kota. The very last platform -line 12- was behind me. On my left, I could see people come and go to a well known convenience store tried to grab whatever they forgot on the last minute before their train depart. There were long fence stretched in front of me, divided this big station hall into two areas: Free access area where people could walk across this hall, from one main entrance to another entrance on the other end; and restricted area or platforms area, which only passenger holding their ticket could go in and wait their train on green painted wooden bench, or people like us who bought what so called 'Peron ticket' that allow us to join those passenger.

I could see another chain convenience store on free access area, and people walked their walk.

I feel like travel back in time.

It was few years ago - I was standing on similar spot. Not in Stasiun Jakarta Kota, Sydney Central Station instead. I clearly remember there was 1st platform behind me-for intercity train-; a ticket office for intercity train next to a small convenience store on my left, and I could see the grand entrance of Sydney Central Station on the same designated spot Stasiun Jakarta Kota had.

Apart from my melancholy feeling, our last Sunday day tripper was fun. We wanted to go visit this train station since last holiday. Not for specific reason though. We heard people talked about this beautiful vintage building, we feel like proving it.

It's true, so beautiful and quite well looked after building. I amazed with the cleanliness of this public place-by Indonesia standard of course-. The platforms were also well looked after.

While we -my husband and I- adored the architecture, our children enjoyed the view of those trains, come and go in every ....mmmm...10 minutes I guess. Rama was so thrilled to get chance peeking inside one of the carriage -an old, on aircon carriage- ; while we agreed he could aboard inside this parking carriage -to get the idea how's look like inside- ; he was over the moon. And Ramya get scared to let her brother swallowed by this big toast-shape metal; she was super worried the train will start moving when Rama still inside; so they would not see each other again -OMG! -  .

Another half an hour and hundreds of pictures later, we decided to end our day tripper with quick tour de convenience store to get cure of our thirsty throat, and peek inside a Japanese train serving express route to Bogor -an opposite of the carriage Rama went in beforehand- stationed on platform 12.It's air-conditioned, clean floor with cushioned seat, and extra staff plus very polite security guy guarding its door.

By then, we knew what will be on our next day tripper agenda: Catch an express train to Bogor!