Me, Jasmine, and Our Journeys: January 2012

30 January 2012

Karimata Resto (Part I)

Me and my husband is liking to have lunch in a resto located at Sentul area: Karimata Resto. This resto is exactly in front of exit toll Sentul Selatan. Their special menu is Ikan bakar Patin dalam bambu. Very delicious, spicy, packaged in banana leaf which put into bamboo. Smell is good: Grill fish in bamboo!

If we wanna have a lunch over there, better we have reservation first. Because of so many visitors in the lunch time, and you have to wait untill there is available place for lunch. I had ever come without booking. We should have waited around a half hour. Be patient! said my sista'. My worm stomach was singing along waiting time. I was so hungry! I had imagined that I would eat grill fish in bamboo. Yummy..

Next time, I will tell you more detail about this resto and show you a picture of Fish in bamboo...(or you can visit their sites HERE ).

waiting untill a place is available

27 January 2012

Happy Birthday Jasmine..

I has just realized that you have stepped on the age of 2 years old
Like Yasser, you become active
Like Yassin, you become talkative
But someday you will find your style

Dear Jasmine, my little girl
Grow up and don't stop your activity!
Till you know life is the great adventures
And you walk on your way for sure

26 January 2012

Imlek in Royal Safari Garden Hotel

As I ever told you that the Royal Safari hotel is our favorite place for staying in Puncak Bogor. And that happened in Imlek Vacation last week. Me and my big family stayed 2 nights at Royal Safari hotel. Starting from Saturday on 21 January untill Monday on 23 January 2012. We know that this was an umpteenth time we stayed here. But We never feel bored. Because of having comfortable place and complete facility (you can find all place for any kinds of sports). Only one which doesn't like there: their food is not delicious! Well, we don't bother about that, cause we can find another resto around hotel. Across there is Sate H. Kadir. This Sate is very famous in Puncak area. Taste of this food is very delicious, whether it is sate or soup kambing! But If you don't like sate or soup kambing, you can walk into besides hotel and find Pecel Lele, Ayam bakar and so on. I'll bet you will not being a bum, just because you can't eat anything! hehe..

The most I like in this hotel is: every morning we can walk around, playing badminton or basket ball or table tennis, swimming in water splash, and riding bicycle. Or maybe you will try riding camel or elephant? welcome!! For who has children or baby, you can take them to playground. This area is behind the main restaurant and lobby. Another playground is located near the birds park in backyard of hotel.

WHAT ELSE ??

25 January 2012

The Thousand Island with a thousand charms

I planned this journey since a couple years ago, but It could have implemented in the end of last year, exactly on 25 to 26 December 2011. What a surprise that finally we could go to the Thousand Island. My kids were so happy that they would be a vacation with their cousins. They didn’t stop asking who would be going? how long would we stay? Where islands would we visit? Etc. Silent kids! so many questions and I couldn’t answer all of its, coz I was busy with my stuffs!

We went on Sunday morning at 08.30 a.m from Marina Ancol. The fact was not only me and my family were going to the Thousand Island, but there were many groups also. Whether they were a family or friends or a couple. When I looked around, I realized that my group had lots of luggage. Hehe…as if we would go for a week! Kids, specially girls didn’t wanna standing beside the luggage! They felt a shame! Haha.. me? I didn’t care! As usual, I took it easy. I opened my luggage and took some meals. Waiting was a boring time, and it made me hungry!

We chartered a medium speed boat which has capacity for 25 passengers. My family was 22 persons, so it was enough, right? It had taken time for 40 minutes into Pulau TIdung. This was the first island we visited. This island is enough crowded. The island have lots of water sports, such as banana boat, cano, and sailing. There was a bridge into Pulau Tidung Kecil. The bridge is made from woods. Some has fragile and holes. We should be careful, because under this bridge was many ‘Bulu Babi’. Owh..It was not be danger or deathly, but it could make us scratchy! Yak..

WHAT ELSE ??

18 January 2012

There's something about Tomohon

I have never thought that finally I went to Manado, North Sulawesi. A place where people knows so many beautiful woman. I travelled to Manado with my friends. We visited our branch office. We had 3 days 2 nights over there. Leave on Thursday morning (15 December 2011) and return on Saturday morning (17 December 2011). Meanwhile, our schedule meeting with the Head of branch office was on Friday afternoon.

When we arrived in Sam Ratulangi Airport, many taxi drivers surrounded us. We just gave smile and said 'no, thanks!'. We had to make sure that we would choose a good driver with a good car. We didn't want what happened in Palembang would happen in Manado! (hei..Did I ever tell you that we found a reckless driver in Palembang? yeah, we hired a young reckless driver. He is a college student who seeking additional income with being a driver of his friend's rental car. Basically, he is a good boy, familiar and polite. But when he brought a car, he changed to be a reckless! ups! ).

Finally, we choose one of driver who -by our feeling- he would be a good driver, not reckless driver! And I thought we choose a right person!. He is from Makasar who working in Manado. His wife is from Tomohon. Talking about Tomohon, there was something interesting over there. As people knows that Manado has many beautiful women. But in our view, no! not in Manado! Manado's girl looked same with others big city. But in Tomohon, this is it: Not only woman, man also looks charming! wow! They have a good skin! We guessed because of Tomohon has a cold weather! Tomohon is as cold as Bandung. This city is surrounded by mountains and hills. That's why it's cold!

During in Manado, we visited to Bukit Kasih and Danau Tondano, enjoying Gunung Lokon, Gunung Manado Tua, Bunaken from the distance! We never felt bored to have dinner with Ikan bakar and Sambal dabu-dabu! One that I will never forget : eating fried banana with sambal!! can you imagine? sweet banana dipped into sambal?? waw......very delicious! and it was more perpect because we ate while enjoying the beauty of ocean, Gunung Manado Tua, and Bunaken far away.

Hm...what else? almost forgot to say that we stayed 2 nights at Swiss Bell Hotel. This hotel located at Jalan Jend Sudirman. It's strategic hotel! surrounded by minimart, restaurant, not far from ocean, beach, and shopping centre. We just walked into the beach around 15 minutes!! how far? around 1 kilometre..hehe! not far hugh? enough for your exercising in the afternoon! your tired will be less when you look at the beauty of ocean. In the beach you will find McDonald with its cozy place or maybe you wanna have dinner Ikan bakar? please feel free !

Unfortunately, we just had 2 days in Manado! 2 days were not enough for us traveling in Manado! We didn't yet visit Danau Linau or diving in Bunaken. Someday, I will be back to Manado!