Greetings From Indonesia

About Java

Java was the most important island of the Dutch East Indies, but anyone looking for it in an ordinary atlas, without paying attention to scale and proportion, will not be impressed by its size. Among the many islands of the Indonesian Archipelago to which it belongs, it is by no means the largest. Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Sulawesi are much bigger and yet Java is where the capital is located, Jakarta, the chaotic and charming city where you would put your first small step for a man and giant leap for your exciting adventure in the wonderland.

Travel of a Lifetime

My mother, who was born either in 1939 or 1940 (not sure ? this is Indonesia's older generation) ... just arrived today (Tuesday, April 26th, 2016, CST) in Minnesota, USA. Thanks God she arrived safe and sound. Very tired, held bravery and painfully her troubled lower back which became worse nearing the date of the flight departure.

On papers she is 76 or 77, but somehow she always tells everyone that she is 79. She has cardiovascular (heart) problem, and takes daily dosage of medication. For the past several years, her lower back started to get worse.

34 Hours 

It's amazing that seniors or elderlies could still travel such a long distance, half a globe, in 2 days. She left Jakarta in the evening on the 25th of April 2016, transit in Kuala Lumpur for 1:45 hours, and transit in Amsterdam for 7 hours. Total duration of the journey: 18 + 7 +  9 = 34 hours. How many hours of nights and daylights ? I was confused. But most likely it was "even".

• She left Jakarta at 18:45 (evening, GMT+7)
• Arrived in Amsterdam at 6:00 (morning, GMT+2). 18 hours flight. 
• After 7 hours waiting at Schiphol, boarded the flight again at 13:00 (GMT+2)
• Arrived in Minnesota a little after 15:00 (GMT -5). 9 hours flight.

Tired

Very. With her lower back pain problem it was difficult to walk, and worse, she could not sleep. I've booked a special seat for her in economy class, the so called economy comfort, but didn't help much.

What About You

If you are a lot younger and healthier than my brave mother ... you should come to Indonesia, even as far as from anyplace in the USA. If she could do it, so can you. You can do it with more than one stopover, or one or two nights rest in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, which is only 2 hours flight from Jakarta. I like this article, very good advice for senior travelers.

What can you do in Indonesia, where to go, what to see

A lot. You can go and see places where everyone go. Some places we would like to recommend:

• Peucang Island
• Krakatau
• Tanjung Lesung
• Ciptagelar

Where Is Peucang ?

Peucang is a tiny island located within the Ujung Kulon National Park / Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon, between Ujung Kulon mainland and the Panaitan Island.

Panaitan is perhaps more familiar to die-hard surfers with its rather dangerous surfing spots.

The 180 degrees view facing the Ujung Kulon forests from Peucang Island is what we call serene, calm and beautiful. Wake up early morning when it's still dark, catch the sunrise lurking from behind the dark green trees of Ujung Kulon forest still covered with morning mists. Sitting there on the pier waiting for sunrise you'll only hear cicadas, scream of monkeys from the trees, early morning birds singing, peaceful sound of water sweeping the white sandy beach, and your own heartbeat.

During the day, the entire island belongs to you. Swim, snorkel, or just float lazily on the water. Trek to the other side of the island through a real forest full of big trees, home to plenty of deers during the night. During the day, they would wander freely around Peucang Lodge, grazing, or just sitting lazily under the shade. 

Yogi the Boar

A family of big wild boars would walk by, sniffing everything on the ground. Each boar is given a name by the Forest Rangers at Peucang Island. Yogi is the biggest, eldest, and perhaps laziest, and most likely the leader of the pack. On the day you are about to leave the island, one of these boars would come near to you and wish you a safe journey.

That wild boar was wandering alone far beyond the pier, when it saw us about to leave the island, then it approached one of our guests, a beautiful Russian lady, and asked to be touched.     

Wildlife Grazing

Cross to the mainland in less than 10 minutes by boat, and see wildlife grazing in the morning where all kinds of wild animals peacefully gather at the wide open grazing ground. Walk further by the trail along the coast, passing big trees, and reach the first point of Java Island, the real "zero kilometer" of Java, facing the south seas or Indonesia Ocean (Indian Ocean).

Sleep

Peucang Island doesn't offer you a lot. It is not Gili Islands and for sure it is not Kuta in Bali. No "city-style or urban-style nightlife". It is somewhere else. It is different. The only acommodation is Peucang Lodge. Very basic accommodation. Take it or else sleep in the forest with monkeys ! At the end of the day you'll realize, it's cozy, simple, and that's what it should be like in Peucang.      

      

Indonesia Travel Plan

We understand it's not easy to make a vacation travel plan to Indonesia.

So many places to see and visit, and yet so little time. How to get there ? What to see ? How long is "not too long" for staying in one place ? From here, where ? Should I, we, go there ? Is it worth it ? Never heard of it ... so many questions in your head.

One day when in Sumatra, near a huge beautiful Toba Lake, overheard a conversation between two ladies from one of Scandinavian countries: "...well ... we bought this travel package from overseas, and they showed us and took us to the places which we actually didn't want to see", and the other added "meanwhile, this country is so huge, and Sumatra is just one island of so many islands in Indonesia, actually and we believe there's more and more to see ...".

 At the end of the day, one may decide: " ... ah, it's better we go to Bali, and decide from there where to go further".

Not a bad idea, but better to make plan in advance, because without a proper plan, you might waste your time ... and for sure money. Here are some suggestions: Banten & West Java Travel Plan

Tips: before you buy airplane ticket

How to Book a Flight Online - Simple Guideline

Do a lot of survey, research, compare prices, before you submit your annual leave form at your office. 

CHOOSE YOUR FLIGHT

Thanks to Google Flights, it is easy now. Or in Google search box, type (without quotes) "copenhagen to jakarta" for example, takes automatically to Google Flights, showing list of airlines available from Copenhagen to Jakarta.

BOOKING

• Play with "filter options" : stops, price, airline, times, etc.
• Google will show several options, a list of "online booking providers", and the airline itself.
• Either through online booking providers or the airline itself, play with date of departure and date of return. You'll find price varies. Choose the "best" dates, and book the ticket.

In some cases "other" online booking providers might show a cheaper price. But, in most cases the airline websites have more flights options to show.

PAYMENT
Read carefuly about the method of payment and terms of payment. It is very important because it affects the booking status. Before making payment, unless you pay directly at the airline office or at the travel agent's office, make sure that at the website you can confirm your payment immediately after the payment has been made. If it is not stated at the website, contact directly via phone or email or whatever online methods they offer. Talk to their customer service.

Some websites don't put this "payment method" very clear. It is not their intention to cheat, or whatsoever, not at all. For example, if you choose method of payment by "bank transfer", once you click "Book Now" they might send you immediately an email, a confirmation stating that your booking is accepted and payment should be made latest one day after booking confirmation date, otherwise your booking might be considered canceled. Meanwhile, bank transfer might take longer than one working day.  

After payment at the bank, scan your "bank transfer slip" and send immediately by email to the "reservation department" or whatever method they have, and don't forget to put your name and booking code as well.

In most cases, you'll get the electronic ticket sent to your email on the same day after proof of payment.
  

The Javanese

Java, the Garden of the East

The Javanese are the finest flower of the Malay race - a people possessed of a civilization, arts, and literature in that golden period before the Mohammedan and European conquests. They have gentle voices, gentle manners, fine and expressive features, and are the one people of Asia beside the Japanese who have real charm and attraction for the alien. They are a little people and one feels the same indulgent, protective sense as toward the Japanese.

From: Java, The Garden of the East", by Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore (pronounced SID-more) (1856–1928) was an American writer, photographer and geographer, who became the first female board member of the National Geographic Society.

Rural Coworking

Our primary idea and concept of coworking is to create a mutual-beneficial relationship between tenants and locals.

Who are the tenants ? You, traveler, digital nomads, anybody. Aside from leisure, why not allow some of your precious time to share your expertise, knowledge, and skill to help the local start-ups or "just" share your knowledge to the local community.

Our Coworking Spaces locations are spread in Banten and West Java:

• Anyer-Carita
• Tanjung Lesung
• Ujung Kulon
• Ciptagelar (Sukabumi - Pelabuhan Ratu)
• Garut

Only For Digital Start-Ups ?

No. Common understanding of coworking today is young, bright, hi-tech, digital apps, work from anywhere. Our understanding of coworking space is a place to share whatever knowledge, and create any business, be it digital or brick and mortar, as long as it works.

Our coworking space is not only for start-ups, it's for everyone: researchers, volunteers, businessmen seeking business prospect, etc. One of our coworking spaces is located within the national forest in Garut. A "shelter" with cozy rooms to stay for days, weeks, or even months. Equipped with "office" facilities: meeting room, hi-speed internet. Common access to kitchen and bathroom. A quiet sanctuary, located away from surrounding villages, but still within a walking distance. A nearby coffee plantation is an object for study, business, whatever. The local schoolchildren there would be more than glad to have you as their mentor or teacher. Teach them english, french, german, whatever languange you know.

Save The Forest, The Lonely Forest

Teach the locals, the youngsters, their parents, about how important is the role of forest to the world, how to save the forest.

Share what you know and build the local community, let's change the world and make it better !