Category Archives: CourtesyVisit

Kunjungan Balasan Ke Johor

Posted in CourtesyVisit, Malaysia, Singapore by

Muhibah Kedatauan Luwu Day-3

Gaduh, begitu aku membahasakan apa yang kami alami semalaman. Rasa tak nyaman, lapar, emosi yang membuncah di dalam dada. Entah telah berapa kali aku pergi bersama rombongan, baru kali inilah aku merasakan ketidaknyamanan yang menyebabkan lidah menjadi kelu dan berucappun terasa linu. Akh, andai hari itu dapat kuputar, kuingin bahagia itu menjadi temanku.

“Kita di negeri orang, bersabarlah! Semua itu ujian” pintaku pada hatiku yang sedang gundah. Entah berapa banyak istighfar terucap dari bibirku, dari relung batinku yang paling dalam. Entah berapa banyak doa dan al fatihah yang aku bacakan kiranya dada sesak ini dapat merongga. Namun kenyataan membawaku pada sebuah asa, bahwa kita jalan bersama, kita melangkah bersama, telah kita mulai sebuah perjalanan, dan akan kita akhiri bersama, layar telah terkembang, pantang surut kita ke tepian, hingga marwah menjadi jawaban.

Jemputan telah tiba, kami semua bergerak menuju pusat Singapore. Hari ini hari ketiga perjalanan muhibah kami. Kami diberikan waktu untuk berpose di bersama pokem Singapura sebelum berlanjut ke Johor. Walhasil, entah berapa kutipan kami ambil, terkenang masa kamera menggunakan roll film, tentu tidak akan ada ribuan gambar yang akan terekam, karena kami akan sangat hati-hati memilah moment  yang akan diabadikan.

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Belum puas rasanya. Namun perjalanan harus dilanjutkan. sehingga kami pun berangkat. Perjalanan Singapore-Johor ditempuh cukup jauh, apalagi kami harus berhenti sejenak melalui imigrasi keluar dari Singapura dan masuk ke Malaysia. Pengalaman yang unik tentunya, karena ketika keluar Singapura, kami hanya diminta membawa passport. jadi teringat saat kami masuk kemarin hahaha, kali ini tidak banyak pertanyaan, hanya stempel dan pergi. Tapi begitu kami masuk imigrasi Malaysia, mesti batenteng koper pula hehehe, untuk naik lift dan eskalator. coba tidak, huaaaa, mana tahan…

Setelah melalui segala proses imigrasi, akhirnya kami melanjutkan perjalanan dan tidak sedikit siang di Johor. Sedikit bernafas lega, kami ada waktu sejenak untuk meluruskan badan, sebelum kami harus bersiap-siap menuju tempat pertemuan berikutnya.

Hahaha, rupayanya travel yang menjemput kami tidak mengetahui lokasi kediaman pribadi Dato Seri Tengku Baha Ismail di Batu Pahat. walhasil, bukannya tiba di kediaman, kami justru masuk ke perkebunan sawit, kebayang deh kalau ada orang kampung yang bertemu kami, lengkap dengan pakaian adat dan penari hahahah.

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Sudah cukup malam kami tiba di kediaman Dato Baha Ismail dari Perhimpunan Waris Opu Daeng Lima. Namun penuh semangat beliau menjemput kami. Luar biasa penyambutan yang kami terima. Kami disambut pencak silat Melayu Dari Kumpulan Dato Nazri Waris Megat SriRama (Waris Laksamana Bintan).

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Sebelum jamuan makan malam, kami dihantarkan melihat ruangan pertemuan Dato Baha Ismail, yang penuh dengan beragam cinderamata. Namun sedikit terkejut, ternyata yang menyambut dan melayani kami, adalah puter-puteri Dato Baha Ismail sendiri, bukan pelayan pada umumnya. Subhanallah…

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Dalam perjamuan itu, Dato Seri Tengku Baha Ismail memberikan penghargaan atas kunjungan balasan Datu Luwu XL, Andi Maradang Mackulau Opu To Bau bersama Permaisuri, Opu Balirante Profesor Andi Ima Kesuma Opu Da Teriawaru II dan rombongan lainnya. Dan tentu saja kami pun senang, karena kami dapat menikmati jamuan santap malam dengan perasaan gembira, karena tuan rumah pun senang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penyengat yang Menyengat

Posted in CourtesyVisit, Singapore by

Muhibah Kedatuan Luwu Day – 2

Kondisi capek dan excited bercampur baur, sungguh tak ingin membuka mata. Namun karena kawan-kawan sekamar yang cantik-cantik ini telah bangun dan bersiap-siap, akhirnya akupun mengangkat badan dan membasuh diri. Hari ini, kunjungan kedua kami di Kepulauan Riau. Rencananya kami akan naik Ferry ke Pulau Penyengat lalu kembali ke Tanjung Pinang dan berganti Ferry menuju Singapura. Pulau Penyengat merupakan pulau yang berjarak sekitar 6 kilometer di seberang kota Tanjung Pinang, ibu kota Kepulauan Riau.

Inilah jembatan yang menjemput kami di Pulau Penyengat. Sungguh cantik, dengan perpaduan Hijau dan Kuning. Sudah menanti keluarga besar Zuriat dan Kerabat Kerajaan Riau Lingga yang kemudian menghantar kami ziarah ke Makam Almarhum Raja Haji Fisabilillah serta kerabat Kerajaan Riau Lingga.

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Makam yang kami kunjungi berada dalam sebuah kompleks. Mula-mula rombongan diarahkan ke makam Raja Hamidah (Engku Puteri), Permaisuri Sultan Mahmud Shah III Raiu Lingga (1760-1812). Usai memanjatkan doa, kami pun mendengarkan penjelasan bahwasanya Raja Hamidah adalah istri dari Sultan Mahmud di abad ke-18. Pulau Penyengat ini adalah mas kawin pernikahan mereka. akh.. kisah cinta yang luar biasa. Pikiran saya pun melayang membayangkan prosesi ijab Qobul pernikahan mereka, Sultan Mahmud menyebutkan:

“Saya terima nikah dan kawinnya Engku Putri Raja Hamidah binti Raja Haji Fisabilillah, dengan mas kawin sebuah pulau beserta isinya dibayar tunai…”

 

Subhanallah… hehehe… meski romantisme kisah cinta Raja Hamidah dan Sultan Mahmud Shah III lebih mengisi benakku, namun kisah lain tentang pulau penyengat ini pun sempat membuatku sedikit berhati-hati dalam melangkah. konon, pulau ini adalah pulau persinggahan untuk mengambil air tawar, hingga kemudian seorang saudagar tersengat binatang (sejenis lebah) sehingga rakyat menyebutnya pulau Penyengat, meski Belanda menjulukinya Pulau Indera dan Pulau Mars, yang kemudian dirangkai menjadi Pulau Penyengat Inderasakti.

Kami juga berkesempatan berziarah ke makam Raja Ali Haji bin Raja Haji Ahmad, yang merupakan pujangga kerajaan. Raja Ali Haji yang merupakan keturunan kedua (cucu dari Raja Haji Fisabilillah, Yang Dipertuan Muda IV dari Kesultanan Riau Lingga,  terkenal sebagai pencatat dasar-dasar tata bahasa melayu dalam buku Pedoman Bahasa yang menjadi dasar Bahasa Indonesia.Selain itu, Raja Ali Haji juga terkenal dengan mahakaryanya, Gurindam Dua Belas (1847) yang merupakan Kitab Pengetahuan Bahasa berisi syai-syair dalam sejarah Melayu. juga terkenal dengan bukunya berjudul Tuhfat al-Nafis (Bingkisan Berharga, tentang Sejarah melayu). dan masih banyak makam lainnya dalam kompleks itu.

 

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Usai ziarah makam, kami diajak mengunjungi Mesjid Raya Sultan Riau. memasuki pelataran mesjid ini, saya benar-benar terpukau. Langit yang biru dengan jejeran awan putih seakan tersenyum menyaksikan rombongan yang menapaki satu demi satu anak tangga menuju mesjid. cukup tinggi sih heheheh. tapi sungguh luar biasa. Hal yang saya perhatikan adalah betapa nilai-nilai sejarah itu tetap terpelihara, baik oleh masyarakat setempat, maupun oleh pemerintah setempat. terbayang perbedaannya dengan kampungku hehehe.

Tidak kalah kagum, ketika kami dipersilahkan memasuki bangunan mesjid yang konon, dibutuhkan telur berkapal-kapal untuk mendirikan masjid ini. Campuran putih telur dipakai untuk memperkuat dinding kubah, menara, dan bagian lainnya. Sedangkan kuning telurnya dipakai untuk mewarnai dinding dan kubah. Masjid ini didirikan oleh Yang Dipertuan Muda VII Raja Abdul Rahmanyang berdiri pada 1 Syawal 1249 Hijriah atau 1832 Masehi. Berukuran 54,4 x 32,2 meter, dengan bangunan induk 29,3 x 19,5 meter, masjid ini disangga empat tiang dan 17 kubah, sesuai dengan jumlah rakaat shalat wajib dalam sehari semalam.

Subhanallah.. kami diperbolehkan melihat sebuah mushaf Al-Qur’an yang ditulis tangan oleh Abdurrahman Istambul, putra Riau yang dikirim belajar ke Turki pada tahun 1867 sebelum kami dijamu pada dua buah rumah sotoh di pelataran mesjid, yang biasa digunakan sebagai tempat singgah bagi para musafir dan juga tempat bermusyawarah.

Sayang kami tak dapat berlama-lama, karena perjalanan harus diteruskan. namun kesempatan yang singkat itu, sungguh memberikan pelajaran berharga bagi kami semua. terutama, pertalian kekerabatan antara Luwu dan Riau Lingga yang tak lekang oleh zaman.

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Menempuh perjalanan menggunakan Ferry, akhirnya kami tiba di Tana Merah Singapore. Sedikit lelah, namun karena ibu-ibu ini tetap bersemangat, kami pun tak mau kalah.

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Sedikit terhambat kami di Imigrasi Singapore. Ada yang baru masuk, sehingga memperlihatkan KTP dan Passportnya, dimana ada perbedaan huruf antara nama di KTP dan Passport. Namun yang paling lama pengurusannya adalah Pusaka Kerajaan Tana Luwu tidak dapat masuk ke Singapore karena tidak dilengkapi beberapa dokumen. Wah, ini menjadi pelajaran berharga untuk kita semua, Imigrasi Singapore sangat peka terhadap benda-benda tajam, meskipun itu adalah benda Pusaka. Meskipun pada akhirnya,  ada isyarat tak terucap yang menyebabkan benda pusaka itu tidak bisa mendampingi tuannya melanjutkan perjalanan. hiiii.. ngeri-ngeri sedap…. 😀

Keterlambatan dalam urusan imigrasi inilah, yang membuat perubahan dalam jadwal ketat yang harus kami ikuti. walhasil, kami harus melakukan tindakan-tindakan darurat sipil hahahahah, syukurnya, kami tetap dapat diterima dengan baik oleh Istana Kampong Glam Singapore.

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“Datu Luwu senantiasa berjalan di bawah naungan lellung yakni tenda atau payung kehormatan sebagai ciri Kedatuan Luwu. Selanjutnya, sebagai rangkaian perjamuan, sejumlah tari-tarian pun dihadirkan. Di antaranya Tari Pajjaga Makkunrai, Anak Dara Sulessana, Sumpunglolo Bugis Melayu. Rombongan penari sebanyak enam orang ini diusung langsung dari Makassar serta didampingi dua penabuh gendang dan satu peniup terompet,” tulis mba Ina, wartawan Republika yang turut serta dalam rombongan Kedatuan Luwu.

Rombongan Kedatuan Luwu pun diterima oleh Tengku Shawal Tengku Aziz di Istana Kampong Glam, Usai melakukan kirab, kami dijamu dengan atraksi silat dan menyaksikan Sumpah Arok yang dilakukan oleh Datu Luwu XL dan Tengku Shawal Tengku Aziz atau Sitanjeng (persaudaraan) dalam bahasa Bugis. Suasana sore itu menjadi begitu sakral dan memberikan getaran yang saya sendiri tidak bisa memahaminya. Datu Luwu XL, Andi Maradang Mackulau Opu To Bau menjelaskan, “Itu adalah simbol bahwa dua kerajaan besar yang saling ikrar untuk tidak saling menyerang dan ikrar bahwa mereka adalah bersaudara.”

Seiring dengan itu, Tengku Shawal menjelaskan bahwa Sumpah Arok ini adalah yang pertama kali dilakukan di Istana Singapore. Karena sebelumnya, sumpah yang dilakukan masih dalam konteks kerajaan Melayu. Sumpah ini pertama kali dilakukan tahun 1720 – 1722 oleh Raja Sulaiman (anak bendahara Tun Abdul Jalil) yang “bersekutu” dengan bangsawan Bugis (Opu-Opu Bugis (Luwu) Lima Bersaudara) untuk merebut kembali kekuasaan Johor Riau atas Raja Kecil dan sering dilakukan kembali…untuk mempererat hubungan Melayu dan Bugis..sehingga tahun 1812..  saat Belanda dan Inggris mulai menguasai daerah Asia Tenggara, termasuk Melayu dan Indonesia.

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“Saya sebagai keturuan ke 10 langsung dari Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Syah, bermaksud melanjutkan kembali ikatan persaudaraan Melayu Bugis (Luwu) bersama Datu Luwu XL,” tegas Tengku Shawal Tengku Aziz.

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Sungguh indah tali ikatan kekerabatan yang terjalin antara Kedatuan Luwu dan Keturunan Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Syah yang juga bergelar Raja Sulaiman (Sultan Kesultanan Riau Johor Pahang) di Singapura. Semoga harapan dan cita-cita Datu Luwu XL, Andi Maradang Mackulau Opu To Bau untuk menguntai kembali diaspora Kerajaan Luwu mendapatkan ijin, ridha dan kehendakNya, Aamiin ya rabbil alaamiin….

Simbol Luwu bukanlah Badik

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Muhibah Kedatuan Luwu Day-1

Hari masih gelap, namun riuh telah menjadi akrab di telinga. Semua bangun cepat hari ini, bergantian mandi dan menuju Bandara. Hari ini, kami akan mengikuti perjalanan muhibah bersama Datu Luwu XL, Haji Andi Maradang Mackulau, SH Opu To Bau.

Meeting point ke-39 rombongan Muhibah ke kerajaan-kerajaan di Semenanjung Melayu ini di Terminal 1b Bandara Soekarno Hatta. Semua berangkat dengan penerbangan Lion Air JT0374 Menuju Bandara Hang Nadim Batam Kepulauan Riau.

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Setiba di Batam, kami dijemput kendaraan Pariwisata Riau dan diantar menuju Pelabuhan Punggur Pemprov Riau untuk melanjutkan perjalanan menuju Tanjung Pinang. Di Pelabuhan Punggur, rombongan disambut oleh Opu Andi Ibrahim, Dituakan KKSS Batam beserta beberapa pengurua KKSS Batam juga ketua dan beberapa perangkat Perkumpulan Keluarga Luwu Raya Batam.

Mengendarai 2 Speed Boat milik Pemprov Riau, kami menempuh satu jam perjalanan menuju Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal. Cuaca yang cerah mengawal perjalan kami hingga tiba di tujuan. Saat tiba, rupanya warga KKSS dan Perkumpulan Luwu Raya Tanjung Pinang.

Setiba di Tanjung Pinang, kami langsung bergerak melakukan Ziarah ke Makam Opu Daeng Cella dan Opu Daeng Marewa. Kedua almarhum Opu ini, merupakan pemersatu Luwu Melayu  dengan perkawinan antar bangsa dan hingga saat ini turunan kedua almarhum Opu ini masih eksis di Kepulauan Riau.

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Usai ziarah makam, kami dijamu dengan sajian santap siang. Wah, saya menemukan sebuah menu unik yang dihidangkan yaitu kerang yang selama ini lebih sering saya lihat ditampilkan sebagai perhiasan namun ternyata sedap disantap dengan bumbu kacang. Sempat pula bercakap-cakap dengan Raja Malik Hafrizal yang merupakan satu dari keturunan langsung almarhum Opu Cella diantara yang hadir.

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Usai santap siang, kami menuju hotel untuk beristirahat lalu bersiap diri mengikuti ramah tamah bersama Gubernur Kepulauan Riau.

Betapa nikmatnya menyaksikan sebuah keluarga besar yang saling menyapa. Datu Luwu XL dalam kesempatan ini merasa sangat terharu atas penyambutan keluarga besar Luwu-Melayu di Kepulauan Riau. Secara Kedatuan, kunjungan ke Kepulauan Riau diawali dengan Datu ke-12, lalu Datu ke-26 dn 27 dan saat ini Datu LuwuXL.

Perhelatan ramah tamah ini dimeriahkan  menampilk tari persembahan Kepulauan Riau berbalas Tari Pajaga Makkunrai dan Tari Sumpanglolo dari Tana Luwu.

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Dalam sambutannya, Datu menjelaskan bahwa simbol Tana Luwu bukanlah pedang, bukanlah keris, juga bukan Badik. Simbol Tana luwu adalah Payung, sehingga kehadirannya bukan menjadi masalah namun memberikan solusi.

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Pada kesempatan yang sama, Datu Luwu XL menyematkan pin Kedatuan Luwu kepada Gubernur Kepulauan Riau, Nurdin Basitaun, Yang Dipertuan Besar Tengku Husen Saleh dan Ketua Lembaga Adat Melayu Prov. Kepri Haji Abdul Razak. Dan dibalas Gubernur Kepri dengan memasangkan Tudung Manto kepada Datu Luwu XL juga memasangkan selendang kepada Permaisuri, Opu Balirante Kedatuan Luwu Prof. Andi Ima Kesuma serta ketua Penyelenggara Festival Tana Luwu 2017.

Malam ramah tamah ditutup dengan foto bersama keluarga Luwu dan Melayu Kepulauan Riau.

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Sumber foto : Dok Pribadi

la_vie

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2014

Posted in Singapore by

More affordable ticket offered by international airplanes giving the wider chance for travelling. That is why I decided to take another short travel to Singapore early this year. Besides, I wanna witnesses the beauty of Chinesse New Year celebration in Singapore.

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Arrived by midnight at Changi Airport we continued to the city. This is one of the luxury journey I had since I got the chance to stay at Swissotel the Stamford, the tallest hotel in Singapore.

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I also went to Sentosa Island, seeing the great Song of The Sea Performance which is always amaze me no matter how many times I see it.

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Another thing is I had the chance to see the Chinesse New Year Celebration at China Town.

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Gong Xi Fa Cai
See you in my next trip…

Exploring Sydney and Canberra

Posted in Australia by

Another crazy idea come in mind. We were planning a road trip to explore Sydney and Canberra by road trip. We searched and found the information that it will take 12 hours driving from Gold Coast.

The three Joy, Rinie and I finally took the move. With the agreement that Joy would be the co-driver.

Indeed it was a nice drive. We just follow the map and keep moving from one place to another.

In te middle of driving, we were behind a trailler that climb very slowly. I quickly tried to overtake the trailer and the driver was very angry and scolded us.

I kept driving until a police car suddenly showed up from nowhere. Another experienced for driving in Australia. Never ever tried to overtake the trailer on the road coz the police will stop you.

We were fine and continue the trip straight away coz I have the translation license and we told the police that we were in hurry to find a toilet and the trailer was so slow. Another tips for driving in Australia is you don’t have to have an international license, enough with the translation for your country license from the appointed translator of Australian Police.

When you drive in Australia, please make sure that you follow the signs. Do not exceed the speed limit otherwise you’ll receive a love letter from the police by attaching some photos of different sides of your speed car.

Note the animal that crosses the highway, do not stop when seeing animal hurt on the road, unless you have other witnesses, because wild animal are very guarded in Australia or you can get the sanctioned.

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Death Kangaroo on highway

Aihhh, the trip didn’t run as planned. Joy had no confident for driving so I have to drive my self.

But we arrived safe in Sydney. Although I was very tired and wishing to sleep all day but it will not worthed after the long drive.

Than, I decided to follow others for city tour. Luckily, Sydney’s road is narrow and hectic so I left my car aside and use busses or train instead.

We went to Sydney Opera House and taking Ferry passing the famous Sydney bridge to the. While waiting for the ferry, we were entertained with an Aboriginal man blowing didjeridu, a simple wooden tube blown with the lips like a trumpet, which gains its sonic flexibility from controllable reasonances of the player’s vocal tract.

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Sydney Opera House

From varians sources explains that didjeridu originated in Arnhem Land on the northern coastline of Central Australia, and has some similarity to bamboo trumpets and even bronze horns developed in other cultures, though it pre-dates most of these by many millenia.

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An Aboriginal guy blown didjeridu at Sydney Harbour

The characteristic feature is that the didjeridu, which is a slightly flaring wooden tube about 1.5 metres in length, is simply hollowed out by natural termites (“white ants”) from the trunk of one of the small trees of the region. After cutting down, the instrument is cleaned out with a stick, the outside refined by scraping and then painted with traditional designs, and the blowing end smoothed by adding a rim of beeswax.

After a while, we enter the parking ferry and crossing under the Sydney bridge to the harbourside of Darling Harbour.  And sunddenly a taxi boat crossing the line in front of Opera House. Sydney offers varians transportation and another first time experience to see a taxi boat 🙂

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Sydney taxi boat in front of Opera House

We also went to Queen Victoria Building, Town Hall, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Chinesse Friendship Garden with the Koi Pool also goes to the Powerhouse Museum and we ended up at China for Lunch.

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Queen Victoria Building

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Caption in front of ABC News Building Australian Television Channel

I went home for early rest coz the next day we are going to explore Canberra. Consequently I missed the moment of visiting Manly and Bondi Beaches 😦

In the wake of my long rest, I had full energy to drive to Canberra. The drive to Canberra is easy and scenic, there are plenty of places along the way to rest, refuel and revice. It takes 3.5 hours drive from Sydney to Canberra.

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Sydney Canberra Highway

Along the way to Canberra, we were passing the old Hume Highway through picturesque Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest.

Entering the Capital City Of Australia, we went to the Tourism Office to get some map and brochures. Than we continue to see the Australian War Memorial, one of the world’s great museums.

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Canberra Australia War Memorial

It is also the premier archive and centre for research into the history of Australian involvement in War. The Memorial commemorates the service and sacrifice of all Australian men and women in wartime.

Across the museum we could have a look od the Parliement building beyond the Anzac Parade. Anzac parade is the Australian National Capital’s major commemorative way. Memorials dedicated to Australian and New Zealand service people who’ve fought and died in war line the length of the parade.

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Screenshoot from google, up view of Australia War Memorial in line with Anzac Parade to the Australia Parliament Building

We also went to the Parliement House and Camberra Museum Art and Gallery.

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Australia Parliament Building which has public access to watch closer from the balcony

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Canberra Art Musemun and Gallery

As well as to the Indonesian Embassy

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Take your own trip and make a journal of it. You will value the moment you spent with friends and the places you visit.

Enjoy it! Never get too busy making a living so you forget to make a life….

Get your own unique experiences… Chiaooooo

#Australia

Ps. Collecting resources of text and photos

Weekend in Melbourne

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“Let’s just buy the ticket Vi, very cheap,” said Rinie.

Although we didn’t know whether we could use the ticket or not, both Rinie and I bought the return ticket to Melbourne.

That’s happened not just once when we want to travel with limited budget. Especially as a student, they even offer us some backpacker program for cheap travelling.

Close to the time, I contacted my friend whom living in Melbourne wondering if we could get a space in their place during our visit. This often happened to  reduce a spending on accomodation hehehehe.

When they agreed, we finally decided to take the journey. Both Rinie and I went to Melbourne by flight and continue taking the train from Melbourne airport to the city. Finally I met my fb friend.

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Welcome to Melbourne

It was windy and we took the bus for city sightseeing. We stopped at the Victoria’s market and it is recomended for exploring.

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Melbourne City Sightseeing

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Second day, we went to rent rent a car and take a trip to see the snow at Mount Buller. An easy three hour drive from Melbourne, Mt Buller is the most accessible major snow resort in Australia and a premier ski destination for snow enthusiasts from across the nation and around the world.

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I touch the snow ice at Mt. Buller, Victoria, Australia

It felt great, to see the real white snow and touch the ice for the first time. We didn’t have much time for skiing but still, we were playing on the ground. Besides we were told to leave the mountain before the snow fall because our car didn’t equipped with the tire chain and it will be slippery with the snow on the road.

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Snow play area for beginners

On the way back, we took a small trip to Souvereign Hill and former goldminee Ballarat. Sovereign Hill is just like stepping back in time to gold rush Ballarat during the 1850s. From the hustle and bustle of Main Street where costumed ladies and gents parade their new-found wealth, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where visitors pan for real gold and it’s ‘finders keepers’!

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Visiting the gold mining Ballarat

Visitors can see a $150,000 gold pour, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and watch street performers, including the Redcoat Soldiers who march and drill before firing their muskets. Along Main Street, there are shops selling 1850s-style goods, hotels and schools to visit, and a theatre with goldfields entertainment.

For the adventurous, there are underground mine tours with an inclined tramway ride. And those with a special interest in 19th century trades can chat with our skilled craftsmen at work in the blacksmith’s forge, the candle works, the wheelwright’s plant, the coachbuilder’s and the confectionery factory Sovereign Hill entry also includes entry to the Gold Museum which displays a beautiful exhibition of gold and Ballarat history.

It’s almost dark when we left Ballarat. It’s a valuable tour for me, gave me some idea that although the nickel mining company closed in Sorowako one day, it will not bring the death city in, if we could turn the factory into the tourism purposes.

In Ballarat, even the community services attracted tourists for taking a pictures with the gown, with the cooking equipment, even with the mining uniform.

A short visit but means a lot to me.

#Australia

New Life Started from Gold Coast

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I left my country, Indonesia by mid night from Denpasar international airport. Transit at Melbourne airport and changed flight to Gold Coast. Around 9 am, my flight arrived

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Australian Immigration stamp on arrival

at Coolangatta Airport, New South Wales, Australia. ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, In the name of Allah SWT, my life will starts here and I’ll be home with dignity, Insha Allah,’ the words of mine.

When we were about landing at Coolangatta airport, I have the idea that I’m about landing at Sorowako airport, because before it landed, the flight made the same turning above the water during the preparation for landing. The different is that Sorowako has the lake and Gold Coast has the sea.

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Gold Coast Airport formerly named Coolangata Airport

I didn’t feel too much strange since the airport is small and easy to access. I took my luggage and noticed a standing man with holding my name on the paper. I approached him and found out that he was the driver from university who will drop me to my homestay parents. We were waiting for another Korean’s friend which is also going to the same university as mine.

I came to Gold Coast for study at Griffith University majoring Master in Business Event Management. Basically, the reasons I took this course based on my main responsibilities working as a Public Affairs Officer at Nickel Mining Company, PT. INCO Tbk back in my hometown, Sorowako, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

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Giving an explanation to the guests

I used to do guest handlings as well as organizing various company events along with the administrations of each events.

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Break after completing Sunda Market event in Sorowako

Although some people said I was stupid to leave the company, however, I saw it in a different way. I realize that being accepted as an employee of an international company will brought proud in our society, but frankly I see a brighter future by taking the chance to further my study abroad as well as having the experience to live in a different cultural life. I am more excited to meet the difference, learning new things in life, curious for the new achievement in life, not looking for a settlement life yet.

I believe, successes is about achievement. We must think out of the box to see our own limit. We must take one step beyond to measures our competence. We must digged dipper in our heart to see our potentiality. We already have the power in life through physical and mental spiritual competence and it depends us to using it or not.

I found many people uses their arrogances to limit their potency. I could stay still in my hometown, working as an employee for another two years, but what will I be end up next? Will I get promoted, will I do the same things as today, or will I moved to a different section, hopefully not loosing the job for sure.

So I decided to use another two years of my youth, to see a different part of the world, to witnesses the power of how the Al Mighty rules the world, to find the unexplored side of my life, and definitely to enjoy my youth 😀

I also believe, life is about balance and my life in Sorowako was unbalanced. I lived surounds by the black clouds. Loosing someone you trully love, could effects your whole life, so I need to move on. I need to changed! And I need the revolution inside me.

Oalah… here I am, taking a deep breath, shaking the new life starting from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

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Welcome to Gold Coast billboard

It takes about an hour to reach my homestay house, a townhouse secured by gated complex at Arundel Drive. I suddenly falling in love with this complex. It has a swimming pool and tennis court.

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Swimming pool at Arundel Complex

Judith Bell, my homestay mother waited for me, she showed me a little white room that she prepared for me and around the house. She also took me for a drive and showed me where to take and get off from a bus to uni, home, mosque and harbour town shopping centre.

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Harbour Town Fruit Barn

We also organized the time schedule as I started to learn that she is an organized woman, based on her job as a personal assistance. She works in details and it fits me. She even organize my weekly meals, such as healthy food during the week, Asian food for Thursday, junk food for Friday and free meals during weekend.

Why homestay in my age? Why not stay at Uni Dormitory or an apartment. I had that question from few friends. It simple. I’m new to the environment. I know no one before I came to Gold Coast. I came with La haula wala kuwwata illa billah – I submit my life and death to the Al-Mighty.

Stay with a homestay family means being accepted in a new family to learn the environment, to be introducing to family and friends, to be introducing to the new habit and culture which is sometimes tricky in life. Because a homestay program offering parents reaponsibilities during the new student adaptation phase.

Off course, it is easier and its more free to stay at the uni dorm or apartment but for me, a lot more easier to learn about Australia from the Australian family. How they organized things, how they get involved in the society, how they think, act and do, as well as how they daily life activities.

I became an observer for the first week. I let Judith did most, drove me to uni, dove me to mosque, drove me to  harbourtown, drove me to Australia Fair, Southport and surrounds until I get my student card and took the bus everywhere.

After 6 weeks, I moved from Judith’s house and stayed with aunty Nadira at Olsen Avenue. Nothing much different from my previous house only this house is closer to the mosque and Harbourtown where I work.

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Aunty Nadira and I after Shalah Eid’

I started to make friends in the class. I attended an international class with mostly Asian student, such as from Japan, Korean and China. We also have friends from Taiwan, Thailand, Philipine, Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

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New Friends, New Life

Aftet finishing 10 weeks English Class at Griffith English Language School (GELI) at Australia Fair, Southporth, I took an exams and accepted as a bridging course student, Bachelor in Business. I should took the bridging course in bachelor business because I need the base to enter the master degree in Business since my previous bachelor in Communication, social and political science.

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Ice Breaker

 

Alhamdulillah, I could passed all the exams and further my study to the next level until I got the degree.

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Sulvi on Graduation Ceremony after completing Master in Event Management at Griffith University, QLD, Australia

 

 

 

 

Off course it was not easy to get to the end. Especially student like me, who came to Australia based on faith. No perfect English, No schoolarship, no wealthy family to support, nothing to depend on to. I should fight for my self. Besides completing my degree, I should work for financing my self.

 

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Harbour town co-worker

Luckily I met lots of kind hearted friend whom willing to accepted me the way I was and helped me get through all the difficulties. To pay all the bills, I had to work in two different jobs; a store attendant and a housekeeper. I was not easy but I had to pay my study and my life which was not cheap and there is no shame on that.

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Sophia and I were holding an Australian flag during the celebration of Australian Day

 

 

I found it different in my country. The working habits of Australia is more than in Indonesia. People threated sequently. You get paid for what you did. Though some of my friends working during the week to get some party funds for the weekend, but still, they did the work to earn the money.

 

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New friends I met at Gold Coast Mosque

Its also valuable to get accepted in the environment. No matter where we go, we will always meet someone new. In Gold Coast, I also get along with some Moslem friends. Mostly we met at the Gold Coast Mosque. I even met some Indonesian friends through the mosque, since there are not many Indonesian living in Gold Coast. Most Indonesian lives in the city such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

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Eid Celebration at Gold Coast Mosque

Certainly, my life in Australia was not only about study and work, but also travelling, party and having fun as well as having more experinced by voluntering an event such as International Gold Coast Marathon, Gold Coast Triathlon, Gold Coast Restaurant and Catering Gathering, also attending performances and welcoming honour guests.

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Volunteering at Gold Coast Restaurant and Catering Gathering

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Volunteering at International Gold Coast Marathon

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Sulvi, Rini, Nare (left-right) attending Hanidi’s wedding in Brisbane

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KKSS welcoming Governor South Sulawesi at Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Guests visit from Sorowako at Wildlife Currumbin Sanctuary Gold Coast

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Volunteering at Gold Coast Triathlon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may means no one for someone else but you are your self and you decided what you wanna be, when and where you wanna go, with whom, and how you wanna be. It’s your choice ‘coz it’s your life!

Just remember, be accepted and you’ll enjoy it more than expected! 😀

#Australia

36 Jam di Perth, Australia

Posted in Australia by

Dulu mimpi saya ingin menginjakkan kaki ke negara pemilik perusahan nikel di kampung saya yaitu Canada. Tak pernah terlintas sedikitpun mimpi untuk berkunjung ke negara yang terkenal dengan Kanguru dan Koalanya, Australia.

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Semua bermula dari tahun 2006 saya diberi kabar bahwa Linda Griffin, teman yang sudah seperti ibu bagi saya akan pindah ke Australia mengikuti suaminya. Saya yang sudah lama memiliki passport, mencoba peruntungan untuk meminta visa masuk ke Australia berdasarkan undangan dari Linda. Saya tidak terlalu berharap mendapatkan visa karena banyak informasi yang saya terima mengatakan bahwa orang Indonesia susah mendapatkan visa setelah peristiwa bom Bali.

Seminggu setelah saya mengajukan permohonan visa kunjungan ke Australia, saya menemukan passport saya di tumpukan surat yang akan dikirim ke Sorowako di counter Inco di Bandara Hasanuddin Makassar. Begitu saya buka, sungguh saya senang sekali sekaligus bingung ternyata saya berhasil memperoleh visa tersebut.

Emailpun saya kirimkan ke Linda memberi kabar saya jadi berkunjung ke Perth. Tak sabar menanti waktu untuk melihat dunia luar, dunia yang selama ini hanya saya lihat di televisi saja.

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Perjalanan saya dimulai dengan satu jam penerbangan dari Sorowako menuju Makassar. Dilanjutkan sejam penerbangan dari Makassar ke Denpasar Bali. Lewat tengah malam barulah penerbangan langsung Denpasar Perth selama 5 jam.

Alhasil aku tiba di Perth pagi hari dan dijemput Linda langsung di bawa ke rumahnya. Rumahnya luar biasa cantik dan lapang. Dari jalanan terlihat mungil namun begitu masuk akan terlihat besar.

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Aku bertemu dengan Rory dan Holly yang sudah bertumbuh menjadi remaja yang tampan dan cantik. Bahkan Rory sementara mencari tempat untuk magang kerja pada sebuah coffee shop.

Setelah mandi dan berganti pakaian, aku menerima telepon long distance yang berupa perintah aku harus membatalkan cuti dan segera kembali ke Sorowako karena ada tamu penting yang akan datang secara mendadak.

Alhasil rencana yang telah kami susun bersama harus dipadatkan dan aku harus mengatur ulang jadwal penerbangan kembali ke tanah air.

‘Darling, no tired coz you have limited time to see the beauty of Perth, lets start with wherever near by, and no more emails nor calls these 2 days! – sayang, tidak ada lelah karena waktumu terbatas untuk melihat keindahan Perth, kita mulai dengan tempat-tempat yang dekat dan tidak ada email dan telephone dalam 2 hari ini!’ Jelas Linda ketika kusampaikan bahwa aku harus kembali ke Sorowako dan mengikuti rapat kunjungan tamu pada hari Senin.

Kami pun segera mengunjungi Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Luar biasa taman ini. Pertama kalinya saya masuk ke dalam sebuah taman dimana makam bukanlah hal yang menyeramkan seperti di Indonesia. Di taman ini, ratusan makam dengan rapi tertutup rumput hijau bahkan beragam binatang berada disekitarnya terutama kanguru.

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Di taman ini juga terdapat monumen-monumen yang dibangun untuk mengenang jasa-jasa warga Australia  yang meninggal pada perang Boer, Perang Dunia I, Perang Dunia II, Perang Korea dan Vietnam, bahkan mereka yang meninggal di Afghanistan dan Iraq.

Yang luar biasa juga, di sepanjang jalan setapak yang dibuat, ditanam 1100 pohon eukalyptus dengan plang papan nama pahlawan Australia sebagai penghormatan atas jasa-jasa mereka.

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Terdapat pula monumen bom Bali yang menewaskan 16 orang dari Australia bagian barat dan sebuah jam sebagai simbol untuk mengenang anggota parlemen perempuan pertama Edith Cowan.

Aku paling senang dengan pengaturan tata letak di taman ini. Tidak ada tempat yang tidak meninggalkan decak kagum. Taman yang dibuat laksana miniatur kota, lengkap dengan papan tanda penunjuk arah, nama-nama tanaman yang ada, taman-taman bermain anak yang

Puas mengitari 1.003 hektar taman yang terletak di tepi barat distrik bisnis pusat di Perth, kami kembali ke rumah dan makan malam.

Pagi hari, Linda dan suaminya Paul Griffin serta Holly mengajak saya jalan ke Doggie Beach– pantai khusus untuk anjing. Wow, amazing… pertama kalinya saya melihat langsung pantai yang khusus dibuat untuk membawa anjing-anjing peliharaan berlatih dan bermain. Yang terasa luar biasa, si pemilik anjing akan terkena denda jikalau kotoran anjingnya ketahuan tidak diangkat. Untuk itu ketika memasuki daerah pantai ini, disediakan kertas gratis dan tong-tong sampah di sepanjang pantai untuk membuang kotoran anjing.

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Setelah lelah berjalan, kami lalu mencari tempat sarapan dan akhirnya berhenti di cafe tempat Rory bekerja magang. Aku dan Holly memesan pancake yang ternyata sangat besar untuk ukuran orang Asia sepertiku hehehehe.

Belum panas tempat duduk, dia lalu mengajakku ke Fremantle Market dan oalahhhh ternyata bukan hanya sekedar pasar yang aku kunjungi, tetapi sebuah bangunan Victoria dengan arsitektur yang unik yang masih terawat baik sejak abad ke-19.

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Aihhhh, belum puas rasanya aku harus kembali dan bersiap-siap berangkat ke bandar udara Perth Australia dan terbang ke Indonesia. Namun ternyata takdir berkata lain. Hanya terlambat 7 menit saja, check in tidak bisa kulakukan padahal aku booked seat dan sudah tahu akan duduk di kursi 17k.

Alhasil, flightku dipindahkan ke penerbangan berikutnya pada keesikan hari sehingga aku masih harus tinggal semalam di Perth. Linda lalu berkata, “Tidak ada waktu berkeluh kesah, gunakan sejam untuk menelpon bosmu dan email menyampaikan kondisi pesawat dan kamu akan kembali besok pagi ke Indonesia. Setelah itu kita akan menghabiskan waktu lagi melihat-lihat Perth.”

Begitu selesai, kami kembali ke rumah dan  berganti pakaian, lalu Linda mengajakku naik kereta. Aku sungguh terkagum-kagum dengan keteraturan serta jadwal dan peta kereta yang tersedia dimana-mana dan tidak sulit mengaksesnya. Bahkan bisa dicek secara online melalui internet. Hilang sudah galau yang melekat karena tidak bisa kembali ke Indonesia sesuai jadwal.

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Belum habis rasa kekagumanku, Linda mengajak turun di Art Gallery of Western Australia. Aku menyaksikan beragam hasil cipta karya para seniman di Western Australia, pembuatan film hingga perpustakaan yang sangat nyaman untuk umum.

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Sejenak terpaku membayangkan suatu waktu nanti di negaraku akan memiliki semua fasilitas seperti yang kunikmati saat itu. Aku mulai memilih buku dan terhanyut dalam bacaan hingga tak menyadari bahwa Linda telah kembali ke rumah karena tidak bisa menelponku berhubung baterai handphonenya off.

Hari menjelang sore, kuberanikan diri mencari kereta ke arah rumah Linda. Aku mengingat-ingat nama pemberhentian yang sama dengan tempat kami naik sebelumnya. Dan benar-benar takjub karena aku bisa sampai ke rumah berbekalkan peta di tangan.

Linda pun takjub tapi tidak heran katanya. Dia yakin aku bisa kembali ke rumah tanpa masalah. Hahahahha… andai aku hilang, yang paling pertama panik pasti dia orangnya 🙂

Malamnya terasa sangat capai. Aku memilih tidur lebih awal sehingga tidak terlambat tiba di bandara untuk kedua kalinya.

Kurang dari 36 jam kunjungan pertamaku ke Australia namum banyak pengalaman yang aku bawa pulang. Berharap akan kembali lagi mengunjungi Linda disana.

#VisitAustralia

Thanks for Visiting Us, En…

Posted in CourtesyVisit by

Shocking… that’s I felt after receiving a short message from Loraine, a long distance friend from Ambon.

I knew En, her short name, in July 2011. It was when I attended a National Public Relations Workshop in Ambon. Ambon is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. It took 2 hours flight from Makassar in Sulawesi, which is another islands in Indonesia and it takes 12 hours by bus from where I lived, Sorowako.

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My first accidental meeting with En was when I just landed at Pattimura Airport in Ambon. She was sat with a cup off coffee on her transportation bureau uniform. I suddenly greet and mentioned her name Loraine, asked how she was as an old friend first meet 😀

She was a bit surprise but changed the circumstances immediately and reply me back. We shook hands and introducing each other. She asked if I could wait and together we could drive to the city.

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Since it was my first visit and I found her nice and friendly, I accepted her offer and we sit for a while and figure out several common habits on both.

First, she took me to her house. A lovely tiny house up the hill with great view to the sea.

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Loraine's house at the hillside

Than we took a fery cross Ambon Bay to the city. There are several transportation offers around.

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Loraine shows various transportation across the Ambon Bay

Arrived the other side, there is a man stealing my attention. He smiled at me and said ‘welcome to Molucca Archipelago’.

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Welcome to Molucca Archipelago

He could read this is my first visit and thanks for the greetings.

I stayed at Swiss Bell Hotel Ambon when the event also been held. She took me for walk during break time and showed me the beauty of Ambon.

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Swiss Bell Hotel, Ambon

After checked in, En took me to met her friend Whilma whom work for the election commission. Than we went for lunch

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Whilma, Sulvi, Loraine (left to right)

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Grilled fish with colo-colo for lunch

Yummy lunch served at Raja’s house. Prepared by his grandmother, a grilled fish ikan komu asar served with colo-colo, green and reddish tomatoes are diced with red chili along with onion. It mixed with fresh lime and basil.

With a full stomach we continued the trip to Liang Beach, about 32 kilometers from the city. The secluded bay offers white sand, crystal clear turqoise water, some shade from the trees and if you are lucky to see a group of dolphin.

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The Dolphin

Ambon is a lovely place to visit, some blogger even says a breathtaking beautiful place and it’s true! I wish on my next trip to Ambon, the major problem of rubbish could be menicured by the city so the beauty of Molucca will not downtrodden by it.

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View from my room at Swiss Bell

En, thanks for visiting us in Sorowako. Your visit reminds me of our first met and finally I wrote about it.

You might see the Buginesse Culture of Wedding ceremony already but now you have experienced the groom’s family sides. Hope you enjoy it yaaaa….

See you again on the next trip 😀

#CourtesyVisit