Welcome Twenty Thirteen!

Happy New Year to Y'all arround the globe, May the year of 13 brings us a better things.
- Haryadi Wijaya -

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Lembongan whateverTRIP

View from the Yellow Bridge.

 Last week I went to Nusa Lembongan with friends, that was long weekend trip but we just stay for 2D and 1N, however we just having fun and do whatever 'cause this is a #whateverTRIP !!

We join a speed boat about 9 am from sanur, the ticket is just 50K. To get to Lembongan you can join speed boat from sanur near Bali beach Hotel, everyday from 9am-4pm, execpt in case of the bad weather. It takes about 30 minutes to cross from Sanur to Lembongan and don't be surprise for little bit shakin' in the boat, it's fun!. This is the 2nd time for me to lembongan. The first I was stay arround Jungut Batu, but In this trip one of my friends has a family in Lembongan, so we were lucky get place to stay for FREE. We also got motorbike for FREE, but usually if we rent motorbike it cost about 80K a day (exclude petrol).

First day we hunt for the beach and go around Ceningan Island. Ceningan Island loacated between Lembongan and Nusa Penida Island,to get there you just need to cross The Yellow Bridge at southside of Lembongan. This island is smaller than Lembongan, but few 'paradise' also hidden here. We try to find a place called 'Jumping Point', after some minutes in small and bit ugly road, we finally find the place. It's like a bay with very wonderful torquise water and reef, but we can't go down to the beach. Cause it placed under the cliff about 15m high so becareful if you enjoyed the panorama arround the cliff. So why this place call jumping point ? . On the opposite from the place I stand there's is something like bar that provide place to jump, but when I see the wild waves, I'm not that insane to jump in that place. So just enjoyed the view.

Seaweed farmer's small  canoes.

This is how 'crystal clear' looks like.

The Secret Beach, becareful with sharp coral.

Local boys surfing, they just learned how to ride the waves.

They called this 'Jumping Point', a beautiful way to suicide? don't think

The heat was burned us, we decided to chillin' in smal bar called 'Mahana Point', near Jumping Point. Soda and beers get our brain chill out, and from Mahana Point, I saw private beach with white sands and clear waters. This beach called, Secret Point beach. We through a restaurant and villa to get to the beach, (it's fine, we're local dude!) . Just take the clothes and jump to the waters, but becareful the coral is bit sharp here. After played on Secret Beach, we find a place for eat. In Ceningan is lil' bit hard to find 'warung makan' (restaurant in simple form). Finally we find it near the Yellow Bridge, a small warung with no name sell Fried Rice.After the late lunch, we ride back to Lembongan and go to Seaweed farms. Located near our homestay about 100m west of the Yellow Bridge. Capturing the farmers activity during sunset can be interest thing to do.

Seaweeds on drying process.

Went to harvest in sunset time.

The water receding in sunset, makes the farmers easy to harvest or planting.

The Next day, we went Selagimpak Beach for snorkling. Selagimpak located Northside of Lembongan island. Is kinda hard to find, so you may ask local people and they will tell you the way :) . The water is clear and sloping, after 6 meters from the sand you already can see many corals and fishes in about 5 meters depth. I wish I have underwater camera or something to capture that beautiful underwater scene, for now just keep in memories on my head.

The waves are 'angry'.

A view of Jungut Batu Village.

Selegimpak Beach.

Baron do The whateverJUMP!

Unfortunately we must finish this #whateverTRIP and back to Denpasar, next time I'd like to comeback again and enjoyed another beaches and hidden paradise here .
Thx to Baron, Tutde, Arya, Angga, and Eko for the crazy short trip!

(From Left) Arya, Baron, Angga, Tutde, Eko, Me!

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Sade Village, Home of Traditional Ikat Weaving from Lombok

Old woman selling sade's ikat s

Sade's Village, a name that is simple, as simple as it's friendly people. Located in District Pujut, Central Lombok, Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province, with a distance of about 30 kilometers from the city of Mataram. To find this village is not difficult because it is right on the edge of road Praya - Kuta.

Lombok Typical Rice Granary.

The souvenirs.

Sade's Village is one of the tribe villages that are indigenous Sasak people of Lombok, the building is still very traditional in this village every building is made of wood and bamboo for it walls and thatched roofs. Rice Granary are also a typical building here that we can find in some houses.

Sade's men livelihood is farming generally, but because it has been developed into tourism village, several men became Tour Guide for This village. Sade's village also famous for ikat weaving and handicrafts from the hands results of the women in this village. Almost every house selling souvenir , just as necklaces, bracelets, key chains and more. As well as an interesting activity sade women who were weaving. Since teenage Sade's women are taught to weave by their parents,it's for cultural regeneration so in the future Sade's ikat weaving not extinct eroded by time.

Traditional weaving process, colorfull. :)

Another women weaving in Sade.

Old woman spinning  yarn.

Material to make yarn.

Transaction, You can bargain when you buy something here.

The length of the weaving process, depending on how complicated  the fabric to be made.

***Text & Photos by Haryadi Wijaya***

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Coastal Paradise in Central Lombok

Walk along the Seger Beach.

Last July, I had the opportunity to visit lombok. The main purpose to attended PEKSIMINAS (National Student Art Week)  and the bonus is to enjoy the beauty of the coastline in Central Lombok. Seger, Kuta and Tanjung Aan are the beaches that I visited for a few days in Lombok. Because together in a group, I got lil' bit time to explore these beaches. The first time I admired was Seger Beach, white sand, crystal clear waters and breathtaking hills makes me not want to move from this place. The beach is still quiet not much activity maybe because it is not a holiday, just some foreign surfers came to check the waves. Besides the beautiful panorama Seger Beach is also one of favorite surfing spot for foreign surfers, strong currents and big waves make this beach a heaven for the surf-aholic.

After refreshed eye in Seger beach, then we went to Tanjung Aan beach. Not much different from this beach also possess the same characteristics as Seger beach, but there is a small village here lived by few fishermen. Incidentally that day the weather was not conducive to sailing so the fishermen choose to stay in their homes. And on the Last Day before returning to Bali then I visited the village of Kuta Beach and Sade Village. Kuta Beach Lombok is different from Bali's Kuta Beach. Not as busy here in Bali, and the beaches are still clean and natural. I hope someday to get back here again, and there are still many hidden paradise in Lombok. So why do not we explore it!

The textiles seller, you can easily find them on the beach waitng for the tourist.

Lonely Shelter.

The Hills arround Seger beach.

Connect by a bridge.

View from the hill.

Another view up on the hill.

Come and go.

Yes, it's summer lil bit dryland here.

Checking the waves.

Easy to hike.

Take a deep breath when you up on the hill, and becareful of strong wind.

Fisherman's kids in Tanjung Aan.

No sail today.

The House.

Just sit on the boat.

Kuta Beach Lombok.

Still in Kuta, so many rocks here.

Tree on the reef.

Hill not mountain.

Sun is still hot to tanning the skin.

***Text & Photos by Haryadi Wijaya***

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A Smoky Night at Bajra Sandhi

It was New Year Eve from 2011 to 2012, I wasn't get any fireworks picture on that day because I have to came to my uncle's home to celebrate the new year eve. After the family event, I ride my motorbike to Denpasar, It's a really traffic jam and need hours to get From Petitenget to Bajra Sandhi, Renon. However, I arrived at Bajra Sandhi, and There's No Fireworks! The Fireworks party was over (what the #*@$!), I came here through hours of traffic jam and I got no Fireworks picture :( . After fireworks party, every where is smoke in Denpasar. It was catch my eye, when I saw this situation. The monument look nice with the light and the smoke makes a dramatic scene. Hmm, No Fireworks, No Cry. I set up tripod, set the camera, and shoot! The I got this smoky picture, and back home peacefully :) .

Well, FYI "Bajra Sandhi" is Located in Renon, Denpasar, Bali. It's a Balinese People Struggle Monument to salute the heroes and a symbol of the struggle of the soul preservation of Balinese from generation to generation. Inside the monument there's a museum about the struggle before the Independent Day, also we can see the city of Denpasar from the top of the monument.

***Text & Photo by Haryadi Wijaya***

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Trip to Nias, Witness The Unique of Heritage and Culture

Mr. Hikayat, The Leader of War Dance.

November, 2011, I had the opportunity to visit the island Nias, along with a team of Sony and National Geographic Indonesia. Free trips as prizes from Sony Photo contest 2011 entitled "Cultural Nias Passage". I was lucky won category students, while the general category was won by Hasan Tribuana who later became my partner in crime while in Nias. First Day, departing from Denpasar in the morning, then joined with team from Sony Indonesia and NatGeo Indonesia in Jakarta, and then we went to Polonia Airport, Medan. Arriving at mMedan me and group met with Hasan, from there we had to go again to the Binaka airport in Gunung Sitoli, Nias. Journey from Medan to Gunung Sitoli felt soo long, along the way just blue sea seen from above, describes how far Nias Island and Sumatera.

After a few hours in the air we finally landed at Binaka Airport, a small airport located at Gunung Sitoli a small  'city' in Nias. There we were picked up by several local guide who will accompany us for 4 days in Nias, the first destination  is Nias Heritage Museum. In this museum there are many art and cultural heritage of Nias. There are also some megaliths Stone Sculpture supposedly hundreds of years old. Inside the museum taking photograph is prohibited, little disappointed but we must respect the local rules and regulations. After being around and knowing the history in Nias Heritage Museum, we were driven to the first inn in Miga beach.

Arround The Museum.

The Museum Buildings.

Poster outside Museum.

Serenity in Miga Beach.

Avoid behaviors that destroy the forest.

The 2nd day, we were getting ready at 5 am, the destination today is  Bawomataluo Village, to see  'War Dance' and 'Hombo Batu' Tradition.  Before I just saw "Hombo Batu" in money 1000 rupiah (edition 1992) and now the opportunity to see it directly, so excited!. Bawomataluo which means Hill of the Sun, The Village is located in District Fanayama, South Nias. Ya'ahowu!,  greeting by Mr. Ariston Manao, the head of Bawomataluo village then we taken to meet Mr. Hikayat, elders in Bawomataluo and the leader in war dance. He was wearing in Nias traditional costume, we were welcome to come in and take pictures in the house while he still drees up. It was a hundred of men  also been prepared dressed as warrior with Mr. Hikayat command they cheering and dancing at the village yard. There are also some women who wear traditional dress to participate in the dance. After that, they prepared 'Hombo Batu' (Jumping The Stone), is a tradition that is carried out by a young man in Nias to show that he had been appropriate considered to be adult and mature physically. According to the story, this tradition was originally only as a way to test the mental and physical man Nias. In addition, any man in the war previously required to pass the ritual of Hombo Batu. And most important for the Nias man, if they can not do this tradition, they should not propose a girl. This is because, for those who do not successfully jump over the stone is considered not worthy to marry. Besides the War Dance and Hombo Stone, they also presented Feta Batu' (Music from the stone) performed by Mr. Hikayat and friends. Stones obtained from nature being hit with sticks turned out to produce wonderful music, Very Unique!

Relax before War Dance.

The War Dance, lead by Mr. Hikayat.

Army of Nias.

Texting?

Levitation.

Unique Costume.

Nias Women.

Old man warrior.

Hombo Batu, The icon of Nias.

Feta Batu, wonderful Music from the stone.

After presented with tradition and arts, we were hosted to lunch by Mr. Hikayat at his home, at the table presented traditional Nias named 'Babae' like porridge made from mashed peanuts and coconut served with rice cooked in a clay oven. After our lunch me and Hasan walk around the village, we had 'surrounded' by children who sell souvenirs of their own and we also bought a few souvenirs they offer besides as a gift, we also help give them an income. It was late afternoon of Bawomataluo it is time we said goodbye and headed to the second Homestay Sorake Beach which is famous for its surfing spots. beautiful beachside lodge with light breeze, plus a great seafood dinner!. But, that night we slept a little disturbed because there are neighbors are hold a wedding and turn the music very, very loud, enough to make us not able to sleep until 2 am.

Babae, you better taste it! 

Another unique war costume, made from iron sheeting.

My friend Hasan, Buy 'em all!!

The Craftsmen.

Surf in Sorake.

Third day, the journey will continue to the village Hiliamaetaniha, South Nias. Along the way there that caught my attention, that there are grave almost every yard or next to people's houses here, do not know what that purpose, but someone mentioned, it purpose graves of their families are not dismantled by others. Reached the Hiliamaetaniha we toured arround here and then went on to ' Tetegewo Site Megalith '. This megalith Site has been preserved by the local people for many years, to get to the site we had to pass through the bushes and jungle so need a local guide to lead us to the right way.

Sitting in front of the house, Hiliamaetahniha village.

Man at the window.

Just dry it on the rooftop.

Hiliamaetaniha Traditional House.

Grandma smile at the window.

Afterschool.

Build the bridge, connecting place.

The Guard of Tetegewo.

Nias Kids, love to pose.

That was my trip to Nias, short trip but really precious to witness the unique of culture and heritage of this island. Hopefully I can go there again.
Ya'ahowu!!!

***Text & Photos by Haryadi Wijaya***

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