ULUWATU TEMPLE

( back ) left to right : Linneke Jacobus , Leatje Jacobus , Tineke Sarapil , Piet Sarapil  , Dortje David  , Laura Hilman , Maritje Wuysang
( front )  left to right :  Eldo Ointu  , Wempie Jacobus 

              
                           Pura Luhur Uluwatu , famous as Uluwatu Temple is  located in Pecatu Village , South Kuta , District of Badung.    Actually , this temple stands on the southernmost point of Bali on the 97metres above sea level. Uluwatu Temple was believed to be built by Empu Kuturan in 11th century and is one of Bali's nine key directional temples.  In front of this temple area there is " Alas Kuturan"  a little forest which inhabited by large number of monkeys.

  

 I have had  visited Uluwatu twice and the last one was on July 2009, when I went there with few members of my family. My uncle - Wempie Jacobus - as the leader of our group told us that we had to be accompanied by local guide. Our guide gave each of us a piece of cloth which had to tied to our waist. Those who wore short skirt  not only had to wear a cloth to their waist but also another cloth to cover their lower body.
      

         As we were walking along the forest path , I realised there was so quiet surrounding us. The only one who spoke was our guide. He told us the story of this beauty area.  I noticed  there were many monkeys followed us   and it looked like, as myself ,  some of us so afraid.  The guide tried to comfort us and said that those monkeys were tame.  We walked through the uphill road with beauty scene to the ocean.
                            

Dortje David

 When I stared at  the temple , it amazed me that many centuries later the temple can still so clearly be seen. Uluwatu is one of Bali's best beaches and the top surfing spots on the island. We enjoyed a very scenic view there.

  

   Few members of our family  took  pictures with monkeys.
   Me ?
   Not in a million years...hahaha.

George Jacobus and his youngest sister , Lorenzia , with their friend...

      

S u n s e t

Sunset @ Bukit Kasih , Tongkeina , Manado
Sulawesi Utara , Indonesia

JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF UNTOUCHED SHORELINES AND ACTIVE VOLCANOE : Manado to Ulu

      

          Both my parents born in Siau Island part of Sitaro Archipelago  in the North Sulawesi Province. ( Sitaro : Siau Tagulandang Biaro formerly known as part of  Sangihe Talaud Archipelago ). The book of Daniel Brilman  'Onze zendingsvelden  De zending op de Sangi - en Talaud - eilanden door' said that this area are lying on the crater of Pacific Ocean.
          Frankly , I have been to Siau Island twice...but the best journey was with my parents on October 2004. We started from Manado. There are regularly scheduled ships from Manado Harbor to Siau Island as well to another destination like Tahuna and Tagulandang.
          By ten past 5 p.m , Valentine 2 MV  took out its anchor and started to move.  The weather was clear and bright. Over the loudspeaker we heard a voice asked all passengers to join for praying. For the next few minutes , there was a silence around us...we kept our  fingers cross. Since my Dad rent a room on second deck,  so three of us stayed in cabin for about 20 minutes but after that I urged my parents to sit on the bench out of our cabin. As I remembered , we spent our time  talked many topics just to forget my nervousness. I didn't want to get sleep either  'cause I was so sure... I was going to get 'sick' on that board.
          After few hours, I noticed black shaped  ahead  towards the ship. My Dad pointed out and said: "That's Siau Island !". Oh...what a great relief... my nervousness seemed to cease.  At about 11 p.m, we saw a dark shadow with  a sparkling light like a cigarette...  My Dad pointed again :"Mount Karangetang ". I stuck at my feet.  As I said before...I have been to this island twice but everytime I looked at Karangetang Mt  I always amazed.
          At about 12 p.m , Ulu Port  had seen clearly. Even in the dark night, that little jetty looked very busy for welcoming the ship. Beyond the darkness I could see my Aunt - Dad's sister -  and her daughter. They were there to welcome us. After some baggage stuffs , we got on the rent car  which brought us  to my Aunt's house in the nerarby village , Kahetang. 
          Well , this is just the beginning story...

...untouched shorelines

Mount Karangetang

          

untitled...

...big family @ Villa Langkat , West Java

          We all live under the same sky

                         but

          We don't all have the same horizon

                  ( Konrad Adenauer )

...big family @ Patra Resort , Kuta , Bali

BOSSCHA , The Beauty Dome - shaped Building

      When I spent few years in Bandung , Bosscha Observatory is one of my favorite place to visit. Its history , its landscape and - of course - the building itself  always interested me. Bosscha Observatory is located in Lembang or about 15 kilometres North of Bandung.
     Bosscha Sterrewacht - its first name - known as a famous observatory in the Southern Hemisphere.  It was built by NISV : Nederlandsch-Indische Sterrenkundige Vereeniging and sponsored by  Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha.
      KAR Bosscha ( 1865 - 1928 ) who owned tea plantation in Malabar was born in S'Gravenhage , Netherland and came to Bandung in 1887. Bosscha Observatory is not his only legacy - there are many more - that's why he was admitted as Bandung honorary citizen.
     This observatory equipped with 5 telescopes , SCHMIDT BIMA SAKTI , BAMBERG , CASSEGRAIN GOTO , UNITRON and ZEISS as the biggest one.
     Officially opened in 1928 , the dome will turn around to 360 degrees while its roof will be opened or closed at the same time due to its purpose.

       Last time I went there with my friends Felusia Louhenapessy and Yuslia Agus Quarty.  Like me Yuslia - or Lia - has spent few years in Bandung while she studied at  the college.  We started our trip from Stasiun Hall ( Bandung  Railway Station ) on Jalan Pasir Kaliki.  Public transportation car with route 'Stasiun Hall - Lembang took us to Lembang. We got off when we heard the driver said : "Bosscha".  We had brief visit to Lia's family whose house only about 50 metres from Bosscha gate.

      We didn't intend to get into the building , so we just walked around and took some pictures.  We agreed... the trip brought our memories back when we went there with our school friends and teachers.

Sunset

Sunset @ Kuta , Bali

                           Cafe Batavia , Jakarta Old Town

JAKARTA

 

                                             @ Fatahillah Museum , Jakarta


          I LOVE THIS CITY for many reasons.  I was born here and spent more than half of my life in this crowded city.   Jakarta has few names  such as Jayakarta and  Batavia.   There are many  interested and historical places to visit such as Fatahillah Museum , National Museum , National Monument , Taman Mini Indonesia Indah  and many more.  Although many people said the city is so crowded...so busy......and many 'negative'  so... but  once again ' I LOVE THIS CITY'.