Banjarmasin, 26-29 July 2007

"The city of water" -- I should call it. After a two-day event at Unlam, some friends took me for a boat (they call it "jukung") ride in the Barito river. The trip started at about 5 am, and the boat's roof was so low that I had to bow deeply to enter it. It was also very narrow, so we had to be careful not to disturb the balance. Despite such inconveniences, the trip was wonderful. The main attraction was a floating market where people sell and buy daily needs, mostly veggies and fish. After we finished, we went to a floating restaurant -- the cook, his cooking equipments, and seats for visitors were all packed in a boat. I ordered soto banjar, the taste was not special, but the sensation of having breakfast in the middle of a huge river in a small boat is thrilling.

We also crossed a tug boat with payload of coal. It has been said that coal mining has degrading the quality of environment in South Kalimantan. To make it worse, the money is said to go to Jakarta and even abroad. On the way back, I watched people living in the river bank starting their daily activities: bathing, washing clothes, and shopping -- using boat as a transportation of course...

What an unforgettable experience...

Borobudur - 30 June 2007

When Puri Asri Hotel in Magelang declined our booking due to no vacancy, I reluctantly chose Borobudur as the place for MTI's annual meeting. I only know Amanjiwo as the best hotel in the area, but the cost is surely out of MTI's budget. From Google, Nana and Yeni found Hotel Manohara, which is said to be run by the company who manages the great temple.

So at the day of the meeting I drove to Borobudur with no great expectation about the venue. I imagined a above-average budget hotel, located in the busy spot of Borobudur, etc...etc... But that imagination disappeared straightaway when I entered the gate. The hotel is within the temple complex. No crowd, tranquil garden, small-but-well managed rooms, ... and the great Borobudur in our frontyard.

The hotel offered a sunrise tour, which was very tempting to me -- but I declined that because I was not so sure that the sky would be friendly enough to pamper the viewers with a beautiful sunrise. However, I took an early self-tour and climbed to the top of the temple. It is a magnificent view from the top! The mystic atmosphere surrounded me for a splash moment. The story of Siddharta Gautama that I heard when I was a kid suddenly rushed into my mind...

Well...I'd better stop writing now. Just enjoy some of the pictures...