WONDERFUL WANDERLUST

vacation in the middle of chaotic life

thinktravelwonder — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:55:00 GMT

I've done my wet lab for final project, I got the data, I was doing my final report when my laptop just crashed last week and the draft has to be collected this Thursday. So, instead of freaked out and stressed out, I accompanied my friends, Wina and Nungky to Pramuka Island, as I promised, when they're sampling some anemone and bio rock for their final project. It means beach, sea, snorkel, sunshine, vacation, and having some fun before i get doomed!

Me, Wina, Nungky, Abam, Dea, and Praba went to Jakarta after Jara's Birthday dinner. We arrived at Nungky's after midnight, but we didn't go to bed straight away, we stayed up and talked and laughed until all of us couldn't open our eyes. After 2 hours sleep we felt like zombies, but we have to go to Angke as fast as we could because the boat which took us to Pramuka Island will be departed at 7 in the morning. We need two and a half hours in the sea until we arrived at Pramuka Island and one of us just throw up into the sea (no mention :p). At first I thought that Pramuka Island is a very small Island and we have to camp there, but I was wrong because there are a big mosque, schools, library, government office, even hospital. Too bad that the electricity only present at night and it was so hot at noon! I can't help it, I'm a mountain person.

After we bought a-lunch-to-go (read: Nasi bungkus padang), the story begin. we went to small island for lunch, of course by small wood boat.

When I jumped into the sea I felt so happy, all of my friends laughed at me and called me little kiddo, they said that I looked so happy and enthusiastic. Hey, what can I say! I've trapped inside the microbiology laboratory for 6 months!

Then we went snorkeling until we were tired. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the last time I snorkel was summer vacation 2 years ago. That's the reason why I was super excited. There are a lot of beautiful fish with bright colors and the coral is fine (coral at Amed are much more beautiful). We surveyed the site where Wina and Nungky were going to sampling. After snorkeling, we went to Semak Daun Island to see the sunset.

Too bad on the first night I caught a cold. I felt so miserable and I don't want to be left behind alone in the guesthouse tomorrow. I still want to snorkeling! So I drank a hot water, 2 sachets of tolak angin and one tablet 500mg paracetamol. Thank God I felt a lot better in the next morning. So let's go outside!

Today was sampling day. Since I haven't take a diving license I couldn't dive in open water like Wina, Nungky, Abam, and Dea. So I just helped them morally, haha. And I felt so jealous when they wore the wetsuit, and another diving stuffs. Note to self: take a diving license after graduation is a must!
When they were sampling, me and Praba who cannot diving either just snorkeling around above them. In Nungky's sampling site the wave is 1 meter high, I felt like I was gonna die there, It was hard for me to breathe, even the boat went away for a while because of the big wave. All I can see is Abam, Praba, and Instructor's fins, because its color is bright yellow. Somehow it got me thinking how a captain of the boat know where we are when there's no sign or signal at all :p

Go to the sea for some fun, go to the mountain for some self actualization.
Good friends, good adventures, great nature. Nothing can beat it.
Hello reality, we meet again.
Cheerio!

Photos: Summer Getaway 2009

thinktravelwonder — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:37:00 GMT

Bali

Photos: We are (look like) Singaporean

thinktravelwonder — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:28:00 GMT

After-Graduation Trip

Photos: Great Grad Trip

thinktravelwonder — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:50:00 GMT

after-graduation trip

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life

thinktravelwonder — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:37:00 GMT

A grumpy taxi driver dropped me off at the end of Thalang Rd. near a hostel I have been booked. The weather in early November is enough to make me tighten up my jacket. This place seems deserted. I see no one on the street. The wind blows and flickering streetlight worsen the atmosphere. I look at my mobile screen, it is already 9pm and without wasting any more time I hurried to the hostel.

Here I am, in Phuket Town, an old Chinatown located in Phuket, Thailand. Phuket has become a home for foreigners because of its rich natural reserves. It attracted explorers, traders and villains from diverse places such as Arabia, China and Portugal. Phuket Town was built in the last century when tin was redundant and metal was a very valuable commodity.

Phuket Town is less popular if compared with well-known beaches in Phuket, even travel agents told me not to stay there because it is just an old china town without interesting attraction. But I decided to enjoy the remnants of its past glory.

The next morning, I am walking along Thalang Rd. towards Krabi Rd. I find Chinese and Buddhist temples, museums, cozy coffee corners, ornate and beautiful old houses. Heavy raining is pouring down as I walk out of Thai Hua Museum. An umbrella I have borrowed from the hostel is no longer useful, so I am waiting for the rain to stop in front of one old house. Rainwater is pooling on the side of the road because of a clogged gutter. Brand new cars are honking its horn, speeding past through old buildings while a woman and her 5 years old boy are walking to a Buddhist Temple with ease.

The rain refused to stop, I keep on walking. At the end of Dibuk Rd., a delicious smell makes my stomach growls. I walk towards the source of the smell, it comes from a small food court. I order seafood tom yum and prawn spring rolls. While eating, I think that this small town is a center of civilization in the past and with its own rhythm and pace trying to keep up with changing times.