It was cloudy afternoon, when we (me, Tony and Ade) leaved Terminal Rawamangun (Rawamangun Bus Station). We travelled with PO Pahala Kencana (FYI : the ticket was approximately IDR 200,000 each person). The bus was quite comfortable and the driver was quite funny, i remember. Anyway, we went through Pantura (North coast of Java). Passed cities such as Brebes, tegal, Pekalongan, Tuban (some that i still remember), until we arrived in Terminal Arjosari (Arjosari Bus Station), Malang.
Malang, May 24th, 2006
10:15pm, we stepped down off the bus. Quite crowded. We waited for a friend, Gafur, to pick us up. And then 4 of us took a taxi to go to Pelangi Hotel near Alun-Alun. It is in Jl. Merdeka (Merdeka St.) . Not expensive enough, not cheap enough. Fitted with our budget :)
After unpacked things, we strolled around Alun-Alun and found an interesting historical restaurant, Toko Oen (Oen Shop). It's not only a restaurant, but also pattiserie, ice cream parlour and store of other main products. The building was constructed in 1930, no wonder it has ancient looks. Somewhere in the wall inside the restaurant, you can read history about Toke Oen. It is said that there have been many high-ranking officials, artists, reporters as well as businessman sitting on antique-and-unique chairs in the restaurant. Well, just take a look inside and don't forget to try the ice cream. (oh ya, near Toko Oen, you can find big beautiful mosque and church).
About 100 metres from Toke Oen, there is a place for tourist, some kind of tourist information. It's in Jl. Majapahit (Majapahit St.) You can find friendly people there, lucky us, we asked a lot of things there. From them, we found an interesting place to have dinner. So, after we went back to hotel, took a bath, we headed to this restaurant, RM. Inggil (Inggil Restaurant). On the way to RM. Inggil, we saw a giant-quite old buildin with beautiful lights (perfect to take a photo). It is Kantor Walikota Malang (Malang City Hall). Anyway, let's go back to RM Inggil. It's also a historical restaurant. On the wall, you can find many paintings by John Newman (i noticed the year, it is 1811). Most of them about Javanese Culture. There are also many photos about Malang years ago and old stuff is everywhere. What a day, but we had a pleasant day.
Malang, May 25th, 2006
Second day, we went to Klenteng Eng An Kiong (A Buddhist Praying Room). After that, Museum Brawijaya (An Army Museum). And then Agrowisata, An Apple and Orange Plantation, what a huge plantation. Too bad i was kinda feel sick, i hoped i was not too tired. Cause i had still 2 more days, i had even gone to Bromo yet. Before we went back to hotel, we went to Air Terjun Coban Rondo (Coban Rondo Waterfall). It remind me of Waterfall in Sukabumi, near Pondok Halimun. The different is , in Coban Rondo we don't have to take a long walk, just a 5 minutes walking. The air was so fresh. hmm, i forget about Coban Rondo history, but it was something about couple who had to split up because they had to face a knight. The husband fought the knight, while the wife ran to this waterfall. She waited and waited, but no news about her husband. Finally, she realized that her husband must be dead already, so she decided to die also. She jumped to this waterfall and died. It is believed that the big stone right under the waterfall is the stone where that wife sat, waiting.
FYI : If i'm not mistaken, Coban (Javanese language) means Waterfall and Rondo means Widow.
Malang, May 26th, 2006
02.00pm in the morning, we headed to Bromo (Mt. Bromo) with guys from Tourist Information also a girl from Czech, Nina. The journey took about 2 hours. Lucky us, the weather was so good, so we could see sunrising clearly. After took some pictures, we went back to car, and headed to Bromo. Bromo was beautiful. Too bad, by the time we were in the top, we heard about earthquake in Jogja. That really shocked us, especially Nina *sigh*
10 o'clock we went back to Malang, terminal Arjosari, and then continued our journey to Surabaya. God, it is true! Surabaya is really hot! We ended our day by doing windowshopping in Tunjungan Plaza.
Surabaya, May 27th, 2006
The last day *sigh* Our plane back to Jakarta was on 2 o'clock. Time was short, so we were only able to visit 2 more places. We chose Pasar Atum (Atum Market) and Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo (Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque). Pasar Atum is nothing special, reminds me of Pasar Pagi in rawamangun near Terminal Rawamangun. But Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo, that is special. Unique. The builder is Admiral Muhammad Cheng Hoo, he sailed from China. I don't know when exactly, that's all i know. All i can see is that this mosque has similar colors as Klenteng (A Buddhist Praying Room), which are red, yellow and green. Not only the colors, also some part of the mosque. Notice the image on link below.
02.00am, we went back to Jakarta... home sweet home, but Malang surely gave me memorable moments *sigh*
photos on my multiply.com
all about malang (source : ACICIS/murdoch university)
East Java map (source : http://www.eastjava.com/)
more about Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo...
