Surabaya Home Sweet Home Coffee and Tea Shop

D'News, Surabaya. A clock said it was at three in the afternoon while mostly people are busy with officer activity. I was exhausted at that time after doing some tours, and then I like to have my leisure time. One of my favourite places is coffee shops, I like to spend my time to share and chat for business or family here.

I am not thinking about coffee only, but mostly like a comfortable place to go for hot tea, milk-shake or juice sometimes. A friend of mine promised to take me in one of special coffee shop that he though it is nice and suitable for me.

A loudly welcome greeting is said by all the crew, they said “selamat datang di rumah” means welcome home but in Dutch language “ Oost west, thuis best ( Dutch Proverb: “Home sweet Home”)

Sure, when I arrived for the first time in this coffee shop, I felt “hommie”( feel like home). It was kind of coffee shop with the combination between Old Colonial Dutch and Classical Javanese colours and style. I saw the windows, the curtains, the chairs, the tables and the furniture’s mostly like in old time design. Then when I was realized that a waiter with Dutch costume come to me and ask in Bahasa Indonesia  “what would you like to order?” then he gave the menu and leave. I handed the menu which are written in Java language, some Dutch and the details information are written in English.

The small of Home Sweet Home

One of the menu " Martabak Ibu Judes"

At last, we spent three hours sitting one of the comfortable chairs with free WIFI access. We had “Martabak Ibu Judes” (it is kind of bihun noodle with crispy outside tastes very HOT), Siomay Bapak, a cup of cappuccino, hot chocolate with marsmallow and many cups of tea (for tea, we can ask for free refill) while the sound of the old music going slowly and nicely. You will find kind of old Javanese snacks, different taste of tea mixtures, and old biscuits in Dutch Era. The name of the Coffee Shop is Oost Koffie and Thee located in Jalan Kaliwaron Number 60, Surabaya. It opens from 11 AM to 11 PM. Have a good afternoon tea time!!

New City Hall of Surabaya play ground

Playing water

Taking a shower

D'News, Surabaya. Pemerintah Kota Surabaya has built water fountain in front of the city hall Park, it is surrounding the pedestrian in front of Balai Kota (City Hall) Surabaya. On Sunday when I was passing the streets around the City Hall of Surabaya, there are many motor cycles parking in the bank of the pedestrian. I just think what they are interested in. Then I just realize that it is because of the new fountain in the pedestrian. The fountain is not like as luxury as in Italy, It is just many fountains spread out every where long path about 40 metres.

Wow, what I feel amazed is when I’ve found many children want to play and shower themselves between the fountains. It is like children playground or children water boom sounds like that. One thing that makes this place so worthed is they are so fun playing around with water while their parents looking at them and cheers them. That’s really wonderful scenery I think seeing them happy family. Moreover the children do not need to pay the fee for this ground. yeah, for free..

Perhaps, someday Surabaya Developers could build water boom for the children in the center of the city  and the concepts can be simple water boom. While the ticket entrance fee can be reached by all the local people of Surabaya, I mean not too expensive. Do you agree with me? It is always fun to play with water for children, Isn’t?

Ecotourism Training 2013

Ecotourism Training holds in East Java to develop and encourage local people motivation and undertanding about ecotourism.
East Java has big opportunity to create its ecotourism products with each speciality. Nature and culture become the main issue to satisfy tourists who want to know more about the diversity, humanity, life, environments, etc.

TIPS How using Indonesia SIM CARD for mobile phone

TIPS How using Indonesia SIM CARD
for Indonesia's Travellers

Sample of  New Simpati Telkomsel Card:
 the Chip will be inside the package.

At the end of 2012, I have a group from Singapore. Every person ask for Indonesia's SIM CARD to call their family at home. I thought it is easy to have and replace the SIM CARD, but I careless one thing or I dont know  some things about the development of technology and information how to use. Some of them understand how to use and set their android system works but some of them also careless, not get notice about android system works. So that why I like to share.

TIPS for USING New Sim Card in Indonesia.

1. If you buy in such kind of counter, there will be many choice of price. It can be Rp. 2000, RP. 3000, Rp. 10.000, Rp. 20.000, Rp. 40.000, and so on. why they have variant of prices? because the good number will have high price. Indonesian said it is "nomer cantik", it is expensive.

2. Ask the seller, to activate your SIM CARD.

3. The price when you buy the card is excluded the balance.That's the price of the card and just a little balance. So, you have to ask them: TOP UP the balance, you can fill Rp. 50.000 or Rp 100.000.

The price when you TOP UP is +Rp 1000, for example Rp. 20.000, so you have to pay Rp. 21.000.

4. If you use " Smart Phone" like android system or "I-phone" apple, you have to set "turn off" the data internet before replace the new Indonesia Sim card. If you DO NOT, you will lose all your balance, because android system will automatically using balance to run all the application in your smart phone.

5. SPECIAL CASE: If you use "I-phone" apple, just go to GrahaPari Telkomsel jl. Pemuda 181 Surabaya, to cut the sim card to be a chip compatible to your I-phone "Apple".

6. If you want your data internet "ON", you can ask the seller registering your card to the provider to have "data internet packages" or "Internet quota". Because different provider, different the way regristration. It is cheaper than you just let them reducing your normal balance.

7. Normal calling: You can call for overseas about Rp. 5000/ minute.

8. The famous providers used by mostly Indonesia people : Simpati TelkomSel, Im3 or Mentari INDOSAT, XL

Ok, that's my information for you. Wish you luck using your cell phone. ^_^