Surabaya where it all began

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Surabaya is the second larger city of Indonesia. The city where I was born and spent a quarter of my life has changed enormously since I was last there. Everything changed so fast that I needed time to adjust. I didn't recognise my home and my neighbourhood.

The home I grew up in was located in a massive area surrounded by only a few neighbours with loads of greens. Sadly, that turned into an extremely tight neighbourhood where houses are literally attached to each other (just like houses built in The Netherlands) and some have been separated by tiny alleyways in between. Dad designed and built our house himself (with the help of a few constructors) which was cool but it no longer looked the same, everything has changed.

Despite the massive changes in town, I am pleased that Surabaya city has become more and more advanced. Especially the children education system that I support 100%. I don't visit much because every time I do, I find it hard to leave. I love being around my family, I love to pamper myself at a beauty salon all day, I love to eat until my jeans button popped, I love to take a trip to a small village somewhere.

This year's trip was too short. I haven't seen my mum and my bros for a while, and it was nice to catch up with them again. I also went to visit dad's grave for a wee bit but forgot to bring his fave beverage Guinness. Next time dad!

We often gathered to eat together along with loads of nonsense, have some good laughs, then go fishing at dusk till midnight at the canal outside our home. Mum loves being in the kitchen, making some somethings while the bro’s are busy stocking up the fridge with alcohol and keeping snack jars full.

After a couple of days in SBY, almost my whole family and me went on a road trip to Bromo to repeat the good memory when dad was still around. On our previous stayed, he and I used to get up at 3am in an early, chilly morning to find a spot where the sun rises. We left Surabaya at 1am and on our way there, we stopped frequently for restaurant breaks regardless of how much foods we already have in the cars. We’re Indos, food is in our blood and it stayed in our tummies. ?

When we finally have arrived, we walked up to the sunrise point in the dark. Unfortunately, mama couldn’t make it to the top because temperature was too cold for her, so she stayed comfortably inside a warm restaurant with a fireplace and a cuppa of good Javanese coffee while all of us waited for the sun to come out in the cold.

The winter jacket, gloves and a beanie didn’t manage to keep mama warm. I warned her well in advance to wear something thick instead, she rocked up with a fancy handbag wearing office pants, ballerina and a tee covered in a denim jacket. Oh mama where you off to... parents are just as stubborn...

After sunrise, we drove to the famous erupted volcanos sides and then we hiked to watch it from above. We spent a couple of hours there before we visited a few other places nearby. This time we didn’t spend the weekend there and only stayed from morning till afternoon.

Again, just like SBY, Bromo has changed rapidly. The new Bromo is packed with many local and international tourists which is good however, those unnecessary horses carrying around lazy people must go (how lazy can some people be?!). There were also many little shops and street foods vendors everywhere. This is great, I support local businesses.

Somehow, I felt that Bromo has slightly lost its originality, I missed the old Bromo or maybe it was because dad was the biggest part of it. Nevertheless, my family and me had loads of fun there. We had an unforgettable experience and shall visit Bromo again.

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[Seth Heartly]

I really like your stories ?
Hit me up on the inbox maybe out path crosses somewhere. Cheers SH

[Nelly]

Indonesia
I go to Indonesia many times and it is one of my favourite countries.