Isam si Isam

It was 2.30am, the voice from 2guys talking in other room woken Me up. The room is ok, but the wall is too thin to keep the voice in their room. Luckily it is not too long as I fell to sleep again after 30 minutes. 5.30am I am ready to leave the hotel as we were planned to leave for airport by 6am. I walk to reception desk and checked out. The restaurant still not open according to the restaurant staff,the restaurant will open at 6.30 for breakfast. What a late opening for a business hotel cause most people staying here are on transit.I find out that I am the 1st person to check out from my group, so I need to wait for the other to come. 6.15 am, everyone is checked out. Without ... read more

Early This June 2012, I was joining Ijen Festival (the story is http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Isam-si-Isam/Trips/19728).(if the link not working,just click the trips) The festival was initiated by a group of local Youths that love travelling and want to lift up Bondowoso to the world's traveling stage. According to the committee, They will make the festival as an annual event in Bondowoso. Lucky them that the regent of Bondowoso supported them,so in term of funding the event,it was not really matter for them. But a bit surprise for Me that there is no member of local tourism department there to watch and check how the festival is going on (maybe some of them were there on the opening ceremony). I want to say to them:"Hello guys..!! this is actually your job." With some participant come from other countries ... read more

This is D day. I woke up 4.30 this morning. Taking shower after morning prayer, I dressed up for the parade. Yes, the participants are required to dress up according to their traditional culture for the parade. This time I choosed Malay simple dress, because I am using it every week in Brunei, so no need special preparation. Back to the time when I still live in Sumatra, this dress also part of Our culture, even though We only using it on special occasion like wedding party. 6.40 am. I and Assifa saying good bye to Our host Mr Taufiq and his wife. We took our lugage with Us because according to the schedule given by the committee, We will depart to Sempol (coffee plantation near Mount Ijen) right after lunch today. For Our host, it ... read more

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya was smooth.Not much to see,just clouds.But when the plane entering Java shore,I saw a magnificent view.While most of land area still covered with fog,I saw in the distance a mountain standing high with clouds covering half it's lower part.So it was looked like the mountain is hanging on the air. I was made appointment with MG (another participant) to meet in Juanda Airport.After 30minutes,her flight is landing and from there We start our journey together. MG was not alone there is Ariane,a Filipina.We took DAMRI from the airport to Purabaya bus terminal.Kiki (friend of MG) was already there.She handed over "nasi pecel" to us for our lunch on our way to Bondowoso.All the way to Bondowoso was filled with sharing story and experience between Me and the two girls. ... read more