East Java & Bali Road Trip December 2013

Tomorrow I am starting my road trip with a friend for the end of the year of 2013....

Finally the time has come!!!! :) :) :)

Starting on December 20th finishing on December 29th, my route trip would be an adventurous one, exploring East Java (especially Banyuwangi Regency) and Northern Part of Bali and probably also The Gili Islands in Lombok, my favourite islands.....

My Road Trip Route is:
1. Surabaya - Banyuwangi (by train - IDR 140.000 per person)
2. Banyuwangi - Mount Ijen - Banyuwangi (by car & foot - IDR 500.000 for tour guide)
3. Banyuwangi - Sukamade Beach - Banyuwangi (by car rental - unplanned yet)
4. Banyuwangi - Pulau Menjangan Bali (by ship & bus - unplanned)
5. Pulau Menjangan Bali - Lovina (by public transport - unplanned)
6. Lovina - Singaraja (by public transport - unplanned)
7. Singaraja - Tulamben (by public transport - unplanned)
8. Tulamben - Amed (by public transport - unplanned)
9. Amed - Ubud (by public transport - unplanned)
10. Ubud - Kuta (by public transport - unplanned)
11. Kuta - Gili Islands Lombok (by boat)

So mostly this trip is unplanned except for Mount Ijen part since we need to prepare for everything to prevent bad things happening during the hiking since it's a rainy season in Indonesia.

Hotels are also unplanned and we plan to shop around for hotels on each day. I don't know if it's a good idea in terms of price but for sure it will be fun....

I decided to explore Northern part of Bali since it's the part of Bali that we rarely go and I haven't actually been there since 10+ years ago. And there will be a lot of snorkeling during this trip....

I am super duper excited for this road trip.....

I hope I can stay healthy, strong, and safe for this trip....

How about you all? Any plan for this holiday season?

BBC's List of 50 Places to Visit Before You Die

Here, I would like to declare myself as a traveler. Last night, I came through the list of 50 places to visit before you die according to BBC. Honestly, the places in the list are the places I have wanted to go in my whole life. I have been to some of them and they are awesome and have different uniqueness.

Why do I love traveling?

Well, why NOT??? I think all people should love traveling since you can see so many different cultures in the world (the ones that you can accept or can't), how great God has created humans and earth, and most importantly you can try to understand the way different people from different places around the world think.

Anyway, I would try to group these 50 awesome places according to their geographical locations.

~~~~~ North America ~~~~~

1. The Grand Canyon, USA

3. Florida, USA

7. Las Vegas, USA
I went to Las Vegas in summer 2008. Now, I got to see why people call Las Vegas as "Sin City".

9. New York, USA
I went to New York in December 2006 with a couple of friends. I didn't quite have a good impression of the city. For me, it's a bit dirty and dark.

11. Canadian Rockies, Canada

15. Niagara Falls, USA / Canada

23. Yosemite National Park, USA

28. Alaska, USA

36. San Francisco, USA
I have been here a couple times, May 2006 and August 2008. I have a friend who lives in San Francisco. What a romantic city with hills.....


~~~~~ Central America ~~~~~

13. Chichen Itza , Mexico

43. Barbados, Barbados


~~~~~ South America ~~~~~

14. Machu Picchu, Peru

26. Iguassu Falls, Argentina / Brazil

31. Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

33. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

47. Angel Falls - Venezuela


~~~~~ Europe ~~~~~

18. Venice, Italy

27. Paris, France

35. Rome, Italy

37. Barcelona, Spain

44. Iceland

46. Zermatt, Switzerland


~~~~~ Africa ~~~~~

5. Cape Town, South Africa

17. The Pyramids, Egypt

21. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

32. Masai Mara, Kenya

34. Luxor, Egypt

40. La Digue, Seychelles

48. Abu Simbel - Egypt


~~~~~ Middle East ~~~~~

16. Petra, Jordan

38. Dubai, United Emirates Arab


~~~~~ South Asia ~~~~~

6. Golden Temple, India

10. Taj Mahal, India

19. The Maldives, Maldives

30. Himalayas, Nepal

41. Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka


~~~~~ East and Central Asia ~~~~~

20. Great Wall of China, China

22. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
I went to Hong Kong in summer 2007 with my younger brother, a cousin, and my uncle. I had a great shopping experience in Hong kong. I also went to macau, China. It only take one hour or so to go to macau from Hong Kong by ferry. Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia, casinos are everywhere.

45. Terracotta Army, China


~~~~~ South East Asia ~~~~~

29. Angkor Wat - Cambodia

39. Singapore, Singapore
I have been here a couple times since it is closed to my home country, indonesia.

42. Bangkok, Thailand
I have been to Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand. Bangkok is the cworst city in the world for traffic.

49. Bali, Indonesia
Indonesia is my home country. it would be ashamed if I have never been to Bali. I have been to Bali a couple times. I can't remember what year, probably in December 1999. I spent New year's Eve of 2000 in Bali.


~~~~~ Australia and New Zealand ~~~~~

2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

4. South Island, New Zealand

8. Sydney, Australia

12. Uluru, Australia

25. Auckland - New Zealand


~~~~~ Micronesia ~~~~~

24. Hawaii, USA

50. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

My Updated List of 50 Places to Visit Before You Die

~~~~~ North America ~~~~~

1. The Grand Canyon, USA
I am very excited that I am going there next month. :) :) I can't wait to stand and walk on the skyline and enjoy the panoramic view of Arizona Dessert.....

3. Florida, USA

7. Las Vegas, USA
I am also going to Las Vegas for a couple days next month. Not as exciting as going to Grand Canyon though, well, just 'cause I have been to Las Vegas. But, I am pretty excited to explore some places I didn't have the chance to visit last time. Plus, I am absolutely gonna see more Vegas shows this time.

I went to Las Vegas in summer 2008. Now, I got to see why people call Las Vegas as "Sin City".

9. New York, USA
I went to New York in December 2006 with a couple of friends. I didn't quite have a good impression of the city. For me, it's a bit dirty and dark.

11. Canadian Rockies, Canada
Finally, I traveled to the Canadian Rockies before I went back for good to Indonesia.

15. Niagara Falls, USA / Canada
One word, SPECTACULAR. I went to visit Niagara Falls last year after my graduation with my parents. Check out my Niagara Falls pictures from the link below:

http://www.shareapic.net/content.php?gid=867690&owner=Cyclopps

23. Yosemite National Park, USA

28. Alaska, USA

36. San Francisco, USA
I have been here a couple times, May 2006 and August 2008. I have a friend who lives in San Francisco. What a romantic city with hills.....


~~~~~ Central America ~~~~~

13. Chichen Itza , Mexico

43. Barbados, Barbados


~~~~~ South America ~~~~~

14. Machu Picchu, Peru

26. Iguassu Falls, Argentina / Brazil

31. Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

33. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

47. Angel Falls - Venezuela


~~~~~ Europe ~~~~~

18. Venice, Italy

27. Paris, France
I went to Paris in July 2009 as part of my European Tour. However, I didn't really like it except the fact somebody great built an amazing structure like Eiffel Tower. Other than that, the roads are messy and people can't drive properly. It's just a mess for me. Hahaha....

35. Rome, Italy

37. Barcelona, Spain

44. Iceland

46. Zermatt, Switzerland


~~~~~ Africa ~~~~~

5. Cape Town, South Africa

17. The Pyramids, Egypt

21. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

32. Masai Mara, Kenya

34. Luxor, Egypt

40. La Digue, Seychelles

48. Abu Simbel - Egypt


~~~~~ Middle East ~~~~~

16. Petra, Jordan

38. Dubai, United Emirates Arab
I was in Dubai Airport for a transit from Indonesia to Europe. One day I hope I will have the chance to explore Dubai more. One day....

~~~~~ South Asia ~~~~~

6. Golden Temple, India

10. Taj Mahal, India

19. The Maldives, Maldives

30. Himalayas, Nepal

41. Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka


~~~~~ East and Central Asia ~~~~~

20. Great Wall of China, China

22. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
I went to Hong Kong in summer 2007 with my younger brother, a cousin, and my uncle. I had a great shopping experience in Hong kong. I also went to macau, China. It only take one hour or so to go to macau from Hong Kong by ferry. Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia, casinos are everywhere.

45. Terracotta Army, China


~~~~~ South East Asia ~~~~~

29. Angkor Wat - Cambodia

39. Singapore, Singapore
I have been here a couple times since it is closed to my home country, indonesia.

42. Bangkok, Thailand
I have been to Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand. Bangkok is the cworst city in the world for traffic.

49. Bali, Indonesia
Indonesia is my home country. it would be ashamed if I have never been to Bali. I have been to Bali a couple times. I can't remember what year, probably in December 1999. I spent New year's Eve of 2000 in Bali.


~~~~~ Australia and New Zealand ~~~~~

2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

4. South Island, New Zealand

8. Sydney, Australia
been here......

12. Uluru, Australia

25. Auckland - New Zealand


~~~~~ Micronesia ~~~~~

24. Hawaii, USA

50. Bora Bora, French Polynesia