Foreigner equals Transport

<p>Before going to Indonesia I made a list in my head with all the Indonesian food I missed so dearly in Holland. On it are nasi padang (check, the first day), gurame bakar (a barbecued sweet water fish that is utterly delicious with kecap sauce), balinese sate languan (Balinese tuna sate mixed with coconut) batagor, siomay and lumpiah basah (all to be scored in Bandung), nasi kuning (check, ate it two times in a row in the wonderful Ubud eatery Pulau Kelapa, near the Neka Art Museum), es jeruk (‘juice’ of small orange/limes with lots of sugar and lots of ice), jus alpukat (avocado juice with chocolate) and tempe (soybean cake).  <br>

Scavenging Ubud for food late at night, out of all dark corners voices sounded the usual greeting: Hello Miss, Transport? The first few times this might be amusing, but fairly quickly wariness kicks in. A friend of mine even told me they ask her if she wants transport when she walks around with her bicycle, or just gets off to park her motorcycle. It is not so much a genuine inquiry, as it is a reflex: Foreigner equals transport.    <br>

Into the Blue: Diving Menjangan Island in Bali

By: Emma Kwee

Today was the day, my very first open water dive! The locale for this historic event was Menjangan island, part of Bali Barat National Park in the Northwest of Bali. Menjangan means ‘deer’ in Indonesian. The name was given by the local population observing wild deer herds swimming to the island every spring, covering a distance of almost 2 kilometers.

The small island is located a 30-40 minute boat ride from the mainland. Most accommodation can be found in Pemuteran and almost every resort has a dive tour operator. Typically you pay around 50-60 USD for two dives, including gear, transport and lunch.

Are you Overweight?

Today I had my last practice lap, before my diving adventure really starts. We slithered into our wetsuits (putting on a second skin when its 30 degrees out there is not easy) and surprised some unsuspecting hotel guests by diving their idyllic resort pool dressed like we were applying for a role in Full Metal Jacket.

My dive instructor Mul rehearsed all basic skills again. He proved a funny chap when he pointed out a rare ‘stone fish.’ A pebble lying on the bottom of the pool.

Is That Why They Call It A Wetsuit?

Yes, I have just landed on Bali, my diving adventure has begun! Before embarking on the trip of a lifetime, I met up with the people of Aquamarine, one of the most professional and established diving schools in Bali. They talked me through my journey and what to expect.

The first day I was going to practice my newly acquired diving skills once again in a pool. After that it would be off to Menjangan island in the Northwest of Bali. Apparently Menjangan is one of the best diving spots in Bali. It’s famous for its colorful coral walls, good visibility and abundant marine life.

Pool Skills

After having learned the basic theory on diving through e-learning, before departing to Indonesia it was time for my first underwater experience. In a pool that is. Traveling by bus through an uninspiring Dutch suburb to reach the pool, the tropical Balinese underwater world seemed far away. After a quick recap it was time to put on wetsuit, fins and mask and jump in the pool. First thing that struck me was how heavy the BCD (the trimvest) and oxygen tank were…luckily the 15 kilo load became weightless underwater or my kneecaps might have fallen off.

The best way to learn how to dive is by following the theory lessons and put theory into practice during several diving lessons. As I didn’t have enough time for that, I learned all theory and then spent a whole day in the pool to master the skills in practice.

Where to Stay in Bandung?

By: Emma Kwee

The list of Hotels in Bandung is endless. There’s plenty of choice, but picking the right one for your stay is not an easy task. Business or pleasure, whatever brings you to Bandung, there is bound to be a fitting place for you to call home during your stay. It all depends on your needs and wants, so here is a comprehensive list of accommodations for every occasion.

Basic budget: The hotel Bukit Dago has crisp clean and freshly painted rooms with private bathroom for very reasonable prices. The rooms on the top floors are the cheapest and have nice views of the mountains. A little bit less budget but still a very good deal is the Kedaton Hotel in the centre of town. It has the facilities of a starred hotel such as swimming pool, sauna and fitness centre, while the prices are very modest.

Bukit Dago Millenium Hotel

Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No. 331
Phone: + 62 22 250 5943 / 2504244

Fax: +62 22 250 5944

Hotel Kedaton

Jl. Suniaraja No. 14

Phone: +62 22 421 9898

Fax: +62 22 423 9944

Dance like a Butterfly or Sink like a Brick?

I just finished the online theoretical part of my diving course. A few minutes into the first lesson I realized that all my life I have been quite unaware and somewhat naive to diving as an activity.

Instead of floating around in the water like a weightless jellyfish, divers actually wear a vest, called a BCD (buoyancy control device), that you fill with air to allow floating, ascending and descending. You release air when you want to dive deeper and fill it up again if you want to ascend.

Raw Talent in the Latitudes Transport, Transport Photo Competition!

By: Emma Kwee

Since we started our Transport Transport Photo Contest, candidates have been trickling in steadily. In this first update we'll show you the entries so far and how to vote for your favorite. Wanna have a shot at winning? The contest runs until October 15, so don't wait and enter your pics now! Read everything about the prizes , rules and how to enter in the Latitudes 2011 Photo Contest.

To vote for your favorite, click on the picture of your choice and press 'like' or comment!

Idul Fitri or not…Only God knows?

By: Emma Kwee

Fantastic, by the time I finished editing our article for Idul Fitri, confusion broke out on twitter and Facebook. Apparently the end of Ramadan, calculated by the position of the moon, will now fall on wednesday the 31st instead of the 30th of August.

As the Jakarta Globe stated:

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that Idul Fitri will fall on Wednesday, Aug. 31, not Tuesday as most calendars assume.

The decision was taken following a session at the ministry on Monday afternoon and was announced by Religion Minister Suryadharma Ali.

The result was not far from previous predictions, but was taken because the moon's position is still less than two degrees above the horizon. The start of idul fitri is determined by the position of the moon.

Unfortunately, this means another day of fasting and working, and rearranging travel plans. To add to the confusion, some muezzin's already started singing the takbiran prayers signifying the end of the Ramadan. Some funny reactions on Facebook:

Fashion Forward, Indonesia’s Tex Saverio Turns Fabric to Gold

By: Emma Kwee

Indonesian fashion designer Tex Saverio set the stage during the 2010 Jakarta Fashion Week. His designs, reminiscent of Alaxander MC Queen’s avant garde, Valentino’s glamour and Galliano’s feel for drama didn’t go unnoticed. Pop icon Lady Gaga (the dream muze of many a designer), wrapped herself up in a dress by the young Jakarta designer for a photoshoot in Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

Saverio took the limelight for the first time in 2005 when he won the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Award. The designer, now aged 26, quickly grew into a national style icon and was chosen to conclude the Jakarta Fashion Week. He did this in style with his collection ‘Glacon,’ inspired by the contradictory characteristics of ice, a seemingly light and delicate substance, that nevertheless feels strong and unbreakable. His runway show was met with a standing ovation.

His new collection is called Midas, named after the Greek king who tragically turned everything he loved into gold. Including his food and his children. The pieces in the collection are golden…a tongue in cheek reference to Saverio’s capacity to turn fabric into gold?

Time for Latitudes.nu to interview the man about his work, his inspiration and his sense of style!