The Great Clock of locally known as Jam Gadang was erected by East Indies Government when Queen Wilhelmina reigned. The clock was a gift for the secretary of Bukittinggi at that period HR Rookmaaker. 

The architect of the tower is a Minangkabau, Jazid Mangkuto Sutan Gigi Ameh. The construction finished in 1926. The monument is 26 meters high as the zero point of Bukittinggi. The material used are: limestone, white egg and sand. 

The Great Clock has for floors. First floor is for the staff, the second floor is where the ballast pendulum located, the third floor is the room for the machine and the fourth floos is the peak where the bell located. At the peak of the tower, written the name of the clock producer. 

In the Japanese occupation in 1942, The Great Clock was rebuilt in Japanese architecture and after Indonesia Independence day, the roof is then changed with Bagonjong Minangkabau style. 

The machine of the clock is a very rare piece produced by Vortmann Recklinghausen, Germany and there were only two in the worl. The other type was used for London’s Big Ben. The machine works mechanically by two pendulums and it works without any energy source. 

All the number of the clock is in rome and the unique thing is that the number 4 is no IV but IIII. 

Well i think you have guessed, that finding liquor in Surabaya or Java in general can be a little bit difficult due to its majority Muslim inhabitants. And according to decision of Indonesia Trading Ministry : 6/M-Dag/Per/4/1/2015, beverages of up-to 5% alcohol may not be sold freely at mini market, this updated the previous decision of that sold freely.

Yet some stores have license to sell liquor. Once that the writer went was Ranch Market, located at Jalan Basuki Rahmat No. 16-18, Tegalsari, Kota SBY, Jawa Timur 60261, Indonesia. This supermarket has special room for liquors, and the selections are many. Also if you are healthy food enthusiast, Ranch Market also sells organic vegetables from local farmers. As the location is next to Tunjungan Plaza, you can visit Ranch Market when doing shopping or dining out.

Liquor can be found also at Bonet Supermarket located at Jl. Manyar Kertoarjo V No.62, Mojo, Gubeng, Kota SBY, Jawa Timur 60285, Indonesia.

Lava View Lodge
Lava View Lodge is located in Cemoro Lawang, Probolinggo, which is located right in front of Mt Bromo. This accommodation is best available at Bromo area. If you arrive a bit early and want to see sunset you can just enjoy from in front of the hotel . If you do not want to see sunrise from Mt Penanjakan, there us a place nearby Lava View, called Mentigen where you can just walk for few minutes to see sunrise, usually it is more quiet here than at Mount Penanjakan. The lodge has good value for money.

Cafe Lava Bromo
Same management with Lava View Lodge, this hotel also located at Cemoro Lawang, Probolinggo. Currently the restaurant is newly built. Located nearby Bromo Ticket Box and next by Bromo Permai Hotel. It has some room types which has hot water inside. The price is less than Lava View Lodge.

Bromo Permai Hotel
Good location at Cemoro Lawang, Probolinggo, even though old, usually visitors choose this hotel for its location, located overlooking Mount Bromo. You can just walk from Bromo Permai to the crater if you want. There are some rooms to choose from Superior to Cottage. All rooms have hot water.

Jiwa Jawa Resort
Jiwa Jawa is the best hotel available in Bromo Area. The rooms are nice and clean and comfy with good service. Some travelers chose to stay in the luxury hotel even though the location is about 15 minutes from the caldera. This is the only hotel which has small ballroom for meeting or gala dinner and outdoor space for bbq.

SM Bromo
SM Bromo located about 20 minutes from Bromo Area. It has Superior anad Deluxe Room. The rooms are nice and clean, good value for money. Extrabed is available to be added to every room.

BROMO COTTAGE
Bromo Cottage is located in Tosari Pasuruan. It is about 30 minutes from the caldera, 30 minutes from Mt Penanjakan view point. This is the biggest hotel in Bromo Area, usually suitable for big group as it almost always has room available. This hotel has lift unlike other hotels in Probolinggo area. From the hotel you can see the view of Mt Arjuna at sunset.

This waterfall that will make you freeze in awe is located in the border between Malang and Lumajang Regency. There are some aliases for this waterfall, such as Coban Sewi or Grojogan Sewu. This waterfall is flow from Glidih river and some spring located on the sliff of the fall. Because of the abundant springs along its flow, it ts called Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, which more or less means thousand falls.

The waterfall can be accessed from Malang which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours drive.  The most popular route is via Goa Tetes (waterdrop cave) which takes walking trail descending the waterfall cliff.  The water leaks through rock and  creating drops in the cave , that it is called Goa Tetes. Arrival at Gua Tetes proceed descend to river and then trek agains the stream for about 200 meters to Tumpak Sewu Waterfall.  Approximately it takes 3 hours to go vise versa to reach the waterfall.

Best time to visit is in the morning, so reccommended to depart as early as 06.00 from Malang. Morning is when thin mist float covering the beauty of the waterfall and birds chirping along your way there.

Due to the trail, prepare yourself with outdoor outfit and comfy shoes and spare clothes. Bring dry bag or plastic bag  to keep your camera or mobile phone from water. Camera lens usually splashed by water, do not for get to carry tissue.

You can find small food stall there in holiday season. If you visit during low season, might be better carry cookies .

As the trail is not easy, hiring local guide will be very useful for your trip.

This Water Garden was built by Karangasem King in 1946. It was destructed by Mt Agung’s eruption and then rebuilt again. The water came from Rejasa spring, whose water is abundant. First time you enter the complex, you will find the big ponds with its fish and fountain. If you go further you will find a natural swimming pool with fresh cold water. 

This place consists of Tongkonan House where you can see the popular Torajan Bull. The bull is needed to be sacrificed when someone died that the dead can go to heaven faster, according to Torajan belief. The best bull to get to heaven faster is the striped bull, that the price can be very expensive, can reach up to IDR 750,000 (about USD 57,000). This kind of bull has some characteristics if the stripe is balance between the left and right side of the body, this qualified as most wonted bull. 

Saleko Palace was newly built for visitors to see the famous Torajan Bull. There are three bulls in here, one is pink bull with blue eyes, a striped bull and the other one is nearly perfect striped bull which is very expensive. You can take a picture with this bull buy giving donation.

Goa Lawa Temple is from the 15th Century. It is located nearby the beach. The temple is called so because there is  bat cave there. You can hear the sound of birds and lawa inside the cave. 

Last Saturday February 27th 2016, was the 5th Java Sea Battle commemoration on the sea location. Though the weather was rough, the three meters tide did not back down the event. It was undertaken on Natuna Express, led by Captain Iwan, depart from Gresik Port, transit in Sangkapura Harbor of Bawean Island for few minutes and then sailed to the sea location.

On the way to Bawean island, Natuna Express stopped by for 1 minute at Boei 1, to scatter flower for Marine Giovanni Hakkenberg.

The commemoration is initiated by V.O.N. (Vereniging van Overlevenden & Nabestaanden van “De Slag in de Java Zee-1942 c.a). The group departed from Gresik Port, crossed to Sangkapura Port and then proceeded to the sea location. Joop Nahuijsen as the founder and chairman of VON opened and led the commemoration. And then it was followed by flower wreath ceremony above seamen grave to honor all marines passed away on the February 27th 1942. One minute silence and “The Last Post” ended the sea ceremony, and then all attendees scattered flower to the ocean.

Cees Huig and Inna Huig attended this ceremony to honor Cees Huig’s father, Marine Jan Huig, a sergeant torpedo-maker of Submarine Hr. Ms. “O 16”, who passed away at South China Sea on December 15th 1941. Other flower wreath dedicated by the family were for: Marine Cor Boers dedicated by his brother Hans Boers, Marine Jacob Bol by his son Henk Bol and Marine Antonie Nahuijsen by his son Joop Nahuijsen and granddaughter Merel. Some enthusiast joining the ceremony were from Sangkapura District of Bawean Island: Mr. Wardhi who represented Sangkapura District Office , Bripta Budiono and Brigadir Deky from POLRI (Police of Indonesia) and Velda Suhariyanto and Sertu Usman from TNI.

After the ceremony Natuna Express returned to Sangkapura Port and then the group took Gili Iyang Ferry from Sangkapura (21.00) to cross to Paciran (06.00). Before leaving Bawean, the group was invited to have dinner at Mr. Iwan’s house, where they felt the incredible hospitality and mingle with the locals, including the Sangkapura Camat and Kapolsek.

The last agenda was visiting Ereveld Kembang Kuning, to lay wreath at Karel Doorman Monument, on the 28th February, after arrival from Bawean,

Siti Nurbaya Bridge is located in the city vein, and you can walk to the bridge and enjoy the panorama or Muaro Port. 

Kota Tua or old town of Padang has many old colonial building and many chinese building with mix of European and Chinese style can be found in the city. 

Old Town of Padang can be explored along the Padang River.

Muaro Port is quiet busy port, can be seen from the bridge of Sitinurbaya. 

Padang Beach is pretty clean and this is where locals hang out. Some seafood restaurants with Padang taste can be found on this beach area,

Padang Beach

Seafood market at Padang Beach area. 

Teluk Bayur Harbor