Golf Course Review

I played at Sentul Highland (Mentari) Golf Course a week before Lebaran 2008 . It is located at Bukit Sentul. teed off at 06.30. I got a male caddie.

Fairway condition: Bad - Very wet.Green condition: Not good - Inconsistent speed at different greens, some holes were under aerificationTee box condition: Good Caddie

I four putted as a result!View: Not bad, but many trees have been chopped down around the surrounding hills.Total playing time: 3.5 HOURS (like playing in self owned golf course) Green fee: Rp280,000 (including cart)

Tips of driving in Jakarta

Having been driving around in Jakarta metropolitan for the past 12 years, I'm compelled to start this thread on some tips that may help you conquer Jakarta's traffic, in one piece. I hope that this thread could be a living thread where I can add more as I encounter more in this jungle called Jakarta. Most of the tips would be real and serious tips, but some of them would be a kind of sarcasm. I desperately need a forum where I can let myself out just for the sake of keeping myself sane. So judge for yourself which one is which one and please feel free to add.

Here we go:

Tips no 1: Always put in your mind that Jakarta's traffic light is an option. Red light doesn't really mean red light. Expect some or many colorblind daredevils who would proudly make their way regardless.

Tips no 2: Never speed right away when the traffic light turned green, especially if you're driving a tall SUV. Two reasons: one is point no 1, two, you'll never know if a toddler or even a 1 y/o baby, being used as beggars by their creative parents, crawling in front of your car without you realizing or have a visual on them.

Tips no 3: You must have a bionic eyesight that could see as far as 2 km ahead. As road signs are a luxury here in Jakarta, expect a huge separator that turned out of nowhere and suddenly you're stuck on top of it. Expect a pothole that could literally swallow your whole car in the middle of the road. Expect a hiding policemen behind a tree that could jump right into you. Expect a 4 lanes highway suddenly turned into a 2 lanes road.

Tips no 4: Be good with your reflexes, be very good. Expect a bus / micro bus & bajaj to stop, turn or even make U turn in a one way street. Expect street vendors in their little carts to cut through wherever they like, with their own speed (around 3 km/hour). Expect lamp / power posts, advertising boards, or even road signs to fall off right in front or on top of your car, thanks to great workmanship.

Tips no 5: Be low profile. Never flash your wallet, hand phone or other valuables as they can attract funny warriors as seen on the Brave Heart with their bright-red axe within seconds. Yes, their martial art skill level is so high they can appear/disappear at will.

Tips no 6: Be deaf. Honks in Jakarta Jungle could mean a thousand words. It can be used as a sign of gratitude (one short tap), a sign of anxiety (two short taps), a sign of warning (one long push), a sign of frustration (two long push), a sign of anger (three long push) and a sign of insanity (one veryyyyy long push till you dry the battery up)

Tips no 7: Prepare empty 1.5 litre Aqua bottle. You can and you will stuck for hours in traffic. You either don't drink water 3 hours before your journey, empty up your bladder or you must take along a large empty Aqua bottle. If you feel like to shit instead of pee, then God be with you.

Tips no 8: Breath necessarily. When you're stuck behind a 1955's PPD or Mayasari buses, trust me that fumes will find itself into the cabin. So you either put on a toxic mask SWAT-style, or breath only when you really needs to.So I guess that's it for me at the moment, please feel free to add. Oh yeah, one more thing, welcome to the jungle!!

Ayam Bakar Ganthari

Jalan-jalan ke blok M rasanya belom lengkap kalau nggak nyobain Ayam Bakar Ganthari. Ayam bakar Ganthari memang udah terkenal kelezatannya. Setiap jalan-jalan Blok M saya selalu menyempatkan diri untuk menyantap ayam bakar disini.Ayam Bakar Ganthari buka sekitar jam lima sore. Letaknya persis di samping Blok M Plaza,atau lebih tepatnya di bunderan Bulungan atau yang lebih populer dikenal sebagai 'Puteran Gaul' ini memang enak. Tempatnya memang strategis buat nongkrong, dan yang pasti ayam bakarnya enak banget.Dagingnya yang empuk dan rasanya yang manis dan gurih memang bikin ketagihan. Warung ini ramai banget pelanggannya,kadang harus antri tempat duduk. Banyak yang akhirnya makan di dalam mobil saking penuhnya tempat duduknya. Kalau lagi beruntung bisa makan bareng artis disini karena banyak artis yang sering menyantap ayam bakar di sini. Pokoknya nggak rugi deh ngantri lama untuk bisa menyantap ayam bakar yang lezat ini.

Sate Kambing = Aphrodisiac ?

Daging kambing rupanya punya tempat sendiri bagi kaum lelaki. Konon, daging kambing dipercaya sebagai pembangkit hasrat. Ah… belum tentu! Pro-kontra muncul. Entah bagaimana ceritanya, daging kambing dipercaya mempunyai kemampuan aprodisiak, kemampuan dalam meningkatkan gairah seksual pria. Yang jelas anggapan itu sudah lama berkembang di masyarakat. Dan cerita tersebut memang ada benarnya.

Seorang pria yang baru menikahi istrinya, sehabis bekerja mendatangi sebuah sebuah rumah makan untuk makan sate kambing dan tongseng kambing. Sehabis makan pria itu mengaku menjadi seorang pria perkasa di hadapan istrinya. Makin sip, katanya, usai makan sate ditambah menenggak minuman beralkohol. Kalau diamati, secara fisik serat daging kambing tak jauh beda dibandingkan dengan daging merah lainnya dari domba, sapi, dan kerbau. Dibandingkan dengan daging domba umpamanya, keduanya sama-sama bertekstur halus. Warna dagingnya pun tak terlalu berbeda meskipun daging kambing biasanya berwarna lebih pekat. Perbedaan mencolok dengan daging ternak lain sebagaimana dilansir Intisari, justru aromanya. Daging domba, sapi, atau kerbau beraroma amis saja, sedangkan daging kambing beraroma menyengat (orang Jawa bilang prengus). Selain itu, lemaknya lebih putih dan keras. Apa yang dikatakan orang soal daging kambing dapat meningkatkan potensi seksual seseroang ada kemungkinan benar.

Orang menyatakan begitu khan berdasarkan pengalaman nenek moyang. Tapi kalau kita kaji secara ilmiah harusnya 'kan diteliti dulu. Tapi data itu tidak ada, sehingga dasarnya saling percaya saja. Senyawa mirip hormon seks

Sebaliknya, ahli gizi kurang sependapat dengan kemungkinan keperkasaan seorang pria setelah makan sate kambing akibat energi yang diperoleh dari lemak sate. Dari segi farmakologi, bisa jadi daging kambing mengandung senyawa mirip hormon seks pria. Namun, sampai saat ini belum ditemukan dasar ilmiah untuk menyatakan daging kambing bisa meningkatkan potensi seksual kaum pria.

Pada dasarnya orang yang sudah menurun potensi seksualnya tidak dapat langsung naik potensinya hanya dengan makan daging kambing ditambah bir. "Yang berperan dalam membantu meningkatkan potensi seksual itu adalah hormon," jelas dr. Hendrawan Nadesul.

Yang didapat oleh mereka yang memakai makanan atau minuman aprodisiak itu lanjut Nadeseul bukan peningkatan potensi, tetapi lebih pada sensasi seksual. Akibat sensasi tentu saja seseorang jadi bergairah. Tetapi, potensi tetap saja segitu. Sementara, kalau orang bilang sate torpedo (skrotum) juga bisa meningkatkan potensi seksual pria, mungkin ada benarnya. Khan di situ jelas tempatnya hormon seks jantan. Dengan mengonsumsinya, seseorang mendapat tambahan hormon seks sehingga ada kemungkinan potensi seksualnya meningkat. Reputasi aprodisiak jelas Nadesul di dunia belum berubah.

Ia tetap digandrungi para lelaki dan suami, tapi khasiatnya tetap berada di belakang mitos. Saking kuat dan berakarnya mitos, sampai sekarang lebih banyak lelakidan suami yang sesat dan berpetualang mencari mimpi seksualnya yang tak kunjung berakhir itu. Sebagian kaum Adam merasa sia-sia sebab mimpi dari aprodisiak itu tetap saja tinggal mimpi. Yang terjadi sebetulnya hanya dua sensasi yaitu sensasi seksual dan sensasi psikologis. Waspada memang perlu! Meski hubungan daging kambing dan potensi seks seorang pria masih diliputi misteri, toh penelitian ilmiah untuk mengetahui pengaruh buruknya terhadap kesehatan sudah sering dilakukan. Itu pun tak selalu terbukti. Kalau bertahun-tahun lamanya orang beranggapan daging kambing jadi biang keladi munculnya penyakit tekanan darah tinggi,

Ternyata, daging kambing bukan menjadi penyebab timbulnya tekanan darah tinggi atau hipertensi karena berkolesterol tinggi. Yang perlu diperhatikan justru konsumsi lemaknya. Kalau sate kambing yang berlemak banyak dikonsumsi, seringkali itu menyebabkan terjadinya peningkatan kadar kolesterol darah.

Sementara, bila santapan sate kambing dipadukan dengan minuman beralkohol, pengaruh buruk lainnya bakal muncul. Pasalnya, pasangan kolesterol - alkohol bisa mempersempit pembuluh darah bagian bawah tubuh, terutama yang mengaliri si "buyung". Efek lainnya bila setelah makan sate kambing plus minuman keras bisa saja jadi impoten. Alkohol memang merangsang, namun setelah itu malah bikin syahwat kendur. Kerja hati, ginjal, jantung, dkk. pun jadi lebih berat. Kalaupun dirasakan adanya efek tubuh yang menghangat dan peningkatan gairah, mungkin lantaran pengaruh bumbu-bumbunya yang cenderung pedas dan merangsang, macam cabai, cengkih, jahe, lengkuas, merica, dan lain-lain.

Pangandaran

Noted for its generally safe swimming and its quietness, Pangandaran is one of Java’s most beautiful beach resorts. This once sleepy fishing village is located o the south coast just west boundary between West and Central Java and is about 210 km southeast of Bandung-a drive of five to six hours.

From Bandung and Yogjakarta, it is easily reached by public transportation (taxi, bus or train). This beach town is popular among Bandung’s resident expatriates and tourists traveling between Bandung and Yogjakarta. Apart from the long, broad beaches and a lazy atmosphere, a National Park on the peninsula offers an abundance of wildlife, caves and delightful walks. The village is located on a narrow isthmus connecting a rocky peninsula to the mainland. The diverse geology on the peninsula has given rise to many forms of wildlife, making it an ideal place for the National Park there. On either side of the 200 to 800 m wide isthmus are sandy beaches.

Because the main road bypasses the village in the north, there is absolutely no through traffic. Though there are some motor vehicles in the village, strolling the wide lanes is relaxing and pleasant. The combination of sun and beach, the absence of hurry, and the warm evening breezes give Pangandaran an almost Mediterranean feel. At full moon, you have the rare opportunity of seeing both the sun setting over the west beach and the moon rising over the east beach.

In the mornings, fishermen arrive in their boats bringing the night’s catch. If you’re up early enough, you can watch them unloading and sorting the fish-the beach on the east side of the isthmus is especially lively and colorful in the mornings. The fish market at the southern end of the east beach, not far from the entrance to the nature reserve, is the place to go in the early morning.

Things to Do in Pangandaran Many people go to Pangandaran simply to relax; however, for those who relax by doing something there are plenty of things to do. To begin with, a number of small industries are located in Pangandaran itself, including a wayang golek puppet carver near the village center. Take a becak or rent a bicycle and explore the very local village center of

Pangandaran, which is just outside the perimeter of tourist area. Pangandaran’s foremost attraction, however, is the beach. The east beach is not as good for swimming and rather serves the fishermen’s needs, while the west beach is quite popular for walking, swimming and hanging out. Be forewarned, though, that dangerous currents and undertows are frequent and cost several lives every year. The safest place to swim is the south end of the beach; it is usually monitored and posted for safe swimming. An attractive little beach on the nature reserve is

Pasir Putih (white sand). It’s about a 20 minute walk from the fishing village. You go through the reserve entry gate and pay an admission fee, then walk for about a quarter of an hour, keeping right and following the signs to Pasir Putih. You can also go there by boat from the west beach, but be sure to bargain for the fare, the boat will wait until you are ready to return. While you are there, beware of the cheeky monkeys, they may take away your food or even your clothes!

Bicycling has become popular in Pangandaran because of scant car traffic, flat terrain, and the many routes for local tours. Bicycles of all sizes, colors and models can be rented at a number of places. The best time to cycle is of course in the morning, for it gets hot quickly. You can cycle around in the village and explore kampung life by means of the many paths and narrow streets, or you can make a longer tour and cycle out west parallel to the beach. Turning inland from the beach road takes you along sandy lanes and through coconut and cacao groves. More ambitious cyclist might want to pedal 7 km west to the lagoon, or even farther by crossing the road to Cijulang and venturing north into the hills where forests and waterfalls are.
Outings Near Pangandaran

Some 12 km west of Pangandaran along the coastal road is Batu Hiu, a bizarre rock right on the coats. Its name means “shark rock,” though shark are not to be found anywhere in the whole coastal area. This huge rock is covered with smooth grass, ha prop-rooted pandanus palms, and provides a fine vista over the whole bay. A car park right is beside it, but because the parking fee is ridiculously high, you should try to park outside. Still, an admission fee is required. Between Pangandaran and Batu Hiu is a sign pointing south to Karang Tirta, an alleged “tourist object.”

Also, the admission fee is excessive. A little farther west of Batu Hiu is Cijulang village, about 15 km from Pangandaran. Three kilometers past Cijulang you come to the Cijulang River. From here you can take a boat trip up river to the magical Green Canyon. Slow down when you see the steel girder bridge over the river and you will soon be offered a boat for hire. Bargain for about $10. The round trip in a dugout through half-open for get up the river with its green water takes two to three hours- your help in addling is greatly appreciated. The scenery is lovely. The journey ends here the river emerges from a huge opening in a rock. Here you can swim to the river or search for the drip-stone cave in the rocks. A few kilometers beyond the steel girder bridge is Batu Karas, an idyllic beach just a forty-five minute driving from Pangandaran. Turn left immediately after the bridge (look for the road sign to Batu Karas). After about fifteen minutes you reach a black sand beach, a tiny fishing village and few bungalows.

The surf is gentle, less dangerous than in Pangandaran, and good surfing. On the west side of the beach is a cliff from where you have a wonderful view east along the coast. A pleasant one-hour round trip from Pangandaran is a visit to Karang Nini (karang means “coral”). It’s a twenty-minute drive from Pangandaran) 9 km from the bus terminal) on the road to Banjar. If you came through Banjar on the way to Pangandaran, you may have seen the sign on the road side. Karang Nini is a recreation park on a limestone ridge with a lookout tower from which you have a beautiful view over the bay and peninsula.

Cihampelas Street

Heaven of Shopping”, is a nickname given to Bandung. It is strengthened when you observed the shopping enchantment along Jl. Cihampelas. This street fenced by many stores which are well known as the biggest jeans center in Bandung.

One of the most attractive things in Cihampelas is it giant-comic super hero character sculptures displayed of each store such as Aladdin, Superman, Batman, etc. The access to Cihampelas has been eased since Pasupati fly-over was operated. If you start from Diponegoro Street you can go through this fly-over.

Are you interested in hunting really low price jeans or do you ant to enjoy Ciwalk’s atmosphere? Just visit this street.

Dago Tea House

The widely known Dago Tea House located in the cool upper north part of Bandung is a must when you are in the neighbourhood. Situated in the hills of what used to be an area of tea plantations, it offers splendid views of the city, in an authentic Sundanese atmosphere. Already in existence as a restaurant and state owned cultural park since 1992 it has become a favorite amongst locals as well as foreigners.

The Vibe After climbing up the hill and paying the measly 1000 entrance fee to the cultural park that houses Dago tea house, the blanket of dust and smog that accompanies you everywhere you go in the city center is replaced by an airy and fresh climate that reminds you of the importance of oxygen.

The cultural park consists of several colonial buildings set in a green environment and apart from the great overview of Bandung , you can also spot the Tangkuban Parahu volcano on clear days. Next to the restaurant, that spurs 20 or so traditional Sundanese bamboo eating huts called saung, on the premises also an open air theatre can be found as well as an art gallery. Both are open to the public after paying the before mentioned entrance fee.

Cultural performances are held every Saturday night ranging from operetta to traditional Sundanese singing, whereas the art gallery mostly portrays work of local and national artists.
Sitting in one of the saung and enjoying the view, a more relaxed place would be hardly conceivable.

The Food Dago Tea House's menu features some of the best examples of the Sundanese kitchen. There is lalap (4500) a vegetable salad served with sambal, tahu and tempe goreng (4000), and sayur asem (5000), a delicious mixture of corn, melindjo nuts, pumpkin and lemongrass that compliments the taste of the main dishes with its subtle acidity.

As a rice dish we try the nasi liwet asin jambal (21.000) that is served in a tin pan, the aromatic rice inside blended with vegetables and chicken. The nasi timbel bakar special (19500) is another example of a typical Sundanese dish, a delicious serving of rice wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf, accompanied by tahu, tempe, grilled chicken and veggies. Food is served straight from the stove, so very fresh and full of flavour.

For the brave of heart there are also several traditional drinks on the menu, which will give you a taste of Sundanese sweetness. Bandrek (6000) is a slightly sweet concoction of ginger, palm sugar and coconut, while bajigur (6000) is an even sweeter mixture of coconutwater, red sugar and mysterious jelly beans.

The Service The employees are all dressed in traditional Sundanese batik outfits that are upgraded to traditional wedding attire on weekends. This might seem as if you are sitting in a tourist trap but that's not the case at all. The guests are approximately equally divided amongst locals and foreigners, and over all there is a true authentic feel to the place. The ring of colonial history adds to that, as do the longstanding reputation and ongoing involvement of the park in cultural activities.

Dago Tea House Dago Tea House offers good views of a city that looks more astonishing from above than from within, and good authentic food for local prices. Whereas other mountainside establishments might be more highbrow and formal (with prices to match) Dago Tea House is more low-key while giving you a true feel and taste of Sundanese culture.