SSS (Semarang Sweet Story)

Another long weekend in December means another holiday! This time I spent my sweet escape with my mom and dad to go to the capital city of Central Java, Semarang.

We got an invitation from my Dad's cousin to attend his daughter's engagement party on Friday 11th Dec. So we planned to come and take a short vacation. I searched for flight tickets, hotel, car rent, and do some research to make a 3-day-trip itinerary in Semarang. So what we've got are: Lion air promo tickets (discount idr 110.000 from ticket.com for purchasing idr 1.100.000), Favehotel Diponegoro promo voucher (only idr 560.000/room for 2 nights including breakfast for 2 paxs), and a car for 2x24hour use for idr 700.000 (this one is too expensive i think).

11 Dec 2015, First Time Going on a Wrong Terminal

05.30 am (2h30m before flight) we took a taxi to Soetta Airport, predicting that we would arrive at the airport no later than 7am. The taxi driver asked me where is the departure terminal. I looked on the flight tix and there is no information about the terminal. I took my phone and searched for Soetta Intl Airport's website and lion air website. It was written there that all Lion Air's flights are departing from Terminal 1A except Sumatra's destination. To make sure, i searched about our flight number and destination and it was also shown Terminal 1. With confidently I said to the driver that we are going to terminal 1. On 06.45am, we arrived at terminal 1A. I got off from the taxi before my parents and looked into the departure status on the LCD screen, but there was no flight to Semarang there. It made me worry so i run into the customer service and ask them about the flight to Semarang. And guess what, she said that it's on terminal 3. Panic attack!! I turned my head and saw my mom & dad were walking toward me and the taxi had just left. "STOP THE TAXI!! ITS ON TERMINAL 3!!" I crossed my hands to sign them that we're on the wrong places! Fortunately we got another taxi. It took 15mins + to reach the right terminal! And what made us more annoyed was: after rushing here and there, the flight got delayed for an hour. LOL. But i still confused, since when that Lion moves to Terminal 3?

The Historical City

Lawang Sewu

Our first stop is the most iconic tourism attraction in Semarang. Lawang Sewu in Javanese language means A Thousand Doors but actually the building does not really have a thousand doors. This building previously used as head office for the Dutch East Indies Railway Company in early 19s.

(Entrance Fee: 10.000 weekdays)

Peek A Boo

Sam Poo Kong Temple

The Sam Poo Kong Temple is the oldest chinese temple in Semarang. The building does not belong to any specific religion, but functions as a place of worhsip for people of various ethnics and religious groups such as Buddhists, Taoists, and Moslems. This place also famous with the story of Admiral Cheng Ho.

(Entrance fee: 3000 weekdays / 5000 weekend)

Admiral Cheng Ho Statue

Safe Flight!

Cathedral of Randusari

Before check in to the hotel and getting ready for the Engagement Dinner, we made our stop to the church. But fortunately it was closed to public if there is no event or holy mass. But we went there again the next day to attend the holy mass. It's third week of advent and it's getting closer to Christmas day!

The Enchanting Ambarawa

On Saturday Dec 12, we were exploring Ambarawa, the countryside of Semarang area. We had plan to visit Salatiga too, but because of a bad weather (we were soaked in the rainstorm >.<) we cancelled that plan.

Pagoda Buddhagaya Watugong

This temple is not located in Ambarawa, but we passed it on the way to Ambarawa from Semarang. It is a temple which has Pagoda of Kwan Im Goddess. It was a really dreamy place to go and it would be more interesting if the sun wasn't that hot!

(Car Entrance: 5000)

The Cave of Virgin Mary, Kerep

Goa Maria Kerep, Ambarawa is one of the most popular sites among Catholics. I have ever been there for several times, but this time i found new statues, especially the giant statue of Mother Mary.

In this area, you can also find some traditional culinary from Central Java such as Pecel, Satay Kelinci, Tahu Gimbal, etc. 

A flower bouquet for Mother Mary

Nice message from Daddy Jesus

Mingle-ing in Kana's Wedding Party

Camouflage - A snake on a Pine Tree

Monument of Palagan

After a half-day trip in Ambarawa, we're getting on fire to take some 'crazy' pose photos. But UNFORTUNATELY, in the middle of our crazy-photo-shots, the rain attacked us and our camera! Nooooooo!!! Actually there are some replicas of planes, trains, weapons, and more but we had to run as faster as we can to the car if we don't want to broke the DSLR ;'(

No, i don't have big muscles

Don't try to hard, mom

Relationship goals?

After a never-ending rain, we decided to have lunch in Kampoeng Rawa, a floating restaurant. I don't have photos there because of heavy rain, so i left my camera inside the car. But I really recommend you to have lunch/ meal time there with your family or friends (if it not rain because the place is semi-outdoor) because the foods taste really savory ;9. We ordered Grilled Milkfish, Fried Srimping (Scallop), and Terasi Kangkung (Kale Veg with Shrimp Chili Paste).

Banaran Coffee Plantation 

The rain finally over yeay! We cancelled our plan to Salatiga so we went to Banaran Coffe Plantation by recommendation from my Dad's friend. I thought it will be boring to visit an agrotourism site. But they provide us an off-road trip using 'train'. We had a 4.5km journey by train-jeep down the Coffee Plantation. It was really fun and our guide was telling us some interesting story about Banaran. After 20 minutes trip, we were relaxing a bit at the coffee shop, having a cup of cappucino and some Fried Banana.

Off road!

in the middle of coffee plantation

Rawa Pening's View from the Top

The Train-Jeep

We're heading back to Semarang before getting dark and went to a holymass in Randusari and bought some snacks to bring home to Jakarta. 

Must-buy-list when visiting semarang:

- Brilliant (Lapis Semarang / Layer Cake)

- Winko Babat

- Lumpia Semarang

- Es Puter Chong Li (durian, kopyor, avocado ice cream!)

- Tahu Gimbal

Thanks for reading and enjoy Semarang!!

Please leave comments if you don't mind :)

Cheers.