Hey! What's Up and About?: January 2010

Most people know Indonesia from Bali, The Island of The Gods or as we like to call it "Pulau Dewata". It is a beautiful island 1 and half hour away by plane from Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta. We've been planning this trip for quite some time and we finally got to go! It's not like we've never been there or anything, but we've never backpacked around.

Kuta, Bali.

Okay here we go! The journey started off when we got bored of the big city and decided to get away from everything that sounded like honking horns, busy bus stations and traffic. Especially traffic. So why not Bali? It's the right kind of busy. Aha! That sounded like a sweet deal. Now, lemme break down our budget. Enough for 4 days in Bali, a plane ticket, a place to stay (well our place was free so yeah. MUAHAHAHA!), food and other things you'd probably spend your money on.

Both our money combined: Rp. 2.100.000 (without plane tickets)
That's more than enough for about 4 days in Bali if you don't spend your money on useless items and if your hotel is free (hihihihihihihi). Hotels around Kuta are pretty nice. You can find real cheap hotels around Poppies Lane. There are loads of backpacker hostels around Poppies Lane I and II that cost around Rp.50.000 to Rp.150.000 pernight if you're lucky.

The first thing you'll notice about Bali is the people, weather and the clear blue sky. Damn skippy it's hot! Especially this time of year when it's blazing hot in the afternoon, and then it rains pretty hard at night. But its those kinds of rain that only lasts like 2 minutes. Always bring an umbrella if you're going to Bali around January-March. The weather is pretty moody. Probably has PMS...

Lounging around Kuta Beach is a great way to chat with some of the local surfers who give surfing lessons to everyone. Like, literally everyone! You'll pass this one dude and he's gonna be like "Surfing! I teach you surfing. If you cannot, I give money back." And you're like "No. Thanks dude." but he'll just keep on going "Aah come on. One time, one time." But don't get us wrong, they're really nice dudes who'll chat with you all day if you want cause' they practically live on the beach! Now how cool is that?! We talked to this one guy who's been living in Bali for the past 15 years and spends everyday going to the beach to just surf and chill. Who wouldn't wanna be him? Well lots of people I guess..

A few things you need to remember before heading out to Bali. Always bring your sunglasses, sun screen because the sun is probably getting pretty pissed off at us for causing so much global warming. If you can't live without your camera like us, don't forget to bring your camera AND the charger too. If you carry a lomo or analogue camera's, don't forget to bring extra batteries or a battery charger if you've got one of those expensive rechargeable batteries (damn man, they cost around Rp. 86.000 so that is a big no no if you don't need it.)

The locals are really nice. They'll ask a lot of questions, sell you loads of stuff, and if you ask for directions be sure to start your sentence with "Permisi, Beli." One thing that still puzzles me, where do you find a bicyle rental? We've searched far and wide, well along Kuta, Legian and Poppies Lane, but we still cant find it! But we do reccomend you rent a motorbike or bicycle if you plan on going around Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and areas near by. But if you plan on going to other places like Padang-Padang, Uluwatu, Pecatu and other places outside of Kuta, we recommend you rent a car. They range from Rp.150.000-Rp.550.000 including driver.

When you're in Bali and you don't have forever or perhaps only 4 days:
1. You have to go to Tanah Lot and other temples
2. Travel to see beaches that not alot of people know about like Padang-Padang or Blue Point
3. Get to know the locals
4. See the sunset at Kuta Beach
5. See the night life and hang around the bars at Popppies Lane
6. Go tanning and DO NOT FORGET to bring tanning spray
7. Always always spare time to hang out with the local surfers because they are wicked cool
8. If you're on a low budget, never ever force yourself to buy drinks. Say Hi to a random stranger and just perhaps he/she can buy you drink.
9. Go to the beach at night. That is a must.
10. Do not forget to try the local food and local "food". You know, local shrooms. Now that is magic!

Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali

After a long day of adventuring around, it's nice to sit back and see the sunset. It really is. The beach gets pretty crowded because everyone wants to see the sun set. The local lifeguards always standby and they're really nice guys to talk to. Most of them sit and watch the sun set in the watch tower or on that sand car thing. Nice dudes to talk to. They joke about the tourists alot, nice jokes. If you can speak Indonesian, the locals will really open up to you. And... give you local price. See they divide everything. Local price and "bule" price. It's hilarious! Makes you feel so lucky that you're on the local price side.

The sunset's are really flabbergasting. I don't think you can describe it in words. It's.... Oh man! How great is our God? SO GREAT!

Kuta, Bali.

Well, this is Bali! We plan on coming back once a year. You can never get enough of Bali. You really can't. You fall in love with the people, the culture and the islands beauty. Goodbye, Bali. We'll see you soon. Well probably next month or next year. So long!

(If you're wondering who this dude is, his name is Chatra. He was our local tour guide, sort of. An old friend of Tessa's who lives over at Nusa Dua. We had this transportation problem so we decided to ride his motorbike. The 3 of us. We were this close to dying. Doesn't he look thrilled..)

photographs by Priscilla

Suma Siapa is one of Limkokwing 's University students. He’s in his last semester of Multimedia Graphic Design. And we found him out of all illustrators around Indonesia and realized, he’s something different, that he’s a good, good, good Illustrator for his age. So we found his e-mail, and started to interview by Messenger hours after. Why MSN? It’s because we didn’t have any money to fly to Balikpapan. Yes, if we have internet, why fly? LOL.

Hi Suma!

Hi!

Straight to the questions (OK!) what kind of artwork do you love to do?

I love to do 2D as in illustrations. Well, I’m not that good with illustrations, but with my limit I can get even better creations out of it. I actually want to try another kind of 2D art, like installation, but I haven’t reached that level, my brain isn’t that conceptual. :P

We actually know you as a photographer, Suma…

LOL. Yeah, I do both!

Hihi, so since when did you like Illustrating?

I've loved drawing since I was a kid, and I doodled when in High School. My sketches were never neat. So then I turned to an Illustrator (by computer), I can’t draw sketches neatly until now, really.

So, where do you usually get your inspiration? Mostly when you’re in a sad or happy mood?

Anywhere, but no “stuff” for sure. The only three things that work are eyes, brain and hands. Ooh, I’m a cheerful guy, see?

What do you think about people who use drugs as a tool to get inspiration?

From the start, my life’s motto is to be clean, no smoking, no drinks and no drugs obviously. How can I ever get to that principle? I have no idea, that’s how I live my life. Loser? Where did you get that? For me, those reasons (re: drugs consuming, etc.) are their alibi's, those are actually for them to fit in around social groups and looking for an identity that is nonsense. That’s the path of life they chose, I can’t have such an ego, but why do you take drugs when you can just stay clean?

Back to the fact that you’re a photographer as well, what kind of photography do you like?
Portrait's are my favorite, but it doesn’t mean I’m not doing landscape and models.

Who are your favorite artists?

A lot! Efan (anaklangit.deviantart.com), yellowdino, darbotz, locals are good! Don’t have one particular favorite artist, I love people who do their best for work.

About those you look up to, did their work influence or inspire you?

YES, even sometimes I do it too much alike, and the results? Not far from the original work which was the inspiration. In my opinion, originality is something rare (it doesn’t mean that it doesn't exist). What I meant was everyone inspires everyone in doing works, then something "new" is created.

Ever think of moving to Jakarta to be a successful illustrator?

Jakarta? Jakarta doesn’t need people like me, Jakarta and Bandung is now full of nuts (in a good kind of way)! Balikpapan needs me more, here, they still lack design sense and their appreciation for art is still low, so let’s just go back to my town and uplift the needs