What Bad Decisions Do to Us

To the one who says "we'll figure it out later" to my what if, thank you.

I've been thinking lately about some bad decisions did to me, mostly because I just made and probably will continue to make one. I guess we all do.. don't we? We are all familiar with the fixated life phase before, that everyone called schools. The systematic flow curriculum design in a simulated classrooms where pretty much everyone is going through the same process. We miss that, I know I do. I mean, how awesome it was to know that everyone will go to the same schedule and curriculum with you. And now, in every day of tomorrow, you are the sole decision maker of your life - either you decide to take a day off or go to work, go to the gym after or to eat all day, to post it or not in social media, it is really up to you. Whether you want to build your carrier in the office, be an entrepreneur, be a traveller - you name it! And with this kind of freedom, there goes decisions you need to make and pretty much we'd make mistakes by taking a bad one, or two, or three, or four - oh I can keep of going.

A plant grows from solidified lava - a photo by Alice Christophe

But then again, think. From all of those bad decisions we have taken before, how worst are they? Not so much, because we always come through, right?

In my time, I remembered how I thought some of the wrong moves I've took will be the one that actually will knock me down. And sometimes, it is even the simplest one. Like just sending a wrong email where I can say to myself, "Well here it is, end of my career, boom" or when it's pouring rain while we are going down from a summit - "Here goes my life". Thinking back, we (FINE, I) often over exaggerate things and probably this is what we are doing now (if you are in the middle of taking a decision) or at least we'll do again in the future.

I've known better to let go that kind of thinking and replace it with an actual action to prepare for the upcoming situations, and not to be too hard on ourselves by hoping everything is going to be a hundred anymore. It is no longer a test. In case you haven't realize (because sometimes I don't), we are not in the class anymore. There is no one calculating your score of your life. There is no rank. It's just life, whatever you want it to be. Do how you want it to be done and worry less because everyone's already got something on their plate anyway rather to watch what you're doing.

So, bad decisions, what they do to us. It's as the same as what the good one does to us. It gives us an experience, whether it will knock you down or you'd be using it as your future reference to bounce back, it's really your decision. The same thing you'd be decide what breakfast you'll be eating tomorrow morning, and if it tastes bad - move on, find a solution, and try your best not to eat it again.  Hope this writing is going to be useful to us. (Arif Utomo)

Awesome Banyuwangi Trip

Banyuwangi is known most for it's majestic Blue Fire - but is it just about it or is there anything else? I'd like to take you to Banyuwangi to see how it is actually keeping more secrets to us that been overlooked. Check it out.

While many, including me, always know Banyuwangi for just only The Blue Fire, we can't really be blamed for it since the main show is so awfully great and just only two in the world, Iceland and here in Banyuwangi. Don't need to say more about it, I need to see this very rare occasion since it is very much closer than its twin in Iceland. So I decided to go to Banyuwangi about two weeks ago in the early of October 2016 with a group friends of mine.

Going on a trip in October is basically not recommended since it is in the rainy season (unless you are going to Nusa Tenggara and Pulau Komodo, which are rarely raining, most parts of Indonesia are having a rain season from this month to January/February) but we couldn't wait for more. Our starting point is from Jakarta where we are working, which is located on the same island with Banyuwangi only from west to the very east. 

Distance from Jakarta to Banyuwangi - Airport to Airport

We can take two flights from Jakarta and need to change to a smaller plane in Surabaya and fly again to Blimbing Airport in Banyuwangi but you can also go by car from Surabaya after one flight like us for about 6 hour drive. On this trip, I'd like to write top three places I've visited to avoid being too long. I mean, look by now, I've got 3 paragraphs and you haven't see any place review!

Ijen Crater, Banyuwangi

First thing first, I'd like to start with the main dishes: The Blue Fire, the main reason why Banyuwangi name is famous lately. Seeing The Blue Fire is absolutely one of majestic event I've had in my life. Imagine you are witnessing a blue fire coming from a crater in front of you that just happen in two places in the world - surreal. I've learned one or two about this. One, I was wrong thinking that it is the fire from the lava that make the colour of blue. It was actually the colour from the burning process of many sulphuric gasses that was released in high pressure during early morning and combusted at a temperature higher than 350 C - whaaat? I know right, you are welcome though. Two, to reach a view point where you can witness this event is not as easy as you might think, you've got to climb up the mountain in the middle of the night and then climb down to the viewing point. Going up is not so much trouble, but going down in Ijen? Not really, there is a point where you have to pass a cliff on top part of the mountain where there is no obstruction to the wind. It's breezing cold and dark and you know you have a cliff in front of you. It's surreal, I once again reminded of how great Nature is and how we are just the one who is asking permission to make it there. The road that is going down is also a little (I am being humble here) steep but the view (assuming the weather is clear) is one of a kind.

Crowded Weekend - Travellers are waiting for their turn to go down 

Captured to Camera - incomparable in real eyes

The Blue Fire doesn't last really long, at least not as long as we want it to be. As the sun is rising, the phenomenon seems to be stopped. Leaving another unbelievable view of The Wide Blue Greenish Pool in Ijen Crater with its yellow signature of clear sulphur traces.

The Water Way - Hills around the crater that is being carved by the flow of water

The view from this point onwards is still very interesting which I'd prefer to leave it as a mystery for you to discover. What's more importance is to be prepared for your safety to be able to witness this and go back in one peace. Here is a list of what you will need to remember:

1. Time to start summit is recommended on around 11.30 PM or midnight and it is pretty much crowded on the weekend.

2. Bring your H2S mask and don't go too near to the crater without supervision, remember this is an active mountain which is exerting H2S.

3. Bring a head lamp or a flashlight since it is going to be very dark and you'll be very close to steep cliffs.

4. Have warm cloths to put on, the temperature can be very cold with the occasional of winds.

5. Do not rush your way, you'll come across to the local miners who is mining sulphur in here and they are carrying kilos of sulphur on the way, so please let them pass before you.

The Green Bay

The Green Bay that is located in Rajegwesi Village appeals highly to me due to a very little information before. This is actually the first destination for us in Banyuwangi, and we have no idea how, so we don't set expectation at all for this particular place. Once we crossed to The Green Bay, we started to be awed by the view: greenish color of sea with small islands and cliffs nearby. To be short (forgive me for comparing), it is like Phuket with its light brown sands layout and small fresh waterfalls on the beach complimented with green sceneries to make it even better.

It's one of the beach that gonna make you open your shirt and go into the water even you know you'll climb a mountain tonight. The waves are not so rough and unlike Red Island which is famous for its surfer waves but is enough to make it interesting. The fresh waterfall in behind is seems to be prepared for you to clean up and occasionally monkey is passing by the beach. Seems too much?

Phuket like view - the greenish sea and island as you cross Green Bay

Local in the Island - lucky to meet the owner of the beach and island 

Playing in the beach - great view good waves warm water, why not?

Baluran National Park - Little Africa in Java

Baluran National Park is one of the destination that I am excited with because it is known as the great reverse for many protected animals and plants, so great that it is also claimed as the Africa van Java. On this particular place, you are expected to see the interaction of many animals in their natural like habitat and it is not really hard to have encounters with some of them like bulls, deers, monkeys, and peacocks that often seen nearby the road.

Although they are easily to be spotted, they tend to refuse to come closer just like in the wilds but it is even greater by giving you the real idea. But worry not, the location is charming as it is. Picture of a wide savanna with trees and dry grasses is spotted in many areas of this National Park.

Crossing Savanna - Deers are seen to walk in the savanna

Not Today Bro - Male Peacock is enjoying its meal

There's a particular tree that simply became everyone's favourite by living alone in the middle of the savanna, make it as the centre of view. As soon as travellers came down, they always came by the tree to take a picture and days later I realized that many people who visited this place on different days are also taking picture in this very same tree. When everyone is done and get on the car, I manage to take the picture of this mighty one, standing alone. Just make sure you say hi to this one, it gets lonely sometime.

Living Alone - A tree is seen alone in the savanna

So that be it, three places I have picked from my trip to Banyuwangi. Thank you so much for reading this and I sincerely apologize if there is anything that goes wrong in the way I explain things, since it really is coming from my perspective. I hope you enjoy what I've been writing in this post, which is my very first post in a blog. Thank you! (Arif Utomo)