TOUR DE BENGKULU

Saturday 2 May 2009,

Without any preparation, i and my wife, my sister inlaw and her husband flied to Bengkulu.

"Lion Air" bring us with Boeing 737 big bird i think...pilot Sulaeman landed it smoothly and just perfect at Fatmawati Soekarno small airport. Time said 10.30 am

Romo Dwijo Soekarno with his full of smile, has wait us in the arrival door. He is not changed, still charming as before ( we meet him every week at St.Stephanus - Cilandak, Jakarta ). Almost five years, he moved to Bengkulu.

Bengkulu for me is unique. Small beach bay city, along West side of Sumatra. Above the Province of Lampung. Pantai Panjang beach really give us a natural sceen with pine tree along the bay...hmm...nice breeth...

With his "Jakarta Kijang" Romo bring us to the villages and some heritage places. The history told that Bengkulu was colonied by England, and because of war Bengkulu has to be bartered with Singapore. So .. England move to Singapore, and give Bengkulu to Indonesia...( imagine if Bengkulu still under England...it will become a fantastic city...just like Singapore).

The city is quite, no traffic jamb, trees look fresh....people are moving...means economic growing...crued palm forestry is everywhere...

We finally arrived at St.Yohanes Church where Romo Dwijo stay and lead the Church. He built this new church, a huge building for the scale of the city. Uniqely, he made a statue of Yohanes .. very impresive.... the artist made it from cement and carved with spoon...

We visit Romo actually to do a design for Chapel at Mukomuko... 6 hours from Bengkulu city.

And Romo also has a plan to extend the Pastoran. Fantasticly...the Pastoran has a beach view...

We go out for lunch, and drived around the city. And Romo dropped us to the Grage Horison Hotel, the finest hotel in the city. Then we take a rest. Romo has to prepare a mass at 5.00 pm

See you tomorrow....

5.30 pm the sun set looks beautiful, we went there, and take a pictures from the beach.

Dinner with seafood at "Laurent" Toro the driver suggestion, first impression .. so quite...but then become crowded.

Back to the hotel...and...good night.

Sunday 3 May 2009,

Mass at St.Yohanes church...at 7.30 am..Romo Yudha lead the mass. Some sisters from the congregation of Carolus Borromeus were there. Finish with mass, we went to the heritage places, like Fatmawati House, Soekarno House, Fort Marborough, Tapak Paderi, and others.

Can't wait for lunch, we found Padang Sederhana Bintaro....hm...weird...

We went to Lake "Dendam tak sudah" means unfinish revenge....Romo Dwijo brought us there.

We enjoy the lake with drink coconut water. Romo really enjoy travelling actually, he told us that he drive himself accross the way to Lampung.

4.30 pm we have to reach the airport, after we went to Bengkulu Expo. We reach airport at 4.30 pm...but surprise surprise...the airport still closed...wait until 5.00 pm.

Flied at 6.00 and arrived at Cengkareng 7.00...back home...

Thanks alot...Romo Dwijo....we'll meet again...later.