Memorable Makassar

What's there in Makassar...honestly when we first bought the ticket...i seriously didn't know the answer to that question...back then we just go ahead and bought it for weekend getaway and get the information later...coz the tiket was about RM150 return...

We departed from LCCT at about 2.30 pm...there's a re-time...originally it was supposed to be at 1.30 pm...but its okay...just an hour difference...the flight took nearly 3 hours...once we reach Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport...we immediately took taxi coz its already dark outside...originally we planned to take a bus since it will be much cheaper...the taxi ride from the airport to our hotel which was in the heart of the town cost about IDR60,000...its okay...and if opted for the taxi to use the highway...we have to add in for the tol ticket...ermmm...nevermind...we were not in a rush...

Arrived in the hotel which was in the Chinatown area of Makassar...seriously it was walking distance to Fort Rotterdam...very nearby...we spent the two nites in New Legend Hotel...3rd floor...no lift...hahaha...booked through Agoda for USD59 for two nites for two people...fair enough...its a basic hotel with aircond and ensuite bathroom and hot shower with LCD TV...which suit us just fine since the hotel was only as a transit in a way for us to put our things...take a bath and sleep...its simplicity at its best...

That nite we walked all the way to Losari Beach which took about 20 minutes walking time...with our speed that is...then walk back to the hotel waiting for the next day to come...comes the next day...there's a couple who will be joining us...Amy's couchsurfing friends...

Mathias and Naomy happened to be staying at the same hotel...once they arrived the very morning...immediately we just walked to the jetty and chartered a boat to Samalona Island...we were so lucky to have Indonesian friend among us as Naomy managed to bargained the price from IDR500,000 to IDR300,000 for the whole boat for the 4 of us...it took about roughly 20 mins to reach the island...beautiful little island with the water so clear that you can see the bottom clearly...we rent the snorkeling gear for IDR50,000 per person...we also happened to pay about IDR50,000 for the some-sort of sad looking patio where we left our things...then made our way to the snorkeling area...it was seriously nice...i have few cuts from the corals as a proof...one more thing about the beach was that...it goes deep rather steep...one minute you still can put your feet at the bottom...and one minute you are 3 metres deep and it can goes on further like a slide terrain of sands in the sea...i can just imagined those who can't swim can really go panic...you can easily determined from the tone of the water...from clear...to a bit green then goes blue...seriously nice...but a bit dangerous...luckily i can swim...hehehe...i got too excited spending the morning away under the sun that i got more sunburn...which the two weeks before i also got sunburn from my trip to Lombok...

Enough with the beach...we went back to the hotel to freshen up then off to Fort Rotterdam to take some pics then made our way directly to Trans Studio Mall Makassar...owh yeah...we also hired a supir for IDR350,000 for 24 hours...which goes from 3pm on Saturday till 3pm on Sunday...we only had to add in about IDR100,000 more for the fuel...had our late lunch in one of the Indonesian outlet there...and i was caught to buy my lil bro a belated birthday present at Boss Orange that have 40% discount...errrr...then we made our way to find massage place...tired out you see...we missed watching sunset in Losari Beach which by the way is known to have spectacular view of sunset...we found a massage place that cost IDR75,000 for 1.5 hours massage...walaweih...hehehe...after that we went for seafood dinner in Lae Lae restaurant in the Culinary Area of Makassar...had grilled fish...prawns and kangkung...with water and rice...for 4 of us...cost IDR130,000...freaking cheap weih...done with the food...off back we went to the hotel to sleep...but i went out that nite to the Losari Beach area to really try that grilled banana with chocolate topping...ermmm...i don't know what's with Makassar and banana...it was sold everywhere...i mean like everywhere...along the Losari Beach alone i think there must be at least 100++ stalls that sell the same thing...really need to try...so i end up doing just that...by the seaside...accompanied by hot cappucino...cost me just IDR20,000...fair enough...then off me back to the hotel and sleep...as the next day will be the final day...

Woke up in the morning...had simple breakfast which was included in the hotel rate...check out and off we went to Bantimurung Waterfalls about 1 hour away from Makassar...Naomy bought the ticket for IDR15,000 per person...the whole area had be somehow renovated into pool here and there...with free source of water...some sort like Ciater in Bandung...the only difference is that Ciater is a hot spring...while Bantimurung is a waterfall....we walked up the hills until the end of the area as there was a cave...the tour guide told a group of people there (we didn't hire the tour guide but there was another group of family around so we overheard the explanation) that a man once had secluded himself in the cave for 40 days...errrr...eeeriieeee place weih...dark too...scary weih...but it was some experience...hehehehe...after that we stop by Leang Leang Prehistoric Garden that has all those pre-historic rocks laying around the area...there was also cave...two to be exact...with some sort of pre-historic evidence...ermmm...the first one required us to go up the stairs...about 20 metres off the ground...i got some issue with heights...so i quickly went down when i felt that my feet is getting cold...hehehe...then we went to another cave...which have a lot of seashells around...ahaaa...they believed that that area use to be an ocean during the prehistoric time...ermmm...interesting...also there were hand marks...ohoooo...they had the area locked to preserve...good work yo... 

It was hot and we went back to the city with the intention of having lunch in one of the malls...Naomy has to take a bus at 4 pm...but with the heavy traffic on the way back to the city...we decided we'll just have lunch around the area that near to the place Naomy supposed to wait for her bus...her husband will take flight back to Jakarta scheduled at 8pm...while Amy and I will take the flight at 5.30 pm...so we said our goodbyes and went directly to the airport...not much hassle at the airport...and i have to say...that the airport is seriously nice...way nicer than some of the airports that i had been to in Indonesia...obviously better than Bandung...Surabaya...Solo...just to name a few...its kinda new...built in 2008...it only cater for two international route...one to Singapore and the other one to Kuala Lumpur...the rest are to the other part of Indonesia...but there's a lot of flights to Makassar...a lot of people too going to Makassar...ermmm...interesting...we said our goodbye to Makassar and hop on the place en route back to Kuala Lumpur...overall i spent less than RM500 all inclusive with the airfare for this weekend getaway...

Seriously if anyone ask me again...what's there in Makassar...i will just answer...you have to be there to find out...coz it is a big city...the biggest city in Sulawesi...but it was not as hectic as Jakarta...kinda safe too...its not as modern as Jakarta...but there's something new to explore and see...lots of islands nearby...not only Samalona...there's more...this city also kinda remind me of Kota Kinabalu a bit...coz its a city by the sea...it has that same vibe...the breezy ocean air...whoaaaa...cool huh...so...if there's another single soul who ask me what's there in Makassar...i will just answer...it was a memorable Makassar...

T.Y.S