The Family Trip To Bali

And somehow the strongest impression I have is how narrow the roads were, so narrow that every car slowed down to a crawl. The trip to Bali was filled with car rides. Lots of them, from one point to another, for a long time. After five visits, it seemed like Bali had lost its charm. 

Now let's look back a bit. Bali was my wife's idea. The last time she went to Bali was 15 years ago. Since the kids also hadn't been there before, it sounded like a good idea. Yani did the itinerary, Linda chose the hotel in Seminyak (Courtyard by Marriott), and the rest of us tagged along. When I said the rest of us, I meant my mum and brother, too. Yani suggested we meet up in Bali.

Yani, Audrey and Linda, posing before our flight to Bali.

So there we were, arriving first on Tuesday noon. Ngurah Rai International Airport looked rather grand, but the design was kind of odd. It was quite glaring that the whole stretch of autogates was almost unused while the foreigners, us included, flocked to the center for manual passport stamping. The system was clearly not working here.

Anyway, after about an hour and a half, we collected our luggage and took Grab to Ubud. We spent about one hour and 48 minutes to get to Maya Ubud Resort and Spa, the first of many long hour rides we'd have. We checked in, rested a bit and it was time for dinner. Had our meal at Pison Coffee, a delicious fried rice for me, and that was it for the day!

Taking a break after exploring the paddy fields.

The next day began with Tegalalang, the famous terraced rice fields. It looked beautiful, but going up and down the paddy fields was challenging. I was worried about Audrey and very relieved when the excursion was over. By the time we left around 10:18 AM, the weather was already hot and humid.

Bali Pulina was a more relaxed destination. It was basically a quick, educational trip to hear about luwak, and then it was time for its coffee. I ordered lupis, too, because it reminded me of BL when he queued and bought it for us during our trip to Yogyakarta. The one in Bali wasn't as nice, though. 

Audrey at Bali Pulina.

From there, we went to Sari Dewi and checked out the silver collection, because that's what you do when you're in Ubud, a place renowned for its art and craft. Then it was time for lunch at Bebek Tepi Sawah, where we literally ate ducks next to the rice fields.

The long commute began right after that. The driver and I dropped Yani and the kids at the hotel, a short but badly jammed journey, then we made our way down to the airport. All in all, we spent almost three hours on the road. It was already evening when I picked up my mum and brother, so we had dinner at Pandaloka Signature, a Chinese restaurant. It was nine o'clock by the time we returned to Maya Ubud. After a quick catch-up between grandchildren and grandma, we called it a night.

At Maya Ubud, after we checked out.

The following day began with a visit to the Ubud Art Market and then Ubud Palace. The response was lackluster. Mum wasn't keen on bargaining, and Yani was sweating profusely at the market. We had a late breakfast at Ibu Rai and almost didn't make it to Kayana. I suggested that even though we were still full, perhaps we could share the meal and nibble. Turned out that the pork ribs at Kayana were the highlight of Balinese cuisine. They were the best.

It rained heavily while we were there. We returned to Maya Ubud to collect our luggage and headed to Seminyak. It was another three hours through many, many narrow roads. It suddenly hit me that at the rate we were going, I wasn't sure if I liked Bali anymore. But Seminyak did help a bit. The vibrant vibe of it suited me better than the quiet, mystical Ubud. After we finished eating at Ambermoon Restaurant, my brother and I headed to Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel. Finally, something that excited me! The Rock Shop for Hotel Collection was huge!

Seminyak Beach.

The next morning started slow and near. We had a solid breakfast, then headed to Seminyak Beach. It didn't seem to be as crowded as it should be. Good for us, but wasn't good for the locals that relied on tourism. And we certainly didn't contribute much, apart from paying IDR 100K for a pair of beach loungers with umbrellas. And the heat! We soon made our way to Nook for lunch. 

Lunch at Nook was fine. The place was quite funky. Then it was shopping time at Krisna Sunset Road, but the one that caught my attention was the cash registers. They were still running on Windows XP! Once Mum was done, most of us returned to the hotel. Yani accompanied Linda to check out the thrift store, only to discover that it didn't open. The day eventually ended with the visit of my cousin Dewi and dinner at Dua Sisi, a restaurant nearby. 

When Dewi came visiting.

Last effective day in Bali began with a breakfast with another cousin, Andreas. I last saw him in 2022, when I visited Bali for Dewi's wedding. Always nice to hang out with him again, though both he and Dewi did mention the deteriorating charm of Bali. It just wasn't what it used to be. 

Around noon, we visited Lestari, a proper thrift store that Linda liked. But the shopping ended prematurely because her mum decided it was time to go, haha. We headed to Jimbaran where we had seafood at Lia Cafe. The beach was sad, but at least the food was decent. It was here that Linda declared she liked Koh Samui better than Bali. The weather, especially. Koh Samui was breezy and cooling, everything Bali wasn't.

With my brother Herry in Jimbaran. 

We went to GWK after lunch, but then Yani decided that we wouldn't have enough time for sightseeing as we needed to go to Uluwatu immediately to watch Kecak Dance. The dance was not Phantom of the Opera, but it got better after the appearance of Hanuman. If not for the monkey god, it wouldn't be entertaining at all. It was already dark when the dance finished, so we had dinner at Warung Laota, but not the one in Jimbaran. It was full house, hence we visited the one in Tuban instead.

And that brought me to the question from my wife: "How's the trip?" We had two family trips this year, and I'd say I loved the visit to Perth better. The experience was entirely new. Bali was... tiresome. I think my wife had done her best, but between the weather and the time spent in the car, Bali failed to meet my expectation. The only saving grace was our time together as a family. It was precious, a brilliant moment courtesy of my wife...

Trip Keluarga Ke Bali

Entah mengapa, kesan terkuat tentang Bali kali ini adalah betapa sempitnya jalanan di sana, begitu sempitnya sampai-sampai setiap mobil harus berjalan sangat pelan. Kita selalu duduk di dalam mobil. Sangat sering, dari satu titik ke titik lain, dalam waktu yang lama. Setelah kunjungan kelima ini, rasanya Bali mulai pudar pesonanya.

Mari kita kilas balik sedikit. Bali adalah ide istri saya. Terakhir kali ia ke Bali adalah 15 tahun yang lalu. Karena anak-anak juga belum pernah ke sana, kedengarannya seperti ide yang bagus. Yani menyusun rencana perjalanan, Linda memilih hotel di Seminyak (Courtyard by Marriott), dan kami hanya ikut saja. Yang saya maksud dengan "kami" termasuk ibu dan saudara laki-laki saya juga. Yani menyarankan agar kami bertemu saja langsung di Bali.

Yani, Audrey dan Linda, di pesawat menuju Bali.

Jadi, kami tiba lebih dulu pada Selasa siang. Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai terlihat cukup megah, tapi desainnya agak aneh. Sangat terlihat mencolok bahwa seluruh deretan auto-gate hampir tidak digunakan, sementara turis asing—termasuk kami—berkerumun di tengah untuk stempel paspor manual. Sistemnya jelas tidak berjalan di sini.

Setelah antri di imigrasi sekitar satu setengah jam, kami mengambil bagasi dan naik Grab menuju Ubud. Butuh waktu sekitar satu jam 48 menit untuk sampai ke Maya Ubud Resort and Spa—perjalanan panjang pertama dari sekian banyak perjalanan berjam-jam yang akan kami lalui. Kami check-in, istirahat sejenak, dan tibalah waktu makan malam. Kami makan di Pison Coffee; nasi goreng yang lezat untuk saya, dan selesailah hari itu!

Bersantai sejenak setelah menyusuri Tegalalang.

Hari berikutnya dimulai dengan Tegalalang, sawah terasering yang terkenal itu. Pemandangannya indah, tapi naik-turun pematang sawah cukup menantang. Saya mengkhawatirkan Audrey dan merasa sangat lega ketika aktivitas itu berakhir. Saat kami pergi sekitar pukul 10:18 pagi, cuaca sudah panas dan lembab.

Bali Pulina adalah destinasi yang lebih santai. Intinya hanya edukasi singkat tentang luwak, lalu tiba waktunya untuk mencicipi kopinya. Saya juga memesan lupis yang mengingatkan saya pada BL saat ia antri dan membelikannya untuk kami saat kita berlibur di Yogyakarta. Namun, yang di Bali ini rasanya tidak seenak itu.

Audrey di Bali Pulina.

Dari sana, kami pergi ke Sari Dewi dan melihat-lihat koleksi perak, karena itulah yang biasa dilakukan saat di Ubud, tempat yang terkenal dengan seni dan kerajinannya. Lantas tiba waktunya untuk makan siang di Bebek Tepi Sawah, di mana kami benar-benar makan bebek di pinggir sawah.

Kemacetan panjang dimulai tepat setelah itu. Saya dan sopir mengantar Yani serta anak-anak ke hotel—perjalanan pendek tapi macet parah—lalu kami menuju bandara. Secara keseluruhan, kami menghabiskan hampir tiga jam di jalan. Hari sudah malam saat saya menjemput ibu dan adik saya, jadi kami makan malam di Pandaloka Signature, sebuah restoran Mandarin. Sudah jam sembilan malam saat kami kembali ke Maya Ubud. Setelah cucu dan nenek melepas rindu sejenak, kami pun beristirahat.

Di Maya Ubud, setelah kita check out.

Hari berikutnya dimulai dengan kunjungan ke Pasar Seni Ubud lalu ke Puri Ubud. Responsnya biasa saja. Mama tidak suka tawar-menawar, dan Yani berkeringat deras di pasar. Kami sarapan agak siang di Ibu Rai dan hampir saja batal ke Kayana. Saya menyarankan, meski masih kenyang, mungkin kami bisa berbagi makanan dan mencicipi sedikit saja. Ternyata, iga babi di Kayana adalah hidangan terbaik dalam kuliner Bali kali ini. Rasanya juara.

Hujan deras turun saat kami di sana. Kami kembali ke Maya Ubud untuk mengambil koper,  lalu menuju Seminyak. Perjalanan tiga jam lagi melewati banyak sekali jalan sempit. Tiba-tiba saya sadar, dengan ritme perjalanan seperti ini, saya tidak yakin apakah saya masih menyukai Bali. Tapi Seminyak sedikit membantu. Suasananya yang hidup lebih cocok bagi saya daripada Ubud yang tenang dan mistis. Setelah selesai makan di Restoran Ambermoon, kami menuju Hard Rock Cafe dan Hotel. Akhirnya, sesuatu yang membuat saya antusias! Rock Shop untuk koleksi hotelnya sangat besar!

Di Pantai Seminyak.

Keesokan paginya dimulai dengan santai dan tidak jauh-jauh. Kami sarapan dengan porsi mantap, lalu menuju Pantai Seminyak. Rasanya tidak seramai yang saya ingat. Bagus untuk kami, tapi tidak bagus bagi warga lokal yang bergantung pada pariwisata. Dan kami tidak berkontribusi banyak, hanya membayar Rp 100.000 untuk sepasang kursi pantai dengan payung. Dan panasnya itu! Kami segera bergegas ke Nook untuk makan siang.

Makan siang di Nook lumayan oke. Tempatnya cukup unik. Lalu waktunya belanja di Krisna Sunset Road, tapi yang menarik perhatian saya adalah mesin kasirnya. Mereka masih menggunakan Windows XP! Begitu Mama selesai belanja, sebagian besar dari kami kembali ke hotel. Yani menemani Linda mencari toko barang bekas (thrift store), tapi ternyata tokonya tidak buka. Hari itu berakhir dengan kunjungan sepupu saya, Dewi, dan makan malam di Dua Sisi, sebuah restoran terdekat.

Ketika Dewi datang berkunjung.

Hari efektif terakhir di Bali dimulai dengan sarapan bersama sepupu lainnya, Andreas. Terakhir saya bertemu dengannya tahun 2022, saat saya mengunjungi Bali untuk pernikahan Dewi. Selalu menyenangkan bisa mengobrol dengannya lagi, meski ia dan Dewi sama-sama menyebutkan bahwa pesona Bali mulai memudar. Sudah tidak seperti dulu lagi.

Sekitar tengah hari, kami mengunjungi Lestari, toko thrift yang sebenarnya, yang disukai Linda. Tapi acara belanja berakhir prematur karena ibunya memutuskan sudah waktunya pergi, haha. Kami menuju Jimbaran untuk makan hidangan laut di Lia Cafe. Pantainya terasa menyedihkan, tapi setidaknya makanannya lumayan. Di sinilah Linda menyatakan bahwa ia lebih suka Koh Samui daripada Bali. Terutama cuacanya. Koh Samui berangin dan sejuk, sedangkan Bali sungguh bertolak belakang.

Bersama adik saya Herry di Jimbaran. 

Kami pergi ke GWK setelah makan siang, tapi kemudian Yani memutuskan kami tidak akan punya cukup waktu untuk melihat-lihat karena harus segera ke Uluwatu untuk menonton Tari Kecak. Pertunjukannya bukan sekelas Phantom of the Opera, tapi mulai terasa seru setelah kemunculan Hanuman. Jika bukan karena sang dewa kera, pertunjukan itu tidak akan menghibur sama sekali. Hari sudah gelap saat tarian selesai, jadi kami makan malam di Warung Laota, tapi bukan yang di Jimbaran. Di sana penuh sesak, jadi kami makan di cabang Tuban.

Dan paragraf terakhir di atas membawa saya kembali pada pertanyaan dari istri saya: "Bagaimana perjalanannya?" Kami melakukan dua perjalanan keluarga tahun ini, dan saya harus bilang bahwa saya lebih suka kunjungan ke Perth. Pengalamannya benar-benar baru. Bali itu... melelahkan. Saya rasa istri saya sudah melakukan yang terbaik, tapi di antara faktor cuaca dan waktu yang habis di dalam mobil, Bali gagal memenuhi ekspektasi saya. Bila ada yang layak dikenang, maka itu adalah waktu kebersamaan kami sebagai keluarga. Itu sangat berharga, sebuah momen luar biasa berkat istri saya...

Parental Bonding III: Koh Samui

It all started with a simple thought that after visiting a modern city like Hong Kong and a laid-back hometown of mine, it felt like time for me and Linda to embark on another father-daughter trip again. I was thinking that the destination had to be a third-world country, so that Linda would learn that not everywhere in this world was the same as Singapore. It had to be somewhere we weren't familiar with, hence I ruled out Indonesia.

If it was up to me, we would have gone to Clark, Philippines. It's a city with a newly opened Hard Rock Cafe, definitely ticking all the boxes on my checklist. Surianto was keen to go along, but Endrico did his homework and vetoed the idea. Between Clark and Koh Samui, he was of the opinion that the latter was more suitable for kids. 

I was open to his suggestion. One ship, one captain, that's how we always do it. True to our tradition, Endrico became Captain Thailand II (the first one was Hendra, and we went to both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai). What made it slightly different this round was, unlike the usual trip where the Captain sat back and relaxed, Endrico poured his heart and soul into making it a successful trip. 

In hindsight, it was a good thing. Despite my past experiences, I was never a seasoned island traveler. Always more of a city person, I was out of my depth and would have been an ill-suited planner for this trip. Now that Endrico was taking charge, he did a good job in coming up with an itinerary that I would have never dreamt of, but yet found it enjoyable. Taty soon tagged along with her son, too.

At the airport, right after we landed.

We settled our tickets back in August 2025. About three months later, at 7 AM, we were already on our way to Koh Samui. We arrived early and the first thing we saw, the airport, impressed us very much. It was nothing like any airport we had seen before. Koh Samui International Airport had an open-air concept that made us feel like passing through a series of connected huts instead of one proper building!

The kids posing nearby Daybreak Villa. 

The Airbnb pick-up guys were there to greet us. Oh yes, while I am always a hotel person, Endrico is a big Airbnb fan, so he'd naturally go for it. The Daybreak Villa he rented was not only brilliant, but it had a beautiful view as well. Both adults and kids loved it. But since we arrived 8:30 AM at the doorstep, we couldn't check in yet. After leaving our luggages with Nok the Airbnb receptionist, we walked to our first destination: Wat Plai Laem. 

Endrico at Wat Plai Laem.

Under the leadership of Captain Thailand II, we soon lost our way, haha. But Endrico rectified this real quick, and we eventually reached the temple. It was probably Linda's first temple visit, but I reckon she enjoyed feeding the catfish more. That and talking to Yuna, the daughter of Surianto. Throughout the trip, they were inseparable.

Linda and Yuna at the Big Buddha Temple.

Next stop was the Big Buddha Temple. It was so-so only. The staircase was akin to a lightweight version of the one in Leshan, though. We didn't stay long there. I called Grab and got a female driver called Mai, who drove us to KOB by the Sea for lunch. Not exactly spectacular, but it started the precedent: the adults would go for Thai food while the kids preferred Western such as spaghetti and pizza.

The prepaid card!

The restaurant accepted card payments, but it was probably one of a few that did so. I'd soon learn that transactions in Koh Samui were still largely cash only. Determined to try out the QR code payment, when we were at Central Samui, I went through the hassle of applying for a Pay&Tour prepaid card that could be linked to the TAGTHAI app. However, much to my chagrin, most places neither accepted card payments nor displayed the PromptPay QR code.

Dinner at Sunset View Restaurant.

We returned to Daybreak Villa and only went out again to catch the sunset at Taling Ngam Beach on the west side of the island. But since the weather in Koh Samui was always cloudy, we saw no sunset. The dinner at Sunset View Restaurant was pretty decent, though. It marked the end of our adventure on Day One. 

Surianto and the pig of Koh Mat Sum.

Koh Mat Sum, better known as Pig Island, was our first destination on the second day. To get there, we first headed to Thong Krut Pier to board the speedboat. It was a wild ride, and the sea was kind of rough. But if we were ever worried, that feeling subsided when we landed. It was mind-blowing to see pigs of any size, from piglets to full-grown potbelly pigs. My only disappointment was not being able to see the pigs swimming in the sea.

The capsized kayak!

Less than an hour later, we made our way to Koh Tean, the neighboring island. It was so quiet that it was almost like a private island! Endrico went kayaking with her second daughter, but they capsized in two minutes! The second attempt was much more successful. They joined us for lunch afterwards. For such an isolated island, the meal was surprisingly good!

Enjoying the time in Koh Tean.

We returned to Koh Samui right after that. I had the most dreadful feeling during the 16-minute ride. My daughter sat in the bow area with other girls, going up and down as the speedboat bounced over the waves. I was worried sick. One unfortunate bump could flip her overboard, and I couldn't help thinking so. But she was happy, as if she were having the best time of her life.

At Coco Tam's.

Anyway, we made it back safely and returned to Daybreak Villa. It was late in the afternoon when we headed to Fisherman's Village Walking Street. It was like the Thai style of Taiwan's Shihlin Market. The wind was blowing mercilessly the entire time we were there. Nice place, nice ambience. Endrico also secured a strategic spot at Coco Tam's to watch the fire show. Food was great, too. But still, we supplemented it with Taco Bell on our way out, haha.

The viewpoint of Overlap Stone.

Mai was back to drive us around on the third day. We stopped at Lamai Post Office before reaching Overlap Stone. The way up somehow reminded me of the journey to see the Golden Rock Pagoda in Myanmar. It was so steep that it felt like it could go wrong any time. The viewpoint was fine, but the strong wind really added the thrill. I mean, since the security is kind of lacking, any misstep could result in a fatal accident and the relentless wind surely didn't help. 

The Red Temple.

Taty joined us at the Red Temple, which was located just across the street, opposite our starting point. She and her son visited Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo, but it had not much to see and she found it eerie to see many tigers pacing restlessly during their visit, so they quickly left. 

Linda in Hin Ta Hin Yai.

From the Red Temple, we went to Hin Ta Hin Yai, which was basically a rocky beach with a standing stone that would remind the adults of something familiar. After that we finally headed to McDonald's for lunch. Next stop was Haven Samui Community Mall, a newer but smaller shopping area. Not much to see there, so off we went to Capybara World Koh Samui. The kids loved it there, but Surianto was probably the most excited one!

Surianto and capybara.

Just like the first two days, we returned to Daybreak Villa to rest. Later on at night, we went to Chaweng Beach Road. ARKbar was an interesting place, but it was too loud for dinner, so we walked a bit and eventually had our meal at Thai Spices. Ordered a crocodile steak but didn't tell the kids what meat it was until they finished eating. They liked it, and much to our amusement, they only shrugged their shoulders after we told them.

At Divas Cabaret.

The main event for the night was Divas Cabaret. Endrico had always been an adventurous father, and he thought it was time for the kids to have their first taste of nightlife, so there we were, watching the performance of the lady boys. I had an initial discomfort, always the case when I watched cabaret shows in Thailand, but with songs like Phantom of the Opera and Dancing Queen, it immediately felt fine. The power of music! It brought us together, regardless who or what we are!

Choeng Mon Beach.

Then came the last morning in Koh Samui. We went for coffee at the Amazon Cafe near our villa, then walked along the tranquil Choeng Mon Beach as we headed back to the hotel. We had a slight detour for a local roadside food vendors and I finally got my chance to scan the PromptPay QR code using my TAGTHAi app! The last 40 baht bought us four sticks of chicken satay. 

Endrico boarding the flight to Singapore.

Packing up and heading back to airport to collect our boarding passes, we were once again amazed by how open the airport was. Very unique, really. The road leading to the departure gates had shops lining both sides. After having our passports stamped, we flew back to Singapore, bringing back with us the good memories of Koh Samui... 

Liburan Ortu Dan Anak Ronde III: Koh Samui

Semuanya berawal dari pemikiran sederhana bahwa setelah kunjungan ke kota modern seperti Hong Kong dan kampung halaman saya yang santai, kini tiba waktunya bagi saya dan Linda untuk kembali melakukan perjalanan ayah-anak lagi. Saya berpikir tujuannya haruslah negara berkembang, agar Linda bisa belajar bahwa tidak semua tempat di dunia ini sama seperti Singapura. Tempatnya haruslah asing bagi kami, jadi saya mencoret Indonesia dari daftar.

Kalau saya yang memutuskan, kami pasti sudah pergi ke Clark, Filipina. Ada Hard Rock Cafe yang baru buka di sana, pastinya memenuhi semua kriteria dalam daftar keinginan saya. Surianto bersemangat untuk ikut, tapi Endrico melakukan riset dan dia memaparkan alternatif lain. Antara Clark dan Koh Samui, dia berpendapat bahwa Koh Samui lebih cocok untuk anak-anak.

Saya terbuka terhadap sarannya. Satu kapal, satu nahkoda, begitulah cara main kami biasanya. Sesuai tradisi, Endrico menjadi Kapten Thailand II (yang pertama adalah Hendra, saat kami pergi ke Chiang Mai dan Chiang Rai). Yang membuatnya sedikit berbeda kali ini adalah, tidak seperti perjalanan biasanya di mana sang Kapten cuma duduk manis dan bersantai, Endrico benar-benar berupaya keras demi suksesnya perjalanan ini.

Kalau dipikir-pikir lagi, itu ada bagusnya. Terlepas dari pengalaman masa lalu saya, saya bukanlah pelancong pulau yang handal. Karena saya lebih suka suasana kota, hal ini di luar keahlian saya dan saya mungkin akan menjadi perencana yang buruk untuk perjalanan ini. Karena Endrico yang mengambil alih, dia berhasil menyusun rencana perjalanan yang tak pernah terpikirkan oleh saya, namun ternyata sangat saya nikmati pula. Taty pun lekas ikut bergabung bersama putranya.

Di bandara, saat tiba di Koh Samui.

Kami membeli tiket sejak Agustus 2025. Sekitar tiga bulan kemudian, pukul 7 pagi, kami sudah dalam perjalanan menuju Koh Samui. Kami tiba lebih awal dan hal pertama yang kami lihat, yaitu bandaranya, sangatlah mengesankan. Sama sekali tidak seperti bandara mana pun yang pernah kami lihat sebelumnya. Bandara Internasional Koh Samui memiliki konsep terbuka yang membuat kami merasa seolah-olah sedang melewati serangkaian pondok yang saling terhubung, bukannya sebuah gedung bandara pada umumnya!

Anak-anak berpose di depan Daybreak Villa.

Petugas penjemput Airbnb sudah ada di sana untuk menyambut kami. Oh ya, walaupun saya ini tipe orang yang lebih suka hotel, Endrico adalah penggemar berat Airbnb, jadi wajar saja dia memilih itu. Daybreak Villa yang dia sewa tidak hanya luar biasa, tapi juga punya pemandangan yang indah. Baik orang dewasa maupun anak-anak menyukainya. Tapi karena kami tiba pukul 8:30 pagi di lokasi, kami belum bisa check-in. Setelah menitipkan barang bawaan pada Nok, resepsionis Airbnb, kami berjalan kaki menuju tujuan pertama kami: Wat Plai Laem.

Endrico di Wat Plai Laem.

Di bawah kepemimpinan Kapten Thailand II, kami tak butuh waktu lama untuk tersesat, haha. Tapi Endrico segera memperbaiki situasi ini dengan cepat, dan akhirnya kami sampai di kuil tersebut. Mungkin ini kunjungan kuil pertama Linda, tapi sepertinya dia lebih menikmati memberi makan ikan lele. Dia juga akrab mengobrol dengan Yuna, putri Surianto. Sepanjang perjalanan, mereka berdua tak terpisahkan.

Linda dan Yuna di Big Buddha Temple.

Pemberhentian berikutnya adalah Big Buddha Temple. Tempatnya biasa-biasa saja. Tangga ke patung Buddha mirip versi mini dari ratusan anak tangga yang ada di Leshan. Tak lama kemudian, kami memesan Grab dan mendapatkan pengemudi wanita bernama Mai, yang mengantar kami ke KOB by the Sea untuk makan siang. Tidak terlalu istimewa, tapi santap siang ini memulai sebuah kebiasaan: orang dewasa memilih masakan Thailand sementara anak-anak lebih suka makanan barat seperti spageti dan piza.

Kartu prabayar!

Restoran itu menerima pembayaran kartu, tapi mungkin cuma satu dari sedikit tempat yang bisa begitu. Saya segera belajar bahwa transaksi di Koh Samui sebagian besar masih menggunakan uang tunai. Karena bertekad mencoba pembayaran kode QR, saat di Central Samui, saya bersusah payah mendaftar kartu prabayar Pay&Tour yang bisa dihubungkan ke aplikasi TAGTHAi. Namun, sangat mengecewakan bagi saya, kebanyakan tempat tidak menerima metode pembayaran kartu ataupun memajang kode QR PromptPay.

Endrico mengambil kuah tom yam di Sunset View Restaurant.

Kami kembali ke Daybreak Villa dan baru keluar lagi untuk mengejar matahari terbenam di Pantai Taling Ngam di sisi barat pulau. Tapi karena cuaca di Koh Samui selalu mendung, kami tidak melihat matahari terbenam. Meskipun demikian, makan malam di Sunset View Restaurant lumayan enak. Santap malam tersebut mengakhiri petualangan kami di Hari Pertama.

Surianto dan babi.

Koh Mat Sum, atau lebih dikenal sebagai Pulau Babi, adalah tujuan pertama kami di hari kedua. Untuk sampai ke sana, kami menuju Dermaga Thong Krut untuk naik speedboat. Perjalanannya cukup brutal dan ombak lautnya pun lumayan tinggi. Tapi jika kami sempat merasa cemas, perasaan itu hilang saat kami mendarat. Sungguh menakjubkan melihat babi dalam berbagai ukuran, dari anak babi hingga babi dewasa yang gemuk. Satu-satunya kekecewaan saya adalah tidak bisa melihat babi-babi itu berenang di laut.

Kayak yang terbalik!

Kurang dari satu jam kemudian, kami menuju Koh Tean, pulau tetangga. Suasananya begitu sepi sampai rasanya hampir seperti pulau pribadi! Endrico bermain kayak dengan putri keduanya, tapi perahu mereka terbalik dalam dua menit! Percobaan kedua jauh lebih sukses. Mereka bergabung dengan kami untuk makan siang setelahnya. Untuk pulau seterpencil itu, makanannya ternyata sangat enak!

Di Koh Tean.

Dari Koh Tean, kami kembali ke Koh Samui. Saya merasakan perasaan yang sangat ngeri selama 16 menit perjalanan itu. Putri saya duduk di bagian haluan bersama gadis-gadis lain, naik turun saat speedboat terguncang oleh ombak. Saya cemas setengah mati. Satu guncangan tak terduga bisa melemparnya ke laut, dan saya terus memikirkan itu. Tapi dia tampak bahagia, seolah-olah sedang menikmati masa-masa terbaik dalam hidupnya.

Di Coco Tam's.

Setelah berlabuh, kami kembali ke Daybreak Villa. Hari sudah menjelang sore ketika kami menuju Fisherman's Village Walking Street. Tempat itu memiliki nuansa Pasar Shihlin Taiwan versi Thailand. Angin bertiup kencang tanpa ampun selama kami di sana. Tempat yang bagus, suasananya pun enak. Endrico juga berhasil mendapatkan tempat strategis di Coco Tam's untuk menonton pertunjukan api. Makanannya juga sedap. Tapi tetap saja, kami mampir ke Taco Bell dan makan lagi saat jalan keluar, haha.

Pemandangan di Overlap Stone.

Mai kembali mengantar kami berkeliling pada hari ketiga. Kami berhenti di Kantor Pos Lamai sebelum mencapai Overlap Stone. Jalan naiknya entah bagaimana mengingatkan saya pada perjalanan melihat Pagoda Golden Rock di Myanmar. Sangat curam sehingga rasanya bisa celaka kapan saja. Pemandangannya bagus, tapi angin kencang benar-benar menambah ketegangan. Maksud saya, karena keamanannya agak minim, salah langkah sedikit saja bisa berakibat fatal, dan angin yang bertiup kencang itu jelas tidak membantu.

Surianto di Red Temple.

Taty bergabung dengan kami di Red Temple yang terletak tepat di seberang jalan dari titik awal kami. Dia dan putranya mengunjungi Samui Aquarium dan Tiger Zoo, tapi tidak banyak yang bisa dilihat dan dia merasa ngeri melihat harimau yang mondar-mandir dengan gelisah selama kunjungan mereka, jadi mereka cepat-cepat pergi.

Linda bersantai di Hin Ta Hin Yai.

Dari Red Temple, kami pergi ke Hin Ta Hin Yai, yang pada dasarnya adalah pantai berbatu dengan batu berdiri yang akan mengingatkan orang dewasa pada sesuatu yang seronok. Setelah itu kami menuju McDonald's untuk makan siang. Perhentian berikutnya adalah Haven Samui Community Mall, area belanja yang lebih baru tapi lebih kecil. Tidak banyak yang bisa dilihat di sana, jadi kami lanjut ke Capybara World Koh Samui. Anak-anak sangat suka di sana, tapi Surianto mungkin yang paling bersemangat!

Surianto dan kapibara.

Sama seperti dua hari pertama, kami kembali ke Daybreak Villa untuk istirahat. Malam harinya, kami pergi ke Jalan Pantai Chaweng. ARKbar adalah tempat yang menarik, tapi terlalu bising untuk makan malam, jadi kami berjalan sedikit dan akhirnya makan di Thai Spices. Endrico memesan steak buaya tapi tidak memberi tahu anak-anak daging apa itu sampai mereka selesai makan. Mereka menyukainya, dan lucunya, mereka hanya mengangkat bahu acuh tak acuh setelah kami beri tahu.

Divas Cabaret.

Acara utama malam itu adalah Divas Cabaret. Endrico memang ayah berpikiran terbuka, dan dia pikir sudah waktunya bagi anak-anak untuk mencicipi kehidupan malam pertama mereka, jadi di sanalah kami, menonton pertunjukan banci. Awalnya saya merasa tidak nyaman, seperti yang selalu saya rasakan saat menonton pertunjukan kabaret di Thailand, tapi dengan lagu-lagu seperti Phantom of the Opera dan Dancing Queen, rasanya langsung jadi asyik. Kekuatan musik! Musik menyatukan kita, terlepas dari siapa atau apa pun kita!

Pantai Choeng Mon.

Kemudian tibalah pagi terakhir di Koh Samui. Kami pergi minum kopi di Amazon Cafe dekat vila kami, lalu berjalan di sepanjang Pantai Choeng Mon yang tenang saat kembali ke penginapan. Kami sedikit memutar ke penjual makanan pinggir jalan lokal dan akhirnya saya mendapat kesempatan untuk memindai kode QR PromptPay menggunakan aplikasi TAGTHAi saya! 40 baht terakhir membelikan kami empat tusuk sate ayam.

Endrico menaiki pesawat tujuan ke Singapore.

Setelah berkemas dan kembali ke bandara untuk mengambil boarding pass, kami sekali lagi dibuat kagum oleh betapa terbukanya bandara itu. Sangat unik, sungguh. Jalan menuju gerbang keberangkatan memiliki toko-toko yang berjejer di kedua sisinya. Setelah paspor kami dicap, kami terbang kembali ke Singapura, membawa pulang kenangan indah tentang Koh Samui...

Time Of Your Life

This had always been on my mind. I had been thinking about it many, many times. But the thought somehow took a back seat, waiting for its right moment. Last week, it resurfaced again at the church – a place that occasionally inspires me – though I couldn't recall what triggered the thought-provoking idea.

You see, for something that can be measured scientifically, time feels pretty fluid. When I was a student in Pontianak, I swear that every year felt very long. But now that I'm a father, it seems to me that my daughters grow up too quickly. Just the other day, my wife posted on Facebook that 12 years had passed since I last carried my daughter in one hand.

I had a similar feeling when I was working in Jakarta. I literally waited for the weekdays to end. Now that I'm in Singapore, I wish I had more time to do things. It got me thinking whether it was due to different cultures and lifestyles. The pace was slower in Indonesia, faster in Singapore. Or perhaps it was simply the time I enjoyed wasting, so that I got busy without realizing it?

I don't know for sure, but I do know this: suddenly a year doesn't feel very long anymore. When I was a kid, it felt like a lifetime to grow into a young adult. But these days, a period of 12 months is very much a blink of an eye. Between work and holidays, all of a sudden, Christmas time is here again. That's how fast it is. As that happens, the kids grow up and the parents grow old. Gradually.

Funny how a year or two of waiting doesn't seem that long now. It's just doable. But for the fact that time passes so quickly, one question becomes obvious and inevitable: given our mortality, how many more years do I have left? It was a question better left unanswered. 

When I was younger, my optimism felt limitless, as if life would go on forever. Now, with age, I find myself cherishing each moment and recognizing the true blessing that time brings. Ultimately, the question I have serves as a reminder to live in the present, focusing on today. Plan all you like for tomorrow, but live for today.

Growing old. From left to right: age 2, 18, 28, 32, 45.

Waktu Dalam Hidup Kita 

Hal ini selalu terlintas di benak saya. Saya sudah memikirkannya berkali-kali. Namun entah kenapa, pikiran itu seolah menepi, menunggu saat yang tepat. Minggu lalu, topik ini terngiang-ngiang lagi saat saya berada di gereja — tempat yang kadang memberi saya inspirasi — meski saya tidak ingat apa yang memicu gagasan yang menggelitik itu.

Begini, untuk sesuatu yang bisa diukur secara ilmiah, waktu terasa sangat fleksibel dan semena-mena. Ketika saya masih pelajar di Pontianak, saya bersumpah setiap tahun terasa sangat panjang. Tapi sekarang, sebagai seorang ayah, rasanya anak-anak saya tumbuh terlalu cepat. Belum lama ini, istri saya menulis di Facebook bahwa sudah 12 tahun berlalu sejak terakhir kali saya menggendong putri saya dengan satu tangan.

Saya juga pernah merasakan hal yang sama saat bekerja di Jakarta. Saya benar-benar menunggu hari kerja segera berakhir. Sekarang, di Singapura, saya justru berharap punya lebih banyak waktu untuk melakukan berbagai hal. Saya jadi bertanya-tanya, apakah ini karena perbedaan budaya dan ritme hidup. Ritmenya lebih lambat di Indonesia, lebih cepat di Singapura. Atau mungkin karena waktu habis karena saya nikmati, sehingga saya sibuk tanpa menyadarinya?

Saya tidak tahu pasti, tapi saya tahu satu hal: tiba-tiba masa satu tahun rasanya sebentar saja. Saat kecil, butuh waktu seolah seumur hidup untuk tumbuh menjadi remaja. Tapi kini, 12 bulan terasa hanya sekejap mata. Antara pekerjaan dan liburan, tiba-tiba Natal sudah datang lagi. Begitu cepat rasanya. Dan seiring waktu berlalu, anak-anak tumbuh besar dan orang tua menua. Perlahan tapi pasti.

Lucu rasanya, menunggu setahun atau dua tahun kini tidak lagi terasa lama. Rasanya bisa dijalani. Namun karena waktu berlalu begitu cepat, satu pertanyaan muncul — jelas dan tak terhindarkan: mengingat bahwa kita fana, berapa banyak tahun lagi yang saya miliki? Sebuah pertanyaan yang sebaiknya tak dijawab.

Ketika saya masih muda, optimisme saya seolah tak terbatas, seakan hidup akan terus berjalan selamanya. Sekarang, seiring bertambahnya usia, saya belajar untuk menghargai setiap momen dan menyadari berkah sejati yang dibawa oleh waktu. Pada akhirnya, pertanyaan saya itu menjadi pengingat untuk hidup di masa kini, fokus pada hari ini. Rencanakanlah untuk esok, tetapi hiduplah untuk hari ini.

Usia yang bertambah. Dari kiri: age 2, 18, 28, 32, 45.