Agung Bayu Wicaksono
Photography Archives #2
Early 2024
Contents
1. Kota Malang, Jawa Timur
2. Lembah Indah Edu Resort, Kab. Malang
3. Lembah Tumpang Resort, Kab. Malang
4. Agrowisata Teh Wonosari, Kab. Malang
5. Air Terjun Kapas Biru, Kab. Lumajang
6. Air Terjun Tumpak Sewu, Kab. Lumajang
7. Bromo Hillside & Gunung Bromo, Kab. Malang
8. Bendungan Sutami Karangkates, Kab. Malang
Exploring East Java, Indonesia
My journey in search of the beauty of Eastern Indonesia ain't over yet. It's all about my determination to appreciate God's creations and capture them in an album with full of memories. I've been through places, times, people, and chances as we wrapped up the year 2023. Now, kicking off the new year in 2024, I've got this incredible opportunity to head back to my roots and spin tales about where I come from. The stories I've just summed up in this photo archive aim to both appreciate and show the world just how beautiful my hometown is.
It just wouldn't feel complete if I didn't take the time to explore and share stories in my hometown. This short journey is my way of expressing what I personally felt at every places I visited. A visual and textual representation based on my deepest emotional vibes in describing the magnificence of God's creation, mixed in with the creative touch of us humans.
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Kota Malang
Jawa Timur
Cycling through the chilly morning before 6 a.m towards school, feeling the cool city streets, cycling through the falling leaves while daydreaming at the lush roundabout of the city hall. Healing a troubled heart due to love by sitting and sharing stories for a while on Paralayang Batu, introspecting while overlooking the city of Malang and its peoples' activities from above, even though not directly witnessing them. Realizing that this troubled heart is nothing compared to those fighting hard as the backbone of families, anxious about their uncertain future. Those are the moments that remind me of certain things when I was raised in this city. Yes, that's it – more memories of sadness to remember than happiness.
To bury deep down those sad memories, I decided to replace them with joyful ones by exploring this beautiful city and its surroundings. I believe the best remedy to forget a dark past is by traveling to new places. Filling the album of my mind with extraordinary places feels like resetting this overwhelmed brain. This soul-soothing journey begins in Kota Malang, Jawa Timur.
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Lembah Indah Edu Resort
Ngajum, Kabupaten Malang
As you wake up in the morning, your eyes struggle to open. The warm blanket is no match for your desire to get out of bed. You observe the dew glistening on the windowpanes, and your feet feel frozen as you step onto the floor. You walk quickly to the window and open the curtains, and you are immediately met with a scene that takes your breath away.
A peaceful valley view spreads out before you, with a thick fog slowly drifting by. The sun peeks over the horizon, its rays slowly melting the fog away. You feel a sense of peace and tranquility wash over you, and you know that this is a day that is meant to be spent doing something meaningful.
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Lembah Tumpang Resort
Tumpang, Kabupaten Malang
Turning back time, exploring the charm of the majesty of the Javanese kingdom in the past feels like bringing back a story that has ended in the past. The valley, a place where rivers flow, is a place where nature and human civilization come together in harmony. Bringing back the past civilization through the representation of various statues/sculptures that have meaning in each of their manifestations, the variety of architectural styles of the royal buildings that revive the aura of the past culture that has faded by time. This is the essence of Lembah Tumpang Resort, a place that is truly a "Harmony of Javanese Culture".
Sebuah Destinasi wisata yang menarik dibalut dengan nuansa alami. Di bangun dengan tetap mempertahankan pemandangan alam yang begitu sejuk, alami, asri, dihiasi dengan tebing-tebing indah serta aliran sumber air yang menyejukan. Dengan bangunan candi, arca-arca jawa, gazebo, kolam ikan dan fasilitas lainnya. Menikmati karya ciptaan Tuhan serta seolah mengajak anda merasakan langsung keindahan dan keharmonisan budaya jawa
-source : www.wisatalembahtumpang.com
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Agrowisata Teh Wonosari
Singosari, Kabupaten Malang
Ever wonder where the iced tea you drink with your lunch of Nasi Padang comes from? Here is Agrowisata Teh Wonosari, one of the tea producers in the Singosari highlands, Malang. A vast expanse of nature created by God that is mixed with the hands of His servants, which also creates natural patterns that add to the amazing artistic impression within.
Never imagined before that the true beauty of this tea plantation requires a bit of effort to reach this iconic spot. Bukit Kuneer, a place I hadn't set foot on in my previous visits. The tea plantation view becomes more vivid up here. The expanse of countless green leaves forms a perfect abstract pattern of nature. Even though I can't decipher the intricacies of this natural pattern, discovering such a pattern feels like witnessing something unreal in this world.
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Kapas Biru Waterfall
Pronojiwo, Kabupaten Lumajang
As I stood there, I couldn't help but wonder who the hero was who had discovered this magnificent waterfall. I would surely thank him for his bravery. It must not have been easy for him to traverse this vast, steep, and extreme forest. Although not as extreme as Tumpang Sewu, the body will not be free from sweating after this challenging journey. Leaving this place feels reluctant, my head seems to refuse to turn away from the grandeur of this Great Kapas Biru Waterfall.
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Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
Pronojiwo, Kabupaten Lumajang
"Sweat and wet" are the two words that come to mind when I think of Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. Getting what we want is not easy, as is feeling the refreshing droplets of water that wet our foreheads every second when we are under this majestic waterfall. The dirty sweat that has been pouring for hours of walking, descending, climbing, and traversing the ravine forest will be washed away by its majestic falling water droplets, and the feeling of despair will instantly disappear thanks to the freshness of the water that wets and cleanses this tired body. I feel very lucky to leave my footprints in the Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, as a witness to the journey in the quest for the true beauty of hidden nature.
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Bromo Hillside & Mount Bromo
Poncokusumo, Kabupaten Malang
In the chilly hush of the blind morning, I roused early to redeem a journey to a place overlooked in the past, hopeful for a smooth road ahead. However, dark clouds followed by a downpour and thick fog seemed to failing the intentions of my expedition. Armed with unwavering confidence, a determination not to turn back, and a fight against anxiety, I strengthened my resolve to keep moving towards the destination. The place I once passed by had finally been reached – The Bromo Hillside, where I took a moment to recover from the freezing cold of the previous challenging journey.
Enjoying a hearty breakfast and a warm cup of tea, I immersed myself in the tranquil morning atmosphere, my thoughts drifting into the thickness of the illusory mist enveloping the surroundings. Lost in contemplation within the mist, it felt as if the memories of my Bromo journey from the previous year were replaying in the current timeline. It reminded me of the moment we reached Penanjakan Bromo Spot, eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated sunrise. We savored every second with curiosity, refusing to waste time as I captured each moment around us while witnessing the beautiful sunrise casting its glow upon the stunning Mount Bromo.
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Bendungan Sutami Karangkates
Sumberpucung, Kabupaten Malang
If I were to illustrate the emptiness and tranquility in my mind when momentarily forgetting the weariness of the world, perhaps a photo of the serene atmosphere at Bendungan Sutami Karangkates could explain it. The calm water, without a ripple, seems to blur my awareness from thoughts filled with life's troubles. The thin mist obstructing the clarity of my thoughts demands that I seek a way out of every problem. When the issues are resolved, the sunlight slowly emerges, dispelling the mist as a sign that it's enough to give my tired mind a break today, and let's return to the real life.
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However the conditions, time will pass. Besides briefly visiting those special places that have won our hearts, time leaves meaningful traces, even if just frozen in a photo. Remember, those photos will tell their own stories when anyone sees and appreciates them. Never be afraid to spend the time you have, but fear not having time tomorrow. This extraordinary journey won't just end here, time awaits for our meaningful actions every second. :)
