Surabaya Zoo (Kebun Binatang Surabaya or Bonbin)

I don't even remember when was the last time I had been here, guess more than 30 years.
I remember I learnt at school that it was the largest zoo in the South East Asia.
Several years ago, I heard the news that the condition was so bad, that many animals were dead.
Even in the wikipedia in the time of writing, it is written that the zoo has been closed.

However, when I visited the zoo end of December 2019, the zoo was pretty and well maintained.
The animals were healthy and some constructions were ongoing for the new attractions.
We spent about 3 hours enjoying watching the animals.
My favourites were the Orang Utan, tigers and the Komodos.
I enjoyed also watching pretty birds and swimming otters.

Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
Ticket Price: IDR 15,000 (weekdays), IDR 20,000 (weekend)
Location: Jalan Raya Darmo, about 10 minutes drive from IKIRU to Live Surabaya

Rainy Season = Fruit Season

It is the end of rainy season, which starts in October till March every year in Indonesia. Though many people hates rainy seasons, I kind of enjoy it due to the cooler weather and more, due to the fruit.

Many fruits come into the market during the rainy season, including the king of fruit, DURIAN.
And the queen, MANGOSTEEN or Manggis in Indonesian.
My favorite is RAMBUTAN, the hairy fruit.
Try also the Snake Fruit or SALAK in Indonesian, it is definitely sweeter than its English name.

The photos below I just took in a supermarket in a shopping mall.
You can buy in traditional market and on the streets, including around IKIRU guest house in Surabaya.

Ask our staff if you want to buy those fruits around IKIRU guest house in Surabaya.

Durian

Rambutan

Snake Fruit or Salak in Indonesian

Mangosteen

Dukuh

Star Fruit or Belimbing in Indonesian

Dragon Fruit

Markisa

Sirsat

Avocado

Papaya

Pasar Krukah, a local traditional market 5-minute walk from IKIRU Guesthouse

Revisited, see previous posting here.

Visited Pasar Krukah again this morning.
"Pasar" means "market" in Indonesian.
This kind of traditional markets still survive the times and still can be found in many neighborhood in Surabaya, despite growing number of modern supermarkets and shopping malls.

You can find more or less everything, from stuff for your kitchen, like vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, tofu and tempe to clothing and house ware.
It is the place you can feel the energy of the morning and the sellers and the buyers.
It is the exact place you see daily local life here.

Pasar Krukah is located 5-minute walk from IKIRU Guesthouse, after crossing the main road to the south. Another bigger market is called Pasar Pucang and located 20-minutes walk from IKIRU Guesthouse.

Parade Budaya dan Bunga, Culture and Flower Parade 2017

Since the annual parade to commemorate Surabaya city anniversary started at 8 in the morning from Tugu Pahlawan, we decided to leave IKIRU at 9, since we planned to watch the parade at Raya Darmo street after Santa Maria High School.
We wanted to see the parade from a location after Santa Maria High School, since some attractions, such as the Carnival Fashion group and cheerleader group started only from Santa Maria High School. We were happy with our location, since the nearer the location to Taman Bungkul, the final destination for the parade, the more crowded.
The parade itself was surprisingly good.
I loved the Carnival Fashion Parade, the cheerleader and the drum band, also the reyog Ponorogo dance.
There were parade groups from other places in Indonesia such as Bali and Makassar, also flower cars from companies and school. I was surprised seeing the float from my high school.

Baru pertama kali kami menyempatkan diri tuk melihat Parade tahunan untuk merayakan HUT Surabaya ini.
Karena parade mulai jam 8 pagi dari Tugu Pahlawan, kami memutuskan untuk berangkat dari IKIRU guesthouse jam 9 lebih.
Karena mendapat kabar kalo ada beberapa atraksi, seperti Kostum Fashion Carnival, Egrang dan Cheerleader berangkat dari Sekolah Santa Maria di Jalan Darmo, kami memutuskan untuk melihat parade setelah Sekolah Santa Maria.

Kami di drop di Jalan Majapahit, kemudian kami jalan sampai melewati Sekolah Santa Maria.
Para pengunjung hanya diperbolehkan melihat dari satu sisi jalan saja, dan tidak diperbolehkan melihat dari atas jembatan penyeberangan.
Tapi dasar orang Surabaya, kalo penjaga pergi, banyak yang melanggar juga.

Sekitar jam 10 lebih, parade grup pertama tiba di tempat penungguan kami.
Ada 75 group peserta parade, ada grup yang cuman berkostum dan berjalan, ada grup dengan tari2an, ada pula grup dengan atraksi, ada pula mobil bunga.
Karena capek, kami hanya melihat sampai nomer 53 dan memutuskan untuk pulang.
Kami berjalan ke arah Taman Bungkul, tempat perhentian parade nya.
Semakin kami mendekati Taman Bungkul, semakin banyak pengunjung.
Kami beruntung memutuskan untuk melihat dari sekitar Santa Maria karena nggak begitu banyak pengunjung.

The Biro Cafe and Bar

New addition to IKIRU nearby cafe, this place is also a bar that serves beer!
Located on the main road Jalan Ngagel Jaya, 5-10 minutes walk from IKIRU.
They provided range of drink, and Indomie (Indonesian popular instant noodle) with variation.
The price of the drink is quite reasonable.

I visited the cafe on 4 May 2017 around 22:00, and there was crowd of local young people.
Ordered hot apple tea for Rp. 12k, my friend ordered cappuchino for around Rp. 30k.

 

May 2017 in Surabaya

May is the month to be in Surabaya.
Lots of events in May 2017 in Surabaya related to the city anniversary celebration.

- Culture and Flower Parade, Parade Budaya dan Bunga, 7 May 2017, started from Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument) to Balai Kota (City Hall). See the teaser here.

- Festival Rujak Uleg (Rujak is Surabaya local food), 14 May 2017 at Kembang Jepun Street.

- Pasar Malam Tjap Toendjoengan (Tunjungan style night market), 3-29 May 2017
 
- Surabaya Shopping Festival, 1-31 May 2017, througout shopping malls
 
- Surabaya Fashion Parade, 3-7 May 2017 at Tunjungan Plaza shopping mall


See the details here or ask IKIRU staff.


Banyak even dalam rangka HUT kota Surabaya bulan Mei 2017.
- Parade Budaya dan Bunga, 7 Mei 2017, dari Tugu Pahlawan ke Balai Kota.
- Festival Rujak Uleg, 14 Mei 2017 at Kembang Jepun Street.
- Pasar Malam Tjap Toendjoengan, 3-29 Mei 2017
- Surabaya Shopping Festival, 1-31 Mei 2017, di berbagai shopping mall
- Surabaya Fashion Parade, 3-7 Mei 2017 di Tunjungan Plaza shopping mall

Liat detilnya di sini atau tanya staff IKIRU. 

The Parade, the highlight of the anniversary

Surabaya Salsa Dance Club

I get this info from Yana, French guest who love dancing.We go to Olde Cafe, about 10 minutes from Ikiru, to join the club.I just wondered and have a look for first time.They have class before social dance.If you enjoy dancing it could be the right place to socialize. For  info about place and time, you can contact Surabaya Salsa Club in facebook, because the place and time could be different .

Majapahit Travel Fair

I went to Majapahit travel fair at May 9,2015, to collect east java tourism info for my dear guests, and found that east java have many colourfull culture that I seldom to see in Surabaya.I saw the flower parade also at May 10th, but I didn't have chance to take picture on the street.

This May is Surabaya 722nd Anniversary. I attach the link for event schedule
http://eventsurabaya.net/?event=722nd-surabaya-anniversary-celebration-on-may-2015