Finding things in Surabaya

[Annette]

Hi just copied the part of the email my friend sent me about the Water park hopefully that will tell you enough she did go on a Sunday though her children are young 2 and 4 but mine are 20 and 22 so I am guessing its good for all ages. What date will you be in Surabaya??? I think I am back around the 10/11



Yes, the Waterpark would be excellent for you, Rob and the boys. It was only 70,000 to get in. You pay 15,000 for a money card you wear around your wrist (think you get that back at the end).... put more credit on it than you intend to spend as you get it back when you leave. You hire a locker (I think only 10,000) and you get one entry to the locker.... so if you need to go back into it, it costs you 10,000 each time. We only put our money, keys, phones inside the locker and kept our towels/clothes bag with us.....


It was great. Sure there is the little kids pool, but there's a wave pool and you can hire a single or double tube for about 10,000 or 15,000 each. There are some awesome tube slides. One is uncovered, the other like a black hole....

[jellygrapes]

Hey Glenn,

I went to the Ciputra Waterpark. It was great for my boys and I'm sure your 3.5 and 7.5 would love it. Great day out for 300,000Rp. They say you can't take your own food but next time I go, I definately will take sandwiches, bananas... the food there was TERRIBLE...... you can get drinks, icecreams though which were fine.

My boys love the shopping mall playlands. The best is "Chipmunks" in the Hero Supermarket mall on the top floor. It is 55,000 each mid week and 85,000 each (I think) on weekend days. You can get decent food in the cafe there and sit in the cafe and watch through the window to the playland. The other one which is our favourite is in Pakuwon Trade Centre on the top floor eatery section. It costs about 35,000 each. You can leave them your mobile and they'll ring you if there are any issues while you go shopping I have had some nice nasir goreng there for 13500... or there are other middle of the price range restaurants.

I've heard the zoo is really terrible for the animals. I'm not taking my sons there as the animals appear unhappy and with disease... not sure if you want your children seeing that....

Anyway, have fun!!! Enjoy..... hope you find your baking supplies....

[ScooterIndo]

Hey, Scooter, I've tucked away the info you provided for future reference. I hope that you'll be able to retrieve that piece of your heart some day - have you considered heart surgery? I like rawon quite a lot, so we may go there. The idea of eating at the Hilton has soe appeal but I'm wondering if it's out of my price range - I'm, well, not well-off...

Rawon Setan is an institution in Surabaya, get there a bit early as they usually have a queue out the door waiting for tables believe me its worth the wait if like me you love Rawon, forget the Hilton then, been to one five star restaurant you been to them all anyway. The Sampoerna museum is an absolute must if you like the historical aspect of Indonesia the museum tells the story of how the owner came over from China as an orphan in the 1890s and went on to build up a multi billion dollar tobaco industry, it is truely inspirational and all still set in the original Sampoerna building, if i remember rightly i paid like 20K to get in.

The Mahjapahit hotel is a real glimpse back into the past and one of the few remaining old colonial buildings still preserved in Indonesia to such a high standard, I stayed there for a few nights with my wife and the place is truely amazing. They dont mind you going in to have a look at the rooms and the gardens and it was also the landmark where indonesia was oficially born as a country, steeped in history it shouldnt be passed up. If you are on a budget these are the 3 things i would recommend and they definately wont break the bank.

Have fun.

[kingwilly]

I've heard the zoo is really terrible for the animals. I'm not taking my sons there as the animals appear unhappy and with disease... not sure if you want your children seeing that....

I think this zoo has been in the news lately for poor management and too many dead animals.

[ReveurGAM]

Thanks, Annette, Jellygrapes & SI, for the info! Super helpful!

Anne, we'll probably be there from the 13th-15th of November. Let me know if we can meet. That'd be cool!

I think this zoo has been in the news lately for poor management and too many dead animals.

You're absolutely correct and, in fact, we came across a press release that said the zoo had been shut down due to the problems. :O

Namaste, peace & love,
Glenn

[Annette]

Hi Glenn,
Yes I should be back by then I am booked on a flight back on the 10/11 I live at Graha residen if you want to find out where it is here is the web address
www.graharesiden.com that will be great to catch up I will pm you my cell number Oh btw the premier tickets from my experience was 50,00 during the week in the daytime and 100,000 on saturday night unbelievable value compared to Australia

[Alia]

Glenn,

The Square Apt is in Siwalankerto, far from US Consulate that is now in the western side of Surabaya. Grand Kalimas and Maumu Hotel is a bit closer than The Square Apt but still not within the nearby area, if you want to get the initial trip to the Consulate easier and closer with your place of stay. Griyo Avi hotel is located in the west and taxi wont cost you much if you choose this one. I only saying based on the location only from your choices, ya. Dont know about the hotel rep it self.

Ciputra Waterpark will be great fun for the kids, I can highly recommend it. They also have trampoline, flying fox for them to try on.

[Jaime C]

I try to bring baking stuff from the US every time I fly back. Costco is your friend. I brought a jumbo size bag of shelled walnuts, that I'd be glad to give you some of, if you pass through Bandung. Also hit up Walmart for some Ghirardelli chocolate chips, but only a bag of milk chocolate and one of white chocolate. Ah, I've got a jumbo box of Ghirardelli brownie mix too. What they call brownies in Bandung aren't quite my favorite. I can't wait to do some baking soon.

[ayanaregis]

in west surabaya, other than griyo avi, there are " Graha DPT 33 " jl darmo permai timur ( next to Dr Hans tjandra ) , Somerset hotel ( they have this alluring family package for apartment ), puri apartment ( dukuh kupang ).

if you want to stay in place like walking distance to mall, water place apartment right next to supermall. you can just walk to reach ptc/supermall. or hokky fruit supermarket.

[ayanaregis]

Indian resto : SITARA - near to SUTOS ( surabaya town square ) - think its hayam wuruk street. dont know if they open for lunch. went there twice, always for dinner nice interior design