A Stroll in Surabaya

Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, is famous for its waterfalls and volcanoes. There are several flights from Jakarta to Surabaya, which take just over an hour, making it very convenient. The tours to Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Mount Bromo usually start early in the morning or even at midnight. If you fly from Jakarta in the morning, you can spend half a day in Surabaya to warm up and experience this relatively affluent city with a large Chinese population. During the Chinese New Year, the streets are decorated with lanterns and "Gong Xi Fa Cai" signs, creating a festive atmosphere. You can climb to the top of the tower of Al Akbar Mosque to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The cold blue tones of the mosque exude a gloomy beauty, which complements the festive atmosphere of the New Year. You can take a stroll along the old street of Tunjangan Romansa, where there are many Malay coffee shops and street vendors. However, I found a restaurant called Fork that is more suitable for the Chinese palate. The smoked meat here is delicious. The first floor is for cooking and dining, the second floor is for baking, and the third floor is an office. Each floor is independent of the others. I also checked out the kitchen, where the staff were chatting and laughing, with happiness written all over their faces!