After exploring Malang & Batu on the first day we were in Malang, we could not decide where to go for the next day because our budget is relatively low if we wanted to go to Batu Theme Park and Zoo. We even had to dismiss Wisata Petik Apel (Apple Plucking Activity) for the package is rather expensive.  At Wisata Petik Apel Kusuma, the cheapest package offered is IDR50,000.00 per pax inclusive of plucking two apples, apple waffle and apple juice. Our later discovery of a bag of Malang apples costing only IDR5,000.00 – IDR10,000.00 enhances our sentiment of expensiveness for the package offered.

Pasar Blimbing Malang

Our decision was to go to Cangar Hotspring. Before that, as a morning market person, I insisted on going to the market place we passed by on our first day in Malang. Its name is Blimbing Market. As the greatest food lover of all, I wanted to buy some traditional kueh which was found at the far end of the market.

My man who loves to cook bought some bumbu (cooking seasoning) to bring home. He also bought terasi (belacan or shrimp paste).

Interestingly, salted eggs in Blimbing Market are sold in 3 types. Actually 2 types, if you don’t count the original duck egg before the salting process. One is the normal salted eggs and another is meant for those with high cholesterol disease – less salt concentration. In Malaysia, we only have the standard salted eggs. Well, at least I have not encountered one that sells healthy salted eggs.

After we paid the standard parking fee for sepeda motor (IDR 6,000.00), we asked the parking fee collector where should we go for breakfast. He told us to check out Aneka Ikan & Ayam Crispy Cak Pi’i. Bun ordered Nasi Lalapan Ayam Crispy while I ordered Nasi Lalapan Gurame Crispy. All for the price of IDR57,000.00 (MYR 18.00).

 Alun-Alun Batu

Alun-alun is a famous word in Indonesia. We discovered the meaning of alun-alun – it’s a park. No wonder every city we visited has its own alun-alun. When we reached alun-alun, it was time for Friday Prayer. I waited for B to perform the Friday prayer at alun-alun. There is a merry go round at the centre of Alun-alun. Despite it being an extraordinarily hot afternoon, alun-alun was still crowded with women and kids. Few two-wheeler stall spotted nearby alun-alun selling junk food.

For your information, we skipped the usual tour of Batu such as Batu Secret Zoo, Selecta and Batu Night Spectacular. Without a map, we explored Batu on our own with much help from GPS Rakyat (People’s GPS : Asking people for direction).

When we told Ardi and few other friends that we had been to Alun-alun Batu, they would ask if we had tried the famous Ketan Legenda 1967. Ketan is the Indonesian name for sticky rice. Pity us, we didn’t know about it earlier. Ketan Batu has to wait for next trip.