I am just having free time these days. I am struggling to refresh the events I had during recent trip, so I thought of sharing tipss for people out there especially student. I hope you find this helpful.

Initial steps for applying scholarships

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO?

#1 Get a list

Gat a list of all different available scholarships you qualify for. You can even ask your friends or teacher or you can find thousands of scholarships open online. The important thing is you have to focus on major that you really want and pretty well designated for your institution. You might face common circumstances in your life includes financial need, merit based and many more. Don’t be afraid to dig through your background and use anything that may help you in future.

#2 Identify the sponsor’s goals

Do they want to promote interest in their field? Do they want to identify promising future researchers and business leaders? Try to understand the sponsor’s motivation in offering the award. This will increase your chances of winning the scholarship.

#3 Apply if only you are eligible

Read all the scholarship requirements and directions carefully. Make sure that you are eligible before you decide to apply the offer.

#4 Participate in Community Service

You may have interest to join volunteerism activities before. But now I would like to tell you that this kind of activity that involves community will help you to get the scholarship. It demonstrates that you are a well-rounded person. You can find a lot of volunteer activity in your school or may be open for youth in internet.

#5 Write Essays

Often when people see ‘essay’ then postpone and end up give it up.  Scholarship committees want to see your effort. A 300-500 word essay does not have to take much time compared to what you may gain in future. But it does have to come from your honest feeling and make sure you obey all the instruction given. Don’t go off topic as it would lower your chances to get filtered up to next level. If your essay is an abstract, support it with concrete examples that illustrate your point. The sponsor wants to know the evidence that you satisfy the criteria.

#6 Write a Resume

Writing a resume is great thing because it will allow you to apply more than one scholarship. Include every single detail that that sponsor should know about you. For a better arrangement, compile a list of all your achievements. This will help you to identify your strengths and be prepared. Don’t forget to give a recommendation letter from your employer or lecturer. They will able to work some of the tidbits into their letters, making it seem nicer.

#7 Complete application form and follow directions

Many candidates fail to follow directions. You have to read every word in the form and make sure you understand what they really want. Provide everything that is required and do not supply thing that is not necessary. You might be disqualified. Make several photocopies of forms you receive. Use the copies as working drafts as you develop your application packet. It is always best to type the application. If you must print, do it neatly and legibly. Proofread the entire application carefully. Nothing to be impress if you happen to misspell words or grammar errors. Ask your seniors, teacher or your friend to recheck.

#8 Branch it out

Do not hesitate to apply more than 10 scholarships. Branch out and include some of other aspects of your life. The more you branch out, the easier it is find out about them all. With online submissions becoming more common, it likely won’t cost any money to apply for the scholarships.

#9 Do not miss deadlines

Impose a deadline for yourself that is at least 2 weeks before the stated deadline. Use this buffer time to proofread your application before you send it off. It can ensure you do not miss any deadlines and are in the running for each one that you apply for. If worse comes worst, call the scholarship provider in advance and ask if it is possible to receive an extension. Do not just send the materials in late. Make a copy of the complete application for you to keep it because if your application goes astray, you can always reproduce it quickly.

#10  Your scholarship application represent YOU!

If you have problem and concerns with the application, do not hesitate to call the sponsor. But do not expect anyone to do complete the application. Your ability to submit a neat, timely, complete application reflects on you. It is the face you present to the sponsoring organization. Take pride in yourself by submitting the best application.

At last, WE GOT REAL SLEEP. Refresh and comfort. After having our breakfast, Pak Kuku’s wife came to fetch us to our next destination. This day was dedicated for light and chill activities compared to 2 days that full of adventurous and challenging activities.

Our first destination was Masjid Tiben Turen. This mosque was very unique and special. The architecture was superb and mesmerize. Let me tell you a little bit about this mosque. Masjid Tiben Turen or Magic Mosque is built without people noticing it especially the villagers. Isn’t strange? Mitoses said that this building was built by genie only at night. There are a lot of beautiful carves on every inches of the wall. You can see the special of this mosque in the pictures below.

After hours at the mosque, we continue our journey. And I fall asleep in car. About two hours, Tante (auntie) waked me and told that we already at Pantai Bale Kambang. I swear, if it was not 12 at bright noon, I have already jumped to swim at the beach. It was a pretty beach anyway. Tante said this beach resembled Tanah Lot,Bali. With tempting blue water and not many people coming here, this placed called “Tanah Lot Java”.

Then we proceed to next destination which was plucking the apple. But, we got no luck because that day it was so sudden heavy rain and we stuck in bad traffic. I was so disappointed. But along the journey, we stopped at an unknown place. Why? Because it was so damn beautiful. You can see our pictures. Tante also join us, hehe.

So Tante suggested bringing us to BNS or Batu Night Spectacular. It is better than nothing. Ida and I was the only person that agreed to enter the ghost house. The other went four 4D Theater and so on. Not that bad. Here, all of us got the chances to buy cheap souvenirs. I only bought a little as I don’t want to cost more for little things. Before we went out for other place, we met shops that sell lots of cookies (kerepek) made of fruit such as apple, rambutan, sweet potato and more. The most important thing is cheaper than at Malaysia. So I bought variety kind of Kerepek to eat in car (tak sempat nak bawa balik Malaysia).And before we headed back to hotel, Tante dropped us for coffee time at Java Dancer Coffee. She told us, that it was Maher Zain’s favorite coffee shop in Malang. For me that really like coffee I just have taste of latte.

We got real rest. Next day will be our last day in Surabaya. Pak Ari arrived at hotel at 9am and brought us to one of biggest shopping mall in Malang for last tour to buy souvenir if we want. I was just pleasing my eyes for a lot of cheap stuffs. For me, souvenir is not something important when you in budget travel. Before that we  stopped by at one of tourist attraction which was mud field (I can't recall what the place name). You can rent a motorcycle to bring you around the area. But I only interested to take pictures.

After that, we headed to Juanda Airport. We thanked to Pak Ari because protected and helped us a lot. That was our unforgettable journey in Surabaya, Indonesia.

So after approximately 6 hours journey, we reached our hotel which was Catimor Homestay. It was bit creepy when we entered the hotel area. I thought we were filming horror movie.  The surrounding was really dark and Pak Ari was trying hard to figure out which way he supposed to follow. There was an abundant village along the main road. About 1am in morning, there was no one outside; it seems like a dead village. We acted silence and afraid to talk about it. But for me, I need more sleep than anything.

Kawah Ijen

Source: Google

Actually, Pak Ari got lost from track to Catimor. Luckily, there was a group of bikers that willing to show the exact way to go there. For us, backpackers, I think this homestay is a good choice and we wished to stay longer. The directions were really confusing, so finally arrived around 2am. We put our things in the room and changed to more comfort and thicker clothes and ready to hike Mount Ijen! At first, our purpose is to witness the amazing blue fire at the top of Mount Ijen. But we were informed that, blue fire is active only between 11pm to 1am. So after this, if you want to see blue fire, plan your journey really well. After all, we proceed to hike the mount.

Based on my research, they said to reach the top of Ijen may take 3-4 hours of climbing. At first, we climbed together in a group of 6 including Pak Ari. Then we separated to two groups. Ira, Husna and Pak Ari were far behind us. Therefore, we made to the top at 4.30am. We decided to perform Subuh prayer and did Tayamum. I was very excited because that was my first ever Tayamum and prayer on a mount. Three of us took pictures and witnessed the view in front of us. About 6am we decided to go down, but suddenly, I heard very familiar voice and did not believed what I had seen. They were Ira, Husna and Pak Ari, haha. And I heard Pak Ari sighed “FINALLY, WE ARRIVED AFTERALL!” Ira told us that Pak Ari actually had make to the top twice because he wanted to checked either the mount was still reachable by them or not. I am so speechless.

So for you to climb Mount Ijen (for beginners), I suggest you to prepare mentally and physically. Along the route, we could see the locals carrying kilos of sulphur up and down of mountain. They shaped the sulphur to sell them to the tourist and it was cheap. I pity them. What I can say is, THIS JOURNEY WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY AND SWEAT!

We slowly climbed down and take some rest in homestay before we checked out at 12pm. We continued our journey to Malang. It took more than 7 hours…We stopped by at a stall (I don’t remember the place) and had Bakso for lunch before we arrived Malang at 8pm.

We were too exhausted because we did not managed to have proper sleep (car was our bed) for approximately 2 nights after we touched down. That night we were discussing stuffs and activities for the next day with Pak Kuku. Pak Kuku’s wife (pretty woman!) agreed to drive us around Malang City.

And I surely will continue Part 3 on next post. Wait for it J

I was calculating which story that I really want to write first. Because it has been a while since I have to remember the event from scratch. So I decided to share you my recent travel to Surabaya, Indonesia. Literally, my travel style is backpacking and I will give you few ideas of activities that may be included in your itinerary.

We were lucky to witness sunset on board.

So, my journey also consists of four other friends which are Nadirah, Najihah, Ida and Husna. We took direct flight from KLIA to Juanda Airport, Surabaya. We arrived there around 10pm and wait for another 2 hours before Pak Ari fetch us. Pak Ari is a young man that we paid to drive us to the agreed places that we discussed with Pak Kuku (Juanda Airport-Bromo-Ijen-Malang) for only Rp 1.6k. Pak Kuku has some blood related relation with Nadirah’s family. We were lucky to have him and the price was negotiable.

When I opened my eyes, Pak Ari waked us up saying that we already at the entrance of Mount Bromo. It was around 4am in morning. We told Pak Ari to negotiate the price to rent a jeep as he is a local resident. Jeep is needed to bring you at the peak of Mount Bromo. Finally, deal was success but unfortunately, Pak Ari was not coming with us and we had to pay real expensive for the entrance fee. It cost Rp215,000 per person. Isn’t too much? We decided to continue our journey after a little argument with the local. Pak Ari then straightly went to our hotel and waited us there. It took approximately half an hour to reach the peak or it is called Penanjakan. Please wear thick clothes as it is so cold when you get up there.

We took a lot of pictures. I mean A LOT ! haha. And considering I am the only one, who is filled with artistic in photography (in Malay we called as cerewet), so they passed the camera to me to take their beautiful photo. Pity me. At Penanjakan, we were amazed and mesmerized with the scenery. It was totally stunning view. After almost 2 hours, we took photos with various kinds of postures of us, and then we went for horse riding to Mount Bromo. It was 15 minutes journey with the horses with Rp125,000. I got Remy (horse name) to ride on him. I could see Mount Bromo is vomiting the smokes. I am not sure either it was from lava inside or it was sulphur. We need to climb stairs, not that high but you have to be careful there were steep especially when thousands of people climbing the same stairs. Next destination, Savannah. One of God’s beautiful creatures. I thought I was in drawings. If you don’t believe me, see our pictures. I wish I can have my wedding photos here,hehe. Along our journey, we stopped at Pasir Berbisik. It was such an astonish sand dunes and we could hear as voices whisper to you.

At Penanjakan

Mount Bromo

Savannah

Then, we were heading to our hotel which named as Cemara Indah around 10am. We had our late breakfast there and after cleaning ourselves we checked out at 12pm. It was not even 2 hours we stayed at the room. The room was a bit pricey but the worst part was the serving. I am really disappointed because they mad at us because we exceeded limit for persons to check in a room. I told them it was only short moment, we even paid for 1 night price from Agoda. So we acted like we didn’t care at all about what they said, haha.

We changed our clothes and head to Ijen. It took another 6 hours. I will continue my experiences in next post.