Today’s agenda included a visit to the Batu Secret Zoo, a plan contingent on having my own rented moped, a seemingly scarce luxury in Malang. I was stirred awake by some commotion nearby; the telephone at the reception was incessantly ringing, yet no one seemed to be responding. After lingering in bed for about fifteen minutes, I decided to rise and head to the reception. I had a hunch that the incessant phone calls were meant for me. Outside the lobby, I encountered the hotel staff and requested someone to answer the persistent phone. The man obliged and handed the phone over to me.
Fucking Mopeds in Malang
I received a call from Moreno and Nathalie’s accommodation, the Kertanegara Hotel (or more precisely, a guesthouse). “Hello, sir. I regret to inform you that we cannot rent you a moped since you are not staying with us. It’s not possible due to the guarantee,” the lady at the reception explained. I let out a sigh, expressing my gratitude for her efforts. Another battle lost. Frustrated, I returned to my room, still without a moped. Turning to the internet, I discovered another rental company in Malang. After placing a call, luck was on my side this time. A moped for just 75,000 IDR. I agreed to their offer and inquired about the bike’s delivery time. Finally, a stroke of luck—I was told the moped would be delivered within the next hour.
Swiftly, I returned to my room for a final shower. Afterward, I packed my belongings and completed the checkout process. Right on schedule, my moped arrived. With plans to depart Malang tonight, I had only a few hours left to enjoy the city. I informed the moped delivery person that he could return around 6 pm. Appreciating the hassle-free service from this company, I didn’t have to worry about any arrangements. I stored my backpack at the reception and set out on my moped, bidding farewell to the hostel.
A few days ago, I decided to explore the Batu Secret Zoo. Moreno and Nathalie had already been there and expressed great enthusiasm about the experience. They claimed it was unlike any zoo we had in the Netherlands, boasting state-of-the-art facilities. Their endorsement turned out to be accurate! The route from the hotel was straightforward—just a 20-minute ride along Jalan IJen, followed by a left turn at the intersection.
Naturally, I sought directions along the way (having learned from my experiences at Merapi in Yogyakarta, haha). Reflecting on my journey now, it’s quite astonishing that I undertook all those road trips solo, relying solely on Google Maps screenshots. Surprisingly, I never bought any sim cards in Indonesia for 3G wireless internet. Most of the time, I had a general sense of my location but frequently sought guidance from locals for directions.
The Batu Secret Zoo
As intended, I reached Batu Secret Zoo right on schedule around noon. After parking my moped, I promptly entered the zoo. A sizable group of school children formed a queue, and I sensed their eagerness to take pictures with me. Briskly, I walked past them. The feeling of being cheered on by a crowd like that is indescribable! I must have received a thousand greetings—unbelievable. It felt a bit peculiar to stroll past all these children who were pointing, laughing, and smiling at me, as if I were one of their superheroes. Fortunately, I could bypass the queue since they were awaiting the zoo’s administrative procedures. Hopefully, they had to wait another hour, allowing me to explore the zoo in peace, haha.
I bought a ticket for 70,000 IDR, and immediately, I found the entrance more captivating than any zoo in the Netherlands. As I entered, I marveled at the splendid enclosures for the animals. It was evident that a brilliant mind had designed this zoo. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Give this person a promotion,’ multiple times as I explored the zoo that day. The enclosures were pristine, spacious, and adorned with beautiful decorations.
The first section left a lasting impression on me. Small mammals occupied neat and clean enclosures, complete with fresh food. It was in this area that I declared the gremlin-like cotton-top tamarin monkey as my favorite. Initially, I feared it might be another dismal zoo experience when I spotted one of the monkeys lying motionless in its cage (as seen in the second picture above). Fortunately, it turned out the monkey was undergoing a lice treatment. Since the path I followed was one-way, I continued my journey at a leisurely pace. Moving into the building (depicted in the first picture), I now had a clear and close view of the monkeys, which was incredibly fascinating. The vibrant and creatively decorated habitats added to the overall charm.
A Group of Young Indonesians
After just ten minutes of walking, I found myself enchanted by this zoo. Every visitor I encountered had a smile on their face, likely because I was one of the few international tourists there. A group of young individuals—two guys and a girl—greeted me with smiles and asked some basic questions in English. They inquired about my origin, my travel destination, my age, and whether I was alone. I reciprocated with the same queries, but as the children arrived, the noise became overwhelming, and I lost track of the girl, bringing our conversation to an end. I appreciated these friendly and smiling young people, noticing their genuine interest in our brief exchange.
Afterward, I proceeded on my path, capturing more moments with my camera. Eventually, a group of children surrounded me, leaving me with no escape. For the next 15 minutes, I found myself posing for ten different pictures before politely declining further requests. In jest, I mentioned that I wasn’t an animal in the zoo and encouraged them to take pictures of the actual animals. All of this was said with a smile; I wasn’t upset in the least.
I took some photos and was surprised to see two individuals leisurely navigating the area on their mobility scooters. The zoo offered these scooters, although they came at a considerable cost. In my opinion, they seemed unnecessary unless someone had an injury or disability. Later on, I discovered that these two individuals (depicted in the third picture above) were well-known soap opera stars in Indonesia.
I was captivated by the generous living space provided for the animals. Seeing two crocodiles in one enclosure reminded me of the cramped conditions at the crocodile farm in Medan and the neglected zoo in Bukittinggi. The Batu Secret Zoo sets a remarkable example. It was astonishing to be in such proximity to the ostrich; however, its intense gaze unsettled me, prompting a hasty departure from the ostrich area.
AJ, Helmi and Ario
I reached a photo spot where I encountered the three Indonesian tourists from earlier. They were taking pictures with the wreathed hornbill and invited me to join. I gladly accepted, and they mentioned it would cost 5000 IDR. I agreed, posing for a photo with the bird. It playfully nibbled on my hair, eliciting laughter from the onlookers.
Later, I engaged in another conversation with the three young individuals. We exchanged introductions, and I learned their (nick)names: AJ, the girl, Ario, and Helmi. Helmi and AJ are featured in the fifth picture above. All three of them were exceptionally pleasant. AJ was 30 years old, Helmi was 26, and Ario was 23. AJ, Ario, and Helmi were flight attendants and former colleagues. After not seeing each other for a year, they reunited for a few days. I proposed hanging out together, and they were agreeable. We conversed, shared laughs, and took many silly pictures together.
They were truly wonderful individuals. AJ mentioned that had we met earlier, I could have joined them on the trip to Bromo, stayed at their place, and even used their moped for free. The level of hospitality among the Indonesian people never ceases to amaze me. Once again, I was astonished that they were extending such kindness to a foreigner, a bule, whom they had only met an hour ago. The overwhelming evidence of Indonesian hospitality is remarkable! Just a few days ago, my Indonesian friend Danny arranged a four-star hotel for me in Padang, Halmi guided me around his city for days, and Nur Imran assisted me in booking tickets in Banda Aceh, sharing his personal tsunami story. And let’s not forget the countless smiles and helping hands from strangers I’ve encountered in this country.
I expressed my gratitude to AJ and couldn’t help but wish I hadn’t already booked transport for tonight. The desire to spend more time with these wonderful people had grown stronger. Helmi, who was also traveling, planned to make his way to Bali later on. We decided to meet up on the island.
We strolled further and explored the museum within the Batu Secret Zoo. The museum featured fascinating display windows, resembling paintings in my photos, but they were actually stuffed animals placed in intricately decorated rooms. We took some last goofy pictures and eventually exited the museum, finding ourselves outside the zoo. While I have numerous beautiful pictures of the zoo, I’ll have to skip sharing them for now, as there’s more to recount.
Following our visit to the museum, we decided to grab a bite to eat. AJ suggested I join them on the moped, but I inquired about the possibility of riding in the car instead. This way, it would be more convenient for my return to Malang later. They agreed, and we departed from the zoo in their Toyota Yaris, which brought back memories of home as my parents also own a Toyota Yaris.
Food!
After a fifteen-minute drive, we reached a fantastic traditional Asian restaurant that I absolutely adored. While AJ, Ario, and Helmi opted for fish dishes, my choice was nasi goreng with a side of coke. Eventually, I couldn’t resist trying their various fish dishes, which included little fried fish that resembled salty chips and a sweet, delicious fish covered in a sweet sauce. We spent a delightful 45 minutes at the restaurant before heading back to the zoo. Upon saying our goodbyes, I couldn’t help but appreciate the humor and hospitality of these wonderful people.
I returned to Malang at approximately 6 pm, and with the darkness settling in, I found it challenging to navigate. Despite asking for directions to Jalan IJen multiple times, the darkness made it difficult to identify landmarks. However, once I established some orientation points in the city, it became easier to navigate and find my way back to the homestay.
I visited the supermarket (Giant) for the final time and then waited in the lobby for the travel agency. As agreed, the company picked up the moped at 7 pm. The travel company, following the Indonesian concept of time, arrived around 8:30 pm. Departing earlier than anticipated, I reached Situbondo, East Java, around 2 am. After checking in, I promptly went to bed.
