Traveler in a Suitcase!

Surabaya Week 1

I came for one week; Surabaya kidnapped me for two. The city grew new cafes and new traffic; if only we had an MRT so I wouldn’t compose poetry on the word macet.

#1 Our Bar “I Came for Lychee Tea at a Bar”

Address: Jl. Emobong Cerme 17 • Hours: Mon–Sat 17:00–02:00

I joined a belated birthday at 11 PM (malls close at 10), and somehow ordered back ribs instead of alcohol.

Back ribs: ~Rp 140k. Saucy, cozy. (similar to my home recipe with Ms. Hills).
Service: Friendly bordering on “talk show.” If you’re socially awkward (hi), smile and nod; they mean well.
Drink rec: Ask the staff for a signature. Or be me and order lychee tea at a bar.

Best for: big laughs, late hours, sharing food.
Note: It’s a bar. Come to drink and hang, forgive the decibels.

Our Bar

Jl. Emobong Cerme 17
Surabaya, East Java

Indonesia

Monday-Saturday : 05:00 PM - 02:00 AM

Phone : +62 88 1900 4264

#2 Swiss-Belinn, Room Service Reality Check

Ordered a breakfast sandwich and learned patience.

Wait: ~1 hour.
Taste: Fine, not worth the suspense.
Lesson: If you’re hungry-angry, go downstairs or order earlier; room service + peak times = slow motion.

FYI: Baileys is my favorite btw, because it taste like ice cream lol

#3 Zangrandi, Childhood Ice Cream Core Memory

Location: Galaxy Mall (branch)

My nostalgia lab. I forgot the exact sundae name (on brand), but it was creamy and old-school sweet.

Best for: family dates, “I used to come here as a kid” speeches.

#4 Sushi Tei, TP5 Bento Experiments (+ Free Ocha)

Went to see Tunjungan Plaza 5 (hello, IMAX), stayed for bento instead of my usual sushi.

Salmon Teriyaki Jū: ~Rp 70k
Una Jū: ~Rp 150k
Chicken Katsu Jū: ~Rp 48k (no pic; my chopsticks were faster than my camera)
Ocha: FREE (the magic word)

Verdict:

Solid sets, but Japan still wins Japan.
For TP5 hangs, it’s a reliable fuel stop.

#5 Moru Milk, Silky Pudding & Pretty Milkshakes

Silky pudding so smooth I could eat four cups in a day (not a threat, a promise).

Pudding faves: Taro and Bubblegum.
Milkshake: Green tea milk with original silky pudding (the pudding tastes like fresh milk).
Aesthetic: Colorful, perfect for a “just one more” Boomerang.

Pro tip: If sweet-sensitive, ask for less sugar on milkshakes.

Rapid-fire Scores

Our Bar: Food 8/10 • Vibe 9/10 • Me, ordering tea at a bar 10/10 comedy
Swiss-Belinn Sandwich: Wait 3/10 • Taste 6/10 • Learnings 10/10
Zangrandi: Nostalgia 10/10 • Flavors 8/10
Sushi Tei TP5 Bento: Value 8/10 • Variety 8/10 • Ocha 100/10
Moru Milk: Pudding 9.5/10 • Milkshake 9/10 • Sugar: customize

Well, gotta noted the food on week 2 ASAP!

ikkeru

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blabbing

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blabbing

Hi! I disappeared because I tried a strict diet and my body submitted a formal complaint. Translation: gastritis, fever, numb, and the personality of a low-battery phone. I keep looping the same thought: “be smaller.” I lose weight the wrong way, gain it back, punish myself, repeat. The womanly sickness of wanting to be thin is so loud some days that logic packs its bags. I know someone will say it’s stupid.

Maybe.

But it’s also human when the world applauds skinny and calls fat “jelek.” I’m short; I hear the jokes, I internalize the nonsense, then I ghost my own needs. Social life can be sharp.

I’m still grateful tho, my body still works, even when I bully it. But I’m tired of making my stomach pay for my feelings.

The reset (gentle mode on)

Food: more vegetables, real meals, no skipping just to “win” the day.
Calories: track sanely, not like I’m speed-running a game.
Movement: minimum 7-minute workout when I’m lazy, run when I’m brave, stretch either way.
Rules: no “good/bad” foods; just context. (A donut isn’t a felony. A day isn’t a verdict.)
Health note: gastritis is my red card. If pain spikes, I switch to gentle foods, hydrate, and rest. Pride doesn’t digest well.

If you’re reading this and in the same loop: you are not a before/after picture. You’re a person. (And yes, that sentence is for me, too.)

Mini Snack Review (because coping = crunchy)

Lorenz Chipsletten (IDR 14k): meh for me. Texture’s fine, flavor lands soft.
Grain Waves: wins when I want hearty crunch and “I’m an adult” vibes.
Pringles Original / Sour Cream: classic loyalty. The tube is a trap and I walk into it smiling.

Verdict: I’ll reach for Pringles or Grain Waves next time. Sour cream is my Roman Empire.

Tiny promises I can keep

Eat like I care about tomorrow-me.
Move my body because it feels good, not because I’m guilty.
Speak about my height and size without inviting an insult. (Silence is also an option.)
Log off when comparison starts chewing on my brain.

Catch ya later,

Ikkeru