Malang, Singapore, Bali (EN)

Wednesday, June 20^th, 2018, I supposed to sleep peacefully that night while waiting for my flight to Singapore on the next day. However, the reality was totally different. Andreas and I were still at the convection place in Malang until early Thursday morning, waiting for completion of ±250 LCG T-shirts. In a hurry, we immediately returned to Surabaya around 04.00 AM by motorcycle because we hadn't even packed our stuff yet! Whereas our flight would depart at 11.00 AM, which meant we had to do the check-in since ±09.30 AM. In a situation like this we didn't even think of sleeping, we were much more worried if we missed the flight.

±06.00 AM, Andreas and I finally arrived in Surabaya. With a great hurry we immediately took a shower, packed our personal stuff, and also packed up all the LCG T-shirts and merchandise. Thankfully nothing was missed even if we were in a rush. Then, finally we went to Juanda Airport immediately around 07.30 AM using Grab Car.

Luckily we arrived at the airport earlier than expected, so we had a little bit of time for resting. The flight departure time itself was delayed until ±12.00 PM. A 2-hours-trip to Singapore gave us enough time to sleep in the plane.

±02.00 PM (Western Indonesian Time) or 03.00 PM (Singapore time), finally Andreas and I set our feet in Changi Airport. Shortly after completing the immigration process, we were picked up by Koh Chen Pin (CP), accompanied by our colleague from Parkour Bali, Widio (Yos), who had arrived a few hours earlier.

From Changi, the four of us went directly to Bedok Maze, a "paradise" to all Parkour practitioners in Singapore. There were already quite many fellow parkour practitioners from various countries there. After saying hi and greeting each other, we immediately jammed and trained together with them. Then, before we left the maze, we looked for some dinner first at the food court around there.

After separating with Widio who went to different place, Andreas and I immediately headed to Simei MRT station waiting for CP who was picking up an LCG 2018 guest star from Greece: Dimitris Kyrsanidis (DK) in Changi. While waiting for CP and DK, we took time to buy SIM Card first. Next, after everyone had gathered, the four of us continued to CP's apartment to put some of our luggage, then we headed to Kraken Gym afterwards.

For the next one-hour and a half, we jammed there with some other LCG participants, and then after that we helped the committees from Parkour Singapore to haul some of the gym's properties into the rental truck that would head to the venue at Star Vista Mall. Later we went to the mall using MRT.

Starting from 10:00 PM, along with most of the other volunteers from LCG participants, I was preoccupied with hauling activities, setting up iron bars of the portable obstacle, counting the merchandise, and sorting out all of the LCG T-shirts by size. Those tiring activities just ended around 04.30 AM. Because we were too exhausted, most of us finally chose to sleep on the carpet around the obstacle.

DAY 1 LCG (June 22^nd 2018)

Since ±10:00 AM in the morning, most of the LCG participants had come to Star Vista Mall. Meanwhile I did some light jumps around the obstacle while it's still deserted. Around 01:00 PM, not long after all participants had finished the registering, Lion City Gathering 2018 was officially begun. Starting with opening speech from CP and Nachos as committees representative, then continued by Hatta Yang's MC-hosting until the end of the event. The first day challenge game was called "Game of Stick". The rule of the game was: each participant had to make a perfect/sticky jump to the targeted obstacle. I didn't join the challenge because I don’t like to compete, and also I was busy selling Avolution Clothing with Andreas. Just info, for those who wanted to sell shirts/merchandise, the committees provided some tables and chairs located behind the obstacle.

By the evening, the event schedule continued to "Movie Night" session in Kraken Gym. All LCG participants who attended were showed many parkour videos from various countries, whether they're old or new ones. This watching-videos-together moment obviously gave us a parkour-training spirit more and more again.

When the time was already 11:00 PM; Andreas, Bob Reese, DK, CP, and I decided to go home first, because the last operating MRT was at 00.00 AM. We spent that night in CP's apartment.

DAY 2 LCG (June 23^rd 2018)

It was almost 11:30 AM. Bob, Andreas, and I were getting ready to the Star Vista Mall. CP had left earlier in the morning, while DK was still sleeping because he slept very late. After eating brunch at Simei food court, the three of us immediately took the MRT to the location.

Just like the previous day, the atmosphere of the Mall was quite crowded and festive. Most LCG participants had gathered and jammed around the portable obstacle since the morning. Like the previous day, Andreas and I just stayed at the booth, selling Avolution Clothing, collaborating with Ibnu and Selly who sold Malingkondank Clothing.

The 2nd day theme was workshop/coaching clinic. There were 9 workshops held on that day. Everything lasted from 01:00 PM to 06:00 PM, and each workshop duration was one hour. I attended the last two workshops hosted by Dom-Anan (Mystery Workshop) and CP (Dive Roll Masterclass). These workshops were the most valuable things I got during this LCG, so much knowledge and experience that could be obtained from them.

After the workshops sessions, the night schedule moved to The Yard. Just like the previous year, the indoor freestyle competition would be held again which was obviously no less interesting than in The Star Vista. All the LCG participants seemed happy to gather at The Yard, whether they joined the challenge or just did the free jam like me.

Because of several reasons, on this 2nd day Andreas and I had to stay in Faiz's apartment. But whatever it was, the whole day was a very happy moment.

DAY 3 LCG (June 24^th 2018)

This was the climax of Lion City Gathering 2018: Asian Parkour Championship (APC)!! Most LCG participants from various countries would compete in speed-run and freestyle categories. On this 3^rd day of LCG, the mall visitors seemed more crowded than the two previous days, they all looked quite enthusiastic watching the APC.

Meanwhile I still stick to my own principle, that I will always be a non-competitive parkour adherent. However, I keep 100% respectful towards all the competitors, because principle difference is absolutely not a barrier to making friends with anyone. Besides that, I just wanna focus on selling Avolution Clothing during the event.

Shortly after the entire competitions were done, we had group photos, then followed by winners announcement and ended by the closing session. Then; Andreas, Widio, Ibnu, Selly, Faiz, Zahid, and I ate dinner together at Encik Tan Restaurant located one floor above the portable obstacle.

From Star Vista Mall, Faiz and I continued to Freerunner Lodge (my staying place during last year LCG), while Andreas-Ibnu-Selly decided to do sightseeing around Chinatown area, then Widio went out with Zahid. Just info, Freerunner Lodge is an indoor gym (besides Kraken and The Yard) located inside CT Hub 2 building. The building itself has a swimming pool that was used for this post-LCG "swimming party". I joined the other LCG participants who had already swum in the pool. It was really a memorable night, a relaxation time after a tiring parkour-jamming on the whole day.

±11:00 PM Faiz and I decided to finish the swimming session because we didn't want to come home late to Faiz's apartment. I stayed in his apartment again that night, along with Andreas, Widio, Ibnu, Selly, and also Abraham from Philippines.

POST LCG (June 25^th 2018)

Since the morning, Ibnu and Selly had packed up their stuff, leaving Faiz's apartment towards Changi airport as they immediately would return to Yogyakarta. Meanwhile Andreas, Widio, Abraham, and I headed to Kallang area for helping the LCG committee crews hauled back the iron bar of the portable obstacle to the warehouse there.

Then the remaining iron bars/properties that wasn't put in Kallang would be returned to Kraken. Every one of us rode the rented truck to Kraken, then help carrying them all into the gym.

Then from Kraken; Andreas, Widio, and I decided to eat brunch at the foodcourt in Bishan area, and continued to Bedok Maze afterwards. There were still many LCG participants who jammed there. Most of them still stayed a few days more in Singapore.

with Hikari Izumi

We jammed in Bedok Maze as satisfied as we wanted until ±08:00 PM, then going back to Faiz's apartment to collect our remaining stuff before leaving to Changi airport. Because our flight to Bali would depart in the next morning at 05.00 AM, we decided to spend the night at airport lounge so that we wouldn't miss the plane.

BALI (June 26^th - June 30^th 2018)

Thankfully Andreas, Widio, and I were able to return safely to our home country without any bad things happened. On Tuesday, June 26^th, 2018, around 08.00 AM, we landed at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali.

During in Bali, Andreas and I stayed in the boarding house of Andra, our old friend from Parkour Surabaya who now has settled down in Bali. Meanwhile Widio himself is a native Balinese.

We spent most of the first day in Bali with resting due to the lack of sleep during in airport, then on the second day I was invited to visit Widio's parents and grandparents’ house in Tabanan area, while Andreas was busy with his video-documentation job.

The third day in Bali was the time to farewell with Widio, because he would go to Germany on July 4^th 2018. So he decided to depart to Jakarta since June 28^th evening because his flight would be from there.

On the fourth day, Andreas and I joined Parkour Bali training at night. It's good to be back again in full strength jamming after the exhaustion effects from Singapore trip. Even though my parkour skill isn't really great and just average, but my training spirit will always be lit.

June 30^th, our last day in Bali. Around 08.00 AM; Andreas and I were invited by Riza, Fabiano, and Tommy to visit Melasti Beach, at the southern part of Bali. Beautiful coastal scenery behind the limestone hills really refreshed our minds. Then, finally at 06:00 PM Andreas and I left Bali to Surabaya using shuttle-van service. Again we return to our daily routine, ready to save more money for the next trip.

Overall, this trip was an impressive one, regardless of all the faced problems. There were many precious life lessons and experiences that I got. It was so fun that I could meet and interact with many other friends from various countries. Our difference in nation, race, language, religion, and culture are absolutely not obstacles for building the friendship. There is no point for questioning these differences, we're all human being anyway. And last, hope we can see each other again in the next parkour event.