Going Out

ZOO

Surabaya zoo is my favorite place, because there are many animals in there. During the weeks its not so crowded, but during the weekends and the holidays its attracts a lot of people especially familes. It’s a green place there are many trees, they provide shade. There also a lot of walls ice cream stands where we can buy ice cream and cool off under the enjoyment of a nice ice cream of choice. The park appear to be bit dirty and pully organize and the aquarium section is out dated and the walk ways are bumpy say the least. The parking facilities are small but well accessible and the entrance fees are pretty low so its affordable to us. There are only two exits which make it hard to find the away out and make it unsafe in case of emergency such as fire.

              In front of every cages we can find the description with the latin  name of the animal and read how they live in their natural habitats. Most of the animals seem to be well fed and rather healthy, but the condition of the cages seem to suffer from a backlog in maintenance as they appear to be quite rusty and not too attractive to the eye, since it lacks creativity in design. Management for example could have tried a little harder to imitate the natural habitats of the animal.

              There are carnival rides offered, such as a flying fox, a boat ride, a train ride for kids and live animal rides in addition such as camel and elephant rides, which truly connect the kids in a more physical way with the animals and get a sense of their magnificence.

Fernanda G

Sweet 17 party ideas

The sweet 17th birthday party should celebrate both the child the birthday girl has always been and the young woman she is becoming. Incorporate friends and good, clean fun to create a truly unforgettable sweet 17th birthday celebration.

Theme Parties

Give the birthday girl and her friends a chance to dress up as the lovely young women they are. Hold a black and white party. Tell guests to dress in black and white only and use only black and white decor. Give it a sophisticated touch with sparkling grape juice served in flutes and hire a DJ to play dance music. Or host a Hollywood theme party. Roll out a red carpet and tell guests to dress in their formal finest. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and punch. Decorate with glitter and, if your budget allows, hire a videographer to capture the event on film.

Overnight Parties

Treat the birthday girl and guests to a mostly unsupervised overnight party. Rent a luxurious hotel suite for the night and hire a couple of makeup artists to give the guests makeovers . Stock the place with snacks and drinks. If the birthday girl is the outdoor type, buy a couple of oversize tents and send her and guests on a camping trip. Set up the tents, build a fire and have a cookout. Or rent your church's social hall to host a party. Supply snacks, drinks, board games and movies.

Parties At Home

If you want to keep costs down, stay at home for the sweet 17 party. Throw a amiple party. Hang black curtains to keep the light out and supply movies, video games, junk food and blankets. You could also turn your home into a dance hall. Push your furniture against the walls and put portable dance floors on the floor. Hang disco balls and serve drinks while you play dance music. Or throw a spa party. Ask fellow parents or older siblings to give the guests facials, manicures and pedicures. Tell guests to bring bathrobes and serve snacks and juice while they get pampered.

Adventures

Send the birthday girl and a few friends on an unforgettable adventure. Book them on a skydiving adventure or send them on a jungle adventure! Or rent a luxury yacht for the day and send the birthday girl and guests on a daylong cruise with water sports, sunbathing and dinner on board. You could also rent a car, fill it with snacks and send the birthday girl and guests on a road trip of their choosing, or take them to play paintball or laser tag. For a more affordable adventure, plan a day of inexpensive fun in your city. Consider a few hours at the mall too.

 -Mellisa Sugiharto

GOING OUT IN SURABAYA!

For children

• Surabaya Zoo.
• Ciputra Waterpark at Citraland is excellent, well laid out, spotelessly clean and well policed by lifeguards, etc.

Shopping Malls and Department Stores

• Tunjungan Plaza I-IV
• Supermal
• Lenmarc Mall at Jl. Bukit Darmo Boulevard
• Grand City Mall at Jl. Gubeng Pojok
• Ciputra World at Jl. Mayjend Sungkono
• Pasar Atum, a mall that has been opened since the 70s, selling anything from garments to kitchenwares.
• Plaza Surabaya or Delta Plaza
• Galaxy Mall

Dining Out

• Tratoria Italian Restaurant, Jalan Dr.sutomo
• Portofino in the Shangri-La hotel
• Desperados in the Shangri-La (night club with foreign bands)
• Primavera in Hyatt Hotel
• Tavern (night club)
• La Rucola (previously Trattoria) Italian Restaurant, Jl. Dr. Sutomo 51, (031) 567-8557 (Reservation recommended, especially on weekends).
• Casa Fontana Ristorante Italiano, Jl. Imam Bonjol 119, (031) 567-7679 (Reservation recommended, especially on weekends).

- Maria Regina Tjowari