Fox Cafe BSD

All this time, I’ve been wondering what a fox really looks like. I had only seen them in traditional Asian movies/ or books like the Gumiho from Korea or Kitsune from Japan. Surprisingly, there’s a fox cafe near my home, Fox Cafe BSD (@foxcafebsd).

The cafe is located in the Ruko Tabespot Blog G2 No 19, BSD. Before visiting, we have to make a reservation, choose a schedule, and select which animal we want to interact with. This cafe offers several animals besides foxes such as capybaras, fennec foxes, skunks and prairie dogs. However, the most popular sessions are the fox and capybara oness. The entrance fee is Rp115.000 per person on weekdays and Rp135.000 per person on weekend and public holidays, with down payment of Rp75.000 per person. The fee includes one set meal and a drink for a duration of one hour, but excludes animal snack which cost Rp20.000 per cup. I think, one hour wasn’t too short for playing with foxes. In fact, one session was enough to spend time with them.

There were three foxes. The first one was Hanna, a red fox. Red foxes have a reddish-orange coat and are the most well-known type of fox in the world, often appearing in Japanese or Korean Mythology. Hanna was very active and a little bit aggressive, but, she was also the friendliest fox there. She liked to play with visitors. However, you need to be careful, she doesn’t like being touched on her back, and she might give a small bite as a warning if someone touches her unexpectedly. My son, had a lot of fun playing with Hanna.

Hanna and Majesty

The second fox was named Phoenix, a marble fox. It has a white coat with grey and black markings. In contrast to Hanna, Phoenix was shy and calm. The last one was an Arctic fox with a pure white coat named Majesty. Similar to Phoenix, Majesty also had a calm temprament. They usually approached visitors only when food was offered.

Phoenix

This book captures Amaia’s experiences during her month-long journey in Tokyo. She recounts each moment of her stay through engaging short stories accompanied by captivating illustrations.

This book not only intended for those planning to visit Tokyo, but also for anyone seeking deeper insights into the city - knowledge that short-term travelers may not easily experience. The skeches are charming and engaging, making me want to read the book again and again. 

Due to its day-by-day, diary-like format, the book feels somewhat unstructured and does not provide a clear thematic focus or an index for easy reference.

The book is recommended for adult readers (18+) due to inclusion of mature-themed sketches. While it does not function as a conventional travel guide - offering neither culinary nor destination recommendations- it remains valuable for prospective visitors to Japan by helping them better understand cultural nuances and minimize potential culture shock.

For 17 years lived in Pontianak, West Borneo, travelling to nearby cities like Singkawang was a common activity for me. It takes around 3 hours by car from Pontianak, making Singkawang a frequent one-day trip destination. Unfortunately, I didn’t have many memories of Singkawang’s local culinary scene, which left me knowing almost nothing about it when my friends from other cities visited for business trip. Therefore, during a long holiday this year, I decided to revisit Singkawang with my extended family and explore more authentic local cuisines.

“I Love Singkawang“ city signage

authentic Chinese-style layout

Mie Bakso Spesial 68

View from Kopitiam Rusen

Bubur Pekong

mural art among the shophouses

Choipan or Chaikue

Hunting for Singkawang’s local culinary delights in a short time was quite interesting for me. Despite the limited destinations, the ambiance, taste and affordable prices were strong enough to make me want to come back again. See you next time!