Episode 18: Simpang Lima
The next morning, The Pups Gang woke up early, their tails wagging with excitement for the day ahead. After a quick breakfast, they piled into the car, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Simpang Lima was a large intersection in the center of Semarang city.
This intersection is the confluence of five unified roads, namely Jalan Pahlawan, Jalan Pandanaran, Jalan Ahmad Yani, Jalan Gajah Mada and Jalan Ahmad Dahlan. It's a bustling area known for its vibrant street food and shopping.
The most iconic at Simpang Lima Semarang is the Ciputra mall and hotel. Jerony had a special plan for his pups today, which was to visit the mall and watching a movie in cinema.
As they arrived at the bustling intersection, the smells of street food fill the air. The mall's lights twinkled in the early morning light, reflecting off the polished floors and gleaming storefronts.
"Master, when will the mall open?" Luna asked eagerly, her nose sniffing the air as they parked the car near the mall.
"Around 9 AM, pups," Jerony checked his watch, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Let's go walk around Simpang Lima first and maybe... Just maybe, you could finds your favorite foods."
Maxtone and Svara's ears perked up at the mention of food, and they eagerly followed Jerony out of the car, the rest of the gang close behind.
They strolled down the sidewalks, passing by street vendors setting up their stalls for the day. The smell of sizzling satay and sweet, spicy sambal filled the air, making their mouths water.
That day is a car-free day which is held regularly every weekend in Semarang city. So, the streets were filled with cyclists, joggers, and families enjoying the fresh morning air.
The Pups Gang attracted many curious glances and smiles as they trotted alongside Jerony, their tails wagging in excitement. They had never experienced such a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
"I don't know that car-free day is so fun... No cars, no pollution, just fresh air and happy people," Maxtone barked as he took in the scene with wonder.
"It's great for us, too, isn't it?" Svara added, her eyes gleaming as she watched a group of children play with a frisbee nearby.
"Master, can we get some of those?" Hershell asked, his eyes fixed on a stall selling colorful toys.
"this time, no, pups... We're here to explore the food," Jerony chuckled, leading them to a row of food stalls.
Their stomachs rumbled as they took in the sights and smells. There was nasi goreng, a classic Indonesian fried rice dish with bits of chicken and vegetables, sizzling on a wok.
There were also sweet treats like martabak, a thick pancake filled with sugar, chocolate, and cheese. The pups' eyes widened at the variety, their tails wagging with excitement.
After walking for a few minutes, they found a cozy stall with a friendly-looking vendor.
"Look at that, puppies... You know what is it?!??" Jerony asked.
"Lumpia!!!" They all shouted in unison, their eyes lighting up as they then dashes towards the stall.
Lumpia Semarang is a popular local dish, a crispy spring roll filled with sweet and savory ingredients that's a delight to the taste buds.
The vendor, an old man with a warm smile, looked down at the eager pups and chuckled.
"Selamat datang, ada yang bisa saya bantu?" The vendor greeted them in Indonesian with a warm smile, noticing their excitement.
*Welcome, what can I help for you*
Jerony then said in Indonesian.
"Aku ingin beberapa bungkus Lumpia untukku dan untuk anak-anak anjing ku," he pointing at the puppies.
*I want some Lumpia for me and for my puppies*
The vendor then wrapped the crispy lumpia in paper and handed it to Jerony with a smile.
"50 ribu rupiah," the vendor said, and Jerony handed over the money with ease.
*50 thousand rupiah*
"Terima kasih, pak," Jerony thanked the vendor, taking the warm Lumpia in his hand.
*Thank you, sir*
He and the puppies walked to Lapangan Pancasila, which is become the center of Simpang Lima.
They found a spot under the shade of a large tree, where they could enjoy their snack without getting too hot from the sun.
"Here we go, puppies," Jerony said as he handed each of them a lumpia.
They took their treats eagerly, their mouths watering at the delicious aroma.
Maxtone took a bite, his eyes closing in pleasure as the crunchy exterior gave way to the sweet and savory filling.
"Mmm... this is heaven," he murmured, his tail wagging in satisfaction.
Svara devoured hers just as eagerly, licking her chops.
"It's been too long since we had this, Master," she said, her voice muffled by the food.
"Master, I don't know you can still speak Indonesian," Anna said, surprised by Jerony's fluency.
"Well... You know, pups, even though we all live in Adventure City, America, I'm still an Indonesian citizen at heart," Jerony chuckled, taking a bite of his Lumpia.
As they enjoyed their snack, the bustle of the car-free day continued around them. The sound of laughter, music, and the occasional ringing bell of a distant bike filled the air.
The Pups Gang took in the sights, their tails wagging as they watched the people go about their day.
"Pups... After this... I'll take you to the Ciputra mall, more precisely, to the cinema... We'll watch the latest live action movie," Jerony announced, and the pups' eyes lit up even brighter.
"Let me guess... Maybe, the 'Lion King' remake?" Maxtone barked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Or Toys Story?!?" Svara shouted excitedly.
"Ouh oh... Maybe... All Dogs Go To Heaven!!!" Luna barking, jumped up and down.
"No, your answers are all wrong, puppies... But I won't spoil it... It's a surprise," Jerony said with a teasing smile, the mystery making the pups' tails wag even more.
*Time skip*
"What?!??? I can't believe it, Master... It's really really real or dream?!" Svara barked in disbelief, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she saw the movie poster outside the cinema.
"Our partners?!??" Anna continued, couldn't believe what she saw.
"PAW Patrol?!??" Hershell said, his voice trembled as he read the poster in front of him.
"Have their own movie now?" All the puppies shouted, their eyes wide in amazement.
"Yes, pups, they do," Jerony said, his smile growing wider "and we're going to watch it right now."
The puppies squealed with excitement, their paws thumping on the floor as they waited in line. The humans around them couldn't help but laugh at their antics, some even taking photos.
Once inside the cool, dark theater, they found their seats, and Jerony handed out the treats he had smuggled in for them.
"Remember, pups... We're here to watch a movie, so keep your noise down," Jerony whispered as the previews started rolling.
The puppies nodded, their eyes glued to the giant screen.
"I'm still couldn't believe... Our best friends, PAW Patrol... They already have their own live action movie!" Luna whispered in awe as she and the other waiting the movie to start.
