Trips and Travels

Minggu, 23 Oktober 2016

The Journey of Simplicity: Nara (part 1)

October is almost leaving ,
Then November is gonna be raining.

I just realised that I haven't touched this blog for more than a month. Well, I was in Japan for 2 weeks and tried to enjoy my autumn experiences there. I went to Japan for a week workshop in a place called Kitakyushu, a small island in the south - close to Fukuoka and 7 hours from Osaka. I will tell you later about my story in Kyushu . But now I am going to share my first solo traveling (well, it's not really that solo, it was a sorta runaway) to Nara.

To be honest, I didn't really enjoy my trip in Japan, almost a week full of workshop, several troubles I had because of bollocks stuff I didn't expect. I stayed there from late September until early October, and I spent a week to explore Kansai province: Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. Though I know that there are other prefectures I wish I could visit them all, then see, so many things to do and yet so little time. I had wasted 4 days prior to a trash, I didn't really have fun. Though I was happy and grateful that I got a chance to visit and explore Japan. I don't know what happened to me lately, wish I could do many things alone and felt the autumn breeze in Japan. So, I ran away. I was a bit in doubt when I told my friends that I really did want me time; I still woke up late on Friday, and met my friends in the hostel lounge. I convinced them I would be alright, they didn't have to come along, yer they said that they still did not have any plans what they were gonna do on that day. 

I took a quick shower, put my leather jacket on and took the train, to Nara.

I was never really interested going to Japan before. Despite its awesome cakes and delicate dishes, to be honest , Japan was not on my list. But who knew about the future ahead? *smirk. My brother used to live in Osaka for almost 3 years and I got used to have many presents from Japan every time he came back home: play station, shirt, toys, books, dorayaki, chocolates and of course, stories. He told me he really loves Nara, a small place located in Japan, I could tell that is touristic place, but he said, it would amaze you by its simplicity, its ancient, its old smell oaks, its silent. I dared myself to visit there, well Okay, this could be my quality time, and I should indulge my own very self. 

He was right.

Nara's weather is so uncanny, I love it. I told you before that there is a small place called Mandurah (click here for a glimpse story) in Western Australia that I loved the most. Nara is at the same level with Mandurah: small, thoughtful, calm. You don't know why you admire things, somehow, a little thing which looks very normal could make you experience the curious feeling.

because, it is the feeling you can't deny. As I got when I first stepped my feet there, I told you again, Nara is such a solace. 

Whether I was right or not, there was a glance thought that probably I always like something that is simple (or probably every body does like simple stuff, somehow). I enjoyed every single moment I spent alone on train, which was not similar to my journey when I was on trip to Kyoto. The train was not so crowded, it passed through small forest and bridges, rivers, and I still remember I passed  some stations called Oji, and some towns with "-Chi" at the end (hahahah I am getting older baby, it's hard to recall the names). I sat alone , I read a bit on train but I put it off as I mesmerized by the nature of Japan.

You know, sometimes you didn't have to share beautiful things with someone. Just keep it for yourself. Make it your own unshared belonging. You can tell anyone later if you want to but they would not see what you have seen. That's the best selfish act you would have ever done. 

:)


Back to Nara station, I checked my purse and I talked to a guide there what places I should visit (It is common in Japan in which they provide several guides who speak Mandarin, Korean and English - even when in the station or bus'/train announcement as well). Then, she gave me the map, I told her I had no idea where I should go except Naramachi, a strange name I googled a day prior, and it is described as "preserved village" in Nara. She suggested that I should go to bla bla, seeing the deer, seeing the temples, and seeing bla bla bla . She offered a one-day-pass bus ticket but I ignored (I was stupid, you should take it if you wanted to explore more, worth in value). 


My boots were a bit slippery so it was so annoying to walk on them. That's why, I sauntered to the bus stop for tourists, a yellow bus, a Loop bus that will go in circle around Nara. I stepped on and gave the driver 210 Yen to go to terminal 5, Nara Park, which I could walk for 20 minutes instead.  It only took 10 mins by bus to take me to Nara Park and many deer already greeted me there. 


Happiness, Is it?


It was so delightful! a truly peaceful spot with squealing deer. Hahaha
Bambinas were pretty timid unless you gave them crackers, and be careful of meese or goat-deer or Illama (?) -hell yeah I don't know those names- because sometimes they are too aggressive especially with girls :) . You could see the deer master who is in charge to feed them. Well basically, deer there eat almost everything: your crackers, your chocolates, your cake or even you if you smell like biscuits. I didn't buy the crackers, I wanted to attract the deer with my heart and they seemed so ignorant (oh deer! why aren't you 'endeering?') . It didn't need any second to be frolicking with the deer, captured some pictures of them, had a lame selfie (because they never looked at my camera), or just watched people passing by. I saw other tourists, solo travelers perhaps, then smiled at them and pretending to send telepathic message to them , "let's have fun!" when they are a bit disturbed by those hyperactive squealing fellas. 

T'was sunny, that was super fantastic weather and accidentally, my phone captured this:

no filter at all

the sky tone in my hometown has a slight difference with the color tone in Nara.
another simple thing I am fond of: just looking up the sky then feeling the wind.

There is Nara national museum near it and I got 50% discount by showing off my student card : from 600 yen to 300 yen.
The museum itself is pretty astonishing, though it is full of statues and ancient Buddhist sculptures from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean royals in the past. We are not allowed to take any pictures inside it but I had snapped an insightful info :

You weren't even conceived yet, I bet

P.S. It was even better I could practice my French on the board.
After my exploring in the museum was done, I got out and bought Ice bread ice cream for 350 yen. Seemed like, two American guys (I suppose, I guessed it by their accent) were attracted to buy it as well when one of them stared at me eating Macha (green tea) ice cream gruesomely. He smiled at me and damn, actually, I was really shy when a cute guy smiled at me :o). 

Later on, I tried to offer it to little fella whom sat outside the park, as she didn't move his ass off.  However, as usual, some little are very ignorant. I was just tryin' to be nice to her but she gave me her cold-hearted refusal :(. Okay, pretty Bambi, this Macha cream is For Me only!

Lady Bambi ignored my offer


Then I continued my trip to Naramachi .

Kamis, 18 Agustus 2016

Summer is coming!

y'ello folks! it's been so long i didn't write about good things happened to me lately ,
hahaha
perhaps i was too busy writing sad stories about myself then lamented and it felt like getting a huge punch on my nose .

August will be over soon, then september, then october, then november, then december, then voila 2017!
dayum, time flies so fast.
so many things happened in 2016, yer, i had still carried some baggage from the past, but let me clear all of them.

So,
it's like usual days, you are having good and bad times, met some morons, earned some extra money, but I feel so contented I have traveled to several countries so far for study and spent at least 2 weeks and made friend with some amazing people whom taught me about many things.

Though I took 3 years to finish my master.. yeah because I am lazy and big procrastinator , Thanks to Allah SWT, I got almost straight A's for all subjects, which somehow I almost don't believe in myself ... gosh, what the heck was I doing? LOL

I have been learning French for a year and half and now I am at pre-intermediate level! car rien ne gratuit dans la vie :) I am the laziest person in the class yet I got 'yeahprettysatisfying' score for my french. Je suis hereuse! I still need 2 more years to complete my lesson and master it since I know it's very beneficial for my future endeavors. 

what else... I made my first trip together along with my bestfriends to Solo, a lovely city close to Yogyakarta. It was a short trip but very meaningful for us and we really want to repeat it, hahaha we got a plan to visit Singapore or Tokyo together but we'll see.

Everyone loves my cooking! i never know it if I could cook sorta food this great *ahem*, I invited some friends to my house and I cooked some food for them and they liked it! some of my friends also started to create some culinary business and hell they cook better than me hahaha I should learn from them, 

I've already spent almost 70 dollars purchasing some 'rare' books: Orwell, Camus, Sartre, and Zizek!!! I am do happy I could find many books about those amazing authors (in INDONESIAN translation!), and this is summer , you will know what I am mostly likely doing: reading books, writing some stories about my traveling journey (I will post it asap, wait for it :D) or .... if I am very lazy, I'd probably be watching some movies.

Anyway, Happy Summer! Bon L'Été a tous!
xoxo

Sabtu, 02 Juli 2016

Phnom Penh Airport: Not Like What You Expected But Still...

FYI, I really wanted to visit Cambodia in 2015: Cambodia in my mind, well, I could say.

Then I got info about presenting some researches there and granted for a small fund that costed small budget return tickets.
I conducted a research about education with my partner, Rosita and brought our result there. We presented it in front of Cambodian people, most of them were teachers I guess. We did good, even some people asked us to take pictures with them. I basically don't like taking pictures with people I don't really know, yet I am not a white (stop talking like a Trump) but I was glad and a bit shy when I realised that many people asked us to take pics with them. You know, I felt like being a Kim Kardashian with small tits and I guess I am a little bit smarter than her *smirk*

Rosita and I traveled to Phnom Penh in February, it was a short flight from Kuala Lumpur (only 1.5 hours I suppose) and we were very exhausted after 10 hours walking and exploring Suria Mall and had some fun with old pals there.  First thing I noticed was the airport. Yes, The airport. I don't know how to say, but for a capital city it is very small and a bit messed up. There were some men who did the construction everywhere (guess, it was still in built-up mode) then since I was very sleepy so I walked to the wrong direction and got lost a little while to find the immigration. We asked the security there, and he helped us to the immigration. He couldn't speak English but he was very kind to direct us. It was 7 AM and the airport was very silent. Not so many people went there, compared to the busy bob Juanda airport in the second biggest city where I live.

I like the interior design inside the airport, surprisingly, it was very clean and simple. and I like the toilet HAHAHAHAHA. it was much cleaner than Juanda airport, well maybe because not so many people go there. 

The Immigration

My head was not ready to fill up the visa arrival form so I made a mistake when I wrote down my list. I was very sensitive with list, you know how frightening the Australian Immigration is. I wrote down all my list of belonging, and some old man told me, "just don't list anything, " and he chuckled at me. Well, I didnt know what he meant so I asked, "well, should I leave it blank?", and he said, "Yes".

I ripped my first visa arrival form then took another one from my bag (I asked the stewardess to give me two forms) and Rosita asked me if I had another one (she wanted to rip her visa form too, write a new one). I had none so she approached one of airport officers and asked for a visa form but she got scorned. Poor her! (why all people who work at immigration are very mean!!), then she just scratched her previous list and wrote a new one.

After that, we walked to the immigration line and our passport got stamped. well, then it was time for us to search for our luggage and suitcases then got checked before we leave the airport. I took my luggage and went to a guy whom I thought he would check our luggage. I gave him my visa form and passport also with my suitcase to be checked. 

He smiled. and said "No, you go."

I was baffled. "What?"

He smiled again. "you go"

I guess he couldn't speak any other english words.
"you don't check it?"

He smiled once again, "No" and he gave me the direction to the exit door.

"So, this is it?". I smiled to him and waved my hand to Rosita, "Let's find a taxi"

Minggu, 05 Juni 2016

Does IQ test measure our intelligence?

y'ello folks!

it's been pretty long time since my last writing, well okay let's shoot to the point,
why would I really want to discuss about it, 
we might know that's it pretty arguable and debatable. does our IQ test really measure our intelligence? interesting!

I still remember my first IQ test when I was 11, I got 100, they said I am pretty 'normal' kid, not too bright, not too stupid. a total average.
It was an official test at my junior high school, we needed to answer some kind of questions, mostly pictures. For me, who is very imaginative, I tend to look out from another perspective. I thought this test was ridiculous, and I was pretty reluctant to answer so I just chose the answer mostly without thinking.

My second test was when I was 16, it was when I was at high school, I got 114. Wow? did I evolve much? ahahaha. I don't know, maybe it was because hm...?I put more effort to answer the questions, gladly know several tricks: "answering the questions to please the examiners"

 was it considered as tricks? hm, i don't really know, I guess so. 

My genius bestfriends , most of them, got IQ results more than 120,
I got two best dudes who got 122 and 125, yer they are both geniuses at science and math. 
Honestly, I am not that good at Science and Math, well, I am suck at it.
I tried to search some names who got higher IQ, and most of them are scientists: Newton, Bill Gates, Edison. I found Obama, Bill Clinton, and Bush IQ tests , i am not sure if it's legit or not, all of them got more than 120. except Newton, he got 190.

This kind of talk, I ever asked to my ex-boyfriend raphael, I was pretty ashamed that I told him I only got 114 when I was 16, and he told me his latest IQ test was 131. He studied law and he was not suck at Math. He told me he was not that popular nerd kid at high school but I am kinda sure he was bright.

Then he told me,
"well, Vera, actually it was not really measure how smart you are in general. My first test when I was kid is 111, then I got 118, 120, and the latest was 131. do you think it really measures?"

I am pretty sure IQ test does pay an important role on how we use our logic, but remember we also get EQ, and I had some EQ test before and showed that I am a natural-born leader, but not like a benevolent dictator, but more or less a good decision maker and sensible. 

Could I be a good leader without having higher IQ like Newton or Obama? hm, let's see then. No one can assure our future yet.

Minggu, 22 Mei 2016

THE LOST THING

Do you know when you've lost something-like your favorite CD's or a set of keys (because you're too dumb to remember where you put it)-- and while you're looking for it, you come across something else you once missed but have long since forgotten?

Well, whatever it was, there was a point when you decided to stop searching, did actually decide to forget about it, maybe because it was no longer needed, or a new replacement was found. It is almost as it never existed in the first place, until that flash moment of rediscovery, you recognize those lost things again.

Everyone has one, an inventory of lost things waiting to be found. Yearning to be acknowledged for the worth they once held in your life.

I presume, this is where I belong. Among all your other lost things.
Like an old photograph pressed between the pages of a book. 
I hope you will find me and remember what I once meant to you.

Sabtu, 14 Mei 2016

a cup of bitter black coffee

"Without cafés and newspapers, it would be difficult to travel. Travel robs us of such refuge. we are completely on the surface of ourselves. But also, soul-sick, we restore to every being and every object its miraculous value. - Camus "

I never knew that the feeling came when you was standing still close to the building, waited for me.

I was nervous back then, it was our first meet-up, after a quite long 'separation'

A separated distance between you and I, Our bizarre "connection" and how easily I could trust you before I got to know you better.

I still remember when you wore that purple shirt, with your blonde hair and crooked smile.
You smiled at me and you said "Hey", and I said, "sorry, I was late" .
I was late because I had too much doubt, like what kind of outfit should I wear, Did I look pretty? 
I realized that it wasn't even a date but don't ask me why I felt in such a way.

Like any usual meeting, the first time I saw your blue eyes and noticed the way you talked (which was a bit uncanny, but in a good way) I listened to all your stories.

You even showed me your photobox picture that you took with your friends in January, nine months prior to your coming. I sipped a cup of coffee and you ordered a cup of hot tea. You were surprised when you knew I could stand for a bitter black coffee, Well, I thought you finally knew that I was a bit weird. I was astonished too, that we could chat much, as usual we did on the phone before you came. I felt the connection between us, I know it was strange. I was a little baffled too, was it something?

I bought you a box of patisseries, assuming that you were hungry when you went back in your hotel room near the airport. You said if I wanted to accompany you to move your "stuff" to your new apartment tomorrow. I said okay, I gladly to help you organizing your things for your new life here.

So, we spent the whole afternoon at the mall, we ate Udon, I dropped the chili powder and we laughed. Then we talked again with so many things I couldn't explain here all:  your hometown, your sister, your brothers, your nephew and niece, my friends, and sorta things about philosophical things in this capricious life.

I was afraid it was too fast, to pull you into my riddle mind, I was scared you wouldn't understand what I was blabbering about.

We went back home and I gave you my first hug. This palpable feeling that I couldn't describe, how it was that great to finally embrace you. 

I came to your new flat and you let me came into your door before you. You had already opened up your suitcase and barely tidied up your clothes.

I dated several guys before, you were the first guy who treated me like a "lady",  being a "ladies first", you even opened the taxi door for me, let me ate your drink and food first. Honestly, most guys didn't treat me like that on first date, strangely we didn't even on a date.  

Then, we laid on your bed, you laid on your bed with your feet stuck on the floor, so I said, "hey, this is your bed, just hop on here". You shook your head and chuckled, then I forced your feet to be on bed and finally you were next to me.

We made fun of people from the fifteenth floor, we laughed, we mocked, I even played your hair and our eyes met. Something was struck on my mind. I was mesmerized by your pale blue eyes which I was really fond of. We kissed. That was our first kiss and we both smiled. 

If you could say how it felt to kiss a new guy at the first time, it was like.. I don't know. Frightened, Elated, Ecstatic, I wanted to do it again but I was too ashamed, so I just said sorry. If you realized too that It felt so wrong, it felt so right.

You didn't say any words but smiled to me, and here came the silent. We stopped for a while and I could feel that your fingers touched my body. You embraced me, and I also did to you  like a little girl. We kissed again, and you eventually said words, "It feels so good". I presumed that my cheeks blushed red, and I couldn't even reply your statement. But I kissed you again.


Minggu, 06 Maret 2016

Being impulsive when travelling

Heyoo folks, 
apa kareba? hahaha kayakna barusan dua hari yang lalu saya nulis tentang pengalaman Jalan singkat using my transfer time di Kuala Lumpur. Kali ini mau nulis tentang general thing sih sebenenernya, akibat masih belum pengen nulis apa aja yang saya kunjungi di Cambodia dan Vietcong (ditunggu aja yeeee).

Well, okay. Actually saya bukan orang yang impulsive (atau sebenernya saya impulsive?), bukan orang yang terlalu spontaneous juga. Saya sebenernya orang yang.. ahem.. a little bit organized. Apa- apa harus bikin list, harus bikin scheduled dulu. Being organized bukan berarti kamar kamu selalu rapi atau rambut kamu selalu disisir atau ngerjain PR tepat waktu,  in my opinion, saya emang orangnya kurang suka kalau ada rencana dadakan. Kata temen-temen saya sih, saya kadang mikirnya kejauhan, misalkan ada rencana bulan April, bulan Januari udah siap siap nih. Mulai dari A-Z saya list satu satu. Saya nyoba lebih bersikap nyantai dan sok cool dihadapan teman-teman *padahal nggak. Pasti bilangnya , "ah iyah, ntar an aja" padahal diam-diam saya udah ngerinci apapun dan udah browsing, cari info, tanya-tanya dan begitulah.

Setiap traveling kemanapun selalu ada pelajaran yang saya dapet, 

Don't be in doubt
Pengalaman saya di Bangkok waktu itu Echyk dan Angga sudah jauh jauh hari mau dinner di Chao Praya Cruise yang kalo dirupiahin kurs na sekitar 1jt rupiah per orang. Waktu itu, entah karena saya yang bawa uang saku kebanyakan atau emang super irit waktu di Phuket dan 
Pattaya, uang saya masih sisa sekitar 2 juta lebih. Echyk dan Angga sudah mantap, emang mereka berdua ini pasangan romantis (gak usah iri yah, hahaha , pasti kalian mikir ini niat backpacking apa honeymoon :D). Saya waktu itu pengen banget, tapi saya jadi keinget titipan oleh-oleh orang sekampung, cukup ga yah kalo beli oleh-oleh cuma satu juta?. Jadi waktu itu kita baru sampe khaosan road jam 2 siang, langsung on the spot cari ho(s)tel. Setelah jalan kesana kemari akhirnya dapat hostel murah yang tempatnya di pojokan masuk gang sempit yang kita sering lupa pintu masuknya lewat mana. 
Pas mau masuk kamar, Echyk tanya sekali lagi, "Yakin Ve, ga mau ikut?". Saya masih galau waktu itu, is it worthy? bla bla bla dsb sampai akhirnya saya bilang, "gak deh mba, aku di hostel aja". Pas saya masuk kamar dan mandi dan balesin sms sms dari orang-orang kemudian tetiba aja saya dapat 'wangsit', okedeh saya ikut dinner aja. Sayang sungguh disayang, dapat wangsitnya telat banget udah jam 4an dan Echyk - Angga sudah pergi dari hostel. Saya coba ketuk pintu dan whatsapp mereka tapi kita emang gak beli nomor Thai, tidak ada jawaban. Jadilah sudahlah saya jadi jomblo ngenes di hostel sendirian.

Fight your fear.
Contohnya apa yah, mungkin kalau di sekitar SEA bisa coba makan sate laba-laba atau kalajengking, Saya udah ke tiga negara yang jualan sate-sate macem begitu, dan belum pernah nyobain. HAHAHA, shame on me. Tapi beneran, ini terlalu menakutkan bagi saya. Mungkin nanti kalau sudah mantapkan hati dan banyakin mengaji, maybe saya mau coba. Eh tapi gak jadi deh, itu kan gak halal *alesan jitu* oke berarti yang satu ini mari kita skip saja. Fight your fear ini banyak macemnya, misalkan saya ini kadang takut kalau jalan malam-malam atau naik public transport sendiri. Ini namanya apa yah? Mungkin karena kebiasaan dari kecil, apa-apa dianterin atau kalo gak bawa kendaraan sendiri atau mungkin saya orang indonesia yang males naik public transport. Traveling saya di Thailand, saya berasa orang kaya kemana-mana naik taxi, melewatkan apa yang namanya naik bus atau BTS. Di Perth, mau naik taxi ke kampus beneran bikin kantong jebol, akhirnya saya kemana-mana harus naik bus sendiri (kadang bareng temen), yang paling gak enak waktu itu hujan deras di Perth dan saya harus pulang sendirian. Mana waktu itu di sekitar kampus UWA banyak galian yang menyebabkan jalan becek trus gak ada ojek trus gak bawa payung. Yasudahlah lengkap. Saya mau pulang duluan karena saya ada janji sama teman. 

Waktu itu naik bus sendirian rasanya agak ngenes gimana gitu (baper karena hujan). Tetiba kangen rumah, kangen sambel pedes dan lain lain, emang kok hujan itu selalu jadi pembawa kenangan *alay mode ON. Kalian pasti ngerasain kan gimana awkwardness nya di negeri orang terus jalan sendirian. Fear saya yang satu ini adalah : loneliness. Mungkin waktu itu saya laper juga dan uang di dalam dompet tinggal  4 dollar yang cukup buat sekali nge-bis (jarak ke kampus saya harus oper 2 bus dari rumah host family). Saya sering felt lonely dan miserable waktu di Perth, entahlah kenapa saya kayak ngerasa jauh banget dari rumah. Kadang erosi hati, kadang excessively happy. But I got through it and I am fine. 

Try something you think you will never do.
"Try" disini mungkin bisa dipersepsikan berbeda bagi tiap tiap orang. Waktu di Banyuwangi saya tiba-tiba langsung bilang yes waktu teman sekelas mau ngajak saya naik Kawah Ijen. Anyway, saya belum pernah naik gunung sebelumnya, dan jujur I am not a big fan of naik naik gunung. Mungkin karena gak ada yang ngajak kali yah, atau mungkin saya mikirnya "Ah, naik gunung pasti capek" wkwkwkw. Tapi waktu itu, mungkin karena efek kopi jagung di Desa Osing yang nikmatnya luaaar biasa, adrenaline saya lagi tinggi. I was thrilled dan saya agak sedikit maksa pengen ikut ke kawah ijen waktu anak-anak mau berangkat (karena saya datang terlambat, saya tidak kebagian seat di mobil). Waktu anak anak minta maaf karena mobilnya gak cukup, yasudah saya nothing to lose, toh saya juga gak bawa equipment seperti jaket atau apapun di dalam tas (waktu itu ada tugas penelitian di Desa Osing Banyuwangi dari kampus). Pas waktu mau tiduran, tibatiba teman saya Fatou dari Senegal membangunkan saya , "Ve, ayo bangun, ayo ikut ke Kawah ijen". Saya langsung sontak said yes dan berangkat. Saya bawa ransel saya yang isinya lumayan berat (kesalahan saya, gak mikir sih langsung aja berangkat haha). Saya langsung duduk di seat dan mobil kita langsung meluncur ke kawah ijen. Waktu itu sudah jam 12.30, saya baru saja datang naik kereta dari surabaya pukul 10 malam dan langsung saja memutuskan "Fine, I am ready to hike the mountain". First timey dan dadakan seperti saya, saya pake jeans, almamater kampus dan sepatu pantopel. Sampai di pos menuju kawah ijen yang udaranya amsyong dingin banget, saya cuma pakai almamater. Teman-teman saya baik sekali mau minjemin saya jaket dan masker, lumayan untuk melawan udara dingin. Waktu perjalanan naik kawah Ijen, yang menurut saya medannya berat dan saya hampir give up (anak gunung pasti ngakak nih), teman-teman saya sangat supportive, saling membantu. That was one of inoubliable moments yang pernah saya dapat *langsung sentimentil*. Saya bolak-balik kepleset dan jungkir balik waktu mendaki, tapi tangan teman teman saya siap ngangkat saya berdiri :'). Teman saya sempet ada yang mimisan dan kita berhenti bolak balik buat istirahat. Kita nyanyi lagu westlife bareng gak jelas dan main tebaktebakan yang super jayus. They were really sweet dan Kawah ijen emang bener bener formidable. Apalagi saya bisa lihat pergantian antara malam dengan matahari terbit, yang susah njelasinnya gimana bagusnya lihat bintang-bintang yang berpendar mulai hilang satu persatu. 

Cerita lucu lain, waktu di Phnom Penh, saya menghadiri Cocktail Party yang disediakan oleh panitia workshop, dan saya gembira sekali karena ada WINEEEEE!!! *mata berkilatkilat* Saya paling suka wine, both red or white, I'll take 'em all , Sir. Saya bukan regular drinker, tapi kalau ada wine gratis saya juga gak bisa nolak. Rosita waktu itu agak hesitated, mau minum wine atau gak, takut mabuk kayakna. Saya jugak gak encourage dia buat nyobain, tapi suddenly dia ambil gelas wine di tangan saya dan kemudian langsung "nyeruput". Komentarnya, "Wine kok enak yah..."

Enjoying every moment to the fullest.
I never go somewhere without plans. Kayakna otak saya selalu ada spaces buat rencana-rencana yang pengen saya lakuin. Ada beberapa yang kesampaian, ada beberapa yang gak. Gak usah terlalu regret, saya gak sempet lihat penangkaran koala di Perth, lumayan menyesal sih, tapi saya bisa lihat kanguru liar di Perth Hill tengah malam dan maybe gak semua orang kepikiran atau ngapain banget tengah malam ke bukit yang sepi dan salah salah bisa di tendang sama kanguru (thanks to my neighbor disana yang surprise ngajakin). Tinggal di Surabaya yang banyak polusi jadi susah lihat sparkling stars malam hari. Di Perth Hill saya enjoy banget duduk duduk liatin banyak sky full of stars dan ngelihat kanguru mondar mandir di semak-semak, dan saya cuma nyapa "hello!" lalu si kanguru malu malu dan kemudian hop hop lari pergi. Waktu di Saigon, saya cuma kepengen jalan jalan tanpa maps, dan cuma pake intuisi nemu post office, notre dame katedral, ben thanh market, war remnants museum malam itu juga. Jadi mikir, maybe when you are least expecting things, great ones would come after. Makin kesini, travelling makin jadi lebih enjoy, santai, dan gak kayak dikejar waktu pas kayak first trip bareng temen di Thailand. Well, perhaps sudah seharusnya seperti itu.

Long way road to Lancelin, WA

Give yourself a little reward or surprise - spontaneously.
Women were born to do shopping. Kayakna sih begitu. Saya jujur tidak seberapa tertarik beli-beli ketika travelling (kecuali ada yang titip, itupun kalau saya lagi gak males buat ke market atau toko suvenir). Tapi satu hal yang ternyata saya lakukan adalah, saya selalu membeli buku di negara yang saya singgahi. Di bangkok, saya beli majalah, di Aussie saya kalap beli 8 buku buat saya dan hadiah buat teman teman di Indonesia. Di Phnom Penh, saya spontan langsung beli kamus Oxford French-english dengan harga 7 dolar. Buku buku yang saya beli mostly memang buku diskonan hahaha. Waktu di bandara Perth, saya kelebihan bagasi yang ternyata 8 buku yang tebel-tebel yang bisa buat lempar anjing itu adalah sebab musabab na. Saya langsung re-arrange koper saya lagi dan saya tenteng 8 buku itu ke kabin. Saya jadi keliatan kayak dork :'>

Begitulah begitu sebagian pengalaman saya yang bisa disimpulkan bahwa being impulsive is totally fine, gak hanya pas travelling saja. Kadang kita butuh yang namanya a little excitement, yang mostly kita dapetin dari hal-hal spontan yang gak kita duga sebelumna. What do you think?


Jumat, 04 Maret 2016

How to be effective using your transfer time - 10 Tips Jalan Jalan Singkat Edisi Kuala Lumpur

Hello folks, jumpee lagii sama sayee hahaha 
barusan sempet nulis lagi nih setelah ga produktif beberapa hari ini (kayak tiap hari produktif ajeeee)

Februari kemarin kebetulan ada acara di Phnom Penh, Kamboja dan sedikit "mbolang" ke negara sebelahnya Saigon di Vietnam. Tapi edisi kali ini mau ngasik tips and trik bagaimana memanfaatkan waktu transit yang baik dan benar di negara tetangga, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Kalau bete garap tugas, biasanya saya iseng buka skyscanner.com buat cek tiket-tiket murah (yang biasanya emang jarang), kebetulan pas itu emang sudah ada plan ke Kamboja buat presentasi penelitian. Iseng-iseng bukain satu-satu flight dari Surabaya-Phnom Penh yang kira-kira sekali jalan habis 1,5 juta, ataupun lewat CGK-Phnom Penh yang lebih kurang ajar lagi bisa sampe hampir 2 juta sekali jalan.

Keisengan dan kekepoan promo ticket hunter seperti saya (emang pas lagi butuh sih) ngeliat ada opportunity dari KL-PNH cuma 500rb udah include bagasi 20kg (Terima kasih Pak Tony Fernandez) tapi itu flight pagi banget jam7 pagi hahaha aje gile udah lah dipikir ntar sambil ngupil gimana caranya bisa nyampe pagi jam 7 udah di kuala lumpur.

Akhirnya sebulan kemudian, kebetulan ada promo tiket SUB-KL pp cuma 800rb udah include bagasi. Pas itu langsung aja kepikiran, hmm daripada berangkat malem mending ambil flight pagi sekalian jalan-jalan bentar ke KL. Yaudin akhirnya ambil flight pagi jam 9 nyampe KL jam 12 siang waktu KL plus lewat imigrasi yang begitu saja pokoknya total nyampe di KLIA2 sambil antri bus jam 2 siang. Berarti total punya waktu sekitar 15 jam plus plus buat eksplor KL.

Kalo nurut tips saya yang pecicilan tapi model berhemat yang cuma pengen ngabisin waktu aja, KL is pretty satisfying buat ngabisin jam-jam transit daripada bengong.

Menurut hemat saya, buat jalan ke KL city dalam sehari cukup duit 55 Ringgit saja. HAHAHAA, hemat gak? yah tergantung sih. Okelah , paling gak this is the list what I had done during 15hours transit:

1. Nyampe KLIA2 langsung pesen tiket bus di loket ke KL sentral. Tiket bus (Januari 2016) 11 Ringgit, bus na banyak pilihan disana tuh, tinggal pilih dan mereka selalu on time.  Jadi KL Sentral ini stasiun sentral yang hubungin ke beberapa daerah di sekitar KL, termasuk kalau mau jalan ke Singapore.

2. Kebetulan saat itu saya bawa koper, jadi harus geret-geret gitu. Emang kalo dirasa backpacker juga, backpacker gagal ini namanya, tapi yasudahlah. Traveling pake koper sangatlah gak disarankan jika kamu adalah tipe yang clumsy atau pecicilan kayak saya. Koper bolak-balik jatuh, secara banyak naik turun tangga. Kecuali kamu pengen sekalian nge-gym sama ngangkat-ngangkat koper yang beratnya lumayan sekitar 10 kg. :p

3. Nyampe di KL Sentral sebenernya bisa nitip di locker kalau gamau bawa berat. Lah berhubung limited budget juga, mau ngeluarin duit 20 Ringgit kok berasa "maju mundur cantik" (tuh duit lumayan bisa buat makan hahaha). Jadi yah balik lagi cyiin, geret geret koper aja.

4. Nyampe KL Sentral, kalo cuma transit bentar dan geret koper mending ke Petronas Tower aja, hahaha lumayan disitu ada Mall dan bisa makan dengan budget harga sama kayak Mall di Surabaya. Waktu itu banyak fast food atau resto yang gak ada di Surabaya macem Nandos (Aaaah jadi kangen Aussie) atau Tous Les Jours (Pasti abis gini mikir kalo Malls di Surabaya  payah banget, wkakakak). Pengen belok ke Nandos tapi harga seporsi 60 Ringgit, cem mana aku gak mundur teratur balik kucing cari resto yang murah dan bisa duduk lama. :(

5. Di Suria Mall, ada resto yang murah juga, dan porsi gede. Jadi pas itu seperti biasa, perut ini lapar emang sengaja gak diisi pas mau berangkat supaya bisa lahap pas makan di KL :p beli lah saya Nasi Tomat seharga  10 Ringgit plus es milo 5 Ringgit. Nah loh porsinya edan bener, porsi kingkong yang bisa dimakan 3 orang kalo ukuran saya. Isinya ayam gede 2, Nasinya bejibun, belum lagi bonus Kari. Temen saya, Rosita pesen entahlah apa namanya , kok mirip gorengan Ote-Ote di pasar Atum, harganya 6 Ringgit dan porsinya jumbo juga. Bisa ditebak, saya gak habis makan seporsi yang akhirnya dibantuin sama Rosita dan Mas Hendra.



Nasi Tomat dan "Ote-Ote"

6. Kebetulan alasan ngabisin waktu transit di KL adalah nemuin bestfriend yang agy kerja disana, Mas Hendra. Sekalian ada satu orang agy senior yang kerja disana pula. Mas Hendra ngajarin kita naek MRT di KL Sentral, semirip kayak beli tiket kereta di Perth Underground, tapi yang ini pake "koin ajaib" yang kudu disimpan sampai kita selesai ditujuan, kalo koinnya ilang bisa berabe tuh gak bisa exit dari stasiun. Harga MRT murah sih sekitar 3 ringgit sekali jalan. Maunya mampir ke pasar seni, pusatnya oleh-oleh (ini sih saran mas Hendra) tapi berhubung aku gak suka shopping dan emang pengen sante aja jadi kita habisin aja di Petronas dan Suria Mall.

7. Petronas Tower kalo siang hari langitnya cerah dan bagus banget. Padahal pas kita landing itu lumayan ujan deres sih. Foto-foto di Petronas kalo siang bisa sampe puas deh, kalo capek tinggal duduk duduk aja dipinggiran situ. Esensi dari menghabiskan transit adalah, gak usah maruk pengen liat ini itu. Dapat satu,dua,tiga spots yang bagus aja udah oke banget, tapi dasarnya saya emang tujuannya pengen ngunjungin BFF dan nyantai jadi yah sampe di Petronas dengan sehat walafiat aja udah cukup. Kalo mau jalan agak deketan situ bisa ke Bukit Bintang, lumayan kalau mau kuliner-kuliner enak.


Uh-Love the Skylight!


8. Saya sempetin liat Petronas Tower pas malam hari, dan lampunya bagus begitu, kerlap kerlip bling bling. Terus air mancurnya dinyalain warna warni gitu dan bisa nyanyi hahaha maksutnya disetelin live music begitu jadi biar tambah rame. Kalau mau foto-foto pas malam, kebetulan pas itu rame banget jadi agak susah cari spot yang keliatan Twin Towers na, jadi yah keliatan "air mancur jogetnya" aja gapapa lah yah hehehe

9. Kalau mau murah balik ke KLIA, disarankan gak lewat jam 12 malem kl mau naik bus, kl naik kereta langsung bisa sih tapi 55 ringgit. Kalo bus kamu harus ke KL Sentral dulu dan MRT paling lambat jam 11 malam (kalo ga salah). Naik bus malam masih rame juga sih ternyata yang mau ke bandara. Pas itu sampe di KL Sentral jam 10, kita said bye bye ke Mas Hendra *hiks sedih, soalna mas Hendra harus naik MRT lagi ke Selangor (ke flatnya dia). Lah kok di KL Sentral sempet digodain sopir sopir India gitu, katanya busnya ke KLIA3 dan gue mah percaya aja (udah malem, lagi error) dan puter balek cari bus lain, eh ternyata sopirnya bilang "Kidding, Miss" ngoks banget 'kan bzzzz .

10. Nah sampe si KLIA2 sekitar jam 12 malem, karena emang gak rencana tidur di hotel kapsul (hemat biaya terus takut ntar ketinggalan pesawat) kita masuk bandara terus check in online dan numpang tidur di Surau hihih. Di KLIA banyak banget surau yg bisa buat bubu sebentar, atau mau tidur di KFC didalemnya juga boleh HAHAHA, kita sih udah nyobain tidur di semuanya. Tidur di Surau kalo malam dingin pol jadi mending tiduran di KFC aja (tidurnya kekenyangan abis makan KFC). Karena kita tau sungkan gak numpang tidur doank di KFC, akhirnya kita urunan beli 2 potong ayam seharga 10 ringgit. Mayan lah, rasanya agak beda dikit tapi enak aja kok (alesan, bilang aja laper). Terus banyak juga tuh yang selonjoran tidur di pojok pojok gitu, di corner, asal kuat dingin aja gapapa sih. Jadi tidur di hotel kapsul kl cuma buat abisin transit doank kayakna rugi, tidur di bandara adalah solusi jitu untuk anda yang mau  irit.

Jam 4 lebih akhirnya kita udah cek bagasi dan siap ke Phnom Penh woohooo . Jam  udah di pesawat dan langsung teler tidur lagi, nyampe nyampe udah dibangunin aja sama mbak pramugari :)

Jadi total yang dihabisin di KL:

Tiket bus PP @RM 11 x 2 = RM 22
Makan Nasi Tomat+Milo= RM 15
MRT 2x @RM3                    = RM  6
Jajan KFC (urunan 2org)= RM  5
air minum gede sebotol   = RM  5
                                                  ______+
TOTAL                                        RM  53

*Budget tiap orang beda beda tergantung suka jajan atau gak

Rabu, 20 Januari 2016

Major throwback: a whimsical night in Pattaya

Salut folks!
It seems like I don't know how to use this blog properly. This isn't a travel blog nor fashion blog. Well, you could reckon this as ... blabbering non-useful one. Hahaha. Whatever.

Since I cannot sleep tonight (I am sorta being a nocturnal recently), I am gonna share a story about my journey in Thailand.


cheap ticket for kids

I had been in Thailand September 2013 with my good friend, Echyk, and her boyfriend Angga. Those couple are ... I would say, lovely ones even though I witnessed so much bickering during our trip, but it was a hell lots of fun.

I met Echyk in 2009, we both were part-timers at some language course, I never thought that we could be that close after we both quit the job. She now works at some Elite hotel in my city. We still catch up sometimes, and in 2012, I still remember that moment when I had an idea to backpack with her.

We ate pizza at some mall, and I suddenly uttered my idea about that backpacking stuff. 
FYI, it was a crazy idea though.
Remember, in 2012 I was a fresh graduate, jobless, and didn't have much money to travel abroad. Guess. It was just a lame chat with her and she took it seriously,
still recalled that she said,  

"Don't worry, we will find a way to go to Thailand"

Echyk never went abroad before, didn't really fancy about traveling stuff (who knew that now she travels a lot with her boyfriend!- dreamy eh?)

Why Thailand?
hmm.. I am not sure. Because maybe, I spent much time adoring Phi Phi Island from The Beach movie starred by Leonardo DiCaprio. Thailand is exotic, and it is a bit far  in distance from Indonesia (hahahahha, this is a dimwit conclusion). Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, they said it is a true call for low-budget travelers!!

Traveling abroad was not that popular among my friends in my university back then, only several kids could afford that. Anyhow, travel needs money, indeed. But, you could manage it with a perfect itinerary plan (which I never have and never plan, totally screwed!).

Voila! in early 2013, miracle happened. I got money in my bank account (I won't ever tell you how I got that, no no, not from working neither from my parents! hahahaha). I met Echyk again for the second time talking about our postponed plan. Echyk was single in 2012, at that time I met her again, she already had a boyfriend, Angga, who worked in the same hotel as her. 

It was previously our plan, two girls conquered the world, sauntering the universe.
Then suddenly, Echyk told me that Angga "forced" her to join the trip.
I was doubtful, because I never knew him, on the other hand, she convinced me that Angga wouldn't make any trouble (which was wrong. Muahahhaha xD )

I met Echyk and Angga at some local cafe in the following month, planning our trip, 
we got (finally) cheap tickets, two way rounds for $150 or IDR1,700,000 by Air Asia.
We browsed on Agoda, clicked this clicked that, We just believed on the pictures that the hotels gave us.  We even planned to have our first cruise on Chao Praya bla bla bla, buggering off, wrote all the stuff down, meanwhile...

SO
we arrived in Don Muang Airport at night, approximately at 8pm. Thailand immigration was okay, they didn't really check our luggage.  I was totally elated and we took pictures of us before we came out from the airport.

WHICH WAS....A LONG QUEUE that we found. So many many foreigners were in line waiting for a taxi. Fuckity fuck! we never thought that we would face something like this. I hate waiting on line, and the queue was unbelieveable. Moreover, I was a little bit confused because of what I read on internet, we were supposed to find a bus to go to the city, but we were puzzled, which bus? plus no internet connection and too dumb to use google maps, honestly our mobile phones were not that sophisticated.

Angga suggested us to wait in line, but Echyk disagreed. Echyk was pretty tired and she was upset. Me?
ah I was just watching them brawling about how to get to Pattaya at night. Our itinerary is Pattaya- Phuket -Phi Phi - Bangkok - Home.
HAHAHAH, you might say that we were out of mind, or maybe some of you would say this is a total whooz plan.

In a sudden, Angga did a VERY INSANE action, he stopped a taxi in front of the airport, OUT OF THE LINE, so he basically STOPPED , HE STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND STOPPED THE TAXI. *whoohoo, big applause Angga!*

The taxi stopped suddenly and the driver opened the window, and Angga shouted, "PATTAYA! PATTAYA! WE GO TO PATTAYA!"

As you should know, Angga's language skill of English is not good but he got a big courage to stop the taxi and shout. I really appreciated it.

"WHAT?" asked the Taxi driver

Echyk helped Angga in a minute, she spoke to the driver, and and something uncanny happened, 
the taxi driver actually wanted to go home (his duty was finished) and I don't have any clue why the taxi driver agreed to take us to Pattaya. The price was fantastic (yes, for us, the poor kid travelers), TBH1500 , but ONCE AGAIN, Angga haggled it , even he couldn't speak very well, told the driver in such an alien way, it only costed TBH 1300! Yiippiee finally! Let's hop in !

Say hello to our nice driver: Angga took his first pic in Thailand. I call it "Angga Protection Program"

Mr. San, our taxi driver was a very nice guy. The first thing I do like when I am abroad with friends from my home country is , I will speak Bahasa because I know that no one can understand except us HAHAHAHAHAHHA. Gossiping is included, *shrugs*. HAHAHHA BRUTAL!

Mr. San asked us where we came from, I was lazy to answer because I was busy sight-seeing Bangkok highway. So, Angga answered him, 

"Indonesia, Indonesia, you know Indonesia??"

Mr. San could speak English, with his lovely accent and he said that he liked tourists from Indonesia. Indonesia is nice, according to him, even he had not a chance to visit our country, but from what he described , he was kinda resourceful guy.

It only took 2 hours trip to go to Pattaya, I didn't really pay attention because I was in between : asleep or awake. It was a  fine drive though, I may say that I love Bangkok at night. Pretty much the same like Jakarta, that was my first opinion.

When we arrived in Pattaya, Mr. San was confused about our ho(s)tel. We picked a quite nice place (we thought) and it turned us down because the ho-s-tel was like in the middle of slum area. 

Mr. San took our luggage and we walked onto a narrowed street , very small one and dark.
WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

We were disappointed but we did not have anywhere else to stay over. ACCEPT IT BITCH! just an advise, don't believe what you have seen on Internet guys, Reality is a bitch. It looks good but it is not, and vice versa.

Being the third wheel in some backpacking trip, has its pros and cons (will do the next session for it, sorry Echyk :p) But I tell you later about it muahahha xD

In 10 minutes after we checked in and put our carriages, we strolled around the neighborhood. We were famished and low-budget so we just bought a SUPER YUMMY NOODLE (sorry, can't read in Thai, but it was truly delicate) . Only TBH60 for fuckin' mouthwatering noodle, YAY! BLESS YOU THAI PEOPLE.

Trop miam, can't talk won't talk while eating

 After that, we continued our steps, no maps, just walk, and we discovered many "whimsical" things. More bars and clubs and pubs, another yummie food once more, lady boys who winked their eyes to Angga and catcalled him (whahahah, no guys catcalled Echyk and I, what a failure). Then we halted again to try some seafood satay, oh my this one is FANTASTIC too, spicy, and well-grilled and cheap!


Grill up, grill up!

I bought two satays and helped the Satay guy to grill his satay (hahaha, I was just curious", I am sorrryyy).  Pattaya is an absolute night life, and we were just  decent youngsters who were scared to sit at bars.
*major spits*.
We walked for an hour and found the beach, we wanted to try Tuktuk but it was really expensive so we bailed out. We just sat on the beach at midnight and felt the wind. It was fair enough. :)