Trips and Travels

Tampilkan postingan dengan label thailand. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label thailand. Tampilkan semua postingan

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?


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. :)