Travelling murah Thailand dan Malaysia : Phuket, Bangkok,Kuala Lumpur (part 1)

When I watched Leonardo Dicaprio movie "The Beach", I can't catch the story, for me it was so confusing, but one thing  I noticed about the movie, the place where the movie describe as uninhabitated and forbidden beach, is the most beautiful place I ever seen.  Since that time I list it as one of my dream travel destination.

So after I had only 2 experienced went to abroad (travelled to China for work all arranged by others and visited friend in Singapore), in late 2013 , I planned a  trip to Phuket, and one of friend willing to join the trip with me. So after did so many research , we decided to arrange travel by ourself without any  travel agent. We  decided the date  was 26 -31 March 2014, only short visit since my friend want to visit Bangkok also (me and my friend work at diff place, so it was hard time to combine the date, and she had only  little permittion of leave work too).

So here was the itinerary we planned :

Jakarta-Phuket, by plane, 3 days in Phuket (26-28 March )

 Phuket-Bangkok,by night bus, 2 day in Bangkok (29 -31)

 Bangkok-Jakarta,by plane on 31 March

I buy one way ticket AA Jakarta- Phuket IDR 700 K,  but when I wanted to buy one way ticket Bangkok-Jakarta, unbelieveable, it was far expensive , about IDR 2000 K (becoz  that time was Indo peak season),way too expensive for budget traveller like me. When I search the flight, I use round trip search  and I found the flight cost was cheap, but apparently it was diff when u buy one way ticket, its far expensive. So I search for other flight company, and found that TA had cheaper cost flight. It was  IDR 1200 K. But the problem was, the TA system reject my passpor that will expired on August 2014. And I only  can renew my ticket at least 6 month before expired , that mean on late february 2014, and it took 2-4 week for renewal and that mean I can buy plane  ticket on March 2014 , and that time  the flight will be more and more expensive becoz it was near the due date. 

So after thinking the alternative and  search the AA flight route from Bangkok, I found that Bangkok -Kuala Lumpur flight was busy route (many times a day, once per  hour) , and Malay had diff holiday with Indo, so the flight cost still cheap. And there is direct flight from KL to Bandung, no need to stuck in Jakarta-Bandung Traffic Jam. I rather feel sorry why I didnt find that alternative before I buy Jakarta-Phuket ticket, so instead of wasting time to travel  Bandung -Jakarta who can took more than 5 hours by car (and may be more becoz we cant predict how bad traffic jam in Jakarta) , I can take Bandung -KL, KL-Phuket flight.

So finally this was the final itinerary..

 26 March : 10.am-3 pm  :  travel car Bandung-Jakarta (IDR 100 K)

                     5 pm -8 pm  : Jakarta -Phuket,AA flight (IDR 700 K)

                     8.30 pm -9.30 pm : airport-hostel at Bangla Road, rental car  (600 bath)

 27 March :  Phi-Phi Tour

28 March  : James Bond Tour, Simon Cabaret Show

29 March  :  5 am -6 am Hostel - Phuket Airport, rental car (600 bath)

                     7 am -8 am    : Phuket-Bangkok, AA flight (IDR 600 K)

                     8 am -            : Chatu Chak Market, Madame Tussaud, Khaosan Road

30 March :   Bangkok Tour and culinary , Wat Arun, Wat Pho, The Palace,Asiatiq

31 March :  8 am-10 am : Bangkok- Kuala Lumpur ,AA flight (IDR 600 K)

                   10 am - 8 pm : KL tour

                   10 pm - 12 pm : KL-Bandung, AA flight (IDR 500 K)

All the flight without baggage, we just use backpack. For rental car dan tour in phuket, all served by Ms Ladda. I got information about her from kaskus, one of Indonesian's forum who discuss about  anything,and many recomended her, she has blackberry number and email (billyladda@windowslive.com).When I invited her pin BB, it was not active, and then I email her, but it was late reply.   One more person who kaskuser recomended is Noi Phuket, she has facebook with the same id, and the respond was faster. But some of kaskuser said that the Phi-Phi tour from Ms Ladda  better becoz the famous   Maya Bay from the Beach Movie has the best view in the morning , and tour from Ms Noi had Maya Bay in the afternoon. So I decided to take Ms Ladda Tour. Actually, if you have enough time its cheaper buy island tour  when you reach Phuket . There was so many tour agent around, I saw many in Patong. One of Indonesian group I met when at James Bond Island 's Tour got 2500 Bath for Phi-Phi Tour, James Bond's Island Tour and Simon Cabaret Show . But some not recomended too becoz may be with cheap price, the tour will far diff from deal(like buying  cat in the sack, u will not always lucky, right?). And about the Airport transport to Phuket town or Patong, I read that there some rental car  cost about 150 bath/person or some bus. But we wanted the easiest way, so we used rental car.

Day 1. 26 March 2014

We were lucky that day. The travel car from Bandung to Jakarta Airport was so empty, only me and my friend and the driver. And that day, the traffic was good too,so we arrived at the Soetta Airport at 2 p m. Had lunch at the airport, and the flight was not delayed. Ms Ladda ask me to send email if our flight was on time or delayed.

Around 8 pm, we arrived at Phuket and passed the imigration. Phuket Airport was small one, similar with Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. We search for all the fetcher with my name's sign, but after a while, we found none. A little nervous becoz we didnt  anticipate this condition. We decide to phone her, but my indonesian number not active in Thailand ( i didnt plan to use my indo number in Thai, so I didnt search information about it). We walk around to search a counter  that sell Thai's number,but finally after some minutes there was a man  with my name's sign approached us  (may be he can predict becoz we look lost).

I ask some question to the fetcher, but he just quite . We wonder if he cant speak English or my poor english he cant understand. Finally he gave me his phone with Ms Ladda on it. Ms Ladda said sorry becoz she cant pick us herself becoz she must go to herhometown , her mom was sick. She advice me to buy Thai Number so we can communicate well. She said that she will meet us when she fetch us to the Airport at 29 March. 

After 1 hour journey, we arrived at Patong. We booked  Kool Backpacker Hostel at Bangla Road from Agoda, we read that it was strategic place, near the beach, and the mall, and the busiest street at Patong.  With our tight schedule, we just need cool place to sleep and shower,and strategic place with affordable price. Its about IDR 200 K per person , so for 2 person you can have nice hotel with that price but far from the beach  (we rather not!!!). The fetcher brought ask to  one crowded  street,  the closed street with so many people and pub around. He said  that our hostel was in the middle of the street ,in front of Tiger Pub , and the car cant reach it becoz the street was closed, so we should walk (he finally speak, and he can speak English??)

We not imagine that our hostel was in the middle of night life in Phuket. It more alive than Legian street in Bali.  And at Legian, I didnt see ladyboys too, or scammers. Here so many people approaches us to offer "show". After splitting the crowth and ask few peoples, we find our hostel. We check in, had shower, and our roommates , a girl from Beijing China offer to show us around. Her name was Katy (her English name) and she was very nice and speak English very good (in my experience when in China, most Chinese not speak English), and that was her first experience went abroad. Woow, first time and Solo traveller, and left her job for travelling. She had funny question, if we were student of work?LOL,with our old face, we can be student? We walk around the street, watch nighlife in Phuket,had dinner and went to seven eleven at Jungceylon Mall   to buy happy tourist simcard (with a lot of  internet quota and speaking credit, and its cheap too, but only 7 day used, suitable for short visit tourist). We talked a lot in our room, and she was surprised when we said we will go to Bangkok on 29 March, becoz on  that day there will be big demonstration, anti government. So all peoples from all Thailand will come to Bangkok. She adviced us to change the itinerary. Well, all ticket already purchased, we didnt know what to do next.

Kimchi, hate it or like it?

 I am English learner, so pardon my poor English (I will happy to receive some advice to improve My English)

Korean drama is popular in Indonesia. Many people sell  DVD copy with cheap price with new  or old serial of Korean Drama. When we usually spend 2 month to watch Korean Drama on TV's until last episodes, with only 30.000 IDR we can watch our favourite serial drama, without time limitation.

By that drama, we can see that Korean people like Kimchi very much. They always have it at their dining tables, and store it at fridge . Some even only mix kimchi with rice and eat as nasi campur. And the red color of Kimchi, made me imagine  if Kimchi tastes so good.

When first time I taste Kimchi at Korean Restaurant, the taste is not as good as the color, far diffirent from my imagination. Something that taste rather good on my taste is the bulgogi. The other food  who mostly have red color, for me it taste  rather plain, but becoz of my taste is universal, I can still eat that.

But recently, becoz of my activity at work, I rarely cook and eat vegetables, I usually buy my food, and only eat chicken or meat or fish with very small portion of vegetables, and usually they cook it very well (I like my vegetables not well cooked, or even not cooked at all). So I have an idea to make Kimchi by myself. It is healthy food and can last a month on the fridge.

I google about the recipe, I follow Indonesian adopt version, and taraaaa.....I have one box Kimchi for one month stock. For me, the taste is better than korean version becoz I added many sugar on it, so it taste not too sour and rather sweet and  spicy becoz I didnt have korean chilli powder, I use Indonesian chilli powder.

My first homemade kimchi...look yummy

Then someday, I packed lunch with some Kimchi, and chicken teriyaki. I had my late lunch and becoz of that I ate my lunch on my desk not at office dining table on second floor. And the noise was started. Most of my friends said that the smell from my Kimchi was very bad. They can't stand of the smell....Hmmm, and I did not feel that at all...I just smell the usual fermentated food. 

So I never bring plain Kimchi to office again. I try to make food combine to reduce the fermentated smell that most people said that was bad.  I google about it, and find Kimchi soup recipe and fried rice Kimchi recipe. The soup on the picture looked so good, so I decide to make it as a test. And that work. The fermentated smell of Kimchi change with the beef meat smell and the bombay union smell. When I take to my packed lunch and warm the soup  at the kitchen stove....my friend said, what you cooked, it smell very good. Hehehehe,  they just dont know the contain of the sup, if they know may be the will vomit,lol.

One more thing I like about Kimchi is it had good effect to my body. After eat Kimchi, plain or as a soup, my body feel warm. Now if I m not feeling well, I always make Kimchi soup, and so far it help to reduce my sickness. Like yesterday, I ate Soup Buntut Merah at some resto, it taste sour and spicy, and fatty, and after eat  that I was not feeling well. My stomach feel rather hurted and I often burp like so many wind on my stomach. I can't eat well becoz its taste bitter on my mouth. So I went to my kitchen, made some Kimchi soup,  eat when it still hot and 10 minutes later...I feel better.

Trip to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Zhengzhou (part 2)

I am English learner, so pardon my poor English (I will happy to receive some advice to improve that condition)

Our trip to China was quite busy, Jakarta - Guangzhou-Zhengzhou-Hualan-Zhengzhou-Shanghai-Guangzhou-Jakarta, all only in 5 days. What amazing journey!!!Actually our destination was Hualan, a small town in the Zhengzhou province,and Shanghai. But no direct flight to Zhengzhou, so we use Guangzhou for transit airport.

Day 1.

Our flight depart at 9 am, it took about 4 hours to reach Guangzhou and about 2 pm we arrived at Guangzhou airport, the temperature was quite cold, its about 15 deg Celcius, so we use the equipment we prepare before, except gloves and winter cap. Guangzhou airport is very big and clean, and not too crowded . May be that airport was new or post renovated. I tried took some picture but an officer came to me and gave warning that took picture was not allowed. Hmmm, but why?

 Guangzhou Airport

The imigration check also had many post, may be more than ten. While waiting my turn, my friend who waited on the line next to me said ,"Look who was behind you",I turn around and saw Marcello Lippi behind me,also waiting his turn to imigration check. Whoa!!!I m not football fan, but since I always watch worldcup, I watched him on TV several time when he was Italian coacher. I also watched some Italian football player who divided on many line, waiting imigration check too, but I dont have  any idea who they were. I only know old player such buffon, Del Piero, Totti or Inzhagi, They looked so young, may be new face.

I was thinking to ask some photo with him, but suddenly someone, probably his guide called them and ask them to move to VVIP check post. Well, I was not lucky. 

After passed imigration check ,we move to domestic gate to continue our flight to Zhengzhou. Our flight was at 7 pm , and arrived at Zhengzhou about 8 pm. On the Zhengzou , a hired driver pick us and deliver us to The Hotel. He can speak English a little and he said he who will drive us to Hualan for the next day.

China 's Car in Zhengzhou

Day 2.

At 7 am we 've had our breakfast becoz we will meet our driver at 8, and we already check out too, becoz after Hualan we will catch the flight to Shanghai.  The journey from Zhengzhou to Hualan is about 2 hours by car. And something that I admire about China is they have big road even only in small town and most of their cars use gas fuel.

 In front of the hotel Zhengzhou

Street in Hualan

After spend almost 5 hours in one plant  in Hualan, we decide to find someplace to eat, but the driver who was not the same driver with the night before, he is older and  can't speak Eglish at all, we can't communicate with, so we decided to eat at the airport (we use sign language with him).

It took about one hour flight to Shanghai from Hualan. At 8 pm, we arrived at Shanghai and the pilot  gave us information that the temperature in Shanghai that night was 5 deg Celcius. Brrrrh..it was very cold . I use my gloves and winter cap.  

Someone pick us on the airport,some people from supplier company we will visit the next day,  he deliver us to the hotel. 

Night in Shanghai Street

Day 3.

After breakfast, we took taxi to the supplier company we will visit becoz their  driver can't pick us in the morning. Shanghai is metropolitan city in China, so some taxi driver here can speak English. Our hotel is at the downtown, and the supplier company located at industrial suburbs area, about 30 minutes from hotel. Most of the company employee we visit can speak english very well, becoz it was Eroupe Company, some them from Eroupe too.

We did machines check and technical discuss with them, and at 4 pm  their driver deliver us to the downtown. We ask him to deliver us to the shopping center. We spend 2 hours at shopping center  (Shanghai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market) becoz we will meet the supplier boss at 9 pm to discuss about the result of survey machines at Hualan

Near Shanghai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market

Day 4.

After sleepless night becoz we back to the hotel at 1 am (after late meeting with the supplier), we must wake early becoz that day was the only day we can do city tour at Shanghai. And we only have time until 5  pm and later we will catch our flight to Guangzhou  at 8 pm. We already check out from the hotel and deposit our beloging there. Our destinations that day were Nanjing Park, The Bund and China Town. 

We use taxi, and for all taxi driver even they can speak little  English they can't read latin letter, so we use printed paper we already prepare. It really help!!!And one thing about Shanghai taxi, they are cheap and safe,  we only spend about 20-25 Rmb average for an route,  except to the airport who rather far.

Nanjing road is just a road who 've had branded stores along the road, but some stores sell food too. We buy some food there and walk to the bund who is not far from Nanjing road.

 Nanjing Road

The Bund is a big  river who have  many high bulding around. On the left of the river from Nanjing road side, it has Victorian Style Building, and the other side of the river , there are so many highest building in Shanghai, one of them is Shanghai TV Tower. I heard that the view at The Bund is very good at night, too bad we visit that in the morning.

The Bund

After The Bund, we walk to the China Town.

China Town in China???

We spend our time for shopping here.At 5, we back to the hotel by taxi to took our belonging and then continue our journey to Guangzhou use night flight. We use taxi to reach the airport and it cost about 90-100 Rmb (I forgot the exactly nominal but it was quite cheap). At the Guangzhou airport, we try to search taxi, but no taxi willing to drive us to the hotel, we dont know why. But so many rented car there and it was so expensive. Finally , after negotiation, they gave their final price, 200 Rmb. We were very tired and it was already passed midnight, we agree on that price. And the hotel is not far from the airport, may be only 5 km far?Fortunately, The Hotel was very good , it was five star hotel. It was 2 am in the morning and after took a bath we had our deep sleep at that nice hotel.

Day 5.

We wake up rather late, had our nice brakfast and use shuttle bus of the hotel to reach the city, we wanted to have our final shopping at Guangzhou. It took about a half hour to reach the shopping mall at the city. The mall was rather small, may be similar with Istana Plaza at Bandung, or a little smaller. But the price was good and had good quality. We spend our left money here, buying food at supermarket for friends in Indo (we already buy many souvenirs in Shanghai)  and buy some clothes for my family. And it was really cheap, even more cheap than in Bandung.

We use taxi to drive us the hotel becoz the shuttle bus not come back as he promise to us. And the taxi driver really really friendly and can speak English very a little, but still he try communicate with us on the way along to the hotel. May be he rarely saw Indonesian tourists?Lol. He said that he dont know where Indonesia located, but he know phillipine. 

After gathering our belonging, we reach the airport use hotel shuttle bus and had our flight to Jakarta. At 10 pm we reach Jakarta and  using rental car that our company hired, we touch down Bandung at 00:00 am (and must work on Monday to prepare ISO audit on tuesday)

My Notes about China :

1. No traffic jam, and they have large  road, good public facility

2. Shanghai is metropolitan city, people have good style, good clothes, and clean.  But its diffirent at small city like  Zhengzhou or Hualan, we saw peoples live in the slum  apartement  (similar with rusun in Indonesia),notes this only my opinion of what I saw.

3. Probably the water is very limited in China (except Shanghai), that why some peoples not bath everyday?or becoz the weather is so cold?

4. Most of China people dont know about Indonesia, but they know Malaysia and Phillipine. They often think that we are phill 's people from our look. When we ask if they know about the famous  Bali, they said they did'nt know neither . I wonder the theory that China people was Indonesian ancestor, who migrated from Yunan to Java Island , that really our ancestor who didnt recognize us (joking)

5. Best place for shopping, becoz the price was so low. But be carefull at the Shanghai shopping center, it was dangerous place. Some people will getting mad if we try to negotiate about the price (even if the price they give very high), and dont even try  to ask about price or even ask about  things u interested if u not serious to buy. I know that weird, becoz the passion about the shopping is to ask as many as possible and get the price as low as possible. And sometimes we buy things we not really interested or need becoz of the sellers are nice and the things are cheap enough..
And BIG NOTES ....Dont try to shop alone . We saw a caucasian who seems travel alone ,  went to one shop and then running away , and  the sellers who already mad still hunt down him, and may be try to hurt him.We didnt  know  wether the mad sellers truly hurt him or just try to scare him becoz we didnt follow them.  I myself  had some sellers getting mad at me too, but I was safe becoz I was with many friends and most men.  But if you are solo traveller and urgently need shopping, just choose to shop in the malls.  The price in China Malls are cheap too,  or you can choose to shop to the place who the sellers have friendly face .  Many are friendly and kind too.  ^_^ you will be ok.

6. They not shy to express themself ^_^, so you will often heard weird voice come from their throat  to remove phlegm, especially on the domestic flight or even when passing on the good street .

That my experiences, hope that soon Indonesia have large road and good facility as good as China so I dont need to have traffic jam almost everyday in my live???.

Trip to China (part 1)

I am English learner, so pardon my poor English (I will happy to receive some advice to improve that condition)

In 2009, I 've made my first passport. At that time, me and 2 of my friends had planned to have trip to Phuket Thailand , but becoz of it was  very difficult to arrange same day for holiday for the three of us , and later  my friend married and got pregnant, that plan was canceled. Both of my friends often had assignment abroad from their office becoz they work for international company (so they who hand on experience went abroad).  But   becoz I was only junior staff in the company I worked and its just middle class company , I never had opportunity like that, I had no experience at all,  and also I did not  have the courage to go abroad alone , so I decided not to use my passport. That passport  was idle for almost 4 years.

Since years of 2011, I had joined a team project in the company I work , to develope our production methods of manufacturing. So we did many research etc and in years of  2013, the big bos ask me to join machine survey to China. Well, a little surprise becoz in the initial plan I was not included in the list of survey members (I was the youngest member at the team). So I just had 2 days to prepare everything (they ask me on friday, and we depart wednesday morning). But becoz of that was assignment abroad, so all prepared by the HRD (travel agents who worked for them) such as plane tickets, money exchange  , itinerary  and also our visas,.  All we did only gave some documents and photograph. 

6 persons including me who went to that survey, and 1 person was from machine supplier, so he had arranged all the transportation in China  also the hotels for us becoz he had some China's friend who work in the same company with him. And 2 of my friends had visited China before, so all I need only to prepare my personal needs.  So the informations I need to gather to prepare personal needs when will go to abroad :

1. The weather.    China has four season,  I went in April when it was the the transition from winter to spring. And      we googled the temperature it was 5-15 degree of Celcius. That a little colder than temperature when rainy season in Bandung. So I buy some winter jacket, some sweater, boot shoes  ,gloves, sunglasses (protect eyes from cold), and winter hat.

2. Plugs, becoz  we cant live without mobile phone and we need digital camera .  Some country has different kind of plugs,  many blogs discuss about that, so you just need to google what kinds of plugs of the country you will visit. China has same plugs with Indonesia, so I dont need to prepare.  But if you  needed, some equipments stores such as Ace Hardware has universal plug adapter.

3. Language, if u dont have guide. Most of people in China can't speak English (even just basic ) and can't write latin letter, they use Kanji. So my friend printed the name of all the places we will visit in kanji version . It ll needed when u ask direction or as taxi driver to deliver you to some place. And chinese pronunciation is rather difficult, they will never understand what you say except you understand their language.

4. Food. For muslims is difficult to find halal food in China, so if you very strict about food, you need to gather many information about that. I heard some places provide halal food . I read that Beijing have one Indonesian restaurant , but I dont know about Shanghai, Guangzhou or Zhengzhou and our schedules were very busy so we did'nt  have time to find   such restaurants. So We bring  cup noodles  and some snacks. And FYI, chinese food in China is rather diffirent with Chinese food in Indonesia who already adopt Indonesian taste. Most of us, not suitable with Chinese food in China, except me. May be I have universal taste (or tongue),lol.

5. Habits. Indonesian have habits to wash after pee or poo with water, and all the China's toilets I found  only provide water for flushing in toilets,and no water for others need. My friends who mostly had experiences with that told me to always take a botle of mineral water when go to toilet, or wet tissue.

6. Money changer. China use Rmb money.  Do not change money in the airport becoz it will cost you  more expensive than in money changer such as dollarindo or GMC (Golden Money Changer)  in Bandung. When at GMC  rates for  1 Rmb was 1500 IDR, at the Soekarno Hatta airport it was 1700 IDR.

7. Transportation methods, printed transportation methods map (preferable) or google map by mobile phone (can use wifi at the hotel)

So , on tuesday we got all we need, plane tickects, visas, and money supplies (in Rmb and US dollars). Dont bring limited money, at least you need dollars for critical condition, or  credit card or debit card (atm) who can withdraw cash in abroad. I hear that we can use M**dir* Atm or B*A Atm, but as much as possible avoid use credit card or debit card becoz mostly have diffirent rates , more expensive several % than money changer rates.

On early of wednesday, on 3 am our company car deliver us to the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta. It took about 2 hours from Bandung to Jakarta by car (in the morning), but if your flight more than 9 am, it may took more hours ,5 hours minimal and can be more depend on traffic condition.Jakarta traffic can be so bad and usually  happend after 6:30 am. At 6, we arrived at Airport and after had some breakfast we check in to Imigration.  Our flight was at 9 am, Jakarta time.

Driving Course,Yes or No (extended)

Becoz tomorrow I ll have my ITEP English test (its a must in my company and I feel discourage about that), I will post something in English today. Pardon my English if it is very poor ....TT.

In my post before about driving course, I said that I ll let you know how long it ll took to be able to drive car well enough . Now is more than a year I had My Baby B (my car), and she already accompany me in many condition, heavy rain, sunny day , chill day dan now my skin become more lighter (hehehehe). And after 1 year, finally I can say that now I can drive well...yayayayayayayay....The one and only thing that can make that possible is ...practice. Yes, practice make perfect. True!!!

Everyday,  twice a day for 3 or 5 times a week I always practice.  I ride  My Baby B to my office  although my office is only 3 km  distance  from my house. As I ever told before, I live in industrial area that had very bad traffic condition ,almost everyday traffic jam happend. The best transportation mode in such condition is motorcycle, and many people change from cars to motorcycles and I change from motorcycle to a car. Crazy, isn. it?...May be . But that a sacrifice to get what I want, ability to drive well. 

After 1 month I ask friend to accompany me driving everyday, finally I try drive alone without company. At first, I felt very very nervous, especially when on uphill road (my complex have that), and got across from  my complex to highway or from my office to highway (that was very very  difficult).  Even to got across is very difficult becoz this is Indonesia, dan especially this is Bandung coret, no red light lamp here (they try to put red lamp but only make traffic jam even worse), we have only Pak Ogah (A called to someone who help cars to across the street in Indonesia). And most of people didnt want to stop his car to give us a way, motorists driving recklessly, and also angkots (Indonesian public transport similar to tuk tuk in Thailand) who have no manner on highway.

 I had to wake up early in the morning, at least I must leaved at 6:45 am (when use motorcycle I leave at 7:20,my office start at 7:30 am). If I was lucky I arrived at office before 7:00 am, but If the traffic jam was so bad, I arrived at 7:39 am and got penalty from HRD (it actually happend several times TT). Finally after 1 month  I was not nervous anymore, 1 month later I can park well, turn spins, and 1 month later can park underground or top floor with rotating road up/down, and also reach Lembang (mountain areas in Bandung) who have dangerous uphill road . So with  the worst condition such as Bandung, I need at least 5 month to drive car well. That was my experienced, diffirent people may had diff experience, some faster (becoz they reckless,lol) and some slower, even if they are a man. 

There were some scratches in My Baby B (poor her) but I was too lazy to claim insurance. But in my opinion, she  still the cutest baby ever.
So who need a ride or tourist guide in Bandung?hehehe,if u not mind inexperience driver,LOL!!!

And now time to sleep, hope can wake up early for the ITEP test, goodnight.

Karimunjawa...Islands of Paradise (part6-end)

Terdampar di Pulau Karimun, tidak kami sia-siakan. Kami sebenarnya senang terdampar karena ada tambahan waktu liburan, namun kasihan juga teman-teman yang tertinggal di kantor dan harus menghandle tugas-tugas kami lebih lama lagi. We were so sorry, friends!!!

Kami memutuskan untuk melakukan perjalanan darat dan mengeksplor daratan karimunjawa lebih dalam, dan menggunakan mobil pick up untuk mengelilingi pulau!What an adventure!!. Perjalanan pertama adalah makam Sunan Nyamplungan,putra Sunan Muria, penyebar agama islam dipulau ini.

Angkutan mewah kami selama di Karimunjawa

Kemudian kami melanjutkan perjalanan menuju hutan mangrove, yang katanya banyak sekali dihuni nyamuk sehingga kami harus ekstra memakai lotion antinyamuk. Namun ternyata its worthed, hutan mangrove indah sekali.

Setelahnya kami mengunjungi kampung bugis, dengan rumah panggungnya yang indah. Sayangnya laptopku rusak sehingga foto keindahan kampung bugis tidak bisa kutampilkan disini.

Kami juga mengunjungi pulau Kemojan, bagian lain dari kepulauan Karimunjawa yang berpenghuni. Dan ternyata pulau Kemojan masih merupakan satu pulau dengan Pulau Karimun, disini mempunyai area persawahan yang ternyata hanya satu-satunya dikepulauan Karimun ini. 

 Satu-satunya sawah dikepulauan Karimunjawa

Kami singgah disebuah warung untuk menikmati soto ayam dan lontong krubyuk. Dan yang lebih menakjubkan, aku menemukan roti tawar yang tidak pernah aku temui lagi semenjak aku kecil. Wooow, pulau ini rupanya begitu terisolir sehingga makananpun tertinggal jauh dengan di jawa.

                                                                     Kemojan's girls

Setelah makan, kami mampir disebuah pantai untuk bermain air sebentar, kemudian kembali ke Pulau Karimun dan  berkemas untuk pulang kembali ke Bandung. 

 Pantai di Kemojan, batunya mirip kodok??

Kali ini ternyata kami benar-benar harus pulang, karena Kapal Muria sudah terbuka lebar menyambut kedatangan kami, dan berangkat tepat pukul 11 malam.

Goodbye Karimunjawa...The most beautiful island i ever seen, hope ll see u again someday..

Karimunjawa...Islands of Paradise (part5)

Bukankah perjalanan ke Karimunjawa telah berakhir di seri 4?Ternyata tidak. Jika perjalanan menuju ke Pulau Karimun harus ditempuh dengan penuh perjuangan, nampaknya petualangan tidak akan sempurna jika perjalanan pulang berjalan lancar dan tanpa perjuangan.

Hari itu, hari keempat di Pulau Karimun, pagi-pagi kami telah selesai berkemas, sarapan dan menuju ke dermaga keberangkatan. Anehnya, suasana dermaga tampak sangat ramai. Kami melihat loket penjualan ticket belum dibuka, walaupun antrian sudah sangat panjang. Tour guide kamipun nampak sudah mengantri dibarisan kedua.

Beberapa jam berlalu, kondisi makin panas dan pengantri ticket sudah mulai berteriak-teriak karena locket belum dibuka,padahal tour guide kami sudah mengantri sejak pukul 10 malam sebelumnya. Kapal Muria merupakan Kapal rakyat, sehingga tidak berlaku sistem booking, sehingga harus dengan sistem antri ticket dan locket pun baru dibuka sekitar 2 jam sebelum keberangkatan. Kapal Muria ini satu-satunya yang bisa menerjang kondisi cuaca buruk seperti saat itu, sedangkan alternatif lainnya hanya helikopter dengan harga sewa saat itu sekitar 8 juta. 

Kondisi semakin kacau karena ternyata hari itu tidak ada ticket dijual. Entah ada permainan orang dalam atau apa, ternyata kondisi kapal sudah penuh dengan penumpang. Kamipun tidak terima, sehingga nekat menerobos masuk ke Kapal, terjadilah  adu dorong antara petugas Kapal dan penumpang. Geladak pintu  Kapalpun nekat diangkat, walapun ada orang diatasnya, sehingga beberapa orang sempat terjatuh.Kamipun semakin marah. Beberapa tour guide yang kebanyakan mahasiswa berteriak-teriak kepada petugas, bahkan ada yang mengancam akan melaporkan kejadian tersebut ke media massa. Akupun ikut geram, sambil ikut berteriak-teriak meluapkan emosi, aku  dan dua orang teman menduduki tali jangkar kapal sehingga Kapal tidak akan mungkin berangkat. 

Setelah terjadi perdebatan sengit, akhirnya kamipun mengalah setelah petugas mengajak negosiasi.

Kapal yang sudah penuh tidak mungkin terisi lagi, bahkan saat itu kondisi kapal sudah over muatan karena ada tambahan penumpang masuk saat terjadi adu dorong dengan petugas. Akhirnya mereka menjanjikan akan langsung kembali ke Karimun setelah menurunkan muatan di Jepara dan berangkat lagi keesokan harinya pukul sebelas malam.

 Kamipun terima setelah mengantongi ticket ditangan. Untung kita membawa uang lebih, sehingga masih memiliki bekal untuk menyewa hotel dan membeli makanan. Namun agen tour kami nampaknya terlalu baik, mereka menawarkan homestay untuk tempat tinggal kami, dan menyediakan makanan gratis. Aku memilih untuk tinggal dihomestay, menghabiskan sore itu untuk melihat sunset, wisata kuliner di alun-alun (lapangan kecil dengan beberapa penjual makanan tenda atau lesehan) dengan menyantap jajanan Karimunjawa dan bakso ikan ekor kuning. Malamnya kami habiskan dengan bermain kartu diiringi permainan gitar dan gendang para tor guide yang ternyata jago bermusik, dan merencanakan perjalanan kami yang masih tersisa 1 hari. 

We still have 1 more day of adventure!!!

                                               Sunset di dermaga Karimunjawa

Karimunjawa...Islands of Paradise (part4)

Perjalanan hari ketiga, kita menuju pulau-pulau di arah timur. Seperti biasa, untuk persiapan perjalanan,kita memakai live vest dan beberapa teman meminum antimo. Kemudian kita menuju ke pulau tengah untuk bersnorkling lagi. Bagi yang hobby menikmati indahnya bawah laut, karimunjawa merupakan surganya.

Aku kembali lagi turun kelaut, bersnorkling lagi, dan akhirnya kali ini bisa mengabadikan foto di air dengan kamera underwater. Sayangnya aku belum berani melepas live vest, sehingga fotoku tidak sebagus teman-teman lain yang berani menyelam tanpa menggunaka live vest.

Setelah puas snorkling, kami menuju ke pulau cilik. Pulau ini lumayan cantik, walaupun tidak secantik pulau cemara, namun hamparan pasir dan latarbelakang pulau karimunjawa membuat lumayan bagus digunakan untuk latar belakang kegemaran kami untuk gila foto. Kamipun menghabiskan siang untuk beristirahat dan makan siang di pulau ini.

Setelah pulau cilik, kami menuju pulau gosong. Konon, pulau ini hanya ada saat kondisi air surut, jika pasang pulau akan hilang. Untungnya saat itu laut sedang kosong, kita menghabiskan waktu untuk berfoto-foto dan bermain air dipulau 

Pulau gosong menutup petualangan kami di Karimunjawa,kamipun kembali ke Pulau Karimun untuk beristirahat dan berkemas untuk  kembali ke Semarang esok paginya dengan Kapal Muria, dan dilanjutkan perjalanan darat dengan bus menuju ke Bandung.

Karimunjawa...Islands of Paradise (part3)

Setelah melepaskan lelah dengan tidur semalaman di "Hotel", kamipun bersiap untuk melanjutkan petualangan. Pukul 08:00 pagi kami menuju dermaga di Karimunjawa dan seperti biasa, menggunakan angkutan mewah di pulau ini, mobil pick up. Jarak hotel kami ke dermaga lumayan jauh jika ditempuh dengan jalan kaki, kira-kira sekitar 2 km. Dan ternyata, disekitar dermaga, berjejeran hotel-hotel yang sedikit lebih besar dibandingkan dengan hotel kami, walaupun masih sangat jauh untuk disebut hotel jika dibandingkan dengan hotel-hotel dikota besar.

Didermaga, sudah banyak sekali perahu-perahu untuk mengangkut para wisatawan untuk menikmati keelokan gugusan pulau-pulau kecil Karimunjawa. Untuk rombongan kami, dibagi menjadi 3 buah kapal, dimana 1 kapal kapasitas sekitar 20 orang. Oh ya ,untuk mengunjungi karimunjawa memang lebih baik menggunakan biro tour, karena akomodasi dan transportasi disini lumayan sulit.

Setelah menempuh jarak sekitar 10 menit perjalanan, akhirnya kita sampai ke penangkaran hiu di pulau Menjangan besar. Disini kita bisa berenang bersama hiu-hiu yang lumayan jinak. Jangan bayangkan hiu yang berukuran sama sperti difilm-film, hiu disini masih kecil-kecil, paling besar sepertinya seukuran paha manusia dewasa. Namun sebaiknya yang sedang menstruasi atau mempunyai luka berdarah, sebaiknya tidak turun ikut berenang bersama hiu. Salah seorang teman cowok yang tidak punya luka aja merasa digigit oleh mereka,hehehehe

Setelah menghabiskan waktu sekitar 2 jam bersama hiu, kami melanjutkan perjalanan lagi ke sekitar pulau menjangan kecil untuk snorkeling. Ini pengalaman snorkeling ketigaku setelah di Bali dan Pangandaran. Dan ternyata....terumbu karang dan biota lautnya...bagus bangeeeetttttttttttt!!!Untung sudah lumayan bisa berenang, setidaknya sudah tidak panik mengambang dilaut dengan menggunakan live vest, dan juga sudah nyaman menggunakan snorkelnya. Setelah mengambang dan berputar-putar disekitar perahu dan bertemu ikan ikan cantik yang biasanya hanya kulihat di tv  (aku melihat NEMO juga lho....alias clown fish) akupun naik keperahu karena sudah merasa agak mual. Jangan lupa untuk selalu membawa minyak kayu putih untuk menghangatkan badan. Beberapa teman bahkan meminum antimo untuk menghindari mabuk laut.

Perjalanan selanjutnya adalah ke Pulau Cemara Besar. Konon disebut demikian karena banyak pohon Cemara dipulau tersebut. Saat hampir mendekati pulau, kebanyakan dari kamipun tertegun. Hamparan pemandangan biru tosca perpaduan antara  pasir putih dan air laut dan disorot dengan sinar matahari beradius beberapa ratus meter,sungguh menakjubkan. Pantai ini adalah pantai terindah yang pernah kukunjungi. Tour Guide meminta kami turun dan meninggalkan barang-barang dikapal (namun camera tentu saja tetap kubawa walaupun beberapa teman memilih untuk tidak membawa camera  karena takut rusak karena basah). Karena pantai sangat landai, perahu tidak bisa mendekat ke pulaunya. Jadi kamipun harus berjalan sekitar 500 m untuk menuju pulau. Namun jangan kawatir, air hanya setinggi lutut, dan dengan pemandangan seperti itu perjalanan tidak akan terasa melelahkan karena bagai berjalan di surga.

Kami menikmati hari kami dipulau surga itu. Berenang, berlarian, berjemur, berfoto-foto ria dan akhirnyapun makan siang dengan menu seafood dan sambal yang terasa sangat nikmat. Bagi yang tidak suka seafood, tentunya harus membawa alternatif makanan instan sendiri yang siap makan, karena akan sangat jarang menemukan daging, ayam ataupun telur disini.

Ikan,yuuuuummmmy!!!

Setelah hari menjelang sore, kamipun melanjutkan perjalanan ke Tanjung Gelam untuk melihat sunset. Sore itu kami tidak beruntung karena matahari bersembunyi di balik awan, namun tidak terbersit sesedikitpun kekecewaan karena pemandangan di pulau itu juga sangat indah, dan beberapa teman memilih untuk melanjutkan snorkeling atau sekedar meminum kelapa muda dipinggir pantai (disini ada penjual kelapa muda,pop mie dan gorengan, dan harganyapun sangat murah). Setelah puas, kamipun melanjutkan perjalanan untuk kembali ke Pulau Karimun,mandi,makan malam dan beristirahat untuk melanjutkan petualangan esok hari.

Tanjung Gelam

Karimunjawa...Islands of Paradise (part2)

Sesampainya di Pelabuhan Tanjung Mas Semarang, kami di jemput oleh beberapa mobil yang disewa oleh Travel agent, menuju salah satu penginapan di Kota Semarang. Di penginapan, para panitia dari travel agent  mengajak berdiskusi mengenai kelanjutan dari trip kita. Mereka menawarkan untuk tetap melanjutkan tour esok harinya, dengan menggunakan route alternatif melalui Pantai Kartini Jepara, menggunakan Kapal Besar (Muria) milik pemerintah . Kapal ini merupakan satu-satunya armada yang tetap beroperasi saat cuaca buruk . Karena tidak ingin perjuangan kami sia-sia, kamipun sepakat tetap melanjutkan perjalanan.

Pukul 4 pagi kita check out dan melanjutkan perjalanan ke Jepara dengan menggunakan bus sewaan. Setelah menempuh perjalanan  selama kurang lebih satu jam, kami menginjakkan kaki di Pantai Kartini. Pelabuhannya kecil dan kotor, jauh berbeda dengan pelabuhan Tanjung Mas. Setelah menunggu beberapa jam, akhirnya kamipun naik ke Kapal Muria yang ternyata adalah kapal rakyat, berbarengan dengan barang-barang untuk pulau, hewan,mobil, dan juga penduduk lokal. Namanya juga kapal rakyat, kondisinya tentu saja mirip dengan kereta api ekonomi, dipenuhi oleh para penjual makanan keliling, kebanyakan es lilin .Tapi  jangan salah, para  bule pun rupanya juga menggunakan angkutan ini, kemungkinan karena hanya ini satu-satunya armada yang tersedia dicuaca buruk, namun beberapa kemungkinan menggunakan kapal ini karena murah (para backpackers) .

Perjalanan dari Kartini ke Karimunjawa berlangsung selama kurang lebih 7 jam. Di pelabuhan Karimunjawa, kami dijemput oleh angkutan mewah dan nantinya angkutan inilah yang akan mengantarkan kita berkeliling Karimunjawa, yaitu pick up. Menyenangkan sekali, baru kali ini aku naik di belakang pick up sebagai penumpang, karena biasanya penumpang belakang pick up kalo nggak kambing atau ayam, paling juga hasil bumi berupa sayuran atau padi. Jarak tempuh kehotel lumayan dekat, hanya ditempuh sekitar 5 menit dengan pick up.

The hotel

Hotel tempat kita menginap sebenarnya lebih mirip losmen, sudah dilengkapi dengan fasilitas AC,sayangnya listrik hanya menyala jam 5 sore sd 6  jam pagi. Setelah menaruh barang kita langsung menuju pantai Nirwana yang terletak tidak jauh dari hotel. Pantai ini rupanya adalah pantai pribadi, ada sebuah hotel yang lumayan unik  di bibir pantai, bangunannya menyerupai karang, dan ada karang asli juga tepat didepan dan disamping hotel. Pantainya sangat bagus, berupa hamparan pasir putih dan dikelilingi  pohon kelapa disepanjang bibir pantai.  Kamipun menghabiskan sore itu dengan bermain-main dipinggir pantai dan berfoto ria.

  Pantai Nirwana dan Hotel Nirwana, keeksotisan yang ditempuh dengan penuh perjuangan