Salah satu yang buat bingung kalo mo traveling ke Eropa yang jelas itu adalah moda transport di sana.
Banyak orang bakalan nyaranin naik kereta di sana dengan pass yang bisa di beli buat naik kereta keliling Eropa. Untuk yang masih kuliah, beruntunglah anda sebab di sana harga tiket kereta bisa diskon untuk yang bawa kartu pelajarnya.
Nah untuk yang bukan pelajar lagi.. sebenarnya di Eropa banyak moda transport yang bisa dibilang ekonomis juga..walopun gak se extreme kalo misalnya hitch hiking alias numpang mobil orang yang lewat, ataupun share demi traveling murah hehe....
Kalau mau cara gampangnya, sign up aja di website untuk tiket murah, dan mereka bakalan kirimkan email notifikasi harian, ataupun mingguan untuk harga tiket termurah dari berbagai airlines sesuai dengan kota asal dan tujuan yang kita inginkan. Contoh website yang aku pake adalah
ZUJI Singapore dan
KAYAK. Aku pake keduanya sebab ada flight yang gak terdapat di KAYAK dan ada juga flight yang ada di KAYAK tapi gak ada di
ZUJI.
Nah untuk penerbangan di dalam Eropanya....
Zaman sekarang ada banyak budget airlines di seluruh penjuru dunia. Termasuk yang di Eropa. Tenang flights disini aman... pikir aja Garuda Indonesia yang di sini harganya selangit dengan *katanya* servis kelas atas bisa di banned alias di larang terbang ke Eropa.. jadi standar keamanan mereka lumayan tinggi deh... gak bakalan naik pesawat sampe lesehan segala!!
Terkadang harga tiket pesawat ini jauh lebih murah daripada harga tiket kereta di Eropa. Jadi gak ada salahnya untuk di cek harga tiketnya sebagai referensi. Selain hemat duit, bisa hemat waktu kenapa ngga??
Berikut list pesawat murah (tapi gak murahan) yang terbang di Eropa:
1.
Air Baltic pesawat dengan base/asal Latvia terbang ke 64 tujuan di Eropa termasuk beberapa kota di Jerman,Finlandia dan UK
2.
Air Berlin perusahaan penerbangan asal Jerman yang merupakan budget airlines terbesar ke 3 di Eropa dengan 143 tujuan di seluruh Eropa
3.
Air Italy perusahaan penerbangan asal Italy yang hanya beroperasi di bagian utara dan selatan Itali dan terbang ke 7 tujuan di Itali.
4.
Air Southwest/FlightLine perusahan penerbangan asal UK, hanya beroperasi di wilayah UK untuk berbagai tujuan penerbangan dari Selatan ke Barat UK.
5.
Belle Air perusahaan penerbangan asal Albania, yang beroperasi dari kota Tirana-Albania ke beberapa kota di Eropa. Pilihan bahasa Inggris gak bisa di pake di websitenya, saran gue, pake google web translation aja deh ;) buat ngakalinnya!
6.
Blue Air perusahaan penerbangan milik Romania, melayani penerbangan dari Romania ke negara Eropa lainnya dengan total 25 tujuan di seluruh Eropa.
7.
Blue Express, perusahaan penerbangan asal Italia yang melayani tujuan Italia, Turki, Yunani, Spanyol dan Perancis, dengan total kota 23 tujuan.
8.
Bmibaby, perusahaan penerbangan yang bermarkas di UK melayani penerbangan ke beberapa negara di Eropa serta Skotlandia, Irlandia serta Wales dengan total 37 airport tujuan.
9.
Brussels Airlines, sesuai dengan namanya perusahaan penerbangan ini berbasis di Brussel-Belgia, melayani berbagai rute ke eropa dan merupakan salah satu budget airlines yang besar di Eropa... kalau ada promo harga keseluruhan antara 30-50 euro loh!
10.
Cimber Sterling, berbasis di Denmark dengan tujuan ke beberapa negara di Eropa.
11.
Condor, perusahaan ini berbasis di Jerman, dan memiliki rute penerbangan yang banyak ke berbagai tujuan wisata di berbagai kota di Jerman, negara-negara Eropa bahkan ke Amerika, Costarica serta negara lain di luar Eropa.
12.
Corendon, perusahaan ini berbasis di Turki. Tujuan penerbangannya antara lain ke Belanda, Belgia, Moroko, dan Yunani.
13.
Easy Jet, salah satu perusahaan budget airlines tertua di Eropa dengan 118 tujuan berbeda di Eropa.
14.
FlyBe, berbasis di UK perusahaan penerbangan ini melayani rute penerbangan di UK, Scotlandia, Irlandia Utara serta beberapa negara di Eropa Selatan. Terbang ke lebih dari 97 airport. (Sering ada diskon penerbangan di sini! hehe)
15.
German Wing, berbasis di Jerman, terbang ke berbagai kota di Jerman dan beberapa kota lain di Eropa dengan total tujuan 78 airport di Eropa.
16.
Helvetic, berbasis di Swiss, melayani rute antara Switzerland, Selatan Eropa, dan UK.
17.
Iceland Express, hehe kek nama kereta api... basis dari airline ini ada di Iceland, tepatnya di Reykjavic. Melayani rute penerbangan ke negara2 di Eropa dan Amerika (Chicago, Boston dll).
18. To be continued....
" Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." ~ Miriam Beard
Traveling itu membuka mata kita... bukan cuma mata yang dikepala tuhh.. tapi juga mata hati kita... kita bakalan melihat segala sesuatu dengan cara berbeda setelah kita berpergian/traveling.
Selama perjalanan aku di Eropa, mulai dari saat aku mendarat di Munich tanggal 19 May 2011 aku menyadari banget kalau orang di Eropa sangat care dengan orang2 cacat/kebutuhan lebih ataupun orang2 tua. Orang2 yang gak bisa melihat atau mendengar... aku melihat ini semua jadi sedih...sangat sedih sekali kalau bisa di bilang..
 |
| Ramp buat naik tram di Strasbourg... |
Betapa mereka membuat semua bangunan dan fasilitas dengan baiknya dan dengan pemikiran bahwa ada orang-orang dengan kebituhan khusus yang juga pengen melihat tempat2 wisata dan beraktifitas seperti orang biasa.. dan orang2 tersebutpun kalau aku lihat beraktifitas seperti biasa.. nenek2 dengan kursi roda listrik mereka yang ngebut banget, lengkap dengan klaksonnya--gue ja hampir ketabrak gila! gak ada batasan buat mereka untuk pergi kemanapun, dan beraktifitas seperti layaknya orang lain!!
Pergi berenang, bermain sama2 duduk2 di taman... aku aja sempat malu sebab aku ngomongin dua cewek yang males banget ngambil sendok yang jatuh dari mejanya.. dan ketika mereka selesai makan, dua orang cewek ini keluar dari restaurant dengan kursi roda tanpa bantuan atau bimbingan orang lain!!
Di setiap bangunan ada tempat landai untuk kursi roda dan bukan cuma bangunan, di tram dan bus ada tempat special buat mereka dan ada ramp otomatis atau tempat khusus buat mereka naik sendiri ke dalam kereta. Dan aku takjub betapa mandirinya orang2 ini!!
 |
| Tempat khusus di dalam kereta untuk kursi roda |
Di tempat dengan jalanan batu, seperti di Brussels, mereka punya side walk yang bisa di lalui oleh kursi roda.. banyak juga kok nini2 sama aki2 yang pake kursi roda listrik wara wiri dengan kecepatan tinggi ... mereka belanja di supermarket.. atau duduk rumpi di taman dengan kursi roda masing2... nonton pertunjukan dansa di jalanan.. mereka sepertinya senaaang banget...
Aku sedih.. andaikan nini2 kita sama aki2 kita bisa liat ini semua... bisa ngerasain ini semua.. mereka mungkin masih beraktifitas seperti mereka disini.. having fun semangat sampe ajal menjelang...haduh.. pastinya senang liatin mereka deh..gak tergantung dengan orang lain, mengerjakan semuanya sendiri.
 |
| Pintu khusus untuk kursi roda di check in Lufthansa Munich |
Di Brussel juga kali pertama aku lihat ada cowok nyetir mobil sendiri... dan parkir mobil dengan sempurna, ketika dia keluar.. oh.. dia pake kursi roda!! kalau di Indonesia barangkali gak bakalan deh di kasih sim!!
........ yang buat aku sedih dan malu...?
Sering banget aku bilang sama Mr T kalau bangsa kita tuh peduli dengan orang lain, perduli dengan orang tua, dan tidak individualis. Bangsa kita hangat, penuh kasih sayang dst... Sekarang aku liat kita beda jauh banget dengan apa yang kita percaya.... kalau memang kita bangsa yang baik seperti yang aku percaya.. kenapa kita suka jahat banget dengan orang yang punya kebutuhan khusus atau nini2 agtau aki2 kita??
Apa susahnya buat tempat landai/ramp buat masuk museum? apa susahnya buat fasilitas umum yang friendly buat orang2 tua??? kenapa kita sombong banget, buat gedung gede2 bagus2 tapi gak bisa dinikmati buat semua orang??
 |
| Toilet khusus buat kursi roda di dalam kereta |
Bukan cuma di fasilitas umum, tempat wisata juga seperti itu.. aku bicara dengan 2 orang yang berkeliling Eropa dengan Kursi roda.. cuma berdua aja!!! bayangkan!
Kalau di Indonesia.. haduuuhh.. mau ke kantor camat ngurus KTP aja susah masuk kantornya kali.... dan ini di Indonesia loh.. negara yang katanya hangat penuh cinta dst.. blah blah...orang dengan kekurangan banyak yang cuma tinggal di rumah dan gak ngelakuin apa2... yang tua2 udah deh.. duduk di beranda rumah paling jauh!!
 |
Ramp khusus untuk naik bus
|
Waktu di Munich, duduk di jendela lantai 3 apartemen sewaan kami... (nyangsang kek kucing) aku liat dua anak laki2 dengan kursi roda.. dan mereka tuh jelas banget dari wajahnya dan bentuk fisik, sama kek orang2 down syndrome... mereka tuh beriringan berdua ketawa2 dengan kursi roda mereka bercanda di trotoar. Sampe di lampu merah mereka saling melambaikan tangan, yang satu tetep jalan di trotoar yang satunya nyeberang jalan dengan kursi roda... dan high 5 ssebelum say good bye!
Hiks.. aku bandingkan lagi dengan Indonesia.. ya Allah.. yang ada mereka pasti di teriakin "idiot" atau teriakan2 jelek lainnya, di ejekin .. boro2 jalan dan aktifitas sendiri!! yang ada keluarganya takut buat ngelepasin mereka keluar dari pekarangan rumah!! aku sedih ngeliat mereka tertawa senang.. sangking sedihnya sore itu aku nangis sampe buat Mr T bingung dan nanya ada apa.
Waktu aku ceritain Mr T gak percaya... aku bilang di Indonesia.. jadi cacat kek hukuman mati aja dari lingkungan sosial dan keluarga... banyak kok yang malu dengan keadaan anggota keluarganya kalau ada yang cacat.... Kami berdua akhirnya cuma duduk dan makan tumis kacang yang aku buat ... terdiam...
I can not help to feel sad and envy... i wish one day Indonesia will be like that, someday my country will be more fair to those who in needs, and more caring to senior citizen. I could only wish........
All that is gold does not glitter Not all those who wander are lost. ~ J.R.R. TolkeinI woke up at 6am. None woke up yet....
I already prepare my stuff last night, so i grab the toiletries and my chargers and attack every electric socket that i found the other night... its quite danger because you will never know who walk by and took it hahah.. but i only did it at toilet--girls toilet and at kitchen.
Hot shower made me really fresh! after drying my hair i went to dining, feel happy woke up early so i dont have to queue on shower and i got the socket for my self hahaha! at least i will have my ipod and cellphone the whole day!
But.. ekkkk... why theres already over 15 people on dining..lol... (disini lah puzzle kehidupan terungkap... cewek bule jarang mandi!! LoL)
Breakfast is free at Van Gogh... so i grab as many as i can.. this is breakfast i know.. but i want to eat a lot of bread!! and jams!! hahaha
After breakfast i went to Metro and go straight to the
Cinquantenaire Park the home of lots of main monuments/must visits museum in Brussels.
 |
| European Union Berlaymont-HQ of Execitive EU in Brussels |
 |
| Me in Brussel European Union HQ |
 |
| EU Comission Building in Brussels |
 |
| Cinquantenaire Park |
 |
| Robert Scuman-One of EU founder |
 |
| Cinquantenaire Jardin at Brussel.. the tree and flowers also the art work.. so beautiful! (me too!) |
 |
| Cinquantenaire park with Triumphal Arc on background |
 |
| Small flowers on the grass.. wild flower..just like me hehe |
 |
| Small flowers on the grass..its wild flowers! |
 |
| Some of the art work at the Cinquantenaire Park Brussels |
 |
| Triumphal Arch at Cinquantenaire Park Brussels |
 |
| I loooove this picture so very much (pre-weds kind of?) |
 |
| Why we can't build any park like this? |
 |
| Brussels Triumphal Arch |
 |
| Brussels War Museum |
 |
| This is for 5 years old prince... so... tiny |
 |
| Time bomb with actual..clock!! hahaha |
 |
| I adore him for his leadership-admit it, he is great leader! meet Mr Hitler |
 |
| SS Troops uniform |
 |
| More armories.. ohh my knights!! |
 |
| Brussels Flag |
 |
| Anyone i know??? |
 |
| Great Mosque of Brussels |
Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it won't get you anywhere ~ Van Wilder
This is the very first time i went to place that i known a little. We know Paris in Indonesia we talk about it a lot. But Brussels-Belgium?? No..i don't know the president, i don't know the flag... what do i know about this city/country?? i browse it AFTER i book my bus ticket from Paris while i was still in Indonesia. Belgium is so small! Sumatra island is much bigger than the whole country it self!
So tips from me after traveling there, go to the neighbourhood cities beside Brussels.. especially Brugge the 2nd Venice in Europe... they said its worth the visit, and i found this after the 2nd day in Brussels!
First impression about Brussel I got while I was still in Eurolines bus. It’s a smaller town compare to Paris. The roads are smaller, and somehow there are more people with lighter hair color than darker. The street are mixed between the aspal and cobble rocks. Its had its own character I think. Somehow i think i see more blonde here... errhhhh... ok.. this is interesting.
When I was arrive its around 7.45pm at Gare du Midi/Zuidstation station. I was thinking to stop here because it’s a middle train station (well that’s my best translation!). The train station is so big that I got lost! I try to find the “METRO” system. I could understand the France language.. its just the same like in Paris whenever I try to “vous parlais anglais?” they will say “non” and kept talking in French while I will talk in English… once again I was “lost in translation”.
The language they use in Belgium is French and Dutch. So, all of the street signs and directions are in both languages, French and Dutch. But I don’t mind. It’s kind of great to hear this mix. Indonesia back then was colonialism by Dutch, for over 300 years. But too bad we don’t speak Dutch! (even Mr T ask me why i am not speaking Dutch??errh i don't know..because they dont even allow Indonesian to STUDY and learn READING??) back then only people who work with Dutch govt who given the opportunity to learn and study in School. My family roots never like Dutch hahahah! so we dont speak dutch (i think back then they also consider anyone who speak Dutch as traitor!)
Again the cultural mixed here, blend into the city life. The buildings, people, and foods are so various. I like the town in between, it’s like standing in gray area. It’s richer with the twist!
My first mission after finding the Metro train station is try to understand how it work!! I had the map on my ipod so I know what direction I should ride in.
Ok, it’s a different system than Paris, the ticket machine (it’s called “GO”) almost the same. But this time I had coins so, I get 5 jump/ride pass for 7.30 Euro. The ticket just made of thick paper, with size of ATM card. Kind of remind me the train ticket card to go to Sentosa Island in Singapore. For other choice of tickets you could see at this
website/STIB.
I pick the 5 trip because theres no way I would want to use day ticket because its 8pm and I was exhausted and really need sleep! It’s the 4th day since my traveling, so I guess the jetlag still there but I kept pushing myself… and yah.. hahah I just want to sleep early!
Don’t lose the ticket! You will need to validate it in a yellow box machine on the entrance. Hehe don’t play fool here folks, there plenty security at the train station, so better not forget to validate the card because they did check it randomly.
With this ticket actually you could use it/mix it with bus or tram ride. So it’s very efficient! Also you could book the ticket online, but I am not so sure how this work. I prefer to do it at the train station. And no queue like in Paris, so no worry!
But of course for the comparison between bus, tram and metro, my fave ride is the metro because it’s the fastest. In Brussels there are 4 metro lines and 2 tram lines, so you don’t have to squeeze in like in Paris. It’s a small city once again, and plenty transport choice.
Also I do notice that it’s very friendly to wheelchair. I like it, because I think it’s fair enough!
When I am waiting for the train, I made mistake reading the sign, that I go to the other way instead to the direction that I should go (hehehe). I just laugh at myself because its silly! Especially when you’re dragging a huge purple luggage.
From Garde du Midi I take the direction to Simonis-Elizabeth, its 7 train stop to the Botanique/Kruidtuin. In the train I met with a boy with a very friendly smile. He works in one of chocolate shop in Brussels. We talk quite a bit. He kept saying Brussels is very good and safe.. haha ok! we talk abit about tourism in Brussels and its nice to know new people here, his name is Max..thats sound European.
When he needs to go down we did something ackward, as he said good bye, when i give him my hand to shake he pullm e instead to kiss my cheek and hug, errrhh i froze and i could feel my face warm, i bet i blush, and he the same as must be could feel i feel shock hahah! ok.. this is how they said good bye.. ok..thanks God my body alarm not set to "on" hahah so i wont slap him hahah! i wash blushing so much that i could only grin! (its not our culture!!)
I stay in
Van Gogh Youth Hostel. Yep, it’s the famous painter. He once live there… uhmmm.. ok its very nice actually, I’ve seen the pictures of the hostel from internet. I take the mixed dorm room, the cheapest one for 18 euro per night plus you got breakfast. They also had shared kitchen that you could use.
I brought some food from Indonesia. I gave some of the food for my first host in Paris. He went to Indonesia before, so I bet he like the peanut paste for gado-gado, the mixed veggies salad… plus the pasta could be used as sate, the barbeque in stick also Indonesia food.
Check in at the hostel they said they’re full. But then I show them my booking mail, lucky I print out everything. I said I booked the room, and I got the mail. She then ask me to fill up the form, hand out my passport—they had rule some people over 35 not allowed to stay at the hostel unless it’s a group.
I look around the lobby, there are plenty students, maybe its like a tour. They speak in Germany and some in Dutch.
I got my room key, and getting to the room i see, wow... there are asian, but hahah why they look not friendly?? errh.. never mind. Get into my room... oh my.. this is the most WEIRD bunk bed. I got the 2nd/top bunk...but...WHY THERE IS NO STAIRS?? how the heck i get up there??
Its actually not that hard for me as i like climbing. Im quite a pro since kids as my house fence is 3 meters high!!(and i escape most of time! hehe) I put my luggage on the wall.... and then i use it as a step to get to the top, and i try to jump from top.. wow... this is quite high!!! boys and girls do not try this at home!! hahaha!
It was 9.30 and i decide to get some hot shower. I already told about the electric power as bad side at this hostel. But hey... dont call me McFika gyver.... heheh.. so with towel and my toilletries i walk through the hostel. I found some places where i could actually recharge my stuff.
At kitchen, at common room, also near lobby. After that i went downstair near the pool table, the shower kind of reminds me of swimming pool shower!
The smell and the cubicles hahaha! i see another plugs there, and the toilet you could close the door. So i took shower and recharge my cellphone and ipod!! finish shower i feel sleepy. Get my self a noodle cup and eat it quick at kitchen, everyone still talking and drinking beer. Its hell of crowd. I like it. But none try to speak with me just the guys look and stare and ....why they feel shy?? i am the only one who had brown skin... and it feels good once again!! hehehe (feel like a cougar in rooster cages hohohohoh). I had to remind my self most of guys in here prob much younger than me!! haha
I just try to understand what they talk about, i could hear some english, buyt very little, mostly french, and dutch also germany.
After brushing my teeth i get back to my dorm and use my eye mask and EAR PLUGS. There are two girls get in and said they want to g o to party and there are 3 guys, they seemed like arguing wether there are people in 3 beds that they want to stay in. I look at them, without saying anything as i already on my bed, using my sleeping gears... they short of saying sorry.. hey.. i try to get some sleep here!!!
Tomorrow more about Brussels and more pictures for sure!!
