.... kalau di periksa sama Vin Diesel beneran mah... uhmmm.... gue gak takuut.. heheh *drools*
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| Polisi Perancis yang ganteng2.... |
Dari Brussel aku berangkat dengan Eurolines menuju Paris. Sebenarnya rutenya kalo di liat gak efektif dan efisien... sebab bolak balik ke titik Paris lagi... tapi mo gimana lagi, tujuan berikutnya adalah Strassbourgh kota perbatasan Perancis dengan Jerman.
Dalam bus, aku sebelahan dengan cowok dengan wajah cakep, yang sempat aku kira cewek (so sorry) he got such pretty lips with piercing and hidung lurus ala jerman yang bikin gue sirik abis2an.... and geezz rambut keritingnya yang megar alias glorify dan berwarna pirang... berhubung cewek2 sana suka banget dengan rambut gede....yah wajar kan kalo aku kira dia cewek!
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| Thierry-aku gak ambil fotonya di bus! (ini dari FB-nya) |
Dengan tersendat2 kendala bahasa, gue yang nekad nanya dari mana dengan bahasa Inggir, hehe dan tebakan gue bener, doi lebih lancar dengan bahasa Perancis.. giliran gue yang lidahnya jejumplitan... dia kalo ngomong kek kereta ngebuutt aja... gue tutup kamus gue, dan kita bicara nabrak... dia bahasa Perancis sama Inggris, gue pake bahasa Inggris terus.. daripada salah paham!
Namanya Thierry.. dia seorang artis jalanan/street artist. Dia suka melukis, sama foto pokoknya nyeni dah... dan setelah gue nyampe di Indonesia gue baru tau doi serius bener dengan kerjaannya dan pernah buat pameran di Inggris.. wow.. hahah (beneran low profile.. gak kek artis sini dah!). Orangnya ramah banget.
But anyway doi teman yang baik sepanjang perjalanan... walopun aku rada serem juga.. tapi dia happy go lucky kind of guy. Dia lirik2 ipod aku terus lepas dari kota Brussel... dan ngerasa gak nyaman, aku tanya... why you're looking at my ipod? mang kenapa lu liat ipod gue terus? dia bilang penasaran isinya apa aja.. yah.. separuh perjalanan dia pegang ipod aku dann kita berbagi earpiece nya...
Dia geleng2 pala dengar lagu gue dari N*SYNC sampe dengan Amy Winehouse dan kumpulan lagu Mozart sampe Bethoven. Hehehe...
Kami masih kira2 satu jam dari kota paris waktu aku separuh tidur dan sayup2 dengar suara sirene polisi. Mikir... yah highway... ambulan kali.. tapi.. kok lama ya gak lewat2.. trus aku bangun dan liat ke jendela mobil bus dan bus sudah di "kepung" di sisi kiri dan kanan dengan pasukan polisi dengan motor dan mobil... ada yang teriak dengan pengeras suara dengan bahasa Perancis suruh bus menepi kali yee...
Suasana rada tegang dan berisik dalam bus. Aku juga heran kok sopir bus masih nyetir aja dengan tenang....well sedikit komat kamit sih.... huahau kalo gue dah injak rem "mati" tengah jalan hauhau>>amatir!!
Sempat kepikiran soal bus hijak, alias pembajakan bus.. macam2 skenario tingkat psikopat ada dalam otak gue.. ngebayangin kalo salah satu penumpang bus adalah buronan salah satunya.. atau ternyata ini adalah penggebrekan mafia besar2an.. dan ntar lagi gue bakalan jadi sandera beserta seluruh penumpang bis!! jiiiaaahhhh!! di Thailand atau Asia yang rawan gue gak pernah ngalamin kek gini..huhuh.. nasiib gue.. baca doa komat kamit sampe Thierry bilang berkali2 its ok! (dengan muka gak meyakinkan!)
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| Kebayang adegan kek gini (kebanyakan nonton CSI) |
Ternyata doi nyari tempat yang luas yaitu di tempat isi bensin. Gue bingung dan Thierry juga keknya bingung banget. Gue tanya ada apa? dia cuma angkat bahu. Mungkin polisi perbatasan buat ngecek imigran gelap katanya sambil monyongin mulut ke bagian belakang bus yang penuh dengan penumpang dengan kulit yang lebih gelap---gelap dari gue.
Thierry bilang, siapin passport lu. Dan entah kenapa gue berdebar kencang waktu polisi2 itu pada masuk dalam bus waktu bus berhenti. Sialnya mereka cuma ngomong dua bahasa Jerman dan Perancis. Huhuhuh.. gue gak tau ada aphaa iniiii....
Thrierry bilang kita di suruh keluar satu2 sambil pegang passport masing2 di tangan. Huahahhh.. kok berasa kek gue termasuk penjahat juga yakk?? gimana gue gak grogi tuh polisi semua senjata lengkap, pake rompi anti peluru segala...
Waktu giliran gue turun.. OMG.. tas kita dah dikeluarin semua, dan semuanya ada terbaring di aspal tempat isi bensin. Setiap penumpang di suruh berdiri di samping koper masing2.... pisah sama Thierry.. aku berdiri di samping tas koper ungu ku yang segede gaban. Polisi di luar bus lebiih banyak, dengan senjata laras panjang dan juga pake rompi anti peluru. Total semua lebih dari 20... weeww.. keringat dingin gue liatnya.. serius semua.. banyak yang ngunyah permen karet.. *hufff* kerenn sih..hehehe otak gue dah mulai korslet yang jelas...
Aku ngelirik Thierry, jangan2 dia pengedar obat2an yang pengen ngejerumusin gue dan ngeletakin obat2an di tas gue waktu gue tidur, gyaaahhh bisa gila gue! huhu tas Thierry lagi di geledah.. doi bawa tabung hitam gede2 yang isinya ternyata poster2 lukisan.. wow...
Hiks.. gue balik ke alam nyata dengan tas ungu gede gue....
Teringat buat nutupnya aja butuh di dudukin.. hahah dan underwear aku yang ada di susunan paling atas... aduuhh napa yakk biasanya aku rapih jali nyusun barang sensitip kek gitu... ngeliat mereka semangat bongkar tas, yup BONGKAR HABIS ..seluruh pakaian di bolak balik, sampe jahitan sama resleting di periksa.... dan ada anjing bo!! ada annnjinngggg buat ngendus tas satu2 hualaahh..
Gue yang tadinya tenang jadi pucat pasi... ohh my.. teringat bumbu gado2 yang pasti baunya bikin anjing pada kelenger, obat2an gue CTM sama antimo yang mirip dengan pil koplo... trus seluruh obat2an gue gak disertai dengan RESEP OBAT resmi dari dokter.. huhuh (mereka obat batuk aja mesti ada resep dokter..huaahhh!) dan beberapa DVD bajakan serta dompet LV palsu gue *MATELAH AWAAAKKK!!* di airport aja gue dah di ingatin soal LV palsu sialan itu... trus.. soal DVD gue yang lebih dari 3 biji yang buat di tonton di sana haduuhh.. pembajakan DVD berat hukumnya di Eropa nek!
Jumlah polisi lebih dari 20 orang tadi mulai interogasi satu2 sesekali anjing pelacak wara wiri di panggil, dan mereka nanya detail satu persatu tiap orang, dari mana, dan ngapain ke Paris, bawaan juga di cek di tanyain. Ada salah satu yang kulit hitam di marahin sama polisi, yang kemudian ngerumunin dia... mendadak gue mules.
Kebayang gue di tv berita cewek Indonesia yang kena razia di perbatasan Perancis...dengan foto gue di borgol dan di kawal polisi turun dari mobil polisi.. huahhuahuahu... naseeebbbbbb!!
Polisi botak yang mirip banget dengan Vin Diesel, pemeran xXx dengan body yang yahud, dia nanya dengan bahasa Perancis (gue cuma ngerti "ici" artinya ini) sambil nunjuk tas koper gue, intinya dia bilang apa ini koer gue *glukkk* nelan ludah "oui" gue jawab pelan, trus dia ngomong passport..ok gue ngerti satu itu.. hehe dia senyum liat gue yang merem melek ketakutan ..sama liat kemiripan dia sama Vin Diesel.
Next dia akhirnya bicara dengan bahasa Inggris yang pas pasan banget suruh gue buka tas koper. Dan mulai menggeledah *bra gue ngegelinding ke jalan* ohhh myyyy!! lol.. gak banget deh! dengan sigap di tangkap sama dia dan walopun gue nyaris pingsan liat bra gue jalan2.. dia cuek aja dan meneruskan ngubek2 tas gue.. dah akhirnya.. seperti yang gue takutin dia nemuin obat2an gue satu plastik itu!! gue dah mau semaput!
Dia tanya ini obat apa aja, gue bilang obat flu, mencret, obbat sakit gigi, dst dst gue jelasin semua. Dia panggil temannya... alhasil ada dua polisi yang ngejaga gue...huhuh... yang lain udah hampir selesai di cek.. ada yang bawa duit banyak juga di debat sama om2 polisi.. huhuh...ada juga cewek Amerika yang bawa banyak parfum di tanyain..hehe katanya koleksi sama buat oleh2.. huhu untung gue gak hobi shopping!
Si Vin Diesel tanya, gue turis atau pelajar? gue bilang turis, trus dari mana mau kemana, trus berapa hari di Paris, mo ngapain aja ke Paris.. semua gue jawab.. waktu dia tau gue dah dari Paris dan actually mau transit aja.. doi senyum tanya dah kemana ajah.. huhuh yuuukk mari.. hehe dia sama temennya senyum2 yahh.. tetepe dah! sempat2nya! gue bilang dah ke semua tempat turis deh!
Bungkus obat gue di balikin... curiga gue pasti di endusin sama anjing deh... tapi anyway gak ada yang hilang, seua obat2an gue lengkap...
Akhirnya dia bilang, maaf buat ketidaknyamanan, maaf buat ganggu perjalanan.. mudah2an suka dengan Paris.. dan om Vin Diesel memberikan senyumnya yang paling sexy.. dan ninggalin aku dengan tas koper kebuka ohhhh..tidaaakkk...
Buru2 rapiin tas seadanya, pindain beberapa pakaian dalam tas ransel berhubung tas koper kaga bisa nutup!! langsung masukin balik ke dalam bagasi bawah mobil.
Si Thierry dah nyengir lebar waktu gue lewat dia masih di tanya habis2an sama polisi.. uhh.mudah2an pikiran parno gua soal dia salah!
Semua penumpang sudah naik, dan Thierry masuk hampir paling belakangan dengan muka jutek, gue tanya "whats thats all about?" sambil ketawa garing. Dia jawab, polisi nyari drug trafficker, jawabnya dengan sebal..huahuah...
Polisi Eropa memang giat banget cari drug trafficker di sepanjang perbatasan antar negara. Dan bus kami memang di stop secara random buat nyari obat2an tuh tadi. Ohhh.. gue nyengir lebar bilang kirain dah ada mafia nya di dalam bus! dia ketawa bilang "why are you so nervous?" gue jawab sebab kalo di Indonesia gak seheboh ini kali, kalau buat razia doang!!
Yah terbukti uang pajak mereka memang berguna dan polisinya bekerja di perbatasan buat berantas peredara obat2an terlarang... salut dah sama aksinya! bikin gue deg2an... yang gak ada salah aja deg2an apa lagi yang beneran bawa obat2an ya???
Huff.... amit2 deh!
Satu jam kemudia kita sampe di Paris... dan teman adventure gue pun berpisah dengan gue di kereta Metro menuju pusat kota...
Syukur deh kejadian ini gak ngebuat gue telat banget ke stasiun kereta. Sempat buat makan siang dan ganti kostum buat kereta kelas bisnis gue menuju Strassburg!
Moral of story?? jangan macam2 deh di negara orang!!!
" 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..
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| 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!!
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| 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.
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| 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??
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| 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!!
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Ramp khusus untuk naik bus
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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.
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| European Union Berlaymont-HQ of Execitive EU in Brussels |
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| Me in Brussel European Union HQ |
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| EU Comission Building in Brussels |
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| Cinquantenaire Park |
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| Robert Scuman-One of EU founder |
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| Cinquantenaire Jardin at Brussel.. the tree and flowers also the art work.. so beautiful! (me too!) |
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| Cinquantenaire park with Triumphal Arc on background |
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| Small flowers on the grass.. wild flower..just like me hehe |
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| Small flowers on the grass..its wild flowers! |
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| Some of the art work at the Cinquantenaire Park Brussels |
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| Triumphal Arch at Cinquantenaire Park Brussels |
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| I loooove this picture so very much (pre-weds kind of?) |
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| Why we can't build any park like this? |
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| Brussels Triumphal Arch |
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| Brussels War Museum |
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| This is for 5 years old prince... so... tiny |
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| Time bomb with actual..clock!! hahaha |
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| I adore him for his leadership-admit it, he is great leader! meet Mr Hitler |
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| SS Troops uniform |
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| More armories.. ohh my knights!! |
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| Brussels Flag |
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| Anyone i know??? |
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| 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!!
Posted by
Fico
,
5:44 AM
Those who visit foreign nations but associate only with their own country-men change their climate but not their customs. They see new meridians but the same men; and with heads as empty as their pockets return home with traveled bodies but untraveled minds ~ Caleb Colton
...................Gare de l'est Paris to Gare du Midi Brussels....................
The bus driver drive the bus with moderate speed... for sure Indonesian bus driver go twice faster than this bus driver.
Next to me an asian girl, seemed shes a student, but she didn't talk much. I don't know what happen to asian people when they go to Europe. Seemed their polite and friendly nature as in Asia are gone. She's obvious a chinese decendent, but i can't really sure where shes come from. From her english she could be from Malaysia or Singapore, as i could hear the "Sing-lish" a bit on her tone.
I remember my friend Lee also agree with this. Without pointing as certain races, we agree some asian doesn't want to gather with other races, or even speak with local languages or try to get along with other people outside their races. I can not understand why.
Why you travel so far away while you only want to be with people from your country? i thought when you travel you want to see new people, learn new languages, food, customs etc (eating rice at Europe seemed bit.. weird--once a while its ok),
Anyway, i enjoy the view.. enjoy the huge grass field... seeing horses, farms... everything so different than Indonesia. I don't want to sleep! i want to see more...
On my ipod i listen to Angel by Sarah McLachlan, i feel so happy i had the chance to see all of this. First Paris, and now the outer part of Paris on the way to Belgium...
I wish i could record all of this in my head and play it back when i go back to Indonesia.. this is all beautiful on its own way... flowers are different, street signs...
I feel so lucky i met good peoples a long the road so far... i just wish i had my best friends and sisters to see what i see now... the wonder of different part of the worlds...
It is something when you see the world in a humble way...