Jun 4th, 2011
Aku sampe di Singapore jam 3 sore waktu setempat (jam 2 siang di Indonesia). Campuran jet lag sama capek luar biasa gara2 liburan yang panjang dan di geber abiss tuntasss demi keuangan dan pemenuhan hasrat (ciee.. berasa apa aja kaleee).
Di Changi aku baru sadar kalau airport ini baru selesai di renovasi. Bagian sebelum imigrasi (ke tangga turun ke pos imigrasi di bagian transit itu loh) berubah tempat.. sampe nyasar.. atau akunya aja yang udah lama gak ke Changi kali ya? jadi sedikit nyasar (dikit doang!--hehe hampir ke stasiun kereta antar terminal dikitnya.. hohoh).
Setelah imigrasi, aku ngambil bagasi, duduk2 bengong sambil baca2 peta gratis yang aku ambil di rak dekat pengambilan bagasi aku baru ingat... poster dari museum Porsche ku yang tercinta TERTINGGAL di PESAWAT!! HUAAAAHHHHHHH!! padahal dah selamat dari Stuttgart ke pesawat, kanapa juga bisa tinggal!!! padahal aku dah dobel check, sumpah! dobel check compartemen di atas tempat duduk itu loh, memang SUDAH TIDAK ADA BARANG lagi yang tertinggal di sana.
Campuran bingung, plus capek sama jet lag, aku dapat tas ungu dengan pita kuning norak yang segede gaban itu... langsung cari "Lost and Found" masuk ke sana langsung di ladenin sama mbak2 dengan logat malaysia... tapi doi cepet juga. Aku bilang keknya tinggal di pesawat. Cuma poster tapi aku pengen kasih buat oleh2... hiks hiks.. secara budget kalo ada yang gratisa lumayan buat oleh2 mahluk2 yang cowok di Indonesia. Jauh loohh....
Nunggu kira2 setengah jam buat ngambil barang itu aja, ternyata petugas di sana mesti hub security dulu baru pihak security hub petugas Lufthansa yang masih ada di pesawat.. haduh ribeeett...
Hampir satu jam-sampe sempat ke toilet buat cuci muka sama pipis (cewek, beser bo...) balik lagi aku dah liat poster itu dah ada di meja belakang cewek itu.. wahh syukur deh...
Langsung ke terminal MRT yang menuju ke kota. Aku masih simpan kartu MRT Singapore yang aku sempat tukarkan tahun 2007 dulu. Masih ada kredit kira2 S$19 masih cukup lah buat transit. Oh ya buat ngecek jumlah kredit bisa pake mesin yang sama buat beli tiket MRT itu. Gampang kok buat top up/isi ulang...
Dari stasiun Changi Airport, kita naik dan setelah melewati stasiun Expo kita turun di stasiuin selanjutnya yang merupakan "interchange" Tanah Merah. Setelah itu ganti lagi ke MRT yang menuju JOO KOON (line nomor 2 yang warna Hijau).
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| Singapore MRT Map 2011 |
Berhubung aku dah booking
A Beary Good Hostel di Chinatown (dengan pengalaman yang lalu) jadi aku turun di stasiun
Outram Park (stasiun ke 11
setelah Tanah Merah) dan ganti ke
line 7 yang mengarah ke
Punggol (warna ungu cuy!) dan turun 1 stasiun berikutnya di stasiun
China Town.
Keluar dari exit A MRT dengan selamat, langsung menuju Hostel yang jaraknya kurang dari 100 meter dari exit MRT tersebut. Tapi perjuangan bo! tangga untu ke resepsionis yang ada di lantai 2 cukup lumayan apalagi kalo lo lagi ngesot pake tas koper 22kilo plus satu ransel 5 kiloan sama tas baju ganti yang kira2 1 kilo!!! gilaakkkkk!!!
Sampe di resepsionis gue lega banget... tapi you know what this kid say about? errh have you check your email? we sent an email said we are over booked. Eh?? masih gak nyambung, sumpah gue sampe bilang sorry gue rada slow, jetlag plus 13 jam di pesawat nguras energi terakhir gue.... dia bilang over book? WTF emang masalah gue apa??? gue bilang i book this room since months before, how come its over booked??? emangnya gue care gitu?? emosi gue naik sebab capek sama ngantuk!!!
Dia minta maaf sambil bilang soal bakalan bantu ke hostel cabang mereka yang satunya lagi di Chinatown juga. Gue bilang, yes i know the other one BUT I WANT TO BOOK THIS ONE. Gile apa!! gue maunya di sini kenapa gue yang di oper ke sana???!!! dia bilang, i already sent mail yahhh... they should think that NOT ALL people could check their FREAKIN MAIL every single day during their trip!!
Gue nunjuk tas koper gue, sorry gue gak sanggup lagi bawa tas ini turun ke bawah, gue dah capek banget!!
Dia keknya ngerasa bersalah (yepp he should!!) dan bantu gue bawa tas. But sorry guys, i had to give you bad review. I never book anything like over 500 meter from the MRT, i could book other hostel if you OVER BOOK!!! gue muaraah!!
I cooled down, check in at
Beary Nice hostel. i
CARELESS if this hostel had elevator, had separated toilet between sexes, had bigger room etc, this is not what i book, end of story.
Masih aja jaraknya hampir 800 meter dari stasiun dan gue harus melewati emperan toko. Kebayang besok gue bakalan lari2 ngelewatin toko2 ini sambil bawa semua barang gue menuju MRT. SIALAAANNNN!!!!
Gue kecewa banget sama A Beary Good Hostel, i am very disappointed..... seharusnya kalau mereka over booked, mereka liat dulu dong who comes first/book first they will got prioritized. How come i book from long time and they told me to go to other hostel?? and such short notice/within 2/3 days???
Belum lagi..kok suasananya beda banget ya... lebih banyak "Asia"nya... i don't know about you guys... gue ngerasa lebih asik aja kalo dengan bule2 sebab mereka lebih friendly dan cuek, dan TIDAK NGE GAP/NGELOMPOK!!
Ini yang paling aku gak suka apa lagi dengan turis yang kulit kuning, napa juga bergerombol gitu dan bicara dengan bahasanya sendiri>>>sirik dot com... gue sama kak Mari kalo jalan malah sering ngobrol bahasa Inggris... tapi lain orang lain prinsip.. ya ya i know....
Mungkin aku cuma masih kesal aja dari awal... trus tambah lagi penduduknya mayoritas Asia dengan logat masing2 (Thai, Chinese, etc).
You know whats the other worse thing happens? sekamar sama cewek asal China yang ngeluuuuhhhhh terus. OMG whyyyyyyyy God!!! THIS IS WHAT I DISLIKE MOST!!grrhh!! hobinya ngedumel pelan sama narik napas panjang ya Ollooohhhh ngesalin!!
Aku dah coba buat conversation berhubung aku tidur di bunk bed atas... tapi ketusnya reekkk! bodo lah.. aku tidur jam 1an gara2 jet lag masih semangat aja, cowok2 lain juga tidur sekitar jam 12an.. dia aja gak ada suaranya.
Demi ngejaga perasaan tamu yang lain, aku dah nyiapin pakaian dari malam, sekaligus sama peralatan mandi jadi kalau bangun pagi sekitar jam 6 aku gak bikin banyak suara.
But you know what happen??
I woke up at 6 am, and sit down abit, collect my phone, and charger and jump off bed when suddenly this Chinese girl stood up and say to me "CAN YOU PLEASE BE SILENT?? OR GO BACK TO SLEEP?" udah spaning gue naik!!!!!!!!!!!
Gue bilang "NO" langsung di hadapan MUKA dia. Dia ngeletakin tangan di dadanya sambil bilang "we have to sleep here so please be silent and go back to sleep" pala bapak lo peaaang!! gue bilang "sorry i had to go to harbourfront for ferry, can't go back to sleep" dah sopan gue ya jawabnya, ehh biasa, dia ngedumel belakang pake bahasa cang ceng cong nya!!! bodo amat!!
Gue ambil alat mandi yang udah gue siapin sama pakaian. I don't even made a sound, emang dasar manusia aneh. To all who read this, moral of story??
IF YOU CAN NOT STAND A TINY SMALL SOUND, GET YOUR OWN FREAKIN' ROOM. DO NOT BOOK A DORM!!! OR GET YOUR SELF EYE MASK AND EAR PLUGS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!End of case.
Mandi air hangat nyenangi ati cuy... langsung sarapan. Gak lama ehh bangun tuh cewek sarap (SAMBIL NGEDUMEL NGELINTAS-cang ceng cong ceng etc.. etc) ya Allah, kasih gue kesabaran, anggap orang GILA aja lah....
Makan roti bakar doi duduk di
DEPAN GUE sambil dengan muka masam pegang hape, cuihhh ngerusak pemandangan... napa juga coba?? masih ada 3 sofa lain depan tipi, ada 5 kursi lain... kenapa dia mo nyiksa gue dengan duduk depan muka gue bangeeettt???? gue langsung pasang ipod di kuping, tapi masih keliatan mulutnya komat kamit ngedumel SENDIRI kek orang gila beneran. Masih muda dah sakit.. kasian...
Udah gitu gue CUCI PERALATAN MAKAN yang gue pake sendiri setelah gue selesai sarapan. Mahluk "antik" itu??? sampe gue check out PIRING SAMA SENDOK yang dipakenya MASIH DI MEJA MAKAN.
Rule buat HOSTEL yang punya dapur ya sodara2 please notice:
CUCI LAH SELALU SEMUA PERALATAN MASAK/MAKAN YANG TELAH ANDA GUNAKAN
Jadilah manusia BERADAT jangan jadi manusia biadap kek satu itu ya... Padahal dah ada tulisan lebih dari satu yang nyuruh nyuci (errhh gue kok emosi banget ya?) gimana gak emosi, resepsionis ngira itu piring gue yang pake!! gue bilang aja, tuh little chinese "lady" yang ngelonyor aja...
Sutralah... segini dulu update penuh emosi gue.... sorry ya guys... gue kalo ingat suka marah soal ini... mudah2an ngebantu... TT.TT maafkan saya yang penuh emosi... (hormon kali...hohohoh)
Update soal perjalanan aku ke Eropa;
Setelah visa aku di approve dan aku udah balik kehutan, aku mulai rajin browsing flights. Ternyata booking tiket jauh sebelum hari keberangkatan memang lebih murah. Aku dapat beberapa option untuk penerbangan ke Jerman.
Sebagian besar perusahaan penerbangan yang tujuannya ke benua Eropa asalnya dari Timur Tengah. Yang jadi favorit keknya Qatarairways yang harganya kadang lumayan miring, selain itu ada juga Lufthansa yang gak kalah menarik, China Airlines juga not bad... yang sering ada promo sih Malaysia Airlines. Aku juga liat harga paling murah di tawarkan oleh Srilanka Airlines... tapi setelah aku browsing soal pro dan kontra dari penerbangan ini.....gak jadi deh..
Srilanka Airlines servicenya agak kurang, trus bulan Feb 2011 ini dia dapat ancaman bom... haduh.. ngga deh.. hahaha....
Pokoknya kalau soal tiket jangan bosan2 browsing deh.. aku juga subscribe alias langganan mail dengan beberapa airlines... mana tau ada program promo dan aku bisa ambil hehe.. lumayan...
Aku lumayan dapat banyak masukan dari Mr T, dia nyaranin aku untuk not wasting this chance... kalau ada tiket murah ke tujuan manapun di Eropa ambil aja! dan dia mengenalkan aku dengan tiket "Open Jaw" haha apa pula ini tiket "buka rahang"??
Open jaw itu maksudnya kalau kita pergi dari kota A ke kota B dari kota B mungkin dilanjutkan dengan transportasi yang lain ke kota C trus dari kota C balik lagi ke kota A. Tiket ini bisa lebih murah asal menggunakan perusahaan penerbangan yang sama!
Masih bingung open jaw itu maksudnya gimana? hehe gini nih contohnya:
Kota A ke B (dengan airlines X)
Kota B to C (dengan bus/kereta/kapal)
Kota C to A (dengan airlines X)
Jadi berubah lah singkat kata itineraryku yang udah aku biat terlebih dahulu. Yang dulu perjalanan aku polos banget Jakarta-Frankfurt-Jakarta. Untuk itinerary yang baru aku terbang Singapore-Paris dan pulangnya Munich-Singapore dengan Lufthansa Airlines.
Kenapa kok dari Singapore? hehe bedanya 2 jutaan.. plus aku kan terbang dari Jambi, PP bisa nambah jadi 3 jutaan. Rugi laahh... jadi aku ambil dari Singapore. Aku bisa naik Sriwijaya ke Batam dan di terusin dengan boat ke Singapore... lebih lama waktunya tapi hemat.. lagian pesawat aku jam 9 malam kok....lumayan bisa hemat sekitar 2 jutaan untuk tiket PP.
Singapore bisa di jadiin alternatif buat cari tiket murah juga, sebab banyak banget airlines yang tujuan Eropa ke sini. Nah untuk dari Jakarta kitakan bisa naik budget airlines kek Value Jet, Tiger Airways, atau Air Asia yang harganya lebih miring ketimbang ngambil tiket langsung dari Jakarta ke Negara Eropa tersebut... padahal nantinya juga transit di Singapore kok hehehe.....
Untuk visa mungkin tadinya aku rada was-was sebab Visa Schengen aku di ambil dari Kedutaan Jerman, tapi tujuan pertama Paris. Setelah banyak browsing via google, aku sudah tau kalau ini boleh aja, sebab waktu liburan aku paling panjang di Jerman, dan kebetulan flight Singapore-Paris ada transit di Munich dan aku harus lewat imigrasi di Munich Airport! jadi stempel masuk negara Schegen pertama itu di Munich-Jerman.
Sebenarnya walaupun masuknya langsung dari Paris, asalkan ada tiket ke Jerman gak masalah juga, aku baca beberapa blog yang punya cerita sama. Approval visanya dari kedutaan Belanda (contoh ajaa..) trus negara pertama yang di tuju Perancis.
Yang mungkin perlu di perhatikan dan paling penting adalah visa tersebut harus multiple entry, alias bisa keluar masuk negara Schengen yang nota bene lebih dari 26 negara di Eropa sesuka hati hehe.. tapi kalau cuma single entry... wah.. kalau dah keluar harus buat visa baru lagi nih!
Sebenarnya yang paling murah tetep flight Air Asia. Waktu aku browsing itu aja ada tiket yang harganya 3.9 juta rupiah PP (yupp PP sodara2) dari Jakarta ke Paris dan balik ke Jakarta lagi. Tapi berhubung aku mau coba beda kota ya udah.. dengan berat hati aku gak buka lagi website Air Asia itu.. biar ak sakit hati hehehe... (derita traveler kantong tipis huuhuh....)
Yang jadi masalah itu waktu transit di Munich Airport! jadi flight aku Singapore-Munich stop/transit dulu di Munich cuma 30 menit!! dan ganti pesawat lain untuk jurusan Munich-Paris.Naik pesawat domestik aja gak mungkin kekejar tuh dalam waktu 30 menit langsung pindah pesawat!
Bayangin aja, turun dari pesawat (ngantri juga kan?) trus jalan/lari lewat gerbang ke imigrasinya, ambil bagasi pulaa... lari2 lagi dari tempat bagasi ke check in airline...trus trus imigrasi lagi... haduuh.. kalo punya kekuatan superwoman atau juga secepat Flash Gordon.. mungkin bisa.. tapi.. errhh ... sumpah baru liat setelah tiket di issued!!
Buru-buru cari data soal Munich airport sama Lufthansa.
Setelah aku browsing, menurut Airport Munich mereka memang jagonya transit 30 menitan. Emang bisa? gimana caranyaaaa??
Ternyata mereka punya senjata ampuh, yang pertama banyak penunjuk arah yang buat first timer kaga nyasar.. hehe kalo gak bisa baca tulis..derita loe deh! trus, mereka juga punya ban jalan untuk bagasi yang super cepat dan canggih! trus mereka punya command center yang memilah tiap2 penumpang yang butuh transit kurang dari 30 menit dan di jadikan prioritas.
Maksudnya prioritas? sampe titik darah penghabisan cuy! contohnya kalau flight aku dari Singapore-Munich mau landing dan connecting aku dalam rentang 30 menit... tuh command center bakalan contact tower pengatur lalu lintas airport! dan pesawat aku bakalan di jadikan prioritas utama buat landing! huaaaaahhh! keeerreeenn! trus udah gitu di carikan gate yang dekat dengan pesawat aku yang berikutnya hohoho.. di manjain bangeeettt..
Kalau masih gak sempat juga.. alias waktu transit kurang dari 30 menit... mereka ada jurus lain... hehe.. di jemput langsung dari pesawat! hahaha... yupp mereka bakalan sediain mobil buat jemput penumpang langsung dari pesawat!!
Tiket mesti di tunjukkan sama petugas trus tiket bagasi di scan buat di infoin ke petugas bandara, biar bagasi jalan langsung ke pesawat yang berikutnya trus penumpang tadi di antar ke counter imigrasi khusus di lapangan tersebut (pinggiran kali ya..) buat urusan imigrasi, udah kelar kemudian di antar langsung ke pesawat berikutnya!! dan semua action terjadi di tempat parkiran pesawat! hahaha kebayang dah!! kebut2an sama mobil di tempat parkiran pesawat!!
Memang Jerman paling keren soal teknologi.. huhuhu... kapan ya Indonesia ada airport kek gini.. transit 30 menit................ (boro2.. delay aja sampe 3 jam!!)
Jadi urusan penerbangan aku rada tenang.. mudah2an nanti sampe dengan selamat di Paris.. hufff.. grogi cuy!
Ntar aku update dah buat informasi soal airport Munich.. apa memang bener mereka bisa nepatin janji mereka ya.. buat para penumpang kek gue yang waktu berangkatnya mepet bangeeettt! kita tunggu dah tanggal mainnya!
Its been awhile since my last post, so i better give an update on several things that i've done lately regarding my preparation.
Right after got the visa i plan a "re-route". Originally the plan is go straight to Germany and spent the whole 2 weeks there exploring as much as possible German until June 3rd. But then i saw a discount on flights to Paris. And after comparing the flights ticket it will be cheaper if i fly to Paris from Singapore. And also fount out that Munich to Singapore also not that bad.
So my final route would be: Singapore-Paris-Munich-Singapore. I fly with Lufthansa Airways.
Is this going to affect my visa since i got it from Germany Embassy?
No, since the longest stay will be in Germany, i think i will be all right. Beside that... on my way to go to Paris, my flight had transit in Munich. So i got my first Schengen stamp in Munich Germany! so its all right because my first entry will be from Germany! and i got the multiple entry visa too! so its very convenient!
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| one of Munich airport picture that i like |
Why i fly with Lufthansa? well after several days juggling between the needs of cheap flights also considering the dates and the "lay over" time that will consume my short holidays... it was between Qatar Airlines and Lufthansa. But then i see the Qatar lay over was in Doha and its for 8 hours!
Read again the reviews about Doha, i simply pick Lufthansa, and spent more time in Singapore rather in Doha! Doha seemed out f nowhere airport, pretty small and i read not much people like it! if i had to spent sometimes in airport it better had at least clean and good toilet!
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| Hope i wont missed this sign at Munich!! |
But the crazy part is..... my layover in Munich to switch flight to Paris would be only 30 minutes! i was un aware of this! this is he very first time i book flights with connections! so this is a very good lesson for me!
But then i read about Munich airport its basically the home of Lufthansa Airlines. And they claim they could possibly do the 30 minutes connecting time because thats how the Munich airport designed (for a smooth connections??). Wow... that would be a "sprint" event for me! why this could possibly happens?
First they claim that they had an easy orientation. Well.. ok if they had all of the board signs and everything.. i know.. but then when we panicking we tends not to see details and end up lost easily because we missed just 1 turn! also how do i run with my luggage?
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| OMG!! hope i wont mistaken the terminal directions |
Then they also add this; high speed luggage system. I don't really know how this work, its just said they had this "modern" luggage system with high speed conveyor and monitored by their employees around the clock. So the 30 minutes is enough for all the security check that needed and to get the luggage from one to another flight.
They also had the Hub Control Center (HCC) and a key element of the HCC is the Connex Center, where a team of experts is in charge of ensuring that passengers and their baggage reach their connecting flights. They maintain constant contact with air traffic control, can request priority landing clearance and reassign gate positions to minimize the distance that connecting passengers have to cover. So i hope these guys did notice that someone from Singapore is going to be on one of the less than 30 minutes flights to Paris!! please do arrange my plane right next to my next plane hahahah!
Oh.. another thing is...Even when incoming flights are delayed, leaving less than the required 30 mins. to make connections, the HCC team pulls out all the stops, dispatching the special "Ramp Direct Service" (RDS) to pick up passengers and their luggage right at the gate and drive them directly to their connecting flight!
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| I think when i arrive i wont had chance to look around :( |
When incoming flights are delayed, RDS picks up passengers and their luggage directly at the aircraft. The driver welcomes the passengers at the apron, checks the tickets, registers the luggage numbers and drives passengers directly to their connecting flight.
If customs and passport control are required, RDS drives the passengers directly to a special RDS ramp-side check-point. In the meantime the Ground Handling Service delivers the luggage directly to the plane.
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| Terminal 2 Where Lufthansa based in Munich Airport |
With Gate Direct Service (GDS), transfer passengers are met at their arrival gate and are escorted to their connecting departure gate. Both RDS and GDS emphasize Munich Airport’s reputation as the most advanced and fastest hub airport in Europe!!
Ok.. i think i will be all right with the 30 minutes transit time to switch the flight... huff.. i should write the experience tho... i tried to browse google about this but oh my less information! i believe that its not only me who experience this!
I will write down my own experience with Munich airport and its facilities soon! let see if they could super fast check me in to my flight to Paris!
I just saw this promotion from Tiger Airways. Tiger is my 2nd choice for traveling... i use their service several times when i went to Thailand.
I looovveeee them!
To get a cheap flight ticket you have to book your flights earlier. They gave us more discount on flights fare!
See
Tiger Airways website for more details!
Promotion from Air Asia for all travel bugs!!
.......... time has comes for me to pack my things in a 50 liter back pack and start a brand new adventure!
Bangkok and Singapore here comes FIKA!!! ciiiaaaaattttttttt!! (gaya kung pao master!)
Bangkok
There was something about Bangkok or Thailand that i like. I don't know how to describe it, but i found it romantic, with all of its bustle and sound, also smell and the look of lady boys (he he he). I found it all very fascinating. Tuk tuk, taksi the wat's chao phraya, the humidity, the heat, the sweat, the dogs... ohhhh... all about Bangkok hate and love, made me want to go there again!!
At 2009 i book a flight through Air Asia, with their FREE SEAT, i got flight from Jakarta to Bangkok with price of Rp 30,000,- (about US$ 3,-) well it should be free, they actually charge Rp 30,000,- for my extra 15 kg's luggage. (Lu boleh jealous dah ! huahuahuahauhauha!!!!) Nope, i sit in a leather seat, full ac, and its not a single 80 years old propeller plane. Its normal 100-200 seated flight (maybe fokker, i don't understand this one), but its normal plane for sure, no plastic chair, i don't have to sit on the floor too, or jump off the plane with a parachute!! (yeah they tease me with these when theyt found out about my flight price!!).
My flight start from Jambi at 11 am with Batavia air. There were delays for 30 mins, but its normal in Indonesia (geezz.. i dont know how i see delay as normal... but it is pathetic!!). When you said "delay" as a "not normal" thing ladies and gentlemen... if you're an expat, you better know, this is one of sign you've been TOO LONG reside in Indonesia. If you are an Indonesian, please peeps... change this mind set, DELAYs are not OK!!!!
I arrive in Jakarta on lunch time. Switching terminal from domestic to international, using the airport free shuttle bus (yellow bus). And go down in Air asia counter, check my flight from the small monitor on every each air asia counter. Theres several lines already.After check in at Air Asia counter and pay Rp 150.000,- for airport tax (around US$15/Person), oh i got help from two pretty lady in red, on self check in machine infront of traditional checking counter, it was very easy and comfortable! All i need is my booking number (ticket print out) and passport number. No need to queue, less than 5 min they gave me the check in sticker that printed on that machine, i attach it to my printed ticket, all i need to do after that just goes to "special queue line" that had big banner said "self check in" to scale/drop my bag, tag it and thats all! next will be finding an official fiscal office, not far from the counter.
I get my "free fiscal stamp" at my boarding pass from fiscal booth near immigration door on the same floor not far from there (about 100 meters from Air Asia Counters). I don't have to pay "fiscal" when ever i leave Indonesia since i had my NPWP. These days everyone that work have to had NPWP, even my youngest who wasn't work last time she went to Malaysia she made her own NPWP card at tax office and its very easy! (Read my writing about fiscal rules).I fill in the "Indonesia Departure card" that was given to me by air asia counter/check-in guy (you will always had this card when ever you leave or enter a country, every country had their own departure/arrival card, oh its just one card by the way) and go to immigration queue line (for Indonesia passport) for stamp in my passport (hand off the departure card to the officer when you give the passport).Oh, another tips i could give is, use the air asia "web check in". It is the best resolution for people like me i think. I get "lost" on my way to airport sometimes. But the rules is it could only be done 2 days up to 4 hours before departure. You could do this with your cellphone too. So there's no chance for you for getting late to airport for check in as the counter will closed 1 hour before departure!!
I still had at least one and half hour to go before my flight. It was a great time for having the most expensive sandwich that i ever had in my life and a bottle of water at Soekarno Hatta-Jakarta International Airport. I know i should stick to Mc D or or other junk food joint.My flight with Air Asia was at 4 pm afternoon. My fingers are cold, because i was too excited to start this all!! i ask the check in counter if they could seat me near window seat so i could take pictures. Hehe.. she gave me emergency exit seat... good for my long legs!! hehe thanks JKT Air Asia crew.. no worry guys... i am tough enough to open those emergency exit, God Forbid that happened, but yaaayyy!
I fed up with local girls with their caucasian bf/guest/daddy what so ever, if the age gap over 25-30 years, thats not normal, and uuuhhhh... i hate too much PDA (Personal Display of Affection>> kissing smooching, grabbing, hugging tight, petting, etc). Whats wrong with these people!!! I had to listen to whispers and giggles, its disgusting! and its still Jakarta to Bangkok.. and Patayya is on my list.. i roll my eyes.. what ever... i use my eye patch and listen to my MP3 until time the stewardess minds me to turn off my MP3 because its nearly landing. Oh... i take Nasi Lemak Pak Nasir as my dinner menu on board, not bad actually... pretty nice. Its because i am hungry too! I landed nearly 8 pm at SuvarnaBhumi in Bangkok, i was amazed. Wow.. pretty clean! and futuristic, a little bit like Changi tho...
It was the very first time i landed in Suvarnabhumi. I went to Thailand several times but i was landed in Phuket, Krabi, or leaving from Changi. So... never been to SuvarnaBhumi. The arrival gate and the immigration check is quite far, and wow... its bigger than Changi! the lines consist of Thai passport and International passport. I pick the one that on the very left part, as the first 4 on the right was very looooonggggg! the immigration officer pretty helpful for traveling family with small kids, they short of made them priority as they come to them one by one and guide them to the "special boot" for the kids. Ok thats pretty cool when you had more than 3 kids running around or crying... you wont think its nice to stand on queue over 35 people. Its nuts. So yeah.. good for those mums and dads.
And i learn very good thing... please don't laugh ok... first i have to explain how small my town airport is: Jambi airport only had two luggage belt at the arrival, and its only less than 20 meters long (got the view?).
Here in Suvarnabhumi you will see over 25 luggage belt. Its huge, its crowded and.... confusing!!! I was jump around, try to see my flight number on the 3 belt that i just passed until a guy short of ask, what the hell i were doing that time, and i said it, i don't know which belt my luggage was! and he point at an electronic board, just exactly the same as the flight announcement (well.. ok.. i thought it was a flight announcement board) you know that blinking board that said which flight and numbers and arrival or departure time??? yepp... that one.
This one show the flight numbers, city of departures, and time of arrival, and ...bingo!! the luggage belt number!!! But i guess i am not the only one who look the luggage the "traditional way" which ill call "visual check" way hahahahha! Well it only work if you only had at least 5 belt lines!!! but over 25??!! ok that wont work buddy!
I was the first one who arrive on the belt! hahaha! pretty cool.. i took my luggage and goes to the "green" line exit which said "no goods to declare".Outside, i go to the atm for the cash in baht as i didnt change my money to baht before. I just use my ATM from BCA well.. i use that for years since 2006. I went to 2nd floor to Starbuck as i see many people use laptop there... i thought they had free WIFI.... but i was wrooong!
Even Suvarnabhumi look as sophisticated as Changi but they don't have that free wifi!!! come on... even Jambi had free wifi!! why there is no wifi!! as the gadget freak, i feel so upset there! After a mocca latte grande and sitting for a while at Starbucks try to made a draft for this blog, finally Lee come with her big smile! she looks pretty like a super model just the same like i met her before in Singapore (remember the Ryan Cumpston and Richard Stewart "journey" back in Singapore?? the US navy guys from DDG 82/USS Lassen??). We sit for a while, and she order her cup of coffee.
Anyway, we walk down and we finally see free internet at THAILAND TOURISM boot on the first floor! there are two computer that people could use for free for browsing internet! and i ask for a Bangkok map also use the computer for a while, the girl could speak moderate English, convenient thing to know actually..... , and we met an Oz girl that very nice, she browse flights for Lee, but we had lack of choice as the flight price goes up to 3000 baht (to Singapore). When we go to level 4 for AirAsia counter, it was closed already (it was 11pm i think), so we go back down on basement to get a bus to our hostel.
To get to the bus station to town, we had to go to the exit number 8 near the taxi boot on first level, just look up for the sign said Airport Express Bus. We took the bus direction to Silom Area (AE1). The price for the bus to Sala Daeng Sky Train are 150baht (our hostel at Decho Rd not that far from "PATPONG" area!). It is cheaper than if we go by taxi, which is 400-500 baht and it still depends on the traffic too! so it could be much more!
The hostel name is Lub.D. I would highly RECOMMEND you this hostel, due to lots of reason ill tell later hehehe.... Oh i book the hostel from the Hostel Bookers website. They got he cheapest price and no additional charge too! I would recommend bus for airport, as the bus is very fast, and its comfortable and clean too. And i do think its safe! I do heard there was MRT from airport to city centre too, but the service is only until 7pm, so its not an option for us.
We leave the airport with the bus at nearly 10pm. The journey began with Lee. The city at night was very calm. I had my camera ready on my hand, i want to see pictures of what left behind the deadly demonstration few months ago. What Bangkok looks like in the eye of visitor/tourist for the very first time after they land in SuvarnaBhumi? It turn out to be a normal night in Bangkok city. Nothing that i see wrong, its not that Bangkok a spotless place, but there are things that not rihght and you could spot it easy as the prostitute and lady boy walk on the street or on a motorcycle. But its still one of the city of Bangkok "landmark" hehehe... so.. nothing strange about it.Then i see it the burned malls stood in the dark.. covered with some green nets, looks like they're moving forward and try to fix it as soon as possible.... ok... its very fast actually.. Indonesia took longer time to recover from Bali bombing. Of course it was something different.... but still.. it was burnt few weeks ago but everything looks so normal, and feels normal too!We were arrive around 11pm at the Sky train terminal. But its actually quite shady area, some local Thai guy drunk, come closer to us and we decide to go inside a 7/11 to ask direction. Because ts common for me to be disoriented at very first day when i was i arrive in a new city. And alas! the 7/11 cashier not speak english that well. And i forgot my other Thai 101; Thailand people never say "no" or "don't know" (sorry i generalize Thai people here...but that's the fact i experienced so far!), when we ask something they will try to point a direction or just pretend they don't really hear what we said. Geez... so instead of lead us to the right way they often get things even worse! We finally took a taxi from sofitel hotel, if only we know its so close!The room we stayed in is a dorm, when we arrive theres none there. But its 8 bunk bed there. And we could see the bed "tag" (like the bag tag from airport) from the hostel show only 4 of the bed are occupied.We went out at 2 am since Lee want to have a sight of Patpong and we dont even feel sleepy! So we walk around and see small traditional market not far from Patpong, its all GREAT! we walk until the end of the road and decide to go back to hostel since it was 4 am! and even the drunk girls are on the way back home. It was safe to walk at night in Bangkok.Well... matters safe or not actually it depends on us, how we carry our self, how you behave how you dress, how you talk, etc. If you use your best "i am not into trouble" look/behaviour, i think it will be ok anywhere.Its was pretty funny to see the drunker walk back home, you could see their drunk smile, walk tipsy, some are cute, some are just sleazy (haha we only spot guys! hahah!).Over all my first night are pretty awesome!!Untuk yang baru merencanakan jalan2 ke LN ini yang aku lakuin di airport:
1. Siapin passport sama uang Rp 150.000,- untuk airport tax (Soekarno Hatta segitu nominalnya). Check in di counter penerbangan (air asia, tiger, garuda etc). Dapat "Departure Card".
2. Siapin copy kartu NPWP, pergi ke loket "Pelayanan Pajak" di dekat pintu masuk cek imigrasi. Kasihkan passport, boarding pass sama ticket trus fotocopy kartu NPWP tadi. Nanti petugas bakalan kasih stempel di boarding pass. Kalau punya NPWP bakalan di stempel "NO FISCAL" kalau gak punya hehe... bayar Rp 2 juta!!
3. Isi form/kartu keberangkatan/departure card selengkapnya (perlu liat passport dan tiket, buat ngisi nomor passport sama tanggal expire, trus nomor flight yang ada di tiket/boarding pass).
4. Ngantri di imigrasi, liat line untuk "passport indonesia" kasih passport sama kartu keberangkatan, boarding pass, ticket.. semua dah!! Passport di stempel sama boarding pass/fiskal
5. Sudah di stempel, tinggal pergi ke "gate" keberangkatan alias ruang tunggu. Kalau masih banyak waktu bisa liat2 toko2 di sana, harga "katanya" sih lebih murah sebab duty free alias bebas pajak...
6. JANGAN SAMPE TELAT BOARDING! hehehe... keasyikan window shopping kadang buat lupa waktu. Gate air asia rada jauh, jadi yah... tolong diperhitungkan lah waktu buat jalan ke sana!
7. Adios! Bon Voyage! jangan lupa oleh2 cerita nya yakk!
Most of time my traveling style would be budget, because the "wallet situation" (now i sound like that Jersey Shore show, yikessss!!!) not allow me to had so many choices but being smart to pick something that around my budget (yepp, feel pretty good at it now!). I like to pick something in budget in order i could travel much longer or had more places to go (e.g with only US$500, i could visit 3 different country in 18 days of traveling). Usually i pick cheaper accommodation, why would pay something over US$ 100 but you will go out like almost every time during the day? and might only sleep for couple hours? basic principle would be; security above everything, will pick something that recommended by other travelers, cleanliness-last thing i want is to find someone else hair on my blanket or pillow, yikes, distance to public transport or places of interest, i also prefer a dorm (good chance to meet new friends..hehehe, and most of time i will pick the one that had price included breakfast and had public kitchen, save more money. When i am on traveling i prefer the adventure part hahahaha.
I had a chance to do my traveling a little bit differently sometimes ago. It started when i met a new friends online and we decide to met in Singapore. Its one of my unplanned holiday gathering! and its great to try something that different than my type of traveling!
I stay in Lavender area, at A queen Hotel. Its a fairly new hotel, and it had reasonable price. The room is quite big (i was on the 2nd floor) and its clean. Service..hmm... comme ci comme ca... i like the fact that they're not really bother/too friendly, but because i also had problem with the room booking (ill write here later), i will say from 1 to 10, with 10 as the best hotel, ill say i gave them 5. But, really, if i had more choice, i wont stay here (Ry, said its "seemed ok"). The hotel is right next to a casket company, kind of spooky. I don't really mind that actually. But its the noise that comes from the "parade" when they take the casket out with the family, and music (like a marching band with trumpet, and drums) and ... its quite something different for me. And its actually funny (sorry, not being disrespect!). Its just something i never seen before. The room is not included breakfast too.
The boys that i am about to met there; their name are Ryan Cumpston (a.ka Ryan Crumpton?? i call him "Ry" hehehe) & Richard A. Stewart (Richard), they are working in a US Navy Ship USS Lassen/DDG-82 (yepp, sailor boys!), that stop by in Singapore for several days (they're on the way to their Japan base in Yokosuka from training in Goa, India). I know Ry like a month before we met, and its really nice to had chance to met him in person, kind of erase my curiosity.
(Lee, haha, i did try to hide your face, hope this work! you both cute!)
They're originally from USA and already spent sometimes in Navy (Ryan had only less than 2 years service left, out of 20 years! he kind of senior rank there). Richard had a girl friend name "Lee" and its quite a surprise she comes from Sumatra too, so, its four of us together. Lee is studying in Singapore, and shes a sweet girl! (i think they are sweet loving couple, hehehe). While with us, this "Navy Squids" seemed do know how to be a gentlemen... (haha don't be big headed boys!) we were impressive that time for sure. Me and Lee had great time with them, loads of laugh for sure.
We went to Marina Bay with MRT. From Hotel we had to walk about 5-6 minutes. Its not too far, but it might confusing for the first time. We had a fabulous dinner by the water at Vivo City at Carnivore. Its lots of fun! i never had so much meat! hahah Richard and Ryan, they eat a lot of meat. I think its because they had limited choice when they are on the ship (I know the feeling! i live in jungle!). We talk and laugh a lot. They were such a goofy guys! its wonderful night with lots of laughs and friendly conversation, its not awkward at all. The salad at Carnivore also worth the try, and they also had pasta on the buffet table. At carnivore its a unique experience as the waitress will bring you different meat to slice to your plate, you could have chicken, lamb, pork or beef. And its different kind of meat like for every less than 5 min! You should also try the cheese bread, its tiny button size bread, they also had garlic bread too. Its just awesome foods.
I never been to Marina Bay at night. The view is very good, and the air is not too cold and its just fine. Its a good place for walking at night as you could see city lights and being relax, enjoy the conversation and its quite romantic. For sure, its as happening as Boat Quay or Clarke Quay, but i think its more quiet. And of course not as crowded as those both places. Its just a place for a fine dining. They also had live music too in different restaurant. Oh, and it i s pricey to eat there (i think we spent over S$200..grin), but if you want to go on a date and your girl friend not a vegetarian, it might worth the choice tho. If you see across the water you will be able to see Sentosa Island and the Tiger tower! its beautiful and romantic (anniversary celebration perhaps?).After we full, we went for movie still at Vivo City at Golden Village. We watch Iron Man 2, the movie start at 9.20 pm. I think its become one of my routine activity when traveling to go to movie, its fun ^.^ The theater is very good, nice sound system, and the seat is very comfy too! The air conditioner not too cold, its worry me a little bit when we enter the theater, because i thought i would be freezing! but i am not overall its worth the experience, and its a good movie too!
We kind of want to go somewhere else after that, i am thinking about Boat quay or Clarke Quay, but then they think its a bad idea since most of their navy buddy will be there! hahah nope its not really good idea! so we called it a night and decide to get some rest.The boys had to go back to the ship because they have to work at the very next day. I don't really sure what my plan that time, so i spent some times that morning to browse places in Singapore, its raining a little bit. When i am about to fall a sleep, someone knock my door, its the room service, and they said something like "...check out time at 12.00" but i thought that time it must be misunderstanding as i got the room booked right until the morning i leave. But then, nearly 11.30am phone ringing, and its front desk saying, i had to check out!!!! what??? i try to contact dearest Ryan Cumpston for some suggestion on avoiding "kicked out from hotel 101", but, well, impossible to get his answer immediately, as he is working on his watch, and i need to clear this asap.
So i decide to wash my face and go down stairs to see whats going on. Front desk say that the room only booked for 1 night and i should check out (laugh like crazy) this is embarrassing. Then when i said, please do check again, because i am sure it was booked for another 1 night! they did stumble on papers, monitor screen..... and again papers, and notes (i am nervously thinking about running back upstairs and pack my things), and then say "oh, yes you right, sorry for the inconvenience" duhhhh.... seriously... they're on my black list already. Kick out your costumer that already book in advance definitely not a good thing.
After all the misunderstanding clear, i went for shower and dress up, think about Bugis Junction and some part of it that i haven't explore before. So i stroll on street by my self, went to MRT, missing my new friends, God know what they're doing anyway! hahah Ryan and Richard must be very bored at their ship! And i assume Lee must have a class, and too bad i didn't have chance to ask her phone numbers (duhhh silly!!) wish i know then we could go somewhere together. Talking about the boys hehehe (peace Ry!)
Its not a very good day since its raining a little bit. I went to Bugis Junction Mall, and had lunch at the ground basement. I have some Indonesian food there, i got my self a plate of Nasi Uduk with chicken and a cup of tea. Its fairly nice, and clean for sure. But real deals in Indonesia are much better, for sure, the "sambal" will be much hotter than the one i had there.
Up stairs after lunch, there are discounts in lots of things, shoes, bags, and clothes (feeling dizzy as trying to control my self not to shop!). But of course i fail to keep my self from the temptation, I end up getting two pair of shoes, and some vit. E from The Body Shop, and some smalls cute things. Satisfy with few bags on my hand, I went cross street in front of the mall and go to Bugis Market. Here you were at the mercy of the shop owner and your bargaining skills are needed. Prices are much different than the shopping malls of course. I had an opportunity to go to the 2nd floor of the market, finally. I've heard about this place several times before, but just doesn't have the chance to go. They sold almost the same thing as the first floor. The difference maybe because the 2nd floor had air cond. so its more comfort. There's less shop compare to 1st floor.Its just the same crowded market as before in Bugis. You could find clothes, dress, jeans, watch and bags (mostly fake branded, but worth the look), and some stuff for gift like key chain, snow globe, and lots more. The price is lots cheaper than the mall price of course. I also went to the street market not far from there. Its quite fun walk. I see some street artist playing music, and hahah i think someone follow me! i saw that guy since in Bugis, and he there when i walk he walk and when i stop he stop. When i started to get worry, he was gone (fiuhh).
I went back to Lavender at Dinner time. I just had a cup of instant noodle that i bought from 7/11 not far from hotel as dinner. I also get my self a cough syrup as i feel not really good after long walk and had some rain, i sleep quick that night!
The next morning at 8 am, i heard a knock on the door, the boys coming. They are on liberty day again and today we are planning to go to the zoo. But first we will go to Orchard as they're need to groom their hair (hehehe) before they back to ship. I did notice the hair, Ryan had longer hair cut than military guys that i know, in Indoensia you could notice people who work in military with the cutting comparison 3:2:1 (3 on top, 2 on side, 1 on back if i am not mistaken) hehe my uncle is in army.
We had lunch in Orchard Rd, but this time we're fancy on Mc D (junk food is one of the fave!). After that we were back to hotel and call Lee and wait for her so we could go to the zoo.
After Lee show up, we went to MRT and start the fun journey! On map the zoo seemed very far away from where we are, so i think Ryan is right when thinking about using MRT then switch to taxi. I like MRT, so no problem. It took more than 15 minutes from Lavender MRT to Jurong East, we had to switch to another train in Jurong and we stop in Cho Chu Kang MRT Station, and then get a taxi to the zoo..fiuhhh...hehehe.. There is an interesting thing happened on train. Ryan a bit upset when theer was a lady stare at us, and its seemed bugging him hahah, he said its not polite etc. I told him about, most Indonesian girls dont want to had a caucasian boyfriend because of the negative image that caucasian guy gave. Most of girls that walk with a caucasian, just the same like in any other South East Asia country, just an escort. So i told him, hahah its not fun walk with him, hahaha because i will be center of the attention. They wont really notice Lee and Richard for sure. As Richard also half Asian. Ryan said he never know that, hehehe, yep.. now he know (told him not to bother that lady)!! I never been to the Singapore Zoo before. I know it will be interesting as, the zoo claimed to be one of the best zoo in the world. But from internet i could see it is lot smaller than Safari Zoo in Bogor, Indonesia.
We went there to find out that the zoo was closed like 5 minutes before, but then they offer night safari start at 7.30pm. So we don't have any choice. We decide to have some dinner first at Korea buffet in a mall, quite far from the zoo since were starving! The zoo does have some restaurant, and a buffet on the entrance, but.. gosh, i know Singapore are pricey, but.. haha nope, i don't think its worth the food. So yeah, we take another taxi back to a shopping mall with some food court and that Korean Restaurant. And its really worth it! its fun and we are very full!R
We full our tummies with fish meat balls, meat with different seasoning, shrimps and vegetables, and then we realize that its over 7.30pm hahaha!! so we rush to get a taxi back to the zoo.
The night safari turn out to be fun. We ride a small train like vehicle and there are plenty animals that we seen. Its not like some people said at internet, that they can not see the animals. Its very fun as i could see flying quarrels and enter a bat cage (its creepy as they flying all around!!). We stop near the lion cage for a walk. Its very fun!
There is a small cafe near the Lion cage, it sold drinks and food. We split and met there with Lee and Richard. When we finish see all the animals near the Lion cage we decide to have a rest for a while. Its not much food there and Its a little bit pricey too. We are a little bit thirsty, and its kind of hot, and we get our self ice cream. But then we had another bottle of water.
We finish the tour at 9.30 pm and line up for taxi near the parking outside the zoo. There are plenty buses to get to the town too. Overall once again a fun night!
Too bad the fun time have to be over and Ryan and Richard have to return to their ship, as they will head to Yokosuka, Japan (their base)! I wish we could meet again and next time i did offer them for doing some budget traveling! hahaha... (i don't think any of them (Ryan or Richard could stand hostels and budget things such public transport in Thailand) hehehe. Mr Cumpston at least admit it, if he stay in hotel, he want to be like a king, hahaha... so no bunk bed (after i saw his sleeping bed at ship, i got it!) he sleep in 3 storey bunk bed while at ship LOL! so no bunk bed for Mr Cumpston and Mr Stewart!!
And for Lee, we actually did plan a girls trip, and this would be her first for budget traveling, atta girl !! we will had our own adventure before she leave for Oz!
See ya boys!! Selamat Jalan! Smooth Sailing!
Note.
I found the Vivo city picture at night from google. Its really beautiful at night, i think.
Just click on the picture and smileeee!!
Pack & Go
Yippie.. another cheap deals from air asia!!
Sale flights from Singapore... hmmmm not bad at all! check at Tiger airways website, buy the ticket before March 24, 2010!
