Life is FULL of surprises...

My post title this time is so very true.
Life is FULL of surprises.., just like a chocolate box.
Sometimes, I've got very shocked by the bitterness and sometimes I jolted by the happiness.
Bitter, sweet, crunchy, melted, sour, and any other taste in between.
Sometimes we've got the one that we likes very much, but sometimes not.

That's life anyway.
Like it or not like it, sometimes an unexpected thing might happens in our daily life.
It could be a nice one or a devastated one.
We can't control "some things" that meant to be happens in our life.
The only thing we can do is to define on how should we REACT on those surprises,
especially the bitter one.
Sometimes the bitter one gives you the best taste/feeling afterwards.
Just like a bitter chocolate that proved do some good for your health and well known as an effective also nice way to reduce your level of stress.
:')

As for me, many times I've been dealing with all those expected yet unexpected things/moments surely it makes my life more colorful.
Sometimes it made my day, sometimes it ruined my day.
But for sure there's always a sun behind the clouds.
It's a matter of the way you see your things/problems.

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

Just like what Shakespeare had expressed in a similar sentiment in Love's Labours Lost, 1588:

Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues

Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates them, the same rule applied on the other side of coin.
Means that different people will find different things beautiful/or not and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly as long as the beholder feels happy.

So be happy with this life because it has a lot of surprises for us, each and every day. Just make sure that you don't forget to wait for a rainbow to appear after the rain. It will boost your happiness.
:)

A Tribute to Michael Jackson: The Music Legend!

Michael Jackson truly had a message to give each and every one of us.
To make this world as a better place as well as he did...

Rest in Peace, M.J.
God bless your soul.


Earth Song

Bangkok: City of Angels

Last year, when I attended one of those 'high-tea-time' meetings with my besties out of the blue we're talking about traveling again together.
It's almost a year since we're traveled together around Eroupe.
Starting from where I used to lived before, Muenster - Germany continue to other cities in Hitler country such as Dortmund, Essen, Koeln, Duesseldorf, Rattingen, then hop on in Amsterdam, hop off in Bruxelles, hop on again in Luxembourg, again in Barcelona, back to Muenster had a nice and warming farewell party with my best friends in Germany and finally headed back to J-Town.

Geez, miss those crazy and great 'bff' moments so muuuch.
So when it's suddenly came to the air this traveling issue, I was just so excited as much as my besties.
Without wasting so much time, we're discussing which country is going to be our next destination this time.
As everyone gets broke after the previous Euro Trip, we decided to choose one country in Asia. Which is quite cheap for transport and accomodation but still nice to be our getaway. Since everyone never been to Bangkok - Thailand, we chosed Bangkok instead of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Couple of days after that meeting ( yes, seriously!), everything's checked.
Itinerary : Checked.
Flight : Checked.
Hotel : Checked.

So, Bangkok there we go.
Fortunately, my hubby also need to go to a conference in Phuket - Thailand, so he will be joining us at the end of my holiday with my besties.

As soon as we landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport (located about 25 km east of downtown Bangkok), we took a taxi.
For your info: Do Not Get Into A Taxi At The Airport Unless The Metter Is ON.
Went straightaway to Ratchadaphisek Road.
Geez, it took appr. 15 minutes to explain the hotel address to the taxi driver.
We showed the address, still it doesn't help much because the addres was written in latin. They used Thai alphabetical in their daily life. It's difficult to understand what they said actually..., you should pay extra attention to each word.
Finally, after we pointed the street on the map he knows where to go.

Our friend who lives in Bangkok, already waiting for us in front of the hotel appartement just in case the taxi driver couldn't find the building.
We're stayed at his place until my husband came to Bangkok.
My friend's appartement is very cozy. A great combination between modern and minimalist architecture. Right in front of his living room, there's a beautiful swimming pool. We can also chilling out on his private balcony.
This place called: Ratchada Hotel and Service Appartement. Divided into two areas, first is for the permanent residence. Second is for the temporary guests.
Later on, I moved to the second together with my hubby.
The place is very comfy. Each appartement has: kitchen, living room, private balcony, bedroom, bathroom with bath tub and shower, even wash machine.
Feels like home yet very practical. It's ideal for up to 4 persons.

Soon after put our lugages in the appartement, we went to Esplanade (a shopping mall beside our place) to have our lunch. Hmm, we had a delicious welcoming Japanesse lunch from my friend. He bored already with Thai food, so this time he asked for Japanesse food as our first meal in Bangkok.
Well, as long as he paid for the lunch we don't have any problem with that..hehehe:p

After lunch, my friend went back to work while my besties and I continue exploring the mall. Bought some groceries for a week ahead.
After that we're taking a nap before went to Siam Paragon (the largest shopping mall in Bangkok).
We had a dinner meeting with my friend there (he works in this area).

Travel around Bangkok (BKK) is easy and flexible.
They have many alternatives transportation system in BKK, you named it.
From Tuk Tuk to Taxi. From Skytrain to Metro. From Boat to Train.
But for me as BKK is one of the busiest capital cities in Southeast Asia, I'd prefered travel with Skytrain and Metro around BKK.
Clean, fast and predictable. You'll save time, money and headaches from the traffic.

Wandered in Siam Square, window shopping, had our dinner at local restaurant.
The night went so fast.
For your info: Siam Square has lots of cinemas, a warren of stalls, shops, small pubs, eateries, trendy and funky boutiques reminds me of Kemang in South of Jakarta. Also cafes where you can mingle with students from nearby Chulalongkorn University.
On our first night in BKK, my besties already spent 700 baht in Siam Square. :D
But, true, we fell in love with this city as soon as we saw the price tag. Hahahaha.
It's very cheap comparing to any other country in Asia including Indonesia.

Our second day in BKK, first agenda was still shopping. ;)
We'd postpond our travel agenda in BKK sightseeings till my hubby is coming.
So, he could also look around the city together with us.
This time, we went to Mahboonkrong MBK.
Still around Siam area if you take sky train just stop at SIAM then countinue walking to Siam Discovery Centre than across the bridge following the signs that shows you the way to MBK.

MBK is like a Mangga Dua in Jakarta but much larger.
They have everything in MBK from mobile phones to toilet seat.
You can also bargaining with sales on the price. In fact, you NEED to bargain the price that they've been given to you. Otherwise, they will rip you off.
MBK is one of the famoust shopping district in BKK.
Not only for tourists but also for the locals.
For your info: Be careful with your belongings. This is pickpocket paradise.

On our third day in BKK, my hubby came and joined with us.
We moved first to the hotel appartement, so we still can have some privacy. ;)
Breakfast at eight with the famous Thai Noodle Kluay Tiew and Beef Balls + a glass of fresh orange juice + a cup of earl grey tea with honig at the hotel.
Quite early for holiday I know, but sooooo muuuuch to do in Bangers.
We're soooooo ready to groooooovy this daaay...!

We took Metro first from Thailand Cultural Centre (the nearest Metro stop to our place) to Sukhumvit, then changed to sky train stop over in Central - Siam.
Then took sky train with Saphan Taksin direction until the final stop.
From Saphan Taksin we crossed the street to Central Pier where the river tours get start.
We can get this river tour along the circle or hop on and hop off at the sights that we chosed. This boat will takes us at the main area in BKK with many sightseeings need to be seen. Such as: Grand Palace, Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn),
Wat Po (the biggest and oldest reclining gold Budha statue in the world) and many sacred temples along the river.

Our first stop was Ratchawong.
Within walking distance, we'd arrived at China Town.
There're a lot of food stalls, fruit stalls, bustling markets, very narrow alley ways, hidden small restaurants, gold stores and many more.
We've tried what so called 'small eggs fried' (I don't know what it's called in English = telur puyuh ceplok), local foods like tofu fried, etc.
After our stomach were full, we get on the river boat again.
And stop over at Wat Po.

For your info: There's a small cafe across the street of Wat Po (Chetuphon Road), I forgot the name of the cafe.
But you'll definetely have no difficulties to find this coziest cafe in the area.
This cafe have an excellent originally Thai foods and a very nice interior.
I've tasted the best of Tom Yam Goong ever in this cafe..!!! Don't miss it.

After had our 'big-lunch', we're wandered around the sites. Wat Po, Grand Palace, City Pillar Shrine, etc.
We also tried TUK TUK because our feets already screaming for helps. Hahahaha:D
And OH MY GOOOOOD! My first and last experience with this TUK TUK.
It's an extremely dangerous sport for your heart!!!
We almost hit a truck in front of us, and this wasn't happened only once. All the times, during the 5 minutes of riding!
Can you imagined that...?
Well, at least we've tried already to ride the famous TUK TUK from Thailand. :D

Feel so tired and exhausted because of the heat, we decided to pampered ourselves at the world famous Wat Po reflexiology school centre.
Oow..oow..oow.., feels like heaven guys...!
You should give it a try, if you are a reflexy (foot massage) fans.
It's really worth to try!
They have a different techniques of massages and reflexy.

Thai massage is great for sore muscles and you can't go far in the city without bumping into a Thai massage place.
My hubby was even get snorred in the middle of reflexy. Hehehehe:p
We took a picture in front of this Wat Po reflexiology centre, but unfortunately I lost my camera with all of our Bangkok pictures when
I was in Citos - Jakarta. before I copied the pictures to my laptop. :(

Well, anyway after getting recharged at Wat Po we headed directly to the pier.
Waiting for our boat to come and pick us up. We get enough for today.
We took a coffee break at the hotel, then get ready for the night adventure.
We went to Lumphini, there's a night market with a lot of cafes, reflexy centres, handycrafts boutiques, traditional clothes, and many more.
We simply enjoyed the ambiance. Bought a white shirt for my hubby before we return to the hotel.

The next day, our destination was: Chatuchak Market!
Been waiting for so long to go to this market.
Chatuchak Market is the most famous market in BKK even in Thailand.
Most of boutiques in Jakarta get their stuffs from here.
Chatuchak is a very massive market which divided into several areas.
Antiques, Home Decor, Used Books, Textiles, Wood Carvings, Art + Decor, Jeans, Accessories, Agricultural Product Market,
Inexpensive jeans-clothes-t-shirts-etc, Animals, Kitchenware, Ceramics + Porcelains, Souvenir Gifts, and not forget to mention Foot Massage Area.
The most important area for my hubby and I. :)

After spent the whole day shopping in Chatuchak, again my hubby and I pampered our feets in reflexy area whilst my besties still busy shopping.
We're so addicted to Thai Massage especially their foot massage.
Don't you love being pounded and pulled like a piece of dough?
Fabulous, darling... ;)

The next day, my hubby went back first to Jakarta.
My besties and I still have one day to go.
So, with the rest of our BAHT we spent a day in the shopping mall.
Tried another Thai foods, Pad See-Eeuw (stir fried noodles with seafood) with a delicious Mango Thai Salad.
Hmmmm...damn so goood! :)
Had a cup of frappucinno at Starbucks Esplanade, chit chat and finally packing our bags for tomorrow.
How time flies?
We'll definetely come to this city of angels again.

"Kap Koon Ka" (Thanks for ladies)
"Sawadee Ka" (Hello for ladies)

Note: It's a pity that I lost my camera with all of our Bangkok's pictures inside. :(

A Gift from Air Asia

A month ago, my family and I went to Malaysia for a holiday.
As you might read on my previous post, we went there using Air Asia airline.

My husband and I had a different return flight from the rest of my family.
Still on the same day, but they've got an earlier flight.
So when my family already took off, my husband and I made ourselves comfort
at The Coffee Bean Cafe near the terminal of LCCT waiting for our check in time.

Unfortunately, we've got an announcement that our flight was delayed.
So we had to wait for another 3 hours! Geez...thank God that my parents were arrived in Jakarta on time based on the schedule.
The other passengers were panicked if they'd lost their connecting flight in Jakarta
because of the delayed. They asked for a voucher from Air Asia to covered their lost.
Well, at least my husband and I had no other flight to catch up.

So when we saw there's nothing that we can do except waiting, we went around the stores in the airport. Bought a little present for myself..hahaha. :)
And chocolates for my best friends.

1 hour before we took off, Air Asia gave a free meal and drink for the passengers who have been delayed.
Soon after that, we took off and landed in Jakarta safe and soundly.

Back to routinity, back to real life with a full batterei that has been charged during the holiday.
We already forgot about the flight delay until I've got an email from Air Asia two weeks ago, an official appology from Air Asia.

"We apologize for the flight delay and hope you'll accept this E-Gift Voucher as
our On Time Guarantee compensation. Your Air Asia E-Gift Voucher, awaits your redemption."

And when I log on to their website to see this electronic voucher, I was so surprised. Air Asia gave my husband and I, EACH, @ 200 MYR (Malaysian Ringgit)
E-voucher which means they pay back all of our previous tickets expenses.

We bought our tickets to Kuala Lumpur for @ 500rb IDR return. It's almost 175 MYR.
And they gave us totally 400 MYR as compensation for the flight delay though none of us have asked!

Wooowoowowow!
We're so surprised!
And happy of course... :)
We can use this voucher before September 2009, so it means we're going to have
another holiday comiiiiiing soooooooon.... Yipiiiiiiiie!!!

Two thumbs up for Air Asia professionality.
Eventhough Air Asia is a low cost carrier airline, but they serves their passengers
excellently.
No wonders they're voted as The World's Best Low Cost Airline.
Keep up the good works, pals!

Macau & Shenzhen: Lost in Translation II

Note: I've just moved this article from my other blog. This travel journal was actually written few months after our honeymoon last year.





Finished gambling and taking few pictures in Macau, we continued our journey to the mainland of China. :)
We crossed the sea border between two countries, which takes approximately 40 minutes by a small cruise. And we arrived at Shenzhen International Airport.

I don't know why, but since my first step in Shenzhen I had this kind of a 'weird' feeling, am a bit nervous, anxious, and the butterfly in my stomach was never stop flying around.
Later, I've found out that's a sign for me that something bad will happened to us. Believe it or not believe...

It's begun at the immigration section.
I have a problem, just because my passport was issued at Indonesia Consulate in Germany (which is no wonder because my previous passport was expired while I still live in Muenster.., so I have to renewed my passport immediately!).

They asked a lot of question about my personal datas.
Which is quite annoying..!
I mean, there's no problem at all actually...
It's stated very clear in my new passport, that my previous passport is expired so need to be canceled bla..bla..bla..., so Indonesia Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany need to issued a new one for me.

I think, they don't really understand that statement (or they don't understand English?! Only God knows...).
Why, because even after they've read it, it still doesn't make everything clear anyway.
They keep on going with their suspicious guessing ( or maybe they just have nothing to do so they making it out from my case..).
And they asked for my identity card, helloooooow since when I can't use my passport as my identity card..????
I can give them my Indonesian identity card, but what for... as if they can read in bahasa..!

After a looong interogating and debating process, finally they let me in to their country eventhough they're still unsure that I'm a good person ( I can read this very clear in their faces).
Geez...

Right after that, another bad thing happened to us
After looking around in the airport, we've been following by a chinese man who keep insist telling us to take a taxi from him.
We said no thank you several times, but the man insisted to following us wherever we go.
We've been trying to get a normal taxi, but its nowhere to find.

We asked somebody at the information service about the transportation system if we want to go to Shenzhen city.
Before she answer our question, the man speaks in Chinese with her. And then she said to us, there's no transportation accomodation from here to the city because the city is very far from here.
You only can take a taxi from here (there's no bus and there's no a normal taxi as well, according to her information..).
We don't want to believe her, but she's a person who is in charge at the information service.
What would you do, if you're at my position?

Triumphly, the man said to us that's a normal thing we don't have any choice.
He said, people always get my taxi if they want to go to the city.
And because this not kind of a normal taxi with a normal fares, so we asked him how much it cost for us to go to the city.
He said, 500 Yuan..!!! Can you believe that..???
500 Yuan just to go to Shenzhen city from the airport!
Of course we don't want it...

Again after a very looooooooooooooooooooooong bargaining, then we got 300 Yuan deal. We already tried to asked many people in the airport, but they can't speaks (or maybe they simply don't want/care..) English. So we really have no choice at all.He explained that the city is 45 km from here, that's why its expensive bla..bla..bla..

So, we decided to take that taxi ( we didn't really have any other choice at the time anyway..).
The driver wasn't the same person who had dealling with us.
The first man explained everything to the driver (in Chinese of course!), and commanded him to take us to our hotel in Shenzhen city.

But then, something really bad happened to us later on...
Soon, after we arrived at our hotel my husband gave the driver 300 Yuan according to our deal before.
Suddenly with an angry face, he's yelling to us asked for 600 Yuan!
He said that 300 Yuan is only for one person, and we have to pay him 600 Yuan.
Of course we refused to pay him 600 Yuan, because we've got the deal at 300 Yuan.

We told him, to call his friend the one who making a deal with us at the airport.
But the driver didn't want to call his friend, he just want to take the money from us.
He takes my husband's wallet, trying to get the money by him self. Luckily, my husband only has 300 Yuan + 50 $ Macau + 6000 IDR in his wallet. So we told him, that's all what we have. He pushed us to go to the bank to take the money from our visa.He locked every doors, afraid that we're going to run away from him. Even if we had a chance to do that, we're not going to run ever since our luggages were still in his bagage. I was very angry with his attitude, I told him firmly that we don't have an International account, we can't take the money from our visa, we're run out of cash, so there's no way for us to give you 600 Yuan. So just take the money and leave us alone..!

This bloody driver, finally he gave up. And he letting us go.
His slammed the car's door, banging hard on the car...
I said to my husband, to not give any shit to him.
Just show him, that we're not afraid and we don't care with all his shits..!
He almost hit my husband face actually, and he was very ANGRY to me because I'm the one who always fight against his words.
My husband was very concerned about my safety, that's why he told me to give my money to him.
But I said, NO WAY..!
I'm not going to give him more money.
He already robbing us anyway...(Later we found out, that a normal rate for taxi from the airport to the city is only 100 Yuan..!)

After he leaved us, I was very angry, and never stopped crussing that guy (and the other guy as well..)!
I tried to calmed down myself, by saying and thinking that we're still lucky that anything worse than that might be happened to us.
Thanks God for His mercy.

To be continue...

Hong Kong & Macau: Lost in Translation

Note: I've just moved this article from my other blog. This travel journal was actually written few months after our honeymoon last year.

Several months ago, my husband and I had our first honeymoon.
You know as a newly wed, we've planned to go to several countries in Asia.
It's a bit weird actually, as for me an Indonesian who lived in Germany for almost 6 years and during that period I've traveled & explored in almost all of European countries but never having a chance to do it in my own continent.

So I am really excited with our travel plan this time.
Which is I am sure that we'll having a great time during our journey.
Soon, after my wedding day we're headed to Hong Kong as our first destination.

When we're arrived in Hong Kong, I hardly can say anything.
I felt like I was somehow a very primitive person compared to all of 'modernizations' in Hong Kong.
I admired their transportation system (esc.the tunnels..), their bridges, their planology (city plan), and most of all their breathtaking symphonie of lights (harbour view).



To make it even perfect, we're stayed in the hotel which facing Victoria harbour.
After taken some rest and regained our energy, we're ready to explore Hong Kong from the Avenue of Stars until the Ladies Market in Jordan.

Because we'll return to Hong Kong before we're going to our last destination-Singapore, we decided to save the best for last of our exploration there.

From Hong Kong we're departed to Macau.
A small indeed very unique country in Asia. Why is that..?
Because Macau is like a coin which has two sides.
An asian country with a strong influence from Portugal.
When I was in the city centre of Macau, it remains me a lot to Muenster (the city where I had lived in Germany.)
The buildings, the square, the churchs, the shopping district, the streets, in short the city centre of Macau is very Europe.
With both Portugesse and Cantonesse informations as their official languages, I felt like I was back in one of European countries except the people are all Asian.



Sometimes we're having a difficulties to understand their English because of the cantonesse and portugesse accent that they haved.
I don't know why, but for me it's a very unique experiences when I see chinesse people speaking portugesse as their mother tongue. :)
Since we're already in Macau, an Asia version of Las Vegas of course we went to their famous casinos. At first we're only want to know what its like playing in the most famous casino in Asia, but then we're ended playing all night long in Venetian.
Well, it's an unforgettable-full of fun-yet costly experience for both of us. ;)

To be continue...