Time flies. It's been almost a half year, since the last time I posted a note on this blog.

Been there, done that. I traveled a lot in the past 6 months.

From the south to the north. From the east to the west.

Literally and emotionally. 

I'm blessed, having a chance to see so many beautiful places around the world.

I'm lucky, having a chance to try so many delicious food around the world.

From macaroons in France, pasta in Italy, paella in Spain, bratwurst in Germany, xiao long bao in China, hamburgers in USA, gyros in Greece, to crispy duck in Ubud.

One thing I've learned from those amazing journeys is always live in the present. 

Cherish the moment, taste every bite of the food that you put into your mouth, enjoy what's on your plate, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, fully engaged into the 'NOW', and forget the rest.

Life is a short journey. Be a light traveler.

Never bring your 'past' luggage into the present. 

Takes in only what's the most matter thing to you.

Let go of the rest.

Detach yourself from anything that can hold you back. 

Enjoy your precious life, now.

Info dan Tips ke Ujung Kulon

Dari Jakarta menuju Ujung Kulon memakan waktu sekitar 7 jam non stop perjalanan darat.
Di sambung dengan 3 jam perjalanan laut menuju Pulau Peucang.
Total perjalanan 10 jam, membuat kita harus menyiapkan kondisi fisik yang kuat dan sehat.

Rute yang di tempuh:

Start di Jakarta - Masuk Tol Merak - Keluar di Serang Timur - Pandeglang - Labuan - Tarogong - Tanjung Lesung - Cibaliung - Sumur - Taman Jaya.
Dari Jakarta sampai dengan Cibaliung memakan waktu sekitar 4 jam, dari Cibaliung menuju Taman Jaya memakan waktu sekitar 3 jam di karena kan kondisi jalan yang di lalui sangat sulit, berlubang2 dan berbatu2. Perjalanan dari Sumur ke Taman Jaya tidak mungkin di tempuh oleh kendaraan2 berjenis sedan.
Sebagai alternatif bisa menggunakan transportasi umum (Elf) dari mulai Cibaliung menuju Taman Jaya. Atau menyewa mobil.

Karena perjalanan menuju Ujung Kulon dan pulau Peucang memakan waktu 10 jam, harus di perhitungkan jam keberangkatan sesuai dengan rencana perjalanan yang di buat.
Untuk menyewa kapal nelayan (utk menyeberang ke Pulau Peucang) sebaiknya booking terlebih dahulu melalui telepon.
Pak Komar (pemilik penginapan Taman Jaya): 081806181209

Untuk penginapan di pulau Peucang, tidak bisa di booking terlebih dahulu karena tidak ada saluran telepon dan sinyal hp di sana.
Jadi biasanya, langsung dateng. Berhubung kamar nya banyak, jadi kecil kemungkinan nya ga dapet kamar.
Tarif untuk kamar standar non AC, dengan 3 tempat tidur, 250.000.
Harga kamar bervariasi tergantung besar, banyaknya tempat tidur dan fasilitas kamar.

Satu hal yang harus di ingat jangan lupa membawa perbekalan lengkap, untuk sarapan, makan siang, dan makan malam termasuk minuman. Tidak terdapat rumah makan di penginapan ini, tapi kita bisa meminta tolong penjaga penginapan untuk memasakan mie instant.
Pintu penginapan juga harus selalu tertutup, karena monyet2 yang berkeliaran bebas di alam seringkali masuk ke penginapan mengambil makanan ataupun barang2 yang lain.

Ujung Kulon merupakan wilayah yang memiliki banyak hutan yang menjadi tempat berkembang-biaknya nyamuk malaria. Walaupun saat saya dan suami pergi ke sana dengan modal nekat dan perencanaan yag seadanya tanpa meminum obat anti malaria sama sekali, sangat disarankan untuk meng-konsumsi obat anti malaria 1 minggu sebelum keberangkatan, kemudian 1 hari sebelum berangkat, dan 1 minggu sesudah pulang.
Obat malaria yang biasanya dikonsumsi seperti Kina, Resochin, Quinin, dan Kloroquin.

Penggunaan krim anti-nyamuk (repellent) juga cukup membantu untuk menghindari gigitan nyamuk di hutan2. Selain itu, oleskan juga krim sunblock dengan SPF tinggi untuk menghindari sunburn karena banyak aktivitas di bawah terik matahari.
Bagi para pencinta snorkling, jangan lupa membawa peralatan snorkle nya masing2.
Tidak terdapat penyewaan peralatan snorkle di pulau Peucang.

Perjalanan melintasi laut dengan kapal nelayan juga cukup melelahkan, sebaiknya bagi anda yang mudah terkena mabuk laut meng-konsumsi obat anti mabuk sebelumnya.

Saat2 indah yang jangan sampai terlewati adalah menanti matahari terbit di ujung Timur pulau Peucang dan menikmati langit bertabur bintang sambil tiduran di dermaga tepi pantai sambil merasakan hembusan angin laut ditemani deburan ombak yang lembut, dengan warna laut yang seakan menyala bak neon di bawah permukaan laut menutup malam dengan sempurna.

Keseimbangan dalam kehidupan tak jauh dari kemampuan kita menjaga keseimbangan hubungan kita dengan alam. Kunjungan saya ke Ujung Kulon benar2 membawa saya pada satu titik di mana saya merasa begitu kecil di tengah alam raya ciptaan Nya. Ego saya yang kadang begitu lepas tak terkendali sebagai manusia, kembali surut memandang takjub betapa besar kuasa Nya. Ujung Kulon sangat menyentuh hati saya dengan keindahan dan kebersahajaan nya.

Note: Ada beberapa biaya administrasi yang harus kita bayar di Pulau Peucang.
Seperti biaya tiket masuk (Rp 2500,-), biaya tambat perahu di pulau Peucang (Rp 100.000,-), dan pulau2 lainnya yang ingin kita singgahi, asuransi pengunjung (Rp 3000,-), dll.

Ujung Kulon: Sebuah Catatan Perjalanan 14 Mei 2010

Hari Jumat tanggal 14 Mei 2010 dini hari.
Terbangun tepat pukul 5, bersamaan dengan bunyi alarm Blackberry saya yang menyala.
Segera saya matikan, sebelum tetangga sebelah kamar pun ikut terbangun.
Memberi waktu beberapa menit kepada nyawa saya untuk kembali menyatu dengan raga ini, sebelum membangunkan suami.
Begitu suami saya terbangun, kami pun berdoa mengucap syukur atas hari yang baru dan seluruh berkat dan penyertaan Nya sepanjang perjalanan kemarin.
Usai berdoa, suami saya pun keluar mengambil air panas untuk membuat teh dan kopi.
Sementara saya pun bersiap, mengambil jacket yang tadi malem saya jemur karena basah.
Begitu menghabiskan minuman, kami pun segera keluar menuju ke dermaga.



Suasana pulau Peucang dini hari itu begitu sepi dan sunyi, hanya terdengar suara binatang2 dari dalam hutan dan suara babi hutan dari arah bawah rumah panggung (penginapan kami).
Setelah melintasi pos penjaga, dan mengucapkan selamat pagi pada petugas yang berjaga.
Kami pun langsung menuju dermaga, suasana di dermaga subuh itu luaaaaaar biasaaaaaaa indahnyaaaaaa. Semuanya berwarna biru, baik langit maupun laut. Dari mulai biru tua yang terus bergradasi menjadi biru muda seiring pagi menjelang.
Rombongan school fish yang luar biasa banyak terlihat jelas bermain-main riang bak anak-anak sekolah di bawah permukaan air yang begitu jernih dan tenang. Sambil sesekali melompat tinggi ke atas permukaan laut, mengusik keheningan pagi dengan gemericik air yang begitu indah.

Hati ini tiada henti2 nya memuji keindahan ciptaan Nya.
Begitu terkesima dengan lukisan alam yang membentang di depan mata...
Saya pun kehilangan kata2 untuk melukiskan betapa indahnya dini hari itu di pulau Peucang. Saya jadi tidak bisa membayangkan seperti apa indah nya nirwana...

Salah satu yang menjadi cita-cita saya sejak saya punya keinginan untuk pergi ke Ujung Kulon adalah menyaksikan matahari terbit dari pulau Peucang.
Dari beberapa informasi yang saya dapat mengenai Ujung Kulon, sunrise di pulau Peucang sangat indah. Dan saya pun dengan sabar menanti kehadiran MATAHARI ku.
Sambil terus berdoa supaya Tuhan bermurah hati memberikan cuaca yang cerah pagi itu supaya saya bisa melihat matahari ku keluar dari peraduan nya.
Mengingat beberapa hari terakhir cuaca di sini sedang tidak bersahabat karena pergantian musim Barat menjadi musim Selatan.

Kami pun beranjak meninggalkan dermaga, menyusuri pantai yang saat itu tertutup oleh air laut yang sedang pasang. Tanpa mempedulikan celana dan baju akan basah, kami pun masuk ke dalam air, menuju sisi Timur pulau Peucang menyongsong matahari terbangun dari tidur nya. Tuhan pun menjawab doa kami.


* The most beautiful sunrise that I've ever seen... *

Saya pun menyapa riang matahari ku, yang begitu indah pagi itu.
Mendekap nya erat dalam hati, terasa hangat sehangat sinarnya yang mulai memantul berkilauan di atas permukaan laut.
Selesai mengabadikan saat2 yang sangat indah itu, awan mendung pun berarak menutupi sang mentari... Praise the Lord.
Karena kemurahan hati Nya semata lah, kami dapat menyaksikan indahnya matahari terbit pagi itu. Karena tidak sampai 5 menit dari kami selesai foto2, sang mentari pun menghilang di balik awan, hujan pun turun membasahi bumi.
Bahagia rasanya hati ini.., karena matahari ku sudah ku dekap erat dalam hati.
Hati riang meskipun harus hujan-hujanan berjalan kembali menuju ke penginapan. :)

Sampai di penginapan, kami pun mengeringkan diri dan berganti baju.
Menyeruput minuman panas kami sedikit demi sedikit sambil duduk2 di teras depan penginapan sambil menikmati hujan ditemani biskuit keju, memandang lepas ke hutan belantara, tersenyum memperhatikan tingkah binatang2 yang kesenangan bermain air hujan di padang depan penginapan kami. Kesederhanaan yang terasa begitu mewah.
Ketika kami sedang mengambil foto serombongan monyet2 yang baru keluar dari hutan, tiba2 kami di beritahu oleh tamu penginapan yang lain, bahwa biskuit kami di ambil sama seekor monyet nakal yang langsung lari membawa biskuit kami ke tengah padang dan sibuk memakan nya sendiri. Temen2 nya minta ga di kasih. Dasar monyet pelit. Hahahaha:D

Sambil melihat cemilan kami satu2 nya di santap oleh monyet nakal itu, kami pun kembali memohon kepada Tuhan supaya hujan nya segera berhenti. (Kata Tuhan, nih orang kok banyak request yaa..? Xixixixi:p)
Lagi2 doa kami di kabulkan, setengah jam kemudian hujan pun berhenti dan langit pun mulai cerah kembali. Langsung kembali ke kamar, pakai baju renang dan ambil perlengkapan snorkel. Dan segera berjalan menuju ke pantai. Rencana nya pagi itu kami akan snorkeling di spot2 terdekat dengan pulau Peucang yaitu Cikembang dan Cikuya yang terkenal dengan hamparan koral yang luas dan berbagai macam jenis ikan.
Namun sayang berdasarkan informasi yang kami dapat dari pemandu lokal, tidak memungkinkan untuk snorkeling pagi itu di spot2 tersebut dikarenakan hari sebelumnya hujan turun terus dengan derasnya, maka visibility bawah laut tidak terlalu jernih. Di tambah arus yang muncul akibat pergantian musim. Akhirnya kita pun memutuskan untuk snorkeling di sekitar pulau Peucang saja, karena perairan nya yang tenang. Di perairan yang dalam, kita pun dapat menikmati gugusan karang dan kehidupan bawah laut yang indah. Ikan2 kecil berwarna warni berseliweran di antara koral2 yang indah. Saya pun melihat ikan badut di anemon laut. Dan berbagai jenis ikan yang saya juga ga familiar dengan bentuknya menari-nari di antara terumbu karang yang indah. Sayang kami ga punya under water camera, jadi hanya bisa menyimpan saat2 indah itu dalam memori kami. Menyenangkan sekaligus menenangkan.

Spot2 snorkeling andalan Ujung Kulon selain dua yang sudah saya sebutkan di atas juga ada di pulau Badul dan Citerjun. Namun di banding pulau Badul menurut pemandu lokal kami, terumbu karang di pulau Peucang jauh lebih indah. Ikan2 nya juga jauh lebih banyak.
Jenis ikan yang sering dijumpai baik di perairan laut ataupun sungai di Ujung Kulon diantaranya adalah ikan kupu-kupu, badut, bidadari, singa, kakatua, glodok dan sumpit.

Setelah puas snorkeling dan berenang ditemani oleh rombongan school fish (Udah kaya di fish spa aja, cuma kali ini sebadan2.), kami pun segera kembali ke penginapan. Sampai di penginapan, di tanyain sama mbak penjaga penginapan udah sarapan atau belum..? Err, belum. Berhubung pop mie nya tinggal 2, jadi kami skip breakfast supaya bisa di makan buat makan siang. Rencana nya mau sarapan biskuit keju, eh ga tau ya di ambil sama si notty monkey. :)
Mbak nya mungkin ga tega ngeliat kami ga makan dari tadi malem (padahal emang ga laper juga sih..) jadi dia tawarin untuk masakin kami indomie goreng dengan bonus ikan kwe goreng hasil pancingan td pagi dan teh manis panas. Yippiiiiiiie, maaaaciiiiiiiw ya mbak. Mbak baik sekali deh. :))
Nikmat banget begitu abis mandi dan keramas (dalam kegelapan karena listrik sudah dimatikan..), langsung menyantap hidangan yang sudah di sediakan oleh mbak yang baik hati itu. Tentunya kami pun memberikan uang lelah, walaupun awalnya dia menolak untuk menerima karena katanya dia tulus kok, dia hanya kasian sama kami kelihatan nya kok ga pernah makan. Iiiiih makin terharu ga sih? :(

Selesai makan, kami langsung menyiapkan barang2 dengan bantuan sinar dari jendela dan pintu (Listrik di penginapan hanya dinyalakan dari jam 6 sore sampai jam 6 pagi, itu pun dengan memakai genset jadi ya tetep remang2 disko gitu deh.), karena akan segera meneruskan perjalanan hari ini. Selesai packing, membereskan administrasi di kantor penginapan sekalian membayar biaya tiket masuk pulau Peucang, Cidaon, Tanjung Layar, dan biaya tambat perahu di pulau Peucang.
Pulau Peucang sendiri oleh Departemen Kehutanan dijadikan Pos petugas Taman
Nasional yang besar dan cukup lengkap selain di Desa Sumur, Desa Taman Jaya ,
Pulau Handeuleum dan Pos Tanjung Lame pintu gerbang Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon
yang terletak didekat rumah para nelayan terpencil, jadi kami bisa mengurus berbagai perijinan sekalian dari sini.

Begitu selesai dengan urusan administrasi, kami pun berpamitan kepada petugas pos dan langsung menuju kapal untuk segera berangkat ke Cibom, Tanjung Layar.
Kalau di pulau Peucang warna yang dominan adalah biru, di Cibom warna yang dominan adalah hijau. Dari mulai pepohonan, dan air laut semuanya begitu kontras berwarna hijau bagaikan emerald. Sungguh indah alam Ujung Kulon ini, bagai di nirwana...
Dari pulau Peucang menyeberang ke Cibom butuh waktu hanya sebentar, sekitar 20 menit.
Cibom ini terletak di ujung barat nya pulau Jawa.
Berhubung di Cibom ini tidak ada dermaga dan banyak karang di sekitar pesisir pantai, maka kapal harus berhenti di tengah laut (perairan yang dalam), dan kami harus melanjutkan perjalanan dengan menggunakan kano yang super duper kecil dan sempit. Yang bisa terbalik kalo tidak seimbang berat antara depan dan belakang. Ngebayangin nya aja udah males..hehehe:p
Jadi sebelum masuk ke dalam kano itu, saya dan pemandu lokal nya harus janjian posisi dan bener2 menyeimbangkan beban kita di kano itu, sambil di tahan oleh abk supaya ga kebalik ketika belum seimbang. Dan setelah berada di dalam nya, bener2 deh rasanya nih jantung turun ke perut.
Bukan nya apa kalo laut nya seperti laut di pulau Peucang yang tenang dan tidak berombak sih ga papa, lah ini lautnya berombak dan arusnya cukup besar dan kuat. Bikin lemes ga sih. Hasilnya, basah kuyup lah secara air laut nya pun masuk ke dalam kano. Hahaha:D
Sebenarnya, untuk ke Cibom orang harus menyewa boat kecil seharga 250rb rupiah. Tapi berhubung petugas di pulau Peucang berbaik hati sama kami, jadi kami di bawakan kano sekalian untuk di pakai menyeberang. Gratis, ga perlu bayar. Bisa hemat 250rb deh. :)
Dan sekali lagi saya sangat bersyukur atas kebaikan hati orang2 yang kami temui, berkat mereka kami mendapatkan pengalaman yang menyenangkan sekaligus menegangkan dan benar2 tidak terlupakan.

Lega banget rasanya ketika akhirnya bisa keluar dari kano itu dan menjejakkan kaki di atas pasir dengan selamat. Hehehe:p Daaaan ketika saya berdiri ternyata ada ikan2 kecil di dalam kano itu yang mungkin terbawa oleh ombak yang masuk ke kano. Segera saya kembalikan ikan2 kecil itu ke laut. Poor little fish!
Setelah menarik kano ke dataran yang lebih tinggi, saya pun bergabung dengan suami yang sudah sampai terlebih dahulu (kloter 1).
Kami pun berjalan melintas sungai kecil, menuju pos penjaga Cibom.
Dari situ foto2 bentar, terus langsung deh memulai agenda treking kita menuju Tanjung Layar. Di papan petunjuk tulisan nya lebih kurang 1km, tapi menurut pemandu lokal kami dan petugas ya lebih ke 1,6km siiiiih kalau + naik ke mercu suar yaaa 4km berarti pulang pergi. Yeaaaaah, siapa takuuuuut? Mari bergerak...

Dan di mulailah perjalanan kami melintasi hutan lebat dengan menyusuri jalan setapak yang saat itu dalam keadaan becek berat dan pepohonan di kiri kanan nya pun sudah mendominasi jalan karena hujan yang turun terus menerus. Untungnya pemandu lokal kami memimpin jalan sambil mengibaskan parangnya ke sana kemari, untuk membuka kembali jalan setapak yang sudah mulai tertutup oleh dahan2 pohon. Seru banget! Dari mulai terjeblos ke dalam lumpur, di belai lembut oleh dedaunan, di gigit gemes sama nyamuk malaria (Ujung Kulon ini gudang nya nyamuk berdarah dingin ini. Biasanya sebelum ke Ujung Kulon orang akan minum obat anti malaria dulu. Tapi saya dan suami nekat aja secara semuanya serba dadakan.), di colek lembut (boong banget..) oleh ranting2 berduri, melewati batang2 pohon besar yang tumbang menutupi jalanan, bener2 berasa ikut Amazing Race deh.
Didampingi oleh sandal merek ga jelas (Loufu) buatan Cina yang saya beli di ITC dengan harga 20rb yang udah lama banget, namun terbukti handal dalam menumpuh jalur off road seperti ini. Bahkan sandal Crocs yang dipakai suami saya dengan harga ratusan ribu itu nyaris wafat belum juga setengah perjalanan di tempuh. Ternyata ga selamanya harga menjamin mutu. Kesimpulan nya: Jangan pakai Crocs buat trekking, pakailah Crocs buat jalan2 di mall. Xixixi:p

Perjalanan nya relatif datar sebenarnya, tapi kami memilih untuk menuruni dan mendaki lereng untuk mencapai pantai karang yang ada di bawah mercu suar, terus kami pun memilih untuk mendaki 3 mercu suar itu sekaligus dari mulai mercu suar yang terbaru, yang kedua dan yang pertama banget di bangun di tahun 1808 (Di titik inilah ujung paling barat pula Jawa...) Kenapa ga? Udah sampai di Ujung Kulon sayang banget kalau ada objek yang terlewatkan. Kami pun melintasi bangunan penjara yang umurnya sudah lebih dari 1 abad, namun masih kokoh berdiri walaupun sudah tidak utuh lagi.
Sesudah puas memandangi samudera Hindia dari Tanjung Layar, kami pun kembali turun untuk menuju tujuan berikutnya, yakni padang penggembalaan yang kami lihat dari atas.
Padang ini biasa di gunakan orang2 untuk berkemah. Karena lokasinya yang sangat strategis. Dilindungi oleh tebing yang sangat tinggi di sisi kanan, dan karang2 yang tinggi dan besar dengan hempasan ombak yang pecah di batu. Beberapa batu dan karang besar dapat dipanjati, untuk mendapatkan sisi yang lebih tepat menikmati pemandangan indah ke Samudera Hindia.

Dari Tanjung Layar sebenernya saya ingin lanjut ke pantai Ciramea. Selain ingin melihat penangkaran penyu, Pantai Ciramea ini juga terkenal akan keindahan nya. Terletak diwilayah pantai selatan yang karakteristik ombaknya cukup liar, bergelora berbeda dibandingkan ombak teluk Carita yang relatif lebih tenang. Memiliki pemandangan yang sangat mencengangkan, hamparan pantai yang luas memanjang dengan tebing karang yang tinggi menjulang ke arah Gunung Payung disebelah selatan.
Namun karena keterbatasan waktu, terpaksa pantai Ciramea pun kami lewati.
Kembali ke Cibom, menyebrangi laut dengan kano yang berukuran XS itu menuju kapal kami yang masih setia menanti. Saat itu hujan sudah mulai turun, langit pun mendadak menjadi begitu gelap, ombak semakin agresif menunjukkan keindahan nya. Pemandu lokal kami mengatakan sudah badai di perairan luar sana, dengan ombak yang mulai mencapai 3m. Dengan cuaca seperti itu tidak mungkin kami berlayar ke pulau Handeleum. Karena sangat berbahaya. Lebih baik kami menghabiskan waktu di Cidaon, melihat padang savana tempat banteng dan badak.

Berhubung Cidaon memiliki dermaga sendiri, maka kami bisa merapat sampai ke dermaga.
Dengan berhujan2an kami pun kembali melakukan treking menyusuri hutan cidaon menuju padang savana. Menurut pemandu lokal kami, sebenernya saat itu bukan jam nya banteng2 badak2 itu untuk keluar tapi biasanya kalo hujan mereka suka bermain air. Dari berbagai informasi dan pengalaman teman2 yang aku dengar kebanyakan mereka kecewa karena pulang dari Cidaon dengan sia2 tidak berhasil melihat banteng/badak 1 pun (Kalau badak memang sangat sulit terlihat karena mereka jarang keluar ke padang, kalau banteng mereka punya jadwal yang cukup rutin tapi sangat sensitif dengan kehadiran orang. Dari jarak 100m, mereka bisa mengetahui kalo ada orang datang dan akan segera masuk kembali ke hutan tempat tinggal mereka). Jadi saya pun tidak berharap banyak. Berhubung saat itu waktu menunjukkan pukul 2 siang. Sementara waktu banteng2 itu keluar biasanya jam 6-8 pagi dan 4-6 sore. Ya minimal kami sudah sampai di tempat yang sangat terkenal dengan satwa-satwa langka itu.

Ternyata lagi2 Tuhan sangat bermurah hati kepada kami, karena dari kejauhan kami sudah melihat kerumunan banteng di padang savana. Kami pun memelankan langkah kami, nyaris mengendap2 untuk mencapai menara pengintaian. Beberapa banteng sudah mulai waspada dan menengok ke arah kami. Kami pun berhenti bak patung, tidak berani melangkah. Ketika mereka mulai sibuk kembali, kami cepat2 naik ke menara dan berusaha mengambil foto terbaik berhubung saat itu sedang hujan deras, jarak kami dengan banteng2 itu cukup jauh, dan kami hanya menggunakan kamera biasa di tambah lagi baterei kamera yang sudah mulai low. Hasilnya seperti yang kami kira buram. Kami pun tidak ingin melewatkan kesempatan langka itu tanpa dokumentasi, akhirnya kami turun dari menara pengintaian, mengendap2 di balik pohon berusaha mendekati banteng2 itu. Suami saya pun mengendap2 tanpa mengenakan alas kaki di antara ilalang untuk mengambil foto dari jarak yang lebih dekat lagi. Dan berhasil. Tepat setelah itu kamera kami pun mati total. :)

Foto yang penuh dengan perjuangan diambilnya, dengan resiko di seruduk banteng. :))
Sayang krn baterei udah low banget (itupun sudah dipaksa berkali2 supaya menyala.) suami saya tidak bisa men-zooming foto itu, tiap kali di zoom dan beet, kamera kami pun mati.

Kami pun kembali ke kapal dengan hati riang, menyimpan semua gambaran dan kenangan akan alam yang begitu indah di Ujung Kulon dalam hati kami masing2.
Dari Cidaon kami berlayar kembali ke pulau Peucang untuk mengembalikan kano yang dipinjamkan. Dan segera meneruskan perjalanan laut kami menuju Taman Jaya.
Sepertinya cuaca yang buruk sudah kami bayar dengan berhujan2an di Cidaon, dan Tuhan sekali lagi bermurah hati memberikan cuaca yang bersahabat dalam perjalanan kami menuju perairan lepas di Selat Sunda. Pukul 6 lewat kami pun tiba di dermaga Taman Jaya. Menumpang untuk berganti baju di penginapan Sunda Jaya sambil menikmati minuman panas suguhan pak tua sembari menanti Pak Komar yang sedang bersembahyang di Masjid.
Tak lama kami pun undur diri, mengucapkan terima kasih pada Pak Komar, pemandu lokal kami, dan pak tua yang sudah menjaga mobil kami.

Ujung Kulon, medio 2010. Pengalaman yang tak akan terlupakan.

Ujung Kulon: Sebuah Catatan Perjalanan 13 Mei 2010

Minggu lalu, saya dan suami melakukan perjalanan ke Ujung Kulon, Jawa Barat.
Perjalanan yang sebenernya sudah lama ingin saya lakukan, tapi belum terealisasikan sampai dengan minggu lalu.
Di jaman sekarang, di mana kebanyakan orang lebih memilih liburan yang mengutamakan kenyamanan daripada petualangan membuat saya agak sulit menemukan partner untuk pergi ke Ujung Kulon. Sejak menikah saya pun sudah mengutarakan keinginan saya untuk pergi ke Ujung Kulon ke suami, tapi karena satu dan lain hal rencana tersebut tetap mengendap di dasar hati tanpa ada kesempatan untuk mewujudkan nya. Sampai akhirnya minggu lalu, keinginan saya yang sudah lama terpendam pun menjadi kenyataan.

Hari Kamis tanggal 13 Mei 2010 dini hari.
Begitu bangun dan berdoa, kami pun bergegas mandi dan bersiap mengemas seluruh bawaaan yang sudah kami persiapkan dari semalam. Dari mulai baju renang, snorkel, sun block, charger kamera, baju ganti, p3k, obat2an, dsb. Selesai memasukkan seluruh barang bawaan ke mobil yang hanya terdiri dari 2 ransel + 1 tas snorkel set. Kami pun melewati dini hari dengan sarapan dan berbincang2 dengan orang tua saya mengenai rencana perjalanan yang akan kami lakukan.
Di tutup dengan berdoa bersama untuk perjalanan ini agar berjalan dengan lancar dan terhindar dari segala gangguan dan mara bahaya. Orang tua saya pun melepas kepergian kami tepat jam 6.30 pagi (Mundur 30 menit dari waktu yang sudah saya jadwalkan.)

Lansung menuju pompa bensin untuk mengisi penuh tangki bensin mobil kami.
Berhenti di Alfa Midi, untuk membeli persediaan air mineral, mie instan, pocari, dan cemilan ringan. Selesai berbelanja dan ambil uang di atm, kami pun berangkat menuju tol Merak.
Sebelum masuk tol, kami memutuskan untuk berhenti kembali di Mac D, Alam Sutra untuk membeli sarapan yang lebih berat berhubung kami akan melakukan perjalanan yang cukup panjang. Begitu urusan kampung tengah (baca: perut) beres, kami pun segera menuju Tol Merak. Ketika memasuki gerbang tol saya pun melirik jam yang ada di hadapan saya, saat itu waktu sudah menunjukkan pukul 8 lewat sekian menit.

Perjalanan di sepanjang jalan tol Merak pun lancar, relatif sepi bahkan.
Setelah berhenti sebentar di tempat peristirahatan untuk ke kamar mandi, perjalanan kembali kami lanjutkan. Setelah sempat kebablasan dan muter kembali, akhirnya kami pun keluar di Serang Barat menuju Pandeglang. Berhubung mobil kami tidak dilengkapi oleh GPS, jadilah kami mencari arah Pandeglang secara manual. Alias bertanya kiri kanan, supaya jangan sampai kebablasan lagi. Hehehe:p
Berhubung petunjuk jalan juga sangat jarang dan nyaris tidak terlihat karena ketutupan pohon2. *sighs*

Rute kami pagi itu adalah: Tol Merak --> Keluar di Serang Timur atau Barat (dua-dua nya bisa.) --> Pandeglang --> Labuan --> Tarogong --> Tanjung Lesung --> Cigeulis --> Cibaliung --> Sumur --> Taman Jaya.

Sampai dengan Pandeglang, jalanan bisa dibilang cukup mulus. Begitu memasuki Labuan, hmm..berasa kaya naik kuda lah.., karena jalanan yang bolong di sana sini, dan berkelok2.
Di sepanjang Tarogong dan Tanjung Lesung, jalanan kembali membaik dan lurus2 aja.
Begitu memasuki Cigeulis, Cibaliung, dan Sumur jalanan kembali berkelok2, naik turun, dan berlubang2 dengan tikungan2 yang berbahaya. Lumayan terpental2 bagai bola bekel.
Dari Sumur menuju Taman Jaya, barulah off road yang sebenarnya di mulai. Kalau tadi di Labuan saya bilang berasa naik kuda, nah kalau di sini berasa naik rodeo ngamuk.
Jalanan udah ga berupa aspal yang berlubang2 lagi, tapi hanya tanah dan batu2 kali segede2 gaban dan lubang2 yang luar biasa dasyat nya. Sangat tidak disarankan untuk mobil jenis sedan krn pasti akan mentok kena mesin. Begitu juga untuk mobil2 yang ban nya udah tipis, karena bisa dipastikan ban anda akan bocor di tempat. Makanya di sepanjang daerah Sumur - Taman Jaya, banyak tersedia kios tambal ban dan bensin literan. Sekedar untuk informasi, pom bensin terakhir berada di Labuan. Sebenarnya di jalan menuju Tanjung Lesung juga ada, tapi saat itu tidak beroperasi entah kenapa.
Cuaca siang itu yang gelap karena hujan deras pun seringkali membuat mobil kami terjeblos keras dalam jebakan2 batman yang tidak bersahabat. Karena pandangan yang buram, dan lubang2 yang tertutup oleh genangan2 air.
Belum lagi dari tikungan2 yang berbahaya muncul elf atau truk dengan kecepatan tinggi yang cukup bikin sport jantung karena nyaris mencium mobil kami.

Perjalanan dari mulai kami memasuki tol Merak sampai dengan kami tiba di Sumur, kurang lebih memakan waktu 5 jam. Itu sudah termasuk kebablasan, berhenti kiri kanan untuk bertanya, dan berhenti 2 kali untuk ke kamar mandi.
Ketika tiba di Sumur, kami sempat salah jalan ke daerah dermaga pulau Umang (berhubung ga ada papan petunjuk jalan) dan saat itu waktu sudah menunjukkan pukul 1 siang.
Perjalanan dari Sumur ke Taman Jaya, yang kami pikir sudah dekat (karena menurut informasi Pak Komar dari penginapan Sunda Jaya jarak dari Sumur ke Taman Jaya lebih kurang sekitar 16km.), ternyata memakan waktu 3 jam lebih! Karena kondisi jalanan tanah yang sangat hancur, di tambah lagi hujan membuat mobil terpaksa merayap dengan jarum kecepatan yang tidak melebihi angka 10. Bisa aja sebenernya kalau mau di paksa lebih dari 10, tapi resikonya as mobil patah, dan badan remuk redam karena terbanting kiri kanan, depan belakang. Xixixi:p Terlepas dari jalanan yang rusak berat dan sinyal Telkomsel yang on and off, on and off terus itu, kami sangat menikmati keindahan alam di Ujung Kulon. Di sepanjang kiri jalan dari Sumur menuju Taman Jaya, mata kami di hibur oleh keindahan Gunung Honje yang di selimuti kabut sore itu, sawah2 hijau yang membentang luas di kaki gunung Honje, muara sungai kecil yang airnya jernih, rumah2 penduduk yang begitu bersahaja menyatu dengan alam, di sepanjang kanan jalan membentang Selat Sunda yang sore itu terlihat begitu abu2 karena cuaca yang buruk.


Akhirnya dari jadwal yang semula saya perkirakan kami akan tiba di Taman Jaya sekitar pukul 1 siang, kami pun baru tiba di depan Sunda Jaya (penginapan milik pak Komar, pemilik perahu nelayan yang kami sewa.) pukul 4 lewat. Jam makan siang sudah lama berlalu. Untung saja tadi pagi kami memutuskan untuk makan Mac D, sehingga kami bisa bertahan sekian lama. Begitu ketemu pak Komar, kami pun di suguhi minuman hangat dan makanan ringan yang terasa sangat nikmat setelah perjalanan darat yang sangat luar biasa itu...
Setelah beristirahat sejenak serta berbincang2 dengan pak Komar di bale samping penginapan nya, kami pun menyantap pop mie sebagai makan siang kami yang sangat terlambat. Entah kenapa siang itu saya memang tidak terlalu merasa lapar, mungkin karena perutnya udah kenyang duluan sehabis di kocok2 di sepanjang perjalanan. :)

Sambil menunggu kapal nelayan yang akan mengantar kami ke Pulau Peucang siap, kami melanjutkan obrolan hangat di sore hari yang gerimis dengan pak Komar. Beliau adalah veteran WWF yang kemudian memutuskan untuk berhenti dan melakukan usaha penginapan sambil berusaha memajukan kehidupan masyarakat di desa nya. Banyak sisi kepahitan dari kehidupan penduduk setempat yang kami dengar, membuat hati ini nyut2an dihadapkan dengan kebesaran hati masyarakat yang termaginalkan. Namun tak sedikit kisah mengenai perjuangan yang membuat hati mengharu biru karena salut dan bangga akan kearifan penduduk setempat yang bersahaja namun teguh berdedikasi bagi tanah kelahiran yang di cintai dan di banggakan termasuk mendiang ayahnya pak Komar yang pernah mendapatkan penghargaan Kalpataru dari mantan presiden Soeharto, atas pengabdian dan dedikasi beliau kepada Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon.

Tak terasa waktu sudah menunjukkan pukul 5 sore, sang nahkoda kapal, abk dan pemandu lokal kami pun sudah siap berangkat. Kami pun menyiapkan barang2 yang akan di bawa, memitipkan mobil ke pak tua yang ada di Sunda Jaya. Berpamitan pada pak Komar, berterima kasih atas suguhan minuman dan makanan yang diberikan, juga kesediaan beliau untuk berbagi kisah dan pengalaman hidup nya bersama kami. Untuk inspirasi yang diberikan bagi kami (yang merasa diri sebagai orang kota), tapi cara pikir dan kedewasaan dalam memandang kehidupan ini jauh tertinggal di bandingkan mereka yang termarjinalkan.

Menyusuri perkampungan penduduk Taman Jaya menuju ke dermaga bersama rombongan kapal, kami pun di sambut oleh senyum ramah orang2 tua yang sedang bersantai di depan rumah mereka, diikuti juga oleh hiruk pikuk kelompok anak2 kecil yang berteriak2 ada bule, ada bule, ada bule... (??)
Kami pun tiba di dermaga, turun memasuki kapal dan segera berlayar menuju lautan lepas menuju pulau Peucang.
Kapal yang kami gunakan adalah jenis slow boat berbahan bakar solar. Kapal nelayan.
Tak heran begitu kami menjejakkan kaki di atas kapal ini, bau ikan langsung menyengat hidung. Mau pake parfum sebotol juga ga akan bisa ngalahin baunya yang super duper kuat itu. Jadi ya dinikmati aja pengalaman kaya begini... :)
Beruntung banget bisa mengalami perjalanan seperti ini, karena membuat kami bisa lebih bersyukur atas berbagai kemudahan yang selama ini kami dapatkan.
Kebayang kan gimana nasib nelayan2 itu yang tiap hari harus berjibaku dengan bau kaya begini..? Sementara kita biasanya nyium bau ikan di pasar aja udah mengerenyitkan muka. Beli ikan cuma di tunjuk2 aja karna males megang, sambil nawar abis2an. :))

Berhubung perjalanan laut menuju pulau Peucang memakan waktu sekitar 3 jam, jadi kami berusaha membuat diri senyaman mungkin di atas bangku kayu yang panjangnya ga lebih dari 1 setengah meter x lebar yang ga sampai 50 cm, dengan getaran mesin kapal yang saking kencengnya berasa kaya pakai vibrator ukuran XXXL. Hahaha:D Melepaskan pandangan mata sejauh mungkin, menikmati gumpalan awan2 senja yang terasa begitu dekat, membayangkan sebuah negeri di balik awan yang penuh dengan kedamaian, mengagumi keindahan sunset yang terbiaskan oleh awan mendung, merasakan belaian angin laut, memasrahkan diri pada kegelapan yang mulai memeluk alam, mencari Venus di langit yang bertabur bintang, berteman dengan ombak yang mulai meninggi menghantam kapal, membiarkan hujan memerciki wajah dan tubuh kami, menyerahkan diri sepenuhnya kepada Sang empunya jagat raya ini, tertegun akan kesadaran diri betapa kecil dan tidak berdaya nya manusia di tengah alam semesta ini...
Di temani oleh sinar temaram dari lampu petromak (satu2nya penerangan di kapal nelayan kami), sambil sesekali di basahi oleh ombak yang menghantam buritan kapal, hati ini melayang..., di goyang oleh arus yang begitu kuat...membuat jiwa ini terangkat dan terhempas dalam diam, menyatu dengan heningnya malam berharap badai ini akan segera berlalu. Pengalaman yang sungguh tidak akan pernah terlupakan, melintasi Tanjung Alang2 dalam kegelapan di waktu badai akan membuat hati manusia yang paling sombong pun akan menciut dan tersungkur di hadapan Nya.

Tak terasa, kami pun tiba di pulau Peucang.
Abk menurunkan jangkar, dan kapal yang kami tumpangi pun merapat ke dermaga.
Begitu menjejakkan kaki di dermaga, dan melihat sekeliling perairan di pulau Peucang, mulut ini ga berhenti2 nya berdecak kagum, memekikkan kehisteriaan meilhat keindahan air laut di sekitar pulau Peucang. Begitu jernih dengan gradasi warna dari bening, turquoise, biru muda seakan menyala di bawah sinar rembulan dan bintang malam itu.
Pemandu lokal kami pun mengantar kami ke pondok administrasi penginapan Flora dan Fauna. Kami menyewa 1 kamar non AC di penginapan Fauna (yang bisa buat bertiga atau berempat sebenarnya..) dengan harga 250 ribu rupiah / malam.
Berhubung saat itu waktu sudah menunjukkan pukul 8 malam, kami pun menyuruh pemandu lokal kami untuk beristirahat bersama nahkoda dan abk di kapal, karena kami hanya akan berkeliling menyusuri pantai malam itu. Sekedar informasi, setiap tamu yang datang ke Ujung Kulon baik rombongan ataupun sendiri harus di dampingi oleh pemandu lokal supaya tidak tersesat.
Usai meletakkan barang2 di kamar, kami pun segera keluar menyusuri pantai menikmati suasana pulau Peucang di waktu malam. Sungguh indah. Begitu kontras dengan badai yang baru saja kami alami, suasana di pulau Peucang begitu tenang...
Lelah berjalan2, kami pun menghabiskan malam dengan duduk di teras penginapan sambil memandangi binatang2 yang mulai bermunculan. Rusa, monyet dan babi hutan malam itu turut menemani kami menikmati udara malam yang begitu sejuk di pulau Peucang.
Sampai akhirnya kami memutuskan untuk beristirahat di dalam kamar, menghangatkan diri dengan secangkir teh dan kopi. Malam itu kembali saya tidak merasa lapar, jadi hanya menemani suami yang kembali menyeduh pop mie untuk makan malam. Usai suami makan malam, kami pun bersih2, berdoa, dan bersiap tidur karena besok akan bangun subuh untuk melihat matahari terbit.

Notes: Peta Ujung Kulon di atas saya ambil dari informasi departemen kehutanan mengenai Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon.

*BERSAMBUNG*

Culinary Trip in Bandung (Day 1-2-3)

Last week, my husband and I went to Bandung.
My husband's sent there by his office to attend a workshop for a week and he asked me to come along with him.
At first I don't think it's a good idea since we couldn't check the progress of the renovation of our house plus I'll missed my yoga and knitting class for the whole week if I go with him. Hahaha:D I think the last two things are my main consideration.

But then I re-think again, I can ask my mom actually to check our house regularly, I can bring my yarn and my new books to Bandung. I'll have plenty of time to read, knit, and sleep. And most of all, I'm longing to do a food culinary in Bandung. Owowow, so why not?? It's all worth it to lose my yoga class for a week. :))

So, since I was too busy eating, reading, knitting, window shopping, watching movies and sleeping in Bandung, now I will put in one post all of my culinary agendas while we're in Bandung.

Soon, after we arrived in Bandung we checked in at Grand Serity Hotel in Hegarmanah - Setiabudi.
The hotel was nice. It's a 4 star hotel, with a minimalist design (I love it!), the room and bathroom were clean (The most important thing for me.)
The hotel location is also very strategic (at least for me hehehe..), very close to the Setiabudi Supermarket (My fav supermarket in Bandung), Periplus Bookstore, The Wood Factory Outlet, Rumah Mode Factory Outlet, Sambal Hejo Restaurant, Pizza Hut, Mc Donalds, Mangkuk Ayam Restaurant, Excelso, Mie Kocok Kebun Jukut, etc. You can reach these places within 5 minutes walking.
Breakfast's also included in our room package. They have various kind of food, from Dim Sum to Soto Bandung, from brioche to muffin, from tea to mixed juice. The taste's average though not as good as my expectation. Well, it's hard for me to not judging the food from it's appearance. ;)
The only thing I hate about this hotel was they called our room 5 or 6 times a day to offering a massage or karaoke room. I told them already that I don't want to be disturb but still they kept calling and calling even at 10.00pm. So, we turned off our room telephone during our stay.

We started our culinary trip right on our first night in Bandung.
We went to Trunojoyo street, we're so hungry and desperately want nasi goreng (Fried Rice) Bahureksa. It's a street vendor and named after their first street where they started to open an eatery years ago. From Bahureksa street, they moved to Aceh street, later to Sumatera street and now they're in Trunojoyo street right behind St.Aloysius. Their specialities are: Nasi Goreng, Mie Rebus, Cap cay kuah, Mie Goreng. It's soooo delicious. All of my family from the oldest generation to the youngest generation like to eat there usually on Sunday night after we attended Sunday mass. By the way they used pork for the ingredients, so for my muslim friends don't even think to try it. :)
Too bad that my blackberry was run out of bat, so I can't took a picture of the place and the food. It feels nice to sit and eat on an eatery like that, apart from the price's must be very cheap it's also kind of romantic..hehehe.

On the following day (Monday), my husband went to the workshop as soon as we finished our breakfast together. I didn't have a specific plan on that day, just want to sleep at the hotel so I told my husband to take the car with him.
Alone in the hotel room, I enjoyed every second of it. Simply relaxing. Watching my fav channels, Discovery Travel and Living and Star Movies while lying on the bed eating my snacks and chocolate. Hahahaha... Life is so beautiful!
Around lunch time, I walked to Mangkok Ayam restaurant inside the Setiabudi Supermarket. I've ordered a Pad Thai.
Ooowww my goodness, it's soooooo delicious.
The best Pad Thai I've ever ate.
And I love their warm interior, with a bookshelf on the wall. Feels like home.

After lunch, I walked to The Wood factory outlet right beside the supermarket just to check it out their stuffs. :))
I've tried so maaaaany clothes and end up bought only 1 clothes. (That's what I called, Achievement! Yes.) LoL.
Soon after my husband finished with the workshop, he pick me up at the hotel and we had our dinner at the famous Bebek Ali. Again it's a street vendor in Hasanudin street close to the Borromeus Hospital. Their speciality is a fried duck with chili sauce + raw vegetables (Pecel Bebek). We ate in our car because it's full already with students. For your note: Bebek Ali is alwaaaaays full of people/students everyday. So better if you come earlier (before dinner time) or after dinner time.
I was too excited to finally eat Bebek Ali, so I forgot to take a picture of it. :D
I was came to this place several times before, and never get a chance to have a seat there.
For me nothing special with their fried duck but their chili sauce is typically 'Sunda sauce' which very different with other sauces, Padang or Surabaya sauce for instance. So it has to be one of my culinary destinations in Bandung. :)
After dinner, we went to the Oasis Factory Outlet in Riau street.
In this F.O you can buy a fabric for jeans or pants, and order the model as you wish with a very good bargain. I bought the fabric for 45.000 IDR and paid for the tailor 50.000 IDR. With 95.000 IDR I have a very good jeans with the model that I like and size that suit my body perfectly. Nice and easy! :)
It's only take 1 day for them to make a jeans or pants.

Day 3, I dropped my husband in Gegerkalong coz I'll take my jeans and hunting my lifetime favourite snacks in Bandung: Lumpiah Basah - Es Duren - Cireng - Cilok - Nasi Timbel Bawean, Batagor and so on and so on. Hehehe.
Unfortunately, the traffic in Bandung's really ruined my mood!
I was so stressed by the way most of people in Bandung driving their cars and motorbikes, especially the drivers of public transportations (angkot), they stopped anywhere they like, literally like in the middle of the street! Helloooooow?!
Geez, I'm not used to it anymore . Its really getting my nerves.
Traffic jam in Jakarta is so muuuuuuuch better than traffic jam in Bandung.
So after done with my business at the Oasis, I went to nasi timbel Bawean for my early lunch.
I used to eat there with my college friends. I stayed there no longer than 5 minutes then without finishing my food, I left.
I was in a very bad mood, and I lost my appetite.

I decided to go back directly to the hotel.
I've bought a Lumpiah Basah, es duren and Bawean's chocolate wafer to fix my broken mood. (Teteeeeeeuuup...wkwkwkkwk.)
Since I wasn't in the good mood to drive, my husband said that he'll take ojek (similar to taxi but with a motorbike) to go back to our hotel.
It's so funny that my husband and I had the same idea that night about where we're going to have our dinner. Bakmie Naripan.
It's almost 10 years since the last time we ate in this restaurant.
Hohohoho, we're so happy that finally we could come to this place again.
We've ordered their speciality for our dinner: Yamien Manis + Baso Sapi Kuah ( Noodle with soya sauce + meat balls soup).

Again, I'm not recommend this restaurant for my muslim friends it's stated on the menu that their food is containing pork.
But if you're a big fans of any kind of noodle and meatballs soup like this, you can go to WaLe (Warung Lela) in Ranca Kendal, Dago Golf or Toko You in Hasanudin street.
It's free of pork for sure. :) And don't worry about the taste! :))

Note: Be continue...

A Big Surprise!

Still related to my previous post about, Life is full of surprises...
I've got one recently. Quite a BIG surprise actually.
And it leads to a massive changes in a travel plan that I've already made.

This week, my hubby (also my father + my sister + my brother in law) had planned to take 2 days off from their work.
We made a plan to traveling to Jogjakarta together with our big family.
Before the kids are going back to school, we want to spend some times on this almost-over-school-holiday together in Central of Java.
We would like to see a magnificent Borobudur Temple, a gorgeous Prambanan Temple, a nice retreat at Sendangsono, Keraton, Parang Tritis Beach, Magelang city and etc.
It would be a great family holiday, am sure.

The plan has been made, everything is ready on our checklist.
Starting from my cousin place, where we're going to stay during the holiday to our cars (We're traveling by cars this time).
We just have to wait until today according to our travel plan.

But you know what...??
We've got a very big surprise!
Just when everything is settled, we've got a news from my hubby that everything need to be cancelled!

Few days ago, my hubby got a phone call from his boss.
His boss asking him to go to China for a meeting today even though he had already taking two days off, just right on our schedule to go to Jogjakarta.

Shocked!
Of course, we have only two days to arrange everything including our visas and tickets!
Geez, we're going to China for God sake not to Surabaya.
We need at least a week to prepare everything.

Just like my prediction, we're not gonna make it to go on 1st of July.
Our visas are issued. Our tickets are also ready to be issued.
But my hubby got a problem with an administrative thing on his office.
So the travel plan has been re-scheduled to 3rd of July, right on my hubby's birthday.

Instead of going to Jogjakarta, we're going to Hong Kong - Beijing - Shenzhen - Hong Kong.
We're very sorry that our family holiday was cancelled, but on the other hand we're so exciting to explore THE FORBIDDEN city + GREAT WALLS.

We thank you God for having an opportunity to go to Beijing and re-visit Hong Kong and Shenzhen again.
Hope everything will be OK this time, not like our previous experienced in Shenzhen.


PS: This gonna be a special event for my hubby. Celebrating his 34th birthday in 3 different countries. Jakarta - Hong Kong - Beijing. :)

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...

Kuala Lumpur & Genting Highlands

Last week, I've had a family trip to Malaysia.
This was my second trip to "Negeri Jiran" but in fact I do still feel so excited to explore
their capital city, Kuala Lumpur and their world famous city of entertainment, Genting Highlands
together with my family.

Since there are so many things to be seen in quite a short times, I had warned my family to
prepare for a tight schedule.
Actually this was my first experience to arranged 'a group' traveling overseas together.
Traveling itself wasn't a new thing for me, but being responsible for 'a group' journey
is absolutely a NEW thing for me. :)

At first, I was a bit affraid how if there's something happens beyond my/our expectations
during our journey, how if I couldn't met people expectation, how if I couldn't satisfied
everybody in this group, and the list goes on and on and on.
But then I decided to take it as a challenge. There's always a first time for everything, right..?

So, get started with hunting a good bargain for our tickets.
That's a first thing to be considered, if we want to traveling with a minimum budget.
Thanks to Air Asia, we've got a ticket to Kuala Lumpur (return) @ for only 500rb IDR nett.
The price was inclusive airlines tax and fuel surcharge.
We paid extra 100rb IDR for seat reservation and a skybus ticket from LCCT to KL Sentral (return).
Such a good deal right?

And then, go to next level. Accomodation.
This one was not an easy thing to do. According to a different standart of comfortness and different
financial condition between one and the other.
So I need to be extra careful and sensitive in order to make a silver line between those differences.
If we want to be efficient in traveling, we should looking for a hotel which is near to the main area of the city.
It will gives us a lot of flexibility to get around, get some food, shopping, etc.
And the most valueable thing if we stayed in the centre of the city is that we're able to get the rythm of the city.
One of the most important essences from traveling is that we should be able to get to know the soul from the city.
And the closest place to the soul is the main/centre area of the city.

For example:
I found that, the soul of Paris is beautiful in the darkness. Full of sorrow and loneliness.
So ironic, that something really gorgeous can be extremely dangerous for someone who can't stand the poison of the beauty itself.
No wonder that a suicide rate in Paris is getting higher every year.

Well, it's totally fine if you can't understand/follow what I mean...hehehe:p
Obviously you just need to pack your bag and go travel. :)

So, anyway I booked the Radius International Hotel (thanks to my best friend, Deasy) in Bukit Bintang area.
Bukit Bintang is one of the main areas in Kuala Lumpur, just like Orchard Road in Singapore, Champ Ellyses in Paris,
Maria Hilfe Strasse in Wien, Sudirman in Jakarta, Kuta in Denpasar, etc.
It's a very strategic area for a traveler. There are so many hotels and shopping malls in the area from * to *****.
In the evening, you can easily find any kind of food stalls along the street, blend in a perfect harmony with the cafes.
If you want to go to another area in Kuala Lumpur, you can just hail a taxi from wherever you're standing just like in Jakarta. ;)
Or if you want to do some exercise, just try the monorail and LRT. It's very simple & cheap to use.

In short way, ticket checked, hotel checked.
So there we were. Spent 4 days in Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands just felt like a blink of an eye.
Time flies so fast. It feels like we're just arrived on LCCT when we're about to leave back to Jakarta.

Day 1: Soon after we're checked in, we put our luggages in our room. Headed toward Pavilion (5* shopping mall in Bukit Bintang)
to get our lunch in Food Republic.
Of course, you better check for their famous NASI LEMAK when you're in Malaysia.
It's so damn good! ;)
After lunch, we surveyed the Bukit Bintang area including the malls, the markets, walked on pedestrian area, along with the cafes
and the stores.
Took some rest in the hotel while my nieces and their Uncle (my husband) went to swim.
Soon after taking a shower, we're wandering around Alor Street to find a good restaurant for our dinner.

Alor Street is an area which is full of restaurants and food stalls, you can decide whether you want to sit outside or simply
inside the restaurant. Everything is so flexible here.
The food's so delicious!


Finished with dinner, my mother and my niece bought a barbeque sausage already. It's sooooo tempting honestly. :)
The shopping spree mood SET ON, so we went to Bukit Bintang Plaza, Sungai Wang and Lot 10 (3* plaza) to checked their price.
I told them not to buy anything in a hurry, but check the price first compare with another store.
Sometimes the sales are very tricky to persuade the customers. Be smart!
To close our first day in Kuala Lumpur, we're having a cup of tea in a street cafe. Simply enjoyed the scene.


Day 2: Destination of the day, Genting Highlands Resort.

Had an early breakfast. Went to Puduraya Station straightaway to buy a ticket of Go Genting Express Bus.
The ticket price is very cheap. Only RM 3,5 for the bus and RM 5 for Genting Skyway (one way).
We took the bus until Genting Skyway Terminal then continued our journey with a skyway.
Note: Genting Skyway is the longest and the fastest skyway in Southeast Asia (3,38 km start from Gohtong Jaya Hill to Highlands Hotel at the top).
Located on the widest and the oldest mountainous area in Malaysia, 6118 feet above sea level surface.

Though I have no phobia being in a high place, still I had a nervous feeling when we're about to climb the hill with the skyway.
It's extremely fast comparing to one in Hong Kong, Ngong Ping Island. Geez!
But the green scenery below us was really..really..amazing! Breathtaking. What a nice distraction. :)

Finally, we landed in Highlands Hotel.
Felt so damn hungry because of the nervous feeling we had before, we soon found the Good Friends Restaurant.
The one that has been recommended by Genting Guidance, so famous with their Chinese Food and roasted Duck.
And yes, again the food was delicious! Only for RM 15, I've got Wonton Soup + Duck with Rice + Mango Juice + Ice Lemon Tea.
What a good deal, isn't it?
Next time you come to Genting, you should try the Wonton Soup in this restaurant. The best Wonton Soup I've ever had!

After lunch, we explored the Genting Highlands Gallery.
From where we could learnt the history of Genting itself, the founder, the development process, the design, etc.
Done with the knowledge, now it's time to having fun kiddo... :D
We went straight to First Plaza Indoor Theme Park. The place is so nice. Full of imaginations.
With a complete series of attractions, from Reindeer Rider to Jet Coaster, from Sky Venture to Snow World and many more.
Your kids will having a real GOOD times being here, believe me.
It feels that you're in a different world which only playing, games, toys, foods are exist. :D

Besides First World Plaza Indoor Theme Park, there's also Genting Outdoor Theme Park.
More than 60 kinds of games available in this park. Space Shot, Pirate Ship, Flying Coaster, Bumper Boat, Corkscrew,
X-pedition Wall, Spinner, Mini Train, and so on and so on.
When you're here, make sure to break your leg guys! :')
Find a missing piece from your childhood here, together with your children.
You'll definetely need to stay at least 2 nights to experience all those things above.

And when you're not having a child, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the atmosphere.
Just go straight to the casinos, try your luck, having a dare to win or lose moments with your partner or friends.
The city is never sleep. Almost anything available for 24 hours a day.
And don't worry about the accomodation here, it has almost the same price as in Kuala Lumpur.
You can find a good hotel starting from RM 100 per night.

After getting breezed by the temperature of -5' C inside the Snow World, we desperately need a cup of hot chocolate and
some cakes of course would be nice... :)
While sipping our hot chocolate, with a great companion of cheese cakes..our eyes were pampered by the beautiful scenery of green montainous
with the haze very close to the street. Life is indeed so beautiful. Thank you Lord.

For those shopaholicers who maybe getting bored with the casinos, don't worry you can find the coolest ( I mean literally..)
shopping mall in Malaysia, First World Plaza with 90 world famous outlets.
Or simply pampered your body on the massage chair while you're watching your favourite movie in First World Cineplex.
It's absolutely true that they called Genting as a city of entertainment.

After the last bit of the cakes, we're getting ready for our last agenda in Genting which is going to Chin Swee Caves Temple.
People said this temple located at the most prettiest spot in Genting Highlands.
Unfortunately, the Awana Train has been grounded at the moment.
So we're not able to go to the temple. Dissapointed of course, but what can we say?
We're having SO MUCH FUN already since yesterday, so we don't feel like complaining at all. :)

Before getting dark, we're headed to Genting Skyway Terminal.
With a big smile on the face of each one of us.
We treasured the moment that we've just experienced.
Enjoyed every single moment of the skyway riding.
Back to the elegant city of Kuala Lumpur.

Soon after took a nice shower in the hotel, we're wandering again in another area of Bukit Bintang.
Enjoyed our dinner while sitting on the chairs outside the restaurant.
Getting recharged by the night bliss.


Day 3: Destinations of the day were, Petronas Twin Towers and Hop on Hop Off.

In order to get an ID pass from Petronas, we woke up very early and had a quick breakfast.
Because this was the first experience of my niece getting abroad, we'd like to show her how to use public transportations here.
Get started with the lesson how to buy a ticket both in the counter and from the machine, we went through monorail and LRT.
My nieces were so excited! They're enjoyed the ride every seconds of it.
It's totally hillarious, to see their happy faces, young and restless spirits. :)
So, finally when we're arrived in KLCC we took a line in a very long queuing (already!) in front of the Petronas ticket counter.
It took almost 2 hours until we got the free pass. And we'd come back at 11.45 to get a short introduction before we go upstairs.
We still had 2 hours before that time, so for killing time, we went to Petronas Sains Discovery Centre (Level 4, Suria-KLCC).
And took a nice brunch at the foodcourt.



Finally, we went up to the Skybridge only in 41 seconds!!
It's an amazing experience being at the tallest twin towers in the world.
No times to expressed our admiration to a human majestic creation.
Every group are only allowed to enjoy and taking some pictures of the backstage view for 15 minutes.



Note: Petronas gives a free ID pass daily for those who wants to visit the famous Skybridge on 41st floor for an exhilarating 'top of the world' feeling.
We should take a queue early in the morning, otherwise we'll run out of the tickets as only a limited number are allowed.
The towers are the centrepiece of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), consisting of the state of the art Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Suria KLCC shopping mall,
a five star hotel, the immaculately landscaped KLCC park as well as mosque.
The area is a major draw for visitors and locals alike.



Finished with a magnificent Petronas Twin Towers, we're waiting for a Hop on - Hop Off Bus at the shuttle in front of Petronas Philharmonic Hall.
Hop on Hop Off bus will take you to look around doing the sights in Kuala Lumpur.
This bus is the most efficient and convenience way to take you to many major attractions in the city.
Visitors can enjoy the sights at their own leisure, either stay on board for the full circuit or hop on and off at any of 22 designated stop.
The tours come equipped with on board commentary in 8 languages. Available from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm daily.
From modern landmarks to heritage sites. From Petronas Twin Towers to Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
From market squares to tropical enclaves. From museums to shopping malls.

Note: Tickets can be purchased on the bus, at authorised agents or via the internet.
RM 38 for adults and RM 17 for children, students and senior citizens.
You can also check the places of interest on their website: www.myhoponhopoff.com

Soon after we've done with 22 attractions in the city, including souvenirs and local foods hunting in China Town and Central Market,
we're landed soundly in Bukit Bintang area to finish our shopping list.
While hunting for this and that, we've got a very nice surprise from Vinnci at BBP. Crazy SALE, only RM 10 a pair!!
You know what happened afterwards, right...? ;')

Since we're pretty tired, the seniors went first to the hotel while the rest of us went to Pavilion to grab our dinner.
Then we're headed back to the hotel with no energy left. :D


Day 4: Destinations, LCCT & Jakarta.

Had our breakfast. Packed the luggages. Closed the bill and checked out.
Settled ourselves on the bus transfer to LCCT. Feeling exhausted yet recharged and motivated by the-just-ended-trip.
With a big smile on our faces, we said a prayer and great thanks to our FATHER in Heaven to made it all possible.
Amen.