a traveler's tale: worry about that later

I did mention somewhere saying that one of the most important things to survive this trip or any trips for that matter, is to have a clear knowledge of directions, to gather information regarding the place you're about to visit.

However, sometimes no matter how well-prepared you are, there will be things happen beyond your control. Sometimes you might miss the correct exit from the MTR (which happened quite a lot. Hahahaha) or you just cannot find the hotel or simply you're required to ask for a direction.

They're inevitable, but how you behave matters. I always enjoy the idea of being lost. Surprised, aren't you? I'm famous for being a control-freak at work, but when it comes to traveling, I enjoy being lost now and then. I always manage to find more interesting places or some unexpected acquaintances (so far). My motto is as long as we're in the safe range of time period, not about to miss a flight, it's ok (see how control-freak I am, HAHA).

Not just about being late, or not able to find direction, sometimes it's about not knowing things, expecting a surprise. In short, less worry, just enjoy the moment. 

Probably the best way to learn about a city is to go by walking. I did mostly on this trip and I must admit I not only had so much fun and worked out (without losing any weight), I felt that I was actually part of the country, the culture and many other thing.

So in short, never forget these two keywords when you're planning to do what I did: #holiday and #adventure.

a traveler's tales: finding mickey

My favorite disney's movie (well, one of them anyway) is The Little Mermaid and one of the songs from the animation is Part of Your World. So can you imagine how I reacted when I hear that song on my way to the theme park? I jumped like a monkey, although then my cynical nephew reminded how old I actually am. 

I believe that's the charm of this theme park. Forget about the rides, forget about the food (seriously!), it's all about the memories. That first sparkling connection we had with any of the characters from Disney's movies.

I remember how my sister first bought me Cinderella video. Remember the scene where the birds woke Cinderella up in the morning by calling her name? That's how I first met Disney. I'm sure we all have our first encounter and it's somehow magical, isn't it? 

To keep it short, if you're an adrenaline junkie and you missed all Toy Story movies, I must say, this theme park might bore you. 

However, the theme park itself, in my personal opinion is a bit small, but if you count the whole area, which includes hotels, the shuttle station, trains station, that's another story. I believe, with many development plans in the future, this theme park might have more varieties. Anyway, Disneyland (currently) is divided into 5 main areas. They are: Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Toy Story land and Adventureland.

My favorite so far is the most dangerous one, Mickey's PhilharMagic (yeah, right!). Hahaha. NOT! But one of the clips featured in the 4D movie is Part of Your World, which had me (almost) crying. Most of the rides allow kids with minimum height of 4 feet. So go figure! 

I spent the last 6 hours all alone. Taking my own photos (with or without timer) in the most inconvenient position, making me look like one big nutso. But I had all the fun I could possibly have. I met a very exciting young toddlers who's crazy about my new Mickey's Ears or this very kind uncle who agreed to take my photos. 

I guess in a way, I want to say that I had great time!

a traveler's tales: lost in translation

So my nephew wasn't really on the mood to travel on our way to Hong Kong. This time, he half-deserved to behave such way due to my inability to locate our first hotel, although it kind of ruined the whole idea I had in my head about our trip, but I forgave him. HAHAHAHA. Anyway, Billy decided to stay at the hotel after the first afternoon we arrived at Hong Kong. I tried to persuade him to change his mind, but he looked really tired and I thought maybe it's better that way. 

But me, I'm an adventurous one. I was not going to let anything hold me back. I was planning to visit some places and I did. I went to the Central part of Hong Kong, which is basically the business and shopping areas. For someone who enjoys walking, this whole area seems like a perfect heaven. I was walking from side to another, at least 20 to 30 blocks before taking MTR (Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway), hitting another station. Stopped by some coffee shop, sipping my black coffee and dreaming of living there.

My other favorite part is Mongkok, which where the hotel we're staying located at. It's like a collision of the old part and the new part of the city. In just between a couple of blocks, you can actually change the scenery from H & M, Dior, Armani to the stores that sell spare-parts for heavy machines or plumbing equipments. It's like the awesome meat district in NYC. HAHAHAHA.

The other part that I spent most of my time is Tsim Sha Tsui. Again, you can find plenty of high-end clothing boutiques, along with fancy hotels and many museums. I sat at the park of the Hong Kong Museum of Arts before I cruised along the Victoria harbor, all by myself. Looking at families, friends or maybe lovers. I felt this strange sensation.

That feeling lonely in the middle of the crowd captured me. That crowded train I took back and forth seemed to take longer. The self-taken photos at certain part of the city seemed nothing, but stupid. At times, I didn't even feel the excitement of taking photos. I suddenly remembered Sofia Coppola's movie, the one with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannsson. How one can be extremely lonely in the brightest and loudest city of the world, I felt the same way.

Traveling alone can be very difficult (especially if you're an acute narcissistic person, which I am by the way). A wise person said, two is better one for no reason. That person has experienced the loneliness of being alone.

a traveler's tale: a very long 20 minutes

As the pilot announced that we soon would land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 20 minutes, my nephew Billy was sleeping on my lap. For that very long 20 minutes, I couldn't help myself to ask this question: what's worse than traveling with a kid? Traveling with a sick kid.

Not that I was being cruel and rude, but series of questions and ideas that popped in my head were: 

1. Maybe I should send him back to Jakarta
2. Maybe I could just leave him in a pawn shop and collect him on my way back from Hongkong
3. Give him a couple of hundreds bucks and said, "see you, kid!"

And no, I decided to stick to initial plan and hoped that he'd get better in time. Apparently, Billy does not share the same traveling spirit I have. He doesn't really enjoy cruising and learning about the new environments and cultures. Breakfast for him is anything served in 3 minutes or less, while I was having this wild dream of enjoying dimsum in Hongkong, bakut tea in Singapore, or some other local dishes.

I also questioned my decision of taking this huge responsibility. What affected my decision of not traveling alone? Certainly not because I needed someone to take my photo with Mickey Mouse. Or maybe I was too chicken shit? Then I remember it's because I care for my nephew, this is his gift for passing the challenging grade six. He deserves this. Maybe he's not at his best condition, this is when I come in, be a good supporter.

And ...

He just asked whether it's possible I could carry his backpack as well. Arrrghhh.

So yeah, it's going to be a little bumpy, more work and less fun, but I must also keep in mind these two keywords: #holiday, #adventure. Also, I must keep in mind that he just turned 12, he after all is just a kid. I have made my decision and I must stick to it. Alright, I'm ready to fly again, Hongkong here I come!

to bali, we went beach-hopping

I should have blogged this journey like 3 weeks ago, but sometimes when you take days off from work, you ought to return to a pile of papers or work to complete. Not really a fun scene. I must admit, it's not easy to go back to work after one exciting vacation. Honestly, my brain did not take the same flight with me, I think it extended its holiday for at least a week.

Seriously, if I close my eyes now, I can hear the waves calling me, calling my name. I can smell the ocean embracing me. And the pretty sky, either its golden color in the afternoon or the pale blue in the morning, I was home.

I arrive at Denpasar on April 4 with my best friends from work. We have planned for years and years to go on a vacation together, but it never did happen. Until that April, we all came to Bali. I must mention how exciting it was to travel with these awesome people: Clifford, Lisa, Diana, Lingkan, Imelda. You guys rock!

HERE COME THE BEACH-HOPPERS

One of the main reasons that we chose Bali instead of anywhere else to go is because of the beaches. I love beach and I love sitting by the beach (either morning, noon or night) listening to the wave. Even without my iPod, I could hear Bob Marley singing in my head and I'm like a 12 years old girl falling in love.

On this visit, I at least visited 6 beaches. Kuta beach (du'uh!), Padang-padang, Dreamland, The Blue Lagoon, Candidasa, Petittenget. I cannot express how my beach-lover persona was profusely spoiled. I know you must have thought I was losing it, but to visit these many beaches and found many different experiences, I felt joy. Although I must admit I chose the wrong time schedule, so I wasn't fully soaking the the joy, but I was still having fun.

The other thing about the beaches in Bali is people need to start taking care of them. This is probably a common knowledge that Kuta has become unbearably filthy. Some people threw trash with any guilt. Watching this with my own eyes, I thought of a small do-it-yourself project to clean the beach. Maybe my next visit, I shall do it. But in the mean time, please let's take good care of those beaches, yes?

HAPPY BELLY

So this part is the embarrassing part. You're probably going to ask whether I did go anywhere else in 4 days beside eat and eat and eat. But seriously, I believe I ate less on this trip to Bali. Usually I can go to at least 2 restaurants for one breakfast (high-five, narcistbandit!). But this time, I retained myself, I learned my limits.

There are a few highlights on our gastronomy trip (if I may say so): Depot Gimbo for the smoked pork, Le Spot - Bali Deli for the awesome breakfast package (yum!), nasi campur Chandra in Denpasar (I even forgive you, nasty waiter!), Warung Oppen for its incredible dinner, a kilo of sinful BBQ ribs.

And not too impressive places like: the overpriced dinner by the beach at Kendonganan, Bubba Gump Shrimp (I KNOW!).

Another reason to go back during its opening is Coffee Revolution, which I'm truly proud of my friends for really having the guts to go for it. The place looks amazing and I seriously cannot wait to claim one of the corners of this coffee shop as my own. HAHAHAHA. Best of luck, guys! 

STATISTICALLY HAPPY

We use numbers to represent certain information all the time. So here I am, being a smart-ass trying to give the statistic of this awesome vacation.

1. Nights = 3
2. Travelling friends = 5 + 1 (accidentally met one at the airport)
3. New friends = 5 + 1 (plus one from the one I met at the airport). Exciting life!
4. Beaches = 6! (Please stay tanned-skin!)
5. New shoes = 2 (practically a shoes fetish)
6. New pants = 2 (just because they're cheap)
7. Size of new pants = 28 (huge mistake!)
8. Restaurants visited = 12 (explain the above mistake)
9. Accumulated sleeping hours = 20 (I'm on vacation, du'uh!)
10. Seating number to Bali = 9B
11. Seating number back to Jakarta = 6F 
12. Work-related emails received = I have no idea (I'm so clever)
13. Number of reasons to return = TONS!

BE WHO YOU ARE

One of the things that always remind me of why I love Bali is the freedom it offers. I can actually be who I am. Well, I'm not saying I was running around the beaches naked or partying like there's no tomorrow, but if those are the things I like to do, I think Bali offers the freedom for me to do so.

I don't think I could be more laid-back or careless of what people might think when I'm there as much as anywhere else. I can wear a fedora and don't care if it's not cool. I could wear the same shorts for 4 days (which I didn't, for the record!! HAHAHAHA) or not even put on any perfume.

Like I said many times before, I always find the same excitement (or sometimes even new ones) every time I come back to Bali. Due to good friends, to good food, to being laid back and untroubled, to the awesome music of Bob Marley, to shorts and tees, I was (am) home. 

learning from singapore

I felt so lucky to be sent to Singapore last March by my office to do some work. Although I have to admit the 4 days trip was insanely exhausting, it's quite fun really and I enjoyed every hour of the trip. I enjoyed my visit to some public services in Singapore, include a recycle company, the land-transport gallery, the city gallery near Chinatown, a public school, the water distillation and some recreation parks.

What's great about the trip is it's a bit unusual. I hardly spent time in any shopping malls, unlike most of my traveling trips. HEHEHE. This unusual trip made me think of Jakarta as a home. I started wondering whether I live in this city is the best option. Yes, I love this city and I (probably) will always do, but I have to admit the Singapore trip opened my eyes.

Singapore has a really-well drawn future plan. In 2035, according to the Land-Transport Gallery, each public bus will be equipped with a sensor (or something like that) that automatically slows down the bus every time it reads someone/something pass by in front of it. It also mentioned that Singaporeans will be able to reserve a bus seat online. Traffic jam is a big deal for the government.

Marina Barrage, the water distiller was designed so well that it makes you feel that you're in a Museum or something. I have to salute Singapore in this matter, they can recognize a problem and then work to solve it. The Barrage is a solution to Singapore's lacking of natural resource of water. The Marina Bay, during my visit, has been in progress to be one of the Singapore's tourist attractions.

The recycle company was a big slap to my face. The company doesn't really recycle things. They collect, they sort, they pack and then they send (read: sell) the recyclable "trash" to other countries to be manufactured, like sadly our country (phuff, like we don't have enough of our own trash). Why we purchase, you wonder? It's because we're not bothered to recycle.

It's quite difficult for me to type this, as I know that my rich country, who owns many of natural resources, is so left behind. I never heard (or maybe I'm just an ignorant?) of our government's plan to solve many of the practical problems, like flood (do you notice that flood doesn't longer feel like a problem, it's more like an annual thing), traffic in Jakarta (I'm hopeless with this one), terrible pavements. If our government was able to spend 12.1billions Rupiahs on laptops, I think they can somehow work to come out with money to fix this city.

I really have high hopes that this city I love so much could be better in the future and the people we trust to govern are really going to make sure it happens, even if it's a slow progress.

petualangan di bali, bagian satu

Akhirnya, setelah 1 minggu sejak gue pulang dari Bali, gue baru memulai menuangkan pengalaman berpetualang di Bali dengan kata-kata. HEHEHE. Yah, mungkin karena kesibukan mengisi formulir 1770 atau kebetulan ada kegiatan penting di kantor yang berakhir kemarin. Tapi gak apa-apa, setelah sekian lama, akhirnya gue bisa nge-update blog gue! Yay!

Acara jalan-jalan ke Bali kemarin tujuan utamanya adalah nge-hadiri acara nikahan teman gue di Nusa Dua. Tapi karena sebelum berangkat, gue berasa mumet dan perlu penyegaran jiwa, gue sekalian menjadikan kesempatan ini kesempatan buat bersantai dan bersenang-senang.

WAITING FOR THE ORANGE SKY
Gak pernah mudah kalo diminta untuk cerita kejadian yang sudah lewat seminggu. Tapi hal pertama yang gue ingat adalah warna kuning keemasan dari langit di Pantai Kuta pada hari terakhir menjelang kembalinya gue ke Jakarta. Liburan yang menyenangkan selama 4 hari itu akan segera berakhir.

Oyah, ada beberapa orang yang harus gue sebut dan sampaikan ucapan terima kasih gue, yang tanpa mereka, acara jalan-jalan gue ke Bali gak akan pernah menjadi kenyataan. Pertama-tama, the Adams, yang menjadi alasan utama gue ke Bali, tanpa undangan pernikahan ini, gak mungkin juga gue datang ke Bali di tengah-tengah bulan Maret. Terus untuk Cici dan Tasha, karena menjadi teman "separuh-perjalanan" yang menyenangkan. Untuk Little Missy, Nona Lian, Emmy, Tante Netty (I hope I got her name right) dan Ari, makasih untuk kegilaan-kegilaan tanpa akhir itu. HEHEHE.

Yang pasti, teruntuk Monsieur K, yang baik hati untuk menemani gue selama 2 hari, makasih yah! Ngomong-ngomong, beliau ini sangat luar biasa pengetahuannya akan pulau Bali dan beliau juga sangat nekat menjadikan gue sebagai pembaca peta untuk beberapa perjalanan jauh (Yah, gimana gak nekat, gue yang dulu waktu ujian peta buta selalu dapat NOL dan di Pluit aja *NB: tempat tinggal gue* bisa nyasar). HEHEHE.

J'AI ARRIVÉ À BALI
Tepat tanggal 19 Maret 2009, pukul malam banget (gak ingat, soalnya gak bawa jam, pokoknya matahari sudah tidak dapat ditemukan) gue tiba di bandara Ngurah Rai, Bali. Celingak-celinguk keluar dari bandara, gue mencari taksi dan memutuskan untuk inap di Pantai Kuta dan bukan di Legian, mengikuti beberapa teman gue. Alasan gue nginap semalam di Kuta karena gue harus jemput beberapa teman di bandara besok pagi.

Sewaktu gue bilang, gue akan keliling Bali dan membawa backpack, orang selalu akan merespon dengan ketawa kecil yang dipenuhi oleh rasa tidak percaya. Yah yah, gue dulu sempat bilang mau berpetualang ala backpacker ke Jogjakarta, tapi gagal, karena buntutnya gue inap di hotel berbintang dan pulang dengan pesawat. Tapi itu lain cerita, lain waktu dan kali ini, harus beda! Gue akan ber-backpack ria.

NUSA LEMBONGAN
Pagi, tanggal 20 Maret 2009, ketemu CICI dan Natasha di bandara. Setelah cipika-cipiki dan berfoto-foto norak-norak kreatif ala turis (Gimana gak kreatif? Di bandara aja bisa loh berfoto-foto), kami baru berdiskusi mau ngapain dan ke mana. Kami memutuskan ke Nusa Lembongan!

Berangkat dari Pantai Sanur dengan kapal publik dengan bayaran per-orangnya 80.000 rupiahs. Setelah 90 menit diaduk-aduk di dalam kapal, tibalah di Nusa Lembongan. Cici dengan muka-nya yang pucat-pucat ceria (sangat kontradiktif bukan?), Tasha dengan semangat dan gue masih muka ngantuk mencari tempat inap dan pilihannya jatuh ke Bungalow nomor 7 (Kenapa gak nomor 5 yah? Biar kayak parfum).

Tempat inapnya murah-murah asik. Menghadap langsung ke tepi laut, untuk kamar 3 orang, cuma ditagih 150.000 rupiahs. Di Nusa Lembongan sendiri, aktivitas yang bisa dilakukan itu banyak, tapi mengingat gue cuma 1 malam di sana, jadi agak-agak terbatas. Gue gak sempat snorkling. Hiks. Tapi gue sempat mempraktikan salah satu keahlian gue yang nyaris hilang, yaitu NAIK MOTOR!

Iya benar, gue bisa naik motor dan sekarang gue bisa dengan bangga bilang, "kemampuan gue naik motor sudah dibuktikan, tidak lagi teori!" Yah walau pertama kali pas mau nyewa motor -matik (Nah, yang ini kudu nawar nih, gue dapat 50.000 rupiahs per-hari, yang mana menurut orang-orang itu lumayan mahal), pertanyaan pertama gue adalah: "gimana cara ganti gigi-nya?" Jadilah abang penyewa motor-nya makin was-was dan pernyataan kalo gue tahu teori naek motor dengan baik dan benar itu sulit dipercaya.



Tapi dia tetap nekat membiarkan gue menyewa motor dan berpesan kalau gak ada asuransinya. *huf, that faithless guy!* Keliling Lembongan dengan motor emang mantap banget. Dalam waktu sekitar 3 jam-an, gue berhasil ngunjungi beberapa pantai. Menjelang malam dan dalam keramaian keroncongan perut, Mealhouse menjadi tempat nongkrong yang asik. Sambil nge-gosipin beberapa penduduk kantor, gue, Cici dan Tasha makan malam secara murah meriah di sana. Setelah makan malam, balik ke Bungalow nomor 7 dan duduk di tepi pantai dan makan pisang goreng.

Gak tau kenapa, gue berasa begitu tenang duduk di tepi pantai, walau sempat sms-sms-an dengan beberapa teman di Jakarta, tapi gue berasa begitu jauh dengan keramaian. Bunyi desiran ombak dan lagu Bob Marley - Is This Love berkumandang berulang-ulang di kepala gue.

SOUNDTRACK
Ngomong-ngomong soal lagu, gue sempat bikin daftar lagu-lagu yang terus berkumandang di iPod gue selama perjalanan beberapa hari ke Bali kemarin.

1. Soak Up The Sun - Shirley Crow
   
2. Rock the Boat - Aaliyah: Benaran aja lagu ini berkumandang pas gue lagi bergoyang di atas kapal menuju Lembongan.
3. Pure Shores - All Saints
4. Dancing Queen - Meryl Streep
5. Is This Love - Bob Marley feat. The Walrus
6. Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean - Sheila Chandra
7. Like Someone in Love - Balawan
8. Silence - Stephen Elcher
9. Never Can Say Good Bye - Jackson 5
10. If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys: this song reminds me of my best friend, Yuska, who constantly worried about me taking this trip and whether I was having on the trip.

BACK TO THE MAIN ISLAND
Secinta-cintanya gue dengan Lembongan, gue harus balik ke Bali dan ingat akan tujuan utama gue ke pulau Bali, yaitu menghadiri pernikahan The Adams. Berlokasi di Nusa Dua, baik pengantin wanita maupun pengantin pria kelihatan begitu ciamik (begitu pula para tetamu, termasuk gue dong!). Janji sehidup-semati diucapin, di-tanda-tangani dan disaksikan oleh gue dan sekitar 20-an tamu lainnya.



Gue sempat terharu, terutama waktu ibu dari pengantin wanita menangis. Pas resepsi pernikahan di Kedai Kuning, ketika orang-orang memberikan pidato mengenai pasangan ini, gue sesaat sadar kalau gue akan berpisah dengan teman gue, IDA (sang penganti wanita ding) dan gue sempat sedih.

Dan lalu, makanan dihidangkan, mood gue membaik kembali (emang bawaan rakus susah ya? Tapi benaran, makanan yang dihidangkan emang uenak beuner!). Oya, sekalian mau ucapain sekali lagi selamat buat the Adams. I'm truly glad that you guys made it. Mrs. Adams, you have no idea how much I will miss our lunch break together. Gossiping will never be as hot as you were around. Hiks. Anyway, I hope to see you soon. Take care.

petualangan di bali, bagian kedua

Setelah menghadiri pernikahan di Nusa Dua, sisa perjalanan gue dihabiskan dengan berwisata. Ditemanin oleh penduduk tidak asli dari Bali, M. K, gue sempat ngunjungi beberapa tempat makan yang asik.

Mulai dari Kopi Pot di Legian, perjalanan dimulai dengan teh hijau dan pisang goreng yang disirami dengan gula cair (atau madu yaks? yah tergantung kepercayaan situ saja). HEHEHE. Lucu banget nemuin tempat yang begitu nyaman di tengah keramaian toko-toko di Legian dan Pantai Kuta. Benar-benar suasana yang berbeda. Teh-nya yah laksana teh hijau lainnya dan pisang goreng-nya juga laksana pisang goreng lainnya, tapi suasana kebun dan keramahan pramusaji di Kopi Pot membuat gue betah duduk berlama-lamaan di sana.

Meninggalkan Kuta - Depansar, gue dan M. K menuju ke Ubud melihat toko-toko kerajinan. Dan karena gue adalah orang yang paling bloon dalam hal belanja, gue tidak membeli apa-apa, kecuali selembar peta Bali di Periplus (Bloon kan?). Lanjut ke Kintamani, mampir di petakan sawah. Menurut teman gue ini, tanaman padi di sawah ini gak pernah menguning, kalo mulai sedikit menguning akan dicabut dan diganti. Lucunya, sawah ini ada bukan untuk menghasilkan beras, tapi malah menjadi tempat wisata.

Sambil nikmati teh hangat yang penuh dengan racikan ramuan, gue mengangkat kaki (lengkap dengan loafersnya) dan menghirup segarnya udara di sawah dan wanginya teh ajaib gue. Istirahat gak lama, lalu jalan lagi mencari makan siang di daerah Ubud. Nama tempatnya lucu banget, Warung Nuri atau Nuri's Naughty Place (Did I get it right?). Gue pesan ribs lengkap dengan kentang goreng di tempat yang gak pernah sepi ini. Mantap abis!

Beberapa tempat lain yang sempat gue kunjungi adalah Tirtagangga, Kedonganan untuk menikmati hasil laut, GWK dan beberapa tempat di Denpasar. Kembali ke Pantai Kuta di sore hari itu, gue kembali merenung betapa beruntungnya gue dan sering kali gue gak sadar akan hal tersebut. Gue selalu mengakhir hari-hari gue sebelum tidur dengan mengingat kesiyalan yang terjadi, yang mana seharusnya gue mengingat hal-hal yang baik yang terjadi.

Jujur saja, begitu tiba di Jakarta, kepala gue berasa begitu ringan, kulit terlihat hitam keling lengkap dengan dot-dot merah bekas gigitan nyamuk di losmen Kuta (yang mana gue baru dasar kalo gue hubungkan dot-dot tersebut tampaknya akan menjadi pulau Bali .. ajaib bukan?), dan dengan rangsel, gue keluar dari pintu kedatangan bandara Soekarno Hatta dengan senyum lebar dan tertulis secara implisit di muka gue: gue berhasil nge-backpack loh! Yay!