12 July 2010, in the cafe near from Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
I watched Final World Cup in the cafe with my AIESEC family. Yeah Dutch VS Spain. I hope Dutch would be a winner. I promised to my Dutch daddy, if Dutch would be a winner I would come to Dutch at 24 July 2010 and visit him so we can celebrate together. Alejandro and Magda want Spain to be the winner. Me and Boan want Dutch to be the winner. Such a silly thing, we want Dutch to be a winner even they invanded my country for 250 years hahahaha. We forgot our history lol . ..
While the game was playing, me and vency played bagama (a Turkish game) but I was a looser here. Never win. I played with adi, I also a loooseeerr lol. I just win this game when I played with Ali in the first time in pamukkale but I think he made me became the winner . Before we thought Dutch would be win, but in the end of the games, Spain made a goal. Damn, Spain won. Me and boan was sad and we cried for Dutch. I am sorry daddy; I would not come to you.. I choose Germany to be my next destination coz it would be cheaper to go to Germany and u were so busy
Thursday, February 10, 2011
July 2010: Diary Berlin 2010
25 July 2010 at 1.30 am, Pegasus airlines.
I’m writing in the sky. I can see a city under me. And it’s so beautiful. I’m alone here without anyone that I know. This airplane is full of Turkish who wants to go to Berlin. I feel so empty in the night flight. I felt it when I would go to Sweden with the night flight. Yeah, I AM A SINGLE TRAVELLER.
26 July 2010 at 2.00 pm, postdamer platz, Berlin, Germany.
Now, I’m sitting in the grass in somewhere of Berlin that called Postdamer Platz. I don’t know what kind of the area. It’s maybe a city centre heheh I saw some cool buildings here, modern one. I’m sitting alone, no one next to me. I miss my family and my friends, but I really want to enjoy this city. I don’t know when I will back again. Yesterday, my friend, Ichsan picked up me from the airport with his friend (Klemmer, hehe maybe im wrong). I stayed in İchsan’s place. It was really nice and cool. Saw him living like that made me really want to study abroad. He was so nice and kind. We cooked together in his kitchen (Indonesian food) and it was the best food I’ve ever eaten during my trip. I SWEAR! And the best thing that I got the free food hahaha..
Last night, I slept in June’s place. It was really cool also. I slept deeply. I was so tired. Now, June is studying deutch language that’s why I’m alone now. Hehehe.. I will try enjoying my day
28 July 2010 at 7.00 pm, postdamer platz.
I am sitting here alone- AGAIN! This is my favorite spot to write my diary. I woke up so late today. I decided to discover Berlin by myself without making plan and without knowing destinations. I just follow the map and my mind which place that I want to go. It was so fun because I was in somewhere that I don’t know anything (You know, I’m going to Berlin without any plans so I know NOTHİNG about this country). I ate everything that I found in front of me and now I’m so full. But, this journey was so exciting. I’ve got a lot of memories and I learned much thing during this journey. I become more confidence to talk to stranger. Yeah it was so great. I know what ı want. I know what I should do and I know how to enjoy my time. GREAT!
29 July 2010, at 9.00 pm, Konzerthauz, Berlin.
I’m sitting in the most romantic place without my boyfriend. Listening people playing violin and piano was so amazing. İt is so ROMATIC. You know, sometimes European city can be so romantic hehehe. And this is the most romantic moment that I’ve ever felt during my journey. Yeah, unfortunately I am here without my boyfriend. I’m sitting here with Ichsan, Atta, Pram and Dira. But still it is a beautiful moment. This is the most romantic place in Berlin hehehe.
30 July 2010, at 11 am, Standaler stase, Berlin.
Last night, I came to this street by myself. İchsan took me until S bahn to Zoo and after that I came to ando’s place by myself. It was so adventure for me because I was a stranger here and didn’t know anything. Yeaaah, İ proud with myself cause I could go back safely to ando’s place even it was already mid night around 1 am. A lot of people got drunk in the train, but I tried to be confidence. Yeaaayy, I am a super girl hehehe. I’m not afraid with anything; it’s so cool, isn’t it?
31 July 2010, at 6.36 pm, Berlin Houtbanhof (main station in Berlin)
I am so tired now. İ really need to sleep. I just slept for 4 hours. Me and June had party last night until 8 am. Yeahh we party so hard. It was a great party. We went to Bar 25, it was a cool bar. There are 4 djs. It was outdoor bar. At the time I really want to kiss a germanian loll ... I am so angry. My boyfriend didn’t visit me in Germany even it was so close with Sweden. He had a lot of boring reasons. I tried my best to make us closer but he didn’t respect my efforts. I am so angry. Actually, I didn’t want to cheat from him even he cheated on me with the Balinese girl. I just want to forget all the problems. He was suck but I also suck coz still wanting him. Yeah I’m so stupid and still enjoy my suck love life. Sometimes I hate him but still I miss him so much. Yeaahh.. It’s not good at all. I still keep him even he cheated on me and lied to me.
Well, back to Berlin and Bar 25. İ found a handsome germanian man and I looked him almost 4 hours. He was with his girlfriend and other girlfriend hahhaa. Yeahh seems confusing. He was so attractive for me. İ tried to flirt on him even he was with his GF. When he looked back on me, I was so nervous hahah and tried to be innocent lol. He was so drunk. He came to me and talked in front of my face, only 5 cm, and said “hi”. He really really drunk, maybe it will be okay if I kissed him at the time. But I should think twice to do that. First, his GF is behind us. Second, he was drunk, he would not remember our kissed, İ would leave Berlin tomorrow so no chance to meet again without his GF, and the last thing that I still have BF even he cheat on me. We just dance together until his GF asked him to go away from me. Yeaah it was okay. Then I danced with a drunk French man. I thought he was a gay coz we dance so had fun without touching. Honestly ı didn’t like dance with a Stanger straight man because ı don’t like Man touch me. But, I was wrong. He is not gay. He tried to kiss me many times. But still we have fun. I like asked him to dance in the table hehehe and he was crazy because he was so drunk. Maybe ı was the only person who weren’t drunk at that place. Yeah I didn’t drink alcohol in my entire journey. NO ALCOHOL, NO SEX, NO DRUGS! Save journey...
Btw, right now I’m waiting for my train to go to Vienna. Hmm it was so great. Nice station. Actually I am so nervous coz I am afraid ı will miss my train hhehe. I don’t know anything about how to go from Berlin to Vienna. And also I don’t know how to go to guest house from the Vienna station. It will be so adventure and challenging hhehehe...Yeahh and I’m alone. İ will decide everything by myself.
I’m writing in the sky. I can see a city under me. And it’s so beautiful. I’m alone here without anyone that I know. This airplane is full of Turkish who wants to go to Berlin. I feel so empty in the night flight. I felt it when I would go to Sweden with the night flight. Yeah, I AM A SINGLE TRAVELLER.
26 July 2010 at 2.00 pm, postdamer platz, Berlin, Germany.
Now, I’m sitting in the grass in somewhere of Berlin that called Postdamer Platz. I don’t know what kind of the area. It’s maybe a city centre heheh I saw some cool buildings here, modern one. I’m sitting alone, no one next to me. I miss my family and my friends, but I really want to enjoy this city. I don’t know when I will back again. Yesterday, my friend, Ichsan picked up me from the airport with his friend (Klemmer, hehe maybe im wrong). I stayed in İchsan’s place. It was really nice and cool. Saw him living like that made me really want to study abroad. He was so nice and kind. We cooked together in his kitchen (Indonesian food) and it was the best food I’ve ever eaten during my trip. I SWEAR! And the best thing that I got the free food hahaha..
Last night, I slept in June’s place. It was really cool also. I slept deeply. I was so tired. Now, June is studying deutch language that’s why I’m alone now. Hehehe.. I will try enjoying my day
28 July 2010 at 7.00 pm, postdamer platz.
I am sitting here alone- AGAIN! This is my favorite spot to write my diary. I woke up so late today. I decided to discover Berlin by myself without making plan and without knowing destinations. I just follow the map and my mind which place that I want to go. It was so fun because I was in somewhere that I don’t know anything (You know, I’m going to Berlin without any plans so I know NOTHİNG about this country). I ate everything that I found in front of me and now I’m so full. But, this journey was so exciting. I’ve got a lot of memories and I learned much thing during this journey. I become more confidence to talk to stranger. Yeah it was so great. I know what ı want. I know what I should do and I know how to enjoy my time. GREAT!
29 July 2010, at 9.00 pm, Konzerthauz, Berlin.
I’m sitting in the most romantic place without my boyfriend. Listening people playing violin and piano was so amazing. İt is so ROMATIC. You know, sometimes European city can be so romantic hehehe. And this is the most romantic moment that I’ve ever felt during my journey. Yeah, unfortunately I am here without my boyfriend. I’m sitting here with Ichsan, Atta, Pram and Dira. But still it is a beautiful moment. This is the most romantic place in Berlin hehehe.
30 July 2010, at 11 am, Standaler stase, Berlin.
Last night, I came to this street by myself. İchsan took me until S bahn to Zoo and after that I came to ando’s place by myself. It was so adventure for me because I was a stranger here and didn’t know anything. Yeaaah, İ proud with myself cause I could go back safely to ando’s place even it was already mid night around 1 am. A lot of people got drunk in the train, but I tried to be confidence. Yeaaayy, I am a super girl hehehe. I’m not afraid with anything; it’s so cool, isn’t it?
31 July 2010, at 6.36 pm, Berlin Houtbanhof (main station in Berlin)
I am so tired now. İ really need to sleep. I just slept for 4 hours. Me and June had party last night until 8 am. Yeahh we party so hard. It was a great party. We went to Bar 25, it was a cool bar. There are 4 djs. It was outdoor bar. At the time I really want to kiss a germanian loll ... I am so angry. My boyfriend didn’t visit me in Germany even it was so close with Sweden. He had a lot of boring reasons. I tried my best to make us closer but he didn’t respect my efforts. I am so angry. Actually, I didn’t want to cheat from him even he cheated on me with the Balinese girl. I just want to forget all the problems. He was suck but I also suck coz still wanting him. Yeah I’m so stupid and still enjoy my suck love life. Sometimes I hate him but still I miss him so much. Yeaahh.. It’s not good at all. I still keep him even he cheated on me and lied to me.
Well, back to Berlin and Bar 25. İ found a handsome germanian man and I looked him almost 4 hours. He was with his girlfriend and other girlfriend hahhaa. Yeahh seems confusing. He was so attractive for me. İ tried to flirt on him even he was with his GF. When he looked back on me, I was so nervous hahah and tried to be innocent lol. He was so drunk. He came to me and talked in front of my face, only 5 cm, and said “hi”. He really really drunk, maybe it will be okay if I kissed him at the time. But I should think twice to do that. First, his GF is behind us. Second, he was drunk, he would not remember our kissed, İ would leave Berlin tomorrow so no chance to meet again without his GF, and the last thing that I still have BF even he cheat on me. We just dance together until his GF asked him to go away from me. Yeaah it was okay. Then I danced with a drunk French man. I thought he was a gay coz we dance so had fun without touching. Honestly ı didn’t like dance with a Stanger straight man because ı don’t like Man touch me. But, I was wrong. He is not gay. He tried to kiss me many times. But still we have fun. I like asked him to dance in the table hehehe and he was crazy because he was so drunk. Maybe ı was the only person who weren’t drunk at that place. Yeah I didn’t drink alcohol in my entire journey. NO ALCOHOL, NO SEX, NO DRUGS! Save journey...
Btw, right now I’m waiting for my train to go to Vienna. Hmm it was so great. Nice station. Actually I am so nervous coz I am afraid ı will miss my train hhehe. I don’t know anything about how to go from Berlin to Vienna. And also I don’t know how to go to guest house from the Vienna station. It will be so adventure and challenging hhehehe...Yeahh and I’m alone. İ will decide everything by myself.
July 2010: Diary Kusadasi
7 July 2010 at 1.00 am, Otel panorama, kusadasi, Turkey
Dear Kusadasi..
Dear otel Panorama..
I will miss you and İ dont know when i will back again. Thanks for the great moments that u gave to me. I will remember when the turkish asked “where are u from” and vivi said China. And the funny thing they said “Koniciwa” hahaha come on it’s japanese not chinese. İt was so funny. I will remember that.
Otel Panorama at 8 am.
I paid 5 tl for my breakfast in otel panorama but i prefer the breakfast in atilla’s gateaway, selçuk. However, i love stay in this hostel coz the owner’s so friendly and helpful. I slept in the same room wıth vivi and randy. Fer, Andrea, and alejandro in other room. Randy was so funny and girly. He really wanna have a baby hahaha i wish he will get it soon I LOVE this trip so much. Oohh, i dont know when i will have such this trip with them again. I WILL MISS THIS MOMENTS. They are so great. I miss you sisters and brothers.
Dear Kusadasi..
Dear otel Panorama..
I will miss you and İ dont know when i will back again. Thanks for the great moments that u gave to me. I will remember when the turkish asked “where are u from” and vivi said China. And the funny thing they said “Koniciwa” hahaha come on it’s japanese not chinese. İt was so funny. I will remember that.
Otel Panorama at 8 am.
I paid 5 tl for my breakfast in otel panorama but i prefer the breakfast in atilla’s gateaway, selçuk. However, i love stay in this hostel coz the owner’s so friendly and helpful. I slept in the same room wıth vivi and randy. Fer, Andrea, and alejandro in other room. Randy was so funny and girly. He really wanna have a baby hahaha i wish he will get it soon I LOVE this trip so much. Oohh, i dont know when i will have such this trip with them again. I WILL MISS THIS MOMENTS. They are so great. I miss you sisters and brothers.
July 2010: Diary Pamukkale 2010
8 July 2010, at 5.00 pm
Oh dear pamukkale, u are so beautiful.
If I see my picture, I feel like I was in a snow mountain but u are so HOT hehehe. İ love spending my time in pamukkale even u are a small town. The hotel is also nice, I love spending my time with vivi and randy and Ali while we were playing a ball in the swimming pool. Vivi come on, u are so afraid with water. HOW OLD ARE YOU? Vivi, I will remember our time when we were have sauna. Did u think it was so hottt? yeahh sauna always hot Hehehehe.. I love see pamukkale on the night with Ali, it would be so romantic if I come with my boyfriend. Even Ali was a man, he wasn’t my boyfriend hehehehe. İ can have a good romance with Ali but I don’t want to cheat from my boyfriend Having journey with vivi, randy, fer, Andrea, and alejandro was so great for me. They are ROCK! I LOVE YOU all
Me in Pamukale
Ali and Me
Me and AIESEC participants
Oh dear pamukkale, u are so beautiful.
If I see my picture, I feel like I was in a snow mountain but u are so HOT hehehe. İ love spending my time in pamukkale even u are a small town. The hotel is also nice, I love spending my time with vivi and randy and Ali while we were playing a ball in the swimming pool. Vivi come on, u are so afraid with water. HOW OLD ARE YOU? Vivi, I will remember our time when we were have sauna. Did u think it was so hottt? yeahh sauna always hot Hehehehe.. I love see pamukkale on the night with Ali, it would be so romantic if I come with my boyfriend. Even Ali was a man, he wasn’t my boyfriend hehehehe. İ can have a good romance with Ali but I don’t want to cheat from my boyfriend Having journey with vivi, randy, fer, Andrea, and alejandro was so great for me. They are ROCK! I LOVE YOU all
Me in Pamukale
Ali and Me
Me and AIESEC participants
Preparation for my summer trip 2010 to Europe
I joined AISEC since May 2009 and I did not decide to take summer internship on that year. İ thought I need time to prepare and it was impossible if I took internship on January. I want to travel for long time until I got my satisfaction hehehe. So I’m waiting for summer 2010. Almost 1 year I prepared for this journey. I choose turkey to be my destination. Turkey was near from Middle East and I have friend in Jordan. I made a plan to visit Turkey then Syria then Jordan. I paid to AIESEC Organization, 100.000 rupiah for interview, 250.000 for something I forgot, 1.000.000 for AISEC.net or something like that, and 1.000.000 for preparation before going to turkey. I bought lonely planet bookswhich are Turkey, Jordan, and Middle East books.
I was so excited for this journey and planed it as well as I can. However, I haven’t got any spots in AIESEC Turkey projects. I had to wait until March 2010 for getting the project. I wanted to stay in Istanbul. So I decided to wait until AIESEC Istanbul opened for the application. İ researched about other projects in AIESEC turkey, such as in Koceali, Izmir, bursa, but still I decided to wait for Istanbul. My manager in AİESEC, chacha, helped me a lot to match me in AIESEC Istanbul project. We made a terror to some OC AIESEC Istanbul hehehe. Then I got interview with denizhan and I got spot in myself my world AIESEC Istanbul. Wowww.. I was so happy at the time.
On April 2010, I started to get what I need during my trip. First, I had to decide what time I should go to turkey and back to Indonesia. I should think carefully. At that time I have a boyfriend in Sweden and I want to visit him in Sweden. So I talked to him when he would be available so we could spend time together in Sweden. And we decided to meet on 6 June in Stockholm and spent a week in Sweden; he would be graduated on 4 June so he would have free time for me, yeay . I tried to arrange again my schedule, no more middle east. At that time, I saw my TN form; my project would start from 13 June till 7 August. I booked my flight in my friend’s (dhacil) and i got student fare with İSİC card. In normal price, Emirates Airlines about 1200 Us but I got about 900 us. It was so great. Then, I had to get visa both turkey and schengen visa. İ had to do before 1,5 months of my departure time. So what I had to know the requirements.
For turkey Visa – cultural visa
1. Sponsor letter (TN FORM from AIESEC Istanbul)
2. Visa application forms and two passport photographs in which you are looking straight ahead and which are not more than six months old.
3. Copy of passport – only the biodata page
4. A valid confirmed return airline-ticket to Indonesia / print-out ticket / ticket booking.
5. Medical travel insurance (original & copy),
6. A sponsor letter from Indonesia (I had from my university and sponsor letter from my mom coz I had to show financial statement and I used my mom’s bank account, and letter of guarantee from here.
7. My parents İD card cause they are my sponsor.
To get Visa Sweden (Schengen Visa) was almost same. I choose visa for vısitıng friends so I don’t have to book the hotel or something like that because I would stay in my boyfriend’s place. What I needed more for schengen visa was Appendix D (my boyfriend should filled it from Sweden, Travel Plan (İ tried to make plan, I want to go to Sweden and Greece from Turkey at that time). I should have my boyfriend’s financial record. His copy passport, a sponsor letter and guarantee letter from him (appendix E form) plus a copy of his personbevis (accept from the population register), obtainable at the local tax office. Don’t forget that insurance must cover a minimum of € 30 000 for medical costs (treatment, hospitalization, etc).
I paid multiple entry visa for turkey about $200 but if u need the single entry visa just $60. I just need 3 days to get the Turkey Visa. after got turkey visa, I applied for schengen visa in Sweden embassy. İ paid £70 for multiple entry visas. I knew that my project would be finish on 23 July not 7 august. I tried to find any conference during 23 July-9 august because I would back to my country on 19 august. I applied Muslim Jewish conference (MJC 2010) in Vienna (1-7 August 2010) cause seems interesting. İ filled the application but at the time I didn’t get any announcement I could attend or not. They should select the application based on the capability and interest of the participant. I tried to find some other events who I was interested so I could join it. İ also applied for Model United Nations Istanbul held on 9-13 August 2010.
Everything was already and I just prepare myself to enjoy my summer trip
I was so excited for this journey and planed it as well as I can. However, I haven’t got any spots in AIESEC Turkey projects. I had to wait until March 2010 for getting the project. I wanted to stay in Istanbul. So I decided to wait until AIESEC Istanbul opened for the application. İ researched about other projects in AIESEC turkey, such as in Koceali, Izmir, bursa, but still I decided to wait for Istanbul. My manager in AİESEC, chacha, helped me a lot to match me in AIESEC Istanbul project. We made a terror to some OC AIESEC Istanbul hehehe. Then I got interview with denizhan and I got spot in myself my world AIESEC Istanbul. Wowww.. I was so happy at the time.
On April 2010, I started to get what I need during my trip. First, I had to decide what time I should go to turkey and back to Indonesia. I should think carefully. At that time I have a boyfriend in Sweden and I want to visit him in Sweden. So I talked to him when he would be available so we could spend time together in Sweden. And we decided to meet on 6 June in Stockholm and spent a week in Sweden; he would be graduated on 4 June so he would have free time for me, yeay . I tried to arrange again my schedule, no more middle east. At that time, I saw my TN form; my project would start from 13 June till 7 August. I booked my flight in my friend’s (dhacil) and i got student fare with İSİC card. In normal price, Emirates Airlines about 1200 Us but I got about 900 us. It was so great. Then, I had to get visa both turkey and schengen visa. İ had to do before 1,5 months of my departure time. So what I had to know the requirements.
For turkey Visa – cultural visa
1. Sponsor letter (TN FORM from AIESEC Istanbul)
2. Visa application forms and two passport photographs in which you are looking straight ahead and which are not more than six months old.
3. Copy of passport – only the biodata page
4. A valid confirmed return airline-ticket to Indonesia / print-out ticket / ticket booking.
5. Medical travel insurance (original & copy),
6. A sponsor letter from Indonesia (I had from my university and sponsor letter from my mom coz I had to show financial statement and I used my mom’s bank account, and letter of guarantee from here.
7. My parents İD card cause they are my sponsor.
To get Visa Sweden (Schengen Visa) was almost same. I choose visa for vısitıng friends so I don’t have to book the hotel or something like that because I would stay in my boyfriend’s place. What I needed more for schengen visa was Appendix D (my boyfriend should filled it from Sweden, Travel Plan (İ tried to make plan, I want to go to Sweden and Greece from Turkey at that time). I should have my boyfriend’s financial record. His copy passport, a sponsor letter and guarantee letter from him (appendix E form) plus a copy of his personbevis (accept from the population register), obtainable at the local tax office. Don’t forget that insurance must cover a minimum of € 30 000 for medical costs (treatment, hospitalization, etc).
I paid multiple entry visa for turkey about $200 but if u need the single entry visa just $60. I just need 3 days to get the Turkey Visa. after got turkey visa, I applied for schengen visa in Sweden embassy. İ paid £70 for multiple entry visas. I knew that my project would be finish on 23 July not 7 august. I tried to find any conference during 23 July-9 august because I would back to my country on 19 august. I applied Muslim Jewish conference (MJC 2010) in Vienna (1-7 August 2010) cause seems interesting. İ filled the application but at the time I didn’t get any announcement I could attend or not. They should select the application based on the capability and interest of the participant. I tried to find some other events who I was interested so I could join it. İ also applied for Model United Nations Istanbul held on 9-13 August 2010.
Everything was already and I just prepare myself to enjoy my summer trip
Monday, February 7, 2011
January 2010: Singapore gateaway
I visited Singapore on 17 January – 19 January 2010 with my parents. (3 people). We flew with Air Asia and the ticket price was 807,000 rupiah for 3 people (fare 0, promotion rates). Our departure time in Soekarno Hatta Airport was 2.20 pm. We arrived in Soekarno Hatta at 12.30 pm and ate KFC in Airport. My father kept our car in the parking area. We paid 150,000 for Airport Tax each person and no fiscal tax anymore. We did not use baggage because we didn’t bring much staff, only 3 bags.
17 January 2010 in Singapore
We arrived in Changi Airport at 5 pm, terminal 1. (Different time between Jakarta-Singapore is 1 hour). Then we used connection train from terminal 1 to terminal 2, walked about 5 minutes from migration area. We will go to Hotel 81 Dickson in Dickson Road (near from little India and bugis area) and we booked already that place about 190 SGD for 2 nights (if I travel alone, I will stay in hostel. The hotel was near from many hostels, one of them is printfoot hostel). From terminal 2, we used MRT. I bought the Ez Link Card (5 SGD for the card, and 7 for the deposit so total 12 SGD). This was the route to Bugis station from Changi Airport. (East West Line=Board the train towards Tanah merah station and alight at Tanah Merah Station, 2 stop later. Then, East West Line=Board the train towards joo koon station and alight at Bugis, 8 stop later. Actually, Bugis station is not far from Dickson Road, but at that time we didn’t know how to go to Dickson road. We tried to ask people around but no one could explain to us how to go to Dickson road. So we decided to use taxi and spent about 6 SGD. actually it was easy to Dickson road from Bugis station. (First go to behind the station to Bugis Area crossed the rochor road, turn right and go straight until traffic light turn right and crossed the street and there are traffic light again and crossed the Jalan Besar street. Turn right and just follow the Jalan Besar Street until u meet Dickson Road. U will see the board of Hotel 81). We arrived at 8 pm, and we got our deluxe room. We were so hungry so we searched the food area. Anyway, there are many places to eat near from our hotel but we were afraid that it is not halal (Chinese food). Because at that time already mid night so the mall already closed. We ate at Bancoolen Street. Just follow the Jalan Besar to the right from Dickson road. The food was not expensive but not cheap for Indonesian. We spent 16 SGD for 3 people (food and drink). After that we backed to our hotel and Slept.
18 January 2010
We woke up at 6.30 am. Took a Shower, prayed, had our breakfast. We left the hotel at 8.30 am and would go to Orchard Area. We went to Bugis Station and this was the route from bugis to Orchard Station. (East West Line= Board the train towards Joo Koon Station and alight at city hall station, 1 stop later, then North South Line= board the train towards jurong east station, alight at orchard station. And from the station u will arrive at Wisma Altria. Because we arrived at 9 am, so the malls stil closed. We just walked around Orchard until istana park. Then at 10 am, the mall was open and we started shopping. We ate in Food Court Wisma Altria; there are many foods that we could choose. From Orchard we would go to China Town. This was the route from Orchard to China Town Station. (North South Line=Board the train towards Marina Bay and alight at dhobi gaut station, 2 stop later, then North East Line= Board the Train Towards Harbounfront station, and alight at China Town, 2 stop later). We arrived in Chinatown. We bought some souvenirs. We got 30 key chains for only 10 SGD even not the good one. After that, we decided to Mustafa centre in little India area. This was the route from china town to Mustafa centre. (From China town station, North East Line, Board the train toward pungol station and alight at farrer park station, 4 stop later) Then we walked around 7 minutes from that station. We bought perfumes, chocolates, and many things there. From Mustafa centre, we walked to Dickson road. The journey about 15 minutes, but because we already walked a lot and many shopping bag that we brought, we was so tired and felt the journey took so long time. We arrived at the hotel at 2.30 pm and we prayed and took a rest in the room.
At 7 pm, we decided to go outside and see the night of Singapore. We decided to go to Marina bay because it’s popular building in Singapore. To go to Marina Bay we went to Bugis station. This was the route from bugis station to marina bay. (East West Line=Board the train toward joo koon station and alight at raffles place station, 2 stop later. Then, North South Line=Board the train towards marina bay station and alight at marina Bay station, 1 stop later). Then we should walk to Marina Bay, it’s far but maybe I took a wrong way. The view was so great especially if you see the high building near from Marina bay. Then we walked inside and deciided to esplanade. Actually we could walk from marina Bay to Esplanade around 15 minutes, but we were tired at that time. We decided to use bus. We used Bus number 106 or 133 at the esplanade raffles avenue. We ate near from the esplanade. And if u want to take a picture with the marina bay as the background, u could take a picture near from that spot. After that we wanted to go home by bus. We used bus from Esplanade to Bugis station (just see the board schedule; I forget which bus number that I used). We arrived at the hotel at 12 am.
19 January 2010
We woke up at 6.30 am. We took a shower and prayed. My mom wanted to buy more souvenirs so we decided to go to Mustafa Centre again. We just knew that Mustafa centre opened for 24 hours so it was okay if we came to that place before 10 am. We walked to Mustafa from our hotel about 10-15 minutes (just turn left from the hotel and go straight until Serangoon Road. Then turn right, follow the street until u can see Mustafa centre). We bought many souvenirs and chocolates. After that, we back to our hotel at 10 am. We checked out from hotel and we went to Sentosa Island. This was the route from Bugis station to Sentosa Island. (East West Line= board the train towards joo koon station and alight at outram park station. Then, north east line= board the train towards harbourfront station and alight at harbourfront station, 1 stop later. We arrived at vivocity. To the Sentosa Island, we went to the fourth floor. We paid 3 SGD and took sentosa express line and a light at imbian station, 2 stop later. In that place, we can take a photo with the merlion. We ate KFC there. My parents were too tired to walk with our bag so we decided to use the sentosa express train to the beach part. From the beach station, we went to luge area. I played luge plus sky ride and paid 12 SGD per person. After that, we went to airport. This is the route to airport from Sentosa Island (use Sentosa Island express to vivocity. Use the MRT at lobby vivocity. North East Line= board the train towards pungol station and alight at outram park station, 1 stop later. East West Line, board the train towards Tanah merah station and alight at Tanah merah station, East West Line=Board the train towards change airport and alight at change airport station, 2 stop later. I arrived in terminal 2. There was a post office in terminal 2. I sent some postcards and one stamp for postcard was 0,50 SGD. Then we used connection train to terminal 1. There were some computers that we could use for browsing internet for free. My departure time from Changi Airport to Jakarta was 17.45 and we arrived in Jakarta at 18.25. My father paid for parking about 140,000 for 3 days.
So the Budget that we spent for 3 days Singapore trip exluding shopping are 807,000 rupiah for 3 people, 450,000 for airport tax at Soekarno hatta for 3 people, (12 SGD + refill 10 SGD, total 22 for the ez link each person, we still have our deposit in our ez link expired 5 years), 9 SGD for sentosa island for 3 people, 6 SGD for taxi to hotel, 100 SGD for food (3 people, 5 times), 10 SGD for 5 mineral bottles (1 litre), 140,000 rupiah for parking car 3 days in soekarno hatta.
17 January 2010 in Singapore
We arrived in Changi Airport at 5 pm, terminal 1. (Different time between Jakarta-Singapore is 1 hour). Then we used connection train from terminal 1 to terminal 2, walked about 5 minutes from migration area. We will go to Hotel 81 Dickson in Dickson Road (near from little India and bugis area) and we booked already that place about 190 SGD for 2 nights (if I travel alone, I will stay in hostel. The hotel was near from many hostels, one of them is printfoot hostel). From terminal 2, we used MRT. I bought the Ez Link Card (5 SGD for the card, and 7 for the deposit so total 12 SGD). This was the route to Bugis station from Changi Airport. (East West Line=Board the train towards Tanah merah station and alight at Tanah Merah Station, 2 stop later. Then, East West Line=Board the train towards joo koon station and alight at Bugis, 8 stop later. Actually, Bugis station is not far from Dickson Road, but at that time we didn’t know how to go to Dickson road. We tried to ask people around but no one could explain to us how to go to Dickson road. So we decided to use taxi and spent about 6 SGD. actually it was easy to Dickson road from Bugis station. (First go to behind the station to Bugis Area crossed the rochor road, turn right and go straight until traffic light turn right and crossed the street and there are traffic light again and crossed the Jalan Besar street. Turn right and just follow the Jalan Besar Street until u meet Dickson Road. U will see the board of Hotel 81). We arrived at 8 pm, and we got our deluxe room. We were so hungry so we searched the food area. Anyway, there are many places to eat near from our hotel but we were afraid that it is not halal (Chinese food). Because at that time already mid night so the mall already closed. We ate at Bancoolen Street. Just follow the Jalan Besar to the right from Dickson road. The food was not expensive but not cheap for Indonesian. We spent 16 SGD for 3 people (food and drink). After that we backed to our hotel and Slept.
18 January 2010
We woke up at 6.30 am. Took a Shower, prayed, had our breakfast. We left the hotel at 8.30 am and would go to Orchard Area. We went to Bugis Station and this was the route from bugis to Orchard Station. (East West Line= Board the train towards Joo Koon Station and alight at city hall station, 1 stop later, then North South Line= board the train towards jurong east station, alight at orchard station. And from the station u will arrive at Wisma Altria. Because we arrived at 9 am, so the malls stil closed. We just walked around Orchard until istana park. Then at 10 am, the mall was open and we started shopping. We ate in Food Court Wisma Altria; there are many foods that we could choose. From Orchard we would go to China Town. This was the route from Orchard to China Town Station. (North South Line=Board the train towards Marina Bay and alight at dhobi gaut station, 2 stop later, then North East Line= Board the Train Towards Harbounfront station, and alight at China Town, 2 stop later). We arrived in Chinatown. We bought some souvenirs. We got 30 key chains for only 10 SGD even not the good one. After that, we decided to Mustafa centre in little India area. This was the route from china town to Mustafa centre. (From China town station, North East Line, Board the train toward pungol station and alight at farrer park station, 4 stop later) Then we walked around 7 minutes from that station. We bought perfumes, chocolates, and many things there. From Mustafa centre, we walked to Dickson road. The journey about 15 minutes, but because we already walked a lot and many shopping bag that we brought, we was so tired and felt the journey took so long time. We arrived at the hotel at 2.30 pm and we prayed and took a rest in the room.
At 7 pm, we decided to go outside and see the night of Singapore. We decided to go to Marina bay because it’s popular building in Singapore. To go to Marina Bay we went to Bugis station. This was the route from bugis station to marina bay. (East West Line=Board the train toward joo koon station and alight at raffles place station, 2 stop later. Then, North South Line=Board the train towards marina bay station and alight at marina Bay station, 1 stop later). Then we should walk to Marina Bay, it’s far but maybe I took a wrong way. The view was so great especially if you see the high building near from Marina bay. Then we walked inside and deciided to esplanade. Actually we could walk from marina Bay to Esplanade around 15 minutes, but we were tired at that time. We decided to use bus. We used Bus number 106 or 133 at the esplanade raffles avenue. We ate near from the esplanade. And if u want to take a picture with the marina bay as the background, u could take a picture near from that spot. After that we wanted to go home by bus. We used bus from Esplanade to Bugis station (just see the board schedule; I forget which bus number that I used). We arrived at the hotel at 12 am.
19 January 2010
We woke up at 6.30 am. We took a shower and prayed. My mom wanted to buy more souvenirs so we decided to go to Mustafa Centre again. We just knew that Mustafa centre opened for 24 hours so it was okay if we came to that place before 10 am. We walked to Mustafa from our hotel about 10-15 minutes (just turn left from the hotel and go straight until Serangoon Road. Then turn right, follow the street until u can see Mustafa centre). We bought many souvenirs and chocolates. After that, we back to our hotel at 10 am. We checked out from hotel and we went to Sentosa Island. This was the route from Bugis station to Sentosa Island. (East West Line= board the train towards joo koon station and alight at outram park station. Then, north east line= board the train towards harbourfront station and alight at harbourfront station, 1 stop later. We arrived at vivocity. To the Sentosa Island, we went to the fourth floor. We paid 3 SGD and took sentosa express line and a light at imbian station, 2 stop later. In that place, we can take a photo with the merlion. We ate KFC there. My parents were too tired to walk with our bag so we decided to use the sentosa express train to the beach part. From the beach station, we went to luge area. I played luge plus sky ride and paid 12 SGD per person. After that, we went to airport. This is the route to airport from Sentosa Island (use Sentosa Island express to vivocity. Use the MRT at lobby vivocity. North East Line= board the train towards pungol station and alight at outram park station, 1 stop later. East West Line, board the train towards Tanah merah station and alight at Tanah merah station, East West Line=Board the train towards change airport and alight at change airport station, 2 stop later. I arrived in terminal 2. There was a post office in terminal 2. I sent some postcards and one stamp for postcard was 0,50 SGD. Then we used connection train to terminal 1. There were some computers that we could use for browsing internet for free. My departure time from Changi Airport to Jakarta was 17.45 and we arrived in Jakarta at 18.25. My father paid for parking about 140,000 for 3 days.
So the Budget that we spent for 3 days Singapore trip exluding shopping are 807,000 rupiah for 3 people, 450,000 for airport tax at Soekarno hatta for 3 people, (12 SGD + refill 10 SGD, total 22 for the ez link each person, we still have our deposit in our ez link expired 5 years), 9 SGD for sentosa island for 3 people, 6 SGD for taxi to hotel, 100 SGD for food (3 people, 5 times), 10 SGD for 5 mineral bottles (1 litre), 140,000 rupiah for parking car 3 days in soekarno hatta.
September 2010: Thailand on Semi-Backpaker Style
Me and my friend, Nuran, had a trip to Thailand from 14 September 2010 until 18 September 2010. We visited three places in Thailand which were Bangkok, Phuket and Phi Phi Island. We wanted a comfortable trip and did not spend too much time in the street and were not in hurry. We decided to use airplane for our Thailand trip.
Before flying to Thailand, we already bought the tickets 8 months ago before departure from air Asia (on November 2009) and it was promotion tickets, the fare was zero. We booked the tickets 648,000 rupiah around 60 euros for 2 people including 15 kgs baggage and insurance. We also got promotion for the hotel rooms from Air Asia go 5 months ago before our trip (on February) in peach hill hotel resort in between Karan and kata beach, phuket. It is a four star hotel, so we were so lucky to get this hotel with price 5000 rupiah or around 40 cent euro for two nights. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy promotion ticket from Bangkok to Phuket at the promotion time because in the first plan we would use bus from Bangkok to phuket. We changed our plan because at the time a lot of demonstration in Bangkok, so we would leave Bangkok as soon as possible for our safety. I booked Bangkok-phuket ticket 1 month ago before departure time (on august) and it was 70 US but my friend, nuran booked the ticket 5 days before departure time and it became 120 US (on September). We also booked hotel in phi phi island, PP Casita Hotel and it was 1220 Bath (by hotel atm.com). So if u read our story, we were not a backpacker but we were a semi-backpacker. We just brought cash 125 USD each person.
14 September 2010
I picked up nuran in her house to go to airport and my father drove the car. We checked in at 2 pm in terminal 2 soekarno hatta airport. We paid airport tax 150,000 rupiah each person. Our flight delayed for 25 minutes, but in the reality they delayed for 1 hour. We took off at 5.30 pm and arrived at Bangkok airport at 9 pm. The airport was great and modern. It was different compared with Soekarno Hatta airport. I met my Thai friend, Som, in airport. She is my friend that I met in World Movement for Democracy in Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta March 2010.
Som treated me and nuran a Thai food. I ate tom yam, the price was 180 bath and orange juice 85 bath. She also bought me a Thai number and the credit (300 baths). She was very nice. It’s the truth that Thai people was so friendly and hospitality. I promised to myself, if Som would visit me again in Jakarta or Bogor, I would host her well. After we ate our food, som went back to her house. After that, Nuran and I didn’t know what to do all night long in the airport. We decided to stay in airport because our flight to Phuket on Morning and it would spend more money if we went to city of Bangkok. We saw a prayer room (for Muslim) and it was great, clean and no people inside. We decided to pray here and sleep there. There were a spot that we could choose for a sleep area and would not disturb people who want to pray.
15 September 2010
We woke up at 5 am because adzan started in the prayer room. We cleaned up our face and then prayed. After prayed, we went to outside of airport, took a sit and ate our breakfast (bread that we brought from Indonesia). We checked in at 7 am. We used a trick how we would not have a baggage even our bag was more than 7 kgs (2 bags). We left our 1 bag in the chair while we were check in so the woman in counter just saw us brought 1 bag. But, when we wanted to go to our gate, I had to give my conditioner to the airport girl because it was 150 ml (more than 100 ml was not allowed). But it was okay. After that we went to our gate. Before boarding to our plane, we were so nervous that they would check our bag’s weight. But they didn’t, so everything was okay. Our plan took off at 8.50 am and we arrived in phuket airport at 10.10 am. We were upset because our seat separated each other even we checked in together. (I don’t know why, it’s AIR ASIA)
We arrived in phuket airport at 8.15 am. We booked share bus to go to Kata beach (our hotel, peach hill hotel and resort). We paid 180 baths each person, the shared bus was so great and inside bus looked so fancy. Sharing bus was cheaper than using taxi, but we should wait until the bus full with the passengers. If u want to use public bus, u can use bus to phuket town (85 baths) then from phuket town to patong beach (45 baths), but we decided not to use this way. Then we arrived in our hotel (peach hill hotel and resort) and it was in a truly hill. It was so great. We went to the lobby for check in and they upgrade our room to the new one in peach blossom. Wooohhooo, it was so amazing. We paid only 40 cent and they upgrade our hotel room into the new one. We didn’t believe it. We were so lucky. The room was perfect for honeymoon couple hahahhahaha... it was perfect for 2 young budget girls. The view was perfect; we saw the hill from our window. I could say that WE WERE SO LUCKY!!!! The bathroom was perfect too.. I took a bath (yeaah in the bathtub hehe) and could see view of the hill from the window...sounds cool hah for a budget student like us
Even the weather was so bad because of rain, we still went outside to rent motor bike and searched for cheap tour to phi phi island. We rent motorbike for 200 baths and bought gasoline 100 baths (actually it was too much; you could buy the gasoline only 50 bath). Besides that, we also got our phi phi tour near from Karon beach area just 900 bath (it was open ticket including picked up from and to our hotel, snorkeling in monkey beach, lunch and sightseeing Maya bay and phi phi island). The travel agent helped us nuran to use blackberry in Thailand, so she could use her blackberry during our trip. After that we ride the bike to Patong beach to get our lunch. We ate at halal food restaurant in Ra-U-Rit street just 44 baths. It was so cheap. Then we did sightseeing in patong beach area. Actually the weather was not good coz rainy. We used our umbrella from hotel while we ride the motor bike. And we didn’t know the street in Patong Beach, we just tried to remember the street because when we used the shared bus, there were passanger who stay in Patong Beach so we crossed already the street. Actually, I still didn’t believe how we can survive at that time. We just followed our feeling without map. After that we back again to our hotel in kata beach. I ride motor bike from patong to kata beach about 30 minutes, and the street wasn’t easy coz in a hill. You should be careful. İ swam in the swimming pool and no people there. İ felt like in a private pool hehehe.
After that we dressed up to go to Patong beach to have our dinner. We prayed and at 7 pm we ride the motor bike from Kata beach to Patong beach about 15 minutes, it was lil a bit hard cause we had to cross the hill and it was so dark and no people in the street. I was so afraid that I would hit anything in the street. But we still ride the bike safely until Patong Beach. I really wanted to eat chicken and rice in KFC or Mc.d hehehe, but we didn’t get it. So we decided to eat in burger king (it was 200 bath) we just realized that it was overrated. Don’t try again to eat there, it’s so expensive. U can get a cheaper food in Patong beach area and also u can get cheaper burger king with same menu in other Burger King Frencise. And then, I contacted Hanny, my friend from couchsurfing to meet up. Then he came to Burger King and we decided to walk around Patong Beach Area. We crossed the street, named Bangla Street. Hmm what could I say, it was a prostitute area. A lot of lady boys who sell their self in the street and bar. You could have the menu, but not food or drink menu, but the girl that they sell it to costumer. But, the street was so interesting. You could see people drunk and danced with the lady boys. Maybe the drunk man did not recognize that the girl was a lady boy hahahahha. However, we did not want to party at that area because we had to ride motor bike to go back to our hotel and we should wake up early to go to phi phi island. So we decided to keep walking along the street, and went around Patong Beach Area until 11.00 pm. Then we back to our hotel in Kata Beach even it was rainy and already mid night.
16 September 2010
We woke up at 5.30 and we packed our stuff. We had to check out from the hotel soon because we had our tour to phi phi island. We left 1 of our bags in the hotel because we will back again. We didn’t get breakfast from the hotel because the promotion price did not include the breakfast. The tour guide picked us at 7.30 am then we went to ressada pier (to harbor) to get our cruise to phi phi island. The cruise started at 8.30 am and the weather was so bad. When the rain stop, we decided to sit on top of the cruise so we could see the view. Well, we got an amazing view. Blue water, great islands, it was perfect. The rain came for 1 hour but after that the sun came. We did sightseeing in Maya Bay and snorkeling at Monkey Beach. It was not satisfied because too many people in the sea and sometimes they were so rude. We finished our tour at 2 pm and got our lunch at PP Princess Hotel. The lunch was buffet and the food was delicious. After had our lunch, we searched our hotel P.P Casita and got our room. We were so tired at that time so we decided to take a rest in our room and we woke up at 5.00 pm. Then we went to the beach and swam there. Took some photos, and enjoyed the beach. Hey, we were a best friend. We were so happy could travel together outside our country. After swam on the beach, I swam on the swimming pool at the hotel. We talked with a couple who also stayed in PP. Casita.
Then, we took a shower and dressed up. We had our dinner at Rock Restaurant near PP. Casita. I spent 95 Bath. The price was average. We went to a beach bar; I just bought an orange juice for 80 baths and watched fire dance show (I didn’t drink alcohol). After that we had beach party. We did not want to dance with a drunk man, so we still kept together. We back to our hotel at 2.30 am. We saw an interesting thing. On the day we saw a massage shop and at that night it changed became “Open Now Happy Enjoy Never Ending” heheh. I wonder who came to that place.
17 September 2010
We woke up at 8.30 am. We got our breakfast then we swam on the beach. No people there. Maybe the other travelers still slept because party hard last night. We did sightseeing in Phi Phi Island; we haven’t seen all the part of the island. We saw some are that got tsunami impact. We checked out at 12 pm and waited until 1 pm. We went to our cruise at 1.30 pm from the hotel but our cruise left the port at 2.30 pm. We arrived in Phuket Island at 4 pm then we checked in again at peach blossom hotel. We got our old room, room number 514. After that, we went to Kata Beach at 5.30 pm. We could not see the sunset from that beach. We had our dinner from the beach. The beach was so empty. We back to our hotel but I got my period so we went to family mart near from the hotel to buy the pads. After back to my room, I realized that I lost my camera and thought where the last place that maybe I put my camera there. Then, we tried to ask receptionist and she didn’t see it. And maybe I left it in family mart. So we back to family mart, and the cashier kept it for me. Oh my god, she was so nice. It will be a disaster if we lost the camera, not just the camera that I lost but also our moments that we captured from that camera. We slept at 11 pm and woke up at 3.30 am. We should go to airport early morning because we would fly to Bangkok.
18 September 2010
The receptionist woke up us by phone at 4 am. We checked out at 4.30 am and went to airport by taxi. The taxi was around 1000 bath or more. Our flight to Bangkok is 6.55 am. We arrived in Bangkok at 8.20 am. We bought noodle with price 17 bath and coffee with price 15 bath in 7 eleven at the airport. Som picked up us in the airport because she would took us around Bangkok. She is my nice friend, I LOVE YOU Som. We visited som’s university which is Culalongkorn University. We also visited Siam Paragon and ate our lunch there. After that we went to J.J. market for buying souvenirs. We did shopping around 50 euro and more. Then we back to airport from JJ market at 5.00 pm. We took off from the airport at 7.45 pm, but it was delayed 1 hour and so arrived in soekarno hatta at 12.45 pm. We just had 20 baths left, so we didn’t buy anything for dinner. My parents waited us in soekarno hatta.
So my budget for my trip excluding shopping are 324,000 rupiah for Jakarta-Bangkot Airplane ticket, 640 rupiah for Bangkok-Phuket Aiplane Ticket, 150,000 rupiah for aiport tax in soekarno hatta, 5000 rupiah (for 2 nights hotel in phuket/2 people), 1220 Bath for hotel in phi phi island/2 people, 900 bath for phi phi island cruise open ticket (including snorkeling, transfer from and to hotel, lunch), 180 bath for sharing bus to hotel from phuket airport, 200 bath for rent motor bike, 100 bath for gasoline, 600 bath for food.
At that time 1 bath = 300 rupiah.
Before flying to Thailand, we already bought the tickets 8 months ago before departure from air Asia (on November 2009) and it was promotion tickets, the fare was zero. We booked the tickets 648,000 rupiah around 60 euros for 2 people including 15 kgs baggage and insurance. We also got promotion for the hotel rooms from Air Asia go 5 months ago before our trip (on February) in peach hill hotel resort in between Karan and kata beach, phuket. It is a four star hotel, so we were so lucky to get this hotel with price 5000 rupiah or around 40 cent euro for two nights. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy promotion ticket from Bangkok to Phuket at the promotion time because in the first plan we would use bus from Bangkok to phuket. We changed our plan because at the time a lot of demonstration in Bangkok, so we would leave Bangkok as soon as possible for our safety. I booked Bangkok-phuket ticket 1 month ago before departure time (on august) and it was 70 US but my friend, nuran booked the ticket 5 days before departure time and it became 120 US (on September). We also booked hotel in phi phi island, PP Casita Hotel and it was 1220 Bath (by hotel atm.com). So if u read our story, we were not a backpacker but we were a semi-backpacker. We just brought cash 125 USD each person.
14 September 2010
I picked up nuran in her house to go to airport and my father drove the car. We checked in at 2 pm in terminal 2 soekarno hatta airport. We paid airport tax 150,000 rupiah each person. Our flight delayed for 25 minutes, but in the reality they delayed for 1 hour. We took off at 5.30 pm and arrived at Bangkok airport at 9 pm. The airport was great and modern. It was different compared with Soekarno Hatta airport. I met my Thai friend, Som, in airport. She is my friend that I met in World Movement for Democracy in Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta March 2010.
Som treated me and nuran a Thai food. I ate tom yam, the price was 180 bath and orange juice 85 bath. She also bought me a Thai number and the credit (300 baths). She was very nice. It’s the truth that Thai people was so friendly and hospitality. I promised to myself, if Som would visit me again in Jakarta or Bogor, I would host her well. After we ate our food, som went back to her house. After that, Nuran and I didn’t know what to do all night long in the airport. We decided to stay in airport because our flight to Phuket on Morning and it would spend more money if we went to city of Bangkok. We saw a prayer room (for Muslim) and it was great, clean and no people inside. We decided to pray here and sleep there. There were a spot that we could choose for a sleep area and would not disturb people who want to pray.
15 September 2010
We woke up at 5 am because adzan started in the prayer room. We cleaned up our face and then prayed. After prayed, we went to outside of airport, took a sit and ate our breakfast (bread that we brought from Indonesia). We checked in at 7 am. We used a trick how we would not have a baggage even our bag was more than 7 kgs (2 bags). We left our 1 bag in the chair while we were check in so the woman in counter just saw us brought 1 bag. But, when we wanted to go to our gate, I had to give my conditioner to the airport girl because it was 150 ml (more than 100 ml was not allowed). But it was okay. After that we went to our gate. Before boarding to our plane, we were so nervous that they would check our bag’s weight. But they didn’t, so everything was okay. Our plan took off at 8.50 am and we arrived in phuket airport at 10.10 am. We were upset because our seat separated each other even we checked in together. (I don’t know why, it’s AIR ASIA)
We arrived in phuket airport at 8.15 am. We booked share bus to go to Kata beach (our hotel, peach hill hotel and resort). We paid 180 baths each person, the shared bus was so great and inside bus looked so fancy. Sharing bus was cheaper than using taxi, but we should wait until the bus full with the passengers. If u want to use public bus, u can use bus to phuket town (85 baths) then from phuket town to patong beach (45 baths), but we decided not to use this way. Then we arrived in our hotel (peach hill hotel and resort) and it was in a truly hill. It was so great. We went to the lobby for check in and they upgrade our room to the new one in peach blossom. Wooohhooo, it was so amazing. We paid only 40 cent and they upgrade our hotel room into the new one. We didn’t believe it. We were so lucky. The room was perfect for honeymoon couple hahahhahaha... it was perfect for 2 young budget girls. The view was perfect; we saw the hill from our window. I could say that WE WERE SO LUCKY!!!! The bathroom was perfect too.. I took a bath (yeaah in the bathtub hehe) and could see view of the hill from the window...sounds cool hah for a budget student like us
Even the weather was so bad because of rain, we still went outside to rent motor bike and searched for cheap tour to phi phi island. We rent motorbike for 200 baths and bought gasoline 100 baths (actually it was too much; you could buy the gasoline only 50 bath). Besides that, we also got our phi phi tour near from Karon beach area just 900 bath (it was open ticket including picked up from and to our hotel, snorkeling in monkey beach, lunch and sightseeing Maya bay and phi phi island). The travel agent helped us nuran to use blackberry in Thailand, so she could use her blackberry during our trip. After that we ride the bike to Patong beach to get our lunch. We ate at halal food restaurant in Ra-U-Rit street just 44 baths. It was so cheap. Then we did sightseeing in patong beach area. Actually the weather was not good coz rainy. We used our umbrella from hotel while we ride the motor bike. And we didn’t know the street in Patong Beach, we just tried to remember the street because when we used the shared bus, there were passanger who stay in Patong Beach so we crossed already the street. Actually, I still didn’t believe how we can survive at that time. We just followed our feeling without map. After that we back again to our hotel in kata beach. I ride motor bike from patong to kata beach about 30 minutes, and the street wasn’t easy coz in a hill. You should be careful. İ swam in the swimming pool and no people there. İ felt like in a private pool hehehe.
After that we dressed up to go to Patong beach to have our dinner. We prayed and at 7 pm we ride the motor bike from Kata beach to Patong beach about 15 minutes, it was lil a bit hard cause we had to cross the hill and it was so dark and no people in the street. I was so afraid that I would hit anything in the street. But we still ride the bike safely until Patong Beach. I really wanted to eat chicken and rice in KFC or Mc.d hehehe, but we didn’t get it. So we decided to eat in burger king (it was 200 bath) we just realized that it was overrated. Don’t try again to eat there, it’s so expensive. U can get a cheaper food in Patong beach area and also u can get cheaper burger king with same menu in other Burger King Frencise. And then, I contacted Hanny, my friend from couchsurfing to meet up. Then he came to Burger King and we decided to walk around Patong Beach Area. We crossed the street, named Bangla Street. Hmm what could I say, it was a prostitute area. A lot of lady boys who sell their self in the street and bar. You could have the menu, but not food or drink menu, but the girl that they sell it to costumer. But, the street was so interesting. You could see people drunk and danced with the lady boys. Maybe the drunk man did not recognize that the girl was a lady boy hahahahha. However, we did not want to party at that area because we had to ride motor bike to go back to our hotel and we should wake up early to go to phi phi island. So we decided to keep walking along the street, and went around Patong Beach Area until 11.00 pm. Then we back to our hotel in Kata Beach even it was rainy and already mid night.
16 September 2010
We woke up at 5.30 and we packed our stuff. We had to check out from the hotel soon because we had our tour to phi phi island. We left 1 of our bags in the hotel because we will back again. We didn’t get breakfast from the hotel because the promotion price did not include the breakfast. The tour guide picked us at 7.30 am then we went to ressada pier (to harbor) to get our cruise to phi phi island. The cruise started at 8.30 am and the weather was so bad. When the rain stop, we decided to sit on top of the cruise so we could see the view. Well, we got an amazing view. Blue water, great islands, it was perfect. The rain came for 1 hour but after that the sun came. We did sightseeing in Maya Bay and snorkeling at Monkey Beach. It was not satisfied because too many people in the sea and sometimes they were so rude. We finished our tour at 2 pm and got our lunch at PP Princess Hotel. The lunch was buffet and the food was delicious. After had our lunch, we searched our hotel P.P Casita and got our room. We were so tired at that time so we decided to take a rest in our room and we woke up at 5.00 pm. Then we went to the beach and swam there. Took some photos, and enjoyed the beach. Hey, we were a best friend. We were so happy could travel together outside our country. After swam on the beach, I swam on the swimming pool at the hotel. We talked with a couple who also stayed in PP. Casita.
Then, we took a shower and dressed up. We had our dinner at Rock Restaurant near PP. Casita. I spent 95 Bath. The price was average. We went to a beach bar; I just bought an orange juice for 80 baths and watched fire dance show (I didn’t drink alcohol). After that we had beach party. We did not want to dance with a drunk man, so we still kept together. We back to our hotel at 2.30 am. We saw an interesting thing. On the day we saw a massage shop and at that night it changed became “Open Now Happy Enjoy Never Ending” heheh. I wonder who came to that place.
17 September 2010
We woke up at 8.30 am. We got our breakfast then we swam on the beach. No people there. Maybe the other travelers still slept because party hard last night. We did sightseeing in Phi Phi Island; we haven’t seen all the part of the island. We saw some are that got tsunami impact. We checked out at 12 pm and waited until 1 pm. We went to our cruise at 1.30 pm from the hotel but our cruise left the port at 2.30 pm. We arrived in Phuket Island at 4 pm then we checked in again at peach blossom hotel. We got our old room, room number 514. After that, we went to Kata Beach at 5.30 pm. We could not see the sunset from that beach. We had our dinner from the beach. The beach was so empty. We back to our hotel but I got my period so we went to family mart near from the hotel to buy the pads. After back to my room, I realized that I lost my camera and thought where the last place that maybe I put my camera there. Then, we tried to ask receptionist and she didn’t see it. And maybe I left it in family mart. So we back to family mart, and the cashier kept it for me. Oh my god, she was so nice. It will be a disaster if we lost the camera, not just the camera that I lost but also our moments that we captured from that camera. We slept at 11 pm and woke up at 3.30 am. We should go to airport early morning because we would fly to Bangkok.
18 September 2010
The receptionist woke up us by phone at 4 am. We checked out at 4.30 am and went to airport by taxi. The taxi was around 1000 bath or more. Our flight to Bangkok is 6.55 am. We arrived in Bangkok at 8.20 am. We bought noodle with price 17 bath and coffee with price 15 bath in 7 eleven at the airport. Som picked up us in the airport because she would took us around Bangkok. She is my nice friend, I LOVE YOU Som. We visited som’s university which is Culalongkorn University. We also visited Siam Paragon and ate our lunch there. After that we went to J.J. market for buying souvenirs. We did shopping around 50 euro and more. Then we back to airport from JJ market at 5.00 pm. We took off from the airport at 7.45 pm, but it was delayed 1 hour and so arrived in soekarno hatta at 12.45 pm. We just had 20 baths left, so we didn’t buy anything for dinner. My parents waited us in soekarno hatta.
So my budget for my trip excluding shopping are 324,000 rupiah for Jakarta-Bangkot Airplane ticket, 640 rupiah for Bangkok-Phuket Aiplane Ticket, 150,000 rupiah for aiport tax in soekarno hatta, 5000 rupiah (for 2 nights hotel in phuket/2 people), 1220 Bath for hotel in phi phi island/2 people, 900 bath for phi phi island cruise open ticket (including snorkeling, transfer from and to hotel, lunch), 180 bath for sharing bus to hotel from phuket airport, 200 bath for rent motor bike, 100 bath for gasoline, 600 bath for food.
At that time 1 bath = 300 rupiah.
July 2010: Berlin on Summer 2010
On 25 August 2010, I visited Berlin. I would spend my time in Berlin until 31 August. I decided to come to this country because it would be cheaper if I had flight from Istanbul to Berlin then from Istanbul to Vienna. I also had friend in Berlin so I didn’t have to pay for accommodation. I booked the flight from Istanbul to Berlin about 70 euros one way . I will go to Vienna for conference (Muslim jewish Conference 2010) by train. My flight was on mid night at 11.30 pm from Istanbul and arrived at 2 am in Berlin. That day was very hard for me. İ should said good bye to my AIESEC friends, I spent time with them for 1 month and they were my new family, and I also should make a paper about Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism that I had to submit it on that day or the chair would replace me with someone else. I haven’t packed all my stuff and I didn’t know how to go to airport (Sabiha Token Airport) from Yeditepe University (my place) but still I tried not to care, I was still busy with my paper. And also I didn’t know who will pick up me from Berlin airport at 3 am to my friend’s place. Thanks god, technology helped me. My friend in Indonesia (resty, I love you) tweets about my journey to Berlin from twitter and her friend in Berlin (ichsan) read it and offered me help to pick up me in airport.
So at 3 am, Ichsan picked up me from airport with his germanian friend and he drove car :) so I didn’t spent money for transportation from airport (lucky again ). On the first day in Berlin, I stayed in Ichsan's flat and ate Indomie hehehe (Ichsan, I love youuu..I really missed INDOMIE because almost 1,5 months I didn’t get it in turkey). Then on afternoon we woke up coz we slept on the morning, I bought a one day ticket for transportation around 6 euro in the station (Ichsan helped me so much, don’t forget to bring ur pasport) and then me and ichsan went to many places such as brandenburger tor, altes museum, poztdamerplatz, bundeskanzleramt and we bought pizza in zoo station (3 euro). I also knew if I bought the mineral water in Berlin I could get my money back around 50 cent euro if I returned the bottle. I had a trick to save my money in Germany, I brought water with my bottle (refilled it) or if it was empty I went to toilet to refill it :) hehehe come one I was a budget traveler.
I spent almost 7 days in Berlin. I stayed in June's place (my friend from Indonesia). I missed You, June!! We hang out together or sometimes I went around by myself because he was busy with his course. I bought ticket for 1 week (Tage Karte) around 22 euros so I could use any transportations in Berlin (S bahn, U bahn, public Bus). Berlin city centre was not difficult to travel alone. I had map but the difficult was I could not make a difference which one tourist or the local if I got lost and want to ask somebody. Sometimes I asked direction to go somewhere but they didn’t know it because they were also tourists. But most of them tried to help me. İ visited many places by myself, if I got lost I always back to Berlin haubanhof because I understand that place already. İ visited poztdamerplatz and sat in the grass. Writing my diary and sometimes bought an ice cream. The weather was good at the time. I felt SUMMER.
Maybe I just spent 100 euro in Berlin for 1 week (excluding flight), I didn’t spent much money. I just spent for bought many postcards and some souvenirs, ice cream, transportation ticket, and food. Sometimes I ate in my friend's place. We cooked together (chicken, rice, sambal, vegetables), so I didn’t spent for that food. If I bought in a restaurant maybe it was 7 euro cause it was Indonesian food and Indonesian food was very expensive in Berlin.
On the last night, I tried nightlife of Berlin with my friend, June. We went to Bar 25(entrance fee=10 euro), my friend told me it was the famous one and we could find it in lonely planet book. We arrived very soon; it was about 11 pm so not much people at that time. The Bar was very cool, there were 4 djs in the difference area and also they played different music so I could choose what I want. I choose the techno one coz the beat is the fastest then the other one. It was a great experience for me. We party hard even no alcohol for me. Maybe I just the only person who didn’t drunk at that time but people thought I was drunk. We enjoyed the party until 8 am and a lot of experience that ı got in that party. We came back to June’s place on the morning and at 12 pm I came to Ichsan place for taking my stuff and I ate Indonesian food again in his place :) . At 3 pm I went back to June’s place and packed my stuff and I went to station (Berlin hautbanhouf, I forgot how to write it heheh) by myself.
My train to Vienna came at 7 pm so I have to move from June's place at 5 pm. actually the validity of my tage karte still available for 3 days. I tried to give to anyone but they rejected. I asked 7 people but they didn’t want to take it. I gave up, ı just tried to be nice because I don’t want wasted my money, but no one wanted it. I kept my weekly ticket. I booked ticket from Berlin to Vienna around 50 euros. İ was so sleepy coz not sleep enough. And actually, at the time I don’t know how to go to Vienna by train hehehe. I said to myself, everything would be all right even I would lost in Vienna . Let’s to get lost!
So at 3 am, Ichsan picked up me from airport with his germanian friend and he drove car :) so I didn’t spent money for transportation from airport (lucky again ). On the first day in Berlin, I stayed in Ichsan's flat and ate Indomie hehehe (Ichsan, I love youuu..I really missed INDOMIE because almost 1,5 months I didn’t get it in turkey). Then on afternoon we woke up coz we slept on the morning, I bought a one day ticket for transportation around 6 euro in the station (Ichsan helped me so much, don’t forget to bring ur pasport) and then me and ichsan went to many places such as brandenburger tor, altes museum, poztdamerplatz, bundeskanzleramt and we bought pizza in zoo station (3 euro). I also knew if I bought the mineral water in Berlin I could get my money back around 50 cent euro if I returned the bottle. I had a trick to save my money in Germany, I brought water with my bottle (refilled it) or if it was empty I went to toilet to refill it :) hehehe come one I was a budget traveler.
I spent almost 7 days in Berlin. I stayed in June's place (my friend from Indonesia). I missed You, June!! We hang out together or sometimes I went around by myself because he was busy with his course. I bought ticket for 1 week (Tage Karte) around 22 euros so I could use any transportations in Berlin (S bahn, U bahn, public Bus). Berlin city centre was not difficult to travel alone. I had map but the difficult was I could not make a difference which one tourist or the local if I got lost and want to ask somebody. Sometimes I asked direction to go somewhere but they didn’t know it because they were also tourists. But most of them tried to help me. İ visited many places by myself, if I got lost I always back to Berlin haubanhof because I understand that place already. İ visited poztdamerplatz and sat in the grass. Writing my diary and sometimes bought an ice cream. The weather was good at the time. I felt SUMMER.
Maybe I just spent 100 euro in Berlin for 1 week (excluding flight), I didn’t spent much money. I just spent for bought many postcards and some souvenirs, ice cream, transportation ticket, and food. Sometimes I ate in my friend's place. We cooked together (chicken, rice, sambal, vegetables), so I didn’t spent for that food. If I bought in a restaurant maybe it was 7 euro cause it was Indonesian food and Indonesian food was very expensive in Berlin.
On the last night, I tried nightlife of Berlin with my friend, June. We went to Bar 25(entrance fee=10 euro), my friend told me it was the famous one and we could find it in lonely planet book. We arrived very soon; it was about 11 pm so not much people at that time. The Bar was very cool, there were 4 djs in the difference area and also they played different music so I could choose what I want. I choose the techno one coz the beat is the fastest then the other one. It was a great experience for me. We party hard even no alcohol for me. Maybe I just the only person who didn’t drunk at that time but people thought I was drunk. We enjoyed the party until 8 am and a lot of experience that ı got in that party. We came back to June’s place on the morning and at 12 pm I came to Ichsan place for taking my stuff and I ate Indonesian food again in his place :) . At 3 pm I went back to June’s place and packed my stuff and I went to station (Berlin hautbanhouf, I forgot how to write it heheh) by myself.
My train to Vienna came at 7 pm so I have to move from June's place at 5 pm. actually the validity of my tage karte still available for 3 days. I tried to give to anyone but they rejected. I asked 7 people but they didn’t want to take it. I gave up, ı just tried to be nice because I don’t want wasted my money, but no one wanted it. I kept my weekly ticket. I booked ticket from Berlin to Vienna around 50 euros. İ was so sleepy coz not sleep enough. And actually, at the time I don’t know how to go to Vienna by train hehehe. I said to myself, everything would be all right even I would lost in Vienna . Let’s to get lost!
June 201: Trip to SWEDEN
I visited Sweden to meet my boyfriend on 6 June – 12 June 2010. He just graduate from his degree on 4 June 2010, he had free time around those days. I got budget price ticket to Stockholm from Istanbul. The ticket was 743,86 Liras around 300 Euros. Leo booked the ticket with his card because I can’t use my credit card. I paid to Leo 2,500,000 rupiah around 230 Euros and Leo who paid 75-100 euro. I had multiple entry visas, I asked visa to Sweden embassy and Leo helped me to get it. My visa type was visiting friend, and I got Leo’s documents to be my guarantor.
6 June 2010
I arrived in Armanda Airport at 4.30 am on 6 June 2010. I stayed in Astrid’s house and would wait Leo to pick up me from her house. We arrived at Astrid’s house around 6 am. And we called Leo to tell the address. I had culture shock on my first day in Sweden. First, even I came on summer, it was fucking cold. Second, they said it was still night even there was a SUN outside. In Indonesia we called morning after the sunrise. At 7.00 am, Astrid slept in her room and I took a rest in her living room. I want to contact Leo but my Mobile phone did not work (no signal) and I didn’t want to wake up Astrid to borrow her phone. I didn’t know what to do at that time. I can’t sleep because it’s strange for me to sleep at 8 am, I felt jet lag. I was so worry that Leo couldnot find the address but I could’t contact him until Astrid woke up. So, I spent my time with browsing internet. Astrid borrowed me her laptop. Then, I cooked my breakfast. Well, I felt so stupid. I didn’t know how to cook with Swedish kitchen stuff Hahaha it was the first time I came to European country. But, I could handle it. I enjoyed my breakfast with complicated feeling, what would happen next. It’s difficult to contact people in Indonesia on that situation. I felt like somewhere beyond the sea. No one cold help me if my decision was wrong. I just trust with my feeling. My feeling told me that Astrid was a nice person, and it was right. I hope my boyfriend also was a nice person, so everything would be okay. He was the only person that I beg on and I trust. He was the only person that I knew on that country. Well, my senior was studying in Sweden but he was in another European country. If Leo would rape me or do something bad, I didnt know what I should do… hahahahha it’s a silly thought.
Then, at 12 pm, Astrid woke up and I said to her that I want to call Leo. And we called Leo and he was still in Stockholm Station. He waited me on the first our meeting point. He got my first call when he was sleeping so he didn’t listen carefully. Astrid gave him the direction from the Stockholm station to her apartment. It’s not that far. While I was waiting Leo, I helped Astrid to take her bags from the car to her room. They were huge bags. Then I saw Leo from the street and say hello to us and helped us. He was wearing his white shirt and brought his backpack. Astrid did not know that it was the first time I saw Leo. Well, we didn’t look such people who met in the first time. At least, I knew he was my boyfriend from far away. Then we said good bye to Astrid, I took a picture with her and Leo who helped us.
From Astrid’s apartment we went to Stockholm city centre. We used MRT there, I forget the name. We booked room for 1 night in Adlon Hotel Stockholm, he paid for that. We decided to spend 1 day in Stockholm because he want me to enjoy Stockholm first before coming to Örebro. 6 June was a national day in Sweden. It was the princess wedding, as I remember. So, I saw many photos of the kingdom family. Many attractions on that day, Leo said I was so lucky because coming on 6 June. I enjoyed many attractions. There were a lot of Swedish flag. Sweden was so blue at that time, not only the sky but because it was national day so everything become in blue color.
We saw many performances, many stages, and we tried Stockholm Arlanda Airport Official Love Airport. We went inside with the kids hehehe it was so funny. We flew to many countries, from romantic European places to romantic tropical places. Well I traveled around the world with my boyfriend even it was just a simulation. Then we walked around Stockholm and sat near from the sea. We started to analyze people which one was Swedish which one was a tourist. I knew which one was Swedish from their fashion and how they looked like. I could say Leo was not Swedish because he was not a typical Swedish compared others hehehe. I also saw Swedish culture. I forget the name of the culture, it’s a teenager culture who just graduate from high school. They danced on the truck with disco music and get drunk. The girls only wore underwear and the boys were topless. And Leo said I was lucky because can watch that culture. Woohoo, so I came on the right time .
After sightseeing, we had our lunch. I forget the name of the cafe but it was the popular one and a bit expensive. Then, we back to the hotel. The entire TV programs only show the national day situation and the kingdom family. I was so bored with that kingdom family because I saw their face everywhere. I remember the way how they were smiling lol. But seems, Leo enjoyed watching Rambo movie. Well Leo, I was so jet lag, so tired and haven’t slept yet. I was so sleepy and you watch a Rambo movie hahahah. Just bye bye the night hahahah tomorrow I would come to Leo’s house.
7 June 2010
We went to Örebro this day. We woke up at 10 am and lay on the bed then take a shower. After that, we checked out from the hotel but we still kept our stuff in the hotel. We went to the station to buy the ticket. We would go to Örebro at 3 pm, the price was 147 krona each ticket. We decided to look around the city before leaving Stockholm. We got our stuff in the hotel and went to station. Then at 3 pm we took our train. It was the modern one with 2 floors. We sit in the first floor. Leo slept in the train and I listened the songs from his ps. From Stockholm to Orebro around 1 hour I guess. Then, we walked to the parking area and he said “this is my bike. I would ride the bike and you walk” and I said “oh my god, are you serious?”. Well, I didn’t know that this country really eco friendly. I mean I thought European countries were so modern, I didn’t imagine that they would bike everywhere. But he didn’t ride the bike of course; we walked together with his bike. Well, it was a romantic moment for me if the weather was not fucking cold like that. It’s not only cold but also windy. We walked around 20 minutes. On the journey, he said this is our city centre, this is the hotel where I would get my internship, and this is my school. Well, you just walk to go to everyplace. I would spend 3 hours if I walk to my school in Indonesia hahahah. And the city centre was empty. This was so silly, the night would come on 11 pm in Sweden and on 6 pm all the shop already closed. Hello, it was strange for Asian people who have 24 hours shop in my country.
I didnt know where Leo would bring me. He should go to practice football at 6 pm and now 5 pm. he left the bike in somewhere, I didn’t know the place name then we took a bus. Well, we visited his university (Örebro University). He showed me his office in ESN örebro. He is the president on that organization. Then he said, “Hani I should go to practice, where do you want to wait me, in the computer room or in the library”. I thought he would practice in the university. Well, I could wait you everywhere; it’s up to you (typical Asian Girl always said up to you). Then I decided to stay in the computer room because no much people there. After that, Leo told me that he would not go to practice because it was already late and he would not practice in university but far away from here. SO WHY DO YOU TAKE ME TO THIS UNIVERSITY LEO?? And he said, “You told me you want to open facebook and contact your friend in Indonesia. So I didn’t want you to be boring while waiting me practices football so I take you to my university to get the internet”. And I just thought, “Oh my god, well I miss my friends and want to check my facebook but it doesn’t mean we have to go to your university”, “I can wait you at home, why u didn’t take me directly into your home and I can sleep there”, and he said “I didn’t want you to be boring at my house because nobody at home”. So we spent our time in Computer lab with his account then we came to his house.
From his university, we took but to his apartment in nygatan street. I was freezing at that time. I was so headache because of the weather. Leo gave me the Tibetan Tea; he said it would good for me. The taste was bad but it worked. I felt better. I stayed in Leo’s room, a cozy one. He never switches on the lamp and closes the window (maybe it called eco friendly hehehe)
8 June 2010
I woke up at 4 am. I couldn’t sleep well because of the sun from the window. The sunrise at 3 am in Sweden and it was suck. I asked Leo to go to toilet and he asked me “do not make some noise” (typical Swedish). Even I opened the door smoothly still Leo said “sssstttt, be careful”. Okay boss, at least I tried. I could sleep after back from toilet. I wait Leo until he get up and he get up at 10 am. Then, I cook fried noodle for me and Leo. I brought the noodle from Indonesia. Then Leo make up the bed and washed the glass and the plates. He washed with hot water; well we didn’t do it Indonesia. He said the bacteria would die fastly with hot water (okay nice information). Leo arranged my plan for today. We would walk around Örebro and meet my Indonesian friend in Wadköping. We walked the street and passed the church. It’s the main church, but Leo didn’t come there since young. We came inside but just look around. Then we wnt to Örebro castle, I forget the name. We couldnt entry the castle, it was closed. Then we went to Wadköping Park to meet Ka Juli. We saw some children play in the park. It was so cute. They were enjoying the summer with their friends. They were enjoying their ice cream.
Leo asked me which food that I want to eat for today. I said I want something spicy and hot. Then he took me to pizza shop. Oh my god, it was a single one but the portion was too much for Asian people. We could serve it for 3-4 people I guess in Indonesia. Leo, didn’t we just share and bought only 1 single pizza. It’s toooo much!! I wanted to eat all because it was too expensive. But my stomach was already full, so I just ate the half of the pizza. Then we went to city centre and entry on of the mall. We went to the bookstore and sit in the café near from the bookstore. Leo told me about the style was Sweden. There were color style and opposite style. Color style was the people who like wearing clothes or accessories colorfully and the opposite style was the people who like wearing clothes or accessories full of black. It’s interesting. Leo had 2 free cinema tickets and he used it with me. We watched prince and Persia. The film played on Swedish, so sometimes I miss the conversation. But still okay
9 June 2010
After woke up, Leo asked me what do I want to do today. Well, I wanted to do picnic with Leo in the park. And Leo accepted my idea. We cooked the food from Leo’s refrigerator. I had meatball, salad and potatoes. Then we walked to Wadköping Park. We sat on my scarf and watching the children enjoying their summer. We ate our food and had conversation. Well, I love picnic. I love nature. I love not crowded place. I love a peaceful place. After that, Leo asked me what I want to do next. I said I want to play rollerblade while Leo ride the bike, and he said he had. Then we go to the next floor to find the rollerblade. But it was too difficult to find it and Leo didn’t know where his father put it. I saw Leo’s young photo for his school graduation (Swedish has culture to make a pamphlet board with their young photo inside for his high school graduation). It’s so cuuutteee Leo.
No rollerblade, I asked Leo to play ice skating. So we walked to ice skating arena but the place was closed on summer. I was not lucky. We decided to go to Willys to buy some candies, chocolates and chips. Leo love candy and chocolates so much. I also bought fanta and chips (I forget the name, but I watched the advertisement of those chips on TV). After that we go to cinema and Leo bought the ticket. But I watched alone because Leo practiced American football. I watched a team and no woman in the studio, only me. This movie was only for man hahaha. Well, maybe Swedish woman did not like a fighting movie. After the movie finished, Leo wait me in the entrance and we went to Max to have our dinner. Max was my favorite because they have my spicy menu hahahah. After that we went home and spent night in Leo’s house.
10 June 2011
We decided to go to IKEA in Örebro. Well, I was in Sweden so why didn’t see IKEA in Sweden because IKEA came from this country. We used bus to go to IKEA örebro. The place was not in city centre. It was the second time that I used bus in Örebro. Mostly I walked in Örebro.I bought many things in IKEA. It was disaster because I was afraid with my baggage. It was the first week of my trip and I bought many things such as bedcover, pillow, blankets, and frame hahahaha. I had my lunch in a mall near from IKEA. We came to alcohol store. Leo bought some beers for him and his friends. And we also bought a drink free alcohol because I didn’t drink alcohol. After that we back to Leo’s house to put our shopping bag and then we went to Willys to buy some chocolates and candies. I bought some for souvenirs because it was cheap compare with the price in Indonesia. Then we went to cinema to buy ticket Sex in the city. I would watch at 6 pm because Leo would have practice at that time as usual. After got the ticket, we back to Leo’s house to take Leo’s property for practice. Well, I did something wrong at that time. When we wanted to go home, Leo asked what time was it, and I said 5 pm. So we had to hurry because Leo would be late to go to practice. From Leo’s house, Leo ride the bike and I sat in the back (well, it’s too scare for me, both of us was not slim hahaha). Leo took me to the cinema first and said good bye. Then I watched the movie, and no man in the studio. No man for sex in the city lol. Yesterday, I watched with full of men in the studio and today I watched with full of women in the studio. Hehehe… As usual, Leo waited me in entrance of the cinema after the film was finished. And he laughed at me because I did something wrong. Actually, we didn’t late at the time. When Leo asked me what time was it and I said 5 pm, the truth, it was 4 pm because my watch used Turkish time (different 1 hour from Sweden) hehehe. Stupid me:p . After that we went home and spent our time with our free alcohol drink. I just drank one glass and Leo drank all the drink lol.
11 June 2010
On this day, we back again to Willys. I bought a box of candies hahahah. Then we visited Leo’s university. We went to the library and I used the computer there. I made presentation for my MMW project in turkey and Leo watched YouTube. He watched serial movie Indonesia, we called sinetron. And he was so happy and laughed a lot. He loved BOIM WONG hahahahah. After that we went to city centre and came to H&M. I decided to buy clothes there. Well, I’m too complicated while shopping. I could spend more than 1 hour just for thinking “I should buy this or not”. Leo accompanied me shopping but I couldn’t shop while a man watched on me. So I asked Leo to wait me near from the escalator because I couldn’t concentrate for shopping if he was near from me. And he waited me for 1 hour near from the escalator then he said he need to say goodbye to the intern who would go home the day after. So, I said he could go and back 1,5 hour later. It was good for me because I didn’t want him feel boring while waited me. I continued shopping and spent 2,5 hours in that store. I spent 100 euro in that store. I bought many things and I was afraid with my baggage AGAIN! Hehehe… After that Leo came to me and we went to MAX to have our dinner. Why I prefer max because it was not expensive than others and also there was a spicy menu . Then we went home and I packed some of my stuff because I would leave Sweden tomorrow. On the night, I fought with Leo because of our personal thing. He lied on me and I couldn’t accept it. It spent for 3 hours to be angry with that man then I decided not to break my last day.
12 June 2010
On the morning, Leo cooked pancake for me. Maybe he felt guilty with what he did to me. I just spent my last day in Leo’s house. I just met his brother in his house because his parents in their summer house. I packed all my stuff and we decided to go to station at 3 pm because Leo had to go to another city. He had a game with his team. I came on his free day of the classes but on his tournament session. It was okay . Leo gave me Örebro Blacknight t-shirt. I gave him many things for souvenir. Then at 2.30 pm, we left the house and went to station. Leo also already bought his property for football game because the game would start on 6 pm as I remember. I was sad because he couldn’t accompany me to airport and I would spend my lonely time in Arlanda airport. I would fly on 3 am on 13 June 2010. It was suck because I hate being lonely but no option. I bought my ticket 147 krona and leo gave me 100 krona because my krona was limited. I said good bye with leo on the train and then the train left Örebro to Stockholm. It took 1 hour maybe I forgot. Arrived in Stockholm, I bought Arlanda Express with my credit card. It was 120 krona. Because it is still 5 pm, I went to MAX near the station. It was so cold outside. At that time, I was so lonely in Stockholm. I ate alone without anyone beside me and thought what would happen next. After that, I used the internet, about 25 krona per hour. I spent 2 hours then I decided to go to airport. No much people in Airport. I could count it, I guess. Shops were closed. I didn’t know what to do then I back to used the internet. It was more expensive then the internet in station. I spent almost 3 hours on internet. Then I checked in at 1.30 am as I remember. Oh my god, I feel in love with Sweden. I would back again someday
6 June 2010
I arrived in Armanda Airport at 4.30 am on 6 June 2010. I stayed in Astrid’s house and would wait Leo to pick up me from her house. We arrived at Astrid’s house around 6 am. And we called Leo to tell the address. I had culture shock on my first day in Sweden. First, even I came on summer, it was fucking cold. Second, they said it was still night even there was a SUN outside. In Indonesia we called morning after the sunrise. At 7.00 am, Astrid slept in her room and I took a rest in her living room. I want to contact Leo but my Mobile phone did not work (no signal) and I didn’t want to wake up Astrid to borrow her phone. I didn’t know what to do at that time. I can’t sleep because it’s strange for me to sleep at 8 am, I felt jet lag. I was so worry that Leo couldnot find the address but I could’t contact him until Astrid woke up. So, I spent my time with browsing internet. Astrid borrowed me her laptop. Then, I cooked my breakfast. Well, I felt so stupid. I didn’t know how to cook with Swedish kitchen stuff Hahaha it was the first time I came to European country. But, I could handle it. I enjoyed my breakfast with complicated feeling, what would happen next. It’s difficult to contact people in Indonesia on that situation. I felt like somewhere beyond the sea. No one cold help me if my decision was wrong. I just trust with my feeling. My feeling told me that Astrid was a nice person, and it was right. I hope my boyfriend also was a nice person, so everything would be okay. He was the only person that I beg on and I trust. He was the only person that I knew on that country. Well, my senior was studying in Sweden but he was in another European country. If Leo would rape me or do something bad, I didnt know what I should do… hahahahha it’s a silly thought.
Then, at 12 pm, Astrid woke up and I said to her that I want to call Leo. And we called Leo and he was still in Stockholm Station. He waited me on the first our meeting point. He got my first call when he was sleeping so he didn’t listen carefully. Astrid gave him the direction from the Stockholm station to her apartment. It’s not that far. While I was waiting Leo, I helped Astrid to take her bags from the car to her room. They were huge bags. Then I saw Leo from the street and say hello to us and helped us. He was wearing his white shirt and brought his backpack. Astrid did not know that it was the first time I saw Leo. Well, we didn’t look such people who met in the first time. At least, I knew he was my boyfriend from far away. Then we said good bye to Astrid, I took a picture with her and Leo who helped us.
From Astrid’s apartment we went to Stockholm city centre. We used MRT there, I forget the name. We booked room for 1 night in Adlon Hotel Stockholm, he paid for that. We decided to spend 1 day in Stockholm because he want me to enjoy Stockholm first before coming to Örebro. 6 June was a national day in Sweden. It was the princess wedding, as I remember. So, I saw many photos of the kingdom family. Many attractions on that day, Leo said I was so lucky because coming on 6 June. I enjoyed many attractions. There were a lot of Swedish flag. Sweden was so blue at that time, not only the sky but because it was national day so everything become in blue color.
We saw many performances, many stages, and we tried Stockholm Arlanda Airport Official Love Airport. We went inside with the kids hehehe it was so funny. We flew to many countries, from romantic European places to romantic tropical places. Well I traveled around the world with my boyfriend even it was just a simulation. Then we walked around Stockholm and sat near from the sea. We started to analyze people which one was Swedish which one was a tourist. I knew which one was Swedish from their fashion and how they looked like. I could say Leo was not Swedish because he was not a typical Swedish compared others hehehe. I also saw Swedish culture. I forget the name of the culture, it’s a teenager culture who just graduate from high school. They danced on the truck with disco music and get drunk. The girls only wore underwear and the boys were topless. And Leo said I was lucky because can watch that culture. Woohoo, so I came on the right time .
After sightseeing, we had our lunch. I forget the name of the cafe but it was the popular one and a bit expensive. Then, we back to the hotel. The entire TV programs only show the national day situation and the kingdom family. I was so bored with that kingdom family because I saw their face everywhere. I remember the way how they were smiling lol. But seems, Leo enjoyed watching Rambo movie. Well Leo, I was so jet lag, so tired and haven’t slept yet. I was so sleepy and you watch a Rambo movie hahahah. Just bye bye the night hahahah tomorrow I would come to Leo’s house.
7 June 2010
We went to Örebro this day. We woke up at 10 am and lay on the bed then take a shower. After that, we checked out from the hotel but we still kept our stuff in the hotel. We went to the station to buy the ticket. We would go to Örebro at 3 pm, the price was 147 krona each ticket. We decided to look around the city before leaving Stockholm. We got our stuff in the hotel and went to station. Then at 3 pm we took our train. It was the modern one with 2 floors. We sit in the first floor. Leo slept in the train and I listened the songs from his ps. From Stockholm to Orebro around 1 hour I guess. Then, we walked to the parking area and he said “this is my bike. I would ride the bike and you walk” and I said “oh my god, are you serious?”. Well, I didn’t know that this country really eco friendly. I mean I thought European countries were so modern, I didn’t imagine that they would bike everywhere. But he didn’t ride the bike of course; we walked together with his bike. Well, it was a romantic moment for me if the weather was not fucking cold like that. It’s not only cold but also windy. We walked around 20 minutes. On the journey, he said this is our city centre, this is the hotel where I would get my internship, and this is my school. Well, you just walk to go to everyplace. I would spend 3 hours if I walk to my school in Indonesia hahahah. And the city centre was empty. This was so silly, the night would come on 11 pm in Sweden and on 6 pm all the shop already closed. Hello, it was strange for Asian people who have 24 hours shop in my country.
I didnt know where Leo would bring me. He should go to practice football at 6 pm and now 5 pm. he left the bike in somewhere, I didn’t know the place name then we took a bus. Well, we visited his university (Örebro University). He showed me his office in ESN örebro. He is the president on that organization. Then he said, “Hani I should go to practice, where do you want to wait me, in the computer room or in the library”. I thought he would practice in the university. Well, I could wait you everywhere; it’s up to you (typical Asian Girl always said up to you). Then I decided to stay in the computer room because no much people there. After that, Leo told me that he would not go to practice because it was already late and he would not practice in university but far away from here. SO WHY DO YOU TAKE ME TO THIS UNIVERSITY LEO?? And he said, “You told me you want to open facebook and contact your friend in Indonesia. So I didn’t want you to be boring while waiting me practices football so I take you to my university to get the internet”. And I just thought, “Oh my god, well I miss my friends and want to check my facebook but it doesn’t mean we have to go to your university”, “I can wait you at home, why u didn’t take me directly into your home and I can sleep there”, and he said “I didn’t want you to be boring at my house because nobody at home”. So we spent our time in Computer lab with his account then we came to his house.
From his university, we took but to his apartment in nygatan street. I was freezing at that time. I was so headache because of the weather. Leo gave me the Tibetan Tea; he said it would good for me. The taste was bad but it worked. I felt better. I stayed in Leo’s room, a cozy one. He never switches on the lamp and closes the window (maybe it called eco friendly hehehe)
8 June 2010
I woke up at 4 am. I couldn’t sleep well because of the sun from the window. The sunrise at 3 am in Sweden and it was suck. I asked Leo to go to toilet and he asked me “do not make some noise” (typical Swedish). Even I opened the door smoothly still Leo said “sssstttt, be careful”. Okay boss, at least I tried. I could sleep after back from toilet. I wait Leo until he get up and he get up at 10 am. Then, I cook fried noodle for me and Leo. I brought the noodle from Indonesia. Then Leo make up the bed and washed the glass and the plates. He washed with hot water; well we didn’t do it Indonesia. He said the bacteria would die fastly with hot water (okay nice information). Leo arranged my plan for today. We would walk around Örebro and meet my Indonesian friend in Wadköping. We walked the street and passed the church. It’s the main church, but Leo didn’t come there since young. We came inside but just look around. Then we wnt to Örebro castle, I forget the name. We couldnt entry the castle, it was closed. Then we went to Wadköping Park to meet Ka Juli. We saw some children play in the park. It was so cute. They were enjoying the summer with their friends. They were enjoying their ice cream.
Leo asked me which food that I want to eat for today. I said I want something spicy and hot. Then he took me to pizza shop. Oh my god, it was a single one but the portion was too much for Asian people. We could serve it for 3-4 people I guess in Indonesia. Leo, didn’t we just share and bought only 1 single pizza. It’s toooo much!! I wanted to eat all because it was too expensive. But my stomach was already full, so I just ate the half of the pizza. Then we went to city centre and entry on of the mall. We went to the bookstore and sit in the café near from the bookstore. Leo told me about the style was Sweden. There were color style and opposite style. Color style was the people who like wearing clothes or accessories colorfully and the opposite style was the people who like wearing clothes or accessories full of black. It’s interesting. Leo had 2 free cinema tickets and he used it with me. We watched prince and Persia. The film played on Swedish, so sometimes I miss the conversation. But still okay
9 June 2010
After woke up, Leo asked me what do I want to do today. Well, I wanted to do picnic with Leo in the park. And Leo accepted my idea. We cooked the food from Leo’s refrigerator. I had meatball, salad and potatoes. Then we walked to Wadköping Park. We sat on my scarf and watching the children enjoying their summer. We ate our food and had conversation. Well, I love picnic. I love nature. I love not crowded place. I love a peaceful place. After that, Leo asked me what I want to do next. I said I want to play rollerblade while Leo ride the bike, and he said he had. Then we go to the next floor to find the rollerblade. But it was too difficult to find it and Leo didn’t know where his father put it. I saw Leo’s young photo for his school graduation (Swedish has culture to make a pamphlet board with their young photo inside for his high school graduation). It’s so cuuutteee Leo.
No rollerblade, I asked Leo to play ice skating. So we walked to ice skating arena but the place was closed on summer. I was not lucky. We decided to go to Willys to buy some candies, chocolates and chips. Leo love candy and chocolates so much. I also bought fanta and chips (I forget the name, but I watched the advertisement of those chips on TV). After that we go to cinema and Leo bought the ticket. But I watched alone because Leo practiced American football. I watched a team and no woman in the studio, only me. This movie was only for man hahaha. Well, maybe Swedish woman did not like a fighting movie. After the movie finished, Leo wait me in the entrance and we went to Max to have our dinner. Max was my favorite because they have my spicy menu hahahah. After that we went home and spent night in Leo’s house.
10 June 2011
We decided to go to IKEA in Örebro. Well, I was in Sweden so why didn’t see IKEA in Sweden because IKEA came from this country. We used bus to go to IKEA örebro. The place was not in city centre. It was the second time that I used bus in Örebro. Mostly I walked in Örebro.I bought many things in IKEA. It was disaster because I was afraid with my baggage. It was the first week of my trip and I bought many things such as bedcover, pillow, blankets, and frame hahahaha. I had my lunch in a mall near from IKEA. We came to alcohol store. Leo bought some beers for him and his friends. And we also bought a drink free alcohol because I didn’t drink alcohol. After that we back to Leo’s house to put our shopping bag and then we went to Willys to buy some chocolates and candies. I bought some for souvenirs because it was cheap compare with the price in Indonesia. Then we went to cinema to buy ticket Sex in the city. I would watch at 6 pm because Leo would have practice at that time as usual. After got the ticket, we back to Leo’s house to take Leo’s property for practice. Well, I did something wrong at that time. When we wanted to go home, Leo asked what time was it, and I said 5 pm. So we had to hurry because Leo would be late to go to practice. From Leo’s house, Leo ride the bike and I sat in the back (well, it’s too scare for me, both of us was not slim hahaha). Leo took me to the cinema first and said good bye. Then I watched the movie, and no man in the studio. No man for sex in the city lol. Yesterday, I watched with full of men in the studio and today I watched with full of women in the studio. Hehehe… As usual, Leo waited me in entrance of the cinema after the film was finished. And he laughed at me because I did something wrong. Actually, we didn’t late at the time. When Leo asked me what time was it and I said 5 pm, the truth, it was 4 pm because my watch used Turkish time (different 1 hour from Sweden) hehehe. Stupid me:p . After that we went home and spent our time with our free alcohol drink. I just drank one glass and Leo drank all the drink lol.
11 June 2010
On this day, we back again to Willys. I bought a box of candies hahahah. Then we visited Leo’s university. We went to the library and I used the computer there. I made presentation for my MMW project in turkey and Leo watched YouTube. He watched serial movie Indonesia, we called sinetron. And he was so happy and laughed a lot. He loved BOIM WONG hahahahah. After that we went to city centre and came to H&M. I decided to buy clothes there. Well, I’m too complicated while shopping. I could spend more than 1 hour just for thinking “I should buy this or not”. Leo accompanied me shopping but I couldn’t shop while a man watched on me. So I asked Leo to wait me near from the escalator because I couldn’t concentrate for shopping if he was near from me. And he waited me for 1 hour near from the escalator then he said he need to say goodbye to the intern who would go home the day after. So, I said he could go and back 1,5 hour later. It was good for me because I didn’t want him feel boring while waited me. I continued shopping and spent 2,5 hours in that store. I spent 100 euro in that store. I bought many things and I was afraid with my baggage AGAIN! Hehehe… After that Leo came to me and we went to MAX to have our dinner. Why I prefer max because it was not expensive than others and also there was a spicy menu . Then we went home and I packed some of my stuff because I would leave Sweden tomorrow. On the night, I fought with Leo because of our personal thing. He lied on me and I couldn’t accept it. It spent for 3 hours to be angry with that man then I decided not to break my last day.
12 June 2010
On the morning, Leo cooked pancake for me. Maybe he felt guilty with what he did to me. I just spent my last day in Leo’s house. I just met his brother in his house because his parents in their summer house. I packed all my stuff and we decided to go to station at 3 pm because Leo had to go to another city. He had a game with his team. I came on his free day of the classes but on his tournament session. It was okay . Leo gave me Örebro Blacknight t-shirt. I gave him many things for souvenir. Then at 2.30 pm, we left the house and went to station. Leo also already bought his property for football game because the game would start on 6 pm as I remember. I was sad because he couldn’t accompany me to airport and I would spend my lonely time in Arlanda airport. I would fly on 3 am on 13 June 2010. It was suck because I hate being lonely but no option. I bought my ticket 147 krona and leo gave me 100 krona because my krona was limited. I said good bye with leo on the train and then the train left Örebro to Stockholm. It took 1 hour maybe I forgot. Arrived in Stockholm, I bought Arlanda Express with my credit card. It was 120 krona. Because it is still 5 pm, I went to MAX near the station. It was so cold outside. At that time, I was so lonely in Stockholm. I ate alone without anyone beside me and thought what would happen next. After that, I used the internet, about 25 krona per hour. I spent 2 hours then I decided to go to airport. No much people in Airport. I could count it, I guess. Shops were closed. I didn’t know what to do then I back to used the internet. It was more expensive then the internet in station. I spent almost 3 hours on internet. Then I checked in at 1.30 am as I remember. Oh my god, I feel in love with Sweden. I would back again someday
June 2010: Istanbul (Part 1)
Well I was in turkey in 3 Periods.
First from 4 June – 5 June 2010
This was the first time I entry Turkey. My blackberry was lost in Soekarno Hatta Airport and my laptop was broken in Dubai Airport. How bad luck am I on my first day of my trip. A man who sat in front of me borrowed me his mobile phone to contact denizhan. Denizhan was the person who will pick up me from Ataturk Airport to AIESEC office. So I called Denizhan, and he said “don’t worry Hani, I will be in Airport soon”. Thanks to the Man who borrowed me the phone. From Migration, I took my luggages. It’s so heavy. I brought 10 kgs backpack bag, 27 kgs huge suitcase, and 11 kgs suitcase. I met Denizhan in exit door. He paid for the train and the taxi (I didn’t have Turkish money at that time).
We arrived in AIESEC office. I told Denizhan that I want to keep 1 of my luggages here. So I left the small one in AIESEC office. Denizhan and other AIESECer help me to find my hostel. It’s not far from AIESEC office, still in beyoglu area. The name of the hostel was Liberta Hostel. The price was 10 euro including breakfast. İt was the first time; I slept in hostel where I can sleep in a same room with unknown traveler. Because my last name was Hamid, the receptionist thought that ı was a man and she gave me a room with a man. İt was good that on the room only 1 man and he was so polite and friendly. His name was toruz. Toruz borrowed me his laptop so I can contact my family and my boyfriend via Skype. Toruz took me to see taksim and he treated me a turkish coffee. The day after, he couldn’t accompany me to look around taksim, so I walked alone on that area. I was so excited. It was the first day I enjoy Turkey. And Istanbul gave me a good impression. When I ask a direction to the old man, he offered me to go with him to take lunch together. At that time I said yes because I want to eat. He treated me a nice Turkish food and Turkish tea. And he also treated portacal such a chocolate cake and Turkish ice cream. After that, I said good bye to him and went to AIESEC office. I bought a mobile phone, a regular nokia but u can take a photo and enjoy the music and full color). I spent 200 euro for mobile phone, card and credit. After that I back to hostel. The hostel allowed me to stay in hostel until 5 pm, so I can take shower before go to Airport. I will go to airport at 7 pm from taksim. Sunset come at 8 pm in Turkey on summer. It’s different from Indonesia, because sunset always around 6 pm. I took havas to sabiha gokcen airport and spent 13 lira. I didn’t go to Ataturk airport because I use Anadolu Jet airlines to Stockholm. Then, I arrived in airport waited until checked in counter open. My flight took off at 00.30 am. I was so tired, sleepy and nervous at that time. I would meet my boyfriend for the first time. When I checked in, there was a girl asked me to use my baggage because I didn’t use that much. And I allowed her without worry that I would get any problems. So she used my baggage. In the gate, we didn’t meet many people. Only 15 people I guess. The girl’s name was Astrid. She lived in Stockholm but she was finish. And then we talked.
Astrid: what will you do in Stockholm?
Me: I will meet my boyfriend
Astrid: Oh good, so your boyfriend will pick up you in Airport.
Me: We will meet in Stockholm station. He lives in Örebro not in Stockholm. We will meet in Stockholm airport so he doesn’t need to use the arlanda express.
Astrid: What time he will pick up you?
Me: We will meet at 11 am because he had game this night in other city, so it’s impossible to go to Stockholm this early morning. No train from örebro. He will go at 9 am from Orebro. So maybe I will wait until morning in arlanda airport then I will go to Stockholm station at 10 am. I don’t want to spend an expensive hotel in Stockholm just for couple hours.
Astrid: Oh my god, it will be hard I guess. Sleeping in the airport will be not good for you because it’s so cold. Hani, you are so friendly and very nice. I really trust you. If you trust me, I want to offer you something. You can sleep in my house. I parked the car near from the airport but should use Taxi first. I will pay for the taxi. Then u can contact your boyfriend to pick up you from my house. I will tell him the direction and it will be so easy to get there. You can take my offer or not. It is your choice.
Me: Oh Astrid, you are so nice. Yeah, I would love to stay in your house. I will ask my boyfriend first is it okay for him or not.
Then I called Leo, and he said okay so I accept Astrid offer. Then we went to our flight. It’s like private one because the passenger only 15 people. We got our food in that flight. It was so great. Then ı slept directly.
My second and third periode will explain on the next blog
First from 4 June – 5 June 2010
This was the first time I entry Turkey. My blackberry was lost in Soekarno Hatta Airport and my laptop was broken in Dubai Airport. How bad luck am I on my first day of my trip. A man who sat in front of me borrowed me his mobile phone to contact denizhan. Denizhan was the person who will pick up me from Ataturk Airport to AIESEC office. So I called Denizhan, and he said “don’t worry Hani, I will be in Airport soon”. Thanks to the Man who borrowed me the phone. From Migration, I took my luggages. It’s so heavy. I brought 10 kgs backpack bag, 27 kgs huge suitcase, and 11 kgs suitcase. I met Denizhan in exit door. He paid for the train and the taxi (I didn’t have Turkish money at that time).
We arrived in AIESEC office. I told Denizhan that I want to keep 1 of my luggages here. So I left the small one in AIESEC office. Denizhan and other AIESECer help me to find my hostel. It’s not far from AIESEC office, still in beyoglu area. The name of the hostel was Liberta Hostel. The price was 10 euro including breakfast. İt was the first time; I slept in hostel where I can sleep in a same room with unknown traveler. Because my last name was Hamid, the receptionist thought that ı was a man and she gave me a room with a man. İt was good that on the room only 1 man and he was so polite and friendly. His name was toruz. Toruz borrowed me his laptop so I can contact my family and my boyfriend via Skype. Toruz took me to see taksim and he treated me a turkish coffee. The day after, he couldn’t accompany me to look around taksim, so I walked alone on that area. I was so excited. It was the first day I enjoy Turkey. And Istanbul gave me a good impression. When I ask a direction to the old man, he offered me to go with him to take lunch together. At that time I said yes because I want to eat. He treated me a nice Turkish food and Turkish tea. And he also treated portacal such a chocolate cake and Turkish ice cream. After that, I said good bye to him and went to AIESEC office. I bought a mobile phone, a regular nokia but u can take a photo and enjoy the music and full color). I spent 200 euro for mobile phone, card and credit. After that I back to hostel. The hostel allowed me to stay in hostel until 5 pm, so I can take shower before go to Airport. I will go to airport at 7 pm from taksim. Sunset come at 8 pm in Turkey on summer. It’s different from Indonesia, because sunset always around 6 pm. I took havas to sabiha gokcen airport and spent 13 lira. I didn’t go to Ataturk airport because I use Anadolu Jet airlines to Stockholm. Then, I arrived in airport waited until checked in counter open. My flight took off at 00.30 am. I was so tired, sleepy and nervous at that time. I would meet my boyfriend for the first time. When I checked in, there was a girl asked me to use my baggage because I didn’t use that much. And I allowed her without worry that I would get any problems. So she used my baggage. In the gate, we didn’t meet many people. Only 15 people I guess. The girl’s name was Astrid. She lived in Stockholm but she was finish. And then we talked.
Astrid: what will you do in Stockholm?
Me: I will meet my boyfriend
Astrid: Oh good, so your boyfriend will pick up you in Airport.
Me: We will meet in Stockholm station. He lives in Örebro not in Stockholm. We will meet in Stockholm airport so he doesn’t need to use the arlanda express.
Astrid: What time he will pick up you?
Me: We will meet at 11 am because he had game this night in other city, so it’s impossible to go to Stockholm this early morning. No train from örebro. He will go at 9 am from Orebro. So maybe I will wait until morning in arlanda airport then I will go to Stockholm station at 10 am. I don’t want to spend an expensive hotel in Stockholm just for couple hours.
Astrid: Oh my god, it will be hard I guess. Sleeping in the airport will be not good for you because it’s so cold. Hani, you are so friendly and very nice. I really trust you. If you trust me, I want to offer you something. You can sleep in my house. I parked the car near from the airport but should use Taxi first. I will pay for the taxi. Then u can contact your boyfriend to pick up you from my house. I will tell him the direction and it will be so easy to get there. You can take my offer or not. It is your choice.
Me: Oh Astrid, you are so nice. Yeah, I would love to stay in your house. I will ask my boyfriend first is it okay for him or not.
Then I called Leo, and he said okay so I accept Astrid offer. Then we went to our flight. It’s like private one because the passenger only 15 people. We got our food in that flight. It was so great. Then ı slept directly.
My second and third periode will explain on the next blog
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