Final Piece of Visa Application (Visa Schengen Part 4)

March 31, 2011

Setelah menghabiskan 10 hari gak tentu juntrungan, gak pengen makan (selain eskrim, coklat, frozen yoghurt sama ayam penyet..hahaha!). Dan setelah penderitaan besar lain seperti merayakan ulang tahun sendirian di Jakarta (huhuh i am literally by my self-eat cake at Pejaten Mall-please dah!!) demi surat sakti yang namanya "Visa Schengen" tiba harinya untuk moment of truth..

Apakah nama gue bakalan di permasalahkan? apakah gara2 gue gak ingat nomor telepon kantor atau keberanian gue ngakak ngetawain si bule soal penyunatan marga BUTAR-BUTAR bakalan berbuntut panjang....

Flash Back...

Sebelum gue ninggalin tuh counter si bule, dia dengan napsunya menstempel "sesuatu" di passpor gue... huhuhuh...

Stress, kurang tidur, ngejar pesawat sore.. what could be worse??

Sumpah gue stress berat. Sempat nangis pula waktu Mr T telepon, dia tanya "is it rejected?" gue bilang lagi OTW ke kedutaan, "lhaa.. lo kenapa nangis?" hueheu dasar bule gila gak tau apa pengorbanan gue dari hutan ke kedutaan buat ngurusin tuh visa, awas aja gara2 nama keluarga gue di tolaaakkk!! anyway.. tidak beralasan gue nangis, maskara jadi luntur juga... gak keren!!

Sesuai dengan surat sakti, gue di suruh datang jam 1 siang. Kebetulan hari itu gue juga pulang ke hutan gue tercinta di Sumatra... gak sabar liat api flare yang membara di tengah hutan (ciehh.. gaya) sama naik mobil dobel gardan yang tinggi kek kuda.. kangen sama kucing gue juga (cimot, i lop u!!). Terakhir kerja tanggal 16, dah setengah bulan gue tinggal bo!

Semua copy surat2 aku bawa lagi di map terpisah.. mana tau nanti di butuhkan, termasuk copy KTP.

Berangkat dari hotel, mampir tempat kerja kakak ngambil titipan, langsung meluncur ke kedutaan Jerman. Macetnya naujubilah... hal yang gue suka tinggal di hutan sumatra, nyetir 120km per jam puas ajah... gak ada macetnya.

Jam 12.35 nyampe di depan pagar ijo, dueeehhh gila apa.. daha ada aja yang ngantri... kali ini aku lucky number 5! panas terik bowww.... ngelipir ke pinggiran pagar.. berharap tuh pohon mangga (kalo gak salah mangga sih) bisa ngurangin panas matahari.

Panasssshhh!!

Di tengah antrian, ada cewek seumuran, gue ajak ngobrol.. huhu.. doi juga ngambil visa, sama tujuan ke JERMAN, hueheuh... baru pertama juga, tapi dia di sponsorin kakak iparnya.. wew... beda case sama gue.. yang di sponsorin teman... laki2 pula.. gue mikirnya dah  parno.. sebab mereka pasti ngira gue dah napsu aja mau kawin sama si bule dan gak mau balik ke Indonesia (di sop sama mak gue lah!) dan jadi ilegal immigrant. Yeehh.. what ever lah.. gue dah bilang temen... kalo kaga percaya ya sutralah (TTM gak ditanya toh? huehueh single flirting sana sini sah ajahh tariikkk kang!)

Sekilas bisa keliatan proses pemeriksaan di dalam (note juga waktu-jam kerja yang di "plate")

Pak satpam keluar dan teriak2 soal surat2 mesti di siapin sama HP dimatiin termasuk ipod. Dah belajar dari pengalaman, gue bawa HP cuma 1, ipod di tinggal di mobil sama barang2 lain yang gak penting. Pak Satpam juga suruh keluarin KTP ASLI sama surat yang di kasih waktu masukin formulir pengajuan visa buat di tunjukin sebelum masuk ke dalam pintu hijau kecil itu. (oh ya.. aku liat ada juga yang keluarin SIM A, kek nya yang penting ID asli, bukan copy)

Prosedur masuk di ulang lagi, pemeriksaan tas, pemeriksaan badan pake detektor, trus di kasih no mor loker HP. Setelah di periksa, tas BOLEH DIBAWA MASUK setelah di periksa. Selanjutnya prosedurnya bedanya kita langsung di suruh naik ke lantai 2 tempat aku ngambil nomor antrian.

Ya udah dengan tertib kita semua naik dan ngantri.. feww.. lucky number 4!

Ternyata si tante Jerman lagi yang buka loket, ya Allah! napa pula dia pindah bagian sini.. haduhh... udah gitu telat pula.. jam 1.35 baru dia buka tuh loket... katanya sih baru makan siang.. yee.. tante kok telat gitu sih!!

Gua cuma takut sama flight gue yang jam 5 bo!! kalo macet ke airportnya hueehh mampus lah gue!

Antrian pertama maju ke meja. Tuh cewek, keknya bini/pacar bule (maap stereotype) kulit coklat mendekati gosong, dengan dress dan rambut di warna serta baju yang loose top.. bolak balik visa... visanya gak di approve, si cewek keknya sebel banget, langsung gubrak2 ke toilet...lhaa? haduhhh!!! wadaaaaaaaaaaaaawww!! masa yang pertama aja udah gak di approve!

Yang kedua ibu2 dan sama bermasalahnya... si ibu fasih banget bahasa Jermannya, keknya dia kena masalah gara2 surat pengambilan yang di kasih waktu kita submit formulir ngga ada! dia ngotot katanya ngga di kasih sama sopirnya katanya ngga ada.. hoalaahh... kok nitip toh?? emang bisa gitu?? anyweyy... berhubung balas pantun yang cukup lama... si ibu di suruh geser... dan masih aja jawab pake bahasa Jerman.

Gue nervous sampe pada titik mau muntah.. hahahah! sarap ya! kemah benerrr!

Tinggal satu cewek depan gue, yang tadi gue ajak ngobrol, kita salaman sama2 bilang gut lak!!

Dia ngintip passportnya kek ngintip raport waktu SMA.. huhuh... doi trus ngelipir keruangan sebelah.. haduhh.. di approve kaga ya??

Pas tuh cewek pergi dari loket.. datanglah om Jerman.. dah.. gak tau masalahnya apa dia debat sama si tante Jerman....lahh..lahh.. gimana ini... keknya ngeributin si Ibu yang gak ada surat itu. Akhirnya si tante Jerman menyingkir dari loket, keknya nyelesaikan masalah sama si ibu2...dan di gantikan sama si om yang cukup enak di pandang. Syukurlah...

Dia lirik ke aku dan suruh maju, huduuuhhhuhuh... kok berasa kek pengumuman UAN aja? dia nyari passport aku di tumpukan passport, wew.. kok susah nyarinya.. gak ada apa?

He finally found it.. aku liar selembar kertas di selipkan di passport, sama kek cewek yang pertama ngantri... haduh... aku pasrah. Si om bule buka passport aku, dengan wajah serius dia bilang "u-uh, sorry" aku lemesss.... dada sesak pengen nangis. Dia liat muka aku lagi, kaget dia bilang "eh jangan nangis, maaf! April Mop ya!" pake bahasa Indonesia yang aneh! sambil buru2 dia tunjukin passport aku...

Doohh apa lagi ini.... April mop kok bulan Maret!!! aku maksa konsentrasi ... liat sekilas stiker yang ketempel di passport dari balik jendela. Dia senyum dan masukin passport aku ke laci, dan langsung aku ambil, di buka....

My visa APPROVED!!! yaaayyyy! berangkaaattt!!

Aku gak percaya liat stiker ini di halaman passport aku. Wooww!! bahkan dapat multiple entry??? (ERRHH Aku conteng "cuma" single entry kok di formulir nya....) dahsyaaattttt!!! this is more than i expected!! yeee haa!!

Aku pergi keruangan sebelah tempat aku nunggu wawancara, huhuh terharu biru aku baca ulang.. i can't believe they approved my visa!! untuk 17 hari dan aku bisa mondar-mandir keluar masuk di negara schengen??? oh my God!!

Aku pengen teriak jumpalitan norak!!! huahauhauhauahuahauhauh! bodo! penderitaanku dah cukup 10 hari! huhuhu... terbayarkan.. Alhamdulillah ya allah... gak sia2 gue ulang tahun keknya menderita banget!... si cewek deketin gue, sambil senyam senyum.. wah visanya di approve juga! kita pelukan sambil cekakak cekikik.... i don't even know her like 3 hrs before... but we shared the joy!

Kami berdua senang banget! padahal baru kenal juga di gerbang depan... tapi alhamdulillah! sama2 di approve!! kita tukaran nama facebook, dan alamat mail... dia ternyata berangkat bulan Juni... ohh ok.. jadi aku duluan...

Aku gak punya waktu banyak.. sebab pesawat aku jam 5.. kurang dari 3 jam! jadi buru2 aku keluar dari kedutaan... ambil foto pak satpam yang cengar-cengir liat aku jumpalitan di trotoar... buoooodoooo! aku senaaaanggg!

Wont forget the "Germany Embassy" experience ever!!!

Paris and Germany, here i come!!!!!!!

>>>>>kocar-kacir ngelipir ke airport!!!<<<<<




ps. Setelah buru2 ke airport nguber pesawat.. ternyata pesawat aku di delay, landing di jungle hampir jam 10.30 malam!!! thanks a lot LION AIR! grrhh!

Visa Schengen nan Lebay (Headache Part 1)

Alhamdulliah, hasil dari perjalanan ke Hongkong - Macau dan ketemu dengan teman seperjalanan yang super baek (baca: turis kesasar yang rela di bagi derita bersama, hehe). Kita ketemu waktu aku mau cari informasi soal bungee di Macau Tower yang nota bene bungee tertinggi di dunia, dia juga tertarik dan kebetulan banget kita apply for the very same day buat lompat dari tower itu... dari hasil pertemanan/kegilaan itu berbuah sebuah surat indah bernama "invitation letter" untuk berkunjung ke Jerman.

Hehe sebagai kuli tambang yang masih morat-marit hidupnya, tentu saja kesempatan liburan gratisan di Eropa bukan kesempatan yang bisa tiap waktu di dapat--yah gue sambar dunks!! Thanks a lot to the person... hehe dia kagak mau namanya ada di Internet Bo jadi gue kasih nama Mr Teddy sajah.. (atau kerenan tersangka "T"??).

Si Mr T buat surat sakti di Jerman sana, surat tersebut namanya "VERPFLICHTUNGSEKLARUNG" (mampus gak lo bacanya???! hurup konsonan semua piye toh?), atau "FORMAL OBLIGATION" yang isinya si Mr T bakalan membiayai SEMUA keperluan gue selama di Jerman (amieeenn!) termasuk akomodasi dan transportasi. Huhuh.. kere bener kedengarannya--bodo lah... yang penting Jerman cuy!! (kebayang stadion Bayern Muenchen hehehe, pasti ngiri kan?)

Secara aku gak pernah ngurus visa, paling banter juga visa turis ke SE Asia yang nota bene GRATIS dan gak di perlukan surat apa2 kecuali passport yang di bawa waktu masuk kenegara tersebut. Jadi aku bener2 blank soal visa.

Temenku satu2nya adalah internet--lop you Mr Google!

Aku mulai dengan buka website kedutaan Jerman di Jakarta. Mr T menyarankan aku buat pergi akhir May atau bulan Juni. Dia ketawa senang waktu liat penderitaan ku yang kedinginan di temperatur 14 derajat celcius waktu di Hongkong 2010 kemarin, ".....and you said you want to go to Europe??" sindir nya sambil ketawa, huuuhh awas lo kalo ke Indonesia.. baru rasa yang namanya Summer for whole year hahaha!

Gak sabaran yah aku pilih... bulan May.. yang pasti aku udah browsing soal cuaca di sana, belajar dari pengalaman waktu di Hongkong-Macau. Bulan May, suhu udara rata2 masih di bawah 20 derajat di Jerman. Tapi mudah2an gak ada acara minus segala-ngeri bo! paling dingin katanya 10 derajat.. yah sutra.. kalau bawa perlengkapan gue pasti lebih siap deh.

Berhubung tinggal 2 bulan lagi, aku segera menyiapkan dokumen2 buat mengajukan visa ke Jerman, atau bisa di sebut juga dengan Visa Schengen.Sesuai dengan website kedutaan Jerman, syarat2 untuk pengajuan visa turis/bisnis adalah sebagai berikut:

Ketentuan visa kunjungan s.d 3 bulan (seperti untuk Turis dan perjalanan bisnis)/Visa Schengen

Permohonan visa harus sudah diajukan paling lambat 15 hari kalender sebelum rencana keberangkatan, dan paling cepat 3 bulan sebelum mulainya kunjungan.

Permohonan visa yang diajukan kurang dari 15 hari kalender sebelum keberangkatan, dapat kami proses berdasarkan keinginan dari pemohon. Apabila hal ini terjadi maka pemohon harus memperhitungkan bahwa keputusan akhirnya mungkin saja baru didapat pada hari-hari setelah rencana keberangkatan yang dijadwalkan semula.

Berkas-berkas diminta guna memungkinkan pihak berwenang di Jerman, mempertimbangkan apakah si pemohon telah memenuhi syarat yang berlaku untuk suatu kunjungan dan kemungkinan adanya risiko terhadap imigrasi ilegal serta apakah si pemohon dapat dilihat sebagai ancaman keamanan bagi negara-negara anggota lainnya.

Pada dasarnya pemohon visa harus menyertakan setiap berkas dalam bentuk asli dan fotokopi.

Jumlah dan jenis berkas disesuaikan dengan kriteria sebagai berikut:

1. Tujuan kunjungan

2. Lama Kunjungan dan Negara yang di tuju/berwenang

3. Situasi Negara Asal pemohon

Jadi persiapkanlah surat2 yang memungkin kan untuk memperkuat bukti kriteria di atas.

1. Tujuan Kunjungan

Kalau mau ngunjungin teman, ya lampirkan bukti surat undangan/invitation letter. Kalau misalnya di undang oleh perusahaan lain dalam rangka bisnis, yah surat undangan resminya harus bisa di tunjukkan, yang asli looohh. Jadi kalau bisa minta teman/saudara menguruskan surat tersebut di jerman, dan mengirimkan via pos ke Indonesia sebelum pengajuan visa, jadi bisa di lampirkan bersama dengan formulir permohonan.

Kalau bisa itinerary atau rencana secara garis besar sudah ada. Sebab nanti waktu di interview bakalan di tanyakan, mau kemana aja, trus berapa lama, etc. Gak perlu detail banget.. yang penting bayangan waktu di sana udah ada.

2. Lama Kunjungan

Ya mesti jelas dong.. aku tadinya belum pasti berapa lama aku mau di sana. Tapi berhubung aku di sponsorin alias di kasih surat undangan resmi.. ya aku tanya yang ngundang, kira2 dia bisa menanggung aku berapa lama. Dalam kasus ini aku di tanggung 14 hari, tapi berhubung dapat tiket dengan harga sedikit miring jadinya 17 hari. Yang ini mesti pasti ya.. nanti bakalan ngaruh ke jumlah hari di visanya.

3. Situasi Negara Asal

Yah.. ini tergantung negara kita lagi aman atau gimana.. hehe.. sangat di sayangkan kita disejajarin sama negara2 yang ketenyee negara perusuh alias asal teroris, yang notabene dari Middle east semua kek Afganistan, Iraq, Iran etc,..

Nah kita musti ngisi nih.. selain formulir visa, ada formulir lain yang ikut di sisi dan ditanda tangani. Yang isinya antara lain pertanyaan kek apakah kita pernah ikut latihan militer (ngakak, LKBB sama pramuka gak masuk yeee..) trus.. apakah kita pernah terkait dengan terorisme etc kek gitu deh.

Nah, yang penting ya.. ada bukti bahwa kita tuh bakalan balik lagi ke negara kta yang tercinta ini. Makanya kalau kalian karyawan.. maka mintalah surat keterangan karyawan dari perusahaan, yang menjelaskan berapa lama kita dah kerja di perusahaan kita. Berapa lama jumlah cuti yang di setujui oleh perusahaan. Pokoknya intinya surat tersebut menyatakan bahwa kita bakalan balik lagi deh setelah cuti habis.

Kalau aku kemaren, cuma minta surat keterangan dari Superintendent aku.. hehe secara sekretarisnya, jadi aku tinggal ketik dan minta tanda tangan bos aku yang bule itu huhuhuh.. thanks Bos!

Berkas ini diperuntukkan sebagai bukti untuk:

• tujuan dari kunjungan tersebut
• adanya akomodasi atau kecukupan dana untuk pembayaran akomodasi dari pemohon
• membuktikan keadaan, bahwa si pemohon memiliki kecukupan dana untuk biaya hidup selama masa rencana kunjungan termasuk di dalamnya bagi perjalanan kembali ke negara/tempat asalnya atau untuk transit ke negara ketiga, yang mana ia telah memiliki ijin kunjungannya, dan diperoleh secara ilegal sesuai dengan pasal 5 ayat 1 huruf c8 dan pasal 1 Ayat 3 dari Visa Kodex
• keterangan mengenai niat pemohon, akan meninggalkan negara-negara anggota sebelum masa berakhirnya visa yang dimohonkan.

Bukti kecukupan dana untuk biaya hidup

Pemohon harus dapat membuktikan, bahwa ia memiliki kecukupan dana bagi pemenuhan biaya hidup, baik selama jangka waktu kunjungannya juga untuk perjalanan pulangnya ke negara asal atau tempat tinggalnya atau untuk transit ke negara ketiga yang mana telah dijaminkan ijinnya, atau mampu membuktikan bahwa dana ini diperoleh dari pekerjaan yang sah.

Yang dapat dijadikan berkas bukti adalah:

• Buku tabungan/rekening koran dengan tanggal teraktual yang memperlihatkan pergerakan saldo rekening pada suatu waktu tertentu (paling tidak 3 bulan)
• kartu kredit beserta tagihan kartu kredit
• travel check
• lembaran penerimaan gaji
• surat keterangan pekerjaan
• bukti terregistrasi yang menyatakan pengambilalihan tanggungjawab terhadap biaya dan/atau tempat tinggal pribadi

Secara rinci diperlukan berkas dokumen untuk pengajuan Visa Schengen sebagai berikut:

• formulir permohonan yang sudah diisi lengkap dan benar (tips, kalau kosong/gak ada jawaban tulis aja>> N/A)

• paspor atau dokumen perjalanan yang masih berlaku sedikitnya 3 bulan setelah masa berlaku visa kunjungan habis

• satu buah pasfoto terbaru, berwarna, latar belakang putih atau abu-abu muda (3,5 x 4,5 cm, biometris) >>>penting banget harus biometris alias 80% wajah!! ukuran harus sama persis ya!!

• bukti rute perjalanan dalam bentuk sebuah booking tiket penerbangan (gak perlu di konfirmed/dibayar penuh, minta tolong sama travel agent, jadi kalau visa tidak di setujui kamu gak rugi gara2 tiket hangus!)

• sebuah surat pernyataan penjaminan (yang dibuat pengundang di hadapan pihak keimigrasian di Jerman) untuk perjalanan kunjungan, sebuah undangan dari mitra bisnisnya di Jerman bagi perjalanan bisnis atau berkas-berkas yang mana dapat dilihat bahwa si pemohon mampu mendanai sendiri perjalanannya

• Surat keterangan asli dari pemberi kerja di Indonesia, bahwa si pemohon bekerja di tempatnya

• bukti reservasi hotel dengan alamat lengkap dan nomor reservasi, langsung dari hotel yang bersangkutan di Jerman (kalau yang tinggal sama pengundang, atau memang ada jaminan untuk akomodasi, INI TIDAK DIPERLUKAN!)

Asuransi Kesehatan Perjalanan

Pada saat pengajuan permohonan visa Schengen untuk satu kali atau dua kali perjalanan, pemohon harus menunjukkan asuransi kesehatan perjalanan yang berlaku selama perjalanan yang direncanakan. Pada kasus permohonan visa kunjungan untuk beberapa kali perjalanan, pemohon harus dapat membuktikan bahwa ia memiliki asuransi perjalanan untuk kunjungan pertamanya. Dalam hal ini pemohon harus menuliskan pernyataan dalam formulir permohonannya bahwa ia akan membuat asuransi yang memadai untuk setiap kunjungannya si masa yang akan datang.

Asuransi ini pada dasarnya dibuat di negara tempat tinggal pemohon. Namun apabila hal ini tidak memungkinkan, maka hal ini baru dapat dilakukan di negara lainnya. Asuransi ini dapat pula dibuat oleh pihak ketiga, misalnya dibuat oleh pengundang untuk pemohon.

Asuransi ini harus berlaku di semua negara Schengen dan juga berlaku selama masa kunjungan atau selama transit di negara Schengen selama masa berlaku visanya, dengan arti perlindungan asuransi hanya dibutuhkan selama masa kunjungan sesungguhnya dan tidak selama masa berlaku visa secara keseluruhannya. Asuransi kesehatan perjalanan ini harus mempunya pertanggungan minimal sejumlah 30.000,- Euro.

Untuk asuransi aku pake ACA, lebih murah, dan waktu itu OMG baeeekk banget hari minggu mau bersibuk2 kerja buat ngantarin polis aku ke hotel tempat aku stay. Two thumbs up, servicenya! aku korespondensi via mail, sebab aku dari Jambi dan via telepon, jadi waktu aku sampe di Jakarta hari minggu, polis dah siap dan di antarkan langsung ke hotel. Contact personnya waktu itu aku dengan pak Marcus Hutabarat.
Total premi yang aku bayar untuk 17 hari (untuk plan yang "Executive" mengcover US$50.000,-) sejumlah US$38,5 aku bayar pake uang rupiah kira2 Rp 350.000,-

Kedutaan berhak untuk meminta berkas-berkas pendukung lainnya.

Pemohon visa di bawah umur 18 tahun, memerlukan tandatangan kedua orang tua atau orang yang memiliki hak perwalian di formulir permohonan. Penandatanganan formulir permohonan ini dilakukan oleh kedua orangtua di depan loket visa atau di kantor notaris setempat, dan disertai legalisasi terhadap tandatangan oleh pihak notaris tersebut.

Dokumen-dokumen, undangan, surat jaminan resmi dan sebagainya yang dikirimkan ke Kedutaan tanpa diminta, tidak akan mendapatkan perhatian dalam proses visa. Semua dokumen yang diperlukan harus dibawa langsung oleh pemohon saat mengajukan permohonan visa.

Pengajuan permohonan visa yang dikirimkan melalui pos, pihak ketiga atau Konsul Honorer (Bali dan Surabaya) tidak dimungkinkan/TIDAK BOLEH DI WAKILKAN.

Semua proses yang dilakukan di Bagian Visa adalah cuma-cuma, kecuali biaya visa atau biaya faksimili. Formulir permohonan diberikan cuma-cuma.

Biaya visa: (dibayarkan dalam rupiah sesuai kurs ECB).

Pemohon pada dasarnya membayar sebesar 60,00,- Euro, tidak tergantung dari jenis visanya dan tidak tergantung dari lokasi permohonan. Anak-anak di antara 6 sampai 12 tahun dikenakan biaya sebesar 35,00,- Euro. Anak-anak di bawah 6 tahun dibebaskan dari biaya visa. Pemohon akan menerima bukti pembayaran.

Bilamana pada penyerahan permohonan terdapat paspor atau berkas yang salah, dipalsukan atau palsu, maka hal ini dapat berakibat pada tuntuan dari pihak berwenang setempat. Selain itu permohonan tersebut akan ditolak.

Alamat Kedutaan Jerman:
Jl. M. H. Thamrin 1
Jakarta 10310
Indonesia
(bundaran HI, pintu kecil yang menghadap BCA TOWER, bukan gerbang besar yang banyak penjaganya itu, liat aja ada yang ngantri di sana tiap hari)


Telefon: (0062-21) 39855-114-115
Telefax: (0062-21) 316 22 84
E-Mail: visastelle@jaka.diplo.de

Jam buka untuk mengajukan
permohonan visa turis dan bisnis (Schengen)
Senin – Jumat
07.30 – 11.30 WIB

Germany Embassy Jakarta

...to be continued....

Sleeping at Soekarno Hatta Jakarta!

Its not once that i read this quote "you're not a backpacker if you never sleep at airport" well.. to be honest there are so many things that made someone qualified as "backpacker" and its so universal that you will find the meanings quiet different to one another.

Ok, lets go back to the topics.

I will say i did once sleeping at the airport. And its in Jakarta, oh yes, i wish its in Changi airport for sure! I never done that before but when i did, i just got off plane at midnight and my next flight at 7am in the morning. I don't think risking my flight ticket would be worthy and i had to go back to work the very next day!

So that time i was on Cathay Pacific flight from Hongkong to Jakarta. I got a high fever, and my head very dizzy. Until 3 days after that i found out that i got typhoid---erhhhh don't ask from where but i guess it could be from work, or from Hongkong! i am not so sure!

But i was so scary when i walk in to the immigration where there usually a body temperature check due to SARS/AVIAN flu check. But omg! they didn't turn the thing on! so just my luck i guess! i think they never check that again, but i see in some other airports they still check body temperature.

I know i wont had chance to sleep if i go to town to my sisters house. It will took like 40 minutes to one hour to get to town and to go back to airport in early morning. Ohhh i can't do that. I just feel my body very weak and my temperature too high that i can't see clearly.

After getting my luggage i start to search for sleeping spot on terminal 2. I went to the first floor but its too crowded with people. All bench are full. And they turn off some of the lights. I didn't see any other western travelers where i could feel safer somehow! But then.. i just think oh well.. i will find a good spot. ASAP!

And then i see this huge lounge where the airlines office are. Theres an announcement said i can not sleep there. But what the heck, its clean, and the lights on, and i could see CCTV there. The airlines office must be closed by now. Then i pick my corner, in front of Emirate Airlines if i am not mistaken. I had two blankets from Cathay Pacific. So i put one on the floor, and another for my blanket. Put my socks on, and glove and put my eye patch on! i just don't care! and i put my luggage trolley next to me to cover my self (i sleep between the wall and my luggage trolley). I put lock and sling cable to my bag and the trolley. I think this place must be safe. I could see some people who works in airlines still go back and forwards sometimes. So its not completely empty.

Beside me i see two other people sleeping not far from me, its like a couple, local Indonesian couple sleeping side by side. So i am not by my self.

I think i was sleeping for an hour or two, when i felt something is moving near me, i move quick and open my eye patch right when i saw a huge man on top of me!!! yikes!!!

I sit down, and look to that guy, he is a mid east guy, still young (and..hehe handsome) he look at me and quickly said sorry, i said sorry back to him and said i thought his office closed already, he smile (yepp he smile) and said yes its closed already and said sorry again for waking me up! haha not his fault, i don't realize i slept right in front of his office door! he must be very confuse to think whether he want to walk above me or to wake me up! hahahaha!

So i said sorry again and he say this "no, no sorry wake you up, have a great night, sweet dreams!" he smiled... i just said "oh ..ok.. thanks good night!" and then he walk away. Cute! but then i remember something! i open my eye patch and ahahahaaha! he reads my eye patch!! its say "sweet dreams!" LOL hahaha!

I was sleeping again until around 5am. I think its because the flu medication that i took. I wake up and wash my face and change my clothes, just simple cleaning up. I took the shuttle bus to terminal 1 for my domestic flight back to Jambi.

I still had chance to get my self a cup of tea and eat bread for breakfast.

I think sleeping at Soekarno Hatta not that bad. Its not convenient but if i had the same flights i will consider to do it again, its not that bad, and the most important i think is to pick the spot to sleep and always aware of your luggage. Also bring some thin blanket and glove mosquitoes are my main enemy! but lucky i got the gloves, jacket and blanket!

Its not that weird thing anymore and it safe money to sleep at airport to wait for another flight! its wort to try!

Hongkong Here i come! (Day1)

Thanks to Cathay Pacific and Petrochina Intl' (where i work), i got discount for corporate secretary (this sound very lovely) for flight tickets to Jakarta-Hongkong return.

The fare that i have to pay is US$ 250 for return ticket Jakarta-Hongkong. Isn't that cool?

So, October 26, 2010 with Batavia air i fly from Jambi to Jakarta at 5.05 pm and arrive nearly 6pm at Soekarno Hatta-Jakarta. I had some dinner at terminal 1 (for Indonesia domestic flights). 

Arrive at Jakarta Soekarno Hatta at 6.05pm went to luggage claim and took my backpack and get something for my dinner. This time there was no problem like my previous traveling when I cannot find my back pack, and I had less than 3 hours flights to Bangkok!

But that was with Lion Air… this time with Bataviaair heheh… different airlines.

For my dinner I choose Mie Kingkong near the stairs to the mushalla (arrival door right side about 50 meters after A&W). I just want something other than junk food. I order Hot plate noodles with black pepper beef for Rp 30.000,- and I had a mineral water for Rp 8000,- the noodle actually taste nice, but its overcooked… from 1 to 10 (1 is yuck! 10 is have to have it) I will give 5, its better to pick other food.

After dinner I look up for free shuttle bus to terminal 2. The free shuttle bus (yellow mini bus) will come every 20-30 mins. It goes from Terminal 1 (Indonesia Domestic Flights) to Terminal 2 (International flights, including Garuda airways flights domestic and local and Air Asia for International Flights) and the last one is Terminal 3 (Domestic Air Asia Flights-including to Bali and Mandala Airways flights). Terminal 3 is my fave terminal since its new, clean and there are plenty places to eat, like Bakmi GM also J’co doughnuts and Starbucks.

Arrive at Terminal 2D, I sit down in front of China Airways check in desk. I still had few hours to go since my flight Cathay Pacific CX798 departs at 23.55 I still had like 4 hour to kill, so I get my netbook from my backpack and pick a good corner and updating my facebook stat and playing games, etc just to pass the time. One of the secretaries said they already check me in online hours before I leave Jambi. It is a convenient thing that you could do city check in or online check in its ease time, especially for those who live in Jakarta that took like 2 hours even more during this raining season just to get to airport earlier.

At 9pm I look up for Cathay Pacific counter, it was in D1, its quite far from where I sit down, but sure I still got plenty time. I check my huge backpack in and had my flight ticket from the group and find out… grrrrhhhhhh!! Not again!! Its wrong name again!

I had to spent 20 mins to explain that its not my mistake that they write my name differently…. But CX have a very good customer service… as I explain the point is.. its me on the flight ticket they want not other person.. so.. yepp they check my things in.

On check in counter I pass my passport and Rp 150.000,- for airport tax. I got my boarding pass with airport tax sticker on it and a “departure card” from the counter. I went to the Fiscal counter near the immigration check, and pass copy of my NPWP card (tax card) and the officer will give “free fiscal” stamp on my boarding pass. If you don’t have this NPWP card you have to prepare about US$200 or about 2 million rupiahs. If you’re Indonesian below 21 and your parent had NPWP card, you should bring copy of your family card (KK) and copy of your parent NPWP card.

After got my free fiscal stamp, I fill out the departure card and pass the immigration. Still few hours before leaving so I back to my netbook again sit on Starbucks sipping Caramel Latte tall, hmm.. I had cookie with me too…. This is fun.

At 11 pm I go to the gate waiting room. Wash my face and try to relax.. its really feel exciting as even if I travel as group, this will be my solo traveling. I will had my own plan, stay in hostel by myself and doing thing my own… hmm….

Nearly midnight we board to the plane. This is the first time in my life I am on flight aboard and its not budget flights. Hehehehe… usually I go by Air Asia or Tiger Airways or Value Jet… inside.. ofcourse this is a lot bigger plane… there are 2 seat near each window side, and 4 in the middle… they had business class too.. its pretty cool that they gave you blankets and pillow also headset for the small tv on the back of the front seat.. cute!

After having midnight dining with mash potatoes and beef sauce.. and a glass of tea (enough dosage of caffeine actually) I try to sleep. I manage to sleep about 2-3hrs when I think I heard the pilot announce that we’re about to land in Hongkong… errrhh? I see my watch still 3.50 wow…. Its 4.50 already in Hongkong. We landed at 5 am.. bummer….

Hongkong Airport at 5 am from plane on the way to Immigration 

Outside Immigration (after luggage) you could see the Octopus Card booth on the centre

Queue for Octopus Card

I get myself an Octopus Card for HK$150. Octopus Card could be use for most of transportation system in Hongkong like MTR, Bus, Tram, and you could use it too in some shop. Its very convenient since you don't have to collect small coins, just need to tap it to the device that provided. There is tourist pass for 3 days… its cheaper considerate that i could use it for 3 days and included 2 times ride with Airport Express train...but I think I pass that since its for 3 days MTR use and 2 airport express train back and forward for HK$300 this would be useful for anyone who stay in Hongkong for 3 days, but I just think I am planning to go to Macau or Shenzen so regular Octopus Card would be ok. Oh, the HK$ 50 is deposit that you could get back if you return your Octopus Card (its included on the HK$ 150 price).

Going to the bus to the town its not far from octopus booth just go to the right (not to the parking-but to the other side) and follow the direction, its pretty simple-not! haha if your flight arrive early morning and you're half awake hahaha!

From the octopus booth you could see this sign to get to the bus

When you see this, turn right....

and... there goes the exit door to the bus! yay!

When the door is open, I can’t forget how freakin’ cold the wind is (aaaaaaaaaaaarrrgghhhhhh!!) sorry.. maybe for someone from 4 weather countries its noting and sounds like exaggerating , as I quote my Canadian boss said “19 degrees is a beautiful day to wear short and had picnic with the family” but its cold… seriously.. if you live in equator lines and your average daily  temp is 30-31 C degrees, 17 degrees is cold.

As I look at the information about the buses, they were many of them... I try to jump and run anything to make me warm, and I even wear my wools gloves hahaha!

Bus information, from here you could go to right or left depends on the bus u will take

I use bus #A21 to get my self to Mongkok Kowloon, it was on the right side of the bus terminal (right side of the information board). It still 6 am the wind blow very strong and its only me on the bus stop freezing. I think about my two short and a flip flop on my back pack, and send sms to my mom about this, she must laugh so hard now (ya..ya mom weather is good-I am freeeeezzziiinggg) yepp she laugh at me. A nice lesson for me, October should check if the country I visit had winter!! (Hongkong apparently does have those 4 seasons ugghh!!)

Get in the bus at 6.05 am, I tap my octopus card on the front, near the driver and I show the driver the print out in Cantonese/mandarin language from my hostel, and he nod saying something with gesture to ask me to sit down. Well.. ok.. he know where I should stop at least… it’s the best thing if you had the print out of where to stop because most of Hongkong people cannot understand English, even the taxi driver!! You have to provide the Chinese written in everything, maps, street, hostels, MRT … fiuhhh.. lost in translation begin!

The view from the airport to the city amazing… why? Because you could see Hongkong have everything beside jungle like Sumatra hahahaha! (im in good mood when write this on my note) they had blue ocean with white gulls and mountains and they had tunnels, street are nice, and I could see path where you could run or hike, its very clean, the air is fresh (compare to Jakarta-hehe unfair due to amount of people who live there) and they had busy container port with big ships, I could see ferries to Macau, and long bridges… wow… I see apartment with hanging clothes… I am in HONGKONG! Yaaayyy!

I kept counting the bus stop as it said 6 bus stop. When I almost close I ask the bus driver again.. and he ask me to go? Hah??? He forgot about where I should go down! Aaarrrggghhh!! TT.TT I don’t even know where I am! Freezing, with huge backpack and day pack on front of my body I walk like giant hot dog… suppose to be a normal view but still they stare… hahaha.. anyway… I stand still there and try to figure out where I am, look at map for the 7th or 8 times… still I cant figure it out. Uhmmm... gave up...

So I ask where the nearest MTR to a passing students.. why students? Because they suppose to be able to speak English these days, hehehe…. If they can’t I will teach them some.. hahaha! (my brain freezing and start to act crazy sometimes). One of them point a direction and I could see where I did wrong, I was only less than 70 meters from MTR You Ma Tei … uhhhh…. He got me down earlier then I should… hahah I should be more confident and not rely on someone else.. duuh… So I go by MTR to Mongkok and go to exit B and…. Wow its straight from exit B about 50 meters and turn left when you see theres 7 eleven across, the first door you could see “AH SAN” hostel sign. I am very close to check in.. fiuhh… Going to 14th floor.. this building consist of several guest house, and it is in the center of Mongkok the shopping heaven! Yaaayyyyyy! Great price and the place was clean, the guest house owner could speak fluent Indonesian (see me with wonder at my back pack).

I cannot check in because the check in time is at 1pm. So I ask her if I could use the bathroom. They are very nice to let me use the bathroom. So I clean myself and had new tshirt and wear my thick socks and I am good to go. I kept my luggage locked at the reception.

Down stairs.. oh my… its soooooo cooooolllld! Hahaha its very different than tropical weather when the wind blow, it will be hot and humid, but this is the contrary.. its cold and its very dry. Its good that I kept my nivea lip care with me, keep me moist all the time. But I could feel my skin getting dry by the wind blow only!

My first trip I go from Mongkok MRT to Central and then switch train to Sheung Wan line. My traveling methods are… trying to find places that most of others not going hahahah! And try not to push myself like really schedule it.. because this is a vacation and I shall relax and have fun without “dead line” of places to goes… so it should be flexible (as much as I want) and this is the fun thing about traveling by, myself, I could arrange things my own!

In Sheung Wan I jump on the first Tram that I saw… hahah without seeing where it goes. I go to 2^nd floor of the tram. This is one of must do that I wrote. The tram had several colors that show directions and where their last stop. Oh.. for tram, you jump up from behind and go down from front side. I just know about this when I want to get in and some guy point at the back of the tram.. hehehe.. sorry!

My tram color was white, its goes all over to Fortress Hill.

I love the ride as I could see the most of Hongkong Island from a different view. It took about 20 min to get to Fortress Hill where I decide to walk and explore.

I found traditional markets and got myself a very delicious.. tasty… egg tart 3 for HK$ 20! Yums! When I see map while chewing my egg tart that I was pretty close to Central MTR (yepp I walk so far away!) so I go to the MTR and jump on train to Wan Chai MTR station I want to see the Golden Bauhinia Square.

From Wan Chai I get out from exit A5. Errrhh… there are peoples get off from train and I got carried with the crowd following the direction to the Golden Bauhinian, and suddenly… aaaahahahaha… I am in the middle of great building with people using suits, short skir, heels, and up do stylist hair.. OMG.. hahaha..i am completely lost in a wrong place!!

I am the only person who use jeans and tshirt with map on hand and backpack… oh.. I am so lost! Haha! I took the wrong turn and instead getting outside building to the street… I follow people to the expo building!! (but for girls… toilet in here are clean!! Its hard to find clean toilet while in HKG)

Golden Bauhinian Square well known as Expo Promenade it’s a huge place for conference (kind of Esplanade, but for different use) the building is exceptional and the view are amazing.

I manage to find the famous square, but suddenly few tourist bus stop and I know its my time to move to other place… but I see the view are amazing… I could see the other part of Hongkong-The new Territories…. There are plenty people with hi tech camera taking lots of pictures. I sat down on the stairs and enjoy the view..

But not too long because the wind chilling! So I went to the Reunification Monument its about 100 meters from the Square, its still in the same area. The statue and the flower actually signifying the establishment of the Hongkong Special Administration Region.

From there I return back to Wan Chai MTR station and look at my map and decide to do some Museum tours…

From Wan Chai MTR station I go to Admiralty MTR station and exit to Lippo Bank Building (buses to Ocean Park). A nice finding is…I found Bank Negara Indoensia (BNI) wow.. what a relief.. so I could get some more HK$ but too bad they didn’t have MOP for Macau. I think its better to do the exchange in bank because I read things about money changer that they will change the money with currency that not used anymore or it’s a fake money.. sigh… 

The Lippo Bank building itself is one of famous Hongkong icon, you will see this building on tv most of time-the building with all glasses and the shape of the windows quite funny. There are two towers and one of the tower leads to ..short of sky walk—pretty similar with one in Bangkok. These sky walks connect from one building to another. So I don’t need to cross the street below. So, I went from the Lippo Bank building all the way to Fairmount Building across and then I go down to cross the street.. and the park in front of me!! Yaayy…

The uphill path little bit tiring me so I sit down in a bench and enjoy the view of Hongkong building… oh gosh its so convenient to have a park in the middle of town like Hongkong…. Its beautiful!

In Hongkong Park there are several buildings. One of the buildings I was entering was a museum with old Chinese Old Stamps on the 2^nd floor… it’s amazing, all made of jade of course… I cannot understand the carvings but I enjoy it! On the first floor is place where you could enjoy Chinese Tea.. its actually a tea house… cool!

The second building was the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. In here we could see Chinese antique tea ware, ohhh there are some cute tea pots and movie about the traditions related with tea. There are displays about how they made traditional tea, how to process and the kins of tea.

After seeing and enjoying the museum I went out to the Hongkong Park again, it’s a very fine afternoon. Its amazing…. As the park is so beautiful.. there’s a large fish pool with few turtles… baby turtles.. it’s really calm.. and ohhhh you won’t believe it’s a city centre and its very clean!!

There are also few police walking… I like this.. feel safe, and this park amazing.. with trees and fish pools and waterfall! A bride and groom taking pictures, some senior citizen sit down and enjoy the afternoon… its so beautiful… and oh.. it had free wifi too… amazing! So I sat there for a while, checking my FB and eating a bar of chocolate.

Its nearly 4 pm when I start to explore the park. It had an Olympic park, also a wedding registry where theres a wedding happens.. ohh.. so many wedding a brides and grooms here… I also found the “Aviary” where they had this huge dome contains birds, tropical birds, and they were amazing, its just like one in Singapore zoo… difference is this is the city centre!

Outside the aviary I went to the cotton tree drive rd, across the squash centre theres building to the peak tram. I could see the queue VERY long! I don’t think it will be fine for me if I went to the peak at night I will be frozen!! So I decide to go back to Central MRT again and then I saw map I was on the Connaught Road (Hongkong not that big, so walking is pretty easy!) so I think I want to try the LONGEST ESCALATOR IN  THE WORLD yepp its in Hongkong!

Connaught Rd Central and the Queens Road full of shopping centre (place where I shouldn’t go!) but anyway I cant resist seeing BodyShop so I went there and get something for my skin as the cold wind breaks my skin and lips!

I found the start of the escalator. It was on the 2^nd floor of Hang Seng Building.

I see there are many stores on the bottom of the escalator, so I decide to use stairs instead.

I found some interesting shops, massage shop, hairdress, tailors…ice creams and, ahhhh the frozen yohgurt!!! I get some of the frozen yoghurt, its so soft and sweet! And the girls whos own the shop really nice!

I went up to the escalator again and stop at Caine Street. I want to visit the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Museum.

I like Dr Sun Yat Sen… i know him from history books, he was a very smart person. As political Science Faculty Student i do had some politic classes and I like the way he think to mix the western world and the Asian… He live in Hawaii for a while with his older brother and this length of time give a great influence on his political views. Being a modern person but also not forgetting his root. Its kind of my thing... He was the founding Father of Republic of China, and he was the greatest leaders of modern China politics. His political Philosophy are called "Three Principles of the People" its consist of  principle of nationalism, democracy, and  the People's Livelihood.  

The museum it self actually an amazing house! Its really worth to see! This mid level must be stunning back then, when there are no tall buildings like these days. It’s a residence of a rich family.

Back from Sun Yat Sen Museum tours… haha.. theres no escalator going down.. the escalator will remain one way from down to up from 10.20 am until midnight!

Back to Central MTR, its quite a walk and I like it because theres plenty to see… lots of people start to wear Halloween costumes, and its funny and scary! Hahaha… I love this!

From Central I go to TST MTR… its about time to see the light show-The Symphony of Lights! From TST I went to Salisbury Road (plenty direction signs). When I arrive there are many people already with their huge cameras waiting for the show… even when its still 45 min before 8pm. The show start at 8pm.

The light show its actually mixed between lights and laser. Its … good.. because the sound system… but woooww.. the wind blowing and im freezing hahah.. I feel good because I know I am right about not going to the peak! I pick my spot near the statue of a woman with a floating globe I think…. Its good view from there…

The show only few minutes last.. I watch it until its over… its quite romantic to be there with your love one for sure!

After the show over, I start to  walk on the Avenue of Stars… I found some of my favorite Hongkong actors and actress signature and hand print on the pavement… its very nice to know that actually Jet Lee had smaller palms than I do.. hahaha still he punch better tho hahaha! I also take pictures with a bronze Bruce Lee statue, the king of martial arts… hmmm…

Oh.. there was a stall that sold squids... oh Gosh.. smell and taste so goood... its cold and i am hungry! so i had two!! hehe!

I manage to find Starbucks and had my mocca latte and head up to MTR to go back to Mongkok. It was late… even if the Ladies market seemed temping place to explore.. but I just think of tomorrow I had to go to Macau.. so.. I choose to go to hostel and do my CHECK IN and I did! The owner was a nice lady, but its very limited in English, but surprisingly she does speak Indonesia language... impressive.

She took me to another apartment on same floor, it seemed where the dorm room are. It looks messy.. but clean. There was a guy working with his laptop. He said the wifi not really stable, and i ask him if i could access it from my bedroom, he said yeah sure.. so i wash my face and doing bit packing for tomorrow, i decide just to bring my day pack and leave my huge 15 liters back pack...

The room that I got suppose to be shared with 2 other people… but it was empty.. yippie!! So I charge all of my battery and go to bed! Its been an awesome day! Can't wait for more of my holidays!

Want a cheap flight ticket?? BOOK EARLIER!

I just saw this promotion from Tiger Airways. Tiger is my 2nd choice for traveling... i use their service several times when i went to Thailand.

I looovveeee them!
To get a cheap flight ticket you have to book your flights earlier. They gave us more discount on flights fare!
See Tiger Airways website for more details!

Layanan Passport&Visa/Ijin Tinggal Online! yippie!

Aduuuhhhh senangnya ngebaca berita dari temen aku yang ngurus passport online... walaupun baru di daerah2 tertentu aja, kek di Jakarta!

Sudah di cek ke website Imigrasi kita, ternyata memang bener! malah di sana ada link buat layanan visa dan ijin tinggal di Indonesia!

Good news for ya 'all fella traveler who just can't stay out of Indonesia, immigration office seemed really does their job on serving traveler who wants to do their visa or permit to stay in Indonesia, now you could do it online!! yaaayyy! but this service limited only in immigration. You could go to Indonesia Immigration website and check for "Layanan Visa dan Ijin Tinggal" under the "Layanan Public Tab". The visa will be done in 2-3 working days. Well at least its saving your time for queuing at the immigration office ^^v

Proses pengajuan pembuatan paspor secara online melalui website www.imigrasi go.id adalah sebagai berikut :

1. Sebelumnya anda harus menscan dokumen sesuai dengan persyaratan yang telah ditentukan (KTP, Surat Lahir, Surat Nikah, Kartu Keluarga, dll.) dalam format image (*.jpeg, *.gif, *.bmp, dan ukuran tidak lebih dari 2MB)
2. Ketik address website imigrasi "www.imigrasi.go.id" pada browser anda (disarankan menggunakan mozzilla firefox)
3. Kemudian pilih menu "LAYANAN PASPOR ONLINE"
4. Muncul 2 (dua) menu antara lain "PRA PERMOHONAN yang berfungsi untuk melakukan pengisian form permohonan SPRI/paspor dan "STATUS PERMOHONAN untuk melakukan ricek/trace terhadap status permohonan.
5. Halaman informasi pemohon, isi formulir yang tersedia, dan hal yang perlu diperhatikan adalah "KOLOM KANIM" yang merupakan tempat tujuan pembuatan paspor contoh : pilihan>Kanim Jakarta Selatan, proses pembuatan paspor ditujukan di kantor Imigrasi Jakarta Selatan> lanjutkan proses
6. Halaman alamat pemohon, isi formulir yang tersedia > lanjutkan proses
7. Halaman pengisian dokumen/upload data > lanjutkan sampai dengan proses submit terakhir
8. Simpan nomor registrasi sebagai bukti permohonan secara on-line. Terakhir Diperbaharui 

The 2010 Bangkok Tales-Part 1 (The Beginning)

.......... time has comes for me to pack my things in a 50 liter back pack and start a brand new adventure!

Bangkok and Singapore here comes FIKA!!! ciiiaaaaattttttttt!! (gaya kung pao master!)

Bangkok

There was something about Bangkok or Thailand that i like. I don't know how to describe it, but i found it romantic, with all of its bustle and sound, also smell and the look of lady boys (he he he). I found it all very fascinating. Tuk tuk, taksi the wat's chao phraya, the humidity, the heat, the sweat, the dogs... ohhhh... all about Bangkok hate and love, made me want to go there again!!



At 2009 i book a flight through Air Asia, with their FREE SEAT, i got flight from Jakarta to Bangkok with price of Rp 30,000,- (about US$ 3,-) well it should be free, they actually charge Rp 30,000,- for my extra 15 kg's luggage. (Lu boleh jealous dah ! huahuahuahauhauha!!!!) Nope, i sit in a leather seat, full ac, and its not a single 80 years old propeller plane. Its normal 100-200 seated flight (maybe fokker, i don't understand this one), but its normal plane for sure, no plastic chair, i don't have to sit on the floor too, or jump off the plane with a parachute!! (yeah they tease me with these when theyt found out about my flight price!!).

My flight start from Jambi at 11 am with Batavia air. There were delays for 30 mins, but its normal in Indonesia (geezz.. i dont know how i see delay as normal... but it is pathetic!!). When you said "delay" as a "not normal" thing ladies and gentlemen... if you're an expat, you better know, this is one of sign you've been TOO LONG reside in Indonesia. If you are an Indonesian, please peeps... change this mind set, DELAYs are not OK!!!!



I arrive in Jakarta on lunch time. Switching terminal from domestic to international, using the airport free shuttle bus (yellow bus). And go down in Air asia counter, check my flight from the small monitor on every each air asia counter. Theres several lines already.

After check in at Air Asia counter and pay Rp 150.000,- for airport tax (around US$15/Person), oh i got help from two pretty lady in red, on self check in machine infront of traditional checking counter, it was very easy and comfortable! All i need is my booking number (ticket print out) and passport number. No need to queue, less than 5 min they gave me the check in sticker that printed on that machine, i attach it to my printed ticket, all i need to do after that just goes to "special queue line" that had big banner said "self check in" to scale/drop my bag, tag it and thats all! next will be finding an official fiscal office, not far from the counter.

I get my "free fiscal stamp" at my boarding pass from fiscal booth near immigration door on the same floor not far from there (about 100 meters from Air Asia Counters). I don't have to pay "fiscal" when ever i leave Indonesia since i had my NPWP. These days everyone that work have to had NPWP, even my youngest who wasn't work last time she went to Malaysia she made her own NPWP card at tax office and its very easy! (Read my writing about fiscal rules).

I fill in the "Indonesia Departure card" that was given to me by air asia counter/check-in guy (you will always had this card when ever you leave or enter a country, every country had their own departure/arrival card, oh its just one card by the way) and go to immigration queue line (for Indonesia passport) for stamp in my passport (hand off the departure card to the officer when you give the passport).




Oh, another tips i could give is, use the air asia "web check in". It is the best resolution for people like me i think. I get "lost" on my way to airport sometimes. But the rules is it could only be done 2 days up to 4 hours before departure. You could do this with your cellphone too. So there's no chance for you for getting late to airport for check in as the counter will closed 1 hour before departure!!

I still had at least one and half hour to go before my flight. It was a great time for having the most expensive sandwich that i ever had in my life and a bottle of water at Soekarno Hatta-Jakarta International Airport. I know i should stick to Mc D or or other junk food joint.

My flight with Air Asia was at 4 pm afternoon. My fingers are cold, because i was too excited to start this all!! i ask the check in counter if they could seat me near window seat so i could take pictures. Hehe.. she gave me emergency exit seat... good for my long legs!! hehe thanks JKT Air Asia crew.. no worry guys... i am tough enough to open those emergency exit, God Forbid that happened, but yaaayyy!

I fed up with local girls with their caucasian bf/guest/daddy what so ever, if the age gap over 25-30 years, thats not normal, and uuuhhhh... i hate too much PDA (Personal Display of Affection>> kissing smooching, grabbing, hugging tight, petting, etc). Whats wrong with these people!!! I had to listen to whispers and giggles, its disgusting! and its still Jakarta to Bangkok.. and Patayya is on my list.. i roll my eyes.. what ever... i use my eye patch and listen to my MP3 until time the stewardess minds me to turn off my MP3 because its nearly landing. Oh... i take Nasi Lemak Pak Nasir as my dinner menu on board, not bad actually... pretty nice. Its because i am hungry too! I landed nearly 8 pm at SuvarnaBhumi in Bangkok, i was amazed. Wow.. pretty clean! and futuristic, a little bit like Changi tho...



 
It was the very first time i landed in Suvarnabhumi. I went to Thailand several times but i was landed in Phuket, Krabi, or leaving from Changi. So... never been to SuvarnaBhumi. The arrival gate and the immigration check is quite far, and wow... its bigger than Changi! the lines consist of Thai passport and International passport. I pick the one that on the very left part, as the first 4 on the right was very looooonggggg! the immigration officer pretty helpful for traveling family with small kids, they short of made them priority as they come to them one by one and guide them to the "special boot" for the kids. Ok thats pretty cool when you had more than 3 kids running around or crying... you wont think its nice to stand on queue over 35 people. Its nuts. So yeah.. good for those mums and dads.


 
And i learn very good thing... please don't laugh ok... first i have to explain how small my town airport is: Jambi airport only had two luggage belt at the arrival, and its only less than 20 meters long (got the view?).

Here in Suvarnabhumi you will see over 25 luggage belt. Its huge, its crowded and.... confusing!!! I was jump around, try to see my flight number on the 3 belt that i just passed until a guy short of ask, what the hell i were doing that time, and i said it, i don't know which belt my luggage was! and he point at an electronic board, just exactly the same as the flight announcement (well.. ok.. i thought it was a flight announcement board) you know that blinking board that said which flight and numbers and arrival or departure time??? yepp... that one.



This one show the flight numbers, city of departures, and time of arrival, and ...bingo!! the luggage belt number!!! But i guess i am not the only one who look the luggage the "traditional way" which ill call "visual check" way hahahahha! Well it only work if you only had at least 5 belt lines!!! but over 25??!! ok that wont work buddy!



I was the first one who arrive on the belt! hahaha! pretty cool.. i took my luggage and goes to the "green" line exit which said "no goods to declare".

Outside, i go to the atm for the cash in baht as i didnt change my money to baht before. I just use my ATM from BCA well.. i use that for years since 2006. I went to 2nd floor to Starbuck as i see many people use laptop there... i thought they had free WIFI.... but i was wrooong!



Even Suvarnabhumi look as sophisticated as Changi but they don't have that free wifi!!! come on... even Jambi had free wifi!! why there is no wifi!! as the gadget freak, i feel so upset there! After a mocca latte grande and sitting for a while at Starbucks try to made a draft for this blog, finally Lee come with her big smile! she looks pretty like a super model just the same like i met her before in Singapore (remember the Ryan Cumpston and Richard Stewart "journey" back in Singapore?? the US navy guys from DDG 82/USS Lassen??). We sit for a while, and she order her cup of coffee.

Anyway, we walk down and we finally see free internet at THAILAND TOURISM boot on the first floor! there are two computer that people could use for free for browsing internet! and i ask for a Bangkok map also use the computer for a while, the girl could speak moderate English, convenient thing to know actually..... , and we met an Oz girl that very nice, she browse flights for Lee, but we had lack of choice as the flight price goes up to 3000 baht (to Singapore). When we go to level 4 for AirAsia counter, it was closed already (it was 11pm i think), so we go back down on basement to get a bus to our hostel.





To get to the bus station to town, we had to go to the exit number 8 near the taxi boot on first level, just look up for the sign said Airport Express Bus. We took the bus direction to Silom Area (AE1). The price for the bus to Sala Daeng Sky Train are 150baht (our hostel at Decho Rd not that far from "PATPONG" area!). It is cheaper than if we go by taxi, which is 400-500 baht and it still depends on the traffic too! so it could be much more!

The hostel name is Lub.D. I would highly RECOMMEND you this hostel, due to lots of reason ill tell later hehehe.... Oh i book the hostel from the Hostel Bookers website. They got he cheapest price and no additional charge too! I would recommend bus for airport, as the bus is very fast, and its comfortable and clean too. And i do think its safe! I do heard there was MRT from airport to city centre too, but the service is only until 7pm, so its not an option for us.

We leave the airport with the bus at nearly 10pm. The journey began with Lee. The city at night was very calm. I had my camera ready on my hand, i want to see pictures of what left behind the deadly demonstration few months ago. What Bangkok looks like in the eye of visitor/tourist for the very first time after they land in SuvarnaBhumi? It turn out to be a normal night in Bangkok city. Nothing that i see wrong, its not that Bangkok a spotless place, but there are things that not rihght and you could spot it easy as the prostitute and lady boy walk on the street or on a motorcycle. But its still one of the city of Bangkok "landmark" hehehe... so.. nothing strange about it.

Then i see it the burned malls stood in the dark.. covered with some green nets, looks like they're moving forward and try to fix it as soon as possible.... ok... its very fast actually.. Indonesia took longer time to recover from Bali bombing. Of course it was something different.... but still.. it was burnt few weeks ago but everything looks so normal, and feels normal too!

We were arrive around 11pm at the Sky train terminal. But its actually quite shady area, some local Thai guy drunk, come closer to us and we decide to go inside a 7/11 to ask direction. Because ts common for me to be disoriented at very first day when i was i arrive in a new city. And alas! the 7/11 cashier not speak english that well. And i forgot my other Thai 101; Thailand people never say "no" or "don't know" (sorry i generalize Thai people here...but that's the fact i experienced so far!), when we ask something they will try to point a direction or just pretend they don't really hear what we said. Geez... so instead of lead us to the right way they often get things even worse!

We finally took a taxi from sofitel hotel, if only we know its so close!

The room we stayed in is a dorm, when we arrive theres none there. But its 8 bunk bed there. And we could see the bed "tag" (like the bag tag from airport) from the hostel show only 4 of the bed are occupied.

We went out at 2 am since Lee want to have a sight of Patpong and we dont even feel sleepy! So we walk around and see small traditional market not far from Patpong, its all GREAT! we walk until the end of the road and decide to go back to hostel since it was 4 am! and even the drunk girls are on the way back home. It was safe to walk at night in Bangkok.

Well... matters safe or not actually it depends on us, how we carry our self, how you behave how you dress, how you talk, etc. If you use your best "i am not into trouble" look/behaviour, i think it will be ok anywhere.

Its was pretty funny to see the drunker walk back home, you could see their drunk smile, walk tipsy, some are cute, some are just sleazy (haha we only spot guys! hahah!).

Over all my first night are pretty awesome!!

Untuk yang baru merencanakan jalan2 ke LN ini yang aku lakuin di airport:

1. Siapin passport sama uang Rp 150.000,- untuk airport tax (Soekarno Hatta segitu nominalnya). Check in di counter penerbangan (air asia, tiger, garuda etc). Dapat "Departure Card".

2. Siapin copy kartu NPWP, pergi ke loket "Pelayanan Pajak" di dekat pintu masuk cek imigrasi. Kasihkan passport, boarding pass sama ticket trus fotocopy kartu NPWP tadi. Nanti petugas bakalan kasih stempel di boarding pass. Kalau punya NPWP bakalan di stempel "NO FISCAL" kalau gak punya hehe... bayar Rp 2 juta!!

3. Isi form/kartu keberangkatan/departure card selengkapnya (perlu liat passport dan tiket, buat ngisi nomor passport sama tanggal expire, trus nomor flight yang ada di tiket/boarding pass).

4. Ngantri di imigrasi, liat line untuk "passport indonesia" kasih passport sama kartu keberangkatan, boarding pass, ticket.. semua dah!! Passport di stempel sama boarding pass/fiskal

5. Sudah di stempel, tinggal pergi ke "gate" keberangkatan alias ruang tunggu. Kalau masih banyak waktu bisa liat2 toko2 di sana, harga "katanya" sih lebih murah sebab duty free alias bebas pajak...

6. JANGAN SAMPE TELAT BOARDING! hehehe... keasyikan window shopping kadang buat lupa waktu. Gate air asia rada jauh, jadi yah... tolong diperhitungkan lah waktu buat jalan ke sana!

7. Adios! Bon Voyage! jangan lupa oleh2 cerita nya yakk!