Trouble is A Friend, Again!

November ended with something annoying.. :(

Today, Nov 30, I lost my wallet!
Geez!! FOR THE THIRD TIMES!!!
I hate to explain in detail when I lose something. It sucks!
I just don't want to remember it anymore!
And if I can remember exactly where it was and how it could be lost, then probably it would have lost, wouldn't it?
*sigh*

I didn't know how I manage to lose it AND I didn't do it on purpose.
No one wants to lose something.. Neither do I.

What I hate when I lose something is my parents will mad at me and won't help me!
I mean, they won't try to cheer me up, yea mostly they will mad at me instead.
And say that I'm reckless! Maybe I am. But... argh!

This is at the end of the month!
A wallet of a student? No cash money inside!
But I have some cards, mmm.... I have to block it soon.
And I hate to take care of those cards to get the new one.
It takes time!

Last month, I lost my pocket camera.
Last year, I lost my iPod.
Before last year, I lost my two cellphones and my wallet.

Oowh see bad surprise does happen!
It's life! I have to deal with it.
Easy to say, but not easy to do.
Cliche...
But at least I have to try.

Goosfrabaaaa....
I have to let it go...
LET IT GO!

And now I'm thinking to change my stuff into a cheap one. hehe.. ;)

People's Shadows

It's crazy I can't open my own blog on my laptop. I don't know why! And when I tried to open another blogspot, it didn't work either! Strange!

Just a quick and short post though. It's another random-thoughts about what have changed in my life this last 2 months. Mostly is about perception.

First. I believe people change their perception about me knowing I have a foreigner as a boyfriend. I don't really care about that though, but what I do not like is when the perception changes the way they look at me completely. It's annoying! The old proverb is true "Don't judge a book by its cover!"

Second perception that change is maybe about what people think knowing I change a little bit of my appearance. I do it not because of someone, I do it for myself. Anyhow soon or later I think I need it. And I think it's not a bad thing to do, so why not?

Ok now enough too much thinking. It's tiring.. I need to sleep. Though I think these perceptions will haunt me for the next days or maybe it will stay with me like a shadow for I-don't-know-how-long. Huff I hope not.. But let people do what they want to do.. As long as they're happy. But just don't intervene me to get my own. So everybody will be happy! :)

What's on Your Mind?

"You're wrong if you think the joy of life comes from fuman relationships. God places all around, sets up everything, anything you can experience. People just need to change the way to look at those things."

-Alexander Supertrump/Christopher Johnson Maccandles - Into the Wild-

I remember this line because of my late night conversation with Karl about whining about love life. hehe... It's kinda funny, because before I liked to whining about love life most of the time, but then I thought it was ridiculous. Why should I worry too much about that thing? Problem in life is not always about love. So no worries. :)

I am Waiting for My Turn

How is it like to be a travel journalist? Would be great I think. Can combine your passion and skill. And can go somewhere for free and paid as well, hehe budget traveler's motif. ;) I strongly hope I can be one someday. Amen..

And just today I had an interview to be a freelance repoter at one of the biggest media in Indonesia. But unfortunately I can't join them now yet given I still have plenty classes to attend in university.

Interesting thing for me was they were interested in my hobby, traveling. And after we finished the interview, they asked me about my prior and next trips. Wow! They said they want to develop their travel site and it would be nice if I could help. For sure, yes for sure! But not now. :( I really have to finish my study first!

Meanwhile, I just finished my chores, writing a travel notes about Gili Trawangan for Ransel, the magazine that my friends and I make in order to pass our subject in university. Still have another travel notes to write, later later. hehe.. Too tired now and have to wake up very early in the morning tomorrow. :|

So, good night! :)

Another Big Step in Your Life, Dear Friend

Birthday mark the passage of time, they bring back wonderful memories, and they celebrate the lives of very special person...

like YOU... :)

It's for my dearest best friend, Marli Novita Simanjuntak.

Today, November 16, 2009, you turn 21.

Happy for you. :)

Wish you all the very best and always have wonderful surprises in your life. Good luck!

If you want to congrutulate her, you can do it here.

Midnight Ramblings

I've been nowhere but home since this last 3 days, it makes my family happy I know, but it makes me bored. Hence some stupid thoughts slipped on my mind. :/ I'm sorry, you..

Just gave my laptop some rest today, and now I'm trying to write this post from my mobile phone. Wondering if it's gonna work or not. Hopefully yes. Before I intended to write this post in Bahasa, but then I remember what ED said some weeks ago. He said if you write with multiple languages on your website, it will lower your rating. So better you write in one consistent language. I don't know if that condition works on blog or not, but since I write in English from the beginning, so why not keep continuing it? My English is not that good though, but at least it can improve my English and hopefully enrich my vocab. ^^

And today my best friend is celebrating her birthday. Happy birthday to you, dear Marli Novita Simanjuntak. Wish you all the best. :)

I'm waiting for my midnight chat before I sleep. Hehe.. Hope tomorrow my self-alarm will work properly.

So, good night, people! Don't worry about hectic Monday: ;)

It is Sunday, People!

Lazy Sunday, my favorite day to lay back.. :D

Anyway, it's Sunday, but I woke up early in the morning! It happened like this because of my self-alarm. It always makes me wake up in the morning, even when it's holiday! Sometimes this self-alarm helps, when I have to wake up early for university for instance, but anyone knows how to turn it off for a while?? Because if I turn it off, it's always hard to turn it on again. Strange!

As I always sleep late at night, I want to have longer and deeper slumber.. :| Why it's almost impossible to have it while I'm in Jakarta? I remember I always have good sleep if I'm on vacation, even I could sleep tight on economic train!

And stupid Hanny! My laptop was on for almost 24 hours yesterday, and last night I fell asleep so I forgot to changed its mode. Thus it died by itself! *Now I turn it on again, otherwise I would not write now* Given I'm not that expert in stuff like that, I was just wondering is it can make my laptop broken or not? I think my laptop needs rest, but I don't think having a day without laptop on and internet service. Nearly impossible. hehe... :D

Ok, I'm awake now. What to eat for breakfast? I was just thinking to make this dish, my favorite one, but I don't have any ingredients for it. Too lazy to get up and the most important thing is I can't cook! :(

I should learn how I think. Must be good for me. And why not trying something new? ;)

But now, I'll try to have some more sleep which I think it can't happen easily. hehe.. But I'll try. ;)

So... Happy lazy Sunday, people! Have a nice weekend. :)

I Have Been Writing All Day. If This was My Final Project, I am Sure It Would Have Finished by Now.

Like I said, now I'm more into traveling than finishing my study. I don't know whether it's good or bad. :| Pick my destination, saving money, and then making an itinerary is a must. But beyond those things, something that much more essential is why am I traveling?

I'm bored with university and stuff. I need to see the world. I need to read more pages of this world, though I haven't been traveling outside Indonesia yet. ;) But why we have internet? It helps a lot for deciding my upcoming trips, for instance these travel blogs really make me want to jump to January 2010 as fast as possible. And well these inspiring quotes always can ensure me that traveling is a right thing to do.

I love to do solo traveling, it's a good way to know my own self. To know my own limit and explore the place that I visit. One famous writer, Paulo Cuelho knows exactly how to travel differently. I don't have any travel guide books. First, because it's expensive. And second, I don't really like going to touristic crowded places, and since everyone who travel might read the same travel guide books, so the places must be crowded. ;) I prefer to ask the local what is an interesting thing to do or where can I go to do sightseeing or whatever.

Since I'm still a student, I really hate when money becomes a problem! But then I realised that when there is a will, there is a way. I really believe in that.

And one proof, volunteer opputinites around the world could help us to make our traveling more interesting, and maybe we could get some money from it.

Well thing doesn't always work according to plan. Bad surprise does happen. But no worries, it's the part of the journey. We have to take it! And when something bad happens or we really lack of luck and broke on the road, at least we still can try to do this.

Good luck!

Let's get our own surprises. Happy travel! :)

Another Thoughts that Might Lead You to Your Surprises. Enjoy!

Actually I have to write for the magazine that my friends and I make for our final test, but too lazy to do it. hehe.. I'm writing these random-thoughts of Stephan Stange instead. Why I write about him? Because I think he has a lot of stories to tell about his journey.

He is a German guy who hitchhiked all the way from Germany to the place he lives now, Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It took one and a half year, more or less. You can read all his stories on his website, EDs Tramper Blog, but it's all in German. :|

Here is all about what I can catch from him (sorry EDtha if I'm wrong). And don't be upset if I write too much about you. I know you don't like putting yourself on the line. But I just think that what you thought about life is inspiring. So why not share it to other people? :)

"I'm traveling because I want to find my life. I want to escape my life from the system and society to find the real one."

"I was rich before, but I don't really like that, because when you have a lot of money; you don't have your freedom anymore. Same like when you have expensive stuff, it always makes you worried."

"I don't want to waste my life for the money machinery like most people do in western countries. School, uni, job, career.. all for money and "safe" life? And every boring day is the fucking same. How can I feel my life when I don't live it?"

"I like to have everyday different and unexpected. So I hitchhike and sleep wherever the wind blows me. I love that."

"On the road, heading somewhere without plan, guide, or destination. I'm looking for something that I don't know."

"What you need to start hitchhiking is just your mind. Your mind needs to be free. When your mind is not free, you will start to worry and then afraid of something. It won't make you start doing it."

"Why should I plan my life? Opportunities are everywhere if you open your eyes. That's what I learned from living."

"Somewhere on the road, I don't know where I am. I just keep walking, and I'm still alive. I like that feeling."

"When you travel, you will feel like giving yourself to other people. So do another travelers."

"I'm homeless when I'm traveling. Once, I ate friesh which had been left by someone at McDonald's. I don't care. But people must care and consider to that thing million times because it would impact their image. I don't care about image, because my mind is free. I hope everyone can experience this."

"The only worse thing about traveling is the visa problem. It costs money, time, and nerves."

"I want to feel a deepest lost. So then I would know how it feels and see if I could survive and live my life or not. Things must not be the same."

PS: If I remember something else, I will update this post. ;)

Where to Go Next?

Currently in my last year at university, but then I started traveling. So instead of doing my final project, I'm making my itinerary. :D But I promise myself I will finish my study next year! Amen!

It's still two and a half month to go.. If everything runs well, I will leave this country for a month in January and February 2010. Hope I can make it! I'm very excited about this trip. :)

I haven't make my fix itinerary yet and I'm a flexible traveler afterall. I don't want to stick to my itinerary, it's boring. hehe... And there's more important now than making an itinerary, I have to save my money!!!

For those who want to travel to the same places (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), maybe these links could help. :)

Help you to make your itinerary:

Gap Adventures

Flights:

Air Asia

Tiger Airways

Jetstar

Overland by trains or buses:

Seat 61

Travel Connecxion

Accomodations:

Hostel World

Hostel Bookers

Guidances:

Wikitravel

Lonely Planet

Travelfish

Tales of Asia

World 66

Travelpod

Meet another travelers:

Couch Surfing

Hospitality Club

Travbuddy

and... I want to go to this place...

To visit...

hehe.. SOMEDAY I WILL! :)

Let's get our own surprises. Happy travel! :)

Cheap yet Nice! Perfect!

My sweetest escape with Stephan Stange in Tuk-Tuk Village, Samosir Island, Lake Toba for 6 days. We thought we would spend a lot of money since we stayed in a nice guest house, always ate delicious and "look expensive" meals, and beers and joints everyday and one day with mushroom. But then at the end of our small holiday, it was not that expensive! Cheaper than we thought! WOW!

I can't give you my fix itinerary since I didn't make one, hehe... But I will give you some things that might help. :)

How to get there:

- Airplane fare from Jakarta to Medan: fluctuating.

- Shared taxi from Medan to Parapat (if you want to go directly to lake toba): 70.000 IDR/person. You can choose either Paradep Taxi or Raja Taxi.

- Boat from Parapat to Tuk-Tuk: 7.000 IDR/person.

Accomodation:

- Room rate is starting from 30.000 IDR to (approximately) 300.000 IDR.

- Food price is reasonable.

- Cheap beer is at Liberta Guest House: 18.000 IDR/bottle.

- Tuak drink is around 20.000 IDR/bottle.

Things you can do:

- Swimming in the largest volcanic lake in the world.

- Cruising the lake with boat.

- Batak dancing every Wednesday and Saturday night at Bagus Bay.

- Relaxing!

So now, why not choosing Lake Toba as your next holiday destination?

Let's get our own surprises. Happy travel! :)

With 180.000 IDR, You Can Reach Gili Trawangan!

Maybe some people have done more inspiring things. However because of them too I started traveling.

As I am a budget traveler, so the cheapest but quite human transportation or accomodation is always be my first choice. Hehe.. :D Tips for being a budget traveler is NEVER COMPLAIN!

Below was my itinerary for my Gili Trawangan, Lombok and Bali Trip in August 2-10, 2009. Check it out! :)

How to get there:

Sunday, August 2, 2009

- Kertajaya, economic train from Jakarta to Surabaya: 43.500 IDR. Depart from Senen Station, Jakarta at 4.15 pm and arrive at Pasar Turi Station, Surabaya at 7.30 am.

Monday, August 3, 2009

- Sri Tanjung, economic train from Surabaya to Banyuwangi: 19.500 IDR. Depart from Gubeng Station, Surabaya at 3.06 pm and arrive at Ketapang Station, Banyuwangi at 11 pm.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

- Boat from Ketapang Harbour, Banyuwangi to Gilimanuk Harbour, Bali: 5.700 IDR. Takes 45 minutes approximately and the boat will depart for every 30 minutes, more or less.

- Bus from Gilimanuk Terminal to Padang Bai Harbour: 35.000 IDR. Normal price is 27.000 IDR. I took the bus at midnight, departed at 2.15 am and arrived at 7.44 am, so it was more expensive. The key is you have to bargain!

- Boat from Padang Bai Harbour, Bali to Lembar Harbour, Lombok: 31.000 IDR. Departed at 8.30 am and arrived at 12.30 pm. The boat will depart for ever 45 minutes, more or less.

- Public vehicle to Cakranegara: 20.000 IDR and continued with another public vehicle to Bangsal: 15.000 IDR. Be careful! A lot of touts at Lembar Harbour. And don't ever forget to bargain!

- Boat from Bangsal to Gili Trawangan: 10.000 IDR. I arrived there at 5 pm.

Another expenses:

Gili Trawangan:

- For accomodation in Gili Trawangan, you can patiently walk from one guest house to another asking if there's still spare room. Or you can open this link, maybe it helps http://www.lombok-giliislands.com/pulau-gili-trawangan.htm

- Rent a bike: 40.000 IDR. Rent a fin and mask: 25.000 IDR. Cidomo for touring the island: 80.000 IDR. Don't ever forget to bargain! :)

- If you feel like to try diving, you go to the right place. But I don't know how much it cost to rent all the equipments, follow the lessons, and etc. But a diver there told me you don't need to have certificate to dive. :D

- For eating, I tell you where to have cheap delicious home made food. Go to the badminton field near the dock. There you can find one small restaurant where provide that food that I told. It's next to travel agent. :)

Bali:

- For accomodation in Bali, you know where to go for cheap hotels: Poppies Lane! I would recommend the hotel where I stayed, Tunjung Bali Inn in Poppies Lane 2. 100.000 IDR/night for single and 130.000 IDR/night for couple. Including breakfast. A nice hotel with swimming pool. Phone (0361) 762990. But if you don't really like Kuta, maybe you can try other places, like Ubud for instance.

- Rent a motorbike: 50.000 IDR/day, more or less. Bargain bargain bargain. The more days you rent, the cheaper deal you would get.

Things you can do:

Gili Trawangan:

- Snorkeling, diving, cycling, partying, drinking, eating, having fun!

- Every Wednesday night, party at Tir Na Nog, Irish Bar.

- Reggae performance at Sama-Sama Bar.

- If you like weed and mushroom, yes you can find it easily!

Bali:

- Surfing, sunburning, partying, having fun!

- If you're into art, Antonio Blanco Museum in Ubud is magnificent.

And I bet you know what to do there! :)

Don't ever forget to bargain. Having an ability to do it definitely will help!

Let's get our own surprises. Happy travel! :)

Sweetest Surprise

Things were perfect when we were together for 9 days. But after I got back to Jakarta, here comes the trouble!

It was all my fault, so I decided to gave him a surprise by coming to Pematangsiantar again. :D I thought I was crazy because I just got back from Sumatra on Saturday and on next Thursday I flew back to Sumatra again. Maybe it was the craziest thing I've ever done for someone.

For he didn't know that I would come, so no preparation from his side. But I was so happy because I could see the real him. More natural, I liked that.

This time I was more into his daily life: his house works, his vespa business, and his surroundings. He's been living there for a year, but he can only speak a few words Bahasa. And I found out it was funny when he was about to deal with people there. Because some can't speak English and he can't speak Bahasa, but they can get along! Amazing! hehe...

And again, always raining when I was there. I intended to made a campfire, but it couldn't happen. But two nights I could see a lot of stars covering the sky there, loved it! And the rest, we only spent with doing little stuff. We really are lazy bastards and I figured out why he likes to stay in Pematangsiantar. Because that place is really fit for retired and laid-back people.

PS: Again, I forgot to bring something back. This time: Bubu, my lovely companion. Edtha, take a good care of Bubu, Ok? :)

Sweetest Escape

Early October, some parts of Sumatra were hit by the earthquake. So sorry for them. :( That another big disaster worried everyone, so did some of my closest friends and family, because I would go to Sumatra. Yet not to West Sumatra, they were still worried. But it was not that hard to convinced them, thanks God! So I prepared my stuff and let's go to Sumatra!

Finally after one and a half month waiting, I got my ticket to ride! Holiday!!! Escape from my routines after hectic midterm test week. This time, my aim was visiting my boyfriend. :)

Friday, Oct 23, 2009. Ready to go! Flew from newest terminal of Sukarno-Hatta International Airport, nice terminal. :) And the plane was on time, I liked that! After around 2 hours and 15 minutes on the plane, finally North Sumatra! It was my first time and I always excited when visiting a place for the first time.

ED was already waiting for me outside the terminal. I was so happy to met him again. :) Finally finally... I missed him so much!!!

Medan, another big city. Before we went to ED's home in Pematangsiantar, we stopped by for a while to bought something and ate. I was very hungry! We took becak to a Carrefour. Becak with motorbike. For sure we will never find this kind of vehicle in Jakarta, but stupid Hanny! I forgot to take the picture of it. :(

I didn't find Medan is an interesting place to explored, so we just hurried and continued our trip to Pematangsiantar. It took approximately 3,5 hours to reached Pematangsiantar by shared taxi.

Almost midnight when we finally arrived in Pematangsiantar, so not many things that we could do. ED always said he lives in a barn, and I saw it by myself. Maybe it looks like a barn, but I like that place. A basic house with big garden.

Next day, I found out that Pematangsiantar was a "funny" town. Why funny? Because for me, that town was really different with Jakarta, for sure, and I think people there sometimes take care so much of another people. Maybe it's good, maybe it's not. Hehe... Everytime I wandered around the town with ED, even he's been living there for a year, still some people we met in the street called him, "Hello mister!" Hahahahaha... :D

Another funny thing was no girls go out at night! Maybe there was some, but I didn't know. mmm I wanted to tried tuak, so I asked ED to brought me to tuak shop where he usually drink tuak. But we had to ask some of his friends if it was good or not to brought me there. Hehe.. crazy! I said, why not? I want to go there? I can go everywhere I want in Jakarta. And again, stupid Hanny! Pematangsiantar is definitely not Jakarta. I forgot to adapt myself with the situation and condition there. :(

Only two nights in Pematangsiantar, after that we went to Tuk-Tuk Village in Samosir Island, Lake Toba. Another new place for me. Took one hour by Vespa to reached there.

Oh my goodness, Lake Toba was really impressive sight to the eye! When I was about to arrived there, I could see that that big lake was really mesmerizing, with the hills and village surrounded the lake. The weather was a bit cold, but I liked it. We took boat to get to Samosir Island, and it took around 45 minutes. We didn't go to Tuk-Tuk directly by that boat, we went to Tomok instead, because it was cheaper. 15 minutes drove, then we arrived in Tuk-Tuk. Again, my eyes were shimmering by the scenery. Small, quiet, and beautiful village! With nice weather. I love this place!

There was a lot of guest houses there, but almost all the places looked empty. Only few tourists there. We got a really cheap price for our room, 50.000 IDR/night. A traditional Batak house with upstairs balcony. I really liked that room. Food and drinks were not so expensive though. Maybe because it was low season. But then ED told me that about 15 years ago, a lot of tourists came to Tuk-Tuk, so people built guest houses. But some years later, people who went there getting less and less. And it happens 'till now. So, that's why price there is not so expensive, even it's touristy place.

We enjoyed our time a lot there.. But it was always raining all the time, so we could do nothing but stayed in our room or in the bar the whole day. Some times the weather was good, so we could swim in the lake or take a walk around the village. Enjoyed the view and feel the fresh air. Every Wednesday and Saturday night there's Batak dancing permormance in Bagus Bay. People there always singing all the time, greeting tourists, so friendly. You would never believe it when you only see their "hard" faces. It was really changed my opinion in a good way about Batak people, no offense but it was true. But one thing which I didn't really like was people always asked me about my ethcity. I don't like to ask nor answer about ethnicity or religion because somehow it could change your perception about someone.

Some nights there was funny and unforgettable moments between ED and I, like the electricity off when he was rolling a joint and before we ate mushrooms, we had a good conversations. Ah! Again, I tried mushrooms there. But still I didn't feel the effect. Strange! I really want to know the effect! ED and two other persons who were with us that night were really stoned. It was funny seeing them like that, hehe because I was sober. ;)

We spent six days in Tuk-Tuk. I was sad when I had to leave that place, because I knew I would miss this place so much. And I forgot to bring my scarf, I think it was a sign for me to be back there someday.

This place is highly recommended for relaxing and good for laid-back people. It was really the sweetest escape I've ever had. Thank you, Stephan Stange... :)

Check out my itinerary!

PS: Sorry I didn't take so many pictures there.