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Pindahan Tulisan Bahasa Indonesia

Dear pembaca, untuk kedepannya tulisan dalam bahasa Indonesia di blog ini bakalan aku pindahkan ke blog aku yang lain "Nona Backpacker" biar gak bingung bacanya.. thanks!


Ojeg & Jakarta Traffic

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. You will mostly go here to transit or just curious what Bangkok sister city looks like. Its quite the same like Bangkok actually. But, still it had different air, ambiet, different "smell" different transport and street.... its had its own personality.

When i moved to Jakarta this year i start to realize its a very different place then i used to live at. Hate it or like it i am now in Jakarta.

The worse part is i had to deal with the worse nightmare for morning workers, traffic jam. From a city where the driver could actually speed up to 100kmph to this city.. its quite a test for my patience.

Jakarta "common" Traffic Jam
It took me literally 2 hours to cruise Jakarta traffic to get to place where i work. And its getting worse since i use the public transport called "bus". Its horrible!

While in Jakarta i tried most of the public transport, name it.. kopaja bus, metromini, the new transjakarta bus, even bajaj-one that looks like tuk tuk in Bangkok. But i never use "ojeg" as i see it-its a good way to commit suicide in Jakarta traffic.

This is what i experience every morning in Jakarta
Then few days ago i made change, i made peace with another transport mode called "OJEG". When my bus ride caused me 2.5hrs late to work. I jump off the bus and wave my hand to one of the riders. I could only pray, and i ride it, full speed!

Its two wheels and its not safe thats what you think and thats what i think... Motorcycle is very common transport in Asia. You could say Vietnam and China also Indonesia, so many people using the motorcycle.

Pangkalan Ojeg-Ojeg "Terminals"
They were simply almost every corner of the street. Sometimes if you stood up next to street some of them will offer if you need an ojeg ride. Sometimes they were lined up on  the "pangkalan ojeg" or the ojeg terminals. Its not that hard to find them.

With this Ojeg ride, i could actually safe my time and MONEY to pay taxi! they could go through a flooded street, rain, heat, and worse traffic jam.. they go to dirt also above the side way! they go to where most cars can't go! even that day i ride AGAINST the way! i just could close my eyes when my knees between two cars side mirrors. 

Its hell of crazy ride but i think its worth to try when you need to go from one point to another in Jakarta.

I arrive safely 30 minutes before time!! yay!
I thought roller coaster ride is crazy enough for my adrenalin but this is something different. I could only say... i will definitely use this AGAIN when i need it.. but not of its not necessarily.

The cost is higher than any public transport of course. But its actually also rely on your skill bargaining the price. But the common thing is you pay around Rp 5000,- per 1-2kms distance. I would pay Rp 7000,- if that ojeg could get me faster, to the place i need to be!

troops of ojeg with the meters like taxi in Bandung

Faster doesn't meant he had to be as fast as Valentino Rossi... hell no.. in Jakarta where the traffic packed, the top speed maybe around 40-60kmph and thats lots better than stuck for 2 hours and not even moving 5 meters from where you are!

These days i think most of people who use ojeg service had their ojeg riders phone numbers, so when they need it they will call it like a taxi. And someone actually did pick this up serious and made it as business and build a troop of ojeg raiders called "Go Ojek".

I would say this is the first professional ojeg service in Indonesia that cover many services in Jakarta.

With "Go-Ojek-An Ojek for everyone" you could call for their service. Its quite convenient and as classy as the taxi it self. Its not only deliver you to one point to another but it also provide a courier service. They will deliver mails and even lasagna that you want to order! they also doing the corporate service to deliver the employee of a company or even merchandise.

Of course there are still traditional ojeg as i mentioned on most of Jakarta street corner, or mall entrance. You will see them and soon recognse then as Ojek Rider. Most of them will smile at you or wave their hands and ask if you want a ride. No worries they're very friendly.

If you visiting Jakarta, and need to go somewhere asap, i think this transportation is worth the try.. just get ready for it, get a good grip and make sure you do had insurance!! well just in case!! and this is not for the easy to faint people! noot about the speed its about the daring! :D dare you to ride on the side walk or between two cars just like stuntman! hehehe

Be safe and wear your helmet tight!




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Air Asia Web Check In Palembang




After long time not flying with Air Asia, finally this month I travel again to Kuala Lumpur from Palembang.

Few changes made. This time I had to buy "Checked Luggage" and end up with 15kgs checked luggage for about Rp 110.000,- or around US$ 13 and I bring one of my backpack with laptop inside, should be less than 7kgs for carry on. Some people also bring suitcase with approved size to the cabin, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s not over 7kgs (even if you carry two small bags)

The other thing is, I could check in using web check in from AirAsia website 2 days before departing. I have to print out the boarding pass myself after finish. I did this also because Air Asia will charge the conventional check in at the airport! ughhh no way!

The web check in it self could be done 7 days before departure  date up to 45 mins before the departure. All you need is a working internet, and a printer to print the boarding pass!

This is pretty neat as if you're in the city where you don't know exactly when you will arrive at the airport. Its killing me when i had very close departure time and had to queue on the check in counter too... its truly a nerve breaking experience!! so this web check in is pretty neat idea!

First step is you have to select your departure city and booking numbers. Next you need to select guess that need to be checked in. And the last one is get your printer ready, and print your boarding pass.

First step-type in your departure city and booking numbers

Next step is to pick/tick the guess that need to be checked in and their nationality.

Guess name and nationality

After that you need to check if you need to super size the luggage (just like i did before) or if you don't need it just go to the next option which is  the seat selector. If you don't need to sit in special place--and pay extra money for that, you could let the computer pick a seat for you (for me is no problem, you're on the flight anyway)

Options for luggage and seat


After the luggage and seat taken care of the next thing is you need to choose the options whether if you want your boarding pass to be sent to your mail or cellphone. For me i prefer the mail as sometimes the cellphone network is too bad that i can not receive the boarding pass details, and note this could be done once!!

be wise, pick the best option for the boarding pass to be sent

Still on the 3rd step, after the previous options. you also need to check that you understand the terms and conditions of the web check in too.
 
Step 3 is to chek the terms & condition

And the last step is to print the boarding pass. Made sure you had your printer working!


boarding pass ready to be printed out!



Voila! you got your boarding pass!!


It should be ok.... well that’s what I thought.

At airport all i need to do after the web check in is to drop my luggage at the "Baggage Drop" line and let the officer to check my papers and boarding pass that i already print at home. The counter open 2 hours before departure and closes 45 mins before departure time.

At Palembang International Airport the system not really that work. At other airport they had the luggage check in for those whose already doing web check in so they don’t have to queue. But there I was, queue with other passengers whose check in.

I ask the officer if I don't have to queue, because.. well.. what’s the web check in for???? I have to wait there with the long queue, nothing special in Palembang Air Asia!

It’s very disappointing for sure.

If in other airasia counter in Jakarta or other country they had this special line where you could drop off your luggage without queue. And then if you don't have the print out of the boarding you could copy a special barcode from website to your cell phone/Smartphone and then scan it to the boarding pass machine to print out the barcode.

After queue, I still have to scan my boarding pass print out to the boarding pass machine on the left corner side of the check in counter (at Palembang Airport). Huffff... this is much hassle!! Just too bad the system not working....

The other thing is, from Palembang too many people bring too much thing on board. They are not so strict with the rules so, when we got up to the plane the compartment on the top of the seat is very full!! It’s just made more headaches when we land and waiting for the door to be open, everyone seemed want to get off first with that loads of luggage. Unbelievable.... to see over 10 kgs suitcase flying over your head, and hit your shoulder.

Oh well.... we will see on the 22nd I will return from Kuala Lumpur to Palembang again, I hope the service is much better!!


**UPDATE**
Air Asia now charging Rm 10 (US$ 3.30) for conventional check in! new rule since Sept 21, 2011

So better to do your check in online now!


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Europa Park-One Thrilling day!

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older"~ Tom Stoppard

Crossing the border between French and Germany... no post, no passport check.... just a bridge... I open the car window, and start taking pictures of the Autobahn. I feel amazed that I could cross boarder like this... I wish one day Asia would be like this....

After a while with the "are we there yet?" question Mr. T stop on a junction and said we are going to Europa Park. I was ecstatic... I love theme park, and Europa Park is the biggest in Germany!

Its just like the Brussels Mini Euro Park, but instead of miniatures of interesting things of each Euro country, this theme park had divided into several theme based on the 13 countries in Europe like Italy, French, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, etc.

He did talk about this before when we chat, if I went to Europe especially Germany I HAVE to visit this theme park. I checked the Europa park website  and I found it’s just my thing!!

The thing is this park not opens all time.. So you have to check the website about the opening date and also the time. It’s divided into two season summer and winter. While in summer this year this park open start at April until mid June and then it closed and reopen again for winter season start from end of November until early January 2012.

After remembering the parking number, we go to the ticketing.. It’s a very great day since it’s not so cold (for me) and sky is blue!!

Front of the Europa Park


The parking is really huge we got number 94. And not far from there, there's a line for the highest and biggest roller coaster "Blue Fire Mega Coaster" (yapp.. see the word "mega" means huge!!). I told Mr. T I want to ride that... but he say I am insane...well maybe I am... I am Indonesian hehe we love crazy ride!!
Fountain on front of the Park Entrance
The entrance is huge, and there is a fountain in front of it. I never had been to Universal Studios.. But somehow it does remind me of pictures about Universal Studios..

You could buy your ticket online too at the Europa Park website. The entrance ticket is 36 Euro for adults and we have to pay 4 Euro for parking. They gave discount/special rate for birthday kids and also elderly age 60+ also for groups above 20 people. Ohhh and also hahah for thus still in school or nursery they gave only 20 euro ticket. And of course ticket on winter time is cheaper (if you could bare the cold!), it’s only 29 euro for adults.

Top of the Entrance to Europa Park

From here we got two tickets and a coin for the parking. From the entrance I know I cannot get the whole park only by one day!! It’s so huge!! We got two maps... I mistaken took one with Japanese language hahah....
I want this!
Things I notice is somewhere on the map it said this park is guaranteed by Safety Standard Authority (TUV) so.. Oh well.. Even the rides seemed very crazy I believe it’s safe! (By all means this is Europe people). There are signs everywhere on the entrance of every rides about the age and height limit example sign say 11,140 means it’s for age 11 above with height 140cms above (in Europe they use metric).

Oh.. At the entrance there's lockers for rent, so you could keep your belongings there (not for free though heheh).

Part of the Park


First of all we went to the Italy for breakfast with coffee and éclairs.. ohh oh.. yums! And we watch for the wild ducks there... anyway I don’t believe its wild... but Mr. T assure me it was wild... because no such as wild duck in Indonesia.. hehe wild means it live in jungle.. not in a theme park where someone feed them! (Different terms of "wild"). Wild in my terms where they rarely see human and think human as their food..hahaha..barbaric eh?!

Ohhh roses there are.. GORGEOUS!!! I LOOOOOVVEE IT! I love the well taken care garden there, roses and so much flowers... it’s very nice morning. The park also very clean! even the toilets (this is matters for me!) And then.. Mr. T say, let’s get start.. So we went to our first ride...

Flowers are amazing there!

Our first ride is..Something that goes up :) yupp we like high places hehehe.... we went to France part of park first and we queue on "Euro Tower"this is not thrilling ride.. But if you afraid of heights, then it will be a problem! Also the place pretty small so.. Those who cannot feel easy in small confined space should not ride this.

The glass seated tower

These tower glass parts where we sit down go up 75 meter high and turn 360 degrees for all park view and surrounding town... it’s very nice to see it from this height.

view from Europe Tower-note the blue fire coaster
After spotting places we want to visit we get off the Euro Tower to find BANANA TREE on the park... Mr. T eventually never sees a real banana tree and says "are you kidding me?" LoL it’s amazed me how they put banana tree in Germany that had winter.. It won’t survive the chill! I do hope they really put it somewhere warm when winter come!


Banana tree under the tower
We went to Switzerland part; see one of traditional farm house which reminds me of my grandparent house in Jambi. They had these two floors of wooden house and they put live stocks aka animals under the house... it’s pretty surprising it’s...looks a like model hahah...of course in different way.. But the same concept! But of course no live animal’s just puppets with recorded voices.

One part of the traditional wooden house


After that we ride something crazy called "Matterhorn-Blitz" it’s pretty crazy with loops and curves. To get to the ride we had to queue and get inside the house..Which had puppets on, showing the live inside the house...errhhh I don’t like puppets....?

The thrill started when they pull you up to the end of the roof that looks like a barn, and then the door slowly open and ...voila.. The curvy track revealed....I swear it’s just too fast! I was screaming like mad!


Thrilling first ride!
 It said the top speed of this ride is at 3G's means you literally flying with it!

the Swiss Bob Run
Oh well.. That’s just a start... we went to the other part of the park again..Still pretty close to the Switzerland there is another ride called "Swiss Bob Run" it looks like an ice slide ride thing where your partner seat on your back and their legs on your side and you had to lay down on them-literary.. It’s pretty cute for couple. Mr. T somehow asks me to sit on front hahaha! It was thrilling but it’s just a short turn..too bad! But still the curve goes wild, the ups and down also thrilling.. Just pretty short time though. We seat on the very first car, so it’s pretty much thrilling too!

But after a while on crazy ride, and I forgotten my lunch, I feel a bit sick, but  ...erhh I left my medications for acid indigestion on my backpack, and the rides are pretty much stressing out my body causing me nausea and tummy ache. But I thought.. Oh well.. It should be ok (not telling Mr. T about it)

Next ride is at the Greek... this time we want the wet side of the park.. hmmm... It’s next to the Swiss Bob Run. When we see it we know.. Ahh this is our next ride!


Poseidon-looks really challenging!

Its "Poseidon" this ride mixes the roller coaster and the water fun. The building itself is pretty unique, with ship wreck on one side, and a huge Poseidon statue on the other side of the building. The queue is pretty long. I guess this ride pretty famous!

We ride this yippie!!
After a long queue we finally get to the ship with the other two guys-that scream louder than me! hehehe.. But it’s just fun!

After the ride and we went out, and on the exit there's a booth for pictures and the amazing thing is we could also mail the pictures to our email. There also a dryer incase if we were too wet. It’s just so cool! So we don't need to get a spare shirt to ride this thing.

We went to the Russian part. It was pretty cool. Mr. T said we should try the MIR Station ride. But I feel bit sick, said we will do it later. We went to a puppet show there "Sleigh Ride Snowflake", it’s a story about a girl with two bear in snow world with king winter I think.


Russian carving at Europa Park

After the ride on the puppet house we went to a workshop and see some Russian craft where the carpenter making some carving and glass work also collection of wooden nesting dolls. It was beautiful. I like the Russian wooden nesting doll or in Russian language called Matryoshka.

Matryoshka at Russian part of Europa Park


After seeing the Russian workshop, we heard the announcement about the mid day parade. Mr. T said I should taste the Russian food called "Piroschki" but then he said it’s not enough for lunch, so we went for something else.

i want to try that.. but had pork on it?
 That's when we hear loud music and the parade was started.





I got too sick when we walk that I told Mr. T that I need a hot cup of tea ASAP as I could feel the acid on my mouth and I really get sick. Mr. T thought it was because the ride. Well it’s not. So we went to nearest cafe near the Spain area. But tea wasn't enough.

Mr. T suggests we had lunch at the Food Loop Restaurant at England part of the park. I had no idea what was it. I just said "quick" that’s all. I should bring my meds with me all time or nor to delay my lunch.. That was a big mistake. We were almost lost a bit until we found our way about 10 minutes later we arrive.

With 215 seats this place is pack that we had to queue for a while to get a seat on the restaurant. I was thinking this is short of very famous restaurant too.. But then I see why they so eager waiting in long queue to be eat on this restaurant.


Food Loop-the food roller coaster!

It’s the unique way serving food. On the entrance they will give you card for each person who wants to eat there. They don't really have waitress like in common restaurant. In every each table you had a hi-tech touch screen panel so you could order your food from there. And when you want to order/finish selecting the food and drink you want, you just need to swipe your card next to the screen.



Your food won’t be delivered by waitress; the food will come from the long roller coaster like reeling from the kitchen straight to your table! This is where the fun at! Seeing the food on the rails!! This is the one and only in the world they said! Very sophisticated!

My pasta arriving, yay!
The food not bad. I got pasta and hot tea for my tummy. Warm food made me feel better, in general I can't be hungry that’s all reason why I brought snacks hehe..

After eating we went walking around the park. But Mr. T said enough about the ride, as he insist that made me sick. But I know he want to try the MIR (so.. sorry). We pass through Holland and Spain... when we heard the sound of Flamenco dance music.

Mr. T said he would like to watch it, just too bad we were there when it’s already half time playing. The dancers are very good. I like how they dance sensually... the guys.. humm.. Not so bad. But then when the show over, we walk around and see what other show we could see.

At the "Piraten in Batavia" there is a horse stall where I could see the real horse, oh my..They are so big! Then we found out that there will be a show pretty soon. So we would like to watch it!


Knight in Shining armor!
We found some places to take pictures, including a place where you could take pictures with knight’s suite. Hehehe I ask Mr. T to take one.

Horse knights... cute!


Show was started pretty soon. It’s about a king who had a kick ass daughter. But anyway it’s about prince and it shining armor to safe the kingdom from evil. All the horse riders are cute (wink).

After the show it’s raining pretty hard. We had another flamenco show, this time from beginning! And Mr. T seemed enjoy the dance very much (stare at him) maybe he like the sexy dancer hehehe. Kidding!

On our way back to parking we went to the part of the park where they put all of this my childhood bed time story, start from Sleeping Beauty castle, fairy tale gallery to the witch bread house of Hansel and Gretel! It’s called the "Enchanted Forrest"


Poor trapped baby owl-Howgard missing an owl??


Oh we found a baby owl trapped on a window too.. But the park keeper will rescue the poor baby owl! It was too scared, that we afraid it will break it wings when it try to fly behind the window bars.




Hansel and Gretel Cookie house
At the entrance we found the sign on the pavement that show directions to several cities in Europe. I took the pictures on the rose’s road, it was amazing I like the smells too....

one of the direction to Den Haag
When we thought that we had such amazing day, at the parking Mr. T just realize that he lost the parking coin! he had to get another one from the ticketing... ohh pooh!

But over all, i will say, i had unforgettable screaming day at Europa Park!

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Air Asia Whale of Sale! (for mid 2012 journey!)

For more info go to AirAsia website


I just got an email from Air Asia about their newest promotion for 2012.
Wasn't bad at all for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Paris return will roughly cost you below Rp 5.000.000,- or around US$500 for the economy flight!

These are the conditions of the flights:
Booking Period:
15 August 2011 - 19 August 2011
Travel Period: 17 April 2012 - 10 September 2012
Travel Notes

- Advanced booking required.
- Fares are not available during embargo period.
- Booking starts 12 noon (GMT+8)
* Travel period is 17 April – 10 August 2012.
# Starting 24th October we will connect to London via Gatwick Airport


Fly from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (LCC Terminal), Kuala Lumpur to:
International All-in-fare from
Operated By AirAsia X
Economy seats Premium seats
Perth Rp 763.000 Rp 4.039.000
Melbourne Rp 916.000 Rp 6.029.000
Gold Coast Rp 916.000 Rp 6.029.000
Hangzhou (Shanghai) Rp 763.000 Rp 2.876.000
Tianjin Rp 763.000 Rp 3.212.000
Chengdu Rp 763.000 Rp 2.600.000
Paris Rp 1.988.000 Rp 6.397.000
Mumbai Rp 610.000 Rp 2.447.000
New Delhi Rp 610.000 Rp 2.447.000
Osaka Rp 763.000 (*) Rp 4.805.000 (*)
Tokyo Rp 763.000 (*) Rp 4.805.000 (*)
Christchurch Rp 916.000 Rp 6.428.000
Seoul Rp 763.000 Rp 4.743.000
Taipei Rp 763.000 Rp 2.386.000
London Rp 1.988.000 (#) Rp 10.377.000


For more information of these sale just go to AirAsia Website!








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