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  • DAMRI Bus from Padang to Minangkabau International Airport

    I ate its authentic taste of tambusu – processed cow intestines with egg, tofu and spices in it – as the last dinner in a week of my adventure in Sumatra land. a culinary incident bothered me in mid-chewing. I thought that a chewy thing was a part of tambusu menu….Oh….it was a rubber band.

    Restaurant owner : “Looks like Uda come from far away.”

    Me                               :     “From Jakarta, Uda.”

    Restaurant owner     :     “Do you work in Padang, Uda?”

    Me                              :     “Oh, no Uda. I’m just traveling.”

    Restaurant owner     :     “Ohh….Where have you been, Uda?”

    Me                              :     “A few days ago I toured to Medan, Toba, Siantar, Pekanbaru and Bukittinggi, Uda. The last one is Padang….Now, I want to fly back to Jakarta.”

    Restaurant owner    :     “Wow, this is great, Uda. The totality in traveling.”

    Light conversation was interrupted by Black Calya (Calya is Toyota brand in Indonesia) arrival who would take me to DAMRI Bus shelter in Hasanuddin Street. In pouring rain, I finally wet online taxi front seat. Luckily the owner was very friendly and ignored it, even though it was a new car which still had a strong factory scent.

    Hasanuddin Street.

    Unlike what I imagined, it turned out that the splendor of DAMRI bus shelter in my mindset was only realized by a open tent space which wasn’t better than a city bus shelter in general.

    DAMRI Airport Bus shelter.

    I was waiting for DAMRI bus arrival which would transfer me from Padang downtown to Minangkabau International Airport which was about 25 kilometers away and took about 40 minutes. All can be redeemed for USD 1.8.

    While waiting for DAMRI bus to arrived, I continued to observe a soccer game which playing by teenagers who scattered to fill Imam Bonjol Square field for rain party while playing “the round leather“.

    Imam Bonjol Square.

    DAMRI bus conductor suddenly called me, “Uda, come on, get on, we’re going!” I didn’t even realize that DAMRI bus had arrived earlier.

    That’s DAMRI Airport Bus.

    Wet condition of DAMRI bus corridor showed that Minangkabau International Airport wasn’t spared from rain. This was a signal that I wouldn’t be free to search for material to writing a content about Minangkabau International Airport. Ahhh….I could miss an important content.

    Only a few passengers

    Air conditioner on DAMRI bus was so cold that it made me shiver because my T-shirt itself was too damp. A few passengers that afternoon made me not embarrassed in deciding to change my t-shirt on bus. Sitting at backseat and no one noticed me while shirtless….Hahaha.

    Maybe because of heavy rain, so many people were reluctant to be on streets and prefered to temporarily postpone their own needs. Because of that, Streets were empty and made me quickly arrived at Minangkabau International Airport.

    Minangkabau International Airport.

    It was time to going back to Jakarta with Boeing 737 MAX 8 which is owned by Lion Air.

  • Menjajal Doha Metro Red Line dari DECC ke Katara

    <—-Kisah Sebelumnya

    Menjajal Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) di negara yang memilikinya telah menjadi tradisi dalam setiap perjalananku, walaupun transportasi pilihan pertamaku adalah bus kota. Sebelum mencoba Doha Metro, aku sendiri sudah pernah mencicipi MRT di Singapura, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Tiongkok, Jepang, Korea Selatan, India, Uni Emirates Arab dan tentu MRT Jakarta sebagai moda transportasi massal kebanggaan Jakarta.

    Keluar dari pusat perbelanjaan modern City Center Doha di area West Bay, aku kembali menelusuri jalur keberangkatan ketika menuju shopping mall tersebut, kembali mengukur jalanan Omar Street menuju Stasiun DECC. DECC boleh dikata sebagai Jakarta Convention Centernya Qatar. Karena terletak persis di sebelah gedung DECC inilah maka pemberhentian Doha Metro ini bernama serupa dengan venue itu.

    Eksterior bangunan stasiun DECC sendiri lebih tampak seperti pintu masjid daripada bangunan stasiun. Masih mengandalkan lengkungan ala Persia dengan bukaan yang lebar dengan warna otentik, coklat padang pasir.

    Bangunan Stasiun DECC.

    Inilah rapid transit system kebanggan Qatar yang salah satu tujuannya adalah untuk menyambut gelaran Piala Dunia 2022. Jalur Doha Metro yang pertama kali dioperasikan pada tahun 2019 adalah jalur merah yang sedang kusasar ini.

    Memasuki bangunan stasiun, semuanya mengkilap, bersih dan nampak baru. Aku memilih jalur tangga untuk turun ke bawah tanah dan mencari keberadaan automatic ticketing vending machine, walaupun pengelola Doha Metro menyediakan lift untuk mempermudah akses.

    Kita cobain jalur tangganya dahulu.
    Saatnya berburu tiket.
    Automatic ticketing vending machine.

    Doha Metro sendiri  memiliki tiga jalur yaitu red line, green line dan gold line dengan rataan panjang 76 Km dan keseluruhan memiliki 37 stasiun. Harga tiket sebetulnya hampir setara dengan harga tiket Karwa Bus yaitu berkisar Rp. 8.000 untuk sekali perjalanan tunggal (single journey) dan Rp. 16.000 untuk satu hari penuh perjalanan (day pass). Satu kelebihan dalam sistem Doha Metro adalah keberadaan free feeder bus yang mengkoneksikan stasiun dengan hotel tempat kita menginap atau tempat lain yang tak terjangkau oleh jalur Doha Metro. Bus pengumpan ini dikenal dengan nama Free Doha Metrolink Shuttle Services.

    Ini dia peta jalurnya.
    Standard single journey, tiket jenis ini bisa dipakai untuk dua moda transportasi yaitu Doha Metro dan Mshreib Tram.

    Begitu tiba di platform, beberapa petugas Doha Metro berkebangsaan Philippines berusaha dengan ramah menanyakan tujuan akhirku dan mengarahkan untuk menunggu di platform yang tepat, walaupun sebetulnya aku sudah terbiasa mencari sendiri keberadaan platform berdasarkan petunjuk yang ada.

    Platform Doha Metro.

    Kereta milik Doha Metro ini adalah kereta termodern yang memiliki kecepatan jelajah sekitar 100 Km/jam dan dinobatkan menjadi  kereta tanpa pengemudi tercepat di dunia. Secara kepemilikan, 51% saham Doha Metro dimiliki oleh Hamad Group, 49 % saham dimiliki oleh perusahaan transportasi umum milik negara Perancis

    Lihat route boardnya!
    Sepi….Sumpah….

    Dalam 15 menit aku dihantarkan sejauh 5 Km oleh kereta ini hingga Stasiun Katara. Sepinya penumpang Doha Metro membuat perjalananku nyaris tanpa interaksi, aku tak bisa merasakan hiruk pikuk warga Qatar dalam keseharian mereka.

    Turun di platform Stasiun Katara.

    Turun dari Doha Metro, kini aku akan menuju ke permukaan tanah dengan menggunakan lift yang disediakan.

    Nah, sekarang baru cobain lifnya.

    Mirip seperti kondisi bangunan stasiun DECC, Stasiun Katara juga tampak gres. Sepinya lalu lintas warga kota yang menggunakan jasa Doha Metro menjadikan bangunan stasiun tampak kosong dan memamerkan kelegaannya kepadaku. Sementara para pegawai Doha Metro berwajah Asia Tenggara itu menghias di setiap stasiun.

    Itu dia automatic fare collection gatesnya.
    Keluar dari bangunan Stasiun Katara.

    Aku sudah tiba di Katara Cultural Village dan siap untuk melakukan eksplorasi. Yuk kita lihat seperti apa pusat budaya Qatar ini !.

    Eksterior Stasiun Katara.

    Kisah Selanjutnya—->

  • Batang Arau, Siti Nurbaya Bridge and Boeing 737 MAX 8

    “Dengarkan Manusia  yang Terasah oleh Falsafah

    Sesaat Katanya itu bukan Dogma”

    (Cukup Siti Nurbaya by Dewa 19, year 1995)

    “White iron horse” digital miniature continued to approaching in a popular application. As a result, I had to open my rainbow motif umbrella and in a moment my feet stepped on the sidewalk. I got ready for entering white Avanza (a brand name of Toyota in Indonesia).

    T-shirts which were already getting damp, some parts of backpack which were already soaking wet, combined with AC cold bursts of online taxi made my condition was uncomfortable at all. All due to my desire that wanted to spend the remaining sixty minutes to add my destination collection. Though actually, if I thought deeper, it didn’t really matter at all….Hahaha.

    Driver    :     “Heavy rain like this, why do you impose yourself to go to the bridge, Uda? “

    Me        :     “Yes Uda, just curious”

    Driver    :     “But indeed, there are a lot of people who visiting that place, Uda. The view of Batang Arau River is very beautiful”

    Me :     “So that’s why, Uda“

    Batang Arau River has Mount Padang background at its end.

    I didn’t know why that afternoon, Padang earthquake in 2009 continued to fulfill my brain capacity. I continued to investigate the driver about the story behind tragedy. What happened after earthquake shocks? What did the panic look like afterward? He explained that sea water had receded at that time. “This is a sign that we are ready to be hit by a tsunami, Uda“, he said choked up. People had resigned in prayer, everyone were ready to face the end of destiny. Luckily the disaster didn’t really happen.

    18 year old bridge.

    Within twenty minutes, the online taxi had crossed the bridge which I was aiming for. Not stopping, but he chose to pass a small u-turn at the end and then lowered me right in the middle of bridge.

    Borrowing legendary woman name in Minang land, this bridge form is very easily recorded in memory. Yellow black poles with milky white lamps at its top, straddling Batang Arau River which has a width of about 160 meters, with green hills background and traditional ornament boats moored along the river…. Really beautiful.

    Roasted corn traders seemed to prepare their mini stalls. If I could stay until dark, maybe I would enjoy a street culinary party over Siti Nurbaya bridge. Unfortunately my time wasn’t long.

    The next plan is, I would quicken dinner time before arriving at airport, for saving my budget, of course. I chose “Warung Nasi Kapau Bandar Damar” to execute the plan. After that I immediately went to Minangkabau International Airport, catching Lion Air JT 257 which was scheduled to fly at 21:20.

    Later, I will tell you how about my first flight with Boeing 737 MAX 8, the most beautiful opportunity to feel flying sensation with it before this aircraft type was grounded after Lion Air JT 610 crash in Tanjung Pakis waters, Karawang, Indonesia which was followed by a similar accident on Ethiopian Airlines ET 302 on farm land, Bishoftu city.

    That was my quick journey story in Siti Nurbaya Bridge.

    If you go to Padang, don’t forget to visit it!

  • Melongok Ice Rink di City Center Doha

    <—-Kisah Sebelumnya

    Sign pole di Omar Al Mukhtar Street sebagai penanda keberadaan stasiun MRT DECC.

    Petualanganku di area West Bay sudah di injury time. Tapi tak mematahkan semangatku untuk terus menelusuri destinasi baru di sekitarnya. Aku tak tergesa meninggalkan West Bay, walau langkahku sudah sampai di Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC) dan gerbang stasiun MRT DECC sudah menggoda di depan mata. Di teriknya tengah hari, aku mengayunkan langkah menuju sebuah pusat perbelanjaan modern di distrik bisnis ini. Angan kemewahan di dalamnyalah yang menarik minatku untuk menelaah seisi mall modern itu.

    Tiba di sebuah pertigaan besar aku mengambil arah ke kanan mengikuti arus kendaraan di Conference Centre Street. Tiga ratus meter kemudian aku memasuki jalur City Center Doha drop off. Aku tak langsung memasukinya, tetapi aku berusaha mendapatkan gambar terbaik di pelataran depan shopping mall kenamaan itu. Maklum, aku harus mengantri bersama para photographer dadakan lainnya.

    Suasana Conference Centre Street tepat di depan City Center Doha.
    Inilah muka dari City Center Doha (CCD Mall).

    Perlahan aku mulai memasuki mall entrance. Melalui pintu kaca otomatis, kunaiki perlahan tangga di sebelah kanan dan kujumpai information desk tepat di tengah ruangan. Sementara di sebelah kiri mall entrance, tampak replika besar dhow boat yang merupakan model kapal tradisional kebanggaan Timur Tengah. Sementara di belakang information desk, adalah arena ice rink itu berada.

    Mall entrance CCD Mall.
    Replika Dhow Boat.
    Ice rink di lantai pertama.

    Menaiki lantai-demi lantai, aku serasa bermain kucing-kucingan dengan para security berperawakan Afrika. Sepertinya, mereka memperhatikanku sedari tadi. Mungkin kedatanganku yang tampak tak bermaksud berbelanja dan hanya sibuk mengambil foto dari lantai ke lantai membuat mereka mengawasiku. Aku terkadang hanya duduk di beberapa kursi yang disediakan di beberapa sisi mall. Setelah mereka tampak lengah, maka aku akan segera mengambil gambar beberapa titik yang kusasar.

    Atap mall yang terbuat dari kaca membuat rasa penasaranku tak terbendung, melalui escalator aku menaiki satu demi satu lantai CCD hingga tepat berada di bawah atap itu. Tampak begitu indah ujung para pencakar langit itu.

    Pemandangan dari lantai teratas.

    Kemudian dari lantai teratas aku mulai menelusuri koridor mall sebelah kanan untuk melihat beberapa toko ternama seperti apparel Quiksilver dari Australia,  Columbia Sportswear asal Amerika, Adidas asal Jerman, Sun & Sand Sports dan juga Max Fashion asal Dubai.

    Al Afkar Art Gallery di lantai lima.

    Perlu diketahui bahwa mall ini terkoneksi dengan tiga hotel bertaraf internasional yaitu Shangri-La Doha, Marriot Marquis Hotel dan Rotana City Center Doha. Menempati lahan seluas 14 hektar dan memiliki 350 toko di dalamnya. Dibangun oleh Aamal Company Q.P.S.C, pemimpin pasar retail di Qatar. Inilah shopping mall terbesar di area West Bay yang diletakkan tepat di jantung distrik bisnis itu

    Koridor sayap kanan.

    Sebelum mengakhiri kunjungan, aku turun ke ground floor untuk melihat area restoran.  Aku melihat terdapat tempat yang begitu ramai dibandingkan tempat lain di lokasi yang sama, yaitu meja makan di depan House of Tea, sebuah perusahaan cafe asal Qatar.

    House of Tea di zona restoran.
    Musholla dan toilet.

    Itulah sedikit cerita tentang City Center Doha yang menjadi pusat perbelanjaan modern terbesar di area West Bay.

    Kisah Selanjutnya—->

  • Padang Beach or Padang Taplau?

    His name is Asep. It is certainly not a local name, nor is it a native…He is Bandung’s origin and married to a Padang woman, making Aa (designation for brother in Bandung) Asep settled in Padang and now he was taking me to Padang Beach using his online motorcycle taxi.

    The road was deserted because thick black cloud which has acquired Padang sky. The wind signaled by sending low-temperature air…. Soon, rain would be fall from sky. I just hope to enjoy Padang Beach for a while without rain to just get rid of curiosity.

    I began to want to come to this beach since its form adorned television screen for days when there was a big earthquake in 2009 whose center was off the coast. Therefore, I forced myself to insert time even though it was only for four hours to stopby in Padang

    Excitement of my heart when Aa Asep dropped me right under IORA Monument. IORA is an abbreviation of Indian Ocean Rim Association, an association of countries which were located in Indian Ocean Region.

    Once in a while drizzle began to fall, but never mind, I could still stand on rock embankment which was built jutting toward sea. I really enjoyed my short time to feel the beauty of Padang. While some visitors began to leave plastic benches which were provided by pensi (clam) and young coconut traders.

    I still felt sad, how panic of Padang people when facing a tsunami threat when earthquake occurred in 2009 even though the tsunami itself never happened.

    The beach which is located along Samudera Street, has long been main tourist destination in Padang City. In addition to offering low-cost tourism, this beach is also a place which is easily accessible by anyone because it has become part of downtown and only thirty minutes from Padang’s tourist gate, i.e Minangkabau International Airport.

    IORA monument.

    Local residents often call Padang Beach as Padang Taplau. Taplau itself is an abbreviation of Tapi Lauik or the edge of sea.

    Byuuurrrr….I ran and then took shelter on Velocity Burger & Coffee terrace located on the edge of Samudera Street. The rain was so heavy, it made water splash slowly wet my clothes and backpack. While I was still busy exploring my gadget to determine next tourist destination which was still possible to visit. It seemed like I won’t waste my time in Padang even if only briefly.

    In the afternoon, most museums and several official tourist attractions have been closed. But I’ve already decided where to go next. I thought quickly, I benefited because I still had an umbrella which I bought while visiting Toba Lake few days ago. The rain didn’t dampen my steps to continue exploring. I ordered a online taxi to get there.

    Where did I go to?

  • West Bay, Asal Burj Doha Memukau Dunia

    <—-Kisah Sebelumnya

    Kesayangan kepergok nongkrong di Abdulla Ali Bumatar minimarket.

    Makan malam….Akhirnya kucicipi ramen kesayangan itu setelah genap dua minggu berpetualang meninggalkan kampung halaman. Membuat mood perjalananku kembali ke puncak….Hahaha.

    Di keesokan harinya, menjelang siang tetapi masih saja dingin menusuk, pukul sepuluh pagi, aku memulai petualangan hari kedua di Qatar. Menaiki Karwa Bus langganan bernomor 12, kutuju Al Ghanim Bus Station. Untuk ketigakalinya, aku akan menaiki Karwa Bus dengan nomor berbeda.

    Ini dia….Karwa Bus No. 76 menuju West Bay.

    Sepuluh menit kemudian, aku meluncur menuju West Bay melalui Al Corniche Street. Karena ini adalah circular service, aku membiarkan diri mengalir mengikuti alur Karwa Bus itu. Aku tak turun ketika bus mulai memasuki area West Bay, bus berbelok di Al Fundug Street, berlanjut di Omar Al Mukhtar Street, beralih ke Conference Center Street, lalu menutup rute melingkarnya di Al Corniche Street untuk kembali menuju ke Al Ghanim Bus Station.

    Aku turun tepat di permulaan area West Bay yaitu di dekat bangunan pencakar langit paling tersohor di Qatar yaitu Burj Doha. Bangunan berbentuk peluru yang pernah menjadi Best Tall Building Worldwide delapan tahun silam.

    Tiga bangunan fenomenal dari kiri ke kanan: Al Bidda Tower, Qatar Petroleum Headquarter dan Burj Doha (putih).
    Burj Doha lebih dekat.

    Aku memilih berjalan di sisi corniche untuk merasakan sensasi berjalan di bawah perkasanya gedung pencakar langit di sisi kiri dan birunya Teluk Persia di sisi kanan. Pemandangan yang sungguh luar biasa tak terkira dan masih terekam di ingatanku hingga kini.

    Menyempatkan diri untuk makan siang.

    Aku mulai masuk lebih dalam  ke area West Bay, kini aku melewati jalanan di sebelah kiri Burj Doha dan aku benar-benar tenggelam dalam julangan jajaran pencakar langit kota Doha.

    Tornado Tower milik QIPCO Holding yang bergerak di bidang investasi dan saham.

    Aku sampai di Al Funduq Street, jalanan begitu padat. Mobil berjalan sangat pelan karena bahu jalan digunakan sebagai tempat parkir kendaraan. Sepertinya parkir masih menjadi masalah di area West Bay…..Mirip Jakarta ya….Hahaha.

    Dari kiri ke kanan: Ministry of Justice Building (putih), Al Fardan Twin Building (workspace provider), Woqod Tower untuk perkantoran (berujung lancip).
    Navigation Tower (Bangunan untuk perkantoran berarsitektur sempal sebelah).

    Sebentar kemudian, aku sudah berada di jantung area West Bay. Berada di ujung Al Funduq Street yang kemudian arus kendaraan dialirkan oleh jalur protokol negara itu, yaitu Majlis Al Ta’awon Street dan Omar Al Mukhtar Street.

    Tikungan di kiri itulah akhir dari Al Funduq Street.
    Aku berlatar Palm Tower (perkantoran).
    Penampakan Omar Mukhtar Street menuju DECC.

    Matahari berada di titik tertinggi ketika aku memasuki pusat West Bay. Aktivitas di area itu juga mulai ramai. Jalan protokol dengan lima jalur di setiap ruas mulai padat dengan kendaraan. Perlahan aku mendekati DECC (Doha Exhibition & Convention Center) yang merupakan main event venue di kota Doha.

    Perlu kamu ketahui, selain karwa Bus bernomor 76,  West Bay adalah distrik bisnis yang bisa diakses dengan Doha Metro Red Line. Setidaknya terdapat dua stasiun MRT di area ini yaitu West Bay QIC Station dan DECC Station.

    Pintu masuk Stasiun MRT DECC berlatar DECC Building bagian barat.

    Sebelum meninggalkan area West Bay, aku akan mengunjungi sejenak salah satu pusat perbelanjaan di area itu yang menyediakan fasilitas ice rink.

    Yukss….Lihat bentar.

    Kisah Selanjutnya—->

  • Black Stone Story Behind the Architecture of Grand Mosque of West Sumatra

    My trip was briefly thrown from time lane. I, the lone traveler, must succumb to interest of all Maestro Travel passengers who were in a hurry to catch their respective flights. I just enjoyed in spending one hour to stay in travel car which took them to Minangkabau International Airport and afterwards I headed to Padang downtown.

    Driver: “Where do you want to drop, Uda (Uda is designation for brother in West Sumatra)?“.

    Me: “Drop me off at Grand Mosque of West Sumatra, Uda!“

    I preferred to get off at a destination which I want to go rather than having to follow travel path which would take new passengers from their office. Economical and effective of course.

    Got off on Khatib Sulaiman Street, right at bus stop of Great Mosque of West Sumatra, I was confronted directly towards the grandest mosque in West Sumatra. I quickly entered its area through West Sumatra Malay Park which is also part of this “Thousand Wind Doors Mosque” courtyard.

    Under renovation, it wasn’t possible to enter….Sad.

    In the park, I was alone with a middle age man from Makassar City who also deliberately stopped by to look at this “mosque without dome“. His standing distance which was too close made it difficult to put the entire form of mosque in his selfie box. Seeing me who was busy capturing some picture, he seemed brave to approach me. As I guessed, I would have been asked to take his picture with this mosque as its background….Haha.

    I managed to command him at will to get the best picture….Finally we were selfie together in his wide tab. See you Mr. Upe, had a nice trip for going back to Makassar.

    Is a brilliant architect who managed to double meaning of unique roof as dome replacement. Physically visible, it is an “Gonjong (Gonjong is a typical roof from West Sumatra)” roof consisting of four tops which were placed on each side. But in fact, Its form holds a historical meaning. That is a fabric shape which was used by leaders of Quraysh four tribes when moving the Black Stone (Hajar Al-Aswad) in the Kaaba.

    The path to the top floor directly.

    Honestly, I myself never thought this mosque shape which is very grand and unique. I’ve never seen its form throug internet surfing or tried to find out before visiting it. So you can imagine how I was amazed when standing right in front of this iconic religious building.

    Able to accommodate twenty thousand worshipers.

    Occupying four hectares area, Grand Mosque of West Sumatra in addition to being the largest place of worship in region, it has also become a city landmark, a religious tourism destination, and even has a reserve function as a disaster relief, that is as an evacuation shelter if tsunami happens…. Understandably, Padang was ever haunted by tsunami due to a large earthquake in 2009….Luckily, tsunami didn’t really come.

    The first extraordinary impression which I got when I stopped by for a moment in Padang.

    Beautiful Padang……

  • MIA Park, Penutup Hari Pertama di Qatar

    <—-Kisah Sebelumnya

    Area West Bay di kejauhan.

    Aku meninggalkan kesibukan Dhow Harbour untuk menuju ke destinasi berikutnya.  Sepintas aku melewati deretan ferry jenis Catamaran yang bersandar di salah satu sisi dengan penjagaan ketat para security bertubuh besar. Yang kupahami sekilas adalah itulah pelayaran menuju Banana Islands Resort Doha yang terkenal itu. Mainan para wisatawan kaya raya yang harus menghambur tujuh setengah juta rupiah untuk sekedar menginap semalam saja di pulau buatan berbentuk pisang di Teluk Persia.

    Aku terus menelusuri corniche promenade. Jalur terlarang untuk para pengendara sepeda yang membuat setiap turis dapat menikmati pemandangan corniche dengan sangat leluasa di lebarnya bentangan promenade.

    Aku tiba di sebuah permulaan taman kota yang sangat luas. Terparkirnya Doha Hop On Hop Off Bus menunjukkan bahwa spot ini adalah salah satu tujuan utama wisata tour keliling kota itu. Tepat di sebelah shelter, terletaklah gerbang depan spot tersebut yang ditandai dengan sebuah kolam melingkar. Spot itu adalah Museum of Islamic Art.

    Gerbang depan Museum of Islamic Art.

    Secara bersamaan aku berada di sebuah taman luas bernama MIA Park. MIA adalah singkatan dari Museum of Islamic Art. Sesuai nama, sebelum mendatanginya, semua orang sudah bisa dipastikan faham bahwa taman ini terletak tepat di depan Museum of Islamic Art.

    Permulaan taman di sisi selatan.

    Taman seluas kurang lebih tiga puluh hektar ini mengorbit pada sebuah corniche berbentuk setengah lingkaran. Dan MIA Park ini mengelilinginya di sisi utara, timur dan selatan. Lima puluh persen dari seluruh taman adalah kawasan hijau sedangkan separuhnya lagi dimanfaatkan sebagai plaza, promenade, area parkir dan fasilitas umum lainnya.

    Corniche setengah lingkaran dengan bukaan menuju ke laut di sebelah barat.
    Free water station di sekitar corniche.

    Taman ini sering menjadi venue resmi negara pada perayaan hari libur nasional, selain itu juga sering dipakai sebagai tempat berlangsungnya pertunjukan musik, kegiatan bazaar ataupun konser-konser regular lainnya. Taman juga menyediakan beberapa food & cafe truck untuk para pengunjung di beberapa titik. Sedangkan khusus di hari Selasa dan dimulai pada pukul 17:00, taman ini menjadi area publik khusus kaum Hawa yang biasanya dipimpin oleh personal trainer dalam latihan kardio dan senam kebugaran.

    Lokasi untuk MIA Bazaar.
    Dareen Sweets…..Cafe truck di area taman.

    Di area timur taman tersedia plaza yang cukup panjang, dibatasi dengan pepohonan rindang di kedua sisi dan di tengahnya dibuat kolam sepanjang plaza. Menciptakan kondisi yang sejuk ketika panas menyengat kota. Sementara di sebelah plaza timur ini terdapat kids playgrounds yang sangat luas untuk ukuran sebuah taman.

    Plaza timur MIA Park.

    Menginjak taman di sisi utara, aku disuguhkan bentuk taman yang menyerupai bukit, menanjak dari sisi selatan dan menurun tajam menuju ke laut di sisi utaranya. Duduk di kemiringan dengan pemandangan area West Bay yang tampak terlihat lebih dekat di pandangan mata adalah sebuah kepuasan tersendiri. Untuk memanjakan para pengunjung dalam menikmati pemandangan sekumpulan pencakar langit itu, disediakan area coffee shop yang cukup luas di sisi utara taman ini.

    MIA Park Coffee Shop.

    Kembali ke arah semula menuju pulang, aku melewati promenade yang berbeda dari arah datang. Kini aku melewati promenade paling selatan yang berbatasan langsung dengan Al Corniche Street. Tampak pemandangan jalanan di sisi kiri dengan gedung-gedung berarsitektur modern. Tampak juga Qatar Museum Gallery dan area MIA Parking yang sangat luas.

    QNB Head Office dan “The Fountain” yang terpisahkan oleh Al Corniche Street tepat di barat daya taman.

    Dengan berakhirnya kunjunganku ke MIA Park ini maka eksplorasi hari pertamaku di Qatar telah usai. Aku akan memulai perjalanan hari keduaku esok hari.

    Kemana ya enaknya?….Hihihi.

    Kisah Selanjutnya—->

  • Maestro Travel from Bukittinggi to Padang

    It’s so easy to order travel and bus services in Sumatra Island. Pick up the phone, mention the destination, convey the departure time then ask what time to get ready at travel or bus office!….No need to pay in advance….Then you will arrive at your destination if you aren’t late to come to their office.

    INTRA Bus from Pematang Siantar to Pekanbaru….

    Travel Annanta from Pekanbaru to Bukittinggi….

    Now, an easy procedure was repeated for Maestro Travel from Bukittinggi to Padang….

    —-****—-

    The last day in Bukittinggi or if calculated from the beginning of my journey is my sixth day in Sumatra land, I recounted my journey with Maestro Travel when I began to phone call a woman front office staff at eight in the morning on departure day.

    “You will sit in the back seat and please come half an hour before departure time, Uda (Uda is designation for brother in West Sumatra). Prepare a fare for about USD 3! “, She simply said.

    —-****—-

    I rushed to De Kock Hotel after my last visitation in Panorama Park. No time to took a shower again, I thought only one, tonight I would arrive in Jakarta and would soak with warm water in my bucket at home ….As long as I want….Hahaha.

    Black Vixion (Vixion is brand name of Yamaha motorbike in Indonesia) picked me up on hotel terrace then drove fast through density of Sudirman Street to Maestro Travel office, three kilometers away. In fifteen minutes I arrived. Entering the office, I was greeted by a veiled young woman, I handed over the fare and held a ticket to Padang.

    There were still twenty minutes left before travel car arrived. According to the front office staff, travel car were still driving around to picking up passengers at their respective homes. I just decided to go to a small restaurant around the office and order a serving of “Pecel Ayam” (Pecel Ayam is rice with fried chicken and chili sauce) and a glass of water. This time I ate it very quickly, like a snake swallowing a hedgehog….Uppsss.

    I arrived back at travel office in situation that travel car was ready and all passengers seemed to be looking towards me. Apparently I was awaited by all the passengers, I hope they weren’t upset.

    Middle seat and next to the driver were occupied by a small family package. Husband and wife, their little daughter and husband’s mother-in-law. While I sat in back seat with a Slovak named Boris. A young postman, bald-headed, thin-bodied and a hobby looking for silence.

    In back seat we talked all the way. The story began with impression of his journey in Kazakhstan where no one bothered him when he went up the mountain alone. Then it continues on to his habit that he will feel dizzy when working in an office, therefore he chose to be a postman in Slovakia.

    “Why is this car passing a small road like this? Can we arrive at the airport on time?”, he said to me.

    “I think that driver is trying to get through the faster road, Boris …. Hahaha”, I answered.

    “If he fails, It’s not funny….Not funny”, he was panicked. Indeed, his flight schedule was only one hour from estimated time of arrival which was said by Google Maps on my smartphone.

    I tried to distract by continuing to talk. I didn’t know how the begining theme, so we could talk about Indonesian 0 km point in Sabang, Ijen Crater, Probolinggo, Lazada e-commerce, and secondhand iPhones which he thought it was cheap if purchased in Indonesia. One more thing, we discussed about direct flights from Manado to Manila. Until family head who sat next to the driver explained to Boris that that flight didn’t exist.

    I passed a waterfall at the edge of road, I knew it was “Lembah Anai” Waterfall. That means I was forty kilometers from Padang City. Boris asked me to stopping the driver and allowed him to buy some mineral water, expensive if he had to buy it at airport. I thought it didn’t need to stop, I have some supply of bottled mineral water. It was result of collected it from Sri Indrayani Hotel in Pekanbaru, Annanta Travel and De Kock Hotel in Bukittinggi. I gave him two bottles. “I really appreciate you, Donny … very much appreciate,” he said while patting my arm.

    That was my farewell to him, he must get off at Minangkabau International Airport and heading to Malang. That family package would go to Bandung. While I would head to Padang downtown to explore it for four hours, considering I would back to Jakarta at eight o’clock at night.

  • Dhow Boat dan Doha Corniche

    <—-Kisah Sebelumnya

    Duh….Belum mandi tuh dari kemarin pagi.

    Mengunjungi The Pearl Monument membuatku bahagia tak terkira, selain mendalami sejarah Qatar, mata dimanjakan dengan indahnya pemandangan Doha Corniche. Promenade sepanjang tujuh kilometer ini menampakkan lengkungan Teluk Doha yang dijejali gedung pencakar langit di ujungnya. Sementara sebaran traditional dhow boat wisata yang diam terjangkar di sepanjang teluk menjadi interior alam yang mengelokkan suasana.

    Matahari sudang mulai langsir, angin laut menambahkan sejuk di sepanjang promenade. Jalur pejalan kaki di tepian Doha Bay itu tampak rapi nan asri. Pinggiran pantai dibatasi beton halus dan rata setinggi pinggul orang dewasa mengikuti lekuk pantai. Sementara promenade dilapisi paving block berkualitas baik dan berbatasan dengan Al Corniche Street disematkan taman memanjang dengan bentangan rumput hijau dan bunga warna-warna yang dihidupkan dengan teknik hidroponik. Jadi, kalau kamu berkunjung ke kawasan Timur Tengah, pemandangan selang-selang hidroponik yang ditanam di permukaan tanah untuk menumbuhkan bunga-bunga cantik adalah hal yang biasa.

    Tepat di depan arah pantai The Pearl Monument, terdapat jorokan daratan buatan yang digunakan untuk bersandar ratusan Dhow Boat. oleh karenanya tempat ini dikenal dengan nama Dhow Harbour. Pelabuhan yang menjorok ke arah laut sepanjang setengah kilometer ini memiliki area utama pelabuhan seluas empat hektar.

    Permukaan utama pelabuhan ini masih berwujud tanah berpasir putih sedangkang di keempat sisinya tersedia jalur beraspal yang memungkinkan kendaraan memasuki area pelabuhan.  Bagian berpasir inilah yang dimanfaatkan untuk docking beberapa perahu untuk dilakukan perbaikan.

    Tampak di sepanjang tanggul berbatu pelabuhan, dimanfaatkan oleh warga untuk menyalurkan hobby memancing mereka. Sementara aku hanya duduk manis di tanggunl dan lekat memandangi area West Bay yang tampak indah dari kejauhan.

    Di lain sisi, sedari tadi aku diikuti oleh seorang berwajah Asia Selatan, dengan gamis putih dan surban merah. Tingkahnya yang lucu dan terus menirukan aktivitasku, membuatku tak merasa takut tapi justru merasa geli. Kuputuskan mendekatinya dan berbincang. Namanya Safwan dan baru tiga bulan meninggalkan Dhaka untuk bekerja di Doha. Dia sepertinya tak tahu kalau aku seorang turis, sehingga dia merasa memiliki teman senasib yang bekerja di Doha….Hahaha, jadi menurutmu, dia mengiraku bekerja di bidang apa ya di Doha?….Wkwkwk.

    Percakapan kami berakhir dengan saling mengambilkan foto berlatar West Bay Area….Sampai jumpa lagi Safwan.

    Di sisi kanan Dhow Harbour, tampak bangunan ikonik yang dibuat seolah mengapung di permukaan air. Bangunan itulah yang dikenal dengan Museum of Islamic Art. Perlu merogoh kocek sebesar Rp. 200.000 untuk memasuki bangunan indah itu dan mengenal sejarah islam di Qatar pada masa lalu.

    Masih di sisi kanan tepat di pangkal pelabuhan, aku bisa menikmati dengan detail keindahan Dhow Boat yang rapi terparkir di perairan tenang tak berombak. Perahu kayu berwarna cokelat dengan dek bertingkat yang biasa digunakan sebagai perahu wisata dalam mengarungi indahnya pantai Doha.

    Jadi pastikan Anda mengunjungi Doha Corniche ketika berada di Qatar.

    Tempatnya keren banget lho….

    Kisah Selanjutnya—->