Atau Negara
Kota Mode tersohor dengan Cannes Film Festivalnya
Maka Negeri
Ginseng juga memiliki hal yang sama….Busan International Film Festival.
Diselenggarakan di sekitar akhir tahun yaitu September atau Oktober, BIFF selalu memperkenalkan sutradara-sutradara pendatang baru Asia dengan karya pertamanya. Festival yang dibuka pertama kali pada 23 tahun lalu, kini telah berpindah tempat ke Centum City di daerah Haeundae-gu.
Kali ini Aku tak menuju ke new homebase nya BIFF, tetapi Aku akan menyusuri sebuah daerah yang menjadi cikal bakal BIFF yaitu Nampo-dong. Kemudian, untuk menapak tilas asal muasal BIFF maka Aku menuju ke BIFF Square.
Perjalanan dimulai dari stasiun terdekat dari Kimchee Busan Guesthouse yaitu stasiun MRT Beomnaegol menggunakan MRT Line 1 (Orange Line). Setelah melawati 8 stasiun, Aku turun di stasiun MRT Jagalchi. Satu destinasi lain yang bisa dikunjungi di dekat stasiun ini adalah Jagalchi Market (menjual beragam seafood) yang buka dari jam 5 pagi hingga 10 malam.
Keluar dari exit gate, Aku sudah disambut oleh pedangang street food tepat di pintu keluar stasiun. Karena udara dingin menusuk tulang, asap yang keluar dari pembakaran tungku itu membuat para penumpang MRT rela berhenti sejenak untuk sekedar memakan makanan hangat yang dijual pembeli itu.
Aku sedikit mengalamai disorientasi kali ini, bingung mencari jalan BIFF Square, karena semua jalan terlihat ramai. Akhirnya kuberanikan diri untuk menghampiri pak polisi yang sedang berjaga di pos polisi lalu lintas. Dengan sabar, Dia menjelaskan arah kepadaku sembari menunjukkan telunjuknya ke kiri dan ke kanan dengan bahasa Korea…..Walau tak mengerti bahasa Korea, Aku rasa cukup mudah memahami penjelasannya.
Jalan BIFF membelah tempat itu sepanjang 150 m. Dan ketika Aku mengunjunginya di malam hari, sangat mudah menemui tenda-tenda street food. Tenda-tenda berbentuk rumah-rumah mini ini mungkin bertujuan melindungi si pembeli dari dinginnya udara Busan di malam hari. Tersusun berjajar di tengah jalan, menjadikan Jalan BIFF menjadi pasar kuliner dimalam hari.
Mengkol sedikit ke jalan Gwangbok-ro
Aku hanya sedikit mencoba memakan sate seafood di salah satu tenda, lalu Ku lanjutkan untuk mencari makan malam yang lebih sedikit nendang.
Karena begitu susah menemukan makanan berat yang sesuai dengan selera, akhirnya hinggaplah Aku di sebuah warung makan mungil di deretan pertokoan sekitar Jalan BIFF. ”Ahangeya” nama tempat itu. Aku lebih memilih makan beef rice bowl seharga 4.000 Won (Rp. 48.000).
Selain
tenda-tenda makan, Aku juga menemukan banyak penjual pernak pernik souvenir,
t-shirt dan beberapa peralatan elektronik. Tapi perhatianku tak tertuju pada
itu, Aku lebih memilih untuk mencari jaket musim dingin di sebuah konter
penjualan Uniqlo di bilangan BIFF Square.
buat ganti jaket…masak iya jalan 12 hari hanya bawa 1 jaket
seharga Rp. 480.000
Hawa dingin membuatku tak kuasa menahan bekunya tubuh….Aku tak bisa berlama-lama disini, dan kuputuskan untuk menuju destinasi berikutnya.
Friend: “Accommodation is also free”…. me : shock and very surprised….#closelaptop
It’s crazy moment….I was packing right away.
I didn’t realize that I had reached sales target which set by my office and was rewarded with a trip to Belitung. And a few months earlier, Jokowi (Indonesia President) decided Belitung as one of 10 leading tourism destinations in Indonesia
I was lucky.…
The departure day arrived and “The Green Airline” was landing me at Tanjung Pandan.
Because of free trip, I didn’t need to be a backpacker. Enough to sweetly sat and I was picked up by a blue tourism bus. This tour is hosted by the Belitung Nusantara Tour.
Also itinerary, I didn’t need to make it because it has been made by my office.….very nice moment. This time, I wasn’t an backpacker. Right now, I was Donny the luxury tourist.
Bus directly went to Tanjung Kelayang Port which was located in 30 km north of H.A.S Hanandjoeddin Airport. Looks like, I would go straight to sea tourism through this port. Using a life jacket, I immediately sailed to the main destinations in Belitung
This is it:
1.Batu Berlayar Island
Very beautiful … Granite rocks towering above soft sand island. Combined with clearly blue sea water, making this island as perfect opening session in my trip.
It only takes 15 minutes from Tanjung Kelayang pier. Climbing the granite stone is something which I had to do to marking that I’ve been here. It’s easy to find starfish and small hermit crab which slip between large granite rocks.
Nice….
So named as Batu Berlayar because from a distance, It like a sail
2. Lengkuas Island
At the beginning of trip, I didn’t understand why bus driver bought so many biscuits before arriving at Tanjung Kelayang port. I thought it was for his snack (but still suspicious… It’s very much for snacking….maybe for lunch also….hahaha).
Apparently, I found the answer here. biscuits was bought for feeding fishes around Lengkuas island.
You have to come here, guys….snorkling like I feel….#alwayspray4u
Snorkling and feeding the fish … Wadauw.
You also have to visit the Dutch-made Lighthouse in 1882 on Lengkuas Island. The 62-meter in high and 18-floors lighthouse can be climbed by tourists (I hear now, it cann’t be climbed again because of an official regulation regarding the prohibition of climbing lighthouses by Transportation Ministry).
Taking off footwear and making sure legs are completely dry are a must before climbing lighthouse. Made from solid metals with relatively thick paint, it shows perfect maintenance of lighthouse.
The tiredness of climbing lighthouse will pay off with a beautiful ocean top view, like heaven that I rarely find with my naked eye.
3. KepayangIsland
From Lengkuas Island, trip continues to Babi Island-babi is pig in English– (another name from Kepayang Island). The island is protected with giant granite rocks. It famous for its turtle conservation activities in Belitung, Kepayang Island has an important role.
You can take a freshwater bath with a very clean public bathroom. Bathrooms managed by a restaurant. This restaurant is also be place where tourists have a lunch after snorkling on Lengkuas island.
4. Tanjung TinggiBeach
Flanked by Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Pendam, making this beach very quiet. Blue sea water that doesn’t rip much, makes it very suitable to calm down. Granite expanse is more massive than three previous islands that I visited, making Tanjung Tinggi beach have a champion view.
Also known as Laskar Pelangi beach by public because it was used as one of locations for taking scenes in phenomenal film by Riri Riza.…Laskar Pelangi.
5. Kaolin Lake
Do You know Kaolin, right? … it’s mineralized clay for cosmic and toothpaste raw materials.
This Kaolin lake is a lake which is formed by accident.…Starting from Kaolin mining remains, it make large holes. And finally, after mining was inactive, holes were filled with rain water. Hence Kaolin lake is formed.
Because soil colour is white and water in the lake reflects a turquoise colour, it makes beautiful stretch of Kaolin lake.
This lake is also one of spots in Laskar Pelangi movie scene.
Cool…..
6. Kota GantungMuhammadiyah Elementary School
Did You ever seen “Ikal” (main role of Laskar Pelangi) daily activities when studying at school?.
I visited replica of that Muhammadiyah Elementary School. Based on information that I heard, the real elementary school building has collapsed. So for filming purposes, its replica was built. And the replica still stands today.
The brilliance of elementary school buildings is indeed made intentionally to describe the real condition.
Very inspiring……
7. Andrea Hirata Word Museum
Do You know him?
The native son of Belitung who write Laskar Pelangi novel which it transformed in three sequels of film.
This museum is a literary museum and the only one in Indonesia. No need to pay to visit it. In accordance with its famous novel, room name in the museum was named according to characters names in Laskar Pelangi film i.e “Ikal” Room, “Lintang” Room and “Mahar “Room.
Come here then you will be amazed by words which was made by Andrea Hirata.
8. Kampung Ahok
For this figure (Ahok), everyone in Indonesia knows. Who doesn’t know Ahok as Jakarta’s phenomenal Governor.Spend your time to visit his house if you travel to Belitung. Even though you can’t enter into his house, at least you can imagine how Ahok’s childhood lived in his village.
If you go to Kampung Ahok, take time to stopby at the Daun Simpor Gallery. You can buy the original East Belitung batik cloth which were directly produced by gallery.
Daun Simpor Gallery
Very grateful to be able to visit Belitung. One unexpected thing, can get free trip to one of my bucket lists .
Tentu Aku tak pernah tahu kenapa guesthouse ini diberi nama Kimchee. Yang hanya Ku tahu, kimchee atau kimchi adalah makanan khas Korea yang terbuat dari sayuran yang difermentasi dengan aneka macambumbu yang pada akhirnya berasa pedas dan asam. Mungkin guesthouse ini akan menjadi tempat berkumpulnya para pengelana dari beraneka macam bangsa dengan tujuan sama yaitu menikmati keunikan Korea…..halah, ngawur nih statement.
Dorm atau dormitory sudah menjadi pilihan umum kaum backpacker dalam berkelana. Selain menawarkan keamanan budget, dorm juga menawarkan satu opsi untuk membuat jaringan antar backpacker yang beragam kewarganegaraannya. Hal ini sangat memungkinkan terjadi karena di setiap dormroom akan diisi 12-16 backpacker untuk tidur bersama….hushhh, di ranjangnya masing-masing maksud Saya.
Kali ini pilihanku jatuh pada Kimchee Busan Guesthouse sebagai tempat bernaung selama berpetualang di Busan. Tiga hal yang menjadi concern penting dalam memilihnya adalah harga, lokasi dan feedback ratenya yang bagus.
Aku sudah memesannya 4 bulan sebelum keberangkatan, sehingga kupastikan Aku mendapatkan harga terbaik. Guesthouse seharga Rp. 180.000 (KRW 15.000) terletak di jalan Hwangnyeong-daero. Berjarak sekitar 270 meter dari Stasiun MRT Beomnaegol sehingga guesthouse ini bisa ditempuh dengan berjalan kaki.
Kedatanganku di guesthouse disambut hangat dengan resepsionis cantik. Setelah menyerahkan passport dan Won, Aku mendapatkan access card menuju dorm room.
Si resepsionis cantik
Ruang resepsionis
Untuk ukuran guesthouse tentu menjadi hal yang luar biasa karena ketersediaan lift di dalamnya. Tak seperti banyak dorm yang pernah kusinggahi dimana Aku harus menyiapkan otot kaki untuk menaiki puluhan anak tangga sebelum menuju ke kamar.
akses lift menuju dorm room
Memasuki kamar, kelelahan itu terbayar dengan leganya ruangan dorm yang terdiri dari 10 bed dengan masing-masing loker yang telah disediakan disebelah bed.
Dorm room
Di guesthouse inilah, Aku pertama kalinya menghirup segarnya aroma Soju –minuman khas Korea-. Walaupun Aku tak meminumnya, setidaknya Aku tahu aroma dan wujudnya serta bagaimana cara meminum Soju dari teman-teman sekamarku.
Keisenganku yang lain adalah menggunakan hair dryer yang disediakan di shared bathroom untuk mengeringkan kaos kaki basahku. Sudah menjadi kebiasaan, Aku hanya membawa 2 pasang kaos kaki, tak peduli seberapa panjang perjalananku. Setiap dua hari Aku akan mencuci kaos kaki yang kugunakan dan kukeringkan dengan cara apapun.
Hal baik lain dari guesthouse ini adalah menyediakan container untuk menyimpan backpack dan barang-barang lain yang dititipkan oleh penginap. Biasanya penginap akan meyimpan backpacknya ketika mereka datang lebih awal dari waktu check-in atau akan meninggalkan kota ketika jam keberangkatan mereka masih jauh dari waktu check-out.
Aku pun menitipkan backpackku karena keberangkatanku ke Seoul menggunakan bus terjadwal pukul 8pm sedangkan Aku waktu check-out ku pukul 12pm
Guesthouse juga menyediakan rak dan kulkas untuk menyimpan makanan para penginap….awas, jangan ambil makanan orang ya….hehehe. Biasanya penginap yang sedikit lebih lama tinggal di guesthouse akan menyimpan makanannya disini. Wah kalau Aku dipastikan ga pernah menggunakan fasilitas ini.
Kimchee snack and Bar
Tentu Kamu memiliki selera tersendiri dalam memilih penginapan…..yang penting tujuan kita sama, guys….jalan-jalan. That’s it.
Taiwan was nicknamed as the land of a thousand night markets. So if you want to be crazy there, you don’t need to go to a pub or a bar. And it doesn’t need to be drunk to spend a night in Taiwan.
You only need to come to night market and enjoy cheap culinary and other unique goods.
When I visited for two nights in Kaohsiung, I tried to visit several markets which generally open on afternoon.
This is it:
1.Shinkuchan Commercial District.
Guys … if you want to find Taiwanese beautiful girls or handsome boys, this place can facilitate your desires. Enchanting 18-20 years old Taiwanese usually gather here from 3pm to 10pm.
I arrived at Shinkuchan on 4 pm
To got here, I just needed to take Red Line MRT (Siaogang-Gangshan corridor) from Houyi Station where my hostel was located to Central Park Station.
From Central Park Station, I only needed to walk 250 meters to find it. Its strategic location is flanked by two very busy arterial roads (Wufu street dan Zhong Shan street)
a corner of Wufu street
Some stall owners who greeted me said that I arrived too early, I should come a bit more night to feel Shinkuchan crowd.
I had plan to visit other culinary market when night fell, so I didn’t have any choice and sacrifice it.
Just tasting some octopus skewers in this place, I started to leaving Shinkuchan at 5pm.
2. Liouhe Night Market
Still using Red Line MRT, I left Central Park Station towards Formosa Boulevard Station. This station is very popular throughout Kaohsiung … but I’ll tell you about it later, guys.
Because of his fame, I was held for 40 minutes at this station.
Peeking station interior…
Well, one of many exit gates of this station, There was a gate which leads to Liouhe Night Market. Here:
You must look for Exit No 9,10 and 11 to get there.
9 degrees Celsius temperature instantly made me cold and starved. Entering this market as far as eye can see, as if all kinds of food were sold, I wanted to taste
Well … back to my backpacker’s instinct again.…I bought the cheapest food. The dinner was only worth USD 1,7 with a fish soup noodles menu.
After dinner, I immediately left this market to go to next destination, Love River.
Bye-bye Liouhe Night Market
3. Kaisyuan Night Market
For this market, I visited it on my second night in Kaohsiung. All you need to know, Kaisyuan Night Market is closed on Tuesday and Thursday. So You must come there besides that day between 6pm and 11pm.
To get there, you only need to take Red Line MRT and get off at Kaisyuan Station. Luckily, I was there when Kaohsiung LRT trial. So I got a free LRT fare.
Just need to a little walk out from Kaisyuan MRT Station to Chianjhen Star LRT Station. Then take the LRT and get off at Rueitian LRT Station.
I didn’t visit this culinary market for a long time. Because in the same night, I had to go to Kaohsiung International Airport which would be “a free hotel” for my second night in Kaohsiung. Staying in airport is certainly warmer than this market, right guys …
Well, this story only tells about Kaohsiung’s night market, guys.… I don’t tell yet about their place of worship … be patient, wait for my next article.
Hanya 2
jenis kata itu yang keluar dari mulutku, Aku tak benar-benar serius mendengarkan
pramugari itu menjelaskan prosedur keamanan di pintu darurat. Justru Aku
terpesona dengan kecantikan wajah khas Korea si pramugari. Hingga Dia selesai
menjelaskan pun, Aku masih terbengong menikmati keelokannya sampai Dia mengakhiri
penjelasannya dengan senyuman….tentu Kubalas dengan senyuman semanis mungkin….hadeuhhhhhh.
Penerbangan
selama 1 jam 30 menit menjadi perjalanan yang mendebarkan karena Aku terus
berfirasat kurang baik ketika pemeriksaan imigrasi Busan nanti.
Aku tiba….
Wajah dengan senyuman setengah hati karena kekhawatiran itu.
Dan benar
apa adanya….Aku benar-benar dicuci oleh petugas imigrasi itu. Baca kisah
menegangkan itu disini:
Kejadian di
imigrasi itu membuat lidahku terasa pahit ketika mengecap potong demi potong pie yang kudapatkan dari penerbangan
Busan Air itu.
Kisah ini
nantinya akan membuatku berubah 180 derajat dalam hal mempersiapkan dokumen
ketika bertraveling. Aku di kemudian hari menjadi orang yang sangat
perfeksionis dalam hal preparation.
Keluar dari
Gimhae International Airport dengan muka kusut tapi kebahagiaan itu tak mampu
kusembunyikan dalam-dalam. Inilah pertama kali kakiku menginjak di “negeri ginseng”.
Nampang dulu di airport tower.
Udara 2
derajat membuatku bergegas mencari keberadaan stasiun LRT. Dengan cepat Aku
menemukannya di sisi kanan pintu keluar airport.
Kusentuh
tombol-tombol di mesin atomatis itu untuk mendapatkan token Busan Gimhae Light
Rail Transit.
Token dan Busan subway map yang ku print di Jakarta
Entrance gate ke Stasiun LRT Gimhae International Airport
Menunggu
LRT datang dengan rasa penasaran yang tinggi tentang apa yang akan terjadi
berikutnya dalam setiap detik petualanganku di Busan.
Tentu
tujuan pertamaku adalah dormitory tempatku menginap di Busan. Aku akan menuju
Kimchee Busan Guesthouse di bilangan jalan Hwangnyeong-daero.
Berhenti di
stasiun Sasang yang merupakan stasiun akhir LRT , Aku beralih menggunakan Humetro
(Nama panggilan untuk Busan Subway) jalur hijau.
Di dalam
Humetro inilah Aku melihat satu wajah Indonesia, Sesekali dia melihatku,
begitupun Aku. Sesekali Dia tersenyum, begitupun Aku….#apaan sih, orang dia
laki-laki.
Kupaksakan
diriku mendekatinya.
Percakapan
pun tak terhindarkan. Ternyata benar, Dia seorang professional Indonesia yang
sedang bekerja di Busan. Dari dirinya kuperoleh informasi bahwa warga Busan
belumlah seterbuka seperti warga Seoul. Jadi Aku akan memaklumi saja apa yang
akan terjadi dengan interaksiku dengan orang lokal selama di Busan nanti.
Percakapan
pun terhenti ketika Aku harus turun di Stasiun Seomyeon untuk berganti ke
Humetro jalur oranye. Hanya perlu jarak 1 stasiun saja kemudian aku turun di
stasiun Beomnaegol –stasiun dimana guesthouse tempat meninganapku terletak-.
Tak mudah
menemukan lokasi guesthouse ini, sempat tersasar lebih dari setengah jam di
tengah suhu udara yang sangat dingin hampir membuatku panik sebelum akhirnya
Aku menemukannya setelah bertanya kepada
karyawan GS25 minimarket.
Akhirnya
check-in juga ke Kimchee Busan Guesthouse.
Bekunya badan tak akan terasa kalau resepsionis gusthousenya secantik dia.
The Southeast Asian LCC giant with flight number AK 0170 smoothly landed me at “Asia Little Dragon” land, through its front yard i.e Kaohsiung International Airport precisely on 1:05 pm.
Thanks Sir. Tony Fernandes, for always providing many cheap tickets to travel around Asia
Taiwan which I have only heard as a country that always opposed China’s superiority. The country which became third destination for Indonesian worker to earn incomes after Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Taiwan is also known as “A little country with many airports”. Imagine it!, this small island country has 37 airports with Taoyuan International Airport as its best airport. It shows that Taiwan is a very busy country.
And finally on December 27, 2016, I was allowed to visit it.
My arrival in Taiwan was a stopover visitation, before I headed to my main destination, Japan and South Korea. I could say that it is a prestigious trip in my 6th year as a backpacker.
If you don’t know where is Taiwan. You san imagine it: if we are on traveling, it will be further away from Hong Kong but closer than Japan. Well, have you imagined it, right? … If not, then try to see Dora’s map … hihihi
Okay …. In the previous article, I told my story when staying at Kaohsiung International Airport before leaving Kaohsiung towards Tokyo.
Well … Then what will I tell about Taiwan this time?
Better….I’ll show you how I reached Kaohsiung downtown after landing.
Let’s start it, guys.…
Before landing, procedure of every airline in general, they will give you a arrival card and you can fill it during the flight.
Couldn’t wait to enjoy the beauty of Taiwan, my eyes kept stealing glances at plane’s window when landing. Swiftly sweeping the simple architecture of Kaohsiung International Airport from Air Asia cabin.
Once passed an aerobridge, I was faced with a long hallway with various wallpapers with “Welcome to Kaohsiung” theme.
a simple corridor … smart way because its wallpaper makes it beautiful
For your information, Kaohsiung is second largest city in Taiwan after their capital “Taipei”, so you should visit it if you have chance.
After walking down corridor for 10 minutes, I started entering immigration counter area.
let’s stamp my passport
My attention is on Indonesian students. They cheerfully queued….I saw them carrying their passports and e-visa sheets. “Great, Indonesian students have more chance to visit abroad now”, I muttered.
I quickly completed immigration process because I have shown Taiwan e-visa and Japan waiver visa. Oh yes, you must know that Indonesian tourist only need a free e-Visa if they already have a Japanese visa. Exit from immigration counter, I started to walk down this Arrival Hall:
small and modern minimalist interior
Near Arrival Hall exit, you can find brochures which can help you to explore Kaohsiung. You will also easily find ATM and local SIM Card selling counter in this hallway:
This is last space of arrival hall before you actually leave the airport..
Have you taken some brochures yet? Want to buy a sim card first? Do you want to exchange your USD to eat?
I decided to get in MRT towards downtown. It means I had to find MRT station location.
Heiii.…don’t rush out of arrival hall.…just stop for a moment near exit gate, then look at your front, there is a access building to MRT. There is it.…
Well…that building is at front….
After using lift, I found Kaohsiung International Airport MRT station
I bought a two day pass for my 3D2N journey in Kaohsiung.…MRT had came… let’s see its interior:
Enjoying smooth sound of MRT, I headed to Houyi Station where Paper Plane Hostel where I stayed during traveling to Kaohsiung was located. Within 30 minutes I finally arrived at Houyi Station:
From MRT exit gate, I just walked to its back then turn right around 50 meters to find my hostel:
Swear … this hostel is cheap and cool.
I stayed for two nights and got new friends at dormitory, He is Vietnamese and his friend is from Bandung but live in USA (well, they are in the photo above). They are study in same college in USA and they are traveling together to Taiwan.
After checked-in that afternoon, I immediately went to biggest street culinary market in Kaohsiung….where is that?….wait for the next article!
Percakapan
berbahasa Jawa waktu itu memberiku sebuah fakta bahwa penduduk Pekanbaru
kebanyakan masih berdarah Minang. Semakin memperkuat mindsetku bahwa orang
Minang memiliki budaya merantau yang sangat kuat.
Hanya butuh 10 menit bagi pengendara tranportasi online itu menjelaskan semua hal tentang Pekanbaru sampai kita berdua berhenti tepat di depan lobby Hotel Sri Indrayani.
Menitipkan
ransel dan melahap 4 helai roti tawar menjadikanku siap di menit pertama dalam
eksplorasi Pekanbaru.
“Hi Donny, Kamu harus berjalan menuju utara jika ingin menikmati sungai Siak”, gumamku.
Ketika mendengar kata Pekanbaru, otakku selalu terfikir oleh sungai Siak. Bagaimana tidak? Sungai ini pernah menyandang sebagai sungai terdalam di Indonesia yang pada masa kejayaannya biasa dilalui oleh kapal tanker dan kapal peti kemas.
Menyengatnya
udara Pekanbaru yang membakar kulit diiringi dengan ramainya jalanan Pekanbaru
mengiringi langkahku untuk semakin mendekati sungai Siak. Hingga akhirnya aku
bertanya kepada seorang polisi lalu lintas untuk menunjukkanku jalan tercepat
menuju jembatan Siak 1.
Kabarnya sungai Siak ini memiliki 4 jembatan yang menjadi landmark Pekanbaru. Setelah bermandi keringat akhirnya Aku tiba di tepian sungai Siak. Tepat di bawah jembatan Siak 1
Terkenal dengan sebutan jembatan Leighton yang dibangun oleh PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
Tak sabar
untuk melihat bentangan sungai dengan keindahan arsitektur seluruh jembatan
yang dibangun diatas sungai legendaris ini, Aku segera bergegas menuju keatas
jembatan Siak 1.
Aku tepat di tengah jalur pejalan kaki jembatan Siak 1 yang sudah berumur 42 tahun….ngilu dengkul euy.
Begitu di atas jembatan, Aku bisa menikmati lebarnya sungai dengan lebih leluasa….pantesan kapal tanker bisa masuk.
Memandang jauh ke depan, terlihat bentangan jembatan yang lain. Lengkungan kuning yang menjadi ciri khas jembatan Siak 3 dan konstruksi jembatan Siak 4 yang saat itu belum jadi tapi sudah menampakkan bentuk (Membaca surat kabar, jembatan ini sudah diremikan Februari lalu).
Itulah jembatan Siak 3 dan di kejauhan itu adalah tiang jembatan siak 4
Tak mau meninggalkan begitu saja sungai Siak, Aku berusaha untuk menemukan aktivitas warga di sekitarnya. Perlahan Aku melangkah menuju jembatan Siak 3. Melewati salah satu sisi sungai, Aku menjumpai tenda-tenda kuliner yang belum buka sebagian.
Warung kuliner di sepanjang sungai Siak.
Kemudian Aku terduduk di sebuah taman untuk berteduh dari panasnya matahari sekaligus melihat aktivitas warga Pekanbaru. Kuperhatikan satu pasangan muda yang asyik bermain di taman dengan anak pertamanya. Aku juga tekun melihat beberapa warga menjaring ikan di bawah jembatan Siak 1. Terkadang hilir mudik kapal patroli Kepolisian Air Polda Riau mengalihkan perhatianku yang sedang khusu’melihat aktivitas-aktivitas itu.
Taman di tepian sungai, dekat dengan jembatan Siak 1
15 menit kemudian Aku kembali menyusuri tepian sungai hingga tiba tepat di bawah Jembatan Siak 3. Jembatan warna kuning yang terlihat lebih artistik.
Area bawah jembatan yang sangat terawat dengan adanya taman yang lebih luas dan dibawah sisi jembatan yang lain juga terdapat destinasi wisata “Rumah Tuan Kadi”.
Riverside park tepat dibawah jembatan Siak 3
Rumah Tuan Kadi
Dan diseberang sungai terlihat jelas markas Polisi Air dengan aktivitas di dalam kapal patroli yang begitu sibuk.
Markas Kepolisian Air Polda Riau
Setelah merasa cukup puas menyambangi sungai Siak dan kulihat waktu sudah menunjukkan jam 11:15, akhirnya Aku meninggalkan sungai ini untuk menemukan destinasi lain di Pekanbaru.
“Donny, I
wonder, How do you travel so much?? Working in office makes me travel less
since I have to ask for permission. How about you?”
The question which arose in my WordPress App when I stuck in traffic jam on highway.…yesss.…Wulan “the cute” was a little curious why I can travel to many countries (yess….on January 2020, I has visited 25 countries).
Solo-traveling like marijuana.…but that’s for me, I don’t know how about you guys?.… If in three months I don’t travel, it will definitely make me “fall in depression (hahaha)”.… if depressed, I will usually stuck at corner of my desk.
Then definitely I will open my laptop and look for LCC (Low Cost Carrier) webs from various countries for cheap ticket.… that is a impact of my other strange habit….i.e I usually collect many airline tickets …. yes, I have tried 28 airlines during traveling as a backpacker.
Southeast Asia, East Asia and South Asia have been visited, next destination is Middle East….”You must go to Mecca” my mom said … “calm down,mom. I have a hajj ticket which is countdown in 9 years.… I hope I can “umrah” while waiting for Haj”, I answered.
Uppsss….Sorry, Wulan … I didn’t yet answer your question.
So these are why I can go to many countries:
I have big intention to explore 100 countries.
Intention is like fuel. No intention means no action. If there is no action, I will be stuck forever in Jakarta.
My intention is visiting 100 countries in my life. It is meaning that I will set my foot in 60% from all country on earth.
Do Anyone want to join with me?
2. Just being a crazy backpacker.
Even my friends called me “Crazy Backpacker”.…look it:
Yes….
I’m crazy….I always buy my ticket without thinking.…the important thing is cheap and headed for a new destination.
I’m crazy …. Every time I meet friends, I’m always provoking them to join in my trip.
Putri, Anggi and Dini (they are friends in my office) always refuse if I invited them to traveling.
I’m crazy.…I often dream about traveling.
I’m crazy…. Every I receive my salary.…I murmured, “Which destination will I visit?”
I’m crazy….When entering Korea, I almost deported because only bring USD 100 without a credit card in exploring Busan and Seoul for 6 days.
I’m crazy.…I almost got freezed to die in India because I was at station and get train with open windows at 4 Celcius degrees for 12 hours because my train which its cheap ticket about USD 2,3 from Agra to New Delhi was delayed
The point is employee with minimum income like me must be a little “crazy” to travel around the world. If your salary is good, you can stay in 5 stars hotels when traveling.
It’s easy concept……
3. No day without itinerary
Even I have made cheapest itinerary for my next 2 years trip.…crazy.
it isn’t easy to make an itinerary for the next 2 years
Good planning will help you to make cheapest trips.
4. Mark your time! You will know when you can travel
Make long weeked holiday list and note your leave time from a previous year. Flipping through a desk calendar has become my bad habit. Even though all long weekend holidays have been marked, I afraid if miss some holiday in calender
5. Visiting countries in similar region at a time.
The ideal way in planning a trip is visiting several countries in similar region at a same time. Why? Yes, because they are close together, they can be visited in one trip. For example, last year I visited Dhaka (Bangladesh), Mumbai (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Maldives.
6. Connecting flight can save my money
If I booked many connection flight…It’s mean I don’t have a lot of money. Connection flight in this article mean travel through a lot of countries before reaching the main destination.
Direct flight are usually expensive … because of it….finally I also known as “connecting backpacker” by all of my friends.
For example: Next.…before arriving in Dubai, I will visit first to Kuala Trengganu and Kuantan (Malaysia) then to Kochi (India).…tired, but challenging.
Do you want to join?….hahaha
Do you ever go to Kochi, India?
7. Surely, saving your money….
I can save USD 300 in a year from my daily meals budget. This just one of many way that I do:
well.…start from bring self lunch menu and eat it in city park when I work
And this USD 300 can pay for cost of meals, hotels and venues for travel twice. Just imagine !, except tickets, I only spent USD 200 to visit to Penang, Ipoh, Dhaka, Mumbai, Colombo and Maldives for 15 days… how can I do?
Watch out, don’t follow it … you can get sick….hahaha
8. Traveling every second which you have.…this is the concept of travelingpersecond.com
I usually use every bit of time for exploration. after meet my clients and before back to office, I usually take 30 minutes to visit a museum. So all my office-friends called me “The King of Museum”. How come, all museums in Jakarta have been visited by me, until I was confused about which next destination can be visit.
This is a example …. after meet customer, I can stop by at “Tebing Keraton”, Bandung
9. Extending my time when get duty in other town.
Getting duty to other city on Friday until Saturday are fun because I can extend on Sunday.
extend to Nusa Kambangan while on assignment to Cilacap
going to the “Watugong Pagoda” when extending after on assignments to Semarang.…and get bonus to meet ex-college friend
10. Traveling during office events, of course
When Marketing Conference event or Year End Party one in my company agendas can be changed to be semi-traveling by me.
visit “Borobudur temple” in third time because of Year End Party event“Triwindu Market” in Marketing Conference to Solo
11. Pursue a bonus trip from my company
The marketing division in several companies provides bonus trips …
Well, I will work hard to get it….No say to failed.…
The important thing is I can travel for free and don’t reduce my leave. My leave can be took for other trip.
“Lengkuas Island Lighthouse” when got bonus trip to Belitung
8th Singapore trip because of achieving the target
Big Buddha in Phuket … Free again
Lots of other tips that aren’t enough to mention here guys … be patient, yess…
Hopefully I will finish my first book soon……
So, those are all of my behavior in traveling
Let’s traveling, guys.…traveling don’t have to be expensive … yes, right.
Perjalananku kembali dari Fo Guang Shan berakhir di Kaohsiung Main Station dan disambut dengan gerimis kecil yang mulai turun.
Waktuku mulai dihitung mundur 2 jam dari saat itu karena destinasi berikutnya akan ditutup tepat pukul 5 sore.
Kukeluarkan
KPP Taiwan Pass yang kudapatkan di Kaohsiung International Airport MRT Station
sehari sebelumnya. Aku segera bergerak menuju Ecological District Station.
KPP Pass adalah kartu pass berbasis cloud yg digunakan didaerah Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Penghu (Tiga kota besar di selatan Taiwan)
Menemukan halte dan menunggu bus bernomor R35A untuk mendapatkan akses menuju Lotus Lake menjadi tahapan berikutnya. Kulambaikan tangan ketika bus itu berjalan lumayan kencang di Bo’ai 3rd Road menuju kearahku. Mungkin si sopir mengira di halte tak ada penumpang. Menepi dengan gesit, akhirnya bus berhenti sedikit melewatiku.
Ternyata
sopir itu perempuan, menanyakan tujuanku dalam bahasa Taiwan membuatku menjadi
speechless.
Aku:
“Dragon-Tiger Pagodas, Mam”
Doi: geleng-geleng kepala, matanya terpejam dan sembari mengangkat tangah pertanda menyerah tak mengerti dengan ucapanku.
Aku:
“hahahaha…….”
Doi : terlihat sedikit sebal ketika Aku tertawa.
Aku :
“Wait….wait”
Kukeluarkan smartphone, kucari gambar pagoda yang kumaksud dan kutunjukkan ke doi.
Doi : “Sedikit teriak girang…..ya…ya..ya…sambil mengacungkan jempol.
Setelah membayar TWD 15 (Rp. 6.000) dengan memasukkan koinku ke fare box, Aku berdiri di belakang.
Hanya perlu waktu 10 menit untuk sampai di Lotus Lake dan akhirnya pagoda kembar itu terlihat dengan jelasnya.
Kaohsiung bear seperti yang ada dalam gambar KKP Taiwan Pass ku
Panda adalah hewan ikonik di Taiwan, jadi Kamu akan sering menemui profilnya di tempat-tempat umum. Aku menemukannya di pagoda ini.
Jika Kamu mau
membeli kenang-kenangan masuklah ke bangunan itu:
Visitor Souvenir Center
Memasuki area pagoda, terlihat sangat jelas si Naga dan Si Harimau:
Katanya Aku
harus masuk dari mulut Naga dan keluar dari mulut Harimau….biar lucky.
Pagoda tujuh lantai berwarna kuning dan berpilar merah ini memang memancarkan aura kekhusyukan tersendiri di tengah luasnya Lotus Lake.
Lotus Lake sejauh mata memandang.
Diseberang
depan Pagoda berdiri megah Istana Tzu Chi
Jam 16:45
Aku meninggalkan Lotus Lake untuk mencari makan malam di Kaisyuan Night Market.
Disinilah kebingungan dimulai, Aku tak tahu harus naik bus nomor berapa dan menuju kemana. Zaman itu, Aku keliling hanya bermodalkan peta dan kompas, paling anti menggunakan google maps. Apalagi kalau tidak untuk berhemat. Jadi selama tak mendapatkan WiFi, maka keberadaanku di sebuah negara tak akan terdeteksi…..Keren kan kaya agen CIA.
Jika sudah bingung begitu, Aku biasanya akan sembarang naik bus kota….kemanapun. Lalu akan berhenti di dekat spot-spot terkenal yang sudah kupelajari sebelum berangkat ke negara itu. Nah kebetulan Aku naik bus secara acak sore itu dan dalam kebingungan akhirnya Aku melihat Kaohsiung Arena (stadion sepakbola terbesar di Kaohsiung). Aku pun berhenti di halte terdekat dan entah waktu itu memang gratis atau sopir yang tidak tahu, Aku tak pernah menempelkan KPP pass-ku di automatic fare machine.
Nah didekat stadium ini terdapat Stasiun MRT Kaohsiung Arena.
Dari stasiun inilah akhirnya Aku berhasil menemukan Kaisyuan Night Market.
Finding information about tourist attractions in Ipoh through internet is very much and easy.
But via googling, I have never found a sure way towards Ipoh downtown from their main land-gate i.e Amanjaya Bus Terminal … that’s the point. That’s why, I feel the need to write this article and hopefully backpackers like me out there can find this article later on Google.
But I know that the hotel where I stay is located about 1 km east from a small bus terminal called Medan Kidd Bus Terminal, then I can walk from iterminal to Abby by the River Hotel for 15 minutes.
Finding a taxi is certainly very easy, just need to whistle a little then taxi will come to you. Because taxi isn’t in my backpacker dictionary, without adequate information, I had to found the city bus until I got it.
Worries was surely in me….worried about scams or worry if I couldn’t arrive on time at the hotel… but the show must go on … this is the thrilled if You do solo-traveling with minimal information .
“Perak Transit” bus which departed from Penang Sentral dropped me off on first floor of the Amanjaya Bus Terminal.
Bus platform at Amanjaya Terminal
I immediately entered the intercity bus arrival hall. The seat lines which passengers waited for their bus became first view that I saw there.
Arrival as well as Departure Hall at Amanjaya Terminal
I deliberately allocated about 30 minutes to explore the whole of Amanjaya Terminal.
Of course, I had to found information about city bus towards Ipoh downtown. Luckily I found the Amanjaya Bus Terminal information center on 1st floor, precisely in terminal lobby.
Amanjaya Terminal Information Center
According to a female officer at this information center, city bus to Medan Kidd Terminal was located on 2nd floor and numbered T30a.
Didn’t want to long waiting because I was worried about being late, I immediately used escalator to get the closest bus departure time.
2nd Floor Amanjaya Terminal
And finally I found the bus shelter
And this is a bus route from Amanjaya Terminal to several destinations in Ipoh:
List of bus routes in Ipoh
Whereas this is schedule of Bus No T30a from Amanjaya Terminal to Medan Kidd Terminal:
Bus no T30a departure schedule
My trip to downtown began by getting in MyBas T30a
Bus T30a
Bus T30a interior
Paid for USD 0,9 when entering front door, I was greeted with familiar smile by Indian driver.
There is something different about this MyBas service. When I am using buses in Kuala Lumpur and Penang (Rapid KL and Rapid Penang), if you pay more than fare, the change money willn’t be refunded. But when I use MyBas, which is operated by Perak Transit, I pay 5 Malaysian Ringgit (USD 1,3) then driver gives me the change money about 1.5 Malaysian Ringgi (USD 0,4)…. Fair and Good.
Indian songs accompanied my journey that afternoon. The bus briefly stopped to refuel near to Terminal Amanjaya.
During the trip I diligently paid attention to a Chinese female solo-traveler descent who always pay attention to her google maps. Surely he also has lacks information like me.…hehehe.
Gas station near Amanjaya Terminal
Here are some views during my trip to downtown:
New shopping complex in Ipoh shows that this city is developing
Hills are very close around the city.
In 40 minutes, MyBas finally arrived at Medan Kidd Terminal
Bus platform at Medan Kidd Terminal
I didn’t wait long at Medan Kidd terminal because I had to immediately go to Hotel for check in then get around the city.
I noticed again this female solo-traveler who looked confuse at terminal. I took a time to ask where was he going, but She said that She would go to downtown by a taxi. I offered myself to walk together but it seems like She didn’t believe.…haha. A look like me really seems suspicious….wkwkwk. Well the important thing is that I have tried to offer kindness.
I decided to immediately walk along Ipoh’s pedestrian walkway.
Walk down this road to Abby by the River Hotel
I had to stop several times because of light rain pouring down Ipoh at that time. And finally in 30 minutes I arrived at Abby by the River Hotel.
Abby by the River Hotel lobby
Checked-in, paid, put my backpack in the room … then I explored around downtown until evening. Finally I can cross out one destination in my bucket list.
travelingpersecond.com 