• Tak dipungkiri hatiku mulai berdebar ketika “Wanita Melayu” itu menutup pasporku. “Follow our staff to Office”, yup random checking. Kebiasaanku ketika memasuki imigrasi Singapura adalah selalu memilih jalur antrian yang dihandle oleh petugas keturunan Melayu. Aku merasa nyaman saja. Tetapi kali ini faktanya berbeda….hehehe

    Memasuki jalur khusus, Aku diarahkan ke lantai 2 Imigrasi Woodlands. Aku harus berdiri di luar ruangan karena penuhnya pemeriksaan hingga lelaki keturunan India itu memberikan isyarat untuk masuk kedalam tapi tetap berdiri.

    Waktu itu Aku sengaja memasuki Johor Bahru melalui Imigrasi Tuas dan meninggalkannya melalui Imigrasi Woodlands. Dengan begitu Aku bisa merasakan perbedaan kedua pos imigrasi itu.

    Peta Tuas dan Woodlands

    Sebetulnya Aku tidak setakut yang dibayangkan karena Aku pernah mengalami hal yang lebih parah di Imigrasi Busan (Lihat tulisanku: Ketatnya Imigrasi Busan). Opsir perempuan hanya menanyaiku : tiket pesawat pulang, menginap dimana, kerja dimana, jalan sama siapa, dan kerja dimana (untuk hal ini aku sengaja siapkan business card dan KTP). Setelah itu Aku diminta menunggu dan dipanggil kembali oleh opsir lain yang lebih muda, Dia hanya menanyakan bawa uang berapa. Karena uang yang kubawa difikirnya cukup barulah aku dipanggil ke opsir lain untuk pengambilan sidik jari dan stempel paspor.

    Paspor kemudian diletakkan di rak paspor kecil, ternyata 5 menit kemudian ada polisi muda datang dan hanya mengambil 10 paspor saja dari rak itu lalu menyebut nama-nama pemilik paspor, Aku salah satunya. Dibawalah Aku bersama 9 turis lain menuju lift. Ternyata lift memang hanya cukup untuk 10 orang, aku baru ngeh kenapa polisi muda itu Cuma panggil 10 nama.

    Selepas turun dari lift Aku segera menunggu bus Causeway link 2 (CW2) untuk memasuki Singapura. Bus CW2 yang membawaku masuk Woodlands Immigration dari Johor Baru tentu sudah ngacir duluan karena ga mungkin menunggu Aku diperiksa. Tapi Aku tak perlu khawatir karena bebas naik CW2 manapun untuk menuju tujuan akhir di Queen Street, Bugis.

    IMG_20170708_081815
    “Si Zanky” sumringah memasuki Singapura

    Melihat kedua perbatasan, terlihat bahwa perbatasan Tuas sedikit lebih longgar dan tidak crowded. Ketika Aku melintas keluar menuju Johor Bahru sehari sebelumnya terlihat jelas banyak orang memasuki Singapore dengan cepat tanpa antrian. Pun menurut driver bus JPO2 (jurusan Mall of Medini-Johor Premium Outlet), kalau mau mudah dan cepat memasuki Singapore disarankan melalui Tuas Checkpoint.

    suasana tuas checkpoint

    Suasana Tuas Checkpoint

    Buat Kamu yang berniat mencoba kedua checkpoint itu maka bersiaplah memperkaya pengalaman traveling Kamu dan nikmati saja setiap proses yang akan terjadi. Apabila mendapat random checking maka hadapi dengan tenang dan tentu Kamu akan semakin mahir menghadapi setiap masalah ketika berada di negeri orang.

     

     

  • I saw Shekou Port Station’s gate at the front. It wasn’t clearly visible because it was directly heading to underground.

    My Friend “The Fat” suddenly stopped my step to down the escalator after he called me to waited for him to bought something. Somehow the transaction happened, I only saw the Moslem trader gave code  an index finger and I saw “The Fat”  was carrying a hundred yuan. Ohhh … I thought he just buy a hundred Yuan.

    OK … I just waited. Another trader came to helped him cutted the peanut and cashew nut cake then putted it on a small scales…. “a kilo”, I thought.

    #patforehead …. “What is this, Don?”, “The Fat” felt sad and wanted me paid a half …. I asked him to paid all….it was no funny. “The Fat” often made unnecessary problems”.

    Business Hotel 1

    Apparently he must pay 400 Yuan for it….Crazy. Drama on Shekou Port toilet had continued to “the most expensive cake in the world” drama. A kilo of cake for IDR 800,000

    OK….What was the next drama?

    After the incident, I immediately rushed to the platform for going to Fumin Station. I would put my backpack in Shenzen FOMO Hostel.

    business hotel2

    Situation in Shenzhen Metro

    Arriving at Fumin Station, I confidently walked along Jintian Road, I only needed to read a simple map. Turn right from exit gate, passed 2-junction then turn left at third-junction.

    I couldn’t wait to checked-in in the tent room on rooftop Shenzen FOMO Hostel. Couldn’t wait for the night to enjoyed sky in Shenzhen by sleeping in a tent.

    The final destination of a map that I brought was an apartment which was guarded by a fat security who only could speak Chinese language. I showed him the booking form … then he tried to explained as much as possible with sign language while speaking chinese language … yes, I still failed to understood … haha.

    Then, a senior high school girl came, the security guard called her and told her to talked to me….Finally, he could speak english….”shutdown … shutdown”…. the security guard crossed his arms on his chest….owhh….the hotel was closed….closed because of bankrupt….OK, third drama had happened … the last one was really shocking.

    I tried still relax before do next plan….finally, I stopped by at Mc Donald’s for lunch. Shelter bus was the best place to take a break whenever fatigued to brought a backpack on my back.

    IMG-20160108-WA0078

    Statue of Philosopher Zhuangzi in front of MC Donald’s

    After lunch, I decided to went to Dongmen “backpacker area in Shenzhen” to looked for impromptu cheap hotel there.business hotel5Shopping complex situation in Dongmen

    Arriving at Laojie Station “The Boss” looked for Local Sim Card. He wanted to called “Anggi” in Jakarta to booked a dormitory for us. While waiting for “The Boss”, I tried to sat on stairs in front of the shop. I approached a local girl who sat for waited someone.

    “Do you know a hostel for backpackers near here?” … he took out his handphone from his bag….I thought she was understood.

    But….evidently She gave me a English-Chinese translator application in her phone. Hahahahah ….So We finally talked via handphone. Every english question that I typed, she would read it in the Chinese column….so funny.

    The conversation gave a conclusion for me to went to the end of a junction and there was a cheap hotel that had triple rooms.

    Finally we stranded at Xin Chao Business Hotel. Only 300 Yuan for 3 person was required to enjoyed this business class hotel. It was OK for forgetting the sadness of 3 dramas all day in Shenzen.

    business hotel3

    Situation in front and in the room of Xin Chao Business Hotel

    business hotel4

    This is unique … Basement was marked with number -1 in elevator, a free snack was Sumedang (Indonesia) product….and unusual for me as Indonesian…hotel provided condoms in a desk….haha

    At that night, I went to the fountain and light show on a cruise ship which was changed to a hotel and restaurant….and there was a fourth drama there.

    Drama that always challenged me to travel anywhere …

     

  • Oversleep….

    “The Boss” hadn’t yet came from upstairs, even though we made appointment at 8 am to checked out and met at Villa Ka Meng lobby.

    Huft… … evidently he didn’t wake up yet, my message didn’t read by him. I realized it because I bring him to enjoy Macao by walk all day a day before.

    That means … my exploration time in Shenzhen would be reduced. I think Okay… how come later.
    Too far….

    I should focus on running text on dashboard. I was hesitant to pressed a button on bus pole as a signal for the driver to stopped the bus at Taipa Ferry Terminal.

    I thought bus would stop at every shelter…. but it wasn’t. So…. I got off at the next stop and continued by walk to ferry terminal.
    Scolded….

    There wasn’t sign along avenue….I was sorry Sir & gentlemen, I stepped on new sidewalk that you made … it wasn’t ready to be stepped on.

    Because of it….I understood when you shouted hard while lifting a shovel.

    I just tried to apologized on my way … after leaving the area about 100 meters, I looked back … Curious if my steps before would make problem on pedestrian walk way.

    Grateful, they seemed normal as a sign that it hadn’t significant problem.

    I arrived at ferry terminal around 9:10 and this was the situation:

    Macao Sekhou 1

    Took a queue immediately and observed surrounding activities. It wasn’t busy yet as I imagined. Queuing behind Korean families who were busy their gadgets, I finally got a ferry ticket 19 minutes later.

    Macao Sekhou 3

    Queued for 20 minutes to got into ferry through that blue door. The officer gave me a name tag at that blue door and another officer would take back at the ferry entrance.

    Macao Sekhou 2

    During sail, a beautiful crew walked around to give a cup of mineral water. I tried to be patient to anchor in Shenzhen … Curious how is Shenzen ?

    My attention was focused on three young women on front left. During sailing, they were busy to polished their face with cosmetics. And indeed after arrived, they liked artist who be cynosure.

    Arriving at She Kou Ferry Terminal, I filled an arrival form in an open corridor between ferry and immigration counter.

    9 degrees Celsius weather was pierced my bones … Ocean waves made me difficult to filled a form while sailing.

    “Helooo … Do you have a visa?” a slim officer called me.

    Oops … Just me who haven’t entered yet to immigration counter… the counter has empty…..better I ran to counter and complete a form in front of her.

    Macao Sekhou 4

    Finished … She was kind and helpfull… smiling when he asked to me.
    Dying for a pee….

    Looked around for a toilet at Immigration office. Finally I saw it at the corner.

    A while after I entered in toilet … It has been changed to HORROR. “A little cursing in the heart” when I found faeces didn’t flush in the closet …. I thought it didn’t hard for just push the button.

    So I canceled to pie there….

    I left the room and looked for Shenzhen Metro station. Because I actually confused to found it. So I approached young officer. I spoke English and he just stared at me. Yess … He finally failed to understand.

    For effective communicate with him… I opened my handphone … show their train picture. Finally, his hand immediately pointed to an underground gate at the end of She Kou Ferry Terminal courtyard.

    Okay, Let’s went to Hotel, bro….Oh I was sorry, my mind was hostel.

    Were we finding the hostel later?

    NO NO NO … the Shenzen Fomo Hostel that I booked was already closed…
    How was I looking for an impromptu cheap hostel? … I will tell it later … hihihi

  • I’ll tell you about 8 hours of exploring Ho Chi Minh sometime. City with 4 million motorcycles and hot weather, also keeps many histories of Vietcong soldiers battle with their underground tunnels.

    But for a moment I will tell you how my heart was pounding before flying with Viet Jet. Why?

    Yes … At that time, Viet Jet became famous because often demonstrate flight safety procedure by flight attendant in bikini (unusual thing for Indonesian like me). But evidently when I waited for it after all passengers on board, the show didn’t happen that night … Passengers were disappointed …hahaha

    Several hours before…..

    Came back from Cu Chi Tunnel … At 6:27 a.m, I started to bargain a taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport … For your information, Vietnam’s taxis prefer to price bargaining  than using a taximeter. Therefore, if you don’t want to over budget when you travel there, You must dare to bargain for taxi price there.

    Finally, I got deal for 30,000 Vietnam Dong (VND), Taxi drove me and friends to airport in 25 minutes. We were dropped off in front of departure hall.

    Tan Son Nhat Entrance Gate

    Departure gate

    I arrived in18:48 and my boarding time was 22:00. It was better to got out from airport for looked for cheap dinner outside.

    I crossed the Truong Son Road quickly because the “red sign” on traffic light was briefly lit. I thought everything was OK, but actually my friend “The Fat” was defending his sling bag form 2 motorized pickpockets about 15 metres behind me … I knew that his sling bag contained a passport and VND. Luckily two pickpockets gave up and released the bag.

    Restaurant near Tan Son Nhat

    Restaurant owner

    Back to airport and waiting for checked-in. I saw some passengers was arguing loudly with ground staff … either of missed or delayed ….

    Departure Hall Tan Son Nhat

    Departure Hall and crowded passengers in front of me.

    After checked-in, I stepped to ticket inspection section. Local passengers showed ticket and ID card while tourists show ticket and passport. The inspector closely looked my face when matching my face to my photo in passport. Worried … but just relax, most importantly I followed the procedure.

    Entering Gate 16, I waited for Viet Jet plane arrived. Nothing to did, I just idly counted local passengers and observed Vietnamese behavior. Even my friends talked about beautiful Vietnamese who was sitting in front of us…She seemed to understood what we talked about until She smiled at us …

    Anggi and Boarding Gate

    Anggi in Gate..sstt…She is still single !!!

    Backpack and Ticket

    Travel around Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam with such small bags

    Exactly I started to boarding at 22:00. I saw some unusual behavior. Rear passenger legs appear between my seats, some of them still using WhatsApp when air crew gave order to turn off all electronic device, and also some legs got up on the seat when take-off … Funny

    I thought the pilot was europeans like I saw on airline website but actually they were both local pilots.

    Grateful, my 2 hour flight was smooth without turbulence and landed well at Noi Bai

     

    Viet Jet at Noi Bai

    Drizzle and felt cold when got off the plane

    I chose night flight so I could sleep at Noi Bai International Airport until morning … I could save lodging budget. My experience of sleeping there, I will tell you later … The fact, Noi Bai was the best protection that night from outside temperature about 8 degrees Celsius.

    Thanks Viet Jet and Noi Bai …

     

  • Pintu masuk Shekou Port Station terlihat didepan padangan. Pantas tak terlihat kentara karena gate langsung menuju ke bawah tanah.

    “Si Gendut” tiba-tiba menghentikan langkahku menuruni escalator setelah berseru kecil untuk menunggunya membeli sesuatu. Entah bagaimana transaksi tadi terjadi, aku hanya melihat pedagang muslim itu memberi kode satu jari telunjuk dan kulihat “Si Gendut” membawa selembar seratus Yuan. Ohhh…..Hanya beli seratus Yuan.

    OK lah…..kutunggu aja. Pedagang lain datang membantu si Bapak memotong kue kacang dan metenya kemudian menaruhnya di timbangan tangan kecil….”sekilo”, aku membatin.

    #tepokjidatgelenggeleng….”Gimana ini, Don?”, Si Gendut terasa sedih dan memelas minta sumbangan ke guweh…..Kuminta dia bayar aja….terlanjurrrrr, rada sebel juga nih “Si Gendut kadang bikin masalah yang tak perlu”.

    Business Hotel 1

    Ternyata dia harus merelakan 400 Yuannya demi sekilo kue begituan…..hadeuh. Setelah drama di toilet Shekou Port…berlanjut ke drama kue termahal didunia. Masa iya kue sekilo harganya Rp. 800.000

    OK….ayo drama lagi yang akan datang.

    Pasca kejadian itu, Saya bergegas menuju ke platform untuk segera menuju Fumin Station demi menaruh backpack di Shenzen FOMO Hostel.

    business hotel2

    Suasana didalam Shenzen Metro

    Sampai di Fumin Station, Aku menyusuri Jintian Road penuh percaya diri karena aku hanya perlu membaca peta sederhana. Lurus ke kanan stasiun, lewati 2 pertigaan lalu belok kiri.

    Aku ga sabar segera check-in di kamar tenda di rooftopnya  Shenzen FOMO Hostel. Ga sabar menuju malam untuk menikmati langit di Shenzen dengan tidur di dalam tenda.

    Spot tujuan dari peta yang kubawa ternyata mengantarkanku pada gerbang apartemen yang dijaga satu security tambun yang hanya bisa berbahasa mandarin. Kutunjukkan booking form….lalu dia berusaha menjelaskan sekuat tenaga dengan bahasa isyarat sambal bibirnya berbicara mandarin…..yesss, aku tetap gagal faham…..hadeuh.

    Datanglah gadis SMA mau masuk gerbang apartemen, si satpam memanggilnya dan suruh ngomong ama guweh…..”shutdown…shutdown” (siapa yang nyalain komputer yaks)….si satpam menyilangkan tangannya di dada…..owh….hotelnya closed…..closed bubar yaaa bukan tutup jam kerja. OK drama ketiga terjadi….yang terakhir ini menohok banget.

    Tenangkan diri dulu sebelum bertindak selanjutnya…..mampirlah diriku di Mc Donald’s untuk lunch siang itu. Halte bus menjadi tempat terbaik untuk rehat setiap kali kelelahan membawa backpack yang semakin berat di punggung.

    IMG-20160108-WA0078

    Patung Filsuf Zhuangzi di depan MC Donald’s

    Setelah lunch, kuputuskan untuk pergi ke Dongmen “area backpacker di Shenzen” untuk mencari hotel dadakan yang murah tentunya.

     

    business hotel5Suasana pertokoan di Dongmen

    Setiba di Laojie Station “Si Boss” gatel juga untuk cari Local Sim Card supaya bisa minta bantuan “Si Anggi” di Jakarta cariin dormitory buat kita. Sembari nunggu “Si Boss” beli Sim Card dan telpon sana sini, Aku coba duduk di tangga depan pertokoan. Kudekati cewek lokal yang entah duduk nunggu siapa.

    Do you know a hostel for backpacker near here?“…..dia keluarkan handphone dari tasnya…..Asyik keknya ngerti nih cewek….Dapat hotel kita.

    Lahhh…..ternyata dia sodorin aplikasi English-Mandarin Translator. Hahahahah….Jadi kita berdua akhirnya ngobrol via handphone. Setiap pertanyaan kuketik di kolom english dan dia akan membacanya di kolom mandarin….Lucu euyyy.

    Perbincangan itu membuahkan petunjuk bagiku untuk pergi ke ujung pertigaan dan ada hotel murah yang punya kamar triple.

    Akhirnya terdamparlah kita di Xin Chao Business Hotel. Hanya perlu patungan 100 Yuan per orang untuk menikmati hotel kelas business ini. OK lah…..untuk melupakan kesedihan 3 drama yang kulalui seharian di kota itu.

    business hotel3

    Suasana di depan dan dalam kamar Xin Chao Business Hotel

    business hotel4

    Nah ini unik….basement ditandai dengan nomor -1 di lift, free snack hotel adalah produk Sumedang dan heboh…..disediain kondom cuy…wkwkwk

    Malam itu juga aku pergi menuju pertunjukan air mancur dan cahaya di sebuah kapal pesiar yang dirubah menjadi tempat makan…..dan ada drama keempat disitu.

    Drama yang selalu membuatkan tertantang untuk berkelana kemanapun……

     

  • Kesiangaaaaaan….

    “Si Boss” belum juga turun dari lantai atas , padahal janjian jam 8 pagi buat check out dan ketemu di lobby Villa Ka Meng.

    Hufftt……bahkan ternyata doi belum bangun, WA ku “checklist satu”. Kumaklumi karena kemarin ku ajak muter gila jalan kaki.

    Artinya…..waktu eksplorasiku di Shenzen berkurang. Okee lahh….bagaimana nanti aja.

    Kebablasaaaaaan….

    Harusnya aku fokus pada running text di atas dashboard. Aku ragu memencet tombol di tiang sebagai isyarat buat pak sopir memberhentikan bus di Taipa Ferry Terminal.

    Kufikir berhenti di setiap halte….lah kok malah bablaaaasss. Yo wes….Aku turun di halte berikutnya lanjut jalan kaki ke terminal ferry.

    Diomeliiiiiin….

    Ga ada tanda sama sekali…..Maap ya Bapak-Bapak sekalian, aku menginjak trotoar baru karya kalian….ternyata belum siap diinjak.

    Hadeuuuh….Pantesan kalian teriak kenceng sambil angkat sekop.

    Aku hanya berusaha minta maaf dengan caraku…..setelah 100 meter meninggalkan area itu, aku diem-diem tengok ke belakang….penasaran apakah injakanku menjadi masalah. Bersyukur  mereka sepertinya membiarkan….pertanda tak ada masalah berarti.

    Aku tiba di terminal ferry sekitar jam 9:10 dan begini suasanya

    Macao Sekhou 1

     

    Segera mengambil antrian dan mengamati aktivitas sekitar. Ternyata belum sibuk seperti yang aku bayangkan. Mengantri di belakang keluarga Korea yang “autis” dengan gadget masing-masing, akhirnya aku mendapatkan tiket ferry 19 menit setelahnya.

    Macao Sekhou 3

    Perlu mengantri 20 menit untuk masuk ferry melewati pintu biru itu. Petugas mengalungiku name tag yang akan diambil kembali oleh petugas lain di pintu masuk ferry.

     

    Macao Sekhou 2

    Selama berlayar petugas cantik itu berkeliling memberikan secangkir air mineral. Aku berusaha bersabar untuk berlabuh di Shenzen…..Kepo nih “Kayak apa sih Shenzeeeennn???

    Perhatianku tertuju pada tiga perempuan muda di kiri depan. Selama berlayar terlihat asyik memoles wajahnya dengan kosmestik. Dan memang beberapa saat setelah tiba mereka bak artis yang menjadi pusat perhatian….alamaaakkkk

    CIMG2189

    Tiba di She Kou Ferry Terminal, aku mengisi arrival form di koridor terbuka antara tempat bersandar ferry dan konter imigrasi Tiongkok.

    Udara 9 derajat kelamaan menusuk tulang….Ini gegara ferry ajrug-ajrugan dan membuatku susah mengisi form.

    Helooo….Do you have a visa?” “Si Langsing” memanggilku.

    Waduh….Tinggal Kita yang belum masuk ke imigrasi…konter udah kosong melompong …..daripada dikira “pekerja illegal yang sedang membuat konspirasi“…mending lari kecil ke konter dan melengkapi kolom isian di depan “Si Langsing”.

    Macao Sekhou 4

    Beresssss….ternyata doi baik banget….senyam-senyum ketika bertanya…kirain judes…..hihihi.

    Kebelet Pipiiiiiiss….

    Celingukan cari toilet di kantor Imigrasi. Yesss….Dapet.

    Wee laa dalah….Sumringah berubah jadi HOROR. Aku benar-benar membuktikan “dongeng” tentang joroknya warga Tiongkok Daratan.  “Sedikit mengumpat dalam hati” ketika menemukan kotoran mereka tak disiram mengonggok di kloset….padahal apa susahnya tinggal pencet tombol.

    Ga jadiiiii Pipiiiiisssss……tar simpen ajjjjjjjaaaaaa…..

    Aku keluar ruangan dan mencari dimana Shenzen Metro berada. Karena bingung aku menghampiri pemuda kantoran. cas cis cus Aku ngomong English….doi malah bengong menatapku. Yess…akhirnya doi gagal paham.

    Gini aja deh…..buka HP….tunjukin gambar train mereka. Nahhhh kan enak…..langsung tangannya nunjuk ke sebuah lubah bawah tanah di ujung pelataran She Kou Ferry Terminal.

    Ke Hotel Kita bro……..eh Hostel dink

    Apa iya kita menemukan tuh Hostel nantinya?

    Kagak mas Bro….Shenzen Fomo Hostel yang ku booking udah bubarrrr….

    Bagaimana kisahku mencari hostel murah dadakan?…..nanti aja ya kuceritain….hihihi

     

     

  • Akan kuceritakan bagaimana 8 jam menjelajah Ho Chi Minh. Kota dengan 4 juta kendaraan bermotor dan cuaca panas serta menyimpan sejarah perjuangan gerilyawan Vietkong dengan terowongan bawah tanahnya.

    Sejenak Aku akan bercerita bagaimana berdebarnya hati menjelang mengudara bersama Viet Jet. Kenapa ya kira-kira?

    Ya….Saat itu Viet Jet lagi heboh-hebohnya memperagakan demo keselamatan penerbangan oleh para pamugari berbikininya. Tapi ternyata peragaan itu tidak terjadi malam itu….Penumpang kecewa….hahaha.

    Sepulang dari Cu Chi Tunnel….Jam 18:27 di sebuah jalan, aku mulai menawar harga taxi menuju Tan Son Nhat Airport….Ya, taxi di sana lebih suka tawar menawar daripada memakai argometer. Karenanya bagi yang ga tega menawar bakalan over budget ya kalau berwisata kesana.

    Deal 30.000 Dong Vietnam (VND), Taxi mengantarkanku dan teman-teman ke airport dalam 25 menit. Diturunkan di depan departure hall.

    Tan Son Nhat Entrance Gate

    departure gate

    Masih jam 18:48, sedangkan boarding timeku jam 22:00. Lebih baik keluar dari bandara untuk mencari yang murah daripada kemahalan dinner di bandara.

    Menyeberang jalan Truong Son dengan cepat karena lampu merah menyala singkat. Kupikir semuanya OK, ternyata temanku “si Gendut” tarik-tarikan tas selempang dengan 2 pencopet bermotor….Aku tahu tas itu berisi paspor dan sejumlah VND. Beruntung kedua pencopet menyerah dan melepaskannya.

    Restaurant near Tan Son Nhat

    pemilik warung makan

    Kembali ke bandara dan duduk lesehan menunggu check-in. Aku melihat beberapa calon penumpang berdebat kencang dengan ground staff….entah ketinggalan atau delay….

    Departure Hall Tan Son Nhat

    Departure Hall berjubel penumpang didepan mataku.

    Selesai check-in masuklah ke bagian pemeriksaan. Penumpang lokal menunjukkan tiket dan ID card sedangkan turis menunjukkan tiket dan paspor. Tentara pemeriksa melihat lekat wajahku sambil mencocokkan dengan foto di paspor. Deg-degan sih….tapi santai saja, terpenting Aku mengikuti prosedur.

    Setelahnya masuk Gate 16 menunggu Viet Jet datang. Sambil menunggu, aktivitas yang bisa kulakukan adalah iseng ngitungin penumpang lokal sembari nglihatin tingkah laku para Vietnamese. Bahkan temanku bicarain si Vietnam cantik yang diduduk didepan bangku….kayaknya dia ngerti sedang dibicarakan, senyam-senyum manis menatap kita….wkwkwk

    Anggi and Boarding Gate

    Si Anggi di Gate..sstt masih single tuh!!!

    Backpack and Ticket

    Keliling Singapore, Kamboja dan Vietnam dengan tas sekecil itu

    Tepat jam 22:00 mulai boarding. Mulailah terlihat sifat asli mereka. Kaki penumpang belakang nongol di sela sela kursiku, pada asik wa-an ketika ada perintah mematikan alat elektronik, dan juga kaki naik ke atas kursi ketika take-off…..asiikkkk, hebat-hebat nih orang….hihihi

    Kukira pilotnya bule seperti yang terpampang di web maskapai tapi ternyata keduanya pilot lokal….agak khawatir….berdoá ajalah.

    Bersyukur, penerbangan 2 jam itu mulus tanpa turbulensi dan mendarat baik di Noi Bai.

    Viet Jet at Noi Bai

    Gerimis dan senyum kedinginan saat turun pesawat

    Aku sengaja terbang malam supaya bisa tidur di Noi Bai International Airport sampai pagi….Biasa hemat budget penginapan. Pengalaman tidur disana kuceritakan nanti saja ya…..Yang jelas Noi Bai lah perlindungan terbaik malam itu dari suhu 8 derajat Celcius di luar.

    Thanks Viet Jet dan Noi Bai…..

  • 5 am….Agga Youth Hotel staff whispers woke me up in dormitory …. He worried if 11 other tourists woke up … hihihi.

    Prepared for 15 minutes without bathing finally I departed to Aung Mingalar bus terminal in the north by taxi. The excellence of Myanmar public transportation (i.e buses and taxis) are using gas fuel. So you will rarely find air pollution on their streets.

    Taxi covered a trip about 24 km in 55 minutes. Because it was still early morning and the first bus would depart on 7:30 am, I finally decided to had a breakfast with omelet fried rice for 1,000 Kyat in terminal with monks, drivers and conductors …. “So I like Burmese now”.

    Gbr 1

    Bus, thanaka and cheap breakfast

    Waiting for 30 minutes inside bus before departing, my attention was on bus conductor, his cheek with thanaka, pacing, chewed betel, occasionally spitting it into a covered small box above dashboard. Looks like he cares about hygiene than other.

    Bus departed on time. Instantly left downtown and began to ride through countryside. Bus often passed to farmer’s tractor on street.

    At 10:10 bus stopped for toilet break in a restaurant. Stopped for 15 minutes and then resumed the trip.

    Gbr 2

    Intercity bus and restaurant along with their local artists.

    On the way, local passengers one by one began to descended, because I didn’t know where I was, finally I asked to bus conductor. To simplify communicated to him, I showed Golden Rock picture in my phone ….. yesss, he immediately gave me a thumb up as OK sign and he understood what I asked to dropped me there.

    11:25 am I was awakened by the conductor …. “arrived,” she said in Myanmar language while pointing to trucks that were carrying people. He told me to rode it… ..I know that Golden Rock was on a hilltop.

    Kinpun Station …. the name of the last bus terminal in this trip. Okay, I started to bought a truck ticket to truck conductor who was shouting eagerly to grabbed passengers.

    “OK just relax”, I thought … Just got in the truck and I would reach the Golden Rock……

     

    Gbr 3

    Rode a truck and paid 3,000 Kyats 

    After truck departed for 10 minutes, all was changed …. tense face, paused mouth, often breathe deeply …. and actually truck ran across through road without barrier on both sides …. I was surrender and many prayed. 

    My panic grew as I knew that one of truck tires was almost bald. I saw it when truck stopped to rest in midway. “for reached hilltop was needed time to rest…so it was long way….Then, how long must I pass this tension?” …. And I must went back to Kinpun Station next afternoon on similar trip….very tense day for me

    Honestly….When I climbed to hilltop, I said in my mind,  I shouldn’t need to went there if I knew that the trip was very horrible.

    After 45 minutes tension, finally I arrived. Fresh air about 16 celsius degree made me relax and forgetting the tension.

    After buying an entrance ticket for 6,000 Kyat and passing a metal detector at entrance gate, I still had to walked through stairs to reached Golden Rock.

    Gbr 4

    Some children who didn’t strongly walk could ride carrying services

    Beautiful Golden Rock ….. a golden-yellow stone that had been in balance for 2,500 years and didn’t fall when it really lie on cliff rim. According the local tale, Buddha hair had blocked this stone so it didn’t fall.

    Scientifically I don’t know the theory ….?

    Gbr 5

    Top Left: Entrance gate into Golden Rock courtyard
    Top right: Golden Rock with Kyaiktiyo pagoda above it
    Bottom right and bottom left: Golden Rock courtyard

    Gbr 6

    After looking around and capturing some pictures finally I decided to went back to downhill because I had to catched bus towards Yangon. The last bus was on 4:30 pm according information from a bus conductor last morning.

    Holding my breath again while rode back a truck to downhill. In midway of trip, my eyes fixed on a project board that said that it was being built a cable car project to Golden Rock …. actually my trip to Myanmar was on 2015, and based on some information that cable car had been operated since December 2017.

    So who wants to go there and ride the Cable Car?
    Sharing for your experience if you have ridden it!

  • Visiting Vientiane was a special gift. How can?, a trip that had got cancellation on 2014 due to my leave letter was refused by my office. And finally I waited for 4 years  to made it really happen.

    Air Asia flight AK 552 landed smoothly at Wattay International Airport on 09:14. Seeing airport area from plane that was taxing to airport parking lot reminded me to Adisumarmo airport (Solo) in last 2004 ….. very small.

    Even Air Asia AK 552 became the one and only international flight that landed in that morning.

    Pic 1

    airport parking lot

    Within 7 minutes after plane stopped perfectly, I got out through aviobridge. I took time to captured some pictures above.

    From aviobridge I turned right into arrival corridor that looked elegant with carpeted floor and minimalist modern style.

    Pic 2

    arrival corridor

    At the end of corridor I turned left to immigration processing hall. The toilet is on left of hall entrance access. There are 14 passport control service counters there. It only took 17 minutes from starting to queue until passport had stamped. Immigration officers spoke english less fluently but quite understandable.

    Pic 3

    passport control service counter

    Out of immigration counter, I was immediately confronted to 2 units of conveyor belt in baggage claim room. Since I didn’t bring checked luggage then I rushed to exit gate into arrival hall.J

    Pic 4

    baggage claim area

    But before I actually got out, I stopped in front of small room to right side of gate. There is an official money changer belonging to BCEL (Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao). This made me easy to immediately exchanged USD to Lao Kip.

    Pic 5

    BCEL money changer

    After that I really got out on arrival hall. There are only two counters in the hall, local SIM card sales counter and Taxi ticket counter. Although I saw an airport bus signage in counter, but airport bus tickets weren’t sold here. It will be paid directly to bus conductor.

    Pic 6

    arrival hall

    Exit from arrival hall, by crossing street you will be directly faced on the car park area. The uniqueness of parking area can see on its roof in the form of solar cell sheets as electricity source for airport lighting. It was cooperation project of Japan and Lao government. I could easily find its cooperation inscription in parking area.

    If you turn right from exit door about 25m, you will find airport bus shelter to downtown.

    Pic 7

    parking area and airport exit

    So … When arriving in Laos, Don’t rush to leave the airport …. Make the airport as one of your destinations.

    Congratulations for landing at “The Little Pretty” Wattay International Airport.

  • Overland trip from Viantiane (Lao) to Siem Reap (Cambodia) was interest thing. 26 hours trip presented an unforgettable experience.

    It was very difficult to hunted an online ticket from Jakarta, it prompted me to immediately bought a ticket when arrived in Funky Monkey Hostel -a hostel that I chose to stayed in Viantiane-. The good news was Funky Monkey Hostel sold it for 420,000 Kip. Although other hostel or travel agents sold it for 400,000 Kip or 410,000 Kip, I preferred to bought in Funky Monkey Hostel because after I checked out on next day, I could use its comfortable lobby to waited for pickup tuk-tuk.

    The ticket consists of 2 pieces:

    Gambar 1

    left: ticket information board to several destinations sold in Funky Monkey Hostel
    upper right: first ticket. Used for sleeper bus trip from Viantiane to Pakse
    bottom right: second ticket. For minivan trip from Pakse to Siem Reap

    The pickup tuk-tuk came late 1 hour from scheduled time on 18:30. Due to traffic jam on Rue Setthalhilath Avenue, the hotel owner finally begged me for walked shortly to caught the pick up tuk-tuk that was stuck in that avenue.

    The tuk-tuk would bring me to the sleeper bus shelter. During trip to the shelter, tuk-tuk stopped 5 times to picked up other tourists in several hostels where they stayed.

    Tuk-tuk arrived in bus shelter within 45 minutes. When tuk-tuk arrived, the bus staff requested a first ticket (yellow) and he would give you a similar replacement one. Because of in a hurry, it only took 5 minutes for passenger boarding into sleeper bus.

    Gambar 2

    top left: pick up tuk-tuk
    top right: “King of Bus’ sleeper bus.
    bottom right: bus interior
    bottom left: I got 600 ml bottle of mineral water on board and one wet wipes upon arrived in Pakse

    At 21:00 bus left its shelter towards Southern Bus Station and arrived within 30 minutes. Bus took all passengers here for last time. Actually I was a bit worried about my backpack that put into baggage compartment because it mixed with many local passenger luggages. My backpack should be able to brought up into cabin for safety. But finally, I was very grateful when arrived in Pakse, my backpack was found easily.

    Here was situations during trip to Pakse:

    Gambar 3

    During trip I didn’t drink too much after knowing the bus toilet couldn’t be used. 

    At 9 am, bus reached Pakse downtown.

    Gambar 4

    top and lower left: views of Pakse downtown
    right: Pakse bus terminal where bus dropped all passengers.

    For tourists who would visit Pakse could continue by walking or rode a tuk-tuk for 10,000 Kip to downtown. Well, I would continue my journey to Siem Reap, I just waited in terminal because in 10 minutes I would be picked up by minivan.

    I was picked up by a dark blue minivan. It would bring me into Ban Nakasong and would be switched with another minivan to Lao-Cambodia border.

    Gambar 5

    The first minivan that departed from Pakse terminal was stopping in a rest area.

    Gambar 6

    1 hour later the minivan dropped off a tourist at Don Khong

    The minivan then dropped me off in Ban Nakasong to exchanged my second ticket (white) with the other one (green) and I switched to 2nd minivan into border.

    Gambar 7

    left: a replacement ticket was earned in Ban Nakasong travel counter.
    right: the 2nd minivan from Ban Nakasong to Lao-Cambodia border.

    At 11:45 I arrived at Lao-Cambodia border. Although Indonesia is a free visa country for Lao, I was asked to paid USD 2 to got the departure stamp.

    Gambar 8

    top left: Lao land border gate
    top right: Lao immigration building
    bottom right: a counter where I got a departure stamp and also as visa payment counter
    bottom left: Cambodia immigration building was seen from Lao immigration building

    After 15 minute immigration process in Lao, I walked to Cambodia border. Their distance is very close.

    Gambar 9

    Cambodia immigration building (Stung Treng Border Crossing Station)

    At Cambodia immigration, I also must pay a quarantine sheet for USD 1 and an arrival stamp for USD 1.

    From Cambodia immigration building, I moved into 3rd minivan that will take tourists to next dropping point as far as 1 hour driving.

    Gambar 10

    3rd minivan

    The 3rd minivan would dropped off  passengers at a dropping point in the form of a restaurant which was also a travel agent. I ate rice with a boiled egg for USD 1.5 here as a lunch. From here I would moved into 4th minivan

    After waiting 45 minutes finally the 4th minivan arrived and this was the last minivan that would bring me to Siem Reap.

    This minivan would stop once in a rest area around 17:11Gambar 11

    a rest area where the 4th minivan took a rest 

    Then minivan would continue its journey to Siem Reap. At 20:50 I finally reached Siem Reap and minivan dropped off all tourists here to switched by tuk-tuk into downtown:Gambar 12

    dropping point in Siem Reap 

    From this dropping point I rode a tuk-tuk, sharing with two other tourists to downtown We had to paid USD 2 per person.

    Gambar 13

    tuk-tuk only took 25 minutes to got to Hangover Hostel where I would stay

    Hopefully  my article can be a simple description for you who will take a similar journey.

    Thanks.