Singapore Tourism

Behind of Air Asia QZ 206 Flight from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur

25 October 201925 November 2019travelingpersecond

Just after returning from expedition to Garut-Tasikmalaya-Sumedang, my fatigue after a week traveling in that three districts didn’t make me tired. Didn’t take a break, I prefer to complete my mission for complete South Asia exploration by visiting the remaining three countries.…Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Air Asia ticket which I bought for USD 25,8 since April 7, 2018 was able to keep my mission and my wallet to continue to travel the world. Yes, I had to caught Malindo Air on Kuala Lumpur-Dhaka route in KLIA.

During waiting period of my departure, many questions arise from work colleagues or other friends outside of work.

“Yeeee, why are you traveling to Bangladesh?. It’s not elite”

“Donny, what do you want to see in Bangladesh?”

“You will go home and sick, Donny”

“Wasting time….Better you go to Ancol (a beach in Jakarta) than go to Bangladesh”.

“Donny, Why does have to go to Bangladesh?”

I answered: “Yes, up to me … it’s my money … It’s my steps“.

Ups, I didn’t answer like that….That’s impolite.

Hahaha …. “Yes, guys, my money is only enough to travel there“….Hahaha….That’s my answer to them.

Other people don’t know about my mind about traveling….more crazy, more better….more weird, more amazing…Hahaha.

—-****—-

As usual…Using DAMRI bus at Kampung Rambutan Terminal. Besides being cheap, it is also close from my home. I prepared USD 2,9 to pay the fare with departure time on 15:00 hours. 1 hour and 15 minutes trip drove me in Terminal 2F, Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Through gate 5, I started entering first X-ray screening. Not so smooth, my backpack which became my only friend was seen flipped by AVSEC (Aviation Security) officer, smeared with wet tissue and then watched closely. No need to worry…. the important thing is no drugs in it….Hahaha. Even if denied entry, it’s calm…. this is still in my city. Just go back to home with DAMRI again….If I denied to boarding.

“Hi Ms, can me get window seat, please!“, My seduction to check-in staff at Air Asia counter. God, She is very pretty and kind, always smile …Hahaha, It’s be her duty to smile to everyone. “Hello, It’s your boarding pass“, She said….I got seat 2D, yes I failed….Hahaha.

Let’s stamped a passport! …. Even though it’s an e-passport, but my habit of stamping a passport make me didn’t care about existace of autogate counter.

Immigration Officer: “Where do you go?“

Me : Just mention in detail one by one of my destination, so he wasn’t be suspicious, “Penang, Dhaka, Colombo, Maldives, sir. Transit in Mumbai and Singapore“. What kind of trip trip is it? … crazy.

Immigration Officer : “Backpacker?”

Me : “Yes sir”

Immigration Officer : He saw my face, checking my new passport and old one. Then….He stamped it, “be careful, sir“.

Me : “thank you, sir….surely I will be careful”.

Immigration Officer : “You are great“.

Yuhuuu…..I’m great like he said

Then I prayed at end of corridor before entering gate. After that, I entered second X-ray screening in front gate D5….Yess, very smooth.

While I was sitting reading near charging station, came a couple of Korean. They tried very hard to use it too.

Me : “Hi, Sir. That’s broken. I had tried many times and failed”.

He : “Oh yea….Why put it here if broken” ostensibly kicking charging station while smiling.

Me : “Do you want go to South Korea?”.

He : “Oh, Nup….I’m from California and will fly from KL”.

Me : “Oh Nice”.

He : “What are you doing here? “.

Me : “My profession, your mean?”.

He : “yeaaa”

Me : “Sales”.

He : “Good money?”

Me : “If not good, I willn’t here to fly with you”.

He : “yea…yea…yea”, nodding while smiling at me.

Looked like his girlfriend was a travel vlogger. Always speak with her confidence….Great. I thought I could not be like that? It’s better to write than to talk like her.

QZ 206 finally leaned to gate. Yup ….my adventure started immediately. Thirsty made me out from gate to buy mineral water. And a little warning from gate officer to immediately back to gate. Ok, sir, instead of buying it on the plane, it’s expensive.

Airbus A320-200 with a capacity about 186 passengers.

Exactly on 19:17 hours, I started boarding.

Turbulence night flights on end of December. Seen middle-aged man next to me was so tense and held tight to the armrest chair throughout flight while me and a young woman who flanked him only wryly smiled while hiding misgivings.

Because my latest knowledge about Ipoh and Penang was so minimal, I decided to explore Travel360 inflight magazine. Hoping to find valuable information about Ipoh and Penang tourism. And …. thanks …. I really got it.

QZ 206 was preparing to landing. Could not sleep during the trip because focus in reading inflight magazine to find information. This time, my 5 days transit adventure in Malaysia was foolish. Traveling without enough information.

What is the baggage for? It maybe a flight safety equipment.

Once arrived at KLIA2, a thoughts which immediately occurred to me were looking for a free water station, dinner, prayer, bought bus ticket to Penang and then sleeping.

You have to go to Transportation Hub on 1st floor to find cheap food. Oh yeah….Bus ticket sales counter is also there.

Come on…Got ready to go to Penang tomorrow.

For several transportation mode from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur, you can get the ticket in 12Go Asia or in link: https://12go.asia/?z=

Bus from Singapore to Johor Bahru

16 October 2019travelingpersecond

“Squirrel which cleverly jumped finally also can fall too“…. Oh, Donny is that squirrel.

Yesss….that night, I was kicked out of Changi International Airport terminal 2…Niceeee….My passport was marked by Aviation Securitty….God.

Since 2014, playing cat and mouse role with Singapore airport police. Now, the cat was caught when sleeping behind a waiting chair in terminal 2 of Changi International Airport … Embarrassing.

4 hours before incident.…

The “gray with orange star” airline with flight number 3K206 landed me in Terminal 1-Changi International Airport on 12:30 hours.

Because Changi Airport MRT station is in Terminal 2 and will operate on 5:30am, I decided to move to Terminal 2.

I finally prayed and then rest in prayer room until 02:00am. But coldness of air conditioner forced me to move to a row of waiting seat in front of passenger lounge. My assumption that airport police had finished patrol in this area was wrong.

Amid my dream, airport security who guarded by two young armed policeman and soldier woke me up. Ahhhh….I was understood….I finally caught after 4 years always avoid them.

Airport security: “Helo Sir, Can me see your passport and ticket?”

Me: (while handing in a passport) “Good night Sir, I’m sorry before. I am waiting for first train to downtown. I just arrived 3 hours ago.”

Airport security: “Sorry, How long do you will stay in Singapore?”.

Me: “3 Days 2 Night, Sir”.

Airport security: “This hall is only for transit passengers. You can’t wait the train here. Let me take you to immigration counter”….(Click….Oh, my passport was captured with his camera. It was sent to their boss via whatsapp…. Hmmh, I’ve been tagged at Changi …. If I was caught once again, it will be a serious problem….hahaha.).

Because I came into immigration counter with armed soldier, Indian descent immigration officer became bitchy and angry to me when she stamped my passport ….Oh God, more angry then her face became more sexy like “Kajol” (beautiful Indian artist)….Hihihi.

2 hours can’t sleep….Yes, floor after immigration counter isn’t carpeted. How could I sleep while sitting on hard bench like that?.

In midst of sleepiness (it was because on noon, I worked full time in Bandung. And in afternoon, I directly went to Soekarno Hatta International Airport….cool yes, my home in Jakarta, working in Bandung on noon, and in night I was in Singapore….Hahaha), I decided to eat halal-certified noodles in this restaurant:

Located near exit gate after immigration counter of terminal 2 .

Waow….Please focus to the theme, Donny!

—-****—-

Let’s focus on the theme.…

That time, The final destination of my 7th visit to Singapore was Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Why did I go from “Lion Country”?…yes of course, the cost will be cheaper.

After eating noodles in the morning, I hurried to MRT platform in Changi Station. By buying a ticket for USD 1,9 on an automatic machine, I headed for Jurong East Station with 70 minutes travel time.

Why must be Jurong East Station?….Because this is a place where CW3/CW4 bus shelter which will go to Johor Bahru via Tuas Checkpoint which is the land border of Singapore and Malaysia.

I forced myself to hold pee because of toilet smell behind Jurong East Station crowd. Understandably, this station is integrated with bus terminal to various regions in Singapore and even out of Singapore.

After buying a bus ticket at counter, I immediately entered a queue and waited for bus to arrive. And finally, I got a CW3 bus which came 5 minutes later.

Orderly waiting in line according to the path.

I chose a back seat so I could freely take photos during trip.

Bus continued to move towards Tuas Checkpoint via AYE Toll Road. Singapore’s streets smoothness made bus arrived at Tuas Checkpoint in just 30 minutes.

I deliberately chose queue line which guarded by Malay descent female officers for easy immigration checks (because I am Malay descent too). As a result, the immigration process at the border became very smooth.

After passing the immigration counter, I immediately headed to the bus waiting area that will take me to the Sultan Abu Bakar Tanjung Kupang CIQ (Customs Immigration Quarantine) which is a Malaysian immigration building.

I didn’t need to find bus which I boarded before because as long as a ticket was still saved, I could continue my journey with another CW bus with similar destination.

Sea view along Second Link Expressway which connects Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The next journey begins. Second Link Expressway condition from Johor Bahru to Tuas Checkpoint was severely jammed during work hours at that time. On other side, the road from Tuas Checkpoint to CIQ Sultan Abu Bakar Tanjung Kupang was fluent.

very fluent in my side vs jammed in other side.

And in 15 minutes, I arrived at CIQ Sultan Abu Bakar Tanjung Kupang. There weren’t serious checking during immigration process and finally I was able to get through it quickly.

After stamping my passport, it means that the continued journey using CW3 bus has finished.

Immigration stamp when entering Malaysia via CIQ Sultan Abu Bakar Tanjung Kupang Immigration offfice and immigration stamp when exit from Malaysia via Sultan Iskandar Immigration Building.

I tried to find a bus with a route from CIQ Sultan Abu Bakar Tanjung Kupang to Legoland. Luckily, there were a lot of Indian descent bus driver asking to me about my destination. After talk with them, I was shown CW7 bus which passes through Legoland on its official route.

Playing lego in Legoland ????….Like me.

Easy to get a bus ticket from Singapore to Johor Bahru or vice versa. Just try to ordering via travel e-commerce in 12Go or https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Deeply Exploring Sentosa

28 September 2019travelingpersecond

Why do most tourists always post their photos with Universal Studio globe background?. It has become an informal agreement, if you take pictures like that then you have legitimately visited Lee Kuan Yew’s country.

Then have you ever thought about exploring the whole of Sentosa Island?….Yea, one more, all of that was done by walking….Could it?

Hahaha….Crazy.

Have you ever been, Donny?….”Crazy backpacker” like me was asked like that …. Yea, I ever did it….until I got fatigue.

It is my story….~~How is your story~~….don’t do it, tiring!

Get off at Harbor Front MRT station, I exit via Vivo Mall. In mall, I tried to didn’t interested with nice goods there or even beauty Singapore’s ladies. Just need to focus on finding a sign which will direct you to Sentosa Boardwalk.

By the way, wait….Do You know? What “Sentosa Boardwalk” is?

Sentosa Boardwalk

If you go to Sentosa Island by bus or car then you willn’t find this floating road. Especially if you ride Sentosa Express monorail or Cable Car….Hmmh, when will I be able to use it?…. hahaha, I ever once… just read it.

Yes …. Sentosa Boardwalk is a 600m long pedestrian path which is made as if it floats on sea to connect Sentosa Island with Singapore mainland….Very cool.

If Sentosa Boardwalk is for pedestrians, then where is car lane and monorail line to Sentosa Island ?.

Yes, it’s available….You just need to walk off the lane on left of Sentosa Boardwalk, then you will find the both of lane.

That are its lanes….

Street and *monorail* line towards Sentosa Island.

Because of free cost seeker, so I went to Sentosa Island by….by walk.

A little help by escalator. Even though big portion in this journey is still by walking.

Please, no hurry in walking….yes, fast in reaching destinations isn’t important because you willn’t be able to see many awesome views.

Here is it….results when I was observing on a side of Sentosa Boardwalk decks.

Nice….that’s Harbor Front Port. If you want to get a ferry to Batam, just go there. I hope I can around the world by cruiser ship like that.

*Viewpoint* in the middle of Sentosa Boardwalk

Automatic Fare Gates at end of Sentosa Boardwalk was covered in cloth, a sign that I didn’t need to pay USD 0,75 to entering Sentosa Island…. I think it was a special promo for something in that day.

Trick Eye Museum

Do you want to go in there?….Just prepare about USD 15.

Entering Sentosa Island gate, greeted by an artificial river opposite museum.

Sentosa Resort World Sign

The walking path led me to entering artificial cave below “Sentosa Resort World” nameplate.

Needed time to take a good photo….Failed many times…..it had to wait for next monorail to passed again.

Malaysian Food Street

After a long time, I was peevish….Starving began to hit after getting the photo. But I knew, There is Malaysian Food Street after Trick Eye Museum.

Don’t think that It is truly street food….No, Itsn’t. Sentosa Island is a place where Singaporeans spend their money….hahaha.

To save money, I suggest filling your drink bottles at free water station next to ticketing counter near Sentosa Island entrance.

Universal Studio

Even though I have been here twice before, I came here again for third time….you wasted your time, Donny….Hahaha.

Sorry, beautiful lady….I got a candid photo.

Many tourists have had enough until here when traveling to Sentosa. So, what are other attraction which located after Universal Studio?

Let’s Explore….

Lake of Dreams

Walking to south from Universal Studio globe, You will find Lake of Dreams. When afternoon, Itsn’t interesting. But if You come at night, this place will present an interesting choreography which combines audio, fire, water and light.

The Maritime Experimental Museum

It’s right next to Lake of Dreams, here it is:

Heading south pass the pool with many small fountains like this:

Sentosa Merlion

Then it will be clearly seen the brown Merlion statue. This half lion and fish statue is often called as the twin of same statue in Merlion Park. You can follow Sentosa Merlion Tour for USD 13,5 to go to top of the statue from inside and enjoy beauty of Sentosa island from a height of 37m.

At night, there is an audio-laser show with Sentosa Merlion as the object.

The statue will change in color during Merlion Magic Lights Show.

Sentosa Merlion Walk

Behind Sentosa Merlion is a 120-meter Merlion Walk. Pedestrian path with a mosaic theme park concept with fountains along park will spoil your eyes in hot weather of Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Express Beach Station

At end of Merlion Walk, there are two large buildings. A building on left side is Beach Station. Sentosa Express user tourists who will travel along southern coast of Sentosa usually get off here.

Finally tasting Sentosa Express for free when returning from Siloso Beach.

i-Fly Singapore

Well, on right side is i-Fly Singapore building. Everyone who want to play indoor sky diving have to spend USD 66,5.

Siloso Beach

Located right on beach, I decided to turn right towards Siloso Beach. Oh yes, if you turn left you will see Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach. Just use beach tram which operate along coastline if you don’t want to walk!.

Along Siloso Beach Walk, I encountered several Machine Gun Pillboxes. This Singapore defense line was built in 1936-1940 during Second World War.

You need to walk 700m from i-Fly Singapore to Siloso Beach and play as much water as you like there.

Interested ?? try to go around the island!.…definitely fatigue and sunburned….Hahaha.

Scoot Air TR 457 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (KUL-SIN)

19 September 2019travelingpersecond

SCOOT AIR….Low Cost Carrier (LCC) from Singapore, which its stocks are owned by Singapore Airlines.

Scoot Air TR457 flight path. Source from https://flightaware.com

Scoot is 22nd airlines which I have ever used. Through flight number TR 457 on regular route Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN), I firstly used Scoot Air service on March 31st, 2018. On that time, I boarded an Airbus A320 aircraft with 168 passengers in capacity.

Even though I ever used Tiger Mandala Airlines on November 26th, 2013 while heading to Bangkok and Tiger Air on January 11st, 2015 when I returned from Vietnam. Now the two airlines have merged into Scoot Air.

Look that ! Tiger Air identity in Scoot Air TR 457 plane.

Ambiguity of terminal where I would depart (whether from KLIA terminal 1 or KLIA terminal 2) made me a little nervous because departure list usually publishes 2 hours before flight. And of course, it takes time to move from KLIA2 to KLIA.

For international flights, I always start towards airport on 4 hours before flight time. So I left Westree Hotel on 05:30 and rushed to Skybus/Aerobus shelter which located in KL Sentral. Because distance from hotel to shelter is only 40 m, I only needed to walk for 3 minutes towards shelter.

Indian descent hotel security sharply watched me in inner door of lobby….Because I stood for a long time in middle of lobby door….I was seriously watching around….So quiet, I had to make sure that there wasn’t suspicious thing along road which I would pass towards KL Sentral.

Yesss….There aren’t any people on road….Fast walking. Like an racewalking athlete, I started to stay away from hotel. I arrived in shelter when bus was ready to leave.

With USD 3.1, I arrived at KLIA2 on 6:30. I immediately headed to information center to ask about terminal where TR457 would take off. On early morning, I disturbed information center officer with some questions because departure board didn’t display yet an information about TR457, so She had to pull keyboard and searching information for me….very kindly officer.

God…..my eyes glared while chewing Nasi Lemak (original food from Malaysia) with fried egg in corner of NZ Curry House….Look like a goat which was ruminating. It was a sign that I wasn’t ready to get early breakfast.

Yes, there wasn’t other choice, it was better to have breakfast in Indian restaurant with cheapest price before heading to 3rd floor for check-in, immigration and departure processes.

Check-in counter no Z2-Z3 for Scoot Air TR457.

After passing immigration counter, I headed to waiting room at gate L3.

I entered waiting room on 08:05. In boredom of waiting, Vietnamese came to me and ask something:

Vietnamese: “Hi, Can you explain to me about my cigarette (while showing a pack of cigarettes which have been smoked two stumps). Can I bring it when entering Singapore?“

Me : “Do you bring another one or just this opened pack?. If you just bring it, you can savely entering Singapore.”

Vietnamese: “No, I just bring it. So it’s savely. Thanks you.”

Me: “You are welcome”.

After waiting for 20 minutes, finally boarding process begins.

Scoot Air is identical with yellow. The charm of young air crews was very fresh when their appeaybrance is clad in yeloow t-shirt and shallow.

The sky is really clear, very comfort to fly without turbulence.

After fllying about 1 hour and 15 minutes, I landed at Changi International Airport Terminal 2. Trying to leave Changi as soon as possible to go to Greendili Backpackers Hostel in Race Course Road and then ready to explore Singapore for 7th time.

Searching MRT map before entering Changi International Airport immigration counter.

Let’s go to Mustafa Center for lunch before exploring.

Visit Handerson Wave Bridge, Singapore

27 January 20191 July 2019travelingpersecond

On 2015, I failed to visited this “phenomenal bridge”. Short layover times when heading to Cambodia made me had to waited for longer time to visited it.

On 2017, incidentally I visited Johor Bahru, Malaysia. That was the right time to visited “The Phenomenal” because its distance is near from Johor Bahru. And finally….the dream was came true.

After a half of day explored Sentosa Island by walking and also got a bonus for rode Sentosa Express Monorail, with high curiosity I immediately headed to shelter bus in front of Vivo City Mall.

Getting on bus in Singapore….Keep calm and don’t be confused because route and fare board at bus shelter can be learned quickly. Just find your destination then match it to bus number, see its distance number then match it to bus fare on board. Count ! How many shelters will be passed by bus to destination?

After bus comes, get on from front door, pay cash or tap your pass card, be aware about shelter because bus will not stop if bus doesn’t drop or pick up passengers, push button on pole to get off at next shelter !, then get off from back door and re-tap your pass card before leaving the bus.

Bus No. 145 arrived after 10 minutes waiting, by tapping two day pass (the price is about SGD 16), I got on it.

this picture isn’t the bus that I got in it.…

Even though I had explained how to got in a bus in detail, but I failed at that moment.… hahaha. I got off at a shelter before destination, which finally I had to walked to next shelter as far as 400m.

A few meters before reaching shelter, the 36 meters in high and 274 meters in length Handerson Wave Bridge was beautifully plastered above me. WOOWW, I stopped for a moment to enjoyed this British architecture.

It is very high….

What I know, Henderson Wave Bridge is the highest pedestrian in Singapore that was built to connected Mount Faber Hill and Telok Blangah Hill.

Having 7 up and down arches on one deck side makes it looks artistic. Each upward curve will forming a canopy whose space below can be made to just sitting, posing or reading like most young people do there.

look activities that citizen and tourists do on bridge

There are some warnings on the bridge. Among them are No crossing over the bridge when rain or we will be hit by storm. If you ride a bicycle, please get down and push it and also you can’t play skateboard.

Watch out….Storm !!!

When you are on top and have phobia of heights, your adrenaline will be tested because the bridge will sway slightly in the wind.

Actually this bridge is very beautiful if you see it at night on 7:00 PM because the colorful lights will decorate it.

So don’t forget to stop by here, guys, if you go to Singapore.

Tuas Checkpoint Vs Woodlands Checkpoint, Singapore

8 December 20181 July 2019travelingpersecond

My heart began to pounded when “Malay Woman” closed my passport. “Follow our staff to office”, yup I got random checking. My habit when entering Singapore immigration is always choosing queue line that is handled by Malay descendants. I just feel comfortable. But at that time, the facts are different … hehehe

Passed through the special lane, I was directed to 2nd floor of Woodlands Immigration. I had to stand outside because of full inspection inside until the Indian descent staff gave a sign for me to entered the room but still stood.

At that time I deliberately entered Johor Bahru through Tuas Immigration and left it through Woodlands Immigration. So I could know the difference of both.

Actually I didn’t scared as I imagined because I’ve experienced more severe random checking at Busan Immigration. The female officer only asked me: my flight ticket to home, hotel booking, where did I work and who was my travelmate (for this case, I deliberately prepared my business card and ID Card). After that I was asked to waited and then I was investigated by another younger officer. He only asked how much money that I brought. And last I must headed to another officer for fingerprinting and passport stamps.

My passport was placed on a small passport rack, 5 minutes later a young policeman arrived and only took 10 passports from it and called every name of passport holders, I was one of them. I was taken with 9 other tourists to elevator. Actually elevator was only enough for 10 people, I just realized why the young policeman just called 10 names.

After getting off the elevator I immediately waited for Causeway link 2 (CW2) bus to entering Singapore. CW2 bus that took me to Woodlands Immigration from Johor Baru have departed because it might not wait for me to be investigated. But I didn’t worry because I could catch other CW2 with my pass ticket to went to final destination on Queen Street, Bugis.

“Zanky” was very happy when entering Singapore

Observing two borders, it can be seen that Tuas border is slightly easier and didn’t crowded. When I crossed out to Johor Bahru on a day before, it was clear that many people quickly entered Singapore without queuing. Also according to a JPO2 bus driver (route bus for Mall of Medini to Johor Premium Outlet), if you want to easily and quickly enter Singapore it is recommended through Tuas Checkpoint.

Tuas Checkpoint Situation

For You who intend to try the two checkpoints, be prepare to enrich your traveling experience and just enjoy every process that will occur. If you get random checking, then facing calmly and of course you will be mastery on facing many problems when you are going abroad.