How I did it - When i was on my very first addicted experience (2)

BANGKOK, THAILAND, JANUARY 16^TH, 2012

Time told me it was 7 pm Bangkok Time. I passed the immigration office. It was long queue, so many foreigners wanted to come to Thailand. And I realized why Bangkok was so popular. I came to Airport Railway to meet my friend, Anond. I needed Thai phone number, then i decided to come to 7-eleven in the underground level of the airport. I bought SIM Card and credits for 50 THB. I Bought bread and mineral water since i had no breakfast and lunch before. Before i activated my SIM Card, i asked the lady to do so. Yes, i could activate my SIM Card and i loaded credits into it. I bought ticke, not ticket but token, so stupid i did not know how to use it. The first person i called was my mom, it was so cool when i could call my mom from abroad. My parent asked me about where i was staying and some. I ended the call then i called my friend to pick me up in the station. I tried first call, none answered. Then i tried again to call him, then a girl came up picking up the call. I spoke in english, and she replied my call in thai and i said “anond?” and she just called off the phone. Then i realized that it was totally wrong number that i put into my paper.

I arrived finally in my station. I tried to figure out how to find my friend. I just wandered around the station adn found nobody. Then i was so hungry at that time but i could not eat until i found my friend. I decided to go out from station area and tried to find internet connection. I saw Starbuck over the station and i just came into just to drink and enjoyed the internet, but i can say it was lucky for me since the starbuck was about to close. If i had tried the starbuck there, that would have been my very starbuck ever in my life. Then i saw many 7Elevens, i just thought that all 7Elevens were alike since in Indonesia 7Eleven was block buster for its convenience and internet. I came and asked to the seller there and i could not speak in english, but they understood what i meant, and there was no wifi. I tried to other outlets, the result was same, nothing. I was really desperate that time. i just walked with head down, was thinking where i should stay. Then there was a crowded restaurant, fancy one, so i thought it should be wifi equipped in that time. just came into, asked to the worker and he forwarded me to his boss about it and NO WIFI again. I was totally lost and did not know what to do. Then i decided to find cheap hostel to stay. I walked slowly to the station to take the train and it was really surprised me, I FOUND MY FRIEND THERE. I found him buying ticket, i was so happy, terribly happy. Then he was waiting for me for so long, and i just went out and tried to find  him. I wrote the wrong number of his. Then we talked along the way to go to his dorm which is far from the city of Bangkok. We walked about 10 minutes to catch the very last Van to his dorm. And fortunately again, we could catch the last Van, and it was 10 pm.

The van was running well since it was late night, so there was no traffic along the way. About 30 minutes we arrived to the gate of the dorm, and we had to take another van to go to the dorm, 5 THB for each. Then we finally boarded to the van and only took 4 minutes to arrive. The dorm complex was so cool for me. I was amazed of this condition. It was totally different with my dorm. It was like a appartement instead of dorm. Then i was really hungry, the very first heavy meal i tried in abroad in TOM YAM KUNG. It costed me 70 THB with big porsion. It was too big for me and i could not finish it, just wasted it.

How I did it - When i was on my very first addicted experience (1)

JAKARTA, JAN 16TH, 2012

I still remember that date, it was January 16th, 2012. I had to catch my flight at 11.25 Jakarta’s time by Tigerairways. It was my very first flight in my history. In the night before my flight, i could not sleep at all till then i slept at about 3 am. Then i wake up at 7 am and i was in hurry because i had to be in airport 2 hours before departure, i did not want to miss my flight. I took a bath, got dressed and also took all my bags to bring to my flight. I decided to take DAMRI Airport shuttle bus from Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal because i might get to the airport earlier. I got hurry and took Angkot number T19 to get to Bus terminal. It was traffic on the way there, i was so nervous. It costed about 45 minutes to get to Bus Terminal and I arrived at about 7.45am and i was lucky because the bus just started leaving. I usually took bus from Pasar Minggu Terminal, then i changed from Kp. Rambutan. I was slightly disappointed since i had to pay 5000 IDR more than usual i paid and also traffic was so bad. I could not stop praying to be to airport on time. i finally arrived in airport at 9.55 am. I was in rush and got to the departure gate. It was my very first time. i was kind of wondering how i figured it out. Got my passport and ticket, i approached to the line of Tiger Airways Check-in counter. I was bringing 2 bags and i was so afraid of since in the printed ticket it was written strictly 7kgs 1 handy bag. However, i kept calm and everything was okay. After paid 150,000 IDR for airport tax, i went to the boarding area. This was my stupidity. It was written the gate number, and i went to wrong gate to GARUDA INDONESIA Gate. It was totally wrong since my flight is low cost carrier and Garuda was Full cost carrier. Then i figured out my gate and waited for my flight. I took many pictures while waiting and the gate finally opened. I walked nervously and got into my very first aircraft. I found my seat and it was nearby the window. I did not want to miss this opportunity, i took some pictures from the window and the condition of the aircraft. One thing i amazed for my first flight was when the cabin crews showed us the security on the plane. It was like what others talked about, that was so good for me. I tapped a video about it.

The flight was flying finally. I was afraid since there was noisy around my ear. I could see Jakarta from above and clouds for sure. I was thinking that i dreamt about. However, that was real, and i knew how out-of-date i was to see those kinds of things.

Aircraft finally arrived in Budget Terminal Changi International Airport, Singapore. I was given a card to fill in but i did not do it. When i queued up in the line, i realized that i had to fill this card in, so i got out from the line and filled my card and got in the line again. The immigration officer asked me about where i would stay and how long i would be. I was telling them that i would be in Singapore for only 3 hours to catch my flight to Bangkok. And they were talking in broken Bahasa Indonesia.

I could pass the immigration, and it was time to wait another flight, the same carrier provider.  I was so hungry at that time and i saw McDonald’s restaurant. Then i realized i did not have so much money and no Singapore Dollar in my hands. I asked the lady in the information center about the wi-fi connection. I started surfing in Internet telling the world that i was in Singapore. Posted some pictures in Airport by facebook and saw many comments. I was so happy. That time, i could tell others that i could go abroad.

I came to check-in counter and got my boarding pass. I did not want to make a mistake again, i read carefully about the gate. The boarding area was so nice, they had free computer. I was so thirsty that time and i could not buy any mineral water. The gate for my flight opened eventually. I saw Indian lady as the guard. She looked so scary without any smile. When i was in the line, some passengers’ bag had to leave because it was too big. I started nervous about my bag. However, i passed again and got into my aircraft. I took some pictures again. Being alone was so bored. None to talk to made me just keep quite. Even the person sitting next to me was quite too. He was my very first “aircraft seat mate”. It arrived smoothly in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. I already understood about the embarkation card, so i filled it once in the aircraft.

Expect what the unexpected-Concept of Travelling

"EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED"

I do not know where that quote comes from, but that i know is we have to be ready with any possibilities ahead. and travelling for me? hmmm, it is quite hard for me. Okay i will tell you what my thought about this.

"To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live"

(Hans Christian Andersen, Danish fairytale)

my flight! to travel is to live

According To that quote, i believe that to travel is not just about seeing something beautiful and impressed. For me, To Travel will give me opportunity how we can see other places and make them beautiful. It's not about to visit MUST-SEE PLACES, but how you can see and feel that to travel is to live. Enjoy all the possibilities might come to your journey. Every step we take and leave footprint in every land,  it means a lot. 

I bet many people know this quote:

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” 

(Augustine of Hippo)

Yes, i agree with that statement. Book is a window of knowledge. When we see the book, the cover and firsT page must be thrilling for me. Do not Judge the book by its cover sometimes i disagree. Okay, to read the book, the summary is very good, and that is in the very first page, when we look up in Internet, read every body's experiences, that the summary. You have to have your own history and story written to that book! so, the summary is yours, and the content is too!

This quote is SO ME!!!

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” 

(Lao Tzu)

Traveller has to be ready with everything. Plans may help you in terms of fixing the budget and time. However, if you Are flexible enough, you may see many things than you expected before. We may not visit many places as others do, but we have more experience in internalizing of some cultures.

so, Whatever your travelling style, we were born to travel and we were born to write our own story!

BON VOYAGE!!

Kiss Down- Angeles City.

Touched Down the Philippines, Mabuhay!!

It was 4.20 pm in Philippines’ time. I arrived [again] in Clark Airport with AirAsia. The flight from Taiwan was good. One thing that i am surprised about this airport is they do not check our bags, we just need to fill the paper that stated that we are bringing or not certain good, but they do not even check out bags. They already believe from previous checking security.

When i arrived in airport, i just brought NT Dollar (New Taiwan Dollar). Then i approached the money changer inside the arrival gate, and they only accepted USD. FYI, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is small. They only one terminal, so you will not get lost to this airport.

The Air conditioned Jeepney with swarms of Passengers 

Then i decided to withdraw money by using ATM, The ATM in The Philippines charged me PHP 200 for each withdrawal. Then i had to be in Nepo Mall in Angeles City to meet my Host. The cheapest way is by using public transportation. The public transportation in The Philippines is notoriously called JEEPNEY, A modified Jeep i think. And also there are several taxis waiting outside, also Buses to go to Manila (about 2 hours). There was a guy with sign “JEEPNEY to SM Mall, Angeles City, And Dau Bus Terminal), then i approached him and he told me to go to his Jeepney. The jeepney costs PHP 50 to go out, and the jeepney is air conditioned, that’s why it’s little bit expensive for me. The journey to get to the main gate of Clark Airport is about 15 minutes. We passed the army base camp and barracks. The main gate is in C-Point (they call it that name) near the SM Mall. Then i had to find jeepney, blue jeepney with sign written “C-POINT-HOLLY-HI WAY”. Then i tried to figure it out, the i saw a jeepney with that sign. I decided to hop on and asked to the driver whether this jeepney was going to those mall or not. The jeepney run OK. Since i am Indonesian and i used to live with chaos situation, the traffic, unruled thingies happened. A little bit shock since i was coming from Taiwan.

The first thing came in my mind was that Angeles city, or pampangan, is quite big and crowded. Jeepneys are everywhere. The rule that just knew from Jeepney in the Philippines is people pay just right after hopping into. When i was in the jeepney, a young lady hopped to the Jeepney, then she gave me money, 8 PHP. Then i just starred at her, the another lady  took the money and gave to the driver. Then i realized it’s money for the driver. Did i pay after that? No, i am still Indonesian, i pay when i hop off. Then i saw the mall, JENRA MALL. Then i knocked the jeepney and asked whether that was right or not. Then i paid 8 PHP (As my friend said to me). I walked through the crowd of the street. It reminded me about Jakarta. Then i decided to buy Local SIM CARD. Then i went to the cellphone stall just right in front of the mall. The lady told me the Best provider, and yes, i bought it, no clue whether she was saying true or not, or she was the ambassador of that product? Who knows. Then with my backpack and 2 handy bags, i entered the mall. The security checked, then I PASS!! I was so happy. Heehehe

Having the SIM CARD, now how i could use it? I saw the convenient store next to the entrance gate, i forgot the name. I bought Mineral Water costing 39 PHP for 1500Ml (IT’S QUITE COSTLY FOR ME), sit for awhile, inserted my card to phone. AND YES, IT WORKED without any registration, i was so surprised. Then i texted my friend (the name will be mentioned on the next post :p), he replied so fast, and it’s FREE hahahah but the credit in my phone just 1 PHP, so it’s fair enough, it was not free then i realized. He asked me to go to another mall, NEPO MALL, just right next to JENRA Mall. He asked me to wait in 3rd floor, in the food court. AND THE STORY BEGAN!!! (to be continued)