JIA Hotel Shanghai December 13, 2011

ADDRESS: 2/F, JIA Shanghai, 931 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 南京路931号2楼, 近泰兴路

I probably say that the entrance door was not really ‘eye catchy’ for a hotel. It’s quite a small simple door. So when I arrived I left my luggage at the taxi: Wishing some hotel staff take care of it. No they didn’t! It was my first China’s trip ever and i was wondering as if I really have to take care of everything by my self (?)

The first floor is empty but the decoration were simple and modern. The front desk is on the second floor. But anyway, I amazed by the decoration of this hotel. Really represent a luxurious boutique hotel. Spontaneous I twitted that I like this hotel from my twitter and in just a second they twitted me back!

JIA reply my twitter

Okay, It was because of my twit or my lucky day, when I reached the front desk on the second floor, they immediately greetings and guess what!? They upgraded me into suite! What a day! It was actually to early for me arriving in Shanghai (around 9 o’clock in the morning) and they let me to check in early. I went there with my bestfriend (well, my best travel friend) and since we didn’t know our lucky day where they upgraded our room, we already booked for 2 rooms (only one room upgraded and the reason we separated because I need to concentrate studying and sending many works stuff – habit!)

JIA Shanghai Lobby

Here goes our Suite livingroom

Suite bathroom

Super liking all the smell!!

JIA studio bedroom

The window

(as usual) My temporary working and studying desk! 

The school’s life move to Shanghai!!

Found this! but since im not a fan of.. (lol) didn’t asked as if these were compliment or as mini bar

They provide mini kitchen in every room. In Suite the kitchen quite big.

The door. left side is the bathroom

Overall, I can say it was quite a great hotel. Located in crowd area where we can reach many store and restaurant.

Universal Studio Singapore: Pictures talk! December 8, 2011

Universal Studio Singapore (USS) located in Resort World Sentosa, or usually called Sentosa Island. My friend suggested me to buy the ticket from Indonesia. As I remembered I got variety of price on the internet. So they divided the ticket into children, older, adult, weekday, weekend, peak season, public holiday, normal or whatever they said. I bought the ticket around 73SGD for one person. The day we arrived at the hotel, i was asking about the route to get to USS to the front desk. Luckily, our hotel was on list of USS shuttle bus. So everyday the USS Shuttle bus come to pick up the guest. The front desk said they will come at 9 which pretty good and good timing so that we can arrive there early. Imagine if we should take the MRT or taxi.

The shuttle bus came really on time. Good to know that. But what went wrong? Yeah! My cloth! It was pretty hot in Singapore since I arrived, so I took a very less cloth! I regretted my cloths because of the ride. The camera on the ride in USS such as The Mummy, Galactica and etc captured my panties!! what a crap! lol.

As I said, the shuttle bus came on time but we were wasting lots of time on picking up the other guest in other hotels. I think It’s about 3 more hotel. we arrived USS an hour later! Phew!

We entering and get close to USS! Yippe!!

The shuttle bus dropped us on the underground (parking lot). We directly took the escalator to reach USS gate. It was full of people. I was standing on the line in front of the ticket box. the next 20 mins (at least!!) my turn to get the ticket. What a waste! The ticket box’s man said I don’t need to stand there coz I got the ticket on my hand already (remember I was buying the ticket in Indonesia?!) Gosh! All I need to do is actually just swap the payment’s paper in the underground (where the shuttle bus dropped us – and walaaa.. ticket is ready). I don’t need to queue and wasting my 20 mins!! Me=Fool!

So we went down to find the ticket box to swap our tickets.

Pretty cool escalator!

I think you found this picture all over your Facebook’s friend: A must place to take a picture! lol. Okay a lil bit disappointed coz our mom have the same pic but in Universal Studio USA! Gggrrrh…

Our first ride: The Mummy! Pretty interesting (not include the queue! Horrible!!)

Hungry? Go to Mel’s Drive In! It’s like back to the 80′s style where you can see juke box!

Watch around! Coz the USS character might be shown up! Each of the character have their own schedule to shows up. We missed the Shrek! So when they shows up, catch them and wait them in (again) queue.  

We checked the ride and it was full of people. We decided to do it later because we saw many people get wet after the ride.

Our family’s fav character: SHREK! It’s 3D oh, 4D movie. First they gathered us in one big room and gave us this 3D glasses. The ride is in “Far Far Way” area.

What a day! We found it was raining outside after the Shrek 4D. We directly buy the plastic to cover us. Pretty innovative!

We continued our day..

And the rain even get worse..

Ok good! After walked pretty far, we found the ride was close due to the rainy day!

But we still done many fun things

Our last ride: The Lost World.. wet..wet..wet!!

When you think one day is enough for all the ride in USS, thats definitely nonsense. You can do that as if you pay extra for the Universal Express. So far from whole day we took only 4 ride: Battlestar Galactica (which quite the best one), The mummy, Shrek 4D and The Lost World. Compare to my Disneyland Paris’s trip, USS were lil bit fun! We really had fun

Singapore Flyer December 8, 2011

Singapore Flyer located in the southeast Marina center or Marina Bay Sands area. It remands me of London Eye in London. The exact address is at 30 Raffles Avenue Singapore039803. You can take MRT  and stop by in the City Hall and walk around 20 mins to reach there. It was pretty tiring (for me) because I usually never walk as far as that in my daily life (Jakarta’s lifestyle!). The plan was visiting Merlion the lion, but it was under construction: yes the lion disappeared! My friend said that there will be a big celebration so they reconstruct the Merlion.

On my way, walked along the street to get to the Singapore Flyer, there were many booth that sells the ticket. We bought there because the seller said it’s the same price as they sell in the counter. The best part of buying the ticket at these booths, we don’t need to queue. The ticket cost about 29.50SGD and I think its quite expensive. I really hope it will worth when we get up there. My brother kept on argue coz he said he could get a bottle of Bailys with that money. Yes, for me the services in Singapore quite expensive. I’ve been to many countries around Asia and found this is the most expensive country.

 

So when we reached the Singapore Flyer, we pretty lucky coz there were no queue as people said. We directly entered the capsule (they have 28 capsule in total). when we entered the capsule, just don’t expect the capsule will stop! No it doesn’t stop! So we have to lil bit jump into the capsule but don’t worry, many officer will help us. The maximum capacity for each capsule is 28 person. Quite big space and it covered by the glass (except the foot step). So then we can see the singapore view in 360*! The move of the capsule is so pretty slow. It take 30 mins to take the ride.

The view was amazing! Singapore Flyer is 165 meter high (beats London Eye – London) and seems like I can see all part of Singapore. on the lower level we can see the F1 circuit. When we reached the highest level, we can also see the neighborhood land: Malaysia and Indonesia!

I wondered what it is look like to ride in the night. Singapore flyer open daily at 8.30am to 10.30pm.

Family Trip Part II: Singapore!!! December 8, 2011

Hello Singapore!!!

Woooohooooo!!! Singapore!!! Yes! We were sooooo excite!!! Arrived early in the morning (direct from Malaysia) but well, hell yeah we wasted our time in the airport because as I wrote before, we having a problem with our luggage. My brother was picking a wrong bag.. What a lovely day to start a day!!

From the airport, we directly went to the hotel (in Orchard area) by MRT. We had a problem since we don’t have any small money to buy the ticket (the MRT machine can’t accept big amount). But thanks God we met a very nice Singapore man who help us. He also took us to find our hotel. We stopped at Orchard station and continued walk about 10 mins to our hotel at The Elizabeth (feels like 1 hour walkin since we bring along our luggage and shopping bags from Malaysia). Plus it was raining and outside the stations were full of people. Our new friend still with us and guide us till we reached the hotel. The hotel exactly in front of Mount Elizabeth hospital. Strategic place for shopaholic like my brother and my sister (eh, me too!)

Address: 24 Mount Elizabeth Singapore 228512 6496 7699 email: theelizabeth.com.sg‎

The Elizabeth Hotel. A strategic place in the center of Orchard!

It was Sunday and it was fully crowed. Our new friend told us that in Sunday, all the Indonesian’s maid all over Singapore gather together In Orchard (base in front of Lucky Plaza). They all dress up like, doh.. They want to go to the wedding party? Or club? Or OMG, they really all out!! We tried to enter Lucky Plaza to find Indonesian food and found a restaurant called “Ayam Goreng Ria” Fried Chicken with the rice and vegetable. However, the chili sauce quite spicy than in Indonesia. I was not expecting that because each time i found Indonesian food in other country, all the chili sauce not as strong as in Indonesia. But this time, it was over and too hot for my tongue! Rare! I almost forgot the taste of the fried chicken itself because it was full of people and we waiting for a long time till we got our table. Super hungry!

Ayam Penyet Ria at Lucky Plaza! 

We were continued our day to the Singapore flyer (Marina Bay area). Noted that we only did this for some picture. My mom kept on telling to go to some tourist area! And actually, all we want to do is just directly to shopping center Unlucky, the Ion statue was under construction. So we skip the-must-have-see site.

Singapore Flyer!

We went back to the shopping center. My 1st destination: Forever21 (even though we also have it in here in Indonesia, but the item are so up-to-date and more than we have in Indonesia). My sister is a huge fan of cotton on. Flat shoes, t-shirt, and the stuffs. Oh, also a good store for shoes like Rubi.

Where to find Rubi:

1. RUBI SHOES – CITY LINK: #B1-33 CityLink Mall One Raffles Link, Singapore 39393

2. RUBI SHOES – ION ORCHARD: #B2-53 Ion Orchard Shopping Centre 350 Orchard Road, Singapore 238801

Shop at Rubi!

Next day, we hit to the Universal Studio Singapore (USS). Ask your hotel as if they have a shuttle bus to the USS. Usually, the USS will provide you a free ride on some hotels. We bought the tickets in Jakarta. I suggest you to buy the ticket in your own country (I think all the travel agent provide this) because you can skip the queue on the ticket counter. To exchange the ticket you can find many booths on the basement.

Universal Studio Singapore: The Mummy!!!

Pretty tired after the whole fun day at USS, we went back to the hotel and found out that my brother got his asthma say hell-o! Back at the hotel got rest then met some friend back in high school in Ice Cold Bar. He was saying that it’s pretty unlucky that I arrived at weekdays because the clubs open on Thursday. Yes I’m dying to go to Zook, but 3 days in a row with non-stop party in Malaysia seems like over for me.

Ice Cold Bar!

With sleepy and tired body, I looked at my mobile: “PAPADAM” ok, It was mom texting to buy some Indian’s food in Mustafa. Good to know that Mustafa is a 24 hour store, located in little India. It’s like department store sells many stuff. From food to perfume! Usually (in normal time like morning – evening) people said it will full of people! You will even hard to breath. So I think the best time is: in the midnite!

On the way to Mustafa

With 2 hour of sleeping and actually not-so-sleep-at-all because we were busy taking care our ‘baby’ brother, he then suddenly back normal in the morning as he said he want Fred Perry shoes to cure his sickness T___T

Okay! He got his Fred Perry, time to go back home!

Our flight back home to jakarta was at night, so we tried to spend our last penny

Busy with tax refund at Changi

My sister seems really spent all the penny!

Drink responsibility!

Time to go back home, mom!

Bye bye Singapore!!

Hello Czech Republic! August 28, 2011

Here goes my Czech’s video. Enjoy!!

 

Hello Holland August 26, 2011

My first published video. Enjoy!

Family Trip Part I : Malaysia August 8, 2011

I planned this trip for such a long time. I realised that the whole family trip was over 10 year ago. We usually travelling by ourself. For example, last year I was travelling to Bali with friends of mine while my sister also travelled to bali on the other day. We only met once then separated (we don’t even know we were on the same flight while back to Jakarta). We stayed in the different hotel and different plan also. A week after that, my brother travelled to Bali with his friends too. The point is, we really never get along for such a long time!

We bought tickets for whole family and suddenly our parents cancelled less than 24 hour before the trip (yes means no money back). So the journey was only me, my big brother and my little sister.

The flight was in the afternoon and we arrived in Malaysia around 6. We took the buss direct from the airport to the city central. There are many options to reach the city central. You can take the train, taxi or buss. Since we were no plans and not in hurry trip, we enjoyed the buss. You can just buy the ticket inside the airport, rite away after the immigration check. There are many booths offering transportation there.

It took about 45 mins from the airport to the city central, we continued with taxi to reach the hotel. Our hotel was around Bukit Bintang area (suggested by our friends). Bukit Bintang area are strategic and suitable place for young people to stay! Within 10 mins walk, we can find many restaurant, bar, pub and club!

Bukit Bintang Area

The day we arrive: Walkin around Bukit Bintang area

Met our Indonesian’s friends and spending our night at Lava Club

We didn’t have any plan for what to do in Malaysia, only a short list of shopping stuff and Genting. On the first day of our trip in Malaysia was only about food. We walked around Bukit Bintang area and tried many food there. The next day, we were too busy until we missed the buss to Genting area. We really disappointed since Genting is the only activity that we want to do in Malaysia.

Beryls’s Chocolate factory for a gift!

My sister is the best accounting in our family! She kept on calculate all the expenses (while actually it’s necessary at all coz our parents told us to spent all the money!)

Shopping (as usual). This time we went to Sungai Wang where I can find Vincci shoes with a very cheap price (but wasn’t good time because the store open as they want!) so this were the main reason we missed the bus to Genting.

Since we missed the bus, we continued our shopping day. Catch the MRT and hit KLCC

Lunch at Madam Kwak inside the KLCC Suria mall. Pretty crowd, we have to waited before get the table.

Hot Science exhibition 

Like a huge iPad!

KL Twin tower

Dinner in chinese area near Bukit Bintang

Back to the dance floor: Lava Club!

We ended our all day in Malaysia in the club. Once again, we really had no plan at all in Malaysia. The most common question around us is about “Okay, what’s the next plan?” We basically just can’t wait for our next day in Singapore. Especially my brother and my sister, for them, Singapore is their shopping heaven.

Six Month of Travel Madness June 29, 2011

If you are a businessman / women, expats, do lots of travel here, there and anywhere for clear reason that’s totally cool. But what if you are just an employee with, of course no reason to leave the office for traveling? Let me share my travel madness in this past 6 month (please don’t try this at least you have high confidence not-to-be-fired on your work place). As I mentioned on my last post, here in my country we probably only get a limited annual leave (around 12 days) and those annual leave doesn’t mean you can use it in one time. I was warned by the HR regarding my annual leave. I was late came back from Bali because I missed the flight. Great! Well I deserve that since I still on probation (and they also understand the condition as I told them that Bali was having a celebration so they close all the road – I proof it with the news paper & online news) So it’s not big deal at all. My travel journey continue with bunch of journey (mostly Bali on the weekends).

 

Remembering my Europe trip on last November to December.. I didn’t give any resign letter or something. The permit just came out like there’s nothing wrong (noted: permit of 1 fully month annual leave). So let me give you a hint: A company will do anything to make their most valuable employee stay! And of course you should have someone to replace while you gone (a good negotiation will make it easy). Even though I came back late for about a week from the permit because I have to wait some medical letter from the hospital for my grandma, the company still accept me nicely. Back again, you have to clear the reason for being late! (And a gifts would be nice!)

 

Here are my travel madness journey in the past 6 month:

1. Malaysia (March)

Reason for traveling: Family refreshing, no such things

Traveling with: My brother & My sister

 

 

 

 

 

2. Singapore (March)

Reason for traveling: Family refreshing, no such things

Traveling with: My brother & My sister

 

 

 

 

 

3. Shanghai (April)

Reason for traveling: No plan, no such thing, unimportant trip just had some fun

Traveling with: bestfriend

 

 

 

 

 

4. Beijing (May)

Reason for traveling: No plan, no such thing, unimportant trip just had some fun

Traveling with: bestfriend

 

 

 

 

 

5. Bali (June)

Reason for traveling: Didn’t realized we booked the ticket long time ago before the China trip, no plan at all: just shocked!

Traveling with: Two bestfriends

 

 

 

 

 

6. Hongkong (June)

Reason for traveling: Start to thinking a business and just curious what HK lookalike after 10 year ago

Traveling with: 5 friends

 

 

 

 

 

7. Guangzhou, China (June)

Reason for traveling: Make sure I really want to make some business

Traveling with: 5 friends

 

 

 

 

 

Basically overall from my trip, none of them are really important. Except the last two destination Hongkong and Guangzhou (even though I still do it for fun). It’s been crazy for this past six month for me. All the trip seems so unplanned and happened just like that. Next month probably will go to Bangkok (still yet don’t know).

 

 

Working or Study? June 29, 2011

It’s June! Been six month after counting down the NYE. And within 6 month, my entire life bumping like an earthquake. Many surprise, many shocking things and try to re-new the life. Let see the high lights.. It was a hard decision when you have to sacrifice something that stick with you for over than 5 year. Yes, work life! I’ve been working since 2006 (a year when all my friend still study on their college) working like everyday is weekdays. I always enjoying my busy day (even though I almost lost all my relationship with others). Day by day, year by year, I achieved something that I never expected before, a good career. Then I just realized I was always the youngest on the companies (from my 3 previous company) with a good line up career among others. I admit educational background also support your career. It’s not like you bring your diploma certificate to show it to everyone, but it’s about how to implement your study into work life.

In my experiences, both study and work life support each other. My diploma 3 gave lots of practical study which helped me on my first job experience. The aim of diploma 3 is to make student ready when they start working in some company. So what still missing here? Too much practical study doesn’t mean good enough for career. Taking too much action without knowing the basic theory from what we do is pointless. I continued my diploma (but still working) for  higher degree in communications study (majoring Public Relations) even though I have to start all over again (and met classmate which 4 year younger than me). Let see the positive side of this conditions: (1) The study, of course. The material full fill your head! So I felt those practical and theory balance on my head. (2) I can use my working experience for case study at the class while other still don’t have any working experience. (3) I can hang out with young people, back to feel their spirit and keep on being young!

Back then, within 3 year I graduated and set up my career with my degree. I got new job with more scope of work and responsibility. The most exciting part is when you got few downline to take care for your small thing Call me a geek but I still feel this still not enough. So right away after I graduated, I continuing my study to master degree (majoring Marketing Communications). I think master will make my study journey perfect while diploma gave me lots of practical study and my bachelor degree teach me the theoretical thinking. As I feel that master degree will gain my analytical thinking in how I see and solve something.

For the first time in my life, I feel frustrated when I tried to set up my career and education back ground. I done interview in few company and the answer are almost the same. I’m over qualified for the expectations. Friends of mine made that as a joke for me, but I still can’t believe for all the answer. I keep on asking my self, being over qualified is only a words, but as I see, it’s not about the qualifications, it’s about the age! Let’s see on job advertising, the average age for career that I match is around 28-35. What about me? a 26 y.o women with diploma, bachelor and ongoing master should wait?

Out of nowhere, when the work life shinning as the sun and people around depending one me… I gave my resign letter. Right on the day when my boss giving me the promotion letter. on the 25th April 2011, I’m officially quitting and jobless, the next day after, I already have my party celebration in Shanghai, China with my friends.

So I’m leaving my work life and saying “Hey work life! be right back!.. “

Security Check At The Airports May 7, 2011

Been doing lots of travel this lately, until suddenly I’m no longer enjoying sitting along inside the plane. By the way, I still curious for the past few times (not really few but more than) why the immigration officer never check for our baggage claim after we took our stuff at the airport. What happened if someone stole it? Or missed in pick in our baggage?? I think this a serious problem. My experience, I lost my baggage while on my trip back from Bali to Jakarta, back on February 2009. Even though there were lots of officer, it still lost!! I took Lion Air and I swear to God I won’t take another flight with this airlines. The Lost and Found officer really not professional! They don’t have sense of belonging for the customer. I remember I was 2 times back to the Lost and found office and still no information. The worse thing when I reached them at phone (I think they use flexi number with caller ID) they really not taking care of the compliment in good behaviour. I keep on calling and they keep on gave phone to each other and none of them seems feel responsible for the lost. I gave up when they keep on rejecting phone from my mobile number. And picked up as if I use other number (then here I know they use caller ID for the phone). It was frustrating moment for me. I lost few pieces of my gown (which I designed my self) and few stuff. My new mobile charger and my Mac book charger (then I had to order the charger in Singapore because they were running out the stock). Imagine I have to finish my thesis while the file inside my mac and no charger. Well, all the lost stuff I still can get it, but the treatment that they gave (Lion Air staff) really broke my heart! They just don’t know how important the relationship between the customer to the office. They represent the brand it self. Until now, been more than 2 years and I’m okay. losing one customer is nothing for them. But losing a trust is priceless in Marketing world.

Back then, I more concern regarding my hand luggage or my baggage. I more double check while check in at the airport. I always make sure the check in officer put the right label and waiting my baggage claim sticker to be put on my ticket and count it.

For additional information, if you travelling around Indonesia (or maybe other countries too) make sure you really have a key and double lock it. Don’t put any of the important stuff there such as Laptop, wrist watch, electronic devices etc. I was met dutch women who want to travel to Bali and she just put her laptop there without key. With all my heart I warned her and tell some highlight regarding security here in Indonesia. She was so surprised and thanks for my warning. And she also felt sorry about my lost bag.

Anyway, back on my experience when I was in vienna and want to go back to Amsterdam by Austrian Airways, I got some dilemma coz my lagguage zipper was broken. It was a small bag but considering I carry a bottle of whiskey and perfume from my friends and family in Czech, I cannot hand carry it. So with a lil pray, I put my unlock bag to the check in counter. And guess what? It save!!! Then I know its about luck. Or somehow its about taking care of other people belongings.

Next, when I was in Singapore with my brother and sister, we brought along many bags (coz yes, its about shopping travel). Everything just okay until I said to my sister why no one ever check our back on the end of the gate (this happened to in Malaysia). Since it was early in the morning, I went to coffee shop, and smoking at the smoking area. It took about 1 hour after I realised my brother got wrong in picking up our bag!!! It was shocking a lot!! Its almost more than an hour for me and my brother and sister hanging out outside the airport!! Then I came back to report at the information center for what happened. 15 mins we wait and the police officer came to check the bag to make sure none of us open the bag. It was frustrating moment when you need to face the airport police and officer and having an early morning investigation! After done the reporting I met the owner of the family. They still there waiting in front of the tray with hopeless feeling. The officer help me to explained and I hug one of them to say sorry.

My last experience, it still fresh!! New one!! Last week, after I went to China in Soekarno Hatta airport- Jakarta: WHERE THE HELL AIRPORT OFFICER AT THE END OF THE GATE??????? I swear I saw no one there to check all the baggage claim!!

So then from all of the above experience, the one and only you can trust for your own baggage is yourself! Be critical at the check in counter. Make sure you know well your baggage, put some sign to make it easily to see. Lock it! Put your ID (include name, address and phone number). Make sure you stand near where the bag shows up at the tray. And the rest: praying! I hope this experience useful for everyone. I just don’t want people feel the same esp losing their baggage. Some stuff can be buy at the store, but some memory stuff not.

Save travel everyone!!