Need Holiday

I think i really really need holiday!
Who want to join?

Moving

Another turning point in my life, i have to choose so many awesome opportunity!
it's hard indeed, but decision has been made, just go on never look back.

put my hand together and pray, hopefully i make a wise decision,
for me, and for the people that i love most.


moving from here:

to here:

or maybe later to the place that i always keen to go to. Wish me luck!

Family night out

*our chillax time

This picture was taken when my lil' brother on vacation in Jakarta August 2009

boring walking from mall to mall, we went to Ancol for a little snacks.

we ordered dimsums and 1 coconut fried rice for the 3 of us. Yums!

I took several shoots to get this picture. It's a combination of 2 pictures together.
I took the background photo using the panorama night mode shoot and the close up using the double-flashs night shoot.
Cut the close-up on photoshop, stick it on the other picture and...
I really like the result<3 and our family night out!

Orchid

tien soeharto's orchid
close up tien soeharto
purple orchid
rainforest light purple orchid

tiny yellow orchid
kantong semar
hill top rainforest stripped purple orchid
white orchid inside the pot
dotted purple orchid
lots varieties of orchid
bright purple orchid
black orchid
pink orchid
orange orchid

just some pictures i took on this morning @ Singapore National Orchid Garden

March 2009

Just feel like writing,
so many things happen, suddenly i have to say goodbye to grandma,
time ticking fast, still fresh in my memory I said goodbye to her in the hospital, not forever no no...
i said i am going to work tomorrow, i will visit on Sunday..

And that was the last time i saw her speak to me, wave her hand as it would be okay.
and now she sleep forever, in peace...

so much think to learn, to adjust, to adapt, new environment, new living habit.
and now the pressure is on, to live my life to the fullest, to cherish every single moment and use it wisely, to reach all my dreams with all my best.

Love you..

Escape to Phi-Phi Island

* Phi Phi Island
The boat was packed with the tourists. There were no more seats available on the top deck, so we walked down to the lower deck. The room was humid, and packed. We were exhausted dragging our bags, so when we saw a pile of luggages on the way down, we put it there and go find our seats.
We didn't think that it would give us a hard time just to find our bags on the way out...
As soon as the boat moved, it started to rain.
2 hours later, we arrived at the pier. The rain already stopped, but it still wet all over the place.
From the pier to the hotel is about 15-20 minutes walking, bellboy from our hotel helped us carted our luggage to the hotel. There's no motorbikes, cars, in the island.

The island was exotic, along the way we passed clothes shops, small cafes and bars, little convenient store, tattoo parlor, massage and spas, bookstores, and tour agent that also sells postcards. Peoples were walking in their bikinis and shorts, beach clothes, slippers, some of them walking barefoot. Once we arrived, we could feel the fun, relax, holiday atmosphere. In some place, peoples are rebuilding their shops that was ruined by Tsunami.
This place is like a place that you could visit over and over again on holidays, perfect escape!

After we checked in, we went for dinner, walked around the island, booked a tour for tomorrow, and went sleep. 12 a.m Mira and I woke up, we wanted to go to the beach party. This night, Ibiza bar was more crowded, they performed fire show and played games with the customers. Mira and I was sit on the front seat watching, about 15 minutes we felt sleepy and went back to sleep.

The next day, we woke up late, we went to eat brunch, back to the hotel to get ready, and stand by at the place where the tour guide will pick us up.
We took a lot of pictures, silly pictures, sweet pictures, crazy pictures, beautiful views pictures.
There's about 20-30 persons joined us.

First destination : Monkey beach

Our boat stopped about 100 meters from the beach, we could swim to the beach or take small long tail boat that has been prepared by them. We decided to take boat, and will swim nearby the beach. We could see small fishes in groups swimming back and forth below our boat.
Clean water, white sands, clear sky, coral mountain in the background is the preserved habitant of the monkeys.
They prepared bananas to feed the monkeys. We just hav 20 minutes time before they called us back to the boat.

2nd Destination : Viking Cave

We didn't swim nor kayaking in this place, we just passed by and the guide told us that it's a bird nest's farm. During harvest seasons, some people stayed in the cave to collect the bird nest, brought it to the island and sell it to mainland China.

3rd Destination : Kayaking

We stopped on shark point to go kayaking and snorkeling. I was sit in the middle, Maika on the front, Mira behind me. They rowed the kayak while I enjoying the views. But the kayak won't move to the right way, it's like circle-ing in the same spot and some others already go far around the island. 15-20 minutes we moved like 50 meters from the boat, and we bumped our kayak to other people's kayak. We were like frustrated and can't stop laughing at ourselves. Then, the guy came at us and ask if we need any help, and we said yes, so he pulled our kayak back to the boat, and we started to snorkel.
What an experience! This was my first time snorkeling, and i thought this is the most beautiful spot to snorkel. I saw a rainbow colored slender fish swimming next to me, when i tried to reach, the fish shocked and run away, and I can't help not to open my mouth and laugh, and water come in my mouth, so i have to swim to the surface and breath. I can't see much, but what i see was so wonderful.
Then it's time to go..

4th and Last destination : Maya beach
Most popular beach, it was the shooting scene for "The Beach". It's similar to monkey beach but bigger, more pretty, the beach surrounded by rocky mountains, the beach is wider than monkey beach, groups of fishes swimming back and forth and it's twilight already, we went inside the corn fields and took a silly pictures acting like somebody chases us. And took another pictures by the beach, and took another kung fu fighting pictures, it was so fun! This place just great to take pictures, every angles was so beautiful. Loves it!

And finally we back to the boat, they've prepared fried rice for us to eat, although the taste was not so great, so even i was so hungry, i just ate a little. The sunset was so beautiful, sun hiding behind the cloud and the sky color turn to dark red with blue shadows, so pretty.

On the boat Mira fell in love with Mati's tatoo, a little star shape and decided to get 1 on her hips. Then after we took shower, we went to Tattoo parlor, I almost get 1 too, but i have no idea what shape and where to put it. Mira said it didn't hurt at all, so maybe I'll get 1 another chance! :D
Then, we ate our dinner! Tom Yum Seafood soup.. my favorite, my second favorite is Thai Banana Pancake on Phi Phi island, Yummy!

* Ibiza Bar

We were so tired, so after dinner, we went sleep! 1 a.m we woke up, Just Mira and I actually, we tried to wake Maika, but she was sleeping like a pig, and shoo us away! Fine.. we just wanted to cherish every moment, tonight is our last night! So, Go Crazy! We went to Apache bar and dance, until abang2 ruined our moment, oh gosh! Luckily, Maika came to save our night! It was fun and ended we chat with fella tourists by the beach, and it almost dawn. 4.30 maybe 5.00 a.m. 3 hungry girls decided to eat another Banana Pancake and chat in the hotel Lobby.
1 by 1 we get ready, 8.00 a.m we left this island to Phuket International Airport.
although we had a little incident with the hotel receptionist, in the end it went well, just because we were so exhausted, we were easily get angry at each other, haha!
so, watched out Taxi driver who tried to fool us... you are in trouble!

It's another 1 and half hours journey to Phuket, we were fell into sleep as soon as we found our seats, so, can't tell much about the views and weather. We woke up 5 minutes before the boat arrived at the Phuket pier!
We were so don't want to leave the island, it still has so much place to explore and see, on the boat, we missed it already!


***

Exploring Krabi

The city is not as metropolis as Bangkok, as a tourist exploring Krabi in half day tour would be enough. Sadly this time I had no chance to take a boat tour due to limited time that we had.
<--- picture of Krabi town

28 November 2008

After short adventure that we had the night before, i had a long deep sleep in the train. Not with my friend Mira who woke up in the middle of the night to shout to the next door compartment to low down their voice. Seem like they're having a party. I felt like I heard Mira shouting at them, but it felt unreal, half dreaming probably. Later, in the morning about 6.30 a.m warm sunshine go through my side of window waking me up. I grabbed my phone to checked the time. The train should be arrived at Surat Thani in half an hour, luckily i could manage to get up in time.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then Maika woke up and offered me strawberry yogurt for breakfast. Yeah, i had no choice, that's all we had for breakfast. my 2 other friend just drank chocolate milk for breakfast.

*Just wake up face

Just 5 minutes after 7.00 we were a bit worried why the train hasn't stop yet, we were like a bit traumatic with missed the train or missed the stop thingy so i rushed to the front to ask when will we arrived, and they said we will arrived in 10 minutes.

So we prepared our stuffs and intermezzoing last night's adventure at the same time. Then we queued at the corridor, to0 scared to missed the stop. Felt so silly right now as I write my story on my blog and some time i felt like to laugh when i am thinking of it.

Finally the train stopped, surrounding our train, a lot of people representing travel agent shouting "Koh Phi Phi this way, Koh Samui this way, Krabi this way" and I tried hard to find the agent where I booked my ticket, because my other 2 friend having a hard time dragging their super size luggage. Then i asked here and there, very hard to communicate with them, we must used the simplest English without grammar and body language like "This bus go Phi Phi, or wait next bus?" and I had to point to the bus and the ground where i stand, looked straight to their eyes as I spoke, hoping that they knew what i am sayin'. Then I showed them the join tickets that we had, 4 tickets, but only 3 persons present since febby was failed to join us.

Finally 1 guy asked me to wait for about 10 minutes, but I was still unsure, i mean i didn't want to missed another bus, so I kept asking here and there, and 1 local lady asked me to get in the bus, and 3 of us get in the bus. 15 minutes later the bus dropped us inside the transit station, we bought snacks to fill our hungry tummy. Inside the station we played around with their pet, 3 cute dogs. and 10 minutes later our bus that will took us to Krabi arrived.

*4 tickets for 3 persons

It took about 1 and half hour to go to Krabi, because the bus is quite empty, i could have 1 row of seat to myself. I was enjoying the view along the road at first, then i didn't know that i slept with my head stuck to the curtain that full of germ until i woke up 10 minutes before we arrived. Later at home, my friend teased me of how stupid am I to have a curtain covering my head while i was sleeping. Fineee... keep teasing me!

When we thought we will directly take the boat to PP island, we were mistaken. We have to wait about 4 - 5 more hours at the small coffee house ( warung kopi), with our empty stomach, Oh dear God!

Then we ordered Tom Yum flavored instant noodle, and I love the taste, later I bought some to eat at home if I missed the Thai food's taste. After our stomach filled, our brain started to work, we just can't stand to sit 4 hours and do nothing, so we decided to explore Krabi town. We walked out to the main road and take song tew to the town, about 15-20 minutes trip. Mira and I kept looking outside to remember as much as we could the road that will took us back later. We didn't want to get lost! But as a result, we crouched back to back and left Maika took our candid pictures and laughing uncontrollably...

Then the driver stopped and said "Krabi tauuuww, Krabi Tauuuw" which later we knew these words mean we've arrived in Krabi town, Oh okay... get used to it then! then we paid him 60 bath. We walked and passed a nice Thai massage and spa, and decided to pamper ourself a little. We got in and the masseuse asked us to sit and wait. Then 2 of them came out and tell us only 2 of them working, so one of us have to wait for the next turn, or didn't get a massage at all. Ah, i thought 1 of us had to give way, and i saw their enthusiast face so I let them enjoyed their moment, I could get it next time, and I will spent my time walked around the city.

* Posing with rocky mountains background

10 minutes I walked to the main street, across the river I saw beautiful scenery, high rocky mountains, each of them has a unique shape, lay down all along the river. High and low, wide and narrow, there's bunch of trees grow on some of the mountains but some other just bald filled with solid large piece of white stone, a view like this not exist in my country. I took right turn, where I saw more stores and peoples. I think i am obviously looked like a tourist. Local people keep offering me to take a day tour, take the boat passed the high rocky mountain for 2 hours, but i have to pass since 2 hours is all the time I had, if for some reason I late to arrived and go back, all the chasing scene last night would be meaningless.

Then on the right side, I saw a beautiful newly build white temple, i decided to go there, took some pictures and prayed a little. It was build on the top of the hill, highest position in the city, maybe they want it to watch and shield the city from badness. The stairs was wide and solid, both side crafted with white dragon statues. The sunny sky makes all the temple and the dragon statues glowing gracefully. I climbed up and sat down for a while looked at the city below, the sky was clear, and hot, it's like an old small town, amazing that they could have beautiful temple like this on top of it. Just half an hour before my 2 friends are done, I walked back to the massage place. Felt tired i sat down watching them being pampered.

The 3 of us walked out from the massage place and try to catch song tew to get us back to the transit station, but my friends want to take some pictures with the mountains background, then later we get into our transport that will take us back.

We had a hard time communicate with the driver, luckily, 1 of the passenger could speak English very well, she translate our words to the driver. I just learned from the lady that the car that take us called "song tew" in Thai language, We were the last passenger, our song tew driver suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and walked out.

The car suddenly go backward, slowly, but we could feel it moving back, we scream "Sir, your song tew moving backward, what are you doing" then he replied back with some language we can't understand, and we tried our best to say "keep on going we know which way to go, keep going straight and about 5 minutes we will arrived"

our voice like one on top of another, and i think it works! the driver back to his seat and took us back, sigh! very close!

we gave him tips for his patient and good service, hahaha

Back in the transit station, we ate our lunch, I ate seafood rice with basil leaves, yah, not so bad for a hungry girl like me. Then another transport arrived, looked like song tew but bigger size. Some peoples already sat inside, no more space! They forced us to get in. No one helped us to load our luggage, the driver just watched us struggling with it, I have to put my feet out, but the driver hurt my feet by closing the song tew door and crushed my feet with it. I have no more energy to argue, so let it be. Mira sat on Maika's luggage, inside the car was packed, uncomfortable, hot, and i still have to carry my luggage on my lap. What a service!

After very very long 15 minutes of trip, we arrived at the pier, exhausted, we dragged our luggage to the boat that will take us to Phi Phi island.
the air inside the boat was humid, we sat at down compartment, they threw our luggage on the front side near the door, the pile growing bigger and higher, i was thinking how i reached my luggage when i arrived, but for now i don't want to think of anything, i should have some sleep.

Later at home we regret we didn't have enough time to take a boat tour in Krabi, it would be nice to see all the views from close, and it will add our nice picture collections, so I suggest to all the people traveling to Krabi to take the tour, see the temple, get the Thai massage, and that's it.

to be continue our story in Phi Phi island...