Hi readers, I am really excited to write this post because even I haven't traveled as much as Mbak Trinity or Mbak Claudia Kaunang, I think it won't be bad though to share my experience about traveling.
My very first time abroad was around seven years ago when I was in my freshman year in senior high school. I joined one program named Expand the Sound of Angklung 2004, held by Keluarga Paduan Angklung SMA Negeri 3 Bandung. This is a cultural mission aimed to promote one of the Indonesian traditional music instrument called ANGKLUNG. Yeap, angklung is a traditional music instrument made from bamboo, and it is originally came from West Java, Indonesia. Back to the mission, it was held in some countries in Europe (Germany, Belgium, France, Scotland, Poland, and Czech) for 40 days. My position in this program was as one of the team's member, and my role was *of course* as an Angklung player.
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Europe Map |
My second time abroad also related to cultural program, it was the same program indeed, held in 2008. (You can check my previous post about Expand the Sound of Angklung 2008). Different from 2004, that time I had already graduated from senior high school, and was in my second year in university. The destinations of this program were Greek and Italy. I gave my role more intense that year because I was responsible to organize the preparations as marketing and public relation team. My position as international relations student in UNPAD (Universitas Padjadjaran) gave me a lot of advantages because I can get some links to help organized the program, such as link to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian Embassy, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, etc. As the results, with all the helps, that time we didn't have to pay any fiscal tax, we got some financial assistance for the lodging, and warm-full assistance from Indonesian representatives there. :D Great isn't it??
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Me in front of The Basilic - Vatican |
Both of the programs above, were being held in quite a big group of 35-37 people. We were helped to arrange the tickets and the in-land transportation in Europe by local travel in Indonesia. But for the itineraries, visa, lodging, and other related programs, we arranged it by ourselves with help from friends who lived there and from the Indonesian embassies.
My third time going abroad was in 2010, in the practicum program held by my department, International Relations Dept. FISIP UNPAD. We went in group of 9 people, 8 students and one lecture (a good, kind, and handsome one :D). And our destinations were two major cities in Australia, those are Melbourne and Canberra. I think this trip was one of my best experience in organizing an independent trip. Although we had to struggle with all the factor X things called campus's bureaucracy, finally we MADE it.
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Our Team (from left to right: Diva, Iffa, Nabil, David, Me, Gheo, Ayu, Kang Indra, Lydia) |
For the tickets, fortunately we could got an affordable one (but a full-service board GARUDA INDONESIA) from a Garuda Travel Fair 2010. My friends David and Nabil were the one who had to put so so so much efforts regarding this! Haha, thanks pals because of you two we could get a special price though you both had to wait two days in a row till midnight. By the way, we got a less than 5 millions IDR for one round-ticket Jkt-Melb-Jkt (1 stop in Denpasar). :D :D
For the visa, we could met all the requirements quite easy, except one thing, the invitation letter(s) from the institutions we were going to visit, because our trip is a formal-academic one and not a holiday. But after some correspondences with the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, General Consulate in Melbourne, and Indonesia-Australia Student Association (PPIA), we finally got the letters *more than we expected* :D, and only by phone-interview, in a week we got the visa already! YEAY!
For the accommodations (lodging), we were also very fortunate. In the first three nights, we were welcomed by Kang Indra's/ Papap's family in Pakenham, Melbourne. It is Kang Indra's brother's family, Kang Cepi's family. We just need to give 100 AUD each person, but we in return we got a full delicious breakfast and dinner, also a very unforgettable barbecue party in St. Kilda Beach. For your information, the accommodation's cost per one night in Melbourne is quite expensive (around 25-30 for the cheapest without breakfast). That is why I called ourselves as FORTUNATE one, having Kang Indra's relatives who can help us along or time in Melb. Kang Cepi's wife, Teh Inda, is a very very remarkable chef. Her foods were very yummy, she even asked me about the food preference through email before we got there, is there any of us who has allergic in some kinds of food or not. We also get the opportunities to played along with their cute children, Raziq and Naya, whose English are MUCH WAY better than mine. Hahahahhaa. :D During our time in Canberra, we *again* got very fortunate for having a FREE accommodation in Wisma Atdiknas KBRI. I just need to send a formal letter to the attache in charge, with the recommendation from PPIA Pusat (central Indonesia-Australia Student Association). We also got a full helps from the Indonesian students there who didn't mind to accompany us wherever we go by their car. *SO SO SO HAPPY*. Alhamdulillah.. For our last day in Melbourne before going back to Indonesia, we spent the night in a hostel in Spencer Streets near the Southern Cross Station (so we could easily catch up the earliest sky bus to airport in the morning).
For the in-land transportation, we used bus, tram, and train in Melbourne, and bus+free car in Canberra. In Melbourne, we could buy a daily single ticket that we could use all day for any kind transportation, it was around 10-11 AUD per ticket. If we plan to go after 6pm till 6am in the morning, we could get a cheaper kind of ticket. (I forgot the name).
For the foods, it is not hard to find any Indonesian food, McD. Burger King, Subway, and Chinese, and other international food there. So if you're a Moslem, u don't have to worry to have a halal food. Once agaaaiiiin, we were so fortunate regarding this thing. Despite the fact of the yummy food made by Teh Inda, we also got the opportunities to have treats from our Indonesian friends from PPIA Victoria and PPIA Melb. Uni. Once was a rice and noodle curry, once was Italian food. :D :D Owhhh, forgot, we also got the treats in Canberra, from the Wisma Atdiknas, and from the embassy. :)
All I can say, the living cost in Australia is expensive in my point (re: wallet) of view. So, for having an affordable budget there, you can get it at least from the accommodation part, which drained our money the most. Find a friend who lives there, or a friend of your relatives or your friend. :) :) :) If you are or are not shopaholic, Victoria Market in Melbourne is a good place to spend your money for buying merchandises, clothes, shoes, and other things.
My fourth, fifth, and sixth times going abroad happened in one year, 2011. And the destination are all the same, one city one country, Singapore. It wasn't a vacation though, all were done regarding my task as one of the organizing committee of Angklung Orchestra in Concert IX, Angklung: the Musical, held in Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, 17th July 2011.
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Keluarga Paduan Angklung SMA Negeri 3 Bandung in Esplanade Concert Hall , Singapore (me in the middle wearing pink gown) |
Singapore is one one the most familiar country for Indonesian tourist. But I think it will be okay if I would like to tell few of my experience there. I'll give the details in other post, OK? :D In brief, all my trip to Singapore are the "pas-pas-an one" a.k.a tight budget. I went there by Air Asia (two of them were direct flight from Bandung, and the other were from Jakarta). I spent most of my nights in Teh Nisa and Kang Very crib in Tampines, but in my last trip (15-21 July 2011), I also spent my nights in some hostel and hotel with my partner in crime Chalaks.
All riiiiiighttttt, I think the length of this post is more than I expected. I'll see you around in my next post.
Share it if you like.. :)
X.O.X.O - Anggi -