A night to celebrate. The first time to travel outside the country (Philippines). Indonesia was a turbulent of mixed emotions and rapid memories, defying it as one of my best cherished moments.
I was a candidate for the ASEAN IACS (Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship) 2011 in the BATIK program, representing Philippines.
to be the first batch of this program, I met my friends coming from other countries around asia or honorably called ASEAN countries.
They are most precious in my life and missing them is almost a disappointment, thus to see them again eases the feeling.
The important belongings I dare not to forget or lost! My passport, cellphone and my Nikon DSLR, strapped with a useful anti-bacterial hand gel. I’ve learned a lot after travelling with so many trips and tours, all you need to bring are these useful and important things, rather than a make-up kit, perfume and other stuff that’ll just give you a heavy time when visiting places.
here are some tips when travelling (Specifically in Indonesia):
- consider backpacking, backpacking is the easiest way to prevent long queues in the Checked or carry-on items of the airport.
- bring lesser easy to wear clothes. for example, travelling in Indonesia especially in Yogyakarta, there are many places to visit and beaches to chill out. To make the trip affordable or cheaper, backpacking with less clothes can take you and let you stay anywhere in the trip, without over spending in a hotel. It doesn’t even give you a hard time in packing.
- Laundry shops are cheap in Yogyakarta, Indonesia or maybe cheap anywhere else. So don’t fret, with less load of clothes, then surely, it will not take too long.
- Asian countries have many choices of food, make it tradition or luxurious but there are plenty of affordable food in some of the best places to eat. The traditional food in Indonesia is to die for! since i am a big fan of halal food, many spices linger in these delicacies which melts in your mouth :) this include: Nasi goreng, ayam gudeg, grilled seafoods, cap cai, ayam sate, sambal with greens, gado-gado and many more! Healthy and scrumptious taste of Indonesian food.
- Always bring extra money for shopping. Shopping at Malioboro, Yogyakarta is a must because the Batik fabrics are really affordable and authentic if and only if you are good at hunting them. Not all of their products are hand-made and sometimes the prices are *gulp*. Hence, accessories and little souvenirs is a good start.
- Try not to buy breakable items when shopping like figurines and pots unless if you would like them to be shipped at home.
- sleep early to start the day with much energy needed. the stairs in the temples can really make you sweat like there’s no tomorrow (haha)
- always bring a bottled water, on a plastic bottle is easy cause it’s light and you don’t want to end up dehydrated, do you?
- if you don’t want your skin to get as dark as mine (:p) then you need to bring your own umbrella. I don’t like bringing umbrellas because i like my skin tanned. Although I always use lotion and sun block.
- don’t wear high heels or hard-heeled shoes or sandals if you want to avoid feet pains and whining over the day lol sneakers, rubber shoes or rubber sandals/slippers are most helpful.
- Learn the language, Bahasa Indonesia is easy. all you need to learn are the important words for asking and answering because that is all you need to understand and not get lost.
- and last but not the least, bringing less load in the luggage, makes the trip light as a feather and of course, the shopped items are easy to bring home.
The Sofyan hotel food is A MUST!
they have buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner and all of their delicacies don’t taste the same. It’s like everything is new and fresh, you don’t wanna miss it! We actually stayed in Sofyan Hotel for a week in Jakarta (and because it was sponsored so I don’t have to pay anything lol). Sofyan Hotel is not really cheap even if you book it via online (only breakfast buffet included). I think the buffet costs 30,000 rupia which is 133 pesos in Philippine currency.
On a hot sunny day. Magnum takes your heat away :) I really love this treat. My favorite is Magnum Cappuccino, i like the taste of coffee and it’s bittersweetness :) perfect for comfort eating. I think you can buy this for only 12,000 rupia or 54 Php.
Kropek or Kropuk (in bahasa indonesia) / prawn crackers in english is very popular in Indonesia. This bunch are always present in every meal in Indonesia, It would be like "food without kropuk is not a tradition" or That’s what I think it is. The meal with kropuk for me is a YES, yes indeed makes the dish fun to eat, hearing something cracks in your mouth.
Don't forget to try things that you haven't experienced yet, by all means of adventure! and explore other cultures and traditions. Fun starts where your feet will take you :)
-clair de lune, Kitz Saniel
All photos covered by ©Kitz Saniel and ©Nabil Fikri Haronli. All rights reserved.
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