I woke up at 3 o clock in the morning the rushed my way to wash my face and wrapped me up in hundreds layer of garments. Ha, just kidding, but It's pretty thick, cause minus two degree still on. We took taxi to Genève Aeroport, in just only 15 minutes were already on our line of star jet airline to Amsterdam.
Checked-in was done smoothly, we're having my cousin made tuna sandwich breakfast, then off to the boarding room. It was my mom first time flew with budget airline so she was a bit freak out with the unconfirmed gate 30minutes before boarding, no baggage tag and all those detail that she never felt before.
---
On the plane, the trip took 80 minutes on air, I was making the stories about day 3 when I saw cotton candy French skies on the window. Such a pleasant view of sunrise. And the mountain was all covered by snow. Like you're flying on Christmas Day!
---
Over The Netherlands all I saw was green fields, a country side view I felt warm enough on me even the weather show the opposite. Baggage claim was fast and Oom Mursal already wait on the arrival gate.
Here's short story about Oom Mursal, after some times I learnt that Oom Mursal real name is Mr. Minang. He was an old friend of my uncle in Cairo couple years ago. For the last 25 years he lives on Amsterdam as a permanent resident and had 2 children. He worked as a chef on Indonesian restaurant here. For all these time too he said he used to share his home with many kind of Indonesian people from relatives to stranger. From tourist, business and educational purpose. Oom Mursal and his wife really warm and welcome to us. And his two children, Johan and Irfan are fastly adapted kid to strangers. His wife work in Indonesian restaurant named Toko Restu too just 2 minutes walk from home. At home she worked for Indonesian jajanan pasar orders around the neighborhood.
---
Back to the story, we took a bus number 197 then tram number 17 to Jan Pieter Heijestraat 50B, the homey duplex of Oom Mursal and his family. His wife kindly gave us her transportation card for 2 days. At first we planned to visit Volendam first, but due to construction in underwater tunnel, the route of the bus might be changed so we think its better to have them as companion tomorrow. We took about 2 hour light sleep the made our way to Rijkmuseum then headed back to Toko Restu. Not much sightseeing today cause my mom seems to hate it being outside. And im having my big lunch on that restaurant. I was happy the taste is just like home. Before I went home I visited Johan and Onda(another Irfan nickname) school. Johan was in group 3 while Onda in group 1.
---
Sun slowly sets in when I'm home, me and the kids were playing many kind of things until her mom got home from her work. They seems to like it playing with me, they insist to have more games after shalat. Yeah we did shalat together, they loved it but they still learned about shalat, so no wudhu before shalat yet.
---
Not much energy after playing, I just eat everything when her mom came in and bring the sushi gift from upstairs. Ah forget to mention their neighbor was Netherlanda-Japanese couple and worked at sushi restaurant. And closing my sushi appetizer with Ayam Balado by Oom Mursal, this one is my all time favorite dishes and presented just like home.
---
I finished this story on Changi, Singapore. Welcome the sunny days!
Hugs from Changi
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Day 3
Today I woke up at 5am in the middle of minus morning. My mom shocked me up, and get me replied bunch of emails for her. Yes, on holiday time I've been working as my mom secretary, as always. Thank God there's another wifi on my cousin apartment, so I could catch my stories with you. Morning bbm with Mikha and Effika made my morning actually.
---
Warm sun was shining on my face while we're eating homey breakfast set in the kitchen. It was slow pretty morning. On 9am were getting ready, by 10am we hop on the tram number 14 already. First stop was Rhone river area and we walked to the Genève lake. Unfortunately, because of today's temperature was minus 2 degree celcius, so the Jet d'Eau was turned off. We missed one of the iconic moment in Genève. But that's okay, after that we went around the lake. The sun was warmer than in Zurich but the wind was blow harder than ever. I thought the hell was frozen now and blows the pain on my face.
Jardin Botanique located between the WTO head office and UNICEF was the next place we went on the afternoon. I felt surrounded by nature, Jardin Botanique was ready to bloom.
---
We supposed to have lunch in United Nations with my cousin. She's working for permanent mission in Genève so we might had the chance to eat on the Palais des Nations and having the view on Mont Blanc. But her meeting ended late so we thought it would be hard to get lunch there if we're already late. We end up at Thai restaurant, the best so far for me.
---
Before we headed to Palais des Nations, we stopped at the iconic Brokenchair. Still can't believe I was on UN Headquarter! The one I've ever imagine throughout the books. We went the security checked so fast, and made the ID for free. Thanks to my beloved cousins for the hardwork. Voila!
---
I think I should've separate the Palais des Nations journey different post. Because the Palais feels like when you enter the real palace, museum, office and the world. Those feelings mixed together like I can't describe in a word.
---
Anyway, I was on the plane over France now on my way to Amsterdam. The cloud looks pretty this morning.
---
Back to the story of day 3. At 5 pm were back to the apartment the took a fast break the only me and my cousin continue our journey through the Old Town. Golden time was beautifully paint Genève sky, and were having great conversation about Indonesian history on our walks. Such a simple evening throughout the city.
---
The temperature falls slowly as the night rise. I'm not wearing any leg warmer so I became the frozen stone all night. The worst night so far. Hope there will be no night worse in the future.
But the best things so far happened on that night. We're having the best steak on Switzerland at Café de Paris. My cousin said that the original one is from this city since 1930, so of you're having the steak on the Paris you'll now that's not the best one.
This isn't like the regular American steak. The meat wasn't that thick, the sauce isn't BBQ. And the medium raw was the best steak from here, in my opinion, the meat so tender, the juice was melting in your mouth perfectly. I can say that this is my European rendang. Didn't taste like our most delicious rendang, but this steak would have the same level of joy and excitement like rendang on my mouth.
I'm saving my money to get back there sometimes. I should.
---
There's a drunk man was kicked out while we're eating. He's yelled at the waiter, and my cousin said don't look at him, he could be mad at you too. You must be alert on your belongings here,there are many foreign people who came in Genève either for work or anything else.
That's all for today, my lips already frozen today. Frozen hugs from Amsterdam!
March 2013
---
Warm sun was shining on my face while we're eating homey breakfast set in the kitchen. It was slow pretty morning. On 9am were getting ready, by 10am we hop on the tram number 14 already. First stop was Rhone river area and we walked to the Genève lake. Unfortunately, because of today's temperature was minus 2 degree celcius, so the Jet d'Eau was turned off. We missed one of the iconic moment in Genève. But that's okay, after that we went around the lake. The sun was warmer than in Zurich but the wind was blow harder than ever. I thought the hell was frozen now and blows the pain on my face.
Jardin Botanique located between the WTO head office and UNICEF was the next place we went on the afternoon. I felt surrounded by nature, Jardin Botanique was ready to bloom.
---
We supposed to have lunch in United Nations with my cousin. She's working for permanent mission in Genève so we might had the chance to eat on the Palais des Nations and having the view on Mont Blanc. But her meeting ended late so we thought it would be hard to get lunch there if we're already late. We end up at Thai restaurant, the best so far for me.
---
Before we headed to Palais des Nations, we stopped at the iconic Brokenchair. Still can't believe I was on UN Headquarter! The one I've ever imagine throughout the books. We went the security checked so fast, and made the ID for free. Thanks to my beloved cousins for the hardwork. Voila!
---
I think I should've separate the Palais des Nations journey different post. Because the Palais feels like when you enter the real palace, museum, office and the world. Those feelings mixed together like I can't describe in a word.
---
Anyway, I was on the plane over France now on my way to Amsterdam. The cloud looks pretty this morning.
---
Back to the story of day 3. At 5 pm were back to the apartment the took a fast break the only me and my cousin continue our journey through the Old Town. Golden time was beautifully paint Genève sky, and were having great conversation about Indonesian history on our walks. Such a simple evening throughout the city.
---
The temperature falls slowly as the night rise. I'm not wearing any leg warmer so I became the frozen stone all night. The worst night so far. Hope there will be no night worse in the future.
But the best things so far happened on that night. We're having the best steak on Switzerland at Café de Paris. My cousin said that the original one is from this city since 1930, so of you're having the steak on the Paris you'll now that's not the best one.
This isn't like the regular American steak. The meat wasn't that thick, the sauce isn't BBQ. And the medium raw was the best steak from here, in my opinion, the meat so tender, the juice was melting in your mouth perfectly. I can say that this is my European rendang. Didn't taste like our most delicious rendang, but this steak would have the same level of joy and excitement like rendang on my mouth.
I'm saving my money to get back there sometimes. I should.
---
There's a drunk man was kicked out while we're eating. He's yelled at the waiter, and my cousin said don't look at him, he could be mad at you too. You must be alert on your belongings here,there are many foreign people who came in Genève either for work or anything else.
That's all for today, my lips already frozen today. Frozen hugs from Amsterdam!
March 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Day 2
Day 2
I woke up at 5pm this morning, I don't even remember when I fallen asleep last night, my mom says that she's going to St. Gallen for Breast Cancer Congress with her friends who was sleeping in the different hotel at Turbinenstrasse. Oh where the hell was that street, I don't even had the proper time to read the map. With my confused mind, I gathered strength to find that hotel. It took 30minutes of my sleep to gathered all the information, God bless my hotel for the free wifi access.
I jumped to the shower as fast I can, I won't let my mother lost when she had to find the tram number 4 to Technopark. I bought the ticket through the machine finally. Then yesterday was just a miss, when I didn't adapted yet. It's a good thing when my not so comfort zone now become one of my comfort zone. I felt like I was part of this city when I dropped my mom at the right tram station and wait for her train disappeared from my sight. I think I was the good child at that time.
The tourist information still closed on 7:15 in the morning, so I have to bought the evening tickets for Genève on the reiseburo. I was stand on the line when a man just cut my line then going before me, I keep silence, when all the people behind me got angry to that man. Fortunately the man gone right away, when I still have no idea what they're talking about.
Then I rushed to take the golden light around the station. The sun was still warm but the weather still extremely cold. My hands and my face was frozen while I was taking the picture endlessly. I had the hard time to take pictures with the gloves on, so I took the left side first and continued to take some pictures. Behind me I heard the noise, then I turn back then I saw sweeping machine moves towards me, so I stepped aside. Then when I wanted to put my glove back on I lost it. I didn't find it in my pocket, in my bag, everywhere. That happened so fast when I saw the sweeping machine passes me. That's when I realized that, damn my glove must've been slipped right before the sweeping maching passes me. My life just like one of Mr. Bean scene.
---
At 8pm I already back in my hotel room, I felt sleepy ad hungry at the same time, the the hotel room become my comfort zone. I had thoughts to choose the hotel room that outside world, city of Zürich. But then the memories of all promises back. I thought I should found my peace from outside. Then I slept for an hour to regain back my energy. I tried not to be super excited today, just let the time passed me by, I will walk slowly and enjoy the coldness of today.
---
9:06pm sound of alarm woke me up, my head is going to burst I think. But I had to go outside like I said to my self before. I washed my face and ready to fill up my hungry belly. I think the temperature still under the zero degree celcius. But the power of hunger against it all.
Before I went to buy some meal, I was going back to tourist information to ask my Zürich-Genève tickets that I bought before. The tickets doesn't showed the time and the seat for the trip. But that's okay actually, the officer said, plus he adds me with the guide of Genève and walking tour for Zürich. He actually made my day.
I was craving Nordsee fish & chips sweet chili sauce all day long, the store wasn't opened yet. So the choice went to Burger King cheeseburger and hot chocolate. I was so concentrate on my writings about day 1 while eating my breakfast, I didn't realize I was sitting in front of the magnificent transparent clock, yeah it's in Burger King! I just realized clock was a big deal in this country, the people who made the best watch, the people who tagged with over-punctuality.
---
My route was the same green route like on the Zürich map plus the hidden route from the tourist officer before. I think my walk today as slow as I predict and as peaceful as I wanted. Never been so unplanned on trip like this, but like Mikha said that the last planned trip might be the best trip for us. I missed my friends while I was crossing the city today, but I think I can control all those lonely, depressed feelings just by remember their encouragement and joy for me. I would like to tell this route on another post soon when I'm home.
---
With happy face and Luxemburgerli on my hand arrived safely on my hotel room. Browsing for a while and texting with my mom whose by herself in St. Gallen, and couple time get lost, I just can't think how could she survived after all this time barely speak in English. So I went asleep.
---
Then she come, my mom, with fish and chips I've been waiting for and we rushed to packed our bags and checked out. It's 6:10 were running down the streets with all those big luggage, I missed my backpack.
---
Not so hard to find that we're on the platform 15 and get on the train on time. The problem was, my mom was running first and get on the full one. So we must keep our luggage near us because the baggage shelf was full. Thank God there was a nice old man who taught us how to keep our baggage closed. He's Albanian and muslim too. But he can't speak English so it's like body language conversation all night. Now the train just passed Fribourg. One hour away from Genève. Wish me luck!
---
When we get off the train, my cousin already wait for us on the platform so just by 1 tram number 14 we arrive on Petit Lancy. And I'm having the best dinner ever which is Indonesian roasted chicken with salad and my beloved, Rice.
Kisses from Petit Lancy!
March 2013
I woke up at 5pm this morning, I don't even remember when I fallen asleep last night, my mom says that she's going to St. Gallen for Breast Cancer Congress with her friends who was sleeping in the different hotel at Turbinenstrasse. Oh where the hell was that street, I don't even had the proper time to read the map. With my confused mind, I gathered strength to find that hotel. It took 30minutes of my sleep to gathered all the information, God bless my hotel for the free wifi access.
I jumped to the shower as fast I can, I won't let my mother lost when she had to find the tram number 4 to Technopark. I bought the ticket through the machine finally. Then yesterday was just a miss, when I didn't adapted yet. It's a good thing when my not so comfort zone now become one of my comfort zone. I felt like I was part of this city when I dropped my mom at the right tram station and wait for her train disappeared from my sight. I think I was the good child at that time.
The tourist information still closed on 7:15 in the morning, so I have to bought the evening tickets for Genève on the reiseburo. I was stand on the line when a man just cut my line then going before me, I keep silence, when all the people behind me got angry to that man. Fortunately the man gone right away, when I still have no idea what they're talking about.
Then I rushed to take the golden light around the station. The sun was still warm but the weather still extremely cold. My hands and my face was frozen while I was taking the picture endlessly. I had the hard time to take pictures with the gloves on, so I took the left side first and continued to take some pictures. Behind me I heard the noise, then I turn back then I saw sweeping machine moves towards me, so I stepped aside. Then when I wanted to put my glove back on I lost it. I didn't find it in my pocket, in my bag, everywhere. That happened so fast when I saw the sweeping machine passes me. That's when I realized that, damn my glove must've been slipped right before the sweeping maching passes me. My life just like one of Mr. Bean scene.
---
At 8pm I already back in my hotel room, I felt sleepy ad hungry at the same time, the the hotel room become my comfort zone. I had thoughts to choose the hotel room that outside world, city of Zürich. But then the memories of all promises back. I thought I should found my peace from outside. Then I slept for an hour to regain back my energy. I tried not to be super excited today, just let the time passed me by, I will walk slowly and enjoy the coldness of today.
---
9:06pm sound of alarm woke me up, my head is going to burst I think. But I had to go outside like I said to my self before. I washed my face and ready to fill up my hungry belly. I think the temperature still under the zero degree celcius. But the power of hunger against it all.
Before I went to buy some meal, I was going back to tourist information to ask my Zürich-Genève tickets that I bought before. The tickets doesn't showed the time and the seat for the trip. But that's okay actually, the officer said, plus he adds me with the guide of Genève and walking tour for Zürich. He actually made my day.
I was craving Nordsee fish & chips sweet chili sauce all day long, the store wasn't opened yet. So the choice went to Burger King cheeseburger and hot chocolate. I was so concentrate on my writings about day 1 while eating my breakfast, I didn't realize I was sitting in front of the magnificent transparent clock, yeah it's in Burger King! I just realized clock was a big deal in this country, the people who made the best watch, the people who tagged with over-punctuality.
---
My route was the same green route like on the Zürich map plus the hidden route from the tourist officer before. I think my walk today as slow as I predict and as peaceful as I wanted. Never been so unplanned on trip like this, but like Mikha said that the last planned trip might be the best trip for us. I missed my friends while I was crossing the city today, but I think I can control all those lonely, depressed feelings just by remember their encouragement and joy for me. I would like to tell this route on another post soon when I'm home.
---
With happy face and Luxemburgerli on my hand arrived safely on my hotel room. Browsing for a while and texting with my mom whose by herself in St. Gallen, and couple time get lost, I just can't think how could she survived after all this time barely speak in English. So I went asleep.
---
Then she come, my mom, with fish and chips I've been waiting for and we rushed to packed our bags and checked out. It's 6:10 were running down the streets with all those big luggage, I missed my backpack.
---
Not so hard to find that we're on the platform 15 and get on the train on time. The problem was, my mom was running first and get on the full one. So we must keep our luggage near us because the baggage shelf was full. Thank God there was a nice old man who taught us how to keep our baggage closed. He's Albanian and muslim too. But he can't speak English so it's like body language conversation all night. Now the train just passed Fribourg. One hour away from Genève. Wish me luck!
---
When we get off the train, my cousin already wait for us on the platform so just by 1 tram number 14 we arrive on Petit Lancy. And I'm having the best dinner ever which is Indonesian roasted chicken with salad and my beloved, Rice.
Kisses from Petit Lancy!
March 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Day 1
Snow was falling slowly when I walked out of the plane on Zürich, thank God were on the front row seat, when the door was open we just hop on to the terminal fast, and pass the passport control safely. Then on the front door there was old man in a suit holds my mother name on his iPad. Then he took us to the car, and drove us to the St. Gotthard hotel. Just a blink away from the bahnhofstrasse, the most expensive road in the world!
Because the room wasn't ready yet, we then rushed our way to the freidempolizei on Berninastrasse 45. It's such a stressful thing because I can't buy the ticket on the machine. Never seen a confusing tram machine before. Thank God the tourist information just step away on the Bahnhof.
And guess what did I get, the most handsome and such a warm accent migration officer. The eyes was green-grey. But such a mess we're not so lucky to get the extend visa after such a long talk. He suggest us to do the request to the Kantön Geneve.
So we had to change our plane. We're looking the best deal for March 18. And we'll be going to Geneva by tomorrow night.
---
We're back to the hotel, my mom insist to wrap herself under the blanket as the snowfall getting heavier. Then she ask me to bring some spesific meal like, chicken burger from Burger King. No other choice I was back to the Bahnhof bought burger and fish and chips for me. It makes me realize my favorite fish and chips was 3x more expensive than I had before while on Berlin. Welcome to the most expensive city, Zürich!
---
Back to the hotel, my mom still coughing under the blanket, and me just make an appointment to go to winterthur after 6pm with Ms. Dita, one of my cousin's friend in Zürich.
---
It takes about 20minutes by train to reach Winterthur. And in this small town, the snow was falling heavily. I'm sure there will be a tons of snow that got into my mouth while I was walking straight among those pretty warm lights on the street of Winterthur. As I walked by all I can think was the girl whose selling the match, so cold, so alone.
---
Since there was nothing on Winterthur in such a heavy snowfall, we're back to Zürich, to filled up our empty stomach. And we're going to eat fondue! Yeah cheese fondue that you must have while in Switzerland.
The most expensive standard meal that I've ever had.
It almost 11:30pm when we finished the meal, and heading to hotel by tram, it was -1 degree celcius. The coldest night I've ever been. I think I'm going to die. I finished this story on the next day, when the sun was shining but the temperature falls to -2 degree celcius.
I'll be back on the stories of the day 3. Now I'm seating on the Burger King just finish my brunch. And going to conquer this city with half of the gloves I had.
Cold kiss from Zürich!
March 2013
Because the room wasn't ready yet, we then rushed our way to the freidempolizei on Berninastrasse 45. It's such a stressful thing because I can't buy the ticket on the machine. Never seen a confusing tram machine before. Thank God the tourist information just step away on the Bahnhof.
And guess what did I get, the most handsome and such a warm accent migration officer. The eyes was green-grey. But such a mess we're not so lucky to get the extend visa after such a long talk. He suggest us to do the request to the Kantön Geneve.
So we had to change our plane. We're looking the best deal for March 18. And we'll be going to Geneva by tomorrow night.
---
We're back to the hotel, my mom insist to wrap herself under the blanket as the snowfall getting heavier. Then she ask me to bring some spesific meal like, chicken burger from Burger King. No other choice I was back to the Bahnhof bought burger and fish and chips for me. It makes me realize my favorite fish and chips was 3x more expensive than I had before while on Berlin. Welcome to the most expensive city, Zürich!
---
Back to the hotel, my mom still coughing under the blanket, and me just make an appointment to go to winterthur after 6pm with Ms. Dita, one of my cousin's friend in Zürich.
---
It takes about 20minutes by train to reach Winterthur. And in this small town, the snow was falling heavily. I'm sure there will be a tons of snow that got into my mouth while I was walking straight among those pretty warm lights on the street of Winterthur. As I walked by all I can think was the girl whose selling the match, so cold, so alone.
---
Since there was nothing on Winterthur in such a heavy snowfall, we're back to Zürich, to filled up our empty stomach. And we're going to eat fondue! Yeah cheese fondue that you must have while in Switzerland.
The most expensive standard meal that I've ever had.
It almost 11:30pm when we finished the meal, and heading to hotel by tram, it was -1 degree celcius. The coldest night I've ever been. I think I'm going to die. I finished this story on the next day, when the sun was shining but the temperature falls to -2 degree celcius.
I'll be back on the stories of the day 3. Now I'm seating on the Burger King just finish my brunch. And going to conquer this city with half of the gloves I had.
Cold kiss from Zürich!
March 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Day 0
So here's the day come, I think I should write you more detailed prologue about my trip, just in case something bad happens later, didn't wish for that but just some prep.
Boarding call now while I'm writing this down, says that we're ready to board. My heart is going to burst thinking that I'm going to face the fredempolizei at Zurich. Wait, I think you should hear a bit about the begining of this story.
It started on Friday, when my mom called me and said our visa was wrong. Then I flew back to Jakarta to find the real case about it. There was a fatal missed of information with the people who applied the visa for us and my mothers' will. Miscommunication. We only got 5 days visa permit while on schengen state, such a waste, right? And actually we're scheduled flight home on march of 23th. It'll be 5days of overstays for us. And the punishment will be...I can't even imagine, dang.
We had tried to fix our visa, the embassy allows that, but the visa will be finished on 15th of march, which is already late for my mom conference. The embassy just gave us one option for that. Go. Fly. And find the immigration to ask their permission to add more 5 days. But the reality was hard, I was alone in this case. The embassy couldn't gives us any recommendation letter or something. They said the federal migration of Switzerland has their own regulation for that, it's 50:50. Yeah, perfect.
After stressful days to fixed things up, now I'm still on a plane. Still have no idea how this would end. All I can do is sit back and find my inner peace of this situation. My cousin who lives in Geneva helps me a lot even their friend in Zürich gave all effort to help me face the fredempolizei in Zürich. All I hope for now, may God shows the best way to get out of this mess.
-----
End of bad discussion. Now, it still early in the morning on the plane, 1:30 local time I guess when I fly across India, right before I crossed Himalayas over the city name Lahore. I see magic up here, I just woke up and see the see of stars outside my blind. Yeah it gives me chills and peace. I wish I could share some photos of the stars. But I saw nothing on my camera screen. I believe there's still something that camera can't capture, it's magic.
Up for now, I'm waiting for a sunrise catch my plane from east behind. Hope you guys can see the magic that I see.
-----
It's 5:30 in the morning local time 1 hour away before transit in Istanbul. I'm having breakfast with such a warm sunshine and happiness between the clouds.
Just 20 minutes before landing I enjoyed the Bosphorus channel between Asia and Europe mesmerizing architecture drenched in warm golden sunshine. One of the cities I've been longing for. And silhouette of blue mosque pictured the perfection of Istanbul so far.
---
Skipping the transit time, now I'm on the last plane to Zürich. And the stories may be continued on 'Day 1'. Can't wait to upload it soon.
Tons of kisses from Istanbul.
March 2013
Boarding call now while I'm writing this down, says that we're ready to board. My heart is going to burst thinking that I'm going to face the fredempolizei at Zurich. Wait, I think you should hear a bit about the begining of this story.
It started on Friday, when my mom called me and said our visa was wrong. Then I flew back to Jakarta to find the real case about it. There was a fatal missed of information with the people who applied the visa for us and my mothers' will. Miscommunication. We only got 5 days visa permit while on schengen state, such a waste, right? And actually we're scheduled flight home on march of 23th. It'll be 5days of overstays for us. And the punishment will be...I can't even imagine, dang.
We had tried to fix our visa, the embassy allows that, but the visa will be finished on 15th of march, which is already late for my mom conference. The embassy just gave us one option for that. Go. Fly. And find the immigration to ask their permission to add more 5 days. But the reality was hard, I was alone in this case. The embassy couldn't gives us any recommendation letter or something. They said the federal migration of Switzerland has their own regulation for that, it's 50:50. Yeah, perfect.
After stressful days to fixed things up, now I'm still on a plane. Still have no idea how this would end. All I can do is sit back and find my inner peace of this situation. My cousin who lives in Geneva helps me a lot even their friend in Zürich gave all effort to help me face the fredempolizei in Zürich. All I hope for now, may God shows the best way to get out of this mess.
-----
End of bad discussion. Now, it still early in the morning on the plane, 1:30 local time I guess when I fly across India, right before I crossed Himalayas over the city name Lahore. I see magic up here, I just woke up and see the see of stars outside my blind. Yeah it gives me chills and peace. I wish I could share some photos of the stars. But I saw nothing on my camera screen. I believe there's still something that camera can't capture, it's magic.
Up for now, I'm waiting for a sunrise catch my plane from east behind. Hope you guys can see the magic that I see.
-----
It's 5:30 in the morning local time 1 hour away before transit in Istanbul. I'm having breakfast with such a warm sunshine and happiness between the clouds.
Just 20 minutes before landing I enjoyed the Bosphorus channel between Asia and Europe mesmerizing architecture drenched in warm golden sunshine. One of the cities I've been longing for. And silhouette of blue mosque pictured the perfection of Istanbul so far.
---
Skipping the transit time, now I'm on the last plane to Zürich. And the stories may be continued on 'Day 1'. Can't wait to upload it soon.
Tons of kisses from Istanbul.
March 2013
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Prologue
Maybe it's kind of late post about prologue of this blog, my holiday time is about to end and all I could recall back is just four random posts. At first when I build this blog I want to reminisce my memories back about my first trip since I was in university. It began around the time of the post called 'Land Upon The Clouds', then I had several trips with my friends. And I ought to write it down here, so here's the list;
Sekaten Festivals Year to Years, January-February 2010-2012
White Sands' Beach of Yogyakarta, February 2010
Run Under the Ruins of Taman Sari, July 2010
Summer Walks of Three through Prambanan Temple into the heart of Yogyakarta, July 2010
The Great Beach Adventure in 24 Hours (from South to North of Java), November 2010,
East Java to Madura Roadtrip in 48 Hours, December 2010 to January 2011,
From Lembang to Tangkuban Parahu, January 2011,
Ride Rending the Night, April 2011
Fresh Seafood under the Morning Sky, July 2011
Tour de West Sumatera, July 2011
Getting Soaked Up in Berlin, July 2011
Breathing Romance in Vienna, July 2011
History Walks of Dresden, July 2011
Injured Pauper in Copenhagen, August 2011
Datuk's Tomb Quest, August 2011
Old Town Walks with Old Buddy, August 2011
A Night and Day Journey from Up Hill Down to Coast Line into The Heart of Downtown, December 2012
Buried in the Sand Woke Up on the Beach, January 2012
Swiftly Singapore, March 2012
Vesak Day on Borobudur, May 2012
Tourism Syndrome from the top of Borobudur Temple to the Top of Ketep Pass, May 2012
Glancing over Malang, June 2012
Freezing by Dust in Bromo, June 2012
Hong Kong's Spree, July 2012
Unseen Padang, September 2012
Well, this is my first time too gathering this long worth of lists, I've gone to many places these past years. I should be thankful to God and my parents. So I think it may takes time, but I will tell you the stories above, so be patients. Maybe you could help me to pick some of them as priority list. Phew, still can't believe it would grows this long. Stop here for now.
September 2012.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Baltic Sea's Summer Breeze
I've never had a thoughts before that European countries would be my first foreign countries trips around the world. And still can't believe that I could crossed the Baltic Sea before I turned 20. I've been dreaming to explore the world all my life, and last year I officially started it. I still remember the feeling clearly, I can't describe it, it's a bunch of first timer feeling. I'm sure everyone already had one thing similiar like mine. It was happened on the early of August 2011.
Last year I had to go to Copenhagen, Denmark to attend one of International Medical Organization Confrence. A week before the confrence me and my colleagues went to Germany and Austria for small Eurotrip. On the morning of first day of confrence we took a bus to Copenhagen from Berlin and crossed the Baltic Sea by Scandlines ferry, from Rostock to Gedser. It took about 1 hour to crossed Baltic Sea, we're getting excited when we off the bus, and run to Panoramic Salon even when some of the passengers choose to stay inside and enjoy their meal. I pushed the door heavily and directly stroked by frozen summer's wind. I thought it was just summer breeze but in fact the wind blows pretty hard on my face. I stayed for about 5-10 minutes outside, took some photos then warmed up my body inside.
7 days later I took train from Kobenhavn Train Station to Frankfurt, and again for the first time I saw train getting on ferry to crossed the island. I thought when I ride train the railway was going under the sea or tunnel, but I was amazed by the fact the train was on the ferry. Because it was a lovely evening on Baltic Sea, still freezing like the first time I came, but in different situation. The evening was romantic and surrounded by crowd but remain in silence in my head. People calmly watching the sun goes down and could feel the frozen breeze kisses our faces.
I wish I could stay for another minutes, but I choosed to keep the moment for a while and rushed inside to save my fingers from hypothermia. And the golden sunset escorted me back to the mainland with the view of rainbow and lines of windmill.
August 2011.
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