Arsip Kategori:Asia

Short Trip to Pangandaran

Pangandaran is definitely one of the most overrated yet easily reached tourist destination in Java Island, Indonesia. It’s once (and still) a fishing village which later grew bigger and bigger and became famous among local tourist who long for a sunny day at the seashore and fresh seafood in their stomach.

What’s unique about Pangandaran is that it’s located on a Peninsula, so you might find the beaches facing East and West at the same time. I mean, not literally the same beach facing East and West but you only need 5 minutes walk from the East part of the beach to the West – that’s pretty convenient (for me)!Lanjutkan membaca “Short Trip to Pangandaran”

Tips for Travelling from London to Jakarta

When crossing continents it’s always important to research and plan ahead, as the long haul flight invites a slew of unforeseen hassles from airport parking spaces to immigration problems to even hotel accommodation. For example, for tourists travelling from a European metropolis like London to a Southeast Asian city such as Jakarta, the overall process from airport to airport can be complicated and taxing. Covering a distance of about 11,679 kilometers or 6392 nautical miles away, the mere flight takes more than 15 hours, which means it’ll prove to be a challenge even to the most frequent traveller. Fortunately, here are some tips on how to enjoy the whole trip from London to Jakarta.

Pre-book a Parking Space

When driving to a London airport like Gatwick or Heathrow, aside from considering the travel time and traffic, it’s also important to pre-select a parking spot. These landing fields are some of the busiest and most crowded in the world, so expect heavy congestion all throughout. In addition, knowing the different advantages of the types of parking is ideal for preparing for every eventuality. A UK-based parking aggregator lists the four examples as on-airport, off-airport, meet and greet, and airport hotel with parking. That way, travellers can start their vacation on the right note.

Know the Visa Requirements

British citizens can visit Indonesia without a visa for a maximum of 30 days under the waiver scheme. On the other hand, for business travellers, tourists should apply for a visa that lasts up to 30 days upon arrival and costs about £25. It’s also worth noting that this visa can be extended once as long as travellers apply to an immigration office within the country. Other requirements include proof of onward travel, as well as departure and airport tax.


Make the Most of the 15-Hour Flight

Before boarding the plane, it’s wise to stay hydrated and wear comfortable, layered clothing. It’s also advisable to drink green tea as it helps fend off jetlag. During the flight, try and limit food intake to a decent amount. A medical website points out the difference in the digestive system on land and in the air. Having said this, tourists should just opt for a simple snack inside the plane or better yet eat a packed sandwich beforehand.


Find a Good Location

Upon arriving in Jakarta, tourists should’ve at least reserved a decent accommodation in some of the best places to stay in the city. For tourists who have more than enough, the wise choices would be Lingkar Kuningan and the Bunderan Hotel Indonesia area. Ritz Carlton Kuningan, Grand Hyatt, and J. W. Marriott appeal to travellers the most, as they are all located near Jakarta’s places of interest.

Kuliner Jambi : Ice and Bean

Jambi itu panas banget deh! Jadi kalo sore-sore gitu bingung mau ngapain, aku dan Fred suka ngidam makan yang dingin-dingin dan manis. Tapi aku dan Fred itu nggak suka yang terlalu manis. Biasanya kalo beli dessert di luar itu selalu aja kemanisan. Maklum, udah beberapa tahun ini kami mengurangi konsumsi gula, jadi udah terbiasa dengan yang nggak terlalu manis.

Nah, kebetulan aku tau Ice and Bean Jambi dari salah satu temenku, katanya enak dan bahannya 100% natural, tanpa perasa ataupun pewarna, apalagi pengawet.

Yuk mari kita icip-icip!

Lanjutkan membaca “Kuliner Jambi : Ice and Bean”

NatWat Home Cafe, Chiang Mai

I should say that I’m not a huge fan of cafe when it comes to lunch time. I’d rather find those tiny stalls in the alley, or go to a local restaurant which is packed up with hungry people during lunch time. But this place got to be an exception, you’ll find out why!

So it was a sunny mid day in Chiang Mai when Fred, Susan, Adam, and I were going to a certain local eatery for lunch. We later found that the place was horrible. There were so many flies, or bees, we didn’t know for sure. But the point is, it looked super dirty and we knew we got to move to another place right away. This Nat Wat thing, was Susan’s idea. (Thanks to you, Susan!!!).

Lanjutkan membaca “NatWat Home Cafe, Chiang Mai”

Living in a Water World – Sungai Buluh, Riau, Indonesia

So I’ve just spent 2 days living in an isolated place called Sungai Buluh. And now I’m happy to be back again to the city.

I’ll tell you what – it was a mind blowing experience. Water World is REAL, as real as it could be. Except, there were no guns and fights, only expensive water.

So I’ll tell you a bit about this place. Lanjutkan membaca “Living in a Water World – Sungai Buluh, Riau, Indonesia”

My Favourite Cafes to Work From in Chiang Mai

I think it’s time for me to write something useful. If you read my blog before, you might already know that when I was living in Chiang Mai, I worked from one coffee shop to another, every single day. We tried out quite a lot of places, but ended up having some of our favourite place to work from which we revisited several times during our stay.

We found that not all coffee shops / cafes are suitable for working. Those with noisy customers and wrong height of table and chairs are definitely not in our list. We like the one with soothing ambiance, the one that has a perfect table and chair, and the one with reliable internet connection.

We don’t really care about the food or the price as most of the time, we just grab a cup of coffee and sit there for like 3 or 4 hours. And a 50 Baht & 70 Baht of coffee won’t make that much of difference. Lanjutkan membaca “My Favourite Cafes to Work From in Chiang Mai”

Love at First Bite, Chiang Mai

Do you believe in love at the first bite? I think you should, as it does exist.

We went here last December, just a couple of days before we left Chiang Mai. And we clearly understand what the fuss is all about.

Before we got to Chiang Mai, I did a little research about where to have nice desserts there (because, I just had to!). This place came up a couple of times and I read a lot of good reviews about it on TripAdvisor, Foursquare, Facebook, and even on some random site.

Lanjutkan membaca “Love at First Bite, Chiang Mai”

Must Try Food in Chiang Mai : Gai Yang

A month has passed after my visit to Chiang Mai last year, and now, I can’t deny the fact that I kinda miss it.

It feels like yesterday when I hopped from one coffee shop to another, having a cheap tasty lunch in between, visiting the night market on weekend.

I kinda miss it, you know. I miss the small-but-not-too-small city, I miss the chilly atmosphere, I miss the cheap food, I miss the friendly locals that kept me smiling all day, I miss walking around wearing short pants without getting any cat calls. Damn, I miss Chiang Mai!

One food that I kept on eating while I was there is Gai Yang. At a glance, it looks just like a normal grilled chicken you usually find, which is probably true. But, there’s something about it that makes it so addictive. I don’t know what, maybe it’s just its charm? You’ll see.
Lanjutkan membaca “Must Try Food in Chiang Mai : Gai Yang”