Thank you MEDAN! (Part 3)

HORAS!

Hello surfers... To who ever who had follows my journal "Thank you MEDAN", this is the continuation of it. In this chapter, we went for a tour in Brastagi and also Bukit Lawang (Bohorok).

Surfers, enjoy!

April 08 2009

- Woke up at 7.30 a.m.
- I had a good sleep last night; bitten a few times by mosquitos
- It is cold in Brastagi (some more I was shirtless the whole night, it was damn cold)
- Thank goodness there was hot shower
- In the morning, we went to Gundaling. It is a good spot to see the volcanoes
- Volcano behind a male statue is Sinabung, meanwhile the one behind a female statue is Sibayak
- There was a horse ride, but I didn't want to go for it even though it was cheap because of lack of time
- From Gundaling, we went down back to Brastagi for shopping
- I bought a few T-shirts and ulos for my mom at a very cheap price (thank you Brastagi!)
: T-shirt from 30, 000 rupiah to 20, 000 rupiah
: T-shirt XL from 35, 000 rupiah to 25, 000 rupiah
: Ulos from 80, 000 rupiah to 40, 000 rupiah
- We went to Bukit Lawang from Brastagi at 11.30 a.m.
- Road is windy and in bad shape
- Almost got into an accident - luckily Wak Hadi is a skillful driver and avoided the lorry
- Caught in traffic jam when we almost reached Medan City
- Stop at Medan for lunch; I had nasi soto and sup lembu (I was so hungry that i ate 2 meals for lunch... hehehe...). It was yummy and reasonably cheap
- Continue the trip to Bukit Lawang on a very bad road
- Reached Bukit Lawang after 3 p.m.
- At Bukit Lawang, we were looking for a cheap hotel. Finally, after a short walk in the jungle, we found a cheap hotel (the cheapest we ever stayed upon arriving in Medan). It cost only 80, 000 rupiah... Sweet...
- In the evening, I booked a jungle tracking package for 200, 000 rupiah
- I bought a pair of crocs for the jungle tracking
-We had a dinner at the hotel cafe. The food price is a little bit expensive but the food taste quite nice
- Sleep early after dinner (kroih, kroih, kroih...)

*Salleh said something 'porno' along the way to Bukit Lawang (caught it by my ear... lol)
*Salleh wanted to say sauce but end up saying rose (rose = sauce... hahaha)
*Bedi farted in the room twice and toxificated the room... huhuhu...
*I had a nice chat with Wak Hadi. He became friendly to us when we were in Brastagi. Nice to have him as the driver.
*Bukit Lawang reminds me of Saratok. I missed the longhouse and the river. I also missed the bridge that I used to run near my longhouse (that will then make the bridge swing... haha... I always did that when I was small)
*I like Bukit Lawang because the air is fresh and the place is peaceful

As the sign board said, Welcome to Gundaling Hill.

The Borneans... cool...

Crossing the bridge of Bohorok River. This is the type of bridge that I loved to run on. Missing home at that moment.

Rocking in Bukit Lawang!

So, that's what we did when we were in Brastagi and when we arrived at Bukit Lawang. Brastagi offers a good choice of fruits and also souvenirs (and of course I bought a few things as a memory from Brastagi. Even though the road to Bukit Lawang is unexpectedly bad, but upon arriving there, it reminded me of my hometown. Peaceful and green...

So, that's it for the third chapter. Wait for the final chapter of "Thank you MEDAN!" ok.

Thanks for reading!

Thank you MEDAN! (Part 2)

HORAS!

Hello there! Thanks ya for reading up my previous post about Medan. And now, with no further delay, go on and read the next chapter of "Thank you MEDAN".

Enjoy reading!!!

April 07 2009
- Had breakfast in the hotel in the morning - I had a fried rice with scrambled egg
- Went to Samosir Island at 8.30 a.m.
- 1 hour journey by ferry
- Met an old lady - a nice lady - she requested us to sing songs for her (Bedi sang Laskar Pelangi & Tetaplah Disisiku)
- Samosir Island is very, very awesomely beautiful
- Lake Toba is very, very large (last time, I only managed to read about Lake Toba from textbook, could not believe that I was actually over there myself to see Lake Toba... Praise God.)
- Water is dark blue, can't see anything below
- Scenery is very, very beautiful
- On the island: lake view is wonderful, lots of paddy field, the mountains look great & wonderful
- The road is small and has a lot of puddles
- Went to the Stone Chair where executions of the enemies and traitors were done by the Bataks 200 years ago
- People are very desperate of customers - they forced us to buy stuffs from them
- Salleh was forced to buy a sarung - they are cunning
- Despite all that, I used my bargaining skills to buy batik (from 85, 000 rp to 35, 000 rp) & ulos (shawl for 120, 000 rp to 80, 000 rp)... hohoho...
- Visited Batak King's tomb made of mountain stone (the oldest tomb, forgot how old it is, lost count I think... lol)
- Me & Bedi ate B2 panggang (B2 means pork)
- The shop is smelly & a bit dirty
- Praise God that nothing happen to our stomach
- 1.30pm, journey from Tomok (a town in Samosir Island) back to Parapat
- On the ferry, we met with a family - they own a food shop in Padang
- They have a cute little boy named Edwin; he is so adorable :)
- After that, we had a windy-road journey to Brastagi
- The road is very windy - just like a snake
- We played teka-teki with Wak Hadi
- Wak Hadi told us a story about Lake Toba and Batu Gantung
- Stopped at Simarjarunjung to had a very nice ginger tea. It tastes very good with pisang goreng
- Then, we continued our journey to Brastagi
- Managed to have a nice talk with Wak Hadi along the way to Brastagi
- We saw 2 active volcanoes named Gunung Sibayak and Gunung Sinabung
- Reached Brastagi at 6 p.m.
- Stayed in a budget hotel (after learning a lesson in Parapat) for 150, 000 rupiah
- At 8 p.m., we went out for dinner
- Me and Bedi had a roasted chicken and Salleh ate ikan nila bakar (it is a type of fish; called Ikan Pacu in Malaysia)
- The food taste ok & slightly different compared in Malaysia
- Then, I bought an adapter to charge my phone; I bought it for 9, 000 rupiah
- Then, we looked for food in case we were hungry in the middle of the night
- 11.00 p.m.: we went back to the hotel and had a rest

*Some people in Samorsi Island are 'dangerous'
*If you have good bargaining skills, you can bargain a lot in Medan
*Samosir Island is great because of the scenery despite the shopkeepers over there are so desperate of customers
*Food? Don't worry too much about getting food over there. Just make sure that you look for a clean shop
*Water? If you can, try to drink sealed-bottled-water
*To be friend with somebody, expect friendship and act :)

On the ferry with Wak Hadi on the way to go to Samosir Island.

Views of Samosir Island. It is so beautiful and you should go there.

An old woman trying to persuade us to buy stuffs from her shop. Hands in pocket!

About to enter Kampung Siallagan, a Batak village.

Beautiful view of the hill in Samosir Island. I am in love with it.

In front of Batak Museum. Nice group picture.

Edwin, the little star from Padang.

Had a very nice ginger tea at Simarjarunjung.

Arrived at Kaliaga Bungalow in Brastagi. The air is cold over there.

I had a very good roasted chicken for dinner :)

A present from Salleh.

Reading back what I had wrote in this post, WOW, that's a lot of things that we do that day. We had the best experience in Samosir Island and we really enjoy getting to know about Bataks, Karo and other ethnics, especially their cultures and legends. Besides, with bargaining skills, we also enjoy buying stuffs over there :)

Okay then, wait till the NEXT chapter! See ya!

Thank you MEDAN! (Part 1)

HORAS!

That's how Bataks greet each other in Samosir Island.

Last week, we had a 1-week break and me, Bedi and Salleh decided to travel to Medan, Northern Sumatra. Initial plan was to go to Bangkok but we canceled it because of unstable conditions in Thailand. Anyway, here I am going to summarize what we did during journey.

Enjoy!

April 05 2009

- Met with a cute air hostess during the flight from Penang to Polonia, Medan.
- Arrived at Medan at 1845 (Indonesia time)
- Bought a traveling package to travel around Medan with the cost of RM355 per person
- Bought food for 7,000 rupiah
- Stay over at Labana Hotel for 150, 000 rupiah
- The room has a king size bed, aircond but not really working and no extra power point (so had to unplugged tv to charge cellphone & camera batteries)
- No tv for the whole night... huhuhu...
- Sleep at 12 midnight... zzz...

*Salleh's body shower & sunblock were confiscated during the security check in Penang Airport
*The hotel is in front of a cemetery (just realize it the next morning...)
*Bought Indonesia Sim card (SimPATI Pe De) & top-up
- funny experience because everything is in thousands rupiah... hahaha...
*Become millionaire in Indonesia (I had more than 2, 000, 000 rupiah in my pocket... wala!)

We took picture with the captain and the cute air hostess of the flight

I became a millionaire after I reached Medan! Yahoo!!!

April 06 2009

- Woke up at 7.45am
- Had breakfast in a stall just outside the hotel
- had fried Indo mee
- ordered bottled-water but got bottled-tea... what the ____ (fill the empty space with appropriate word)
- Met Wak Hadi (our driver & tour guide)
- Check out from hotel and start travelling to Parapat at 9.30 a.m.
- A very long journey to Parapat (4 hours journey by road)
- Reached Parapat at 1.30 p.m.
- Had a lunch in a Muslim stall
- Found a very nice hotel and it costs for 350, 000 rupiah!!!
- Room is very, very nice and it's a suite! Everybody got their own bed. Yeah!
- The hotel attendant offered a massage service
- Rest in the room until 6 p.m.
- At 6 p.m., went out to Parapat small town to buy souvenirs - bought a baju batik for 35, 000 rupiah
- Had nasi soto & pecal for dinner
- Reached hotel at 8 p.m.
- Rest for the rest of the night

*Rejected the massage offer (I am playing safe dude...)
*Warning and reminder, next time find a budget hotel because the hotel 'burns' my money!
*T-shirts are super-duper cheap
*Receive message very early in the morning from Dad

I like the view from the hotel. The air is chill and it was very nice to be in Parapat.

We had nasi soto and pecal at a Java food shop.

Displaying caps that Bedi bought. Cool!

So, that's what we did when we arrived at Medan and during the first day in Medan. I still could not believe that I was actually there and all this trip is planned by ourselves. We really enjoy the air (it was freezing cold that night), environment and the people in Parapat.

Ok then, wait till the next post.

P/S: Need to break the original post into 4 parters so that you able to enjoy more! Thanks ya!

Hud and his extended family

Knowing is important, but the willingness to know is more vital

Hello there... well it's been a very busy month for me; struggling for study and balancing my life with up coming events and programs. Well, I am not sure what to write or share in my blog this time, but perhaps I should pull some strings out of my closet so that you can see the skeleton inside it.

*****

Hud is born into a family which has a moderate city-lifestyle. He has 2 siblings and being the youngest, he always fight to get what he wants. His parents are very nice people. They are well known by the town people. Every where they go, people will recognize them for sure. So, Hud also lives a life of being known in the town.

Hud always got what he wants but not what he needs. When he asks for a new pair of shoes, his parents will go out for shopping and buy him a complete full set attire. When he asks for money, he will receive it without any delay. But, Hud always feel unhappy and being out of love.

Hud loves his parents. But somehow, he is often being disappointed by his parents. Especially his father. When he hopes his parents will spend time with him, they go out for their business and works. When he needs somebody to talk with, his parents are out for meetings and courses. When he needs a shoulder to cry on, his parents are busy with their calls.

Until one day...



Hud went study abroad. There, he met an old man who is loving and caring. From the first sight, Hud already knew that, that old man might be somebody meaningful in his life one day. Hud always came and visited him. They always had a chat, topic ranging from war, life before independent day, family, siblings, study and love. Hud started to become close with him. Even closer than to his own parents. Whenever he needed somebody to listen to his problems, the old man was always there for him. He comforted Hud and tried to lend his hand to help him. Hud was very grateful knowing him for he is kind to him.

2 years has gone...

Hud have to move on for study. In the new college, he meet somebody who is very well known in that place. He is a really friendly man and he talks with whoever who wants to talk with him. But, Hud never approach him, not even to say hello to the person when he is a fresh-man of the college.

Til one Friday afternoon...


Hud was lepaking inside a room in the college. He was actually wanted to do his work. Suddenly, the man came in and offered his hand and said hello. Hud offered his and they started to talk. At first, Hud felt a bit different while talking to that man. He felt very small but yet he always keep an open mind. The man was an awesome and wise man. He knew about almost everything. He shared everything with Hud. And that made Hud felt very closed to him. They talked and shared their point of view about religion, hometown, family, career, pet, love, friends, universalism and much more. The conversation had made Hud felt very closed to him.

Starting from that moment, Hud really admires that man and always look upon him. He even asks him to teach him to be a well all rounded man. Hud feels very close to him. He is there when Hud is having problems. He is there when Hud seeks for advices. He is there when Hud needs support. Even though he is really busy and fully occupied by his work, he is willing to spend time talking and chatting with Hud.

*****

One day, Hud was thinking about all the important and influential men in his life. He always look up at the 2 men which have been really closed to him since he goes for study abroad. But, that night he realized one thing; out of everything and everyone, no one had sacrifice more than his own father. He learned something about truth in life that night; even though his father is always busy with his work, busy with phone calls, busy with minutes, busy with works and tasks... but actually, he does all of these things because of him, for the son he loves named Hud. For he loves his son, he sacrifices his leisure time to look for providence for his beloved son, Hud.

THE END

*****

So, that is a story about Hud. I wonder what happen to him right now.
May you have a blast Hud! I know you will :)

Note: All characters and events in the story are all fictional. No character are based on true life. Even when they are, it is only a coincidence. Images are impersonation of the characters. Thank you.

This is what happened...

Ahoi!!! How are you guys out there? Things are going great with me. Last week was one of the best, even though I felt quite exhausted for the whole week. I think it was due to accumulated tiredness the week before that. Last 2 weeks, I've been sleeping for average of only 4 hours per night. Gosh, come to think about it, it is half the required sleeping time for healthy mental development.

Week after that, I felt very exhausted. Every time I woke up in the morning, I felt like a lazy bum. I felt very heavy and lazy to woke up. I know that everyone of my age has difficulty in waking up in the morning. Not for me, unless I slept very late at night (or early in the morning). I am a person who always wake up the first in the house. It's like I am the measuring stick of my housemates. Anyway, for that particular week, even though I was able to defend my title of being the first to get up of the bed every morning, but I totally felt very lazy to go for class. Thank goodness I am okay right now. And, I am still happy! Hohoho!

Anyway, enough of my lazy blooming ass, let's get back to the track. Last week was one of the best week that I ever had since I came to Penang. I, still the same as before, have not got time to explore the Pearl of Orient. Thanks to my seniors, I am able to know a little bit about Penang, and understand why a lot of foreigners love to come to this island after a trip to one particular place in Batu Feringghi. I went out with them to have a very nice chat in Sunset Bistro. It is one of the most beautiful and coolest beach that I have ever been to. Thanks to my blissful ignorance, I am really happy being in the place. For your information, this place is a very good place to watch sunset. It was so beautiful that no words can describe the ambiance. Lots of couple sat at the shore and romantically watched the sun set down. Damn it, I love the beach. It's the bomb. Hopefully, I will manage to capture some pictures if I go to the beach again. Me and my seniors had a very nice chat and I am able to get close to them. I felt really happy in that moment.

Okay, that's it. I had a very nice moment at Sunset Bistro. And I can't wait to go there next time.
Thank you to all the nice seniors that have made me being one of them. What more can I ask then to acknowledge me as one of the PMC family? Wait, did I say family? Oh ya, I did.

Arigato!