Coming Soon : Rafting at Citarik

Rafting at Citarik River

Arus Liar Farm Field

Arus Liar Tent

Low Cost Vacation to Perth (West Australia)

Perth is the capital city of West Australia. Even though West Australia is the biggest region of Australia but central city of Perth is smaller than Jakarta. You can visit most of Perth’s place of interest in one day using all kind of transportations, but if you add shopping and picture hunting to your to-do-list, even a whole week wouldn’t be enough as for most of Indonesians, it will take ages to do that (* cheers).

There are many places that are very different from what you can find in Indonesia. There are zoos with kangaroos and koalas, desert, savanna, beaches, harbors, museums and etc. Since I have been to Perth twice and visited many place there, I’ll try to show all of those places on my next post. In this post, I will only focus on how to minimize your budget when you go to Perth.

Travelling abroad would not be as easy as travelling to other Island in Indonesia. First thing I had to prepare was Visa. For Australian Visa, you can apply it in representative embassy office of Australian in ABDA building 22th floor on Sudirman Street, Jakarta. It is quite near from Indonesia Stock Exchange Building. It will only take 3-7 days to process all of your documents. However, don't risk your chance of travelling by applying in the last 3 days. Even though I was able to do that, you may not be always lucky as I was.  If you have to attend a ceremony event, surgery, business meeting, or another important thing that require immediate response from the embassy, you will likely to get your visa in three days. Just tell the staffs about your reason and its urgency since they will be very happy to assist you. It wasn’t just about how many days you should prepare for applying visa; you have to prepare all documents that you will need as well.

 

1. Your passport, which is still valid at least 6 month before your departure date.

2. Photocopy of Identity card (KTP)

3. Photocopy of family card (Kartu Keluarga)

4. Color Picture of yourself with White Background (4x6)

5. Birth Certificate (Akta Lahir)

6. Bank Statement (Rekening Koran). The Australia Government needs to know how you are going to pay for all of your expenses while in Australia. If you have bank statement with minimum balance of Rp. 30.000.000 in the last 3 months, you can use it. If you don't have it, you can use your parents’ bank statement to support you.

7. Recommendation Letter. If you go to Australia to attend meeting, ceremony or meet your friend, you should ask your partner in Australia to send you this letter. This letter will contain reason of your travel. Do not worry if you don't have this letter, as it is only additional information for Australia embassy.

8. The important thing is please make sure that all of your documents have EXACTLY same details such as name, signature, description and etc. If there is a difference between a document to the other, you should make another guarantee letter which is signed by person in charge.

9. If you could buy ticket and book hotel before you apply your visa, it’ll ease your visa application process.

10. Don't forget to pay 1.060.000 IDR for the visa application fee.

.........

After finishing the visa application process, you have to prepare three other things about how to go to there, where you will live and what you can do there.

You can go to Perth by using airplane. There are many airlines that provide low price for route Jakarta-Perth-Jakarta such as Jetstar Airlines http://www.jetstar.com/gx/en/index.aspx and AirAsia Airlines http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.html. If you are lucky, you can get price between 1.800.000-3.500.000 IDR for return ticket. You can search for your ticket a few months before you go there, you probably get lower price by booking early.

After get your airplane ticket, next will be to book the hotel. It will be better for you if you already book your hotel room before you go to Perth. If you travel by budget airline, you are likely to arrive in Perth on 02.00 AM. Don't perceive that you can find taxi and hotel easily because most of restaurants, offices and shops are closed on 05.00 p.m. Buying hotel voucher earlier can save your time. You can book by online on http://www.agoda.com/. I have tried one hotel from this site. I booked for Kings Perth hotel with price about 970.000idr/ night. I got one king size bed, one bathroom with hair-dryer and hot-cold water, television as well as air conditioner.



On the other hand, if you’re on a trip with 5-8 people, I suggest you to take hotel apartment such as Madina Hotel by paying 2.500.000 IDR/ night. You can get 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a living and a dining room, kitchen, washing machine and television.

.....

The last but not least is about local transportation and food. There are many kinds of transportations in Perth. If you want to get around the city, you can use red, yellow and blue cat. These are free bus that stops on many locations in Perth and Suburbs near from the central city. Besides those cat buses, you also can use Transperth to visit suburbs that are far away from Perth such as museum, zoo and etc. Mostly, you only have to pay 2-2.5 AUD. May be this price is expensive enough for 15-30 minutes trip because for Indonesian, we always pay 2.000 IDR for 2 hours in traffic (*wink). Moreover, you can buy all day ticket buy paying 6 AUD only on weekend. It will be effective if you plan to use the bus more than 2 times. Don't worry because it is valid in all Transperth wherever you are.

Other than cat bus and Transperth, you can also use train for a long trip. You only need to pay 4.7 AUD for one trip. Similar to Transperth, you can also buy daily ticket on weekend for about 9 AUD.

Another cheap alternative is City Sightseeing Perth tour. This bus will only stop at tourism spots all around Perth (kings park, burswood complex, city shopping malls, perth mint, harbour town, museum and art gallery, northbridge and barrack st jetty. You can catch this bus at Bell Tower. Before using these facilities, you have to pay 25 AUD which is valid for two days. For early booking you can visit its website on http://www.citysightseeingperth.com/.

Although Australian food has never been my favorite but it's still important to talk about it. I will suggest you some tips about some places to get cheap food. The best way to save your money for food in Perth is by bring instant noodles (pop mie), abon, and all instant food as many as you can put in your baggage. Don't worry about airport check, as long as your foods are manufactured by factory, Australia immigration staff will slip those off. All these instant food will be very helpful not only for cheap breakfast but also to prevent you from midnight hunger. Most of restaurants and mini markets are close after 06.00 p.m. Even though there are few restaurants and mini markets which still open, you only can find it in China Town behind Transperth Station. Most of Chinese restaurants will open all night because these restaurants are started from 06.00 p.m. You also can find 24 hours McDonalds and 24- hours mini market near city center. Generally, you will only spend 3-15 AUD for every meals. For junk food, you only pay 3-9 AUD for one packet food and drink but for traditional food such as Indonesian food or Chinese food you have to pay 10-20 AUD for one meal.

Story By: Tenri Ake

Edited By: Cita Nursyadzaly

Thousand Island

I'm lucky for having friend like them. We'll never waste our time when Holiday come. For this holiday on April, 2010 all of us agreed to spent holiday by enjoying sea nature. Our destination is Thousand Island. This site is located near from Jakarta. We just need 4 hours to got there by large boat with maximum capacity until 200 person. Along the way in getting Thousand Island, our eyes can not stop to admire all natural show from every view. Like what i said before that we'll never waste our time. After arrived in Harapan Island, we just took our lunch and put our bagged in Wisma Pulau Harapan. Because we could not wait any longer for get our holiday, we hurried to go to the boat which brought us to snorkeling.

First destination was one of island with beautiful coral arround it's dock. Because the coral location is located near from our the dock. All of us could jumped from the boat or the dock into the sea.

But for me, it is quite dangerous for jumped like that, i prefered to down the stair to come into the water. Whatever our way to come into the water, our main purpose is same "WE WANT TO SNORKELING"

Not only from the dock, we also tried to having snorkeling experience in the middle sea. Our captain brought us with his boat to the the middle sea then dropped us off to the place which like white sand mountain.This place is more beautiful and safe from the first place one because you only meet a few sea urchin and there are many big coral which is seems like rose.

Further more, we changed our activity from snorkeling to Thousand Island Trip. We have visited one of our second president's island which is called Soeharto Island.

In this island, we could find a large villa with hely pad on the backyard. When Soerharto was a President of Indonesia, he usually come to this island with his big family for doing some gathering or family meeting. Unfortunately, after his wife death and he lost his position. This island is seems neglected. We have to very carrefully when step this villa's stairs because some fragile voice can be popping  while you do that. Even though the villa condition is horrible but the beach panorama from this villa is very beautiful.

This island has a dock in front of this Island. At the end of the dock, there is a chair which Soeharto and his wife usually sat on there.

Next destination was Putri Island. This island has complete facilities such as snorkeling stuff, diving stuff, Kano, banana boat and mini sea world. It's very interesting to try all of those water game. Unfortunately, the price that we had to pay for all items are very expensive. After that, we just give a pack of cigarette to the island guard for free pass to enter the mini sea world. It is not as good as our perception because most of fish in there has same type. At least we didn't pay for seeing that mini sea world.

Besides the story that i have said above, you also can join bicycle trip on Tidung Island and becak tour on Harapan Island. Because limitation of time that we had have, we had to finish our trip in one day. For the next chapter about Thousand Island, I hope I can tell you more about another island *wink.

*** Let's get tips to minimize your budget in Thousand Island on
http://foodnfeet.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-get-1000-islands-trip-in-low.html

*** Untuk Bahasa Version check URL ini

http://makansambiljalan.blogspot.com/2011/10/pulau-seribu.html

How to Get 1000 Islands Trip in Low Cost

Thousand Islands is one of  DKI Jakarta region . It is a group of island which located near from north Jakarta. The beautiful nature on the island and under the sea will be attract every one to enjoy every moment in this island. Because of the large number of islands, every visitor never came to stay in one island. They tend to move from one island to other island because they will never feel enough for seeing Thousand Island beauty. Even though these islands is near from Jakarta, you will never find air and water pollution here. Local government has been aware about local potential on island and under the sea. It affects the local government  to be concern in protecting it's nature.

Before starting this trip, you should decide which one of these islands that you want to visit. Even though you want to enjoy more than one island, you still have to choose one main island  to stay on the night and put your baggage there. Common islands where visitor choose are Pramuka island, Tidung island and Harapan island. In these islands, you can find place to stay and food easily.

After decide the main island where you want to stay, next step is find how to go there. You can only use water transportation to go to The Thousand Islands. It will be better for you if you take the first ship in early morning to go there because of low sea tides. Moreover, it will reduce your seasick. Further more, i suggest you to use ship from Angke harbor ( North Jakarta) to getting there. This ship can bring max 200 person in once trip. This transportation will spent 3 until 4 hours from Angke to Thousand Island. Because it takes long time to go to Thousand Island, i suggest you to take a sit on the second floor or in front of ship because he sea will present you an amazing show while the trip. You just have to pay 50.000 idr / person for this show. This ship will stop in every large island. You can go out when the ship already arrived on your destination.

You probably will spent your day on the boat or in the sea. Not only because you want to enjoy the panorama but also you have to do that because nothing at all that you can do on your main Island. Electricity will be off from 7 a.m until 4 p.m which mean that there is no  entertainment that you can get from television or radio. Because most of your activities will take place on the sea and other Island, you just have to make sure that your place is comfortable enough for sleep and has enough water for bathing. For the standard house you can pay 350.000 idr/ 2 days. This price is worth for one living room with air conditioner and television, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom and 2-4 extra bad. There is no maximum capacity people who can stay in this house.

After explain about boat and house,  the another things which you should concern is about food.  On this island, you can buy some food from local restaurant. All food in this restaurant is quite cheap between 6.000-20.000 idr/ once meal. Besides that you can make a deal with local people to prepare meal for you even seafood barbecue. They will cook for you for 3 times meal and once time for seafood barbecue in the night. You should make a good negotiation to get 100.000 idr / person for this service.

The last but not the least is about what you can do there and how much money which you have to spent for those.


After arriving in the main Island such as Tidung Island, you can start your activity with biking. It will give you good experience while biking around the island with your friends. You just have spent 15.000idr/ bycycle. Besides that, on Harapan Island you also can rent traditional vehicle (becak) to bring you around the island. Further more, if want to do snorkeling in middle sea, you can rent a goggle and frog shoes by paying 30.000-50.000idr/ pairs. Besides that you have to rent a the smaller ship with max capacity about 15-20 person. You just have to pay 300.000-500.000 idr/ day for this ship. The captain will bring you to the others island or  middle sea for snorkeling. He will wait you and bring you to the other one again wherever and whenever you ask him. Besides that, don't forget to visit another island such as Soerharto Island (second president of Indonesia), Kayu putih Island and etc. Because every island is protected by a guard, you have to give the a pack of cigarette to enter that island.

I thought that is quite enough for you to start your trip to Thousand Island. If you come to there with 6-10 friends, you can press your budget until 200.000-250.000idr/ person. Besides that, if you want the travel agent for prepare all those things for you, you only pay 3.500.000idr/ 10 person. Have a Good Trip.


* ** Lets read another detail about What you can do in Thousand Island on
http://foodnfeet.blogspot.com/2010/12/thousand-island.html

Untuk Bahasa Version Check URL ini
http://makansambiljalan.blogspot.com/2011/10/pulau-seribu.html

How to Get Cheap Holiday in Bandung (The Central of West Java)

Bandung is the central city of West Java Province. This town is the the full package of food, shop and nature. We can try many kinds of food from Indonesia traditional food especially Sundanese until steak and sushi. If you think that you also can get these in Jakarta or other capital cities too, you may tell me the place where you can enjoy your food between two mountain or on the peak of mountain or rounded by farm field. In Bandung, you can enjoy many places which display unique panorama while you're eating. Not only food and nature, Bandung also the place for shopaholic. Many woman come to Bandung just for getting a shirt in low price. Bandung is one of Indonesia textile city, many textile company build it factory here. Many products which not pass international quality standard in this factory which sold in many factory outlet in Bandung. This is the reason why you can get many branded clothes in low price.

And the question now is "how do we go to there?"

You can reach this city by using car (own car or travel car), train or plane. If you use car, you will spent 2 until 3 hours from Jakarta to Bandung. If you go alone, it's better for you to just take a car travel such as cipaganti, xtrans, citytrans. You only pay 60.000-70.000 or you can take baraya travel for only 35.000rph. This way may be will take your time any longer if you go to Bandung on weekend. You'll meet many traffic until you arrive in Bandung. If your focus is traffic, i suggest you to take train then pay 45.000idr for a ticket.

Moreover, if you take a vacation with at least 5 others, i suggest you to rent a avanza car in rental car for min price 350.000rph/day. You only have to fill your engine fuel tank 100.000-150.000idr for 1 day trip Jakarta-Bandung-Jakarta. Not only that, if you use free way to getting Bandung. You have to pay 50.000 for fee. Finally you have to pay 95.000-100.000rph/person for accommodation fee to go to Bandung. May be you think that it's more expensive because you've to pay more than 70.000idr. In Bandung, not all taxis use distance meter to calculate the tariff. Most of driver prefer to decide higher cost in the beginning. You still can dealing with them, but it take your time and the result is still more expensive than it should be. Besides that, you may wait little longer for Blue bird taxi which always use machine to calculate your taxi fee.

I'm not suggest you to take a plane because you have to pay 200.000-300.000 idr for 45 minutes flight (only half time if you use car). Not only that, you also spent at least 60.000idr for taxi to go to airport. It's so costly.


Next question is "Where is the good place to sleep?"

You don't have to worry about this because you can find hostel, hotel, villa or wisma easily. Base on my experience, the cheapest place for staying in Bandung is PLN wisma on Riau street. You just have to pay 120.000idr/ night. The facilites which you can take is private bathroom and four separated bed. This room also has good air circulation because the large size and enough sun light. For this facilities, you only pay 30.000idr/night/ person.

Besides that, if you take this vacation with more than 6-10 person. Lucky you! there are many villas owner in central Bandung or Setiabudi which offer you one house with 2-4 rooms and full facilities (tv, kitchen, etc). Don't imagine expensive rent because you can get 600.000-1.000.000idr for these villas. You may check www.villabandung.multiply.com. I already use one of villas in this website.

To be honest i'm not recommend you to use hotel. But if you still want to get hotel comfortable with cheap price. You can try casa de ladera by paying 180.000-240.000idr/night for two people.

The main question now is "where will we go?"
because i've visit Bandung many times in the last 5 years and tried many things there...i'll explain it base on the my visiting time in the next story :D