Jakarta & Bandung, Indonesia

15/3/09

I & Tina rode the bus from Hentian Pudu, KL to Skudai, Johor.

We arrived at a cheap hotel in Skudai, Johor Bharu at around 6pm. We dun care about the room condition as long as we get enough rest. It’s been a long journey for me and Tina.

We departed since morning and the bus ride took about 4 hours without stopping.

16/3/09

At 8 o’clock today we have to report presence at UTM. We put our feet on UTM, Skudai ground at the earliest time. While waiting for the others who also join the visit to Indo, we took pictures for fun.

OMG, this is the worst picture in this week. I can see how many freckles I actually have. We departed to Stulang Laut, Johor at around 9 a.m. by a chartered bus.

We went to Pulau Batam from Stulang Laut, Johor by a ferry. The journey took approximately 4 hours until we reached Indonesia coastline. Once arrived at Batam, some of us chose to have lunch at KFC. All merchandises already sold in Rupiah currency here. Tina did not forget to buy herself some doughnuts at a local supermarket.

At 1.25 p.m., we departed to Jakarta, Indonesia using Air Asia flight from Pulau Batam. We finally arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Jakarta at around 3 p.m. (Indo local time). All the matters pertaining to immigration and luggage settled here. We also received warm welcome from Tabung Haji Travel & Tours representatives.

Not long after that, around 3.30 p.m., we headed on to Bandung by a chartered bus. I was really exhausted and can’t wait to have a long break. The traffic jam in Jakarta was the worst I have ever seen in my entire life. The ride took 3 hours journey.

We arrived in Bandung at 6 p.m. Since everyone was so hungry and tired, we stopped for a dinner at a nice restaurant. The environment was one of a kind where you can feel the aroma of Indo in the air.

Next, we checked in at Hotel Mutiara. They were actually still upgrading some part of the hotel when we arrived. I can tell you the view there was really nice. They put everything about Indo in this place. They planted bamboo trees at the front gate and the building architecture also not so bad.

17/3/09

I have a breakfast with Tina and few Iranian friends at around 8 a.m. They served Muslim meals. We also could see many Malaysians enjoying their food here. It is normal to see Malaysians everywhere in Indonesia since our currency is about 3 times higher than Rupiah.

Today was the day we went to ITB (Institute of Technology Bandung). They pronounce ITB as “etebe” or “ate-a-bay”. We were welcomed by the lecturer there. We were actually so shocked to see the sustainable view. Everyone voiced out “ah-oh-wow” words. I think Malaysia should adapt the sustainable concept they practiced here. We could feel the fresh air and green landscape around us.

At 9.15 a.m. welcome speech given by the Dean from Engineering & Environmental Faculty. The Dean is a woman (wow!). After that is introduction speech from our side, CTMC (Centre of Technology & Management).

At this moment, everyone started to feel sleepy already. At approximately 10 a.m. there were presentation of Post-graduates projects and researches. The presentations took about 2 hour and then followed by dialogue session between UTM and ITB about the collaboration things.

The moment we were waiting for arrived where ITB served us welcoming brunch (appetizers) and lunch. They made a kind of rice which called as “Late Rice” (Nasi Lewat). The taste was awesome! I can tell you, it was superb! No other nation would make this kind of meal.

We were then welcomed to visit their laboratories which I and Tina thought it was not important to us. So, we escaped for a while to ITB tour with our new acquaintance. We called him as Dandy. Dandy was a nice person actually. He was willing to bring us everywhere around the campus and helped us to take pictures as well.

We went back to hotel at around 5 p.m. But don’t you think we should be looking forward to shopping? (Bandung is well known as shopping paradise). Yes, we went to factory outlets around Bandung. I aware that I did not bring much money, so I just put some money aside (save it for something more important). We hanged around for only 2 hours (which was not sufficient for shopaholic like some of us!).

After that we went for dinner at local Muslim restaurant.

18/3/09

We took breakfast at the hotel as early as 8 a.m. in the morning since we have been planned by CTMC to depart from Bandung Jakarta today. In the morning we went to shop at several factory outlets such as Mode House, Donatello, and Versace etc.

At 12.30 p.m., we stopped for lunch at another local Muslim restaurant.

We stopped by at several factoy outlets...

We left Bandung to Jakarta at around 3 p.m. by a coaster. We took dinner first before headed on to hotel in Jakarta.

The bus crawled in the traffic jam and finally arrived at Hotel Bintang Griya Wisata, Jakarta at approximately 1 hour later than the planned time

19/3/09

Breakfast was ready at 8 a.m. But I and Tina woke up late so we don’t have time to take the breakfast. Since everyone was waiting for us in the bus, we just rushed over to the bus without thinking of anything. Only God knows how hungry we were when sitting patiently in the bus.

We departed to University of Indonesia at 9 a.m. We received welcome speech from the deans and lecturer at Engineering Faculty. As always, there were presentations for post-graduate researches and dialogue session for collaboration between UI and UTM.

At 12 we went for lunch in a local restaurant named Sari Bundo. Later at 1 p.m. we prayed at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta. Many students gathered in the mosque and around it. They looked happily discussing on their studies. The environmental is quiet but calm and tranquility is there. At around 2.30 p.m. we visit UI laboratories and explore the whole campus area.

We have dinner at 7 p.m.

We shopped at another shopping mall at around 9 a.m.

20/3/09

I & Tina have breakfast at the hotel at around 8 a.m.

We went to Mangga 2 ITC for shopping! (This is our final round of shopping)

We departed to the airport; checked-in luggage at 11 a.m. Airport tax for my luggage was only about 20,000 Rupiah which is around MYR 6.

We left Jakarta to Batam with Air Asia flight. At around 4.30 p.m. we arrived at Batam airport and boarded a ferry back to Stulang Port, Johor, Malaysia. We arrived at Stulang Laut, Johor, took a chartered bus and finally the journey ended. But for me and Tina, we have to take another bus to Kuala Lumpur. Saved a prayer for this trip, it took us 3 hours to get to KL.

Goodbye Indonesia! I will be there again end of this year