After winter trip to South Korea, I’ll try my best to write all my trip in English. Before all of it, please forgive me if my English still very bad. This is the best way i could do to upgrade my English skill. Learning by doing or Learning by writing 
When i tweeting in my twitter account that i would going to Singapore again, some followers ask me, why i have to go there twice?. The only answer i told them is because i have to become tour guide for my workmate and complete my passion for visiting Universal Studio. Actually there is also a little pain that i want to reconcile in Singapore.
As you know i haven’t visited Universal Studio yet in January, so this is my chance to make it. I’ve booked flight with my high school friend Djatu at Feb 26th CGK-SIN and Mar 1st SIN-CGK by AirAsia that gave us lowest fare about IDR 616.000 for roundtrip. I think this one is also best fare for going to Singapore that time.
My workmate, Mrs.Suzie knowing about my leave to Singapore, and she asked me to booked the same flight as me for 4 additional passengers . Because she is my closest workmate in the office, so i booked the same flight for her, but she have to pay extra fares because she didn’t got any promo for those flight. I never experience about traveling with kids, for your information my workmate brought her kids, 2 daughters and a son. I think it shouldn’t be a problem if i’m going with those kids. Next day another workmate in difference office also want to join my trip, her name is Ega, actually she is my junior at college.
The day has come, i had packed all my belonging with my Red bag last night. The Red one that i bought in Mustafa Center. After crosscheck my belonging , and make sure everything complete including passport, ticket, money,and hotel voucher.
Because of money matters, the best way to go to Soe-Hatta airport is by DAMRI bus from Gambir rail station, budget traveler should know about this hehehehehe. Actually, i have some options to go to rail station: if i took public transportation like busway it may about 1 hour to go there, if i used bajaj to go there it’s only IDR 10.000 differences fare from taxi fares. So the best choice is by taxi, I took blue bird taxi from my dorm to Gambir rail station as usual, i’m quite realistic about public transportation in Jakarta.
After 15 minutes road to Gambir rail station, and direct to DAMRI terminal, and decided to sit on the back row, 5 minutes later the driver start the engine and ready to airport. At this time i take my Blackberry phone from my bag and sent bbm to my friend Djatu about my position and i asked about her position right now, because Djatu lives in Karawang which is more far from Cengkareng than me. She said that already at the highway Cengkareng, and will be arrived soon. I asked her for crosscheck important belonging like passport, ticket & voucher hotel, and then disaster came to us.
Djatu leave from her dorm without brought passport and now she will reach the airport soon. I told her to persuade someone that could bring it to airport right now, we still have 1,5 hours before departure time. What a stupid thing if you want to travel abroad but didn’t bring the passport instead. (>_<”)
Suddenly i heard her voice become so weak and about to cry. I try to comfort her by saying “everything will be ok, your friend will come before departure time”. I know it will be a little bothersome for her, because she thought packing your stuff for traveling 3 days abroad is trivial thing, and now she realizing, it wouldn’t be like this if she packed her belonging carefully.
My workmate Ega, Mrs. Suzie and her kids arrived not long time after I arrived at Terminal 2D Soekarno Hatta International airport. I told Mrs. Suzie about what happened just now. Since the traffic to the airport isn’t good either, it seems Djatu life saver couldn’t make it.
30 minutes already pass…..
1 hour already pass……
I asked Djatu, is it ok if we check in first without her? because it will be more troubles if we didn’t check in right now. She is agreed and we move to counter self check in. The Air Asia self check in counter also full of people, i could see a group of doctors that will going to Bangkok (actually i spy on their paper ticket, that’s why i know the destination), some foreign couples and local citizens that should going to another country for their own business. After standing about 20 minutes,now my turn to push this touch screen counter, completing all data requirement, and print the boarding pass. I’m not lucky today coz i didn’t get a seat close to the window which is number A or F.
Before going to immigration counter, i come outside to inform Djatu that we should going to immigration counter right now, it means i have to leave her alone here, until her passport came. She agreed to me, and told me, if she couldn’t catch the airplane right now, she would bought next flight to Changi airport, and i have to pick her up at Changi Airport later. Before going back in to the immigration counter, i convinced her that i would going to Changi airport after our dinner, and make sure to send me a message before leaving Jakarta.
Once again i have to run, run, and run run again.
It is not an easy job to comforting your friend whose had sadness & worry when yourself will going for vacation. I’m also feeling a little guilty for her. Why I didn’t remind her about passport last night? Before through immigration counter, I must teaching the kids to complete immigration card by them self, coz this is they first time travelling abroad. After complete all of it, i told them not being panic and stay cool, calm, confident when the staff asking about their purpose leaving Indonesia, just answer “traveling with my mom”, that’s it. I let them going before me to make sure everyone through the immigration counter without any problems, and then my turn. Every time I pass through immigration counter i always feeling free, don’t know why ckckckckcckk.
After all, we’re going to waiting room, and have to passing security check once again. Another trouble came, Suzie’s daughter brought some bottle of body lotions and body wash that up to 100ml. I had told them not to bring it last day, but why they still bring it out,then with regretful face they leave The Body Shop products in security check counter.
At 02.20 PM all passengers Air Asia flight number QZ 7784 made queuing in front of the door. Since we got difference seat, so i told them to search their seats by them self. I forgot about my seat number, but i still remember that i sat at D section, it means not beside of the window, seat at E section should be empty coz it’s belong to Djatu, a young woman seat at F. What a relief when i know the person next to me is a woman. Before turned off my phone i send a BBM to Djatu, “I’m in board right now. We’ll fly soon, don’t forget to send me message before you go”.
After praying, the Airplane take off with little jolt.
I really want to sleep, and leaving all my pain in Jakarta, yup a little broken heart. When i’m trying to close my eyes, a woman next to me with her oriental face asked me about my purpose leaving. Let me named her Vivi.
Vivi: alone?
Me: yeah.
Vivi: Traveling?first time to Singapore?
Me: traveling, this is my second time, and you?
Vivi: I just transit in Singapore. I want to go to Kuala Lumpur, but didn’t get any good price to go there,so i took flight to Singapore first and going to Kuala Lumpur by bus tonight.
Me: Ohhh i see.
Vivi: I want to meet my second boyfriend there.
Me: oh ya? what happened with your first boyfriend? don’t you feel guilty by cheating between 2 men?
Vivi: i want to break up with my first boyfriend, he is too protective and possessive.
Me: (rising my eye brow and make frown, this girl really talk active and extrovert, i guess her blood type is A, like me ) Oh i see, good for you, in one time you could dating 2 men.
Vivi: Don’t you have a boy friend?
Me: No, i haven’t.
Vivi: Oh i see, but your face is so gloomy, i just felt you have a kind of broken heart.
Me: (Damn!!! she know it, trying hard to make a smile) oh ya, how can you felt like it?
Vivi: Your expression told it.
Me: hohohoho, just a little disappointed.
Vivi: hmmmm, it’s ok, i also thought, the best way to forget our sadness is traveling. i’m a little hungry right now, would you like to order some beverages?
Me: Yes, i will.
Vivi: Let me give you some advice, don’t order rice,noodle or sandwich, the taste is very bad here. I’ll order Cheeze Pizza.
And then the flight attendant passing by our seat, and take our order. Because i’m so hungry , i decided to order The Cheeze Pizza too. After finishing our food, we fall asleep, then slept peacefully.
After 1,5 hours in the board, we arrived at Changi International Airport 04.00 PM Jakarta Time, because there is difference time between Jakarta and Singapore so now is about 05.00 PM Singapore Time. According to my guide book “500 Ribu Keliling Singapura”, we have to ride skytrain to go to Terminal 2 if we want to go to MRT Station at Changi.
Passing security check for several times and trying to smile to the imigration staff and then we arrived at MRT station. After bought 5 EZ link cards at the ticketing office, i teach them how to top up their EZ card, and heading to Geylang because Djatu already booked the hotel there.
We stayed at Fragrance Emerald Hotel no.20 Lorong 6 Geylang, Singapore which booked via www.agoda.com. If you search the cheap hotel in this area, there are so many of them. I heard this area also Red Light District, but i don’t care about it since i came here only for vacation not for doing something bad, but we must extra carefully. My previous visit in January also staying at this area and we haven’t got any bad experiences.
For this visiting we booked 3 superior rooms, for 3 nights, which are 2 rooms booked under my name and another one under Djatu’s name. So we only get 2 rooms now since Djatu haven’t arrived yet. How much i should pay for 2 rooms and 3 nights??? it’s only IDR 2.633.706 then dividing for 4 persons. One person should pay IDR 658.427 for staying 3 night. That’s the cheaper i got for staying at the hotel.
After completing data guest and asking for wifi password, the receptionist give us 2 keys, and guide us to the lift because our room at 3rd floor. The Superior room is very clean, our room at 306 & 307. We should take some rest before dinner at Bugis Junction. Ega & me decide to take room no 307, Mrs. Suzie and her kids will be using room no.306 temporary until Djatu arrived at hotel. Tonight at 7 Pm we decided Chicken Rice for our dinner. I guide them to Chinese restaurant which stick “Halal” certification and No Pork No Lard in their food stall.
Mrs.Suzie complained to me, because this food isn’t appropriate her taste. I told her, i really like this food because this one is cheaper and yummy, she should try it first. I told her this one is the best Chicken Rice in Singapore, so many tourist will visiting this restaurant at night. She trying hard not to complain about food. If she want to join my trip, so she should following my rules, especially about food, transportation, and walking tour, because i’m budget traveler. So she have to understand my condition too. 
I didn’t got any mood for using my camera today, so there is no picture for this time. After finishing our dinner then heading to Changi airport to pick up Djatu. Around 9 PM, i met Djatu my lophly friend in MRT Station Changi Airport. The Ticketing Office already closed, so Djatu has to using MRT single journey ticket to go to hotel . I help her to get the ticket from ticketing machine, and then we’re heading to the hotel by MRT again.
When arriving at the hotel, Djatu ask her keys at receptionist and she got the room 308, right besides my room. So we arrange the people for each room, 308 for Djatu & Ega, 307 for me & Mrs. Suzie, 306 for the kids. After take bath and pray, i watched tv at the hotel and bustle with my blackberry phone, what else if it not to check my email and updating my twitter. hohohohoho
27 February 2011
Today is walking tour, i planned for going to Orchad Road, Merlion park, Esplanade,China Town and Mustafa Center. Starting tour at 8 AM from Geylang Bus Stop to catch bus no 7 heading to Orchad Road. The kids really like to trying double deck bus, so we have to wait more longer to get it. The Bus arrived in front of us, we going inside the bus and going up to the stairs and seat on the empty chairs.
Actually this is also my first time trying double deck bus, so i forget to remember our destination, because i’m prefer using MRT. So without knowing everything, we get down from the bus near Dhoby Ghaut Interchange Station to buy 1 EZ link card for Djatu. Bacause i’m the tour guide for this trip so i prepare Singapore map that i took from hotel, and trying my best finding the shortcut to Orchad road. You can guess what they doing, not trying to help me, they only chit chat and taking some pictures 
. I think Djatu & Ega found out my difficulties, then trying to help me. Maybe i’ m a little regret why we should took the bus, while using MRT is the best choice.
After looking at the map several times, searching the sign board and through some buildings, roads which are odd for me and not written in my “guide book”,finally i found the Orchad Road.
Finally, i found you
Then my angry disappear, i could find this way, suddenly i praise my self. I told them i never using bus, so don’t be too greedy for using the bus, because i’m not really certain about when and where we should going down. So, i won’t take responsibility if we get lost.
Because we only got a bread for breakfast, and the time about 10.30 AM, i think it’s time to take some good meal. I guide them to Wisma Atria for earlier lunch. I order Nasi Lemak my favorite menu at Food Republic, and they order the same thing like me. Alhamdulillah no complain at all. They ate peacefully. Mrs. Suzie told me this meal is very good, the kids also like it. Djatu and Ega also like it. hehehehehe
Finishing earlier lunch, i gave them 2 hours for shopping, coz it won’t comfortable to each other for just following my shopping taste. We decided to gather at ION Orchad. I only want to check wallet and high heels prices in Charles & Keith Store at Wisma Atria, because i had decided to buy something at Changi Airport with my remaining money at the last day. Ega bought a cute hand bag for her mom at Charles & Keith Store. Djatu bought a white flat shoes at Tangs. Me??? I only bought 15 chocolates at Lucky Plaza.
Before all tour member gather at ION Orchad, i bought ice cream that named “uncle ice cream”. 1 dolar to get this ice cream, i really like it. Then heading to Esplanade and Merlion Park. I never get bored when visiting this landmark. Unfortunately, Merlion statue at Merlion Park is covered by construction materials right now, they decided to build a hotel there. So, we just sightseeing and took some pictures without Merlion Statue. Then Heading to China Town for bought some souvenirs and get some rest at Masjid jamae Chulia. Next destination to Mustafa Center, they want to go there for bought traveling bag like mine “The Red”. So i have no right to forbid them not to buy it since this bag is really comfortable. We decided going to Little India by MRT. Then another disaster came.
Farah (Mrs. Suzie old daughter) shopping bags lost at nowhere. They tried to remember everything before heading to MRT Station China Town, maybe it was left at the souvenir shop or at Masjid. We’ll waiting at Chinatown station while farah & her mom heading back to Masjid for searching the bags.
God helps us, the shopping bags already found. Straight going to MRT Farrer Park the shortcut to Mustafa Center. As usual, this area full of Hindustan Ethnic. Trying hard to avoid them, and Mustafa Center filled of people. Ega took the same bag as mine the red one, Mrs. Suzie took the Blue ones. Got what they need, then we escape from this place to MRT Bugis for dinner, the sky already became dark.
We going to Bugis near Masjid Sultan, i decide to order Nasi Goreng Seafood, because the food stall didn’t provide Nasi Lemak. Another complain came, i trying to let it go coz i’m really tired right now. After dinner, Reza (Mrs. Suzie son) asked me to going home by double deck bus again. I told him, i don’t know where the bus station and told him don’t complain about what we ride and what we eat, because i’m very exhausting right now.
I think, i couldn’t win against the kid, i couldn’t bear it. So today is the hardest day in my story trip. It will be a good lesson for me. I hope tomorrow everything will be fine since i already understand what they like.
28 February 2011
My passion for visiting Universal Studio already became true. It’s time for have fun guys, forget about everything. The Sadness, Pain, and everything that will make your face gloomy, let’s forget it now.
Yesterday I’m too tired, so after shubuh I slept again until 8 AM, and realize that everyone already woke up and ready to go, then I’m the last person who haven’t take bath right now.
After prepare my self, we decided took our late breakfast at Food Republic at Wisma Atria again, this is the request from them. Like usual, I ordered Nasi Lemak which only SGD 5 and brought out my bottle that filled by water from hotel==> to decrease my expenses of course.
We arrived at Universal Studio Singapore around 10AM by MRT and monorail at Vivo city. Adult Ticket SGD66, it cost a lot to having fun here. Starting from looking around Madagascar, Penguins dance, take photo with King Julien’s, visiting ogre’s house unfortunately couldn’t met Viona & Shrek, ride roller coaster at Enchanted Airways, watching Shrek adventure 4D at far2 away area which the effect is very gorgeous,visiting Jurassic Park, riding canopy flyer, ride Battlestar Galactica dueling coaster which a high speed roller coaster that has 2 tracks at Sci Fi City, the red and the blue. The Red track is the most extreme riding. I got confident to ride the blue one because it’s not really scary I guess.
After riding the blue track , make me wanna try the red track, but the kids seem too scary to try this one. So, i cancel my plan to ride the red ones and move to Broadway 5th avenue, there are street performance dancing battle, then taking some pictures with Special character appearances include: Po from Kungfu Panda, Frankenstein’s Monster , Woody & Winnie Woodpecker, Charlie Chaplin, and Betty Boop. It’s time for praying ashar, so we decided to find mushalla that closed to entry door.
After finishing our pray, we move to Steven Spielberg Studio that performing “how to make major huricane in New York City” this performance is the best attraction i got. You couldn’t think how to move a big ship in to your garage or the feeling your garage would be hit by big flood that right in front of your eyes, the sound effect and lighting is soooo awesome, i won’t blink my eyes for this.
Then move to Pantages Hollywood Theatre for Live Monster Rock, last performance before we going back to hotel. Monster Rock is live music performance starring Hollywood monster like Dracula, Mummy, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, bride of Frankenstein, The Black Cat, etc.Their acting very interesting, specially when they sang “Nobody” that popularized by Wonder Girls. For dinner, we ate Nasi Lemak again at food republic in vivo city, beside sentosa monorail station. Then heading back to hotel by MRT.
1st March 2011
It’s time to go home. For breakfast we bought rice and snacks at Old Chang Kee vendor at MRT Station Kallang near our hotel, we going to Airport earlier because Ega will be back to Jakarta in the morning, while our flight at the afternoon. I decide spending time going around the airport, listen to the music, and shopping at Charles & Keith Store then i brought a pair high heels, and white hand bag. The prices in the airport more cheaper than in town because exclude GST.
Ok, that’s all about my re-backpack to Singapore,for this trip i spend about SGD200 including Universal Studio Ticket, 1 Hand Bag CK, 1 pair high Heels CK, meals and transportation fees.
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