BEAUTIFUL CHINA, BEHIND OF THE BAMBOO CURTAIN

(13) SUZHOU - SHAN TANG STREET & GUAN QIAN STREET

2009-07-15T03:51:00.000-07:00

Shan Tang Street

Ini jalan paling terkenal dan paling tua di Suzhou. Tempat ini sangat makmur pada masa dinasti Ming dan Qing. Sebenernya tempat ini baru tetapi jalannya sudah tua, soalnya jalan lama ini sudah dimakan umur dan direnovasi beberapa tahun yang lalu. Jadi mayoritas gedung-gedungnya sebenarnya baru.

It’s the most famous and oldest street in Suzhou. It was very prosperous in Ming and Qing dynasty. Actually this is a new but old street, because the old street was wormed out with the ages and it was renovated a couple of years ago. So the majority of buildings are actually new.

Dimanapun kita jalan di Jalan Shan Tang, banyak hal menarik yang kita jumpai seperti pemandangan canal yang indah, asesoris lampu-lampu merah yang fantastic, warung-warung makan traditional, lukisan-lukisan China (seperti kaligrafi China), sampai kesenian dan gallery tersedia di jalan ini. Luar biasa ya?! Sebenernya gue pengen beli lukisan kaligrafi China dan beberapa lukisan tangan lain yang memang gue koleksi setiap pergi travel ke nagara lain… tapi sayangnya penjualnya ngasih harga mahal banget dan susah ditawar. Mungkin bukan hoki gue.

Everywhere we turn Shan Tang Street, there are interesting things to see ranging from lovely canal scene, fantastic red lamp accessories, traditional shops a long the street, traditional street food, Chinese painting (like China calligraphy), until art and gallery, the street served all. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Actually I would like buy a China calligraphy and some painting, I always buy painting from every country where I traveled for my collection… but unfortunately the shop gave me very expensive price and very difficult to bargain the price. May be it’s not my luck.

Guan Qian Street

Ini tempat shopping favorite gue. Sepanjang jalan ini banyak macam-macam outlet, restoran, butik-butik merek terkenal, perhiasan, dan lain-lain. Seperti di Kuta Square tapi jalan ini hanya untuk pejalan kaki, nggak ada mobil ataupun taransportasi lain lewat sini. Kita juga bisa tawar menawar harga. Meskipun didominasi barang-barang merek local dengan banyak toko menjual sepatu boot kulit dan jaket musim dingin, kualitas barangnya bagus dan harganya pun sangat murah, meskipun kita nggak pinter nawar. Hmmm….ini bener-bener surganya wanita …. Ha ha ha ha ha….

It’s my favorite shopping center. A long the street is many various shopping outlets, restaurant, branded boutiques, jewelry, and etc. Looks like Kuta Square but the street only for walkway, no car or other transportation passing through. We can bargain the price as well. Even local brand names dominated with many shop selling leather boots and winter jackets, the quality very good and the price was very cheap even we are not a good bargainer. Hmmm …. It’s really women paradise…ha ha ha ha ha….

Gue beli jaket panjang warna putih dan sepatu boot kulit warna putih, soalnya guide kita bilang nanti di Beijing hawanya lebih dingin lagi sekitar minus 10 derajat dan gue pikir sepatu kets and jaket gue nggak bakal cukup untuk nahan dingin. Apalagi persediaan hokairu udah menipis. Makanya gue musti siap-siap untuk itu, kalau nggak gue nggak bakal bisa keluar dari bus nanti ….he he he he ….Gue dapet harga murah banget untuk jaket dan sepatu boot cuma RMB 180. Setahu gue di Indonesia terutama Bali untuk masing-masing jaket dan sepatu boot bisa keluar duit Rp 1.000.000,00.

I bought a long white jacket and white leather boot, because the guide said in Beijing the weather will be around minus 10 degrees and I don’t think so my sneaker and my jacket would be enough for me. Moreover my hokairu left couple pieces only. So I have to prepare it otherwise I couldn’t go out from the bus …he he he he… I got very cheap for both only spent RMB 180. As I knew in Indonesia specially Bali for each jacket and boot we have to spend around Rp 1.000.000,00.

Hal menarik ketika shopping dan nyoba beberapa jaket dan sepatu, pelayan toko selalu bilang I YO YO. Lokal dialek ini artinya “bagus atau cantik”. Dialek lainnya I YA YA yang artinya kebalikannya “jelek”. Hal lain yang menarik kita bisa ketemu chestnut manis paling enak di sini. Tadinya gue mau beli sekantong tapi temen travel gue satu bus udah beli dan ngebagi makan bareng.

The nice thing when I shop and try some jacket and boot, the ladies shop always said “I YO YO”. It’s a local dialect and means “beautiful or pretty”. The other dialect is “I YA YA” means not pretty. The other nice thing we can find the best sweet chestnut in here. I would like to buy but my travel friend Josie bought already and share to me.

Ahirnya kita tutup perjalanan hari ini denga dinner di sebuah restouran Chinese food dan kemuadian ke hotel E-Central untuk check in. Hotelnya bagus tapi gue nggak beruntung karena pemanas ruangannya nggak bagus. Jadinya gue nggak tidur nyenyak karena kedinginan.

Finally we closed our day by dinner at a Chinese food restaurant and then we go to E-Central hotel for check in. The hotel was nice but I was not lucky that heather in my room was not working well. So I couldn’t sleep well because too cold.

(12) SUZHOU - THE HANSAN TEMPLE

2009-07-15T02:55:00.000-07:00

Kuil kuno ini terkenal dengan 108 bell yang berdentang menyambut tahun baru China untuk mendoakan keberuntungan dan kebahagian di tahun mendatang. Letaknya di sebelah barat kota Suzhou dan dibangun sekitar abat VI pada jaman Dynasty Liang (502-519). Nama Hansan berasal dari cerita tentang 2 orang sahabat bernama Hansan dan Shi De. Mereka sangat akrab dan tinggal bersama seperti saudara. Ketika orang tua Hansan pergi melamar seorang gadis untuk menjadi istrinya, Hansan baru tahu kalo calon istrinya tersebut adalah kekasih sahabatnya Shi De. Karena Hansan takut membuat Shi De sedih, maka dia meninggalkan rumah dan dalam perjalanan ia berhenti di sebuah kuil kecil. Sedangkan Shi De mengira bahwa Hansan pergi karena dia. Shi De memutuskan untuk pergi mencari Hansan. Akhirnya, takdir mempertemukan mereka di kuil dimana Hansan menyembunyikan dirinya. Kemudian karena cerita tersebut, maka mereka menyebutnya Kuil Hansan.

This ancient temple is famous with 108 bells which ring at midnight to pray the Great Buddha to bless for everyone, for luck and happiness in the next coming year. It’s located in the west of Suzhou. The pagoda was build around the VI Century, Liang Dynasty (502-519). The name Hansan is related to a story of two twinned friends, Hansan and Shi De. There were very closed and lived together as brothers. When Hansan parents went and asked for a girl’s hand for him, he just knew that his future wife was Shi De’s lover. Because Hansan was afraid to make Shi De sad, he left his home and stopped at a small temple. Regarding Shi De, he thought that Hansan left because of him. He decided to go out to look for Hansan. Finally, as fate, they met each other at the temple where Hansan was hiding himself. They live together as before. Being moved by the above story, they called the Temple Hansan.

Sebenernya gue masih pengen nikmatin tempat ini dan ngederin ke-108 bells dibunyiin. Suasana kuil juga ramai orang sembahyang tahun baru China. Tapi guide manggil kita kembali ke bis untuk melanjutkan perjalanan berikutnya.

Actually I still would like to enjoy this temple and hear the 108 bells ringing. Many people were praying for Chinese New Year in the temple. But our guide calls us already to go to the bus for continue our trip.

(11) SUZHOU - THE LION GROVE GARDEN (SHIZILIN)

2009-07-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Tujuan pertama kita di Kota Suzhou adalah Lion Grove Garden atau biasa dikenal dengan nama Shizilin. Taman tersebut merupakan salah satu dari 4 taman yang terkenal dan representative bergaya klasik kuno di kota Suzhou. Ketiga taman yg lain yaitu Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglangta), Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) dan Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozhengyuan). Tapi kita nggak pergi ke ketiga taman tersebut.

Our first destination of Suzhou was The Lion Grove Garden or usually called Shizilin. The garden is one of the four most famous and representative gardens of an ancient classical style in Suzhou city. The other three are Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglangta), Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) and Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozhengyuan). But we didn’t go to the other three gardens.

Lion Grove Garden dibangun tahun 1342 sebelum Dynasty Yuan oleh biksu Tianru dan kelompok aliran Budha Zen untuk mengenang guru besar mereka biksu Zhongfeng. Sering dengan berjalannya waktu, nama dan orang-orang kaya yang memilikinya pun berubah-ubah. Kemudian ahli waris terakhir melimpahkannya kepada rakyat Repulik China. Sehingga dari sejak itu, taman tersebut terjaga dan terpelihara dengan baik, juga terbuka untuk umum. Nama Lion Grove Garden diambil dari batu karang besar di dalam taman yang bentuknya seperti bentuk singa. Hmmm … gue nggak tahu gimana orang-orang China ngeliat batu karang besar itu seperti singa, gue perhatiin sama sekali nggak ada mirip-miripnya tuh sama singa… he he he he … Sayangnya waktu kita berkunjung ke sana pas musim dingin, jadi nggak bisa ngeliat gimana indahnya taman ini dengan bunga warna-warni di sana sini. Kita cuma bisa ngeliat batu-batu karang, kolam dan pohon-pohon kering.

The Lion Grove Garden has build in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty by Monk Tianru and a group of Zen Buddhist disciples as a memorial of their master-Monk Zhongfeng. By the number of time, the garden has changed names and hands by many rich peoples. Then the last heir was donated to People’s Republic of China. From then on, the garden entered a steady and well-protected period, also open for public viewing. The Lion Grove Garden got its name by having huge rock garden with lion look a like rock landscaping. Hmmm… I don’t know how Chinese peoples saw it, but I didn’t see how the rock looks like lion … he he he he he….. Frankly we visited the garden on the cold season, so we on the winter time, so we couldn’t see how beautiful the garden with flowers in everywhere. We only saw rocks, the water pond and dry plants.

(10) SUZHOU - On the Way to Suzhou

2009-07-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Cuma yang gue heran, kenapa ya…tahun baru tapi nggak berasa tahun baru kayak di Indonesia, terutama Bali meriah banget. Sepanjang jalan ke Suzhou suasana rasanya sepi, sunyi, dan nggak keliatan orang. Malah gue pikir kayak kota mati ditinggalin penduduknya. Gue sempet SMS sama beberapa temen di Indonesia tentang suasana Tahun Baru ini. Lucu-lucu mereka nge-reply SMS gue. McD bilang, elo salah kota kali … hi hi hi hi hi….nggak tahu juga ya…. Then Irene bilang, orang China-nya lagi pada shopping ke Plaza Bali semua … hi hi hi hi hi…gue emang ngebayangin itu sih.

I was surprised, why the Chinese New Year was not look like a Chinese New Year in Indonesia, especially in Bali so merry. The situation on the way to Suzhou was very quiet, deserted, and no body. Moreover I thought look like deadly city where left by the peoples. I sent SMS to some friend in Indonesia regarding the situation of the Chinese New Year. They were replying with funny SMS. McD test me, ‘I think you are in the wrong city’ …hi hi hi hi hi …I don’t think so …. Then Irene text me, ‘all Chinese people are shopping at Plaza Bali … hi hi hi hi hi … I imagined that actually.

Kota Suzhou terkenal dengan sebutan Venice dari Timur. Kota tua di pinggiran negri China ini dikelilingi air. Tempat ini menarik wisatawan karena transportasi sungai, jembatan-jembatan, dan rumah-rumah tradisional kuno dengan tembok-tembok putih dan atap berwarna gelap yang sengaja masih dipertahankan oleh pemerintah China. Sayangnya kita nggak dibawa guidenya sightseeing naik perahu seperti waktu di Xitang. Padahal gue pengen banget ngeliat tempatnya Dian Sastro photo shooting untuk Kayu Manis Resort yang kata Harris ngambil background kota kuna ini. Kalo ngeliat foto-fotonya dian Sastro sih tempatnya mirip dengan kota Xitang.

Suzhou city is very famous called The Venice of The East. Around the ancient town in the suburban of China country are bounded by water. Among the things of tourist interest are the waterways, bridge, and traditional ancient houses with white walls and dark roof-tiles which have been under protection by China government. Frankly the guide didn’t bring us sightseeing by boat like in Xitang town whereas I would like to see the place where Dian Sastro (the famous Indonesian actress) took photo shooting for Kayu Manis Resort. Harris told me that they took the background shooting in this city. When I saw Dian Sastro picture, the place looks like Xitang town.

(9) XI TANG - CRUISING AT YANGTZE RIVER

2009-05-12T04:03:00.000-07:00

Hore….Naik perahu lagi …. Wah seru banget!! Kita naik perahu di sepanjang sungai Yangtze yang membelah kota Xi Tang. Rumah-rumah kuno di sepanjang sungai dan jembatan-jembatan penghubung sungai yang kita lewati menjadi pemandangan yang sangat menarik. Sungai Yangtze terkenal memiliki banyak jembatan-jembatan penghubung yang berbeda-beda bentuknya satu sama lain. Di sisi kanan kiri sepanjang sungai terdapat corridor untuk para pejalan kaki. Hampir semua corridor memiliki atap untuk melindungi dari panasnya matahari ataupun hujan. So pada waktu jalan kaki di Xi Tang, kita nggak bakalan kehujanan ataupun kepanasan sinar matahari. Ada juga panggung teater kuno di sisi kiri sungai yang menyajikan atraksi Chinese Opera seperti di film-film

China

yang sering gue tonton. Orang-orang menonton opera dari seberang sungai. Lucu juga rasanya ngeliat perahu-perahu lewat begitu aja diantara panggung dan penonton, termasuk perahu yang kita naikin. Malah gue juga sempet lihat orang-orang mandi dan nyuci baju di sungai persis kayak orang-orang desa di

Indonesia

Oleeee… Cruise again! …. So cool!! We ride boat at Yangtze River where divided Xi Tang town. It’s interesting to see the ancient houses and the bridges along the river. The Yangtze River is very famous with many bridges cross over the river. At the left river side there are corridor ways for walker. Mostly, it is tile-roofed and built along the riverside, providing shelter for people to avoid either the baking of hot sun or the rain. So, while walking in Xi Tang, you can never be caught in the rain or exposed to searing sun. There is a Chinese opera performance at the left riverside like in the Chinese movie which I watched. People watch the opera show from the cross of the river. Looks funny when I saw boats passed away between the opera and the spectators included our boat. I actually also saw people wash clothes in the river same likes Indonesian people in the villages.

Begitu turun dari perahu, gue serasa berada di dunia lain. Jalan kaki di sepanjang corridor, ngeliat perahu-perahu di sungai, ngeliat kios-kios tua dan penduduk setempat yang berjualan, gue serasa ada di kehidupan jaman dulu. Di kota tua Xi Tang ini, orang-orang yang tinggal bukan orang-orang kaya, jadi nggak ada rumah-rumah modern yang dibangun di sini. Mungkin itu salah satu alasan bangunan-bangunan tua di sini masih utuh semua. Bahkan di atas atap beberapa rumah tua di Xi Tang, tumbuh rumput-rumput yang tingginya sekitar 30 centimeter. Ini menandakan bahwa kemajuan, kedamaian dan keabadian rumah tersebut merupakan kemakmuran dari seluruh kota.

When I got out from the boat, I feel like in the other world. Walking along the corridor, watching the boats in the river, seeing around old shops along corridor and the seller, I feel drown into the meditation of the past. In the old town of Xi Tang, people who lives there are not rich, so no newer modern houses have been build there. That’s maybe one of the reasons why the old constructions are preserved as a whole almost without damage. On the roof s of some old houses in Xi Tang, the grass is about 30 centimeters tall. It is said that the spirit of the former owner of the house joints with the grass, making it flourish and blessing the peace and permanence of the house as well as the prosperity of the entire town.

Sampai di jembatan yang paling terkenal, gue lupa namanya, lumayan rame orang-orang berdesak-desakan untuk ambil photo. Habis ini tempat paling strategis dan keren untuk ambil gambar seluruh kota Xi Tang. Apalagi pas akhir film MI-3, film-nya nge-shoot Tom Cruise sama Michelle Monaghan di atas jembatan ini. Berdiri di atas jembatan ini, gue ngebayangin jadi Julia, tunangannya agent Ethan Hunt di MI-3 …. he he he he he he……

We were walking at the corridor until to the famous bridge. I forget the name of the bridge. So many people and crowded with people who would like took a picture in here due to this place very nice scene and strategic to take a picture of the whole town. Moreover, at the ending of MI-3 movie shot Tom Cruise and Michelle Monaghan on the bridge. Standing on the bridge, I image to be ‘Julia’ the fiancé of agent Ethan Hunt in the MI-3 …. He he he he he he he…..

Snapshot 1

Ternyata sejak turun dari perahu, Koh Ian dan temen-temen group yang cowok diikutin sama 2 orang tukang semir sepatu. Adduuuhhh….gigihnya mereka merayu koh Ian dan yang lainnya untuk disemir sepatunya. Dari mintanya RMB 20, lama-lama turun jadi RMB 3.00. Akhirnya Koh Ian diikutin Pak Agus luluh juga dengan rayuan mereka … he he he he he ….. Yang menarik perhatian gue, biasanya kalau di

Indonesia

anak-anak kecil yang kerja jadi tukang semir sepatu di mall-mall ataupun di stasiun kereta. Sedangkan di sini, semua orang bisa melakukan, yang penting mereka bisa cari uang untuk makan. Mereka begitu semangat dan gembira sekali sewaktu berhasil merayu Koh Ian dan Pak Agus. Memang betul kalau orang-orang bilang kehidupan di

China

sangat keras dan orang mau bekerja apa saja asal bisa makan.

Actually since we got out from the boats, Mr. Ian and others were followed by 2 shoe polishers. Aaahhhh … They very persisted in to persuade Mr. Ian and others to polish their shoes. They offered from RMB 20 become RMB 3.00. Finally Mr. Ian and Mr. Agus gave up and let them to polished their shoes he he he he he … The interesting for me, I usually met kids doing this job at some malls and train station in Indonesia. But in here, everybody can to be anything as long as they can get money for buy foods. They were so enthusiasm and happy when Mr. Ian and Mr. Agus allowed their shoes to be polish. It right that people said live in Chine is very hard and people have to work hard.

(8) XI TANG - THE ORIGINAL OLD TOWN

2009-05-12T01:01:00.000-07:00

Perjalanan dari Hangzhou ke Xi Tang lumayan jauh, kurang lebih 2,5 jam. Sepanjang jalan gue asyik ngeliatin orang-orang pergi ke kuil buat sembahyang di Tahun Baru China. Gue paling excited banget pergi ke kota Xi tang ini. Soalnya menurut informasi yang gue dapet di internet, kota ini tempat syutingnya film “Mission Impossible III”. Kebayang kan ….. gimana exciting-nya gue yang maniak nonton film. Pengambilan gambar pertama kali “Mission Impossible III” di lakukan Tom Cruise di kota kuno ini tanggal 24 November 2005. Sayang ya … kenapa gue nggak pergi pas tanggal itu … he he he he he….

The way trips Hangzhou to Xi Tang take about 2.5 hour. All along the road I enjoy to see people go to temple for praying in the Chinese New Year. I really excited to go to the Xi Tang town because from internet I got information that “Mission Impossible III” is shot here. You can image … how really exciting I am. I really like watch movie. The first scene in China of Mission Impossible III was shot on Novemver 24th, 2005. Tom Cruise performs during the shooting of “Mission Impossible III” in Xi Tang, an ancient town. Pity ya… why I was not go to Xi Tang on that time :-(

Begitu sampai Xi Tang, kita lunch dulu di sebuah restaurant di pinggir jalan besar. Menu lunch hampir sama seperti lunch kemaren. Selesai lunch, kita diajak ke Galeri Zhang Chen. Sebuah galeri yang memamerkan koleksi ukiran unik dari akar pohon. Pemiliknya sudah turun temurun mewarisinya. Sayangnya kita nggak boleh bikin photo-photo di sini. Jadi kita cukup puas dengan ngeliat-liat ukiran-ukiran antik dan sangat mahal di galeri ini.

When we arrived Xi Tang, first time we were visiting to Zhang Chen Gallery. It’s a gallery where unique exhibition center for root carving. The owners passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately we couldn’t take pictures here. So we have to satisfy to see very expensive ancient wood carvings in this gallery.

Dari Zhang Chen Galeri, kita jalan ngelewatin lorong-lorong sempit yang sangat terkenal di kota Xi Tang ini. Kalo nggak salah sih orang-orang nyebutnya Shipi Lanes. Seru banget jalan di dalam lorong-lorong sempit di antara bangunan-bangunan kuno. Serasa ada di film-film kungfu China ….. he he he he he….. Malah pertama kali masuk lorong cuma muat untuk jalan satu orang. Lucunya lagi, lorong-lorong jalan di sini seperti tali yang saling berkaitan satu sama lain. Nggak peduli dari mana kita mulainya, pasti tetep aja nyampe ke semua tempat di kota Xitang ini. Kalo digambar kayak sarang laba-laba kali …. he he he he he …. Amazing ya….. :-)

From the Zhang Chen Gallery, we walked to famous narrow lines in the Xi Tang Town. People call Shipi Lanes. So excited walk at Xi Tang Town Lines between ancient buildings. Feel like we are in the Chinese movie. He he he he he he…..Moreover the first time we started walk, we walked at the space line for only one person to pass through at a time. The Interest things with the Lines are rope connecting the whole town into an organic net and no matter from which point you start, you can find any other place in the town. Amazing, isn’t it?

Kota Xi Tang merupakan salah satu dari 6 kota tradisional yang terkenal di China, diantaranya Zhou Zhuang, Tong Li, Lu Zhi, Wuzhen, Xi Tang, dan Nan Xun. Kota-kota ini semuanya merupakan bagian dari UNESCO World Heritage. Model arsitektur kota ini berasal dari Dynasty Ming dan Dynasty Qing. Penduduk di sini masih mempertahankan gaya kehidupan tradisional mereka. Bahkan peralatan-peralatan kuno pun masih mereka simpan dan mereka rawat sebagai kekayaan kota ini. Kita sempat diajak masuk ke salah satu rumah yang dulunya merupakan tempat pembuatan kancing baju secara traditional dari bahan kulit kerang. Semua peralatannya sangat kuno dan sederhana, tetapi masih berfungsi dengan baik. Menarik juga sih ngelihat orang-orang tua di situ memperagakan ke turis-turis bagaimana orang-orang jaman dulu mempergunakan peralatan tradisional dan antik tersebut.

Xi Tang is one of the 6 famous traditional towns in China, which included Zhou Zhuang, Tong Li, Lu Zhi, Wuzhen, Xi Tang, and Nan Xun. They are all part of UNESCO World Heritage. The architectures remain the style from Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The residences in the town still keep their traditional way of living. Also their stuffs for living still keep as the town inheritance wealth. Our guide brings us to the traditional shirt button shell factory. All stuff factory in here very old and simple, but still working. It’s very interesting when we watch old people in here showing us how to make shirt button from shell using the traditional stuffs.

(7) HANGZOU - THE WEST LAKE CRUISE

2009-05-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

THIRD DAY, JANUARY 26^TH, 2009

Setiap pagi kita punya schedule 6 7 8. Morning call jam 6 pagi, sarapan jam 7 pagi, dan berangkat tour jam 8 pagi. Sebenernya maleeeesss banget mau bangun. Kayaknya baru sebentar tidurnya. Tapi mau nggak mau musti bangun, mandi dan packing karena kita harus check out dari hotel. Sarapan pagi di hotel lumayan enak dan menunya American Breakfast. So banyak pilihan. Apalagi hari ini Tahun Baru China jadi banyak macem-macem jeruk tersedia untuk desert-nya.

Every morning we have schedule 6 7 8. Morning call on 06.00 am, breakfast on 07.00 am, and start tour on 08.00 am. Actually I was so lazy to wake up. I sleep like just an hour. But I have to wake up, take a shower, and packaging because we have to check out from the hotel. Our breakfast in the hotel is quiet good and American Breakfast menu. We have many choices. Moreover today is a Chinese New Year so many kind of orange for desert.

The West Lake Cruise

Ternyata tujuan tour pertama kita ke Danau Xihu lagi. Tapi kali ini kita naik perahu kayu mengelilingi danau. Waahhh…seru banget!! Sampai-sampai udara yang begitu dingin nggak berasa karena pemandangan sepanjang danau indah sekali, padahal pohon-pohon kering nggak ada daunnya. Gue bayangin gimana kalo musim semi….pohon-pohon hijau dan bunga-bunga warna-warni dimana-mana. Pasti cantik sekali.

Apparently our first destination tour today to Xihu lake again. But now we are going around by sheep from wood. Aaahhh…. Very fun! We don’t care anymore with cold weather because of the view of Xihu Lake is very beautiful even no leaves. I image how it is on the spring time …. Green trees and colorful flowers are in everywhere. I think it so beautiful!

(6) HANGZOU - CHINESE NEW YEAR EVE

2009-05-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

Best Western Premier Hotel

Hotel pertama gue selama di China lumayan bagus dan bersih. Sekelas bintang 4 kalo untuk hotel city. Nih hotel lumayan terkenal di Hangzou. Juga memang biasa dipake untuk group-group terutama dari Indonesia. Gue sekamar dengan ibu-ibu tua yang gue lupa namanya. Naahh….yang seru nih waktu ngidupin pemanas ruangan. Tulisan yang ada di remote control tulisannya kriting semua. Alhasil bukannya ruangan tambah hangat malah kebalikannya….hi hi hi hi hi..... Mungkin tuh remote control pusing kali setelah gue pencet-pencet berkali-kali. Tapi akhirnya sih bisa juga gue menikmati kehangatan ruangan. Duuuhhh ….. rasanya pengen cepet-cepet mandi air hangat dan tidur. Badan udah capeknya setengah mati dan ngantuk karena semalem cuma dapet tidur sebentar di pesawat.

My first hotel in China was good and clean. It’s like 4 star city hotel and very famous in Hangzou. The hotel is accustomed to handle group, especially from Indonesia. My roommate is an old woman but unfortunately I forget her name J Aaaahh….the exciting thing when I try to turn on the room’s heater. All sign on the remote control was curly written. So the room was not to be warm but getting coldest because I turn on the air conditioner …. xi xi xi xi xi xi xi ……May be the remote control got headache because I press it many times. But finally I can enjoy with my warm room J Aaahhh …..I can not wait to take a shower and go to my bed. I am so tired and sleepy due to last night couldn’t sleep well and very short in the plane.

Firework Party

Hmmm….ini malam pertama gue tidur di China …. He he he he he …. Juga malam Tahun Baru

China

. Tapi rasanya kok sepi banget ya…nggak ada kehidupan. Di jalan pun nggak ada orang sibuk lalu lalang menyambut tahun baru kayak di Bali. Waaahhh….kalo di Bali sih super sibuk :-( Kemaren sebelum pergi aja udah banyak hiasan lampion, payung dan kipas warna merah di mana-mana. Juga bunga-bunga kecil warna pink, gue nggak tahu tuh nama bunganya. Kok suasana tahun baru China malah berasa di Bali ya ….. aneh gak sih…. Padahal jelas-jelas gue ada di Negara yang empunya hari raya tahun baru China :-(

Hmmm….this is my first night, I am sleeping at China. …. He he he he he….. also Chinese New Year Eve. But I feel so quiet ….. no life. On the read was not busy to welcome The New Year like in Bali. Aaahhh …. If in Bali, you will see how busy is. We can find red paper lantern, red umbrella, red fan, and small pink flowers in everywhere. I more feel Chinese New Year celebration in Bali then here. Looks strange…. Because I was in the country which should be celebrate it :-(

Selesai mandi gue dah mau langsung masuk tempat tidur ….. tapi tiba-tiba gue dikagetin bunyi-bunyi tembak-tembakan, persis kayak ada perang. Duuuhhh…serem banget rasanya. Meskipun rada takut gue paksain ngintip lewat jendela kamar. Yaa….ampun ternyata diluar kembang api dimana-mana. Keren banget! Akhirnya gue nggak jadi tidur malah bela-belain kedinginan karena jendela gue buka buat nonton pesta kembang api yang nggak berhenti sampai pagi. Gila! Orang China kaya bener ya…..

Finished shower, I almost go to my bed but suddenly I was shock with shooting sound, looks like on the war. Aahhh …. So scary! I look at the window. Wow …. !! I saw fireworks everywhere. Fantastic! So cool!! Even cold, I sit at the window and watch firework until morning. Crazy! Chinese peoples very rich!! ….

(5) HANGZOU - SONG DYNASTY TOWN

2009-05-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

Tujuan kita selanjutnya adalah Kota kecil Dynasty Song untuk ngeliat pertunjukan yang sangat terkenal di Hangzhou. Kota kecil Dynasty song merupakan tempat hiburan pertama di Hangzhou yang menggambarkan 2 kebudayaan Dynasty Song. Cerita Roman dari Dynasty Song adalah sebuah pertunjukan bersekala besar – Sentuhan seribu tahun dari Kota Dynasty Song dan investasinya lebih dari RMB 100 juta dimana ada 300 aktor dan aktris yang tergabung di dalamnya. Setiap tahun sekitar 2 juta turis China maupun asing datang untuk nonton pertunjukan. Pertujukan ini menceritakan sejarah dan mitologi Hangzhou yang terbagi dalam empat episode: Palace Dancing, Shining Spears and Armored Heroes, Beautiful West Lake and Legend, and Worlds Meets Here. Karena dikemas dengan nyanyian, tarian dan acrobat serta ditambah teknologi yang canggih jadi menghasilkan konsep impian yang artistic banget dan punya pengaruh efek visual yang kuat. Pffuuuiihh…pokoknya keren dan megah banget. Alcazar Show di Pattaya – Thailand aja kalah jauh. Cerita Roman dari kota Dynasty song ini merupakan pertunjukan ketiga terbesar di dunia, diantaranya “Moulin Rouge” dari Paris dan the O’ Shoum di Las Vegas.

The next our destination was going to the Song Dynasty Town to watch the most famous performance in Hangzhou. Song Dynasty Town has been the first theme park in Hangzhou that reflects the culture of two Song Dynasties. The Romance of the Song Dynasty is a large-scale performance – “Thousand Year’s Feeling of Song Dynasty Town” and over 100 million RMB Yuan investment in which there are 300 actors. Every years 2 million Chinese and overseas tourists are thronging to watch the performance. The performance is base on the history and mythology of Hangzhou which is divided to be 4 episodes: Palace Dancing, Shining Spears and Armored Heroes, Beautiful West Lake and Legend, and Worlds Meets Here. Due to the show mixed by singing, dancing and acrobatics together, also to make full use of high technologies, it has created a dreamy artistic conception and strong visual impact. Pfffuuuiiihhh…. Very glorious and so cool! Much … much better than Alcazar Show at Pattaya – Thailand. The Romance of The Dynasty Song is one of the three great shows in the world, along with the “Moulin Rouge” in Paris and the “O Show in Las Vegas”.

Gue bener-bener menikmati pertunjukan The Romance of Song Dynasty Village ini. Semua actor berakting dan menari dengan sangat sempurna. So …sekarang waktunya makan malam, udah laper banget kita. Abis makan kita langsung ke hotel…. Huuuaaahhh…cuapek dan dingin banget hari ini!

I really enjoy with the performance. All actors were doing their performance perfectly. So …. Now time to go dinner, so hungry already. Then directly go to hotel. Hhhuuuuaaahhh….soooo.. tired and cold today!

(4) HANGZOU - LONG JING TEA FARM & FACTORY

2009-05-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Tea Farm and Factory

So… dari Danau Barat yang cantik, kita dibawa guide ke perkebunan teh yang paling termasyur di China. Perkebunan ini dinamakan teh hijau Long Jing (atau juga dikenal dengan sebutan Dagon Well). Menurut legenda, seorang Kaisar yang yang menyamar menginap di sebuah rumah petani di sana. Di dalam mimpinya bahwa seluruh area dari bukit sampai ke lembah, bersembunyi seekor naga raksasa. Sang naga menampakan diri dalam mimpi sang Kaisar untuk menceritakan kebahagian di masa depan. Ketika dia terbangun, kemudian tempat itu dinamainya daerah Long Jing, Dragon Well.

So from the gorgeous West Lake, the guide brings us to the renowned teas farm in China. It’s called Long Jing Green Tea (or Dragon Well Tea). The Legend has it that a disguised emperor stayed there once in a farmhouse overnight. He hand a dream that the entire area, with all its hills and valleys, hid a giant sleeping dragon. The dragon chose to reveal itself to the dreaming emperor foretelling much glory ahead. When he woke up he named the region Long Jing, Dragon Well.

Di perkebunan teh, ada staff yang mempersilahkan kita masuk ke dalam suatu ruangan seperti ruangan meeting untuk memperkenalkan teh apa yang terbaik dan menyajikan contoh teh dengan caranya yang unik. Tadinya gue pikir teh di sini sama kayak teh hijau dari Jepang atau teh hijau dari China yang biasanya gue minum. Ternyata setelah gue cicipin, wow!!...... gue surprise banget! Rasanya beda dan enak banget tehnya. Gue penggemar teh tapi selama ini gue belum pernah ngerasain teh hijau seenak teh Long Jing. Ini teh paling enak yang pernah gue minum. Karyawan di situ bilang kalo kita nggak bakalan bisa dapetin teh seenak ini di manapun kecuali di perkebunan teh Long Jing karena tanaman teh ini dilindungi oleh pemerintah China dan pemerintah mensubsidi petani teh di Hangzou ini supaya perkebunan teh ini tetap beroperasi. Itu sebabnya penduduk di Hangzou lebih makmur daripada penduduk kota lainnya.

At the tea farm, the staff brings my group to the room to give a brief introduction what tea is the best and serve a sample of tea with their unique style. First time I thought that the tea same like Japanese green tea or Chinese green which I usually drink. But I after I taste it, wow …!! I was surprised! It’s very different and very good. I love tea but I never found a tea like Long Jing tea. This is the best tea which I ever tasted. The tea staff told us that we can’t get Long Jing tea anywhere else in the world and only can buy it at Hangzou, because it’s protected by China government and the government subside tea farmer to guards this commodity running. That’s why Hangzou people more prosperous than others city.

Daun teh China Long Jing atau Dragon Well memiliki empat perbedaan yang sangat mencolok yaitu dari warna hijaunya, aromanya yang harum, bentuknya yang indah, dan rasanya yang manis. Ini kemudian dibedakan menjadi 5 kategori yang termasuk di dalamnya Lion (Shifeng), Dragon (Long Jing), Cloud (Yungqi), Tiger (Hupao) and Mei (Meijiawu). Diantara kelima kategori itu, jenis Lion yang mutunya paling bagus.

Long Jing or Dragon Well Chinese Tea leaves has four extremes in green color, fragrant aroma, nice shape, and sweet taste. It can be divided into five categories including Lion (Shifeng), Dragon (Long Jing), Cloud (Yungqi), Tiger (Hupao) and Mei (Meijiawu). Among them, the Lion is the first grade.

Ada beberapa ruangan yang sama untuk memperkenalkan teh Long Jing seperti yang mereka lakukan ke group gue dan pas kita keluar ruangan di situ ada ruangan display tempat pengunjung yang ingin membeli teh. Tadinya gue pengen beli beberapa kaleng teh untuk oleh-oleh staff Jepang di kantor tapi gue surprise banget begitu tahu harganya. Wow!!!.... muahalnya amit-amit. Untuk setengah kilo teh harganya RMB 500.00. Kalo dirupiahin sekitar Rp 825.000,00. Kita boleh mengemas sendiri sih tapi cuma jadi 3 kaleng kecil (kayak kaleng coca cola). So gue nggak tertarik lagi untuk beli meskipun mereka nawarin discount ataupun bonus. Aaaah…. Satu lagi yang menarik dan jadi tontonan lucu buat gue, staff yang memperkenalkan teh Long Jing nggak bisa bahasa Indonesia dan bahasa Inggris sama sekali ….he he he he he he…..Hebatnya kok ya…. orang-orang di group gue nih ngerti aja yang diomongin dia…. Huahahahahhahahhaha …..cuma pas nawar harga tetep aja sih minta tolong koh Ian jadi translater :-)

There are several rooms to give introduction like they gave to my group and then when we leave of course there is a guest shop. I was thinking may be I would buy some tea as a give for my Japanese staff in the office but I was surprised when I knew the price. Wow!!! … so expensive! We have to expenses RMB 500.00 for half kilogram tea. It’s about Rp 750.000,00. We can put in the cans package by our self but only become 3 small cans (like soft drink cans, such as coca cola cans). So I am not interesting anymore to buy even they were offering some discount and bonus. Aaaahh….one interesting thing which though funny was the tea staff who gave brief tea introduction didn’t speak bahasa or English …..hehehehhehehehe…. the great thing … everybody in my group understand what she speaks …. Huahahhahahahahahahha…. Only when they bargain the price, they asked Mr. Ian our tour leader to be translator :-)

To Be Continue ......

(3) HANGZOU - FROM THE GORGEOUS XIHU LAKE

2009-05-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

HANGZOU

Perjalanan dari Shanghai ke Hangzou memakan waktu 3 jam. Kota Hangzou adalah salah satu dari delapan ibukota kuno dalam sejarah China dan sekarang merupakan ibukota dari propinsi Zhejiang. Kota ini terkenal dengan sejarah national dan budayanya. Dulu nama sebenernya adalah “Yu city” dan ada nama-nama lainnya seperti Yuhang, Qiantang, Lin’an, dan lain-lain. Menurut gue Hangzou ini tempatnya indah banget dan dari semua kota yang gue kunjungi selama di China. Gue paling suka dengan kota ini. Kota Hangzou terletak di pinggir Danau Xihu yang indah atau lebih dikenal dengan West Lake (Danau Barat) dan sungai Qiantang. Kota ini sangat teratur dan bersihnya minta ampun.

The way from Shanghai to Hangzou took three hours by bus. Hangzou city is a one of the eight ancient capitals in Chinese history and now is the capital of Zhejiang Province. The city is very famous as National historical and cultural city. It was originally named “Yu city” and has such other names as Yuhang, Qiantang, Lin’an, etc. For me, Hangzou is the most beautiful place from other places where I visit in China. I like this city. Hangzou is located at the edge of Xihu Lake and Qiantang River. The city is very organize and very clean.

Ternyata penilaian gue tentang kota ini nggak salah. Bulan February 2007, kota ini mendapat penghargaan “Kota Pariwisata Terbaik di China” dari CNTA (China National Tourism Administration) dan WTO of UN (World Tourism Organization of United Nation). Trus bulan November 2007, kota Hangzou menerima penghargaan “Kota Paling Sejahtera” Hebat ya….!!

Apperently my opinion about this city was right. On February 2007, Hangzou was entitled “The Best Tourist City in China” by CNTA (China National Tourism Administration) and WTO (World Tourism Organization) of UN. In November 2007, Hangzou was rewarded as “The Most Well-Being City”

Xihu Lake (West Lake)

Tempat pertama yang kita tuju di Hangzou adalah Danau Xihu atau lebih dikenal dengan nama Danau Barat. Danau Barat ini terbentuk dari teluk dangkal di jaman purbakala dimana sungai Qiantang mengalir ke laut. Dulu dinamakan Air Wulin, Danau Sapi Emas, Danau Qiantang, dan Danau Xizi. Karena letaknya di sebelah barat kota Hangzou, maka kemudian dinamakan Danau Barat. Luas area Danau Barat yang indah ini adalah 60.04 kilometer persegi. Wow!!…kebayang kan luasnya kayak apa. Bisa seharian dikelilingin jalan kaki he he he he

At Hangzou, the first place we go is Xihu Lake or more famous called West Lake. The West Lake came from a shallow bay in ancient times where Qiantang River ran into the sea. It was formerly named as Wulin Waters, Golden Buffalo Lake, and Xizi Lake. As it lies in the west of Hangzou, it was later named The West Lake. The lake area is about 60.04 square KM. Wow!!....can you imagen how big is?! I think need a whole day to walk around all the area … he he he he he… :-)

O’ ya…Keindahan Danau Xihu ini menjadi tempat romantis berasalnya banyak cerita legenda yang indah. Kalau pernah liat film seri China di TV tentang Ular Putih dan Ular Hijau serta kekasih Ular Putih Xu Xian. Ada juga cerita legenda Romeo dan Juliet versi Chinese yang menceritakan tentang sepasang kekasih Liang Shanbo dan Zhu Yingtai yang rela mati demi cinta. Ooo ….so sweet!

O’ ya… The beautifully Xihu Lake was a romantic place where were many beautiful legend come from. If you ever saw the Chinese series movie at television about the White snake and the green snake, also XuXian the white snake lover. The other romantic legend is The Butterfly Lovers. It’s Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet story. The Legend story was telling about 2 lover Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai who love each others and willing to die for love. Those stories make the historical thread for Hangzou to be a city of love. Oooo….So sweet! :-)

Huagangguanyu

Ada 10 tempat paling top pemandangannya di Danau Barat ini. Huagangguayu, kolam penuh ikan mas yang berada tengah-tengah taman bunga yang indah adalah salah satunya. Taman bunga ini dibangun di antara bukit dan danau Barat sekitar 800 tahun yang lalu. Wow!! Udah tua banget ya …..!! Sungai kecil yang bersih mengalirinya langsung dari Bukit Huajia (Bukit Bunga) dan turun sampai ke Danau Xihu, sekarang jadi tempat rekreasi yang bagus untuk ngeliat ikan dan nikmatin semak-semak bunga yang indah disekitarnya. Makanya sering disebut viewing fish at the flower pond.

There are the most of top ten scenes at the West Lake. Huagangguayu, the pond which are fully of Gold Fishes in the middle of a beautiful flower garden is the one of the top ten scenes. The garden was built between the hills and the West Lake 800 years ago. Wow!! So old ya….!! Since a clear stream from Huajia Hill (Flower’s Hill) ran trough here and down into the West Lake, it is now an ideal resort to view fish and enjoy peonies. That’s why called viewing fish at the flower pond.

Ngeliat kolam besar yang penuh ikan mas, gue jadi inget Danau Tondano di Manado-Sulawesi yang penuh dengan ikan mas juga. Malah menurut gue di Danau Tondano lebih banyak dan lebih besar-besar ketimbang yang di Danau Barat ini. Cuma bedanya yang di Danau Tondano boleh masuk penggorengan sedangkan yang di Danau Barat sini nggak boleh ditangkap karena dianggap keramat J xi xi xi xi xi xi xi …..…

Viewing gold fish at the pond was reminding me about Tondano Lake at Manado-Celebes Island where is fully of Gold Fish too. In fact I think Tondano Lake more fully of Gold Fish and more big fish than West Lake. The different is fishes in Tondano Lake can put on the frying pan but in here can not due to the gold fish is highly respected J xi xi xi xi xi xi…………

Leifeng Pagoda

Pagoda Leifeng di sore hari, juga merupakan salah satu dari 10 tempat paling top pemandangannya. Menurut cerita legenda sih, Pagoda ini tempat dikurungnya Ular Putih dan tempatnya Xu Xian menjadi biksu. Sayang gue nggak bisa ke sana karena gue musti ngikutin rombongan, jadi gue nggak bisa ngebuktiin ada ular putih nggak di sana….he he he he he…. Lagian tempatnya ada di atas bukit di seberang danau. Pagoda Leifeng ini didirikan tahun 977 oleh kaisar Qian Hongchu dari kerajaan Wu dan Yue untuk memperingati hari kelahiran anak laki-laki dari selir kesayangannya yang bernama Selir Huang. Yang kemuadian menamakan Pagoda Leifeng.

Leifeng Pagoda in evening glow is also one of the top ten scenes of West Lake. The Legend was telling that this Pagoda is the place to isolate the white snake and Xu Xian to be a monk. Unfortunately I couldn’t go there because I have to follow my group, so I couldn’t approve that the white snake is in there or not …. He he he he he…. Moreover the place is on the hill a cross of the lake. The Leifeng Pagoda was originally erected in 977 by Qian Hongchu, king of the Kingdom of Wu and Yue, to celebrate the birth of his son by his favorite concubine called Concubine Huang. It was later named as Leifeng Pagoda.

To Be Continue .....

(1) MY LUCKY STAR

2009-04-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

“Mimpi”… semua orang pasti punya mimpi. Begitu pun gue. Pergi ke negri Tirai Bambu ini adalah salah satu impian gue dari kecil. “Tuntutlah Ilmu Sampai ke Negri China” pepatah ini sering banget diucapkan nyokap gue kalo lagi nasehatin gue dan adik-adik gue. Meskipun gue tahu arti pepatah itu hanyalah ungkapan atau kiasan supaya kita jangan menyerah atau berhenti belajar dalam mencari kepandaian, kalimat itu selalu membuat gue penasaran. Kenapa sih harus negri China? Kenapa sih bukan negri Amerika atau pun negri German, Belanda, Inggris, Australia atau Jepang?

“Dream”… everybody has a dream. So do I. Go to the Bamboo Curtain Country is one of my dream since I was young. “Go study until to China”. My mother often says this proverb to me and my brother and sister. Although I knew the meaning of the proverb is to give me support to not give up when we study to get our goal, this proverb always make me curious. Why China? Why we don’t put America, German, Dutch, England, Australia, or Japan?

Hal lain yang membuat gue semakin penasaran akan negri ini adalah masyarakatnya yang tersebar di seluruh penjuru dunia dan terkenal sebagai orang-orang yang berhasil dalam bisnis perdagangan karena kegigihannya dalam bekerja. Apalagi kehebatan teknologi mereka dalam memproduksi barang-barang tiruan, sampai-sampai kita sendiri sulit membedakan mana barang yang asli dan mana yang tiruan. Then yang terakhir, penasaran gue timbul karena hobby gue nonton film. Sejarah negri ini dan kemegahan Forbidden City selalu jadi pilihan tempat syuting film-film box office Hollywood.

The other hand which made me more curious is Chinese people. They are living in every country in the world. Chinese people are very famous that they are hard worker and always success in their job. Moreover they are very good in technology to copy many branded goods. It makes us difficult to recognize which one original and imitation. It’s very perfect. Then the last, my curious was coming up from my hobby to watch movie. History of this country and greatness of the Forbidden City always to be a choice of place for made Hollywood box office movies.

Lucky Star

Kali ini gue memang nggak punya coin keberuntungan mata uang China seperti biasanya, tapi bintang keberuntungan memang sedang berpihak ke gue. Gue dapet informasi dari sahabat gue Irene kalo ada 2 pesawat charter “China Eastern Airlines” dari Shanghai ke Bali dan dimanfaatin sama travel agent-travel agent China di Bali untuk buat paket-paket tour ke negri tirai bamboo ini. Tentu saja karena pesawat charter, biaya tiket pesawat pulang pergi Denpasar – Shanghai nggak ada sama sekali. Kita cuma dibebani pajak sebesar RMB 146.00. Kalau dalam Rupiah sekitar Rp 240.000,00. Murah banget kan? Padahal kalo kita berangkat ke sana sendiri dan kalau beruntung dapet ticket promo, paling murah USD 500.00 pulang pergi. Padahal harga paket tour selama selama 1 minggu full board plus tiketnya cuma USD 488.00… unbelievable kan?!! Normalnya sih paket tour ke China pasti lebih dari USD 1,000.00. Karena semua icons China ada di Beijing dan sayang banget udah nyampe China masak nggak ke Beijing, maka gue ambil paket yang tournya sampai ke Beijing. Untuk itu ada tambahan biaya additional charge domestict air ticket dari Shanghai ke Beijing dan land arrangement selama di Beijing. Jadi harga paket tour yang gue ambil total jadi USD 850.00 plus tips untuk guide selama disana USD 42.00. Selain itu mulai tahun ini kalau kita bepergian ke Luar Negri, pemerintah sudah membebaskan pajak fiscal luar negri. Sedangkan visa ke China, kita hanya bayar Rp 350.000,00 semua sudah diurus oleh agentnya.

This time I don’t get any lucky coin of China Coin before I go to China as usually. But my lucky star was at my side. I got information from my best friend Irene that there were 2 charter flights from Shanghai to Bali by “China Eastern Airlines”. China travel agents in Bali take this opportunity to make packages tour to China. Of course the package become very cheap due to we don’t have to pay the air fare. We only pay the tax fare as amount RMB 146.00, it equivalent to Rp 240.000,00. So in one week full board package tour to Shanghai and some another city near Shanghai, we only paid USD 450.00 plus guide tips USD 42.00. Soooo…cheap, isn’t? Because normally, tour fare to China more than USD 1,000.00 including air ticket. Compare if we go there by our self and if we are lucky can get promotion ticket, the cheapest air ticket is about USD 500.00 for return.

Off course when we going to China we would like to see the Icon of China. The Great Wall. So do I. But this icon is in Beijing, also the other interesting place like The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, and The Temple of Heaven. So I decided to take the package Shanghai – Beijing and I have to pay USD 400.00 more for domestic flight and all land arrangement in Beijing. So now my tour fare to be USD 892.00. O ya… to go to China we have to apply visa. But the travel agent is taking care of it and we only pay Rp 350.000,00. Also starting this year The Indonesian Government has exempted Indonesian people and permanent resident who has tax ID number to pay fiscal tax. Before we have to pay Rp 1.000.000,00 for fiscal tax when we are going to aboard J

Satu lagi yang membuat perjalanan gue ke negri tirai bamboo ini semakin sempurna, gue akan ada di negri ini pada saat Imlek atau tahun baru China dan kebetulan musim dingin juga. So gue bakalan dapet moment paling bagus, Imlek tahun ini dengan merasakan perayaannya di negaranya langsung dan sekaligus bisa ngerasain dinginnya salju.

Another thing which made my travel to the bamboo curtain country more perfect, I will be in this country on the Chinese New Year. So I will get the best moment in this country. Also this is a winter season. I can feel the cold weather and I can see snow.

FIRST DAY, JANUARY 24^TH, 2009

Hari ini gue masih kerja seharian buat nyelesain budget dan monthly report. Jam 8 malem gue baru sampai rumah. Untungnya semua udah gue packing dan Zorro udah gue titipin ke kakaknya mba Lastri, jadi gue tinggal mandi, siap-siap and jalan ke airport naik taxi. Sampai di airport ramainya minta ampun, penuh dengan orang-orang Indonesia yang joint tour. Mereka berkelompok-kelompok sesuai dengan travel agent yang mereka pakai. Kebetulan saat itu nggak cuma 2 pesawat charter China aja yang terbang di jam-jam itu. Tapi ada Garuda dan Japan Airlines yang ke Jepang. So makin ramai dan bikin gue makin kebingungan nyari kelompok gue, apalagi gue nggak tahu siapa-siapa aja anggota maupun tour leadernya. Hopeless banget gue begitu nyampe di depan McDonald tempat meeting point, tetep aja gue nggak nemu tour leader maupun rombongan gue. Akhirnya gue telpon Irene dan gue dapet nomor HP pak Heru boss-nya Amazing Tour. Dari Pak Heru gue dapet nomor HP-nya Koh Tian, tour Leader-nya. Thanks God … finally gue berada diantara rombongan gue.

Today I am still working in the office to finish my budget and monthly report. I arrived home on 8.00 pm fortunately I have packaging all of my things and bring my dog Zorro to Lastri sister. So I only take a shower and preparing to go to airport by taxi. Airport so full people when I arrived at 09.00 pm. Mostly they were Indonesian people from Bali and Jawa who would like to joint tour. They are assembled in some group tour by their travel agent. Fortunately on that time, not only 2 flights China Eastern Airlines are going to flying. There are Garuda, Japan Airlines and others airlines too. It make departure terminal more busy and crowded. Then make me more difficult to fine my group. Moreover I don’t who are the member of my group and the tour leader. Almost give up when I arrived in front of McDonald, I still couldn’t find my group. I call Irene and I got Mr. Heru HP number. He is the boss of The amazing Tour which I use. Then I got name and HP number of the tour leader Mr. Tian. Thanks God … finally I am in my group.

Delay

Ini hal paling menyebalkan. Seharusnya kita sudah terbang jam 00.30 WITA. Tapi gara-gara fiscal jam keberangkatan delay sampai 02.00 pagi. Pemerintah Indonesia itu memang lucu dan selalu bikin diri sendiri keliatan bodoh banget di mata rakyat. Bikin peraturan baru tanpa mempersiapkan pelaksanaannya. Memang sih diberlakukan peraturan baru bebas fiscal sangat menguntungkan orang-orang Indonesia yang mau bepergian ke Luar Negri. Tapi pada saat check in kita masih harus mengajukan permohonan bebas fiscal ke petugas kantor pajak di bandara. Konyolnya, dengan antrian orang sebanyak itu cuma ada satu counter dengan 2 orang petugas. Keliatan banget ya bodohnya…kalo Departement Keuangan Indonesia nggak siap dengan adanya peraturan baru. Kembali lagi … kalo nggak gini kan bukan Indonesia…. Hua ha ha ha ha ha ha ha….. kenapa gue jadi ikutan guoblok kayak mereka ya….

The worse thing when we are traveling is flight delay. We should be flying on 00.30 am. But we couldn’t fly due to fiscal tax processing. Indonesian government very funny and always make themselves looks very stupid. Government makes a new role to exempted fiscal tax but their staffs are not ready to do it. Of course the new role make Indonesian people who would like to go overseas, but on the check in time we still have to request an exempted fiscal tax to the tax office counter in the airport. The funny thing is even the queue so long, there were only 2 tax office staff. Yeeaaahhh….back to the reality ….. It is Indonesia! Should be like this! Huahahhahahhahaaa…..how come I am going to be stupid too!

To Be Continue………..

(2) ARRIVING IN CHINA

2009-02-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

SECOND DAY, JANUARY 25^TH, 2009

Akhirnya jam 02.00 WITA pesawat berangkat juga. Satu pesawat full sama orang Indonesia semua dan terbagi dalam beberapa group. Tadinya gue pikir semuanya dari Bali, ternyata sebagian besar dari Jawa. Bahkan ada rombongan 2 bus dari Yogya. Sedangkan Group gue yang paketnya sampai kota Beijing terdiri dari 42 orang yang berasal dari Bali dan Surabaya.

Finally the fiscal tax finished and we take of on 02.00 am. All passengers in the flight are Indonesian and they are deviding in some groups. Before I was thinking that all passengers are coming from Bali but more than half are coming from Java island. Moreover 2 there are 2 bus member of tour from Yogyakarta. Member of my group is 42 persons from Bali and Surabaya city plus 1 tour leader from Medan.

Pu Dong

Perjalanan dari Denpasar ke Shanghai ditempuh selama dengan 5.5 jam. Jam 07.30 pagi kita mendarat di Bandar Udara International Pu Dong. Denpasar dan Shanghai nggak ada perbedaan waktu. Jadi gue nggak perlu ngeganti angka penunjuk waktu di jam tangan gue. Gue perhatiin Pu Dong airport ini keliatan suram dan kelabu, seperti kalau lagi mendung. Matahari juga nggak keliatan sama sekali. Para petugas airport keliatan pucat, hidung dan pipinya kemerah-merahan. Suasana sunyi banget rasanya, padahal banyak petugas lalu lalang jalan cepat-cepat menghindari udara dingin.

Denpasar to Shanghai it’s take about 5.5 hours. We arrived at Pu Dong International Airport on 07.30 am. Denpasar and Shanghai has a same time. So I don’t need to change my watch time. Pu Dong airport looks so gloomy and ashen. I couldn’t see The Sun. The airport staff looks pale. Their nose and chick looks reddish. The situation so quiet even many airport staffs going around in the airport.

Saat ini kalo nggak salah, Pu Dong merupakan International Airport terbesar di dunia. Airport ini terdiri dari 2 terminal yang sudah operasional dengan luas 40 kilometer persegi. Kebayang guedenya kayak apa :-) Pu Dong airport dibangun selama 2 tahun dari October 1997 dan mulai beroperasi menggantikan Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport tanggal 01 October 1999 dengan biaya RMB 12 milyar. Ini sama dengan USD 1,67 milyar. Ffuuuiiihhh….duit semua tuh!! Sedangkan terminal 2 yang terletak di belakang terminal 1 mulai beroperasi 26 Maret 2008 . Sebenernya proses pembangunan terminal 2 lebih cepat daripada terminal 1 untk persiapan menyambut Olympiade di Beijing tahun 2008.

If I am not mistake, at the moment Pu Dong is the biggest International Airport in the world. The airport has 2 terminals with 40 square kilometers. You can imagine how’s big it. The terminal 1 Pu Dong airport build in 2 years since October 1997 and start operate to change Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on October 01^st, 1999 with cost RMB 12 billion. It’s same about USD 1.67 billion. Ffuuuiiihhh….a lot of money!! Whereas the terminal 2 where are behind of terminal 1 was starting operate on March 26^th, 2008. Actually building process of terminal 2 more faster than Terminal 1 to prepared The Olympic Event at Beijing on 2008.

Bbrrrrrrrbbbb…..wow….. So Cold!!

Begitu keluar dari pesawat, semua orang panik karena tiba-tiba diterpa hawa yang dinginnya luar biasa. Semua langsung bongkar tas ngeluarin segala macem sweater, syall, jaket maupun kaos tangan. Padahal masih di area lorong belalai gajah. Gue sendiri sempet kaget, dinginnya minta ampun serasa masuk ke dalam kulkas. Kebayang temperature udara di Shanghai saat itu minus 4 derajat. Untung gue punya jimat dari Kakiuchi-san. Jadi meskipun gue cuma pake sweater and jaket kulit, badan gue tetep hangat. Kemaren sebelum berangkat ke China, gue nitip boss gue yang lagi di Jepang untuk beliin Hokairu. Ternyata bener kata Irene, nih jimat bener-bener ampuh buat ngalahin rasa dingin. Pantesan aja, orang-orang Jepang masih tetep gaya tanpa berjaket ria meskipun lagi musim dingin. Ternyata mereka punya jimat yang ampuh…he he he he he…

Everybody was panic when we went out from the plane. The weather suddenly changed with very cold weather. Everybody open their bags and take warm cloths such as sweater, muffler, hat, and glove even though still in the corridor area from flight to terminal airport. I was little bit shock too. The weather so cold looks like we come in the freezer. Lucky me, I have amulet from Kakiuchi-san. So even I just wear sweater and skin leather jacket, my body still warm. A week before I go this trip, I asked my boss to buy some hokkairu. He is Japanese and was in business trip to Japan. Apparently Irene was right. This amulet very works to protect from cold. No wonder, Japanese people still fashion and no need to wear many winter clothes. They have very potent amulet to protect from the cold weather …. He he he he he he….

Bebek Bali (Bali Duck)

Selesai semua dari Toilet, kita jalan ngikutin tour leader kita Koh Ian untuk ambil bagasi. Gue geli waktu Ibu Neka, salah satu anggota group nyeletuk, kok kita kayak bebek ya… Huahahhahahha….emang bener… ngeliatin kita jalan berbaris ngikutin koh Ian yang bawa Bendera merah bertuliskan “Bali Wisata Tour”, persis kayak bebek-bebek yang lagi di-angon sama koh Ian. So akhirnya “Bebek Bali” jadi julukan paten nama group kita.

Finished from toilet, we are walking follow Mr. Tian, our tour leader, to take our baggage. I am laughing when Mrs. Neka, one of our member group said, “Hey..we look like ducks”. Huahahahhaha….she’s right. We are walking follow Mr. Tian and he bring a red flag with sign “Bali Wisata Tour”. He is looks like our shepherd. So then … Bebek Bali (Bali Duck) to be our group name. He he he he he…..

Di luar airport kita udah ditunggu sama guide local yang imut-imut kayak Barby. Karena susah namanya so gue lebih seneng panggil dia Miss Barby. Naaahhh…yang gue nggak abis pikir, jadi guide disini very easy nggak perlu bisa bahasanya orang yang di-guide-tin. Malah bahasa Inggris pun nggak bisa sama sekali. So selama tour miss Barby ini ngomong sendiri and ketawa sendiri setiap kali ngasih penjelasan ke kita. Abis nggak ada satupun yang ngerti apa yang dia omongin…hi hi hi hi….

A local guide like an innocent barby doll is waiting us in front of arrival terminal. I like to call her Miss Barby due to her name very difficult to say. Well…something I couldn’t think that she couldn’t speak Indonesia or English as international language. So in the bus, she always speaks Mandarin language. Sometimes she makes a joke and laughs but nobody understand… hi hi hi hi hi hi…. Funny ya….but she is lucky! No need to learn another language to do her job.

Dari airport kita pergi ke hotel dekat airport untuk sarapan. Gue lupa nama hotelnya. Kita makan bareng-bareng jadi satu ama tamu hotel. Menu sarapannya American breakfast tapi makanannya nggak banyak pilihan. Gue sendiri nggak terlalu banyak makan soalnya memang nggak biasa sarapan di rumah dan cuma minum segelas susu coklat doang. Apalagi masih jet leg semaleman di pesawat dan nggak cukup tidur. Gue duduk bareng sama Joceylin dan dua orang asing tamu hotel. Selesai breakfast kita langsung masuk bis dan melanjutkan perjalanan ke kota Hangzou.

From airport we go to a hotel near airport for breakfast. I forget the name of the hotel. We are taking breakfast with inside hotel guests. The breakfast is a simple American breakfast, not so many choice kind of food. I don’t eat much because usually I just drink chocolate milk in the morning and still jet leg with flight, not enough sleep in the flight. I sit at the same table with Joceylin and 2 foreigners inside hotel guest. Finished breakfast we back to the bus to go to Hangzou city.

First Chinese Food

Waaaahhh….akhirnya kita makan yang beneran juga nih…he he he he he Setelah semaleman di perjalanan dan cuma dapet snack doang di pesawat, serta breakfast yang kurang menarik. Lunch kita siang ini juga di restaurant sebuah hotel. Setiap table terdiri dari 10 orang. Gue satu table dengan Joceylin dari Surabaya, Bapak & ibu Neka dari Ubud, Bapak dan ibu Agus Pande dari Ubud juga, Bapak dan ibu Gusti dari Gianyar, Tante Merry dan anaknya Robby dari Denpasar. Tadinya gue pikir makanan di sini hambar nggak ada rasa. Banyak temen-temen yang sudah pernah pergi ke China bilang begitu. So sebelum berangkat gue udah bawa bekel kecap manis dan sambal botol. Tapi ternyata nih bekel gue nggak pernah gue sentuh sama sekali. Malah ngeberat-beratin tas ransel gue aja :-)

Waaaahhh….Finally we eat real foods. After a night on the flight and only got some snack on the flight, then un-interested breakfast. On the way Hangzou, we take a lunch at restaurant in the hotel. Every table consists of 10 persons. I am one table with Joceylin from Surabaya, Mr. & Mrs. Neka from Ubud, Mr. & Mrs. Agus Pande from Ubud too, Mr. & Mrs. Gusti from Gianyar, Aunty Merry and her son Robby from Denpasar. Before I was thinking that foods in here not good and tasteless. Same friends who have been China told me like that. So I bring a bottle of ketchup and a bottle of sweet soy sauce. But apparently I never touch the ketchup and soy sauce, very useless and make my backpack more heavy :-)

Makanan di sini lumayan enak, apalagi dimakan bareng-bareng, plus cuaca dingin gini bikin cepet laper dan makin seru dimakan panas-panas. Lagian gue juga memang kedemenannya makan Chinese food, klop deh ama lidah gue. So gue nggak perlu kuatir mikirin stock makanan buat bekel selama di perjalanan maupun di hotel. Selesai lunch kita foto-foto sebentar, trus langsung kembali ke bus melanjutkan perjalanan ke kota Hangzou.

Food in here very good, moreover we eat together plus cold weather makes us easy to get hungry. More fun we eat when the food still hot….hmmm…yummi!! Off course, I love Chinese food. It’s exactly same with my tongue taste. So I don’t need to worry about food in here. Finished lunch we take a picture at the hotel garden then back to the bus to continue our trip to Hangzou city.

To Be Continue ………..