SEOUL 2023

 Hi there!

I start writing again after stagnation due to my laziness…eerrgggg…

Okay, let me tell you something: during COVID-19 and its isolation, I found another interesting hobby called still-life photography. I took courses and joined a photography community. So that’s why, travelling activities were suspended.

By the time COVID-19 was done, in 2023 I started travelling abroad again, and the first country was South Korea!

I went to South Korea only for 5 days, and Seoul was the only city I visited. I went there with my cousins; 2 people. So it was 3 of us going to Seoul; by ourselves, without joining a group travelling tour.

After 2 weeks of processing the Visa, which was very fast and pounding heart, they approved our visas. Okay then, off to Seoul!

We went travelling to Seoul at the end of May. Where there was no cherry blossom, all I got was only green scenery, very nice weather, and a beautiful city. We flew with Singapore Airlines, so, we had to do some transit in Changi Airport in Singapore.

During the 4-hour transit, we went around the airport and took a picture of the famous huge waterfall.

Finally, we arrived at Incheon Airport in Seoul around 11 PM. All public transportations were already closed for operation, and we couldn’t find any available hotel or capsule hotel inside the airport. So we decided to sleep on the airport bench until the next morning.

The sun started to shine and we were all ready to go downtown Seoul. We took the subway train to Myeongdong; our hotel. It was so easy to reach downtown. All the directions were clear and easy.

After kept our pieces of luggage in hotel reception, then we started our journey. First time was going to a famous international brand of coffee shop called Blue Bottle Coffee at Gangnam District. You know, I bought 2 portions of coffee, 1 cappuccino and 1 latte. I did this because the drink was really good, they had luxury taste of a coffee.

Then our next destination was going to the famous Starfield Library. We only took pictures and did some poses inside the library. This library is located inside the big mall, in the basement. Finish our activities here, then we went straight to find lunch. Much pork was served in the restaurant, so we decided to go to McD to eat chicken. It was almost afternoon, so we went out to the park and still took pictures of Korean celebrity's handprint monument.

At dawn, we went to Myeongdong to buy sneakers for me and go sightseeing, because Myeongdong is the very famous street market for tourist. I had several items bought from the market. Then we went to our hotel to have good night sleep and prepare for tomorrow’s adventures.

2nd Day

The second destination was Nami Island. We went there by train. After 1 hour on the train and 15 15-minute drive by taxi, we arrived at the ship and crossed the river to the Nami Island. We had beautiful time there for almost for the whole day. We also had ice cream; it was super delicious!

Not wanting to waste time, we went to Siheung Premium Outlet. We were there almost dark, so we had to do some shopping really fast! I got 2 items from there and enjoyed taking pictures.

We left Siheung Premium Outlet by 21.30 and went straight to our hotel in Myeongdong. Then we had a good night's sleep again for tomorrow’s adventures!

3rd Day

On the very first morning, we had a fast breakfast and then went to Bukchon Hanok Village. Thank goodness not many people when we arrived. We enjoyed our time there and taking many pictures of those beautiful traditional Korean houses.

The next destination was Café Onion Anguk. The café had a long queue ha ha ha… but we followed the rules and kept queuing. Finally, after 1 hour, we had our table. All the bread was good, and the coffee was really good. Wow…it was just amazing!

Then in the afternoon, we went shopping again in Insadong. We bought some souvenirs and enjoyed taking pictures. At dawn, we went home to our hotel, bought some fried chicken from Two Two Fried Chicken and bought rice from GS25 supermarket. We had a really nice supper in the front yard of our hotel.

4th Day

That day’s destination was N-Tower Seoul. We went up to the tower by a cable car. Since the tower was not so far from our hotel, we took a walk to the cable car station. We were in Namsan Tower until lunchtime, we took pictures and had some enjoyable moments.

From Namsam, one of my sisters separated because she wanted to go to the pop store of her famous boy band Korean actress. I and my other sister continued to our next destination. A small problem happened. We got lost! Wkwkwkwwk… we got off at the wrong station. That was all because Korean stations always have 2 similar names of the stations, and we couldn’t read Haneul. But it was easy, our right subway station is the station next to this wrong station.

Kwangya is a Korean modern music store. I didn’t know much about Korean music, I just followed my sister looking around the store.

Then we went to Itaewon District, we went to visit Seoul Central Mosque, the biggest mosque in South Korea, it’s a central activity for Muslims in Seoul. But since I had my period, I could only take pictures from the outside of the mosque, and I was not doing prayer inside.

For lunch, we had a beef meal from Lebanon Restaurant near Seoul Central Masjid, and after having a meal, we took a long walk to a small store while looking around the life of Itaewon housing. It just looks like the Korean drama scene. Good experience for us. For a moment, we faced a hard choice; should we climb up the stairs or walk for another 1 km (sad emoticon) Then finally I decided to take the stairs. It was a crazy stair! It was so high and so steep, oh my God! It was a real disaster wkwkwwkwkwk…but finally, we made it to the top and we continued our journey.

Our next destination was Banpo Park where we could see rainbow fountain from the bridge. We made first stop to Starbuck Banpo, bought some coffee and took pictures. It was delightful watching the rainbow show from Banpo bridge while drinking our coffee. Good and nice weather around 26 Celcius degree, we had a great time!

5th Day

Finally, it was the D-day for us to go to Jakarta. Bye, Seoul! Thank you for the best experience I have had!

KUALA LUMPUR 2ND

After a long travelling break, then we got the opportunity to have it back....going to Kuala Lumpur!! Yes...
This time, I went there together with office mates; 14 persons, we were all in one Directorate.

We went there a year ago, on August 2016. We only spent 2 days there. We had 9 am flight in the morning.

At 12 pm Kuala Lumpur time, we arrived safely. We picked up by the mini bus we've rented from one of the travel agent in Jakarta. The picked up time delayed for 10 minutes. The driver said, it was stuck and queued at the arrival gate. So, okay,,,it wasn't really matter.

To save time, we had lunch in the minibus on the way to our first destination. Our first destination is Istana Negara Malaysia. Well, we only took pictures from outside the gate. We were there for 15 minutes only. There were soldiers riding horse guarded the gate. Beautiful horse!



After 15 minutes in Istana Negara Malaysia, we went to the center of Kuala Lumpur area; Tugu Negara, Kuala Lumpur tower, Up Side Down House-Kuala Lumpur, Chocolate Kingdom, and finally to Petronas Twin Tower. We took pictures only from outside those building, we didn't buy tickets to enter inside those places. Btw, I've been here, the same places, 5 years ago...but for the sake of 2 days escape from daily projects, I said yes for this 2nd trip for me to KL...ahahaha...

Up Side-Down House Kuala Lumpur

Tugu Negara Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur Tower

Petronas Twin Tower and Me :D

After taking pictures and selfies, we went to the hotel to check-in. We've booked budget hotel in Bukit Bintang area. Why did we choose Bukit Bintang area for our stay? Because this area was a very famous for travelers, and the rate was good for many budget hotels.We stayed for 1 night in Al Jafs Hotel. It was a cheap hotel and standard facilities, but the hotel was clean, and so far, it was very OK for a budget hotel. The rate already complete with a humble breakfast.

At night, we had a free time schedule. Everybody freed to go everywhere they like. I went to Pasar Seni and Wang Mall only. I bought MILO and some chocolates made in Malaysia. I will inform you that Malaysia good for its chocolate, so you must buy chocolate here and also MILO.

On the second day, we went to Batu Caves, and Putra Jaya. We had a little crash with the group in Batu Caves. I remembered it so clearly. I and 2 of my friends went upstairs to 600's of

Travelling to Hainan-China #1

It was 5D 3N travelling in a very south of China, it's apart from China mainland, coz it's a small island in southern China. You don't need visa to go here, it's free.

Things to be remembered about Hainan:

1. Don't buy coconut coffee at the supermarket. Though it's much cheaper, but it doesn't taste coconut at all. Buy coconut milk coffee at Desa Bali. 
2. Don't buy anything from a must visit stores from Chinese government, unless you need it, such as latex store, jade store, herbal store, fish oil store. You may shop at bamboo store because the prices are reasonable. And at Desa Bali, you can buy many coconut product. They are all original coconut product; very tasty.
3. Buy delicious crispy pia at Quilau old town. People said thay if local people said that it's tasty, then it's real tasty. You should try it.
4. Choose toilet at the mall or restaurant, or find toilet which have automatic flush, and better to choose  squat down toilet. Don't try to go to public toilet! It's very disgusting. Bring your own empty bottle and toiler paper for washing after pee.

Don't buy this kind of coffee:

Buy this one:

Crispy pia:

To be continued....

My Life's Journey; UMROH

I wrote this blog when I was waiting for delayed train. My train was scheduled at 19.25 but delayed for uncertain time. OK...time to think of writing something to kill the time.

OK...let's started. I want to write my experiences during umroh on January 2016. Yup....it's kind of latepost but I think it's not too late...better late than never, Right?

I was going umroh with my hubby; only the two of us. Using First Travel as our umroh agent. We were using kind of budget umroh with FT, under agent Bu Vonny at Bintaro2. It was such a pleasing journey with Bu Vonny. All the things were well organized by her and her husband. They gave name tag for all jamaah on our luggages. They gave different colors for different groups. Oya...I forgot to tell you. We had 7 groups at this 7th January's umroh.

We flew with Garuda Indonesia and the flight scheduled at 9 pm from Soekarno Hatta International Airport. We did Maghrib and Isya pray at the umroh lounge.

Then, finally we got into the airplane, and the started to flew direct to Jeddah, scheduled arrived the next day in the morning; Jeddah time.

It was all brand new Garuda aircraft. The seats were very comfortable for the economic class. It was Boeing 777 and I was sitting on its seat. Love it very much lah....

I was sleeping all the way to Jeddah, unless for eating, sleeping, and to the toilet. We had meals twice. Amazing wasn't it. Twice meal for 9 hours flight at night. Alhamdulillah...big feast 😆

We took miqat 1 hour before Jeddah. So, it mean, we had to take miqat while we still in the aircraft. For women, umroh's outfit should cover all over the body unless the palm and the face. But for men, they had to use a special outfit called ihram. Ihram consist of only 2 pcs of wide clothes, 1 pc for covering the upper body, and 1 pc for covering the belly until the feet; like sarong. My husband already wore the 1st pc as a sarong, and wore an ordinary shirt when getting on the aircraft. So, by the time the pilot announced that we had to took miqat, all men change the outfit into ihram outfit.

Finally.....we arrived in Jeddah at dawn. We had Fajr prayer before the immigration thing. Immigration proccess was well organized and fast. Alhamdulillah ya Allah for this.

At 8 am...we left Jeddah for Makkah by bus. The buses were all high concourse bus. They had high deck for the passengers. So, it had wide enough space for placing all the luggages.

It was Friday, 8th January. We arrived safely in Makkah before Jumuah time. Alhamdulillah for the blessing ya Allah because we had the opportunity to do Jumuah Prayer in Masjidil Haram-Makkah...such a blessing for us 😍😢

After jumuah prayer, we all had lunch in the hotel. All the meals were provided by the Indonesian catering. For the information, our group of 7th January were divided into 3 different hotels which were standing side by side on the highway near Masjidil Haram. My husband and I stayed at the Al Qadasiya Hotel. I forgot to recall the other 2 hotels. Sorry 😆

The first Umroh, was scheduled after Ashar prayer. We had little time to pick our luggages up and set up our room. Then, the time came. Its time to go to Masjidil Haram. Ya Allah....my heart was beating faster and faster as my feet got closer to Masjidil Haram. Ya Allah....alhamdulillah I got this opportunity to come visit your HOME ya Allah. My eyes got wet when I see the Kaabah for the very first time. I cried. Alhamdulillah. I was in Masjidil Haram. Thank you so much ya Allah.....

We did jamaah pray for Ashar prayer. The first experience having sholat inside the Masjidil Haram. Alhamdulillah....I felt blessed. Alhamdulillah ya Allah....

Then time to do Tawaf. We had 1 person as a leader to teach us how to do tawaf. We did tawaf under his supervisor.

Tawaf was a procedure to walk around the Kaaba for 7 times. While we walked, we pray guided by our leader or we could read from the manual book hanged on our chest.

After walking around the Kaaba for 7 times, we were allowed to take a break a bit by drinking zamzam, and then it was time to do Sai. Sai was a procedure to walk 7 times back and forth from Safa to Marwah.

About zamzam water, it was so amazing experience that we finally drink zamzam water. The pure water and its freshness killed our tiredness. Alhamdulillah ya Allah finally I could drink zamzam water as much as I want to 😇

The umroh finished right before maghrib. So we could do maghrib prayer inside the masjidil Haram. There was a funny experience here, we got lost inside the Masjidil Haram 😆 Our leader gave us free time and free to do everything we want to do 😆

But finally we could get out safely from Masjidil Haram, after walking for many kilometer (I guess) 😆

We had isha prayer at the hotel because we want to have a bath first after not having a bath 24 hours. After dinner, we went to bed, sleep early, because we want to do Tahajud at the next day.

Day 2
We went to Masjidil Haram 30 mnt before Fajr time. Wow...amazing...we were late. We could not enter the Masjidil Haram because it was already full. But we still had time to do Tahajud.

OK...the adzan came. Fajr adzan was very beautiful. The man who sang for adzan had a beautiful voice. I love adzan. Love it so much. Then, time for Fajr prayer. The Imam masjidil Haram read the Al Quran verses very beautiful 😍😍 It was like I was in the peacefull heaven hearing his voice 😍 Soooo peacefull 😍 I thought I wanna cry....

Then, finished for Fajr prayer. Time to go back to hotel for bath and breakfast. Oya....the weather showed 22 degree on Celcius.

After having breakfast, we went to a tour and took miqat; at least one hour drive from Makkah city. We went to a historical place which had historical masjid and stories. We took miqat, we did prayer, and we ate a very delicious arabian bread, called 7. Haha...it was really really delicious. A must buy bread to be brought to Indonesia!

Then we came back to Makkah and doing the 2nd umroh. This time I did umroh for my beloved Mom who already passed away in 1996. My husband did umroh for his beloved Papa who already passed away in 1991.

After the 2nd umroh, we straight go back to the hotel. We were not lost this time. We already knew the fastest way to get out from Masjidil Haram 😆 We did maghrib prayer in the hotel, had a bath and got back to Masjidil Haram for isha prayer and we had a plan to have dinner at the mall near Masjidil Haram 😆

After isha prayer, we went to the stores and bought something. We bought parfumes 😆 and other stuffs to be brought to Indonesia.

Okay..let's talked about dinner. Actually I want to eat something arabic. But my husband didn't like the aroma of arabic meal 😑 So....after a long negotiation, we had Burger King for our dinner 😂😂😂

Ya Allahu Rob...masha Allah....Burger King for dinner? Wasn't that too funny? Eating things that already in Indonesia? Wkkwwkwk....my God...but that's Okay lah...no problem.

After dinner, then we got back to the hotel and sleep. We want to go to Masjidil Haram earlier then yesterday.

Day 3
We got up earlier then yesterday. We went to Masjidil Haram at 3 in the morning. We did Tahajud longer than before. Read Quran, and finally Fajr time.

We went back to the hotel, but we bought ice cream on the way to hotel. Ya Allah..it was the best ice cream we ever taste. A very best one. A very delicious ice cream ever!

Same as yesterday, we want to do the third umroh. We took miqat near the camel farm outside Makkah. Before we went to the masjid to take miqat, we went to this farm, and drank camel milk. It was said that there were many advantages from drinking camel milk. I bought one to be drink by me and my husband. Hmmmm....it was plain milk. No taste at all. Hmmmm...compare to cow milk, cow milk was even better than camel milk (to me...) 😆

Then we got back to Makkah city to do umrah. This time, umroh for myself.

We did maghrib prayer at the hotel, but we got Isha prayer at the Masjidil Haram. Then we went to look for another dinner at the mall. This time, we tried KFC. Kwkwkwwkkw....wasn't that too funny? But no...Arab KFC was slightly different from Indonesia KFC. We bought the rice bowl, and the taste was very arabian taste. My husband didn't like it ahahaha...oya, the arab rice was longer than Indonesian rice.

Day 4
This time, we went to Masjidil Haram at 2 am in the morning. We want to touch the Kaaba. The Kaaba was not too full at 2 am but still we could not reach the Kaaba's Black Stone 😭😭😭 We can only touch the Kaaba...Masha Allah...Alhamdulillah for this blessing ya Allah....finally we could touch the Kaaba ya Allah...alhamdulillah. We could not stand not to cry. I cried, my husband cried as our hands touch the Kaaba. Our tears drop down to our cheeks. Alhamdulillah for the blessing ya Allah.

This time, we went to some tours, visiting several historical places, and showing the other place for Hajj. Then we went back to the hotel and had free time. We went to the mall again, bought some gifts to be brought to Indonesia.

This last night at Makkah, we went to search Al Baik. The very famous for arabic fried chicken. The arab people said that it was close to Masjidil Haram. We walked for almost 1 hour and we almost gave up hahaha...but then finally we found Al Baik! Finally!

We only bought 1 pack and ate it at the hotel. Al Baik was very delicious and also too big for our portion ahahaha....It was slightly different from KFC or McD. We had chicken like a nugget, a portion of french fries, and a bread. They had no chilli sauce, but garlic sauce. Hmmmm....a bit weird to our tounge about this garlic sauce 😂😂

Day 4
First thing in the morning, we left Makkah after breakfast, went to Madinah.

Bye Makkah...see you again soon.....

It was so sad leaving Makkah...so sad...

We came to Madinah at dinner time. We stayed at a hotel not far from Masjid Nabawi. After having dinner, we set up the room and had isha at the Nabawi. After isha, we went back to the hotel and sleep.

We got up early, 30 minuter before Fajr prayer. We had a place inside the Nabawi.

Oya...Nabawi was separated into 2 zones. Women zone and men zone. So, my husband and I could not do prayer close to each other. But before entering the Masjid Nabawi, we had promise each other to wait at the Gate 17.

After having breakfast, our leader lead us to Rosullulloh's home and maqam; we called it Raudhah. It was a long queue there. Many jamaah want to visit Raudhah. Finally, we were at Raudah. It was a very crowded place. And we had to had a trick to do prayer here in Raudhah. Raudhah's zone for women was very small area. So we found it very difficult to pray, but we could do it, alhamdulillah!

After doing Dhuhur prayer, we went to the hotel and having lunch. After lunch, there was a tour, visiting masjid Quba; the first Masjid in Madinah.

Masjid Nabawi is beautiful for its architecture. Amazing design of its facade and its interior. I really love the design! I took many pictures of Masjid Nabawi.

After Maghrib, it was free time for us. Then we went to the mall nearby. We bought many thing to be brought to Indonesia. There was a Starbuck stall near Masjid Nabawi, right in front of it. We went inside and bought 3 tumblers.

And finally, it was time for leaving Madinah after 3 days in here.

We had a bad news. We should leave Madinah earlier because the flight schedule was changed! It was scheduled earlier 😭😭😭 So that's why we could not visit the beach and floating Masjid in Jeddah 😭😭

Soooo sad 😭😭

And.....finally we arrived safely in Indonesia. Safely and tired. But we had so many experiences. I missed Makkah already 😭😭

Okay...this is all for Umroh experiences....I can take this as a lesson learned one day I could visit Makkah and Madinah again someday. I must! I must go back there again!

Aamiin.....