Backpacker Girls

After watching "Twilight" last night.. i feel so empty.. GOSH ! why do they have that guy as main lead actor ??? i love the book why they have to choose that "funny" look guy to be Edward the coolest and most romantic vampire in my imagination? eeewwww !! (sorry to the fans, but i just don't like him !).

Bandung day two.. i told Arni awant to go to FO or Factory Outlet. Beside strolling for foods... shopping is the main attraction to go to Bandung. Good quality branded clothes with cheap prices. For the food.. ohhh.. its just so many things u could try here.. start from siomay bandung which is like fish meatballs with peanut sauce. Also lots of Sundanese cook like ayam bakar (which is my fave) the prices also good.

I just want to get a hot pants for my Thailand trip.. hehe want to show my chunky legs to every body ..hehehehehe.... (especially to those skinny girls...hehe).

Anyway.. we end up went for a stroll to CIWALK (Ciampelas Walk), Ciampelas is where you could find a lot of shops selling cheap jeans an t-shirt. We went to the Mall. I see a barbie doll that my niece want and its quite cheap than Jakarta (she want those princess barbie) i dont really like the idea of giving her a doll like barbie (euuh.. too girlie !) but she really want it since she went to watch the show at Grand Indonesia. I also saw the hot pants that i want.. not too short but its just nice length...

We eat our lunch at a cafe called Rasta i think its on the corner of the street, where the becak park. We eat cheese pizza (junk food i know !) just small size and also i order hot lemon tea because i feel kind of not so well. Also Arni order fried rice... very delicious ! its good !!

Near afternoon we went to jalan Riau where there's lots of Factory Outlet. First we stop for the juices seller. He sold the cranberries juice... OMG sooo fresh !! he stand infront of Secreat FO (we went there twice just to buy juice from him !).

First stop is "Secret" I like the "ambience"... thats my first thought of this FO. Inside its just like hectic place ! i try to find jeans for me, its cheap here... inside i could see some tourist from Malaysia, and western too.

Arnie end up shopping three cardigans that she really love that night.. while me... hmm.. i can't see anything that amuse me that time....

We then made promise to go back there the very next day.. just so many things there that looks good (and cheap !) and kind of making me confuse !

We then decide to go to next FO which is "Oasis" the price bit higher and the clothes not as good as at previous FO.. we went out without buying anything.

We cross the street and went to other FO which is "Summit" Arnie love one of the shoes... but still i can't find anything that interesting for me...

And.. at the end we went to the most crowded FO "The Heritage". Its very crowded ! and from front it looks small then when we walk to the back of the store.. its just so big.. and its connected to the FO next door "Water Fall" which is more bigger ! (i found out about this the very next day). I saw a small red "FILA" backpack that.. i ever really want long long time ago (its an old model). But i think i will get it after i finish all of the FO's (i don't know if Heritage actually the end/beginning of the FO's at the very same street).

Tired .... and have few shopping bags on hand ..We went back home at 9 pm.. (smile)

Today i wake up rushing my sister just lend her husband back pack (thank God!).
I just can't travel with gracious look.. with those luggage with small wheels..uueeehhh... not my style at all !!
From Kebon Kacang i use bajaj for the very first time for this journey. I think this eccentric vehicle is reliable for certain situation when you want to go fast traveling through Jakarta small road. Short cut is always fun to avoid the "un-avoided" traffic jam !
Its cheap... beside the nosy.. (you could always use an ear plugs..hehe) its quite comfy.. hehe.. no sun heat, and full of wind (and smoke haha !).
Its always fun for adventure tho.
From Kebon Kacang (near Grand Indonesia mall) i went to Sarinah mall. And pay Rp 6000,- bajaj guy say nothing... Went to Mc D as Arnie my other friend told me. The side entrance still closed. But i saw few people have their breakfast there. So i ask the security where to wait small buses to Bandung, and he told me to just go inside the Mc D.. hmmm...
So i wait Arnie and order some food (french fries and coke). Shes coming bit late.. made me bit worry...
So she come and we jump on the small bus. Its cost me Rp 45.000.- from Jakarta to Bandung. If from the airport it will cost you around Rp 70.000,- thats what Arni said to me. Its worthy the bus quite comfy and the driver drive very good, not so fast and not too slow !
The bus stop once to fill up tank, and other than that just smooth driving. The trip between Jakarta-Bandung take 2 hours. Theres 5 passenger including me that time.. so we have so much space. Most of passenger fall a sleep. But me and Arnie were talking along the way !
We haven't meet for like 3 years ! so many story to tell especially about Arnie school, she take her master degree (uugghh.. jealous..jealous !). Beside that the view is quite good..
We arrive nearly 12.30 pm. So we went to Arnie house at Kawaluyaan area and have lunch and then went to BIP (Bandung Indah Plaza) with public transport or "angkot" a small mini van with blue and yellow color, it cost me Rp 4000,- its quite far tho.
Bandung street are smaller than Jambi or Jakarta street. But i like it because they keep the big trees along the road. Jambi usually like this, but then the made the road bigger and cut lots of tree.. some of the tree aged hundreds (like in front of Agung mosque near Jambi market).
But the traffic jam so horrible ! (which made me thank God Jambi had bigger street !).
Arnie friend already waiting for us when we arrive at the food court. I leave them for a while to talk, they do some DVD'S exchange. I went down to look up kiosk where i could top up my IM3 card and my XL card. I haven't refill it since i work. But oh God i walk far away and didn't see any kiost near BIP. I gave up and return to BIP again.
Oh one thing i notice.. its so hard to find BCA ATM machine any near BIP so.. it made me bit worry !
There's plenty young people here at BIP, its really a good place to hangout with friends just sit down at one of the cafe and have chat with friends... hmmm....

I got cheap flight ticket from Jambi to Jakarta with Mandala air. Its a good airways because they offer promotion price every months.
For my flight ticket it cost Rp 500.000,- one way. Because its so close to x-mast so i consider its cheap. Because the regular price for flight from Jakarta to Jambi is nearly Rp 600,000,- one way.
Usually its cheaper from Jakarta to Jambi. I don't know why...
Anyway.. i've been planning this trip at least months before. But due to my work situation i can't just book flight and leave just like that. So i book the flight a month before.
I want to meet some of old friend and have great time with them. Its been years since the last time i really stay in Jakarta. I usually stay only for transit from other place like Bali or from other country.
I am planning to stay at my older sister house in Tanah Abang.

So here i am with mandala flight RI-026 at December 20, 2008 went to Jakarta.

As usual, oh God, i am so late !! that day i don't know my sisters and mom very late. I just got back from my jungle office arrive at 7 pm and then i went to Jambi Prima mall to get some things for my self (shampoo, lotion etc). And arrive home at 9 pm start to pack my things.
I usually not the type packing at very last moment but this time i did.
So i went to bed so late at 11.30 pm ! nearly midnight ! I wake up at 6 am but then still theres few things that i have to pack like duku ! yup.. my sister reuest for duku from Jambi, its quite well known that duku fruit from jambi is different its taste sweeter for some people.
And then the chaos came when we realize that theres some road closed for motor cross championship and theres few school are crowded because its the report day. So, parent come to school to pick up their children report card ! ugghhh!
So, again..(ohhh i hate this) me running from the waiting room after checking to the plane that ready to leave !! so embarrassing !
Flight was good.
Arrive around 12, i did my lunch at A&W at airport. Not very healthy. I call my friend Egi and she is still at the office so i have to drive to her office.
Her office is at Mampang area. I didn't know Jakarta much so i have to take DAMRI bus to city centre, and i choose DAMRI bus to Gambir Station. Its a train station. Its a cheaper way to get to Jakarta center only cost Rp 20.000.- one way and its flat.
Jakarta still the same as i recall... traffic jam, cars, motorcycle, bajay, more more people doing their things in street. Its afternoon... but still they are all busy. See the tall buildings.. its just almost the same like my jungle. Its just another jungle i think..
From Gambir i take taxi, i always choose Blue Bird taxi service in Jakarta. Well known because they great service and the drivers are very honest. I hope they always be like that all the time.
I meet my friend and have to wait for her to finish her office hours.
Egi is my old friend from University. We've been friends for more than 5 years !
Her rent room near Mampang too, she live there with her super cute fur ball (cat). She used to hate cat but don't know what happened to her lately i guess she just deeply in love with someone who like cat and she love cats too now, hahahahahah !
First day we just too tired to go or to do anything so we sleep early !